The next morning.
Just as Lyon Anglie had said, a plump owl flew in through the window.
The little creature flapped its wings and tapped at the frame, an emerald-colored envelope trembling in its beak.
Matthew opened the window, and the owl gracefully folded its wings and landed on the sill.
Then, with a flick of its head, it tossed the letter into his arms and tilted its head, staring intently at him.
"See? Hogwarts has sent a letter!" Lyon said, leaning casually against the doorframe with a smile.
Seeing Matthew's calm expression, he didn't seem the least bit embarrassed.
Instead, he leaned in with enthusiasm, urging Matthew to open it quickly.
Matthew picked up the elegant, stamp-less envelope and examined it carefully.
The address on the front matched Lyon's residence exactly.
The emerald green parchment and the slender, flowing script carried a refined elegance.
It looked like something Dumbledore might have written himself.
Pressed into the wax seal was the Hogwarts crest: a shield surrounding a lion, eagle, badger, and serpent, with a prominent, gleaming "H" at the center.
Opening the letter carefully, he found two pages inside.
...
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class; Grand Sorcerer; Chief Warlock; Supreme Mugwump; International Confederation of Wizards)
Dear Mr Anglie,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1st September.We await your owl no later than 31st July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
First-Year Student Requirements
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
Three sets of plain work robes (black)
One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note: All clothing must carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
Each student should have a copy of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) – Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic – Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory – Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration – Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi – Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions – Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection – Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set of glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set of brass scales
Students may also bring one of the following:An owl, a cat, or a toad.
Please note:
First-year students are not permitted to bring their own broomsticks.
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
...
The first page was the official letter of acceptance, signed by Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, a name Matthew Anglie knew well, and countersigned by Professor McGonagall.
A reply to the invitation was required.
The second page listed the necessary school supplies. Though the list was short, the total cost seemed likely to be quite high.
Seeing the owl still waiting patiently on the windowsill, Matthew asked Lyon for paper and a pen.
After carefully crafting a tone suitable for his apparent age, he humbly and politely accepted the invitation to enroll at Hogwarts.
Once finished, he gently offered the reply to the owl.
The owl tilted its head, paused for a moment, then turned to look the other way.
When Matthew made no further move, the owl finally took the letter in its beak, gave a small huff, and flew off into the sky.
Should I have given it something to eat…?
Turning around, Matthew saw Lyon rubbing his forehead with a wry smile. "My fault for not telling you sooner. You should've given the little fellow a treat. Luckily, this one's got a gentle temperament. If it had been our Mance…"
"Next time you call her, make sure you've got some dried fish ready. Otherwise, before she even takes off, you'll be stuck dodging wing slaps."
"I made that mistake more times than I'd like to admit when I was younger…"
"Oh, right. I haven't introduced you two yet." Lyon raised his right hand and snapped his fingers lightly.
Immediately, a sharp cry rang out from beyond the window.
A white blur shot into the room, circling overhead with swift, graceful movements.
She had pure white feathers, stood about one meter tall, and had a wingspan nearly two meters wide.
After circling a few times, she landed steadily on Lyon's outstretched arm, her golden eyes scanning Matthew Anglie like blades.
She was unmistakably a gyrfalcon—known as the "God of All Eagles."
If everything went as expected, this would be Matthew Anglie's familiar from now on.
In the wizarding world, magical pets were usually small animals—cats, toads, rats, or owls—typically fed on grains or similar food.
But Matthew knew well that gyrfalcons, while capable of eating grains, wouldn't hesitate to hunt small animals as prey.
Would this one end up treating other students' pets as food in the future?
Looking at the majestic falcon in front of him, Matthew instinctively wanted to raise a hand in greeting.
Yet he hesitated, afraid the gesture might provoke an attack. He froze, unsure what to do.
"Don't be nervous. This is Matthew Anglie—he's the young master of the house now," Lyon said to the gyrfalcon in a light, teasing tone. "You're going to have to treat him well from now on."
The gyrfalcon let out a sharp cry, almost in response, and fixed her gaze on Matthew.
"When you go to Hogwarts, take her with you. I think she's going to miss that place more than she realizes…"
"Now then, before anything else, it's time to buy your school supplies. Come with me."
Lyon led Matthew to the fireplace in the living room and grabbed a handful of shimmering powder.
He turned to Matthew. "This is Floo powder. This fireplace is connected to the Floo Network. Watch how I do it."
He tossed the Floo powder into the fireplace and called out clearly, "Broken Axe Bar."
Whhosh!
The fireplace instantly flared with roaring green flames.
"Hold on to me. Let's go."
Without further explanation, Lyon pulled Matthew into the flames.
At once, Matthew felt an overwhelming dizziness, as if he were being squeezed through a narrow pipe. After a long, jarring spin, everything suddenly stopped.
When he finally staggered upright, he found himself in a dimly lit room.
"Heh~ We're at the Leaky Cauldron on Charing Cross Road," Lyon said.
"There's a Muggle-Repelling Charm on this place—only wizards can usually find it." He spoke casually, as if this were everyday business.
"Of course, you can usually travel from the villa using Floo powder."
"The Floo connection to the Broken Axe Bar is restricted to Ministry of Magic personnel, so it's the safer route."
As Lyon explained, he led Matthew through the back of the Broken Axe Bar and into the main pub.
In the pub hall, wooden chairs and tables were scattered haphazardly.
Several wizards in eccentric robes and peculiar hats were gathered around, drinking and chatting in low voices.
Tom Abbott, the bald innkeeper behind the bar, set down his glass and greeted Lyon.
"Mr. Anglie, it's been a while. And this must be…?"
"This is the newest member of my household, Matthew. Matthew Anglie," Lyon said with a smile. "He's starting school this year, so I brought him to get his supplies."
"Oh! So this is the esteemed young Master Anglie. As it happens, my granddaughter is starting this year too… It's truly an honor for her to be in the same year as you." Tom gave a gentlemanly bow.
Why is this innkeeper treating me and Lyon so respectfully? Matthew wondered to himself.
Surely just being a Ministry employee wouldn't earn that kind of attention… Could the Anglie family really have that much influence?
Matthew responded to Tom with polite restraint.
After a few more pleasantries, Lyon led Matthew out through the back of the Leaky Cauldron into a small, bricked-off courtyard.
"Watch closely and remember how to open it, kay?" Lyon said. "Count three bricks up from that one, then two across. Tap it."
Matthew followed the instruction, tapping the designated spot.
Immediately, the thick brick wall began to shift—bricks receding and folding in on themselves—until a tall, arched doorway opened up before them.
Beyond it stretched an alleyway about four or five meters wide, paved with smooth cobblestones and lined on both sides with odd-looking shops.
Shop windows glowed with magical light, owls soared above the spires of Gothic rooftops, and robed witches and wizards bustled through the crowd carrying potion ingredients and spellbooks.
This was Diagon Alley—the gateway into the Wizarding World.