Even after their clothes were measured, Hermione was still fuming over Malfoy's words.
How could he say such outrageous things so casually!
Fortunately, the ice cream Hagrid bought for the two children quickly diverted their attention.
Afterward, they went to the bookstore, the equipment shop, the apothecary…
As Harry stood at the entrance of the apothecary, trying to stuff a pile of items into his silk bag, Hagrid said, "Then there's only the wand left, and then to the robe shop to pick up your clothes—no!!"
With that, he suddenly clapped his hands together with a resounding smack.
It was a clap like a clap of thunder!
"Blast it, Harry, I haven't even gotten you a birthday present yet," Hagrid chuckled.
"You don't have to," Harry quickly declined.
"I'll get you an animal! Not a toad, toads went out of fashion years ago, people will laugh at you," Hagrid muttered decisively:
"How about a cat?"
"A cat?!" Harry straightened up abruptly, waving his hands repeatedly, shaking his head like a rattle drum:
"No way, absolutely not!!"
"Why are you so agitated…" Hagrid was a bit bewildered. "Alright, actually, I don't like cats either; they always make me sneeze.
I'll get you an owl. All the children like owls; they can deliver your letters and parcels."
With that, Hagrid led the way directly to Eeylops Owl Emporium.
Twenty minutes later, they left the dark Eeylops Owl Emporium, leaving behind the rustling of wings and the glint of jewel-like eyes.
At this moment, Harry was carrying a large birdcage in his hand, inside which was a beautiful snowy owl, its head tucked under its wing, sleeping soundly.
This thing couldn't be stuffed into a bag; it had to be carried.
"Thank you, Hagrid."
"Don't mention it," Hagrid said hoarsely. "The Dursleys wouldn't give you a present; it wouldn't do if I didn't."
Hagrid truly felt that way from the bottom of his heart.
Outside the owl shop, Hermione and Chris stood at the entrance.
"Hermione, where did you go just now? I wanted to ask your opinion," Harry said, then held up the birdcage: "Look, what do you think of this little fellow?"
"It's beautiful. Harry, this is for you!" Hermione said, handing over a book.
"What is this?" Harry took it and saw gilded, calligraphic English on the cover: "The Little Wizard's Best Companion—Owl Rearing and Care (Illustrated Edition)."
Alright, Harry knew what Hermione had been up to just now.
"Thank you," Harry accepted the gift, expressing his gratitude earnestly.
"Then, next up is the wand," Hagrid said, leading the two children to the wand shop.
Howl bid farewell to the group, estimating that buying a wand would take a while, so he excused himself.
And indeed, Harry tried more than ten wands before finally finding the one that suited him best.
Holly wood, Phoenix feather, eleven inches long.
It felt just right in his hand.
Hermione also took a good while to choose, finally getting a suitable wand.
Ten and three-quarter inches long, vine wood, Dragon heartstring core.
By the time the group emerged from the wand shop, Howl had been waiting at the entrance for a long time.
Leaving Diagon Alley, Chris treated everyone to a casual meal. Afterward, Hagrid gave the two children their train tickets, and it was time to part ways.
"Hagrid!" Howl called out to him, then walked forward.
"Jones, is there anything else?"
"Just call me Howl," Howl said with a smile, then pulled out a letter: "When you go back, please give this letter to Dumbledore for me."
"Oh?" Hagrid was a bit surprised, taking the letter from Howl's hand and carefully placing it inside his clothes: "Alright, I'll deliver it for you."
…
…
In the evening, the sky turned purple, and Hogwarts Castle was draped in a golden veil, the Black Lake shimmered, and a giant squid stretched lazily.
Its sunbathing time for today was coming to an end, but it would return tomorrow.
In the classroom common room, only Professor Binns was present; the other Professors were either not at school or busy in their respective offices.
The fire in the fireplace was almost extinguished when a muffled thud suddenly came from within, followed by a huge burst of green flame.
A massive figure appeared, then slowly walked out, swatting coal dust from his leather coat with his fan-like hands.
"Oh, Professor Binns, good evening," Hagrid greeted him warmly.
Professor Binns only then belatedly turned his head, reaching out a transparent hand to adjust his glasses: "You are… Professor Flitwick, good evening."
?!
Although Hagrid was often mistaken by Professor Binns, after all, he might have been teaching at Hogwarts for hundreds of years. But this time, the person he mistook him for… wasn't that a bit exaggerated?!
Hagrid helplessly walked out of the Professor's common room…
Eighth floor, Principal's office.
Dumbledore was toying with the Philosopher's Stone, which was about the same size as a Golden Snitch, listening to Hagrid's account of the day's events.
"Did Harry, or Howl Jenkins, show any curiosity about Vault 713?" Dumbledore asked.
Hagrid taking Harry and Howl to Vault 713 was entirely within Dumbledore's expectations.
This was a test!
Hagrid shook his head: "No, they didn't seem to care much. Oh, and Principal. Harry took his family vault key back."
"That's fine; it's rightfully his," Dumbledore said, then changed the subject: "Hagrid, what kind of person do you think Mr. Jones is?"
"A very good person!" Hagrid affirmed: "He loves magical creatures very much and treats them like friends. And Harry trusts him a lot.
Someone like that couldn't possibly be a bad person."
Watching the confident Hagrid, Dumbledore couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Sometimes, he trusted people like Hagrid implicitly.
Hagrid's enrollment was personally handled by Dumbledore. At that time, he was bullied, and although he had a sturdier body than others his age, he was also ostracized and disliked because of it.
This situation did not improve even after he came to Hogwarts.
Especially after Hagrid's father passed away in his second year, he became even more alone.
Growing up in such an environment, although he had a boisterous personality and sometimes caused trouble due to carelessness,
Hagrid was undoubtedly perceptive to the malice of others.
Children with imperfect childhoods always have a more fragile and sensitive inner self.
And it doesn't heal with age.
Some people just use their rough exterior to hide it.
"Alright, Hagrid. You've worked hard today," Dumbledore said, standing up: "Go back and rest early. Should I have the kitchen prepare some dinner?"
"No, I have something to eat back at my hut," Hagrid waved his hand, a little embarrassed. With that, he bid farewell and left the Principal's office.
Dumbledore sat on the soft chair, still recalling the scene of his mental battle with Howl.
Those spells, that huge, ancient wand…
A supremely powerful old-school Wizard.
Thump, thump, thump—
Hagrid ran back: "Oh, right, Principal. Howl also asked me to give you this."
With that, he handed over a letter.
"I almost forgot," Hagrid said, a little sheepishly.
Dumbledore looked at the letter, a little puzzled, then took it and smiled: "Thank you for your trouble."
After Hagrid left, Dumbledore slowly opened the envelope. Inside, there was only a blank piece of paper.
As the letter was unfolded, lines began to appear on the paper, but they didn't form words, but rather…
"This is… a hand?!"
Dumbledore watched the lines twist and dance in confusion.
Then, the lines changed abruptly, beginning to intertwine and spin, finally forming—a fist with a raised middle finger!!
Dumbledore stared at the middle finger, stunned for a long moment, then leaned back in his chair weakly, smiling helplessly.
However, the paper changed again, as if waiting for Dumbledore to recover.
A line of text slowly appeared below the middle finger.
"What you didn't expect,
Is exactly what I did!"