Chapter 77 The Dark and Dirty Leaky Cauldron
Since everyone had been having a blast late last night, Sebastian simply invited everyone to stay at Swann Manor.
Early the next morning, Lupin had left quietly.
Sebastian took Harry and Hagrid to the gate of Swann Manor.
Facing the empty street, he stretched out his right hand and raised his wand, as if making a gesture to stop a car.
Before Harry could figure out what this action meant, he saw a dark shadow rushing from a distance, whoosh, and stop steadily in front of the three people.
The door opened and a conductor came out: "Welcome aboard the Knight Bus!"
"The Knight Bus will take you anywhere you want to go, and I'm the conductor, Stan Thornpark."
Bus?
Harry rubbed his eyes hard, he couldn't believe what he saw.
Didn't we say we were going to Diagon Alley today?
Why not use a fireplace?
Taking the bus?
This is so un-magical.
Harry followed Sebastian onto the bus in a daze, and then found a seat by the window and sat down.
As soon as he fastened his seat belt, he heard Hagrid speaking to the conductor in his uniquely loud voice.
"Three men, the Leaky Cauldron."
"Oh, that's very close. We'll be there soon. Five silver Sickles per person."
As soon as he finished speaking, the car started and the Knight Bus moved forward at a high speed. There was no bump or shake in the car, but the scenery rapidly receding outside the window still made Harry feel a little uneasy.
"Harry," the attentive Sebastian noticed Harry's expression and smiled gently, "The Knight Bus is driving very steadily, there's no need to be nervous."
"We're taking the Knight Bus to Diagon Alley today. It's a very convenient way to travel."
"Not every wizard can learn the magic of Apparition."
"Some wizards also don't like the squeezing feeling during Apparition."
"The Knight Bus is designed for wizards like this. When you want to take one in the future, just hold out your wand and make a gesture to stop the bus, just like I did."
At this moment, Harry saw the driver rushing on the road, and all the obstacles in front of the vehicle jumped to the side.
His mouth dropped open in shock.
He wanted to apologize for what he had just thought.
This is simply magical!
But can’t the Muggles on the street see it?
Before he could ask the question in his mind, the Knight Bus stopped.
"Let's go," Sebastian patted Harry's shoulder, "We've arrived at the Leaky Cauldron on Charing Cross Road."
Harry got out of the car and found an unusually small bar nestled between a bookstore and a record store.
A rickety sign hung on the shabby wooden door, with the words "The Leaky Cauldron" engraved in large letters.
There were very few pedestrians on the street, and those who occasionally passed by were all in a hurry, as if this bar did not exist at all in their eyes.
Harry followed Sebastian and Hagrid into the bar, and as the door opened, a mixture of the smell of beer, tobacco and damp wood hit him in the face.
The light inside the bar was dim, with a few old oil lamps emitting a faint yellow light.
The wooden floor creaked when you walked on it, the walls were covered with thick dust, and there were some unknown stains in the corners. It looked like it had not been cleaned for a long time.
Harry couldn't help but frown, his heart full of doubts. This was completely different from the bright and bustling bar he had imagined.
So dark and dirty!
This was Harry's first impression of the Leaky Cauldron.
He followed Hagrid closely and found that Hagrid felt like he was back home here. Everyone here knew him and everyone greeted him.
Harry's eyes were wide open, his gaze darting around the bar.
He had never imagined that there was such a bar in London that was specifically for wizards.
Some customers were talking in low voices, some were drinking steaming exotic drinks, and others were staring at some strange magical objects in a trance.
Suddenly, Harry heard Hagrid say his name to the bar owner, and then he saw the bar owner running out from behind the bar with an excited look on his face and shook his hand.
"Mr. Potter, welcome to the Leaky Cauldron."
Harry was feeling very uncomfortable, for after his last visit to Diagon Alley he had some idea of his reputation in the wizarding world.
However, after learning the truth from Sebastian, he felt in his heart that the credit for defeating Voldemort lay entirely with his mother, and that he himself was completely unworthy of the title of savior.
Therefore, for today's trip to Diagon Alley, he wore a hat to hide the scar on his forehead.
Unexpectedly, as soon as I entered the Leaky Cauldron, Hagrid pointed out my identity.
To be honest, he felt that Hagrid had tried his best to lower his voice, but his voice was too loud, and even if he lowered his voice, everyone in the bar could still hear it clearly.
"Mr. Potter, it's an honor to meet you!"
In just a blink of an eye, a long line formed in front of Harry, and everyone wanted to shake hands with the legendary savior.
Harry looked at Sebastian for help, only to find that he was just sitting on a chair at the door, looking at him with a smile on his face, as if expecting something.
"P-P-P-T, sir. Nice to meet you."
Harry turned his head quickly and found a pale young man standing in front of him. His voice was a little stuttering, perhaps because of nervousness.
"Professor Quirrell," Hagrid came up and greeted him quickly, "Harry, this is the professor from Hogwarts."
Professor at Hogwarts?
Which course do you teach?
Harry felt very strange.
Can a stutterer become a professor?
Did he have some special talent, like Professor Snape was a potions master?
However, how can I teach students when I stutter like this?
Harry suppressed his doubts and shook hands with Quirrell politely.
"Hello, Professor Quirrell, nice to meet you."
Just as Harry was about to ask something, Sebastian came up and gently pushed Harry in the direction of Hagrid.
"Harry, you still have a lot of work to do. Go and follow Hagrid first."
"Hagrid is here on behalf of Hogwarts. Don't delay his work."
"By the way, you have missed two Potions classes. Remember to go to the Potions Material Shop later to pick up some potion materials."
Sebastian blinked his right eye at Harry.
"Just bring the gifts over tomorrow and your Potions teacher won't make things difficult for you."
"Remember, the rarer the better. If you don't have enough money, just order it first and I'll pay for you later."
Having said that, Sebastian turned around, grabbed Quirrell who was about to leave, and greeted him warmly.
"Professor Quirrell, long time no see!"
"I heard that you have been traveling in the Muggle world for the past year."
"Come on, come on, I'm treating you today."
"As future colleagues."
"We need to keep in touch with each other..."
Watching the two professors leave, Harry smiled at Hagrid, then followed Hagrid to the back of the bar.
