A Trip to Diagon Alley

Roy and Dumbledore walked into the somewhat shabby Leaky Cauldron. It was morning, and only a few wizards who had brought their children to shop for school supplies were sitting at the bar, chatting.

The wizards in the pub noticed Dumbledore's arrival and came forward one after another to greet him.

Tom, the pub's owner, had been chatting with a bespectacled middle-aged man. Seeing Dumbledore's distinguished arrival, he immediately hurried over to greet him.

"It is an honor to have you here, Professor Dumbledore. May I ask what brings you here in person today? Would you like some coffee or Butterbeer? It's on me."

"Thank you, Tom, but I have business to attend to today." Dumbledore declined Tom's offer and introduced Roy beside him. "This is Roy. I came today to help him buy the equipment he needs for school."

Roy took the initiative to extend his hand and gave Tom a light handshake, a friendly smile on his face.

"Roy Smith, from Wool's Orphanage. A new Hogwarts student this year."

Tom solemnly shook Roy's hand. He did not know Roy's background, but any young wizard personally escorted by Dumbledore was surely no ordinary child.

"Professor Dumbledore, I never expected you to personally bring a new student shopping. I thought that was Professor McGonagall's job and the others'."

The slightly plump middle-aged man who had been speaking with Tom came over and joined Dumbledore in conversation.

"Though I have not done this work for many years, as headmaster, it is still part of my duty. Amos, if I remember correctly, your child is starting school this year as well."

Dumbledore chatted with the middle-aged man, then introduced him to Roy.

"This is Mr. Amos Diggory, head of the Ministry of Magic's Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

Before Roy could introduce himself, the kindly Mr. Amos took the initiative to shake his hand and said,

"Ah, Roy, is it? My son Cedric is starting school this year too. What a pity—he just went with his mother to Ollivander's to buy a wand. Otherwise, I could have introduced you. As classmates, you could get to know each other beforehand."

Faced with the enthusiastic and amiable Mr. Diggory, Roy perfectly displayed his knack for striking up conversations. Though he knew nothing at all about the Ministry of Magic, he still actively discussed the Department for Magical Creatures with Dumbledore and Mr. Diggory. Tom quietly listened to their conversation from the side.

"Of course, Roy. If you're so interested in the Department for Magical Creatures, you can come visit me sometime. An outstanding young wizard like you is sure to get along well with Cedric. He's a new student this year too."

Mr. Amos seemed to enjoy speaking with Roy, but Dumbledore still interrupted their chat.

"I have other matters to attend to, Amos, so I'll take Roy shopping first. If you have questions about magical creatures, write to Newt more often. He's far more knowledgeable about them than I am."

After bidding the two farewell, Dumbledore took Roy to the back of the Leaky Cauldron. It was a dead end, enclosed on three sides by brick walls.

This was the entrance to Diagon Alley, but Dumbledore suddenly stopped.

"Er... which brick do you have to tap to enter Diagon Alley again?"

Dumbledore had not used the mechanism to enter Diagon Alley for decades, and for the moment, he could not remember which brick needed to be tapped.

One old and one young stared wide-eyed at each other, deadlocked at the entrance to Diagon Alley.

"You're asking me?"

Roy pointed at his baffled face and asked Dumbledore in return.

"Sigh, I'm getting old. You have to understand that a man over a hundred has a poor memory." Dumbledore sighed, took out his wand, and gave it a light wave. The wall before them automatically slid apart, revealing the street of Diagon Alley.

"Wow, cool." Roy followed Dumbledore into Diagon Alley and strolled down the cobblestone street. The shop windows on both sides were filled with all kinds of magical items Roy had never seen before. Even Roy, whose collection room in his previous life had been filled with all sorts of red treasures, could not help but feel deeply shaken.

Diagon Alley was especially lively that day. Many parents had brought their children there to equip the newest students in their families for school. Almost everyone in the bustling alley noticed Dumbledore's arrival. Wherever Roy followed Dumbledore, passersby would cast glances their way, and many came forward to greet Dumbledore.

