In that shabby little house on the sea, Harry had experienced the most magical night of his life. The next morning, he lay in bed as long as he could, reluctant to open his eyes, almost afraid that it had all been a dream.
In that dream, a massive owl had delivered his acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Then a giant named Hagrid arrived, told him he was a wizard, and even used magic to punish Dudley, his bully of a cousin. He worried that if he woke up, he'd find himself back in the tiny cupboard under the stairs at home. If he could, he'd stay in this dream forever.
But then Hagrid's voice broke through.
"Up and at 'em, Harry. Now's not the time for sleeping in."
Harry rubbed his eyes, watching as Hagrid opened the window and released an owl that had just delivered a newspaper, which Hagrid bought for five Knuts.
"What's that?" Harry asked curiously.
"The Daily Prophet, our wizarding newspaper," Hagrid explained as he stretched. "Wizards read it to stay informed." He added, "We'd better get going, Harry. We've got a full day ahead. Off to London to get your school supplies—and pick out two birthday presents."
"Birthday presents?" Harry asked, surprised.
"One for you and one for Kyle." Hagrid grinned. "Strange coincidence—his birthday's today too."
A birthday present? Harry's heart leapt with excitement. But then he remembered the name Hagrid had mentioned and asked, "Who's Kyle?"
"He's another young wizard at Hogwarts—one year ahead of you," Hagrid replied, already pulling on his boots. "A good kid. Kind-hearted, friendly to everyone, and the professors and students all like him."
Hagrid continued as they left the hut, making their way to the outer reef. "He's sharp too. The only student in 300 years to get a Special Award for Services to the School in his first year. If all goes well, he'll likely be the youngest recipient of the Order of Merlin."
Harry blinked, taking in all these impressive-sounding titles. Though he didn't recognize any of them, he could tell from Hagrid's tone that they meant Kyle had accomplished some incredible things.
"If you ever need help or run into trouble at Hogwarts, you can go to him," Hagrid added. "He'll look out for you."
As they walked, Harry muttered the name to himself, "Kyle…" imagining what this other young wizard might be like. Not knowing any wizards, he naturally envisioned something from TV and mashed it together with Hagrid's appearance. In his mind's eye, Kyle was a serious-looking boy wearing a tall, pointed hat and a deep black (or maybe blue or red) cloak, clutching a thick wooden staff with a jeweled tip. And maybe he even had a dead ferret looped around his waist as some strange magical token…
"Achoo!"
Kyle, seated at breakfast in St. Catchpole Village, sneezed suddenly.
"Dear, are you getting a cold?" Chris asked, looking concerned.
"No, I just felt an itch in my nose," Kyle replied, rubbing his nose. He figured it must've been from all the owls he'd come into contact with recently.
He had no idea who'd spread the word about his birthday, but as soon as daylight broke, a steady stream of owls began flying into his room, each carrying beautifully wrapped gifts. The deliveries nearly filled half his room with brightly colored boxes and ribbons.
Just as Kyle was mulling this over, another owl swooped in through the open window, placing a large box on the table beside him.
"It seems you're quite popular at school," Diana said with a smile. "Receiving so many gifts!"
"Mum, have you forgotten which house I'm in?" Kyle asked, reaching for a piece of bread. "Hufflepuffs are known for their connections. Naturally, I have plenty of friends."
Diana chuckled, saying nothing more.
Kyle glanced at the newest package, which he recognized as coming from Lee Jordan. Judging by its shape, it was likely another cake. This seemed to be the most popular gift he'd received—there were already over a dozen cakes stacked in his room upstairs. Barring any unexpected surprises, these cakes would be his main source of food for the next few days, and he knew the Weasley kids would likely be sharing in them, especially Ginny, who would be thrilled.
With a wry smile, Kyle shook his head and took another bite of sausage.
After breakfast, Chris called Kyle aside. "We've given some thought to what you asked us yesterday," he began.
Kyle's eyes lit up with anticipation. "You're going to teach me?"
"Of course," Chris replied, nodding. "We have no reason to object. But… could you tell us why you're so determined to learn Occlumency? It's no easy skill, after all. Even many adult wizards struggle with it, so for a young wizard like you, this is quite ambitious."
Kyle hesitated briefly before answering, "Because of Oren. Back in the Forbidden Forest, I had the feeling he could read my thoughts. It felt… invasive, and I don't want to experience that again."
Though Oren was a convenient excuse, Kyle's reasons went far beyond him. Occlumency was the only known magic that could guard against external mental infiltration—an essential skill if he wanted to delve into the mystery of Horcruxes. He knew he would inevitably need to interact with enchanted objects like the diary and the diadem, both of which could pose serious risks without Occlumency to shield his mind. With Voldemort's proficiency in soul magic, Kyle knew he would be dangerously exposed if he handled those Horcruxes unprotected.
Kyle had attempted to teach himself Occlumency last year, but, as Chris had pointed out, it was notoriously challenging. Trying to learn without guidance had been painstakingly slow; after half a year, he'd barely managed to reach the beginner's level. At this stage, he knew his skills were nowhere near strong enough to contend with the mental intrusion of a Horcrux.
"Oren?" Chris repeated, grimacing at the name. For over a month, he had pondered the connection but could recall nothing apart from that rescue mission ten years ago that might link him to Oren.
After a sigh, Chris said, "If you're truly certain, we can make arrangements for your training."
"I'm certain," Kyle affirmed eagerly. "When do we start? After work?"
Chris shook his head, a mysterious smile forming. "No, you won't be learning from us. For Occlumency, we've actually found the ideal teacher, and he's agreed to instruct you."
"A teacher?"
