So I know fanfics about the Japanese Wizarding School Mahoutokoro in the world of Harry Potter are nothing new, but I've done a lot of research to make my version of it as authentic as possible. And instead of doing a crossover with another anime series like most Mahoutokoro fanfics do, my fanfic is going to be a parallel story to Harry's with a different character who is like him in many ways but not. Hope you guys enjoy it!

First Spell: Child of Destiny

In the dark streets of Kyoto, Japan, a quiet snow filled the air. But the winter silence was broken by the soft cries of an infant that was wrapped in thick blankets. Underneath him lay the body of a thin woman with long black hair and a knife sticking out of her stomach. Then from the shadows of the alley emerged two figures: one was an old woman with high cheekbones wearing a lilac-purple winter kimono, while the other was a tall man with long brown hair wearing a crimson-red robe and bamboo hat. A katana with a black scabbard was strapped to his side, which he unsheathed to prod the black-haired woman.

"She's dead," the man said, lowering his katana.

The old woman sighed. "Such a shame! Kiku Tago was one of my best students."

"Do you think he killed her?" the man asked.

"No, he wouldn't do something as foolish as that," said another woman who emerged from the shadows that had medium-length raven hair and tired-looking eyes. "Judging by the knife wound, I think she killed herself."

"Shō-Sensei!" the man exclaimed. "When did you get here?"

"Just now, Higa," Shō answered.

Composing himself, the man Higa turned to the old woman. "How shall we dispose of the body, Dōmeki-Sama?"

"Use the Cremation Spell, Higa," Dōmeki ordered. "It'll leave no trace for the Manai police to pick up."

"And the boy?"

Dōmeki paused. "Burn him with his mother."

"Wait!" Shō urged. "Let me examine him first."

"For what purpose?" Dōmeki asked. "If the boy lives, it'll only be a matter of time before he finds him."

"I just want to see if he has the mark," Shō claimed. "But if he doesn't, there's no point in killing him too."

Folding her arms into her kimono sleeves, Dōmeki relented. "Fine. But make it quick."

Nodding, Shō knelt over Kiku's body and picked up the crying infant. She examined his chest and gasped. "Dōmeki! You should take a look at this."

Shō stood up and showed the boy to Dōmeki, whose eyes widened. On the boy's chest was a bloodstained mark in the shape of a dragonfly.

"Very clever," remarked Dōmeki. "All right, I see no harm in letting the boy live a normal life."

"But who will take him in?" asked Higa. "We can't take him back to his father, and Kiku's family want nothing to do with her."

"You have Manai relatives, don't you?" Shō recalled.

Higa looked flustered. "I do, but—

"Then it's settled," Dōmeki interrupted and transferred the baby from Shō to Higa's hands. "You will give the boy to them, and I want you to watch over him during school holidays. If he starts showing signs of magic, you know what to do."

"Understood." Higa bowed and held the baby close as he used his other hand to raise his katana. After forming a symbol in the air, he muttered, "Hihuī."

In a matter of seconds, Kiku's body was set ablaze and burned till there was nothing left of her.

"Tombo!"

A shrill female voice startled a dark-haired boy from the nightmare he was having. He looked up and saw a little girl's face staring down at him.

"What's wrong, Tombo?" the girl asked. "Did you have a bad dream?"

"Yeah, Daichi," Tombo said as he sat up in his futon bed. "I did."

"Was it the same one with the guy wearing the mask?"

"It was. Only this time, there was a woman in the dream. She was…holding me, and she looked so sad. And then she touched my birthmark with a bloodstained hand, which is when you woke me up."

"Oh, you mean this?" Daichi pointed at the scar on Tombo's chest. "You've had it since you were born, right?"

"So Mom says, and the mark is what she named me after."

"Because 'Tombo' means 'dragonfly'!"

"Right you are!" Tombo then tickled Daichi's sides, making her giggle in response. "And you know what today is?"

"It's your birthday!" Daichi cried. "Mom sent me to get you, so come on!"

As Daichi ran out of the bedroom, Tombo put on his square-rimmed glasses and got up. He walked down the hallway outside in his pajamas and into the kitchen where he was hugged by Daichi and his parents.

"Good morning, Tombo!" said a woman with short brown hair named Papurika.

"How old is my little boy today?" asked a man named Uenō with slicked-back hair and a pencil-thin mustache.

"Um, eleven, Dad," Tombo said to the man. "And thanks for the birthday hug."

"You're welcome!" Papurika and Daichi said in unison.

The family then sat at the dining table where a beautiful breakfast of miso soup, fried fish, and tamagoyaki rolls was served. Afterwards, they moved to the living room which had a bunch of wrapped presents on the floor.

"Wow," Tombo remarked. "So many!"

"About six in all," Uenō said. "Some are from your mom and me, one's from Daichi, and the others are from your aunt Gen and uncle Higa."

"Uncle Higa!" Tombo's eyes lit up. "Will he be visiting today?"

"No," Uenō shook his head. "He said he had some business to take care of."

Lowering his head, Tombo hid his disappointed look.

"But we'll still have fun!" Uenō assured.

"For instance, we're going to the Kyoto zoo," Papurika said. "I know you like the tropical animals exhibit the best, Tombo, especially the snakes."

Daichi made a disgusted frown. "I hate the snakes! Can I go on the rides instead?"

Papurika smiled. "Sure you can, sweetie!"

To be continued…