On the last day of July, Brian woke early, ready to head to Diagon Alley—the sacred heart of the Wizarding World in London.
Flipping open the guide he'd prepared the day before, he noted the route again: walk three kilometers along the coast to the nearest bus stop, transfer to two trains, and finally reach the approximate location of the Leaky Cauldron.
The rain had just stopped, and summer was in full swing.
Sunlight streamed down on the sea, scattering countless sparkling reflections across the surface.
A salty sea breeze drifted by, filling the air with the scent of the ocean. In the distance, seagulls cried out, their calls crisp and clear.
Brian felt exhilarated—not just because of the radiant post-rain sunshine, but because he had long dreamed of visiting Diagon Alley and seeing it for himself.
Just as he was about to leave, a roaring sound reached his ears.
He turned toward the sea. A small wooden boat was racing toward the dock like a rocket, churning the water aside on both sides.
As it neared, he could hear voices from the boat.
"But what does the Ministry of Magic do?"
"Oh, their main job is to keep Muggles from finding out there are so many wizards in this country."
"Why?"
"Why? My goodness, Harry, everyone would want to use magic to solve their problems. We'd best not get involved."
The boat docked. The first to step off was a large man.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a square face and a scruffy beard. He wore a patched robe stretched tight over his bulky frame. Beneath it were stained breeches and scuffed leather boots, matted with animal hair.
Behind him stood a thin boy with messy black hair—like a nest for the owl perched behind him—and vivid green eyes.
What stood out most was the lightning-shaped scar peeking from under his fringe.
The burly man paused, standing to one side of the boat, his hand momentarily still on his beard when he spotted Brian.
He had anticipated the possibility of being seen by Muggles, which was why he left early.
Still, he had a way to deal with it. Quietly, he raised his pink umbrella and said solemnly:
"Sorry, Muggle, you saw me use magic. I'll have to use the Obliviation Charm on you."
Hagrid sighed in relief. Luckily, he'd asked Dumbledore for tips on the charm before leaving—just in case he encountered a Muggle during his travels.
But to his and Harry's surprise, the boy in front of them showed no reaction. No alarm, no confusion. As if he hadn't heard a thing.
Still being polite, Hagrid raised his hand again and explained, "Sorry, I'll be quick. You'll forget everything when you wake up. Sorry if I disturbed your life."
He gripped the umbrella like a toothpick, pointing it at Brian.
A blush crept onto Brian's face. He fought to keep his knees from shaking, then forced a wide, flattering smile.
"Please wait, esteemed wizard. I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'm a new student at Hogwarts. I'm on my way to Diagon Alley to buy supplies."
His words came out dryly, but with formality. He pulled a parchment letter from his pocket—the one sent by owl—and handed it to Hagrid.
Hagrid hesitated before accepting it. After scanning the letter, he lowered his umbrella, blinked, and softened his stern expression.
"Sorry, kid. The Ministry of Magic doesn't allow us to use magic in front of Muggles," Hagrid mumbled, scratching his beard, his cheeks red as if he'd had a drink. He waved Harry over. "I'm Hagrid, and this is Harry. We're also headed to Diagon Alley to get Harry's school things. You can come with us. Harry, this is your classmate."
Brian finally relaxed. The panic faded from his face. With composure, he bowed deeply and smiled. "Thank you very much, Mr. Hagrid. My name is Brian. It's a pleasure to meet you."
WTF. Safety Rule Number One: Broken. Danger! Flee immediately!
Why stay away from Harry Potter?
Because getting close to him meant drawing the attention of Dumbledore and Snape—both masters of Legilimency.
Worse, Harry's annual opponent was Voldemort, the most feared Dark Wizard alive. Harry might be the Chosen One, but he was still just a boy hoping to survive.
If not for the danger, befriending Harry wouldn't be so bad.
But the Wizarding World was ruthless. Power was concentrated among top-tier wizards, and one misstep could mean death.
What to do?
While Brian struggled internally, Harry hesitated, then extended a hand.
"H-Hello. I'm Harry Potter. It's nice to meet you."
Though Harry seemed calm, he kept his head down. His left hand stretched forward, while his right subtly covered the scar on his forehead. It seemed casual but was clearly intentional.
Only a few words, yet Harry's bashful face was endearing.
He's definitely an insecure child, Brian thought, but he quickly shook the offered hand.
"Good morning. I'm Mike Brian. A pleasure to meet you."
"You'll have plenty of time to chat at school," Hagrid interrupted, rolling up a newspaper he hadn't managed to read. "Alright, Harry, we've got a long list of supplies. Brian, come along!"
Brian paused briefly, then nodded.
Though it wasn't part of the plan, traveling with Hagrid would save a lot of trouble.
As for staying away from Harry—he could worry about that later, once he met the Weasleys at Hogwarts.
With a decision made, Brian caught up with Hagrid and Harry.
As they walked through the small town toward the station, Hagrid's three-meter-tall frame drew attention. His booming voice didn't help—pointing at every Muggle thing and bombarding Harry with questions, which clearly embarrassed him.
Unfamiliar with both of them, Brian stayed tucked behind Hagrid's massive back, enjoying the momentary peace.
He had carefully considered the decision to travel with them.
He only knew the Harry Potter world from books and movies—a shallow understanding, really.
Yes, the Wizarding World had a darker side. Though Hagrid wasn't a master wizard, he was close to Dumbledore and had been active in magical circles for years. His half-giant strength was formidable.
And Harry, while problematic, hadn't entered Hogwarts yet. For now, he was just a boy with a lot of attention.
Most importantly, traveling with Hagrid saved effort—and a bit of charm might earn Hagrid's help.
Staying close to Hagrid also meant more protection.
Wait... what is that?
On the train, Hagrid's massive body occupied two full seats. He pulled out a pale yellow object that looked suspiciously like a circus tent.
Brian: ...