Diagon Alley was as lively as ever.
After leaving his room at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry wandered through the bustling streets.
He bought himself an ice cream and strolled along while eating it.
When he passed the broom shop, he squeezed in among the crowd gathered outside the display window, staring longingly at the Firebolt on display and imagining what it would feel like to fly on it.
The idle hours slipped away quickly.
By midday, the sun had climbed high overhead.
Harry wiped the sweat from his forehead and began wondering where to eat lunch.
Just then, someone shouted his name at the top of their lungs.
"Harry! Harry! Harry!"
Turning around, Harry's face lit up with delight.
Outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour sat his two best friends.
"Ron! Hermione!"
He hurried over and dropped into the empty seat beside them, happily looking over friends he hadn't seen for months.
Hermione had changed quite a bit.
Harry had no idea where she'd traveled over the summer, but her skin had become noticeably tanned.
He had honestly expected her to spend the entire holiday indoors reading books.
Ron, on the other hand, looked almost exactly the same despite having toured Egypt.
The only difference was that he immediately began showing off his brand-new wand.
"Look!"
"It's brand new! Fourteen inches, willow wood, with a unicorn tail hair!"
Finally replacing his broken wand had Ron practically glowing with excitement.
As he spoke, he affectionately patted the proud-looking owl sitting inside the cage at his feet.
After Dumbledore had taken Scabbers away, the owl had been given to him as compensation.
Ron adored it and took it everywhere.
Having been apart for so long, the three of them chatted excitedly until all of their stomachs began growling.
They exchanged embarrassed smiles.
After a brief discussion, they decided to head to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch.
But just then...
A commotion erupted somewhere down the street.
Within moments, a crowd gathered so densely that the road became completely blocked.
"Wait... is that really him?"
"Those crimson eyes... it has to be!"
Diagon Alley was already crowded.
Now, however, people instinctively stepped aside, creating a path through the middle of the street while whispering among themselves.
What's happening?
Harry looked over curiously.
The scene reminded him of famous celebrities walking through Muggle cities...
Or his own first visit to the wizarding world, when everyone had stared at him.
He instinctively stood to get a better look.
Through the sea of people... He spotted a young boy walking calmly down the center of the street.
The boy's crimson eyes immediately stood out.
His expression remained perfectly composed. He paid no attention whatsoever to the countless eyes watching him.
He walked with such effortless confidence that it almost seemed as though he were attending his own coronation.
"It's Dawn Richter."
Harry's voice came out almost as a whisper.
His expression shifted several times.
Confusion.
Hesitation.
Fear.
Stiffness.
Only after remembering the newspaper articles he'd read over the past few months did he gradually relax.
Ron and Hermione weren't much better.
As Dawn's classmates, both of them had always viewed him with varying degrees of caution.
Running into him here caught them completely off guard.
After a long silence, Ron muttered in disbelief, "Merlin's beard... Can either of you explain this?"
"I spend a few months in Egypt, and when I come back, everything I know has apparently changed!"
He sounded thoroughly outraged.
"Dawn Richter was innocent?
The Daily Prophet has gone completely mad! They might as well start claiming Sirius Black's innocent too!
I'm telling you... Richter must've pulled some dirty trick.
Just like Malfoy's father.
They're exactly the same."
The more Ron spoke, the angrier he became.
Ever since overhearing Dawn's conversation during their first year... He had firmly believed Dawn would become a Dark wizard.
Nothing could shake that conviction.
As far as Ron was concerned... The newspapers reeked of conspiracy. He didn't believe a single word they printed.
After venting his frustration, he turned hopefully toward his two friends.
Harry hesitated...
Then nodded.
Hermione, however, remained thoughtful. "I don't think everything in those articles has to be false."
She raised a hand before Ron could interrupt.
"Don't cut me off, Ron. Just hear me out.
We all know Polyjuice Potion exists.
So we can't be completely certain Dawn was responsible for what happened on Halloween."
