Chapter 10 The Professor's Arrival

The next morning, Daniel woke up with a rush of excitement. 'Today's the day.' His heart pounded as he stretched, his mind racing with anticipation. 'I'm going to meet a real Hogwarts professor.'

He wanted to squeeze in some training, but when he glanced at the time, his stomach sank. 'Too late.' He had overslept and barely had time to get ready.

When he arrived at the cafeteria, Miss Jones was already there, arms crossed, watching him closely. "You have a guest today, something about a boarding school," she said, her tone laced with skepticism. "I'll take you to them, and we'll see if it's true."

Daniel barely had time to process her words before he instinctively turned toward the exit, eager to meet the professor.

"But first, eat your breakfast," she added sternly, catching him mid-step.

He sighed but obeyed, quickly grabbing a plate. To his surprise, the food tasted better than usual. 'Maybe it's just my mood', he thought, shoveling the last bite into his mouth before setting his plate in the sink. Without another word, he followed Miss Jones to the meeting room.

When she opened the door, Daniel peeked inside, his curiosity burning. Seated at the table was a squat little woman with short, wavy grey hair tucked beneath a patched and slightly battered hat. Her earthy brown robes were speckled with soil, as if she had just come from working in a garden. But despite her rugged appearance, there was something warm and reassuring about her. Her kind smile alone made him feel at ease.

He stepped inside with Miss Jones and sat down opposite the woman. Unable to resist, he activated Observe on her.

[Pomona Sprout, ???, Lvl ???]

His brow furrowed slightly. Nothing? He had been hoping for more information, especially after leveling Observe so much, but all it showed was a blank space. He had expected something more, but it seemed Professor Sprout was far beyond his current abilities.

The first voice to break the silence was Miss Jones.

"So, you're telling me you're a professor at this boarding school you want to take Daniel to?" she asked, eyeing Professor Sprout doubtfully.

"Yes, and we have all the necessary documents," Sprout responded, unfazed.

What followed was a painfully dull discussion - paperwork, tuition, school supplies, financial coverage due to his orphan status, location details, and so on. Daniel quickly tuned them out, his excitement draining with every exchanged document and bureaucratic formality.

After what felt like an eternity, Professor Sprout finally cut through the monotony. "We've been talking all this time but haven't even asked Mr. Wilson if he'd like to attend the school at all," she said, turning toward him.

Daniel perked up immediately. "Of course, I would like to!" he blurted out, barely containing his enthusiasm.

Miss Jones, however, frowned. "Are you sure, Damian? You'd be away from the orphanage for the entire school year. You'd be away from all your friends…."

Daniel hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Don't worry, Miss Jones. I'm sure." He stopped himself from saying more, unsure whether he was allowed to talk about magic.

Once the discussion was settled, Professor Sprout smiled. "Now, I just need to explain what you'll be learning, and then we can go buy your supplies." She glanced at Miss Jones. "If you don't mind stepping out, Ms. Jones, it's just a standard curriculum talk, and I'm sure you have plenty of work to attend to."

Miss Jones hesitated but eventually sighed and left, leaving Daniel alone with the professor.

Sprout's warm smile returned. "So, as I'm sure you've read, the school you'll be attending is a school of magic."

Daniel's heart pounded as he nodded.

"I know it can be hard to believe, but magic exists, it's just hidden from normal humans," she continued.

With a flick of her wrist, she pulled a wand from her holster and waved it toward a potted plant by the window. The leaves rustled before the plant suddenly sprang to life, its stems twisting and curling as it swayed in a joyful dance.

Daniel's jaw dropped slightly. 'I thought she would turn the desk into a pig or something', he thought, a small hint of disappointment creeping in. He had been hoping for something a bit more impressive. Still, watching the plant dance was enough to spark his excitement. 'This is just the beginning', he thought, eagerly anticipating what other magic this world held.

Before he could stop himself, he blurted out, "Can you teach me how to do that?"

Professor Sprout's smile widened slightly. "Naturally, you'll learn this and much more at Hogwarts," she assured him. She then went on to explain the subjects he would be studying - Charms, Potions, Transfiguration, Herbology, and more, giving him a glimpse into the magical world that awaited him.

When she finally finished, she stood up. "Now, it's time for your shopping."

Together, they walked to Miss Jones to inform her that Daniel would be leaving and would return later. Once they stepped outside the orphanage, Professor Sprout pulled out her wand and gently took his hand.

"Close your eyes and hold your breath," she instructed.

Daniel barely had time to comply before he felt an overwhelming sensation, as if his entire body were being crushed and squeezed through an impossibly tight tube. It was over in less than a second, but when the pressure vanished, he collapsed to his knees, gasping.

"There, there… breathe steadily. The first time is always the worst," Sprout said reassuringly.

Daniel clenched his fists against the ground, swallowing hard. 'Is this how Apparition feels?' The sensation had been horrible, claustrophobic and nauseating. But at the same time, the idea of teleportation fascinated him.

Wanting to appear casual, he asked, "Was that teleportation?"

Sprout chuckled. "Yes, it's called Apparition. But you won't be learning it until much later. And don't go searching for it, it's a very dangerous piece of magic," she warned.

Daniel slowly got to his feet as she guided him toward a nearby pub. The sign above the door read The Leaky Cauldron.

As Sprout pushed open the door, Daniel's breath caught in his throat.

It's really happening.

He stepped inside, his eyes wide with wonder.

Just to see…