Albus Dumbledore
Albus watched Frieren closely. He had not expected the revelation about divided societies to affect her so deeply.
"You seem unsettled," he said, bringing her back to the present.
"Mhm." She nodded distractedly before explaining.
"Flamme, my master—she was the one who convinced humans to accept magic. I suppose it never occurred to me that no one like her existed here…"
The image of Gellert Grindelwald flickered in Albus mind, for a moment he allowed himself to deam such a world—a world where he might have rectified his path and walked alongside Gellert, together leading the world into a new era, just as they had once imagined in their youth.
The moment passed, and Albus returned to harsh reality. It was a dream that would always remain just that—a dream. From the very beginning, Gellert had never wanted a union of the two societies as in Frieren's world; what he sought was to place the magical society above all else.
"Was she an ancient and powerful elf?" Dumbledore inquired curiously.
"No, she was... just an unpleasant human…"
"You seem to remember her fondly…"
"She was a nuisance… though I suppose, in the end, she knew me better than anyone. After all, she managed to outwit me even a thousand years after her death… truly a nuisance," she muttered the last part.
Dumbledore was not deceived. There was affection in her tone; he had no doubt that she truly remembered this mysterious human with love.
"No matter, I am only able to detect and unravel concealment magics—I have never learned to use them myself. Do all wizards know ways to hide from the sight of other humans?" she asked, returning to the main subject.
That was inconvenient.
"Well, not exactly. Most make do with a simple Disillusionment Charm to be overlooked, but there are many other options. A Repelling Curse or a Confundus Charm can be just as useful. For places like the Ministry or magical establishments, Muggle-repelling enchantments are often used."
In the worst case, a large hat would serve as a temporary solution…
After meditating on his words for a moment, Frieren seemed satisfied and nodded.
"I suppose the time has come for me to learn concealment magic. Come, I want to explore this place before we leave—they've only allowed me to go from my room to here."
At once, the staff that should have been in the hands of the Department of Security appeared in her grip, and the elf strode out to explore the place, followed by Albus, who was already pondering the dreadful day awaiting the poor Aurors in charge of guarding the staff.
In another place at the same time…
Marcus sipped from his freshly brewed cup of coffee as he walked back to his post. Today was going to be a good day. The night before, he'd won the game of Crazy Magic Darts and snagged the "surveillance" shift in the storage room—which basically meant he had the day off.
First, he'd play a few rounds of cards with Hubert, the administrator, and later he'd take a stroll through the Department of Magical Transportation to chat a bit with Summer, who had been giving him flirty glances for weeks.
Who knew, maybe he'd get the chance to show her what a powerful Auror could do…
The moment he stepped into the storage room and saw a pale, sweating Hubert turning the place upside down, Marcus knew his good day had just come to an end.
"It's gone…"
"What ?"
Frieren
In one instant they were at the Ministry, and in the next, in an ancient office.
Albus smoothed the wrinkles of his robe after appearing beside her.
"Ho ho ho, as I was saying… Floo Powder was invented by Ignatia Wildsmith about five hundred years ago. Thanks to her, we now have the Floo Network—a magical transportation system that connects the entire country and can be used by anyone with little danger."
"Mhm. That anyone can use spatial magic simply by naming a destination is impressive," she replied with a nod. Perhaps her master's dream of everyone being able to use magic had not come true, but there was no doubt that in this world and this era, it belonged to humans.
"Indeed it is. One of the great minds of her age," Albus reflected wisely.
"Now, allow me to welcome you to Hogwarts—and to my office."
As if prepared in advance, a melodic birdsong rang out behind him.
"Let me introduce you to Fawkes, my eternal companion," he said, moving closer to the colorful bird.
Perched on a bird stand, a magical beast brimming with mana dyed in fiery red and vitality green—was staring at her as if she owed it money.
The magical bird was not the only unusual thing in the ancient office. A moment later, another voice sounded in the room, sing-song in tone:
"Headmaster Dumbledore, is this another student? Don't be frightened, child, I don't bite."
A… talking hat.
"Mmm, shall she be a Slytherin? A Gryffindor? Oh, oh—if you keep staring at me like that, I'll think you're a Ravenclaw. Come on now, don't be shy, place me on your head and we'll decide which house you belong in"
How is it moving? Frieren wondered. Is it a magical creature? Perhaps a variant of a mimic ? Physically, it was nothing more than a hat—there was no mechanism that could allow such movements. Magically, however, the hat glowed vividly in her vision.
"Impatient as ever, I see. Frieren, allow me to present the Sorting Hat, a conscious magical artifact that has been part of the school's initiation ritual since its founding, choosing for each student the house to which they will belong."
"Yes, yes, I have been here since then. Ah, how things have changed—and yet stayed the same."
"Houses?" Frieren asked.
"Mhm. You see, Hogwarts was founded by four great founders and one architect. History has forgotten the latter's name, but we still remember the four house founders clearly: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. Each created a house to foster learning, friendship, and competition, where students with certain traits would gather."
He walked to a side shelf and drew out a book with a golden lion on the cover.
"Godric Gryffindor, who founded Gryffindor House, where those with great bravery, courage, and determination are placed."
A new book, this one with a black-and-white badger.
"Helga Hufflepuff, creator of Hufflepuff House, where those who value loyalty and hard work go— willing to accept everyone."
Another book, this time with a raven.
"Rowena Ravenclaw, who founded Ravenclaw House, the origin of many scholars and researchers, where intelligence and wisdom are prized."
Finally, he took down a fourth book, bearing a silver serpent.
"And last, Salazar Slytherin, founder of Slytherin House, where ambition and cunning are most valued. All are good and being in one does not mean you lack the virtues of the others."
"Should I?" Frieren asked, a little confused, pointing at the hat.
"Oh, as you like—feel free to try it if you're curious."
Immediately afterward, Frieren found an old, uncomfortable hat set upon her head.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Eeeh… uh, this hasn't happened before. Would you mind letting me in, so I can take a look around?"
She felt the artifact brushing against her defenses, searching for openings in her mind, seemed inexperienced clearly it had never dealt with the protective magic of her world.
On the one hand, no one liked having their mind read. On the other… curiosity... The choice was easy.
She opened a small breach in her defenses and...
"OH MY GOODNESS! By Merlin's beard! Who would have thought I'd ever see someone older than this school—you must be at least…"
"Ahem." Frieren interrupted with a frown. "You should never mention a lady's age—nor call me old again."
"M-my apologies, my lady. How discourteous of me. I promise nothing I see will be shared with anyone else."
"Uhm. That's your warning…" Frieren cautioned, and she could feel the hat swallow nervously.
"O-of course, my bad."
"Well then, which house do you think I would fit best?" Albus asked with curiosity.
"Mmm, I would be lying if I said the answer were clear… You possess the courage to face your greatest fears with head held high, the loyalty to die for those you call family, the cunning to spend a lifetime deceiving all only to finally deceive your true enemy, and the wisdom of countless years in pursuit of knowledge. If I had to place you, I would ask you directly which house you wish to join."
"Mhm… I suppose I would choose…" The dramatic silence settled over the room.
"…any of them," she replied at last, sparking a chorus of boos coming from the walls.
"Oh, come now, you can't be serious!"
"You must be joking—obviously Gryffindor is the best!"
"What nonsense are you spouting, you old fool? Slytherin has always been superior!"
One by one, the living portraits that had been silently observing erupted into protest.
Frieren had already seen some of these at the Ministry, and she was determined to learn how to make them before returning to her own world. They were truly fascinating magic.
