“Ah?”
Caught off guard by Adrian’s sudden greeting, Harry stared at him uneasily.
“You—you know who I am?”
Adrian smiled.
“Of course.”
Hagrid had already noticed Adrian approaching.
He naturally recognized the extraordinarily talented young wizard whom Dumbledore had praised on more than one occasion.
Seeing that Adrian’s hand was still extended, Hagrid gave Harry a gentle pat on the shoulder and shot him a meaningful look.
Harry, the boy is waiting for you to shake his hand.
Don’t leave him standing there.
“Good morning, Young Master Adrian,” Hagrid greeted him.
Then he turned to Harry.
“Harry, this is Adrian Ambrosius.
Mind your manners.”
Hagrid’s reminder snapped Harry back to his senses.
His pale face flushed as he hurriedly reached out and shook Adrian’s hand.
“H-hello.”
Years of neglect and malnutrition had left Harry unusually small for his age.
Although he had recently turned eleven, he stood only a little over a metre tall.
Adrian, despite being the same age, was already close to one metre forty.
Standing beside one another, they looked as though several years separated them.
Adrian released Harry’s hand.
“There’s no need to be nervous.
I’m only eleven as well.
We should be about the same age.”
Harry scratched the back of his head, making his already messy black hair even more unruly.
“He turned eleven only recently,” Hagrid explained.
His expression then became slightly guarded.
“What brings you to Gringotts today, Young Master Adrian?”
Of all the people to run into…
Hagrid suddenly felt uneasy.
Surely Adrian wasn’t going to ask him for another magical creature.
Hagrid had no shortage of unusual animal friends, but even he struggled to keep up with Adrian’s seemingly endless requests for rare creatures, feathers, venom, scales, and other experimental materials.
Adrian noticed the change in his expression and raised an eyebrow.
“Relax, Hagrid.
I’m not here to rob you of another beloved creature.”
Hagrid remained unconvinced.
That was easy for Adrian to say.
The last time Fang had been involved in one of the boy’s experiments, the poor hound had spent several days hiding beneath Hagrid’s bed.
If Dumbledore had not personally intervened, Hagrid dreaded to imagine what Adrian might have requested next.
“I’ll be attending Hogwarts this year,” Adrian continued.
“I came to Diagon Alley to purchase my school supplies.”
Harry’s eyes brightened.
“Mr.
Ambrosius, are you going to be a Hogwarts student too?”
Adrian nodded.
“It appears we’ll be classmates, Mr. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
Potter.”
A flicker of excitement appeared in Harry’s green eyes.
The handsome blond boy before him seemed warm and approachable despite his refined appearance.
More importantly, Adrian was the first person Harry’s age to speak to him without contempt, mockery, or suspicion.
The thought that they might become classmates—and perhaps even friends—filled Harry with anticipation.
Adrian noticed Harry staring at him with undisguised admiration, but chose not to comment.
Instead, he withdrew an elegant pocket watch and checked the time.
“I still have quite a few things to purchase, so I should be going.”
He inclined his head politely.
“Mr.
Potter.
Hagrid.
I’ll see you both again.”
Hagrid nodded, while Harry lifted a hand in farewell.
“Goodbye, Mr.
Ambrosius.”
Adrian left Gringotts humming softly, leaving Harry watching him with fascination.
Once he had disappeared through the bank’s entrance, Harry tugged at Hagrid’s sleeve.
“Hagrid, who was that?”
Hagrid lowered his voice.
“He may be your age, but he’s nearly as famous as you are in the wizarding world.
Adrian Ambrosius is one of the most gifted young wizards Britain has seen in generations.”
“He’s really that famous?”
“More than famous,” Hagrid replied.
“He’s already created potions and magical objects that fully trained wizards couldn’t manage.
Dumbledore thinks very highly of him.”
Harry looked toward the doorway through which Adrian had vanished.
“Adrian Ambrosius…”
He quietly repeated the name.
Adrian seemed to possess everything Harry lacked.
Confidence.
Talent.
Grace.
Wealth.
A respected family name.
Whereas Harry had become famous because he had survived Voldemort’s Killing Curse, Adrian had earned his reputation through his own achievements.
One was known throughout the wizarding world as the Boy Who Lived.
The other was celebrated as the brilliant young heir of the Ambrosius family.
Among Britain’s younger generation, few names were more widely recognized.
After leaving Gringotts, Adrian unfolded the supply list enclosed with his Hogwarts acceptance letter.
## HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
### UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
Three sets of plain work robes, black One plain pointed hat, black, for day wear One pair of protective gloves, dragon hide One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner’s Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
One wand
One cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
One set of glass or crystal phials
One telescope
One set of brass scales
Students may also bring an owl, a cat, or a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.
Seeing this long shopping list, Adrian Ambrosius felt a headache coming on.
“Shufus, apart from the wand and clothes, you handle the rest.”
Shufus took the list Adrian Ambrosius tossed over and quickly scanned it.
“Master Adrian Ambrosius, for things like the cauldron, would you like them made of gold and crystal, or…?”
Adrian Ambrosius waved his hand.
“Do you even need to ask?
Pick the best.”
“Very well, understood.”
With that, Shufus disappeared on the spot, leaving Adrian Ambrosius alone.
Not far away was Madam Malkin’s Robe Shop.
Logically speaking, a wealthy little kid like Adrian Ambrosius would be a prime target for all sorts of unscrupulous types.
Unfortunately, no one in Diagon Alley dared to have any ideas about Adrian Ambrosius.
See this entire street of Diagon Alley?
Fifty percent of these shops are mine!
And those black-robed wizards standing at the doors—what, you think they’re some sinister and evil lot?
They’re my lovely henchmen!
And if all else fails, this young master will just gift you a special magical protective item.
Adrian Ambrosius was pondering what kind of robes to get as he walked toward Madam Malkin’s shop.
Along the way, many wizard parents accompanying their children to shop gave slight bows when they saw Adrian Ambrosius, while the shopkeepers of the Ambrosius family’s establishments were especially jittery.
Even though Adrian Ambrosius was a pretty reasonable fellow, what if the boss came over and chewed them out without warning?
Just as he finally made it through the crowd and arrived in front of Madam Malkin’s shop, the moment the glass door opened, a soft body suddenly collided right into Adrian Ambrosius’s chest.
“Ouch!”
Adrian Ambrosius snapped back to his senses and looked down slightly, only to see a girl with a head full of brown hair.
Realising she had bumped into someone, the girl quickly pulled back and bowed in apology.
“S-sorry!
I didn’t mean to.”