On an August morning, sunlight sliced through the gap in the curtains, casting a bright line across the floor.
Leon stood at the island in the open kitchen, eggs sizzling in a frying pan. He cracked one with a single hand while casually shaking the pan with the other.
Outside, the sound of flapping wings drifted by, followed by a muffled thud as something dropped into the mailbox.
Leon ignored it for now.
Five minutes later, after plating the eggs and pouring a glass of milk, he shuffled outside in his slippers to check the mail.
Bills. More bills. Advertisement flyers...
At the very bottom lay a parchment envelope. Its texture was rough beneath his fingers—completely different from the smooth, glossy paper stacked above it.
Leon turned it over.
A wax seal stamped with a shield-shaped crest. Inside the crest, a lion, a snake, a badger, and an eagle surrounded a large letter H.
His hand froze around his glass.
"...What the hell? Is this real?"
He tore open the seal and pulled out the letter. The dark green handwriting shimmered faintly in the morning light.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
Dear Mr. Leon,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A list of required books and items is enclosed.
Due to your special circumstances—your enrollment taking place later than the standard intake, and after assessment confirming your magical potential—you will be placed directly into the fifth year and must complete the necessary remedial lessons before the start of term.
Please purchase the required books and equipment in Diagon Alley before September 1st.
Deputy Headmistress,Minerva McGonagall
Leon read the letter three times.
He set it down. Took a sip of milk. Picked it back up and read it again.
Parchment. Wax seal. Owl post. Deputy Headmistress McGonagall.
Right, right, right... No, wait—there was no owl.
Actually, that made sense. The owl didn't need to wait around. It could have delivered the letter and flown off.
That's right.
He walked to the window and pulled the curtain aside.
Across the street stood Number 4, Privet Drive. The Dursleys' lawn was trimmed immaculately, and a pot of geraniums sat beneath the porch.
The second-floor bedroom window was shut tight, the curtains drawn firmly closed.
The boy with the scar was sleeping in that room right now.
Leon stared at that window for a long moment, then looked down at the letter in his hand.
"Hogwarts," he muttered. "Fifth year. Transfer student."
He had transmigrated to England fifteen years ago and lived next door to Harry Potter ever since. All this time, he had believed himself to be nothing more than an ordinary middle-class suburban boy.
Study. Exams. University applications. Then an ordinary life.
His only connection to the magical world had been the occasional brown owl flying from the direction of the Dursleys' house every September first.
He wasn't an idiot.
The moment he learned the Dursleys lived at Number 4 Privet Drive, he knew exactly what kind of world this was.
The problem was that over the past four years, he had watched that scarred boy grow up—becoming increasingly mysterious, disappearing for most of each year.
He knew.
Harry Potter had already entered the magical world.
And there had never been a place in it for him.
Leon had been unwilling. Resentful. But over time, he had gradually come to terms with it.
In fact, his next step had been to move away.
After all, it was already 1995.
Harry was about to begin his fifth year.
Voldemort had successfully returned last year.
In two years, the war would escalate and the Ministry of Magic would fall under attack.
As Harry Potter's neighbor? There was no way the Death Eaters wouldn't come knocking.
So who would have thought a surprise like this would come out of nowhere?
But why? Why had such an enormous surprise suddenly appeared?
The answer revealed itself immediately.
[Key story item detected: Hogwarts admission letter.]
A cold, emotionless mechanical voice slammed into his mind without warning.
[Steam Game Library Template System successfully loaded.]
[Detected current universe: Hogwarts Legacy. Loading game template...]
[Loading complete. Please complete missions step by step to level up. Enjoy your game.]
Leon grabbed the doorframe and froze.
The Hogwarts Legacy universe?
He turned to look at the tightly shut window of Number 4 Privet Drive—where Harry and his scar were sleeping—then looked back at the letter signed by Professor McGonagall.
Was the system infected with a virus?
No...
A virus was good.
Leon had seen enough over the years. As a veteran reader, he understood mismatched systems perfectly.
The system had judged that he was in the Hogwarts Legacy universe—which was why it only awakened when he turned fifteen.
Perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
So next should be the classic starter bonus, right?
[Main Quest 1: The Road to Hogwarts]
[Please evade pursuit and, under the guidance of the professor, arrive safely at Hogwarts.]
[Quest Completion Rewards:Talents: Fast Learning, Lightning Reflexes, Peak Physique.Knowledge: Basic spell mastery, History of Magic fundamentals, complete Year One through Year Four curriculum.]
"Yes! This is it! I want this!"
Leon nodded vigorously.
The protagonist's opening in Hogwarts Legacy had been brutal.
On the way to Hogwarts, he was attacked by a dragon, forced to use a mysterious Portkey, accidentally explored Gringotts ahead of schedule, discovered the ability to sense Ancient Magic, fought an ancient guardian inside a vault, and then ran straight into the goblin rebel leader Ranrok.
During the confrontation, the Pensieve guardian activated and clashed with Ranrok's men.
The protagonist and Professor Fig took advantage of the chaos, escaped with another Portkey, and were transported directly into the forest near Hogwarts Castle—only then finally entering the school for the Sorting Ceremony.
But Leon didn't need to go through any of that.
In this era, Dumbledore stood at the absolute peak.
The greatest white wizard of the age suppressed everything.
All monsters, dark creatures, and forces of evil had to keep their heads down.
All he needed to do was stay quietly at home for a week, head to Diagon Alley to buy his books, equipment, and robes, then board the Hogwarts Express.
Then he could claim rewards until his hands went numb.
This was the beauty of a mismatched system.
Who wouldn't love a setup like this?
At that moment—
Ding dong. Ding dong.
The doorbell rang.