The cool evening air accompanied Adam as he walked back to the castle, the familiar landscape stirring a bittersweet feeling in his chest. He couldn’t help but wonder how the future might unfold now that he was truly part of this world. He knew the key events from the books, and if they happened here as they did there, he’d need to protect certain magical creatures from Voldemort and other dark beings. The fate of those creatures haunts him—especially the two unicorns that perished in the Forbidden Forest, their innocence cruelly taken by Voldemort. A part of him burned with determination to prevent their deaths. After winter, he would put his plan into action; for now, he mentally mapped out the steps he’d need to take.
As he returned to his room after putting Seraphina’s cage in place, his father appeared, noticing the brightness in his expression. Leaning over, he said, “Adam, join me in my study after dinner.” The gravity in his father’s voice intrigued Adam, and he nodded, finishing his meal with quiet anticipation in his room quickly.
Afterward, Adam made his way to his father’s study, his steps light but purposeful. The room was familiar—a personal sanctuary of magical knowledge he’d admired for years. Walls lined with shelves full of ancient tomes, rare artifacts, and heirlooms passed down for generations surrounded him. By the window, his father’s owl sat on its perch, watching him with intelligent eyes. Adam approached, stroking the bird’s feathers as his father settled into his chair.
“Sit down, Adam,” his father said with a serious tone. Adam took a seat, his curiosity growing. His father opened a drawer and withdrew a small, delicate object that gleamed in the soft lamplight—a time-turner, but one unlike any Adam had seen before. This one had intricate details, a golden frame embedded with tiny magical symbols that seemed to pulse faintly.
"This is a time-turner," his father began, holding the device out for Adam to inspect closely. He explained that most family members had a standard one for day to day use, but this is different. “It offers a unique level of control. You can go back up to a year in the past, but only for half an hour at a time. For day-to-day use, it functions like a standard time-turner with a five-hour limit.” His father also explained how it works and what precautions Adam needed to take when traveling to the past. He added that he had been experimenting with the device for years, recently achieving a breakthrough, and wanted to gift Adam the latest version.
Adam’s eyes widened, his breath catching as he reached for the device. The weight of it felt both comforting and formidable. His father’s gaze was steady, almost stern. “You must use this with great caution. The year-back feature is for emergencies only. It’s not something to be used lightly.”
Adam nodded, his mind reeling with possibilities but understanding his father’s caution. This was no ordinary tool—it was a responsibility. He cradled the time-turner, a silent promise forming in his mind to handle it with care.
Later that night, Adam returned to his room, his heart still pounding from his father’s words. He carefully placed the device in a drawer by his bed, feeling the weight of responsibility settle over him. A soft, familiar hoot from his new owl, Seraphina, brought him back to the present.
Seraphina was a stunning creature, unlike any owl he’d seen before. Her feathers were an iridescent blend of midnight blue and silver, shimmering with a faint, magical glow when caught in the light. Her large, deep golden eyes held unusual intelligence, as though she understood more than most owls. Stroking her head gently, he felt the smoothness of her feathers. She blinked slowly, leaning into his touch, and he sensed an immediate bond forming between them.
“Come on, Seraphina,” he whispered, opening his door. “Let’s go meet the others.” The gardens, usually serene in daylight, took on an almost mystical quality at night, bathed in silvery moonlight. Shadows danced across cobblestone pathways, and the faint scent of wildflowers filled the air.
Seraphina perched on Adam’s shoulder, her talons gentle yet firm. The first friend Adam introduced her to was Ember, his beloved fire crab. “Ember, this is Seraphina,” he said gently, crouching down and extending his hand. The fire crab tilted his head, observing Seraphina with deep curiosity. Seraphina returned his gaze, calm and unflinching, and hooted in friendly greeting. Ember emitted a small, harmless flame from his shell—a gesture Adam recognized as his way of welcoming others.
As they ventured deeper into the moonlit forest, the path opened into a secluded grove surrounded by twisted tree trunks. It was a hidden sanctuary where Adam’s other unique friends preferred to dwell, each corner of the grove crafted to meet the needs of its magical residents.
He introduced Seraphina to Glimmer and Twiggle. Glimmer, entranced, touched the edge of her wing with his paw, and Seraphina blinked slowly in response, her gaze calm. Glimmer chattered excitedly, like he’d discovered a precious treasure, while Seraphina remained unbothered. Twiggle, with his leafy head tilted, observed her warily. After a while, he climbed onto Adam’s palm, inching closer to Seraphina. Extending a twig-like finger, Twiggle reached out toward her beak. Adam held his breath as Seraphina gently nudged Twiggle’s hand—a delicate gesture that felt like a mutual bow of respect.
As they returned to the castle, Adam felt a sense of calm and readiness wash over him. The trust and companionship he’d witnessed tonight reassured him that he was surrounded by friends who would be there for him—whether in the comforting familiarity of the forest or in the unknown halls of Hogwarts. He glanced at Seraphina, who perched contentedly on his shoulder, and gave her a gentle scratch behind the ear.
The day of departure finally arrived. Adam’s mother would accompany him and his sister, Elara, who would be starting her fifth year this term to King’s Cross Station. They traveled in their family’s enchanted carriage, a swift, magical contraption that reminded Adam of the Knight Bus. Though the ride was smooth and impressively fast, Adam found himself a bit disappointed that it ended so quickly—he’d hoped for a longer journey to enjoy the excitement building in his chest.
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At the bustling King’s Cross Station, Adam walked alongside his mother and sister, his luggage piled high with Seraphina’s cage perched on top. As they approached Platform 9¾, he could feel the familiar magic in the air. His heart raced as they crossed the barrier between the Muggle world and the magical, finally arriving at the, red-brick platform. There, the Hogwarts Express awaited, its crimson paint gleaming, a plume of smoke curling up toward the ceiling. Adam took a deep breath, soaking in the atmosphere he’d only ever read about.