The office, suddenly filled with shouts and squabbles of the portraits defending their beloved houses, fell silent at the laughter of the school's current Headmaster.
"Ah, forgive them, Frieren. They are all former headmasters of Hogwarts, each with their own favorite house. This happens more often than it should. Come, let me show you the castle."
Albus Dumbledore
It had been a long time since Albus had given anyone a tour of Hogwarts, which was why he might have been a little rusty. Luckily, if there was one thing that could never be said about Frieren, it was that she wasn't curious and calm—so much so that, if he didn't know better, Albus would have thought she was trying to kill him of old age. Still, it was pleasant to see someone else enjoy themselves so much while pondering and mulling over everything they came across… perhaps a little too much.
Until a few hours ago, he would never have guessed he'd be so relieved to return to his office but the "exploration" of the Ministry had dragged on far longer than he expected. What he had thought would be a superficial tour had nearly turned into a full-scale raid of inspection. The elf had taken her time to pause and examine everything that caught her interest—which had essentially meant everything.
Flying quills, paper airplanes, Howlers, living paintings, maps, clocks, curse detectors, cleaning equipment, elevators, walls, ceilings, fountains…
Albus was convinced they would still be there if they hadn't finally been thrown out of most departments and outright banned from entering others. He had even begun to doubt the elf's sanity and wisdom when she started murmuring about "fully exploring the dungeons" and then spent thirty minutes talking about the bathrooms.
At the very least, explaining the history and elements of his school was more pleasant.
The first major stop was the Grand Staircase. Thank Merlin, Frieren only observed the paintings distantly for a few seconds instead of pausing to meditate and converse with each one.
It was while they were waiting for a staircase to reposition itself that they ran into the first Hogwarts ghost resident.
"HEYYYY!" shouted the colorful specter Peeves, trying to scare Frieren by lifting her skirt.
The elf simply looked at him in annoyance, but Albus also noticed she seemed a little tense.
"Sorry... Peeves loves getting on everyone's nerves."
True to the usual routine, an older-looking ghost rose up through the floor, chasing after the poltergeist.
"Hey! You little brat, what did I tell you about pranks...oh, Headmaster, forgive the trouble. I'll make sure he gets a proper scolding."
"Ha ha ha! That's if you can catch me, slowpoke!" And just like that, the chase receded down the hall.
"He reminds me of a cheeky brat… well, now an old man," Frieren muttered as she watched them go with a complicated expression. "Aren't ghosts and the poltergeist bad? Monsters that seek to harm the living ? What are they really?"
"I suppose that could be the case, but we wouldn't keep them within the school walls if that were so...Poltergeists are spirits of chaos, and true to their nature they love to cause mischief, while ghosts they are souls with unfinished business that appear after death. For better or worse, they can only interact with us in limited ways—just as we can with them. Here in the castle, they even have their own festivities and events."
Albus noticed that Frieren seemed unsettled, as if she found it hard to imagine they weren't man-eating monsters.
"Their personalities are partly stuck in the moment they died, and it's hard for them to change unless it relates to their unfinished business..." He continued his explanation to the elf who could only nod.
"This truly is a different world..."
"..."
Their tour continued at a relaxed pace. They passed the entrance to the dungeons and the antechamber before arriving at their next point of interest. Albus did not plan on showing her the dormitories or classrooms—that would be a pleasant way to connect her with the respective professors later.
"This way," he said, as he approached a particular painting and tickled a pear painted on it.
"Welcome to the Hogwarts kitchens, where the food that fills the students' bellies is prepared, and the residence of those who make it."
The room in question was a vast stone hall, equal in size to the Great Hall above. Enormous tables were arranged in the same positions as those above to facilitate the teleportation of food. Large ovens and cauldrons adorned the chamber, along with towering shelves of ingredients. At the back rested the barrel-shaped homes of the resident house-elves.
With a magical pop, Launcher, the castle's oldest house-elf and head of the cooks, appeared at his side frowning at the elf, who was frowning back at him.
"Allow me to introduce Launcher, is the castle's head chef. Launcher, let me introduce you to Frieren. She will be staying at the castle until further notice. I hope it won't be too much trouble to prepare one more plate at the table. How are the others doing?"
"No problem... If you ask for it, Headmaster. Just let me know if there are any allergies." he replied without breaking the staring contest with the other elf. "The others are restless—too much free time in summer always leaves them anxious. They can hardly wait to cook for the students again," He seemed more annoyed than usual.
That had been strange. Launcher was usually kinder to others… Could it be because they are different kinds of elves? Albus couldn't help but wonder.
"I'm glad to hear it… The professors should begin arriving in the coming weeks. McGonagall and Flitwick are here already, as always."
"As every year, we are delighted to serve the Deputy Headmistress and the professor. We were already expecting their early arrival."
"Good. If any problem arises, do not hesitate to tell me. For now, we shall continue with the tour."
With that, the two left and continued their exploration, Frieren remained in thoughtful silence while Albus explained the history and purpose of each place they passed. They went by the statue of the architect and the animals of the houses before entering the Great Hall, where the enchanted ceiling reflected the sunset sky and candles floated through the air. There, he explained in greater detail the tradition of house selection and the competition for the House Cup.
They passed the bell towers and the courtyard—a pleasant stroll indeed. Yet Frieren seemed distracted. Only when they reached the greenhouses did Albus finally ask the question:
"You're curious, aren't you?"
"Mhm?"
"About the House-elves, I mean." She looked at him for a second, then nodded.
"There were discussions at the Ministry—about the possibility that you might be related to them. But in the end, it was dismissed as a mere coincidence and an improbable connection. Curiously, no one knows anything about the origin of house-elves. Not even I have found a trace over the years."
She didn't seem offended by the insinuation of kinship, only more curious about their unknown origin.
"Are they all so… devoted?" she asked, her tone hard for Albus to decipher, though he could already guess the reason before Frieren continued.
"There's something about them that reminds me of my own kind, but… they're twisted, warped…" She paused, searching for a better way to put it. "It's as if they're broken… They have some sort of connection to this place… to you, one that acts like a patch. It unsettles me, and I think I unsettle them as well."
"So, you are able to see it, huh… House-elves are magical creatures of great power, they don't even need a magical focus or training to perform powerful magic. And yet, they cannot live without serving a master, they go mad and end up harming themselves to death if left alone too long." It was a bitter reminder of the world's cruelty.
"That bond of servitude is what keeps them alive, isn't it?" The elf guessed correctly.
"That is the same conclusion I've reached as well... As I said, very little is truly known about house-elves, and no one seems particularly interested in learning more. The only thing that matters to most is that they are bound to their master and can never go against them—or at least, that is what they believe, and what I myself believed until quite not long ago, recently for the first time in my life I met a house-elf who wants to be free and went against his master behind his back... I hope you can keep this in secret. If this information were to become known the human supremacy faction would stop at nothing to hunt him.
"I understand, and I would like to meet him someday."
"I'm sure you will. Dobby is just beginning to experience happiness. I'm certain he'll pass through here, if only to greet Harry. Unfortunately, there are many families who take advantage of house-elf servitude and treat them cruelly. Human supremacy runs deep in magical society." he said, saddened by how true the last part was
"Who?"
"Mmm? Oh, pardon me. Harry Potter—also known as the Boy Who Lived, famous for 'defeating' the Dark Lord I mentioned earlier…" Albus couldn't help a weary sigh at the thought of the boy.
"He's a good kid, with a tragic history born of adults mistakes. He has a talent for finding trouble—like his father... I'm sure you'll like him, too. But this is not the time for heavy conversations—we are nearly at the best part. I think you'll be surprised."
