When he woke up, Axel found himself strapped to a bed.

!!!!!

Startled, he tried to free himself in a hurry.

Feeling sore all over his body, the previous events came rushing back to him like a tide. Torture, a wizarding world, and war.

Was it all just a fantasy...? Was it imaginary...?

'Where am I now?'

[Replying to the host, you do not seem to have fantasized anything.]

"Dang it!" It looks like the world really isn't as simple as he had thought. What happened... was indeed all real.

'I really almost died... and then killed the guy.'

Unlike last time, his state of mind was much better right now.

He realized that he had killed someone and he didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt doing it. He also realized that someone else in his place would probably be freaking out right now.

But well, he grew up in a different environment than those pampered good-natured wannabes. Morality doesn't fill your stomach, nor does it make you invincible.

'Also magic... seems to be real,' he thought, sifting through the new information in his mind. As a reward for completing the quest earlier, he had gotten the basic knowledge of the wizarding world.

The fact there's a whole magical world out there somewhat surprised Axel, but not too much. He had already gotten the letter to Hogwarts and even if he didn't believe in its contents at that time, he had still somewhat accepted the possibility of magic existing due to his repeated unnatural accidents.

If anything, he was excited. If magic is real, then... can't he make stealing so much easier?!

But, first things first.

Axel scanned his surroundings. He was in a clean room, with some weird-looking gadgets around him some of which were making beeping sounds.

His belongings were taken away, but he still at least had his cross shaped pendant around his neck that he has had since childhood.

Examining his body, he realized that his shoulder and jaw were fixed but the same could not be said about his body. When he looked at his hands, he realized that they we're still trembling.

Axel clenching them into fists, and found that he could exert little to no strength. Pain shot up from his finger to his shoulders, making him jerk in surprise.

"That guy... I really killed him too early," he muttered, feeling unreconciled.

Moving his body still hurts a lot. It seems that as the system predicted, he is not healed yet. And if the system is right, he is going to have to bear the pain for while before he can heal.

"?"

At this moment, he heard rapid footsteps which made him tense up.

"Oh! You really are awake!" she said, looking surprised. She was a beautiful woman, with a somewhat aristocratic bearing, but her eyes conveyed kindness.

She slowly approached his side, her gaze not leaving him for a second examining him as if she expected him to do something.

"You don't need to fear anything," she said slowly, as if talking to a small kid, "You are safe here. Nobody's going to hurt you,"

Looking at the woman with raised eyebrows, Axel replied,

"Well, I wouldn't have been worried in the first place if I wasn't strapped to a bed like this," he said calmly, gesturing at his restraints.

"...."

There was a pause where the woman's eyes widened. Then,

"H-How...?" She questioned, looking at him in disbelief. It was assumed that the patient must have gone insane or brain dead after that much damage.

Axel was feeling a bit impatient now,

"Hey lady, can you please undo the restraints? And why am I strapped up in the first place?" He asked looking calm, though inwardly, his heartbeat sped up.

'Did they figure out I killed a man?!'

The woman recovered quickly as she explained, "You have been tortured by the unforgivable curse, it is expected that you will not be... in the right state of mind after such a prolonged exposure." she explained.

"Huh, is that so?"

Axel shrugged, "Well, as you can see, I'm completely sane right now. There's no problem with my head whatsoever. Is that so surprising?"

The woman nodded looking at him with pity, "It really is surprising. Especially considering your age. It's not like there's no other case of people staying sane after Cruciatus Exposure. But, they're were all adults, very powerful, and skilled in mind arts. You, on the other hand, are too young. Your body and mind aren't developed enough. So the damage and pain your body and mind would suffer would be that much more crippling. If only you had been a few years older, at least you wouldn't have suffered such physical harm..."

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

The woman seemed to be ready to go into full-on geek mode, so Axel shook his restraints a little to get her attention.

"Oh right. I suppose we won't be needing the safety restraints anymore," saying so, she waved her wand and Axel was suddenly free.

"...Thank you," he said politely, though he was still on guard.

The woman didn't fail to notice how he had flinched when she had pointed her wand at him. Compassion and sorrow filled her eyes and she put her wand far away as she could before she sat at a chair by his bedside and gave him a gentle smile.

"You really don't need to worry. I'm Andromeda Tonks, a Master Healer. What's your name?"

"Axel."

She waited for him to elaborate, but Axel couldn't say 'thief' as his profession, so he stayed silent.

"Um... Axel, you can contact your family or guardian now, so that they can visit you. You've been here for two days, so they must be worried."

"I... don't need to contact anyone," he said, his tone a bit rigid.

Andromeda paused, a bit confused. "Why? Surely they must want to know you're fine?"

Axel rolled is eyes. "There really is no need!"

Andromeda's brows furrowed. "This is not right, young man. You have just gone through a horrible ordeal. You have to call someone, who can accompany you through this. Have you run away from home?"

Axel realized that he realized that there's no avoiding it. "Lady, I'm an orphan and there's no one who gives a shit whether I live or die. Can you just let me stay alone?"

Andromeda's lips parted but no words came out.

"I... please forgive me. I was insensitive. Can you tell me how this happened? Who did this to you?"

