After a morning's adventure, Dumbledore had to admit that personally taking Elena to Diagon Alley for her school supplies was one of his wisest decisions this month.
In Dumbledore's lengthy life, he'd encountered many wizards passionate about potion-making or herbology. Even among the current professors at Hogwarts, there was possibly the most exceptional potioneer in her age group. When faced with various potions and herbs, they all exhibited a fervor unlike their usual selves.
Dumbledore had no doubt that once Elena entered Hogwarts, her performance in Potions and Herbology would be quite remarkable. Of course, provided she wasn't driven out of the classroom by irate professors.
Because Elena's enthusiasm was unlike anything Dumbledore had seen before.
"Hello, could you help me halve a Biting Cabbage?"
"The liver of an Izzard Bicorns, could you slice a kilogram for me?"
"Oh, this Moni Turkey's blood, can I add salt and turn it into blood clots after coagulation?"
"Peppermint? Sounds nice, it might go well with grilled fish. Grab me a handful, please."
"And these white beans, I think I'll take 500 grams..."
"...Hey hey hey?! Professor Dumbledore, don't pull me, I haven't finished speaking..."
With a warm nod to the apothecary, Dumbledore loaded various study tools and standard doses of powders into a small pouch from the counter. Then, amidst the saliva-dripping silver-haired girl's protests, he dragged her out of the shop.
"Let me see, we've got books, cauldrons, scales, and the just-purchased materials for Potions class..."
Ignoring Elena's commotion, Dumbledore retrieved a shopping list for first-year students from his robes and checked it again.
"Next, it's your wand..."
"I won't listen to you! I want to go buy groceries!"
Elena wrinkled her nose, made a face, slipped away when Dumbledore wasn't looking, and dashed back into the apothecary, addressing the wizard behind the counter.
"Hey hey, as I mentioned earlier, please hurry and prepare what I asked for."
While speaking, the silver-haired girl opened her small purse on her waist, ready to continue her "grocery shopping plan."
"Sorry, but Professor Dumbledore specifically instructed that we can't sell anything beyond the school supply list to you. So..."
The apothecary attendant, a young wizard, politely shook his head, ruthlessly refusing Elena's request—being a Hogwarts graduate, he had no reason to defy Dumbledore's instructions.
Therefore, despite Elena's pleas or attempts at bribery with Galleons, it all ended in failure.
Grr!
Frustrated, Elena puffed up her cheeks angrily and stormed out of the apothecary.
Outside, Dumbledore, tall and smiling, stood where he had been before, watching Elena return to him, shaking his head, and earnestly explaining.
"Miss Elena, both Potions and Herbology are quite advanced studies. I don't wish for you to procure too many dangerous or peculiar items before undergoing structured lessons."
"For instance, the white beans you wanted are actually the fruits of the Sleepweed. They contain a silver juice that temporarily removes one's memory if ingested directly. Knowledge about such potions is taught to sixth-year students."
Looking up at Dumbledore, Elena, dissatisfied, retorted, "Then... what's wrong with me halving a Biting Cabbage to cook for the orphanage? It's just a moving cabbage! Once it's cooked, it's no different from regular cabbage. Does that mean a moving vegetable isn't a vegetable?"
"You can consult Professor Sprout, who handles Herbology, about this matter later. Generally, handling magical plants requires learning."
A bit flustered, Dumbledore, rarely at a loss for words, awkwardly changed the subject.
"I suppose you must be eager to have your own wand, the most desired possession for every young wizard."
As he spoke, he reached out to lead Elena toward Ollivanders Wand Shop at the end of Diagon Alley.
"No, I don't want to! You're abusing your authority to bully me!"
Elena vehemently waved him off, expressing her anger.
For a foodie like her, where did wands rank compared to actual food? What aggravated her most was feeling targeted by Dumbledore.
"You won't let me buy pets, you won't let me buy a broomstick, you won't let me buy potions, and you even say I have to wait for textbooks until after school starts. Am I going to Hogwarts to study or to prison?"