And indeed, Albus was not mistaken. If anything, he had underestimated her reaction. Frieren stood in absolute stillness for ten minutes upon entering the Hogwarts library, as if petrified.
"There are hundreds of spells here, knowledge accumulated over more than a millennium—enough to ensure you never run out of things to read for a very long time. I would ask only that you not give Madam Pince, the Hogwarts librarian, too much work. She'll be arriving a day before the students, and—ah you're not listening."
No reaction. Albus might have begun to worry, since Madam Pomfrey would not arrive for two more weeks, if not for the murmur that finally slipped from Frieren's lips:
"Grimoires… so many… no, no, don't fall into temptation… not yet… but… grimoires so close… new spells…"
"Ho ho ho, you will have full access—including the Restricted Section that students cannot enter. But don't expect to find truly dangerous spells here. It would not be prudent to keep them here, knowing how cunning the students can be."
Especially if their surname is Weasley…
"Albus?" The call of Professor Flitwick pulled him out of his musings.
"Filius—fortunate timing. Allow me to introduce Frieren. She is an exceptional mage who shares your love of collecting spells, she will be staying at Hogwarts for a time."
"A pleasure to meet you, my lady," said Flitwick, bowing slightly as he kissed Frieren's hand.
"Likewise," Frieren answered succinctly.
"May I ask what species you belong to? If it isn't too delicate a subject? I myself am part goblin, but I've never seen anyone quite like you…"
"I'm an elf."
"Oh, don't worry, Filius, you couldn't have seen anyone like her because she's not from this world. I bet before long everyone will be talking about her once the news gets out."
"Fascinating… that means a whole new world of enchantments! Frieren rigth ? I would be delighted if you came later to the Ravenclaw dormitories. I'll make tea and we can compare our collections of spells," said the professor, fidgeting with excitement.
"Mhm. That would be a pleasure," Frieren accepted.
"Speaking of which… Filius, I'd like to ask a favor. Frieren is eager to go out and explore this world, but her appearance would draw far too much attention. I was thinking that perhaps you and Hagrid could teach her a Disillusionment Charm so she can pass unnoticed in the Muggle world. In her world, they have a different magical system, so she could use a little guidance."
Albus hadn't chosen those two at random. Both had faced the same problem Frieren now facedvdue to their non-human features.
Perhaps it would even help calm Hagrid's nerves about giving his first classes.
"Oh please, it would be an honor to teach her! What about Minerva? Will she be the one to teach her human transfiguration? That would be ideal, if she wants to experience the Muggle world…"
"That's the idea. But it's far too advanced for now. Better to begin at the beginning. By the way, if you see her, would you tell her to meet us in the Great Hall? I have some matters to attend and I'd like to introduce her to Frieren."
"I was just on my way to speak with her. I'll pass along your message."
"Thank you. We'll continue our tour before Frieren takes root here, ho ho ho," said Albus, glancing at the elf, who had once again become utterly absorbed in the shelves.
"Ahh, nothing like the first time one sees it. I can't blame her…"
After the library, Albus noticed that everything else seemed to pale in Frieren's eyes. Luckily, there wasn't much left to see anyway—at least on paper, Hogwarts was a magical castle full of rooms and secret passages that even he, as headmaster, wasn't aware of. To conclude the tour, he took Frieren to the top of the Astronomy Tower, giving her only a brief explanation of it; Professor Sinistra would be delighted to provide a more complete tour once he introduced them.
From the tower, they could see the views he had come to love so deeply: the lake reflecting the sky painted with orange clouds, the Forbidden Forest, and even Hogsmeade, visible only from the castle's highest point. He also pointed out the Owlery and Hagrid's hut, in whom she had shown interest in meeting—something that would have to wait, as night had already fallen.
Frieren
The castle, the school, was magical in every sense of the word—perhaps even alive. She would have loved to explore it together with Fern and Stark.
Maybe someday…
Albus had acted the gentleman, showing her around and assuring her that other professors would be happy to show her the places they had skipped.
It had been… interesting.
As the old headmaster had explained, there was less than a month before the students arrived. Professors and staff would return little by little in the meantime.
For now, she wanted nothing more than to plunder that library for legendary grimoires. But she would have to wait.
Just a little longer.
They descended slowly from the Astronomy Tower and made their way back to the Great Hall. The castle was immense, and since they hadn't rushed, the tour had stretched into a good four or five hours.
There, they found the woman called Minerva—the Deputy Headmistress, if Frieren recalled correctly.
"Albus, I heard from Professor Flitwick that you were looking for me. Is this the witch you've been talking about ?"
"Indeed. Frieren, this is Minerva McGonagall—professor of Transfiguration, Head of Gryffindor House, and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. If all goes well, she will teach you human transfiguration so you can pass as human in the future. I may have mentioned you to her recently." said the old man abashed, before the woman moved ahead.
"Pleased to finally meet you. Albus has been quite distracted lately because of your arrival. One could almost think he has too much free time…" she said, giving him a piercing look.
"Mhm. Once, a wise wizard said, 'It is not laziness but wisdom to know when to pause and rest…'" The moment of wisdom was completely lost on the unimpressed professor, who did not soften her gaze.
"…and yes, I was just leaving. I have important matters in my office. Minerva, would you kindly show Frieren her room and the women's baths, please? I'm sure she would also enjoy hearing the history of your house. Bring her to my office after dinner." He winked.
"Mmm, I suppose she ought to know the story of the best house if she's to stay at Hogwarts. You may go, I'll take it from here."
The headmaster left with a haste that Frieren might have mistaken for a retreat if he had gone just a bit faster.
Now alone with the older witch, Frieren studied her carefully. She was tall and slender, her black hair tied neatly back with a few strands of gray that she carried with the grace of nobility. Frieren wouldn't lie—she was intimidating. Strict, and she had an aura that reminded her of Fern when she went into her "mother mode."
I hope she scolds me less than her...
"Come then, let's begin. Forgive Albus; he's had busy days preparing for the students' return."
"Mhm. It's fine." The man had already done much for her.
The walk to her new room was a little uncomfortable, since both women remained silent until they reached their destination. The room itself was plain—no decorations, only a bed, a dresser, a trunk, and a wardrobe. Frieren had no luggage, so it would remain untouched for a while.
The next stop was her class—Transfiguration—where Minerva gave her a small introduction to the subject.
"Transfiguration is a very complex branch of magic. It is the art of shaping both objects and people. That encompasses many things—from golems…"
A golem rose up from the floor.
"…to the conversion of objects into living beings, and vice versa."
With a wave of her wand, one of the desks turned into a pig.
"Oink!"
"Of course, it also includes one's own body." Frieren watched as the teacher's ears grew to match her own.
"There are other fields, such as Animagus transformation, but we should start with something easier. Is there any aspect of Transfiguration you're particularly interested in—besides bodily transformation? I could help you learn it."
"Mhm," Frieren nodded with enthusiasm "Albus mentioned a spell for turning rats into teacups…"
"… …"
"… …"
"That's it? Nothing else? There is far more powerful magic…"
"Mhm. The more spells, the better," Frieren replied cheerfully, glad to clarify. "But that was the first one that caught my attention. I've also learned some golem magic over the centuries."
"Mmm? You also know magic for making golems? Perhaps we should compare notes.... It's been many years since anyone has challenged these old bones."
Frieren began to realize that it hadn't been a good idea to say that in front of the woman who represented the House of Lions.
"'Y-yes, I… maybe when we have time… later on," she finally succumbed under the weight of the gaze.