As she spoke, she gave Harry an apologetic glance.
Only after he nodded in understanding did she continue.
"As for the later murder notices... I think it's even less likely Dawn wrote them.
Remember?
Not long afterward, the newspapers also claimed Dawn had died. But clearly... That wasn't true.
If someone was impersonating him... Doesn't everything make much more sense?"
Hermione's reasoning was calm and methodical.
Ron remained unconvinced.
"What about Christmas? He broke into Hogwarts and caused absolute chaos!We all saw it!"
"That's exactly my point."
Hermione took a deep breath.
"Do you honestly believe a second-year student could fight Professor Dumbledore as an equal?"
That...
Was true.
The idea was simply too absurd.
Even the wildest Muggle adventure stories wouldn't go that far.
Listening nearby, Harry found himself slowly being persuaded.
Ron clearly refused to accept it.
He searched desperately for an argument... But couldn't think of a convincing reply.
Finally, he muttered stubbornly,
"Fine... Maybe you're making some sense. But I still think Richter isn't a good person.
And even if he isn't one now... He definitely will become a Dark wizard someday."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
She ignored Ron's completely illogical conclusion.
Seeing that the street remained hopelessly crowded, she simply pulled out a book and began reading.
"Oh, come on, Hermione. School doesn't start until tomorrow. Can't you enjoy one last day of freedom?"
Unable to stand her constant studying, Ron quickly changed the subject.
"You've got no idea how incredible Egypt was! I even toured the Great Pyramid!
It was amazing!
The corridors were incredibly narrow, but the whole place felt mysterious.
It was brilliant!"
Hermione finally lowered her book.
Seeing her interest, Ron enthusiastically launched into an exaggerated tale about battling mummies through three hundred rounds of combat.
Only after talking himself hoarse did he finally conclude,
"The Great Pyramid was incredible... But I heard the Valley of the Kings near Luxor is even more spectacular.
Unfortunately... We were supposed to go there.
But at the last minute we heard it wasn't safe. Apparently seven or eight wizards have disappeared there recently.
So Mum refused."
He took a disappointed sip of his drink before adding hopefully,
"I really wish someone in our family would win another big prize."
Just then...
A voice casually interrupted.
"So... Did you find anything inside the pyramids? Gems? Lost magic?"
Ron rolled his eyes.
"I wish."
"But there were people watching the whole time. I couldn't exactly wander off exploring."
He answered automatically.
Then suddenly froze.
That voice... It didn't belong to anyone he knew.
Slowly...
Ron looked up.
At some point... Dawn had somehow crossed the packed street.
Without anyone noticing... He had pulled out a chair and casually seated himself beside the trio.
Silence instantly settled over the table.
Ron stared with his mouth hanging open.
Hermione frowned deeply.
Harry looked completely at a loss.
None of them had expected Dawn to simply sit down beside them.
An uncomfortable tension filled the air. Along with an unspoken sense of fear and caution.
If Dudley had been here...
Harry suddenly thought...
His cousin would've burst into tears the way he'd screamed at the snake in the zoo years ago.
Resting his chin against one hand, Dawn quietly observed their expressions.
A mischievous glint flashed through his crimson eyes.
Then he turned toward Ron with apparent curiosity.
"So... You didn't find anything? Then your trip to Egypt was completely wasted.
Those Pharaohs were all wizards.
There are plenty of treasures hidden inside the pyramids."
The Pharaohs were wizards?
Hermione blinked in surprise.
She had always assumed Muggles and wizards either persecuted one another... Or existed as entirely separate worlds.
She had never imagined something like this.
Then she remembered Egypt's famous Curse-Breakers.
Suddenly...
It made perfect sense.
She couldn't help feeling annoyed with herself for never realizing it sooner.
Hermione looked at Dawn with complicated emotions.
A familiar feeling returned.
No matter how hard she'd worked over the past two years... The gap between them still hadn't grown any smaller.
