Perhaps the biggest stressor of late was Awlthrow. The goblin had assured him that his knives would be ready by the time he left for Hogwarts, but no owl had arrived with a package or even a note, and when he’d sent Hedwig a few days ago to ask for an update, she’d returned empty-taloned. It appeared that Awlthrow’s estimate had been optimistic. That was a big problem—if he didn’t walk in wearing those knives, the staff might be within its rights to confiscate them, and then he’d have to spend the entire term without any weapons.