Movies were just movies, after all.
They were limited by special effects and camera angles, showing only the tip of Diagon Alley.
But once he had actually set foot there,
Ian finally understood that it wasn't some county-town market, as so many people joked, nor a rundown relic of a bygone era. It was the most bustling gathering place for wizards in the British Isles!
"It's... so magical!"
Ian was thrilled.
He hadn't felt the nausea and sickness that usually came with a first Apparition. It only occurred to him belatedly that it must have been the effect of Snape's disgusting potion, which tasted a lot better than milk.
He hadn't expected Snape to have such a thoughtful side. It upended Ian's impression of Snape, and made him think again of what Dumbledore had said.
What could Snape possibly owe him?
What could make Snape show him such uncharacteristic thoughtfulness?
"Could it be that my parents in this life actually died during one of his missions as a Death Eater?" Ian was deeply puzzled, turning the question over and over in his mind.
Just then,
"Keep up."
Snape released his grip on Ian's neck and strode ahead without looking back. Ian hurried after him, dragging his enormous trunk.
The street was crowded, but Snape never looked back. He kept his pace slow enough for Ian to follow and not get lost in the throng.
"Professor, where are we going? The bank?"
Ian asked curiously.
"It's called Gringotts. Don't use your foolish Muggle ideas to judge the rules of the wizarding world." Snape's voice was cold, but he still took the time to correct Ian.
"Keep your mind in check. Everyone here is a wizard. They won't go easy on you just because you're a child. A Dark Wizard could grab you at any moment and use you for some vile experiment." Snape gave Ian a sinister warning. It was obvious he was telling Ian not to use Thought Perception to meddle with other wizards.
"I'll try..."
Ian tried to empty his mind. It did make the extraordinary ability of Thought Perception considerably less sensitive. He truly couldn't fully control it.
To distract himself,
Ian grew curious about the Magical Creatures that lived alongside wizards.
Besides fantastic beasts,
creatures from fantasy stories, like Giants and dwarves, also seemed to exist in the fantastical world Ian now lived in. He was very curious to see just how ugly real Goblins were.
However,
Snape didn't take him to Gringotts.
"Give me all the textbooks required for first-years at Hogwarts." Snape's first stop was Flourish and Blotts, a shop selling all kinds of magical books. Ian had no idea which Pure-blood family was behind it, but they seemed to have a monopoly on textbook sales throughout the British wizarding world.
Just like the schools Ian had attended before his transmigration, which directed students to certain bookstores for workbooks and textbooks, Ian couldn't believe there wasn't some kind of kickback behind the similar arrangement here.
"Of course, Professor Snape."
The shop assistant was clearly familiar with Hogwarts teachers. He seemed almost afraid of Snape, though Ian couldn't tell if he was a Hogwarts graduate.
"I don't even know which textbooks I need yet. I haven't even received my Hogwarts acceptance letter." Ian began muttering behind Snape.
"You care about a meaningless piece of paper?"
Snape glanced at him again.
"It just feels like something's missing."
Ian blinked.
"Hmph. What a ridiculous attachment."
Snape sneered and pulled a crumpled piece of paper from inside his robes. He tossed it toward Ian as if it were a piece of rubbish.
Ian hurriedly reached out and caught it.
There,
in the most prominent spot on the letter, a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake formed a large letter H. It was Ian's acceptance letter.
[Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(President of the International Confederation of Wizards, First Class of the Order of Merlin, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot
Dear Mr. Prince,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of the books and equipment required. The term begins on September 1st. We will await your owl reply by July 31st.
Deputy Headmistress
Minerva McGonagall]
There was also a long appendix following the admission details, mostly listing the things new students needed to buy. Ian skimmed through it and got the gist.
"Now, Mr. So-Much-Trouble, are you satisfied?" Snape's voice still dragged on in that long, drawn-out way. He'd even given Ian an annoying nickname.
"I thought I'd get to see a Hogwarts owl."
Ian pouted.
"Instead of dwelling on useless vanity, you should think about how to learn useful skills at school, so you don't end up leading a miserable life like those Hufflepuffs."
As Snape said this,
the shop assistant who was preparing Ian's books happened to walk over, carrying a huge stack.
Judging by his resentful yet fearful expression, Ian felt Snape might have insulted the assistant while lecturing him, too.
This man really did have a thoroughly awful personality.
"Thank you."
Ian didn't want to be resented along with Snape, so he gave the assistant a sincere thank-you and took the thick stack of books from him.
"Don't believe what Snape says. Hufflepuff has produced many remarkable wizards, like Master Newt Scamander, the author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
"Being a Hufflepuff is something to be proud of." As the assistant crouched to hand Ian the books, he quietly stood up for Hufflepuff.
"I think so, too."
Ian replied with a smile, keeping his voice low.
The assistant was delighted and affectionately ruffled his hair.
"Fifteen Galleons, please."
Just then, the shop's cashier spoke up. Before Ian could answer, Snape took out a small pouch and went to the counter to pay for the books.
"Is this a student loan, Professor?"
Ian had actually wanted to exchange his own money at Gringotts.
"That's not your concern."
Snape answered coldly.
After paying,
he noticed Ian struggling to stuff the textbooks into his already nearly full trunk. He raised his hand and cast a spell on the clothes and odds and ends inside Ian's trunk.
"Shrinking Charm."
A moment later,
with all the odds and ends reduced in size, Ian easily put the books in the trunk.
"This is incredible!"
Ian was visibly excited.
"Just so you know, this spell lasts only twenty-four hours. If you don't take your things out before then... Hmph, you won't want to see what happens."
Snape finished speaking,
flung his long robes behind him, and headed for the door.
Ian hurried after him.
He had to admit, with Snape's spell, even the trunk felt lighter to drag. The wonders of magic were enough to make Lavoisier turn over in his grave.
The law of conservation of mass didn't apply anymore!?
So unscientific!
I love it!
Ian's desire to learn magic grew stronger.
"Professor! Wait!"
Snape quickened his pace, and Ian could only pump his much shorter legs as fast as he could.
After that,
Snape took Ian around to buy the rest of his necessities. The whole time, Ian watched him pay for everything.
Even
when they went to buy a cauldron for brewing Potions, the shop assistant had already brought out the standard student set, but Snape told him to replace the cauldron with a brass one.
It was more expensive.
Much more expensive than an ordinary cauldron.
"Professor, the letter says I need a pewter cauldron, size two." Ian clutched his letter and spoke hesitantly.
Unexpectedly,
Snape answered with a sneer as he paid.
"Apparently, Mr. Prince thinks he has already mastered all knowledge and can start instructing me, his Potions professor, on the right choices?"
His words were dripping with sarcasm.
Ian was left speechless.
If Snape hadn't kept paying for everything, Ian would have summoned the courage to talk back. But honestly, he was even more confused now than before.
Could it be
that Snape had killed his biological parents in cold blood while he was a Death Eater? If not, why would Snape treat him so unusually well?
He couldn't make heads or tails of it!
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(The End of This Chapter)