20demayo Chapter 135 A Gift
Chapter 135 A Gift
Chapter 135 A Gift
So the two groups parted ways on the spot.
Harry stood there, watching Mrs. Weasley, Ron, and Hermione disappear into the surging crowd of the Stone Tower Merchant Guild.
Before leaving, Hermione turned back and gave him an encouraging smile, while Ron made a "good luck" face at him.
The frenzy from Lockhart's book signing still seemed to linger in the air, but now, alone beside Lynch, Harry felt a strange silence, as if he had suddenly been thrown out of the noisy vortex.
Ron and his friends went to buy the so-called "student discount package," and the Stone Tower Merchant Guild foreman—a meticulous wizard in a white robe—respectfully followed Mrs. Weasley.
He was responsible for communicating with stores that sell various school supplies, exercising Lynch's 30% discount privilege, and providing professional shopping guidance services.
The crowd was still bustling. Harry turned his head and looked up at Lynch, who was wearing an exquisite suit, beside him.
Bright light streamed down from the cascading chandeliers of the Chamber of Commerce, illuminating his sharply defined face.
Harry wondered where this uncle who had only appeared a few months ago was going to take him.
Should we go to buy more advanced potion ingredients, or should we go to some serious place that "only adults can go," like Uncle Vernon sometimes does with Dudley?
But Lynch did not act immediately.
His deep gaze swept around the hall of the chamber of commerce, as if confirming something, before he elegantly raised his hand and beckoned another shop assistant who was waiting to the side.
The two wooden planks that had been floating silently behind him moved smoothly in front of the shop assistant.
"Be careful," Lynch's voice was calm but firm. "Wrap it in a gift box and deliver it to 'Rip's BBQ Restaurant' and give it to the manager there."
"Yes, Your Excellency Lynch." The shop assistant bowed and replied, holding the two boards with extreme care in his hands, before quickly retreating.
Harry's curiosity was piqued again. What exactly was that thing? Some kind of magical artifact?
But Lynch clearly had no intention of explaining after dealing with the matter. He lowered his head slightly, smiled, and said to Harry, "Let's go."
Lynch took a step, and Harry had to jog a couple of steps to keep up.
They walked through the throng of people and out of the gates of the Stone Tower Merchant Guild.
The morning sun shone on the cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley, and the air was filled with all sorts of wonderful smells: the sweet aroma of freshly baked crucible cakes, the scent of feathers wafting from the Owl Post Office, and the strange herbal aroma emanating from a potions shop in the distance.
Lynch seemed to have a clear goal; he walked steadily along the street.
Harry followed beside him, looking at the dazzling array of shops on both sides, feeling both anticipation and a little anxious.
They walked past the Ee-la-Owl Shop, past the stationery store piled high with screeching quills, until they came to a bright, clean shop window.
Harry stopped in his tracks, completely captivated by the exhibits in the shop window.
The shop window was lined with deep blue velvet, and on it sat a perfectly streamlined, brand-new, gleaming flying broom.
The broom handle is made of mahogany, polished to an incredibly smooth finish, and the tail branches are neatly trimmed, each one gleaming with a supple luster.
Harry recognized it at a glance—the latest Nimbus 2001!
Just two days ago, Ron was excitedly pointing at the picture in the "Complete Guide to Flying Brooms" magazine, and murmured enviously for a long time, saying that if he had one, he would definitely pass the Quidditch recruitment for the new school year.
His gaze was fixed on the broom, his head turning comically as his feet kept moving. As a Seeker, the desire for a top-of-the-line broom was instinctive.
Lynch noticed his gaze and stopped in his tracks.
He glanced at the shop window, then at Harry's longing face, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.
"Looks like we've made an unexpected stop," he said, leading Harry through the door of the shop that sells flying broomsticks.
The bell on the door rang out with a clear, crisp sound.
The store is filled with all kinds of brooms, from the old-fashioned horizontal sweeper series to the latest light wheel.
The shop owner was a warm and enthusiastic wizard who immediately came to greet Lynch when he entered.
"Good afternoon, sir! Oh! It's Harry Potter!" The shopkeeper's gaze quickly shifted from Lynch to Harry's lightning bolt-shaped scar with delight.
Lynch briefly interrupted the upcoming fan meeting, pointing to the display window: "We want that Nimbus 2001."
The transaction was simpler than Harry had imagined.
Without any haggling, Lin Qi took out a checkbook, signed it, tore off a check, and handed it to the shopkeeper, telling him to take the check to the Stone Tower Merchant Guild to collect the money. The shopkeeper's attitude became even more respectful. He quickly took the broom down, carefully wrapped it in special thick paper printed with broom maintenance instructions, and tied it with a ribbon.
"Enjoy using it, Mr. Potter! It will definitely give you the perfect Quidditch experience!" The shopkeeper enthusiastically handed over the package.
Harry took the long package in a daze, feeling like he was dreaming.
The weight of the broom was real, pressing down on his arm, yet it still felt unreal.
"Uncle Lynch—what's going on?" Harry looked up, clutching the overly expensive gift, his emerald eyes filled with confusion and unease.
He even subconsciously wanted to touch his purse, even though he knew it didn't contain enough Galleons to buy Nimbus 2001.
"A small gift," Lynch said with a smile. "I remember you were the Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and quite talented. I think a good tool is exactly what a good Seeker needs."
Harry instinctively scratched his messy hair, the words on the tip of his tongue.
But I already have a Nimbus 2000, and it works very well.
He wanted to say this in an attempt to politely decline the generous gift.
But the words stuck in my throat.
Although it had only been a few months since he reunited with his Uncle Lynch, and most of that time they hadn't spent much time together, the clever Harry, with his survival skills honed at the Dursleys' house since childhood, had gradually seen through the true nature beneath that gentle smile.
Uncle Lynch was the kind of person who was extremely assertive and decisive. His kindness was not to be refused, and his decisions were usually beyond question. His warm smile was more like a habitual courtesy than a request for advice.
In the end, Harry swallowed all his excuses, simply hugged the broom tighter, and whispered, "Thank you, Uncle Lynch. This—this is wonderful."
"I'm glad you like it." Lin Qi nodded, as if it were just a trivial matter.
After leaving the Flying Broomstick Shop, they did not return to the bustling Stone Tower Merchant Guild area, but continued deeper into Diagon Alley.
Harry's initial excitement and enthusiasm were gradually replaced by new curiosity.
He realized that giving him the flying broomstick was probably just an impromptu interlude, not Lynch's real purpose in bringing him out.
Their destination was still ahead.