In the evening, the sun set, and twilight enveloped the earth.
In the Leaky Cauldron, people gathered in groups of twos and threes, chatting while drinking smooth Butterbeer.
In a corner, Makiya, Harry, and Hagrid sat around a table.
Three bowls of creamy mushroom soup emitted an inviting aroma. Hagrid swallowed it down spoonful after spoonful, and Harry also ate very happily.
Makiya's eating manner was much more refined. He originally thought the creamy mushroom soup would be dark cuisine, but he hadn't expected the soup to be surprisingly good.
Was it because the food in the orphanage was too poor?
Makiya was a lover of spicy food; spicy hotpot and roasted meat were his favorites. He specifically bought an extra cauldron, planning to improve his diet at school.
Harry was very smart. Combining the reactions of everyone and Ollivander's words, he had already guessed his life story. He took the opportunity of the meal to ask Hagrid for information.
Hagrid kept muttering, "I can't say," but he couldn't resist little Harry's pitiful eyes and eventually told some of Voldemort's deeds and the truth about the death of Harry's parents.
Just as little Harry fell into deep thought, Makiya also asked about his own parents.
Perhaps because of the broken window effect, Hagrid sighed and said, "Makiya, your parents were good people—very, very good people!" when faced with Makiya's question.
Hagrid's face showed reminiscence, his tone full of sighs.
"Although their magical talent... wasn't great, they were very smart and could always seize opportunities to make a fortune. I heard they also had quite a high status among Muggles. I don't know much about those things, but they provided many properties, Galleons, and supplies to the Pho— to us during the dark times. Dumbledore said your parents saved many lives."
"What bad luck. At that time, Voldemort was killing people like grass, and no one he wanted to kill could escape. Your parents were found by Voldemort in the ninth month of being pregnant with you. When Dumbledore arrived, the Aurors responsible for protection and your parents had all... sacrificed themselves, but miraculously, the fetus in the womb was still alive."
Hagrid picked up his Butterbeer and drank half a cup in one go, pointing at Makiya and exclaiming, "Makiya, you are simply a miracle of life. It's so good to see you grow up healthy."
Hagrid had worried many times about the safety of Harry and Makiya. To this, Dumbledore only comforted him, saying that everything was under control. The old bee secretly arranged for the Squib Mrs. Figg to live in Little Whinging, keeping an eye on the surroundings and reporting regularly.
Hagrid smacked his lips and drank the remaining half cup of Butterbeer again.
"I only know that much. Headmaster Dumbledore definitely knows more. You can go ask him directly. Believe me, the Headmaster is very easy to talk to."
Makiya thought about it back and forth and finally reached a conclusion: just do it.
Strength is the truth; everything else is empty.
If Voldemort and that group of Death Eaters are all killed, there will certainly be no mistake.
The three stopped talking and lowered their heads to eat.
Having eaten and drunk their fill, they prepared to go home. It was only July 31st, a month before school started. Harry needed to return to the Dursleys, while Makiya looked at Hagrid.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Hagrid slapped his forehead and looked at Makiya. "The Headmaster's intention is for you to stay in Hogsmeade for a month. Hogsmeade is a wizarding village right next to Hogwarts, and only wizards in their third year or above can go there. Zonko's Joke Shop is very interesting; you should cherish this opportunity."
"Of course, you have another choice." Hagrid patted his chest. "You can live with me near the Forbidden Forest. Building a new small wooden cabin is very simple for me, but you have to promise me not to enter the Forbidden Forest without permission."
"I'll stay in the wooden cabin," Makiya said immediately.
"I... I want to stay in the wooden cabin too..." Harry, having listened for so long, couldn't help but say, "Hagrid, you saw my aunt and uncle. I don't want to go back. I want to live with you too."
Hagrid was quite torn. That couple was prejudiced against wizards, and Harry would certainly be bullied if he went back. However, he didn't dare to make decisions for Harry on his own. After thinking about it, he decided to ask Dumbledore when in doubt.
"Alright, Harry, you stay at my place with Makiya first. If Headmaster Dumbledore doesn't agree, I'll send you back."
"Yes, yes, okay!" Harry quickly agreed, nodding like a chick pecking grain.
Hagrid's transportation was a huge two-seater motorcycle, and the sidecar was just right to hold Makiya and Harry.
This special magically modified motorcycle was lent to Hagrid by Harry's godfather, Sirius Black. Because Sirius suddenly went to Azkaban for further studies, Hagrid had been using it until now.
"What a cool bike!" Harry touched the motorcycle's shell and said excitedly, "I feel such a sense of familiarity; it's truly amazing!"
'Of course it's familiar,' Makiya complained in his heart. 'This is your godfather's bike. Hagrid was the one who drove this bike to send you to the Dursleys' doorstep in the first place.'
Hagrid tied a large pile of miscellaneous items to the back seat. The mountain-like heap was crooked and looked ready to fall, yet it wouldn't go down.
Just as the motorcycle was about to start, Makiya suddenly thought of the menu from before. "Hagrid, did you drink?"
"Of course, a cup of Butterbeer," Hagrid said with a smile. "Don't worry, I can drink three whole barrels of Butterbeer in a row. I can't feel a single cup at all."
"Alright then, you must be careful while driving."
The alcohol content of Butterbeer seemed to be very low, so Makiya said no more.
Amid Harry's cries of surprise, the engine roared with a huge sound, and the motorcycle soared into the sky, heading north all the way through the night toward the Scottish Highlands.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"...So, is that the reason you came to see me?"
In the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts, the white-haired and long-bearded Dumbledore walked to the window and looked out toward the Forbidden Forest, but he didn't see Makiya and Harry.
Both children were very obedient, staying quietly in Hagrid's cabin without running around.
"Yes, Headmaster. Harry's aunt and uncle... they really hate wizards. Little Harry will definitely be bullied if he goes back."
Dumbledore didn't answer. He knew far more about Harry's situation than Hagrid did. The reason he had always let Harry live at the Dursleys' was because of the ancient protection magic Lily Potter had cast with love before she died, which required him to stay with blood relatives to be maintained until Harry reached adulthood.
After a long silence, Dumbledore finally agreed to Harry's request.
Within Hogwarts, he was confident he could protect the children's safety.
In Hagrid's cabin by the Forbidden Forest.
When Harry learned that he could also live here, he was as happy as a silly roe deer.
Three people living in one small cabin was indeed very crowded. After making do for one night, at dawn the next day, Hagrid began the great task of building a house.
The physical fitness of a giant greatly sped up the construction. As the saying goes, one lives off the mountains if they are near them; the wood in the Forbidden Forest was inexhaustible. There was no need to deliberately fell trees; just collecting the parts that had already fallen was enough.
Under the surprised gazes of Hagrid and Harry, Makiya waved his wand to pull over a piece of wood and then released flames to carbonize the surface.
"What's wrong?" Makiya asked curiously, seeing the surprised looks on their faces.
"Maki... Makiya, you already learned magic?" Harry propped up his dropped jaw and asked stutteringly.
Comparisons were odious. His wand was still just a firestick, yet Makiya could already use magic proficiently?
Makiya raised the "Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1" in his hand and waved it. "There are many very practical spells in here. You went to sleep early last night, and since I had nothing to do and couldn't sleep, I flipped through and read some, and I've basically mastered a few spells."
As he spoke, Makiya pointed his wand. "Wingardium Leviosa!"
The beam that Hagrid had finished cutting soared into the air, floated slowly and accurately in front of Makiya, and landed steadily.
Harry was greatly shocked. Makiya's figure suddenly became tall in his eyes, and a sense of pressure came from somewhere, making him feel ashamed.
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