A Glimpse of the Future
Picket Post Close, Bracknell – England
Just 50 kilometers from the bustling heart of London, there was a cozy neighborhood where hedges were always perfectly trimmed, lawns perpetually green, and neighbors greeted each other with genuine smiles. It was the kind of place where families felt safe, where children could ride their bikes without a care in the world, and where life seemed simpler, kinder.
In one of those houses, however, lived a rather different family. Not because they were dangerous or troublesomenothing could be further from the truthbut because of their unusual, almost enchanting charm. Everyone knew the house on the corner, with its flawless façade, flowers that never wilted, and a warm aura that surrounded it day and night.
That was where Wanda lived.
A young woman with an eternally serene and radiant appearance. Many neighbors swore she hadn't aged a single day in the last seven years. With smooth skin, graceful steps, and a gentle smile, Wanda was the quiet heart of the neighborhood. When she went for walks, it wasn't uncommon to see men freezing in place a bit too long, or wives exchanging glances somewhere between nervous and curious. And yet, her presence never stirred jealousy or envy. She radiated peace. She was... maternal.
And Wanda wasn't alone.
She lived with her son: Harry.
Harry was eleven, but those who knew him often spoke of him as if he were much older. He was calm, polite, refined, and always wore that soft, sincere smile that could melt even the hardest hearts. His unruly hair and vivid green eyesidentical to his adoptive mother's, though not by bloodgave him an air of unassuming nobility. Some mothers joked that when their daughters saw Harry pass by, they stopped talking for minutes at a time. Not just because of his looks, but because of the warmth he carried, the thoughtful and measured way he spokeso rare in children his age.
But beyond what the neighbors could see, inside that home... there was love. A deep bond, shaped by patience, affection, and mutual respect.
…
That morning, however, started a bit differently.
Harry came down the stairs in a bit of a rush, still in his pajamas, barefoot, and with his hair even messier than usual. As he stepped into the kitchen, he found the familiar scene: his mother calmly having breakfast, and Liz, their house-elf, fluttering about the kitchen while preparing breakfast with great care.
Wanda looked up and smiled sweetly.
"My, you woke up late today," she said in a soft, amused tone.
"Sorry. I guess I was more excited than I thought," Harry replied, returning her smile as he leaned in to hug her gently, with genuine affection. Then he turned to the kitchen and looked at Liz.
"It's okay, Liz, I'll take care of it. You should have breakfast too. Though I'd love it if you joined us."
Liz blushedas much as a house-elf couldand wiggled her ears.
"Thank you, Master Harry, but if Liz eats without Gris, Gris gets upset. Says Liz has no manners if she eats alone. And Liz gets sad if Gris eats without company."
Harry chuckled softly and shook his head as he picked up the pan.
"Gris is still far too strict. But fine."
With graceful, measured movements, he finished cooking the eggs and bacon, served himself, and sat across from his mother. The way he held his knife and fork, his straight posture, his calm gaze... none of it was by accident. It was the result of years of loving guidance.
"Did you prepare everything for today?" Wanda asked as she watched him eat.
"Almost. Liz and Gris sent my luggage last night. Though honestly, I think they went a bit overboard. One suitcase with an entire room inside..." he said with a playful smile.
Wanda laughed. She was well acquainted with the talentsand enthusiasmof magical elves.
It had all begun a few years ago, when Daphne Greengrass started her advanced magical training. Not wanting to be bored alone, she dragged Harry and Hermione along with her. And so, the three of them began studying at a level far beyond what was expected for their age. It was a decision that changed everything. Young Potter had developed a presence that, even without a wand, commanded both respect and sympathy. He was an heir in every sense of the word. Heir to the House of Potter... and to the patient love of a mother who had never let him go.
As Harry calmly ate, he suddenly felt his mother's attentive gaze fixed on him. He looked at her, pretending innocence.
Wanda narrowed her eyes and extended her hand.
"Hand it over."
"I seriously don't know how you do that..." Harry muttered as he pulled out a metallic sphere covered in glowing runes and placed it on her palm.
Wanda examined it in silence.
"I understand why you don't trust Dumbledore after what he did to your family's elves. But risking the security of Hogwarts just to get him fired... that's not the way."
"It was just going to blow up a few walls. Maybe the headmaster's office..." Harry replied with a small, guilty smile.
Wanda's gaze sharpened.
Sighing, Harry pulled out five identical spheres.
"It was because I said 'some walls', wasn't it?"
"I'm your mother. I see right through you," Wanda answered with a mysterious and amused tone.
"One day, I'll figure out how you do that," Harry said, still smiling. "By the way, Hermione and Uncle Wendell and Aunt Susan left early. They wanted to take a walk before saying goodbye to their little girl."
"Yes, Susan told me this morning. If you want, we can do the same. After all, you'll be gone for several months. It'll be the first time you're away from your mother..."
Harry glanced at the clock on the wall.
"I would've loved that, but it's too late now. Next time, I promise."
Wanda sighed, her smile touched with melancholy. "All right. Go get dressed."
"Easy," Harry said with a proud little smirk as he snapped his fingers on both hands. A reddish glow swept up his body from foot to head, and his pajamas were instantly replaced by an elegant black robe with a modern cut, open at the sides from the level of his cream trousers' pockets. The outfit was a perfect blend of magical tradition and Muggle sobriety: refined, discreet, stylish. Despite his youth, he already carried himself with a presence that radiated maturity and confidence.
