Julian went downstairs and greeted the bar owner.
"Good morning, Boss Tom."
"Good morning, Mr. Wooless. Did you sleep well last night?"
"Very good, thank you for your concern," Julian replied cheerfully.
Tom stared at the unusually happy boy. "Mr. Wooless, did something good happen?"
"No, nothing. Why do you ask?" Julian tilted his head.
"No reason, but you're grinning like a flower. Yesterday, when you first came here, you looked like someone owed you ten Galleons." Tom didn't say it aloud, only muttered in his heart.
"So, Mr. Wooless, would you like something to eat?" Tom continued lightly.
"Yes, please. Just two slices of bread and a cup of hot milk. Thank you."
With a casual wave of Tom's wand, Julian's order appeared on the bar.
"Magic really is convenient," Julian murmured, remembering the days as a ninja when meals meant dry rations and cold water. He picked up his food and looked for an empty table.
After breakfast, Julian opened the way to Diagon Alley as Dumbledore had shown him. He managed to buy the remaining books, potions, and tools within two hours—after first withdrawing another hundred Galleons from Gringotts.
At Flourish and Blotts, Julian bought so many books—nearly 100 Galleons' worth—that other students stared, wondering if he had gone insane. Even Julian doubted himself when he realized he couldn't carry the mountain of volumes.
"It would be great if I had a sealing scroll," he sighed.
A kind clerk, seeing his trouble, suggested, "There's a daily magic goods shop not far away, sir. They sell enchanted suitcases with the Extension Charm."
Julian hurried there and bought one for fifty Galleons, its inside measuring a full 100 cubic meters. Returning with it, he and the clerk packed away all the books.
By sunset, he had finished shopping and dragged the suitcase back to the Leaky Cauldron. After washing up, Julian rushed downstairs and—under Tom's astonished gaze—ordered a large meal. He ate like a starving man, drawing stares from the other customers.
After finishing, he stretched, rubbing his stomach and grinning, and unknowingly gave birth to the fourth "incredible legend" of Diagon Alley.
The first legend claimed a young wizard had spent all day in Ollivander's, failed to find a wand, and in anger blew up the entire shop, leaving poor Ollivander in tears and forcing Dumbledore and Ministry Aurors to intervene.
The second legend told of a unicorn running above Diagon Alley, radiating such power that wizards and even Muggles for a kilometer stood frozen, as if under the Imperius.
The third legend described someone who bought so many books at Flourish and Blotts that it nearly emptied the entire store.
And now the fourth legend spread: that a boy who looked like a wizard ate almost every bite of food at the Leaky Cauldron, drank its wine, and even—supposedly—ate several people.
The shops involved did not refute these tales, and business actually boomed from the rumors. Julian, of course, knew nothing of this. If he had, he would probably curse and call it nonsense.
For the next month Julian rarely left his room except to eat or occasionally buy more books. Thanks to his Sharingan, he could read at incredible speed, devouring text after text. And naturally, with so many new spells, he couldn't resist experimenting.
Soon, a fifth legend appeared: explosions constantly sounding from a room upstairs in the Leaky Cauldron. Some whispered it was the work of radical foreign wizards plotting an attack—though in truth it was only Julian miscasting spells. Even simple charms caused accidents. A "Levitation Charm" once blew the practice vase apart again and again.
When Julian asked Ollivander if the wand was defective, the old man simply said coldly, "The wand is fine."
At last Julian proved it—though clumsily. His Levitation Charm sent the vase rocketing straight into the ceiling, splashing Ollivander with water but leaving him standing drenched. Julian gave an embarrassed laugh, limped out of the shop with a sore backside, and muttered, "Damn old man, ruthless as ever." Yet when he looked back, he couldn't stop a small smile.
Unfortunately for Julian, several young witches saw him limp out of Ollivander's shop with that smile. Rumors spread fast, twisted by imagination, until Ollivander found himself the subject of strange looks every time a girl entered his store. When he finally asked one directly, the truth made him roar with outrage—and Julian was blacklisted for life.
Time passed steadily. Along the way, Julian occasionally met other incoming first-years: Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley. The Weasley family, particularly, left an impression on him. He couldn't understand how one household, under the same roof, could produce children with such different temperaments—Percy's ambition, the twins' mischief, Ron's simple sincerity. He had to admit the "magic of magic" was indeed powerful.
Days drifted by until late July.
One morning during breakfast, the door burst open. A massive figure entered, nearly four meters tall and twice as wide. Julian frowned. This could only be one person—Hogwarts' gamekeeper, Rubeus Hagrid.
The bar silenced immediately as everyone turned.
"Still the same, Hagrid?" Tom called.
"No, Tom," Hagrid boomed, blushing faintly. "I'm here on Hogwarts business. Gotta take young Harry to buy his school things."
Gasps echoed. At the very sound of the name Harry, the pub went silent.
Then the flood began. One man rushed forward, grasping Harry's hand. "Welcome back, Mr. Potter! Welcome back!"
Like a switch had been flipped, the crowd surged around the boy, each wizard and witch eager to shake his hand or greet him. Harry looked utterly lost, overwhelmed in the sea of strangers.
Julian, watching, felt a strange familiarity with the boy's face though they'd never met. "The hero who defeated the Dark Lord," he muttered. "No wonder."
As Hagrid finally dragged Harry free toward the backyard, Julian hurried after them.
"Wait a minute!" He jogged up and called politely, "Hello, Mr. Hagrid."
The half-giant flushed. "What is it, lad?"
Even Harry wondered if such a massive man could truly be shy.
"Sir, my name is Julian Wooless. I'll be starting Hogwarts this year too. I've been staying here for a while. Would you allow me to help Harry with his shopping? We could get some extra books."
"Oh, so you're Wooless," Hagrid rumbled, recognition dawning. "The one who's been keepin' the Ministry busy. Thought so."
Julian's cheeks burned. Damn that Daily Prophet, he cursed inwardly.
"So, do you agree? You could have a pint while we take care of things. I'll cover the drink," Julian suggested lightly.
Hagrid hesitated, then looked hopefully at Harry. "What do you think, Harry?"
Seeing Hagrid's eagerness, Harry nodded. "Alright. My name's Harry Potter. Just call me Harry. May I call you Julian?"
"Of course," Julian said with a grin.
Hagrid handed him a golden key. "This is Harry's vault at Gringotts. You know how to use it?"
"Yes, sir."
Hagrid returned to the bar, leaving Julian with Harry.
Julian smiled, drew his wand, and tapped the bricks. "Watch carefully, Harry."
The wall shifted, the bricks crumbling aside until an arched gateway opened. Beyond lay the ancient, bustling wizard street.
"Welcome," Julian said with a strange smile. "Welcome to Diagon Alley, Harry. Welcome to the wizarding world."
For a moment, Julian thought amusedly to himself: Looks like I've become the tour guide now.