Silence continued around the table.
Finally...
Seeing the contempt in Dawn's eyes becoming increasingly obvious, Ron's temper snapped.
After glancing nervously around at the nearby crowd, he forced himself to ask, "H-how do you know? Have you actually been there?"
The instant the words left his mouth...
Ron wanted to slap himself.
That had sounded far less intimidating than he'd intended.
Dawn smiled and nodded.
"Of course."
"After I left Hogwarts during first year... I traveled to Egypt. I joined an expedition exploring Tutankhamun's tomb."
Hearing Dawn mention leaving school after first year... Harry instinctively connected it to the attack against himself.
The thought left him feeling strangely uncomfortable.
Hermione, however, remembered her own conclusions about the newspaper articles.
At last overcoming her lingering hesitation, she asked naturally, "Tutankhamun? You mean the Pharaoh with the famous golden mask?"
"Exactly."
"But all the treasures Muggles found... Including the golden mask... They're only the tip of the iceberg."
Dawn smiled mysteriously.
Reaching into his enchanted wallet...
He casually pulled out a glittering pile of gemstones and placed them onto the table.
Sunlight passed through the flawless jewels.
Each one sparkled brilliantly.
Even passersby throughout Diagon Alley couldn't help glancing toward them.
Ron's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
Hearing they'd all come from inside a pyramid... His face became a mixture of envy and regret.
If he'd known...
He would've searched every inch of the place himself.
Ron regretted everything.
"Haha!"
Dawn suddenly pointed at him and laughed.
"Your expression is priceless."
"Weasley... Don't tell me you actually imagined finding treasure inside the pyramids."
He shook his finger as though hearing the greatest joke imaginable.
Then looked down at Ron with open disdain.
"Listen carefully.
Only talented adventurers return with treasure. The untalented become bones along the roadside.
Remember Amir? The former librarian? He explored the tomb with me.
In the end...
He contracted a dreadful curse. Now he's dying."
Dawn recounted the events with deliberate simplicity.
Tilting his chin upward slightly, he looked down at Ron.
"Frankly, Weasley... To me... You're a wizard completely devoid of talent.
The greatest contribution you'll probably ever make to the wizarding world... is increasing its population."
"You—!"
Ron shot to his feet, his face flushed crimson.
Realizing nearby shoppers had begun staring at him... He felt as though his skin were burning.
His breathing became increasingly ragged.
"That's enough!"
Hermione slammed both hands onto the table and stood.
"Dawn!"
"What exactly are you trying to accomplish?"
Harry immediately stepped in front of Ron.
"Richter. You're not welcome here."
"Ron. Hermione. Let's go."
He grabbed both of his friends.
Hermione shot Dawn one final glare while gathering her books and bags.
Dawn merely shrugged.
He ordered one of the shop's specialty drinks. Then leaned back comfortably in his chair, waiting for it to arrive.
Yawning lazily, he added, "Oh... Miss Granger. One piece of friendly advice."
"If you bought all those books because you've enrolled in every elective... You'd better return a few.
Several of those classes take place at exactly the same time."
"My schedule is none of your business." Hermione snapped.
"Of course."
"Of course."
Dawn nodded absentmindedly.
"I was only reminding you because we've crossed paths before. If you don't believe me... That's your choice."
He clicked his tongue idly.
Ron immediately seized the opportunity to sneer.
"Hmph. Shows what you know.
Hogwarts has had students take every class before.
Percy did it. Pretending to know everything just makes you look ridiculous."
True...
Ron couldn't stand Percy's pompous attitude.
But if Percy could be used to mock Dawn... He was more than willing.
"That's because they used a Time-Turner."
Dawn gave Ron nothing more than a dismissive glance.
Completely ignoring him afterward, he looked directly at Hermione.
"A Time-Turner is an alchemical device that allows someone to travel into the past and attend multiple classes held at the same time.
