After discussing the company's establishment with Alan for a while, the two bid him farewell. Now, he only needed to wait at home for news. Ginny, who was left behind, showed no reluctance or sadness when parting with Arthur, which left her father, who had been ready to comfort her, quite speechless.
Hog was even more unsettled. He could clearly sense that Ginny's gaze was fixed almost constantly on him as Arthur departed. There was no mistaking that feeling; the young devil was coming for him. As soon as Arthur and Moody left the house, Hog quickly shrunk down and vanished in a flash, running off to find a hiding spot.
"Ginny, do you want some dessert? How about I make you a cake?" Alan picked up his goddaughter, coaxing her with a doting smile.
"Okay..." Ginny narrowed her eyes, her smile forming two cute crescents. Then, tilting her head as if remembering something, she asked, "Godfather, I want the doggy to play with me. Where is the doggy?"
Alan's smile brightened. "The doggy went to play hide-and-seek with you. Why don't you go find him? Godfather will make you something delicious first, and you can come find me when you're tired of playing."
Ginny nodded repeatedly at the prospect of a game and immediately began looking around as if searching for treasure. After Alan put her down, she darted away. She was clearly more interested in the wolf than the cake.
"Kiki, keep an eye on Ginny. Don't let her hurt herself. I'll take care of dinner tonight." Alan squinted as he watched the excited girl in the distance. He had finally found Hog's bane. He would let Ginny properly handle the silly dog for the next few days.
In the following days, Alan experienced the warmth of a family for the first time in a long while, which only made him fonder of his goddaughter. Hog, however, had a much tougher time. The husky had gained some painful insight: it was the first time he had encountered a human with more energy than himself.
No matter if he turned big or small, or which corner he burrowed into, Ginny always found him, shouting that dreaded name: "Doggy!" Furthermore, the girl was incredibly strong. As soon as he was spotted, Hog would be pulled out and subjected to a thorough kneading. He didn't know what charm he possessed that kept her entertained for days on end. Eventually, Hog gave up. *If you want to pet me, then pet me. I'm just going to lie down.* He simply couldn't run anymore.
On the day of their appointment, Alan appeared in the living room dressed neatly and carrying a large leather suitcase. In front of him, Ginny was busy squishing a shrunken Hog.
"Ginny, it's time to go. We're going to the Ministry of Magic today, and we're on a tight schedule." Alan patted the girl's head, urging her along.
"No, Godfather, can I play with the doggy for a young while longer?" Ginny pouted, her small hands pinching Hog's cheeks even harder. Hog merely twitched, his face numb from the affection.
Alan looked at the pair with a hint of helplessness. He had originally wanted Ginny to discipline Hog, but they seemed to have developed a strange bond. "How about this? We'll bring Hog along and let him stay with you for one last day."
"Really? Oh, good! I want to bring the doggy! Doggy, get big, get big, get big!" Ginny excitedly dropped Hog onto the floor and urged him to transform.
On the verge of tears, Hog shot Alan a resentful glance, not expecting to endure such public humiliation. Nevertheless, he obediently grew in size. Ginny skillfully took a step forward and nimbly flipped onto his back. "Doggy, let's go! Giddy up!"
Hog grumbled a discontented "Woof" but carried her out the door. Alan led this young knight toward the Ministry.
"Alan, you're finally here." At the Ministry of Magic, Arthur came to greet them and stopped short when he saw his daughter riding a massive wolf. "Ginny, why are you bullying the dog again? Get down now!"
"No, Godfather said the doggy could play with me today," Ginny pouted. Having been pampered at Alan's house, she was now throwing a proper tantrum.
"It's alright, Arthur. Let her play if she wants to. I promised her," Alan said dotingly, interceding on her behalf.
"Fine, but don't spoil her so much, or you'll ruin her," Arthur shook his head.
"Girls should be raised with the best of everything; that's the wisdom of the ages," Alan brushed him off, then changed the subject. "Your letter only said to bring the products today. Are we handling the registration now, or are we doing the classifications first?"
"Neither. Didn't Moody explain?" Arthur looked at Alan. "Both Moody and I mentioned your business to Minister Bagnold. Unexpectedly, the Minister is very interested and has decided to personally observe the demonstration. We're heading directly to the training hall. Minister Bagnold will be there with the heads of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, as well as the entire Hit Wizard squad. The hazard assessment will be conducted on-site."
"This is a great opportunity," Arthur gestured excitedly. "If your products satisfy them, securing orders will be a breeze. You should really thank Moody; he's praised your work to the heavens."
A demonstration so soon? Alan had expected to wait. Minister Bagnold seemed very eager. He processed the news, sensing that something was unusual. "Has the Ministry encountered any trouble recently, or has someone been making things difficult for the Minister?" Alan asked, a hint of doubt in his voice.