Washington, D.C.
A light rain fell over the city of Washington, D.C., gently tapping against the tall windows of a grand palace that stood magnificently in the middle of the city's elite district.
The building looked like a relic from another era—solid white stone walls, towering pillars, and large windows reflecting the warm glow of lights from within.
Inside one of the palace's vast and quiet rooms, two men stood near a large wooden desk covered with documents and world maps.
One of them was already elderly. His hair had begun to turn white, but his eyes were still sharp. In his hand was a letter he had just finished reading.
Slowly, he lifted his gaze.
"So… my grandson suggests that we focus our attention on the Soviet Union?"
Across from him stood a younger man dressed in a neat dark suit.
"Yes," he answered calmly.
"That's what my son wrote in the letter, Father."
The old man leaned back in his chair while carefully folding the letter.
For a moment the room fell silent, filled only with the soft sound of rain outside the palace windows.
"Hm…"
He tapped his fingers slowly on the desk, thinking.
"If Kenzo is giving advice like this… then it means he sees something further than we do."
The younger man nodded.
"He rarely gives advice without a reason."
The old man stood and walked toward the large world map hanging on the wall.
His hand moved slowly across Europe… until it stopped over the vast territory of the Soviet Union.
"Very well," he said calmly, yet firmly.
"We will hold a secret meeting."
The younger man straightened his posture.
"Only the Pentagon?"
"Not only the Pentagon," the old man replied.
He turned his head.
"Invite the top military officials… intelligence chiefs… and representatives from NATO as well."
The younger man seemed to think for a moment.
"That could attract a lot of attention."
The old man smiled faintly.
"That is why the meeting will not be held in Washington."
He returned to his desk.
"Choose a quieter location."
The younger man thought briefly before answering.
"…Portland."
The old man nodded slowly.
"Good."
He placed the letter back into its envelope.
"Prepare the secret meeting in Portland."
The younger man bowed his head slightly.
"Yes, Father."
Outside the palace window, lightning flashed across the distant sky.
And without most people realizing it, a small decision had just been made—
a decision that would slowly begin to move the world toward a future none of them could yet imagine.
Meanwhile, the person who had sent that letter was currently chatting inside one of the Hogwarts Express compartments with Zetsu, Hannah Abbott, Hermione Granger, and Susan Bones.
---
Hogwarts Express
Meanwhile, the sender of the letter was now already aboard the Hogwarts Express.
Kenzo sat calmly inside one of the compartments with several other students.
Inside the compartment were Zetsu—still busy writing something in his small notebook—and three girls they had recently met: Hermione Granger, Hannah Abbott, and Susan Bones.
The train continued moving forward, leaving the city of London behind and heading toward the wide countryside.
Outside the windows, green fields, small forests, and rolling hills gradually replaced the city scenery.
Inside the compartment, the atmosphere felt warm and relaxed.
Hannah Abbott was the first to break the silence.
"So… did the two of you already know each other before this?" she asked while looking at Kenzo and Hermione.
Hermione nodded immediately.
"We met yesterday in Diagon Alley, at the Flourish and Blotts bookstore."
Susan looked interested.
"Really? What were you doing there?"
Hermione answered enthusiastically.
"I was looking for some extra books to read before school starts."
Zetsu suddenly added without lifting his head from his notebook.
"She has already read almost the entire first-year book list."
Hermione blushed slightly.
"Well… I just want to be prepared."
Hannah laughed softly.
"I think we'll all be happy to have such a diligent classmate."
Zetsu paused his writing for a moment and looked at Hermione seriously.
"Statistics show that students who read before school begins usually perform better academically."
Hermione looked a little proud hearing that.
Meanwhile, Kenzo, who sat near the window, simply watched the scenery outside.
But Susan soon turned to him.
"What about you, Kenzo?"
Kenzo slowly turned.
"What do you mean?"
"Did you also read a lot of books before going to Hogwarts?"
Kenzo thought for a moment.
"A few."
Zetsu immediately interrupted.
"His definition of 'a few' usually means a small library."
Kenzo glanced at him calmly.
Zetsu immediately lowered his head again and pretended to read.
Hannah giggled.
The train continued traveling farther north.
Occasionally the voices of other students could be heard in the corridor, chatting excitedly about Hogwarts.
Hermione looked out the window for a moment before turning back to Kenzo.
"I'm curious," she said.
"What do you think Hogwarts will be like?"
Kenzo was silent for a few seconds.
Then he answered calmly.
"Perhaps… more interesting than what is written in the books."
Hermione smiled.
"In that case, I can't wait to see it."
A moment later the conversation continued.
Hermione said excitedly,
"I read that Hogwarts has four houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin."
Hannah quickly replied,
"I hope I get into Hufflepuff."
