Returning to Diagon Alley, the place was just as bustling as it had been that morning. But without the stern presence of Professor McGonagall, the Gray family felt far more relaxed, and their shopping trip became a lot more fun.
They dutifully explored nearly every shop along the way—well, except for one that specialized in animal innards and eyeballs. The moment they stepped through the door, they were greeted by a giant, rolling eyeball spinning in its socket. Fiona let out a shriek and bolted straight back outside.
Ferdinand picked up a few nifty magical gadgets—like a self-sweeping broom, a tiny golden bird that could flutter through the air, and a talking wizard chess set. When paying, he repeatedly confirmed with the clerk that none of these items were enchanted with anything "dangerous" or "harmful."
Wade, meanwhile, spent over an hour in the bookstore. There were just too many books he wanted to buy. But with only a month left until school started—and with the certainty that Hogwarts would have an even greater selection—he finally settled on the ones he wanted most: Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1), A Healer's Handbook, and A Beginner's Guide to Ancient Runes.
He also bought two self-writing quills. However, the clerk warned him that they weren't ideal for doing homework—they would jot down everything that popped into the owner's head, and even someone with training might accidentally scribble something painfully embarrassing onto the parchment.
When Wade walked out of the bookstore, arms full of new books, he saw his parents sitting by an ice cream cart on the sidewalk, happily enjoying cones. Ferdinand held a golden cage in one hand, inside of which squatted a particularly muscular-looking owl who was busy drawing circles with its head.
"Dad, did you buy another owl?" Wade asked.
"That's right," Ferdinand grinned. "Since you'll be bringing your owl to school, what if your mom and I want to send you letters? I heard Muggle post offices can't deliver to Hogwarts, so we got one of our own. He's called General Bud. Handsome little fellow, isn't he?"
Wade bent down and greeted him, "Hello, General Bud."
General Bud opened his beak wide and gave a huge yawn.
"Look, I got a little buddy too!" Fiona chimed in, holding out her hands to reveal a white hamster curled up adorably in her palm.
"Isn't she cute?" Fiona exclaimed, thrilled. "I swear wizard pets must be eating some kind of intelligence-boosting candy—they seem way smarter than normal animals! She's not afraid of people at all, and I think she actually understands what I'm saying."
"She is cute," Wade said, "but Mom… aren't hamsters on the menu for owls?"
That was something he'd only learned after buying an owl himself. A helpful store clerk had explained that owls are carnivores, usually eating rodents, birds, fish, or insects. Thinking back to how he once fed a handful of pine nuts to the school's owl, Wade silently apologized.
"It's fine, your father will keep an eye on his owl. Oh! And this little lady is Miss Millian," Fiona said, pointing to the hamster with exaggerated ceremony. "Wade, you should give your owl a name too!"
"Hmm…" Wade glanced around, and his eyes landed on a stationery store named Evanter's. The letters EVA on the storefront gleamed under the sunlight.
"I'll call her Eva," he said casually.
The Gray family lingered in Diagon Alley for several days. Ferdinand could now discuss Quidditch matches and the different models of Nimbus 2000s like a pro, and Fiona had spoiled Miss Millian with an entire set of mini furniture (enchanted to self-clean), along with a growing wardrobe of tiny dresses, wizard robes, hats, and even rainbow-colored socks.
Of course, as parents of a new Hogwarts student, they had signed a secrecy agreement with Professor McGonagall on the very first day. They pledged not to reveal anything about the magical world to non-magical people, and to ensure that no magical items would end up in the Muggle world.
Before they knew it, a whole month had passed. On the morning of September 1st, Fiona double-checked Wade's suitcase, making sure he packed everything he needed—from nail clippers and ear picks to fall and winter clothes. Ferdinand drove him to King's Cross Station.
Platform Nine and Three-Quarters—the starting point of every magical journey. To the untrained eye, it looked like nothing more than a regular brick wall.
Wade pushed his cart along, Eva's cage perched on top. He walked right up to the wall and turned back. His parents were standing behind him, smiling and waving.
Wade smiled and waved back—then turned around and charged straight into the wall.
Fiona clapped a hand over her mouth, letting out a sudden sob.
Ferdinand wrapped an arm around her shoulders with a sigh. "If only we could go up to the platform to see him off—"
"Don't tell him—I don't want Wade to feel sad," Fiona choked out through her tears. "Going to school—should be a happy thing—"
Ferdinand gently patted her back, comforting her. "Don't worry, I asked around a lot these past few days—things in the wizarding world are really peaceful right now. Their headmaster, Dumbledore, is said to be the greatest wizard of this era. Wade will be just fine at school."
"I—I'm sorry—"
A timid voice piped up beside them. Ferdinand looked down and instantly recognized the boy in front of him.
"You're—Harry Potter?!" he exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes, that's me," Harry said, a little awkwardly brushing his bangs over his scar. He'd already forgotten that he'd met this couple at the Leaky Cauldron—mostly because so many people had shaken his hand that day, and the lighting had been very dim. Now, though, he looked hopeful, carefully asking, "I just heard you say Hogwarts… I mean—I'm not really sure how to get there—"
"Oh!" Ferdinand realized. "See that wall over there? Just push your cart and go straight through. If you're nervous, just close your eyes. You won't crash into it, I promise."
That wasn't something Professor McGonagall had told them—it was actually something Ferdinand had heard from his own parents as a child. Back then, he hadn't yet been confirmed as a Squib, and his parents used to tell him all sorts of magical stories. Later on, they never brought them up again.
"Uh… alright…"
Harry looked at the couple, searching their expressions. They seemed kind enough, but… were they pranking him?
Yet both continued to look at him with such warm, encouraging eyes, clearly waiting to watch him pass through the wall. Embarrassed to go ask someone else, Harry gritted his teeth and started walking. He didn't go very fast.
If I hit the wall, I'll just stop. If I get laughed at, well… not the end of the world…
That was what he kept telling himself. But the impact never came. Instead, in a single breathtaking moment, his ears were suddenly filled with the hum of countless voices, and what appeared before his eyes—
Was a massive, deep red train.
And tracks stretching endlessly into the distance.
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