Diagon Alley.
The array of shops left Caelan dazzled.
His eyes darted across exotic spellbooks, potion phials, owls, and unfamiliar magical ingredients.
Every item held his attention for only a brief second before a newer, stranger sight drew him away.
Though he had anticipated what it would look like, seeing the magical world in person still filled him with awe.
“Child, this is the educational fund provided by Hogwarts.
You may need to spend it sparingly…” McGonagall handed a pouch of coins to Caelan.
“Thank you, Professor McGonagall.
This is already a lot of money to me.” McGonagall knew in her heart that the fund was barely enough to cover the barest minimum of expenses, requiring immense frugality.
She considered offering some of her own money to help the boy buy a decent set of school supplies.
That way, he could save the fund money to improve his daily life.
However, saying that directly might prove too hurtful to his pride.
Caelan looked at the supply list and raised his head.
“Professor McGonagall, is there a secondhand shop where I can buy these items?
It might save us some money.” *Child, perhaps I could help you.* The words rose to McGonagall’s lips, but she ultimately kept her mouth shut.
After all, the boy had already come up with his own solution.
Despite their brief interaction, McGonagall could tell that this gentle-looking boy possessed an unusually stubborn streak deep down.
“Of course there is.
However, it requires a bit of an eye to pick out the right things.
I can teach you.
Perhaps we should have a quick lesson in wizarding common sense.” “Thank you, Professor McGonagall.” The two of them wandered through Diagon Alley, hunting for secondhand goods on the list.
Along the way, McGonagall explained common items in Diagon Alley to Caelan.
She noticed he was remarkably intelligent; he listened attentively, asked questions whenever he hit a point of confusion, and occasionally offered insightful observations of his own.
Regardless of whether he was Fabian’s son or not, McGonagall couldn’t help but feel a deep fondness for him.
*Though the Prewett brothers were both Gryffindors, perhaps he’ll be sorted into Ravenclaw?* McGonagall thought to herself.
Before long, they had purchased most of the items on the list.
These secondhand items all had minor flaws.
Although carefully selected by McGonagall to ensure their functionality remained intact, their appearances were hardly flattering.
The cauldron had a small chip on its rim, and the small crystal phials were cloudy…
The work robes and pointed hat lacked patches but were visibly worn and ill-fitting, while the owl appeared rather listless.
As for the books…
the contents were complete, but the bindings on a few were already beginning to loosen.
In short…
everything looked shabby and worn.
Yet this was entirely at Caelan’s insistence.
Compared to how things looked, the boy prioritized practical utility.
If McGonagall hadn’t stopped him, Caelan would likely have bought several sets of work robes that were heavily patched just because they were cheaper.
The owl hadn’t been a strict necessity, but McGonagall had bought it for him as a gift.
Even though she had hinted that he could pick a fine one, the boy had still chosen the listless owl.
For no other reason than that it was cheap.
This left McGonagall feeling an even heavier burden of guilt.
“There’s only one last item…
a wand…” Caelan checked his list.
“Child, a wand cannot be bought secondhand.” McGonagall took the list and double-checked it.
Seeing that only the wand remained, she led Caelan toward Ollivanders.
“Wands must be purchased at Ollivanders.
They have been crafting fine wands since 382 BC.” Passing through a narrow alley, they reached the front of Ollivanders Wand Shop, where their attention was immediately drawn to a remarkably tall figure.
The figure was extraordinarily tall, with wild, shaggy hair and a thick, bushy beard.
His hands and feet were impossibly large, making the boy beside him look like a stuffed doll by comparison.
“Oh, Professor McGonagall!
What a surprise to run into you here.” The giant’s voice was deep and rumbling.
McGonagall had noticed them as well—with his stature, it was hard not to.
“Hagrid.
What a coincidence…” McGonagall’s gaze shifted to the boy beside Hagrid.
“It seems you’ve purchased a fine wand.” “Ah, yes!
This was an important task Professor Dumbledore assigned to me.” When Hagrid mentioned the “important task,” he couldn’t help humming with pride.
