Chapter 4: Gringotts
Soon, Professor McGonagall finished talking to Ethan's parents and turned her attention back to Ethan.
Professor McGonagall had completed today's pick-up mission very smoothly. Compared to the endless, strange questions of other parents, this couple mainly asked about the learning environment and the various rules and regulations of Hogwarts.
"It is normal to not understand Transfiguration before you have undergone systematic learning. After entering Hogwarts, you can think about these things. If you still don't understand, you can also come and ask me," Professor McGonagall said kindly.
"Okay, thank you, Professor McGonagall!" Ethan responded with a smile.
"This is the duty of a professor!" Professor McGonagall replied.
She casually waved her wand, and the eight cats—one big and seven small—transformed back into the fruit plate and apples, restoring everything to its original state. Even the sofa that had been scratched by the cats was repaired.
After doing all this, Professor McGonagall stood up and said to Ethan, "Mr. and Mrs. Adrian, it's time to go to Diagon Alley to buy school supplies."
Patrick handed over a stack of pounds and accompanied Professor McGonagall and Ethan to the door with Noele. They were convinced of Professor McGonagall's legitimacy. If she had bad intentions, she wouldn't have shared so much information.
As for Diagon Alley, Professor McGonagall advised avoiding Muggle contact, as forcing interaction with the wizarding world would not be beneficial.
"Hold my hand now and don't let go. We will use magic to reach the outside of Diagon Alley. This process may be a bit uncomfortable," Professor McGonagall instructed.
Ethan took a deep breath and nodded to Professor McGonagall.
"Well, I'm ready, Professor McGonagall!"
Ethan knew what was coming next—Apparition!
Beginners often experience a lack of oxygen and a sense of being squeezed and deformed.
"Pop!"
"Pop!"
With the distinct sound of Apparition, Ethan and Professor McGonagall suddenly appeared in front of a shabby, small bar in a London neighborhood.
Ethan, still adjusting his breathing, felt the discomfort of the landing but quickly recovered.
"Are you okay, Mr. Adrian?"
"It's okay. I was a little uncomfortable when I landed just now, but I'm much better now."
Seeing that Ethan was fine, Professor McGonagall explained, "Apparition is one of the ways wizards travel. It can be learned in the sixth grade, but it requires self-funded learning and needs to be assessed at the Department of Magical Transportation. It is a very dangerous magic."
"The Leaky Cauldron, which can only be seen by wizards, is the entrance to Diagon Alley. Remember the address. You will need to come alone to get school supplies for your second year."
Professor McGonagall led Ethan into the bar.
Inside, the bar was empty except for a hunchbacked man cleaning the tables.
Upon seeing them, the hunchbacked man put down his cloth, raised his head, and said casually, "Good morning, Professor McGonagall, you are here to guide the new students again today!"
"Good morning, Tom!" Professor McGonagall replied as she walked inside.
Ethan was puzzled by the sight. He had a cleaning spell but wondered why the man was still wiping the table. This man was not a squib and could use magic.
Passing through the bar into the backyard, Professor McGonagall stopped in front of the trash can and said seriously, "Mr. Adrian, please remember my next move. Count three bricks up and two bricks horizontally."
Professor McGonagall tapped the brick three times with her wand.
Instantly, the bricks on the wall seemed to come alive and rearranged into a regular pattern until an arch was formed.
On the other side of the door was the real magical world—cobblestone roads, winding streets, crooked houses, and people in wizard robes everywhere.
"Let's go and exchange for gold galleons, which is the currency of wizards."
As a guide NPC for so many years, Professor McGonagall was familiar with this process.
After exchanging for gold galleons, they proceeded to buy a wand, then visited the bookstore, clothing store, potion store, and pet store.
Buying the wand first was not just due to proximity but because new students often eagerly want to get their wands.
Soon, under Professor McGonagall's guidance, Ethan arrived at Gringotts.
After stepping through the first bronze door, Ethan saw the warning on the second silver-white door:
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn,
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
Ethan thought, Aren't goblins the most greedy? Their archetype is a race that likes to collect wealth and stir up trouble.
"Professor McGonagall, how can I help you?"
As soon as they entered the hall, a goblin in a suit approached them.
"Help the freshmen exchange currency!" Professor McGonagall said, pointing to Ethan.
"Please come here!"
Following the goblin's instructions, Ethan and Professor McGonagall soon arrived at an unmanned counter on the right.
Five pounds for one gold galleon, with a maximum of one hundred gold galleons.
According to Professor McGonagall, if freshmen do not pursue luxury, one hundred gold galleons is enough, with some surplus, as there are limited places to spend money at Hogwarts.
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