1

His nose was broken and bleeding. The warm, red liquid slipping from his nostrils. Just breathing caused him to almost cry in pain. That punch was no joke. Seeing stars, the boy, who was resting his back on the wall, heard the two older boys mocking him.
– Mate, look at this shit!. – Luke pointed to Falco eyes. – So weird! Is he a mutant or something?
Martin grabbed Falco's hair, and answered:
– That's Freak Eyes, Luke. The freak from the woods.
After saying this, Martin let go of Falco hair, making the boy grunt. His head shook with the wall.
And they laughed more, and Falco wanted . Their laughter sounded like two vultures screeching, bringing more headaches to the muggle-born wizard. Though they're laughing like hyenas, it was uncertain if someone was going to intervene.
They dragged Falco deeper to the alley, where no one was going to spoil their fun.
– Let's have a look at this.
And of course, they picked Falco stuff. Luke tossed Falco's comic book to Martin. Sneering, Martin ripped the comic book apart, and he tossed it in the red-haired boy face.
– Comics books, Winchester? You're so pathetic! Really pathetic, that's what you really are, ya know! – Martin yelled at Falco.
As he said that, the troll-like boy kicked Falco in the belly. While Falco was grunting in pain, the two boys laughed more, as if they're in comedy.
Rolling his eyes, Falco couldn't help, but feel pity for their sad future.
– Bloody nerd! – Luke spit in Falco face.
And they keep laughing, but Falco joined them this time. Falco's laugh was humourless and dry, which caused him odd looks from his assaulters, who stopped their laughing session.
Then, after noticing their looks, the red-haired boy explained himself. And, subconsciously, his hand was slowly making way to a rock...
– Shut up, would you? Bloody hell!
... His plan was, naturally, distract this two dunderheads. While provoking them, Falco would throw the rock at Martin face. Hopefully, nothing too serious would happen, just some bruises here and there.
– Your harping-like laughter hurt me more than your kicks!
Then, he would punch Luke in the nuts, making the boy fall and cry in the ground. And finally, Falco, who lacks any fighting skills, would run somewhere safe, like the arcade or the main street. After all, Falco was the best in running laps, even if he's hurt.
– And your insults are so gauche! Like I said, your annoying voice hurts me more! For a moment, I thought my head was going to explode, like that movie, Scanners.
His plan had a chance of success...
– You guys don't have nothing else to do? Like, nothing beating kids? I know you guys are two failures, but c'mon! I know you... ARGH, SON OF A BITCH!
... If Falco had not wasted his chance, throwing petty insults. As consequence, he ruined his own dirty trick. And Martin, who surprising decided to let the boy speak, finally had enough. Eyes burning with rage, Martin stomped on Falco hand.
Falco was in pain. So much pain, he never felt this much pain. His fingers probably turned into dust. His eyes started to get watered. His scream was quickly silenced, as Martin gave him a kick in his jaw.
Blood dripped from his mouth. Falco coughed, getting dizzy. For a moment, the world around him went black. A sharp sound echoed in his ears, making the boy deaf, for a moment.
He heard someone yelling at him. The voice sounded really angry, Luke was yelling at Martin, holding the brute boy, but Falco didn't understand the voice. Not after that kick.
– Sh... you... EYE...!
– Ma... be... far!
"I really am... a fool..."
Falco cursed himself for such incompetence. Not knowing when to shut his mouth, especially in these situations, was the main reason for fighting in school. It's a wonder he's still has a intact face.
– Guh... ah...
His head, his jaw, his nose. Everything was hurting, the pain seemed endless. The pain in his belly was nothing compared to this.
– Gah... uhh...?
While grunting like a wounded animal, Falco, regaining his consciousness, noticed something odd. Weakly rolling his eyes, he saw a kind of fog. The fog-like thing was slowly covering the alley entrance, where Falco's got his first beating session.
"Wasn't supposed to be a sunny day?"
Deciding to ponder about the weather later, Falco turned his attention towards the two boys. Thankfully, Luke intervene and calmed Martin, probably knowing Martin was about to kill the boy.
Falco tried to not eavesdrop, preferring to just stay on the ground and glancing at the sky.
With a bit of luck, they would just leave him there, as a broken toy. That way, Falco could leave to his house, or a hospital.
– Hey, Winchester. Have you been talking to your brother lately?
– Huh?
Unfortunately, that will not happen so soon. Something bad was about to happen in the alley.