Axel shook his head, "I can't tell you anything," he said instantly. It wouldn't have been a problem if the person in question wasn't dead right now.

Andromeda was quite stumped. She a lot of scars on the boy's body from various injuries. And he had been tortured by Cruciatus at level that no one before have gone through and survive. And now he had no one to take of him after going through all this.

She decided she's going to help him.

Andromeda put a hand on his shoulder, "Axel, you can tell me. They won't be able to hurt you again. I'm willing to help you... My sister is Bellatrix Black. You might have heard of her...

"Uh... I don't know?"

"She's the minister of magic."

Axel's eyes widened at that news.

'Minister of Magic?!'

Through the basic knowledge he got from the system, he knew what that meant.

"Your sister is the Minister of Magic?" He repeated in surprise.

Andromeda beamed proudly, "Yes, and the best one yet too! Magical Britain has made rapid progress in the last 10 years under her leadership. It has jumped from 30th place to 5th place in the world's most Magically advanced countries in just a decade," she said. She really looked like an elder sister bragging about the achievements of her little sister.

"Is your sister a good person? How strong is she?" He asked, thinking about what the system had said, about the Wizarding World being in danger of wars.

Andromeda shook her head, "Bella... she appears strict and merciless. But she has a kind heart. And she's powerful... power, skills, brains: she has them all," said Andromeda fondly.

Axel grew confused, 'Oi system, is this woman lying? If not, then why the hell is a war going to happen in the future?'

[She's not lying. Bellatrix Black is a good leader. But, she is a streak of madness in her. She was supposed to have gone insane and locked up in prison, but someone saved her. The problem is that the fate of Voldemort, the main threat, who was supposed to powerless, has also changed. Once he returns, he is going to be much more powerful than he was supposed, thus breaking the balance.]

Andromeda suddenly realized that Axel had very expertly diverted the topic and she still hadn't gotten her answers. Feeling embarrassed, she came back to the main concern,

"So, as I was saying, you can tell me everything. I can help. We can sign the healer-patient contract. I'll keep it all a secret."

'Just leave me alone, ma'am.' Axel was now feeling uncomfortable from this lady's kind intentions.

'What the heck does she want from me?' he wondered.

Nevertheless, Axel shook his head,

"It's not a big deal. Someone was just feeling bored and wanted some amusement. I just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. They didn't let me see their face."

Andromeda frowned. She wondered why this boy sounds so dismissive when such a big episode happened to him.

'Does he not realize?!'

"It IS a big deal," she said, getting frustrated. "You had to bear an unimaginable amount of pain! You could have gone insane! Your entire Nervous system is in shambles! Even with the improvement in healing practices, the side effects might not be completely cured for life! Do you not understand?!"

Axel laughed sardonically, feeling a bit angry.

"Of course I understand! And Of course, I care! But, I know... that it is useless to complain! Cause no one else would care enough! Even if they care, it's because they want something from me.

This is not the first time I've ended up with the short hand of the stick! I was not strong enough, and that's it. I'll be ready for it the next time." he ranted. By the end of it, he was feeling quite calm.

Yes, there's nothing to complain about. He's already killed the bastard. He can't resurrect him, just to kill him again, can he?

Wait, can he?

'System?'

[No.]

'Tsk~ Spoilsport.'

"Now, can you please tell me when I can leave?" He asked the stunned woman.

"...."

And Andromeda was positively despondent looking at the boy. He must have suffered a lot to have this kind of outlook on life. He needs some positivity in life.

"You are eleven, yes?" She asked suddenly, surprising Axel.

"...What— my age? Um, yes I'm eleven," he said, wondering what this woman was up to now.

"Then, I suppose you are going to Hogwarts, yes?"

"Hogwarts? I did get the letter," he mentioned, actually interested in this topic. The basic knowledge from system also contained information about Hogwarts. A school where he can learn magic.

"Why do you sound unsure? Of course you have to go! It is the best institute of learning for wizards. As an orphan, if you study diligently, you can turn your life around!"

Axel thought about it. A place where he can learn magic doesn't sound bad.

'System, can I really learn magic there?'

[Affirmative. In recent years, after some changes, Hogwarts is shaping up to be one of the best institutes for magic. Even students from different countries are coming to attend it.]

'Can I delay it?'

[No, you won't be eligible next year.]

Axel thought about it and made a decision.

"I will attend it," he answered Andromeda.

The woman beamed. "That's great! Have you done your shopping yet? The term starts in two days, right?"

Axel shook his head. He suddenly remembered that he was supposed to meet up with a member of staff tomorrow at his address(An Alley) to go shopping. It was written in the letter that the school would pay for all the necessities.

"I have to meet a staff member tomorrow to do the shopping," he told her.

Andromeda denied it instantly, "Don't go with them. They'll only buy you cheap stuff. I'll write to Professor Mcgonagall to let me take you shopping!" She decided. The main aim was to keep an eye on the boy.

She has to observe if he's physically and mentally stable for allowing him to leave.

Does she have the money and authority to do so? Bitch, she's a member of the Black family (reinstated by Bella) and a master Healer. In here, whatever she says, goes.

Axel on the other hand, still had question marks on his head.

'What the hell does she want?'