Chapter 4: Chapter 04: The Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley
Professor McGonagall looked at Eda, whose emerald-green eyes had lost their sparkle. "What's the matter? Do you not want to go?"
"No, I am very eager to see the magical world you described and would love to study at Hogwarts!" Eda lifted her head, a spark returning to her eyes, only to dim again almost immediately. "But I don't have any money. My savings probably won't be enough to support me at Hogwarts."
"That's an easy problem to solve." McGonagall reached into her pocket and took out a leather money pouch. "Hogwarts does not charge tuition fees, and we also have a scholarship fund to help those who need assistance with purchasing books and robes. However, you might need to buy some second-hand items."
"That's not a problem," Eda responded, gesturing to her clothes. "I've grown up here, using second-hand items all my life, so buying second-hand is perfectly fine. I just don't know where to buy them."
"Everything you need can be bought in Diagon Alley. I can take you there, and you can exchange your savings for wizarding currency if you need to."
"When can we leave?"
"Now. You can get your things together, and I'll wait for you at the orphanage entrance. Remember to bring your shopping list; it was included with your letter." McGonagall stood up and walked out, leaving Eda alone in the room.
Eda was satisfied with her performance.
She had acted just as a child who grew up in an orphanage and had never heard of the magical world should.
She didn't want to appear too extraordinary or attract too much attention. At the moment, she was far too weak to stand out; she wasn't even as strong as a big ant.
Eda tidied up her belongings and gathered all her money – some earned from odd jobs, and some given by the two families who had once adopted her. It wasn't a lot, but it was everything she had.
The magical world promised to be a dangerous yet dazzling journey. Eda walked to the window and saw Professor McGonagall standing in the courtyard. Despite her age, she stood tall and erect.
Eda chose to accept her fate and embrace the challenge.
Professor McGonagall and Eda took Muggle transportation across half of London to an ordinary-looking street, bustling with regular people.
"We've arrived, The Leaky Cauldron," Professor McGonagall said, stopping. "Muggles don't notice it."
Following McGonagall's pointing finger, Eda saw the famed Leaky Cauldron.
It was unimpressive, dirty, narrow, and inconspicuous.
'Not only Muggles, but I myself would subconsciously ignore it without Professor McGonagall's guidance.'
Inside, the pub was indeed dark and dirty, matching' its exterior.
A few wizards were sitting around in the bar, seemingly familiar with Professor McGonagall. They greeted her warmly, and even the bartender came up to her.
"Professor McGonagall, would you like a drink?" Tom, the bartender, asked hospitably.
"No, thank you. I'm here on business," McGonagall replied, moving forward, and Eda hurried to follow her.
Passing through the bar, they reached a small courtyard surrounded by walls, with only a trash bin and some weeds.
"Remember this, Miss Twist, three up, two across," McGonagall instructed. She showed Eda how to count the bricks on the wall, then had Eda step back.
McGonagall tapped her wand on the counted bricks three times.
As Professor McGonagall tapped the bricks, one of them started to move.
A small hole appeared on the wall, gradually growing larger until it revealed a wide archway leading to a cobblestone street that seemed to stretch endlessly.
Although Eda had not read or seen Harry Potter Novels or Movies, her friend had shown her this scene on her smartphone in her previous life, witnessing it firsthand was still incredibly awe-inspiring.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley, Miss Twist," Professor McGonagall said, glancing back at the astonished Eda before leading the way forward. Eda quickly followed.
The once-wide street was crowded with bustling people.
Loud conversations, greetings, and haggling filled the air.
There were shops selling cauldrons, the Eeylops Owl Emporium, a broomstick shop surrounded by boys, and many other strange stores.
The merchants in Diagon Alley seemed to sell everything one could imagine.
"Do you need to exchange some Galleons? Galleons are the currency used in the wizarding world. One Galleon is equivalent to seventeen Sickles, and one Sickle can be exchanged for twenty-nine Knuts," McGonagall explained to Eda.
"I have some savings that I'd like to exchange for wizard currency."
"Ok, follow me closely."
Under Professor McGonagall's guidance, they arrived at a towering, snow-white building.
Standing beside the gleaming bronze doors was a goblin in a scarlet and gold uniform.
On the way there, McGonagall had introduced Eda to Gringotts and naturally mentioned goblins.
Eda was somewhat puzzled. Although wizards had won the war against goblins, they had handed over financial control to them.
If the goblins ever waged an economic war, the wizards' lofty status could quickly turn miserable.
'Who was the wizard that came up with the idea to let goblins control the economy?'
Two goblins bowed to them and led them into a tall marble hall. Professor McGonagall spoke to one of the goblins, "Miss Twist is a first-year student. She needs to exchange some Galleons."
"Very well. Today's exchange rate is five pounds to one Galleon," the goblin said, looking at Eda. "How many would you like to exchange, Miss Twist?"
After exchanging money, Eda followed McGonagall out of Gringotts, having exchanged enough for 100 Galleons. That was all the money she had and could exchange.
Muggle-born students could exchange a limited amount of currency at Gringotts before each school year to ensure they could buy what they needed.
To prevent a run on the bank, goblins limited the amount exchanged, as wizards could easily earn Muggle money.
Eda put the pouch containing the Galleons in her pocket.
The pouch, enchanted by goblins, had an expanded interior to store coins without adding weight—one of the conveniences of magical life.
Eda held a Galleon in her hand, playing with it.
The coin wasn't pure gold, likely an alloy made by goblins using magic. "Professor, where should we go next?"
"To buy uniforms," McGonagall replied succinctly.
However, at Eda's insistence, they went to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions instead of a second-hand shop, even though it was much more expensive.
At the entrance of Madam Malkin's, McGonagall decided to split up, thinking it was more efficient.
She let Eda buy her robes while she went to purchase a cauldron, telescope, scales, and other items.
Madam Malkin was a short, plump witch with a kind smile, dressed in purple. She looked at Eda, who had come in alone, and asked, "Here for Hogwarts school uniforms, dear?"
"Yes."
"Come along, dear, this way."
Under Madam Malkin's guidance, Eda walked to the back of the shop. Madam Malkin had her stand on a footstool and draped a robe over her, pinning it to fit her length.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry, but could the clothes be made a bit larger?" Eda asked, without any hesitation.
"No problem, dear," Madam Malkin replied as she measured Eda. Hearing Eda's request and noting that she was alone, Madam Malkin inferred that Eda might not be well-off and wanted the clothes to last longer. Eda wasn't the first child to make such a request.
After being fitted, paying, and leaving an address, Eda stepped out of the shop to find Professor McGonagall waiting for her at the door.
"Other than books and a wand, I've bought everything else," Professor McGonagall said. Her efficiency and competence were impressive. "Now, let's get your books."
"Okay, Professor," Eda replied, then followed McGonagall towards a second-hand bookstore. They needed to buy Eda's textbooks there.
Possibly due to the upcoming school term, the second-hand bookstore had organized the books required for each year, neatly displayed for easy selection.
Eda chose carefully, inspecting each book one by one, not wanting any missing pages or unclear text in her textbooks.
Professor McGonagall was also helping, selecting books even more meticulously than Eda.
They spent a long time in the bookstore, finally finding satisfactory books.
Under McGonagall's guidance, Eda also picked some additional books to better understand the magical world. Of course, these extra books were bought with Eda's own money.
Now, they only had one last item to purchase: a wand.
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