2


Falco froze as he heard that question. Said question was full of venom, and repeating in his mind. Martin intent was to hit a nerve. And he did it.
Knelling next to the red-haired boy, Martin smirked evilly at him.
– Where's old boy Jacob, Winchester?
His question caused a burst of rage burn in his chest. This rage was hidden in his chest, but that bloody son of a bitch had the audacity to mention him.
– Let me tell you a little story about his brother. – said Martin to Luke, who was confused by now.
– Sh...Ghhh!
He tried to jump at him, curse him, beat him to a bloody pulp. But the ogre-like boy silenced again. His dirt foot went to the wizard face, making him grunt. Not from pain, but from the burning rage in his chest.
Martin ignored him and continued:
– Freaky Eyes here had a big brother, Jacob. We studied in the same year. But one day, Jacob stopped going to school, and there was no news about him. Some girls said he went to a broad school or sanatorium, far away.
"It's no surprise, I suppose! Jacob was like Freaky Eyes! Freakiness must run in their family. Ah! And some rumours said Jacob die...!"
Martin was pompously roasting Falco, but suddenly, his eyes widened. When he locked his eyes with an angry Falco, he felt weird.
Martin lost balance of his body, and fall to the ground. His face gained a green tone, as if he was sick. His cheeks inflated, as if he was about to vomit.
– Martin! Are you alright? – asked Luke.
Worried about his friend, Luke knelled next to him. Then...
– BHEGG!
– AH! WHAT WAS THAT?!
Green, slimy slugs flied from Martin's mouth, right to Luke's chest. Disgusted and horrified, Martin tried to scream for help. This only made things worse, as more slugs were vomited.
Slowly, Falco got up. He saw the horror show in front of him, slight amused.
Horrified, Luke cried and threw his friend away. The slugs crawled in Luke chest, but he grabbed and squished them. His eyes widened, full of horror. Finally, the vomit of slugs stopped, but Martin fainted.
Scared, Luke tried to get up. Only to comically fall on his butt. His face was pale, almost like he lost all his blood. Luke was so scared, that didn't noticed his own changes...
– AH!
... Until was too late. Falco's magic took its effects.
– What's this?! Wha... What are you?! – his voice came out like a whisper.
No more was the cocky bastard standing there, but a scared cat. With eyes filled with horror, he saw his finger nails grow more and more. As if he never cut them.
"Disgusting"
The anger did not leave his mind. So, when Falco got up, he took advantage of Luke's shocked state. His anger and their comments didn't a chance for reason. That's why he punched Luke nose, not caring if he broke it. After all, a nose for a nose.
For a brief moment, Luke spinned like ragdoll in a comedy movie, and fell on the ground.
His movements and fall caused his wounds to bleed again, making grunt even more. No clue how his consciousness was still there.
Falco fell next to him, grunting in pain and holding his hand. At least, his hand don't broke.
– This is good sign... but...
Saying this, Falco gave the boys an annoyed look, while panting.
– I'm so fucked! – whined the red-haired boy.

3


He lost control of the situation, putting himself in more trouble. Seeing that chaotic scenario in front of him, with his two assaulters suffering from abnormal causes, made him jolt in realization.
"What do I do?"
There's no way he could go to the police, not after this shit he pulled on them. Sure, Martin and Luke will not be believed, but they will know. And this meant moving away, again.
This isn't something simple like a street fight, but defying Magic Laws. Even if it was accidental magic, their conditions might mean other things to them.
Falco remembered something when Jacob's still here, before going for last year. And he shuddered.
That time, Jacob tried to explain to his little brother, how the Magical World truly worked. But Falco denied his brother claims, thinking of Hogwarts as a paradise.
Still, Jacob told him about how bigoted and perverse they could be, especially among those of "Pureblood and Ancient Families". And being a muggleborn, already has a disadvantage. And the toffs, those old bats, would love to punish someone like Falco.
In other times, Falco wouldn't think is true. After all, Jacob loved to tease him telling scary stories about Hogwarts, like the giant spiders living in the forest next to the school.
And now he used magic to hurt muggles, something he knew was forbidden, that denial became something to fear. What if Jacob wasn't lying? What if they decide punish him?
After all, Jacob Winchester was his brother. And Falco knew they would give him nasty looks just for it.
– Great! – Falco cursed himself, scared. – I'm really stupid! If Jake was telling me the truth, then a just myself an one-way to prison!
He was so scared to care about his injuries...
– I can see that you are a pessimist, young man.
... or even notice the old man at the entrance of alley, giving him an amused look.

