Leaky Cauldron, also known for being the entrance to the famous Wizard Street, Diagon Alley.
Kael comes here once every year to buy the new books he needs for school, as well as consumables like ink and parchment.
However, nothing ever changes when he comes here, and this year is no different.
The dim lighting, the old tables polished smooth, and the noisy customers around all remain the same.
After Newt Disapparated back to Dorset, Kael walked into the backyard, entering Diagon Alley from the entrance there.
Kael first went to Scrivenshaft's to buy a lot of parchment and ink before heading to Flourish and Blotts.
This year, he doesn't need to buy many new textbooks. Other than "The Monster Book of Monsters", he only needs to get "Intermediate Runic Symbols Explained".
While passing the Quidditch Boutique, Kael noticed a large crowd gathered there.
Everyone was trying to push forward, as if wanting to get closer to the window display, and in the crowd, Kael spotted a familiar face... Harry Potter.
His head was being squeezed by a burly wizard's arm, his face nearly deformed with the pressure, yet he seemed indifferent, his green eyes fixed on the items inside the window, occasionally wiping his mouth with a satisfied look.
…Kind of pervy and a bit dumbfounded.
"Harry, what are you doing here!"
Kael had to call out three times before Harry snapped out of it.
"Kael!"
Harry reluctantly tore his gaze from the window, smiled, and said, "Great, it's so good to see you here."
"What were you just looking at?" Kael asked,
"A Firebolt!"
As soon as he mentioned it, Harry became excited and started eagerly explaining to Kael how excellent that broom was.
"Streamlined design... ash handle, and birch twigs that are also polished to a streamline…
And, do you know, it can accelerate from a standstill to one hundred and fifty miles per hour in just ten seconds, making it the fastest broom in the world!"
Harry would love to spend all day praising how great the Firebolt is.
Kael was not as enthusiastic.
The Firebolt is great, but his Nimbus 2000 isn't bad either.
Besides, when Nimbus 2000 first came out, it was also the fastest broom in the world, as was the earlier Sweep 150.
So, every broom has its glory days, in a way, they are all the same.
"I'm going to Flourish and Blotts to buy new textbooks, what about you," Kael asked, "Would you want to stay here and keep looking at the Firebolt? But I suggest you go inside the shop, looking doesn't cost any money."
"No need, I've already seen it many times these past few days... In fact, due to some things, I've been staying here for quite a few days,"
Harry shook his head. "I want to find Ron and Hermione, they should be arriving soon too."
"If that's the case…" Kael pointed to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour not far away, "Are those two people over there them?"
"Huh?" Harry turned around.
Though it was just two backs, he recognized immediately that the two buying ice cream were Hermione and Ron.
"Hermione, Ron!" he called out excitedly.
Both turned around, and were equally surprised.
"Harry!"
"Kael!"
Ron waved his hand and ran over excitedly.
"Finally found you."
He said to Harry, "We went to the Leaky Cauldron, but they said you left, then we went to Flourish and Blotts, Madam Malkin's, but couldn't find you."
Hearing Ron talk, Kael couldn't help but think of Harry a moment ago, caught in the crowd with just his butt sticking out.
If it weren't for accidentally spotting those green eyes reflected in the window glass, he probably wouldn't have noticed Harry at all.
Before long, Hermione also came over, holding four large ice creams in her hands.
"Thanks." Kael took an ice cream and took a bite.
Almond chocolate flavor, tasting quite good.
The group continued walking aimlessly while eating their ice creams.
But while chatting, inevitably, they talked about Harry's situation.
"So, Harry, you really blew up your aunt?" Hermione asked with a serious tone.
"I didn't mean to." Harry said, "I was just too angry and lost control for a moment."
Ron started laughing hard beside him.
"This isn't something to laugh about, Ron." Hermione said sternly, "Honestly, I'm surprised Harry wasn't expelled.
You know, any young wizard getting caught using magic outside school twice gets expelled. And Harry was already warned once last year."
"I'm puzzled too." Harry said, "Fudge just let me stay here, with no other punishment. Why do you think he let me off the hook?"
"Maybe because it's you... the famous Harry Potter." Ron shrugged, chuckled, "I can't imagine what the Ministry of Magic would do if I blew up an aunt.
But first, they would have to dig me up because Mom would have killed me herself before they got to me."
With that, Ron couldn't help but laugh.
Hermione and Harry laughed too.
Anyway, not getting expelled and no punishment was the best outcome.
The group walked a bit further and soon arrived at Flourish and Blotts,
Kael went in to buy new textbooks while the others went to the pet shop dozens meters away.
Hermione wanted to buy herself a pet, and Ron decided to check his pet rat too.
"Scabbers was like this last year, getting thinner, and listless all the time," he was holding the rat in his hands, "I thought some outings might cheer him up, but now it seems he's also a bit out of sorts."
After separating at the entrance, Kael walked into the chaotic Flourish and Blotts.
Though there was no brawling in Flourish and Blotts this year, there were dozens of copies of "The Monster Book of Monsters", aggressively tearing at each other like they were wrestling fiercely, shredded paper everywhere.
A shop assistant, wearing thick gloves, was banging on the books with a knobbly stick, trying to break them apart.
"Hello…" He glanced at Kael during a spare moment, "If you want to buy these, you'll have to wait a bit, I need to separate them first… Stop it! Don't bite it!
Dammit, I'm never stocking these again, what a mess!"
"It's fine, I already have that book." Kael said.
"Really?" The shop assistant looked relieved, "Thank God, I've been bitten by them five times today… So, what can I get for you?"
"I need 'Intermediate Runic Symbols Explained'."
"Ah, starting to delve into Ancient Runes, are you?" The shop assistant removed his gloves, found the book Kael needed from a corner in the shop.
"Not many people buy this, the course is tough, but undeniably, it's a great guide, very detailed contents inside."
He handed the book over, "That will be two Galleons in total."