Jerael opened the door, and sure enough, standing outside was Professor Minerva McGonagall.
She was a professor Jerael had always liked.
A Gryffindor to the core: brave and fearless, fair and just, stern yet compassionate, strict without being inflexible.
Jerael genuinely adored her.
That, of course, included Professor McGonagall’s Animagus form—that adorable tabby cat.
“Hello, Mr.
Print.
I am Minerva McGonagall, Professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts.
Today I will take you to Diagon Alley to purchase your school supplies.”
Professor McGonagall spoke with a stern expression, but as she looked down at Jerael, she paused, and her tone softened with a touch of gentleness.
“I was also your parents’ professor, of course.
They were very clever, and…
very brave.”
A tinge of regret lingered at the end of Professor McGonagall’s words.
Jerael naturally knew why.
Lawrence and Anne had fought bravely against Death Eaters, but sadly their injuries were too severe, and they hadn’t survived.
While everyone else in the wizarding world was gleefully celebrating Voldemort’s downfall, Jerael’s family had remained steeped in grief, unable to share in the joy.
“Hello, Professor McGonagall!
I’m Jerael Print.
I’m so happy to go to Diagon Alley with you.
It’s wonderful that I can go to Hogwarts—my dad told me it’s the absolute best!”
Jerael responded enthusiastically.
Of course he was excited—it was the wizarding world!
Who wouldn’t want to see it?
Plus, it was safe now, meaning he could enjoy a complete Hogwarts experience.
Hearing this, Professor McGonagall’s expression softened considerably as she looked pitifully at the child before her.
Then she suddenly frowned.
“Mr.
Print, your eyes…”
Jerael reflexively touched his eyes with his small hand and explained:
“Professor McGonagall, my dad said that back when the Death Eaters were hunting us, two spells collided and caused a mutation.
He didn’t know why it turned out like this either, but luckily it doesn’t affect my body, sight, or magic.
So he told me not to worry about it and just treat them as eyes with a strange color.”
Jerael flashed Professor McGonagall a slightly helpless yet reassuring smile.
He didn’t want to go into detail because he didn’t really know what was going on himself.
Making up a story was enough; after all, anything could happen in the wizarding world, so it wasn’t unusual.
*Merlin’s beard, what a sensible young wizard.
Why did he have to suffer such hardships?*
Professor McGonagall sighed internally.
In the wizarding world, the Prints were far from the only family to suffer.
Fortunately, the Dark Lord was gone now, and these children could grow up safely.
“Let us be off, Mr.
Print.
We are ready to head to Diagon Alley.”
Snapping back to the present, Professor McGonagall extended her hand, signaling for Jerael to take it.
“Please wait a moment, Professor McGonagall!”
Jerael pattered upstairs to the study, grabbed a thousand pounds, and pattered right back down.
“I’m sorry, I don’t have any Gold Galleons.
Dad said I can exchange pounds at Gringotts.
This is money my dad earned for me working in the Muggle world.”
Jerael looked up and explained.
Professor McGonagall didn’t mind at all.
Taking the stack of pounds for safekeeping, she took Jerael’s hand and activated Apparition.
*Oh no!
I wasn’t ready!*
Jerael was caught completely unprepared as he was squeezed into the rubber-tube sensation of Apparition.
Surprisingly, though, it wasn’t too unpleasant—just a few moments of dizziness, and it was over.
Standing outside The Leaky Cauldron, Jerael gave his head a dazed shake, feeling somewhat perplexed.
But seeing Professor McGonagall’s hand still firmly holding his, he realized why.
Professor McGonagall had shielded him.
*She really is stern on the outside but softhearted inside.
I love her so much.*
“This is The Leaky Cauldron.
Now that you know the address, you can take a taxi here on your own in the future.
However, I do not recommend a first-year coming alone—especially a child like you who has had no prior exposure to the wizarding world.
Unfamiliar as you are, you could easily be taken advantage of.”
