Surrey
Little Whinging
12 Privet Drive
The third bedroom on the second floor
For Mr. William Richard
...
A seal in the shape of a shield entwined with an eagle, a snake, a lion, and a badger fell onto the table, and the thick parchment unfolded, letters written in green ink flowing gracefully —
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, First Class Order of Merlin, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot)
Dear Mr. Richard:
We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as a fifth-year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The term begins on September 1. Basic supplies have been prepared for you and will accompany your journey to the castle.
As you know, the "Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery" prohibits students under the age of 17 from using magic outside school grounds.
However, due to your unique circumstances, the Ministry of Magic has gratefully agreed to assign a professor as your guide and will assist you in procuring additional supplies needed from Diagon Alley. A list of required books and equipment is enclosed with this letter.
We await your reply by owl no later than August 5.
Deputy Headmistress
Minerva McGonagall
...
"... Why does the procedure seem even more troublesome than last time?"
The boy furrowed his brow slightly as he flipped through the parchment in his hand, and a slightly smaller letter fell out from the fold —
"Break with a Banshee," by Gilderoy Lockhart
"Gadding with Ghouls," by Gilderoy Lockhart
"Holidays with Hags," by Gilderoy Lockhart
"Travels with Trolls," by Gilderoy Lockhart
"Voyages with Vampires," by Gilderoy Lockhart
"Wanderings with Werewolves," by Gilderoy Lockhart
"Year with the Yeti," by Gilderoy Lockhart
A magic wand
Students may bring one owl, one cat, or one toad.
"..."
No, who on earth is this Gilderoy Lockhart anyway?
Having just experienced his second time travel in his life, William felt a bit confused, with a sense of familiarity mixed with unfamiliarity that left him somewhat bewildered — indeed, as a time traveler — even a two-time traveler, William had just arrived in this world barely half a month ago... or rather, this time point.
Fifteen days ago, he was still in 1892, a century ago, having just graduated from the best magic school in all of Britain — Hogwarts, concluding his three-year learning journey.
The "model student" William, who personally ended the Goblin Rebellion, applied for a professorship with Hogwarts' then headmaster — Phineas Nigellus Black, and became the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts.
At the time, the current Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Hekate, was unwell, with many ailments due to her past life as an Unspeakable.
But before William could receive a reply from the headmaster, while studying a Time Turner confiscated from a Black Wizard, perhaps... William was not too sure about the reason either, but it should have been an experimental accident — leading to another time travel.
He ended up directly in London, more than a hundred years later.
But this "accident" seemed to have brought no further serious consequences? William looked at his hand, which seemed smaller than he remembered — he appeared to have reverted to being fifteen years old again...
Time is indeed a mysterious thing.
Thinking of this, William raised his hand to touch the pendant hidden inside his collar — the Time Turner was now completely broken.
After confirming that magic could still be utilized in this world, William promptly found an empty house to stay in — the owner of the villa was likely away traveling, and after using a Muggle-Repelling Charm to ensure he wouldn't be noticed, he settled in with ease.
Yes, that's how we wizards are.
And today, a week later, he received another letter of acceptance from Hogwarts — even entering directly as a fifth-year student once again.
By Merlin, he had just passed the N.E.W.T. (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests), and now they're asking him to retake the O.W.L. (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) exams?
This is like only having attended three years of school, but having to repeat senior year each time, isn't it?
Though these exams weren't much for him, a time traveler with a golden finger, still... it felt a bit odd.
As for that time traveler-standard golden finger — perhaps it's better not to call it a golden finger, William would rather call it a talent — after all, it wasn't some simple, crude power-up or lottery panel. His golden finger was a sensitivity to a special presence known as "Ancient Magic," and under the influence of this "Ancient Magic," nearly every spell William learned could be enhanced to varying degrees —
For example, a group Expelliarmus, theoretically invincible Protego, and even a group Avada Kedavra... oh, is that something to be said?
Many spells that seemed difficult to most were almost a matter of looking at once for William.
Besides one professor, almost no one knew of William's ability — that professor also died at the end of William's fifth year.
Before discovering this "talent," William, on his first journey to 1889, felt very unfamiliar with this world — as a victim of exam-oriented education, he had never read Harry Potter as a child — nor did he have any interest in such "children's books" growing up.
Apart from knowing this was a magical world, the protagonist's name was Harry Potter, he was a little boy with glasses, and Britain had a magic school called Hogwarts... besides these, everything else was unknown to him.
So, after enrolling, he tried to find the so-called "Boy Who Lived" Savior.
But... it was clear, after enduring nearly half an hour of inexplicable stares from different people, William believed he had discovered the truth — it seemed he had arrived at the wrong time, too early, though he didn't know by how much, but definitely too early.
In 1892, even the Qing Dynasty was still lingering on —
But soon, he abandoned these jumbled thoughts, for after all, compared to exploring the Sea of Magic, he truly had no interest in helping some scarred boy defeat the Dark Lord.
Later, applying to stay on was also William's attempt to remain at school — aside from the reason to guard Ancient Magic, not to mention that the employment environment for wizards at the end of the 19th century wasn't great; with Hogwarts' vast library that one would want to dive into — you know, professors could borrow restricted books without limitation!
But unfortunate it was, as William's planned "magic research" had yet to take off, it faltered halfway.
In this life, even if he didn't receive an acceptance letter, he had to find a way back to Hogwarts.
Fortunately, now he has the chance again —
First time's a charm, the second time's more acquainted, what's another three years after the first three years!
Collecting his thoughts, William, by now well familiar with the magical world after three years, quickly penned a reply and placed it into an envelope, handing it to the brown owl perched on the windowsill, pecking at cookie crumbs —
"Hoot—"
Swiftly pecking away the cookie crumbs on the windowsill, the owl clutched the envelope William handed over, flapping its wings to fly into the pitch-black night sky.
"Clap—Clap—"
Sweeping the cookie crumbs off the windowsill, William stood up and left his desk, his loose deep blue robe swaying slightly with his movements. Looking at the dawn creeping in from the horizon, he, awakened by the roaring from across the street, had no intention of lying back down in bed —
The suitcase leaning against the table flew open, spreading itself on the floor, the clasps popping open, and instead of being packed with belongings, the suitcase revealed a dark entrance.
Gripping the ladder protruding from the suitcase's edge, William flipped himself inside.
Soon, William stood at the bottom of the suitcase in a very cramped space, racks teetering with an assortment of bizarre things — Ashwinder eggs, Eel Eyes, Dungbombs... and some items William couldn't even name.
Having lived in the magical world for only three years, William had much to learn.
"... When do you plan to let me leave?"
A somewhat hoarse voice resonated eerily, and from the darkness in the corner of the room, a grayish face emerged, with a man's face nearly covered in hair, and sharp canines jutting from his lips.
"Be patient, Mr. Fenrir, soon, no more than three days at most."
William replied nonchalantly, his tone lighthearted and unhurried.