Leo put away Professor McGonagall's letter. He had now glimpsed the possibility of pioneering new directions in Transfiguration and had found a lead for repaying his loan.
Turning his head, he noticed the owl was still there, preening its feathers. Coming to the desk, Leo began writing a reply to Professor McGonagall:
"Professor, thank you for your guidance. I will remember your reminder and will not attempt..."
This version replaces the original metaphor with "Rome wasn't built in a day," making it more familiar to readers. It adds personality with phrases like "foolish enough to rush headlong" and creates better narrative flow. The tone is more conversational while still maintaining respect for McGonagall's authority.
Leo was very clear that he should first master the basic knowledge, build up a sufficient foundation, and then attempt truly advanced and innovative transfiguration. As long as he could develop stable magical creature transfiguration within a year, he could complete the loan task.
The pen tip rustled across the paper. He quickly finished writing the reply, placed it in an envelope, and was about to give it to the snow-white owl perched at the window.
Suddenly, a pale golden figure flew in through the window, swooping straight toward the plump white bird.
"Hoot! Hoot..."
The owl was immediately startled and began hooting incessantly, flapping its wings as it darted around the room.
Seeing this, Leo just helplessly waved his hand. "Aurelius, don't frighten it."
The golden figure stopped, its large golden-red eyes blinking as it looked toward Leo. Leo was also looking at the little Qilin, his mouth full of smiles.
Aurelius was the name he had given the little Qilin. It meant "golden light", which matched its pale golden scales quite well.
With auspicious clouds swirling around its feet, Aurelius stepped through the air to Leo's side, nuzzling his cheek with its forehead, where short horns hadn't yet fully grown, very affectionately.
"Go comfort that owl. I still need it to help deliver the letter."
Understanding its master's meaning, Aurelius turned toward the owl flying chaotically around the room. Without any visible action from the little Qilin, the startled owl slowed its flight and finally perched on the window again.
"Hoot."
The owl tilted its head. Aurelius raised its head toward Leo, seeming to wait for praise.
This was the Qilin's mental communication ability... it could directly convey meaning to other creatures mentally. Aurelius had transmitted goodwill and comfort to the owl. Combined with the fact that Qilins were naturally symbols of good fortune and friendly to other creatures, the owl quickly calmed down.
Gently rubbing Aurelius's small head, Leo smiled: "Well done."
He handed the envelope to the owl at the window. Taking the letter, the owl flapped its wings and flew away directly.
September 1st, 10 AM. Leo arrived at King's Cross Station. This was London's transportation hub with extremely heavy foot traffic.
Leo made his way through the crowd to the famous Platform 9¾. Slowing his pace, he waited until he saw someone charge straight at the third pillar. Leo followed that person and naturally crashed into the barrier wall.
His whole body passed straight through, arriving in a new world.
The Hogwarts Express... an old-style steam train. The whistle hadn't yet sounded, and it sat there quietly, not yet time for departure.
Leo didn't rush to board, instead walking along the platform for a while, examining this magical train. Red engine, black carriages... it didn't look much different from human steam trains.
However, Leo knew very well this was a genuine alchemical creation. The Hogwarts Express was perhaps the magical artefact that wizards had created with the most interaction with the Muggle world.
Scanning the platform, it was full of young wizards saying goodbye to their parents. The older young wizards were fine, having been to Hogwarts several times already. But those just starting school... the first-years... mostly looked worried and even teary-eyed.
It couldn't be helped. These children were only 11 years old, many experiencing separation from their parents for the first time, going to an unfamiliar school to meet new classmates and teachers.
Boarding the train, Leo's mouth curved into a smile. Hogwarts, here I come.
Walking through the train, he randomly found an empty compartment, entered, and put away his luggage. Actually, his luggage was just one briefcase. This wasn't an ordinary briefcase... Leo had made another trip to Diagon Alley to buy a briefcase enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm.
