06: Diagon Alley

"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.