Gringotts

Before long, they arrived at Charing Cross Road.

Gemini stood at the intersection, his gaze sweeping over the shops lining the street before finally settling on an inconspicuous, dilapidated wooden door.

An old, battered sign hung on the door—The Leaky Cauldron.

There were two other new students traveling with Gemini to Diagon Alley: Hermione and Justin Finlay. Both came from Muggle families, accompanied by their parents.

What made Gemini feel comfortable was that both sets of parents were well-mannered. Mr. and Mrs. Finlay behaved with perfect propriety, while Mr. and Mrs. Granger were comparatively low-key. Though the two families were of roughly the same social standing, there were still subtle differences in their temperaments.

Professor McGonagall led them to the entrance of The Leaky Cauldron and pushed open the door.

"Ha! Minerva, it's been a long time." Behind the bar, an old wizard with a hunched back and barely any teeth left cheerfully greeted Professor McGonagall.

The pub was noisy, with the scent of alcohol and oak barrels lingering in the air, mingled with faint traces of smoke. Passing wizards looked curiously at Gemini, Hermione, and Justin.

"It has indeed, Old Tom."

Professor McGonagall gave him a polite nod without any intention of lingering, then led Gemini and the others toward the back of The Leaky Cauldron.

They arrived at a cramped, enclosed courtyard. Professor McGonagall drew her wand and tapped the wall above a rubbish bin.

"Three bricks up from the rubbish bin, then two across. I hope you remember that, so it will be easier for you to return next time."

As Professor McGonagall finished speaking, a rumbling sound came from the courtyard's sealed wall as the others watched in confusion. The red bricks shifted one by one, and the entire wall rolled apart like rippling water. Sunlight streamed into the courtyard, and before them appeared a broad archway leading to a winding cobblestone street that stretched beyond sight.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley!"

Professor McGonagall turned around. A smile appeared on her usually stern face, and the excitement and fervor in her eyes were impossible to hide.

Nothing made a wizard prouder than introducing Diagon Alley to new students encountering the magical world for the first time.

Hermione and Justin's eyes were full of excitement and curiosity as they looked around. Hermione had even completely forgotten that Gemini had tricked her earlier.

The instant they passed through the archway, it turned back into a solid wall behind them. Dazzling sunlight fell upon a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop, making them sparkle brightly.

"Take out your shopping lists," Professor McGonagall reminded them. "You will need a pewter cauldron."

Mr. Finnegan hesitated for a moment. "Do wizards accept Pounds Sterling as well?"

"Of course not." Professor McGonagall smiled. "Wizards have their own currency. I will take you to the wizarding bank—Gringotts—in a moment, where you can exchange your money. Wizards use Gold Galleons, Silver Sickles, and Bronze Knuts. The exchange rate between Galleons and Pounds Sterling fluctuates at around one to five."

As she spoke, Professor McGonagall looked at Gemini. "Also, Mr. Fox, you need not worry about money. New students such as yourself receive assistance. While I cannot guarantee that you will have the very best of everything, with the support of the school board, you can at least have new wands and textbooks."

Gemini thought it over and decided it was better to refuse Professor McGonagall's kindness. It would save him a great deal of money, but he had no intention of attending school in old robes. It was not as though he could not afford better things, so why make himself suffer?

Wasn't money meant to be spent?

"Thank you very much for your kindness, Professor McGonagall, but I have savings of my own."

Professor McGonagall was taken aback. Mr. and Mrs. Finlay and Mr. and Mrs. Granger also looked at Gemini with amused expressions. In their eyes, how much savings could an eleven-year-old boy possibly have?

"I have an obligation to remind you, Mr. Fox, that all the things required for a new student will cost at least forty Galleons. That is equivalent to half a month's salary for me. Are you certain you can afford it?"

Professor McGonagall asked seriously. She did not want Gemini to cause himself trouble over a meaningless matter of pride.

Gemini nodded. Forty Galleons was only about two hundred pounds. With his current savings of more than fifteen thousand pounds, it was practically nothing. He could easily afford the expense.

"I currently have around two thousand pounds in freely available savings." Gemini smiled gently.

"Two thousand?"

Mr. Finnegan's mouth fell open in shock. His monthly income was only eight hundred pounds, and that was already considered a high salary.

Professor McGonagall was equally surprised. "Where did you get so much money?"

Two thousand pounds was roughly four hundred Galleons. With a little more, he could buy a decent property in Diagon Alley. Moreover, Gemini had said freely available, which meant that was not all of his savings. The casual, unconcerned way he spoke made that obvious.

"I am rather good at handicrafts, and I often sell small items." Gemini smiled and took out a slightly bulging Snakeskin Wallet from his robe.

Naturally, the wallet had not actually come from inside his robe. Carrying so much money on him was far too unsafe for a child his age.

Gemini's Weapon Shop had ten storage spaces, each a thousand cubic meters in size. He usually kept his money there.

"I must say... Mr. Fox, you are the most remarkable child I have ever met at your age." Professor McGonagall looked at Gemini with eyes full of affection.

"Thank you for the compliment." Gemini gave Professor McGonagall a slight nod.

"I am only stating the truth." Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together. "Come with me. I will take you to Gringotts."

Before long, everyone followed Professor McGonagall to Gringotts.

It was a towering white building that rose above the surrounding shops. By its gleaming bronze doors stood a small figure dressed in a scarlet-and-gold uniform—a goblin.

With its short stature, pointed ears, sharp teeth, and dark face, Gemini immediately thought of the goblins in dungeons. In fact, goblins really were called goblins...

"What is that?" Justin stared at the small figure in astonishment.

"A goblin." Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together. "Try to remain quiet. They have never been particularly friendly."

When they entered, the goblin bowed to them. Then a second door appeared before them, a silver door engraved with the following words:

Enter, stranger, but beware

Of what awaits the greed of those who take

Who take without earning

Will surely suffer the harshest punishment

Therefore, if you seek to take from our underground vaults wealth that never belonged to you

Thief, you have been warned

Beware, for what comes first may not be treasure, but retribution

"Not a friendly word among them." Gemini gave a wry laugh.

Beyond the door, two goblins bowed to them and led them into a vast marble hall. Around a hundred goblins sat on high stools behind a long row of counters. Some weighed coins with brass scales, while others inspected gems through eyepieces and scribbled notes into large ledgers.

Countless doors filled the hall, each leading somewhere different. Many goblins guided people coming and going through those doors.