2 The Wizarding world

After getting a hold of my surroundings, I noticed that I was in a park of some sorts. One used for family picnics and whatnot. I managed to trace back a stone trail through the grass and followed it.

One way or another, I would reach the an exit if I followed this trail. The sun had already set, it was now completely pitch black. Suffice to say that no would ever imagine a kid walking around alone at this time. But that just meant I had to be extra careful.

My short legs weren't really a handicap. I had unusual vitality for a child, something I had already understood because of my strength. Even if I walked around for a few hours, I doubt it would completely tire me out.

As I jogged through the garden, I could faintly make out the jagged fencing of its perimeter. A fenced park? Looks as if I am in a good neighborhood at least...

I put my hand on the fence and traced along, the metal cooled my fingers, a sensation I had not felt for years. I could smell the rust slowly building up as water corroded the iron joints. But this was no time to be reminiscing. I held the fence and gave it a good shake, but to no avail. It was solidly screwed in to the soil.

I don't know what I expected, a small part of me wished I could easily rip the fence apart. That the strength I felt was because I was super strong. Like superman or something.

*Haah* I took a deep breath, disappointment was evident in my eyes. Although I got a second chance at life, I really didn't want to spend it doing what I had done before. Studying, get into a school, get a job.... yada yada. I wanted this to be adventurous, exciting. Maybe I wanted this to be one of those transmigration novels. I got some absolutely overpowered abilities at the start and I just shocked everyone with my talent. (A/N: Slight pun at all the transmigration novels I have read)

But it seemed like life wasn't always what you wanted it to be. I was ok with that, maybe asking for some superhuman powers was just a tad bit too much.

Enough moping around, I grabbed the fence again, this time estimating its height, seemed to be about 160 cm... Right now I was a 6 year old, and slightly tall for my age. If I really gave my legs a good push, then it wasn't impossible to jump this fence.

I took a few steps back, time to launch myself into a completely new life. That wasn't exactly just a joke, I knew the moment I jump this fence, life would hit me like a train. I had no idea where I was, no clue what year this is, and I didn't even know if I could communicate with the people here. But that was all about to change.

I could feel a slight quiver in my knees. Me... afraid? I wasn't going to accept that. You know what they say, "you only live once". Well not exactly the most relatable one liner....

I dragged my feet a few steps back. Excitement brewed in my chest.

I took a deep breath....

I burst toward the fence, my feet scraping the ground as I sprinted, just as it seemed that I would end up tackling the iron bars, I sprang up with my knees tucked into my stomach. Seamlessly rolling above the spikes, barely safe as I landed on to the other side with my back on the floor and a loud *thud*.

It wasn't an elegant finish, but I swear I felt like a goddamn gymnast. Well, it was time to begin my new life in earnest. I pushed myself up with my palms and the first thing I noticed was that there weren't a lot of street lights. It was a weird observation, but for someone from the 21st century, a city with no street lights was very uncommon. Unless it was a rural area. The hustle and bustle of the night life kept the city alive even at odd times.

This was not the case right now... The night sky was not obstructed by any light. The moon alone shined bright as the twilight hour approached. I could clearly see the stars, a sight rarely seen in large cities. I had my doubts, perhaps this place wasn't as technologically advanced?.. Or perhaps I wasn't in the 21st century anymore.

My eyes darted around, I looked for anything useful that could tell me the time and place. I didn't think I would find anything near the park anyway, so I walked around. Just a minutes jog away I spotted a car. It was more so one of those Italian cars.

I walked slowly and surveyed my surroundings, in the night no one would spot my anyway. But it would be very tricky to explain why a 6 year old was roaming the streets alone.

Soon I confirmed my doubts, every single car I had passed by, was probably of European design. I wasn't exactly an expert. But I knew enough to distinguish by eye. Since all of them looked similar to the "golden age" era. I knew that I was no longer in the 21st century. Perhaps, somewhere within the 20th century... I rubbed my chin and sunk deep into my thoughts.

