"Gryffindor!" McGonagall declared without hesitation. "I see extraordinary courage in him. As the head of Gryffindor, I naturally hope he joins our house."
"I think so too," Dumbledore said with a nod. For a brief moment, the two Gryffindors were in perfect agreement.
"But..." Dumbledore's tone shifted, introducing a note of contemplation, "he might also be a good fit for Ravenclaw. The calmness he displayed during the rune snake incident aligns with the qualities Ravenclaw seeks."
"True," McGonagall acknowledged. "Sorting Vizet might not be straightforward."
"Not straightforward, indeed," Dumbledore remarked, a spark of amusement in his eyes. "I recall the Sorting Hat took its time deciding your house, Minerva — torn between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, if I'm not mistaken."
McGonagall raised an eyebrow, her tone measured. "That was a long time ago, Albus. Let's not dwell on ancient history."
Dumbledore chuckled softly, stroking his beard.
"With school starting in less than two months," McGonagall said, steering the conversation back, "I imagine it's going to be a significant year. Harry Potter... he'll be enrolling, won't he?"
"Indeed," Dumbledore confirmed, placing the parchment he'd been reading back onto his desk. "Harry's birthday is at the end of July. I'll arrange for someone to deliver his letter then."
"Time does fly," McGonagall mused. After a brief pause, her expression turned thoughtful. "Speaking of the upcoming term, have you decided on a professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
Dumbledore sighed, his expression turning a shade more serious. "It's never an easy position to fill. However, I've received a job transfer request from Quirinus Quirrell."
"Quirrell?" McGonagall adjusted her glasses. "He's been teaching Muggle Studies. Moving to Defense Against the Dark Arts... Are you sure he'll manage the pressure?"
Dumbledore set down his quill, his tone reassuring. "He's expressed a willingness to take on the role. I believe he should be given the chance to prove himself."
McGonagall gave a faint nod, though her brow furrowed with concern. "Let's hope he's ready for the challenge. The position is no small burden."
"I'll be meeting with him in a few days," Dumbledore said, turning his focus back to the documents before him.
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After Vizet and Luna's family had accepted each other, Vizet learned just how dire their financial situation truly was.
Xenophilius, relying solely on the modest sales of The Quibbler, could barely make ends meet for himself and Luna. The arrival of Vizet had stretched their already limited resources to the breaking point.
Rummaging through an old chest, Xenophilius managed to scrape together only a handful of coins — mostly Silver Sickles and Copper Knuts. Fortunately, Hogwarts provided a bursary, granting Vizet thirty Gold Galleons to purchase his school supplies.
Wizarding currency — Gold Galleons, Silver Sickles, and Copper Knuts — was essential for buying magical items in the wizarding world.
At dawn, as the first rays of sunlight broke the horizon, Vizet was already washed, dressed, and seated on the first floor, quietly waiting. The thought of visiting a magical shopping street filled him with excitement.
Luna soon joined him, holding a small sculpture of a goblin in her hands. It was a handmade piggy bank.
"Take this with you," she said softly. "You might need extra money to buy everything on the list."
Vizet paused, momentarily captivated by her silver eyes. Despite her young age, Luna's maturity — likely a result of her experiences with loss — was far beyond what one might expect of a child.
"I applied for a scholarship," Vizet reassured her, shaking his head gently. "I'll collect it at Diagon Alley. I hear it's a fascinating place. Is there anything you'd like me to bring back for you?"
"I don't need anything," Luna replied with a serene smile.
Suddenly, a thunderous knock broke the morning stillness.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Standing outside the door was a giant over three meters tall, clad in a fur coat patched with numerous pockets. His beard and hair were wild and unkempt, and his shiny black eyes glistened like beetles.
"You must be Vizet!" the giant said warmly, his beard twitching as he spoke.
"I'm Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. I'm here to take you to Diagon Alley… it was in the letter, wasn't it?"
Vizet nodded. "Hello, Mr. Hagrid. I wasn't expecting you so early."
"Mr. Hagrid!" Luna, rubbing her sleepy eyes, appeared beside Vizet. "Come in!"
As Hagrid stepped forward, the modest door frame magically stretched and widened to accommodate his massive frame.
"Would you like some biscuits?" Luna asked, offering a tin of snacks. "I'll go wake up Dad."
"No, no!" Hagrid waved his hands emphatically, creating a gust of wind that nearly toppled Luna. "I'm just here to take Mr. Vizet to Diagon Alley. First-year students have a lot to buy, and we need to hurry. Is there a Floo network here?"
Luna shook her head. "No. Dad said we don't usually need one, so we never had it installed."
The real reason, of course, was the expense. Setting up a Floo network was beyond Xenophilius's means.
"No matter!" Hagrid said with a sigh of resignation. "Good thing I came early. We'll just have to find another way."
"At least take the biscuits," Luna insisted, handing the tin to Vizet. "You haven't eaten yet."
Hagrid led Vizet to a dirt path, where he raised a large umbrella high into the air.
"Are we... waiting for a bus?" Vizet asked tentatively.
"Exactly! That's why I didn't take the biscuits, and you shouldn't either —"
Before Hagrid could finish, a towering purple triple-decker bus screeched to a halt before them.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus!" announced a young conductor in a bright purple uniform. His large, protruding ears gave him an odd, slightly comical appearance. "I'm Stan Shunpike, your conductor. Hold out your wand, hop aboard, and we'll take you wherever you need to go."
The bus's narrow door expanded magically, allowing Hagrid to enter with ease.
Inside, Vizet found himself in what looked like a dim, old dormitory. Instead of seats, there were six brass beds, and the only light came from small candles mounted along the walls.
Stan approached lazily. "Where to?"
"Diagon Alley, London," Hagrid replied, settling onto a bed that creaked ominously under his weight.
"Thirty-four Sickles. If you want, you can pay two Galleons," Stan added, his voice gaining a rare spark of enthusiasm.
Without hesitation, Hagrid reached into one of his many pockets, pulling out two Gold Galleons and handing them over.
Vizet took the bed opposite Hagrid. "I'll pay you back when we reach Diagon Alley," he said.
Hagrid leaned closer, his voice a muffled warning. "Grab the railing. This bus is no joke — it's about to get bumpy. If you've got anything to say, save it for when we're off..."
Before Hagrid could finish, the Knight Bus lurched forward like a bullet from a gun.
Vizet clutched the railing tightly, bracing himself against the sharp jolts and sudden stops.
Hagrid, however, looked far less composed. His beetle-black eyes were squeezed shut, and he retched softly, clearly suffering from motion sickness.
Vizet's curiosity outweighed his discomfort. Peering past the chaos inside, he watched the magical bus navigate the twists and turns of the wizarding world with reckless, enchanting speed.