Wade Gray was leaning by the window when he saw a gray owl perched on the fence outside. It was staring at him seriously with its brown-yellow eyes, then suddenly lowered its head, spread its wings, and let out a “hoo hoo” sound. Wade wore a strange expression. If he wasn’t mistaken, it seemed that the owl had just dropped a letter into their mailbox? But… it was only 1991; the Harry Potter series hadn’t been published yet, right?

Having been reborn into this world for eleven years, he had grown from a babbling infant to an eleven-year-old, always believing he had simply been reborn into England from his original world, and he had even planned out the course of his life… He had never thought… that he would actually receive a letter from an owl. Isn’t this a materialistic world? But… if people can be reborn, then if magic exists… it seems… quite reasonable… — doesn’t it? — Or it might just be a cruel joke.

With a hint of uncertainty in his heart, Wade pushed the door open and stepped outside. He instinctively looked at the owl, which kept its gaze on him, slightly turning its head. Whether it was psychological or not, Wade felt that its eyes were full of wisdom. He held his breath, opened the mailbox, and took out the mysterious letter. When he saw the envelope clearly, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart skipped a beat.

On the envelope, there was a detailed address and “Mr. Wade Gray” written clearly. The parchment was unusually thick, and the emerald green ink was not a common color. Turning the envelope over, he saw a deep red wax seal and a shield emblem, surrounded by four animals: a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake, with the letter “H” in uppercase. There was no stamp. — Of course! An owl as a messenger! It wouldn’t need a stamp.

Wade took a deep breath and, with trembling fingers, opened the envelope.

[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore]

Wade hurriedly skipped over the long list of titles and looked directly at the content: [Dear Mr. Gray: We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry… Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress]

Wade read the letter over and over again, still finding it hard to believe — was he really in the world of Harry Potter? He unconsciously whispered, “Is this for real? Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?”

The owl stared at him with wise eyes, waited for a moment, then lowered its head to preen its feathers, tucking one foot in, and turned its head 180 degrees to look at the scenery behind it. Wade was stunned for a moment, then quickly turned around and rushed back inside, bursting into his father’s study. He found the best envelope, took out flower-pressed and gold-dusted stationery, and with a beautifully classical feather quill and fragrant ink, solemnly wrote:

“Dear Ms. Minerva McGonagall: I am very honored to receive your letter. If this is not a prank, I would be delighted to attend your esteemed school. However, I am uncertain how to purchase the necessary supplies mentioned in the letter. I look forward to your guidance…

With my sincerest regards, I wish you all the best!

Wade Gray”

The ink soaked into the stationery and dried quickly. Wade folded it up and stuffed it into the envelope, writing “Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall (Received)” on the cover.

When he stepped outside again, he saw that the owl was still patiently waiting on the fence. Wade leaned in closer, holding up the letter: “Um… this is my reply; please take it to Deputy Headmistress McGonagall.”

The owl extended a claw to grasp the letter, then tilted its head, looking at him with eager eyes. “Is there anything else… oh, please wait!”

An idea flashed in Wade’s mind. He rushed back inside and grabbed a handful of nuts. After he handed them to the owl, it simply glanced down disdainfully and swept them aside with its wing before soaring off.

Wade: “…” Not interested? At least it didn’t drop the letter.

Back inside, Wade sat at the table, unfolded the acceptance letter, and looked at it again, his heart racing. Only then did he begin to feel a sense of reality about being accepted to Hogwarts. But…

In the eleven years since his rebirth into this world, he had never discovered any extraordinary abilities — he had never flown up into a tree for no reason, nor could he bend spoons with his mind or make a pen fly in the air. Did his body really contain magical energy? Or perhaps — because adult minds are too rational and objective, they unconsciously suppress the innate powers within their bodies?

Wade clenched his fist and then opened it again, still not feeling any sensation of “invisible magic flowing within.” He stared fixedly at a teacup in front of him, concentrating hard.

“Clang!”

Suddenly, the teacup wobbled on its own without any force applied, then fell over, rolling around on the table before slowly coming to a stop. Magic… it’s real…

Wade stared at his palm, stunned. As his emotions gradually calmed, he dialed a phone number he knew by heart. “Mom… do you believe… that magic exists?”

…

In less than half an hour, a car screeched to a halt outside. Mr. and Mrs. Gray rushed down, forgetting to take the keys out of the ignition. Wade stepped outside to greet them, and before he could say anything, he was enveloped in a hug that nearly took his breath away.

“Oh my God! Oh my God! Wade, my dear, you really got accepted to Hogwarts — I’m so happy! Really… I’ve been waiting for this day for so long — I thought — I thought you would be like us, without — without that opportunity—”

His mother Fiona cried, her tears smudging her makeup. Wade’s father Ferdinand held them both, his eyes also moist, though he didn’t say a word.

The more Wade listened, the more he felt something was off. “Wait, what do you mean? You all—” He broke free from his parents’ suffocating embrace. “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 been wishing to go to Hogwarts since I was little. It’s just…”

Ferdinand wrapped his arms around his wife and son, pushing them into the house. “Let’s talk inside — we don’t want to be seen by Muggles.”

After some explanations, Wade finally understood the situation. His grandparents and maternal grandmother were all wizards, and both families had a good relationship. However, due to the wars, Fiona and Ferdinand, who were born during the turmoil, were what they called “Squibs” — individuals with magical genes but without the ability to cast spells.

In the chaos of war, even wizards struggled to survive, let alone two Squibs. Once they confirmed that they had no magical abilities, the two were sent to be raised by Muggle families.

Years passed, and they had completely adapted to Muggle life, but they always harbored a longing for the magical world. However, since Wade had never shown any magical abilities since birth, they assumed he was also a Squib. To spare him from the pain of experiencing disappointment like they did, they hid the existence of magic from him.

“I never expected — never expected that you were really a wizard… I mean — I’ve actually been waiting all this time, but it’s already July 30th, and you hadn’t received a letter… I thought…”

Fiona laughed and cried at the same time, and it took a while for the father and son to calm her down before she went to the bathroom to freshen up.

Once it was quiet, Ferdinand looked at his eleven-year-old son, his eyes filled with undeniable concern: “Hogwarts… sigh, Wade… I really don’t know if going to that school is a good thing for someone in your position…”