3 A Mysterious Guest

Back at home, Devlin is in his room quickly completing his assigned homework at super speed as the answers were too easy. After that, he stared at his room cleaned room. "She told me to clean my room, but she cleaned it anyways." Devlin laughed. "I'll keep it cleaned from now on. I'll do better." He promised to himself as he figured to be a better son to his parents.

He gathered his thoughts based on his current situation. "If Hermione Granger exists, then there is a possibility that magic exists! This morning a supernatural phenomenon occurred where all my toys were floating about in my room. That had to be magic! I wonder if I can do that on command!" If he recalls from the book, Tom Riddle was able to make things move with his mind and other evil stuff. And Harry Potter's mom manipulated petals of flowers in front of her little sister which made her call her a freak.

Devlin takes a hot wheels toy car and placed it on his carpeted floor. He then stared at the car intensely squeezing his brain hoping it would move. Nothing happened. "Come on Devlin! Feel the force! You can do it!" Devlin cheered himself on. He tried again as he concentrates harder holding his breath until his face turns red. The toy car still stood there doing nothing as Devlin gasps for air.

Devlin sighed. "Nothing is happening. Maybe I'm doing this wrong or maybe I don't have magic at all." He started to doubt himself. "Maybe this morning was a fluke or a result of a time dimensional shift if that's a real thing." While thinking more scientifically. "What about Leaky Cauldron? No..how can I get there, I don't even know where to look." If he wanted to verify it, he would have to wait until he gets accepted into Hogwarts if it even exists.

"If only there was some way, I could verify this. Someone give me a wand!" Devlin laughed. He isn't sure if he has magic, but what he is sure of, is that he lived a life before this one and the world he is in now is similar but different like an alternate universe. If in the occasion he is a "muggle", he will still live his life differently then he did in the last at least. That would also something interesting.

Devlin sat in his room thinking of the famous scene in the classroom where Hermione was correcting Ron on the pronunciation in charms class. "Wingardium Leviosa!" as he laughed playfully waving his hand in a motion. He then suddenly felt a brush of energy gather at his finger and the toy car he was staring at intensely earlier lifts itself from the ground and is now floating in front of him. With a wide-eyed look staring at the floating car, Devlin stared at it with curiosity and shock. "No way!" he said. In that moment of lost concentration, the toy car drops to ground and does not move again.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" He waves his hand but nothing happened. "Wingardium Leviosa! Wingardium Leviosa! Wingardium Leviosa! WINGARDIUN LEVIOSA!" Still nothing happened.

"SHUT UP! You're too loud! What are you saying??" Devlin's sister can be heard banging on his door. Devlin jumped in panic from the shock and he again felt a surge of energy leave his body uncontrollably. Many of his toys began to fly out of the closet and started floating in the air around his room.

He rushed over to lock his door. "Holy s....Umm nothing! Nothing at all"

"HEY! WHY DID YOU LOCK IT!?" His sister continued to bang on the door.

In a panic, Devlin held on to the door as if his sister could break it down. "Nothing...Just give me a minute!" He stared at the floating toys as he waves his hand in a panic to make them stop floating.

The banging continued. "Devlin! Open the door!" Devlin shakes in shock and again feels another surge of chaotic energy leave is body as the toys started moving in a circular motion around the room. Devlin panicked and waved his hand some more as if telling an invisible person in front of him to stop.

"Please just stop flying around!!" Devlin whispers in a panic. Then suddenly, the toys all stopped moving then just dropped. Devlin sighed in relief as he unlocked the door, and his sister forces open the door.

She stared at her little brother in frustration while seeing him sit on the ground in his room with a look of exhaustion. "What were you doing??" She looked at his room in shock. "Oh my god Devy! You better clean this up or mom will kill you!" She walked away quickly.

"Wait Kate! Oh beautiful sis! Help me out!" Devlin said desperately.

"Nope, gotta go byeeeeee!" Kate rushed out of view and into her room.

Devlin sighed. He did promise to be better. he started cleaning his room. "Cleaneo Roomio" he said playfully....nothing happened.

***

A month passed since then and Devlin was starting to get used to his new life. Ever since his accidental magic situation, he tried to replicate magic again. With some failures along the way, he did manage to move things as he likes even without an incantation and remember that feeling. He was thrilled he can do so. "I can control this spell now!" he thought to himself. He was surprised he was able to do it. From what he remembers from the book, wandless magic can be volatile and hard to control. Well he did break a few toys in the process this month.

Every now and then at school he would see the figure of Hermione Granger, but he did not approach her. While he thought it might be interesting to interact with her, he hasn't found a legit opportunity to approach her. She always seemed very unapproachable to him. They are strangers after all and also in different classes.

