Professor McGonagall kept sizing Harvey up, trying to find anything special on the boy's face.
He had defined features, a strong jawline, and slightly curly brown hair...
Yet, no matter how hard she looked, she couldn't find anything extraordinary about him; he seemed like nothing more than an ordinary Muggle-born young wizard.
However, the way the boy looked at her was somewhat strange, as if... he had known her for a long time?
Professor McGonagall figured she must be imagining things. How could a young wizard from a Muggle family possibly know her?
"Hello, Professor McGonagall," Harvey greeted with a quick bow, feeling the hairs on his neck stand up under her intense gaze, terrified he had done something wrong.
Professor McGonagall nodded slightly, offering a kind smile, and stopped staring at the boy.
But in her heart, she began to doubt Dumbledore's claims, wondering if the Book of Admittance had made a mistake. This child didn't look like a visitor from another world at all.
However, she recalled Headmaster Dumbledore's instructions: the appearance of an otherworldly visitor might be the exact catalyst needed to break the current stagnation of the wizarding world.
In that case, she would proceed with the normal enrollment process for now and observe him over time. Eventually, she would discover what made this young wizard special.
Just then, Mr. and Mrs. Granger finished exchanging their opinions. Learning magic was a life-changing opportunity, and they unanimously agreed to let Harvey and Hermione attend Hogwarts.
"Professor McGonagall, is it? If they are to attend Hogwarts, what do we need to prepare for the children in advance? Like tuition fees or school supplies..."
Wearing her emerald-green robes, Professor McGonagall patiently explained the enrollment process to the Grangers.
"Hogwarts does not charge any tuition fees. As for the magical equipment and books required, they are detailed in the attachment to the acceptance letter."
"Shortly, I can take the two young wizards to Diagon Alley to purchase all their necessary school supplies..."
Mrs. Granger politely thanked her, "Thank you for the information, Professor McGonagall. It just so happens we have some free time right now; could you take us along with you?"
Mr. Granger frowned and muttered in a low voice, "I still have to go to work. Where do we have the time?"
Mrs. Granger kicked her foolish husband under the table and scolded him in a hushed tone:
"Are you really comfortable letting our daughter go off with a strange woman we just met?"
"Of course we have to go with them. Besides, don't you want to see the legendary magical world?"
Realizing her point, Mr. Granger said, "Alright then, I'll go make a phone call and take the day off from the dental clinic."
Ultimately, Professor McGonagall took the Grangers, along with a starstruck Harvey and Hermione, and Apparated directly to the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron on Charing Cross Road.
The experience of Apparition was far from pleasant, especially for ordinary Muggles.
The Grangers felt as though they had been forced through a very tight, narrow tube. It was pitch black all around, and they were squeezed mercilessly until they finally saw the light of day.
"That experience was awful! I almost thought I'd dropped straight into hell!" Mr. and Mrs. Granger couldn't help but complain, their current impression of magic being rather poor.
The two young wizards, Harvey and Hermione, also felt a wave of severe dizziness, but their wizarding constitutions allowed them to recover quickly.
Professor McGonagall said apologetically, "I am so sorry. I forgot that the sensation of Apparition can indeed be quite unpleasant for Muggles. Perhaps next time we should try Floo Powder."
Harvey twitched his lips, grumbling inwardly, "Floo Powder isn't much better."
At that moment, a wizard wearing loose gray robes walked out of the shabby Leaky Cauldron. Seeing the group next to Professor McGonagall, he greeted them curiously.
"Good morning, Professor McGonagall! Don't tell me you're escorting new students?"
"Certainly. Escorting new students is the duty of every Hogwarts professor."
"Oh... I didn't expect such a trivial matter would trouble the Deputy Headmistress."
"Mr. Dylan, don't you Aurors have to work today?"
"Er... Thanks to Dumbledore, the wizarding world has been quite peaceful lately..."
"My apologies, I still have to get these young wizards enrolled. I have no time to chat..."
"Alright, I just hope these two young wizards won't be frightened by the hideous mountain trolls during the Sorting Ceremony. Goodbye, Professor McGonagall."
Before leaving, Dylan didn't forget to casually terrify Harvey and Hermione.
Professor McGonagall watched him walk away with an expressionless face.
Once the Auror from the Ministry of Magic had left, the Grangers asked hesitantly, "Who was that just now?"
As Professor McGonagall led the group toward the Leaky Cauldron, with its crooked wooden sign, she explained:
"He is an Auror for the Ministry of Magic. Their position is equivalent to Muggle police officers. He is also a Hogwarts graduate..."
"Oh... I see..." the Grangers replied, only half-understanding.
Hermione had been spooked by what the wizard said about trolls. She leaned into Harvey's ear and asked.
"Didn't you say the Hogwarts Sorting Ceremony was simple? What's this about mountain trolls?"
As Harvey followed Professor McGonagall into the Leaky Cauldron, he deliberately lowered his voice and said:
"I almost forgot. The Hogwarts Sorting Ceremony also includes a test of courage. Only young wizards who survive the troll trial can enroll at Hogwarts..."
"Really?..." Little Hermione was successfully bluffed, her mind racing as she began to ponder how to use the few spells she had recently learned to pass the trial.
The group stepped inside the Leaky Cauldron.
The interior of the Leaky Cauldron was extremely shabby. The grimy bar looked as if it hadn't been wiped down in ages.
An old wizard, almost completely bald, was holding a barrel half the size of a man, pouring drinks into the tankards on the customers' tables.
Even though it was broad daylight outside, several tables inside the pub were still lit with candles.
And against the glow of the dim candlelight, the already poorly-lit interior of the pub seemed even darker.
"Professor McGonagall?"
Seeing Professor McGonagall, many patrons nodded respectfully and greeted her.
Clearly, as the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall had quite a prominent reputation in the wizarding world.
The pub landlord currently pouring drinks for the guests was Old Tom, who shared the same name as Voldemort.
Seeing Professor McGonagall walk in with two young wizards and some Muggles, he immediately knew she was escorting new students.
"Ah, Professor McGonagall! And these two must be the new students starting this year, eh? Hello there, let me treat you to a glass of Butterbeer. I'm sure you haven't tried it..."
"No, thank you. The children are too young for alcohol," Mrs. Granger hastily and politely declined, taking in the dirty and chaotic environment of the pub.
Mr. Granger, however, looked rather eager to try it. But upon hearing his wife's words, he could only stare with regret at the patron's tankard, which was brimming with foam and smelling richly of malt.
Old Tom smacked his lips in pity, "Looks like you lot are destined to miss out on the most popular drink among young wizards."