Under the cold starlight outside Nicholas Manor, a tall figure dressed entirely in black stood at the front entrance like a shadow pulled straight from the night itself.
"Mr. Nicholas, Mrs. Nicholas, good evening."
Severus Snape inclined his head slightly as Rose opened the door. His expression remained calm and unreadable beneath the dim porch lights.
"Please forgive the intrusion during your dinner. My name is Severus Snape, a professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Rose blinked several times.
The man standing before her looked exactly like the sort of person parents warned children to avoid. His shoulder-length black hair appeared perpetually greasy, his robes looked severe enough for a funeral, and his entire presence radiated the energy of someone who had never smiled voluntarily in his life.
Still, after hearing him mention Hogwarts, she quickly connected him to the mysterious letter.
"Oh... right. Please come in."
Snape stepped inside without another word.
A few minutes later, the entire Nicholas family sat together in the living room, staring at the unusually dressed professor seated opposite them. Nobody spoke first. The atmosphere grew increasingly awkward until Snape finally broke the silence himself.
"I shall keep this brief," he said flatly. "I assume all of you have already read the letter."
His dark eyes flicked toward the parchment still resting in Leo's hands.
Then, without warning, Snape drew a wand.
With a casual flick, the teapot sitting on the coffee table rose into the air.
Rose nearly jumped out of her seat.
The floating teapot calmly poured fresh tea into every cup before lowering itself neatly back into place.
The room became utterly silent.
Even Leo, who already knew magic existed, couldn't suppress the excitement rushing through him. Watching magic in films was one thing. Seeing it happen right in front of him was something entirely different.
Snape ignored their stunned expressions.
"As the letter states, Hogwarts is a school dedicated to the education of young witches and wizards," he explained. "Your son, Leo Nicholas, has been accepted as a student."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Since you are Muggles—non-magical people—it is understandable that this world is unfamiliar to you."
His gaze swept across the living room, lingering briefly on several electronic devices nearby. A faint trace of distaste crossed his face before disappearing.
"Do you have any questions?"
A long silence followed.
Finally, Stoke cleared his throat.
"Professor Snape... you said we're Muggles because we can't use magic?"
"Yes."
"Then why did our son receive an invitation from your school?"
Although Stoke was trying to sound calm, Leo could tell his father remained highly suspicious.
Honestly, he couldn't blame him.
If a stranger wearing black robes suddenly appeared in your home and announced that your child was secretly a wizard, most reasonable people would either call the police or throw a punch.
The fact that Snape had avoided both outcomes was honestly impressive.
Over the next half hour, the Nicholas family bombarded him with questions.
What exactly was Hogwarts?
How could magic exist?
How many wizards were there?
Could people really fly on broomsticks?
Did potions actually work?
Snape answered everything with the weary patience of a man who had clearly given this explanation far too many times.
Hogwarts, they learned, was the finest magical school in Britain. Leo had been accepted because he possessed magical talent, causing his name to appear in the Book of Admittance.
If young witches and wizards failed to learn control over their powers, accidents could happen.
Dangerous accidents.
As for broomsticks and potions...
"Yes," Snape replied stiffly after another question from Rose. "People genuinely fly on broomsticks."
His eye twitched afterward, as if physically pained by the statement.
By the time the explanation finally ended, everyone had slowly accepted the impossible truth.
Then all four adults turned toward Leo simultaneously.
Their eyes sparkled with dangerous levels of curiosity.
Leo suddenly felt like an exotic animal at a zoo.
"You..." he began awkwardly, staring into his tea. "I was planning to explain after dinner."
Nobody interrupted him.
Taking a slow breath, Leo focused on the teacup resting on the table.
The cup trembled.
Then it slowly floated into the air.
Rose gasped.
Stoke nearly dropped his own drink.
Under everyone's stunned gaze, the teacup drifted gracefully across the room before settling neatly into Leo's hand.
"I discovered this about a month ago," he explained before taking a sip. "At first, I thought something was wrong with me. Now I know it's magic."
Snape's eyes narrowed immediately.
For a brief moment, he looked as though he wanted to stop the demonstration. Young children often lacked control over accidental magic, and mistakes could become dangerous.
What Snape didn't know was that Leo wasn't being entirely truthful.
His abilities hadn't appeared only a month ago.
Ever since early childhood, he had realized that certain mental exercises from his previous life somehow produced strange effects in this world. At first, he could barely move a strand of hair or a scrap of paper.
But over the years, his control steadily improved.
Recently, he had even managed to move his entire bed.
