August 7th, Charlie's birthday.
The morning sun filtered through the gap in the curtains, yet Charlie was still buried in bed, refusing to get up.
He'd muted the constant [Tyrant Point +1, +1] notifications long ago, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to sleep at all.
[...]
"Charlie, you've got mail downstairs!" Granny White's voice floated up from below.
Only then did Charlie slowly get out of bed, threw on some clothes, and yawned his way down the stairs.
On the dining table was a colorful stack of envelopes, all different shapes and sizes. It was quite the sight.
"Happy birthday, Charlie," Granny White said with a warm smile. "Looks like you've made quite a few friends at school."
Charlie picked up the letters and sifted through them. Most were birthday cards from friends, even a few professors had sent notes.
He replied to each of them in turn.
Then, he picked up the last envelope.
"Second-Year Book List, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry"
Charlie opened it to find a long roll of parchment inside.
"Dear Mr. White,
Please ensure the following textbooks are purchased before September 1st…"
The list went on and on, but one particular set stood out immediately:
The Complete Works of Gilderoy Lockhart.
Charlie narrowed his eyes. This many books? Lockhart must be getting kickbacks.
Just then, heavy footsteps echoed outside.
Thud thud thud.
The whole door shook with each knock.
"I'll get it," Charlie said to Granny White.
He opened the orphanage's front door and was met with Hagrid's towering frame.
"Happy birthday, Charlie!"
Hagrid beamed, holding a parcel and a small trunk.
"Hagrid? What brings you here?" Charlie was surprised.
"Course I came for your birthday!" Hagrid said, squeezing through the door.
"And Norbert's food is almost gone. Brought him some fresh stuff."
Charlie nodded, so that was the real reason. His birthday was just a bonus.
Granny White caught sight of Hagrid and looked momentarily startled.
This man's enormous...
"Grandma, this is my friend Hagrid," Charlie introduced.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. White," Hagrid said politely. "Charlie's a great kid."
Granny White smiled.
"I'll leave you boys to chat, I'll start prepping lunch."
Hagrid handed over the parcel and the trunk.
"Made this cake myself. And that there's for Norbert."
Charlie took the heavy parcel, definitely a cake. The trunk clearly held Norbert's rations.
Though just Hogwarts' gamekeeper, Hagrid had no trouble getting his hands on an Undetectable Extension Trunk.
Raising dragons was out of the question, but transporting dragon? No problem.
"Thanks, Hagrid."
They headed up to Charlie's room, where Hagrid looked around curiously.
"Nice room," he said. "Much tidier than my hut."
Charlie opened his Extension Trunk and climbed down with Hagrid.
At the sound of their arrival, Norbert came flying over from the hills.
The moment he saw them, Norbert let out an excited roar.
"Norbert!" Hagrid grinned, arms wide open. "You've grown so much!"
"C'mere and give Mum a hug!"
Norbert soared toward them, then flew right past Hagrid and landed in front of Charlie, wagging his tail and rubbing against him affectionately.
Hagrid stood frozen in place.
Charlie cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Don't take it personally. He's just excited to see you after so long."
Hagrid watched as Norbert nuzzled Charlie like a loyal dog, then quietly wiped a tear from his eye.
"I get it. I understand…"
Charlie pulled out a slab of fresh beef from the trunk.
Norbert's eyes lit up and he eagerly flew off with it to feast.
Hagrid could only sigh. If Norbert didn't want to cuddle him, there wasn't much he could do.
Turning to Charlie, he said, "Charlie, I've got a favor to ask."
"You know any potions that repel Flesh-Eating Slugs? My pumpkin patch is swarming with the nasty things."
"You're a potions genius, you must know the fix."
Charlie blinked.
"Hagrid, that's not a potion. That's pesticide."
Hagrid scratched his head.
"Oh… right. I was never any good in Potions class."
"Reckon I'll have to visit Knockturn Alley."
"Knockturn Alley?" Charlie's ears perked up.
Hagrid realized he'd let something slip, but quickly shrugged it off, Charlie wasn't an ordinary kid.
So he decided to explain everything.
"Knockturn Alley's right next to Diagon Alley," Hagrid said in a low voice. "It's an underground market, you can get things there you'd never find in regular shops."
"But it's dangerous. Lots of dark wizards hang around."
Charlie's eyes lit up.
"Think they have anything for, uh, animal sterilization?"
Hagrid looked puzzled.
"Sterilization? Who're you sterilizing? And why?"
Charlie pointed at Storm, who was perched on the windowsill.
"Storm's been noisy lately. Full of energy and nowhere to put it. I figured neutering him might calm him down."
Storm had been dozing, but upon hearing his name, turned his head toward them in confusion.
Hagrid scratched his head again.
"Dunno if they've got that kind o' thing, but we can look."
"How about we go together?"
Charlie was already thinking the same thing.
Perfect chance to grab his next term's books from Diagon Alley, too.
"Sure. When do we leave?"
"How about now?" Hagrid offered.
The two of them climbed out of the trunk, and Charlie changed clothes.
"Grandma, I'm heading out with Hagrid!" Charlie called downstairs.
"Stay safe!" Granny White's voice rang from the kitchen.
They took the subway to the Leaky Cauldron.
In the pub's back courtyard, Hagrid tapped a specific sequence of bricks with his wand. The wall parted to reveal the bustling streets of Diagon Alley.
"This way," Hagrid said, lowering his voice.
"Knockturn Alley's not on the main road."
They weaved through the crowd and slipped into a shadowy side passage.
At the entrance stood a worn sign: Knockturn Alley.
[Your Majesty has entered a den of filth and vice. Tyrant Points +5]
The air was thick with mold and the sharp sting of unidentifiable potions.
Charlie followed behind Hagrid, eyes scanning the dim, narrow alleyway.
Shops on either side looked decrepit and crooked, their signage faded beyond recognition, and their windows filled with all manner of strange and ominous items.
Charlie began to seriously question whether Hagrid should've just gone to a farmer's market.
They walked a full loop of the alley. Most of the stores sold dark magic trinkets, cursed necklaces, memory-erasing potions, invisibility draughts, and so on.
Just as Charlie was about to suggest leaving, two familiar figures stepped out of a shop up ahead: Borgin and Burkes.
That unmistakable platinum hair glowed even in the gloom.
Lucius Malfoy leaned on his snake-headed cane, Draco following closely behind.
They'd just come out of the shop, Draco looking a little pale.
Lucius spotted Charlie immediately and flashed a polished smile.
"Mr. White. What a surprise."
He walked over and gave a courteous nod.
"Didn't expect to see you here."
Charlie returned the gesture politely.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Malfoy."
Draco stood behind his father, and the moment he saw Charlie, his entire posture stiffened.
Remembering his father's advice, he forced out a painful smile.
"Long time no see, Charlie. Lovely weather today, isn't it?"
Charlie glanced up at the thick clouds overhead.
My friend… are you feeling alright?
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