Diagon Alley

Professor McGonagall brought the Yulian family of three to the back of the pub. It wasn't large, just a place where some odds and ends were piled up. A trash can sat against the far wall.

"See this spot, Yulian," Professor McGonagall said, pointing at the trash can. "Remember the order: three bricks up, two bricks to the side, then knock three times with force. With your wand, of course. We'll buy one later."

"Professor McGonagall, what if the trash can's position is moved?" Yulian had been curious about this question for a long time.

"Do you think the position of the door knocker is fixed?" Professor McGonagall gave him a sidelong glance. "You'll understand later. This has something to do with space magic and alchemy."

With no time for idle chatter with Yulian, Professor McGonagall demonstrated first. As she tapped, the bricks began to shake, spin, and rearrange themselves, finally receding to the sides to form an arched doorway.

On the other side of the archway, it was sunny and bustling with noise. A cobblestone street wound its way forward, lined with a dazzling array of shops. The windows displayed flying broomsticks, moving cauldrons, shimmering crystal balls... This was Diagon Alley.

"My goodness..." Clara covered her mouth, her eyes wide with astonishment. Altair, meanwhile, looked like a country bumpkin seeing the city for the first time, staring dumbfounded at a rope that automatically tied packages outside the nearest shop.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley," Professor McGonagall's voice held a hint of pride.

After entering Diagon Alley from The Leaky Cauldron, they walked straight along the cobblestone street. Professor McGonagall led the group to their first stop in the wizarding world:

A towering white building, exceptionally striking compared to the surrounding shops. Strange guards in scarlet and gold uniforms stood at the entrance.

These guards were much shorter than adult wizards, slender, with bald heads disproportionately large for their bodies. Their facial features were sharp, with prominent chins, long, pointed noses, some even hooked. If Yulian had to describe them, they resembled the goblins from comics in his previous life.

Seeing Clara seem frightened and cling tightly to her husband's arm, Professor McGonagall explained that there was no need to be afraid. This was the wizarding bank—Gringotts.

And these were goblins, sensitive to numbers, who managed finances and ran the bank for wizards.

"They don't look like good people," Altair whispered.

"I completely agree with your assessment," Professor McGonagall did not deny Altair's words. "However, rest assured, depositing your money in Gringotts is absolutely safe. They will guard your money even more diligently than their own."

Gringotts' main doors were adorned with bronze and silver decorations, inscribed with a warning. In couplet form, it read:

Upper couplet: Greed is unwelcome, please leave. Lower couplet: Gold and silver treasures, come in. Horizontal inscription: Strangers, enter with your wealth.

Led by Professor McGonagall, the Yulian family nervously walked into Gringotts.

Gringotts' interior was spacious and tall, with high counters lining both sides of the first-floor hall. Behind each counter, a goblin watched every customer with shrewd and indifferent eyes.

A goblin behind a certain counter seemed to recognize Professor McGonagall and greeted her, "Hello, Professor McGonagall." The title of Hogwarts professor still carried weight.

"Hello, Ragnok," Professor McGonagall said, leading them towards that counter. After explaining the baffling exchange rates of wizarding currency, Yulian's parents exchanged pounds for some Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts.

However, as Professor McGonagall had warned, there was a limit to the exchange amount. Fortunately, Yulian's parents had come prepared, bringing several gold and silver jewelry pieces and a small box of uncut gemstones.

"Will these do?" Clara asked the goblin behind the counter somewhat nervously.

The goblin picked up a gold ring and examined it closely with a magnifying glass. Then, he held a ruby up to the light before revealing a greedy smile. "Excellent quality, madam. We can offer you a very... fair price."

The transaction was quickly completed, and Yulian's pockets instantly became heavy. After all, it was the first time he had his own "gold Galleons," and he felt quite pleased.

First was the purchase of school uniforms.

Between the plainly signed Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and the elaborately decorated Madam Rosmerta's Wizarding Wear, Professor McGonagall unhesitatingly led the Yulian family into Madam Malkin's.

The shop was warm and comfortable, the air filled with the scent of new fabric, the faint spiciness of knotgrass, and a subtle hint of burnt iron.

The walls were hung with all sorts of robes: from the standard black robes for new Hogwarts students, to divination cloaks embroidered with star and moon patterns, to ballroom robes with blinking eye buttons.

These not only dazzled Clara but also made Professor McGonagall pause to admire a few of the formal gowns.

"Oh, dear Minerva, bringing another little Hogwarts wizard!" Madam Malkin greeted them warmly. She wore a dark green iris velvet gown, her hair impeccably styled, and the measuring tape in her hand seemed alive, twisting nimbly at her fingertips.

"Let me see... Besides the standard first-year robes, three sets... And for winter, add a winter cloak with silver clasps..." Madam Malkin could tell this family was not short on Galleons.

Yulian's parents immediately accepted Madam Malkin's suggestion.

The measuring tape immediately flew up, circling Yulian's body, measuring his shoulders, arm length, and waist circumference with movements so fast they were almost a blur.

Yulian stood perfectly still, not daring to move. But inwardly, he grumbled, "If this thing moved any faster, it could tie me up."

"Madam Malkin," Yulian said, lowering his voice as he saw his mother and Professor McGonagall captivated by the formal gowns in the distance, "besides the standard uniform robes, could you also custom-make a few more... practical school uniforms for me?"

"More practical?" Madam Malkin stopped her work, the measuring tape hovering in mid-air like a confused snake.

She pushed up her round glasses and looked at the earnest boy with a puzzled expression. "My dear, Hogwarts school uniforms have strict regulations. You can't possibly wear an eccentric sister's performance costume to Transfiguration class, can you? Professor McGonagall would turn you into a slipper." She gestured towards Professor McGonagall's back as she spoke.

"Not eccentric clothing," Yulian quickly clarified. "Just... some modifications based on the standard style."

"Modifications? Hogwarts school uniforms have undergone years of revisions to arrive at the current most suitable style. How can they be modified further?"

"Of course, I'm not denying the Hogwarts school uniform," Yulian quickly explained. "I mean, you could make a few custom-made sets based on my personal characteristics. Slightly modified."

"Tell me more specifically?" Madam Malkin seemed intrigued.

"For example, trousers suitable for wizards, but with slightly narrower legs for easier running.

"The cuffs could have hidden snaps or elastic bands, so I can be neat and efficient when working... uh, mainly to prevent splashes when brewing potions.

"The lining of the cloak should ideally be made of protective material, in case of rain or... being hit by a petrifying curse. I mean, at least so I won't catch a cold.

"Oh, and it would be great if there were a few hidden pockets sewn inside the robes, for quills, potion ingredients, or... wands."

"Look at the sleeve of this robe I'm wearing. If I pull here, a dagger will automatically pop out... Of course, you don't need to be nervous. I haven't bought a wand yet, so I'm just using a dagger as an example."