Author's note: I have returned! Sorry for the long wait, I honestly have no excuse, just been focusing on other things, but I'm back now, and hopefully a better upload schedule.
Disclaimer: I Don't Own Any of the Characters in this story beside the MC.
Disclaimer 2: I take a lot of inspiration from other fanfictions from this website for this story, especially In Pursuit of Magic: A Self Insert by: Zero Rewind, Fate by: TheTrueSpartan, and Divine and Conquer by: Jolly Hippopotamus.
These works are far better than anything I have or will ever write so if you haven't already go check them out!
Cole Walkers POV
Magic in Harry Potter, I decided, was really fucking weird. There was no physical sensation like Chakra in Naruto, or Haki in One Piece. It didn't really respond well to bodily motion like bending arts, nor did it come from an external core like in some fanfiction I've read.
Instead, according to Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling, magic was purely conceptual, meaning if I wanted anything to happen, my imagination, my desire, was the key factor in achieving any results.
"Lumos", I muttered, imagining a bright light surging from the wand , and sure enough the train compartment of the Hogwarts Express was gleaming with light.
It was honestly a little surreal, the whole magic thing. Even something as simple as a Lumos charm was enthralling, and I could do little but stare at the illumination appearing from my wand in wonder.
The light from the wand flickered for a moment, almost as if it mirrored my own distraction, before stabilizing again. I stared at it, a small grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. Magic. Real, actual magic. I was holding it in my hand, and it felt like nothing more than a whim brought to life.
The train ride felt like a blur after that moment. I kept flicking my wand, testing little things, nothing advanced—simple spells like Lumos and Nox, fascinated by how the wand seemed to respond to my thoughts. There was something almost instinctive about it. My hand held the wand, sure, but it was my mind that made things happen.
It wasn't long before the train slowed, the landscape outside growing darker. The chatter in the compartment picked up, excitement buzzing in the air. I hadn't made any friends yet, though I had exchanged a few words with a couple of the older students. I didn't recognize any of them from the books. I didn't ask for their names, and they didn't ask for mine.
Background characters the whole lot of them, I snorted lightly.
When the train finally came to a stop, the clatter of footsteps echoed through the corridors as students began disembarking. I followed the stream of students until we were greeted by a large, booming voice.
"Firs' years! Firs' years, this way!"
Hagrid. The giant of a man stood towering over everyone, his tangled beard and kind eyes exactly as I imagined. It was surreal seeing him in person, the man was as tall as a bus and his arms looked to be about the same size as me.
If he's this huge, then how big is Grawp? I kept staring at him even while I shuffled behind him along with the rest of the students.
We followed Hagrid down a winding path toward the edge of a great lake. The dark water was eerily still, reflecting the night sky above. A collection of small boats bobbed gently at the shore, and Hagrid waved us forward.
"No more'n four to a boat!" he called, his voice echoing across the water.
I stepped into one of the boats, careful not to tip it over, and found myself sitting across from a couple of other first-years. The boats began to move on their own, gliding smoothly across the lake. My heart raced as Hogwarts loomed into view, the castle's towering spires and windows glowing in the night like something out of a dream. I felt my breath catch in my throat, my body tingling with anticipation. This was it. This was the place where all the stories had unfolded, where magic had been learned,
The boat ride was over too soon, and before I knew it, we were climbing out and following Hagrid through the great stone archway into the castle itself. The halls were enormous, echoing with every step we took, and the sense of history, of something ancient and powerful, weighed down on me. Every inch of the place felt alive with magic.
Finally, we stopped in front of a set of massive doors. Professor McGonagall(She actually looked like Maggie Smith!) appeared and led us into the Great Hall, her sharp features contrasted by a welcoming smile.. The ceiling stretched impossibly high, enchanted to look like the night sky, and the floating candles illuminated the room in a soft, warm glow.
I spotted the long tables where the students were seated, with the professors up at the front. My eyes scanned the crowd, seeing familiar faces. There was Dumbledore at the head table, his silver beard flowing down his chest, and Professor Snape (He sadly didn't look like Alan Rickman) with an on point sneer. It was all so… real.
The Sorting Hat sat on a stool at the front of the hall ,and it began to sing its song, one I'd read hundreds of times before.
The singing was actually rather good, I noted, the hat's voice reverberating throughout the hall. It had more singing talent than just about anyone I'd known about, both in this life and my previous.
