Edward waited three days after Professor Sprout left before he returned to the magical world.
He needed supplies, and he needed them on his own terms.
He left the orphanage after breakfast.
He navigated the London Underground.
He walked down Charing Cross Road and found the Leaky Cauldron.
He stepped inside, ignoring the patrons, and walked straight to the back courtyard.
He remembered the sequence Sprout used.
He tapped the bricks with his ash wand.
The wall shifted.
Diagon Alley appeared.
Edward did not stop to look at the shop windows this time.
He walked directly toward the towering white marble building at the end of the street.
Gringotts.
He walked up the stone steps.
He passed the guards holding long halberds.
He entered the main hall.
Goblins sat at long counters, writing in ledgers and weighing coins.
Edward approached an open teller.
The goblin did not look up.
“State your business.” “Currency exchange,” Edward said.
The goblin paused.
He looked down at Edward.
He saw an eleven-year-old boy in standard street clothes.
“Gringotts exchanges muggle paper for wizarding gold.
Do you have muggle money, boy?” “I do,” Edward said.
“Is there a limit on the amount I can exchange today?” The goblin sneered.
It was a facial expression that conveyed pure, unadulterated capitalism.
“Gringotts possesses no limits, provided the currency is authentic.
We take a standard five percent conversion fee.
What do you have?” Edward reached into his pocket.
He accessed his dimensional space.
He pulled out five thick stacks of twenty-pound notes.
It was ten thousand pounds, drawn directly from his system gacha pulls over the summer.
He placed the stacks on the polished wood counter.
The goblin stared at the money.
He looked back at Edward.
His expression shifted from dismissal to calculated interest.
“One moment,” the goblin said.
He took the notes.
He ran a device over them to check the watermarks.
The device glowed green.
The goblin nodded.
He pulled out a wooden abacus and slid the beads rapidly.
“Ten thousand pounds,” the goblin stated.
“Minus our fee.
That equals precisely one thousand, nine hundred Galleons.
Do you require a vault?” “No,” Edward said.
“I will take it in a pouch.” The goblin snapped his fingers.
Another goblin brought over a leather pouch.
It clinked heavily.
The teller slid it across the counter.
Edward picked it up.
He dropped it into his coat pocket, letting it fall directly into his dimensional space.
“Pleasure doing business,” Edward said.
He left the bank.
He had wealth.
Now he needed knowledge.
Edward spent the next six hours walking through Diagon Alley.
He treated it like a tactical supply run.
He entered Flourish and Blotts.
He bought the standard spell books for grades two, three, and four.
He bought books on magical theory, defensive charms, and a heavy volume detailing the history of wizarding conflicts.
He paid in Galleons.
He stored the books in his inventory the moment he stepped out of the shop.
He visited other stores.
He bought a standard trunk.
He did not need it for storage, but he needed it for appearances.
A student arriving at Hogwarts without luggage raised questions.
He bought a set of brass scales.
He bought extra potion ingredients, focusing on materials used for healing draughts and basic antidotes.
He found a shop selling magical oddities.
He purchased a compass that pointed toward sources of concentrated magic and a pocket watch that tracked the phases of the moon.
He had a nice time.
By late afternoon, he went back to the orphanage.
— The summer passed in a quiet, steady rhythm.
Edward locked his bedroom door every night.
He sat on his bed and practiced magic.
He started with simple things.
Lumos.
Nox.
Wingardium Leviosa.
He realized he did not need to shout.
He just whispered the words.
He spent his nights making his books float around the room and making small sparks dance on his ceiling.
During the day, he enjoyed the warm weather.
He wore his heavy training weights.
He ran in the yard.
He did pushups in the grass.
He felt his body changing.
He felt lighter on his feet.
His footsteps made no sound on the floorboards.
One afternoon in August, a blue screen appeared while he was running.
KILLUA ZOLDYCK: 23%.
Edward stopped and smiled.
He felt a deep, warm energy resting inside his chest.
It was not magic.
It was the start of his aura.
He felt very strong and very fast.
His monthly rewards helped his days pass happily.
On the first of August, he rolled his chances.
AUGUST REWARDS: BRONZE: 3x Cash Bundles, 2x Protein Powder Tubs.
SILVER: 1x Metal Water Bottle, 1x First Aid Kit, 1x Thick Jacket.
GOLD: SKILL BOOK – COPY MOVES.
Reading this lets you perfectly copy any physical move or fighting style just by watching it once.
Cannot copy powers or magic.
GOLD: ONE EARPIECE.
A small earpiece that translates any language you hear into English.
Blocks other people from listening to your conversations.
