Wu Orphanage.
In the corridor.
Dumbledore looked around.
His gaze was filled with complex memories—over the years, the decor here seemed unchanged.
"Lady Yelena, I am here for Ian Prince."
Under the director's reception, Dumbledore stepped into the office, seemingly dispelling any lingering chill in the room.
"He needs to complete a form of education."
Sunlight spilled through the stained glass window, falling on Dumbledore's silver hair and beard, casting a soft and mysterious glow over the elderly wizard.
"Oh! This is truly a great thing!"
The director named Yelena was a fifty-year-old woman, with gray hair, and a very kind smile.
She enthusiastically invited Dumbledore to sit down and made him a cup of red tea—the kind with a very old taste, quite cheap.
"Ian Prince, he is a good child, also quite precocious. He doesn't play well with the children here, always going about his own business."
Faced with Yelena's introduction.
Dumbledore appeared thoughtful.
He put down the red tea poured by Yelena.
"Lady Yelena, are you saying that Ian Prince is a rather solitary child?"
Dumbledore's gaze.
Momentarily stunned the director Yelena.
Then.
She quickly shook her head to explain.
"No, no, you've misunderstood me, perhaps I should explain that Ian is just a very mature child. Those children want to play with him, but Ian simply doesn't like playing with those kids."
Yelena paused and said, "Ian once said that the children's playhouses were quite boring and childish; he'd rather spend the time playing with birds."
"Playing with birds? A good hobby, it seems Mr. Ian Prince is the type of child close to animals."
Dumbledore seemed to let out a sigh of relief.
Joking as he smiled.
"Looks like he'll keep an owl in the future."
Upon hearing this.
Yelena was momentarily taken aback.
However.
She continued to smile and spoke well of Ian.
"Despite thinking the other kids are childish, Ian still takes good care of his younger siblings."
"He's just eleven, but he's already secretly going out to earn money, then buying flour and vegetables to stock in the kitchen... he remembers each child's birthday."
"He also buys candies for his siblings."
Said Yelena, rather gratified, then suddenly appeared somewhat sad, sighing in a self-reproachful manner.
"It's also due to the poor social environment now; the orphanage finds it hard to receive donations, of course, that's due to my lack of ability, requiring a child to go out and earn money.."
Yelena seemed quite remorseful.
"You needn't blame yourself, you've done well enough; the changes here are significant, I can feel them." Dumbledore even used an honorific, estimating Yelena to be many decades younger than himself.
Sincerely comforting her.
"Have you been here before?"
Yelena somewhat surprised.
"This is not my first visit."
Dumbledore smiled slightly.
Yelena did not inquire.
She was more concerned about adoption.
"Old sir, if you're looking to take Ian from the orphanage, please trust me, he is definitely an outstanding child." Yelena truly hoped such a sensible child would find a good home.
"Then, could I meet him?"
Dumbledore asked with a smile.
Under the influence of the Confundus Charm.
Some of Yelena's perceptions would differ from the facts.
No need to correct this.
"Certainly! Certainly! Old sir!" Lady Yelena eagerly said as she stood up and addressed Dumbledore: "Please wait a moment."
As soon as Yelena went out, she saw Ian in the yard, who had just returned.
A smile of urgency appeared on her face, while waving to him, she shouted.
"Ian, come here!"
Ian pushed a small cart.
A child immediately came running up to him, hugged him: "Ian, looks like your big moment has come! Hurry up, don't keep Lady Yelena waiting."
In the orphanage, everyone referred to being adopted as a big occasion.
After all, to these homeless children, nothing was more important than being adopted.
However.
Ian was different.
He knew this wasn't about adoption.
With a nervous heart.
Ian was pulled towards the office.
"It's indeed him!"
Previously, he had sneaked a glance and now was confirmed; it was Dumbledore in the office, the Hogwarts Headmaster, the century's greatest wizard.
"Don't be nervous."
Even before Ian could speak.
He saw Dumbledore observing him.
"Child, I need to tell you a fact, you are a wizard."
With Ian feigning a surprised expression.
Dumbledore's gaze was deep.
"Perhaps, you must have discovered early on that there are differences between you and others." His eyes did not appear cloudy, instead, they had the purity akin to a child's.
"Um."
Ian did not respond immediately; he first looked up at Lady Yelena, noticed her expression unchanged, as if not hearing what the old man was saying.
Is this... Confundus Charm?
Forcing himself to calm down.
He avoided Dumbledore's gaze.
"Indeed that's the case; I discovered early on sometimes when I stare at the cup, the water inside can shake a bit, so, this is the power of wizardry."
Ian didn't dare feign ignorance.
His answer made Dumbledore smile and nod.
"Yes, that's your inner magic power at work. Sometimes, the fluctuations become more intense when you are angry with certain people."
Dumbledore's tone was gentle.
Just hearing it, Ian thought it sounded too much like fishing for information. What does it mean that the fluctuations are more intense when angry? I'm not that Tom Riddle!
