Morris was led to the reception room by the person in charge.
The day had finally arrived, and he couldn't help but feel excited.
As soon as he stepped into the reception room, he saw an oddly dressed old woman standing by the wall, seemingly examining a cheap landscape print on the wall.
They are from Hogwarts.
Morris made his judgment almost immediately.
Harold led him to the old lady.
Only then could he carefully observe the person in front of him. She was a woman who looked no younger than herself, yet was remarkably energetic. Her hair was neatly tied into a tight bun at the back of her head, and she was wearing a dark robe.
"This is Professor McGonagall," Harold introduced, looking relieved that he had completed his task.
Professor McGonagall nodded slightly, her sharp gaze landing on Morris.
Surprisingly, Maurice did not feel uncomfortable under such gazes.
"I am Minerva McGonagall, Vice Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Professor McGonagall's voice was steady. "Hello, Mr. Black."
"Hello, Professor McGonagall," Morris greeted politely. "I've already seen your name in the letter."
Professor McGonagall's lips twitched slightly, revealing a perfectly timed smile. "Then you must have read that letter and already know something about Hogwarts."
"Yes, but all I know is that it's a school called Hogwarts." Morris nodded.
"Very good." Professor McGonagall nodded, seemingly satisfied with Morris's answer.
She succinctly concluded, "In short, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a place that teaches young wizards how to use magic correctly. According to our records, you are eleven years old and have demonstrated magical talent, thus qualifying for admission."
Next, Professor McGonagall gave a brief introduction to the basics of Hogwarts and the necessity for young wizards to learn magic.
Would you like to attend Hogwarts?
"Of course, Professor."
Morris naturally had no reason to refuse.
Meanwhile, Harold, standing to the side, was in a state of confusion.
Although he had learned of the existence of magic from the mysterious woman in front of him beforehand and had already confirmed it, hearing the words "use magic" uttered by such a serious-looking old woman still felt somewhat absurd to him.
Damn it, did he damage his brain from taking drugs last night?
No, he didn't take any drugs last night.
"Mr. Green?"
When Harold came to his senses, he realized that the two men had been staring at him the whole time.
"W-what's wrong?" he stammered, subconsciously wiping his forehead.
Professor McGonagall's expression turned serious, and her voice became clear. "Mr. Green, now that Mr. Black has agreed to enroll, I need to ask you some basic questions about his situation here. This will help us better arrange things after he enrolls."
Perhaps noticing Harold's slight tension, she added, "Of course, it's mainly about everyday habits and behaviors; you don't need to be nervous."
Harold forced a smile. "Please ask, ma'am."
Don't be nervous, you say it so casually.
Anyone who sees an old lady who can turn a chair into a pig and then turn it back without batting an eye would find it hard to remain calm.
Perhaps if his attitude had been any worse, he would have ended up like that chair.
His scientific worldview, built up over decades, is on the verge of collapse.
Chapter 5 The Gathered Corpses
"So, has anything unusual happened with Mr. Black?" Professor McGonagall asked directly.
"An unusual situation?" Harold didn't react for a moment.
"Yes," Professor McGonagall nodded. "For example, objects suddenly moving, milk spilling for no reason... anything unusual."
Harold frowned.
He glanced at Maurice standing beside him; the boy was obediently lowering his eyelids, looking utterly indifferent to the world.
"If I had to point out anything unusual," Harold said after a moment's thought, "Mr. Black is a very bright boy who never needs any help with his studies. In the recent entrance exams, he came in first in the area."
Although he doesn't usually pay much attention to the affairs of the children's home, he had still heard about this news.
After all, several top schools have already contacted him, hoping to admit this child.
He simply left these matters to the caregiver.
To be honest, he doesn't care much about the children's home itself—unless the government stops funding him.
No, it's not that they're not allocating funds to his orphanage.
"Oh, right," Harold suddenly remembered something, "this child has a history of being adopted twice."
Professor McGonagall leaned forward slightly. "If it's convenient, could you tell me the specifics?"
Given that there have been two adoption records, why is this child still staying here?
This is a big problem.
Was it due to abuse, or some other reason?
Harold awkwardly touched the back of his bald head.
"That's a real problem," he cleared his throat awkwardly. "I don't remember the specific details very well. You know, that was several years ago."
Upon hearing this, Morris unconsciously pursed his lips.
Professor McGonagall keenly noticed the subtle movement and turned her gaze gently towards him.
"Do you remember anything, Mr. Blake?" she asked softly. "Of course, it's alright if you don't want to tell me. It won't affect your admission."
Morris looked up and met Professor McGonagall's kind eyes.
Never mind, it's not something that needs to be hidden.
He explained simply, "It's nothing serious. When those two families adopted me, all sorts of stray animal carcasses would mysteriously appear in their yard."
"My first adoptive mother was so frightened that she fell ill, and my second adoptive father thought I was a child who brought bad luck. They both quickly sent me back."
Morris said in a very relaxed tone, "Now that I think about it, it must have been the effect of magic."
He still feels somewhat apologetic about this.
After all, this is most likely a problem he caused.
Those two kind families suffered an undeserved calamity for no reason.
By the way, the second family that adopted him at the time found not only the bodies of stray animals, but also the bodies of two homeless people.
I heard that the house they lived in in the city center has seen its price drop.
Very realistic.
Morris silently apologized again in his heart.
Of course, he was not responsible for the deaths of those stray animals and homeless people.
The autopsy reports of the two homeless men at the time also proved that they had frozen to death.
He probably just used magic to gather those corpses together.
After listening to Morris's description, Professor McGonagall pondered for a moment.
"Although the manifestation is somewhat unusual," she said, "it is very likely caused by a magical outburst. When a young wizard experiences intense emotional fluctuations or has a strong desire, his magic leaks out uncontrollably, causing all sorts of strange things to happen."
Magical upheaval.
Morris nodded.
Now everything makes sense.
He always thought he was just unlucky, and that the corpses just happened to appear around him.
In retrospect, those corpses were gathered together because of his strong will.
Wait, that doesn't seem right either.
Why would he want to gather those corpses for no reason?
He's not a pervert.
Professor McGonagall, seeing the complicated expression on Maurice's face, comforted him, "Don't worry, Mr. Black, magical outbursts generally won't happen again at your age."
"Once you get to Hogwarts, you will learn how to control your magic. At that time, these uncontrollable phenomena will naturally disappear."
Morris nodded thoughtfully. "I understand, Professor."
"So, do you have any other questions?" Professor McGonagall asked.
Morris hesitated for a moment, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes. "Professor, could you demonstrate a spell for me now?"
Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, then gave a knowing smile.
Indeed, she has not yet shown Maurice any magic.
It was Maurice's readily accepted belief in the existence of magic that seemed even more unusual.
"That's perfect. I'll take you to Diagon Alley to buy some things you need for school. Did you bring your packing list? It's attached to your acceptance letter," Professor McGonagall said.
Want to read 10–40 chapters ahead?
Support the story and unlock early access:
https://www.patreon.com/c/bond501/membership