Woods Orphanage

  In the corridor, Dumbledore looked around, his eyes filled with plex memories. It seemed that nothing had ged in the decor over the years.

  "Miss Helena, I have e for Ian Prince."

  Dumbledore, apanied by the Director, ehe office. His arrival seemed to dispel any lingering chill in the room.

  "He o plete his studies."

  Sunlight streamed through the stained gss windows, casting a soft and mysterious glow on Dumbledore's silver hair and beard, giving the already elderly wizard an almost ethereal aura.

  "Oh! This is truly wonderful!"

  The Dirers. Helena, was a woman in her fifties with gray hair and a warm smile. She enthusiastically invited Dumbledore to sit down and brewed him a cup of tea - a rather cheap one, with an old and stale taste.

  "Ian is a good child, and quite mature for his age. He doesn't py much with the other children in the orphanage; he prefers to do his own thing."

  Upon hearing Miss Helena's introdu, Dumbledore seemed pensive. He put down the cup of tea she had poured for him.

  "Ms. Helena, are you saying that Ian is a lonely child?"

  Dumbledore's intense gaze made Ms. Helena pause for a moment. Then she shook her head quickly and expined.

  "No, no, you misuood me. Perhaps I should crify: Ian is just a very mature child. The other children want to py with him, but he just doesn't enjoy their games."

  Mrs. Helena paused before tinuing, "Ian once said that pying house was terribly b and childish. He thought that instead of wasting time on it, he'd rather go outside and py with birds."

  "Pying with birds? That's quite a hobby. It seems Ian enjoys being around animals," Dumbledore remarked, rexing a little. He smiled and teased, "Looks like he'll be keeping an owl iure."

  Hearing this, Ms. Helena froze for a moment, but quickly maintained her smile and tio speak highly of Ian.

  "Ian, although he thinks the other children are immature, still takes care of the younger ones. He's only eleven, but he sneaks out to earn money and buys flour aables to stock the kit... He remembers every child's birthday."

  "He even buys sweets for the younger ones."

  Mrs. Helena spoke with pride, but her expression suddenly ged to one of self-reproach as she let out a sigh. "Unfortunately, the current social enviro is tough, and the orphanage 't get enough donations. Of course, it's also my fault. I need a child to go out and earn money..."

  Mrs. Helena seemed distraught as she said this.

  "You don't have to bme yourself. You've done more than enough. I see the ges in this pce," Dumbledore said, addressing Ms. Helena with respectful honorifics, even though she was much youhan he was. He was sirying to fort her.

  "Have you been here before?" Miss Helena asked, somewhat surprised.

  "This is not my first visit," Dumbledore replied with a slight smile.

  Miss Helena did not press the matter further; she was more ed with the adoptioion.

  "Sir, if you're thinking of taking Ian from the orphanage, please believe me, he's a wonderful child." Mrs. Helena sincerely hoped that such a thoughtful child would find a good home.

  "Then may I meet him?" Dumbledore asked with a smile.

  Uhe influence of the fundus Charm, Miss Helena's uanding might differ from the truth, but there was o correct her.

  "Of course! Of course, sir!" Miss Helena beamed with joy, then stood and said to Dumbledore, "Please wait a moment.

  As she stepped out, she saw Ian, who had just returo the courtyard. A look of eager anticipation appeared on her face, and she waved at him as she called out, "Ian, e over here!"

  Ian ushing a small cart when a child ran up and hugged him. "Ian, it looks like something important is going on! Go, don't keep Ms. Helena waiting!"

  At the orphanage, every adoption was sidered a great event. For these homeless children, nothing was more important than being adopted. But Ian was different. He khis wasn't about adoption.

  Feeling uneasy, Ian ulled into the office.

  "It's him!"

  He had glimpsed the man earlier, and now he was sure - the person in the office was Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, the greatest wizard of this tury.

  "Don't be nervous."

  Before Ian could speak, he saw Dumbledore watg him.

  "Child, I have something to tell you - you are a wizard."

  With a surprised expression, Ian looked at Dumbledore, who tinued, "Surely you've noticed that you're different from others." His eyes, though a, were clear and pure, like a child's.

  "Uh."

  Ian didn't answer immediately. He looked up at Ms. Helena and noticed that her expression hadn't ged, as if she hadn't heard what the old man had said.

  'Was that the fundus Charm?'

  He forced himself to calm down, avoiding Dumbledore's gaze.

  "Indeed, it's true. I noticed it a long time ago. Sometimes when I stare at a gss of water, I make the water in it shake a little. Is that the power of a wizard?" Ian didn't pretend to be ignorant.

  His answer made Dumbledore smile and nod.

  "Yes, this is the magical power within you at work. Sometimes, when you're angry with someohe fluctuation of that magical power beore intense."

  Dumbledore's tone was gentle, but to Ian it souoo much like fishing for information. What does it mean that the power fluctuates more when you are angry? I'm not some Tom Riddle!

  "Sir, I almost never get angry at others because being driven by emotions doesn't solve problems." Ian replied calmly, maintaining a gentle demeanor.