Professor McGonagall spoke with a touch of warning, instructing Jerael earnestly.
Jerael understood what she meant.
Less than a year had passed since Voldemort’s death; while the wizarding world was showing signs of stabilizing, it wasn’t completely peaceful yet.
In a few years, when things settled down entirely, walking through Diagon Alley alone as a young wizard would be much safer.
Jerael nodded dutifully in agreement, earning a satisfied nod from Professor McGonagall.
As the two entered The Leaky Cauldron, Jerael’s eyes sparkled with novelty.
Going from 2D to 3D really was magical.
The dim surroundings, gloomy Old Tom, the Fumos-filled air, and those jobless, homeless, familyless wizard bums lounging around drinking and laughing casually.
However, the noisy atmosphere quickly quieted down, only to erupt in excitement a moment later.
“Professor McGonagall!
So wonderful to see you.
Wishing you good health!”
“Hello, Professor McGonagall!
I was a Ravenclaw student!”
“Professor McGonagall, is the Dark Lord truly dead?
I still can’t believe it!”
“Professor McGonagall…”
The wizards inside The Leaky Cauldron all recognized Professor McGonagall and excitedly crowded around, hurling greetings from every direction.
Professor McGonagall calmly nodded to each wizard who approached to speak with her.
“Professor McGonagall, who is this young wizard?
Oh, look at my head—it’s time for this year’s new students to enroll!”
At those words, everyone stopped talking, their eyes converging on Jerael.
Jerael felt a shiver run down his spine and instinctively ducked behind Professor McGonagall’s robes.
Professor McGonagall summoned the stern aura she reserved for disobedient students and swept her gaze across the crowd, causing them to turn away reflexively.
“They’re the first batch of new students since…
They’re luckier than us.
I wish I could go back to Hogwarts to study again.”
The former Ravenclaw student sighed wistfully, looking at Jerael with a mixture of regret and envy.
“Mr.
Sott, graduation is not the end.
I believe you can achieve great things on your own.
Do not lose heart—the present is not like the past.
Muggle-born wizards can thrive as well.”
Professor McGonagall clearly recognized him and offered a word of encouragement.
Obviously, Mr.
Sott was a Muggle-born wizard.
Judging by his age, he had still been in school when Voldemort rose to power.
Because of Voldemort, he likely hadn’t learned much, leading to his aimless, unproductive life after graduation, spending his days drinking at The Leaky Cauldron.
After a moment’s thought, Professor McGonagall added with a slight smile:
“I am glad you miss Hogwarts, though I would advise against returning.
Remember the bronze eagle knocker at the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room?
When you couldn’t answer its question and spent the entire night reading *An Encyclopedia of Potions and Herbs* at it in frustration, it told me that the next time it saw you, it would give you an even harder riddle.”
“Hahaha!”
The wizards inside The Leaky Cauldron burst into a roar of laughter.
Old Tom laughed so hard his butterbeer spilled right over.
Mr.
Sott flushed red and sat back down, burying his face in his plate, refusing to come out.
Smiling softly, Professor McGonagall led Jerael through the crowd to the courtyard out back.
Drawing her wand, she said:
“Watch closely.
The order must not be wrong.
Once you have your wand, you can open it yourself.”
Jerael quietly activated his Byakugan, watching as Professor McGonagall tapped the wall in sequence.
The bricks and the trash bin in the corner glowed together, and the wall began to shift and slide apart.
*How wondrous!
Not a single item in the wizarding world is put here without a purpose.*
Sensing a faint ripple of magic from Jerael and seeing him stare intently at the moving wall with wide-eyed curiosity, Professor McGonagall found it rather endearing.
Indeed, no young wizard could escape the thrill of stepping through the gateway into the wizarding world.
The bricks finished shifting, forming an arched doorway.
Beyond it lay a bustling, lively street filled with passersby.
“Welcome to Diagon Alley.”
Professor McGonagall introduced with pride.