Chapter 1
Wade Gray leaned against the window, gazing at a grey owl that was sitting on the fence outside. The owl met his gaze with its serious, brown-yellow eyes and then, without warning, lowered its head, spread its wings, and let out a hoot.
A flicker of oddness crossed Wade's face.
Had he really just seen the owl drop a letter into his mailbox?
But...
It was just 1991, long before the Harry Potter novels were ever published, right?
Having been reborn into this world for eleven years, Wade had grown from a cooing infant into an eleven-year-old. He always believed he was simply reincarnated in the original Britain and had even mapped out his life's course...
He never imagined... that he would actually receive a letter delivered by an owl.
Isn't the world supposed to be purely materialistic?
But… if rebirth is possible, then perhaps magic could exist as well… that doesn't seem so far-fetched, right?
—Or is it just an elaborate prank?
Uncertain, Wade opened the door and stepped outside. As he did, he felt the owl's gaze still on him, the bird slightly tilting its head.
Wade wondered if it was just his imagination, but he felt as if its eyes held a certain wisdom.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the mailbox and retrieved the enigmatic letter. As he examined it up close, his pupils dilated, and his heart raced.
The envelope had his name—Mr. Wade Gray—addressed in a distinctive emerald green ink on thick parchment.
Turning it over, he noticed a deep red wax seal adorned with a shield, featuring a letter 'H' encircled by four creatures: a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake.
No stamps were present.
—Of course! Owls serve as messengers; there's no need for stamps.
With a shaky breath, Wade carefully opened the envelope.
[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore]
Wade eagerly skipped the long list of titles and focused on the following text: [Dear Mr. Gray: We are delighted to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry... Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall]
He read the letter repeatedly, still unable to believe it—was he truly in the world of Harry Potter?
He murmured under his breath, "Is this real? Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"
The owl, with an air of wisdom, watched him patiently before turning its head to preen its feathers, retracting one foot and twisting its neck to take in the view behind it.
Wade blinked, momentarily dazed, before rushing back inside the house. He found the finest stationery in his father's study—an embossed letterhead dusted with gold powder. Using a beautiful feather quill and fragrant ink, he carefully composed:
Respected Miss Minerva McGonagall: I am honored to receive your letter. If this is not a prank, I would be thrilled to join your school. However, I'm unsure about how to acquire the supplies mentioned in your letter, and I would appreciate your guidance…
With my warmest regards, I wish you all the best!
Wade Gray
The ink soaked into the paper and dried quickly. He folded the letter, placed it into the envelope, and wrote [Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall (For Delivery)] on the front.
Once outside, he noticed the owl still patiently perched on the fence.
Wade approached and held out the letter. "Um… this is my response, could you please deliver it to Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall?"
The owl reached out with its claw to take the letter, tilting its head to gaze at him with eager eyes.
Was there anything else... Oh, wait!
In a flash of inspiration, Wade dashed back into the house and grabbed a handful of nuts, offering them to the owl. The bird merely glanced at the offering, disdainfully swept it aside with its wing, and took off.
Wade: ...
Does it not eat?
At least it didn't drop the letter.
Back inside, Wade sat down at the table, unfolded the acceptance letter, and read it multiple times, his heart racing.
It was only then that the reality of being accepted to Hogwarts truly began to sink in.
But…
During the eleven years since his rebirth, he had never discovered any special powers—
No random flying through trees, no telekinesis to bend spoons, or making pens levitate out of thin air.
Did his body truly harbor magical energy?
Or was it—perhaps because adults tend to be so logical and objective, they unknowingly suppressed the innate magic within him?
Wade clenched his fist and then opened it again, feeling no invisible magic coursing through him.
He focused intently on a teacup in front of him.
Clang!
Suddenly, the teacup trembled in the air without any apparent force, then toppled over, rolling around on the table before finally coming to rest.
Magic... is indeed real...
Wade stared at his palm in astonishment.
Once his emotions settled, he dialed a familiar phone number.
"Mom… do you believe… in magic?"
…
Within thirty minutes, a car screeched to a halt outside. The Grays had forgotten to take out the keys and hurriedly made their way down.
As Wade stepped outside to greet them, he was nearly engulfed in an enthusiastic hug.
"Oh my god! Wade, dear, you've been accepted by Hogwarts—I'm so happy! I've waited for this day for so long—I thought—you wouldn't have that opportunity like us…"
His mother, Fiona, was in tears, running her makeup. Wade's father, Ferdinand, wrapped them both in his arms, his eyes also glistening with emotion.
As Wade listened, a nagging feeling started to rise within him. "Wait, what do you mean? Do you both know about Hogwarts?"
"Of course!" Fiona replied, wiping her tears with a handkerchief, "My mother, and your grandparents, were all wizards. I've dreamed of going to Hogwarts since I was a child. It's just…"
Ferdinand embraced both his wife and son, guiding them back into the house. "Let's discuss this inside so no ordinary people see."
Once inside, Wade understood everything.
His grandparents and maternal grandmother were all magical, and the families had maintained a strong bond. However, because of the war, both Fiona and Ferdinand, born during tumultuous times, became Squibs—individuals with magical lineage but no magical abilities.
During the war, wizards struggled to protect themselves, let alone two Squibs. Once it was confirmed they had no powers, they were raised by Muggle families.
Years passed, and they adjusted completely to Muggle life, yet they longed for the magical world.
But ever since Wade was born, he had shown no sign of magic. They believed he was also a Squib, and to spare him from the pain of disappointment they themselves experienced, they kept the existence of magic hidden from him.
"I never expected—I truly didn't think you were a wizard… I've waited and waited, and now it's July 30th. When you didn't receive the letter, I thought…"
Fiona's emotions fluctuated between laughter and tears, requiring much reassurance from both father and son to help her calm down and clean her face.
Once things quieted, Ferdinand looked intently at his eleven-year-old son, worry etched in his expression.
"Hogwarts… Wade… I'm uncertain if it's truly a good thing for you to attend that school, considering your background..."