Summer break has begun and Devlin was able to safely complete his finals with no issues. Primary school education was no problem for him. In his past life, exams were never an issue for him. But it was doing homework that caused him problems. It wasn't because they were difficult. It was just he preferred to do something more fun and despite his good memory, selectively forgets to complete them. It was different this time around as he completed both to please his parents with a better performance in school.

During this month, Devlin also started gymnastics with his sister Kate. He actually found some enjoyment during this time. He wasn't sure it was because his young body is full of energy, but he enjoyed being able to move his body. Kate seems to have a natural gift for gymnastics. It almost seemed like she's floating when she was doing her routine on the matt. "It might be because she also takes ballet classes as well." Devlin thought to himself. He remembered that Kate was quite good at ballet.

At the dinner table. "Hun, how about we take a trip this summer break? We can visit your sister in Marlow. It's been a while since the kids seen their cousins." Devlin's mother said.

"That seems like an idea. I will call Rebecca and see when is appropriate." Devlin remembered his twin cousins Shar and Anthony. They older than him by a few years, but still got along very well. Even in his previous life, they got along and would see each other at least during the holidays every year despite his introverted lifestyle. He is now excited to see the young versions of his cousins again.

*DING DONG* The doorbell interrupted their family dinner. "I'll get it." Devlin's mother went ahead to greet the person at the door.

"Greetings Mrs. Delwyn." a dumpy person with flyaway grey hair wearing a business like long skirt with a light tan peacoat is at the door. "My name is Pomona Sprout. I've come with this letter for a Ms. Kate Delwyn." She gave a most welcoming smile as she hands an off white envelope with a red seal on it. There clearly was an emblem with an "H" embedded on it. The envelope was addressed to Kate with her address on it.

Devlin's mother took the letter and gestured her in. "Hello! Oh please come in! Lets talk inside shall we? Would you like some tea?" She closed the door after Mrs. Sprout came in. "Peter and everyone, to the living room." She said in a loud voice. "Mrs. Sprout please this way." As she escorts Pomona Sprout to the living room.

Devlin took a seat next to Kate as he watches his mom escort this elderly woman in. Devlin's mother then handed the letter to Kate. "This is for you." Devlin stared at the envelope wide-eyed and in shock. He held in his shock while he witnesses his sister open and read the letter.

"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?" Kate read in confusion. "Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore....Dear Ms. Delwyn, We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Devlin eyes widened while his parents look at the letter in confusion. "Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July. Yours sincerely, Minerva Mcgonagall, Deputy Headmistress...What is this?" Kate asked in confusion

"It's a letter invitation to our academy! Let me ask you, were you able to do things others can't? Maybe something you are particularly gifted in?" Mrs. Sprout asked.

Devlin was shocked. For a second he thought it was for him, but he wasn't old enough. He turned to his sister. "She has magic too?" Thinking to himself.

Kate thought about it but shook her head. "Not that I know of, but is this really real? This isn't a prank? A school of witchcraft and wizardry? I don't believe it."

"Excuse me..Mrs.." Devlin's father joined in the conversation.

"Sprout...Pomona Sprout..."

"Yes, Mrs. Sprout. I am Peter Delwyn. I am finding this hard to believe and suspicious. A school of witchcraft and wizardry? Are you joking with us?" Peter gave Mrs. Sprout a serious look.

Mrs. Sprout smiled "Oh, that is where you are mistaken." At the next moment, with a simple snap of her fingers one of the potted plants sitting on the ledge of the fireplace in the living room floats towards the group in the air. The Delwyn family all looks in shock as they look at their succulent flowerpot float in front of them. Mrs. Sprout snapped her fingers again and the succulent plant lands in front of them on their coffee table.

"This will do. A formal introduction seems to be in order here for myself." Stands up and presents herself to the family. "I'll say it again, I am Pomona Sprout. I am a professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." She took out a wand from her coat and took a seed from another pocket and then placed the seed into the soil by the edge of the pot where the blue succulent rose sits on. Small branches start to spring up from the soil and starts to form into a decorative wooden frame around the plant in a shape of a tower. As the wood branches form a roof above the succulent pot, a bulb grew out inside the roof and began to illuminate forming a fancy succulent lantern. "I am also the head of the Herbology department. This is for you, no need for sunlight now as this light will supply nutrients to your plant." Mrs. Sprout put the now potted succulent lantern in front of herself in presentation.

"Magic is real and Kate, you are a witch. As a staff member of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I was assigned to introduce to you all our world and should you decide to attend our Academy, I will help guide you through getting you all started. "