The Newspaper, Loneliness, and an Unexpected Encounter
That morning, Jack opened his shop as usual. The sun shone softly above Diagon Alley, but the atmosphere was still quiet. No customers had come by since the shop opened. Jack decided to read the newspaper to fill the idle time.
"I think I need more information about this world," he thought as he walked out toward the newsstand near Flourish and Blotts.
At the stand, an old man with a long beard greeted him warmly. "Good morning! How can I help you, sir?"
"I'd like to subscribe to the Daily Prophet," Jack replied, handing over a few Knuts.
The old man wrote down his name and shop address. "It will arrive every morning at your shop door. Thank you for subscribing!"
Jack nodded while taking the latest Daily Prophet. He returned to his shop and began reading. The news about the Ministry of Magic's activities, strange occurrences at Hogwarts, and rumors of a dark wizard's return dominated the headlines.
However, the quiet atmosphere in the shop began to make Jack uneasy. He stared at the display case filled with skill cards, hoping for a customer to come.
"I think I need to do something," he muttered.
Jack decided to leave the shop for a while and take a stroll around Diagon Alley. He wandered through the bustling alleyways filled with witches, wizards, and magical creatures, observing unique shops like Ollivanders and Quality Quidditch Supplies.
Eventually, his steps led him to The Leaky Cauldron, the famous inn and pub that connected the magical world to the Muggle world. The place was lively, filled with laughter, conversations, and the sound of clinking glasses.
Jack sat at a corner table, ordered a glass of Butterbeer, and watched the scene unfold. He realized just how diverse the people in this world were.
As he enjoyed his drink, the door of The Leaky Cauldron opened, and a large, bearded man entered, wearing a long coat that almost swept the floor. Behind him, a thin boy with messy black hair and round glasses nervously followed.
Jack recognized them immediately. "Hagrid... and Harry Potter," he thought.
He tried not to make it too obvious as he watched them. Hagrid was talking to Tom, the owner of The Leaky Cauldron, while Harry seemed confused, trying to understand the surroundings.
"This is really Harry's first day in the wizarding world," Jack whispered to himself, remembering the scenes from the book he had read.
Hagrid ordered something to drink and then invited Harry to sit at a table near the fireplace.
Soon, some witches and wizards in the pub began to take notice of Harry. Whispers spread, and a few people even approached to greet him.
"Harry Potter! The boy who lived!" said an old man with a tall hat, shaking Harry's hand enthusiastically.
Jack smiled faintly, watching the scene. He knew this moment was significant for Harry, the beginning of the great adventure that would change the wizarding world.
But Jack didn't want to get involved. He simply enjoyed the atmosphere while reflecting on his future in this world.
When Harry and Hagrid finally left the pub, Jack decided to return to his shop. On the way, he couldn't stop thinking about how unique this world was and how he could become a part of it.
"This is just the beginning," he muttered with a smile.