Chapter 7

As I walked out of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, I slipped on the coat. It felt good—comfortable and sturdy. Once it was on, I adjusted the collar and glanced around, trying to spot Gringotts. It wasn't hard to find, located at the north end of Diagon Alley, its white marble structure standing tall over the other shops. I started walking toward it, weaving through the bustling crowds.

As I walked, I noticed people glancing at me. Some gave curious looks, while others seemed a bit wary. I figured it had something to do with my eyes. My bright red eyes had always drawn attention, even in the wizarding world. I remembered dealing with that when I was younger. kids thought I was a vampire, but I wasn't too worried—there was no issue since I was walking around in daylight. I was used to it by now.

I even noticed a few girls blushing and whispering to each other as I passed by. It reminded me of Hogwarts, where girls would react the same way. I guess I could be considered handsome, but relationships were the last thing on my mind right now. I had more important things to focus on—like sorting out my future.

On my way to Gringotts, I passed two pet stores. One was Eeylops Owl Emporium, which specialized in owls, and the other was The Magical Menagerie, where they sold all sorts of magical creatures, not just owls. I remembered my alternate self had bought a hamster from this place when he first visited Diagon Alley, but a cat ended up eating it at Hogwarts. I figured I'd stop by and take a look. If nothing caught my eye, I'd just get an owl.

I walked into The Magical Menagerie and took a look around. The place was packed with cages and tanks, filled with all kinds of magical animals,

some I'd never even seen before. As I moved from one section to the next, nothing really stood out. None of the creatures seemed to connect with me in any way.

But as I was about to leave, I noticed something strange—a black rock sitting on a shelf in the corner. It looked almost like obsidian, dark and glossy, but there was something about it that felt... different. It seemed to be calling out to me, though I had no idea why. I picked it up and felt its cool, smooth surface under my fingers.

Curious, I walked over to the counter and called out to the owner. "Excuse me?"

A man in his forties with thinning hair and a slightly worn-out look came over. "Yes, sir? What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering what this is," I said, holding up the black stone. "I'd like to buy it."

The shopkeeper squinted at it, clearly puzzled. "That old thing? Honestly, I'm not sure. It's been in this store for as long as I can remember—over 500 years. My great-great-grandfather put it here, but no one's ever figured out what it is."

"Really?" I asked, surprised. "So, you've had this for 500 years and still don't know what it does?"

He shrugged. "Yup. It's got some faint traces of magic, or at least it did. My great-great-grandfather thought it was an egg or something, but whatever magic it had faded a long time ago."

I looked at the stone again, still feeling its strange pull. "How much is it?"

"Five Galleons," he said.

That seemed cheap. "Why so cheap?"

"Well," he chuckled, "we've never been able to sell it. No one's interested in something that doesn't do anything, and we've got no idea what it is. Could be worthless for all we know."

I thought about it for a moment. Five Galleons wasn't much, and I still had the feeling that this stone wasn't just some worthless rock. "Alright, I'll take it," I said, handing him the coins.

"Best of luck with it," the shopkeeper said as he placed the stone in a small bag. "Maybe you'll figure it out."

With the stone in my possession, I looked around the shop one more time but didn't feel any connection to any of the animals. Nothing stood out, so I decided to leave.

As I stepped outside, I glanced down at the pouch holding the stone. There was something about it that felt... important, though I wasn't sure why. I'd have to figure out what it was later, after I sorted out my business at Gringotts. With the pouch in hand, I continued toward the towering marble bank.

After a few minutes of walking, I found myself standing outside Gringotts. The building was as imposing as I remembered from my memories—its white marble structure towering over the rest of Diagon Alley. The tall, polished columns framed the entrance, giving it an air of authority and power. The bronze doors gleamed in the sunlight, and above them, the word Gringotts was etched in bold letters, almost daring anyone who entered to tread carefully.

At the base of the steps, just before the entrance, there was a large plaque that caught my eye. It wasn't a welcoming sign, more of a stern warning:

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.

The words were etched into the stone in neat, precise script, and they gave off an ominous feeling. Clearly, Gringotts didn't mess around when it came to protecting its vaults.

As I stepped closer to the doors, I couldn't help but feel a slight shiver run down my spine. It was as if the bank itself was watching, waiting for someone to make a wrong move. But I wasn't here to steal anything, so I pushed those thoughts aside and stepped inside.

The first thing I noticed were the goblins. To be honest, they were... not the most attractive creatures. Their sharp, twisted features and hunched posture gave them a sinister appearance, but I wasn't one to judge people—or creatures—by their looks. Still, I could understand why some people might find them unsettling.

Rows of goblins were seated behind high desks, busy counting gold coins, examining documents, and scribbling down notes with quills. The whole place had an air of seriousness, almost like a courtroom, and it was clear that Gringotts was a place where mistakes weren't tolerated.