"Professor Dumbledore!" Newt Scamander greeted his former Hogwarts teacher with heartfelt respect.
Dumbledore smiled warmly. "Newt, you've done well. I'm proud of you."
Garfield, sitting smugly atop Newt's shoulder, flicked his tail in irritation.
Hey! Why didn't he thank me!?
Dumbledore turned his gaze to the orange feline, eyes twinkling with knowing amusement.
"Thank you, too, Garfield. Your help has been... most unique."
Pleased, Garfield opened his interdimensional livestream, tail curled like a royal scepter. Within seconds, the bullet comments exploded across his vision like magical fireworks:
"LIFETIME SERIES UNLOCKED!"
"The original author is crying tears of joy!"
"So adorable, totally clueless in AC lmao"
"Someone explain the lore pls!"
"Why is there no tribute portal?!"
"Let's be friends with the rich commenter above me!"
The sheer volume of on-screen chatter was so dense it blocked Garfield's view. With a flick of his paw, he adjusted the bullet screen to transparent mode and moved it to the top layer.
Once that was under control, Garfield realized he had already been handed off into Dumbledore's arms.
Newt gave a respectful nod and went on his way, waving goodbye.
… Why were you so quick to get rid of me!
Dumbledore looked down at Garfield. "What do you say, Garfield? Care to visit Hogwarts with me?"
Garfield blinked slowly.
Hogwarts? That was Dumbledore's turf. A powerful wizard's playground full of unpredictable teens.
"No thanks, meow!" Garfield meowed flatly.
"I know a trap when I see one. You just want a cute orange cat to use in your weird school plots."
From the livestream, Pandora popped up in the mental feed, scoffing in text.
'You're just a spoiled street cat. If I tossed you outside, nobody would even pick you up.'
Garfield, licking his soft white paw like royalty, replied smugly:
'You're just jealous of my adorableness, meow.'
'Hmph.'
Dumbledore chuckled and stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"Alright, how about a drink instead? Perhaps Hogsmeade? Or maybe the Leaky Cauldron? I hear Tom's honey beer is still excellent."
"Or... do the dead drink in the Leaky Cauldron of Ghosts now?"
Hearing those names, the bullet screen barrage erupted with excitement again:
"Hogsmeade!!"
"No! Leaky Cauldron is ICONIC!"
"Kids choose one. I say BOTH."
"Is Hogwarts an option too?"
"Protect Garfield!! He's walking into a trap!!"
Garfield huffed. 'You people are so dramatic. Dumbledore's alright. Weird? Yes. But good.'
He mulled it over for a beat, then nodded.
"Let's start with the Leaky Cauldron."
If it's good enough for Harry Potter's first wizard stop, it's good enough for me.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Interesting choice. Not my favorite place for conversations, but I must admit, Tom does brew a fine pint."
With a smooth swirl of his wand, Dumbledore Apparated them both in a blink of black light.
They landed with a quiet pop in front of a narrow, unassuming door in the heart of London. Above it swung a freshly painted oak sign, etched with a magical cauldron dripping enchantment.
This was the Leaky Cauldron… but not the grimy, neglected version from later years.
This one was still alive and steeped in warm, crackling charm. The Muggle-Repelling Enchantments kept the street empty.
Garfield observed the pristine state with a twitch of his whiskers.
Dumbledore gently nudged the door open, Garfield was cradled in his arms.
Inside, the wizards looked up, startled at the sudden appearance of one of the most powerful men in the magical world… and a smug orange cat in his arms.
Then, almost sheepishly, they lowered their heads and returned to their drinks.
Garfield raised a paw. "Bow before your true monarch…. meow."
The British wizarding world was small… a tight, often insular circle where everyone knew everyone, especially the professors of Hogwarts. That alone made them untouchable.
Not even Voldemort… brilliant and ruthless, had dared to cross that line.
Even in his rise to power, when bloodshed and chaos gripped the magical world, Hogwarts remained sacrosanct.
It wasn't mercy that spared Professor McGonagall or others.
It was a deep, unwritten rule…. No matter how far society spirals, you never touch your teacher.
Even the children of Death Eaters continued their studies at Hogwarts.
They might have whispered radical thoughts in secret, but no one dared act on them under Dumbledore's watchful gaze.
He represented that line.
Inside the Leaky Cauldron, Dumbledore carried Garfield to the far side of the bar, where a middle-aged man with thinning hair was polishing glasses.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Tom, the barkeep, brightened at the rare sight.
"Haven't seen you in a while. What'll it be today?"
Dumbledore smiled kindly. "A butterbeer, please. And Garfield would you like the same?"
Tom glanced down at the plump orange cat perched regally on the bar and tilted his head, curious.
An Animagus?
Garfield flicked his tail dismissively. Butterbeer?
He imagined a frothy concoction bubbling with butter, milk, and brown sugar...
Ugh. Too rich, too sweet. He didn't want to drink something that might make him pee out of spite again.
He shook his head, sending a mental note to Dumbledore. "Honey beer with a medium-rare steak."
Dumbledore raised an amused brow, then turned to Tom.
"One butterbeer, one honey beer, and a medium-rare steak, please."
Tom, still intrigued but polite, nodded and left to fill the order. He didn't press further about Garfield, wizards had their secrets, and this one clearly had claws and opinions.
Garfield, meanwhile, examined the barkeep more closely.
This Tom… he didn't look like the one from Harry's time.
Maybe this was his father, or even grandfather.
Foreigners do love naming their kids after family. It's not disrespect—it's a tribute… unless you're Chinese.
Just like Harry naming his children after his heroes and loved ones.
James Sirius, Albus Severus, Lily Luna. A legacy of remembrance.
Garfield shifted on the bar, squatting down.
This place was cozy but awkward. Not the best for deep conversation. Wizards glanced over, curious, then returned to their drinks.
Dumbledore and Garfield simply… stared at each other.
This is weird.
Luckily, Tom returned, carrying two frothy mugs and a sizzling plate.
"Here you are. Butterbeer, honey beer, and one medium-rare steak. Enjoy."
Garfield's nose twitched at the warm, earthy aroma. The honey beer sang of malt and wildflower sweetness, laced with the scent of hops and something ancient and magical.
He dipped his head into the glass and took two quick sips.
Delicious.
With a practiced flick of his paws, he hugged the mug between his front limbs and tipped it back.
Ton-ton-ton
All gone.
He plopped the mug down and gave a content hiccup, tail twitching with satisfaction.
Turning to Dumbledore, he tapped the empty mug and gave him a meaningful look.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Tom, another honey beer for my friend here."
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Phantom your way through a treasure trove of chapters waiting on P@treon!
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