Lucius also felt humiliated and pulled Draco back.
Hagrid frowned at the side, clearly not having a good impression of the Malfoy family.
Lucius noticed Hagrid's expression, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes, but he maintained his aristocratic demeanor on the surface.
"Then we won't disturb you," Lucius said.
"Draco, we should go."
"Goodbye, Charlie."
Draco said with a sigh of relief, following his father away quickly.
Only after the Malfoys had walked far away did Hagrid speak.
"Charlie, the Malfoy family isn't good people. You'd best stay away from them."
Charlie was noncommittal.
Draco was indeed a fool, but his father always behaved politely every time he saw Charlie.
Charlie naturally wouldn't be hostile to him, nor did he consider him a friend; he was merely an acquaintance.
Hagrid wanted to say something more, but Charlie interrupted him.
"Hagrid, let's find the medicine first."
Just then, a Witch emerged from the shadows opposite Borgin and Burkes.
This Witch's appearance was truly Witch-like: a shriveled face covered in wrinkles, two pustules on her hooked nose, thin, dark lips, and an overall sinister aura.
Charlie had no doubt she would pull a poisoned apple from her pocket.
"Need any potions?" the Witch asked in a hoarse voice, her eyes darting between Hagrid and Charlie.
"Do you have medicine to drive away carnivorous slugs?"
The Witch grinned, revealing a few yellowed teeth.
"Of course, I do. This medicine is very common."
She pulled a small bottle containing green liquid from her tattered robe.
"Two Sickles."
Hagrid paid without hesitation.
Charlie took the opportunity to ask:
"Do you have medicine to sterilize Owls?"
The Witch looked at Charlie in surprise, then pulled out a packet of powder.
"Just sprinkle this on the Owl's food. It works very well, though the smell will be a bit strong. One Sickle."
Charlie also paid for it.
The two turned to leave, only to see Harry Potter stumbling out of Borgin and Burkes.
He looked a bit flustered, his eyes darting around, clearly lost.
The Witch selling medicine saw Harry, and a greedy glint flashed in her eyes.
She reached out her withered hand and grabbed Harry's arm.
"Dearie, are you lost?" the Witch's voice became even hoarser.
"Shall I take you to find your mummy?"
Harry was startled by the sudden grab.
He tried to break free, but the Witch's hand held him tightly.
"I don't need to, thank you," Harry's heart pounded.
The Witch persisted, continuing to pull at Harry.
"Once I catch you, don't think of leaving. You're mine."
Hagrid strode over.
"Let go of him!"
He pushed the Witch away, and she staggered a few steps, her tray of potions falling to the ground with a crisp shattering sound.
"What are you doing! Are you trying to steal my prey?" the Witch shrieked, her voice so piercing it caused a headache.
"I found him first!"
Charlie found it too noisy and directly pulled out his wand.
"Tongue-Tying Curse."
The Witch's voice cut off abruptly; she opened her mouth but couldn't make any sound.
To prevent her from retaliating, Charlie added two more spells.
"Expelliarmus."
"Leg-Locker Curse."
The Witch's wand flew into Charlie's hand, and her whole body stiffened, falling to the ground unable to move.
She could only stare, looking at Charlie in horror.
"If you make another sound, the next move won't be so gentle."
Charlie said coldly, twirling his wand in his hand.
The Witch's eyes were full of fear.
Harry finally relaxed. For a moment, he truly thought he was done for.
"Harry, what are you doing here?" Hagrid asked with concern.
"I got lost," Harry said somewhat awkwardly.
"I originally wanted to go to Diagon Alley to buy books, but the Floo powder brought me here."
"The Dursleys don't have Floo powder. Whose house did you go to?"
"Mr. Weasley's house. I'm staying with them."
"Let's go to Diagon Alley," Charlie said.
Harry was covered in soot, looking as if he had just climbed out of a chimney.
Seeing Harry in this state, Hagrid rolled up his sleeves, wanting to pat the dust off him.
