Read my new story (ilham20)
Hogwarts : Black family bloodline...
Hogwarts, my partner is Tom…
Hogwarts : He Starts by Deconstructing Avada Kedavra...
"Evans?" A sharp glint flashed in Dumbledore's eyes as he sat up straighter. "Now that is an interesting coincidence. No wonder… no wonder."
His fingers tapped lightly on the desk. "Many Muggle-born witches and wizards actually have wizarding ancestry several generations back. There's still debate about it, of course."
"So it's not surprising that the Evans family produced a Lily and now a Julien," Professor McGonagall agreed.
"And the boy himself?" Dumbledore asked—this was what interested him most.
"The boy himself… was remarkably composed." McGonagall recalled the scene with a rare, tiny upward curve at the corner of her mouth. "While his parents were full of doubt and resistance at first, Julien seemed to have been expecting everything. He looked genuinely excited. His demeanor is unusually steady for a child his age. And Albus… his eyes…"
"Yes, I suspected as much," Dumbledore said softly. "Exactly like Lily's. That clear olive green, like leaves after rain."
"More than that," McGonagall lowered her voice, "the magic I sensed in him is pure and powerful. The quality of it… it's strikingly similar to Lily's. That vibrant, resilient life force."
"What a marvelous twist of fate!" Dumbledore nodded slowly, gazing out into the deep night sky beyond the window. "Just think, Minerva—an ordinary Muggle Evans family producing two generations of exceptionally talented witches and wizards. Magic truly is like the vast starry sky. We understand so very little of it."
McGonagall nodded in full agreement. "I truly hope the boy ends up in Gryffindor," she said firmly. "I would like to guide him personally, just as I did with Lily."
"Well said, Minerva." Dumbledore smiled approvingly. "Then we'll proceed as planned. Next week, take him to Diagon Alley. And while you're at it… keep an eye on his choices for me."
"Of course. Why, are you still uneasy?" McGonagall asked.
"After all, this is also the year Harry starts. We must be cautious."
At the mention of Harry, McGonagall's brows furrowed slightly.
"Speaking of Harry Potter… I learned from Julien's mother that he's not doing well with the Dursleys. Petunia Evans has been telling people Lily died in a car crash, clearly trying to bury the truth. Albus, are you quite certain placing Harry in that household was the right decision?"
The smile faded from Dumbledore's face, replaced by deep concern.
"Blood protection is the strongest kind, Minerva. As long as Harry still considers that place his 'home,' Voldemort cannot touch him. It's the shield Lily gave her life to create. As for the rest… some hardships are unfortunately necessary."
"Necessary?" McGonagall's tone carried clear disapproval. "Watching a child grow up in a cupboard under the stairs, suffering neglect—is that what you call 'necessary'?"
Dumbledore remained silent for a moment, then waved his hand wearily. "We'll discuss this another time. For now, let's focus on our new student. I hope he brings something… different to Hogwarts."
McGonagall gave the headmaster a long look but said nothing more. She turned and left the office.
Once the door closed, Dumbledore sat alone, his fingers absently stroking the extinguished Deluminator on his desk.
After a long while, he murmured to himself:
"Caelum Julien Black… the one who sculpts the stars. I hope your arrival truly helps reshape them."
---
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
Early that morning, outside No. 3 Wickham Court on Charing Cross Road, Julien stood dressed in a well-tailored deep blue suit that made him look sharp and full of youthful energy.
His parents, Altair and Clara, had come along as well. Their expressions were a mixture of curiosity and poorly hidden nervousness. Today they were about to step into a completely unknown world.
Professor McGonagall arrived right on time, wearing deep purple robes that made her look slightly less stern and more approachable than during her home visit.
"Good morning, Mr. Black, Mrs. Black." She nodded politely to Julien's parents, then turned to him. "Are you ready, Caelum?"
"Ready, Professor!" Julien answered excitedly.
"Excellent. Then follow me."
Professor McGonagall led them through the Muggle crowd on the street until they reached a shabby-looking pub squeezed between a bookstore and a record shop—the Leaky Cauldron.
"This is it?" Clara looked surprised. "I walk past here almost every day. How have I never noticed this rundown bar before?"
"This place?" Altair frowned at the crooked, weathered sign that read 'Leaky Cauldron.' "It looks like it could collapse at any moment."
"I actually saw it once when I came here with Hermione to that record shop called Sister Ray," Julien said with a smile.
Professor McGonagall gave a small nod but didn't mention the Muggle-Repelling Charm. She simply smiled. "Appearances can be deceiving, Mr. and Mrs. Black."
She pushed open the creaky wooden door.
Inside was an entirely different world. Though the entrance was narrow, the interior was surprisingly spacious—space expansion charms were common in the wizarding world, after all.
The air carried a complex mixture of smells: burning candles, old wood, alcohol, and some magical spice Julien couldn't quite identify. It created that distinctive "Leaky Cauldron" atmosphere.
Under dim lighting and drifting smoke, several wizards in strange robes sat around a table, puffing on long pipes and talking in low voices.
A wine jug floated through the air on its own, automatically refilling empty glasses. Julien had the feeling that unless you covered your cup with your hand, it would keep pouring until you passed out.
Behind the bar, a tall but hunched old man was polishing glasses.
"Morning, Professor McGonagall," the old man looked up at the sound. "Bringing in another first-year, are we?"
"That's right, Tom. Good morning," McGonagall greeted him familiarly, then turned to introduce them. "This is Tom, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron. He's a very good man. If you ever have any trouble here in the future, feel free to ask him for help."
"Welcome!" Tom greeted them warmly, then asked McGonagall, "Care to sit for a drink and rest a bit, Minerva?"
"Thank you, but no. The walk wasn't far. We should get straight to business."
Julien noticed a young girl with golden-blonde hair and rosy cheeks sitting behind the counter, her head nodding as she read a book.
Tom caught Julien's gaze and chuckled. "Ah, little one, let me introduce you—this is Hannah. Hannah Abbott. She's a relative's daughter and will also be starting Hogwarts this year. You two are classmates."
The girl looked up, blushing shyly.
Oh, so this is the future landlady and "Sword Saint's wife" in the making.
"Hello, Hannah. I'm Caelum Julien Black. You can call me Julien—my friends all do."
"Hello, Julien." The young future Hufflepuff prefect's ears turned bright red.
"All right, Julien," Professor McGonagall said, already using his preferred name, "let's head into Diagon Alley first. You can chat with your classmate when we come back out."