The Black Bloodline of Hogwarts

Guests of all ages arrived one after another.

Thomas burst in, breathless, carrying a beautifully wrapped box: "Happy birthday, Julien. This is the latest F-16 model! It can be remotely controlled to fly for three minutes."

"Thank you, Thomas," Yu said with a smile as she accepted the gift. "I love it. This is the best birthday present I've ever received."

"I knew you'd like it! My mom wanted to give you a copy of '500 Algebra Trap Problems for Middle School Students,' but I hid it!"

"Oh, thank goodness," Julien breathed a sigh of relief, "you saved my high school years."

Just then, a girl with short, flaxen hair ran up beside them. "Hey, Julien."

"Hello, Maggie. Thank you for coming to my birthday party."

"Thank you for the invitation," Maggie said with a smile, wiggling her hips. Thomas, standing nearby, couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Here you go, Julien, this is a birthday present for you." He handed over a brown rectangular box. "Open it and see if you like it."

Julien opened the box; inside was a Wilson football with the NFL logo printed on it.

Seeing Julien looking somewhat dazed, Maggie quickly said, "So, what do you boys all like?"

"Yes, Maggie. I love it." At the connector, "It's the best gift I've ever received."

Maggie skipped away, leaving Thomas staring in astonishment at his friend. "I say, Julien, which one is the best gift?"

"Don't worry about these unimportant things, Thomas," Julien patted him on the shoulder, "Just be happy."

"No wonder you've attracted so many girls in just six months. By the way, what are you looking at? Are you waiting for someone?" Thomas asked curiously, following Julien's gaze out the window.

In the hazy sky, the shadow of a bird flew swiftly by.

"It's nothing, I was just enjoying the scenery outside," Julien said, turning his gaze away to cover up his misunderstanding.

He looked away. "I just think the clouds today... have a really nice shape... By the way, did you see an owl fly by just now?"

Thomas stuffed the last piece of cake into his mouth, licking the plate so clean it could be used as a mirror. Julien began helping his mother Clara clean up the confetti and balloon debris.

As the guests gradually left, Grandma Elodie yawned as she poured the remaining juice into the sink, saying, "Happy birthday, little one!" "And please, don't play that awful 'Losing My Religion' again!"

"That's REM!" Julien protested, but no one paid him any attention.

Just then—

"Tap! Tap! Tap!"

It wasn't knocking, it was the sound of something being pecked at in the window!

Everyone in the living room was stunned.

Outside the window, a large, greyish-brown owl was scratching at the glass with its claws, its wings flapping incessantly, almost creating a small tornado. A thick letter was tied to its leg, the sealing wax seal glowing red.

"Oh my god! How can there be such a bird of prey in the city center!" Clara exclaimed, grabbing a broom to shoo it away. "Quick, close the window, don't let it in!"

"Wait!" Julien rushed over in one stride. "It...it looks like it's delivering a message!"

By this time, Julien could clearly see the owl perched outside his window, clutching a parchment envelope tightly in its claws.

"Delivering mail?" Dad Altair frowned. "Even owls are doing same-city delivery now?"

At this moment, Grandfather Alfald slowly strolled out from behind the sofa, holding a glass of red wine in his hand, with that mysterious smile on his face that said, "I knew this would happen."

"Oh, darling, don't panic," he said slowly in French-accented English. "This is my pet from Bordeaux, named 'Postman Pierre.' I trained him to deliver birthday cards, just to be romantic!"

"You raised them?" Grandma Elodie squinted suspiciously. "When did you start raising owls? You said you were busy growing roses lately!"

"I grow roses and raise owls," Alfander winked. "French men are so versatile." Ever since marrying his grandmother, he had always touted himself as a French man, even changing his accent.

He strode to the window and, taking advantage of his family's inattention, quickly flicked his wand under his sleeve—the owl immediately cooed, its eyes instantly becoming dull and docile, as if it were truly a domesticated pet.

"Look how well-behaved it is!" Alphad flung open the window, snatched the letter, and handed it to Julien. Then he pulled a piece of dry bread from his pocket and fed it to the owl. "Pierre, well done! I'll give you an extra treat when you get back—earthworms!"

Then Alphad took out a pre-written reply from his pocket and stuffed it into the owl's claws.

The owl rolled its eyes—it really rolled its eyes—but still obediently picked up the bread and flew away, deliberately bumping into a streetlamp before it left, making a "bang" sound, which attracted the neighbor next door to peek out and check.

"Alright, alright," Alfard clapped his hands, turned to Lian and winked, "Hurry up and open your 'greeting card,' I bet it says something like 'May you live to be a hundred' inside."

Julien suppressed a laugh and quickly hid the letter in his pajama pocket.

Mom was still muttering, "Pets these days are getting weirder and weirder... Last time, the neighbor's parrot could even recite the multiplication tables."

"That's because it eavesdropped on little Tommy's tutoring class downstairs!" Dad explained seriously.

Only Grandma stared at Alfard, squinting as she said, "Are you up to some weird trick again?" After all, they had been together for decades, and she still knew her husband quite well.

Alphad raised his glass, looking completely innocent. "Me? Darling, what bad things could a winemaker do?"

"Then why did you turn my roast chicken blueberry flavored last week?"

"Uh...that's a new type of spice."

Everyone present burst into laughter, and the guests continued to say goodbye to their host.

No one noticed Julien sneaking back into his room, his fingers trembling as he tore open the sealing wax—while his grandfather stood at the door, a sly smile on his lips, turning back to whisper to the person outside, "Oblivio Praesens (Forget this moment)."

That night, magic quietly descended, and the Muggles continued to live happily.

Julien felt a unique texture coming from his fingertips; he realized the envelope was made of thick parchment.

There was no stamp, but the envelope bore a line of beautifully written English in bright green ink: "To Mr. Schilling Julien Black, 4th Floor, 3 Wycombe Court, Charing Cross Street."

Wax seal is a wax seal with a simple design of a lion, snake, badger, or eagle surrounding the letter "H".

Julien carefully tore open the envelope; the parchment made a soft "plop" sound, like a satisfied sigh. A few glittering specks of gold dust drifted out from the cracks and vanished in an instant.

Inside was an acceptance letter written on parchment, with handwriting exactly the same as on the envelope:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (President of the International Confederation of Wizards, First Rank of the Order of Merlin, Archmage, Chief Wizard of Wizengamor)

Dear Mr. Blake:

We are pleased to inform you that you have been admitted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of required books and equipment.

……

The term begins on September 1st. We will take the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station to the school.

We hope you arrive at school on time.

I await your reply.

Respectfully submitted by Vice Principal (female) Minerva McGonagall

The letter also included a detailed enrollment guide and a shopping list, which listed a range of magical items such as textbooks, wands, cauldrons, robes, and a train ticket.