Edward Cullen stood on the edge of the forest, the cool breeze stirring his bronze hair as he stared out at the sprawling campus ahead. It had been decades since he’d set foot in a school, but every time he entered one, the memories of Hogwarts flickered in his mind like the soft hum of a distant melody. His old life as Cedric Diggory lingered in the background, a constant reminder of the boy he used to be before everything changed. Though he had embraced his new existence as a vampire, there were moments when he longed for the simplicity and certainty of his days at the wizarding school, where spells and Quidditch defined his life.

He shifted his weight, the familiar feel of his wand tucked discreetly in his jacket pocket giving him a brief sense of comfort. Though he hadn’t used it much in years, he could never part with it. His adoptive family—the Cullens—knew of his magical past, but to the outside world, Edward Cullen was nothing more than another student. His true nature, both as a vampire and a former wizard, remained carefully hidden behind the polished façade of his outward calm. It was easier that way, to blend in, to avoid the questions, and to escape the memories of a time when he was simply Cedric.