Diagon Alley.
Various shops kept Sheeran dazzled.
His gaze darted back and forth across various quirky spellbooks, potion vials, owls, and unfamiliar potion ingredients.
He only lingered on each item for a moment before being drawn to something even more novel.
Although he had anticipated such a scene long ago, when seeing this magical world with his own eyes, Sheeran still felt immensely astonished.
“Child, this is the education fund issued by Hogwarts.
Perhaps you’ll need to spend it sparingly…”
McGonagall handed a pouch of coins to Sheeran.
“Thank you, Professor McGonagall.
This is already a lot of money for me.”
McGonagall knew in her heart that this money was actually only enough to maintain the bare minimum of expenses, or perhaps even tighter.
She considered in her heart that she might be able to pitch in some money to help this child get a decent set of school supplies.
The money saved this way could be set aside by him to improve his living conditions.
But saying such words directly might be a bit too hurtful.
Sheeran looked at the item list and asked, raising his head, “Professor McGonagall, are there any secondhand shops where we can buy these things?
Perhaps that could save some money.”
“Child, perhaps I can help you.”
McGonagall held back these words in her heart, opened her mouth, but ultimately didn’t say them out.
After all, the child had already figured out a solution on his own.
Although it was only a brief contact, McGonagall already knew that this gentle-looking child actually had a surprisingly stubborn streak deep down.
“Of course there are.
But that requires a bit of discernment.
I can teach you.
Perhaps we need to have a temporary common-sense lesson.”
“Thank you, Professor McGonagall.”
The two strolled around Diagon Alley, searching for secondhand goods on the list.
During this process, McGonagall would also explain common things in Diagon Alley to Sheeran.
She found that Sheeran was actually very smart; he always listened attentively, occasionally asking questions when he didn’t understand something, or perhaps expansively presenting his own thoughts.
Regardless of whether this child was Fabian’s child or not, McGonagall felt she liked him.
“Although the Prewett brothers were both in Gryffindor, perhaps he will enter Ravenclaw House?” McGonagall couldn’t help thinking in her heart.
Soon, the two bought most of the things on the list.
These secondhand goods had flaws to varying degrees.
Although after McGonagall’s selection, the functions of these things were all intact, their appearance was a bit hard to compliment.
The mouth of that cauldron had a small chip, and the material of the small crystal potion vial was also rather murky…
Although the work robes and pointed hat had no patches, they were obviously worn out and ill-fitting, and the owl was also a bit listless.
As for those books… the contents were complete, but the binding of some books had begun to fall apart.
Anyway… they just looked ragged.
However, this was all at Sheeran’s own request.
Compared to the appearance of the items, this child valued their practicality more.
If McGonagall hadn’t stopped him, Sheeran might have bought those sets of work robes that had many patches but were cheaper.
The owl was not a necessity; it was a gift from McGonagall.
Although hinting that he could choose a good one, the child still chose a listless owl in the end.
For no other reason than that it was cheap.
This made McGonagall feel somewhat guilty.
“And the last one… the wand…” Sheeran checked the list.
“Child, you can’t buy a secondhand wand.”
McGonagall took the item list and carefully confirmed it, and seeing that only the wand was indeed left, she led Sheeran toward Ollivander’s.
“Wands must be bought at Ollivander’s; they have been making fine wands since 382 BC.”
The two crossed a small path and came before the Ollivander wand shop, their line of sight first drawn by a tall figure.
This figure was surprisingly tall, with a head of bushy hair and coarse, bristly beard, and his hands and feet were also surprisingly large, which made the boy beside him look like a ragdoll.
“Oh, Professor McGonagall, I really didn’t expect to run into you here.”
The big fellow’s voice was somewhat muffled.
McGonagall also noticed them — with his height, it was hard not to notice.
“Hagrid.
What a coincidence…” McGonagall’s gaze was drawn to the boy beside Hagrid.
“It looks like you’ve got yourselves good wands.”
“Yeah, this is an important task entrusted to me by Professor Dumbledore.”