Soon after, McGonagall started to call out names, and students took turns sitting on the stool, the hat dropping over their heads. I could barely contain my elation, my mind racing. Which house would I end up in? Could I even be sorted, given the fact that I wasn't originally from this world?
I barely heard the names being called as the students around me were sorted. The anticipation was growing, a mixture of excitement and nerves. My gaze flickered over to the house tables, and there I saw more familiar faces, the Weasley twins, Cedric Diggory, and who I assumed was Marcus Flint. Good lord that mug, how are his teeth so big?!
"Walker, Cole!" Fuck, lost focus.
I took a deep breath to settle my nerves and sat on the stool, wondering- as my vision went dark- how well the Sorting Hat could read my mind, and if it had access to my knowledge.
"Founders help me, what in Merlin's name are you", a gruff voice filled with despair echoed in my mind.
"Ah, you can see everything huh?" I mentally respond back.
"Yes, yes and you don't need to be so loud with your thoughts, I can hear you quite well thank you. But what?... How?... I don't even know where to begin with you!" It huffs in frustration.
I spend a moment thinking about it, "How about you start with whatever peaks your interest the most? Or maybe any information regarding my situation?"
"Well I can already tell you that I have no information regarding your situation, You seem to be a complete anomaly as far as i'm concerned. Also, there's no need to worry about me spilling the beans on your situation to anyone. The founders placed a charm on me that forces me to not discuss any of the information I've learned", the Hat stated.
"And Dumbledore?" I said, still not completely at ease.
" Oh the idea of Dumbledore being evil is laughable at best.", the hat assured. "He is human, and like humans he can make mistakes, but from what I can see it's clear he's a bit more ruthless than I thought". I could feel the hat shift on my head, its lips curling into a frown.
" If what I'm seeing in your head is true, then I suggest that you figure out a way to learn some basic Occlumency. If your plans come to fruition, then he or Snape might send a light probe your way to scout your motives. If you prove capable of blocking them then they should back off."
" That is one of my main priorities", I agreed. The ability to protect my mind would be an invaluable asset.
"Well then," the Hat muttered, "let's get to the business of sorting you, shall we?" There was a brief pause as it sifted through my thoughts. "You've got ambition, certainly. Slytherin would suit you well for your drive, but I sense caution. You don't trust easily, do you?"
I frowned, keeping my thoughts quiet. It was true. Slytherin was a tempting option—power, influence, and a network of like-minded individuals. But I wasn't sure if I could thrive in that environment without constantly looking over my shoulder. I was technically a mudblood after all.
The Hat hummed thoughtfully. "Ah, but you also crave knowledge. You're not one to rush in without understanding the bigger picture. You have a hunger for learning, a thirst for unraveling the mysteries of this world. Hufflepuff values loyalty and hard work, Gryffindor prizes bravery, but your mind… it belongs somewhere else."
It paused for a moment longer, as if weighing its options. "I think I've made my decision."
My heart pounded. I was pretty sure I knew where I was going, but I braced myself regardless.
"RAVENCLAW!" the Hat bellowed, its voice echoing through the Great Hall.
Applause erupted from the Ravenclaw table, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. I removed the Hat, handed it back to Professor McGonagall, and made my way toward the Ravenclaws table.
I took the hat off, handing it back to Mcgonagall, before heading towards the Ravenclaw table. Whilst taking one of the empty seats near the other first years, I looked down at my suit and idly noticed that my robes had altered to showcase my affiliation to the ravenclaw house.
While making small talk with the other first years, I thought about my plans for my new life. A second life I had been granted after losing my first to something as stupid as mugging. A second life that has awarded me with the ability to wield powers that go beyond my imagination. A second life that thrust me into a world full of unimaginable dangers, where people like myself were discriminated against and hunted by noble elitists.
I felt my gaze wander from my peers, looking around to see the supposed main characters of the story.
A stuttering pale young man, whose turban hid quite possibly the closest thing to pure evil.
A tall and thin redhead , eagerly munching down on food and chatting with his Gryffindor friends.
A girl with bushy brown hair eagerly discussing her future classes with older students.
And the most important one of them all. Scrawny and short compared to the rest of his year mates, his perpetually untidy Black hair fell down over his face, covering his bright green eyes and lighting bolt scar. The Protagonist.
But you're not the protagonist anymore, I thought, a grin tugging its way onto my face as I stared at Harry Potter.
I am.
Disclaimer 3: I am entirely motivated by praise and affection, So favoriting, Following, and reviewing make me far more inclined to update the story.