"Uncle Howl."
Howl had just finished scolding Dumbledore when Harry's voice rang out.
His shirt was a bit damp, and he looked like a drowned rat, but his face was flushed, and he seemed full of energy.
"Mm, hurry up and take a shower, then change your clothes."
Howl nodded casually.
"Okay, this is?"
"Dumbledore, your future Principal.
Of course, I don't know why he's here."
Howl glanced at the old man opposite him.
The old man winked at Harry in a friendly manner.
Howl felt he really looked like a kidnapper.
Dumbledore explained, "I'm here, of course, to discuss some matters regarding enrollment.
By the way, has Harry been to Diagon Alley?
Originally, there was a school employee who had been asking me for a long time; he wanted to take Harry to buy his first-year supplies.
But now it seems..."
"Take me to Diagon Alley?
He knows me?"
Harry pointed to himself, a little surprised, then felt his question sounded foolish.
"No, I should ask.
Is he very familiar with my parents?"
"Yes.
He was a friend of your parents."
Harry suddenly felt his breathing constrict, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled: "Alright, I look forward to meeting him.
But I've already arranged to go to Diagon Alley with Hermione, so I'm truly sorry.
Uncle Howl, I'm going inside now."
"Go on."
Howl waved his hand.
Dumbledore watched Harry's retreating back and asked, "Who is Hermione?"
"A Little Wizard from London, likely also starting this year.
Her parents are Muggles.
We met her when we went to London previously."
Dumbledore nodded slightly: "I see."
"Is there anything else?"
"I thought you would invite me in for a seat."
"Didn't you see I was just about to go out?"
Howl retorted, then said helplessly, "Alright, I now reasonably suspect you're getting a bit muddled in the head from old age."
Dumbledore's face showed embarrassment, and he changed the subject: "Alright, if you want to go to Diagon Alley with that new student, how about I send someone to pick you up then?"
"Still need someone to pick us up?"
Howl was a little strange; it wasn't like they didn't know the way.
"Yes, because there are some relevant regulations.
Not only for Little Wizards but also for their Muggle parents,"
Dumbledore explained, then looked at Howl with a puzzled expression.
"By the way, do you know those relevant regulations?"
"No idea, don't care."
Howl shook his head.
"You should still take a look."
Dumbledore advised.
"Whatever."
Howl waved his hand casually: "Anything else?
It's really tiring talking across a street."
Dumbledore nodded helplessly: "Alright, since the acceptance letter has been delivered, and it's confirmed that Harry is fine, I'll take my leave."
"Don't bother."
As soon as the words fell, Dumbledore's figure vanished rapidly, Apparating away from Privet Drive.
Half an hour later, when Howl returned to Moonlight Fortress with the freshest ingredients of the morning, Harry had already changed into neat clothes and was cleaning.
Seeing Howl return, he took the items and asked curiously, "Uncle Howl, why did Headmaster Dumbledore come here?
Didn't the book say that Hogwarts has a tradition of sending acceptance letters via owl?"
"Silly boy."
Lucifer explained, "With me here, those owls can't figure out where to deliver the letters!"
"Oh!"
Harry nodded thoughtfully, praising, "So it was Mr. Lucifer's doing."
Lucifer listened to Harry's words, a crooked smile spreading across his face: "Just average, merely isolating some prying."
Howl watched the exchange between the man and the flame, finding it amusing, then seriously cautioned, "Be careful of Dumbledore from now on."
Harry was startled, then asked, "Is there a problem with Headmaster Dumbledore?"
Howl shook his head: "That's not it.
This old fellow is actually a good person; you could even say he's benevolent, and it wouldn't be wrong."
"Then what is it...?"
Harry was a bit confused.
"It's just that I feel this guy is the type who doesn't hold back his thoughts; you should keep an eye on him and be sharp.
Otherwise, it's easy to be led around in circles."
"I understand."
Harry nodded solemnly.
Howl patted Harry's back and ushered him towards the kitchen: "Don't be so serious; he's really not a bad person.
Just be a little mindful."
"Okay."
Harry nodded quickly.
Meanwhile, in an alley in Hogsmeade.
Dumbledore flashed, teleporting there, and then a cry came from the sky.
Fawkes, the Phoenix, landed on his arm, carrying him back into Hogwarts Castle.
Hogwarts, as well as the surrounding Forbidden Forest and Black Lake, have extremely strong Anti-Apparition spells.
Only non-humans can freely teleport within them.
For example, House-elves, or Phoenixes.
And honestly, the Apparition spell currently used by humans is very uncomfortable.
It's like squeezing one's entire body into a water pipe.
But Phoenixes, Zouwu, and the like are completely different; it's not uncomfortable at all.
A Phoenix's Apparition is even warm, though sometimes it might singe a corner of one's clothes or a strand of hair.
Upon returning to his office, Dumbledore's expression immediately became serious, filled with contemplation.
He was not as unperturbed as he appeared.
In this world, another Wizard had suddenly appeared, reaching the pinnacle of magic.
And he, Dumbledore, knew nothing about him.
He didn't know his strengths, his habits, or even what he wanted to do!
Dumbledore's fingers tapped continuously on the desk.
On the wall in front of him, past Principals all looked gravely at Dumbledore, none of them speaking to disturb him.
In Dumbledore's decades in office, they had rarely seen him think about something so seriously.
Then, under their gaze, Dumbledore went to the window, looking down at the green fields and the Black Lake and Forbidden Forest.
At this time, at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, a massive figure was moving carriages out of a storeroom and cleaning them.
That was Hagrid, the Hogwarts Gamekeeper, a half-Giant.
And he was the school employee Dumbledore mentioned, the one who wanted to pick up Harry to go to Diagon Alley.
Next to Hagrid, there were also many bony, dragon-headed, black flying horses with huge bat wings.
Hagrid effortlessly picked up the heavy carriage frames, gently placing them on the backs of Thestrals, thoughtfully adjusting their harnesses and the comfort of the carriage frames.
Every year, some Thestrals would change in size, and Hagrid would always painstakingly adjust their harnesses at the beginning of each school year.
Half an hour later, Hagrid finally adjusted all the harnesses to a suitable position, then cupped his hands over his mouth and let out a hoarse whistle.
Hearing this sound, the Thestrals happily flapped their wings, raising dust and fallen leaves.
"Alright, alright, you little rascals.
Go back to the forest and play."
Hagrid laughed.
Then, just as he was about to return to his hut, he heard Professor McGonagall's voice.
"Hagrid!"
Professor McGonagall stood at the main gate.
"Oh, Professor McGonagall."
Hagrid quickly ran over, with a towering presence, and as he ran, he eagerly said, "Is there something?
Is it about that..."
"I think so."
Professor McGonagall nodded: "Dumbledore wants you to go to his office."