First Meeting with Harry Potter

As they walked out of Gringotts' Great Door, all the Goblins saluted Luke and Professor McGonagall.

Luke inheriting the Gaunt Family Vault was no secret among the Goblins. The time they had spent in the vault was enough for the news to reach the ears of every Goblin in Gringotts.

After all, anyone could guess with their toes what an astronomical sum a long-established Pure-blood Nobility family would need to make a comeback.

When Luke emerged, there was no major change in his appearance. Aside from the increased confidence between his brows, he now wore an exquisite belt around his waist.

It was one of the few Magical Artifacts he had found in his family vault that he could use at present. Six gems were set into the belt. Five held practical spells, while the silver gem had storage capabilities, though it could not store living creatures. It was a low-end version of the System Warehouse, but it was quite useful for concealing the System Warehouse's existence.

Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall was holding a magical experiment handbook. From the careful way she handled it, one could tell how valuable it was.

As Professor McGonagall watched Luke walking beside her, she still felt a little embarrassed. Before entering the vault, she had been determined not to take a single thing from it. A student's belongings belonged to the student. If she accepted something, it would feel somewhat like taking advantage of a favor owed, and if she later gave Luke special treatment because of it, it might even seem like bribery.

That might have been putting it too severely, but given Professor McGonagall's seriousness about education, it was hardly surprising that she would think that way. But... the items in the Gaunt Family Vault had simply been too tempting. Professor McGonagall firmly believed that unless Dumbledore himself had come today, no professor could have walked out empty-handed.

The fact that she had only taken a research handbook on "Special Transfiguration" was already proof of how well she had restrained her greed.

"Are we going to buy a wand next, Professor?"

Rather than asking Professor McGonagall, Luke was expressing his own wishes.

"I remember you already have a wand. Does it not suit you?"

Professor McGonagall looked at Luke in puzzlement. From what she had seen that morning, that wand was exceptionally compatible with Luke. It had clearly already acknowledged him. More importantly, the instant she had laid eyes on it, she had known it was an ancient and powerful wand. For any Wizard, earning the recognition of such a wand was something worth celebrating.

Luke gave a helpless, bitter smile. "It's too powerful. I can't use it freely yet..."

That was Slytherin's Wand. Being acknowledged by it was the combined result of Luke's own ambition, the System's assistance, and the Gaunt Family bloodline. But if he wanted to wield it freely, he estimated that he would need to grow stronger first.

Professor McGonagall nodded and did not ask further. It truly was not a topic one could discuss freely with others. A wand was deeply private to every Wizard.

Luke, however, knew exactly how to describe that relationship. A wand was like the phone he had owned in his previous life. Though phones did not become unsuitable just because they were too powerful.

"Then let's go to Ollivander's first."

Luke nodded. He was also quite eager and curious about that wand shop. What kind of wand would suit him best?

Once they had a destination, the two did not waste any more time and headed straight for Ollivander's shop.

Diagon Alley was especially crowded at this time. It was usually busy enough, but because Hogwarts admission letters had been sent out, many people had brought their children here to buy supplies. Young Wizards often had very little patience, after all.

Luke watched every passerby with great interest. This was his first time coming into contact with so many Wizards, and he could not help feeling a little excited. Quite a few adult Wizards recognized Professor McGonagall along the way, and several nodded to her in greeting. However, seeing the faintly guarded look on her face, they could tell that she was not particularly willing to stop and chat.

That made them look at the little boy beside her, wondering slightly about his identity.

Luke knew it had nothing to do with him. The magical handbook was to blame, but he could not explain that to passersby, nor could he persuade Professor McGonagall to relax. It was indeed a lone copy. Copying magic could not be used on it, and the only way to duplicate it was to transcribe it by hand. Even he could only lend it temporarily to Professor McGonagall, not give it to her outright. Of course, neither of them had specified how long the loan would last.

Luke soon spotted a towering figure carrying a birdcage. Inside the cage was a beautiful white Owl. Luke recognized the man at once.

"Hagrid? You're here too?"

Professor McGonagall asked in surprise. She knew what Hagrid's task was, so if he was here now, that meant...

"Oh! Professor! You're here too!" Hagrid replied in his rough voice. Then he saw Luke following beside Professor McGonagall and understood why she was here. "Is this the child you're guiding?"

As he spoke, he could not help glancing at Luke again. Aside from being handsome and carrying himself well, the boy had an inexplicable magnetism. Wherever he stood, he became the center of attention.

"Yes, Luke Gaunt. A new student this year."

As Professor McGonagall answered, she looked around Hagrid, but did not see the person she wanted to see.

Hagrid naturally noticed her movements and said with a smile, "Harry's trying wands at Ollivander's right now. Would you like to come have a look, Professor?"

Professor McGonagall instinctively turned to look at Luke. Luke noticed her gaze and said, "We're headed that way anyway, Professor."

Professor McGonagall nodded with a soft smile, then said to Hagrid, "Let's go, then. Let's take a look at that child."

The three of them headed toward Ollivander's shop together.

A moment later, Luke and the others arrived outside the shop. Through the window, Luke saw the famous Savior, Mr. Harry Potter.

Harry was still trying wands. His face held both excitement and a hint of restraint.

Professor McGonagall looked at Harry, then at Luke beside her, and silently sighed to herself. No matter how she viewed Harry as an elder, the disparity between the two was still obvious.

Thinking of this, she could not help blaming Dumbledore. If Harry had been in their care, or even raised in an ordinary Wizarding family, he would not have become so timid and cautious.

Just then, Hagrid gently knocked on the window, drawing the attention of the two people inside.

He raised the white Owl in his hand, his face breaking into a brilliant smile.

"Happy birthday, Harry!"

With that, he pushed open the door and walked inside. Professor McGonagall froze for a moment when she heard the words "happy birthday," then felt somewhat troubled. Logically, as an elder, she should give Harry a birthday present, but she had not brought anything with her...

But it was only a passing thought. She understood that there was no need to dwell on it. She could always make up for the birthday gift later.

So she walked into the shop as well. Luke was even less concerned. If his previous self had held some admiration for Harry Potter, then after truly entering this world, he cared more about himself than Harry.

"Harry, let me introduce you. This is Professor McGonagall. She is the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, as well as the Head of Gryffindor and the professor of Transfiguration."

After hearing Hagrid's introduction, Harry said somewhat stiffly to Professor McGonagall, "Hello, Professor. I'm Harry, Harry Potter."

He had the distinct feeling that the stern-looking professor before him would not be easy to deal with.

"Hello, Harry. Happy birthday."

In the end, Professor McGonagall did not act overly warmly. She actually agreed with Dumbledore's view. What this child needed was not praise and special treatment, but normal development.

"And this is Luke Gaunt, a new student in your year."

Harry had noticed Luke long ago. It was as though he gave off light, making people unable to stop themselves from looking at him.

Luke smiled and held out his hand. "Harry Potter, I've heard so much about you. I finally get to meet you in person today. Happy birthday as well."

The moment Harry saw Luke's smile, he unconsciously let down his guard.

"Thank you. This is the first time I've realized I'm this famous."

As he spoke, he reached out and shook Luke's hand.

But as the two shook hands, Ollivander stared intently at Luke. His eyes held suspicion and confusion, but even more than that, bewilderment and shock.

"Gaunt? That Gaunt?"

He could not help asking.