Hogwarts Mystery: The Hidden Truth: Year 1

Chapter 1 of my attempt to truly do a novelization of the Hogwarts Mystery game, usual routine each year has its own story, and this is year one, so...hope you enjoy it, for reference using a male MC, who in terms of appearance is going to be based on an actual actor, in this case Chandler Riggs, as he would have appeared mostly during his Walking Dead run and a little after it. While using a male MC will still be using a female Rowan however, namely for some later plot elements.

Anyway, hope you enjoy it. Note that this is merely a preview and I cannot say when the story will continue.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hogwarts Mystery or its characters.

The New Dawn

Biting his lip as the alleyway wall opened up showing the entrance to Diagon Alley, the eleven year old boy entered, looking around anxiously. He clutched his Hogwarts letter, something he never imagined would arrive for him, given his family's history, the things that had happened to them, only three years ago. He was grateful he wasn't alone as his mother was with him, but even their presence didn't comfort him, all too aware of the stares being sent their way. His father, a Muggle named James couldn't make it with them this time. Ignoring the stares however, his mother, a woman of medium height with greying brown hair, brown eyes and fair skin, led him to the well-known book store Flourish and Blotts, they both stopped outside. The boy bit his lip as his mother, Amalia turned to him.

"I'll get our money from Gringotts then we'll start buying everything we need." She said, her voice gentle. "Just, stay here Tim, okay."

Tim nodded glumly. "Sure mum, okay."

Amalia sighed. "I know dear, I'm sorry. But it'll be better this way."

"As far as we know."

Amalia had no reply to that, so, with another sigh, she turned and began making her way towards Gringotts bank while Tim waited outside Flourish and Blotts. He was somewhat short with short dark brown hair and baby blue eyes, rather pale skin and a skinny build, he also only eleven years old and yet the look on his face was not one typically associated with boys that age.

It had been just them after all, ever since the incident three years ago.

"Hello, are you okay?"

Tim started upon hearing the young female voice, he turned and saw it was a girl his age, around the same height as him, slender with brown skin, long silky black hair, brown eyes behind glasses and was smiling in a friendly manner.

"I um, yeah, I'm fine." Tim stammered, awkwardly.

The girl tilted her head. "You sure, you seemed...lost."

Tim sighed. "I was just, remembering the past. I'm waiting for my mum to get back from Gringotts."

"Oh, sorry, I just...you looked like you were lost, and alone. I just thought I'd come and talk to you, so you didn't have to be alone." The girl said with a gentle smile.

Tim was taken aback by that, he hadn't expected anyone to act this way around him.

"I-I…" He stammered. "I never thought anyone would-?"

The girl tilted her head. "Huh?"

"I never thought anyone would just come up and talk with me." Tim admitted, before cringing. "You um, you don't know who I am, do you?"

Confirming her suspicions, the girl shook her head.

"No, but then, you don't know me, do you?" The girl replied. "I'm Rowan Khanna, nice to meet you."

"I'm Tim...Tim Landen."

The girl, Rowan's eyes' widen at that, recognizing the name right away.

It was of course just what Tim had feared, being recognized for his name. All due to the incident involving his brother, as well as the reason for what he did. The death of someone apparently close to him in his year at school had pushed his brother Jacob over the edge, changing him from Hogwarts' golden boy, to pursuing a legend to an almost manic degree, at least, that's what Tim had heard but doubted it was the full story, or at least the order of events.

"Landen, then your brother is Jacob Landen, he's the one who got expelled from Hogwarts three years ago after searching for the fabled Cursed Vaults!?" Rowan gasped.

Tim sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I'm his brother. He...he disappeared after that, they expelled him, snapped his wand and then he just disappeared, despite, despite...everything."

Rowan hesitated briefly, but quickly stepped up. "I...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up, I just-"

"N-no, it's fine. I...I thought you'd have walked off, once you realized who I was?" Tim replied, surprised.

"Why would I, seriously, whatever happened with your brother, it wasn't your fault." Rowan remarked. "Maybe...maybe we could even be friends?"

Tim was even more startled by that. "Friends, you...you're sure?"

Rowan nodded, smiling and Tim couldn't help it, she smiled too.

"Tim!"

He turned quickly to see his mother approaching with the money needed no doubt.

"I have to go, thanks Rowan." Tim said with a smile.

Rowan nodded. "Sure, I need to meet up with my parents too anyway."

With that they parted and Tim joined up with his mother and braced himself for having to reassure her about him being with Rowan.

So it was, much later, that Tim found himself, laden down with purchases, all necessary for his first year at Hogwarts, heading for their final destination, Ollivanders, for Tim's wand. His mother seemed a great deal calmer now and opened the door, letting Tim go in first.

"Ah, welcome, so...here for your first wand then?" Mr. Ollivander greeted them as he stood behind his desk, clearly waiting.

"Um, yeah…" Tim admitted, looking over at his mother.

Amalia nodded reassuringly, taking the rest of their purchases that Tim had been carrying and setting them down next to a stool by the door, before sitting on said stool. Tim approached the counter and Mr. Ollivander picked up a box and took a wand from within.

"Well then, let us start with this one...Apple wood, nine inches, dragon heartstring, rather rigid." He offered the wand to him. "Give it a wave, lets see."

Tim took the wand and did so, without much, luck. Mr. Ollivander merely replaced the wand with another, talking all the while.

"Ah well, it can be tricky. The Wand chooses the Witch or Wizard after all, not the other way around. It's a matter of finding the right wand. I recall it took your brother quite some time to find his wand." He paused and then added. "Yes a fine Maple wand, ten inches with dragon heartstring, such a shame they had to snap it when he was expelled."

"Um...yes…" Tim mumbled, trying the second wand, without any success either.

Mr. Ollivander looked questioningly over at Amalia who merely bowed her head. He took the wand from Tim and then looked at him curiously.

After a pause he finally spoke.

"I am sorry, it is clearly a dreadful memory for you...it has most assuredly left you with so many...confusing feelings."

"Yes." Tim admitted. "I couldn't understand, why he would do that...I felt bad for him…"

Ollivander nodded. "Yes...such sensitivity is to be lauded. Hmmm, then perhaps…"

He trailed off as he sought out another wand.

"Ah, here we are." He said, handing it to him. "Acacia with unicorn tail hair, 12 inches, pliable."

Tim took the wand and felt the warmth spread through his fingers, this time the wand erupted with a shower of gold stars and Tim couldn't help but smile, both his mother and Ollivander seemed pleased and soon, with the wand purchased and wrapped up, they carried their belongings back to the Leaky Cauldron to catch the Floo Network back to their home, despite the scandal attached to their family, Tim felt positive, he was going to Hogwarts and he was sure, he would make a name for himself, finally overcoming his past.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.