"Cedric Diggory."
"A fine young man. Full of reason, talent, grace, and a strong sense of justice."
"He's everything one could hope for in a Hogwarts student."
Those were the words Cedric had heard more than once, both in reality and in his dreams. He now stood before a tall mirror, raising an eyebrow at his reflection. It had been six years since he transmigrated into the world of Harry Potter, and now, at last, he had reached the age to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Just a few days ago, he had received the iconic admission letter, complete with the Hogwarts seal. While he appreciated the handsome looks and excellent qualities of his new body, Cedric knew all too well that this world was far from safe—and certainly no place for someone who blindly upheld justice without caution.
The wizarding world of Harry Potter…
It was a place filled with wonders, but also with dangers that often defied logic. In this world, offensive and defensive capabilities weren't balanced. No matter how powerful one's magic was, the physical body remained that of a normal human. Even the greatest wizard could fall to a surprise attack, an Avada Kedavra, or an accidental mistake.
In the original story, Cedric Diggory—a character loved by all and hailed for his kindness and integrity—had still died tragically. No amount of praise could bring him back from the grave.
"He fully embodied the unique qualities of Hufflepuff House and was a role model for all," Dumbledore had once said during his eulogy.
"He was a kind, loyal friend who believed in fair play. His death shocked everyone, whether they knew him or not. Please remember him, and when faced with a choice between the right path and the easy one, think of the upright, kind, and brave boy who paid the price for doing what was right."
Those words haunted Cedric.
In his dreams, he often heard Dumbledore's voice echoing through his mind, praising him after death—and each time, he would awaken drenched in cold sweat. It was terrifying. He refused to die again.
If he wanted to sleep peacefully at night, he had to make sure the old snake—Lord Voldemort—would never rise again. Only then could he have a real shot at life in this world.
Fortunately, he wasn't powerless.
"I activated the Righteousness System," Cedric muttered, clearing his throat and adjusting his clothes before the mirror. "Everything will be different this time."
He took one last look at his reflection and straightened his appearance. Today was important. He had a meeting with someone who might just be his ticket to attending Hogwarts early. If things went well, he might gain approval to move into the school ahead of schedule.
Knock knock.
A knock came from the front door downstairs.
His father, Amos Diggory, hurried to answer it, his footsteps echoing across the wooden floor. The door opened, and standing there was a stern-looking witch with sharp eyes behind square glasses. Her curly black hair was tied up in a tight bun, and she wore dark green robes.
"Good morning, Professor McGonagall! I'm so sorry to trouble you with this visit, given your busy schedule," Amos said as he quickly stepped aside and gestured her into the house.
"Good morning, Mr. Diggory, Mrs. Diggory," Professor McGonagall greeted with a polite nod as she entered. She carried herself with the grace of a long-time educator and member of the Hogwarts staff. As the school's Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House, she had been extremely busy during admissions season, especially when it came to visiting Muggle-born families with magical children.
Thankfully, the Diggory family had sent a request in advance. Otherwise, she wouldn't have had time for this trip.
After settling into a seat in the Diggorys' sitting room, Professor McGonagall pulled out the letter she had received and raised an eyebrow at Amos.
"Mr. Diggory," she began, "while I understand your request, I must admit I'm somewhat puzzled. You wrote that you wished for your son to move into Hogwarts early in order to practice magic?"
She fixed her sharp gaze on him, clearly trying to determine whether this was some sort of prank.
Amos laughed nervously and quickly waved his hands. "Yes, yes, I understand it sounds odd. That's precisely why I wanted to invite you over in person—to explain everything properly."
He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice and casting a glance up the staircase.
"You see… our Cedric is in a special situation," he whispered. "We believe it would be best for everyone if he could enter Hogwarts early."
"Special situation?" McGonagall repeated, her expression thoughtful. Her mind immediately jumped to Neville Longbottom, another child who had been suspected to be the subject of the prophecy about Voldemort. Neville had struggled with magic due to trauma, nearly being passed over by Hogwarts' admission magic.
But Amos quickly clarified, waving his hand again.
"No, no, it's not that his talent is poor. Quite the opposite, actually. His magical talent is exceptionally strong."
He glanced toward his wife, who gave him a reassuring nod before he continued, clearly embarrassed.
"It's just that… this kid of ours is going crazy!"
McGonagall blinked. "Excuse me?"
She wasn't sure if she had heard that correctly.
"Let me put it another way," Amos said, rubbing his forehead. "He was the one who asked me to send the letter. He said it was wrong—morally wrong—to use magic at home."
A voice rang out from above.
"I never said it like that, Father."
Everyone looked up the staircase to see Cedric descending gracefully, dressed in tidy robes and an expression of calm determination on his face.
"I merely pointed out that it violates the Ministry of Magic's laws."
Cedric came to a stop near the bottom of the stairs and looked directly at Professor McGonagall.
"It's clearly stated in the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery that wizards under the age of seventeen are prohibited from using magic outside of school grounds. A first offense results in a warning letter. A second offense can lead to expulsion."
"That's the reason I'm requesting early entry into Hogwarts."
He stepped closer and bowed slightly in respect to McGonagall.
"I apologize for the disturbance, Professor. But ever since I began showing magical aptitude at the age of five, I've been deeply curious about spellcasting. I've had to restrain myself for years. That's why I'm asking you to understand my situation."
"Also…" He added confidently, "that particular decree has clear flaws. The Trace magic used by the Ministry can't accurately determine who cast a spell if multiple wizards are nearby. This technology hasn't been updated in decades. I plan to improve it in the future."
Ding!
A system notification echoed in Cedric's mind.
[You have explained and upheld magical law. +100 experience points.]
McGonagall stared at him in stunned silence for a moment. Now she understood what Amos meant when he said Cedric was "going crazy." This was not madness in the conventional sense—it was brilliance bordering on obsession.
She took in his neat uniform, his confident posture, and his articulate speech. She was… impressed. Extremely impressed.
Most children his age barely knew how to hold their wands correctly, and many adult wizards couldn't deliver that level of analysis without tripping over their words. But this boy, before he had even stepped foot inside Hogwarts, was already thinking like a magical scholar.
"Well," she said at last, smoothing her robes, "given your situation, Cedric, I will now perform a short assessment. If you truly are as advanced as you seem, we may be able to consider your early admission."
What followed next would shock her more than she could have ever imagined.