Worldly Expert

The oak on Lakeheart Island still stood tall when a crack suddenly split open in its trunk.

Canopus climbed out of the trunk, naked and covered in tree sap.

He coughed incessantly, hacking the sap out of his lungs before greedily drawing in the fresh air.

This counted as his first breath since coming into this world.

The oak beside him lowered its branches onto Canopus's shoulders. Emerald leaves drifted down one after another, weaving themselves into a soft green robe around him.

After resting for a while, Canopus tugged at his green robe, then rose with a smile and embraced the great oak that embodied his mother.

"Wait for me, Mother. Next time, I'll bring Father back with me."

The oak swayed, seeming to nod in reply.

Canopus set off, Morgan's blessing allowing him to walk directly across the lake's surface and step onto the shore.

Didn't Merlin say he'd already let them know? Why was no one here to meet me?

An owl flew in from the horizon, circling as it searched for something. The moment it spotted Canopus looking up, it swooped down and dropped a letter into his hand.

Canopus raised one arm for the owl to perch on while steadying the letter with the other.

The envelope read: To Mr. Canopus Black, in the oak tree, Lakeheart Island, the Wilderness.

Canopus had barely opened the envelope before a whirlwind rose up, and a figure in purple robes appeared in a spin.

He wore a long, pointed gray hat. His face was covered in wrinkles, and half-moon spectacles rested on his crooked nose.

His beard and hair were both gleaming silver, while his deep blue eyes shone with wisdom.

So this was the person Merlin had found—the most powerful white wizard in the Harry Potter series, Dumbledore.

Canopus looked at the old man, and the old man studied Canopus in turn.

The little boy before him was strikingly handsome, carrying an easy, unrestrained air in every gesture. He showed no fear even in Dumbledore's presence; instead, he seemed somewhat curious.

"Mr. Gandalf?" Canopus greeted him with a smile.

"Though I can also set off fireworks, I'm afraid I'm not a wizard in white robes."

The old man gave a slight bow and looked directly at Canopus. "Hello, young sir. I am Albus Dumbledore."

"I'm Canopus Black."

The old man and the boy shook hands, both smiling.

"I have many questions in my heart, but I believe what you need most right now is a place to stay."

Dumbledore took out his wand and gave it a wave. A large bird of gold and red appeared in midair, trailing a streak of fire before landing on Dumbledore's shoulder.

"This is Fawkes, my friend," Dumbledore introduced softly. "Civilization is still some distance from here, so let us take a shortcut."

Canopus curiously watched Fawkes the phoenix, and Fawkes tilted its head and rubbed against the top of Canopus's head.

Dumbledore was somewhat surprised, but in the end, he did not ask about it. He stroked Fawkes's beautiful gold-and-red feathers, then placed his other hand on Canopus's shoulder.

"The Leaky Cauldron."

Fawkes gave a soft cry, and the two of them and the bird transformed into firelight, vanishing from the wilderness.

The next second, they appeared on a bustling street. Crowds of people squeezed past one another, completely unaware that they had suddenly appeared.

Dumbledore muttered something, and Canopus recognized it as a simplified Muggle-Repelling Charm.

The crowd immediately parted, as though an invisible wall had pushed them aside. They bypassed the two without noticing and continued onward.

"This time, it was to show you the way. Otherwise, I would have gone straight to Diagon Alley."

Dumbledore explained. As an old man, he had no desire to squeeze through crowds.

Following the direction they were heading, Canopus spotted a sign hanging in the air, painted with a leaking cauldron.

A bookstore and a record shop stood beside it, but it seemed that only wizards could see the sign.

"The Leaky Cauldron, the entrance to Diagon Alley."

The tall, thin Dumbledore lowered his head slightly and led Canopus inside.

As a bar, it was perfectly qualified. There was curling smoke, dim lighting, and all manner of people who might have been drunk or sober.

However, its decor was far too shabby and filthy. With a casual glance, Canopus's superhuman vision caught hundreds of places concealing dirt and grime.

Dumbledore entering this place was like a phoenix stepping into a chicken coop.

Quite a few people trembled with excitement, wanting to come over and greet the old headmaster. Tom, the hunchbacked proprietor, even vaulted over the bar and eagerly came forward to ask why Dumbledore had come.

"Relax, Tom. You're younger than I am."

The hunchbacked Tom laughed, startling a nearby patron into spilling his butterbeer all over himself.

"There's a child here who will be starting school soon. He'll be staying at the Leaky Cauldron for a while." Dumbledore winked. "Put the room charges on the school's account."

"Understood. I'll arrange the most comfortable room immediately."

Tom promptly agreed, and Canopus and Dumbledore followed him upstairs as he carried an oil lamp.

The moment the three left the main hall, it immediately returned to its noisy atmosphere. This time, however, Canopus became the center of discussion.

Kano thought everyone had overlooked him, but when had Dumbledore ever personally received a new student?

"I think he must be Dumbledore's illegitimate son."

A shifty-looking wizard wrapped head to toe in a cloak guessed.

"Whether he's illegitimate or not, I don't know. But if the old headmaster's supporters hear you saying that, you'll be turned into a frog for at least two days."

The wizard immediately shut his mouth, and the drinkers burst into cheerful laughter.

"Could he be from a pure-blood family?"

"They have their own grand estates. Why would they lower themselves to stay at the Leaky Cauldron?"

Old Tom came downstairs just then and flicked his wand, sending a rag flying to plug the speaker's mouth.

"What's wrong with my pub? Even the Minister for Magic could stay here!"

Everyone broke into laughter again, because the fellow whose mouth had been plugged had sprayed Firewhisky out of his nostrils and was now rolling around on the floor.

By then, Dumbledore had already helped Kano settle in and was preparing to leave.

"If you have any problems, just find Tom."

Dumbledore ultimately could not restrain his curiosity. Squinting, he asked, "Black... that Black?"

"Headmaster, my name is Canopus, the Old Man of Carina. Going by that naming convention, I don't think there could be another Black family in the wizarding world."

Kano spread his hands, and Dumbledore nodded in understanding.

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to Diagon Alley to purchase the necessities for school. The list is in the attachment to your acceptance letter. Rest well today."

Dumbledore then left, leaving Kano standing alone by the window.

"The headmaster really is a powerful man."

Kano could not help sighing. Even compared to Merlin, Dumbledore was only a hair's breadth behind. And as a wizard rather than a druid, his combat ability might be even greater.

Then just how powerful was Voldemort?

Kano quietly put away his contempt and resolved to face this magical world with greater caution.

Before falling asleep, he could not help thinking about wands.

What kind of wand would he receive tomorrow?