Isaac blinked the sleep from his eyes, still feeling the weight of last night's restless thoughts swirling through his mind. Memories of the Harry Potter movies kept him awake until nearly one in the morning. Now, waking late, the house was quiet except for the faint sounds of morning life.
He swung his legs off the bed and rubbed his eyes as he shuffled to the bathroom. Splashing cold water on his face helped clear the fog. Breakfast smelled good today, and he was eager to eat.
Just as he stepped toward the kitchen, a sudden knock at the door stopped him. His heart beat a little faster as he padded over and opened it carefully.
There, standing in the hallway, was a man with dark, glossy hair and a robe as black as a raven's wing. His face was pale and cold, expression unreadable, eyes sharp like a hawk's.
Isaac hesitated, a strange feeling bubbling in his chest — he was sure he had seen this man before. His voice came out cautious but polite.
"Hello... who are you, mister?"
The man's eyes locked onto Isaac's. "Professor Severus Snape," he said in a low, even tone. "I'm here from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Isaac's eyes widened as recognition hit him like a sudden wave. Severus Snape. The tall, gaunt man with greasy, shoulder-length black hair framing his pale, sallow face; sharp, piercing black eyes that seemed to look right through you. The same man Isaac had seen in the movies — who, according to the story, would die years from now.
He remembered the stories — the quiet, brooding professor who protected Harry Potter from the shadows his whole life; how Snape's loyalty had been misunderstood, and how his true sacrifice was only revealed after his death.
Isaac swallowed hard, heart pounding. To see Snape here, alive and real — it was more than he could have ever expected.
Snape's sharp eyes flickered to Isaac's wide, startled gaze, but he said nothing. He likely assumed the boy's reaction was disbelief in the very idea of magic, not personal recognition.
Isaac quickly forced himself to mask his shock. "Uh… please come in, Professor," he said, stepping aside.
Snape's long robes barely made a sound as he entered the room with slow, deliberate steps.
Alan and Elaine appeared from the kitchen, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. Snape's gaze shifted to them briefly but remained unreadable.
"I am Severus Snape," he said smoothly, "a professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I've come to inform you that Isaac is a wizard."
Alan and Elaine exchanged doubtful glances. Alan's brow furrowed. "Hogwarts? Magic? That's… hard to believe."
Without a word, Snape raised his wand and pointed it at a spoon on the counter. With a subtle flick and murmured incantation, the spoon lifted slowly into the air, spinning gently.
Elaine gasped, clutching Alan's arm. "Is that… magic?"
Alan's mouth hung open, disbelief quickly turning into astonishment. "I… I don't know what to say."
With another motion of his wand, the spoon shimmered and briefly transformed into a silver serpent before snapping back to its original form.
Elaine's voice trembled. "How is this possible?"
Snape ignored the question, his gaze returning to Isaac. "You will attend Hogwarts. There, you will learn to control and develop your abilities."
Elaine stepped forward hesitantly. "Isaac, will it be dangerous? Do you really want to go?"
Alan nodded, concern in his eyes. "This is a big change for you. Are you ready for all of this?"
Isaac looked between the two people who had raised him. Despite the fear fluttering in his stomach, his answer came clearly.
"I want to go. I want to learn magic."
Snape gave the faintest nod of approval. "Good. You will need determination."
Isaac looked at him, eyes wide with a mix of nerves and anticipation. "When do we leave?"
"Now," Snape said simply.
Elaine blinked. "Wait — now? He hasn't packed —"
"He won't need anything from here," Snape said, already heading for the door. "We'll acquire the necessary supplies in Diagon Alley. Hogwarts has provisions for students without means."
Elaine knelt down and took Isaac's hands. "Are you sure this is what you want?"
"I'm sure," Isaac said firmly.
She gave a bittersweet smile and hugged him tightly. "Then be careful. And write to us."
"I will."
Outside, Snape extended a pale, long-fingered hand. "Take my arm."
Isaac grasped it, and suddenly the world yanked sideways.
It felt like being spun through a wind tunnel. His breath caught, his stomach flipped — and with a loud crack, they landed in a crowded London street.
A narrow, crooked pub sat wedged between two modern buildings, looking entirely out of place.
"The Leaky Cauldron," Snape said. "Most Muggles can't see it. Stay close."
Inside, the air smelled of pipe smoke and herbs. A few patrons glanced up, then quickly returned to their drinks when they saw Snape.
Without pausing, he led Isaac through the back and into a small courtyard. With practiced ease, he tapped a specific brick — three up, two across.
The wall shifted with a low rumble, folding open to reveal a hidden alley.
Shops lined the cobbled street, windows glowing with magical goods. Owls hooted overhead, and robes of every color swished by as witches and wizards bustled past.
"This is Diagon Alley," Snape said. "Don't wander off."
Isaac followed, eyes wide in awe. The memory of seeing this place in film didn't prepare him for how alive it truly was.
They made their way down the street until Snape turned sharply toward a massive white marble building with gleaming pillars and iron doors.
"Where are we going?" Isaac asked.
"Gringotts," Snape replied. "The wizarding bank."
"But… I don't have any money," Isaac said nervously.
Snape looked at him briefly. "Hogwarts maintains a small fund for students from non-magical or impoverished homes. It will cover your first year's supplies. We're here to withdraw from that."
As they entered the imposing marble hall of Gringotts, Isaac's eyes took in the sight of goblins stationed behind long counters, meticulously attending to ledgers and weighing coins with precise care. The gleaming floors reflected the cold efficiency of the place, and the goblins' sharp eyes followed every movement.
Without hesitation, Snape approached one of the counters and stated curtly, "We are here to collect the student fund. The name is Isaac Hale."
The goblin regarded them briefly with a measured glance before nodding and motioning for Isaac to wait. Moments later, the goblin returned with a small leather pouch, placing it on the counter with a soft clink.
"This is the standard student fund granted to first-year students demonstrating financial need. Twenty Galleons," the goblin explained, "should be sufficient for initial school supplies. For your information, one Galleon is equivalent to seventeen Sickles, and one Sickle equals twenty-nine Knuts. Please note, this fund is a loan that must be repaid within ten years following graduation."
Isaac accepted the pouch carefully, the surprising weight of the gold coins pressing reassuringly in his palm.
He could not help but reflect on how complicated the wizarding currency system was. Trying to keep track of the conversion rates already felt like an unnecessary burden — a needlessly intricate system that seemed designed to perplex rather than simplify.
Despite the confusion, Isaac nodded silently and tucked the pouch safely into his pocket. Snape then turned and motioned for him to follow.
"Come. Let's get you a wand."