“Harry Potter…” Quirrell approached, looking both excited and nervous as he stammered, “I-I can’t begin to express…
what an honor this is.” “Hello, Professor.” Hagrid grinned.
“Harry, this is Professor Quirrell.” “He teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts.” “Pleased to meet you.” Harry extended his right hand.
Quirrell looked utterly flattered.
Instead of shaking it, he clasped both of his own hands together, too nervous to accept Harry’s greeting.
“A…
fascinating…
yet frightening subject…” Quirrell muttered vaguely, deliberately pretending not to notice Harry’s outstretched hand.
“But you probably won’t have much need of it…” “…Will you, Potter?” “Well then, we’d better get going.” “We’ve still got a lot to buy.” Hagrid smiled.
“See you around.” The giant led Harry through the bar toward the small courtyard that served as the entrance to Diagon Alley.
“Master…” Quirrell lowered his voice until it became little more than a whisper.
“I…
I think the person you sensed earlier…” “…might have been Harry Potter.” This time, Voldemort did not deny it.
Ten years ago, he had failed to kill the boy.
Instead, he had lost his body and been reduced to little more than a wandering spirit.
Now that they had met again after a decade…
It wasn’t impossible that he had sensed something unusual in advance.
“Master…” “I don’t understand.” “Why did you stop me just now?” “That ancient protection still surrounds him.” “I cannot touch him.” “And because I inhabit your body…” “…neither can you.” “But once I obtain that object…” “I will regain my body.” “I will live again.” “When that day comes…” “He’ll be nothing more than an insect.” “I’ll crush him with a single hand.” Quirrell nodded uncertainly before returning to his usual timid demeanor.
Meanwhile, Wade had returned to his room and changed into a fresh set of clothes.
For the first time…
He truly felt a sense of urgency.
Developing quietly was important.
But possessing the strength to protect himself was just as important.
Quirrell’s single glance earlier had nearly exposed him.
If he had been stronger…
He wouldn’t have found himself in such an embarrassing position.
He could have stared right back.
Unfortunately…
At the moment, he was nothing more than a small fry.
The road toward true strength was still a long one.
Besides learning magic…
I also need to move my Clown acting plan forward.
With that thought, Wade focused his attention on the Blasphemy Card.
Although his earlier performance had been forced, it had still helped digest a small portion of the Clown potion.
There was something else that interested him even more.
When he had shaken Harry Potter’s hand…
The Blasphemy Card had reacted.
Harry Potter’s blood…
Could substitute for one of the supplementary ingredients required for Sequence 5.
The protagonist really is the protagonist.
A Sequence 5 supplementary ingredient was worth one thousand Galleons.
More than twice Wade’s entire fortune.
Although he felt slightly guilty…
He had already made up his mind.
In the future…
I’ll have to find ways to make our Savior bleed a little more often.
As the days passed, Wade gradually prepared everything he would need for school.
Besides packing all the required supplies into his trunk, he also purchased a tarot deck.
Finally, he checked out of the Leaky Cauldron.
The fifty Galleons he had paid in advance had dwindled to only three Galleons and fourteen Sickles by the day before school started.
Together with the money still on hand…
He had less than seventy Galleons remaining.
For a moment, Wade considered visiting Gringotts to withdraw more money.
After thinking it over, however, he abandoned the idea.
The Sequence 8 potion wouldn’t be fully digested anytime soon.
Until then…
There was no point carrying extra money he couldn’t spend.
Besides…
Hogwarts had holidays.
There would be plenty of opportunities to visit Gringotts later.
September 1st.
After breakfast, Wade picked up his trunk and headed for King’s Cross Station.
Stepping out of the taxi, he followed the crowds through the station until he arrived between Platforms Nine and Ten.
Just then, he saw a couple leading a young girl straight through the solid barrier separating the two platforms.
None of the surrounding Muggles appeared to notice.
“Found it.” Wade murmured excitedly.
Without hesitation, he walked directly toward the wall.
The seemingly solid barrier offered no resistance whatsoever.
For a brief instant, darkness surrounded him.
The next moment…
He stepped through to the other side.
A deep crimson steam locomotive waited beside the platform.
The sign beside it read: Hogwarts Express 11:00 The barrier had become a wrought-iron archway.
Above it hung another sign: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters Steam billowed overhead.
Conversations blended together with the rumbling of trunks across the platform, creating a lively, noisy atmosphere.
Wade glanced briefly at the older students and future classmates surrounding him.
His expression remained calm.
Boarding the train, he found an empty compartment.
After stowing his luggage, he sat down, stretched lazily, and quietly admired the scenery outside.
Then…
A sudden impulse struck him.
He took out his tarot deck.
The first day at Hogwarts.
Seems like a good occasion to tell my own fortune.
After shuffling and cutting the deck, he relied on intuition to draw three cards, laying them out one by one.
The result was…
Intriguing.
A beginning filled with hope.
Yet…
An unexpected event might occur.
Something capable of causing matters to spiral beyond his control.
“Divination isn’t omnipotent.” Wade spoke casually.
As a qualified charlatan…
He reserved the right to believe only the part of the prophecy he liked.
A hopeful beginning.
Nothing unexpected will happen.
“Excuse me…” “Is anyone sitting here?” A strangely familiar voice drifted in from the compartment door.
Instinctively, Wade turned his head.
At that very moment…
He felt the Clown potion digest just a little more.
Oversized clothes.
Broken glasses.
And the unmistakable lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.
Who else could it be but Harry Potter?
“You’re…” Harry frowned in thought for several seconds before suddenly smiling.
“Morea!” No.
I’m not.
Please don’t come over.
Go away!
Wade screamed inwardly.
Before he could even think of an excuse to send Harry elsewhere…
Harry had already carried his trunk inside and casually sat down opposite him as though they were old friends.
At that point…
There was nothing Wade could really say.
“I didn’t expect to run into you here.” Harry smiled happily.
Finding someone familiar aboard the train made him feel incredibly fortunate.
Although he was the famous Boy Who Lived, Harry himself felt he hardly deserved the title.
His unfamiliarity with both magic and the wizarding world left him quietly insecure.
Being with someone he already knew eased his nerves considerably.
“I…
wasn’t expecting this either.” Wade smiled in return.
Inside, however…
He felt like crying.
He had only himself to blame.
If he hadn’t acted so enthusiastically back at the Leaky Cauldron…
None of this would have happened.
Sometimes…
Divination wasn’t absolute.
But it was still frighteningly accurate.
What have I done to deserve sharing a compartment with Harry Potter?
Now all he could do was pray that the Sorting Ceremony went smoothly…
And that under no circumstances would he be sorted into Gryffindor.
“Tarot cards?” Harry looked curiously at the deck in Wade’s hands.
“Were you telling your fortune?” “Yeah.” Wade didn’t deny it.
He simply packed the cards away.
“I happen to be fairly talented when it comes to divination.” If you’re enjoying the story, please consider supporting it!