To Leo, magic didn't feel foreign.
It felt natural.
Eventually, Snape finished answering questions and rose to leave. By the end of the visit, he appeared unusually eager to escape, almost as though prolonged social interaction caused him actual physical discomfort.
Honestly, that seemed entirely believable.
Before departing, he explained how to reach Diagon Alley, described the wizarding currency system, and arranged for someone to assist them with school shopping.
Then he swept out of the manor like an enormous black bat disappearing into the darkness.
Two days passed quickly after Leo's birthday.
The Nicholas family now fully believed in magic following Snape's demonstration. Rose had apparently spent an entire afternoon secretly attempting to levitate household objects before reluctantly accepting that she was definitely not magical.
At nine o'clock one morning, chaos once again erupted inside the manor.
"Leo! Hurry up or we'll be late!"
Rose stood in front of a mirror applying makeup while simultaneously shouting toward the dining room.
Leo calmly continued chewing his toast.
"We still have plenty of time."
Nicholas Manor was only about an hour from London anyway. Besides, he still hadn't completely recovered from the realization that he was literally living inside the Harry Potter universe.
What had happened to his peaceful vacation plans?
There was still an entire month before Hogwarts started. He had originally intended to spend it relaxing.
Instead, he was about to go shopping for magical supplies.
Honestly...
That sounded significantly better.
"Alright, alright. I'm coming."
He quickly finished breakfast, drained the last of his juice, and followed his parents outside.
An hour later, the Nicholas family stood together on Charing Cross Road in central London.
Directly ahead sat a shabby little pub squeezed awkwardly between a bookstore and a music shop.
The Leaky Cauldron.
What fascinated Leo most was that ordinary pedestrians walked straight past it without even noticing the building.
Magic truly affected perception.
"Let's go in," Stoke said quietly.
The three entered together.
Before they could properly look around, an elegant older woman in emerald robes approached them. Square spectacles rested neatly upon her nose, reflecting the warm lights of the pub.
"Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas, I presume?"
Professor McGonagall smiled politely before turning toward Leo.
"And this must be Mr. Leo Nicholas."
Leo recognized her immediately.
Minerva McGonagall.
Future Headmistress of Hogwarts.
One of the most respected witches in the entire wizarding world.
Compared to Snape's terrifying first impression, McGonagall radiated calm authority and intelligence. Leo had always admired her character.
"Yes, that's us," Stoke replied politely. "Professor Snape mentioned someone would meet us."
"Unfortunately, Professor Snape had other responsibilities," McGonagall explained. "So I'll be guiding you through Diagon Alley today."
As she spoke, she led them toward the rear courtyard of the Leaky Cauldron.
"Professor Snape also explained currency exchange, I believe?"
Stoke patted the leather bag hanging from his shoulder.
"We came prepared."
"Excellent."
Soon, they arrived in a small enclosed courtyard behind the pub. A rubbish bin sat beside a wall of weathered bricks.
Leo's lips twitched.
Here it was.
The legendary brick puzzle.
McGonagall raised her wand.
"Please remember this carefully," she instructed. "Count three bricks up from the rubbish bin, then two across."
She tapped a specific brick.
Immediately, the wall began to move.
The bricks twisted and folded apart like living creatures, creating a widening archway in the center.
Beyond it lay another world.
Leo's breath caught.
Diagon Alley stretched before them, crowded with witches and wizards moving between colorful storefronts. Strange signs swung overhead. Owls soared through the sky. Magical displays animated themselves behind windows while distant laughter echoed through the bustling street.
It felt alive.
Completely alive.
"Welcome to the magical world, Leo," Professor McGonagall said softly.
Beside him, Rose immediately grabbed his hair in excitement.
"Oh my God, this is incredible!"
Even Stoke looked utterly stunned.
McGonagall smiled faintly before continuing down the street.
"First, we'll visit Gringotts to exchange your money."
The family followed her deeper into Diagon Alley while trying to absorb the impossible sights surrounding them.
Robes danced inside shop windows without wearers. Sleeping owls perched lazily on wooden stands. Strange magical plants swayed gently inside pots while brightly colored sweets floated behind glass displays.
Everywhere Leo looked, something impossible appeared.
Eventually, they stopped before a towering white marble building that rose above every other structure nearby.
"Gringotts Wizarding Bank," McGonagall introduced. "The only wizarding bank in Britain."
She turned toward Leo and his parents with a composed smile.
"The sooner we exchange your money, the sooner we can begin purchasing your school supplies."
Then Professor McGonagall led them toward the massive bronze doors of Gringotts.