Chapter 8: The Beginning of the Magical Journey - The Leaky Cauldron

Conscience...

Wilson Wright certainly has it within him.

Just like the birthday cake that Barty Crouch Sr bought, even the Crouch Jr and the house-elf Winky, who were imprisoned in the underground fortress, had a share.

Moreover, it was personally delivered by Wilson.

However, after living in the underground bunker for over a month, Crouch Jr painfully expressed his desire to return to the surface, even if it meant being subjected to the Imperius Curse, as at least he wouldn't feel the daily despair of being in a confinement room.

There was simply no one to talk to here.

In the underground bunker, the only one he could communicate with was the tireless house-elf Winky, which was even worse than when he was in Azkaban, where there were at least other prisoners to curse at each other.

Crouch Jr had never hated his sobriety so much!

"Let me out of here!"

Crouch Jr clung to the iron door of the underground Bunker, grimacing as he said, "Even if... you use the Imperius Curse on me, I don't care... let me out of here!"

"Sorry, this is your own choice."

Wilson very politely refused him.

As expected, nothing was outside of Wilson's expectations.

All those loyal to Voldemort's Death Eaters actually liked to cause trouble everywhere, and none of them could endure this kind of psychological loneliness!

Wilson Wright didn't completely refuse to help and kindly reminded Crouch Jr, "However, I think even before you entered this underground Bunker, you might have these psychological issues. I recommend you read the self-healing Psychological books on the shelf..."

"..."

This little bastard is really a demon!

Crouch Jr glared at Wilson in anger. This little bastard had known he would be driven mad in the underground fortress, yet he still tricked him into choosing to live here!

"You despicable little bastard..."

"Speak nicely, no swearing."

Wilson frowned slightly, pried Crouch Jr's hand from the iron door, pushed him back into the underground bunker, and said softly, "You have to learn to think positively. At least in this place, you can quit all your bad habits from the past..."

After saying that, Wilson ignored the even angrier Crouch Jr and called over the house-elf Winky, earnestly instructing, "Don't talk to Mr. Barty Jr in the future, just make sure he doesn't die here..."

"But..."

The kind house-elf hesitated a bit.

"No buts."

Wilson Wright shook his head, smiling softly, "If you talk too much to him, it will waste Mr. Barty Crouch's painstaking efforts for his son. You don't want to see them become enemies, right?"

"Yes, Master Wright."

The kind house-elf eventually nodded.

Wilson glanced at the sumptuous lunch on the table in the underground fortress and softly continued to instruct, "From now on, there's no need to prepare a sumptuous lunch for him. This is a spiritual retreat we've prepared for him, and the life of a retreat should be a bit harder. A glass of water and a piece of bread each day should be enough..."

"Yes."

The kind house-elf understood the meaning of the retreat.

"You little devil..."

Although the gray-haired boy's voice still sounded very immature when he said these things, it didn't stop Crouch Jr from believing it was the devil's whisper!

This little bastard!

How could he say such things!

Why did he have to interfere with his life in the underground bunker? One piece of bread and one glass of water a day—Azkaban's living conditions weren't even this bad!

"Well, only those who work hard will be rewarded."

Wilson ignored Crouch Jr, subtly praised Winky, and slowly closed the door of the underground fortress, under Crouch Jr's angry and desperate gaze.

"Stop!"

"You little devil!"

"You vile creature with festering feet!"

"You brat, you'll meet a horrible end!"

"You'll be cursed with the Cruciatus Curse a thousand times by me!"

Crouch Jr pounded angrily on the iron door of the underground bunker, not caring about the swelling on his fists, hoping his curses would penetrate the door.

Unfortunately...

Wilson could no longer hear it.

However, this did not stop Wilson from guessing that Crouch Jr would definitely curse because Crouch Jr's moral standards were low.

Wilson reached up to fiddle with his gray hair, turned to leave, shaking his head and sighing, "His moral education needs to improve. I hope his attitude will be better the next time we meet..."

Compared to his father, Crouch Jr still had a long way to go.

As a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic, Barty Crouch Sr always maintained a serious and earnest attitude, no matter what situation he found himself in. He would always try to stay calm and consider things thoroughly.

This was exactly what Wilson admires about Crouch Sr.

Now, Wilson Wright had received his acceptance letter from Hogwarts, and naturally, Barty Crouch Sr was going to take him to the most prosperous wizarding market—The legendary Diagon Alley.

Only there could they buy everything needed from the new student list.

If one wanted to go to Diagon Alley, there were generally two ways: the first was through the Leaky Cauldron in London, where there was an entrance to Diagon Alley;

The second way was through the Floo Network, where one just needed to throw a handful of Floo Powder into the fireplace to get there directly.

Naturally.

Wilson Wright chose the more reliable way.

To this, Wilson explained to Barty Sr that he wanted to see the magical place of the Leaky Cauldron, where ordinary people start their magical journey.

Besides.

There was also a relatively simple exploration task in the Leaky Cauldron.

[Exploration Task: Enter Diagon Alley through the back of the Leaky Cauldron (0/1), Reward: Unlocking Charm, Incomplete]

Regarding entering Diagon Alley through the Leaky Cauldron, Barty Crouch Sr himself didn't mind, as all wizards had no dislike for the Leaky Cauldron.

In fact.

Every young wizard's true introduction to the magical world begins with their family leading them through the Leaky Cauldron into Diagon Alley.

The Leaky Cauldron, with nearly five hundred years of history, has grown with all wizards, giving it a unique significance.

Once, the Leaky Cauldron was nearly demolished by Muggles to build a road, but all the wizards united and cast Memory Charms on those Muggle designers, altering the road plan, thus allowing the Leaky Cauldron to survive to this day.

In central London.

Between a large Muggle bookstore and a record store, there is a narrow, old wooden door. The passing ordinary people, due to the Muggle-Repelling Charm, are oblivious to its existence.

These ordinary people will never know that if they accidentally step through this door, they will enter a magical world.