After breakfast, Harry took two envelopes from the cupboard, handed one to Vid, and then opened his own.
"Huh?" Harry exclaimed, "The booklist for Defense Against the Dark Arts is the same as last year?"
Vid also opened his to take a look.
The booklist didn't feature a slew of "Gilderoy Lockhart" titles, but rather "Defense and Intimidation Spells," the textbook Professor Abigail had required last year.
"Looks like Professor Abigail is teaching the class again this year," Vid said, "I wonder how long she'll stay this time."
"I hope she keeps teaching this course," Harry said hopefully, "She teaches really useful material."
Vid shook his head quietly.
Last semester, Abigail only taught for two months before the holidays, allowing her to leave Hogwarts peacefully.
If she's teaching again this academic year, it's uncertain whether she'll make it to the Christmas break.
Vid felt a slight foreboding—the professor...
"Well, as expected—there's 'Standard Spells, Grade 3,' then 'Intermediate Transfiguration,' 'The Monster Book of Monsters,' 'British Muggle Family Life and Social Habits,' 'Unveiling the Future.' And... huh? What's this? 'The Monster Book of Monsters'?"
Harry perused the booklist and muttered to himself, "No wonder Hagrid gave me a copy for my birthday. That means I only need to buy five new books."
"I have both 'Standard Spells' and 'Intermediate Transfiguration,' I can give them to you," Vid said, "You just need to buy the remaining three."
Harry said with delight, "Really? Thank you! Then I'll cover the cost of your new books this time — don't be shy about it!"
"Alright!" Vid laughed and agreed.
He's not just giving away two old books; they also come with "top student notes," very helpful for third-year courses.
Although Harry's grades were quite good, who would reject making learning easier?
In good spirits, Harry leaned over to look at Vid's booklist and said, "I remember you have twelve classes to study. Do you need to buy those books too?"
Vid unfolded the booklist for him while saying, "I already have 'Ancient Magical Language Introduction' and the 'Magic Rune Dictionary.' What's left is 'Numerology and Graphics.'"
Harry glanced at it and genuinely said, "Honestly, just seeing the names makes me not want to open them... I don't know how you read through them."
"Delving into the essence of Magic, interpreting it with mathematics and Magic Text is actually as intriguing as the Magic Spell itself."
Vid saw Harry's eyes starting to glaze over and chuckled, "I originally thought you weren't planning to take Muggle Studies!"
"I used to think Muggle Studies wasn't necessary, but after taking Professor Abigail's class, I realize I actually don't understand Muggle Society—"
Harry thought of those terrifying weapons with lingering fear and said, "I just know a bit more common sense than most wizards, but otherwise, I'm just as clueless."
If possible, Harry also wished he could be like Hermione and Vid, taking all the courses.
But Vid's ancient magical books and notes, which he left on the table, had been glanced at by Harry several times, but he couldn't understand them at all and even found himself yawning by the effort of finishing the first paragraph — more effective than Professor Bin's hypnotic classes.
As for Arithmancy... well, math is unfortunately not his forte.
The courses he really wanted to take were Muggle Studies and Care of Magical Creatures, the former because of Professor Abigail's class, the latter because Granian Farm left a very good impression on him.
Harry once considered becoming a protector of Magical Creatures like Mr. Steven (Professor Morry's son)—it seemed like it would be joyous.
But when flying on a broom, the dream of becoming a Quidditch national team player overshadowed everything else.
As for Divination Class, Harry purely added it because he heard it was easy to score — a filler for him.
This way, if he didn't do well in other courses, at least Divination Class's scores could restore a bit of dignity.
...
Having received the booklist, Vid and the others set off once more to Diagon Alley to buy books.
They were amazed to find mirrors installed in most shops in Diagon Alley, enticing customers who were simply passing by to stop and enter.
After the initial promotional phase, Machioni had begun broadcasting Muggle TV shows through Flow Mirror.
Today, the screening was a famous silent comedy film, though the mirror didn't emit sound, joyous laughter echoed throughout Diagon Alley.
Even Tom's Leaky Cauldron sported a Flow Mirror disguised as an ordinary TV. However, the old bartender wasn't using it to draw customers; instead, he watched it, seeming quite pleased, even forgetting to do his usual glass-care charade.
Passing through the Leaky Cauldron with its dubious sanitation to enter bustling Diagon Alley, Vid occasionally heard children pleading:
"Buy one, Mum! Even the cheapest one will do..."
"Wait a bit. We'll buy it when your dad gets his paycheck next month."
"Then I'm coming to Diagon Alley again tomorrow!"
"Floo Powder costs two Sickles a scoop; frequent visits will cost a Galleon quickly..."
Many children were resting outside shops, eagerly watching the programs within.
The only attraction stronger than Flow Mirror was the newly exhibited broomstick at the Quidditch boutique—
The best Flying Broomstick, Firebolt.
The Bugatti of the Magic World, capable of accelerating to 150 mph in ten seconds.
Harry was captivated the moment he laid eyes on it and couldn't look away.
Sirius, without a word, entered the shop and bought the jaw-droppingly expensive broomstick for Harry, ruffling his hair and saying:
"Take it as an early Christmas gift from me."
Harry hugged the broomstick, his eyes sparkling, so excited he could barely breathe.
"Ten seconds to 150 mph... that's insanely fast, without protection. Can a human withstand it?"
Vid muttered to himself, but also placed an order for one.
Though he didn't actually need a broomstick that fast, as a Peregrine Falcon's short-distance sprint was quicker... but this was a Firebolt!
Even if he didn't ride it, keeping it at home as a collector's item was great, especially as he wasn't short of money. As a third-year student, the school rules allowed him to bring a broomstick to school.
Afterwards, Lupin spent money to give the two each a set of broomstick maintenance tools, equally costly.
Lupin's salary was substantial, and he now had a considerable savings, making him appear more relaxed, with almost all of his formerly visible frugality disappearing.
This also caused someone across the street, who had been observing for quite some time, to remain unsure if he had mistaken the person's identity.