Half an hour after asking for directions.
On the street of Diagon Alley.
Thorne stood blankly in place, watching the Snails, mosquitoes, and Stag Beetles in robes coming and going all around him, feeling a shiver run down his spine.
He had encountered the biggest problem since arriving in this world.
It was even harder to deal with than the initial interview at Hogwarts.
He was lost.
"..."
Thorne raised his hand and scratched his head, unable to help but curse under his breath.
Damn it, getting lost really runs in the family.
Getting lost back in Hallownest was one thing, but how come I'm still getting lost in human society...?
This was also the fault of that Cricket earlier who didn't explain the directions clearly at all.
By the time Thorne realized and wanted to turn back to ask for directions again, that shop had already closed.
Come to think of it.
The way that Cricket looked at him at the time was as if it was about to be devoured alive the next second, even willing to hand over all its gold coins.
Thinking of this, Thorne couldn't help but sigh.
It seems not every Cricket values gold coins more than life.
Back in Hallownest, he had seen a Cricket who loved money more than its own life, reportedly even sleeping hugging its money bag.
But then... it's not like there was no gain at all.
At the very least, he managed to explore Diagon Alley a bit.
Thorne lowered his head to glance at the system panel.
[Current Special Environment: Diagon Alley]
[Exploration Progress: 28.9%]
"Hmm..."
Thorne nodded.
At least this street is clearly laid out here, with no 'no entry' areas, unlike St. Mungo's over there, where you can see a bunch of areas but can't enter.
After walking a while longer, Thorne unknowingly arrived in front of the street named 'Knockturn Alley'.
He stopped beside a pure white building.
It seemed there were some creatures inside that building... that weren't insects.
They looked dark, about the same size as Professor Flitwick, but well, they didn't look as kind-faced as that Professor.
But after just a glance, Thorne instinctively judged.
This place, no matter how you look at it, doesn't seem like a pub.
So he didn't go in.
Thorne looked left and right, starting to hesitate about whether to ask someone for directions again.
At the very least, he needed to locate the Leaky Cauldron first, have a clear anchor point, before he could proceed with further actions.
He was even beginning to seriously consider whether to pick up his old trade of map-making again.
Back in Hallownest, it was because he kept getting lost that he taught himself to draw maps, and even became good friends with another map merchant because of it.
He looked down at his current appearance.
Tattered clothes, covered in coal dust.
Quite a few people on the street had already turned to look at him.
Thorne was even starting to worry a bit.
If he kept wandering around like this, what if someone really called the police, accusing him of vagrancy and causing trouble, getting him arrested for 'vagrancy'? That would be awkward.
Just as he was thinking this.
Suddenly, a loud and familiar voice rang out on the street.
"Professor Thorne! What are you doing here?"
Thorne was startled and immediately turned around.
The next moment, he felt as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
He saw Hagrid, looking pale, standing in front of that white building, waving vigorously at him.
"..."
Thorne almost reflexively quickened his pace to meet him.
Then, without hesitation, he gave Hagrid a heavy hug.
"Hey, mate! You have no idea what I just went through—"
Before he could finish.
A large amount of vomit landed directly on Thorne.
"Ah!!!!"
——
Ten minutes later.
"Hagrid, you'd better give me a reasonable explanation."
Thorne gritted his teeth, putting back on his patched-up, finally-cleaned robe, his tone gloomy.
"Otherwise, even if Merlin himself came, I'd take you down with me."
"Now I smell like rock cakes all over."
Hagrid looked ashen-faced, gazing at Thorne with guilt, his lips somewhat pale.
"S-sorry, Eric... It's all the Goblins' fault, their carts can't decel—urp!"
Before he could finish, he dry-heaved again.
Seeing him in this state, Thorne immediately lost the mood to press for responsibility further, and could only speechlessly pat his back.
"Hey, hey, are you carsick?"
"Maybe you should have some water first."
Hagrid nodded weakly.
"Okay... I'll go to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink first..."
He caught his breath and added:
"Could you take care of Harry, take him to buy a wand."
After saying that, he staggered off towards the other end of the alleyway.
Thorne was taken aback.
"...Harry?"
He instinctively looked down.
And then, he saw a small, skinny, bespectacled little—Stag Beetle?
It looked like a Stag Beetle, with a single long, upturned horn, six long legs, short white whiskers around its face, and a smooth carapace.
Countless memories instantly flashed through Thorne's mind.
That last Stag Beetle.
Oh, no, it should be the Old Stag.
Images of traveling together through the Hallownest Kingdom surfaced, the other had told him about all sorts of sights seen as a beetle tasked with the kingdom's transportation.
"Eric... Professor?"
Thorne finally snapped back to reality.
The little Stag Beetle in front of him was looking up at him, expression somewhat awkward.
Thorne smiled slightly, crouched down, and met its gaze at eye level.
"Harry, you're Hagrid's friend's child, right?"
"He mentioned you to me."
"He said he was very much looking forward to meeting you, said you were... a big surprise sent by Merlin."
Thorne thought for a moment and added:
"The kind he wanted to see more than a Dragon."
Hearing this, Harry instinctively glanced at Hagrid's receding figure, and the awkwardness on his face lessened considerably.
"Thank you, Professor."
"But... Hagrid is the real surprise."
He said seriously:
"When he kicked the door open and told me I was a Wizard, it was probably the happiest moment of my life."
"Kicked the door open?"
Thorne raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What did you all do..."
He paused, then waved his hand.
"Never mind, let's not talk about that."
Thorne refocused his attention on Harry, sizing him up.
"Looking at you, you must be quite good at running, right?"
The Stag Beetle's build looked quite agile.
"Huh? That... I'm not really sure."
Harry scratched his head.
"But I'm very good at running away."
"When my cousin and his friends chase and try to hit me, I can always get away."
Hearing this, Thorne fell silent for a long while.
He looked at the little bug in front of him, as if gradually outlining the silhouette of a human form before his eyes.
Then, he smiled and stood up.
"Alright."
"Once you get to Hogwarts, no one will do that anymore."
"Because—I won't allow such things to happen."
Saying this, he reached out and took the other's little bug hand.
"Come on, little Wizard."
"Let's go buy a wand."
Harry was stunned for a moment.
Then, he nodded vigorously, revealing a smile.
However, three minutes later.
In the alleyway of Diagon Alley.
Both of them simultaneously stopped, looking at the pure white building that had appeared before them again.
This place... it seems they were just here three minutes ago.
Harry blinked, looking up at Thorne.
"Professor..."
"You're not lost, are you?"
"H-how could I be."
Thorne immediately denied it.
"I just need a little time... to perfect the map."
He said this while looking down at a piece of Parchment, scribbling quickly with a quill.
Harry fell silent for a moment.
"..."
"You... are you really a Hogwarts Professor?"
But the other guy seemed pretty cool when he made that promise just now!!!