Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 2 Owl

The food at St. Mary's Home was very good; all one hundred-plus children ate meat every day. However, Britain truly lived up to its reputation as a culinary wasteland, with a remarkably monotonous menu. Fish and chips, chips and fish and chips, were the most frequent foods on the table.

Looking at the golden fried fish in front of him and the few pieces of broccoli and green beans garnishing the side, Ike was craving braised pork as usual.

Unfortunately, Gross is a small place and doesn't have a Chinatown.

More importantly, Ike didn't have much money.

The orphanage only provides for the children's basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter. Even though St. Mary's receives a lot of donations every year, it doesn't give the children pocket money like ordinary families do. If they want money, they have to work.

Older children can work as waiters in local supermarkets, convenience stores, shopping malls, and restaurants, while younger children can become newspaper boys, delivering newspapers door-to-door by bicycle.

At his awkward age, Ike was neither suited to be a waiter nor could he take over his younger siblings' jobs, leaving him with very few ways to earn money. Furthermore, because of his special ability, Julianne rarely allowed Ike to leave St. Mary's.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have received the title of Oak Guardian.

With a sullen face, Ike finished his fried fish and broccoli, washed his plate and put it in the dish recycling area, said goodbye to Julia, and went back to his dorm room.

As "Julian's favorite," Ike received the privilege that other children only received at the age of fourteen when he was 10: a private room.

A bed, a wardrobe, a table, and a chair were all that filled Ike's room.

On the table sat the books Julianne had given Ike, and beside the table leg was a somewhat worn schoolbag. It was currently school holiday, and Ike, enjoying a carefree education, didn't have much homework. Most of his books were in his locker at school, and his schoolbag contained only two or three books borrowed from the school library.

World History (Part 2) is not the kind that is too profound.

Picking up a book at random, Ike lay down on the bed. Reading before bed was a habit he'd developed. At this point, with smartphones still nearly twenty years away from becoming widespread, reading was an unavoidable necessity.

The next morning, Ike was awakened by a series of "thump, thump, thump" sounds. Squinting, he looked in the direction of the sound and saw an owl standing outside the window, carrying a letter in its beak and rhythmically tapping on the glass.

Seeing that Ike was awake, he excitedly moved his head and tapped on the window more frequently.

"No way." Ike couldn't quite describe how he felt about seeing this scene; he was a little excited and a little surprised. As someone who had watched eight movies plus two "Fantastic Beasts" films, plus dozens of fan fiction spin-offs, Ike was quite familiar with this kind of scene.

He opened the window, and an owl flapped its wings and flew in. Ike reached out and took the letter, looking at the familiar shield emblem on it, with a large "H" in the center, surrounded by a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake.

Turning it over, you see a line written on it: 231 Tredworth Road, Gloucestershire, on the bed in a room on the third floor of St. Mary's Home, to Mr. Ike Strade.

"As expected! It really is!" Ike quickly tore open the envelope, took out the letter, and as expected, it read:

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(President of the International Magic Federation, President of the Wizarding Association, First Class Wizard of the Order of Merlin)

Dear Mr. Strand:

We are pleased to inform you that you have been admitted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of required books and equipment.

The semester is scheduled to begin on September 1st, and we will be waiting for your reply by owl before July 31st.

Given your special circumstances, we will send someone to your residence to answer your questions and provide the necessary assistance.

Vice-Chancellor

Respectfully submitted by Minerva McGonagall.

"Coo coo, coo coo, coo coo," Ike said, relieved. He looked at the owl that was tilting its head and looking at him, and smiled as he reached out to touch its head.

"You'll have to wait for a reply." With that, she casually put on her clothes, grabbed the letter, and went out the door.

"Dean Julian! Dean Julian!"

Ike knocked on the door for a while before Julianne opened it. Before Julianne could speak, Ike handed her the letter.

"Dean Julianne, I received a letter."

"Little Ike, you're up early today." Julianne smiled as she took the letter, but didn't read it. Instead, she pulled Ike into the house, poured him a cup of black tea, and then started reading it while talking to him.

"You usually sleep until after nine o'clock, why are you up so early today? Is it because of this letter? Let me see... Hmm, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

"What is this? A prank?"

