"Oh, two little ones I haven't seen before."
Standing behind the bar, Tom leaned over with a smile: "Are you first-years at Hogwarts?"
"Yes, Tom."
Professor McGonagall nodded at Tom, the barkeeper, and led Hermione and Ivan forward: "Also, it's not advisable to drink on duty."
"Haha, Hagrid would get a kick out of hearing that," Tom chuckled, teasingly referring to Hagrid's known fondness for a pint.
Ignoring Tom's jest, the trio walked through the bar to a secluded courtyard enclosed by walls, where a trash can and some weeds lay scattered. "Remember, count three bricks up and two bricks across."
Professor McGonagall instructed Ivan and Hermione to observe as she counted the bricks carefully. She then drew her wand and tapped the wall thrice at the designated spots.
Gala La~~
Before the astonished eyes of Ivan and Hermione, the bricks began to shift, gradually forming a small opening.
The opening widened until it became a large archway, revealing a street paved with cobblestones.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley."
As they stepped onto the bustling street, the attire of the passersby—ranging from the simple to the bizarre—caught the eyes of Ivan and Hermione.
Hermione, in particular, was captivated by the scene before her, unable to tear her gaze away.
The allure of wizards and magic was particularly strong for a young girl like Hermione, who, like many children, had often dreamed of being a princess.
As they proceeded through the archway, Hermione glanced back to see the archway contract swiftly, sealing shut and returning to a plain wall.
Diagon Alley is the bustling commercial heart of the British wizarding world, home to many top-tier brand stores in the magical community, each boasting a flagship location here.
Ivan surveyed his surroundings, taking in both the familiar and unfamiliar shops lining the bustling streets of Diagon Alley.
He passed by Ollivander's Wand Shop, Zonko's Joke Shop, Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, shops for stationery, thrift stores, a wizarding travel agency, a Quidditch boutique, Flourish and Blotts Bookstore, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, a cauldron shop, a magical creature shop, and various other magical establishments, including an owl emporium.
'The real wizarding world is much broader and peculiar than what is depicted in novels and films,' Ivan thought, awestruck.
Professor McGonagall, leading the way, directed Hermione and Ivan to Gringotts first. They needed to exchange Muggle currency for gold Galleons, particularly for Hermione, as she came from a non-magical family.
For young wizards from Muggle backgrounds, there's a yearly limit on how much Muggle currency can be exchanged for wizarding money.
Given Hermione's father was a dentist—a well-compensated profession in the Muggle world—if the exchange rate mentioned by J.K. Rowling of 5 pounds to one Galleon was accurate, Mr. Granger could potentially exchange a significant amount of Galleons for Hermione right there.
"What a magical place," Hermione remarked, clutching Ivan's hand—something she hadn't stopped doing since their encounter with Tom at the bar.
Miss Granger was understandably anxious upon entering the wizarding world for the first time.
Initially, she might have intended to compare her capabilities with Ivan, a fellow Muggle-born.
However, faced with a new and unfamiliar environment, it was natural for her to seek comfort in familiarity.
So naturally, Ivan, who seemed so composed and assured, became a source of stability for Hermione, prompting her to subconsciously lean on him for support.
"Yes," Ivan reassured her, gently squeezing her hand in encouragement. "Living in such a world must be incredibly fascinating."
"Aren't you afraid at all?" Hermione asked, looking up at him.
Hermione admired Ivan's maturity despite their being the same age. "Maybe it's because I've been living in an orphanage," Ivan suggested.
"Uh," Hermione murmured, her voice dropping. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
"It's okay, I don't consider it a painful memory," Ivan reassured her, his demeanor making Hermione feel slightly embarrassed for her presumption.
"By the way, I just noticed a bookstore," Ivan changed the subject, sensing Hermione's discomfort. "After we exchange wizarding currency, perhaps we could buy our books together and share them. It would save a lot of money."
"Yeah!" Hermione's spirits lifted at the mention of books, and she quickly reverted to her more confident self, the scholarly Miss Granger.
Professor McGonagall, observing the two budding friends, felt a sense of contentment that they were forming bonds before even starting school.
Soon, the trio approached a snow-white building that stood out starkly against the surrounding shops.
Beside its shiny bronze doors, a figure in a scarlet and gold uniform caught their attention. This individual was a head shorter than both Hermione and Ivan, with a dark, shrewd face and a neatly pointed beard.
Ivan noted the goblin's disproportionately long hands and feet.
