After finishing their shopping, Professor McGonagall saw them off outside Diagon Alley before hurrying away to guide another young wizard. Standing before the Leaky Cauldron, the Grey couple exchanged a glance, then smiled in quiet excitement.
"Let's find a hotel first—"
"I think the Leaky Cauldron rents rooms upstairs—"
"No! What if we run into some unsavory wizard? It's safer to stay in a normal hotel."
"You're right, Miss Fiona! I remember a nearby place that even allows pets."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Vede shook his head helplessly, hoisting the owl cage while his parents carried their new purchases—books, a cauldron, and other wizarding supplies. Before long, the family had checked into a hotel.
Half an hour later, they were back in front of the Leaky Cauldron, this time better prepared for a second round of exploration.
Inside the dim, crowded pub, Fiona pulled out several folded garments from her bag. "While you were having your uniform tailored," she whispered to Vede with a wink, "I picked up a few ready-made wizard robes. Don't just stand there—there's one for you too! Go change."
The three of them put on their new robes in a shadowy corner. Fortunately, the summer heat made their light clothes easy to layer, and the robes didn't feel bulky. Fiona had even bought herself a hooded cape; with the hood drawn up, only the curve of her chin was visible, giving her an air of mystery that made her look both cool and dramatic.
Now, dressed like proper witches and wizards, they blended in perfectly with the Leaky Cauldron's dim, magical atmosphere.
Pretending to be regulars, Ferdinand ordered lunch. As they waited, he leaned closer to the other two and murmured, "This place might not be the cleanest, but I want to give it a try."
"Mhm." Fiona nodded seriously. "Me too."
Vede sighed. "What's the difference? Everyone knows the best food in Britain isn't even British—it's foreign!"
When the food arrived, the couple stared down at it for a long while. The table looked grimy, the utensils hadn't been polished in years, and the meal itself was… ambiguous.
Finally, Fiona picked up a slice of bread using a handkerchief and forced herself to nibble a few bites. Ferdinand sipped his rum.
"It's no different," she muttered.
"It actually tastes worse than supermarket food…" Ferdinand agreed.
Just then, the door swung open with a heavy creak, and a towering figure filled the doorway, blocking out the daylight.
The Greys froze.
"Oh—my goodness—" Ferdinand gasped, instinctively shielding his wife and son. "God save us—"
The man who entered was enormous—so tall he had to duck under the frame, his broad shoulders nearly brushing the ceiling. His presence was overwhelming, making it easy to overlook the small figure walking beside him.
But Vede noticed the child immediately. Above his head floated two glowing names that only he could see: [Harry Potter] and [Tom Riddle].
While the Grey couple stared in alarm, the rest of the pub brightened with excitement. Smiles spread; greetings were exchanged. Even the bartender's voice turned hearty:
"The usual, Hagrid?"
"No, Tom," the giant rumbled, "I'm on Hogwarts business today!"
"Ah, Hogwarts!" Ferdinand breathed in relief. "So he's not dangerous after all." He wiped the sweat from his brow.
Fiona, however, caught on to a different detail. "Did he say Hogwarts? Vede, is that man a professor?" She craned her neck, trying to see over the crowd, but the pub had already erupted in friendly chatter.
Everyone was pushing forward, eager to shake hands with the giant and, more notably, with the boy beside him.
"Oh, oh, oh—looks like someone important's here!" Fiona exclaimed. "Come on, Ferdie, Vede—let's go meet them too!"
Ferdinand, who rarely denied his wife's impulses, sighed good-naturedly and followed.
He mimicked the others, extending a hand toward the boy with the lightning-shaped scar. "It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Potter!" he said grandly, as if greeting an old acquaintance.
Harry, meanwhile, looked completely overwhelmed. One stranger after another pressed his hand, showering him with praise and admiration. The attention made him blush with discomfort; he still hadn't adjusted to being a celebrity and felt as though this fame belonged to someone else.
When his eyes met Vede's from across the crowd, he flinched slightly under the boy's curious stare.
But Vede's attention soon shifted. A pale young man, wearing a purple turban, approached Harry nervously. His hands trembled, and his words came out in a stutter.
Seeing his unease, Fiona kindly stepped aside, making room for him.
To her, he was just another awkward young professor.
To Vede, he was something else entirely. Above the man's head, two names flickered—nearly overlapping:
[Quirinus Quirrell]
[Tom Riddle]
Vede frowned.
…
When they finally returned to their table, Fiona was still buzzing with excitement. "Wow, wizards and Muggles really aren't that different! They even chase after celebrities!"
Vede didn't understand what she found so thrilling, but Ferdinand had noticed something else. "That boy," he said thoughtfully, "everyone seemed to know him. But look at his clothes—they don't fit. He looks underfed. Doesn't seem like his guardians treat him well."
"Hmm? That can't be right," Fiona replied. "Maybe it's just the style here. Wizards don't seem to know much about Muggle fashion."
"Maybe," Ferdinand said, unconvinced. He turned to his son. "Vede, that young man with the purple turban—he's a professor at Hogwarts. You really should've gone and introduced yourself."
Vede shook his head. "Forget it. That professor doesn't seem very… reliable."
Ferdinand opened his mouth to object, then closed it again. He couldn't exactly argue—he too had doubts about a teacher who couldn't even finish a sentence without stammering.
"Alright!" Fiona declared suddenly, pushing away her barely touched plate. "We've eaten enough. Let's keep exploring!"
Vede and his father exchanged glances. Most of the meal was still untouched, but they both knew resistance was futile.
After all, how could one visit Diagon Alley only once and be satisfied?
The Leaky Cauldron's Charm
Outside again, the air felt fresher than ever. Fiona's eyes gleamed as she led the way through the busy cobblestone street. Shop windows glittered with curiosities—quills that wrote by themselves, brooms that gleamed under sunlight, piles of spellbooks that whispered faintly when opened.
Vede followed behind, taking it all in. The magical world fascinated him, but part of him still couldn't shake what he'd seen—those names above Harry Potter and Professor Quirrell.
Tom Riddle.
He knew that name.
He didn't understand how the same name could appear above two completely different people—but he knew it wasn't a coincidence.
"Vede!" Fiona called, waving him over to a display of enchanted pets. "Look at these! They have cats that can vanish into thin air!"
Vede smiled faintly and went to join her, but his mind lingered elsewhere.
Evening Reflections
By the time they returned to the hotel, night had fallen. Fiona was exhausted but happy, chatting endlessly about every wonder they'd seen. Ferdinand listened patiently, occasionally adding a comment or two.
Vede sat quietly by the window, gazing at the lights of Diagon Alley in the distance.
Tomorrow, they would take the train to Hogwarts.
He thought of Harry Potter again—the shy boy surrounded by adoring strangers—and of the nervous professor whose name shouldn't have been shared with another person.
"Vede," Ferdinand called softly. "Time for bed. Big day tomorrow."
"Alright, Dad."
He lay down but didn't sleep right away. In the darkness, the faint glow of two names—[Harry Potter] and [Tom Riddle]—still burned in his memory.
Somewhere deep inside, he sensed that this meeting, casual as it seemed, would not be the last.