Chapter Seventeen: Mrs. Mokin's Disappointment

Page (1/3)

“Oh my goodness! An explosion? Did someone blast open the vault door?” George’s eyes widened. “Didn’t the goblins say the thief failed?”

“Please. It isn’t as though this is the first time we’ve learned that the official story can’t be trusted. A few days ago, the Ministry of Magic was still claiming they hadn’t imprisoned the wrong person!” Sarah leaned over furtively and whispered, “The thief did manage to open the vault, but its owner had already removed everything inside earlier. That’s why the thief came away empty-handed.”

Nearby, Rogge listened to the woman’s rich contralto and wondered how she could possibly believe she was speaking softly.

Still, the witch’s words reminded Rogge of something. When Hagrid had brought Harry Potter to Diagon Alley, he had encountered the man wrapped in an Indian bandage at the Leaky Cauldron…

“Honestly, Rocky is a boxer. His name should be Quirrell.” Rogge toyed with Professor Quirrell’s name. It was best to keep well away from the famous Mr. Savior. Trouble followed Harry everywhere.

The truth was exactly as the witch had said. Hagrid had taken the Philosopher’s Stone first, leaving Quirrell with nothing and nearly getting him caught by the goblins.

“The Philosopher’s Stone—a magical object that grants immortality and turns metal into gold.” Rogge remembered that the stone’s creator had lived for an extraordinarily long time, though his name was rather difficult to pronounce.

To be honest, if the Philosopher’s Stone were placed before him, he would absolutely claim it for himself. Immortality—who wouldn’t yearn for that?

“Alchemy. Now that’s something worthwhile.” Rogge added alchemy to his plans for after enrolling at Hogwarts.

Scenes from the story he had read in his previous life rose one after another in his mind: Voldemort, Quirrell, Dumbledore, Harry, and the three-headed “pet dog.”

“Professor McGonagall! Professor McGonagall!” Rogge spotted her among the crowd and hurriedly waved his bag at her.

“Rogge, it seems you’ve done quite well. You’ve bought everything.” Professor McGonagall nodded when she saw Yumi in the satchel on his chest. Then she looked at the large and small bags hanging all over him and could not help shaking her head.

“Professor, I’ve got everything!” Rogge spun around, proudly displaying the fruits of his shopping.

“Rogge, the next time you see Elwin, be careful not to listen to everything he says. It would be best to make a list first and buy only what you need.” Professor McGonagall assumed that Elwin’s relentless sales pitch had left Rogge muddled enough to buy all these things. With a sigh, she added, “If you can’t bring yourself to refuse Elwin, he could sell you his entire shop and still go on recommending things for you to buy.”

“Professor, I really didn’t buy much at the Junk Shop…” Rogge explained earnestly. Merlin above, most of it had been purchased at the Magical Menagerie.

Page (1/3)

Page (2/3)

“It’s all right. Just remember to distinguish carefully in the future.” Professor McGonagall picked up one of Rogge’s bags and led him toward Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions.

“A kitten this young needs your devoted care. Once you reach Hogwarts, you can learn about magical creatures from Hagrid.”

“Hagrid? Professor, is he as remarkable as Mr. Newt?” Rogge naturally knew who Hagrid was, but he knew very little about Newt.

“Newt? He’s an old friend of mine, and an outstanding scholar of magical creatures.” Professor McGonagall recalled her old friend, a nostalgic smile appearing on her face.

“Hagrid is remarkable as well. Ever since he was young, he has possessed an extraordinary affinity for and understanding of all kinds of magical creatures. I believe that under his guidance, your knowledge of magical animals will improve greatly.”

“Now, we should go collect your robes.” Professor McGonagall pushed open the shop door. Seeing them, Madam Malkin smiled and brought over a black robe.

“Come along, try it on! I promise this outfit will fit perfectly!” Madam Malkin had Rogge place his bags on a nearby chair, then gestured for the young man to put on the robe.

“What a handsome young man. The girls at Hogwarts will be falling all over themselves for you!” Madam Malkin said with satisfaction. She placed a newly made pointed wizard’s hat on Rogge’s head, then draped a cloak over his shoulders.

Rogge looked at his reflection in the mirror and could not help straightening his back. Madam Malkin’s workmanship was indeed exquisite. No wonder young witches and wizards from across the British magical world came to her shop to have their school uniforms tailored.

“Something’s still missing!” Madam Malkin clapped her hands and tilted her head in thought for a moment.

“That’s it—a tie!” With great energy, Madam Malkin strode over to the nearby rack and selected a slender silver-green tie.

Professor McGonagall looked at the tie in Madam Malkin’s hand, her expression faintly hesitant. But since the Sorting Hat would determine the new student’s house, she decided not to dwell on its color.

The young wizard in the mirror looked somewhat slight, but once he had put on the complete set of robes and the tie, he seemed transformed. Even Professor McGonagall had to admit that Rogge possessed an indescribable air.

Perhaps it was because he had been wrongly imprisoned in Azkaban as a child. Whatever the cause, his presence carried a contradictory sense of calm and depth, like a storm about to rise from the still depths of a tranquil ocean.

“It fits perfectly! I knew my school robes would have no problems!” Madam Malkin gazed proudly at the young wizard in the mirror. “Rogge, if you agree to let the shop use your photograph for advertising, I can give you all your clothes for free throughout your years at school.”

Page (2/3)

Page (3/3)

A young wizard’s complete school uniform included summer and winter sets, along with dragon-hide gloves. The entire outfit cost no less than thirty gold Galleons—hardly a small sum for any family in the magical world. Since Rogge’s uniform had been made specially for him, its materials were clearly several grades finer than those used on the shop’s mannequins, so the final price would certainly be even higher.

“Madam Malkin, your craftsmanship is truly superb!” Rogge declined her proposal. “I think I would rather pay the full price.”

Madam Malkin looked at Rogge regretfully, but respected the young wizard’s decision.

“Thank you very much, Madam Malkin. Although I can’t let you display my photograph outside as an advertisement for the shop, I can give it to you as a personal gift.”

“Oh, my dear, you’re far too kind!” Madam Malkin happily embraced Rogge. “Seeing children like you wearing the school uniforms I made and enjoying themselves is my greatest pleasure. I’ll treasure the photograph you’ve given me.”

“Once I’m at school, I’ll take some more photographs and send them to you,” Rogge said with a smile.

“That would be wonderful! Then it’s a promise!” Madam Malkin narrowed her eyes and sealed the agreement with Rogge by slapping his palm.

“It’s getting late. We should be off to Gringotts,” Professor McGonagall reminded him.

“Then we’ll be going, Madam Malkin. And thank you again for making such perfect robes for me.” Rogge waved goodbye and declined the half-price discount Madam Malkin offered.

“ off you go, my young gentleman. I’ll look forward to your letters and photographs!” Madam Malkin held up her camera, which contained a magical photograph of Rogge wearing his complete school uniform.

“Professor, wasn’t Gringotts closed?” After leaving Madam Malkin’s shop, Rogge had acquired yet another bag. Fortunately, Professor McGonagall helped carry some of them, or he would never have been able to walk.

“Only temporarily. To those goblins at Gringotts, every minute of lost business feels like a loss of a thousand gold Galleons.” Professor McGonagall grumbled. Those goblins’ passion for gold ran deeper than anyone else’s.

Page (3/3)