The actual space inside was large enough to hold all of Leo's daily necessities and books. Of course, it couldn't compare to Newt Scamander's briefcase from "Fantastic Beasts". That briefcase was like containing a small world, hiding countless magical creatures inside.
He could study the Undetectable Extension Charm later and see if he could modify and expand his briefcase. If he could be like Newt and release a whole group of magical creatures during battle, it would probably give opponents a little shock.
While thinking this, Leo opened his briefcase and took out several books. With plenty of time on the journey anyway, Leo leaned against the window and leisurely began reading.
"Platform 9¾ actually requires crashing into a pillar?"
Hermione dragged a pile of luggage, panting as she walked through the train corridor. She had clearly arrived early at King's Cross Station but spent quite a while searching for the platform.
If she hadn't caught sight of a family crashing into a pillar between platforms nine and ten and then magically disappearing, Hermione estimated she would have wandered around much longer.
Due to rushing, Hermione's nose tip was beaded with sweat, and her already fluffy brown hair was even more dishevelled.
Passing compartments that were already full, Hermione came to a tightly closed door. She first composed her slightly rapid breathing, then raised her hand and knocked gently.
"Hello, are there any empty seats inside?"
"Yes, please come in."
The voice sounded somewhat familiar, but Hermione didn't think much of it. Right now she just wanted to put away her luggage and sit down for a good rest!
Sliding open the door with a whoosh, Hermione looked inside. A young man was leaning by the window, holding a book in his hands. Sunlight streamed through the train window, falling on the young man's dark golden hair, reflecting a faint golden glow.
Hearing the door open, those dark green eyes left the book and turned toward Hermione.
"Oh, Miss Granger, what a coincidence."
Looking at that handsome face and the gentle smile in his eyes, Hermione momentarily forgot to respond. The compartment was quiet for nearly a full minute.
"Ah, yes, Leonardo, what a coincidence."
Hermione's face immediately reddened somewhat, though fortunately she was already flushed from exertion, so it wasn't obvious. She turned her head slightly, murmuring softly: "May I sit inside?"
Leo raised his hand. "Feel free."
Coughing lightly, Hermione was about to turn and move her luggage.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
Hearing this incantation, Hermione watched as her pile of luggage floated up, orderly floating toward the overhead luggage rack.
"You also learnt charms in advance?!"
The little witch looked at the wand in Leo's hand with delight. Embodying her studious nature, Hermione had read many basic magic books during the summer vacation and attempted to learn some very simple charms.
But this didn't include the Levitation Charm Leo had just used. Hermione estimated this charm would have to wait for teacher instruction at Hogwarts. She didn't expect Leo had already mastered this charm, and judging by how smoothly the luggage flew, his proficiency with the Levitation Charm should be quite high.
Could he be a so-called pure-blood wizard, with elders at home who taught magic in advance? Looking at Leo's demeanour, he seemed aristocratic. Was he from one of those pure-blood families mentioned in books? But there didn't seem to be any Graftons...
"Oh my, thank you for helping with my luggage."
Hermione belatedly thanked Leo.
"Just finding opportunities to practise charms. Don't mention it."
Leo smiled politely, then put away his wand and continued reading the book in his hand.
Seeing Leo return to reading, Hermione sat quietly across from him without rashly starting conversation. But after just a few minutes, she couldn't bear it anymore.
Hermione also wanted to follow Leo's example and take out a book to read, but that would require taking down her luggage case, which would definitely make noise and disturb Leo. She didn't want to trouble Leo to use the Levitation Charm to help her again.
"You can take any books from the table if you want to read them."
Leo didn't look up, continuing to flip through the book in his hand. Hermione was still a child after all, and Leo found her fidgeting quite amusing, so he simply reminded her to take books to read herself.
Hearing Leo's permission, Hermione softly said, 'Thank you.' She reached out and took the first book from the pile.
It happened to be: "The Guide to Caring for Magical Creatures".