Being trusted by Dumbledore gave him immense satisfaction.
Looking at the small, thin boy about his age wearing round-rimmed glasses, Caelan couldn’t help glancing at the boy’s forehead.
Almost anyone meeting Harry Potter for the first time would want to see the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.
Harry was also observing the slightly pale boy before him.
Seeing his worn, old clothes, Harry wondered if this boy had an awful aunt just like his own.
While the two adults chatted, the two boys silently watched each other.
“Galloping Gorgons!
This boy looks so much like Fabian!” Noticing Caelan, Hagrid let out an exaggerated gasp, his voice rumbling into McGonagall’s ears like a rattling carriage.
She shot a quick glance at Caelan, stepped closer to Hagrid, and asked with hesitation, “You think he looks like Fabian too?” “Like him?
If you ask me, he’s the spitting image of him!” Hagrid’s thick beard twitched wildly, sweeping across his chest like a broom.
“What’s your name, child?” “Caelan Prewett, sir.” “Prewett!
Blimey!” Hagrid gasped, eyes wide as he stared at McGonagall before suddenly dropping his voice.
“Professor McGonagall!
Where—where did you find him?
I never heard Fabian had a child!” “It isn’t confirmed yet.” Though she said this, the look in McGonagall’s eyes as she watched Caelan had already changed.
“We should go buy his wand.
Hagrid, take Harry back.” Watching the two walk away, Professor McGonagall seemed lost in thought until Caelan called out to her.
“Professor McGonagall, was my father, Fabian Prewett, a wizard too?
What kind of man was he?
I have no memory of him at all.
When Mrs.
Hazel occasionally mentioned him, she always called him a heartless scoundrel…
but I don’t think he was that kind of person.” Caelan looked up at McGonagall, his eyes holding just the right amount of sorrow, his faint smile laced with a poorly concealed pain.
Of course, this was merely Caelan’s usual tactic.
After all, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Sure enough, seeing Caelan like this made McGonagall’s heart ache fiercely.
“No, child.
Your father…
Fabian was a great wizard.
He was by no means ungrateful or heartless.
He sacrificed his life to protect the wizarding world, fighting bravely against evil wizards.
He and his brother faced five Death Eaters…” McGonagall couldn’t bring herself to finish.
No matter how grand those noble deeds sounded, they could never erase the pain this child had suffered.
Caelan lowered his head, pressing his lips tightly together.
Only after a long silence did he ask softly, “Was my father brave?” “Without a doubt!
He was a hero.” “Thank you for telling me about my father, Professor McGonagall.
He was a brave man.
My mother and I have both forgiven him.” McGonagall was rendered speechless.
A hero’s child, dressed in shabby, old clothes, purchasing school supplies that were all secondhand and damaged…
yet despite all of it, he held no resentment whatsoever.
He had only asked if his father was brave and said that he and his mother had forgiven him!
Faced with such a kind and gentle child, an endless wave of guilt surged within McGonagall, pricking her heart like a tiny blade with every beat.
“Child…
I’m feeling a bit tired.
May I wait for you outside?” “Mr.
Ollivander will help you find the right wand.” “Of course, Professor McGonagall.” Caelan offered a smile and stepped into Ollivanders.
The moment he crossed the threshold, a small screen materialized before his eyes.
[Congratulations!
You have triggered: Constantly Guilt-Ridden] [Description: You did nothing wrong!
It’s all the world’s fault!
People constantly feel guilty toward you.
Within the time limit (30 days), collect Guilt Points to exchange for trait cards.] [Current Guilt Points: 134] Currently available traits: [Spell Inspiration: Silly goose!
Do you actually understand these spells?
Grants frequent bursts of inspiration while learning spells.
(Cost: 200)] [Muffled Presence: Shh!
Nobody’s watching.
Slightly reduces your presence, making you harder to draw attention.
(Cost: 180)] [Alchemical Hand: It’s going to explode!
Do you want your hands or gold?
Slightly increases the success rate of alchemy.
(Cost: 200)]