Unfortunately... There was a small accident not long ago.
The Ministry doesn't have any left."
"An accident?"
Hermione frowned.
"Someone stole them." Dawn smiled as though it had nothing to do with him.
The shopkeeper hesitantly delivered his drink. Dawn politely thanked him before sipping it through the straw.
Hermione gave Dawn one last thoughtful look.
Without another word... She disappeared into the crowd with Harry and Ron.
Turning toward the clock inside the shop, Dawn saw there was still plenty of time before meeting Dumbledore.
He leaned comfortably back in his chair.
Truthfully...
He hadn't approached the trio for any important reason. He had simply overheard Ron insulting him.
And...
He'd decided to indulge in a little childish retaliation.
Even so...
As he watched Harry's retreating figure... His thoughts drifted back to the conversation he'd had with Dumbledore.
If time in this world truly moved along a single predetermined line...
Then how should all the changes caused by his own existence be explained?
His eyes remained fixed upon the prophesied Chosen One.
Suddenly...
A bold thought emerged.
What would happen... If Harry Potter died?
The prophecy declared that Harry and Voldemort were destined to die at one another's hands.
So...
If Dawn killed Harry now... Would the prophecy collapse? Would the future itself change?
The idea fascinated him.
His eyes wandered across the surrounding witches and wizards.
He quietly began considering whether he should manipulate someone else into carrying out the experiment.
Yet...
The very instant the thought solidified... A faint but unmistakable sense of danger surged through him.
His body stiffened.
...What's this?
Dawn frowned.
His eyes swept the surroundings.
For a brief moment, he wondered whether Dumbledore had finally decided to attack him.
But...
Everything remained perfectly peaceful.
As the seconds passed... The ominous feeling gradually faded.
No.
That wasn't it.
It wasn't Dumbledore.
Dawn considered the matter carefully.
Then... He deliberately entertained the thought of harming Harry once again.
Exactly as expected...
That unsettling feeling returned immediately. It felt like invisible blades pressing against his back.
Even someone as powerful as Dawn could clearly sense the threat.
His eyes narrowed.
"...World Correction." He reached the conclusion almost instantly.
Taking a slow breath...
He traced the cause backward.
Very quickly... He understood. Killing the child named by prophecy would fundamentally alter the future.
Natural magic would intervene.
But...
He had already changed countless events.
The world of Harry Potter had become almost unrecognizable. Why hadn't World Correction appeared before?
Could it be...
That his own existence had always been included within history?
That the Harry Potter he remembered had never been an exact future?
Or perhaps... A vague thought flickered through his mind.
Before he could grasp it...
It disappeared completely.
"Interesting."
Murmuring softly around the straw of his drink, Dawn recalled something else.
Whenever someone violated the absolute law forbidding transformation into Fantastic Beasts...
Natural magic corrected reality.
It even branded the offender with a blood curse.
So then...
If he truly killed Harry... How exactly would natural magic erase that fact?
Could observing the process reveal the secret of resurrection itself? Or would the role of the Chosen One simply transfer to Neville Longbottom?
Light flickered within Dawn's crimson eyes.
"World Correction..."
He slowly exhaled.
Then thought once again about the dreams he experienced every night.
The fragments of true history.
Unfortunately...
Despite so much time passing...
Nothing had changed except the voices becoming slightly clearer.
No images had ever appeared.
After sitting quietly for a long time... Dawn finally gathered his scattered thoughts.
Checking the clock once more, he rose to his feet.
It was time to meet Dumbledore.
Before leaving... His gaze drifted toward the pile of gemstones still sitting on the table.
Originally...
He had considered scattering them across the street. It certainly would've made for a dramatic exit.
Then he thought better of it.
Why should he give away his gems to everyone else?
Absolutely not.
Gathering them back into his enchanted wallet, Dawn ignored the many strange looks directed his way.
Then he calmly walked toward Gringotts.
___________
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