Luna Lovegood

After leaving Ollivander's wand shop, Luke and Harry went their separate ways. Harry's shopping was nearly finished, and the Pet Hagrid had prepared as a birthday gift was the last, optional item.

"Where would you like to go next?"

Professor McGonagall lowered her head and asked Luke.

Luke fell silent for a moment, then said, "I definitely won't need to buy things like cauldrons. I trust that the ones left at home are absolutely the best."

Professor McGonagall did not argue. If any other student's family had laboratory equipment of such high quality, they certainly would not bring it to school for their child to ruin. Such items were extremely valuable to begin with. And the ones in Luke's home could practically be called antiques.

Professor McGonagall even felt that if Luke took a few cauldrons or pairs of Dragonhide gloves from his family vault to Professor Snape, he could trade them for a genuinely heartfelt smile. Though she knew Luke did not intend to use anything from the vault, the experimental supplies in his own cabin were more than enough for him.

"Professor, can students keep snakes at school?"

Luke suddenly asked.

Professor McGonagall was taken aback by the question. But seeing that Luke was clearly not joking, she answered seriously, "Theoretically, no. But if you want to keep a non-venomous snake, I can make an exception for you."

Such a small matter was nothing to Professor McGonagall. After all, the Magical Creatures in the Forbidden Forest were far more dangerous than ordinary snakes. But venomous snakes were still a threat to Young Wizards, so they were absolutely forbidden.

There was a faint hint of regret in Professor McGonagall's gaze as she looked at Luke.

And, just as expected, Luke showed the same regretful expression. He did not have many non-venomous snakes on hand. As for using ordinary snakes as spies, there was no point in using snakes he had raised himself. There were plenty of snakes outside Hogwarts Castle, and even within the castle itself—not to mention the highly convenient Serpensortia spell.

In truth, Luke had never intended to keep a snake as a Pet at Hogwarts anyway.

Of course, Professor McGonagall could guess why Luke had wanted to keep a snake. Everyone had heard of the Gaunt Family's gift. Parseltongue had been heavily stigmatized by the influence of Dark Wizards, especially Voldemort.

But to truly rational Wizards, Parseltongue was no more than a useful talent.

Of course, rational people were always the minority in any group.

Luke thought for a moment, then continued, "Then I'll get a cat."

Upon hearing Luke's choice, Professor McGonagall could not help breaking into a brilliant smile, as though Luke had made the right decision.

"That's more like it, Luke! Trust me, cats are definitely the most suitable choice among all the Pets you can have. They're gentle, intelligent, adorable, and clever!"

Professor McGonagall led the way ahead, cheerfully speaking beside Luke.

Luke smiled faintly. He had known Professor McGonagall would react this way. Smart people should make the right choice at the right time and in the right place.

Before long, they arrived outside a relatively secluded shop. Luke raised his head and saw the sign above it, marked with a cat paw print.

[Kate's Cats]

Luke suppressed the urge to comment and followed Professor McGonagall inside. The shop was small, but clean and cozy. Luke could not help nodding.

Of all the Pet shops he had seen along the way, this was truly the only one that could compare to Ollivander's wand shop in cleanliness.

But what caught Luke's eye next was not the cats playing on the floor or resting in open cages. It was a cascade of dark golden-brown hair and a pair of large silver eyes.

A little girl sat on the floor against the wall, holding a magazine and seemingly reading to the cats. She seemed to be there, yet she also seemed like an ethereal illusion, or a phantom elf.

Luke did not know whether it was merely an illusion, but whenever the bright yellow lamplight fell across her long hair, it seemed to shimmer and flow like a waterfall of molten gold.

The kittens, which should have been lively and restless, lay quietly around her in a crescent, as though they truly understood what she was saying.

Luke was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered. Then he took a deep breath. From the name of that magazine, he knew the name of this girl who seemed to possess an almost fairy-like air.

The magazine was called The Quibbler. A magazine that was "rather" poorly regarded in the Wizarding World. As far as Luke knew, there was only one girl of that age who would treat such a magazine with such seriousness.

Luna Lovegood.

A character Luke had fallen deeply in love with after seeing just one film in his previous life.

Luke had thought he would not meet this extraordinary girl until next year's opening ceremony. Yet today, so suddenly, she had appeared before his eyes.

Luke quickly calmed down. Since he was now in this world, he needed to know everyone through his own eyes as much as possible, rather than through the memories of his previous life.

Whether it was his memories or the films from back then, they were ultimately only stories shaped by their authors' subjective views. They could serve as references, but not as immutable truths.

Yet Luke still frowned unconsciously. He always felt that Luna held some inexplicable attraction for him, and that puzzled him.

It was normal to feel an instinctive fondness for Luna, but where did this attraction come from?

Professor McGonagall watched Luke with great interest. First he had been dazed, then he had recovered, then relaxed as though he had realized something. After that, his brows had furrowed tightly again.

Professor McGonagall found it quite amusing. She wondered whether Luke knew that every one of his thoughts was written plainly across his face.

Professor McGonagall looked at the little girl, whom she had only heard about and did not know well. All of a sudden, she became very interested in her.

She wondered what kind of magic the girl possessed to make Luke react like this.

A brown-haired middle-aged woman emerged from the door at the back of the shop, holding a plump orange cat. The moment she came out, she saw the smiling Professor McGonagall and the little boy with furrowed brows, who looked somewhat mature and handsome.

But she clearly did not notice anything unusual in the atmosphere. So, the instant she saw her old friend, she called out in delighted surprise:

"Oh! Minerva! When did you get here? Why didn't you call for me?"