Ch.3: Hogwarts Letter
________________________________________________________________________________
The days that followed his birthday settled into a comfortable routine.
Morning exercises, school, homework, and brief moments of leisure filled his time. Mumbai's summer heat pressed down on the city, but within the cool walls of his home, life carried on with an easy rhythm.
At school, things remained the same. His classmates were the usual mix of bright and mischievous, and the teachers kept up their relentless push for discipline and excellence. Arthav, who rarely had to struggle with academics, breezed through the lessons, though his mind was often elsewhere.
The excitement of his upcoming Hogwarts letter loomed in his thoughts, a constant undercurrent beneath his daily activities. Any day now, the owl would arrive, and with it, the next step in his journey. His mother being a British citizen before marriage and also with her being former student of Hogwarts, automatically made Arthav eligible for admission in the Hogwarts school.
His mother, however, was far less enthusiastic.
She never outright forbade him from going, but her hesitation was obvious.
- Mumbai, Maharashtra, India -
- June 4, 1991 -
One evening, as he finished his studies and joined his parents in the living room, she finally voiced her concerns.
"Arthav, are you absolutely sure about Hogwarts?" she asked, watching him closely.
He looked up from the book he had been skimming, sensing the weight behind her words. "Of course, Mum. Why wouldn't I be?"
She sighed, setting down her tea. "Because it's not as simple as just going to school. You'll face prejudice, judgment… You won't just be an Indian student in a British school; you'll be a muggle-born to them. And that's before they even notice your mutation."
Arthav glanced at his father, who had been quiet so far. Rahul Nair simply leaned back in his chair, observing the conversation unfold.
"I get that, Mum," Arthav said carefully. "But that's exactly why I want to go. I need to see it for myself. I want to explore the magical world, not just read about it."
Emily's lips pressed into a thin line. "You could learn here, you know. If you want structured lessons, I can teach you western magic myself. And we have already arranged for Guru Vishwanath—he's willing to guide you in Pranic practices over the summer. You'd be getting the best of both worlds without dealing with… them."
Arthav knew she meant the pure-blood supremacists, and the Death Eaters, followers of Voldemort. The kind of wizards who had dismissed her as unworthy, and the same kind who would likely look at him with disdain—or worse, fear.
His mother had no love for Britain anymore. She had left it behind when she married his father, rejecting not just the prejudices of her time but also the expectations placed upon her by people like Dumbledore, who in her eyes was a very cunning and manipulative old man, despite what he portrayed himself to be.
Arthav, however, saw things differently.
He wanted to witness Hogwarts firsthand, make new friends and meet the main characters of books and movies that he could feel he so much loved in his previous life, reading about them on the pages of books and watching them go on their adventures on the big screen. He wanted to experience magic as his mother and those characters had once experienced it. And even beyond that, he had a much deeper reason—his mutated eyes, the one he named Astra Vision.
Ever since awakening in this body, he had felt an instinctual pull toward unlocking the full potential of his mutation. It was as if his very being knew that his eyes could evolve, that they could become something greater, unlock new abilities. But for that to happen, he needed to challenge himself. Staying in the safety of home would never allow him to truly push his limits.
So he did what any eleven-year-old in his position would do.
He turned on his best puppy-dog eyes and looked at his mother pleadingly. "Please, Mum? I just… I just want to see the world like you did."
Emily groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You are far too good at that look."
Rahul chuckled from the side. "He gets it from you."
Emily shot him a glare before turning back to Arthav. Her hesitation lingered for another moment before she sighed.
"If—if—you go, you will be careful," she said firmly. "You will write to us regularly, and you will let us know if anything happens."
Arthav grinned. "I promise."
She shook her head, muttering something under her breath about stubborn children. But despite her reluctance, a small part of her understood. He had inherited her curiosity, her thirst for knowledge. No matter how much she wanted to shield him from the darker side of the magical world, she couldn't deny him the chance to carve out his own path.
As the days continued to pass, the anticipation only grew stronger.
Any moment now, an owl would arrive with his invitation to Hogwarts.
And with it, his journey would truly begin.
- June 9, 1991 -
On another quiet Sunday,
Arthav sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes locked onto the screen as he played on his gaming console. His fingers moved with precision, immersed in the challenge in front of him. The air was thick with Mumbai's humid warmth, but the cool breeze from the ceiling fan above kept things comfortable.
Just as he was about to clear another level, a sharp knock on the windowpane snapped him out of his focus.
Frowning, he paused the game and turned towards the sound.
His eyes widened in surprise.
A grey owl, slightly ruffled from travel, perched on the windowsill, a letter clutched in its beak. To any other person be it a wizard or a muggle, the magical energy clinging upon the owl was not visible but for him, he could clearly see it.
Arthav's breath hitched. He knew exactly what this was.
Excitement surged through him as he leapt off the bed and hurried to the window. As he slid it open, the owl fluttered inside, landing gracefully on his desk. Up close, he noticed how out of place the bird seemed—this wasn't an owl native to India. The poor thing looked exhausted, its feathers slightly damp from the humidity, its chest rising and falling as it took steady breaths.
Still grinning, Arthav carefully took the letter from its beak.
"Thanks for the delivery," he murmured, reaching for a small bowl of water on his desk.
His mother had told him about wizarding etiquette in Britain—how owls delivering letters should always be treated with kindness, given food and water if needed. Not everyone followed this, but Emily Carter Nair had always emphasized that a little kindness went a long way.
He grabbed a few pieces of dry fruit from the snack tray near his console and placed them in front of the owl. It hesitated for a moment before giving him what could only be described as a grateful look and began munching hungrily.
The sight made him chuckle. "Long trip, huh?"
The owl hooted softly, almost as if agreeing. After finishing its meal, it took a few careful sips of water before hopping closer. To his surprise, it gently rubbed its head against his outstretched hand, a quiet gesture of thanks.
Arthav smiled, running his fingers lightly over its feathers. "Safe travels."
With a final, approving hoot, the owl stretched its wings and took off through the open window, disappearing into the sky.
He watched it go for a moment, then turned his attention back to the letter.
His name was written neatly across the envelope in elegant, flowing script:
-----------------------------------
Mr. A. Nair
Second Floor, Nair Estate
Mumbai, India
----------------------------------
His fingers trembled slightly as he broke the seal. Carefully, he pulled out the thick parchment and unfolded it, his eyes scanning over the words.
--------------------------------------------------------
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Nair,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1st September. We await your owl no later than 31st July.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
--------------------------------------------------------
His heart pounded as he reread the letter, a mixture of exhilaration and nervous anticipation bubbling inside him. This was it. His journey into the wizarding world was officially beginning.
A grin spread across his face.
Holding the letter close to his chest, he took a deep breath.
Hogwarts, here I come.
________________________________________
For more chapters, you can check out my patreon:
patreon.com/MJ_0422
________________________________________
Thanks for reading 🙏 🙏.
If you are liking this story so far please support this novel through the power stones and let me know your thoughts in the comments and please review this novel as ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ if you deem it worthwhile.