"I'll hold you to that."
Definitely a Gryffindor…
"Come, let me show you my house's dormitories. We have a fine collection of trophies and I still hold the House Cup from last year."
There had definitely been a change in her attitude; she now seemed much more cheerful, and their walk also became much more pleasant. It continued that way until, all of a sudden, Minerva stopped in front of a wall of portraits.
"Welcome to the Gryffindor dormitories."
"..." If it hadn't been for the irregular flow of mana coursing through this section of the wall, she wouldn't have been able to tell it apart from the others. Something she had learned as soon as she arrived at the castle was that the immense current of magic running through Hogwarts made it quite difficult to use her mana sense to see beyond the walls.
In front of them hung one of the countless living portraits of the castle: a fat lady, who turned to look at them.
"Ho ho ho," she sounded like a pompous noblewoman. "Password?"
"It's me, and we don't need passwords yet," the Deputy Headmistress answered, exasperated. The lady frowned but finally gave in.
"humpf very well…"The portrait reluctantly complied, swinging open with annoyance. Behind, it was a hidden passageway through which Minerva entered, Frieren right on her heels.
At the end of the corridor, the space opened into a vast room. The walls were decorated with trophies and living portraits, but that was not all. Suits of armor stood about, as well as shelves of books. In the center, armchairs and sofas clustered around a great fireplace with a warm fire burning. Everywhere, red and gold dominated, and lions were an omnipresent motif. They were not alone.
"Professor McGonagall," said a floating ghost with a polite bow.
"Nick, allow me to introduce Frieren, a new member of the castle staff."
"OOOOhh, a pleasure! In life I was Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington. Now I'm known as Nearly Headless Nick—but you may call me Nick. I hope we get along well." Frieren was about to ask about the name when the ghost bowed deeper and his head slipped sideways.
"Oops… A pleasure, ladies. I hope you have a pleasant evening," he said, slowly drifting toward a wall and passing through it.
The rooms turned out to be cozy, with high ceilings and curtained bunks.
Minerva showed her each of the trophies and awards of her house, especially those of Quidditch, a local sport that seemed quite entertaining. They finished the tour in front of the great House Cup.
"This trophy means a great deal…" said the professor, her gaze distant upon it. "It represents the effort and determination of all members of the house—and Merlin knows my kids have fought hard to win it…" Frieren stood there as well, gazing at it. She did not fully understand, but seeing effort rewarded in some way was always pleasant.
"Come, the food must be nearly ready," said the proud professor.
Frieren dined beneath the starry sky of the Great Hall with the other two professors. It was a strange sensation to eat in a place designed for so many, with so few. Fortunately, the good food and shared stories lightened the atmosphere.
Later, before the gargoyle statue, the two women parted ways, leaving Frieren alone before the guardian of the headmaster's office.
"Strawberry sorbet," she repeated the password she'd been given.
Silently, the great statue slid aside, revealing a spiral staircase by which she ascended slowly.
"Come in, come in I'll be with you in a moment—make yourself comfortable," Albus's voice called from somewhere.
The office was almost exactly as it had been when they had left, with only a few notable differences: the portraits, the hat, and Fawkes were all asleep, and a large magical artifact sat in the middle of the room, covered by a cloth.
As Frieren entered the room, the artifact began to draw more and more of her attention, to the point where she started ignoring everything else.
It was calling to her.
One step.
Two steps.
Slowly she approached the strange object.
Standing just a few centimeters away, she could glimpse part of the artifact through a poorly covered corner: a mirror. Without realizing it, her hand reached forward, gently tugging the cloth aside.
"… …"
A dream. An illusion. That was what woke her from the trance.
The mirror showed her surrounded by all those she had loved—her master, Himmel, Heiter, Eisen, Fern, Stark, and herself.
It looked as though they were setting out on a new adventure together.
What a cruel artifact… Frieren thought, tempted for a second to destroy it. Showing you your greatest desire, no matter how impossible it is to fulfill...
"What do you see?" asked Albus softly, who had moved to her side without her noticing. A test.
"A dream," she answered without looking away from the mirror. "It shows my friends… my family, all together for a new adventure."
Aureole…
"Or perhaps a happy future," she said at last, turning to look at him. He, like her, gazed longingly at the mirror, only that his face reflected the expression of someone looking at something he could never obtain.
"The Mirror of Erised," said the old man, who now seemed older still. "An artifact that shows our deepest desires fulfilled. Dangerous, when not handled with caution. I'm sorry to have put you through this test. Much can be learned about a person from their deepest wishes—And how they respond when they see them fulfilled before their eyes..."
The room fell silent again as both returned their gaze to the mirror.
"It shows me my deceased sister, and my former love—in a happy life together…" the elder whispered, and now he seemed ancient indeed.
Frieren said nothing. There were no words that could mend such wounds, and if there were, she did not know them.
At last, after what felt like minutes, Albus drew the cloth back over the mirror. "Better to end the day here. I hope you enjoyed the tour. This school has much more to show, and it will be far livelier once the students arrive."
"It has been pleasant. I look forward to seeing more," she replied simply.
"Ho ho ho, it will not disappoint you. Good night, Frieren."
"You too, Albus."
And so her first day at Hogwarts ended—quite acceptable, by Frieren's standards.
PS: Hi guys, I hope you enjoy the chapter and the non-canon subplot with the elves for the future. I've also edited the chapter to fix an error you pointed out about Peeves's nature as a poltergeist and not a ghost
3 days after Frieren arrived on Earth, Hogwarts grounds, gamekeeper's hut – 12/8/1993
The midday sun shone brightly on Frieren, who now found herself learning magic from a completely new system. The previous day she had taken the liberty of flying over the castle grounds and visiting the school's gamekeeper.
"Come on Frieren, you can do it, one more time, remember to flick your wrist properly."
"Are you watching, Hagrid?, Remember to mind the details—It'll be harder when you have a full class" Flitwick commented calmly as if he weren't instructing two different people in two different fields.
"And remember to maintain your attitude and composure. Your presence must command respect, or those brats will devour you," Minerva advised.
"Oh, I can still remember my early years. For someone my height it's very hard to command respect—the key is in the attitude." agreed the small professor.
"Since you'll be outdoors, remember to give explanations before approaching anything that might distract them. Your size will help draw their attention, but there are some little tricks that can help you as well." Minerva continued advising.
"Thanks, you guys, this is really helpful," Hagrid said awkwardly.
Frieren only half-listened to the exchange between the professors. Hagrid, Minerva, and Flitwick had gathered with her to teach her about magic, and in the process, the two seasoned teachers took the opportunity to give their novice colleague—who would be starting his first year as a professor—some advice.
The three of them watched from a table in Hagrid's back garden while she tried to cast the spell.
"Vera Verto."
"..."
"Shkeeee!!!"
Once again, Frieren found herself chasing after a hairy, legged teacup that scurried away
She wasn't making any mistakes in the motion, nor was her pronunciation wrong (Or at least not bad enough for the spell to fail)—she had even shrunk her staff down to a tiny size to better imitate a wand movement.
It simply wasn't that easy.
She already knew the problem, but there was no good solution. The issue lay in how wizards of this world performed magic. Unlike her own world, everything here revolved around their wands or magical foci, such that without them, they could barely perform the simplest spells.
"Vera Verto." Another of Hagrid's captured wild opossums turned into a furry teacup with legs and a tail.
At least this one doesn't have teeth to bite with.…
There was a good reason why wizards in this world were so dependent on their magical foci. She had felt it before, briefly, but once Minerva began demonstrating, she started to see it more clearly.