"Sir, I hardly ever get angry because being swayed by emotions doesn't solve problems." Ian responded in a calm and gentle tone.
Dumbledore seemed very pleased with this answer.
Dumbledore smiled.
As he nodded, his beard trembled.
"You're a very wise child, Lady Yelena was right, you are indeed precocious," Dumbledore said as he gazed at Ian with his aged eyes.
"Hogwarts is a magic academy that wizards all over the world wish to join. There you can learn all kinds of witchcraft and encounter various magical creatures."
"Don't be nervous, Mr. Ian Prince. As headmaster of Hogwarts Academy, I formally invite you to attend Hogwarts for your studies."
Here it comes!
It's finally here!
Ian Prince was nervous, even though in his past life he only watched a few Hogwarts movies and a few Hermione fanworks, he had also heard of Hogwarts' Professors.
Ian genuinely worried Dumbledore might act like those conspiracy theory fanfictions disregarding the rules.
"Is there any concern?"
Dumbledore noticed Ian's emotions, thinking he had some concerns about Hogwarts, and gently reassured him: "At Hogwarts, there are flying hippogriffs, hitting trees, and more importantly, a group of kids your age, learning magic together."
"Don't worry about the process of learning magic... Ian, in fact, a very remarkable wizard once emerged from this orphanage."
Dumbledore suddenly fell into reminiscence, speaking with a sigh.
Upon hearing this.
Ian became even more nervous.
Why was he nervous?
Wasn't it because he clearly knew how 'remarkable' that man who came out of this orphanage was!
"Is that wizard still at Hogwarts?"
Ian feigned curiosity with a hard face.
Dumbledore snapped out from his reminiscence with Ian's voice, shaking his head.
"In fact, he left Hogwarts long ago and lost his way."
Dumbledore said with a serious tone.
Ian thought he was going to say more critical words, but unexpectedly, the old man just changed his tone with regret and a hint of remorse, saying slowly: "However, this doesn't diminish his extraordinary achievements, he could have gone much farther."
Ian appeared bewildered looking at Dumbledore, but inside, various thoughts floated up.
Dumbledore's seemingly long sigh had words.
Was it a warning?
Or a probe?
Damn! My stupid persecution delusion, all because of those Harry Potter fanfictions—Ian restrained his brain from overthinking, trying not to let his imagination run wild.
"Have you made a decision, child?"
Dumbledore's voice sounded near his ear.
"Uh... How about giving it a shot?"
Ian had long waited for this day, of course, he wouldn't choose to refuse.
"A wise choice, half a month later, Hogwarts will send you a letter, and then someone will take you to buy the things you need for school."
Dumbledore smiled at Ian.
But Ian shrugged, politely declining: "Sorry, old sir, no matter how much I want to go, it's useless because I have no money, I can't afford tuition."
Dumbledore was already standing up, taking his hat from the rack.
At this time, Yelena suddenly stood up, addressing Dumbledore: "Thank you, Ian will definitely go in half a month."
Ian was startled, then reacted.
This is the power of the Confundus Charm, it's unknown what scene Yelena saw, but clearly, she didn't see the real conversation between Ian and Dumbledore.
Dumbledore did not speak to Yelena but smiled at Ian instead, saying.
"You don't need to worry about money. Firstly, the school has a scholarship fund. Secondly, the person coming to pick you up won't let you pay; he... feels greatly indebted to you."
With that.
Dumbledore moved his steps.
Ian was again stunned, couldn't help standing up, looking at Dumbledore walking towards the door.
"Who? My parents?"
Am I actually a pureblood?
This surprised Ian a bit.
"This shouldn't be an answer revealed by me." Dumbledore only blinked, waving goodbye to Ian, his tone laden with deeper meaning.
"Child, you will know then."
Saying that.
He left without looking back.
Yelena was still joyfully sending him off at the door.
Ian opened his mouth but didn't say anything, turning to leave back to his room.
At night.
Lying in bed, Ian kept thinking about whether Dumbledore's early visit was due to Wu's Orphanage or because his original surname should be Ian Riddle.
Or perhaps.
Just being a Prince?
Was this pureblood surname in the original work?
As he thought.
Ian felt his eyes getting heavy.
The next moment.
He slowly transitioned from sleep to waking, as if crossing a boundary—the dawn, a streak of light like a ribbon wrapped beautifully around the gradient blue horizon, the distant woods like a fairy-tale paradise, trees verdant and lush, a little bird flitted over the treetops, its song crisp and delightful.
Under this picturesque sky, everything was rendered into dreamlike colors, making people feel in an exceptionally exquisite painting, their minds getting unprecedented tranquility and cleansing.
Ian opened his eyes, gazing at the stunning scenery before him.
"You're here again."
A gentle voice sounded near his ear.
"Almost forgot, today is Saturday."
Ian turned to look at the girl walking out of the woods.
She wore a blue dress, her golden hair draped over her shoulders, watching Ian with a pure expression.
"Ariana, today I met a frightening old man, I forgot to bring you candy."
He said to the girl.