As they entered, the goblin bowed respectfully.
"What are they?" Hermione whispered, curiosity piqued.
"Goblins," Ivan responded, recognizing the guardians of the wizard bank from his readings.
Professor McGonagall explained, "Goblins work for Gringotts, safeguarding the wealth of the wizarding world."
Hermione absorbed this information without comment, but Ivan couldn't hide his concern. He was vaguely aware of the strained relationship between wizards and goblins, finding it perplexing that wizards would entrust their entire banking system to what he remembered as the "losers" of their society.
In his past readings about the Harry Potter universe, it struck him as remarkable that those often on the losing side of historical conflicts controlled such a critical economic artery.
"What's wrong, Ivan?" Hermione inquired, noticing his furrowed brow.
"Nothing," Ivan replied, opting for discretion. He sensed that such topics were better left undiscussed in this setting.
Continuing on, the trio passed through a second door. This door was crafted from silver, and words were engraved upon it:
"Enter, stranger;
But beware of the consequences of greed,
For those who take that which does not belong to them
Will pay most dearly.
Thus if you seek a share of treasure
From our vaults that is not yours to claim,
You have been warned, thief,
Beware bringing evil upon yourself instead of riches."
The stern warning on the doors served as a grim reminder of the goblins' strict and unyielding stewardship of the treasures within.
'Tsk.'
As Ivan read the stern warnings, his eyes narrowed slightly: 'These goblins are troublesome.'
The two goblins at the front bowed to them and then led the group into a towering marble hall.
Inside, about a hundred goblins were perched on high stools behind a long counter. They were busy with various tasks: some weighed coins with copper scales, others examined gems with eyepieces, and many were hurriedly jotting notes in large account books.
The hall was lined with countless doors, each leading to different vaults and areas. Several goblins, armed with bows, guided people in and out.
"How can I help you?" asked one of the goblins from behind the counter. Perched on a high stool, he managed to look down at the visitors, an air of condescension barely concealed. "Professor McGonagall?"
Professor McGonagall is renowned in the British wizarding world as a master of Transfiguration, her prowess rivaled only by Dumbledore, one of the greatest wizards of the age. With decades of teaching experience, it's no understatement to say her former students are spread throughout the UK.
Even the goblins at Gringotts, known for their usually unflappable demeanor, could not afford to display outright arrogance in front of Professor McGonagall.
"I would like to request the currency exchange service for this year's first-year students."
"Oh, is it that time again?" The goblin behind the counter hoisted himself up to get a better look at Ivan and Hermione, who stood next to Professor McGonagall.
He scrutinized them and asked, "Excuse me, who needs to exchange Muggle currency?"
"It's Miss Granger..."
"Sorry, Professor," Ivan interjected before she could continue. "I'm curious, how much can this money be exchanged for?"
"..."
Professor McGonagall glanced at Ivan, slightly confused by his question, but after catching a subtle blink from him, she understood. "Miss Granger and Mr. Ambrosius both require the exchange service," she clarified to the goblin.
Although Hogwarts offers scholarships for financially disadvantaged students like Ivan, these funds typically only cover the purchase of basic materials and school supplies.
Therefore, Ivan chose to forego the scholarship in favor of applying for the Muggle currency exchange service instead.
"Ivan, do you have enough money?" Hermione asked.
She had brought about 2,000 pounds, which could theoretically be exchanged for approximately 400 gold Galleons at the current rate of 5 pounds to 1 Galleon.
However, in practice, young wizards from Muggle families are limited to exchanging up to 100 Galleons per year. Moreover, the exchange rate is subject to fluctuation.
For instance, if a large amount of Muggle currency is exchanged for Galleons in a short period, the rate of 1 pound to 5 Galleons could shift dramatically to 1:50, or even 1:500.
To the goblins, Muggle currency is practically worthless. For them, it's no more valuable than waste paper.
So, the most strategic approach would be to purchase gold in the Muggle world first, then exchange that gold for Galleons at Gringotts.
Although this method could lead to gold depreciation—resulting in diminishing returns on the number of Galleons received—the goblins' longstanding affinity for gold mitigates this issue somewhat.
Given the limited global reserves of gold, the goblins are more than willing to acquire all available gold from the Muggle world, even at lower prices!
After all, they are effectively the only market for such transactions.
If Ivan were to bring several tons of gold, the goblins might see it as an opportunity to recalibrate the value of gold to the equivalent of cabbages, a tactic to safeguard their financial interests.
