["Congratulations, Host! You've acquired Level 1 Skill: Psychic Pulse (also known as Mental Pulse)!"]
Marius Cloud's thoughts stirred. "System, explain this 'Psychic Pulse' skill to me."
["Level 1 Psychic Pulse: The host can unleash the full force of their mental power in a single burst toward a target, causing a severe psychic impact. Targets with equal mental strength will be stunned. Targets with weaker mental strength will be knocked unconscious!"]
Marius's eyes gleamed. Even without using the Felix Felicis, he'd drawn a jackpot-tier skill! Psychic Pulse was leagues more useful than his earlier passive skill, Regeneration.
After all, Marius already had far stronger mental power than his peers. In a magical duel, one blast of Psychic Pulse would leave his opponent dazed or flat-out unconscious. That wasn't just a winning card—it was a cheat code.
The next day arrived swiftly.
By then, news of Marius Cloud's "miraculous transformation" had spread like Fiendfyre through Britain's magical elite.
"From Dud to Prodigy—What Secrets Lurk Behind the Cloud Family's Veil?"
Even The Daily Prophet couldn't resist slapping such a clickbait headline on the front page. After all, the Cloud family was no small name—they were one of the most influential pure-blood lineages in all of wizarding Britain.
The sudden reversal sent shockwaves through the noble class. Overnight, the Cloud estate was bombarded by waves of visitors hoping to "reconnect."
But Marius?
He couldn't care less.
After yesterday's banquet left him socially drained, there was no way he was sticking around to play host. Instead, he decided to sneak off to Diagon Alley—his official excuse being that he needed to buy his Hogwarts school supplies. Which, technically, wasn't even a lie.
"Got enough Galleons with you?" came Elara Cloud's worried voice.
"Yeah, yeah, all packed," Marius replied.
"And Sickles? You can't do much in Diagon Alley without smaller change," she added, fussing.
Marius rolled his eyes. "Mum, have I ever messed that up?"
Elara finally relaxed. Smiling, she reached over and straightened his collar. "I know my little Marius is the best. But I can't help worrying. Last chance—are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"
"No need," Marius said. "You've already had several visitors show up this morning, and I'm guessing more will come. If you're not around, Dad's going to be buried alive."
"You're more important than those people…" she mumbled, but seeing the look in his eyes, she sighed. "Alright, alright. At least use the Floo Network from home. You still don't have your wand."
Marius nodded. In the living room, he tossed a handful of Floo Powder into the ornate fireplace. Emerald-green flames whooshed up as he stepped in and clearly enunciated:
"Diagon Alley."
A moment of swirling dizziness—and then he was there.
...
"Now… let's see what I need to buy first," Marius muttered to himself.
He fished the Hogwarts supply list out of his pocket. It read:
__
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry — First-Year Supply List
Uniform:
Three sets of plain black robes
One plain pointed hat (black), to be worn during the day
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Note: All clothing must carry name tags.
Books:
All students are required to own a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Other Equipment:
A magic wand, a large cauldron (white wax, size 2), a set of glass or crystal phials, a telescope, and a brass balance scale.
Students may also bring an owl, a cat, or a toad.
Please note: First-year students are not permitted to have their own broomsticks.
...
"No personal broomsticks?" Marius Cloud raised an eyebrow as he folded the supply list and slipped it back into his pocket. "Well, looks like I'm breaking school rules before I've even set foot on campus."
But as a scion of an old pure-blood family, he wasn't exactly worried. Rules, in the world of wizarding aristocracy, were often little more than polite suggestions.
With an easy gait, Marius headed for his next destination.
Riven's Bookstore—the most well-known and perhaps only bookstore in all of Britain that stocked every book on the Hogwarts supply list. It was a rite of passage for every incoming student.
Unfortunately, its reputation didn't end there.
The place was infamously chaotic—loud, crowded, and constantly in disarray. The shopkeeper, in a bid for attention (or maybe out of pure masochism), frequently invited authors, Quidditch stars, and other magical celebrities to host book signings, making the atmosphere even more riotous.
Marius narrowed his eyes and slipped through the milling crowd like a shadow. Even with his lean teenage frame, the sardine-like space was a challenge to maneuver. He had no idea how any child—especially a Muggle-born—was expected to navigate this magical mess.
And sure enough, he soon spotted trouble.
A young couple stood uncertainly near a shelf of mismatched textbooks, holding the hand of a girl with a cascade of golden-brown curls. All three of them were unmistakably Muggles—their clothing modern and a little too polished for Diagon Alley. Their expressions flickered between curiosity and bafflement, their eyes scanning the crowded shelves with a kind of wide-eyed awe.
No one was helping them. The store clerks were too swamped wrangling floating quills, enchanted books that bit, and a family arguing over cauldron thickness.
Marius watched them for a beat—then stepped forward, his voice clear and polite.
"Excuse me. You seem a little lost. Can I help you find something?"
The couple jumped slightly—clearly startled to be addressed in such a composed tone amid the chaos. Then they both hastily extended their hands to shake his.
"Oh! Hello, yes—thank you! We're a bit overwhelmed, honestly," said the man with an awkward chuckle.
"We were wondering," the woman added quickly, "where to find the required books for new students at Hogwarts?"
As they spoke, their gazes dropped fondly to the girl between them.
"We want to make sure our daughter Hermione is properly prepared," the mother said warmly, though her eyes were still darting between the levitating books and a runaway wand. "But, well… this place is just… surreal. Amazing, but surreal."
Marius's eyes fell to the girl—Hermione. She looked about his age, and though she said nothing, her gaze was sparkling with a mix of raw intellect and barely restrained excitement. It was the kind of look someone had when they just realized magic is real—and they had access to it.
Marius gave a rare, genuine smile.
"Come with me," he said. "I'll show you where everything is."
--------------
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