Hogwarts: Don't call me Wandmaker

Chapter 212 Sirius's Spring

“Sirlen, your white dog has a really nice coat and very bright eyes.”

In Diagon Alley, the owner of the Eeyore Owl shop greeted Siron, who was passing by, warmly, "Does it have Swallowtail blood?"

“I don’t know,” Celen said. “I found it near the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts. It’s very smart, and as for whether it has Swallowtail blood… I don’t know.”

"I think so. Ordinary pet dogs don't have such bright and lively eyes." The shop owner looked Xilun up and down, liking the big white dog more and more.

A pure white Irish Wolfhound with Swallowtail lineage is quite rare; if it were introduced to a pet store, customers would surely crowd the store.

“I also have a hound with Swallowtail blood in my shop, and she happens to be a wonderful girl. Would you like to let them meet?” the shop owner asked with a smile.

Perhaps because Xilun was only thirteen years old, she was too embarrassed to say it too clearly. In fact, she just wanted to have this big white dog mate with her and leave behind a litter of puppies.

"That depends on its own decision," Xilun said seriously, lowering his head and barely suppressing a laugh.
"I'm asking you, do you want to meet him? I've seen that dog before, it's a Scottish Deerhound, and it's very beautiful."

Sirius rolled his eyes in a human-like manner, and his thick tail lashed out at Sirius's calf.

Not only did they paint his beard white, but they also asked him if he wanted to go... Merlin's beard. How could Siren say something like that?

He's a wizard, not a real dog!

Sirius gave a strong tug forward, dragging Sirius along.

In response, Sirius could only look at the shop owner and politely decline, saying, "I'm sorry, Sirius is a little too shy. He'll probably be fine by spring."

"Sirius Black?" The shopkeeper was startled and hurriedly looked around.

As Christmas approached, Diagon Alley was bustling with activity, but she didn't see a face that matched the one on the wanted poster.

The shop owner breathed a slight sigh of relief, and then she realized that Xilun had actually been referring to the dog.

"Isn't it a bit inappropriate to name a dog that?" she said hesitantly. "Although it does feel good to call it that, I've heard that Death Eaters put curses on their names. You'd better change your pet's name so it doesn't cause you trouble later."

"Oh, will Sirius Black come looking for trouble?" Sirius asked deliberately in an exaggerated voice.

He felt the rope in his hand tighten even more, and he staggered forward a few steps.

"Thank you for reminding me, but it only recognizes the name Sirius now..."

Watching the person and dog gradually walk away, the shop owner sighed with some regret.

She was now certain that, given the dog's intelligence, it must have been a pedigree dog.

In the magical world, three types of pets have always been popular: owls, swallowtail dogs, and raccoon dogs.

Owls can deliver letters and packages, which goes without saying, and swallowtail dogs and raccoon dogs have always been favored by wizarding families.

However, real swallowtail dogs and raccoon dogs are quite expensive, often costing nearly a hundred gallons, and their food is also not cheap.

It is said that the Malfoy family owns a purebred swallowtail dog, and Lucius Malfoy even orders dragon liver from the potions shop in Diagon Alley year-round to feed it, costing about thirty Galleons a month... while most employees of the Ministry of Magic only earn about fifty Galleons a month.

However, hybrid pets are not so particular; they can eat anything, and more importantly, they are not expensive. As a result, these pets have become the best choice for most wizards.

Especially the mixed-breed swallowtail dogs... loyal, intelligent, and alert, they've always been the store's best-selling pets. The shop owner watched Xilun's receding figure as if he were watching a large bag of Galleons fly away.

But there was nothing she could do; the dog really didn't seem interested.

Perhaps, just as Xilun said, it's not the right time yet.

Thinking about it, spring isn't far away, but Hogwarts will have already started by then. I wonder if Celence will leave it in Diagon Alley.

But a pure white swallowtail dog... even if Sheren takes it away, she'd still be happy to make a trip to Hogwarts.

On the other side, Sirius dragged Sirius to a secluded alley outside Diagon Alley.

"That's enough." Sirius returned to his original form.

He looks much cleaner now than before. Not only are his clothes so white they reflect light, but his hair has also turned white. Standing there, he looks like a whitewashed pillar.

Sirius glanced at his new outfit with obvious disdain.

"Couldn't you have chosen a different color?"

“I think it’s great,” Celen said with a smile. “At least the people at the pet store didn’t recognize you, did they?”

"Even if I look the same as before, she won't recognize me." Sirius pinched his white-dyed hair hanging in front of his eyes, feeling another wave of distress.

Even if he himself doesn't care much about his appearance, this is still a bit too ugly... How could Xilun have the nerve to ask him for twenty Galleons for "hair dyeing"? This stuff is worth at most two Galleons.

The only good thing... is probably that no one stared at the Leaky Cauldron and screamed when we passed by it.

“I might be gone for a few days,” Sirius said. “I’ll come find you later.”

He was going to prepare a Christmas present for Harry, and he absolutely refused to let Siren come along.

"Are you sure you don't need my help?" Siren asked enthusiastically. "It's inconvenient for you to do anything right now, isn't it? Not only can you not use the Floo Network, but you can't even take the Knight Bus."

"Actually, I can take you there, and don't worry, I'm not that interested in the location of your old Blake mansion."

Strangely enough, Xilun actually knew where that place was; he was very clear about that. But every time he seriously thought about it, he couldn't remember anything.

This is the effect of the Loyalty Spell... Even if you know the location, it's useless unless the person keeping the secret tells you directly.

But Black's old house isn't even the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix yet, so it's already protected by the Loyalty Charm, isn't it?
……

“No need.” Sirius shook his head, declining Sirius’s offer. “I can walk there myself without any transportation. Just like I walked from Azkaban to Hogsmeade.”

Okay, that's very convincing.

Sirius didn't insist any further. He shrugged, watched Sirius revert to his dog form, rolled around on the ground to cover himself in mud, and then left the alley, gradually disappearing into the crowd on the street.

……

(End of this chapter)