Dumbledore seemed accustomed to being the center of attention. He merely walked along calmly while introducing the magical world to Roy.

"Hmm... let me see. The school will provide you with old textbooks, as well as things like a cauldron and telescope. We only need to buy you a few robes and a wand."

As Dumbledore spoke, he led Roy into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

Madam Malkin was a friendly, short, plump witch. Many parents had brought their young wizards to the shop for new robes. Seeing Dumbledore arrive, Madam Malkin became very excited. After learning why he had come, she enthusiastically began tailoring robes for Roy.

After the enchanted measuring tape took Roy's measurements, Madam Malkin quickly brought him a complete set of robes. Roy glanced at Dumbledore, accepted the school uniform packed in a bag, and signaled for Dumbledore to pay.

Just as Dumbledore took out his wallet to pay, Madam Malkin immediately stopped him, saying that for Dumbledore's sake, all the robes would be free.

Naturally, that was unacceptable. After Dumbledore and Roy repeatedly insisted, Madam Malkin finally accepted a few Sickles as a token payment.

With the robes in hand, Roy was in high spirits, skipping out of the clothing shop behind Dumbledore. Seeing the cheerful little bumblebee before him, Dumbledore was infected by Roy's happy nature and smiled as well.

"All right, now all that's left is to get you a wand."

Following Dumbledore to the end of Diagon Alley, Roy saw a run-down shop. Its peeling golden sign read: Ollivander's, Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.

Pushing open the shabby shop door, Roy found the already cramped store piled high with boxes containing wands. Many people were already standing in the narrow space.

Roy entered the shop first, and the bell above the door rang. Ollivander, who had been searching for something amid the mountains of wands, stopped and looked toward the front of the shop. He saw a face he had never seen before, then noticed Dumbledore following behind Roy.

"Welcome, young sir. Please wait a moment. Let me first fit these two gentlemen and this young lady with their wands."

As Dumbledore entered, everyone in the shop turned their eyes toward Roy and Dumbledore.

A middle-aged woman immediately came over, excitedly shook Dumbledore's hand, and began chatting with him.

Listening to their conversation, Roy finally learned that she was Mrs. Diggory.

Roy politely greeted her and enthusiastically spoke about meeting Mr. Diggory at the Leaky Cauldron earlier.

Ollivander's voice suddenly rang out. "Ah, twelve and a quarter inches, ash wood, unicorn hair, nicely flexible. To be chosen by such a wand shows that you are an upright and kind person, Mr. Diggory."

Having finally received his own wand, Cedric looked thrilled. Resisting the urge to cast a few spells on the spot, he walked over and politely greeted Dumbledore.

After casually chatting for a few moments, Roy formed a good impression of the handsome young man before him. Cedric had inherited his parents' friendly and warm-hearted nature, and the two quickly became familiar with each other.

Since Cedric still needed to buy other equipment, Mrs. Diggory took Cedric and left first.

"I'll write to you!"

Before leaving, Cedric made an agreement to keep in touch with Roy.

Watching Cedric's departing figure, Dumbledore sighed.

"What a fine child."

After Cedric left, Roy noticed another group in the wand shop: a group of elderly wizards accompanying a blonde young witch as she chose a wand.

Roy looked at the blonde young witch in expensive clothing. Every gesture she made carried an air of elegance, while her delicate face bore no expression. Though only twelve years old, she exuded a coldness far beyond her age. It was obvious that she would grow into an icy beauty.

Roy remembered seeing her earlier outside Twilfitt and Tattings.

"Looks like this little witch is rich. I'll see if I can pick up some..."

Roy suddenly noticed that the elderly wizards accompanying the young witch were unlike anyone else he had seen that day. They were glaring at Dumbledore with undisguised hostility.

"Interesting," Roy thought silently, watching Dumbledore's reaction.

Dumbledore seemed not to notice anything at all. As if nothing had happened, he began studying several wands displayed in the window.

Roy also pretended to have nothing to do, examining the shop's decorations while actually eavesdropping on Ollivander's conversation with the young witch.

Ollivander's aged voice rang out.

"Then, Miss Grindelwald, what can I do for you?"