When Hagrid spoke of the “important task”, he couldn’t help humming softly, and being trusted by Dumbledore made him feel proud.
Looking at the boy before him who was about his own age, wore round glasses, and had a petite build, Sheeran’s gaze couldn’t help but look toward his forehead.
Probably everyone seeing Harry Potter for the first time would want to see the lightning scar on his forehead, right?
Harry was also observing the somewhat pale boy in front of him, and seeing the ragged clothes on him, he thought that perhaps, like him, he had a less-than-stellar aunt.
The two adults spoke, while the two children quietly watched each other.
“Galloping Gorgons!
This boy looks so much like Fabian!”
Hagrid, noticing Sheeran, let out an exaggerated exclamation, the sound crashing into McGonagall’s ears like a buzzing carriage.
She quickly glanced at Sheeran, leaned closer to Hagrid, and asked hesitatingly, “You think he looks like Fabian too?”
“Like?
If you ask me, they are an exact match!”
Hagrid’s dense beard twitched wildly, brushing his chest clean as a whistle like a broom.
“What’s your name, child?”
“Sheeran Prewett.
Sir.”
“Prewett!
Good heavens!” Hagrid let out an exclamation, widened his eyes at McGonagall, and then suddenly lowered his voice, saying, “Professor McGonagall!
Where, where did you find him?
I’ve never heard of Fabian having a child.”
“It’s not certain yet.”
Although saying so, the look in McGonagall’s eyes as she looked at Sheeran had already changed.
“We need to go buy a wand, Hagrid, you take Harry back.”
Watching the receding backs of the two, Professor McGonagall was somewhat lost in thought until Sheeran called out to her.
“Professor McGonagall, was my father, Fabian Prewett, also a wizard?
What kind of person was he?
I don’t have any impression of him at all.
When Mrs.
Hazel occasionally mentioned him, she always said he was a heartless man, but I don’t think he was that kind of person.”
Sheeran looked up and gazed at McGonagall, his eyes showing just the right amount of sorrow, a smile mixed with the rough disguise of pain.
Of course, this was just Sheeran’s usual method — after all, a crying child gets fed.
Sure enough, seeing Sheeran like this, McGonagall felt a pang of heartache.
“No, child.
Your father… Fabian, he was a great wizard.
By no means an ungrateful person.
He sacrificed himself to protect the wizarding world, in a resolute struggle against evil wizards.
He and his brother faced five Death Eaters…”
McGonagall couldn’t go on.
No matter how those great achievements were described, it could not erase the harm this child had suffered.
Sheeran lowered his head, pressing his lips tightly together, and after a good while, asked in a low voice, “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, and both my mother and I have forgiven him.”
McGonagall couldn’t speak.
A hero’s child wore old and tattered clothes, and none of the school supplies he bought looked intact, yet even so, he held no resentment at all, only asking if his father was brave, only saying that he and his mother had forgiven him!
Facing such a kind-hearted child, endless guilt surged in McGonagall’s heart, piercing her heart like a small knife with every heartbeat.
“Child, I’m a bit tired.
Can I wait for you outside?”
“Mr.
Ollivander will help you find a wand that suits you.”
“Of course, Professor McGonagall.”
Sheeran smiled and walked into Ollivander’s, and the moment he stepped inside, a small screen appeared before his eyes.
[Congratulations on triggering: Chronic Guilt]
[Description: You are not at fault!
It is the world’s fault!
Everyone feels guilty toward you.
Within the time limit (30 days), collect Guilt Value to redeem characteristic traits.]
[Current Guilt Value: 134]
Currently redeemable characteristic traits:
[Spell Inspiration: Little idiot!
Can you understand these spells?
It is easier to spark inspiration during the process of learning spells.
(Cost 200)]
[Stealth and Silence: Shh!
No one is looking at you.
Your presence is slightly reduced, making it less likely to attract attention.
(Cost 180)]
[Alchemical Hands: It’s about to blow up!
Do you want your hands or gold?
The success rate of alchemy is slightly increased.
(Cost 200)]