Can Gringotts Be Shorted?

"It's fine if you can't figure it out right now. Once you enter Hogwarts and begin your formal studies, you'll still have plenty of time to think it over."

Professor McGonagall saw that Dylan had remained silent for quite a while and assumed he was having trouble understanding. She spoke softly to reassure him.

"Speaking of which, the question you asked involves the root of magic. Even many wizards never consider such things until they graduate."

The corners of her lips lifted slightly, creating a few faint wrinkles. Her stern, somewhat stiff face softened at that moment.

"And you, Young Wizard, were able to gain some insight the first time you encountered magic. That's truly remarkable. After you enroll, if you have any questions about the Transfiguration Spell, you can come discuss them with me. I'd be very happy to help."

"Oh? Really, Professor?" Dylan's eyes lit up.

"Of course." Professor McGonagall nodded.

Excellent, excellent. One more connection!

When it came to the Transfiguration Spell, he had a whole basketful of questions and ideas piled up in his mind.

It was just that these thoughts clearly weren't things a Muggle child who had yet to encounter the Wizarding World should be asking aloud.

He had been worried that frequently asking for guidance after enrolling might be inappropriate. Now that Professor McGonagall had brought it up herself, he couldn't have been more pleased.

Professor McGonagall was also delighted as she looked at Dylan.

A Young Wizard this clever might, as long as he didn't stray from the right path, even have a chance of staying at Hogwarts as a teacher in the future.

Thinking of this, Professor McGonagall rose and said, "All right, remember to bring your reply letter. We should be on our way."

The Hawkwood Couple were somewhat hesitant, but in the end, they both agreed to let Dylan enroll at Hogwarts.

"Darling, these are our savings. Being a wizard must be expensive, right? Take all of this." Dylan's mother handed her son a backpack.

"Thank you, Mum. I'll study magic hard and support you both when you get old," Dylan said seriously.

Maeve looked touched. "All right, hurry up and go. Don't keep the professor waiting."

Dylan turned and asked, "Professor McGonagall, are we going to Diagon Alley now?"

"Yes. We can get there by Apparition or Floo Powder. However, this place is rather remote, and there are no fireplaces nearby, so Floo Powder can't be used."

Professor McGonagall took Dylan's hand.

"Remember, hold on tightly."

As soon as she finished speaking, Dylan suddenly felt his body grow light. He hurriedly tightened his grip on Professor McGonagall's hand.

The space around them twisted violently.

A moment later, the strange sensation gradually faded, and the noisy voices of people reached his ears.

At the same time, a wave of nausea surged up his throat. Dylan instinctively swallowed, somehow forcing it all back down.

That only brought on an even stronger urge to vomit.

"Urgh!"

Professor McGonagall seemed accustomed to this. She raised her hand and cast a spell, making Dylan feel considerably better.

"This is a normal reaction to your first Apparition. Don't fight it. You'll get used to it after a few tries."

Professor McGonagall smiled. "We've arrived."

After taking a moment to adjust, Dylan opened his eyes.

In front of them stood a cramped, shabby bar wedged between two neat buildings. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed bizarre.

"The Leaky Cauldron. It's right on a London street, but only wizards can see it. Stay close to me."

Professor McGonagall tried to let go, but Dylan was gripping her hand tightly.

She paused, then led Dylan straight inside.

"Professor McGonagall? Long time no see. Care for a drink?"

The owner had just seated a customer. When he saw Professor McGonagall, he enthusiastically pulled out a grimy rag and began wiping a glass.

"Not particularly, and I'm also accompanying a student." Professor McGonagall glanced at the owner, then gestured for Dylan to follow.

The two of them walked around the Bar Counter and entered a courtyard enclosed on all four sides.

Dylan couldn't help asking, "Professor McGonagall, isn't there a spell for cleaning?"

"Hmm? Of course there is."

"Then why is that dive bar so filthy? Why doesn't the owner use a Cleaning Spell and insists on wiping the glasses with a dirty rag?"

Professor McGonagall explained, "Having a spell and choosing whether to use it are two different things. Many wizards don't care about such matters... Of course, I'm an exception."

"That is why I never drink here. There's a little place with some excellent secret blends, and it's clean too... I mean, little one, you aren't allowed to drink alcohol before you're of age."

"I understand, Professor McGonagall." Dylan smiled faintly.

Professor McGonagall drew her wand again. "Watch carefully. You won't be able to learn Apparition until you're seventeen, so you can't enter Diagon Alley directly that way."

"So the next time you want to come to Diagon Alley, you'll have to get to The Leaky Cauldron yourself and take this route."

As she spoke, Professor McGonagall gestured with her wand. "Count three bricks up from the one above the rubbish bin, then two bricks across. After that, tap it three times with your wand."

As soon as she finished speaking, the wand moved. The bricks in front of them immediately began to shudder and withdrew to either side.

They transformed into an archway, beyond which lay a bustling commercial street.

Dylan peered inside.

At first glance, Diagon Alley was little different from an ordinary market. The difference was that everyone passing by was a wizard, and the decorations of every shop also carried an unmistakably old-fashioned air.

"We need to go to Gringotts first and exchange the money in your backpack for Wizarding World currency."

Professor McGonagall looked down at Dylan's bulging backpack. "It seems your parents love you very much."

"Yes, and I love them very much too." Dylan smiled.

A faint wrinkle appeared at the corner of Professor McGonagall's eye. "Come with me."

She led the way, bringing Dylan to the entrance of Gringotts.

Dylan immediately saw the warning engraved on the second door of Gringotts: Enter, stranger, but take care.

"That's pretty intimidating." Dylan looked around curiously.

After passing through two doors, they arrived in a spacious, brightly lit marble hall.

Hundreds of goblins sat behind long counters, hurriedly recording all kinds of information in huge ledgers.

"Oh, Professor McGonagall! How may I be of service?"

As a teacher at Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall was greeted with a beaming smile by a goblin the moment she entered.

"I only need to exchange some Galleons."

"Exchange money?" At those words, the goblin instantly lost his enthusiasm. "Then I won't disturb you."

After watching the goblin leave, Professor McGonagall looked down at Dylan. "Don't pay any attention to those goblins."

Dylan nodded slightly. "I understand, Professor. They seem to see nothing but money, just like my father's manager."

Professor McGonagall froze, then reached out and patted Dylan's head.

The rest of the process went smoothly.

Hardly any of the goblins even gave Dylan a proper glance. They probably assumed that anyone coming to exchange Muggle currency must be a Muggle-born wizard.

Although the goblin race had lost to wizards in history, that didn't mean they thought highly of Muggle-born wizards.

"Pound Sterling can actually be exchanged for Galleons without any limit?" After receiving the money, Dylan narrowed his eyes slightly.

The value of wizarding currency was self-evident. As for the currency used by Muggles like them...

"A one-to-five exchange rate? If I casually invest in a few stocks, I'll make a fortune."

With an exchange rate like this, either goblins looked down on Muggles from the bottom of their hearts and had never bothered to study the purchasing power of Pound Sterling,

or they were simply blinded by greed, or else they knew absolutely nothing about economics.

If I ever get the chance, I won't say I'll short Gringotts, but at the very least, I should let these poorly educated fellows experience the wonders of economics.