When Hermione learned that Qin Yu was going to Hogwarts early, her envy was palpable. "Qin, why do you get to go now while I have to wait?" she lamented.
Qin Yu shrugged. "You've seen it yourself. If my magic isn't brought under control soon, I might cause a real disaster. That could get me sent to Azkaban!"
The mention of Azkaban frightened Hermione. She had read extensively about the magical world and knew of the infamous prison. It was a terrifying place, guarded by dreadful creatures that fed on human happiness, leaving their victims to waste away in despair, lost in their darkest memories.
Though she desperately wanted to go to Hogwarts, she now wanted Qin Yu to go even more. She couldn't bear the thought of losing her best friend.
"Besides, the most important thing is, I'm already eleven years old this year," Qin Yu added with a shrug.
According to the Age Detection Spell Dumbledore had used, Qin Yu's body was indeed eleven, meeting the Hogwarts admission requirement.
"Hmph, fine. If only my birthday were eighteen days earlier, I wouldn't have to wait another year," Hermione pouted.
Seeing her crestfallen look, Qin Yu comforted her, "The magical world isn't as perfect as you imagine. There are dangers. I'll scout it out for you... so when you arrive, I hope you can just focus on learning magic!"
Qin Yu knew this was wishful thinking. So much had happened to Harry and his friends over their seven years, and there were things he would be powerless to change. After all, he was just an "eleven-year-old" kid who didn't even know a proper spell yet, relying only on his uncontrolled magical surges. Of course, he wouldn't stay that way forever. He just hoped that with him at Hogwarts, fewer people would die... at least avoiding preventable tragedies, like someone forgetting their wand when opening the door for a stranger.
At this point, Hermione's head was filled with fantasies about a magical school. She couldn't yet grasp the weight of Qin Yu's words. She was simply happy to have someone who shared her secrets.
His words cheered her up considerably. She took his hand, her voice tinged with reluctance. "You go first, then. I'll be waiting here. You have to write to me often... tell me everything that happens at Hogwarts..."
"Write? Uh, okay, I'll write to you often." For someone from the age of the internet, letter writing felt ancient. But for now, it was the only way. The Muggle world was still decades away from the era of smartphones he was used to.
"Then let me tell you everything I know about the magical world, so you have a general idea before you go."
And so, Hermione transformed into a star pupil, briefing Qin Yu on everything she'd read about the wizarding world—mostly general knowledge. Qin Yu had only seen the movies a few times with a friend in his past life and didn't know many of the details from the books or the school's background. Hermione's lecture filled in some of the blanks, giving him a much better understanding.
...
For the next month, Qin Yu spent his days looking out the second-floor window, wondering who would come to take him to Hogwarts. He was a bundle of nerves and excitement. It was the school so many fans dreamed of, a life he had never imagined. What would it be like?
One ordinary morning, as the Grangers and Qin Yu were having breakfast, discussing recent news, Hermione was giggling and hoarding all the fried eggs Qin Yu had made. He cooked them just right, and they had recently become her favorite food.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
Hermione was the first to jump up and race to the door. Like Qin Yu, she had been waiting for this day. Even though she wasn't the one going, she seemed even more excited than he was.
"Whoa, you're so tall..." Hermione craned her neck.
Standing outside was a giant of a man, over ten feet tall with a bushy beard.
In a rumbling voice, the giant said, "Young lady, I'm Hagrid from Hogwarts. Is this where Qin Yu is staying?"
"Hello, Mr. Hagrid. I'm Hermione. Yes, this is his house. Please, come in," she said politely.
"Thank you!"
Hagrid ducked carefully to enter, but his head still banged against the doorframe with a loud *thud*.
"If you had a fireplace, I'd suggest connecting to the Floo Network. Then you could use Floo Powder. Just two Sickles a scoop, very convenient," the giant muttered to himself. (*The Floo Network is a wizarding transportation system connecting fireplaces, with Floo Powder as the magical catalyst.*)
Qin Yu recognized him immediately. This was Rubeus Hagrid, the keeper of the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts and one of Dumbledore's most trusted friends.
Hagrid looked at the much smaller people in the room. "Which one of you is Qin Yu?"
Hermione eagerly pointed. "That's him!"
Hagrid strode over, lifted Qin Yu into the air, and said with a booming laugh, "I heard you were powerful, but you're so small!"
Qin Yu laughed nervously. "Didn't Professor Dumbledore tell you? If I get uncomfortable, bad things can happen. You should probably put me down!"
Realizing his blunder, Hagrid quickly set him down. "Sorry about that, a bit reckless of me!" he said, flustered.
He bent down to look the boy in the eye. "You know why I'm here, I expect?"
Qin Yu nodded. "I've been waiting for you. Professor Dumbledore said someone would come, but I didn't expect it to be you."
"I was out on some other business, so he asked me to pick you up," Hagrid explained.
...
After a brief chat, Hagrid said, "Right, we should get going. We have to be back by a certain time. Don't you worry about being homesick, lad, you'll be back before you know it!"
Qin Yu hugged each of the Grangers goodbye. Hermione's eyes were already red... she couldn't hold back her tears at his departure.
"Qin, you'll write to me?" she asked again.
"Of course. I promised I'd tell you all about Hogwarts. You have to write back, or I'll miss you a lot," Qin Yu said, comforting her.
"I'll definitely write back. I'll miss you too," Hermione sniffled, hugging him one last time.
Mr. Granger patted his daughter's head. "Don't be sad. The time will fly by, and it'll be your turn to go next year."
"Okay," Hermione said, turning back to Qin Yu. "You better study hard, Qin. Don't let your junior catch up to you!"
Qin Yu smiled at her earnest instructions.
And so, with a final wave to Hermione and her parents, Qin Yu picked up the bag Mrs. Granger had packed for him and followed Hagrid out the door.
Just before they left, Mr. Granger had pulled Qin Yu into his study.
"You've been living with us for a while now," he'd said. "Even if we can't find your family right away, we'll always be here for you. If you need anything, just ask. You're going off to a magical school, and you'll need to buy things..."
He handed Qin Yu an envelope. Qin Yu could feel the thickness of the banknotes inside.
He wanted to say he had his own money, but then he'd have to explain where a thousand Galleons came from.
Instead, he accepted Mr. Granger's kindness. "I'll pay you back," he said earnestly.