  This answer seemed to please Dumbledore. He smiled and nodded, his beard trembling.

  "You are a very smart child. Miss Helena was right - you are indeed very mature for ye." With that, Dumbledore's old eyes slowly focused on Ian.

  "Hogwarts is the magical school that wizards from all over the world dream of attending. There you will learn all kinds of magi all over the world, as well as see and study various magical creatures..."

  "Don't worry, Mr. Ian. As the headmaster of Hogwarts, I officially invite you to study at Hogwarts."

  It's here!

  Finally!

  Ian Prince felt a rush of nerves. Although he had only seen a few Hogwarts movies and read some Hermione fanfi in his previous life, he had heard of Hogwarts and its professors.

  Ian was really worried that Dumbledore would act like those spiracy theory fan fi characters and break all the rules.

  "Are you worried?"

  Dumbledore noticed Iaions and assumed he was worried about Hogwarts. He gently reassured him, "Hogwarts has flying hippogriffs, trees that move, and most importantly, there will be other children ye who will study magic with you."

  "Don't worry about studying magic, Ian. In fact, someone from this orphanage has already bee a very remarkable wizard."

  Dumbledore suddenly seemed to fall into a memory, his tone somewhat wistful.

  These words made Ian even more nervous.

  Why was Ian nervous?

  It was because he already kly how 'remarkable' the person who had left this orphanage was!

  "Is that wizard still at Hogwarts?" Ian forced himself to sound curious.

  Interrupted by Ian's voice, Dumbledore snapped out of his reverie and shook his head.

  "Actually, he left Hogwarts a long time ago and... went astray."

  Dumbledore spoke with deep meaning.

  Ian had thought Dumbledore would follow up with some sort of criticism, but the old man simply ged his tone, speaking with regret and a touch of sorrow. "That does not diminish his extraordinary achievements. He could have gone further."

  Ian seemed to look fused, but his mind was filled with various thoughts.

  Dumbledore's words, though seemingly long-winded, felt like a warning or perhaps a test.

  'Damn it! This damn persecutory delusion, it's all those Harry Potter fanfie!'

  Ian suppressed his overactive imagination, trying not to let his mind wander.

  "Child, have you made your decision?" Dumbledore's voice echoed in Ian's ears.

  "Uh... well, I guess I'll give it a try?" Ian had been waiting for this day, so of course, he wouldn't choose to refuse.

  "A wise choice. In half a month, Hogwarts will send you your acceptater. At that time, someone will e to take you shopping for all the things you'll need for school."

  Dumbledore smiled at Ian.

  Ian shrugged and politely deed, "Sorry, sir, even if I want to attend, it's no use. I don't have any money; I 't afford the tuition."

  Dumbledore had already stood up and picked up his hat from the hat rack.

  At this moment, Ms. Helena suddenly stood up and said to Dumbledore, "Thank you, in half a month, Ian will definitely go."

  Ian froze for a moment, then quickly realized.

  This was the effect of the fundus Charm. He wasn't sure what se Ms. Helena had seen, but clearly, she couldn't see the real versatioween Ian and Dumbledore.

  Dumbledore didn't speak to Ms. Helena but instead smiled at Ian and said, "You don't o worry about money. First, the school has financial aid. Sed, the person who will e to pick you up won't let you pay. He... feels greatly ied to you."

  With that, Dumbledore took a step forward.

  Ian was momentarily stunned, uo stop himself from standing up and looking toward Dumbledore, alking towards the door.

  "Who? My parents?"

  'Am I still a pureblood?'

  This was a bit ued for Ian.

  "That's not for me to tell." Dumbledore merely wi Ian and made a 'see you agaiure, his voice den with meaning. "Child, you'll find out wheime es."

  With that, he left without looking back.

  Ms. Helena was still happily seeing him off as he departed.

  Ian opened his mouth but said nothing, turning around and heading back to his room.

  That night, Ian y in bed, deep in thought. Did Dumbledore e to the Woods Orphanage early because of the Orphaself, or was it because I was supposed to be named Ian Riddle?

  Or perhaps...

  Just because I'm a Prince?

  Was there ever a pureblood surname like this in the inal story?

  As he pondered, Ia his eyelids grow heavy.

  The moment, he slowly transitioned from a state of drowsio full wakefulness, as if crossing some kind of boundary. The sky in the distance was streaked with twilight, like a silk ribbon softly winding through the gradient blue, and the distant forest looked like a fairynd from a fairytale.

  The trees were lush and vivid, and a small bird flew over the treetops, its song crisp and melodious.

  Uhis picturesque sky, everything was rendered in dreamlike colors, as if pced within an exquisitely detailed painting, bringing an unpreted sense of tranquility and sing to his soul.

  Ian opened his eyes and gazed at the breathtaking sery before him.

  "You're here again." A soft voice whispered in his ear.

  "I almost fot, today is Saturday."

  Ian turned his head and saw a girl walking out of the forest.

  She wore a blue dress, her golden hair casg over her shoulders, and she gazed at Ian with pure innoce.

  "Ariana, I met a terrifying old man today. I fot t you dy."

  He said this to the girl.

  (End of chapter)