NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: CH 7
The three of them looked at each other.
"It's a magical flame after all. Use some force," Kaysen said to Harry.
"Alright… Phew!" Harry blew hard.
Kaysen quickly reached out, pulled out the torch, and replaced it with a small wooden stick.
The three of them looked at each other again.
Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap!
The sound of applause filled the room for Harry's birthday. While Harry enjoyed the cake, Kaysen stood up and walked toward the Dursleys, who were trembling in the corner.
The four of them exchanged glances again.
"I heard you arguing with Hagrid earlier, saying that Dumbledore left Harry with you without providing any support. Aside from Harry himself, is there anything else?"
Uncle Vernon, using his large body as a shield in front of his wife Petunia and their son Dudley, shook his head vigorously.
"What about child support?"
"No."
"That does seem like a bit of an oversight on Dumbledore's part…" Kaysen said, glancing back at Harry, who was crying while eating his cake. "I think some compensation should cover the eleven years you've raised Harry. After all, materially speaking… you haven't exactly gone overboard. Emotionally, well… let's not even get started."
Kaysen snapped his fingers, and a gold bar weighing nearly a kilogram appeared in his hand. He placed it on the ground. To be honest, he had no idea about the current price of gold—it was practically worthless to him.
"You're being too kind to them," Hagrid muttered after witnessing this.
"What else should I do? Curse them and wipe out their entire family?"
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant."
"Alright, Harry, eat up, get dressed, and let's get out of here," Kaysen said as he put his hood back on.
"This is all I have, just let me put on my shoes," Harry replied, brushing some frosting off his face.
"See? I told you, the gold is too much," Hagrid grumbled.
"Let it go, Hagrid. And to you"—he turned to the Dursleys—"the gold is real, don't worry about me trying to deceive you. This is your last chance. If you don't take it, that's on you. Once I leave, there's no going back."
"No, no… no need," Uncle Vernon stammered.
"Alright, let's go," Kaysen said.
The three of them climbed onto Hagrid's enchanted motorbike, with Hagrid and Kaysen on either side of Harry, sandwiching him in the middle.
Kaysen looked at the thin boy in front of him, who barely reached his chest, and sighed. He pulled off his raincoat and draped it over Harry.
[Favorability +10 from Harry]
[Favorability +10 from Harry]
Kaysen wasn't thinking about gaining favorability—he was genuinely worried the cold night air might harm the eleven-year-old. Besides, he still had a windbreaker, while Hagrid didn't even bother with a coat as they roared off into the night.
"Thank you," Harry whispered.
"It's nothing. Hagrid, let's go."
By the time they reached the Leaky Cauldron early the next morning, the three of them were utterly exhausted. The journey had involved taking the subway, a taxi, and a severely underpowered motorbike.
It wasn't due to any danger, like being spotted by Muggles while flying in the sky. The motorbike simply wasn't strong enough—perhaps it could handle a giant or an adult wizard, but adding Harry was clearly too much.
If Kaysen hadn't placed blocks at sea level last night, they might have ended up swimming. None of them could Apparate, and Ender Pearls were far too limited for long-distance travel.
Inside the Leaky Cauldron, the regulars looked at Harry with curious eyes. Similarly, Kaysen scanned the bar, but it seemed fairly ordinary. Hogwarts still felt far more magical in comparison.
After exchanging greetings with everyone in the bar, Hagrid realized he couldn't stay, so he turned to Kaysen.
"Would yeh mind takin' Harry to Diagon Alley to get his supplies? The list of what he needs is in the notice. I'll catch up with yeh after a few drinks."
Kaysen shrugged. "Sure, no problem."
Leading Harry to the patio behind the bar, Kaysen muttered, "Where's Diagon Alley?"
"You don't know either?" Harry asked curiously.
"Uh… no need for honorifics. I'm just like you—I've never been here before."
Harry nodded and pressed his ear to the wall. "Is it behind this wall? I can hear noises coming from the other side."
"Maybe. Stand back." Kaysen pulled Harry away from the wall, then knocked twice with his knuckles. With two solid thuds, a 1x2 meter passage appeared as the bricks shifted into place.
"Quick, get in before someone catches us for vandalizing," Kaysen said, hurrying Harry through the opening.
Inside Diagon Alley, the two of them stared wide-eyed at the bustling scene, momentarily distracted before remembering their purpose.
Kaysen pulled out the Hogwarts acceptance letter and scanned the supply list.
"Wand, cauldron, robes… Merlin's beard, there's so much. Let's start with the wand."
Scanning the shops, Kaysen spotted one with a sign related to wands.
"Come on, follow me."
The two entered Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. Harry looked around curiously at the rows of wands on the walls. Kaysen, just as curious, began comparing random wands to the one he'd made himself.
"That wand—rose vine with phoenix tail feather—isn't the style of any of the three major wandmakers in Europe," came a voice from behind a shelf.
An old man with silver hair, Mr. Ollivander, stepped out and examined the wand in Kaysen's hand.
"This one? It's a phoenix feather Dumbledore gave me. I made it myself from rose vine," Kaysen explained sheepishly, putting down the wand he had been inspecting.
Ollivander studied Kaysen's face and nodded approvingly. "You have a remarkable talent for alchemy."
"Uh-huh."
"Are you from one of the wandmaking families? I don't think I've ever seen you before."
"I was a Muggle before."
"Were you raised in England?"
"Yes, but I didn't attend Hogwarts."
"Durmstrang? Or Beauxbatons?"
"Er… no, self-taught."
"I see… Do you have a profession?"
"Yes, Professor of Alchemy at Hogwarts."
Ollivander paused mid-sentence, clearly taken aback. "Ah… I see."
Turning his attention to Harry, Ollivander smiled. "Mr. Potter, we finally meet."
"Hello, sir," Harry said politely.
"Go ahead and find your wand. I'll wait here," Kaysen said, patting Harry on the back.