A race against death

The group said goodbye to Mr. Ollivander and left the shop.

Dumbledore said to Hagrid, "Hagrid, thank you for taking Harry shopping. I'll take it from here!"

Hagrid looked reluctantly at Harry and patted the boy on the head.

The half-giant sniffled as he said goodbye to Harry and Allen, then walked away, looking back every few steps.

Allen couldn't understand why this half-giant had so much affection for someone else's young.

Weren't giants supposed to be cruel and bloodthirsty?

Dumbledore held out his hand to him. "Allen, hold on to me."

Allen came back to himself and tightened his grip on Edward's hand before taking hold of Dumbledore's arm.

The familiar squeezing sensation came over them, and they were back in Edward's study.

Edward set down the Suitcase and told Allen, "Allen, say goodbye to the headmaster and arrange a room for Harry."

Though his words were directed at Allen, his eyes remained fixed on Dumbledore without wavering.

Allen's gaze flicked between them before he bowed his head. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Harry gazed around the King's study with shining eyes, said a somewhat reluctant goodbye to Dumbledore, and followed Allen out.

Allen tilted his head, lowering his eyes as he recalled his behavior in Diagon Alley. He felt a little frustrated.

Had I overlooked something again?

Harry excitedly admired the interior of the Royal Family's castle, but he still noticed that something was wrong with Allen.

He gently tugged Allen's sleeve, concern in his eyes. "Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?"

Allen paused, surprised by how perceptive Harry was.

He had always kept his emotions to himself. Even Edward, who lived with him day in and day out, couldn't necessarily pick up on them...

Yet this "Chosen One" had noticed.

He deliberately scrunched up his face and patted his chest, casually inventing an excuse. "Apparition really isn't very comfortable!"

Harry believed him at once. As though he had found something they could both relate to, he immediately began talking about his first experience with Apparition.

Allen chatted with him as he led him to his own study, then pressed the summons bell on the desk. "Triss, could you bring afternoon tea for two?"

Once again, Harry was stunned by the Royal Family's extravagance-this wasn't a study at all, but a small library!

Allen chuckled. "As you know, His Majesty is very strict with me."

"Harry, there's still a month before school starts. You can join me in my activities-if you don't mind."

Harry jumped to his feet in excitement and declared, "Of course I don't mind!"

A knock soon came at the door, and Triss entered with an afternoon tea trolley.

The instant she saw Harry, the gentle housekeeper's eyes sharpened. Her white-gloved hand had already reached for a knife on the trolley, her thumb resting against the back of its blade.

She had positioned herself cleverly, blocking Harry's view of the doorway.

Harry froze, then rose awkwardly from the armchair and forced himself to speak. "Er... hello?"

Just then, Allen emerged from between the bookshelves, carrying several books. He smiled. "Triss, you're here! Don't worry. This is a new friend I've made!"

Triss remained watchful and didn't take the cue. "Your Highness, does His Majesty know about this?"

"Yes, His Majesty approved it." Allen set the books on the desk and pressed the button for his private line to Edward.

[Allen, what is it?]

The King's voice came over the phone. Allen sounded amused as he replied, "Father, Triss would like you to confirm Harry's status as our guest."

[Yes, Triss. Mr. Harry Potter is also a young wizard, and he'll be starting school with Allen. I invited him to stay at the castle for a while.]

Triss swept a somewhat cold gaze over Harry. After a moment's silence, she replied, "Understood, Your Majesty."

She returned the table knife to the trolley and looked at Harry, a gentle smile returning to her eyes.

"Hello, Master Potter. Please forgive my discourtesy."

Harry stared wide-eyed at the trolley. He was certain he had just seen this gentle young woman put down a knife.

His face turned pale, then red, as he nervously assured her that he didn't mind.

Seeing him flounder, Triss finally relaxed. The boy looked perfectly well-behaved and honest.

Smiling, she wheeled the trolley to the seating area opposite the desk. "Your Highness, Master Potter, please enjoy your afternoon tea."

Allen led the uneasy Harry to the sofa and handed him a small cake.

Triss turned slightly aside, drew a slim little communicator from her waist, and typed swiftly and silently, "Threat cleared. Withdraw."

The agents standing ready outside the study received the order, removed their magazines, and withdrew in silent, orderly fashion, as though they had never been there.

Unaware that he had once again narrowly escaped death, Harry had already settled down.

He eagerly sampled his little cake while listening to Triss explain the Royal Family's interesting rules.

"...Triss, did I see you reach for a table knife just now?" Harry asked cautiously.

"Yes." There was an edge beneath Triss's smile. "An owl brought a letter earlier, and the envelope gave the Crown Prince's exact address."

Harry knew that addresses on Hogwarts letters were always very precise.

"...As a result, the royal security office suspected that terrorists might be planning a retaliatory attack on the Royal Family, so we've been especially vigilant lately."

Harry straightened again. "But... I mean, I'm not a terrorist... I'm only eleven!"

Triss looked at him with a perfect smile. "Yes, so this was a false alarm."

She added pointedly, "After all, His Highness Allen gave us such vague information over the intercom! To ensure his safety, a humble housekeeper could only act decisively!"

"Cough!"

Caught off guard, Allen choked on his black tea and hurriedly set down his cup.

Smiling, Triss pressed a handkerchief over Allen's face. "Your Highness, how could you be so careless?"

Allen didn't dare make a sound, letting her wipe his mouth rather roughly.

Harry stared, dumbfounded by Allen's reluctance to resist, and murmured, "The staff the Royal Family hires are all so impressive!"

"Yes, Master Potter! We only hire Cambridge and Oxford graduates."

...The crushing pressure of an academic superstar.

Harry's hand paused as he cut into his little cake with his fork. "Then you are..."

"A postgraduate from Cambridge University's sociology department." Triss gave him a perfect smile.

Harry: ...

While this misunderstanding unfolded, Edward was having a friendly discussion with Dumbledore.

The King smiled faintly. "Headmaster Dumbledore, you're a very wise elder.

"So you've probably noticed that Allen has his own standards for judging certain things."

Dumbledore nodded with a smile. "Yes, the little prince is a truly remarkable genius!"

Edward lowered his voice, a warning in his eyes. "Allen is a well-behaved son and a worthy Crown Prince.

"As a father, I hope my child will simply get to see another world and then return safely;

"As a king, I know my Crown Prince must shoulder certain responsibilities, such as learning about the wizarding world..."

He didn't finish, but Dumbledore knew what he meant. He was telling him that Allen would not go astray.

"In either capacity, I don't want anyone to..." He paused, staring into Dumbledore's eyes. "...use Allen."

"I know that, as a headmaster, your coming to welcome a student in person can only mean you value Allen's position as Crown Prince and see some potential to work with...

"A king should indeed put his people first in everything, but there are many nobles. I'm not the only person who could be king."

...If you dare entertain any improper designs on Allen, I'll give up being king! Then you'll have nothing left to exploit!

His words were vague, but the old man understood perfectly.

The meaning hidden in the King's words startled Dumbledore, and he remained silent for a long time.

"I'll do my best to make arrangements that keep the little prince safe," he said.

They looked at each other, both knowing that this was the other's bottom line and that neither would yield further. They eased back at the same time, and the tension abruptly lifted.

Edward raised his voice. "Then here's to a fruitful partnership!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the old man vanished from the room.

Edward walked to the desk and tapped its surface lightly. After a long while, he called in the elderly butler, picked up a fountain pen, wrote something on a card, and handed it over.

"This is Allen's coursework for the next fortnight. Remind him to keep track of his time and not slack off just because we have a guest."