As I made my way downstairs, I paused in front of the mirror. Standing there, a small gasp escaped my lips. A boy stared back at me — a slightly blurry but undeniably captivating figure. My hair, a vibrant shade of maroon that caught the light, shone like polished cherries. It framed a face of the fairest, milky white complexion, creating a striking contrast. But what stood out the most were the eyes — a mesmerizing shade of green that sparkled with an innocent charm capable of melting hearts. I couldn't help but grin, revealing a set of tiny, even teeth. The reflection staring back at me, with its bright hair, luminous skin, and those enchanting green eyes, was undeniably cute and surprisingly good-looking. A delightful surprise, even to my own young gaze.
Satisfied with my appearance, I turned my attention to something more important. I remembered that I needed to check the panel and the diary holders.
"System, show me the properties panel," I commanded softly.
[Diary System]
• Name: Cain Kowalski
• Age: 8 years
• Bloodline: Wizard
• Talents: Natural Seer, Druid, Occultist, Natural Charm, Memory Maze
• Abilities: Shape-shifting, Animal Communication, Nature Affinity, Occult Magic, Acting Genius
• Transfiguration: Max Level (10/10)
• Potions: 2/10
• Charms: 8/10
• Herbology: Max Level (10/10)
• Divination: Max Level (10/10)
Present Diary Holders:
Ariana Dumbledore
Hermione Granger
Harry Potter
Remark: You can perform the perfect heist — from future planning to flawless execution. You are a once-in-a-million-years con artist.
I skimmed through the list, but it was the names under "Diary Holders" that froze me in place. My heart skipped a beat as I saw the first name.
"Ariana Dumbledore…" I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper.
"System, can my diary be read by the dead?" I asked, a sudden unease creeping into my tone.
[Ding! Wizard souls reach the Twilight Zone after death. Those who wish to move on take the stairs and proceed to their future journey, while those with weak will and unfulfilled desires remain in the Twilight Zone. Those with extreme desires linger on Earth in the form of ghosts. ]
My mind raced.
"So… does that mean she's still on Earth? Or is she stuck in the Twilight Zone?" I murmured, feeling a knot tighten in my chest.
[Ding! Host is required to find out on his own.]
I sighed, pushing the messy thoughts aside for now. There was no point in overthinking it. Answers would come in time. For now, I had other things to focus on. I decided to put off writing in my diary for the moment. Grandpa Jacob and Grandma Queenie would be home in a few minutes, and it was better to spend some time with them. I could always write in my diary before going to bed.
My thoughts briefly wandered back to my talents. They explained a lot. The Druidic talent brought my deep connection with nature, allowing me to communicate with animals and sense the subtle pulse of life in plants. No wonder I had always been drawn to small animals in my memories. But Grandma Queenie… she had mistaken my abilities for something else. She thought I had a talent similar to Newt Scamander's. I smiled at the thought.
"Well, let her keep her misunderstanding," I murmured, chuckling softly.
Shaking off the thoughts, I focused on what mattered now — spending time with Jacob and Queenie. They always had interesting stories to share, and there was a warmth in their presence that made this second chance at life even more precious.
.........
Sitting on the couch in the living room, I waited for them to come. While my acting talent helped me mimic my early behaviors perfectly, the memory maze completely hid the story of my rebirth. I felt excited to meet the characters in real life. Although I had seen them in my memories, where God had set my storyline, this would be my first time meeting them.
The door opened slightly. Hearing the creak, I ran to grab the bags from them.
"Hey, little jam! Do you feel sick anymore? Tell me, what do you want to eat? I'll cook it for you," Grandpa Jacob asked while gently caressing my face.
Grandma Queenie touched my forehead, and when she realized I no longer had a fever, she smiled. Then, with a warm grin, she said, "Cain, we have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"
Hearing this, I looked at Grandpa Jacob, half-expecting that he might have gotten himself into trouble again. Even in my memories, I often saw him in small, amusing predicaments—being chased by a dog or getting accused of being a mad old man. Grandma Queenie and I frequently had to come to his rescue. But those moments brought laughter and warmth to our lives.
Feeling my gaze, he shook his head quickly, denying any involvement in trouble this time.
Grandma Queenie chuckled. "Let's go. I'll tell you during dinner."
Afterwards, I helped them cook dinner. I had a natural talent for cooking, and Grandma Queenie, being exceptionally good with charms, often turned cooking into a Charms class. She taught me a variety of spells—fire spells, cutting spells, floating, multicasting, temperature control, object control, and many more. To be honest, she was quite surprised to see me casting wandless magic effortlessly. Grandpa Jacob, on the other hand, was always fascinated by magic, no matter how many times he witnessed it.
As we sat down for dinner, I grew restless, eager to hear what Grandma had to say. Seeing my troubled expression, she laughed softly. When I pouted, she smiled and said, "Pick first—good or bad?"
"Good first," I replied without hesitation.
Leaning forward slightly, she said, "Cain, although most wizarding families teach their children at home, Jacob and I feel that wouldn't be the best for your upbringing. To be honest, we want you to make new friends. I know you have your small animal friends, and you visit your orphanage friends regularly, but studying in a school, surrounded by other children, is different. You'll experience a new environment and meet friends from different backgrounds. So, the good news is that we are enrolling you in a new school next month."
She paused for a moment, her expression growing serious. "And the bad news…" Her tone lowered as she glanced at Grandpa Jacob. "Albus Dumbledore will be visiting us next week. To be honest, Cain, you must have felt something different about yourself. I've often sensed a soothing, calming aura around you. Have you noticed that whenever Jacob gets into trouble, it's your presence that seems to get him out of it? At first, I thought you might have Veela blood, but over the years, I realized I was wrong. So, I wrote to Newt, but that scatterbrained man decided to bring Albus."
I always knew Grandma Queenie and Grandma Tina hated Albus Dumbledore. After all, he was the one who got Jacob and Newt to fight against Grindelwald. I didn't mind the idea of studying in a school. But I was genuinely shocked by her comments about the effects of my charm. None of these abilities had been mentioned by the system. I made a mental note to ask the system about it later.
We spent the rest of the evening talking about Grandma Queenie and Grandpa Jacob's school days, which eventually led to their love story. Their playful banter about who kissed whom first was amusing. But while they argued, something caught my attention.
Behind Grandma Queenie, I noticed a hazy figure taking shape. Due to my knowledge of the occult, I could sense and see spirits and ghosts. But I was surprised to see these figures near her.
Interrupting their argument, I asked, "Grandma, did Great-Grandfather have a brown, curly mustache with big sideburns?"
Hearing this, she stood up in shock, her eyes wide with surprise. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Did you see a vision, Cain?"
I shook my head and raised my hand, pointing behind her. "No," I whispered, "but he's floating behind you… and there's a lady beside him."