The wands were alive.
There was no better way to put it. In this world, each focus was alive in its own unique way, and not only that, they were bonded to their wizard. How deep the bond went, she didn't know precisely, but from what she'd learned, they could even refuse to perform magic in the hands of others—or against their bonded owner.
If Frieren went back to her world and told the scholars that any 12-year-old student could cast a brand-new spell in barely an hour, without having seriously touched magic beforehand, with just a couple of words and a flick of the wrist, they'd laugh her out of the academy—Great mage or not.
It made no sense. There was no magical system or spell so simple that even a child could use it with just words and a hand gesture. Even an artifact with a spell engraved into it would require more practice to use.
And there lay the key: no spell was really that simple, because from the start, it wasn't only the wizard casting it. In this world, wizard and wand each performed part of the spell—the wizard provided visualization, a few commands, and patterns, while the wand handled the rest.
It was… truly fascinating. Many in her world would dismiss them as "false mages," dependent on an artifact to manipulate reality, but to Frieren, who had lived long enough to see the development and evolution of entire societies, it was simply the natural course of things.
She had seen it thousands of times as centuries passed—artifacts, machines, and systems were invented that were more efficient, required less effort, less time, and discarded previous methods.
Why spend ten years training to cast a spell when you could use a wand and learn it in one?
Of course, like all things, it had its pros and cons. If Frieren were disarmed and lost her staff, she would simply lose the extra power and control it granted her—not be rendered helpless.
In exchange for this advantage, a spell so simple in theory that children learned it in their very first classes was resisting her. It was inevitable: she not only had to analyze the spell step by step and do it all by herself, but she was also working within a magical system she wasn't familiar with.
This will be the one...
She almost felt like she did in the beginning, discovering everything for the very first time. Sooner or later she'd catch up, and as she grew accustomed to the system, her learning speed would improve.
But for now, she could enjoy feeling like a novice again.
"Squeeeek!!!"
"Hyaaa!" she jumped in fright.
"HAHAHAHAH!" Hagrid burst into laughter at Frieren's scare, after she had stepped on the tail of one of her earlier attempts.
.
.
1 week and 2 days since Frieren's arrival on Earth – 18/8
14 days until the start of term
"Frieren? Are you there? Blink if you're still alive," a voice pulled her out of her staring contest.
"Mhm, Hagrid… I didn't hear you."
"You know… I think you're scaring that poor owl. What did it ever do to you to deserve that glare?"
"Mhm… I'm not sure if this was the one that attacked me…" She turned her gaze back to her enemy.
"Ululu."
"It didn't attack you—it mistook your head for a nest. Wouldn't happen if you brushed your hair," said the traitor who had turned against her.
"Hmm, we'll see. And you—be careful, I'll be watching you." She gave her final warning to the winged beast before turning to face her companion.
Both of them were standing in the middle of the half-empty Owlery. According to Albus, these were only the Hogwarts and Hogsmeade messenger owls and a few personal ones. Once the students arrived, the building would be packed with species of every color.
"Well, do you have anything to say for yourself?" the half-giant asked in a tired, scolding tone.
"...I won't do it again?" The sigh that followed her words must have meant he believed her… probably.
"I give up. Anyway—today's a special day. I was wondering if, you know, you'd like to come with me to Diagon Alley? I've got a few things to buy for my classes, and Professor Dumbledore said it'd be better if you didn't go alone."
Frieren tilted her head doubtfully.
"Until I get my magical documents, I won't be able to enter."
"That's why I was looking for you—they're here. Arrived this morning. You'd have known if you'd come to breakfast."
"Sorry… I overslept."
"Figured as much. So? What do you say, coming along? Dumbledore even set aside a fund for you to spend."
"All right, give me a moment to get ready." For all Fern's claims otherwise, Frieren was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.
An hour later she appeared in the Hogwarts courtyard with her clothes pressed and her hair brushed.
Just because she could do it didn't mean she was fast.
Hagrid was waiting for her with some kind of three-wheeled carriage-like contraption.
"For a moment I thought you'd gotten lost… again. Come on, I suppose you've never seen one of these, have you?"
Frieren shook her head. "No. What is it? A golem?"
"No, no, this is a flying motorbike. A Muggle invention—motor vehicles or something like that. They were invented decades ago."
"I thought Muggles couldn't use magic?"
"Theirs aren't magical—they're normal. They only go on land. But this beauty can fly."
"How do they make theirs work, then?"
"Truth is… I dunno. Never really thought about it. I know they use some kind of fuel, but beyond that…"
"That's it? Just like that? Without magic?"
"Yeah… it's a lot of little machines working together or something like that. You'll have to ask someone else if you want to learn more about it."
"Mhm"
"All right, well—for safety, you'll need to wear this." He handed her a helmet, very different from a knight's helm. It didn't seem made for battle.
"What does it do?" she asked, sensing the enchantments woven into it.
"It'll protect your head, and if you fall off, it'll slow your fall before you hit the ground." After that, he sat her in the small carriage on the side attached to the bike and donned his own helmet.
"Ready?!"
Frieren gave him a thumbs-up, and a moment later they lifted off the ground—at first slowly, then faster and faster, even surpassing the speed of her own flight.
Frieren had never seen a city this big. Not even the Empire's capital had so many people. From the sky, she could see the giant buildings rising from the ground as if trying to reach the heavens. And the most astonishing part was—they were Muggles, which meant they had built it all without magic.
"Quite the view, eh?!" the half-giant shouted over the wind. "We can take the long way back if you like!"
The buildings weren't the only thing interesting—up here she could feel several enormous enchantments in effect. One in particular resonated with the tracking spell they had placed on her. She'd ask Albus about them later.
Before long, the "motorbike" slowed and descended. Frieren could already sense where they were going. While magical traces were scattered across the whole city, one area in particular pulsed with concentrated power—it had to be "Diagon Alley."
"All right, passengers, off you get—we've arrived at our destination." Hagrid landed the vehicle in front of a shop called The Leaky Cauldron.
More than a few eyes turned their way as they entered. Frieren supposed it was an odd sight—she wasn't particularly tall for a human (though perfectly average for an elf), and Hagrid was… well, like two Frierens stacked or more. Together, they made a striking pair.
The pub didn't impress Frieren much. The atmosphere was dark and cramped, and overall it seemed as ordinary as any tavern in her own world—though perhaps that was the point.
"Hagrid! The usual?" called the barman from behind the counter.
"Not today, Tom. I've got errands—maybe on the way back."
"Sure? You'll have to celebrate your promotion, won't you?"
"Come on, Tom, I told you that in confidence—don't go shouting it about."
"Hahaha, all right, all right—I'll leave you be. You know the way."
"Come on, Frieren, this way," Hagrid said, heading toward the back of the pub.
Through the door, there was nothing but a normal-looking dead-end alley—normal, if you ignored the enchantments running along the walls and the brick barrier at the end.
"Step closer. Let me welcome you to Diagon Alley," Hagrid said dramatically, tapping bricks with his magic focus.
Slowly, the wall opened outward, revealing a bustling street full of witches and wizards, lined with magical shopfronts.
"Come on, I'll show you around. We should stop by the quill and magical supplies shop—you'll love it. Anything you especially want to see? If it exists, it's probably here."
"I want to see grimoires. And wands."
"Easy bets then. We'll go to Flourish & Blotts and Ollivanders. We'll also need to open you an account at Gringotts and pick up an order at Twilfitt and Tatting's for Dumbledore. Oh—and I've got a stop at the Magical Menagerie for a pickup, if you don't mind."
