Welcome to Diagon Alley!

The golden light faded, and a card and an egg appeared before Luke. Luke had seen cards before; his Three Unforgivable Curses had come from Skill Cards. But this egg was truly something he was seeing for the first time.

Still, he picked up the Skill Card first.

[Skill Card: Patronus Charm

Description: Call upon the happiest memory in your heart and let it take the form of a Patronus. It is a symbol of a person's goodness.

Note: Skill Cards can only be used by the host. Before practicing this thing, please make sure you really have happy memories.]

Luke's mouth twitched slightly. He really liked this skill; when he had watched the movies in his previous life, this was the spell he had liked most. But whether in his past life or this one, his memories could not yet be called happy.

With a quiet sigh, although this was not the spell he wanted most right now, it was still not bad. He tore open the card in his hand. It turned into particles of light and surged into his mind through his temples. His skill panel also gained the words "Patronus Charm Level 0 (0/1)."

There was no way to practice it for now. Hopefully, after arriving at Hogwarts, he would have some happier memories to use.

Luke lightly shook his head, then looked at the egg. Holding it in both hands, information about it appeared in his mind.

[Name: Basilisk Egg (Improved Version)

Description: This is a very special Basilisk Egg, so it will hatch into a very unusual Basilisk.

Note: The egg can hatch when placed in the System Warehouse, but it must be removed when it hatches; hatching countdown: 67 days, 16 hours, 44 minutes; please look forward to it :)]

Luke was indeed quite looking forward to the little fellow that would hatch from this egg. After all, the last box that had emitted golden light had contained something obviously invaluable at a glance. This time, a Patronus Charm Skill Card alone clearly did not measure up, which meant that the egg had to be worth at least as much as Slytherin's Wand.

He stuffed the egg into an Inventory slot and nodded in satisfaction at the countdown above it. Even if the System had not given him one, he had planned to get a smarter snake as his Pet. Although the Letter said the permitted pets were owls, cats, and toads, there were all kinds of pets in the Wizarding World. A snake should be within the range of what Hogwarts professors could accept... probably?

As soon as dawn broke the next day, Luke got up early and began his morning training facing the sunrise.

As a Wizard, a healthy body was absolutely indispensable. After all, whether one was researching Potions or spells, one needed a strong enough body to endure it. Not to mention Magizoologists, who sometimes had to wrestle with Magical Creatures...

After some simple physical exercise, Luke began practicing spells again.

"Incendio!"

A huge fireball erupted from the tip of Luke's wand and blasted toward a large rock not far away. The fireball struck the rock, and waves of flame engulfed it whole. The intense heat made the stone crackle.

A moment later, the flames dispersed. The rock had turned black and cracked, but there were no further signs of damage.

Luke looked helplessly at the rock before him and at the proficiency that had not increased. Practicing alone, it now took roughly ten Fire-Making Spells to gain a single point of proficiency. For Luke as he was now, draining all his magic would only let him cast around twenty full-power Fire-Making Spells like that, at the cost of having no strength to practice for the rest of the day. So he could only practice while resting, and the efficiency was truly too low.

"You should lower your wand tip a little. When you chant, the ending should be short and sharp; yours is still too drawn out. And while chanting, you must think about the effect you want the Fire-Making Spell to achieve."

A voice that sounded stern at first listen came from the edge of the clearing.

Luke frowned and thought carefully. Then he raised his wand, aimed at the large rock, and pictured the effect he wanted in his mind—an appropriate effect, of course.

"Incendio!"

This time, what emerged from Luke's wand was not a fireball but a cone of flame. Its pointed tip viciously pierced into the rock before immediately exploding. A sizable crater appeared in the stone.

And Luke's Fire-Making Spell proficiency actually increased by three points at once. He was overjoyed.

But Luke quickly restrained his excitement. Turning around, he gave the woman a solemn bow and said, "Thank you for your guidance."

Professor McGonagall looked at the obviously polite and intelligent child before her and nodded in satisfaction.

"Luke Gaunt, I am Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and Head of Gryffindor. You may call me Professor McGonagall. I am here to guide you in purchasing supplies and give you some guidance before you enroll."

Strictly speaking, Professor McGonagall's duties did not include enrollment guidance. Maintaining the school's mystery was an unspoken rule observed by all adult Wizards. After all, it was a good thing to keep children curious and reverent toward the school.

However, after truly seeing Luke, Professor McGonagall had a few thoughts of her own.

Luke thanked her again. "Thank you."

Then he rose and led her toward his wooden cabin, saying as they walked, "Professor, please come inside for a cup of coffee. Have you had breakfast? Would you like to eat something with me?"

Professor McGonagall had no intention of being polite with Luke. She was preparing to learn more about this child of unusual origins, so naturally she would not miss such an opportunity.

"Yes, prepare some for me as well, child," Professor McGonagall said as she followed behind Luke.

Once inside, Luke pulled out a chair for the professor to sit on. He then went into the kitchen and began his performance.

The Magical Cookware danced gracefully through the kitchen, and the ingredients were arranged beside the wok in almost the blink of an eye. Professor McGonagall had sharp eyes, but she truly had no idea what peas, ham, rice, corn, and carrots would become when fried together.

