[System, detecting that the host has made first contact with the wizarding world, system activated!]
[System, detecting someone peeking into the host's memories! System protection mode automatically engaged. The host's transmigrator memories will be directly hidden, and the memories presented will be exclusively those from after the host's arrival in this world! This protection mode is a trial version! Duration: three days!]
[System, protection mode engaged!]
Erwin could not care about the overwhelming joy in his heart. Instead, he looked at Dumbledore before him with guarded vigilance.
As expected of this old schemer. He had actually cast Legilimency on him.
Erwin was genuinely impressed. Did this old fellow seriously treat Legilimency as a passive ability? Did he never turn it off, casting Legilimency the moment he opened his eyes? It was completely absurd.
After performing Legilimency, a flash of surprise crossed Dumbledore's eyes. He had not expected Erwin's life to be so... colorful? That was the only word Dumbledore could use to describe it.
However, having used Legilimency, Dumbledore found nothing unusual. He could only assume that Erwin's reaction was simply due to surprise upon seeing him. As for why he was surprised, perhaps it was because of his exceptionally white beard; Erwin might never have seen one so white. Other than that, he could find no other explanation.
Dumbledore said, "My boy! You should have received your Hogwarts acceptance letter by now, shouldn't you? I'm here to escort you to school!"
Erwin feigned confusion and said, "Hogwarts? What is that? What letter?"
Hearing this, Dumbledore was somewhat taken aback. "Didn't you receive the letter? It's an envelope—a pale yellow envelope with the address written in green ink! No postage stamp! Just your name and address, and on the back, a crest bearing a lion, a snake, a badger, and an eagle surrounding the letter H! You didn't receive it?"
Erwin shook his head. He truly hadn't received it. Otherwise, wouldn't he have been overjoyed long ago?
Dumbledore frowned. "That shouldn't be! An owl should have delivered the letter directly into your hands!"
Right at that moment, Rivers, standing to the side, raised his hand. Erwin had taught him this: you had to raise your hand before interrupting someone. Of course, Rivers looked down on the rule and usually did whatever he wanted. But in front of Erwin, he was very well-behaved, because Erwin would genuinely beat him to a pulp.
Seeing Rivers trying to speak, a sense of foreboding inexplicably rose in Erwin's heart.
Erwin waved a hand. "Speak!"
Rivers gave two dry coughs. "Well! Young Master, I might know where the letter this old man is talking about is!"
Erwin said, "Then why haven't you fished it out yet?"
Rivers scratched his head. "Well! Young Master, it can't be fished out anymore!"
Erwin frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Stammering, Rivers explained, "It's like this. That owl came in the morning and wouldn't stop hooting. So, I was afraid it would disturb your sleep, Young Master! I caught it!"
Erwin asked, "And the letter?!"
Rivers took two nonchalant steps backward and continued his explanation, "I can't read, as you well know, Young Master! I didn't know what it was, and right then my stomach was acting up, and I didn't feel like looking for paper, so, so..."
Rivers didn't dare finish. He saw that his young master's face had visibly darkened.
Erwin said coldly, "Rivers, come here. Let me show you something wonderful!"
Rivers's face instantly twisted into a miserable expression. "Do I really have to look, Young Master?"
"Not look? That's not up to you!"
Just as Erwin intended to deal with this troublesome subordinate, Dumbledore stopped him. "It's alright, Mr. Rivers. It's just a letter! Not a major problem. However, owls are the property of Hogwarts! You will need to release it."
Erwin said coldly, "Didn't you hear what the Headmaster said? Why are you still standing there?"
Rivers pulled a long face. "Young Master! The owl can't be returned either. Do you remember your lunch today?"
Erwin froze instantly. That explained why today's chicken soup had been exceptionally delicious. It tasted completely different from ordinary chicken, and the meat had been remarkably firm. He had even planned to have the kitchen make it again for dinner. Never mind—that had actually been an owl.
Erwin gave two dry coughs. "Well! Respected Headmaster, you heard him! Would you look at that—how much do I owe in damages?"
Dumbledore was also somewhat speechless. In all his years as headmaster—no, all his years at Hogwarts, from student to professor to his current position as headmaster—he had never encountered such a situation. A new student, a Muggle-born student at that, had captured and eaten the owl!
Dumbledore sighed. What could he do? It had already been eaten. He couldn't very well make Erwin spit it back up. More importantly, even if he did spit it out, that owl wouldn't be the same owl anymore.
Dumbledore waved a hand. "Never mind! What's done is done!"
Erwin breathed a sigh of relief. Good, good! Although the family was quite wealthy, Erwin always operated on the principle of saving wherever possible. Naturally, not having to spend money was wonderful.
Erwin said, "Then thank you very much, Headmaster! But really, these owls should be replaced! To be caught so easily—there's no privacy at all!"
The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched slightly. Good grief, listening to that, was he actually going to blame their owls for being too stupid? Was there any politeness left?
Dumbledore inexplicably entertained the thought that recruiting Erwin might have been a mistaken decision on Hogwarts's part. Fortunately, Dumbledore wasn't the sort of person to act purely on intuition; otherwise, Erwin might have become the first wizard expelled from Hogwarts before school even started.
Dumbledore said, "I will take your suggestion under consideration, Mr. Rivers! Since you didn't receive your acceptance letter, you're unaware of certain things. New Hogwarts students need to purchase some supplies—much like stationery in the Muggle world. Oh, right, Muggles refers to ordinary people who cannot perform magic! So if you have time now, you can come with me to acquire them."
Erwin nodded. "Alright! I'm completely free right now. Tom, go get some money, and we'll go shopping!"
Dumbledore said, "Oh! I forgot to remind you—currency in the wizarding world is not compatible with the Muggle world! Pounds can only be exchanged for Galleons in limited amounts."
Erwin was already well aware of these basics, but in front of Dumbledore, it wouldn't do to show it. Therefore, he had deliberately guided Dumbledore into bringing it up himself.
Erwin asked, "Then what currency does the wizarding world use?"
Dumbledore gave his wrist a slight flick, and a gold coin appeared in his palm. "This right here—the Galleon."
Erwin nodded. "Then I understand! It's just gold, right? Tom, go get ready!"