After leaving Gringotts, Hagrid suggested taking Harry to buy the items listed in his Hogwarts acceptance letter.
As they passed an ice cream parlor, Hagrid bought two cones, handing Harry one with chocolate and raspberry. The two of them ate as they walked through Diagon Alley, eventually stopping in front of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
Madam Malkin was a short, plump witch with a kind face and a warm smile. The moment she saw Harry, she opened the door and beckoned him inside.
"Come in, my dear. You're here to buy your Hogwarts uniform, aren't you? We have plenty of styles, and we can even tailor robes to your needs," she said cheerfully. "Oh, and there's another young witch inside trying on robes. I think you two might get along."
Harry quickly finished his ice cream and followed Madam Malkin into the shop.
Inside, a young girl with bushy brown hair stood on a small stool while another witch adjusted her robes. Madam Malkin asked Harry to stand beside her.
The girl turned to look at him.
"Oh, are you going to Hogwarts as well?" she asked, lifting her chin slightly.
There was a hint of arrogance in her expression, but it was nothing like Cassandra Malfoy's. Cassandra's arrogance came from noble blood and entitlement; this girl reminded Harry instead of a top student from his Muggle school — the kind who always earned the highest marks.
It was the quiet pride of an exemplary student.
Still, her slightly prominent front teeth made Harry think, quite involuntarily, of the puffskeins Hagrid liked to keep in his pockets.
"Yes," Harry replied with a faint smile.
The girl studied him carefully. She did not seem to notice that his clothes were worn, only that they were clearly Muggle-made.
Since arriving in Diagon Alley, Hermione had already observed that most young witches and wizards dressed quite differently from Muggles.
"Are you from a Muggle family as well?" she asked, her tone softening.
"I suppose so," Harry answered.
She nodded in understanding.
"Hermione Granger," she said, extending her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Harry… Harry Potter," he replied, shaking her hand.
The instant she heard his name, Hermione's eyes widened.
"Oh my goodness — it's really you?" she said breathlessly. "I've read all about you! I even bought some extra reference books to read after dinner — A History of Modern Magic, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and Important Magical Events of the Twentieth Century. Your name appears in all of them!"
Reading after dinner…?
Harry thought that Miss Granger was perhaps… probably… not his type.
Very Ravenclaw behavior.
"But wait…" Hermione suddenly frowned. "Someone as famous as you should have grown up in the wizarding world. Why did you tell me you were from a Muggle family?"
Harry hesitated for a moment.
"My parents were killed by Voldemort when I was very young," he said calmly. "After that, I was raised by my aunt. I only discovered magic recently."
"Oh…" Hermione bit her lip, clearly embarrassed. "I'm so sorry. Truly."
"It's all right," Harry said with a small smile. "You couldn't have known."
"Miss Granger?"
A firm voice interrupted them.
Harry turned and saw a tall witch with a stern posture, square spectacles, and dark green robes.
"Professor McGonagall!" Hermione exclaimed, clearly delighted.
Professor McGonagall smiled at her before turning her gaze to Harry, meeting his emerald-green eyes.
"This is… Mr. Potter?"
"Good morning, Professor McGonagall," Harry said, giving a polite bow.
She nodded, and for a brief moment, a flicker of nostalgia crossed her eyes.
This child…
He looks so much like Lily,
she thought fondly.
At that moment, Madam Malkin approached again.
"If you don't mind, ladies… and this young gentleman," she said, glancing at Harry, "I'll begin taking the measurements."
"Well then, I'll see you at school, Harry," Hermione said.
"I'll see you at school," he replied with a nod. "Goodbye, Professor."
After the measurements were taken, Harry rejoined Hagrid, and the two of them continued through Diagon Alley, buying everything on the school supply list.
At last, they stopped in front of a narrow, ancient-looking shop.
"Ollivanders — Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C."
Harry looked up, reading the faded golden letters on the sign.
"Very old, isn't it?" Hagrid said, patting Harry on the shoulder. "I bought my wand here when I was at school. Nearly everyone at Hogwarts does."
Harry nodded.
After all, he himself had bought his first wand here… a hundred years ago.
The shop was small, containing only a single bench and shelves stacked with narrow boxes.
Hagrid said he needed to step out for a moment, leaving Harry alone inside.
He did not have to wait long before a soft voice spoke behind him.
"Good afternoon."
"Hello," Harry replied, turning around.
An elderly man stood before him.
"Yes, yes, yes…" Ollivander murmured, nodding repeatedly. "I knew I would be seeing you soon, Harry Potter. Your eyes — just like your mother's. It seems like only yesterday she was here. Willow, ten and a quarter inches, elegant… a very fine wand."
"But your father was quite different," he continued. "Mahogany, eleven inches, flexible, powerful — excellent for Transfiguration. He loved it. But, of course… the wand chooses the wizard."
Ollivander stepped even closer to Harry.
"Your scar…"
Gently, he brushed aside Harry's fringe, revealing the lightning-shaped mark.
"I am very sorry. It was caused by a wand I sold. Yew, thirteen inches, phoenix feather… tremendously powerful. And it fell into the wrong hands."
Harry took a discreet step backward, putting some distance between himself and Ollivander's intense gaze.
"I forgive you," he said calmly.
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