“Go on and explore a little,” his mother encouraged, seeing his wide-eyed curiosity. He wandered along the platform, observing students saying their goodbyes, parents offering last-minute advice, and excited groups of friends catching up. He spotted younger students like himself gazing at the train with awe, and older students sharing stories of their summer adventures.
As more families filled the platform with farewells and hugs, Adam and his sister Cassandra finally boarded the Hogwarts Express, bidding a fond goodbye to their mother as departure time drew near. They settled their luggage and pets in the designated compartments, and Adam took one last look at his sister before they parted ways. Each year level sat separately on the train, so he wouldn’t be able to sit with her this time. He couldn’t help feeling a bit apprehensive. Despite his reincarnation and years in this new world, he still found it challenging to connect with people his age; his true comfort remained with magical creatures and ordinary animals.
After some searching, Adam found an empty cabin in the first-year carriage and settled himself in, keeping occupied with his book—a habit that had become his go-to method of passing the time. His serious expression, combined with the open tome in his hands, seemed to ward off the occasional student who peeked into the cabin. Some of the faces were familiar to him; he recognized a few from his readings about the Wizarding World, and he knew their basic personalities from the books. Still, none stayed, and he didn’t mind that. Solitude had always suited him well, fianlly train started.
After some time, a boy entered the cabin, one that Adam immediately recognized—Harry Potter himself. Though startled, Adam kept his composure, masking any surprise from his face.
“Do you mind if I sit here?” Harry asked, looking a bit weary. “Everywhere else is full.”
Adam gave a small nod, gesturing to the seat across from him but saying nothing. Harry hesitated only briefly before settling down. Silence lingered between them until Harry finally introduced himself.
“I’m Harry—Harry Potter.”
Adam looked up from his book, giving a polite smile. “Adam Morgan,” he replied.
They exchanged pleasantries, and to Adam’s surprise, conversation flowed easily. He refrained from treating Harry as Ron would have in the movie—full of awe and amazement—and instead engaged him as an equal. Soon enough, they fell into a natural rhythm, talking about Hogwarts and the classes they were excited for.
Eventually, the door to their compartment slid open, and a familiar face joined them—Ronald Weasley. The red-haired boy looked between Adam and Harry with wide eyes, and Adam noted his reaction when he realized who he was sitting with. The excitement in Ron’s voice was clear as he asked Harry questions, the awe unmistakable. They exchanged a few words, and Ron quickly became part of the conversation, adding his animated energy to the trio.
Adam noticed that Ron didn’t recognize the Morgan family name, and he decided to keep it that way for now. Though they were a prominent pure-blood family, it seemed Ron hadn’t been raised with the same emphasis on family prestige as others. Adam appreciated that simplicity, choosing to keep his own background under wraps.
Throughout the journey, Adam often returned to his book, giving Harry and Ron a chance to bond a bit more. Harry bought an impressive amount of sweets from the trolley lady, generously sharing the treats with both Adam and Ron. They laughed as they sampled Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, and other magical snacks, exchanging surprised looks at the strange flavors and trading their favorites. Even Adam joined in the fun, feeling the tension of the day gradually slipping away as he enjoyed the simple camaraderie.
At one point, Ron tried to demonstrate a spell, holding up his pet rat, Scabbers, in an attempt to make the rodent perform a trick. Adam watched closely, feeling a shiver of recognition—Scabbers was none other than Peter Pettigrew in disguise, though he kept that fact to himself for now. Ron’s spell didn’t go quite as planned, but before anyone could comment, the door slid open again, revealing Hermione Granger.
“Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville’s lost one,” she asked, her voice carrying a tone of urgency. Her gaze flickered to Ron as he held up his wand, clearly mid-spell.
“What spell are you trying?” she asked skeptically, her brow furrowing as she took in the scene. Ron explained, but his botched attempt made her raise an eyebrow. She proceeded to cast a quick spell, repairing Harry’s glasses with a flick of her wand. Adam couldn’t help but be impressed at her proficiency.
Hermione finally noticed Adam, who had been quietly observing the scene, and offered a polite introduction. He reciprocated, and as they shook hands, her gaze shifted to the book he was reading. Her eyes widened when she realized it was an advanced text, one typically reserved for much older students.
“Why are you reading that?” she asked, both curious and slightly competitive. “That’s some pretty complex material.”
Adam smiled modestly. “I enjoy reading as much as I can. My sister’s in her fifth year, so I’ve had access to a lot of books.”
Hermione looked thoughtful, a determined glint in her eyes. Adam could tell she’d decided to keep an eye on him academically, a silent challenge passing between them. After reminding Harry and Ron to change into their robes before reaching Hogwarts, she left, but not before casting a final curious look at Adam’s book.
After several hours, the train finally pulled into Hogsmeade Station. Though the journey had lasted around eight or nine hours, it hardly felt that long, Adam took a deep breath, anticipation building within him as he prepared for his first glimpse of Hogwarts. He’d dreamed of this place, read about it, and now he was actually here. The world of magic and mystery lay just beyond those gates, and he felt a thrill as he considered how he might observe events and characters from the stories unfold in real life. He wondered, too, how much his path would intertwine with Harry’s, Ron’s, and Hermione’s, knowing that fate had already set them all on a shared course.
As they stepped off the train and joined the other first years, Adam’s excitement and curiosity took over. Whatever the future held, he was ready to face it alongside his new friends, and maybe, just maybe, help nudge things in a slightly better direction.