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Kyle frowned slightly. To be honest, he wasn't exactly thrilled about someone else teaching him a branch of magic as personal as Occlumency, especially if it involved exploring his mind and memories. He wouldn't want even Dumbledore involved in something that sensitive. In fact, most wizards felt the same way about Occlumency, and Kyle was sure Chris understood that.
But Chris's expression suggested he had great faith in this teacher. Kyle hesitated, not wanting to refuse outright. He decided he'd go see for himself first; if he didn't feel comfortable, he could always think of an excuse to bow out.
After some discussion, Chris had initially suggested they wait until Kyle's birthday celebration, but Kyle felt otherwise. Birthdays came every year, and he was far more curious about the identity of this Occlumency teacher. He wanted to confirm if this arrangement would work for him as soon as possible.
Since Kyle was so eager, Chris agreed without hesitation. They headed to an open area outside the house, where Chris extended his arm.
"We'll Disapparate there. Just grab my arm."
Taking a deep breath, Kyle clutched his father's outstretched arm.
"Let's go!"
With a loud crack, they both vanished, reappearing moments later in front of a charming wooden cabin with a red roof. The cozy little house, impeccably neat and surrounded by a low fence, looked warm and inviting. Outside stood an elderly couple, smiling in greeting.
"Grandpa Newt? Grandma Tina?" Kyle's eyes widened in surprise.
He hadn't expected Chris's teacher to be Newt and Tina Scamander. But if it was them, he could hardly ask for better.
"Kyle, aren't you here to learn Occlumency?" Tina Scamander said with a laugh, pinching his cheek gently. "What are you waiting for? Come on inside."
Tina led him into the cozy house, showering him with biscuits and freshly baked buns. Though he'd just finished breakfast, he couldn't resist and managed to eat quite a bit more.
Finally, feeling thoroughly full, Kyle rubbed his stomach and asked, "Grandma Tina, are you the one who'll be teaching me?"
Of everyone here, Tina had the most advanced Occlumency skills. Her younger sister Queenie was a natural Legilimens, and if Tina hadn't developed strong Occlumency, she'd have had no way to keep any secrets.
But Tina only smiled and shook her head. "I'll help you with the foundational theory, but after that, it's out of my hands."
"Not you?" Kyle looked confused, glancing over at Newt for clarification.
"Not me either, kid," Newt said with a smile, placing an open crate on the ground. "Come with me. I'll show you who."
Kyle's stomach tightened with apprehension as he eyed the crate. But Newt had already stepped inside, so Kyle followed.
The crate was astonishingly large on the inside, resembling a vast ecosystem of trees, rivers, and lakes—a forest in its own right. They walked until they reached a clearing by a lake, where an elegant creature awaited them.
Gracefully approaching was a Wampus Cat, its sleek form moving with the silent confidence of a predator. Its piercing blue eyes fixed on Newt and Kyle, and it lowered its head slightly in acknowledgment.
"This is Natali," Newt said, gently scratching the Wampus Cat under her chin. "Remember, Kyle, every Wampus Cat is a natural Legilimens."
"Of course… I remember," Kyle replied, though his enthusiasm was quickly turning into unease.
Chris walked over, clapping Kyle on the shoulder with a grin. "So, what do you think? Pretty impressive teacher I found for you, right?"
"So… my teacher really is the Wampus Cat, Natali?" Kyle asked, eyebrows raised.
"Exactly," Chris said. "If you want to master Occlumency quickly, you'll need to feel enough pressure to trigger intense emotions. We discussed it and agreed that Natali is best suited for the job—and she's already agreed."
Chris continued, "Once you've learned the basics, we'll send you here. Natali will try to break into your mind, and your job will be to keep her out and avoid getting hurt. If you can last five minutes, it'll mean your Occlumency is strong enough."
"Wait… five minutes?" Kyle looked incredulous. "This is a Wampus Cat. Even if I manage some level of Occlumency, I'd still stand no chance against her."
The Wampus Cat was a six-legged magical creature renowned for its speed. To be blunt, if Natali wanted to best him, she wouldn't even need Legilimency—it was practically overkill.
"Don't worry," Newt said, his voice calm. "Natali's smart. She knows what to do."
"But…" Kyle began, but he was cut off as Natali stepped forward, rubbing her face against his cheek with a gentle purr.
"Meow…"
"Of course I trust you," Kyle said, scratching her under the chin. "I just think this method might be a bit… intense."
"On the contrary," Chris said, his tone serious. "If we were to teach you, we'd need to use Legilimency to challenge you as well, just like Natali. But unlike us, Natali can practice with you anytime. And she won't spill any secrets from your head."
Kyle paused, realizing Chris had a point. Being subjected to Legilimency was unnerving, but if it was Natali, it somehow felt a bit more bearable.
"Okay, I agree," Kyle said, nodding.
Natali purred approvingly, then lifted her front paw and gave him a swift, surprisingly firm kick right on the backside.
"Whoosh!"
Without a moment to react, Kyle was launched into the air, spinning as he went, before splashing down into the lake nearby.
Chris and Newt, momentarily taken aback, quickly exchanged a knowing look.
"Looks like she's already set on starting his training," Newt chuckled. "I'll be heading over to check on Anairë. She recently had a litter of Nifflers and could use some help recovering."
"And I'll go with you," Chris replied, shaking his head in amusement. "I'm off today anyway."
Newt nodded, and they began walking toward another section of the sanctuary. But after a few steps, Chris turned back and shouted, "Remember, no Charms allowed!"
A single hand rose from the lake, waving in reluctant acknowledgment.
Hi everyone! Enjoying the read? I hope so! Would you like to support my work and access advanced chapters? Follow me on Patreon at patreon.com/BlurryDream. For just $1, you’ll gain access to 20 chapters ahead of the current release.
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