Edward used the skill book right away.
That evening, he watched a gymnastics show on the television in the living room.
He went into the yard and did a perfect backflip on his first try.
He laughed.
September 1st arrived.
Edward woke up early.
He sat on his bed and called for the system.
“Roll,” Edward said softly.
The glowing wheel spun.
The orbs appeared.
AUGUST REWARDS: BRONZE: 2x Packs of Plain White Socks.
1x Broken Umbrella.
1x Bag of Sand.
SILVER: 1x Box of Ichiraku Instant Ramen (Naruto).
1x Tailored Silk Suit.
GOLD: SKILL BOOK – TASKMASTER’S MUSCLE MEMORY (Marvel Comics).
Reading this lets you perfectly copy any physical move or fighting style just by watching it once.
Cannot copy powers or magic.
GOLD: UNIVERSAL TRANSLATOR EARPIECE (Star Trek).
A small earpiece that translates any language you hear into English.
Edward used the skill book right away.
He went to the kitchen to boil some water for his new instant ramen.
September 1st arrived.
Edward woke up early.
He sat on his bed and called for the system.
“Roll,” Edward said softly.
The glowing wheel spun.
The orbs appeared.
SEPTEMBER REWARDS: BRONZE: 3x Empty Soda Cans.
1x Ball of Yarn.
1x Pack of Sticky Notes.
SILVER: 3x Bundles of Cash.
1x Box of Wonka Bars (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).
GOLD: HEART-SHAPED HERB JUICE (Marvel Comics).
Drinking this makes your body much stronger, faster, and tougher forever.
Edward caught the small bottle.
The juice glowed purple.
He drank it.
It tasted like sweet dirt.
A warm feeling rushed through his arms and legs.
His shoulders relaxed.
He felt great.
He opened his hidden space.
He pulled out the remaining stacks of paper money he had left.
He also pulled out several winter coats and new shoes he won over the summer.
He left his room and walked down the stairs.
He found the donation box by the front door.
He picked the lock.
He stuffed all the cash and the warm clothes inside.
He closed the box and locked it again.
He wanted to make sure everyone stayed warm and ate well while he was gone.
At seven o’clock, he went into the dining hall.
The boys were eating breakfast.
Edward walked over to Ben and sat next to him.
Ben looked up.
“Morning, Ed.” “I am leaving today,” Edward said nicely.
Ben put his spoon down.
“Leaving?
Did someone adopt you?” “I am going to a boarding school,” Edward said.
“I will be gone until next summer.
So, I need you to watch things for me.” Ben looked surprised.
“Me?” “Yes,” Edward said.
He patted Ben on the shoulder.
“Make sure the younger kids do their homework.
Make sure everyone plays fair in the yard.
Help out the matron.
Can you do that for me?” Ben smiled.
He sat up a little taller.
“Yeah.
I can do that, Ed.
I’ll take care of everything.
Homework and training.
I promise.” “Thanks, Ben,” Edward said.
“See you next year.” Edward walked out the front door.
He held his school trunk in his hand.
It looked heavy, but it felt light to him.
He breathed in the morning air.
He walked down the street and hailed a taxi.
“King’s Cross Station, please,” Edward told the driver.
He sat in the back.
He watched the city go by.
He felt happy.
The taxi stopped at the busy train station.
Edward paid the driver.
He stepped out onto the pavement.
People hurried past him with bags and coats.
Edward grabbed a trolley.
He put his trunk on it and pushed it inside.
He looked at the signs overhead.
Platform 8.
Platform 9.
Platform 10.
He walked toward the brick wall between platforms nine and ten.
He stopped and watched the crowd.
Then, he saw him.
A boy stood near a ticket machine.
He wore clothes that were far too big for him.
He had messy black hair and round glasses taped in the middle.
He pushed a trolley holding a trunk and a white owl in a cage.
The boy looked around.
He looked at his ticket.
He looked completely lost and a little scared.
Edward pushed his trolley over.
He stopped next to the boy.
“Are you going to Hogwarts?” Edward asked kindly.
Harry jumped.
He turned his head and looked at Edward.
He saw a boy his own age giving him a friendly smile.
Relief washed over Harry’s face.
His shoulders dropped.
“Yes,” Harry said.
“Yes, I am.
But I don’t know where the platform is.
The ticket says nine and three-quarters.
I asked a guard, but he got angry.” “The guards don’t know about it,” Edward said.
“Didn’t the professor who took you shopping tell you how to get onto the platform?” Harry shook his head.
“Hagrid didn’t tell me.
He just gave me the ticket.” Edward nodded.
