He Really Did Look Like a Kidnapper

"Uncle Mu En."

Mu En had only just finished cursing Dumbledore when Harry's voice rang out. His shirt was a little damp, and he looked no different from a drowned rat. His face was flushed, but he seemed full of energy.

"Mm. Hurry up and take a shower, then change your clothes." Mu En nodded casually.

"Okay. And this is?"

"Dumbledore, your future headmaster. Though I have no idea what he came here for." Mu En glanced at the old man across from him.

The old man blinked at Harry in a friendly manner.

Mu En thought he really did look like a kidnapper.

Dumbledore explained, "Of course I came to discuss a few matters regarding enrollment.

By the way, has Harry been to Diagon Alley?

There was originally a groundskeeper who had been asking me for quite some time. He wanted to take Harry to buy his first-year supplies. But it seems now..."

"Take me to Diagon Alley? He knows me?" Harry pointed at himself, somewhat surprised, before realizing that his question sounded idiotic.

"No, I should say... was he close to my parents?"

"Yes. He was friends with your parents."

Harry suddenly felt as though he could barely breathe. He took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. "All right. I'm looking forward to meeting him. But Hermione and I have already arranged to go to Diagon Alley together. I'm really sorry.

Uncle Mu En, I'll head inside first."

"Go on." Mu En waved him off.

Dumbledore watched Harry's retreating back and asked, "Who is Hermione?"

"A young wizard from London. She should be starting school this year as well, and her parents are ordinary people. We met her during our previous trip to London."

Dumbledore nodded slightly. "I see."

"Is there anything else?"

"I thought you might invite me in for a seat."

"Didn't you see that I was about to head out?" Mu En asked. Then he said helplessly, "Fine, I now have reasonable grounds to suspect that you really are getting senile."

An awkward look appeared on Dumbledore's face as he changed the subject. "Well, if you want to go to Diagon Alley with that new student, how about I have someone come pick you up then?"

"Someone needs to pick us up?" Mu En found that strange. It was not as though they did not know the way.

"Yes, because there are certain regulations involved. They apply not only to young wizards, but also to their Muggle parents." Dumbledore explained, then looked at Mu En in confusion.

"Come to think of it, do you know about those regulations?"

"No. Don't care." Mu En shook his head.

"You should still take a look," Dumbledore advised.

"Whatever." Mu En waved dismissively. "Anything else? Talking across an entire street is really tiring."

Dumbledore nodded helplessly. "All right. Since the acceptance letter has been delivered and we've confirmed that Harry is fine, I'll be taking my leave."

"No need to see you off."

The moment he finished speaking, Dumbledore's figure vanished at top speed, Apparating away from Privet Drive.

Half an hour later, when Mu En returned to Moonlight Castle with the freshest ingredients from that morning, Harry had already changed into neat clothes and was cleaning.

Seeing Mu En return, Harry took the things from him and asked curiously, "Uncle Mu En, why did Headmaster Dumbledore come here? Doesn't it say in the books that Hogwarts has a tradition of using owls to deliver acceptance letters?"

"Silly boy," Lucifer answered. "With yours truly here, how could those owls tell where they were supposed to deliver the letter?"

"Oh!" Harry nodded thoughtfully and praised, "So it was all thanks to Mr. Lucifer."

Hearing Harry's words, Lucifer broke into a crooked grin. "Nothing much. I merely block out some spying."

Watching the exchange between the boy and the flame, Mu En found it rather amusing. Then his expression turned serious as he warned, "Be a little careful around Dumbledore in the future."

Harry was startled. "Is there something wrong with Headmaster Dumbledore?"

Mu En shook his head. "Not really. The old fellow is a decent man. You could even call him kind."

"Then..." Harry looked confused.

"It's just that I get the feeling he's the sort who always has something up his sleeve. Keep an extra eye on him in the future, and stay sharp. Otherwise, he'll have you running in circles."

"I understand." Harry nodded solemnly.

Mu En patted Harry on the back and ushered him toward the kitchen. "No need to be so serious. He really isn't a bad person. Just pay a little attention."

"Okay." Harry nodded hurriedly.

Meanwhile, in an alley in Hogsmeade.

With a flash, Dumbledore teleported there. Then a cry came from the sky as Fawkes the Phoenix landed on his arm and carried him back to Hogwarts Castle.

Hogwarts, the surrounding Forbidden Forest, and Black Lake were all protected by powerful Anti-Apparition Jinxes. Only certain nonhuman beings could move freely within them.

Such as House-elves, or phoenixes.

And honestly, the Apparition used by humans was currently quite unpleasant. It was like squeezing one's entire body through a water pipe.

But phoenixes, Zouyu, and creatures of that sort were completely different. It was not uncomfortable for them at all.

A phoenix's Apparition was even pleasantly warm, though it could sometimes singe the corner of one's clothes or a few strands of hair.

After returning to his office, Dumbledore's expression immediately turned solemn, his face filled with contemplation.

He was not as unruffled as he had appeared.

Another wizard who had reached the pinnacle of magic had suddenly appeared in this world.

And he knew absolutely nothing about him.

He did not know what the man excelled at, did not know his character or habits, and knew even less about what he wanted to do!

Dumbledore's fingers tapped continuously against the desktop. On the wall in front of him, the former headmasters all watched Dumbledore solemnly. None of them spoke to interrupt him.

Dumbledore had held his position for decades, yet they had rarely seen him ponder anything with such seriousness.

Then, beneath their watchful gazes, Dumbledore walked to the window and looked down at the lush green grounds, Black Lake, and the Forbidden Forest.

At that moment, near the edge of the Forbidden Forest, a huge figure was hauling carriages out of the storage shed one by one and cleaning them.

It was Hagrid, Hogwarts's keeper of the Forbidden Forest and a half-giant. He was also the groundskeeper Dumbledore had mentioned, the one who had wanted to take Harry to Diagon Alley.

Beside Hagrid were quite a few black winged horses, gaunt as skeletons, with dragon-like heads and enormous bat wings.

Hagrid casually lifted a heavy carriage frame and gently set it onto the Thestrals' backs, thoughtfully adjusting their reins and harnesses for comfort.

Every year, some Thestrals changed in size, and every school term, Hagrid tirelessly adjusted their reins for them.

Half an hour later, Hagrid finally adjusted every set of reins to a suitable position. He then cupped his hands around his mouth and let out a hoarse whistle.

Hearing the sound, the Thestrals happily flapped their wings, sending dead leaves and dust into the air.

"All right, all right, you little troublemakers. Go back into the forest and play." Hagrid laughed.

Just as he was about to return to his hut, he heard Professor McGonagall's voice.

"Hagrid!" Professor McGonagall stood at the entrance.

"Oh, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid hurried over with an imposing momentum. As he ran, he asked impatiently, "What is it? Is it about that thing I mentioned before...?"

"I believe so." Professor McGonagall nodded. "Dumbledore asked you to come to his office."