Leaky Cauldron

"Harry, it was a magical world. At least, that was what your father and mother believed."

"From now on, you were going to become a wizard."

"Of course, before becoming an official wizard, you still needed to prepare a few things."

"All students coming to school had to prepare the required..."

"For example, a standard No. 2 Greek cauldron."

"If you wished, you could also bring an owl. He could help deliver your letters and was extremely loyal."

"Or, if you preferred, you could bring a cat or a toad. If you had to choose between those two, I'd suggest a cat. At the very least, cats were much cuter than toads."

"But I don't like cats. I'm allergic to them."

On the bustling street, a large and a small figure walked amid the crowds.

The smaller one wore glasses. Young and somewhat cute as well as handsome, his name was Harry Potter.

The other was a scruffy giant covered in a thick beard, named Rubeus Hagrid. Wrapped in a heavy, oversized coat, he looked exactly like a vagrant on the streets of England.

Hagrid had found Harry and taken him away from his uncle's Household.

Along the way, Hagrid told Harry many things. Just then, for instance, Hagrid had been like a crow, his mouth seeming never to stop moving.

Harry was filled with anticipation for magic, and he also did not want to remain at his uncle's Household, living in that home that made him feel darkness.

Therefore, Harry showed not the slightest impatience at Hagrid's words. On the contrary, he listened very attentively and occasionally offered his own thoughts.

"Hagrid, can we find what you mentioned in London?" Harry looked at Hagrid with expectation and excitement as he asked.

Hearing this, Hagrid bent down slightly and said with an exaggerated grin, "You could always find it. For example, let's keep walking forward and see."

Hearing Hagrid's words, Harry was once again filled with anticipation.

Before long, the two arrived at the entrance to a pub.

Leaky Cauldron.

"Hagrid, I'm still underage. I'm not allowed to drink," Harry said as he looked at the pub's doors.

Hagrid burst out laughing at Harry's words, then said very seriously, "Yes, you're right. You aren't an adult yet, so you can't drink."

"However, I'm already an adult. I can drink."

After saying that, Hagrid opened the black door and walked inside.

The Leaky Cauldron was a small, shabby inn and pub at a place in London called Charing Cross Road.

It stood between a large bookstore and a record shop.

The Leaky Cauldron could not be considered part of Diagon Alley, but it was indeed the bridge between the two worlds.

Harry followed Hagrid into the pub. Looking at the people inside drinking and chatting, he did not know what to do.

These people were all wizards!

He did not drink, nor did he like drinking.

Yet the enormous Hagrid seemed very interested in it.

"Hey, Hagrid, the usual?" The pub owner, a bald middle-aged man named Tom, called out with a smile when he saw Hagrid enter.

"No, thank you for your hospitality, old Tom."

"I'm on business for Hogwarts!"

Hagrid laughed heartily. Although he dearly wanted to sit down for a drink, he had Dumbledore's task to attend to.

So Hagrid looked at Harry, who stood there adorably blank-faced and unsure what to do, and smiled. "This is Harry. I still need to help him buy some school supplies."

As Hagrid's voice rang out, the entire pub fell into brief silence.

"My heavens, he's Harry Potter!" Tom, the pub owner, was the first to react, exclaiming in shock.

Then the others also looked toward Harry Potter and began whispering among themselves.

Some were especially welcoming toward Harry Potter, reaching out their hands to shake his tightly as they said, "Welcome back."

Some were even excited simply to see Harry Potter.

At that moment, Harry Potter was even more bewildered.

What did they mean, welcome back?

Why were they so enthusiastic?

Did they know one another?

It was also at that moment that the doors of the Leaky Cauldron opened.

A figure walked in, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

"Oh, my heavens! What a handsome, dashing gentleman, brimming with noble charm!"

Keduoli, the woman who could not believe she had seen Harry Potter in a pub, wore an infatuated expression upon seeing the boy who had entered. She hurried over to him and said with a smile, "Hello, my name is Keduoli!"

Katelyle looked at the woman before him, removed the tall purple hat from his head, held it against his chest, and bowed slightly while maintaining a nobleman's etiquette. Smiling, he said, "Hello, Madam Keduoli."

Hearing Katelyle's magnetic voice and seeing his handsome face now that he had removed his hat, Keduoli suddenly seemed like a lovestruck young girl. Holding her cheeks, she swooned blissfully to one side.

Katelyle smiled, then nodded to the people in the pub before putting his hat back on.

Harry Potter looked at Katelyle with great envy.

His handsome, mature face, noble attire, and every gesture and mannerism—he was simply the very definition of an ideal man.

Katelyle walked over to Harry and extended his hand with a smile. "The lightning-shaped mark, the Boy Who Lived—you must be Harry Potter. Hello, my name is Katelyle."

Harry Potter had not expected Katelyle to approach him and call out his name.

Though somewhat surprised, Harry was not frightened. Instead, he extended his hand and said with a cute smile, "Hello, Mr. Katelyle."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. You're very brave, and very clever as well," Katelyle said with a smile.

"Thank you. You're very handsome. You'll become my idol," Harry Potter replied with a smile.

Around Katelyle, especially when facing that spring-breeze-like smile, Harry relaxed without realizing it, and his mood inexplicably improved greatly.

Hagrid looked at Katelyle thoughtfully, feeling as though he had heard that name somewhere before.

"Harry Potter, I'm very pleased to meet you!" A man with a turban wrapped around his head approached, somewhat bashful and feminine in manner. Clasping his hands tightly, his voice trembled with excited nervousness as he smiled at Harry Potter.

Hagrid looked at the newcomer in surprise, then said with a smile, "Hello, Professor. I don't think I saw you just now. Your appearance is quite unexpected."

"Harry, this is Professor Quirrell. At Hogwarts, he'll teach you Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Hearing that, Harry Potter extended his hand and said with a smile, "It's an honor, Professor Quirrell."

Hearing Hagrid's introduction, Katelyle's face revealed a faint smile. As he looked at Professor Quirrell, there was also a hint of amusement in his eyes.

If he remembered correctly, the position listed in Dumbledore's letter of appointment was meant to oppose Professor Quirrell, wasn't it?