“Follow me.” Edward pushed his trolley toward the brick barrier.
Harry followed closely behind him.
Edward stopped in front of the wall.
“The platform is hidden,” Edward said, pointing at the bricks.
“It sits right between platform nine and platform ten.
To get there, you just walk straight through this brick wall.” Harry stared at the wall.
“Walk through a wall?” “Yes,” Edward smiled.
“It is just a trick.
It won’t hurt you.
Just keep walking.
If you are nervous, it helps to run.” Harry gripped the handle of his trolley.
He still looked unsure.
“I will go first,” Edward offered.
“Watch me.
Then you follow.” Harry nodded.
Edward pushed his trolley forward.
He jogged toward the bricks.
He hit the wall and passed right through it.
Darkness washed over his eyes for just a second.
Then, the noise changed.
The normal station sounds vanished.
He heard the hiss of steam, owls hooting, and people talking and laughing.
Edward stood on Platform 9 3/4.
A beautiful red steam engine sat on the tracks.
A sign said: Hogwarts Express, 11:00.
Edward looked around at the witches and wizards in their robes.
It felt wonderful to finally be here.
A second later, Harry burst through the barrier behind him.
He stumbled a bit.
He looked up.
His jaw dropped.
His eyes widened behind his glasses.
He stared at the train and the people in total wonder.
“I am going to look for an empty room on the train,” Edward said.
“Want to come along?” Harry looked at him and smiled brightly.
“Yes, please.” They pushed their trolleys down the platform.
They walked past families saying goodbye.
They found an empty compartment near the back of the train.
They dragged their trunks into the narrow hallway.
Edward grabbed his trunk.
He lifted it up easily with one hand and slid it onto the shelf above the seats.
Harry tried to lift his trunk.
He grabbed the handle with both hands and pulled.
His face turned red.
The trunk barely moved across the floor.
He tried to lift one end, but he dropped it.
He panted.
Edward walked over.
“Let me help.” Harry stepped back, looking a bit shy.
“It’s really heavy.” Edward grabbed the handle.
He lifted Harry’s heavy trunk and placed it on the shelf next to his own.
He grabbed the owl cage and put it on the seat.
Harry stared at Edward.
“How did you do that?” “I work out a lot,” Edward smiled.
“Let’s sit down.” They took opposite seats by the window.
Outside on the platform, students hugged their parents.
The station clock ticked closer to eleven.
“I’m Harry, by the way,” Harry said.
“Harry Potter.
You can call me Harry.” Edward nodded.
He gave a polite smile.
“Edward Brooks,” Edward replied.
“You can call me Edward, or Ed.” Harry looked very glad that Edward did not point or stare at his forehead.
“Are you new to the magical world too, Ed?” “I am,” Edward said.
“I grew up in an orphanage in London.
When I got my letter, thought it was a prank.” Harry laughed.
“I thought it was a mistake too.
It is crazy, isn’t it?
How an entirely different world is just hidden away.” “It is very strange,” Edward agreed.
“But fun.” They talked for a while.
They talked about the shops and the weird things they saw in London.
After a bit, they ran out of things to say.
Silence filled the room.
Harry looked out the window at the crowds on the platform.
Edward stood up.
He opened his trunk on the shelf.
He reached inside and pulled a stack of comics from his inventory.
He sat back down and put the stack on the seat.
“Do you read any of these?” Edward asked.
Harry looked at the bright covers.
“No.
My cousin reads comics.
But he never lets me touch his things.” Edward nodded.
He reached into the stack and pulled out a Spider-Man comic.
He held it out to Harry.
“Try reading one,” Edward said.
“You can borrow it.” Harry hesitated, then reached out and took it carefully.
“Thanks.” He opened the first page and started reading.
Edward picked up another comic and leaned back.
Ten minutes passed.
“Ed?” Harry asked, looking up.
“Yes?” “How does this web shooter thing work?” Harry asked, pointing at the page.
“Does the string come out of his hands?” “He has a gadget,” Edward explained.
“He wears it on his wrists.
When he presses a button in his palm, the string shoots out.” “So he made it himself?” “He is just a kid who got bit by a spider and got powers,” Edward said.
“But he is very smart, so he made the web shooters to help him swing around.” Harry looked back down at the page.
“That is brilliant.” “Keep reading,” Edward said.
“It gets better.” Harry smiled as he turned another page.
Edward leaned his head against the window.
He felt totally relaxed.
A loud whistle echoed through the station.
The train jolted.
Slowly, the wheels began to turn.
The Hogwarts Express moved forward, leaving the platform behind.
Their journey finally started.