There were only five people eating lunch in the Great Hall, so they all sat at one table.
Kane already knew Dumbledore and Hagrid.
The other two were Professor Severus Snape, who had previously lived only in Dumbledore's descriptions, a professor with greasy hair and a sour expression, and Filch, the castle caretaker, something like a... dean of discipline? He looked a bit like a vulture.
Professor McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress, should have been there too, but she had discovered that one of the young wizards who'd already been sent an acceptance letter had run away from home, meaning the letter never reached them.
If nothing went wrong, she'd already left Hogwarts and was scouring the world for that disobedient little wizard.
After hearing Dumbledore's explanation, Kane mentally broke into a cold sweat for the runaway.
What kind of grievance would drive someone to run away from home? Tears of sympathy flowed from the corners of his mouth.
Dumbledore noticed this and smiled. "Everyone, please eat."
As the rustling sounds of eating filled the air, Snape suddenly looked up toward Dumbledore and said quietly, "Who is that?"
"An unfortunate young wizard, Kane Heath," Dumbledore replied, then turned to Kane. "This is Hogwarts' Potions Master, Severus Snape."
Kane wanted to make a good impression on his future professor. He wiped his hands on a napkin and, reaching past Dumbledore, offered his hand.
Snape hesitated for a moment, then shook Kane's hand with measured politeness.
Almost immediately, he sensed what made Kane different.
Beneath the surface of this child's body was a strange, chaotic aura of dark magic, rough and nonsensical like a madman's sketch.
It was the kind of energy that seemed ready to erupt at any moment, to burst from the child and strike without warning.
This kid definitely shouldn't be sorted into Slytherin. Once school started, he'd need to keep the more troublesome Slytherins in line.
If anyone crossed someone carrying dark magic like this, Hogwarts would be finished, completely, utterly done.
They quickly released their handshake, and Dumbledore spoke up at just the right moment.
"Most young wizards have already received their Hogwarts letters by now, and many have started shopping in Diagon Alley for their school supplies.
Hagrid, would you mind taking the boy to Diagon Alley this afternoon?"
Hagrid beat his chest so hard it sounded like thunder. "Of course! No problem at all!"
Dumbledore suddenly remembered something important, like those precious once-in-a-lifetime moments of ceremony.
With that thought, he quickly left the table.
Within minutes, an owl clutching an ornate envelope flew down through the ceiling into the Great Hall and dropped the envelope in front of Kane.
"This is a ritual every young wizard must experience in their life. Open it."
Kane noticed the slightly smudged ink on his fingers.
It was obvious Dumbledore had written it himself. Out of respect for the old wizard, he opened the envelope without hesitation.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Kane Heath,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
"Mm, I'm going to frame this letter," Kane said after reading through it.
He folded the envelope and carefully placed it in his shirt pocket, trying not to crease it.
"By the way, about what the letter mentioned... wands?"
Dumbledore pulled out his Elder Wand.
"This.
Through wood and a magical core, it helps wizards channel their magic, allowing simple magical power to burst forth as miracles through the wand's guidance and the wizard's will."
"What I mean is, can wands be custom-made?" Kane asked.
"Ollivander has thousands of combinations in stock.
If you choose carefully, it's really no different from custom-making one. Or are you thinking of using some special materials?"
Dumbledore smiled.
"Hey, got a question for you. Is there any way to get me some Living Logs, or Nightmare Fuel, or something like that?"
Kane suddenly asked in his mind. He knew Maxwell could definitely hear him.
"Of course not. But you could try using your own shadow to infect ordinary wood. As for Nightmare Fuel?
I'd estimate that in another two days, your sanity will hit rock bottom.
When that happens, you can take down the Shadow Creature that comes for you yourself.
Then you'll have your Nightmare Fuel, won't you?"
Maxwell suddenly appeared on the opposite side of the long table, hands braced on the surface, smiling as he spoke.
Kane, who had been peacefully drinking pumpkin juice, suddenly coughed violently. Hagrid kindly reached out to pat his back. Unfortunately, the giant's strength nearly sent Kane flying, though at least he stopped coughing.
"Take your time eating. This is Hogwarts. The one thing we never run short of is food. You'll never go hungry again," Dumbledore reminded him kindly.
"I know," Kane recovered somewhat, then looked back at Maxwell. "In the real world, what's going to make me lose sanity?"
"You yourself, of course." Maxwell shrugged and disappeared.
"Are you alright?" Dumbledore looked at Kane with concern.
Kane shook his head. "I'm fine. Could I go to Diagon Alley tomorrow instead? I have some things to do this afternoon."
"Of course. Tomorrow morning it is, then. As for now, if you need any help, find Hagrid or come find me."
Dumbledore smiled and volunteered Hagrid for this important task.
Kane shoveled a bit more ice cream into his mouth to fill the gaps, then left Hogwarts Castle.
Dumbledore watched Hagrid, who was still stuffing his face, and couldn't help but cough pointedly.
"Dumbledore, do you have a cold?" Hagrid asked.
"Hagrid, I meant for you to follow Kane," Dumbledore said bluntly.
"Oh, right. The Forbidden Forest is so big, it'd be bad if he ran into any danger." Hagrid caught on and rushed out.
"I think more than running into danger, what you're really afraid of is him creating some bizarre danger," Snape said.
He understood Dumbledore as instinctively as a gun knows its bullets, cutting straight to the truth.
"I just have a very bad feeling about this," Dumbledore said, feeling his heart pound.
Snape didn't care for Dumbledore's ominous premonitions, but someone else at the table had a question.
Filch croaked, "Dumbledore, shouldn't the acceptance letters for new students have gone out already? That kid's letter looks like it was just written. Does that mean he was never officially accepted by the Book of Admittance?"
Dumbledore shook his head.
"Not at all. I checked the records earlier. Kane's letter left Hogwarts two days ago.
But it seems it arrived while Kane was in the middle of running away from home, so he never received it."
For a moment, the three of them in the Great Hall were completely silent.
"Oh, Minerva is definitely going to march into my office and slam her hand on my desk when she gets back," Dumbledore sighed.
Meanwhile, at Number Four, Privet Drive, Professor McGonagall stood before the house.
Compared to a mysteriously missing young wizard, even Harry Potter, the wizarding world's savior, didn't seem quite so important.
After all, no matter how badly Harry Potter was treated, he was at least alive.
But that missing young wizard? Right now, his fate was truly unknown.
Professor McGonagall finally adjusted her impeccable hair clip and slowly knocked on the door before her.
۞۞۞۞
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