If I really had to narrow it down, possibly the 70s. There wasn't much I could base the year out of, but it was still probably before the 90s due to how low the technological impact really was. I hadn't seen a single network tower. That means phones were probably still using wired connections.

....So, somewhere in Europe, in the 20th century...hmm. Well it could have been worse... I locked my fingers and stretched my arms over my head and let out an exasperated sigh. I really was expecting to use my future knowledge of companies and successful inventions to help me out here. Unfortunately, I was probably a few decades too early.

As I finished my internal monologue, I realized a harsh truth.... My stomach churned and grumbled. -A horrible feeling really. I was hungry... famished even. I didn't expect the world to be kind anyways. tsk...

My only logical choice was to get some sort of external help. I am sure this wasn't an issue. Churches, orphanages, schools. I could probably find a place to take me in and feed me as I figured out my next steps. A roof over my head was not a bad idea. Even though I might be restricted to leave and do as I please. It would be much safer than sleeping outside in an era I was completely foreign to.

I trudged along the street, and it didn't take long for me to enter a residential suburb. From a glance I could spot a few stalls and shops still open. Tending to their last customers. For a moment I thought about swiping a few things. Of course it wasn't morally good. But right now morals and ethics wouldn't feed me. I needed to be cold and calculating.

I slipped closer to the stalls, squatting near the side so nobody could see me. Along the fact that it was already nighttime. I was really hard to spot. I patiently waited for the customers to engage the stall keep, as expected the second someone showed interest in buying off some fruits, they would begin a conversation. Probably bargaining. I didn't pay any attention to the conversation.

I rose up from my cover and took a short glance.... they're still talking, it was a good enough time now... I snuck my hand towards the side and slowly removed a few fruits stacked up from the top of the pile. After swiping a couple of apples, I was pretty satisfied and went on my way. It wasn't like I could carry a lot anyway. Nobody would really notice what I had done, everybody was in a rush to end their day and go home.

I gorged on the fruits I had and astonishingly finished them off in a single bite each. Damn what kind of monstrous appetite is this.... Finishing my food I was still wandering around the city, trying to decipher my exact location and also gather more knowledge about my surroundings. I currently couldn't exactly do a lot, but I had to make the best of what I had.

Taking a few turns here and there, I ended up on an isolated street, I couldn't see a single soul near here, but as I walked through I felt a slight touch throughout my whole body. It was the exact feeling of walking through a cobweb. But more accurately, I passed through a very thin transparent wall.

Because right now, a very different sight greeted me. Small alleyways, various shops, and a crowd of people that had appeared almost out of nowhere. I was definitely going crazy, I just walked into an isolated street, with barely anyone there, but the second I walked across it, I was here, in a place jam packed with people and a bustling marketplace.

The fuck?...This was definitely real, my eyes might have been fooled, but you can't easily deceive all five senses. I can hear the rush, the noise, people bickering, laughing, eating and drinking. It was all very lively. The crowd was definitely real. So I did what any sane person would do. Time to test this out.

I slowly took a few steps back, and.... voila! A strange silk like substance washed over me, and soon I could no longer see anyone. It was again a barren street. No shops, no alleys, and no people. Nothing to be seen.

My heart was beating like crazy right now!.. This was definitely what I had been looking for. Something special. Afraid that what I had seen was just a hallucination. I stepped forward once more, and without a doubt. The same silky air flowed through me. My eyes turned a bit hazy, but slowly all what I saw shifted. The people, the buildings. They were back....

Crazy.... I had a dumb smile on my face. The feeling that there was more to this life had come true. Of course I still did not know what that was. But I did have a hunch. Observing the people in front of me. Some were wearing robes, some had suits and some were holding brooms. But most of all, some of them had sticks in their hands. I am not saying twigs. But something more refined, something like a wand.

I could see them use it, paper sparrows flying around, the shop signs moving as if animated. It was a wonderful scene. For the first time in my life I was very excited. Because it all seemed like Harry Potter! The wizarding world was real, and I was in it!