The silver-haired girl's morning buildup of emotions finally erupted. Throughout their journey, Dumbledore seemed like a broken record—'You can't buy this,' 'You can't go there.'
Even though Elena had resolved to sneak into Diagon Alley later, Dumbledore's interventions at stores, like asking the staff to restrict her purchases, hampered her plans.
"Ugh..."
Facing Elena's questions, Dumbledore, feeling slightly awkward, rubbed his long beard.
Upon reflection, he felt he might have been overly cautious. But somehow, since leaving Gringotts, he'd been feeling uneasy.
Glancing at Elena, who was stomping on the cobblestones, even in her angry state, she looked exceptionally adorable. It was almost tempting to pinch her cute cheeks.
After some thought, Dumbledore tentatively suggested, "How about... we go to the pet shop first? I recall you mentioning a fondness for magical creatures."
Allowing access to magical supplies or letting Elena purchase peculiar magical tools could potentially lead to dangerous consequences, in Dumbledore's opinion.
In contrast, trying to curb Elena's character through pet ownership might not be a bad idea.
"A pet shop? That sounds good!"
Elena's eyes lit up, her face instantly brightening.
"Since Professor Dumbledore said so, I don't have much reason to refuse... hehehe, the pet shop you mentioned is the Magical Menagerie, right?!"
Initially somewhat reserved, the silver-haired girl quickly changed her tone, bursting into a string of laughter like silver bells, and dashed straight into the shop she had been eyeing for so long.
"Hey, slow down, careful not to bump into people."
Dumbledore shook his head helplessly, following Elena into the shop named the "Magical Menagerie."
The shop wasn't spacious; cages covered the walls, emitting a faint odor. The room buzzed with sounds as creatures inside either chirped, screamed, or hissed.
Two gigantic purple toads devoured dead flies in a cage near the door. A tremendously large turtle sat motionless by the window, seemingly in a bad mood, its shell sparkling like gems.
There were cats of various colors, a cage of squabbling crows, a basket of pastry-colored, comical furballs emitting a buzzing sound, and in a glass tank, two double-tailed newts fought over a piece of food.
A chubby white rabbit, with a snap, turned into a silk top hat and then back again, continuously trying to attract attention.
Elena licked her lips lightly.
This was—fantastic!
Just as Mr. Newt Scamander had said, each magical creature exuded fascinating charm, urging one to approach and study them closely.
As Elena's gaze swept across the shop, the noisy little space suddenly quieted down. Even the most
boisterous crow suddenly stopped and nervously fluttered its wings in its cage.
In the entire Magical Menagerie, only the girl's crisp voice echoed in the room.
"Hello, I'd like to buy this chubby white rabbit."
"And the two fighting double-tailed newts, please pack them as well. Oh, and those pretty-looking furballs, three or four, please."
"And that somewhat gloomy big turtle, I'd like to buy that too..."
"Elena Kaslana! Come out!"
"Hey hey hey hey?! Professor Dumbledore, let go of me! You promised to buy me a pet, how can you go back on your word!"
Just entering the store, Dumbledore, with a stern face, grabbed hold of the silver-haired troublemaker's collar and dragged her out.
He had momentarily lost his senses; this little troublemaker, who dared to bite even a Phoenix, was never someone he should have expected to peacefully buy a pet.
Unlock exclusive early access to 100s of Chapters before anyone else by becoming a valued member of my Patreon community.
As a cherished member of our Patreon community, here is what you'll get:
For just $5, you'll receive:
- Early access to 100s of chapters before they go public. (You can find all the novels I'm translating HERE.)
- Your name will be prominently featured on the "Wall of Gratitude".
- The power to vote on which novel I translate next.
- You Get Ad-free Chapters.
If you decide to pledge $10, you'll get all the perks from the $5 tier, plus:
- You get to suggest a Novel for me to translate.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in gold).
And if you're feeling generous with a $20 pledge, you'll unlock all the perks above:
- You get to recommend an abandoned Novel and I will immediately start translating it.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in blue).
Plus, you can Cancel your membership at any time.
Don't let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!
