Henry sat in the garden, his gaze passing over the carefully arranged tea refreshments on the table before settling on an owl perched on the hedge not far away.
It was somewhat unusual.
Although owls occasionally appeared around the gardens of Buckingham Palace, it was currently afternoon, which clearly did not fit an owl’s usual habits.
The owl had barely found its footing when several corgis came bounding over on their short little legs, barking excitedly as they charged toward it.
Then something even stranger happened.
The owl kept shifting from one foothold to another, yet showed no intention of leaving despite being chased by the corgis.
“Henry, dear,” his grandmother Elizabeth reminded him softly as she placed her bone china teacup onto the tray.
“Your tea is getting cold.”
Only then did Henry come back to his senses and turn toward the tea table covered with an exquisite tablecloth.
A three-tiered silver stand displayed miniature sandwiches, scones, and an assortment of delicate pastries.
“Sorry, Grandma.” Henry smiled apologetically as he picked up the round miniature sandwich in front of him and took a bite.
It was sweet and slightly tart, filled with traditional strawberry jam.
After being reincarnated into this world…
, Henry was practically an authority when it came to precocious intelligence.
Combined with the affection that naturally came with being a grandchild, Elizabeth doted on him and often invited him to afternoon tea.
He was, without a doubt, Britain’s favorite
His old man was rather jealous of this, but in the end, he could hardly stop an elderly grandmother from enjoying the happiness of doting on her grandson.
Because of certain butterfly effects, Charles had married Diana two years earlier than in the original timeline, and Henry had become the eldest son created by those flapping butterfly wings.
And because of his parents’ years of persistent efforts, their relationship had actually turned out quite well.
The young man was handsome.
Unlike his father, who had inherited the shortcomings of both his parents, Henry had instead taken the best features from both sides of the family.
And he was not merely handsome—he also resembled his great-grandfather, George VI, which was another reason his grandmother particularly adored him.
“How were your lessons today?”
Elizabeth picked up a scone and asked softly.
Although Henry had private tutors, she still cared about her grandson’s daily life.
After awakening in this new life…
and becoming the eldest son of the man who had been Prince of Wales for seventy years, Henry still had to study.
And not just ordinary studies.
His curriculum was no lighter than that of children his age in his previous life; if anything, it was even more demanding.
“Math was interesting. We’re studying geometric proofs.” Henry swallowed his sandwich.
“In history, we covered the Tudor dynasty. It reminded me of those tapestries at Hampton Court—”
His words abruptly stopped.
The owl suddenly flapped its wings and flew over, passing precisely above the tea table.
A thick parchment envelope dropped like a bomb, landing perfectly beside the pastry stand in front of Henry.
Elizabeth’s hand paused slightly.
The security personnel hidden around the garden reacted with remarkable speed, but just as they were about to rush forward, the Queen stopped them with a gesture.
The owl did not fly away.
Instead, it circled halfway around before gracefully landing on the marble edge of the courtyard fountain.
It tilted its head and observed everyone, as though waiting for something.
“Paul?” she called softly.
A handsome attendant approached and inclined his head respectfully toward Elizabeth.
Henry recognized him.
Tall Paul was his grandmother’s most trusted attendant.
Paul stepped forward and examined the envelope with his gloved hands.
Henry could see the deep red wax seal gleaming in the sunlight.
A shield-shaped crest was clearly visible, with four animals—a lion, a badger, an eagle, and a snake—quietly surrounding a large letter “H.”
Paul bowed and said, “Your Majesty, it is addressed to our exact current location, with the words ‘To His Royal Highness Henry—To Be Opened by Him.’ The sender is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”
Henry: ?
Wait, what?
He had already prepared himself to become the heir to imperialism, so what the hell was this Hogwarts acceptance letter?
He was absolutely certain that it was 1991.
Aunt Rowling had not yet written the timeless classic Harry Potter.
Besides, there was hardly anyone who would play such a joke on the Royal Family.
He had thought that having a system stuck at ninety-nine percent completion was already bizarre enough.
He never expected there to be an even bigger expert in absurdity!
He looked at his grandmother again.
He had expected the old lady to be surprised, but her reaction was astonishingly calm.
“Grandma?” Henry asked tentatively.
“You don’t seem surprised at all?”
Elizabeth gently waved her hand.
Paul understood and placed the letter on the table before stepping aside, though he remained close enough to be summoned at any moment.
“Take a look,” she said.
“It’s a letter for you, too.”
Henry did as instructed.
He picked up the letter, opened it, and carefully read through it.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, First-Class Order of Merlin)
Your Royal Highness,
In accordance with the ancient customs of the magical world, we are honored to inform you that you have been accepted to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Enclosed with this letter is a list of the required books and equipment.
The term begins on September 1.
We shall await your owl carrying your reply no later than July 31.
We remain, as always, with the highest respect, and wish you all the very best.
Yours sincerely,
Deputy Headmistress
Minerva McGonagall
Good grief…
So the salutation and contents of the letter had both changed, huh?
Henry calmly folded the letter back up and returned it to the envelope.
Elizabeth lifted her teacup, took a sip of black tea, and slowly began to speak in her elegant tone.
“During the month I ascended the throne, a very special visitor came to see me in secret.” Her gaze turned toward the distance, as though she were looking back through time.