Susan smiled softly.
"My aunt used to be in Hufflepuff."
Hermione turned to Kenzo.
"What about you?"
Kenzo tilted his head slightly.
"Houses?"
"Yes," Hermione said. "Which one do you want?"
Kenzo thought for a moment.
"I haven't really thought about it."
Zetsu spoke without lifting his head.
"Statistically, you will most likely attract the attention of the Sorting Hat."
Hermione looked curious.
"What do you mean?"
Zetsu closed his notebook briefly.
"The Sorting Hat reads a student's thoughts to determine the most suitable house."
Hermione immediately nodded.
"That's right! I read about that too."
She looked even more excited.
"I wonder what it feels like."
Hannah looked slightly nervous.
"I hope it's not too scary."
Susan laughed softly.
"I doubt it's as bad as we imagine."
Kenzo remained seated calmly near the window.
A gentle wind moved the trees outside as the train passed by.
A moment later—
The sound of a trolley came from the corridor.
"Candy! Chocolate! Chocolate frogs!"
An elderly woman pushed a trolley filled with sweets.
Hermione opened the compartment door.
Hannah immediately looked interested.
"Wow…"
Zetsu stood up and approached the trolley.
He looked at all the sweets with great curiosity.
"Interesting."
He picked up a box of Chocolate Frogs.
Hermione smiled.
"Chocolate Frogs are famous."
Zetsu carefully opened the wrapper.
But before he could eat it—
The chocolate frog suddenly jumped out of his hand and fell to the floor.
Hannah burst out laughing.
"Oh no!"
The chocolate frog jumped once more before finally stopping near Kenzo's foot.
Kenzo calmly picked it up.
Zetsu stared at it.
"Interesting phenomenon."
Kenzo handed it back.
Zetsu immediately wrote something in his notebook.
"Note: magical food displays semi-living behavior."
Hermione laughed softly.
"I think that's just normal magic."
A few minutes later the train continued moving farther away.
The sky slowly began to change color.
In the distance, small mountains started to appear.
Hermione looked out the window.
"Hogwarts must be somewhere out there."
Kenzo followed her gaze.
Inside the compartment, the atmosphere became even more relaxed after they bought snacks from the trolley.
Hannah carefully opened a box of Every Flavour Beans.
"They say it can taste like anything," she said curiously.
Susan laughed softly.
"My cousin once said he got the taste of soap."
Hermione looked interested.
"Really? That's amazing. I want to try them all."
Zetsu immediately wrote something again.
"Interesting phenomenon. Candy with random flavor probability."
He took one bean and studied it for a few seconds before eating it.
A few seconds later his expression changed slightly.
"Taste… black pepper."
Hannah laughed.
"Still better than soap."
Meanwhile, Hermione opened her own Chocolate Frog box.
She looked at the card inside.
"Oh!"
Susan turned.
"What?"
Hermione read excitedly.
"Albus Dumbledore!"
She began reading the small text on the card.
"He is known for defeating the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945… and also for discovering the twelve uses of dragon's blood."
Hannah looked impressed.
"He's the headmaster of Hogwarts, right?"
Hermione nodded.
"Yes! I've read about him."
Kenzo glanced at the card briefly before looking back out the window.
The train began slowing slightly as it passed through a mountainous area.
A thin mist started appearing between the trees.
Soon afterward, footsteps could be heard from the corridor.
A group of first-year students walked past excitedly talking.
"They say the castle is huge!" "I heard there are moving staircases!" "There are ghosts too!"
Hannah looked slightly pale.
"Ghosts?"
Susan laughed softly.
"I suppose we'll have to get used to them."
Hermione looked even more excited.
"This is going to be amazing."
Zetsu wrote again in his notebook.
"Note: student expectation levels toward Hogwarts are extremely high."
Hermione looked at him.
"You're really writing everything down?"
Zetsu nodded seriously.
"This is research."
Kenzo finally spoke with curiosity.
"Research about what?"
Zetsu smiled faintly.
"The social behavior of young wizards."
Hannah laughed.
"That sounds very boring."
Zetsu closed his notebook.
"On the contrary. It is very interesting."
Hermione looked even more excited.
"I can't wait to see everything."
Zetsu closed his notebook for a moment.
"You all seem very eager to start school."
"Of course," Hermione said.
"This is Hogwarts."
A few moments later the train passed a large lake in the distance.
The sky grew darker as the sun began to set.
The lights inside the train flickered on.
Hermione looked outside again.
"I think we're almost there."
Kenzo nodded slightly.
The train crossed a large bridge.
In the distance, a vast lake appeared between the mountains.
Beyond the mist and mountains, something enormous slowly began to emerge.
From that distance, however, its shape was still unclear.
Hogwarts Castle.