HP: Transmigrating as an Obscurial

Fluffy's three pairs of eyes sparkled with excitement as he squirmed and flailed his paws, letting out soft whimpers. He seemed determined to pounce on Vizet.

Fortunately, Hagrid's incredible strength came to the rescue. He easily hoisted the cerberus cub above his head, holding him up like a proud parent.

"Look at him, Vizet!" Hagrid exclaimed with delight. "He's so cute, isn't he? Like he was born to be smothered in kisses by his mum!"

Vizet couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his brow as he kept a cautious distance from Fluffy. For anyone else, lifting a cerberus cub the size of an African lion would have been unthinkable, but for someone with Hagrid's physique, it was as effortless as lifting a kitten.

Before Vizet could respond, a calm and familiar voice interrupted the moment.

"I do hope I'm not intruding at a bad time?"

Vizet and Hagrid both turned in surprise. Standing a short distance away, his half-moon spectacles gleaming in the moonlight, was none other than Dumbledore.

"P-Principal Dumbledore!" Hagrid stammered, looking as though he'd been caught red-handed. He quickly shuffled backward, trying — unsuccessfully — to shield Fluffy behind his towering frame, as if to hide the massive cerberus cub.

It was a valiant effort, but entirely futile. Even with his three-meter stature, Hagrid couldn't possibly obscure the lion-sized creature from view.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with amusement as he observed the scene. "The cerberus cub looks quite charming," he said with a warm smile. "Though, perhaps, a little on the thin side. I assume the new shelter you've been preparing at Hogwarts is meant for this little one?"

Hagrid let out a nervous chuckle, his cheeks turning red beneath his beard. "Well, uh… he's still young, y'see. I just didn't want him to be wanderin' about too much."

"Perfectly reasonable," Dumbledore replied, nodding with understanding. "Though, with such a large companion, I fear taking the Knight Bus might be… challenging."

He then turned to Vizet, his expression becoming slightly more thoughtful. "Vizet, would you care to try an alternative means of transportation? A more economical one, in fact. I've already informed Molly Weasley about your arrival."

"Economical?" Vizet raised an eyebrow. He suddenly remembered the bus ride that morning and how he had yet to pay his fare. Feeling a twinge of guilt, he quickly retrieved a gold coin and slipped it into Hagrid's oversized trouser pocket.

"Hagrid, this is for the Knight Bus," Vizet said firmly. "I insist."

Hagrid looked at him in astonishment, then waved his hands as though to refuse. "Vizet, yeh don't have to do that! You saved me more than two hundred Galleons today — no amount of gold could repay that!"

Vizet shook his head with a slight smile. "That's different. I have my own principles, Hagrid."

Dumbledore chuckled softly at the interaction, his eyes twinkling brighter than ever. "Hagrid, perhaps you should accept the young man's gesture. A fair deal is, after all, an important principle to uphold."

Hagrid reluctantly nodded, pocketing the coin. Meanwhile, Dumbledore turned back to Vizet. "Now then, let's not delay. The Floo Network is an excellent way to travel. Come along, my boy."

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The three of them returned to the Leaky Cauldron.

The bar was as lively as ever, with the warmth of the corner fireplace adding to the cheerful atmosphere. Wizards and witches sat at tables, chatting animatedly over mugs of Butterbeer and plates of steaming food.

Dumbledore approached the fireplace and lifted a small flowerpot that rested on the mantle. Inside, it held a shimmering powder that glinted like crushed starlight.

"Floo powder," Dumbledore explained, his voice as soothing as ever. "It's very simple to use. Take a handful, toss it into the fire, and clearly state your destination — in this case, The Burrow."

As he spoke, he demonstrated the process. He took a pinch of the sparkling powder, tossed it into the flames, and watched as the bright red fire erupted into a tall, emerald-green blaze before settling into a steady green glow of ash.

"The flames won't harm you," he continued. "They'll guide you safely to the Burrow. Now, Vizet, it's your turn."

Vizet nodded, gripping the small trailer he'd brought along. Without hesitation, he rolled it toward the fireplace, scooped up a handful of Floo powder, and stepped into the green flames.

"The Burrow!" he called out clearly before tossing the powder down.

In an instant, both he and the trailer vanished in a swirl of green fire.

As the flames died out, Hagrid, still holding the snoozing Fluffy in his arms, looked uncertain. "Er... Principal Dumbledore, how do we get back to Hogwarts?"

Dumbledore gave a small chuckle, relighting the fireplace with a flick of his wand. "I've arranged for a Thestral to escort you, though it won't arrive for a little while yet. In the meantime…"

Tom, the Leaky Cauldron's innkeeper, appeared with impeccable timing. He carried a steaming pot of tea and a large, generously frosted cake. Setting them down on a nearby table, he offered a polite bow before retreating.

Dumbledore's eyes lit up with delight at the sight of the cake. "Ah, splendid! I do believe a bit of cake is the perfect accompaniment to a good story." He gestured for Hagrid to sit. "I'm particularly curious about this cerberus cub. Would you care to tell me the tale of how he came into your care?"

Hagrid brightened immediately, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Course, Professor! Where d'yeh want me to start? From the very beginnin', when I first laid eyes on him? It was right here, at the Leaky Cauldron…"

Dumbledore raised a hand to gently interrupt. "Let's begin with the purchase itself. From what I overheard earlier, it seems young Vizet played a significant role."