"That's fine by me. But you don't need to stick with me if you don't want—I can take care of myself."
"I don't doubt it… but it's always better to have company... Some people might give you trouble for not being human, it's better if I come with you. I'm used to dealing with that."
Frieren looked at the massive man. It was hard to imagine anyone foolish enough to bother him—but at the same time, she knew from experience that such people existed everywhere, in any world.
"All right. Lead the way."
They first stopped by the magical supplies shop, where Frieren picked up a flying quill and a pack of ten Floo Powder trips. She wanted more—and if she had her way, she would acquire far more before leaving this world—but she didn't have the savings right now and Hagrid wisely dragged her out of the shop before she could get herself into debt. She already missed her expanded trunk, and some of the ones here were truly incredible, much better than hers. Other things also caught her eye, like Remembralls or Sneakoscopes.
I need to keep my spending in check without Fern here to do it for me, Frieren thought feeling a pang of sadness while listening to Hagrid's explanation.
"First we've got the Galleon," he showed her a golden coin.
"They're made of gold and are the largest coin. Next down is the Sickle," he produced a silver one.
"As you can guess, it's silver. One Galleon equals seventeen Sickles. And finally we've got the Knut, made of bronze," he showed her a handful.
"One Galleon equals four hundred and ninety-three Knuts, and one Sickle equals seventeen Knuts. For reference, an ordinary meal can cost between ten and twenty Sickles."
Not so different from my world…
"Are there other kinds of coins?"
"Well, yes… I'd swear the Muggle world has plenty of different currency systems… but in the magical world, many years ago an agreement was made with the goblins to have a unified system. The bank we're going to—Gringotts—mints, verifies, and stores the coins for the British magical world."
The trip to the bank was far less exciting than expected. The white-marble building was much taller and more luxurious than the other shops. The interior was also luxurious—though Frieren wouldn't call it welcoming. For some reason, all the employees were irritable and sour, and she had the sense it had to do with her apparent lack of wealth.
"The safest place in the world—after Hogwarts," Hagrid had said.
Perhaps it's true, Frieren thought as she felt her mana detection cut off abruptly on the lower floors.
Interrupted… magic sealing crystal ? She couldn't say without seeing it herself.
Another noteworthy detail: apparently the goblins used a completely different magical system, which made them fantastic at crafting magical objects.
"Where to now? Are we going to the grimoire shop already?" Gold had never interested her much.
"Mmm, we could, but something tells me if we go now, we won't have time for anywhere else…"
Frieren politely disagreed, unfortunately the translation spell didn't work for reading, so until she learned the local language, grimoires would remain out of reach—metaphorically speaking. She only wanted to see them out of curiosity and for research.
"…Besides, we've just arrived at our next stop," Hagrid's words pulled her from her reverie.
OLLIVANDERS, read the shop sign.
"The finest wand shop in the United Kingdom. The Ollivanders have been selling wands for over a thousand years, and Garrick Ollivander is the best wand-maker in the world. All Hogwarts students come here for their wand," Hagrid told her as they stepped inside.
They weren't alone; a family ahead of them was in the process of buying a wand. The parents seemed content to wait, but both the older and younger sisters were growing impatient.
"Come on, little sister—this one will be the one, don't worry."
"Ho ho ho, I can assure you, Misses Greengrass, no one who enters my shop seeking a wand leaves without one. It's perfectly normal for it to take time to find the right match—after all, it is not the wizard who chooses the wand, but the—"
That one," Frieren interrupted the man's tirade, floating a particular wand toward the girl.
The moment she stepped inside, she had felt the immense number of wands, and she was certain they had felt her as well. Only one had "ignored" her; to her senses, as clear as day, she could see the wand trying to form a bond with the girl.
"Oh? Could it be? Let's see… ash wood with a phoenix-feather core, length… ten and three-quarter inches, and flexibility… supple and springy. Yes—yes! This was indeed one of my next options. Would you be so kind as to try it, Miss Greengrass?"
This was one of the things Frieren had most wanted to witness since she learned about the bond between wands and their wizards. With her magical senses she saw the moment the girl's magic and the wand fused, forming a bond.
"Splendid! Color me astonished, miss—I haven't seen anyone with such an eye for wands since my late father passed on," said the shopkeeper, a thin, silver-haired older man. His prime had passed, but his eyes were keen as he inspected Frieren.
"Perhaps it's a trait of your kind? I haven't seen one like you around here… Have you come for a wand yourself, my lady?"
"Mmm? No, thank you. I have my own focus already, though these wands have piqued my curiosity." She summoned her staff, showing it to the man.
"Fascinating, might I… might I have a look at your staff? Nothing too invasive or harmful, I assure you. Perhaps just a bit of maintenance? Ah, it has been decades since I have had anything so interesting before me…" The man almost begged, fidgeting nervously with his fingers.
Frieren thought about it for a second, deciding that she didn't really mind.
"Mhm sure"
"G-good, it will only take me a moment. You're free to look at whatever you like in my shop." He went to the back of the shop, holding the staff as if it were a newborn baby
Frieren turned to the family, who had approached her. She tilted her head, silently asking what they wanted.
The father spoke first. "Astoria, what do you say…?" He nudged the younger one forward.
"Thank you for your help miss…" Frieren noticed the girl's gaze flick to her ears and immediately knew what she wanted to ask.
"Are you the lady who came from another world, miss? Papa mentioned something like that at dinner, but he doesn't like talking about work at home…"
"Astoria! That's personal—you shouldn't bother her." said her sister.
"Hahaha, don't be so hard on her, Daphne—she's just curious. Frieren, isn't that right? I'm Victor Greengrass, and this is my wife, Veronika. Forgive us if our daughters made you uncomfortable, and thank you for helping find her wand."
"Look, her ears are cute…" the younger one whispered to the older.
"Cough!"
"Mhm. Don't worry—children are the same everywhere." Frieren told the embarrassed father, who had also heard his daughter.
She smiled to the little one (truthfully, she wasn't much taller) Patting her on the head
"Behave yourself and take care of your wand," she said —not knowing what else to tell her; Frieren was never good with children.
"mhm!" The girl nodded, puzzled, as if she were expecting Frieren to say something more.
The elf had something else in mind; she shot the father a look, indicating that she wanted to speak with him.
"Girls, why don't you go outside with your mother? I need to talk to Miss Frieren for a second."
"But…" the young girl began, only to stop when she saw her father wouldn't change his mind. "Fine... thank you again for your help, Miss." She gave an elegant bow, like a little lady.
"Have a good day miss thank you for helping my sister" The eldest accompanied her.
Husband and wife shared a look before the woman led her daughters away.
"What did you want to talk about?" asked Mr. Greengrass, without taking his eyes off his family as they walked away.
Frieren was also looking in the same direction, but her eyes were fixed on the little one. Her smile was gone, and now a frown adorned her face.
"The little one is cursed." It was not a question, and she did not miss the slight restrained twitch on the father's face.
"You already knew."
The man had already regained his composure, but he could not completely hide the pain and anger in his words. "That's right, a curse cast on one of our ancestors. It has no cure… we have searched all over the world."
"..." Frieren's eyes could see the curse glowing and coursing through the girl's blood.
"Can you heal her?" The question sounded casual; the man clearly had the ability to hide his true thoughts and emotions.
"Maybe."
"What do you want? What do you need? Whatever it is, I… no, the Greengrass family will obtain it for you." The man had misunderstood her words.
