Just as the two were holding hands, preparing to leave Diagon Alley.
Just as I turned the corner, a familiar black figure came into view— Sirius.
He leaned against the wall, his trench coat casually open, a bright and gentle smile on his face, listening intently to the young man beside him.
And that boy was Harry Potter.
Harry saw them too and waved. " Draco! Hermione!"
Sirius looked over, his gaze falling on their clasped hands. He smiled and nodded gently at them.
As the four approached, Hermione greeted them with a smile, "Good afternoon, Harry, Mr. Sirius."
"Don't be so polite, just call me Sirius," Sirius said casually.
He glanced gratefully at Draco.
"Thanks to this kid, Harry only found out who I was last year, which allowed us to be reunited."
"I don't need to tell you, you'll recognize each other eventually." Draco waved his hand.
Harry's appearance at this moment reminded Draco of the train at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters a year ago.
Harry was incredibly thin and small back then, wearing ill-fitting old clothes, looking uneasy and bewildered.
But the Harry Potter standing before me now looks completely different. He's grown a bit taller, his shoulders are more relaxed, and his gaze is calm.
Wearing a well-fitting wizard's robe, with a relaxed and carefree smile on her face, she spoke without any restraint, instead exuding the confidence that comes from being pampered.
He was no longer that little boy with hunched shoulders and no one to lean on on Privet Drive.
He has a godfather and a family of his own.
Draco looked at him and couldn't help but ask, "Looks like you had a good summer vacation?"
Harry grinned. "Of course! My godfather took me to lots of places and even picked out a new flying broom for me! Oh, and we just bought our second-year textbooks."
Sirius chuckled and ruffled Harry's hair. "This kid doesn't have to suffer anymore."
Hermione gazed at the heartwarming scene before her and murmured, "The changes are truly remarkable compared to first grade."
Harry was taken aback for a moment, then laughed at himself.
He certainly remembered how nervous and bewildered he was when he first boarded the Hogwarts Express.
Harry paused for a moment, then laughed at himself—of course he remembered how nervous and bewildered he was when he first boarded the Hogwarts Express.
He looked up at Draco, then at Hermione, his voice sincere and soft:
"Thank goodness for you all."
Hermione felt a warmth in her heart, a gentle smile playing on her lips as her gaze tenderly fell upon the two boys.
"We're so lucky to have you... If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have understood so many things so quickly."
Draco stood to the side, the tips of his ears turning a faint red. He awkwardly turned his head away, cleared his throat, and deliberately interrupted in an impatient tone:
"Alright, alright, I hate sentimentality."
Harry laughed even harder, shaking the bag of new books in his hand. "Since we've already bought all the books, how about we go sit in the Leaky Cauldron for a while?"
"I know they have chilled Pumpkin Juice and non-alcoholic Butterbeer there, it's really good."
"That's a great idea, it's my treat. Kids can't drink alcohol, but sweet drinks are always fine," Sirius affirmed.
Draco initially wanted to refuse the dreaded Pumpkin Juice, but seeing the expectant look in Hermione's eyes, he agreed, "... Let's go, we have nothing to do back here anyway."
The four of them walked side by side into the Leaky Cauldron, where warm yellow lights enveloped the faint scent of wheat.
Sirius ordered them three chilled Pumpkin Juice and one creamy non-alcoholic Butterbeer.
He ordered a light ale and sat quietly watching the three children chat.
Harry held the cup, sipping the sweet Pumpkin Juice, and suddenly sighed:
"When I first came here last year, I was so nervous that I didn't dare to sit on any chair. I listened to whatever Hagrid told me."
Hermione smiled, resting her chin on her hand. "I was nervous back then too, always afraid that I wouldn't act like a real witch."
"I had no idea I'd run into Hermione in Diagon Alley back then. If I had, I would have definitely cornered her and dragged her around everywhere," Draco said with a hint of regret.
"You didn't even know me back then," Hermione retorted, blushing.
"So you had this planned all along, Draco." Harry laughed.
"Of course we can't let someone else steal him away," Draco without any attempt to hide his true feelings.
Harry nodded earnestly and said, "Now it certainly seems so; Hermione is both beautiful and outstanding."
Hermione blushed when the boy praised her so directly.
" Harry, have you eaten too much Honeydukes candy and gotten all sweet-toothed?"
"Don't be modest," Draco said, putting his arm around her shoulder as if asserting his ownership. "But I'm not bad either. I'm the heartthrob of the Wizarding World. We're a match made in heaven."
Harry chuckled. "You're absolutely right. That's exactly what the Daily Prophet published. It says the Wizarding World's heartthrob has been won over by a Muggle girl."
" Hermione, you'd better watch out. Countless young witches are envious of you right now," Harry winked at Hermione.
"I'm not afraid at all," Hermione said confidently.
The group chatted and laughed, and the drinks on the table were almost empty, the ice slowly melting away.
Sirius glanced at the empty cup and gently tapped the table:
"That's about it. We've bought the textbooks and had enough drinks. Harry and I are going to buy some other things in Draco. Let's call it a day."
Draco stood up first, carrying Hermione's otter bag.
"Then we'll be going too. Let's meet at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Now you should know how to get onto the platform, right?"
"Don't worry! This time I definitely won't be as flustered as I was last year," Harry said.
Hermione smiled and stood up, "See you at the start of the school year, Harry, Mr. Sirius."
"See you when school starts." Sirius smiled and nodded.
The four of them walked out of the Leaky Cauldron together and parted ways at the Diagon Alley, where Draco hung the otter bag on Hermione's arm.
Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at King's Cross Station was already bustling with noise, and the crimson Hogwarts Express, puffing out white smoke, whistled through the din.
Draco carried a suitcase in one hand and naturally held Hermione's hand with the other. Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa stood behind them, and the Mr. and Mrs. Granger stood opposite them.
Narcissa looked at Hermione tenderly. "This child is steady and intelligent. It's a blessing for the Malfoy family that Draco is with her."
Mrs. Granger smiled and took Hermione's hand, "We should be thanking you for taking care of her. We were always worried about her while she was at magic school."
The parents' pleasantries created a harmonious atmosphere that drew the attention of many Pure-blood families wizards in the vicinity.
Who would have thought that the proud Malfoy family would not only make their son friends with Harry Potter, but also treat Muggle parents so gently?
Many people had mixed feelings, some surprised, some curious, and some secretly disapproving.