Charlie, quick-witted, grabbed Hagrid's arm.
"Wait, Hagrid."
Charlie looked at Hagrid's fan-like palm and felt that if he slapped Harry, he would probably only leave a complete corpse.
"I'll do it."
Charlie pulled out his wand and gently waved it at Harry.
"Scourgify."
A flash of light, and the soot on Harry's body disappeared completely; even his glasses became sparkling clean.
"Thank you, Charlie."
The three walked out of Knockturn Alley and onto the main street of Diagon Alley.
The sun shone on the cobblestone streets, and Wizards were bustling everywhere.
In the distance, the pristine white building of Gringotts came into view.
"I need to go to Gringotts to exchange some Galleons," Charlie said.
Harry nodded; he also needed to withdraw money from Gringotts.
Just then, a voice came from the steps of Gringotts.
"Charlie, Harry, Hagrid."
Hermione was standing on the steps, waving at them, her bushy brown curly hair shimmering in the sunlight.
She quickly ran down the steps, a excited smile on her face.
"What a coincidence, are you also here to buy books?"
Charlie nodded.
"That's right, there are too many books required this semester."
"Many? I think it's alright, and they are Lockhart's books. He is a great Wizard, very knowledgeable."
Hermione finished speaking, then narrowed her eyes at Harry.
"Harry, why didn't you write back to me during the summer holidays?"
Harry quickly explained.
"It's not that I didn't want to reply; a House-elf named Dobby intercepted my letters. And I was locked in my room by my aunt and uncle, so I couldn't get out at all."
Hagrid's face instantly turned ashen upon hearing this.
"What? They locked you up?" Hagrid's voice was filled with anger.
"How could the Dursleys do that to you!"
Hagrid's beard trembled with anger, and his huge fists clenched, making cracking sounds.
Hermione also looked at Harry with concern.
Harry quickly reassured Hagrid: "It's alright, Hagrid, Ron and the others rescued me."
After hearing Harry's explanation, Hermione's expression softened a bit, then she looked at Charlie.
"It's understandable that Harry didn't reply if he didn't see the letters," Hermione's gaze sharpened.
"But Charlie, what do you mean by writing two words 'Read and Noted' in your reply?"
Charlie blinked. Of course, it was because he was too lazy to write a letter.
I'm tired of reviewing memorials; what's wrong with writing 'Read and Noted'?
"Because I had too much to say, one piece of paper simply wasn't enough."
Hermione narrowed her eyes, her expression clearly not believing a single word.
Just then, the Weasley family saw Harry.
"Here, Harry is here."
They had been worried sick about Harry's disappearance.
"Harry, are you alright?" Mrs. Molly looked Harry up and down with concern.
"We guessed you missed the fireplace. Where did you go?"
"Knockturn Alley, Mrs. Weasley, I'm sorry to have worried you."
Harry felt a little guilty.
Ron exclaimed:
"Knockturn Alley! Mum never lets us go there."
Mr. Weasley ruffled his head.
"Mum is right, you'd best never go."
Seeing that Harry was fine, Mrs. Molly took Charlie's hand.
"You must be Charlie, I often hear Ron and the others talk about you."
Charlie smiled at the enthusiastic lady.
"Hello, Mrs. Weasley."
Hagrid, seeing that the entire Weasley family was present, prepared to take his leave.
"I have to go back to Hogwarts first," Hagrid said.
"There are still many things waiting for me to deal with at school."
Everyone watched Hagrid leave, then walked together towards Gringotts.
On the steps of Gringotts, Harry said to everyone:
"Oh, by the way, I saw the Malfoys selling things at Borgin and Burkes."
A glint flashed in Mr. Weasley's eyes.
"It must be Dark Arts items. He's scared."
"The Ministry of Magic is strictly investigating these things. Lucius is destroying evidence."
He really wanted to catch Lucius and teach him a lesson.
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