"I don't know either." Ike shook his head. "It was delivered by an owl, so I think it's probably true. Dean Julianne, you know, I..."

"I see." Dean Julianne nodded. "In that case, it's not impossible."

"By the way, they said someone would be coming? Why didn't they say when...?"

"Dean Julianne..." Ike pointed to the fireplace in the room where a green flame had suddenly ignited, "I think she should be here."

Julian looked toward the fireplace and saw a person suddenly emerge from the green flames. She wore square glasses, had curly black hair tied in a high bun, wore a dark green robe, and a pointed wizard's hat, and looked very serious.

"Hello, Ms. Julianne, Mr. Strayed. I am Minerva McGonagall, the Vice Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You may call me Professor McGonagall."

Professor McGonagall nodded slightly and extended her hand to shake hands with Julianne and Ike. "Speaking of which, your fireplace needs cleaning; it's quite dusty, Ms. Julianne."

"Everything's fresh." Professor McGonagall took out her wand, and a small whirlwind swept up the dust in the room, sending it flying down the fireplace chimney.

Julianne watched everything, and even though she had been somewhat prepared, she was still surprised.

"Is this magic?"

"Just a simple cleaning charm, madam," Professor McGonagall said, waving her wand again to transform a chair into a majestic lion, then into a tap-dancing teapot, before waving her wand back to the original shape.

"Mr. Strayed has magical talent, and he will receive a very good education at Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall briefly introduced the basic information about Hogwarts.

"Oh, little Ike." Julianne stroked Ike's hair. "Although I knew there would be a day when you would leave me, I didn't expect it to come so soon."

"But thankfully, I think you'll have a good time at Hogwarts School."

"At least you don't have to hide it anymore, right?"

"Wait, Ms. Julianne," Professor McGonagall spoke up, "You just said 'hidden'?"

"Of course," Julianne nodded. "Ike is a wonderful child, I've always known that." As she spoke, she gestured for Ike to demonstrate.

Facing two expectant eyes, Ike waved his hand, and a pen flew up from Julian's desk, circled the three of them a few times, and landed steadily on the desk.

"Unbelievable, Mr. Strayed," Professor McGonagall exclaimed, somewhat surprised. "You truly are a gifted young wizard. Even among children from wizarding families, very few can achieve what you have done, almost none!"

"You flatter me, Professor McGonagall." Ike bowed slightly. "I just don't want anyone to get hurt because of me."

Julianne stroked Ike's hair and recounted what had happened at the orphanage. Professor McGonagall, after listening, couldn't help but say, "Mr. Stradl, I must say, your talent is truly remarkable."

"Perhaps... I need to make some slight changes." Professor McGonagall thought for a moment, then said, "Well then, Mr. Strad, I will come again on July 12th, which is two days from now, to take you to buy the books and equipment needed for the new students."

"It was originally supposed to be until the end of the month, but I'd like to see some magic books sooner rather than later, wouldn't it be better?"

"Of course, Professor McGonagall," Ike replied quickly. "See you on July 12th then."

"See you on the 12th." Professor McGonagall nodded slightly to Julianne and Ike, then waved her wand. With a sharp "snap," Professor McGonagall disappeared from the room.

After a while, Julianne finally came to her senses from what had just happened. She bent down slightly and said with a smile, "Little Ike, I never imagined you would be a wizard, and soon you'll be going to a magic school to study magic. It's truly unbelievable!"

"Incredible!" Julianne exclaimed. "When I found you in front of the orphanage more than ten years ago, you were such a tiny little thing. Now you've grown up and are leaving me to learn magic."

"Oh! Magic! Unbelievable!"

Seeing the somewhat flustered Dean Julianne, Ike felt a surge of emotion and quickly comforted her, "It's not like I'll never come back. I'll come back when school is on break."

"I hope you won't give my room to someone else, otherwise I won't have anywhere to sleep at night," Ike said playfully, blinking his blue eyes.

"Of course, your room will always be there."

"This is your home, isn't it, little Ike?"

"Yes, this is my home, and you are my family..."

"My dearest family..."

(End of this chapter)