After Bilbo scurried back into the kitchen, Robert finally let out the breath he had been holding. He stood still for a moment, then turned his attention back to the glowing text floating before his eyes, his expression growing serious.
"Hogwarts Check-in System?" he muttered to himself. "But what does that have to do with Middle-earth? If this really is a Hogwarts system, shouldn't I have transmigrated into the Harry Potter world? How did I end up here instead?"
The more he thought about it, the more confused he became.
"Did I… transmigrate to the wrong place?"
Countless doubts flooded Robert's mind. The familiar names of Hogwarts and magic stirred excitement, yet the unmistakable setting of Middle-earth filled him with unease. Wizards certainly existed here, but they were nothing like those he knew from the Harry Potter universe.
He tried to question the system directly, hoping it would provide some clarification.
"What exactly do you do?" he asked tentatively.
There was no response.
The system remained completely silent, as if it had never heard him at all. Only the entry itself continued to float steadily before his eyes, glowing faintly, as though patiently waiting for him to make a choice.
After a brief hesitation, Robert swallowed and spoke again, testing the waters.
"Check in?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the glowing entry flickered. The original text vanished, replaced instantly by a new line of words.
[Check-in successful! Magic talent unlocked. Congratulations on becoming a Wizard!]
Before Robert could even fully process the message, a powerful sensation erupted within him.
It was as if a hidden seal deep inside his body had suddenly shattered. A surge of unfamiliar yet vigorous energy poured forth, rushing through his veins and bones like a raging tide. His limbs tingled, his heartbeat quickened, and his entire body felt as though it had been opened to a vast, unseen realm.
"Poof!"
He faintly sensed something invisible breaking apart within him, like a barrier that had long restrained his potential.
In the very next instant, the magic inside his body overflowed.
Robert's feet left the ground.
He felt weightless, as though gravity itself had released its hold on him. At the same time, everything around him responded to the sudden magical outburst. Tables, chairs, sofas, teapots—every object in the room began to tremble before lifting into the air.
"Oh, my goodness!"
A startled cry rang out from the kitchen doorway.
Bilbo Baggins stood frozen in place, his eyes widened to their limit as he stared at the unbelievable scene unfolding before him. The plate in his hands slipped from his grasp and shattered against the floor, but he didn't even notice.
The moment Bilbo cried out, it was as though the magic had lost its focus.
The floating objects wavered, paused midair, and then dropped all at once, clattering loudly as they hit the floor. The room was instantly plunged into chaos.
Robert's heart pounded as the surge of magic finally receded. He looked around at the mess he had caused, his face flushing with embarrassment and guilt.
"I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Baggins," he said quickly, bowing his head in apology. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. It's completely my fault."
Bilbo took several seconds to recover from his shock. When he finally did, the look he gave Robert was no longer one of fear, but of awe—almost reverence.
"Mr. Robert," Bilbo said breathlessly, his voice trembling with excitement, "you're… you're actually a Wizard!"
Robert forced a sheepish smile.
"I didn't exactly expect it either," he muttered quietly to himself.
The rest of the time was spent cleaning up the disaster together. Robert desperately wanted to use magic to restore everything to its original state, but reality quickly caught up with him.
Although he now possessed magic, he had absolutely no idea how to control it.
At the moment, he was nothing more than a Muggle-born Wizard—someone with power, but without the knowledge to wield it.
In the end, he could only rely on his hands, cleaning up piece by piece like an ordinary person.
After everything was finally put back in order, Bilbo prepared another meal for the two of them. They sat down together at the dining table, the atmosphere noticeably more relaxed than before.
With a slightly embarrassed smile, Bilbo said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Robert. I wasn't expecting a guest today, so this is all I have for now. Tomorrow morning I'll head into Hobbiton to buy proper groceries and prepare the most lavish Hobbit meal for you."
Noticing the caution in Bilbo's tone, Robert shook his head and smiled warmly.
"Bilbo, I can call you that, right?" he said gently. "You don't need to be so formal. You can just call me Robert. You've already been kind enough to take me in—if anything, I should be the one thanking you. Why don't we just be friends?"
Bilbo blinked, then broke into a wide grin. The tension in his shoulders melted away as he happily accepted Robert's sincerity.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Robert, my friend!" Bilbo said, extending his hand.
Robert clasped it firmly, his smile just as genuine.
"The pleasure's mine, Bilbo."
The atmosphere inside Bag End quickly grew warm and friendly. As they talked, Robert asked Bilbo about the Shire and the lands beyond it. Though Bilbo himself had never ventured far, he loved reading adventure journals and eagerly shared everything he knew.
He explained the East-West Road that passed through the Brandywine Bridge, the Old Forest, and the Barrow-downs before reaching the town of Bree. Beyond that lay the vast wilderness leading to the Misty Mountains. He also spoke of a North-South Road running south from Bree, eventually reaching the great human kingdom of Gondor.
Most importantly, Bilbo revealed the current year: Shire Reckoning 1340—Third Age 2940 in Middle-earth terms.
That meant this was the year before Bilbo would join Thorin and his company.
Realizing this, Robert's thoughts grew complicated.
Before unlocking magic, his only plan had been to lie low and survive quietly. But now, with the Check-in System in hand, he began to consider whether joining Thorin's Company might be worth the risk. After all, their journey would pass through Elven lands and many notable locations—perfect opportunities to activate future check-ins.
Late that night, after bidding Bilbo goodnight, Robert lay on the bed prepared for him. It was far too small for his frame, and the quilt barely covered his legs, but the midsummer warmth made it bearable.
Moonlight streamed through the round window, mingling with the faint glow of a candle. Outside, the soft chorus of crickets and frogs filled the air.
Listening to the peaceful sounds, Robert's restless heart gradually calmed.
Since he was already here, he resolved to make the best of it—to grow stronger and live well in this unfamiliar yet strangely nostalgic world.
With that thought, he slowly drifted into sleep.
The next morning, Robert woke early. Hearing Bilbo's faint snoring from the next room, he quietly slipped out of bed and tiptoed into the round living room. Opening the door, he stepped into the garden and inhaled deeply.
The fresh breeze and floral scent filled his lungs, lifting his spirits.
Hobbit houses, however, were far too short. Constantly bending over made Robert worry that he might develop neck problems if he stayed too long.
From Bag End's position atop a hill, the entirety of Hobbiton was visible. The scenery looked like something straight out of a fairytale—rolling green grass, colorful flowers, and trees trimmed to suit their small inhabitants.
For a moment, Robert even felt the temptation to live here permanently.
But reality soon returned.
Although he was now a Wizard, he had no wand and no spells. Compared to ordinary people, he wasn't much stronger at all.
Despite being a lifelong Harry Potter fan, knowing spells by heart meant nothing without magical theory, proper focus, and a wand to channel power.
Still, he refused to give up.
Remembering how Harry and Neville had accidentally performed magic before training, Robert focused his will on a stone in the garden, trying to make it rise.
Nothing happened.
After several failed attempts, he switched to a leaf.
At first, there was no response.
Then, slowly—almost imperceptibly—the leaf trembled.
It began to sway, lifted gently into the air, and floated upward under an unseen force.
Robert's eyes widened.
Magic… was responding.
And his journey as a Wizard had truly begun.