Harrison's first day at the new school began with a deep sense of uncertainty.
Petunia had walked him to the gates, her grip on his hand unusually firm. "You'll do well," she said, though her voice wavered. "Just... try your best."
Harrison nodded, adjusting the strap of his satchel. "I'll be fine, Aunt Petunia."
As much as her hovering irritated him at times, he was secretly glad she was there. The thought of entering an entirely new place alone made his stomach churn. But as soon as Dr. Walsh appeared to greet him, Petunia squeezed his shoulder and hurried off, leaving him standing at the edge of his new life.
---
Dr. Walsh guided Harrison through the halls, describing the surroundings in vivid detail.
"To your left is the science wing," she said, her shoes clicking against the polished floor. "And up ahead is the dining hall. You'll find your way soon enough, don't worry."
Harrison nodded, though his hands tightened on his cane. The school felt enormous, every sound amplified—the echo of footsteps, the hum of distant chatter, the occasional slamming of a locker.
"Here we are," Dr. Walsh said, stopping in front of a classroom door.
Inside, a low murmur of voices fell silent as they entered.
---
"Class, this is Harrison Potter," Dr. Walsh announced.
Harrison stood just inside the doorway, clutching his cane. He could feel their eyes on him, a mixture of curiosity and hesitation.
"Hi, Harrison," a few voices mumbled.
A warm hand touched his shoulder. "Come on," a man's voice said. "Let's get you settled."
This was Mr. Davies, his new homeroom teacher. His voice was calm and steady, like the rumble of a distant river. He led Harrison to a seat near the front, next to another boy who immediately introduced himself.
"I'm Jacob," the boy said brightly. "I'm in the robotics club. You should join—it's awesome."
"Maybe," Harrison replied, smiling faintly.
---
The morning passed in a whirlwind of introductions and adjustments.
Mr. Davies spent time explaining the layout of the room, describing where the desks, whiteboard, and supply shelves were located. Harrison listened carefully, mapping it all out in his mind.
During math class, he was relieved to find that the problems were challenging enough to keep him engaged. The teacher even gave him a few extra equations to solve when he finished early, and he tackled them with quiet determination.
But it wasn't all smooth.
In the hallway between classes, Harrison's cane accidentally struck someone's foot.
"Watch it!" a girl snapped.
"Sorry," he said quickly, his cheeks flushing.
The girl muttered something under her breath and walked away, leaving Harrison feeling exposed.
"Don't mind her," Jacob said, appearing at his side. "That's Melanie. She's like that with everyone."
Harrison nodded, but the encounter lingered.
---
Lunchtime was overwhelming.
The dining hall was a cacophony of voices, clattering trays, and the faint hum of a vending machine in the corner. Harrison hesitated near the entrance, unsure where to go.
"Over here!" Jacob called.
Harrison followed the sound of his voice to a table where a group of kids sat. Jacob introduced him to the others: Mia, who loved painting; Sam, who was obsessed with chess; and Elena, who spoke softly but seemed to notice everything.
"Do you like it here so far?" Mia asked, her voice curious.
"It's... different," Harrison admitted.
"You'll get used to it," Jacob said between bites of his sandwich. "And if you don't, well, at least the library's awesome."
The mention of the library made Harrison's pulse quicken. He hadn't told anyone about the spark he'd seen, but it had been on his mind all day.
"Have you been there yet?" Mia asked.
"Yeah," Harrison said slowly. "It's... interesting."
Jacob grinned. "Interesting? It's the best part of the whole school!"
---
In the afternoon, Harrison attended a music class.
The teacher, Ms. Callahan, encouraged him to explore the instruments at his own pace. He ran his fingers over the smooth keys of a piano, pressing them gently and listening to the notes ring out. It was fascinating—each key held a distinct tone, yet together they formed something whole.
"You have a good ear," Ms. Callahan said. "Do you play?"
Harrison shook his head. "No, ma'am."
"Well, maybe you should."
By the end of class, Harrison had managed to piece together a simple melody, and Ms. Callahan clapped enthusiastically.
---
When the final bell rang, Harrison felt both relieved and exhausted.
Dr. Walsh met him outside the classroom. "How was your first day?" she asked.
"Good," he said, though he wasn't sure if that was entirely true.
He was still thinking about the library.
---
That night, as he lay in bed, Harrison replayed the day in his mind. The faces, the voices, the strange rhythms of this new place—it was all so different from what he was used to.
And then there was the spark.
He couldn't stop wondering about it. What had it been? A trick of his mind? Or something more?
As he drifted off to sleep, the image lingered in the darkness—a tiny point of violet light, pulsing softly, just out of reach.
