Chapter 4
<1st pov>
Convincing my parents not to send me to a high school full of geniuses, let alone any high school, was a mammoth of a task. They even threatened to send me to Eldermeade to help my gramps in the stables. Heck, I wouldn't have even minded that if I was sure I would be getting my Hogwarts letter and also if I wasn't addicted to the luxury of electricity and running water.
Though I had to promise them to study by myself (as if) and not waste my time in the gym or with my nose buried deep in my Game Boy and fiction novels.
That aside, my secondary reason for not getting into high school right now is to finally seriously try to feel magic inside me. No matter how cool I try to sound that it doesn't affect me that much if I am not a part of the magical world, in reality, it really does. I really love my current life, but knowing there is a magical world out there that I don't have access to, that has people who will hunt people like us just for fun, is very cruel and disheartening.
It's one thing to know how the story ends in the novels, and another thing in reality. It could be a totally different world for all I know—maybe Dumbledore is the evil one and the Death Eaters are the good guys, and all my worries are just worries, nothing else. But it's still worth a shot to get into the magical world.
My life from then on revolved around the gym and home, with lots of meditation—any way of trying to access my magic that I could think of. But the closer it got to September, the more desperate I became.
And just like that, a year passed… and then another one…
<~pov end>
In the bustling city of London, a grand monument of immense importance stood. Locals would call it the Parliament or… the Ministry.
And just across from it, hidden in the shadows of alleyways, stood a boy, tall with his shoulders slumped downwards, trying to make himself invisible with the help of his cap and a shawl covering most of his face. He was covered in a worn-out overcoat that had seen better days.
Despite his peculiar way of dressing, no eyes darted towards him, as it was a common sight around the area. Many street children dressed similarly to him, always chasing ghosts with the rush of excitement only they could feel in the world. But don't go around judging them from their perceived innocence—many of them were very gifted with their hands, so much so that many a time policemen have also lost their hidden stash of donuts, claiming they misplaced it or something.
Among the usual chitter-chatters of life, the same boy from before was seen following a man dressed in a long black cloak with a round black cap on top of his head.
The boy carefully followed the man so as not to raise any suspicion. Suddenly, the man started walking fast and turned into a dark alleyway. The boy also quickened his pace, but just as the turn to the alleyway neared… he ran past it.
The man in the cloak remained standing in the alleyway before disappearing with a swirl of wind.
<1st pov>
It's been two years, and I am officially desperate enough to get in contact with the wizarding world. I have accepted that I am a squib or someone with no magical ability, and it's been hard—so hard that I finally decided to do something stupid.
I enrolled in high school last year, and for the past month, I have skipped all the morning classes as I had been sneaking out of school to the only place I know that wizards frequently visit—the Muggle Parliament, as from what I remember from Adam's memories, the Ministry of Magic is right beneath it.
For the past month, I had just been observing and found the man I was looking for—a strangely dressed man who regularly disappeared into the Ministry, and yet no one seemed to notice him.
I know it's stupid and a hell of a lot reckless, especially knowing how corrupt the Ministry is and that half of it is filled with Death Eaters.
You may ask why not try a less reckless way and try to find Diagon Alley or even Godric's Hollow, but the reason is simple—it's far from home, and I have no clue where to start looking for it.
Today, I finally decided to follow the man to see if I could find any hidden entrance to the magical world. It started just as I planned. I was following the man while keeping my distance, but somehow he was able to perceive me and started running. I followed, keeping up with his pace. Just when he turned into an alley, I ran past it because what I saw from the corner of my eyes shocked me to the core—the man was pointing his wand at me, and it was glowing green.
My mind went blank, my heartbeat quickened, and I felt a pit in my stomach deep enough to make me feel like I was sinking. My legs went on autopilot and kept running all the way back to my neighborhood, where I finally stopped for a breather.
That was a proper wand… and the green light—that was the Killing Curse, wasn't it? They have realised I am onto them. Maybe they will be following me back. I am screwed… aren't I?
Taking a deep breath, I finally calmed myself. It is very unlikely they will suspect a street rat to spy on them, and even if they do, my disguise would prevent them from recognizing me.
I dumped my ragged clothes in the hollow part of a tree near the playground I like to hang around and was on my way back home.
So, the Ministry is off-limits now. Maybe I should try going to the station next year during the time they take the Hogwarts Express. That was probably the better idea instead of trying to spy on a potential Death Eater.
<~pov end>
John was near the gate of Maplethatch when a figure approached him. It was a woman late in her years, with her face riddled with wrinkles, yet her eyes were very sharp, and she carried a no-nonsense vibe around her. Looking closely, he realised she was wearing an old-fashioned gown, with a cloak around her body and a pointed hat on top of her head.
"Hello! Young man," said the woman, bringing John out of his stupor.
"Would you kindly guide me to Ms. Alina Olivera's house?"