"!"
Having accepted her task, Nymphadora Tonks took Goku's arm and vanished from the Ministry, reappearing instantly in Diagon Alley.
Since the Ministry and Diagon Alley were both located within London, it wasn't a long-distance jump. There was no need to use the Floo Network in the Atrium. With her magical prowess, Apparition was the most efficient way to travel.
Floo powder was generally reserved for employees who lived far away, wizards without a license, or those who simply hadn't mastered the art of teleportation.
"Nymphadora, I thought we were getting ready for Hogwarts. Why are we back here?" Goku asked, looking around the bustling Diagon Alley with a puzzled expression.
This "police lady," who looked to be about Bulma's age, had told him they were preparing for school. He had expected some kind of special training or a gravity room, not the same street where he'd just eaten all those turkeys.
"Where else would we go? Diagon Alley is the biggest magical market in Britain! Everything you need is right here," Tonks said, hands on her hips with a touch of pride. "First, let's get you a trolley. First-years have a mountain of supplies to lug around."
Without waiting for Goku to argue, she excitedly pulled him toward a nearby general store. Goku didn't quite understand her enthusiasm, but being the simple and kind soul he was, he didn't refuse.
"Next, we need a cauldron, scales, and a telescope..."
Pushing the trolley out of the shop, they hit Potage's Cauldron Shop first. From there, they went to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions to get Goku fitted for his wizarding robes, and then to Flourish and Blotts to pick up his eight required first-year textbooks.
"Now, for the fun part. You need a pet," Tonks said as they stood before a shop called 'The Magical Menagerie'. The trolley was already nearly full. "So, Goku, what do you like? An owl, a cat, or a toad?"
She remembered the school rules: first-year students were strictly limited to those three types of animals. Back in her day, the options had felt a bit broader, or perhaps people were just better at sneaking things in.
"Actually, let's just go inside and see what speaks to you!"
Tonks led him into the shop before he could answer. The interior was cramped, every inch of wall space covered by cages housing all sorts of bizarre creatures. There were giant purple toads the size of dinner plates, shimmering tortoises with jewel-encrusted shells, rabbits that could transform into top hats, and a flock of noisy, squawking ravens.
"Welcome! Can I help you find something?" a salesclerk asked, pausing from feeding a double-tailed newt.
"We're just browsing for now," Tonks waved her off. She whispered to Goku, "They have a good selection of cats and toads here. If you want an owl, we should head over to Eeylops Owl Emporium. They have way more variety."
"What's an 'owl'?" Goku tilted his head.
Tonks pointed to the only owl in the shop—a massive, imposing Great Horned Owl. "That's an owl."
Goku followed her finger. Seeing the bird, which stood nearly as tall as a small person, he thought back to the roasted turkeys he'd eaten for breakfast. He felt a familiar sensation in his mouth.
"I'll take the owl!" Goku exclaimed, drooling slightly.
"Good choice! I recommend the owl too," Tonks nodded, pleased. "They're useful for carrying letters and packages. You won't have to pay the post office every time you want to send mail."
However, Goku's next sentence immediately killed her enthusiasm.
"I love roasted bird best!"
He couldn't eat a cat—cats reminded him of Korin, the martial arts master. He'd never tried a toad, but they looked bumpy and unappetizing. But an owl? He'd loved roasted bird since he was a toddler. He remembered when he first left Mount Paozu with Bulma; he'd seen a plane and thought it was a giant bird. He'd shot it down only to be disappointed that he couldn't eat the metal.
"Are you serious?" Tonks stared at him. Seeing the predatory glint in Goku's eyes as he stared at the owl, she realized he wasn't joking in the slightest.
"Umm... you know what? Maybe we don't need a pet right now. Let's wait until you're a bit older." She was genuinely afraid that if she bought him an owl, it would be a midnight snack before they even reached the train station.
"Now, let's get the final item. The most important one!"
Exiting the menagerie, Tonks led Goku to the very end of the alley, to a small, peeling shop: 'Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.'
To a wizard, the wand was everything. It was the conduit that stabilized and amplified their power. Without one, most wizards couldn't even manage a simple Lighting Charm. Wandless magic was a feat reserved for only the most elite and powerful masters.
Just as they were about to push the door open, it swung inward. Two figures stepped out.
The first was a giant of a man, standing over eleven feet tall. He had to duck and squeeze his massive frame just to clear the doorway. The second was a boy even shorter than Goku, thin and scrawny, wearing round glasses that sat lopsided on his nose. A shock of messy black hair parted to reveal a faint, lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.
"Hagrid!" Tonks cried out, her face lighting up with joy.
Hagrid looked down and beamed. "Nymphadora! I heard ya passed your Auror exams. Congratulations!"
"Hahaha, thanks! It was a breeze," Tonks chirped, though she wasn't being modest. Her eyes shifted to the small boy clutching the hem of Hagrid's massive coat. Her expression turned solemn. "Hagrid... is he...?"
"Aye," Hagrid nodded proudly. "This here is Harry Potter."
"It's an honor, Mr. Potter," Tonks said, her usual bubbly demeanor vanishing as she solemnly extended her hand.
"Hello," Harry replied politely, shaking her hand. He wasn't surprised by the reaction; ever since entering the Leaky Cauldron, people had been treating him like a visiting dignitary.
"And who's this little guy? Your kid?" Hagrid asked, looking at Goku's unique, spiky hairstyle with interest.
Tonks's face twitched. "Hagrid! I just graduated! How could I have a kid that old?"
"Right. Fair point," Hagrid chuckled, scratching his bushy beard.
"This is Son Goku. He's an orphan. The Director asked me to help him get his first-year supplies. He's starting at Hogwarts tomorrow," Tonks explained.
Hagrid let out a hearty laugh and extended a hand the size of a trash can lid toward Goku. "Nice to meet ya! I'm Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. You'll be in the same year as Harry! You two come by my hut sometime for a visit—I'll bake ya some of my famous rock cakes!"
"Hello! I'll definitely come!" Goku's eyes sparkled at the mention of food.
Tonks, however, seemed to recall something unpleasant about Hagrid's "rock cakes," and her eye began to twitch uncontrollably.
***
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