"I didn't mean that. Curses are complicated, each one unique in its own way—and this one more unique than the rest. It wasn't even cast on the girl herself, but passed down… it would require time and research, and even then I cannot guarantee my success." In her own world she might have spoken with more confidence, but here things were different—she couldn't guarantee anything completely.
The man exhaled heavily, acknowledging her words as the bitter truth. "If you were to cure my daughter, I…"
"Her favorite spell… if I freed her from her curse, I would want her favorite spell."
He looked at her with that gaze she had seen in so many politicians, always accustomed to searching for lies and hidden motives.
"Graminis Decora... the first spell the Greengrass family ever marketed, keeps the grass green. You could find it in any spell shop…"
"Mhm that sounds like a good spell." Frieren held his gaze until he finally broke eye contact, turning his eyes back to his family.
"Thank you… Having met you, I'm more at ease with the decision I made at the Ministry. If there's nothing else, we'll be on our way—Astoria and Daphne still need to pick up their books, It's been a pleasure, Frieren," he said, extending his hand.
"Likewise," she replied, shaking his hand with a smile.
The family did not take long to disappear into the crowd outside.
"Have you seen everything you wanted?" Hagrid asked from behind, trying to move around the shop without breaking anything.
"Nearly," she said, recovering.
Inside the cluttered shop, thousands of wands were stacked and arranged in a sort of chaotic order that probably only the owner understood. Frieren wandered through the aisles and approached the mountains of wands, sensing them— and they sensed her in return.
They extended threads of mana toward her own, as if to taste it. Some sought someone independent, others someone pure, ambitious, loyal, insecure, rigid of mind or adaptable, arrogant, refined… each of them was searching for something. Most soon let her go after failing to find what they sought in her, while others tried to establish a bond, pleased with what they found (she did not accept, doing her best to convey her apologies). It was something beautiful, each one unique in its own way, no matter how often the materials repeated.
She continued strolling until, at last, the shop's owner emerged with her staff in hand.
He had treated the wood with some kind of magical oil, making it shine, and had polished both the gem and the metal parts.
"Thank you for letting me tend to it. It is… without a doubt, a masterpiece. Its power and efficiency are astounding," the man hesitated for a moment. "The only thing I regret is that something is missing… that spark of life my wands possess."
Frieren understood. "In my world, magical foci are not alive as they are in yours… thank you for the maintenance, you've done a fine job."
"That's..." The man fell silent, immersed in his own world, returning to the back of the shop.
Looking toward Hagrid, who only shrugged awkwardly and nearly toppled a pile of boxes, Frieren began to make her way to the exit.
"WAIT!" The man's shout stopped her. He had come out again, and now his eyes held a frenzied gleam. "If I… if I could give life to your staff… would you allow me?"
Frieren regarded him, her gaze lingering on the determination in his eyes. "And what would you require to do so?"
"Yes?! I… dragon's blood… no, it has to be perfect… ancient dragon's blood, phoenix tears given willingly, and sap from a primeval tree… p-perhaps more, I would have to research it."
Frieren nodded. "I shall see what I can do."
Nothing more had to be said — the shopkeeper seemed profoundly relieved
Once outside, Hagrid pointed out their next destination. "Next stop Twilfitt and Tatting's. Dumbledore has prepared a gift for you."
"For me? Why?" Frieren asked, curious.
"Well… it's not every day one starts working at Hogwarts, and the staff ought to dress properly… He offered me one too, but I'm… not much for fancy clothes, so…"
.
.
Twilfitt and Tatting's was quite sophisticated—black with golden detailing covered the facade. The first floor held a broad door of fine oak beside a display full of cloaks, hats, boots, and more. If she had to guess, it catered to the upper class; normally, she wouldn't enter such places, preferring to squander—invest—her money on magical items and grimoires.
Bells chimed as they opened the door, alerting the witch who emerged from the back.
"Welcome—oh! You must be Hagrid and Frieren. Albus said I'd recognize you the moment you walked in—I thought he was exaggerating… Come closer; a few details for the measurements and they'll be finished."
"Both of us? I'm sorry—there must be some mistake. I… don't fit into fancy, elegant clothing. I'm a gamekeeper—that's my lane."
The woman's laughter rang through the shop at Hagrid's words, which seemed to embarrass him if his reddening face was any indication.
"Sweetheart, we don't only make tight dress robes here… You didn't really think Albus would leave you with nothing, did you? If I heard right, you're finally joining the faculty—this is a special occasion. Come on, I'm sure you'll like this."
They stepped forward and were immediately surrounded and wrapped by flying measuring tapes that took their sizes from top to bottom.
"All right—give me a minute and I'll be right back."
A moment later she returned, two floating garments in tow. The first was a long black robe much like the ones Minerva wore around the school. It stopped in front of Frieren.
"Do you like it? It's made with acromantula silk—very tough and soft. It will also keep you warm in winter and airy in summer. You can thank Hagrid here—normally it'd be much harder to source that material," said the woman, making the robe parade.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I appreciate it." That made two proper garments she had now.
"W-well, I was only trying to help—it's nothing special. I just happen to have an easy line on it, more importantly—i-is that for me?"
The second set, in front of him, was a set of boots, gloves, a vest, and a fur coat
"That's right, Graphorn hide— incredibly tough, perfect for dealing with dangerous magical creatures. Dumbledore told me to say that no Graphorns were harmed to obtain it. A friend of his has a pair that are shedding their skin this season," she said, winking at the half-giant who looked on the verge of tears.
"I… really didn't expect any of this. I'll have to thank him next time I see him."
"Mhm. I'll come with you," Frieren said, patting the middle of his back—she couldn't reach any higher.
Five minutes later they left the shop, each with a bag, and Hagrid surreptitiously wiping his eyes.
"Sorry—I'm not good with emotional moments. Today's no day for crying. It's already evening and we still have two places to go; we'll have to hurry…"
"You still need to stop by the animal shop, right? Drop me at the bookshop and I'll wait there. You can take your time and come pick me up when you're done," Frieren proposed.
"Will you be all right if I leave you alone? You might get lost and…"
"I'll be fine… Who do you think I am…? "
"Weren't you the one who wanted to spend all the money on useless magical trinkets…?"
"...Be that as it may… go ahead. I won't leave the shop—that I can promise."
"Very well… we'll do that then…" From the way he fidgeted with his hands, Frieren deduced he had something else to say.
"By the way, Frieren, I wanted to ask you—if it's not too much trouble, of course… if you could give me a hand with my classes. I'm… well, new, and I've been thinking of a few things to make the lessons fun and keep the kids interested. The thing is, I mentioned it to Dumbledore, and he said it might be better if you were around to keep things safe… of course, I'll understand if you've already made other plans and…"
"Sure," Frieren cut in. "I'll help." She hadn't thought much about what Albus mentioned—assisting in a few classes. Truth be told, the dynamic of so many students for one teacher still felt strange to her—not because academies didn't exist in her world, but because she had learned from a single master and done the same with her apprentice. In any case, it would be something interesting to try.
"Great—you won't regret it. Tomorrow I'll introduce you to Buckbeak—you'll get on wonderfully."
Hagrid dropped her in front of the grimoire shop. Flourish and Blotts promised everything related to magic, from schoolbooks and biographies of famous wizards to spell grimoires.
Upon entering, it was clear the place was popular—crowded aisles, and, if she had to guess by the omnipresent eleven-year-olds, most were preparing for Hogwarts.
She almost gave in to habit and started pillaging the shelves, only to stop when she pulled out the first book and realized she couldn't understand a thing. Now she was trapped—Hagrid wasn't here to help, which meant that… A sly, wicked look crept onto her face when she spotted a young clerk out of the corner of her eye.
