Shopping Trip

Madam Malkin was stunned.

She had been running her shop for decades, receiving countless Wizards from families like Black, Malfoy, and Weasley, but never had a first-year student walked in and made such a "tactical" request. Nor had she ever seen a young Wizard carrying a controlled weapon in Diagon Alley.

She couldn't help but size up the seemingly refined and gentle young Wizard again. "Interesting! In all these years, this is the first time a new student has made such a request. Are you planning to start a dueling club at school, young man? Or perhaps you foresee yourself being chased by a troll?"

"It's just a precaution," Yulian replied earnestly, his eyes clear and firm. "My father always said, 'Elegance never goes out of style, but elegance comes from preparedness, not luck.'"

Hearing this, Altair, who was standing beside them, instantly straightened his back, his face beaming with pride, thinking, This son takes after me. Even though he couldn't recall ever saying such a thing himself.

He cleared his throat, stepped forward, patted Yulian on the shoulder, and then turned to Madam Malkin, his voice hearty.

"Madam, I think Yulian's idea is excellent! When I do business, I also like to dress sharply. Suits should be tailored, sleeves should be rollable, and pockets deep enough—for business cards, contracts, and pens! Madam Malkin, make them for him! Money is no object, oh, Galleons are no problem!"

Madam Malkin was amused by the father and son. A professional artisan's gleam flickered in her eyes. "In that case, I'll make an exception. However, it can't be too outrageous, as Professor McGonagall still has to approve it."

She turned and walked towards the back room, muttering, "Good, a big job. I remember I still have some specially made 'Swiftweave' fabric in the warehouse, light and durable... and a 'Mica Silk' lining for protection..."

With the enhancement of magic, many everyday tasks were much faster.

Half an hour later, Yulian not only received three standard robes (so black they seemed to absorb light) and a winter cloak, but also two sets of "tactical" school uniforms personally designed by Madam Malkin, blending Muggle tailoring concepts with magical fabrics.

The new sets had slightly tapered trouser legs, with invisible elastic bands built into the cuffs. The cloak lining was indeed made of protective material, feeling cool to the touch, like the dew of early morning.

The best part was that three hidden pockets were sewn into the inside of the robes, one of which was even enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm, capable of holding many things!

"Satisfied?" Madam Malkin asked proudly.

"Very satisfied!" Yulian said sincerely, "You are simply the haute couture master of the wizarding world!"

"If your classmates find your clothes interesting, you can also introduce them to me for custom orders."

At this moment, Clara, wearing a fancy magical robe, also arrived with Professor McGonagall. Having settled the payment, Clara happily wore the robe and didn't take it off.

Madam Malkin smiled and personally escorted them out. Finally, she smiled at Professor McGonagall and said, "Oh, Minerva, your magical robe will be ready for pickup next week. And take these gloves for now, as a little extra, on the house."

The next stop was Flourish and Blotts.

Pushing open the heavy revolving doors, a rich scent of ink and parchment wafted out.

The shop was filled with the clamor of voices and the rustling of books. Rows of towering bookshelves were packed with books, some of which wriggled restlessly, and some even argued with each other, promoting themselves.

"Potent Potions is 50% off!"

"Don't believe it! Advanced Potion-Making is the way to go!"

"You're all wrong! True potion masters only read One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi!"

A young shop assistant saw Professor McGonagall and quickly squeezed through the crowd. "Professor McGonagall, hello. Bringing new students to buy textbooks again?"

"Hello, Maxime," Professor McGonagall nodded with a smile. "How are you? Is your job here going well after graduation?"

"Very well, thank you for the introduction back then. Come, this way, junior student. The textbooks for new students are all over here."

Yulian was like a fish in water at the bookstore, quickly finding the textbook list for first-year students and starting his precise procurement.

As he picked out textbooks, he continuously browsed for extracurricular books that interested him, such as Practical Household Magic and A Compendium of Battle.

Of course, he excluded A History of Hogwarts, because Hermione would definitely buy that one.

His parents, two Muggles, were completely lost in this ocean of magical knowledge.

Altair casually picked up Advanced Potion-Making and flipped through it with a serious expression, muttering, "Hmm, this recipe, it's a bit like our winemaking fermentation process..." 'Add Moonstone powder to the cauldron, stir clockwise seven times'..." "Hmm, isn't this just controlling yeast activity!"

Clara, on the other hand, was captivated by a singing fairy tale book, in which a little sprite was singing "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" in a coloratura soprano. She was so engrossed that she almost forgot she was there to accompany her son for books.

Professor McGonagall didn't rush them, merely nodding slightly. A family that loves to read will always produce a good student who loves to learn. She truly hoped Yulian would come to Gryffindor.

Besides textbooks, they also went to the cauldron shop. Under Professor McGonagall's guidance, Yulian quickly selected a standard-sized pewter cauldron and its accessories.

But when he saw an "Ancient Egyptian Mithril Cauldron" in the corner, engraved with ancient runes and said to automatically regulate heat, his eyes lit up again.

However, upon asking the price, even Altair gasped, and after a long hesitation, he was dissuaded by Professor McGonagall, who said that a young Wizard like him would be wasting such a good cauldron.

In the end, Yulian happily took away the ordinary cauldron, contemplating how he would modify it himself after he learned alchemy.

Wands were always the most important, and a must-buy.

Firstly, his current illegal French willow wand could be kept as a backup. Secondly, buying a wand was a rite of passage for every young Wizard, a very ceremonial event, and Yulian didn't want to miss it.

Ollivanders wand shop was relatively quiet, lacking the liveliness of other shops in Diagon Alley, as if time had taken a nap here and forgotten to even sweep away the dust.

Yulian walked alone into the renowned wand shop. Professor McGonagall had said this task was best completed by the young Wizard alone. So, Professor McGonagall took Yulian's parents to a dessert shop on the corner.

Although the Ollivanders wand shop in Diagon Alley was said to have been established around the 17th century, its lintel proclaimed, "Fine wands made since 382 BC." This was the "Classical Age" of the ancient Greek city-state wars, a period of intense rivalry between the two hegemons, Sparta and Thebes.

Yulian's imagination ran wild, wondering if the 300 Spartans' ability to resist the Persian army of 100,000 might have involved Wizard involvement.