Yet Luke's flowing movements, along with the fragrance that drifted from the kitchen and straight into her nostrils with every toss of the wok, filled Professor McGonagall with confidence in this meal.

Luke moved quickly, and before long, he carried two bowls of rice to the table.

"Yangzhou Fried Rice, Professor. Please enjoy."

As he spoke, he placed the rice before her and handed her a spoon. Professor McGonagall looked at the exquisite spoon in her hand, felt its warm, smooth texture, and examined the beautiful Serpent Pattern upon it—especially the magic concealed within. To be honest, Professor McGonagall was a well-known figure in the magical world. But eating with a spoon made from the bones of some unknown but unquestionably Magical Creature was truly a first for her...

She had never seen such a dish, complete in color, aroma, and taste, either. But without question, this was definitely not British cuisine...

"Yangzhou Fried Rice? This is..."

Before she could finish, she saw Luke skillfully using two little wooden sticks to pick up rice and bring it to his mouth.

Hearing the professor's voice, Luke swallowed his fried rice and asked in confusion, "What is it, Professor?"

"Have you been to China?"

Professor McGonagall asked in puzzlement.

Luke shook his head. "No, but when my family left long ago, they went east. Everything I have now was learned from the notes they left behind. I hope what I learned is authentic enough."

That was half true and half false. The truth was that this branch of the Gaunt Family—or rather, the main branch—really had stayed in the East for a long time. The falsehood was that Luke had learned these cooking skills in his previous life. After all, after living alone for so long, one would naturally learn a little of such things.

Professor McGonagall nodded. There was no way to investigate something like this further; whatever Luke said would have to be accepted.

So she brought a spoonful of rice to her mouth. A feeling that could almost be described as happiness shot from the tip of her tongue straight into her mind. The House-elves at Hogwarts were quite skilled, but this was the first time she had ever eaten Chinese food.

But thinking of this, Professor McGonagall asked again in confusion, "Where is your House-elf?"

Any family with even a little money generally had House-elves, especially the Pure-blood Nobility, for whom House-elves were practically a necessity. In their eyes, doing housework themselves was an insult to their bloodline.

From this point alone, the child before her truly did not seem like a member of the Pure-blood Nobility, much less such an exceptionally noble family.

"He died. I buried him, along with all those heads that used to be mounted on the walls." Luke took a sip of water, then said seriously, "That sort of thing cannot be called honor or heritage."

As he said this, Professor McGonagall clearly sensed the pride and noble bearing in Luke, and even his contempt for the existing traditions of the Nobility.

But Professor McGonagall did not say much. She merely nodded and continued eating. Luke likewise said nothing more and continued eating.

Sunlight fell upon the vase on the dining table. The Sunflower held its head high in pride, reflecting the golden rays.

After finishing the fried rice in one go, Professor McGonagall picked up her water in satisfaction and took a sip. Then she said to Luke, who had also finished eating, "Let's go. I'll take you to Diagon Alley to buy the things you need."

Luke smiled and nodded. "All right, Professor."

Professor McGonagall looked around and prepared to head toward the fireplace.

"No, Professor," Luke stopped her. "My fireplace isn't connected to the Floo Network."

If it had truly been connected to the Floo Network, Luke would not have needed to ask the professor for help. Though he looked like a child, his actual age meant he could not possibly be incapable of buying a few things himself.

Professor McGonagall nodded. When she had arrived, she had already sensed that this place had certain restrictions on Apparition, so the Knight Bus presumably would not come here either.

However, although such restrictions existed, they were not difficult for a Wizard of Professor McGonagall's level to break through.

And that made it understandable why this child had sought a teacher's help. After all, traveling from here to Diagon Alley was still somewhat difficult for a child.

What Professor McGonagall did not know was that Luke's real worry was that he did not know where The Leaky Cauldron was. In the movies, it had simply gone "whoosh," but actually finding it would be a real headache. Of course, that was also because he had not put much effort into it. At this point in time, someone would definitely bring him there, so there was no need for him to rack his brains searching for it.

"Then come stand beside me. I hope you can endure the feeling."

Hearing this, Luke knew that Professor McGonagall was going to take him along with her through Apparition. He felt a little expectant and a little worried. After all, the descriptions of this magic in the original work could hardly be called pleasant.

But he still walked over. He had endured the three kneelings and six kowtows; there was no reason to stumble at this final hurdle.

Professor McGonagall could see Luke's unease, so she smiled and reassured him. "No, child, it isn't that frightening. You won't enjoy the sensation, but trust me, it is convenient enough."

Luke smiled and nodded at that, and the unease on his face diminished considerably. He took hold of Professor McGonagall's sleeve on his own initiative.

Professor McGonagall smiled, then gently waved her wand with her other hand.

"Apparition."

With a crisp crack, Professor McGonagall and Luke vanished from the spot.

Luke only felt as though he had been stuffed into something. The deep darkness and suffocating pressure made him nauseous.

But it was still within what he could tolerate. More importantly, the sensation did not last long. Almost in the next instant, he felt relieved, and light appeared before his eyes again.

"We're here, child. Diagon Alley."

Professor McGonagall's voice sounded beside Luke's ear, accompanied by a noisy clamor of voices. Luke opened his eyes and looked at the narrow but bustling, slightly crowded street before him, then let out a long breath.

He had finally arrived—the real world of Wizards.