Ch. 2 - How to be a wizard, for dummies

-Rashford Orphanage, 1991, 21 July-

Rain was inexorably falling, the sound has always been calming to my ears, great for studying, and great for meditation; yet again it found itself very useful as I am seemingly unable to sleep, and like every sleepless night my thoughts were filled with regrets, bad decisions, worries about the future and for today only, for the special price of free, even thought about being a wizard in a world I recognize far too well... as a reader though.

I am a wizard, or at least the body of the boy I possessed- actually, did I even possess the guy or are my memories just simply back? I don't know, and that's the frustrating part.

"Sigh"

I am fairly sure tomorrow a professor will show up and take me to Diagon Alley if I were to accept my new position... and I sure as hell am, as shocking, surreal, and borderline insane as it sounds I grew up in my world always holding that tiny bit of hope that this hellhole of a world could have such an exciting hidden facet to it, filled with magic and wonder; and now that I am so close to it I can't help but think about the possibilities, marvel about the unknown dream about the impossible.

The next morning I got up incredibly refreshed, all the thinking got tiring pretty quickly and I was able to get the most restorative sleep of my life- or well both lives now?... technicalities...

"Thomas, are you awake?" a voice interrupted my musings "Breakfast is ready, be quick before your siblings leave you nothing"

"Yes Mother Theresa, I will be downstairs soon"

"Ah, before I forget, I received a letter from a professor interested in having you in their private school... I don't know how you managed it but they will be here right before noon" the lack of empathy from the Mother was baffling, she really didn't care that much about us, from what I remember from this guy's memories she actually never wanted to work here, but she got into a fight with someone well connected and ended up here... When will they learn that children without appropriate care can actually die of depression...

The orphanage was funded by a powerful dignitary called Mr. Gregory Rashford, running for prime minister in England, the orphanage was obviously a publicity stunt and barely made a dent in his pockets, even the fact that every orphan here had his surname was all because he had to promote the idea that with him in charge England would have a fresh start as if his surname would be the game changer and a symbol of recovery, a new beginning.

The orphanage wasn't even that big and the capacity was relatively low, however, the public already loved him so you can say it worked pretty well, I predict a new prime minister pretty soon... He never existed in my old world, meaning this world is different, meaning magic here can be real or maybe it also existed in my old world as well but none ever found out.

At 11:59 sharp the awaited guest was here, who could be that annoying punctual you might ask?

"Good morning sir, might I ask who you may be?" I hate faking not knowing something.

"Good Morning mister Rashford, my name is Severus Snape, I'm a professor at Hogwarts, I presume you already received your letter?" the greasy bat asked perfunctorily

"Yes I did receive the letter but sir... magic?" I asked with a raised eyebrow while sitting more comfortably

"Yes magic" no more words were needed as he wordlessly turned a cup of tea into a cute menacing snake

Widening my eyes at the display a smile unknowingly settled on my face, seeing it in person was completely another pair of shoes

"I believe you have experienced some... weird things happening around you... something you couldn't explain with logic am I mistaken perhaps? In our school we can help you to control that power you wield and so much more" he asked calmly probably pleased by my reaction

My memories seemed to agree with his statement, my brain supplied the needed information: on multiple occasions "I" was able to levitate stuff and I even Depulsed a couple of kids annoying the living heck out of me. Ohh so that's why none seemed to be willing to talk to me earlier at breakfast uh? In case the freak does freaky stuff again...

I just nodded and still smiling I said "Indeed you are not mistaken, so, where do I get the things listed on the letter? I believe there must be some kind of magical place to get them no?"

This time it was his turn to raise an eyebrow and while turning the snake back to a cup he said "Yes exactly, your ability to adapt fast to a new situation will serve you well in your studies, it seems you already made your decision then. We shall go right away, sign here" while I was signing he added "I will deal with everything regarding Mother Theresa"

"Ok thank you. There is no need to think about the obvious, your show was all I needed to make a decision, if there is a place I can learn to do that I'm all in"

...

"This is the place," he said while opening the door to the Leaky Calduron.

This was not the time to make a sneaky remark, if there was something Snape liked was intelligence but he despised cheekiness reminding him of Potter and the gang so I decided to ask questions to get to know the world better

"So professor... what do you teach?"

He briefly glanced at me

"Potions," he said briefly, yea you sure can notice the frustration, it is very much palpable

"I see" I answer equally briefly pondering the right question to wring out information from the best potioneer of his generation, after a brief pause I decided to ask: "Could you please give me a few pointers on the approach one should have towards the subject?" I felt this was the absolute best question, if I asked what potions were about he would have told me to look at the books or wait for the lesson, but this... is not a question I can find anywhere even if I looked hard, it was a question only for an expert on the craft.

It seems to be the right question, instead of merely glancing at me this time he wholly looked at me in the eyes and I didn't back down from his gaze. Was I worried about mind reading? Not really, if they wanted to they could and maybe save more lives, I do not care really and there is nothing I can do anyways.

After a while, he decided to deign me of an answer as we were nearing the back of the pub "Patience, focus, and the ability to follow a simple recipe, the last one is the one students seem to have the most difficulty following" be kept looking at me waiting for a rebuttal

"I believe it all depends on what your definition of simple is professor, isn't difficulty subjective?" I asked with a cheeky grin, I just couldn't help myself

He stayed silent at that probably thinking of something

He took his wand and touched a couple of tiles I forgot the location of as soon as the bricks moved away, the view was absolutely breathtaking, it was unlike anything I have ever seen, the roads were bustling with people, some dressed in funny looking robes, some with funny looking muggle clothes, the shopkeepers were all smiles knowing that it was "hunting season" and people would flock to buy the most expensive stuff for their kid's new year at school.

People never change, humans will always be humans no matter the world they come from.

Not minding the fact that I was still in awe at the fantastical scene in front of me the professor surprisingly asked me a question of his own eyebrow slightly raised in challenge

"There are two more qualities one must have to be a decent potioneer, they are one the most opposite of the other but are necessary for almost everything can you guess them Mr. Rashford?"

Almost absentmindedly I answered "Experience and... maybe talent?"

The professor said nothing, more if I looked closely I would have seen a slight smirk on his face.

(A/N yes it will be slow, do I care? not really I need to improve my writing)