Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

"Lucius, I don't think you'd miss our trip to Diagon Alley because of a meeting!"

Narcissa sat on the sofa with a half-smile, her eyes fixed on her husband's every move.

Lucius was somewhat helpless, because he had just received news that he needed to attend a ministerial-level meeting at the Ministry of Magic tomorrow.

In the past, Lucius would have definitely chosen the Ministry of Magic meeting over Diagon Alley, but...

Lucius stole a glance at the girl sitting next to Narcissa. The girl seemed to sense his presence, looked up at Lucius, and gave him a sweet smile.

Like prey being targeted by a predator, Lucius felt a chill run down his spine and quickly gave his answer: "Sissy, of course I'll choose to go to Diagon Alley with you!"

Narcissa was a little surprised, but she quickly recovered and smiled as she stepped forward to give Lucius a kiss.

Thea, unfazed, continued reading her book.

Even though Thea had mentally rehearsed it countless times, she was still shocked by the bizarre and wonderful world before her:

There are almost no square shops along the entire alley; they are all irregular, round, triangular, and other strange shapes. They are clearly incompatible with each other, but at this moment they achieve a perfect harmony.

Thea guessed that this might be a romantic spiritual crop inherent in the wizards' bones.

Their first stop was Madam Malkin's Robe Shop.

Thea was the first to step forward. After giving Mrs. Morkin a sweet smile and a polite greeting, the legendary ruler began to take her measurements.

Seeing that Thea and Draco were alright, Lucius and Narcissa suggested waiting for them at the ice cream shop, as they hadn't been to Diagon Alley in a long time.

Thea was trying on clothes, while Draco waited for her idly in the outer room. Based on Draco's experience of accompanying his mother shopping for clothes in the past, Thea definitely had a long time to go, no wonder his mother and the others left early.

Thinking about this made Draco feel even worse.

"Ding-dong," the doorbell rang crisply. Draco looked over curiously and saw a figure with messy hair and clothes so big that two of him could fit inside.

Draco's eyes flashed with disdain as he looked at the young wizard who was clearly of Muggle origin.

But thanks to Thea's guidance over the past two years, Draco, even though he was extremely unwilling, could only speak slowly:

"Hello, I'm Draco Malfoy." To avoid further embarrassment, Draco added, "Are you also a new student at Hogwarts this year?"

Harry was completely stunned. Everything that was happening here seemed like a dream. Just yesterday he was trapped in that corner, and today he had come to this dreamlike world!

Some people even shook hands with him enthusiastically!

At his uncle's house, he had almost no friends his own age, thanks to his cousin Dali.

When the pale-faced, impeccably dressed young master, clearly from a noble family, greeted him, Harry quickly replied, "Hello, I... I'm Harry Potter, and I'm also a freshman this year!"

Seeing that Draco didn't continue speaking, Harry nervously fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, Dudley's words echoing in his mind: "You're a monster! You'll never have any friends!"

Harry felt remorseful for his rudeness! He was afraid that even this one peer, the only one who had shown him kindness, thought he was impolite.

Draco was also startled by the identity of the small, ragged child in front of him!

Merlin! Is this the savior?

Why does he look like a little beggar?

Did Dumbledore mistreat him?

Countless questions swirled in Draco's mind, so much so that Harry pointed to the tall figure outside the door and introduced him, "This is Hagrid, he's the one who brought me to Diagon Alley!"

Draco replied without hesitation, "Oh, I know him, that Hogwarts servant, a big, silly guy!"

Harry thought he had misheard, and he couldn't help but stare at Draco, trying to see if there was any remorse on his face.

Draco, of course, felt no remorse. He remained arrogant and continued, "I wasn't wrong. He's not exactly smart!"

Harry was utterly shocked! He opened his mouth slightly, about to say something, when a clear voice rang out. Harry watched as Draco, who had just been spouting nonsense, immediately returned to his previous polite demeanor.

"Draco, what are you doing?" Thea looked at the scene in front of her with some confusion: a well-dressed young master with a proud face, and opposite him was a poor little guy with baggy clothes and a furious expression.

“I didn’t do anything, sister,” Draco said matter-of-factly.

Seeing that Thea was skeptical, Draco quickly changed her mind: "This is Harry Potter! A friend I just met!"

To dispel Thea's suspicions, Draco went all out.

“Harry Potter?” Thea really didn’t recognize that the small, thin boy in front of her was the protagonist of the story.

Although she had mentioned in books or movies that Harry's childhood was indeed not good, she realized when she saw the real person that the short line in the book was a true reflection of the first 11 years of this 11-year-old boy's life.

Even though she felt sorry for the boy's plight, Thea's past life taught her: never be soft-hearted towards your enemy, even if he seems weak and helpless now.

Composing herself, Thea put on a friendly smile and said in a gentle yet solemn tone, "Welcome back, Mr. Potter."

She extended her hand: "I am Thea, Dorothea Black."

This was the first time Harry had ever heard anyone address him as Mr. Potter so formally. Even the way people addressed him as Mr. Potter at the Leaky Cauldron didn't sound nearly as respectful to Harry as this.

Harry was about to take those fair hands, but he felt ashamed of his own attire. He hesitated for a moment, and the next second, a pair of warm hands grasped his.

"Like a ray of sunlight shining into Harry's barren and desolate world, his world was suddenly illuminated." Forgive Harry's limited education, but at this moment, Harry had only this one thought in his mind.

He instantly forgot Draco's rudeness, his mind filled only with Thea's apologetic voice on Draco's behalf: "Mr. Potter, I am very sorry for Draco's rude behavior just now..."

Thea glared at Draco, who was full of disdain. Under the threat of her gaze, he obediently said, "I'm sorry, Harry, I misspoke."

After the two men sincerely apologized, Harry naturally chose to let bygones be bygones.