After returning to the Leaky Cauldron, Hagrid suggested everyone have a drink before leaving, and everyone agreed... even the angriest Mrs. Weasley was no exception.
She felt it necessary to explain the earlier situation to the Grangers, so they wouldn't develop any negative ideas about wizards.
While the adults were chatting, Kael approached Ginny.
The young girl had her head down, silently sipping her hot chocolate... In the Leaky Cauldron, besides various drinks, this was the only other option.
Kael's sudden appearance startled her.
"That throw just now was really beautiful."
"You... you saw it all?"
"I wasn't sure before..." Kael shrugged, "but a normal Ginny wouldn't be so quiet."
"I... I was just too angry." Ginny clutched her cup, "Why did he say that about Dad!"
But then she quickly changed her expression, asking nervously, "Kael, do you think they'll fire Dad?"
"Don't worry, they definitely won't." Kael thought for a moment and said, "The Ministry of Magic just passed the latest Muggle Protection Law, and Mr. Weasley is the initiator and primary enforcer of this law.
If they fired him now, it would greatly affect the Ministry's prestige, and Fudge wouldn't agree."
Ginny blinked... she didn't understand.
"Alright, let me put it another way."
Kael smiled, "Mr. Weasley has a lot of friends, including quite a few ministers, deputy ministers, and Wizengamot members, they'll all back him up."
Now Ginny understood.
She let out a long sigh of relief and visibly brightened up.
"Thank you, Kael!"
"No need, I was just stating the truth." Kael waved his hand and said:
"But your cauldron throwing was quite accurate, if it hadn't been filled with so many books, you might have hit Malfoy on the head.
Honestly, Ginny, you've got the talent of a Chaser."
"Too bad first years aren't allowed to join Quidditch." Ginny laughed.
"You could still give it a try, after all, Harry was an exception."
"But I've heard Gryffindor doesn't need any Chasers right now..."
"That's true, so let's talk about it when you're in your second year."
"Hey, you just said I should give it a try." Ginny said dissatisfied, "Can't I get selected like Harry did?"
"I was just being polite... If I took it seriously, then you'd be wrong." Kael said calmly, "If it were me, that throw wouldn't have missed."
Ginny gritted her teeth, seeming to want to throw the cauldron at Kael's face, to show him how accurate her throw really was.
But when she turned her head, she found Kael had unknowingly taken her cauldron away.
"I was just pondering what to give you as a school gift..."
Kael took those old books out of the cauldron, "How about a brand-new set of textbooks?"
Ginny quickly shook her head to refuse, "No, no, that's too expensive, I can use second-hand ones..."
"It's settled then."
Without waiting for her to finish, Kael packed up those old books, "But you'll have to wait a couple of days, Flourish and Blotts probably won't welcome us right now."
Ginny couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Because of them, Flourish and Blotts had several bookshelves knocked over, and the books were scattered all over the floor.
If it weren't for that guy named Hagrid, they definitely wouldn't have left so easily.
...
Once the Butter Beer was finished, everyone had calmed down, and the Grangers let go of the earlier incident, happily saying goodbye to Mrs. Weasley.
They were to return to the Muggle Street on the other side of the pub.
Before leaving, Kael handed Mr. Granger a large bottle of Potter's Speedy Shampoo.
He had quite a few of these in his bag, all prepared for a certain professor, taking one out didn't matter.
After bidding farewell at the pub, Kael and the Weasleys gathered by the fireplace, returning to the Shabby Residence via Floo Powder.
"Thankfully, you didn't say the wrong name this time, dear."
At the kitchen door of the Shabby Residence, Mrs. Weasley held a large coat brush, dusting off the soot from their clothes, "Great, everyone's here... wait, why are there only eight? Where's Percy?"
Only then did everyone realize Percy hadn't returned.
"I remember he was reading in an old shop." Ron said:
Harry nodded, "I think it was 'Prefects Who Gained Power'."
Everything in the old shop was quite worn out, except that book looked brand new.
"Ha, that's so Percy," Fred chuckled.
"He's aiming to become Head Boy..."
"Or maybe even the Minister of Magic!"
Mrs. Weasley paid no heed to Fred and George, putting down the coat brush,
"Oh dear, Percy must have lost track of time... didn't you call him when you came back?"
"Who cares about Percy at that moment," Ron murmured, "we thought you had called him..."
Mrs. Weasley didn't respond, silently picking up a handful of Floo Powder and throwing it into the fireplace.
In fact, she had forgotten too.
...
Mrs. Weasley went back to fetch Percy.
Kael turned down Fred's invitation to play Quidditch in the woods, and after leaving the Shabby Residence, quickly headed home.
He returned to his room, locked the door, and took out Ginny's pile of old textbooks.
Inside the 'Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration', there was a worn black notebook.
The faded date on the cover indicated it was something from fifty years ago, blending in unobtrusively with the old books.
Even if someone saw it, they'd assume it was accidentally left inside by the old shop's staff while sorting things.
Kael took a deep breath, carefully opening the notebook... On the first page, there was only a blurry name.
"T.M. Riddle."
Indeed, Lucius Malfoy did secretly slip the diary to Ginny.
He probably intended to use this as a way to get back at the Weasley family.
Kael tapped the table... Lucius Malfoy probably didn't know the diary's true purpose, but he certainly knew how dangerous Voldemort's belongings were.
Which means he didn't care at all about Ginny's well-being.
Hagrid was right, Lucius Malfoy was truly vile.
Though he did pay for it.
When Voldemort was resurrected, he immediately discovered that the Horcrux he hid with Malfoy had gone awry.
Lucius Malfoy offered up all his wealth, barely saving his family, but Draco was still forced to attempt to assassinate Dumbledore.
A student who hadn't graduated, tasked with assassinating Dumbledore... It was clear Voldemort didn't intend for him to survive.
But that's all in the future.
Now that the diary was in his hands, Ginny should be able to have a normal school year.
Besides, he happened to have some questions he wanted to ask the young Riddle.