Shopping Trip

"Money—how many people have lost their minds over you."

Dumbledore's remark drew quite a few curious glances. He and Kano were standing at the entrance to Gringotts.

Earlier, in the back alley behind the Leaky Cauldron, Kano had used his magical perception to identify the mechanism brick and pressed it directly with his finger. Dumbledore had merely raised an eyebrow.

When Dumbledore suggested a student loan, Kano instead began asking whether Gringotts possessed bloodline-testing methods.

"I'm afraid not, child. Gringotts vaults require not only bloodline, but also a key." Dumbledore shook his head. "I know your family background means you aren't short of money, but for the sake of efficiency, we'll use mine today."

Kano naturally had no objection. The two crossed through the first heavy bronze gate, while the second silver gate bore Gringotts' warning.

Kano curled his lip. In Harry Potter's story, Gringotts was like a public toilet—anyone could come and go, and it had been robbed several times.

Two goblins opened the second silver gate. They were entirely different creatures from the little fairies of Fairyland. The goblins had dark faces, with noses and ears that were both long and pointed.

Most importantly, they were all somewhat bald. Kano silently labeled them as purebred British stock.

The two goblins at the entrance were respectful, but their gazes still covertly traveled up and down Kano's body.

Kano had the distinct feeling they were considering how to squeeze oil out of him. It seemed that bank tellers had performance quotas in every world.

They entered the marble hall, where hundreds of goblins in suits were at work. Some were doing accounts, their concentration reminding Kano of Merlin brewing potions. Others wore monocles as they appraised jewels and gold coins, overlooking no suspicious detail.

Every goblin was busy, yet the moment they entered the hall, one immediately put down his work to receive them.

"Honored Mr. Dumbledore, and this young gentleman on his first visit, I am Griphook. It is a pleasure to serve you."

Looking at the eager goblin, Kano instinctively clutched his pocket tighter.

That's the feeling. I'm not buying any investment products.

Whether it was because Dumbledore was present and the goblin did not dare act presumptuously, or because goblins had yet to develop that sort of business, Griphook promptly took the key Dumbledore gave him and led them to a small door.

He pushed it open, revealing a deep passageway. A track ran below, and torches burned along the walls on either side, stretching far down into the distance.

Griphook whistled, and a small cart glided out of the darkness. The two men and the goblin climbed aboard. With a piercing screech, the cart began to accelerate.

Dumbledore frowned and snapped his fingers. The cart immediately fell silent. He snapped again, and the fierce wind brought on by their high speed vanished without a trace.

Kano did not actually care about the slight chill. When Gawain trained him, he was often thrown into icy lakes to swim, not to mention the body-tempering method that circulated magic throughout his entire body.

But since Dumbledore had stepped in, he was happy to enjoy the comfort.

After about half an hour, the cart finally came to a stop.

Griphook jumped down and said with heartfelt feeling, "If only everyone could be as powerful as Mr. Dumbledore. I freeze half to death every time."

"Others can't do it?" This time, Kano was the one surprised.

"Young sir," Griphook said, turning his dark eyes toward him, "there are countless defensive measures beneath Gringotts. Any one of them can dispel these little spells."

"Every time Mr. Dumbledore's magic is dispelled, he immediately casts another one. Didn't you notice?"

Kano suddenly understood. No wonder the spell had felt somewhat unstable earlier; he had thought it was merely his imagination.

But Griphook was not entirely right. Dumbledore's magic had never been dispelled. Whenever it encountered defensive magic, it simply lowered its output to avoid being targeted.

There was no need to say that, though.

Griphook used the silver key Dumbledore had given him to unlock the door, and a cloud of green smoke billowed out.

Then Kano saw mountains of gold, silver, and bronze coins.

"This is just a little pocket money of my own. After all, my family vault is too deep and too far away."

Dumbledore spoke casually as he opened a small pouch and waved his wand. Vast quantities of gold Galleons, silver Sickles, and bronze Knuts streamed into it like a rainbow drawing in water.

An Undetectable Extension Charm—another advanced spell.

"Let's go."

"Money—how many people have lost their minds over you." This time, Kano shook his head and sighed. He could not help calculating how many houses all that money could buy.

Seeing Kano's awestruck expression, Dumbledore silently grinned.

The two left Gringotts and began purchasing the items on the shopping list.

First came work robes, a pointed wizard's hat, and a school cloak.

Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions was not particularly busy at the moment, since it was not yet the season when new students arrived in droves.

Using a magically enchanted tape measure, she swiftly measured Kano's arm span, chest circumference, and other measurements. She also showed tremendous interest in the green robe Kano was wearing.

"Young sir, I daresay I've never seen material this exquisite. Would you be willing to tell me a little about it?"

Kano gave Madam Malkin an apologetic smile as her eyes sparkled.

"Madam, it was a gift from my mother."

Madam Malkin immediately understood that it was an inherited magical item. To apologize for her intrusion, she gave him a twenty percent discount on his clothes.

"Young sir, go and buy your wand. By the time you've chosen one, your clothes will be ready."

When Kano and Dumbledore walked out of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, the snip-snip of magical scissors could already be heard behind them.

"Madam Malkin is a woman of fine taste. Last time, I bought a bubblegum-pink robe from her. When I wore it to the Halloween feast, I truly became the center of attention."

Dumbledore stroked his chin, seeming still to recall the splendor of that evening.

Canopus felt a strange sense of shame. As if he could already see a crowd of Hogwarts professors being driven mad, he temporarily didn't want to deal with this old man with such bizarre taste.

He vaguely remembered that when Dumbledore had gone to deliver baby Harry, he had even been wearing a pair of purple women's leather boots.

Not to mention that his favorite dessert was Cockroach Clusters, the kind that wriggled and squirmed before bursting with juice in your mouth.

"Ah, we got so caught up talking that we've arrived." Dumbledore suddenly looked up. "Ollivanders."

The storefront before them was tiny and shabby, yet it radiated an indescribable sense of presence.

The weathered golden sign read: "Ollivander, Maker of Fine Wands since 382 B.C."

Inside the sealed display window, an old wand rested upon a purple cushion.

Canopus could sense that the magical power within it had nearly dissipated. It truly had weathered a thousand years of wind and frost.

From the half-open little door, dust that seemed to belong to history slowly drifted out, giving Canopus the illusion that he could barely breathe.

Dumbledore stepped forward and pulled open the door, then turned to look at Canopus.

"Come, child. Let's see the one that is destined for you."

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you won't have trouble finding it next time.