For several minutes after opening their letters, neither Mohit nor Emily spoke.
The Hogwarts crest seemed almost unreal despite everything they had already experienced.
Emily carefully reread the letter for the third time before finally lowering it.
"So this is really happening."
Mohit nodded.
"It is."
Unlike Emily, he had expected this moment for a long time.
Still, seeing the acceptance letter with his own eyes brought a sense of satisfaction.
Everything was progressing according to plan.
The next stage of his journey was about to begin.
The following days were spent preparing for Hogwarts.
The acceptance package included a list of required supplies.
Textbooks.
Robes.
A wand.
A cauldron.
Various magical equipment.
Everything a first-year student would need.
Emily studied the list with great interest.
"Do we really need all of this?"
"Most of it," Mohit replied.
"Although some items will be more useful than others."
Emily nodded thoughtfully.
Even now, the idea of attending a school that taught magic felt unbelievable.
A few months ago, she had been struggling to survive.
Now she was preparing to learn magic at one of the most famous schools in the world.
Life truly was unpredictable.
That evening, Mohit decided it was time to explain something important.
They were sitting in the living room when he placed a book on the table.
Emily looked at it curiously.
"What is this?"
"A warning."
She blinked.
"A warning?"
Mohit nodded.
"There are certain forms of magic that affect the mind."
Emily immediately became serious.
Mind-affecting magic sounded dangerous.
Mohit continued.
"One of them is called Legilimency."
Emily frowned.
"What does it do?"
"It allows skilled users to access memories and gather information from another person's mind."
The color drained slightly from Emily's face.
"That's possible?"
"It is."
Mohit leaned back in his chair.
"Most witches and wizards never master it. However, some highly skilled individuals can use it effectively."
Emily immediately understood why he was explaining this.
"Hogwarts professors?"
"A few."
She remained silent for several moments.
The idea of someone reading her memories without permission was deeply uncomfortable.
"Can it be stopped?"
Mohit smiled.
"Yes."
Emily visibly relaxed.
"How?"
"Through a defensive art called Occlumency."
He briefly explained the concept.
Unlike Legilimency, which focused on accessing information, Occlumency focused on protecting the mind.
A skilled practitioner could defend their thoughts, memories, and emotions from outside intrusion.
By the time the explanation ended, Emily looked fascinated.
"And you know how to do this?"
"I do."
Emily immediately pointed at herself.
"Teach me."
Mohit laughed.
"I thought you'd say that."
Training began the very next day.
Occlumency was not easy.
It required focus, emotional control, and mental discipline.
Fortunately, Emily had already developed strong concentration through her Gamer-assisted training.
Progress came surprisingly quickly.
Within a few weeks, she could instinctively create simple mental defenses.
By wizarding standards, her development was extraordinary.
Emily was understandably pleased with herself.
Mohit was pleased as well.
The magical world contained countless dangers.
Protecting the mind was one of the most valuable skills a wizard could possess.
While Emily trained, Mohit focused on expanding his knowledge.
The information he had acquired from previous worlds gave him an enormous advantage.
However, magical knowledge remained one of his highest priorities.
He spent hours studying theory.
Magical history.
Spell mechanics.
Potion ingredients.
Ancient magical traditions.
The more he learned, the more he realized how much knowledge remained hidden within the wizarding world.
Many mysteries had never been fully explored.
Others had been forgotten entirely.
For someone like Mohit, Hogwarts was less a school and more a treasure vault waiting to be opened.
Nearly two weeks after receiving their letters, another owl arrived.
This one carried a different message.
Mohit opened it and immediately recognized the contents.
A Hogwarts representative would soon arrive to guide them through the process of purchasing school supplies.
Emily noticed his expression.
"What happened?"
Mohit handed her the letter.
She quickly read through it.
"Professor Snape?"
"Severus Snape."
Emily looked curious.
"What's he like?"
Mohit considered the question.
"Highly intelligent."
Emily nodded.
"That sounds good."
"It is."
Mohit's expression became thoughtful.
"He's also suspicious, observant, intimidating, and capable of making most students nervous without saying much."
Emily blinked.
"That doesn't sound nearly as good."
Mohit laughed.
"Don't worry. Just answer questions honestly and avoid acting suspicious."
Emily crossed her arms.
"Easy for you to say."
The next few days passed quickly.
The house was cleaned.
Travel preparations were completed.
Necessary documents were organized.
Everything was ready.
On the morning of the expected visit, Emily seemed noticeably more nervous than usual.
Mohit noticed immediately.
"You look worried."
Emily sighed.
"I'm meeting a real professor from a magical school."
"That's hardly terrifying."
She gave him a flat look.
"You're impossible."
Mohit merely smiled.
A knock sounded at the front door.
The room immediately became silent.
Emily looked toward the entrance.
Mohit calmly placed his teacup on the table.
Right on time.
Professor Severus Snape had arrived.
And with him came their first true step into the hidden world of magic.