Diagon Alley

"Can you not use Pounds in the Magical World?"

"You can exchange Muggle Currency for Galleons at Gringotts. Five Pounds will get you one Galleon, but you can't exchange too much—at most, you can get a hundred Galleons." Professor McGonagall had handled student recruitment for years and knew all about such matters. Still, she doubted Anduin had much in the way of savings. Perhaps he had a little pocket money he wanted to exchange.

"Wow, so that's how it works. Then I've got money." As he spoke, he pulled out a thick wad of Pounds under Professor McGonagall's astonished gaze. He licked his finger and began counting them with practiced ease. "This should be enough. I can use the extra to buy a few things on the way back."

Professor McGonagall led Anduin out of the Orphanage and turned into an empty alley nearby. "Normally, I'd take you to Diagon Alley by Muggle Transportation or the Knight Bus, but the Magical World hasn't been very peaceful lately. I'm afraid you'll have to come with me by Apparition."

With that, Professor McGonagall drew her wand and said, "Hold on to my hand, Anduin."

The Magical World wasn't peaceful? As Anduin took in Professor McGonagall's words, he reached out to take her hand.

A moment later, with a series of sharp cracks, Professor McGonagall and Anduin vanished.

"Ugh!" As soon as Anduin Apparated with Professor McGonagall, he couldn't help bracing himself against the wall and retching. It felt awful, as if someone had tossed him into a pitch-black washing machine and turned it up to the highest setting. His whole body was being squeezed by some unseen force. At the end, he even imagined himself being compressed into a tiny ball.

"Sorry. I didn't feel well the first time I used this magic, either." Professor McGonagall pointed her wand at Anduin. A gentle stream of light flowed from its tip and gradually seeped into him, making him feel a little better.

Fortunately, Anduin was in good shape and had a good sense of balance. After resting for a little while, he managed to calm down.

So this was magic? It wasn't quite what he'd imagined. Not opening a Magic Door to teleport was so lame. Anduin grumbled inwardly, though he kept a calm expression.

"Where are we going now? Do we have to Apparate again?"

"That wasn't teleportation. It was Apparition and Disapparition, a common way for Adult Wizards to get around. You'll be able to learn it in your seventh year."

"And don't worry. We're almost there."

Professor McGonagall led Anduin out of the alley where they had appeared. After walking along the street for a while, they came to a spot between a record shop and a bookshop. Anduin had been watching his surroundings the whole time and noticed a pub wedged between the two shops, its style completely at odds with theirs. Passersby seemed not to notice it at all.

"Can't they see the pub?"

"Good observation, Anduin. This place has been protected by a great many Concealment Charms. Muggles can't see the Leaky Cauldron." As she explained, Professor McGonagall led Anduin into the pub.

"Professor, you often use the word Muggle. Does it mean ordinary people who can't do magic?" Anduin found it surreal. He vaguely remembered reading Harry Potter in his Previous Life, but now that he was actually here, he still knew nothing about how things worked.

"Yes, Anduin. We generally call ordinary people who don't believe in magic—or non-magical humans—Muggles. Because of the International Statute of Secrecy, Muggles don't know we exist."

Professor McGonagall wondered whether the International Statute of Secrecy would still be upheld in the British Magical World. Thinking of the current state of affairs there, she frowned slightly.

"I see. So my parents were Muggles, too." Anduin thought of his parents, who had died when he was very young. He had looked into their background at the Orphanage and hadn't found anything unusual; they had simply been ordinary people. He had attributed all his magical talent to being reincarnated.

"Perhaps one of your ancestors was a wizard. Of course, children with magical talent can be born to Muggles, too. Hogwarts is here to teach you how to control your magic."

Chatting as they went, Anduin and Professor McGonagall entered the pub. It was dim and shabby, with terrible lighting. There was a bar, and a few tables stood in the shadows in one corner.

It didn't look like the place got much business, either. The owner was alone behind the bar, quietly polishing glasses.

"Tom, how's business lately?" Professor McGonagall seemed to know the owner well.

"How do you think? Things have been getting worse and worse. The Aurors and those people clashed in Knockturn Alley last night. The explosions nearly shook the glasses right off my shelves, and business has been getting worse by the day..." Tom seemed not to have spoken to anyone in ages; the moment he opened his mouth, he launched into a string of complaints.

"That's enough, Tom. We have a young gentleman here."

"Is he a new student about to start school?" Tom glanced at Anduin. He had probably seen this sort of thing plenty of times before.

"Hello, sir." Anduin, raised in a country known for its courtesy, was unfailingly polite.

"Get inside quickly. It won't be safe once it gets dark." Seeing how polite Anduin was, Tom kindly warned him.

Professor McGonagall nodded to the owner, then led Anduin through the pub and into the small courtyard behind the Leaky Cauldron. "Diagon Alley is just beyond here. You'll be buying all your school supplies here in the future, so pay close attention. You'll have to find your way here on your own next time."

"Tap the right spot on the wall beside the rubbish bin with your wand. Count three bricks up from the bin, then two across, and you'll get in."

With that, Professor McGonagall drew her wand and tapped the spot. The old brick wall began shifting under her wand, gradually transforming into a tall archway.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley, Anduin."

Anduin stood there with his mouth slightly agape, watching the scene unfold. He was growing more and more fascinated by the Magical World. Beyond the archway stretched a long cobbled street, lined on both sides with all kinds of shops.

But Diagon Alley wasn't nearly as bustling as Anduin had imagined. A few shops along the street were closed, and several people in trench coats walked by. They didn't look like they were out shopping; they seemed more like they were patrolling.

"Professor, those people in trench coats don't look like customers. Could it be..." Anduin voiced his concern. Thinking of what Professor McGonagall and Tom had said earlier, he felt a sense of foreboding.

"Those are Aurors, keeping the peace here. The Magical World hasn't been very peaceful lately, but this is the busiest shopping street in the British Magical World, so it's still quite safe. They're just doing their rounds. And don't worry—you'll be safe at Hogwarts, I promise!" Professor McGonagall explained.