4


Startled by the suddenly voice, Falco grabbed a rock, ready to throw if necessary. Thanks to the fog and his injuries, he had trouble to see the stranger face. All he could see, was a silhouette hidden by the fog.
Gulping in fear, Falco tried to ignore the pain in his body. His legs trembling, ready to fall. The stranger keep walking to him and chuckled.
– Worry not, young man. I'm not here to hurt you. – said the stranger.
– My mother taught me to not talk with strangers. And for your information, that's what a kidnapper always says! – Falco yelled.
His jaw hurt, making let out a pained groan.
In response to the insolent commentary, the stranger chuckled again
– And she did it well. But, as I said, I'm not here to hurt you. – he said, walking out of the fog.
Finally, Falco could see the stranger. And he was surprised to see an old man smiling at him. A very weirdly dressed old man.
His grey beard almost hit the ground. His nose looked broken, his blue eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles. Falco wasn't a fashion expert, but even he could tell this old man had a terrible taste. He was wearing something like a long purple bathrobe.
At first, Falco thought the old man was a homeless bum. But he was quickly proved wrong.
– Sadly, this cycle never ends. – the old man said, as he looked from Falco to the two knocked boys.
Then, the stranger put one hand in his pocket, and took something from it. Instantly, his instincts made him shut his eyes. The worst scenario in his mind. Fortunately, the worst thing didn't came, so he opened his eyes, again.
And his eyes widened, noticing what the stranger was holding. An wand. An wizard wand.
– W-What?!
Connecting the dots, the poor boy felt so stupid. Only now, he noticed the cone shaped hat, on top of the stranger head. His cheeks reddened in shame, for not realizing the obvious.
Ignoring Falco's surprised face, the wizard simply pointed his wand to the two unconscious boys. Then, a green light hit them, and Falco accidental magic effects were gone.
The wizard walked next to them, knelled and pointed his wand at Martin forehead. A small, greyish like thing, almost like a smoke, flew from their heads. He repeated the same thing with Luke.
Meanwhile, Falco was watching with a mix of awe and fear. And when the old man turned to him, he let out a gasp.
– Here, young man. – the old man smiled, pointing his wand to boy injured face. – Episkey!
– OW!
Falco felt a new wave of pain, this time on his broken nose. But, the pain was gone. He could breathe properly again, if he cleaned the blood in his nostrils.
– What did you do?
Mesmerized, Falco questioned the wizard. And noticed that his jaw doesn't hurt anymore.
– I believe this belongs to you.
The wizard offered a plastic bag. Curiously, Falco looked inside. To his joy, everything the two brutes destroyed, were fixed. As if it never had been destroyed. Looking closely, even the small things, like the few scratches in the bobblehead, when he picked in the arcade.
– Thank you! – he smiled to the wizard.
The wizard smiled back at him. His smile reminded of the ones his late grandfather gave to him.
– You're welcome, Mr. Winchester.
However, the stranger soured the mood, bringing suspicion back. Even the stranger noticed. And before Falco could question him, he heard the old man chuckle, again.
– Forgive me, Mr. Winchester. It wasn't my intention to scare you.
Giving his wand a shake, the fog slowly dissipated.
– You better, old man! You're starting to scare me, ya know!
The old man frowned.
– Mr. Winchester. Though I don't mind the name, I implore you to treat your elders better.
Hugging his bag, Falco's cheeks reddened. Nodding at the old man request, he answered:
– Sure. I'm sorry, Mr...?
He don't know his name. So, Falco couldn't apologize properly to him. Fortunately, the wizard noticed his own mistake. He let out an embarrassed laugh, and said:
– Look at me, age must be hitting me. Forgive my own bad manners, Mr. Winchester.
He put one hand in his pocket, again. This time, he had a letter and handed it to Falco, who was speechless. Holding the letter, Falco looked to the wizard, who nodded in response.
Falco opened the letter. Then...
– My name is Albus Dumbledore. I'm the Headmaster of Hogwarts. It's a pleasure to meet you, Falco Winchester.
The wizard, now named Dumbledore, extended his hand, waiting fir the boy shake it. But he was staring in shock to the letter. Hogwarts letter, along with something like a list.
Finally, he asked the wizard. His heterochromatic eyes widened.
– This is real?
– Of course it's real, my boy.
The wizard nodded, smiling at the boy.
His eyes watered a bit. He wanted to thank Dumbledore for everything, but the words don't leave his mouth. He was happy, knowing he still had a chance to go to Hogwarts.
– Wait a minute. – he muttered.
However, after recovering from shock state, Falco realized something.
– I just offended Hogwarts Headmaster?!