A Goblin Full of Bad Intentions

Holly wood, Phoenix Tail Feather—it should have been that combination.

Mainly because he had been spacing out just now and hadn't remembered it clearly. It was only after the two left Ollivander's and ran into the late-arriving Hagrid, who asked about it, that he recalled.

Meanwhile, Hagrid was enthusiastically recounting what had happened in the courtyard of The Leaky Cauldron.

"You have no idea. I don't know which genius it was, but he probably didn't know how to get into Diagon Alley, so he just destroyed the brick wall leading there. Seriously, didn't he know to turn around and ask Old Tom?"

Kayson and Harry fell silent.

"Why do you two look like that? Don't tell me you were the ones who wrecked it?"

"..."

"You weren't the ones who wrecked it, right?"

"..."

"...Move, move! Those Aurors have nearly gone mad looking for you two. Hurry up!" Hagrid took a deep breath and hurriedly led them into the crowd.

"Oh, right. Have you been to Gringotts yet?" Hagrid suddenly asked as they walked.

"...What's Gringotts?" Harry looked up and asked.

"That big white building—the wizards' bank. Dumbledore happens to be holding the key to your family vault, so today it can finally be returned to its rightful owner... And I need to make a trip to Gringotts too."

The three arrived at Gringotts and climbed into a mine cart bound for the underground vaults.

"Is this thing safe?" Kayson's mouth twitched as he asked curiously.

"Please rest assured, sir. Safety is Gringotts' highest standard." The goblin seated at the front turned back to explain.

Slowly, the mine cart started moving. Sitting in the back, Kayson watched the scenery rush past and instinctively cheered, "That's fucking awesome!"

"..."

"Is it too loud?"

"No... That's fucking awesome!" Hagrid echoed with a cheer.

Then the two of them went to their respective vaults, leaving Kayson alone leaning against the stone wall, lost in thought.

He had no intention of opening a vault. Anything he needed could fit in a single chest, and if one wasn't enough, he could just upgrade it into a storage chest.

Before long, Hagrid seemed to have finished withdrawing whatever he needed and stood to one side waiting for Harry.

"Why is that kid taking so long?"

"No idea..."

Just as the two were wondering, Harry finally emerged carrying a huge sack of gold Galleons and walked straight toward Kayson.

"...I have a bad feeling about this..."

Sure enough, Harry directly handed the bulging sack of gold Galleons to Kayson. But Kayson didn't take it—he genuinely didn't. To him, gold was not much different from pebbles by the roadside. Giving him gold was less appealing than giving him an unfinished house to renovate for fun.

"What are you doing?"

"Paying you back."

Kayson looked innocently at Hagrid, clearly hoping he would help persuade Harry.

But Hagrid merely shrugged. "Take it. It's a token of Harry's appreciation, and you really did help him repay The Dursleys."

"Couldn't you help persuade Harry instead..."

Kayson complained helplessly, then crouched down and patted Harry on the shoulder. "Honestly, I'm not good at talking to kids, but there's really no need for this. Really. Maybe you don't know this, but I'm an alchemist. Gold is completely useless to me. Don't keep that matter on your mind. Put these coins back now."

Harry looked at Kayson, then at the sack of gold Galleons in his hand, and shook his head.

"...Hagrid, help me persuade him."

"Me... How am I supposed to persuade him? Harry's giving it to you. Why not just take it? I remember the Potter Family Vault being pretty well stocked."

"But I can't take money from a child... And you saying that... feels a little insulting, honestly. I'm not short of money." Kayson tried to reason with him earnestly.

"So..."

"So, as your future Alchemy professor, the first lesson I'll teach you is this: you shouldn't be stingy with friends, but sometimes throwing money around can have the opposite effect on friendship."

"Alright." Harry looked somewhat hurt as he carried the sack back into the vault.

Kayson breathed a sigh of relief. By the same principle of conservation, since he had lost gold Galleons, a stream of favorability from Harry had naturally been credited to him.

The two continued leaning against the stone wall and waiting when the little goblin who had been standing in the corner came over with a sly grin.

"Sir, are you an alchemist? And a professor at Hogwarts as well?"

Kayson lowered his head to look at the goblin. Just as he was about to nod, Hagrid stepped in front of him.

"Stay away from my friend."

The goblin slunk away, leaving Kayson baffled. "Why?"

"Goblins are creatures full of bad intentions. Better not deal with them if you can avoid it," Hagrid said seriously.

"Oh... alright."

Soon, the three returned to the surface. Every time the goblin tried to approach Kayson, Hagrid would put on a fierce expression and scare him away. Only after they left Gringotts did Hagrid return to his smiling self.

"Let's see, we still need... books, robes... Let's split up. Harry, take the money and go to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Kayson, buy Harry a set of books. Just get the complete first-year set... I have some private business—something Dumbledore asked me to do. I need to make a trip to Knockturn Alley," Hagrid said to the two of them.

"Mhm, no problem. Harry, wait for me at Madam Malkin's. I'll come find you after I buy the books. Don't get lost on your own." Kayson nodded and headed toward Flourish and Blotts.

When he arrived at the bookstore, he first asked for a complete set of first-year magic textbooks, then packed up all the introductory alchemy books in the shop. Hogwarts' library had more advanced alchemy texts, but honestly...

They were a little too advanced. He couldn't understand them.

He summoned an Ender Chest, stuffed all the books inside, then crushed it in his hand. It shattered into dark green pixels and dispersed into the air. Everyone else assumed it was merely an exquisite alchemical creation.

For example, a... pair of platinum-haired father and son.

"A very exquisite item. Was it made by some alchemist?"

Kayson looked toward the speaker. It was a platinum-haired child, along with a man with the same hair color who looked like his father—Draco Malfoy and Lucius Malfoy.

"I made it myself. It's nothing worth mentioning."

"You're an alchemist?"

"Draco." Lucius patted Draco on the back, though it was unclear what he found displeasing.

"Oh..."

"Lucius Malfoy." Lucius removed his glove and extended his hand toward Kayson.

"Kayson Heath." Though Kayson didn't know why the man wanted to shake his hand, he remained polite.