His hair, however, remained as rebellious as ever.
"I haven't won the battle against my hair yet, but I accept it as part of my natural charm," he said with a soft smile, while Wanda looked at him with pride.
"All right, let's go," she replied, gracefully rising from her chair and extending a hand.
The world seemed to fold in on itself for an instant. When Harry blinked again, they were already standing in the middle of King's Cross Station. In front of them stood the Hogwarts Express in all its majesty: a gleaming red train that whistled and let off steam from its chimney, filling the air with a blend of nostalgia and living magic.
Families from all over were saying goodbye to their children. The youngest hugged their parents tightly, while the older ones joked with friends, eager to begin a new year. The station was buzzing with emotion.
"I need you to teach me that," Harry said, raising an eyebrow at his mother, still impressed by how elegantly they had appeared.
Wanda smiled without turning. "No spatial or temporal distortion spells until you're of age."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. 'You could accidentally alter reality and trap an entire village in an infinite paradox,'" Harry recited the warning in a mocking yet respectful tone. He had heard it so many times he knew it by heart.
It was then they spotted a familiar group approaching through the crowd. Wendel and Susan with Hermione, followed by Selene, Daphne, Edward, and little Astoria, who walked firmly, trying to imitate the older kids.
"You finally made it! I thought Harry had overslept," Hermione exclaimed, her face a mix of excitement and nerves.
"Good to see you, Harry," said Daphne, approaching with a knowing smile. Discreetly, she handed him a small pouch behind her back. But the gesture didn't go unnoticed not by Wanda, and certainly not by Edward.
"If I get a single letter from McGonagall this term, your allowance will be severely reduced," Edward warned in a calm voice that carried clear authority. His stoic gaze fell on his daughter with surgical precision.
Without losing composure, Harry simply smiled with a mix of resignation and politeness and returned the hidden sphere to Edward. "Sorry," he murmured softly. Daphne shot him a glare, feeling betrayed.
Edward examined the sphere. It was identical to the one Wanda had confiscated moments earlier, and upon seeing it, she only shook her head.
"All right, get on the train. Find a good compartment it's a long trip ahead," said Selene with a warm smile.
Daphne sighed. "I still don't get why we can't use the Floo Network, or the Knight Bus, or at least Apparition. We could be there in seconds."
"It's a Hogwarts rule," Hermione replied almost automatically. "Students used to travel by carriage and take days. The tradition continues."
"That doesn't explain why," Daphne insisted, arms crossed.
"Because it's the rule," Hermione replied, raising her chin firmly.
Harry approached Wanda and hugged her sincerely. "See you over the holidays, Mom."
"Take care. And have some fun too, even just a little," Wanda replied, gently stroking his hair.
The three new students Harry, Hermione, and Daphne boarded the train, waving one last time. Astoria tried to follow them, but Selene stopped her with a smile. She still had a year or two left before her own adventure.
"They grow up so fast…" Susan murmured with a hint of melancholy, squeezing Wendel's hand.
He nodded silently.
"Well, who wants some coffee? There's a place around the corner with cream pastries to die for," said Susan, changing the mood with contagious cheer. Everyone laughed and followed her. On the way, they passed a rather… disheveled and interesting red-haired family.
…
Hours after the Express had departed, when the train was about to reach Hogwarts, two boys one red-haired with a curious expression, the other with dark hair and an easy smile were talking quietly in a compartment.
The door suddenly burst open.
A girl with bushy, messy brown hair, large brown eyes, and an inquisitive look stepped in and examined them as if assessing them for a test. Without greeting, she bluntly asked:
"Have you seen a toad? A boy named Neville lost it."
Both boys frowned, surprised by the lack of manners, but before they could answer, a small book flew from the hallway and gently tapped the girl on the arm.
A figure appeared from the corridor. It was a young boy with jet-black hair and bright green eyes, wearing a calm expression and a faintly amused smile.
"I think you forgot your manners," the boy said gently, never taking his eyes off his friend.
The girl gave him an annoyed look but straightened as if performing for an audience.
"My apologies for the interruption," she now said with a carefully polite voice, adopting an exaggeratedly refined tone, as if imitating a noble from the past. "My haste led me to intrude upon your leisure space without the proper respect. I was wondering if, by chance, you have seen an amphibian of the bufonid variety that escaped its owner, whose name is Neville."
Harry because who else could it be smiled with amusement at seeing his friend act like that. He knew she didn't enjoy exaggerating, and only did it because he teased her into it.
The two boys in the compartment exchanged confused looks. They might have understood half of what she said, but in the end, both shook their heads.
"Then, I wish you a splendid evening," said the girl, giving a small curtsy as she held the edges of her robe like it was an old-fashioned dress. She turned and walked away firmly, not without casting a mocking glance at her friend, who simply shook his head in silence.
"Sorry about that," the boy said calmly. "You should get changed. We're almost at Hogwarts."
He was about to leave when he paused, took a step back, and turned to the redhead.
"By the way, you've got a bit of dirt on your face," he said with a slight smile before heading off behind his friend.