Ciel stared at the thick, parchment envelope in his hand, the iconic Hogwarts crest gleaming in the dim light of the plantation. Professor Sprout's warm, congratulatory words echoed in his ears, and for a moment, he was overwhelmed.
The magical world. He'd spent countless hours daydreaming about it in his past life.
The Philosopher's Stone, granting eternal life and turning lead to gold. The basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, whose gaze meant instant death. The Triwizard Tournament, with its dragons and deadly mazes and a resurrected Lord Voldemort waiting at the finish line.
He thought about it all, and a single, overriding thought surfaced.
It's dangerous. It's so bloody dangerous.
His expression turned serious, and he muttered a mantra to himself. "Always remember why you're going to Hogwarts. You have one purpose and one purpose only: to plant things. Plant more things. And then plant even more goddamn things."
The Philosopher's Stone? The Chamber of Secrets? The Triwizard Tournament?
"What does any of that have to do with me?"
The thought of planting, of nurturing something from a seed to full maturity, immediately calmed his nerves. In this chaotic new world, there was nothing that brought him more peace and satisfaction than working the earth. As long as he focused on his planting, he could steadily improve himself, growing stronger with every crop. Where else could he find such a guaranteed return on his investment?
The grand, heroic adventures could be left to the actual saviours of the wizarding world. Let Harry Potter and his friends deal with all that.
"If you're ready, Ciel," Professor Sprout said, her voice pulling him from his thoughts, "I'll take you for your first look at the magical world. I've already prepared your textbooks and cauldron, but you need to know where to find things for yourself. And most importantly—the wand. You must be there in person for that. Come, take my hand."
Ciel's eyes lit up with anticipation. The wonders of the wizarding world were about to unfold before him. And for him, the most beautiful sights of all were not glittering shops or enchanted objects but the promise of new, exotic flora.
Mandrake. Devil's Snare. Venomous Tentacula. The Whomping Willow!
Just imagining the rewards he could reap from planting those sent a thrill of excitement through him. A powerful wand would be nice, of course, but he'd already tempered his expectations.
He was, for all intents and purposes, a Squib who had lucked his way into magic. If a young wizard's potential could be graded, Harry Potter, with a fragment of Voldemort's soul inside him, was undoubtedly a legendary-tier talent. Ciel, on the other hand, was likely starting at the very bottom. He knew Ollivander's theory: the wand chooses the wizard. What kind of special wand would choose him?
Holly and phoenix feather? Elder and Thestral hair? Those were things for heroes. He didn't dare to even hope for such a thing. But deep down, it didn't bother him. The wizard, he believed, was always more important than the wand.
Ciel took Professor Sprout's offered hand, her skin rough and calloused from years of work.
The world twisted. A loud CRACK echoed around them, and he was hit with a dizzying, disorienting sensation, like being sucked through a drainpipe. A moment later, his feet were on solid ground, and the iconic, leaning sign of the Leaky Cauldron materialised before his eyes.
"It's normal to feel sick after your first Apparition," Professor Sprout said, already holding out a small paper bag. "Here, use this."
She paused, looking at him with surprise. Ciel was standing perfectly steady, looking around with curious eyes. "Ciel," she asked, a note of uncertainty in her voice, "you don't feel unwell?"
He blinked, then it dawned on him. His gaze flickered to the internal panel only he could see, a mental inventory of his abilities.
[Current Abilities: Photosynthesis (Legendary), Lodging Resistance (Legendary), Enhanced Vitality (Legendary), Enhanced Strength (Legendary), Fortified Body (Legendary), Heat Resistance (Epic), Drought Resistance (Epic)...]
[Magic (Bronze)]
His eyes skipped right over the laughably low Bronze-tier magic rating and settled on the long list of Legendary-level abilities he'd accumulated over the years. A theory began to form in his mind. It seems my system's rewards are effective against magic, too.
His Legendary-level Lodging Resistance, for instance, had made him completely immune to the dizziness of Apparition. He wagered it would probably grant him a powerful resistance to a Stunning Spell as well. And his other abilities, like Enhanced Vitality and Fortified Body, would likely be just as useful in a magical confrontation.
The last of his worries melted away. He'd been concerned that all the hard work he'd put in over the years would be rendered obsolete by the sheer power of magic. Now, it seemed, his years of farming had not been in vain.
A sense of deep satisfaction washed over him. He turned to Professor Sprout and gave her a sheepish smile. "No, Aunt. I feel fine. I guess it's from all the regular exercise."
Professor Sprout beamed with admiration. Such a strong constitution! He really is a Sprout!
She led him through the bustling pub to a small, walled courtyard out back. "Now, to get into Diagon Alley," she explained, "you start from the dustbin, count three bricks up, and two across. Then, you tap it three times with your wand..."
She offered him her own hawthorn wand. "Here," she said encouragingly. "Why don't you give it a try?"
Ciel paused, a thought occurring to him. "Aunt, does it have to be a wand? What if a wizard is just out for a stroll and doesn't have one on them? Are they just stuck?"
Professor Sprout looked momentarily stumped. "Well, I don't believe so. Anything will do, really. It's just that for a wizard, a wand is usually the most convenient tool."
Ciel's face lit up. He reached into his jacket pocket and produced a small, foldable trowel. With three sharp taps against the correct brick, the wall began to tremble. Bricks shifted and slid apart, forming a wide, welcoming archway.
He stared at the classic scene from the stories, a genuine sense of wonder on his face. "It actually worked!"
Professor Sprout's expression was a mixture of amusement and bewilderment, her gaze fixed on the small shovel in his hand. "Ciel... do you just carry a trowel with you?"
He nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Of course. What if I'm out and I get the sudden urge to plant something, but I don't have any tools? That would be a tragedy." He looked at her with wide, innocent eyes. "Is there a rule against wizards carrying shovels?"
A look of profound disappointment crossed his face. "If so, that's a real shame. I was hoping there might be a spell to carry a multi-tool entrenching shovel with me at all times. Or even better, a tractor. Then I could plant anywhere I go!"
Professor Sprout didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This boy's obsession with farming is on another level. He's the most Hufflepuff person I've ever met.
"Ciel," she said, trying to steer him back on track. "For a wizard, a single wand can do almost anything. Including anything that Muggle... tractor... of yours can do. And a spell is certainly easier to use. Come, let's go get you a proper wand."
***********
✨ 300 gems = 1 bonus chapter
✨ 500 gems = another bonus chapter
Get access to advanced chapters at my P@treon.
p@treon.com/meowthtl