The Journey Begins
The next day, Jack decided it was time to close his shop. He needed to prepare for his upcoming journey. This magical world was vast and full of wonders, and he wanted to explore it just as he had in his previous life. As the owner of a shop and also a traveler, he felt that adventure was more enticing than just going through the motions of daily life behind a cash register. After all, he had a mission to accomplish.
Before closing the shop, Jack decided to sell off some of the excess items he had to the system. A few unnecessary things were now sold, and with the money earned, he bought a few tools that would help him on his journey through the magical world. One of them was a Magical Tent, similar to the one Arthur Weasley had in the story of Quidditch Through the Ages. This tent would be incredibly useful for a traveler like Jack, who needed a comfortable and practical shelter.
After preparing his gear, Jack closed the shop and began exploring Diagon Alley. He decided to roam every corner, looking for clues and inspiration for the journey ahead. From shop to shop, he witnessed new wonders that were still unfamiliar to him. Everything seemed magical, yet he felt that there was something more, something even more intriguing than all of this.
However, his leisurely stroll came to a halt as he approached the entrance to Knockturn Alley. As he had often heard, this place was known for its darker activities, filled with more mysterious witches and wizards. Jack felt intrigued and, without much thought, stepped inside.
The atmosphere in Knockturn Alley was entirely different from the bright, colorful Diagon Alley. The streets were dark and narrow, with long shadows stretching out from every corner of the shops. Jack walked slowly, pretending not to care about being in such a tense environment.
But soon, an odd feeling emerged. Someone was following him. Jack knew it. He could feel it, even though he hadn't fully mastered his Observation Haki yet. He just knew someone was secretly watching him. With casual steps, Jack continued walking into a darker, narrower alley, heading toward a more secluded corner.
When he reached the corner, Jack vanished in an instant, using Armament Haki to wrap himself in a dark layer of energy. Without hesitation, he attacked the person following him, hoping to avoid any greater danger. But as soon as he saw who was standing in front of him, Jack was shocked.
"It's... Hagrid!" he exclaimed, seeing the large, strong figure fall to the ground.
It turned out the person who had been following him was Rubeus Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. Unintentionally, Jack had injured the very person well-known in the magical world. Hagrid appeared unconscious after the attack, and Jack, in a panic, quickly lifted Hagrid's large body and carried him to the nearest place he knew—Leaky Cauldron.
Once inside the Leaky Cauldron, Jack placed Hagrid on a table. It wasn't long before Hagrid regained consciousness and started feeling better. Jack was deeply concerned and immediately apologized.
"I'm sorry, Hagrid! I didn't know it was you... I just... I thought someone was following me!" Jack said regretfully.
Hagrid furrowed his brow and smiled widely, showing no signs of anger. "It's alright, Jack. I was surprised too... I didn't know I startled you that much. Actually, I just wanted to greet you after hearing about your shop and the unique items from Harry."
Jack stood still for a moment, then looked at Hagrid. "Harry... told you about my shop?"
Hagrid nodded. "Yes, when I brought Harry here and gave him the space ring, he talked a lot about your shop and some of the interesting things you sell. I got curious, but... I had to deal with some first-year students at Hogwarts."
Jack let out a relieved sigh and chuckled softly. "I thought something bad was happening. Thanks for following me... even though I thought you were someone suspicious."
They apologized to each other, and to celebrate this unexpected meeting, Jack invited Hagrid for a drink. They laughed and partied late into the night, talking about various things, especially Jack's upcoming adventure.
Jack explained that he planned to head to the Albanian Forest, a place he thought was full of strange and quirky creatures. Hagrid nodded in agreement. "Albania, huh? Sounds like an interesting place, Jack. There are plenty of magical creatures there. Too bad I can't join you, but I'm sure you'll encounter all sorts of fascinating things."
As they enjoyed their drinks, Jack started thinking about the journey ahead. "Tomorrow, I'll head to Albania. I'm going to find things I've never seen before," he said with enthusiasm.
Hagrid, though disappointed he couldn't join, offered some advice. "If you want to get there quickly, you'd better use a Portkey. Broomsticks are fun, but they take too long. With a Portkey, you'll get there directly."
Jack nodded, agreeing with Hagrid's suggestion. But as the night grew late, they had both drunk enough, and Tom, the owner of Leaky Cauldron, kicked them out because of the noise they were making. They stumbled out of the pub, laughing intermittently.
Once outside, Jack staggered toward his house, feeling content with the encounter. Tomorrow, his adventure would begin.