"I'm not really sure why. They all say I'm a lucky boy. I called out to you because... well, um... I..."
Harry Potter hesitated, clearly wanting to ask something but unsure of how to start. His eyes sought help from Hagrid, but Hagrid was busy looking for the right brick to open the passageway and didn't notice Harry's plea. Harry, left with no choice, anxiously fiddled with the hem of his clothes.
"Harry, remember this: when you're at Diagon Alley, start from this trash can, count three bricks upwards, then two bricks sideways, and give it a tap with your wand," Hagrid said, tapping the bricks lightly with his umbrella.
The bricks in the wall shifted to either side, revealing a passageway as Harry looked on in amazement. Beyond the archway lay the bustling street of Diagon Alley.
"Mr. Potter, Professor Hagrid, we have to be on our way now. It's been a pleasure meeting you both," Cro said politely.
"H-Harry, it's nice to meet you. We'll be classmates soon," Hermione added with a smile.
With that, Cro and Hermione turned to leave without any further delay. Though Cro had a plan that would shock all of Hogwarts—and perhaps even the entire wizarding world—he knew that rushing wouldn't get him anywhere. First, he needed to find a moment when Hagrid wasn't around, then give Harry a little hint. Something like... "There's a creepy guy in the school who's very interested in you."
Yes.
Someone's quite interested in Harry Potter's... um... backside! Better watch out!
.
Watching the two leave, Harry smiled excitedly at Hagrid. "Friends, huh? You were right, Hagrid. I really can make friends here!"
"You'll make plenty more friends, Harry, this is just the beginning!" Hagrid knelt down, looking seriously into Harry's eyes. "But before that, we need to stop by Gringotts and pick something up. Then we'll get your school supplies."
Harry quietly followed Hagrid, his thoughts drifting between Cro, Hermione, and Quirrell. The first two were clearly his friends, but Quirrell... Quirrell gave him an odd feeling. Shaking his head after a moment of futile pondering, Harry followed Hagrid into the uniquely shaped Gringotts.
Meanwhile, at Flourish and Blotts, Hermione was absentmindedly picking through the books, occasionally stealing glances at Cro, who seemed lost in thought.
"Did you deliberately embarrass Professor Quirrell earlier? Why do I get the sense you have something against him? Did he do something to you?" Hermione finally couldn't hold back her curiosity, posing the questions as if they were asked casually, though her string of inquiries revealed just how intrigued she was.
Cro snapped out of his thoughts, returning his attention from the system interface to the present, and caught Hermione peeking at him. The moment he turned, she quickly shifted her eyes back to the books, her face flushing with embarrassment at being caught sneaking glances.
[Detected intense embarrassment!]
[Reward obtained: Silver Chest!]
...
Hearing the system's notification, Cro couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.
"I don't have any ill will toward Professor Quirrell. Quite the opposite, I'd love to see him every day! After all, he's a professor at the school, and he can help us with our questions, right?"
Cro tossed the book he had been holding into a nearby basket. His visit to Diagon Alley had three purposes. First, he wanted to meet Harry Potter and see what kind of treasure chests he could earn from the protagonist. As for why he was certain Harry would be there today, it was all because of Quirrell. His presence here clearly indicated he was waiting for Harry, so Cro had correctly predicted that Harry would visit Diagon Alley within the next day or two.
Second, Quirrell—or rather, No-Nose Voldemort. As someone on par with Dumbledore, Voldemort was much easier to provoke, as evidenced by the fact that one question had earned Cro the King's Chest!
Third, he needed to buy books. After all, possessing all kinds of talents without the necessary knowledge would be a waste.
"You really don't have anything against him? Maybe I was wrong, then," Hermione frowned, still unsure.
"Don't overthink it. Hurry up and pick out any other books you want. We'll buy them all and take them back. The school year starts on September 1st, and we've got over half a month until then. Do you want to waste it?" Cro said, casually tossing a copy of Basic Transfiguration Theory into the basket.
At his words, Hermione stopped pursuing the topic and instead began excitedly picking out books. Having spent much of her life without friends, she had often turned to reading as a way to pass the time. Over time, it had become one of her hobbies. Now, the opportunity to browse the wizarding world's books thrilled her.
[Detected intense excitement!]
[Reward obtained: Golden Chest!]
Cro's hand paused in mid-air as a grin crept across his face. Hermione was truly a treasure herself! Another golden chest!
At this moment, Cro had 34 bronze chests, 9 silver chests, 7 golden chests, 1 diamond chest, and 1 King's Chest!
If he combined them, he could create two diamond chests.
Cro's eyes gleamed with excitement as he thought about what treasures might lie within these chests, especially the King's Chest, which had come from none other than Voldemort. With such a source, the rewards were bound to be extraordinary!
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T/N:
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