“We should go,” Firenze said with a nod.
“Lucas McGregor, Ellie Jane MacFusty, may the stars light your way.”
“Goodbye, Lucas.
Goodbye, Ellie.
See you next time you’re in the forest.” Xiya hesitated, reluctant to leave, then trotted after her father.
She glanced back one last time.
“The North Star will always shine for you.”
In a few fluid bounds the centaur father and daughter vanished deep into the trees, their silver coats melting into the dappled shadows until they were gone.
Lucas was still staring after them when Hagrid’s big voice rolled out.
“All right, kids.
Time to head back.
Professor Dumbledore and Ellie’s dad are waiting.”
As they walked, Hagrid kept shaking his head in amazement.
“That was something else… something else entirely.
Firenze actually talking to humans?
That’s rare enough for centaurs.
But his daughter…”
“She doesn’t act like a centaur at all.
And Lucas—you gave her a Muggle gadget and she gave you a present right back.
Merlin’s underpants, this world’s gone mad.”
Doesn’t act like a centaur?
Lucas remembered what Ellie had told him—how centaurs followed the stars, looked down on humans, and kept their own ancient culture and magic.
That meant the wizarding world had more than just people.
There were other intelligent beings, each with their own ways, their own magic… and probably their own food.
The thought hit him like a spark.
Lucas drew in a deep breath, and his steps suddenly felt lighter.
He couldn’t wait to dive deeper into this world and start his real culinary journey.
“Amazing… just amazing…” he muttered, grinning ear to ear.
Ellie glanced at his side profile and rolled her eyes.
“There he goes again.
Your concussion definitely isn’t healed.”
Lucas chuckled.
From the corner of his eye he thought he saw a cat slip through the grass, but it was gone before he could be sure.
Wasn’t that the same tabby I spotted outside the hospital window?
“Hey, Hagrid,” he asked, “does Hogwarts have a lot of cats?
I keep seeing one.”
Hagrid waved a massive hand.
“That’d be Mrs.
Norris.
Nasty little spy, that one.”
When they reached the lawn in front of the castle, Alastair stood with his hands behind his back, staring out at the black lake like a silent statue.
Dumbledore was happily watching a patch of grass where tiny blades were doing a tap-dance routine.
At the sound of their footsteps Alastair turned.
Ellie’s smile faded a little.
She walked over to her father, suddenly tense.
“It’s time, Ellie,” Alastair said.
“So soon?” Ellie looked startled and shot a quick glance at Lucas.
“The black dragon Skye has just been taken home.
There’s a lot to handle on the islands, and your mother is waiting for news.” Alastair’s eyes moved to Lucas and he gave a small nod.
“Until we meet again, Mr.
McGregor.”
The MacFusty chieftain’s voice was always heavy, final, leaving no room for argument.
“Lucas!” Ellie called quickly.
She locked eyes with him.
“Give me your address!
I’m going to write you!”
Lucas blinked, then rattled off the McGregor farm address.
“It’s too long,” Ellie complained.
“I need to write it down.”
She patted her pockets, but the only thing in them was the new lighter.
A huge hand appeared holding a bent, slightly battered quill.
Hagrid.
“Use this…”
“Say it again, Lucas!” Ellie took the quill, hiked up the hem of her robe, and scribbled the address on the inside lining.
Lucas thought he heard Alastair give a quiet grunt, but when he looked up the man was staring into the distance again.
The moment Ellie finished, Alastair turned and started walking.
Ellie had to hurry to keep up.
She twisted around, violet eyes sparkling in the sunlight.
“Lucas!
I’ll write you— you have to write back, okay?”
“Of course,” Lucas said, smiling.
Father and daughter disappeared through the castle doors.
Lucas watched them go, feeling a strange empty tug in his chest.
Dumbledore stepped up beside him.
“Don’t worry, Lucas.
In just over a month you’ll both be back here at Hogwarts.
Plenty of time to keep building that friendship.”
He gave Lucas a warm look.
“And I owe you thanks.
Without your help, I doubt the MacFusty clan would ever have sent a student to Hogwarts.”
His eyes crinkled behind his half-moon glasses.
“Now, let’s get you to your grandfather.
He’s waiting in Hogsmeade.”
Grandpa!
Lucas froze.
Oh no.
The whole wild morning had made him completely forget about his grandfather.
The thought of Finlay McGregor’s roar and thunderous temper sent a shiver down his spine.
“Professor Dumbledore, what’s the fastest way there?”
Dumbledore smiled.
“We have plenty of ways to travel.
The quickest one is—” He held out his arm.
“Hold on tight.”
Lucas grabbed the sleeve, confused.
“Ready?
Good—”
CRACK!
It felt like he’d been shoved into a narrow rubber tube.
His insides twisted and squeezed, but he couldn’t even scream.
The world spun violently, then his feet slammed onto solid ground.
His head spun, his stomach lurched like he’d done a hundred cartwheels.
If Dumbledore hadn’t steadied him, he would’ve face-planted.
“Oh, the first Apparition always feels like that,” Dumbledore said cheerfully.
He looked perfectly fine and even straightened Lucas’s robes.
“You’ll get used to it soon enough, strong young man like you.”
Lucas sucked in a deep breath of crisp air.
It helped.
He looked around and realized they were standing on a cobblestone street lined with crooked little houses.
The air smelled of butter, ale, and sweet spices.
“Welcome to Hogsmeade,” Dumbledore said, “the only all-wizard village in Britain.
We don’t have time for a tour today, but once you’re in your third year you’ll be able to come here on your own.”
He led Lucas straight to a pub with a wooden sign showing three crossed broomsticks.
It was still morning, so the place was nearly empty.
Lucas spotted a small table near the bar right away.
Professor Sprout sat there with a steaming mug.
Across from her, Finlay McGregor wore the same tweed shirt he’d had on for days, back ramrod straight.
He wasn’t looking at anyone.
He just stared at the untouched wooden tankard in front of him, knuckles white on the handle, the whole man radiating stiff, out-of-place tension.
Professor Sprout was trying to talk to him, but Finlay hadn’t said a word.
She glanced up, saw Dumbledore and Lucas, and jumped to her feet with obvious relief.
“Albus!
Lucas!
You’re here!”