Diagon Alley

Skofot lowered his head, his thin shoulders slightly hunched, and murmured in a faintly trembling voice:

"Sorry... I thought... someone was playing a trick on me..."

His body shuddered instinctively, as though he had recalled some unpleasant experiences.

Then he raised his head, his eyes made even more moist and clear by the effect of the [Rabbit Rhymer] card,

and looked at McGonagall with cautious, disbelieving hope. His voice was so soft, as if he were afraid of disturbing something. "Can I... really go to school...?"

The pure longing and vulnerability in his gaze, like a fine needle, struck precisely at the softest place in Professor McGonagall's heart.

Her heart clenched painfully.

A child actually felt so uncertain and humble about something as basic as receiving an education.

[Emotion Points +5]

[Emotion Points: 360/100]

Skofot keenly caught the fleetingly complicated emotion on McGonagall's face—

—heartache, anger, and perhaps a trace of guilt from an educator who had failed to notice sooner.

He immediately realized the value of that emotional fluctuation.

At just the right moment, he interpreted it as "hesitation." As though a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, the light that had just appeared in his eyes swiftly dimmed.

He lowered his head, his long lashes concealing his true emotions. His voice carried forced understanding and loneliness:

"It's all right... I understand. Thank you for buying me a meal, Professor. This is already more than enough... I'll remember your kindness, and someday... I'll definitely repay you."

Those words, paired with his skeletal frame that seemed as though the wind could knock him over at any moment, and his tone that tried to hide disappointment but only made him seem more pitiful, formed a devastating combination.

"Mr. Leoqi!" Professor McGonagall's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable resolve,

even trembling slightly out of emotional agitation.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but her tone remained incomparably solemn and serious:

"Hogwarts admission letters are no joke, and no one can—or would dare to—impersonate the school to carry out such a vile 'prank'!"

Her gaze behind her lenses was as sharp as ever, but at this moment it held a powerful, reassuring strength.

"You, Skofot Tom Leoqi, are without question a student of Hogwarts. There is no doubt about it."

She slowed her speech slightly, making sure every word reached the boy clearly.

"You do not need to apologize for anything, nor do you need to think about how to 'repay' a meal. Ensuring that every qualified young wizard can enroll smoothly and receive proper care is the inescapable responsibility of the school, and of me as a professor."

Seeing that the boy still seemed somewhat unable to believe it, the last trace of doubt in her heart over his initial failure to reply completely vanished, replaced by an even heavier sense of responsibility and protectiveness.

"Now," her tone became practical again, though it carried warmth,

"what you need is to eat your fill. Then I will personally take you to buy all the necessary school supplies. Hogwarts will be your home. I promise you that."

After eating his fill, some color finally returned to Skofot's face. Although the weakness and shattered air brought by the [Rabbit Rhymer] card remained, he no longer looked as though he might faint at any moment.

Professor McGonagall's expression softened considerably, but the pity in her eyes when she looked at the boy deepened further.

[Emotion Points +5]

[Emotion Points: 365/100]

They first arrived at Flourish and Blotts.

Professor McGonagall took out the booklist and deftly directed books to fly into the basket.

The Standard Book of Spells, Beginner, Magical Theory, A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration... Every brand-new book made Skofot's eyes light up slightly, yet his movements when touching the pages were exceedingly careful, as though he feared damaging these precious things.

Professor McGonagall noticed that his gaze lingered longer on the cover of Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection than on the other books. There was no curiosity in his eyes, only an almost instinctive caution.

She sighed inwardly. This child's experiences in the Muggle World were likely far more complicated than she had imagined.

Buying robes:

Next was Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

When Madam Malkin looked in surprise at the clearly malnourished boy Professor McGonagall had brought in, Professor McGonagall merely explained briefly, "He needs a full set of school robes, as soon as possible."

While his measurements were being taken, Skofot stood quietly and let the measuring tape slide over his body.

His thin frame made even Madam Malkin unable to resist muttering softly, "Merlin, this child is truly far too skinny..."

Professor McGonagall's jaw tightened, but she said nothing.

Taking into account his possible financial circumstances—though the school offered financial aid, daily wear and tear still had to be considered—and the fact that the boy did not seem to care whether things were new or old, Professor McGonagall decisively chose good-quality, affordable secondhand robes.

She personally selected several plain black robes with little wear that had been thoroughly cleaned, along with the other necessary clothing.

When Skofot emerged wearing a relatively well-fitting set of secondhand black robes, they still looked somewhat loose on him, but at least they were neat and proper. He finally looked a little like a young wizard.

He gently stroked the fabric of the robes and said softly to McGonagall, "Thank you, Professor. They're very warm."

Those sensible words pierced Minerva McGonagall's heart once more.

Just as they were carrying their purchases along the relatively crowded main street of Diagon Alley, preparing to head for Ollivanders Wand Shop, something unexpected happened.

A young wizard dressed flamboyantly and carrying a hint of roguishness had evidently drunk several too many Butterbeers. Through bleary eyes, he caught sight of Skofot.

The boy's frail appearance, carrying some strange sense of brokenness, seemed to make him a target for teasing in the eyes of certain ill-intentioned people.

"Well, well, where did this little cutie come from?" The wizard staggered into their path and reached out, intending to hook Skofot's chin with a finger.

"Why are you all alone here? Want big brother to take you out and have some fun?"

Skofot suddenly stiffened. The debuff from [Rabbit Rhymer] left him powerless to resist. He could only shrink back instinctively, clutching the books in his arms. The color instantly drained from his face, and genuine terror and disgust surged into his eyes.

"Step back!"

Professor McGonagall's voice rang out at once, sharp and cold as an ice pick.

She stepped forward and completely shielded Skofot behind her.

Her figure seemed exceptionally tall and straight at that moment. Her gaze, like the sharpest blade, shot directly at the drunken wizard. The authority and fury radiating from her made even the surrounding air seem to freeze.

The wizard jolted at the sudden shout and powerful presence, sobering by more than half. He recognized Professor McGonagall, and panic and fear flashed across his face.

"Professor... Professor McGonagall... I, I was only joking..."