"Mr. Goblin! How many Galleons can this gold be exchanged for?" Ivan asked, placing a box of gold on the counter with assistance from Professor McGonagall.
He was mindful to control the quantity of gold he presented, keen to prevent the goblins from gaining too much leverage.
"Gold?!" The goblin exclaimed upon opening the box and discovering rows of small, shiny objects that appeared like tiny yellow fish: "Ah, it's really these golden little beauties."
"Mr. Ambrosius, correct?" The goblin adjusted his glasses. "Based on the current rate of gold to Galleon exchange, these can be traded for 250 gold Galleons at Gringotts."
"..."
Upon hearing this figure, Ivan's expression turned frosty.
It was clear to him that substantial deductions had been applied.
"Okay," he said tersely, concealing his frustration.
Ivan did not haggle over the exchange rate; instead, he accepted the deal outright, much to the surprise of Hermione and Professor McGonagall. He silently noted this transaction, deciding to let the goblins enjoy their moment of triumph—for now.
Meanwhile, Hermione exchanged her pounds for 80 gold galleons. After leaving Gringotts, Professor McGonagall inquired about the box of gold Ivan had brought with him.
"Professor, I acquired all my gold through legitimate means," Ivan assured her.
He explained that as a child, he had once predicted lottery numbers published in a newspaper and won the third prize, which he used to better the conditions at the orphanage.
Additionally, Ivan occasionally used his savings to place bets on sports events.
He was cautious with his prophecies, ensuring not to exploit them excessively, and always kept his betting within reasonable limits.
However, Ivan omitted certain details from his explanation.
For instance, he didn't mention how he had used Transfiguration—not Disguise Magus, as there's no mention of such a spell in canonical Harry Potter texts—to alter his appearance and open multiple bank accounts in the Muggle world. This was part of his preparation for an independent life after leaving the orphanage.
With similar discretion, he had ensured his safety and anonymity despite his considerable wealth through careful use of his magical skills.
"That's incredible," Hermione exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement at Ivan's capabilities.
Before, when she had imagined someone predicting the future, she had whimsically thought about lottery numbers but never expected to actually meet someone who had successfully done it.
Even Professor McGonagall was momentarily at a loss for words, impressed and somewhat bewildered by Ivan's prudent use of his prophetic gift.
Ultimately, Professor McGonagall could only advise Ivan to be cautious not to reveal magical secrets to Muggles and to refrain from excessive gambling. With that, she decided to move on from the topic.
The trio left Gringotts, and Professor McGonagall instructed them to review their shopping lists for Hogwarts. Hermione, with her characteristic eagerness, promptly recited the list from memory:
"[Uniform]
Three sets of plain work robes (black)
One plain peaked hat for daytime wear (black)
One pair of protective gloves (made from dragonhide or similar material)
One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Note: All student clothing must have name tags attached.
[Textbooks]
Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
A History of MagicMagical Theory
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
Magical Drafts and Potions
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
[Other]
One wand
One cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
One set of glass or crystal vials
One telescope
One brass scales
Students may bring one owl, one cat, or one toad"
"Oh! There was also a line - Parents are kindly reminded that first-year students are not allowed to bring their own broomsticks."
After finishing the list, Hermione looked at Ivan and Professor McGonagall with enthusiasm. The latter smiled and praised, "It seems that our Miss Granger is well prepared."
Professor McGonagall appreciates young witches like Hermione who are eager to learn.
Like Hermione, Professor McGonagall, who is of mixed blood, once had a similar desire to prove herself equal to any pure-blood wizard.
"Ivan, shall we go buy the textbooks first?"
Hermione's thirst for knowledge was evident. Her only shortcoming is her tendency to take everything written in books as absolute truth.
"Okay."
Ivan and Hermione headed to Flourish and Blotts, captivated by the rows of books filling the store.
Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall instructed them to stay at Flourish and Blotts while she went to purchase cauldrons, gloves, and other supplies.
Having been a professor at Hogwarts for many years, McGonagall knew exactly where to get the best quality for the lowest price.
"Ahh~ Professor McGonagall is such a good teacher," Hermione remarked, admiringly. "It would be great if all professors at Hogwarts were like her!"
To others, Professor McGonagall might appear strict and traditional, but to Ivan and Hermione, she was a figure of quiet pride—stern on the outside but deeply caring beneath that facade.
Well, this "cat lady" might be a bit old.
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GOT IT