“He claimed to be the Minister of Magic—the institution responsible for carrying out the functions of government in the wizarding world. You can imagine how surprised I was at the time. No one had ever told me that such a department even existed.”
At this point, she smiled at Henry.
“He explained the existence of the Statute of Secrecy, as well as the delicate balance that had been maintained between the two worlds for centuries.”
Henry’s eyes widened.
Elizabeth continued calmly, “According to records passed down within the Royal Family, there have been wizards among our family before, but they were all members of collateral branches. You are the first direct-line heir to possess magical potential.”
She set down her teacup and turned her gaze back to Henry.
Her expression became serious and profound.
“The arrival of this letter means that, as heir to the throne, you will face a situation unlike anyone before you.”
The owl beside the fountain gave a soft hoot at just the right moment, as though politely urging them to respond.
The corgis frolicking nearby barked along with it.
“Then how should we reply?” Henry asked.
Elizabeth did not answer immediately.
She gazed deep into the garden.
The magnificent stone walls of Buckingham Palace appeared solemn and silent beneath the afternoon sun.
After a long while, she finally spoke again.
“We will meet with Headmaster Dumbledore. But before that—” She turned to Paul.
“Prepare Royal stationery and my personal seal. Also, notify Kensington Palace. We will hold a family meeting tonight. Charles and Diana both need to know about this.”
Paul bowed and accepted the order.
Elizabeth added one more thing.
“Have the kitchen prepare some fresh poultry as well. Since this messenger of the night has chosen to perform its duty in broad daylight, it deserves the proper hospitality.”
After Paul’s figure disappeared around the bend in the garden path, Elizabeth turned her attention back to Henry.
“Write a reply to Hogwarts, Henry,” she said gently.
“Tell the headmaster that Buckingham Palace will await his visit at three o’clock tomorrow afternoon.”
At Elizabeth’s instruction, Paul soon brought Henry paper and a pen.
“How should I reply, Grandma?” Henry turned toward the Queen, the fountain pen in his hand gleaming with a mother-of-pearl-like sheen in the sunlight.
Elizabeth gently shook her head and said with a faint smile, “It’s your letter, Henry. But perhaps you could begin like this: ‘Dear Headmaster Dumbledore, Buckingham Palace has received your letter and is honored to invite you to the Garden Room at three o’clock tomorrow afternoon for tea. We shall discuss the matter of admission in greater detail at that time. Yours sincerely, Henry.'”
Henry followed his grandmother’s instructions, his pen gliding smoothly across the parchment.
“Is this appropriate?” He handed the completed letter to his grandmother.
As Elizabeth read it, her eyes lingered for a moment on the words “Garden Room.”
“Very good, but add the Royal crest.”
She took a small golden seal from the drawer of the tea table.
It was her personal seal, normally used only for informal yet important private correspondence.
Paul silently collected the letter and walked toward the owl by the fountain.
The gray-brown bird tilted its head, its amber eyes watching the approaching attendant.
When Paul offered it a small piece of fresh poultry along with the letter, the owl gracefully lowered its head and took the food in its beak before extending its leg so that Paul could fasten the letter to it.
“It knows how to get back to Hogwarts?” Henry couldn’t help asking.
“Messengers from the magical world always have their ways.” Elizabeth poured herself more tea.
“Now, let us finish our tea. Diana will bring William and Harry over this afternoon, and your father…”
She paused.
“He will also return from Highgrove tonight.”
Henry picked up another sandwich, but his eyes involuntarily followed the owl as it spread its wings and took flight.
It crossed the sky above the garden, circled once among Buckingham Palace’s iconic flags, and then flew northwest, disappearing behind London’s pale gray afternoon clouds in the blink of an eye.
The tea party continued, but the atmosphere had quietly changed.
Elizabeth asked Henry about his recent riding lessons and discussed plans for visiting Balmoral Castle during the summer.
The topics were so ordinary that it was almost as though the letter from the magical school had never appeared.
At four in the afternoon, when the refreshments were nearly finished, children’s laughter came from the other side of the garden.
Princess Diana walked into the garden wearing a light blue suit, with two young princes following behind her.
When William saw Henry, his eyes lit up, and he came running over.
“Henry! Mum said we’re all having dinner together tonight!” nine-year-old William said excitedly.
Five-year-old Harry hid behind his mother, curiously peeking at the exquisite pastry stand on the tea table.
(Because of the butterfly effect, Prince Harry from the original timeline has had his name changed, while the name Henry was given to the nonexistent eldest son. To let everyone know who this is, this Prince Harry will still be referred to as Harry.)
Diana gave the Queen an elegant curtsy before kissing Henry on the cheek.
“Good afternoon, darling. How was your day?”
Henry glanced at his grandmother and only spoke after seeing the old lady nod.
“It was a very interesting day, Mum. Very unexpected.”
Diana seemed to catch the deeper meaning in his words, but she merely smiled gently and turned her attention to Harry, who was trying to reach the nuts on the table.
“No, darling. Those are for Grandma.”
As the setting sun began coating Buckingham Palace’s walls in gold, Paul appeared once again and quietly whispered something into Elizabeth’s ear.
Elizabeth nodded before turning to everyone.
“Dinner will be served in the Blue Drawing Room. Diana, dear, please take the children to change. Henry, you need to get ready as well. Charles’s car has already entered the Palace grounds.”