The Portkey—a common magical object in the wizarding world.
It was a device capable of transporting people instantly from one location to another, covering far greater distances than Apparition and allowing multiple people to travel together with ease. The vessel could be anything: a sock, an old boot, a door, or even a statue. Once the Portkey charm was placed upon an object, anyone who touched it would be whisked away to a pre-determined destination.
Rufus Scrimgeour felt that Goku's explanation fit the profile of a Portkey accident perfectly. After a few more questions, he felt he had pieced together the boy's entire life story.
Judging by his name and appearance, Goku was likely of Asian descent. One of his parents was probably a wizard, while the other might have been a magical creature—though Rufus didn't know enough about Asian magical biology to be certain. Alternatively, it was a long-dormant bloodline that had suddenly awakened.
He theorized that Goku had been abandoned at birth and raised by a Muggle in the mountains. When that Muggle died, Goku became an orphan and a drifter, eventually stumbling upon a Portkey that spat him out in the middle of Knockturn Alley.
Why did he assume the boy's guardian was a Muggle? Because Goku knew absolutely nothing about the wizarding world and couldn't perform a single spell. He had taken down Alek Neil with pure, raw strength—likely aided by the fact that Alek had catastrophically underestimated a child.
Still, the question remained: how should they handle him?
"Mister, do you know where King's Cross Station is?" Goku asked, breaking Rufus's train of thought.
The old man in the alley had told him to go to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters tomorrow morning to catch the Hogwarts Express. That was where he'd find the "strongest wizard," Dumbledore. Goku was eager to challenge him and push his training to the next level.
"King's Cross? You're planning to go to Hogwarts?" Rufus slapped his knee as Goku nodded. "Of course! At your age, that's exactly where you belong!"
Young wizards usually received their owl letters at age eleven or twelve. At twelve, Goku was the perfect age to start his first year.
"As the primary captor of Alek Neil, I'll be filing for a substantial reward on your behalf. That money will more than cover your tuition, books, and living expenses."
The more Rufus thought about it, the more he realized this was the best solution for everyone. He sat back down and began drafting a letter to Albus Dumbledore, explaining the boy's unique circumstances.
In truth, Goku could attend Hogwarts even without the reward money. Any child with magical talent, especially an orphan, was entitled to an education—mainly because an untrained wizard risked becoming an Obscurial, a dangerous and unstable force. For those in financial need, Hogwarts provided a fund for supplies, and the Ministry offered a modest stipend.
Tomorrow was September 1st, the first day of term. The owls had long since finished their deliveries, so getting Goku in would require a personal favor from the Headmaster.
"Dear Headmaster Dumbledore..."
Rufus finished the letter and was about to wave his wand to turn the parchment into a paper bird for the communication office when he caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. He froze.
"Son... what on earth are you doing?"
"I'm training, Mister! I have to be ready for Hogwarts tomorrow," Goku grunted. He was currently balanced on a single index finger, his body perfectly vertical as he hammered out one-armed, one-fingered push-ups at a dizzying speed.
He was going to duel this Dumbledore guy tomorrow; he couldn't afford to slack off.
"You don't need that kind of preparation for Hogwarts," Rufus said, shaking his head with a chuckle. He figured a wizard raised by Muggles simply lacked common sense.
"Nymphadora! In my office, please!"
A moment later, a young woman with a trendy, alternative look and bubblegum-pink hair pushed open the door.
"You called, Director? Is there a mission?"
"Nymphadora, I need you to take this boy to Diagon Alley to buy his first-year supplies." Rufus pointed at Goku.
Nymphadora Tonks was a promising young witch who had just graduated from Hogwarts and was currently an Auror trainee. Rufus held her in high regard, not because of her Black family bloodline, but because she was a rare Metamorphmagus.
Her innate ability to change her appearance at will was an invaluable asset for an Auror, far more efficient than the expensive and time-consuming Polyjuice Potion. More importantly, she had a strong moral compass.
Rufus felt she was the right person to handle a boy who could punch out international fugitives. He had too much paperwork to play tour guide himself.
"On it, Director!" Tonks nodded, her eyes lingering on Goku with intense curiosity. 'Who is this kid? Is he the Director's? No, Scrimgeour isn't the type to have a secret love child... though the kid does look Asian. Maybe the mother was?' Behind her professional facade, the fires of gossip were burning bright.
"This is Son Goku. He's an orphan who hit a Portkey and ended up in the Alley. He's the one who caught Alek Neil for us..."
Rufus gave a quick summary and handed Tonks a pouch of gold Galleons for the shopping trip. Tonks stared at Goku, her jaw dropping.
"Alek Neil? He's the one who took him down? He's that powerful without even using magic?"
She had heard the rumors in the breakroom that the butcher of Muggles had been caught, but the details had been fuzzy.
"Well, Hogwarts is certainly about to get interesting," Tonks grinned, looking at Goku. "I wonder which House he'll end up in.
***
Read 20 Chapters early on P-atreon.com/Redestro666