Sam, clerk at Flourish and Blotts
He was tired.
The day had been exhausting. Waves of brats with grimy fingers were constantly assaulting the shop, and it was his job to sort and protect the books.
Just a couple more weeks…
A chill cut through his thoughts. Something was wrong.
Sam didn't have time to wonder about the shiver running down his spine before a claw seized him by the shoulder.
With her newly recruited minion, Frieren could look at—and ask about—everything that piqued her curiosity. Not until the fourth time the young employee had to reshelve her teetering tower of books, pleading face and all, that she let him go.
A quick search for his magical signature revealed that Hagrid was still in the same shop and had probably gotten just as distracted as she had.
"Ji ji ji ji," a soft giggle like little bells brought her back to the present.
"You're tickling me, miss" said a sweet, gentle voice. Frieren looked at the girl with interest; she couldn't be much older than the other children in the shop. Her messy blond hair reminded Frieren of her own, but neither that, nor her protuberant silvery eyes, nor the History of Magic book she wore as a hat were what caught Frieren's attention. No, what stood out was that the girl had stopped right at the edge of her mana, just barely brushing against it.
As if reading her mind, the girl reached out to touch it.
"Ji ji ji—it's fun. Hello, my name is Luna. Did you also come to look for Lexignomes? They say they can drink knowledge and make their homes in old books… but I haven't found any yet… May I ask your name? I've never seen anyone like you… Are you a fairy?"
"My name is Frieren. I am an elf…"
"I'd never heard of those… Brilliant! Would you like to do an interview for The Quibbler?"
That was more within Himmel's domain...she thought about declining, but in the end Frieren was defeated by the girl's bright, innocent face.
"Mhm," Frieren finally nodded in defeat.
"Great!"
The questions grew increasingly peculiar, yet in the end the interview proved to be rather enjoyable.
"Where do you come from?"
"From another world."
"Where do you live there?"
"I never stay in one place too long—I wander in search of magic."
"What do you do for work?"
"I'm a mage I take on requests wherever I travel."
"What's been your most interesting job?"
"Being part of the Hero's party and killing the Demon King."
"Demon? Is that some kind of magical monster?"
"Yes—one of the worst. The kind that eats humans."
"What have you come to do in this world?"
"I came out of curiosity. I'm staying at Hogwarts."
"Will you be a professor at Hogwarts?"
"Not exactly—I have… a research and assistant role, I suppose…"
"What's your favorite pudding?"
"Chocolate pudding"
…
..
.
"Thank you very much for answering our questions—I'm sure our readers will love it."
"Mhm you're welcome."
After the impromptu interview, the girl—Luna—took a magical photograph of her, another thing Frieren hadn't seen before. Similar to the living portraits, but more like a single moment trapped in time to be seen again and again.
With that done, in the end she found herself drawn into the search for those curious magical creatures, the Lexinomos, until her father arrived to fetch her.
"Byeee," the girl chirped, waving alongside her father, a man as eccentric as she was.
Fortunately (for the shop workers), Hagrid didn't take long to arrive after that.
"Oh—you made a friend? Ah, I know her. Luna—first year, if I'm not mistaken. Well, I suppose second year now. Lovely child—she often comes to help care for the school's Thestrals," Hagrid said when she told him about her adventure.
"Thestrals?"
"Winged, magical horses—one can only see 'em if one's witnessed death. Shame that not many who can see 'em want to get close—most can't appreciate their beauty…"
...
..
.
The return trip to the school was peaceful. Hagrid took the longer route for her, and Frieren used the time to look over the city and the spells that blanketed the sky.
If there are any corrections to make, I'll do them tomorrow I'm off to sleep now. As always, I really appreciate your supportive comments and any help with mistakes
A A A A A A A A A A A A ALast edited: 8/9/2025 Award Quote ReplyReport596Evil cazuela8/9/2025Reader modeNewAdd bookmark Threadmarks Misoby8/9/2025NewAdd bookmark#108Evil cazuela said:"Her favorite spell… if I freed her from her curse, I would want her favorite spell."
He looked at her with that gaze she had seen in so many politicians, always accustomed to searching for lies and hidden motives.
"Graminis Decora... the first spell the Greengrass family ever marketed, keeps the grass green. You could find it in any spell shop…"
"Mhm that sounds like a good spell." Frieren held his gaze until he finally broke eye contact, turning his eyes back to his family.Click to expand...
Subtly and, frankly, touching.Greengrass, what other spell could there be here? Award Quote ReplyReport99bissek8/9/2025NewAdd bookmark#109Neobahamut said:I do hope we get at least one Morning Frieren's shenanigans, not many, it's not necessary to kill a joke, but one of the elf acting all sleepy cause it's a fun contrast.
Also second on that Frieren exploring the human world, I do want her to see it, cause it would be so different to what she knows, though maybe would work to have a guide that allows her to know how quickly the change went (in her conception of quick that is) and thinking that is something that will probably happen on her world.Click to expand...Given that she considers a decade to be a short visit, I'm surprised that elves don't consider waking up every single day to be an imposition. Award Quote ReplyReport78Arcman...8/9/2025NewAdd bookmark#110It's a shame Frieren didn't go for Knockturn Alley. It holds the kind of stores she likes to browse and buy from. Award Quote ReplyReport48Vivid Skies8/9/2025NewAdd bookmark#111I wonder how she's going to get those ingredients to upgrade her staff.
Thank you for another wonderful chapter!
Can't wait for more! Award Quote ReplyReport6jacobpaige8/9/2025NewAdd bookmark#112"they were Muggles, which meant they had built it all without magic." I wonder if she'll develop a fascination with science to match her fascination with magic. Or at least grab some science books to take home with her.
"I need to keep my spending in check without Fern here to do it for me" Nah, you just need to get a job, or maybe rob Gringotts
"Would you like to do an interview for The Quibbler?" This can only end well
Vivid Skies said:I wonder how she's going to get those ingredients to upgrade her staff.
Thank you for another wonderful chapter!
Can't wait for more!The pheonix tears willingly given should be super easy. Not sure about the rest though. No dragons around Hogwarts this year after all. Award Quote ReplyReport44FreeraynmanHe8/9/2025NewAdd bookmark#113the unforgivable curses are not hard to block you need physical shields to block them. Literaly conjure a shield, wear armor or put something hard in front of you and you block the avada kadavra. Award Quote ReplyReport17Project 501D13R8/9/2025NewAdd bookmark#114Evil cazuela said:Sam didn't have time to wonder about the shiver running down his spine before a claws seized him by the shoulder.Should be 'a claw', or 'a pair of claws'. That was the only typo I could find. Award Quote ReplyReport5EgoicBurst8/9/2025NewAdd bookmark#115Evil cazuela said:"In my world, magical foci are not alive as they are in yours… thank you for the maintenance, you've done a fine job."
Evil cazuela said:"That's..." The man fell silent, immersed in his own world, returning to the back of the shop.
Evil cazuela said:"WAIT!" The man's shout stopped her. He had come out again, and now his eyes held a frenzied gleam. "If I… if I could give life to your staff… would you allow me?"
Frieren triggered his Wand Autism with that comment, wands MUST be alive. Award Quote ReplyReport57KelasgreMankind´s Bad Habit8/9/2025NewAdd bookmark#116Freeraynman said:the unforgivable curses are not hard to block you need physical shields to block them. Literaly conjure a shield, wear armor or put something hard in front of you and you block the avada kadavra.