Chapter 3: Meeting Harry Potter

"Let's find a hotel first—"

"I think the Leaky Cauldron has accommodation—"

"No! What if we run into bad wizards? It's safer to stay at a regular hotel."

"You're right, Miss Fiona! I remember there's a nice hotel nearby that allows pets."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Wade pretended to be helpless and shook his head, carrying the owl's cage. The couple helped him with his books, cauldron, and other items, and quickly checked into the hotel.

After settling in, it took less than half an hour for them to return to the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron.

Once inside, the Graves couple pulled out bags and took out wizard robes from inside.

Seeing Wade's surprise, Fiona winked and whispered, "I bought ready-made wizard robes while you were having yours tailored. Don't just stand there, there's one for you too. Go put it on!"

The three of them put on robes in a corner. Fortunately, it was summer, and they were wearing light clothes, so the robes didn't make them look bulky.

Fiona even got herself an extra cloak with a hood. When she put the hood on, only a small part of her chin was visible, making her look quite mysterious and cool.

At this point, they already blended seamlessly with the mysterious and dim atmosphere of the pub.

Ferdinand ordered lunch, pretending to be a regular. While waiting, he whispered to the other two, "Although it might be a bit unsanitary here, I want to try it."

"Yeah," Fiona nodded seriously, "I understand! I feel the same."

"What's the difference?" Wade criticized, "What's the best British food? Foreign food!"

As expected, when the lunch was served, the Graves couple stared at it for a long time without having the courage to eat with the seemingly unwashed fork on the dirty table.

Finally, Fiona used a handkerchief to hold the bread, forcing herself to take a few bites, while Ferdinand drank a few sips of rum.

"No different at all!"

"Worse than supermarket food..."

As they spoke, the door suddenly opened with a sound, and a giant figure blocked the light completely.

The Graves couple looked up and gasped.

"Oh—my god—" Ferdinand groaned, instinctively shielding his wife and child, "God bless us—"

A very tall and brawny man stood there, bending to squeeze through the door, his head almost hitting the ceiling.

His presence was so overwhelming that most people completely ignored the small figure walking in front of him.

Only Wade noticed the skinny child and, predictably, saw on his forehead—[Harry Potter], and...

[Tom Riddle].

Unlike the frightened Graves couple, others in the bar were delighted to see the giant. Everyone greeted him with smiles, and even the bar owner spoke more warmly: "The usual, Hagrid?"

"No, Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business!" the giant said heartily.

"Great! Looks like he's not dangerous," Ferdinand sighed in relief, wiping sweat off his forehead.

"What did he say, Hogwarts?" Fiona noted the other man's words, "Wade, is he a teacher at the school?"

"Oh, oh, looks like a big shot is here!"

Fiona immediately jumped up, leaving behind her piece of bread with a missing corner, calling out, "Come on! Ferdinand, Wade, let's go too!"

Unless necessary, Ferdinand never refused her whims, especially small ones like this.

So he pushed his chair away and walked over, copying others by shaking hands with the boy and saying solemnly, "It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Potter!"

As if he really knew who Harry Potter was.

Surrounded, Harry Potter shook hands one after another with strangers, looking confused as he listened to various praises and words of admiration.

He accidentally made eye contact with a black-haired boy at the back of the crowd, feeling a bit awkward under the boy's curious scrutiny.

Harry wasn't used to becoming a celebrity overnight and felt as if this fame was undeserving.

Meanwhile, Wade looked at another person—

A pale young man with a purple turban cautiously approached Harry Potter, looking very nervous and speaking stammeringly, like he was easily frightened.

Seeing this, Fiona moved aside, kindly making space for him to shake hands with the "famous" Harry Potter.

In Wade's view, that young man also had two almost overlapping names on his head—

[Quirinus Quirrell]

[Tom Riddle]

...

"Wow, wizards are just like regular people! They have idols too!"

Fiona was excited when she returned, and Wade couldn't understand her excitement.

"Is that kid a child star in the wizarding world? Seems like everyone knows him," Fiona said.

"Judging by his age, he should be Wade's classmate."

Ferdinand was not blinded by the crowd's enthusiasm and saw more than that: "But the kid looks malnourished, and his clothes don't fit well, as if he hasn't been well cared for by his guardians."

"Really? That can't be right," Fiona speculated, "Clothes... I guess it's wizarding fashion? These wizards seem not to care much about Muggle attire."

"Well... maybe." Ferdinand looked at his son, "Wade, we also saw a Hogwarts professor earlier, the young man with the purple turban. You should have come to meet him in advance."

"Forget it, that professor didn't seem very reliable," Wade replied with little interest.

Ferdinand pondered, finding it hard to refute—he also doubted the professor's competence since he seemed unable to speak fluently.

"Alright, that's enough eating!" Fiona pushed her plate away, pretending not to see most of her lunch still untouched, and enthusiastically suggested, "Let's continue shopping!"

That fascinating Diagon Alley, just a quick walk-through, couldn't satisfy their curiosity about the magical world.