July 1991, England.
As a region with a temperate oceanic climate characterized by broadleaf forests, England in late July—approaching August—was no longer as sweltering as it had been in previous months. The air was gradually becoming more humid, and while still dry, it was no longer unbearable.
Sunlight poured down freely, illuminating the endless landscape and reaching even the most remote areas, dispelling all shadows.
A rather expansive lake was completely bathed in this sunlight, its surface rippling gently while reflecting the brilliant rays, creating patches of dazzling light.
An owl suddenly intruded into this scene, seemingly stung by the glare. It paused uncomfortably several times, shaking its head before reluctantly continuing forward, soaring toward the lake's shore.
Its destination was a wooden cabin—or rather, a pier near the cabin.
The pier extended out into the lake, standing above the water as if waiting for boats to dock.
A young man sat there wearing a straw hat and holding fishing gear, blending so harmoniously with the natural scenery around him that he formed a picture of serene beauty.
The youth was handsome with a clean, fair complexion. Though his appearance carried traces of youthful innocence, there was nothing childish about him. His gentle eyes seemed to speak, appearing almost to smile, and combined with his striking features, gave him an air of mature reliability that inspired trust and comfort in others without them even realizing it.
"Hmm?"
The young man seemed to sense something, lifted his head toward the horizon, and spotted the owl flying in his direction.
"Hoot—"
The owl showed no fear of strangers. Upon reaching its destination, it landed directly beside the youth and dropped what it had been clutching in its talons.
"A letter?"
The young man caught it reflexively, discovering it was a letter made of heavy parchment.
There was no postage stamp—only an address written in emerald green ink, with the envelope sealed by a shield-shaped coat of arms in wax.
The design featured a capital "H" surrounded by a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake.
"..."
Looking at the envelope in his hands, the youth showed neither surprise at the incredible fact that "an owl had delivered him a letter," nor confusion about this seemingly special correspondence. Instead, he fell into a long silence.
After this pause, he opened the envelope and extracted the letter inside, also made of parchment.
The letter's contents immediately caught his eye.
————
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Yake Byrne,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonnagle Deputy Headmistress
UNIFORM First-year students will require: Three sets of plain work robes (black) for everyday wear One plain black pointed hat for daytime wear One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings) Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
COURSE BOOKS All students should have a copy of each of the following: The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT 1 wand 1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) 1 set glass or crystal phials 1 telescope 1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
————
As his mind processed the letter's contents, the youth—Yake—began to look dazed.
In his trance, he seemed to see another world—one that had left him far behind, a world he had bid farewell to.
In that world, countless children who had just turned eleven had harbored hopes both in reality and in dreams, expecting to see an owl descend from the sky with just such a letter, appearing at their bedroom window to open the door to another world.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry—established around 990 AD, renowned as one of Europe's three great magic schools, and widely acknowledged as the finest magical educational institution among the world's eleven known schools of magic.
When the acceptance letter from this school that had once captivated the dreams and fantasies of countless young people was delivered to him, Yake finally found certainty.
"I really have come to the world of Harry Potter."
He had been in this world for a year now, and until this letter arrived, Yake had remained skeptical about his situation, unable to confirm he had truly entered such a world.
After all, before this moment, he had never encountered anything related to the incredible power called "magic."
No, that wasn't entirely accurate.
There had been one instance when he did encounter such incredible power.
That was a year ago, when he first arrived in this world.
At that time, he had suddenly found himself here without any awareness of it happening, as if waking from a dream—one moment his eyes were closed, the next they opened to find himself in an unfamiliar wilderness.
Then came a voice that resonated directly in the depths of his mind.
[World traversal complete. Beginning collection of current world information... Collection successful!]
[To avoid unnecessary complications from rule conflicts, beginning localization process.]
[Magical power system detected in current world. Beginning physical modification and identity implantation for host.]
[Modification successful, implantation complete. Welcome to the magical world of Harry Potter.]
When that voice faded, Yake discovered that not only had he become smaller—his body reverting to that of a ten-year-old—but his appearance and temperament had changed significantly. Even more strangely, a new name had mysteriously surfaced in his mind, as if he truly belonged to this world and wouldn't seem out of place at all.
After that, incredible phenomena began occurring around him as everything started floating—stones, gravel, plants and trees alike.
Looking back now, that was probably the awakening that all young wizards capable of learning magic must experience in their lives—what's known as a magical outburst.
Since then, Yake hadn't experienced any similar incredible events or awakened any extraordinary powers. He had even built the wooden cabin he lived in with his own hands, like a castaway on a deserted island. If he hadn't been able to fish in this lake for sustenance, he might have starved to death already.
Thinking of all the hardships he had endured this past year just to survive, Yake didn't feel the bittersweet joy of having endured to see better times. Instead, a sense of relief washed over him.
"Well, continuing to live alone in a place like this isn't really sustainable anyway."
Since he had come to a world where magic existed and been given the opportunity to possess such power, he absolutely couldn't let this chance slip away.
So Yake took his bucket and fishing gear and returned to his small cabin to write a reply to Hogwarts.
After giving the letter to the patiently waiting owl and feeding it some food, he sent it soaring back in the direction it had come from.
Standing by the window and watching the owl depart, Yake waited until its silhouette had completely disappeared before finally hearing that voice again.
[Event triggered: Contact with the magical world.]
[Event details: Agreed to enroll after receiving Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry acceptance letter.]
[Event reward: Special talent - Mind Guidance. (Completed)]