章 22: Chapter 22: Journey to Diagon Alley
Chapter 22: Journey to Diagon Alley
"Haha, messy hair, you better watch your appearance when you go out, Chu Yang!" Professor Sprout waved her wand, smoothing out Chu Yang's disheveled hair.
"You didn't give me time to fix it, Professor," Chu Yang shrugged, innocently defending himself.
"Hurry downstairs for breakfast; we have a lot of things to buy today." Sprout turned and headed downstairs, her heavy footsteps on the wooden stairs making a sound that set one's teeth on edge.
Chu Yang followed her, keeping a certain distance, worried that she might break the stairs with one heavy step.
Bread, jam, milk, and sausages — the classic breakfast quartet.
The food at the Leaky Cauldron wasn't exactly delicious, just enough to fill the stomach, but Chu Yang still finished everything on his plate cleanly.
Kids from orphanages never waste food.
After they finished eating, they left through the back door of the Leaky Cauldron. After walking a few steps, they were stopped by a wall. Chu Yang felt a surge of excitement, knowing that beyond the wall lay Diagon Alley, a gateway to the real magical world.
"The third brick above the dustbin, then count two bricks to the side, remember this, and knock three times. The passage to Diagon Alley will open."
Sprout took out her wand and tapped the bricks three times. The wall seemed to come alive, shifting and turning to reveal a mysterious world unfolding before Chu Yang's eyes.
Sprout led the way, introducing Chu Yang to everything about this alley.
"Besides the entrance through the Leaky Cauldron's back door, there are two other ways to reach Diagon Alley. One is the Apparition I used earlier, and the other is Floo powder."
"But Apparition requires very high skill, and it's difficult for most wizards to master. Usually, only professor-level wizards like me can perform it with ease."
"Floo powder is much simpler to use and not very expensive either — a scoop costs two silver Sickles. It's the most popular method for many wizarding families."
Sprout pointed to the fireplaces along both sides of the street, explaining, "Only fireplaces connected to the Floo network will work with Floo powder. The method is simple: just stand in the fireplace, take a handful of Floo powder, say the location clearly, and then scatter the powder."
At this point, Sprout turned suddenly and looked at Chu Yang seriously. "Remember, you must pronounce the destination clearly, or the consequences will be dire. Understand?"
Chu Yang replied, "If I say the wrong name, I'll be sent to some strange place, right?"
"Not just that. Some people have died on the spot because they accidentally transported themselves into walls by saying the wrong name." Sprout sighed, "I don't want to see your name on the list of accidental deaths, Chu Yang."
Hearing this, Chu Yang nodded silently.
Afterward, Sprout took Chu Yang to a robe shop to have three robes, a pointed hat, protective gloves, and a winter cloak custom-made for him.
They also bought a cauldron for Potions class. For his pet, Chu Yang chose an owl, as that was really his only option. Who in their right mind would choose a toad or a rat?
This was something Sprout did every year, so she handled it with ease. In no time, they had gathered almost all the necessary supplies.
All the expenses were covered by Hogwarts.
Now, only the wand remained!
Sprout and Chu Yang arrived at a shop that looked like it had been around for a long time.
Ollivanders!
"Welcome, Professor Sprout! Elmwood, unicorn hair, ten and three-quarters inches. You look travel-worn — just got back from somewhere?" An old man with Einstein-like hair came down from a ladder, finally making his way past the piles of wand boxes to greet Sprout.
Sprout smiled and responded, "Hello, Mr. Ollivander. Your memory is as sharp as ever."
"Of course, I remember every wand I've sold and its owner." Ollivander proudly raised his head, then glanced at Chu Yang. "Is this young wizard here to buy a wand?"
Sprout explained, "He's a new student at Hogwarts this year."
"Congratulations on being accepted into Hogwarts, the finest school in the world. Trust me, you'll have a bright future!" Ollivander winked, then waved his wand and said, "Let me measure you first. Don't move."
A set of measuring tools, under Ollivander's magical control, began to move across Chu Yang's body.
To be honest, Chu Yang didn't understand what measuring had to do with choosing a wand. They were even measuring the distance between his eyes and nose!
"Every wand is unique. Its characteristics depend on the tree it came from and the magical core inside it. Moreover, after finding its ideal owner, a wand starts to impart its traits and learn from its bearer."
"A wand and its user complement each other. Even wands made from the same materials will evolve differently depending on their owner."
As Ollivander explained, he finished measuring Chu Yang and started searching for a suitable wand.
"Which hand do you use?"
"My right hand."
Ollivander rummaged through the pile of wand boxes for a while before finally pulling out a dusty one. He handed it to Chu Yang and gently blew the dust off.
"Cough, cough." Chu Yang coughed as he took the wand box from Ollivander and pulled out the wand inside.
"Poplar wood, dragon heartstring, ten inches. Hold it and give it a light wave. Remember, lightly."
Following Ollivander's instructions, Chu Yang gently waved the wand. A surge of invisible energy scattered, toppling the shelves behind Ollivander.
Sprout stepped back a few paces, standing at the shop entrance, clutching her chest in relief.
Ollivander shuddered but still managed to quip, "Powerful magic, young man, but that wand doesn't suit you."
"Sorry, Mr. Ollivander." Chu Yang quickly handed the wand back, startled by the commotion he had caused.
He had forgotten that because of the Soul Palace's influence, his talents far surpassed those of ordinary people in every aspect.
"It's okay, kid. These things happen. Though, not usually with such a big bang..."
Ollivander turned back to the shelves, mumbling to himself, "Maybe it's because of your Eastern heritage. I should find something from your homeland."
Typically, Ollivander used three materials for wand cores: phoenix tail feathers, unicorn hair, and dragon heartstrings.
There were other materials, of course, but Ollivander only used the finest, as that was his principle when making wands.
So, besides the usual three, Ollivander would sometimes seek out even rarer materials for wands.
Finally, Ollivander took out another dusty wand box.
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