Chapter 60: 60: Meeting Again

The next morning, Nolan and Hagrid set off with Harry Potter, heading to Diagon Alley to prepare for Harry's school supplies. Harry, still adjusting to the strange new world he'd been thrust into, was utterly fascinated by the animated black-and-white photographs in the morning's owl-delivered newspaper. Though he didn't recognize many of the words, he found the moving images captivating. Wouldn't it be amazing if the pictures of great wizards in textbooks could move too? he mused. Then another thought struck him. But if they could move, I wouldn't be able to doodle on them! While Harry entertained himself with such thoughts, Hagrid and Nolan were locked in a heated argument about their transportation back to the city. The isolated beach, bordered by a long stretch of dirt road, was inaccessible to regular cars. The previous night, they had flown in on broomsticks—a choice Nolan had made begrudgingly. However, Dumbledore had issued Hagrid a strict instruction: no magic was to be used after they'd found Harry Potter. "I am not getting on that boat!" Nolan snapped, his tone sharp with irritation. "I don't mind yachts or cruise ships, but I refuse to sit in that idiotic excuse for a vessel!" "Oh, don't be daft, Draugr," Hagrid said, attempting to soothe him. "You took boats just like this one when you started at Hogwarts." "This isn't about status," Nolan retorted with a sneer. "I'm telling you, if you step onto that tiny boat, it's going to sink. Miss Nancy doesn't swim." He hoisted the sleek black cat into the air like a prized trophy. Miss Nancy, under strict orders not to speak while in public, gave a discontented meow. "Now, now, Draugr, don't be silly," Hagrid replied with a chuckle. "Cats are naturals at swimming!" Ignoring Nolan's protests, Hagrid all but shoved him into the small rowboat before climbing in himself. There was a loud thunk as the vessel groaned under Hagrid's weight, sinking half a meter lower into the water. "It's taking on water already," Nolan grumbled darkly, glaring at the muddy water that soaked his silver-embroidered boots. "You've ruined my shoes." When Harry clambered aboard, the boat threatened to sink even further, forcing Nolan to hand him a bucket. "Start bailing," Nolan ordered coolly. By the time they reached the opposite shore, all three were drenched, looking as though they'd swum across the sea rather than taken a boat. "I must have lost my mind," Nolan muttered venomously as he wrung water from his cloak. The trio boarded a small car that Miss Theresa, their maid, had thoughtfully prepared. As they drove toward London, Harry leaned toward Hagrid in the back seat and whispered, "Hagrid, why doesn't Draugr want to talk to me? Am I really that famous in the wizarding world?" Harry couldn't help but admire the aloof young wizard who had accompanied Hagrid to rescue him. Nolan's effortless disdain for the Dursleys and his incredible display of magic had left a deep impression on Harry. Yet every time Harry tried to strike up a conversation, Nolan would respond with a disinterested "Mm," leaving Harry feeling distinctly unwelcome. "Oh, well, as far as I know, Draugr's always been like that at Hogwarts—cold and aloof. That's just the kind of kid he is," Hagrid explained with a shrug. "Doesn't he have any friends?" "Course he does," Hagrid replied, his beetle-black eyes twinkling with fondness. "There's a lovely young lady..." Just then, the car screeched to a halt. Before Hagrid or Harry could figure out what was going on, Nolan jumped out, storming toward two women standing a short distance away. The two figures, one tall and one short, both had silver hair cascading down their shoulders. The older woman was strikingly beautiful, with an air of mature elegance, while the younger one was a picture of youthful innocence, her features radiating a soft, gentle charm. "Eve!" Nolan called the younger girl's name softly, his voice carrying an edge of urgency. He strode forward and grabbed her hand. "Eve Stock! Why haven't you written to me? You know how to reach me, and yet I didn't even know your new address. I couldn't find you!" "Nolan! I can't believe it's you!" The girl squealed, throwing herself into his arms with an emotional hug. "I never thought I'd see you again! Mom, this is Nolan—the best friend I've ever had at Hogwarts!" The older woman smiled tenderly and stroked her daughter's hair as though she were touching a precious treasure. She greeted Nolan warmly, "Hello, Nolan. I've heard so much about you. Whenever Eve talks about Hogwarts, eight out of ten sentences are about you." "I don't care what she's been saying about me at home. What I want to know is this," Nolan interrupted curtly, snatching a bag from Eve's hands. Inside were several books—math, social studies, science—the kind of subjects he found peculiar. Eve lowered her head, her voice so faint it was barely audible. "I'm going to attend a public school." Her mother, heartbroken, pulled her daughter into a tight embrace, her voice trembling with emotion. "I'm so sorry, Nolan. But you and Eve will have to part ways..." "Is it money?" Nolan asked bluntly, his sharp gaze darting between the two. Attending Hogwarts wasn't cheap for Muggle families. Five pounds only bought one Galleon, and the yearly cost of new textbooks alone ranged from twenty to thirty Galleons. Add to that the expense of replacing outgrown robes, a decent broomstick, and other supplies, and the total could easily climb to several hundred pounds. Even wizarding families struggled—like the Weasleys, who were so strapped for cash that the twins could barely scrape together a few Sickles for pocket money. Eve's family had been hit particularly hard. Her parents had divorced the year before, and Eve had stayed with her mother, her biological parent. But Eve's mother lacked both work experience and marketable skills. She was an excellent homemaker, but that didn't put food on the table, let alone cover Hogwarts tuition. Nolan stared at Eve in silence, his piercing gaze making her eyes redden with tears. "Have you given up being a witch?" he asked coldly. "No! But I—I don't know what to do..." "Didn't I tell you to rely on me?" Nolan snapped. "This is pocket change for me. It's a minor expense, barely worth mentioning. Are you really going to let your so-called pride stop you from being a witch? Let me be clear, Eve; dignity can be traded for money, but your pride isn't worth as much as your future. If I were you, I'd swallow my pride and beg the person in front of me to pay for my education. That's what any rational person would do." Eve shook her head frantically. "No! I can't do that! If it were anyone else—even Alicia—I might ask. But I can't ask you, Nolan. That's not what I want. If going to Hogwarts means losing my self-respect, then it's meaningless!" Eve's mother held her daughter tightly, tears brimming in her eyes. She understood her daughter's feelings all too well. Though Eve was young, the stirrings of first love had taken root deep within her. This pure, unspoken affection had become an undeniable part of her. Eve had endured bullying at Hogwarts every day, yet she had willingly stayed. Why? The answer was simple: Nolan. Her only reason for being at Hogwarts was to be near him, to share a space in his world. But if she had to sacrifice her dignity to do so, if she could no longer stand as his equal, then there was no point in continuing. Eve had thought it through clearly. The same could not be said for Nolan, who, in this moment, understood nothing. ~~~---------------------- Patreon Advance Chapters: patreon .com / HPdreame