Hagrid nodded enthusiastically, setting Fluffy gently down on the floor. "Oh, he did, Professor, he did! I can't thank him enough! If it weren't for him, I would've been blackmailed into payin' far more than I could afford."

Hagrid launched into the story with gusto, recounting every detail of the tense encounter in Knockturn Alley. He waved his hands animatedly, his voice rising and falling as he described Vizet's quick thinking and sharp negotiating skills.

"He was brilliant, Professor! Absolutely brilliant! I didn't even realize what was happenin' until those smugglers dropped the price to just 170 Galleons! And Fluffy? He seems to adore Vizet already — look at him!"

Fluffy, who had been dozing peacefully, perked up at the sound of Vizet's name. The cub gave a small bark and wagged his tail, as if to affirm Hagrid's words.

Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully, a look of quiet satisfaction on his face. "It seems Vizet is proving himself to be quite resourceful. To observe his surroundings so carefully and devise such a clever solution under pressure... Not many could manage that."

Hagrid nodded fervently. "That's what I'm sayin', Professor! If Vizet hadn't shown up when he did, I'd've been in real trouble."

Dumbledore's smile deepened, though his eyes carried a trace of seriousness. "Hagrid, I can see that you've taken quite a liking to Vizet. And it seems Fluffy has as well."

"Too right, Professor!" Hagrid replied, rubbing the cerberus' head affectionately. "But y'know, there's still a lot o' folks who misunderstand him... all because of those blasted reports."

"Ah, yes," Dumbledore murmured, his tone reflective. "Misunderstandings often take root in half-truths and fear. But don't worry, Hagrid — there will be new stories soon enough."

He paused for a moment, a twinkle of mischief returning to his eyes. "In fact, Harry's birthday is just around the corner. I'll be needing your help to make preparations."

"Harry?" Hagrid's eyes widened in surprise. "Harry Potter? Blimey, it's been ten years, hasn't it? He must be nearly old enough for Hogwarts now."

"He is," Dumbledore confirmed, his expression growing softer. "And he'll need us more than ever in the years to come. But for now, let's enjoy the peace while it lasts."

As Hagrid nodded in agreement, Fluffy let out another soft bark, as if to remind them that he, too, was part of the conversation.

Dumbledore chuckled, cutting himself a generous slice of cake. "Well then, Hagrid, why don't you tell me more about your adventure while we wait?"

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As Dumbledore had said, the fire caused no harm to Vizet.

A strange roaring filled his ears as he was swept into a whirlpool of swirling green flames. Fireplace exits flashed past his eyes like fleeting windows to other worlds. The sensation was both dizzying and exhilarating.

Suddenly, a young boy's excited shout pierced through the noise: "Mum! The fireplace is lighting up! Come quick and look!"

A deeper, more mature male voice followed. "That'll be Vizet, back from Diagon Alley. He's probably brought loads of things with him. Ron, step back and mind your safety."

A gentle push from behind propelled Vizet forward, and he stumbled out of the fireplace into a cozy, skewed-stone living room. The room was filled with the warmth of a well-loved home, with mismatched furniture, a ticking clock with strange hands, and a homely charm that made it feel immediately welcoming.

Standing before Vizet was a tall red-haired boy who extended his hand with a flourish. "Hello, I'm Percy Weasley, Gryffindor prefect."

Before Vizet could respond, another boy with similar red hair stepped forward, a shy smile on his face. "I'm Ron," he said. "I'll be starting at Hogwarts this year too."

Before Vizet could process that introduction, a third hand suddenly darted underneath Percy's. "Hello there! I'm Fred Weasley," the new arrival announced with mock grandeur, "the younger brother who's always having his points deducted by the very serious prefects."

"And I'm George Weasley," said another identical redhead who appeared just as suddenly, placing his hand atop Percy's. "The other brother who also suffers under the tyranny of said prefects."

"Shut up, you two!" Percy snapped, clearly flustered. "If you'd behave yourselves for once, no one would have to take points from you!"

Fred and George exchanged exaggerated eye rolls. "See? Percy's always like this," they said in unison, shaking their heads. "Sometimes we wonder if he's really one of us. No sense of humor at all."

Vizet's gaze flicked between the four boys standing in front of him. Each had a freckled face, red hair, and an undeniable sense of familial connection. Percy stood out with his formal demeanor, neatly pressed robes, and a gold-and-red prefect badge pinned proudly to his chest. His gold-rimmed glasses and bookish air gave him an air of authority. Meanwhile, Fred and George wore mischievous grins, their clothes bearing the telltale signs of magical experiments gone slightly awry. Ron stood at the back, his curious gaze fixed on Vizet, his eyes bright and full of wonder.

Before Vizet could introduce himself, a firm but kind voice cut through the chaos. "Alright, that's enough!" A middle-aged woman wearing a floral apron appeared, pulling Fred and George aside with practiced ease. She had red hair and a warm, motherly presence that seemed to fill the room.

She bent down slightly to look Vizet in the eye, her hands moving to straighten his collar. "Hello there, dear. I'm Molly Weasley. You've come back so late — have you eaten? If not, I'll whip something up for you in no time."

Vizet looked around at the large group surrounding him. There was no judgment or fear in their eyes — only warmth and genuine interest. The chaotic yet loving atmosphere made him feel an unexpected sense of belonging. He found himself smiling.

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," he said, shaking his head gently. "But no need to trouble yourself. Mr. Lovegood made sure to leave me and Luna dinner."