#4 - Diagon Alley

"Can't British pounds be used in the magical world?"

"You can exchange Muggle currency for Galleons at Gringotts, five pounds for one Galleon, but there's a limit to how much you can exchange, a maximum of one hundred Galleons. Read." Professor McGonagall, who is in charge of admissions all year round, is very clear about all aspects of the matter, but she doesn't think Anduin has much savings, maybe just some pocket money to exchange.

"Oh, I see. Then I have money." As she spoke, she took out a wad of pounds under Professor McGonagall's surprised gaze, and licked her fingers with great skill to count them. "That's enough. I can buy something else on the way back with the extra."

Professor McGonagall led Anduin out of the orphanage and turned into a deserted alley next to it. "I should have taken Muggle transportation or the Knight Bus with you to Diagon Alley, but the magical world has been a bit unstable recently, so I have to trouble you to Apparate with me."

With that, Professor McGonagall drew her wand and said, "Grab my hand, Anduin."

The magical world is unstable? While digesting Professor McGonagall's words, Anduin handed over his hand.

Then, in a series of 'pop' sounds, Professor McGonagall and Anduin disappeared from the spot.

"Ugh!" As soon as Anduin Apparated with Professor McGonagall, he couldn't help but lean against the wall and vomit. The feeling was too uncomfortable, as if he had been thrown into a dark washing machine and put on the strongest setting. His whole body was inexplicably squeezed, and in the end, Anduin even hallucinated, as if his whole body had been shrunk into a small ball.

"Sorry, I didn't feel well the first time I used this magic either." Professor McGonagall said, then pointed her wand at Anduin. A soft stream of light emerged from the tip of the wand and gradually merged into Anduin's body, which made Anduin feel much better.

Fortunately, Anduin was usually in good physical condition and had a good sense of balance. After a little while, he calmed down.

Is this magic? Why does it feel different from what I imagined? Isn't it too low-level to open a magic door for teleportation? Anduin complained in his heart, but his expression remained calm.

"Where are we going next? Do we have to teleport again?"

"That's not teleportation, it's Apparition and Disapparition. This is a common travel magic for adult wizards. You can learn it when you're in seventh year."

"And don't worry, we're almost there."

Professor McGonagall led Anduin out of the alley where they had appeared, walked for a while on the street, and came to a place between a record store and a bookstore. Anduin kept observing his surroundings and found that a bar with a style completely different from the two shops next to it was actually opened between the two shops, and the passers-by turned a blind eye to it.

"Can't they see this bar?"

"Excellent observation, Anduin. A large number of concealment charms have been placed here. Muggles can't see the Leaky Cauldron." Professor McGonagall explained as she led Anduin into the bar.

"Professor, what do you often mean by Muggle? Does it refer to ordinary people who don't know magic?" Anduin felt absurd. He vaguely remembered seeing 'Harry Potter' in his previous life, but when he really came into contact with it, he still had no common sense.

"Yes, Anduin. We generally call ordinary people who don't believe in magic, or non-magical humans, Muggles. Due to the 'International Statute of Secrecy,' Muggles don't know we exist."

I wonder if the 'International Statute of Secrecy' can continue to exist in the British magical world in the future. Professor McGonagall frowned slightly as she thought of the current situation in the British magical world.

"Is that so? Then my parents were also Muggles." Anduin thought of his parents who had passed away not long after he was born. He had checked at the orphanage before and didn't feel anything unusual. They were just ordinary people. Anduin attributed all his magical talent to his reincarnation.

"Maybe someone in your ancestry was a wizard. Of course, children with wizarding talents can also be born among Muggles. Hogwarts' responsibility is to teach you how to control your magic."

Anduin and Professor McGonagall walked into the bar while chatting. The bar was very dark and simple, with extremely poor lighting. There was a bar counter, and a few tables were placed in the shadows in the corner.

And it didn't seem to have much business. The bar owner was silently wiping glasses at the bar.

"Tom, how's business lately?" Professor McGonagall seemed to be very familiar with the owner.

"How else can it be? It's been getting more and more chaotic recently. Last night, the Aurors and them had another firefight in Knockturn Alley. The explosion almost shattered my glasses here, and business is getting worse and worse..." Tom felt like he hadn't talked to anyone, and he kept complaining as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Alright, Tom, there's a young gentleman here."

"Is he an incoming freshman?" Tom glanced at him, guessing that he was used to it.

"Hello, sir." Anduin, who came from a country of etiquette, seemed polite.

"Go in quickly, it won't be safe when it gets dark." Seeing the polite Anduin, Tom kindly reminded him.

Professor McGonagall nodded to the bar owner and led Anduin through the bar to the small patio behind the Leaky Cauldron. "Diagon Alley is inside. You'll buy your school supplies here in the future. Look carefully, you'll have to come by yourself."

"You can enter by tapping the specific bricks on the wall next to the trash can with your wand. Count three bricks above the trash can, and then two bricks horizontally."

With that, Professor McGonagall drew her wand and tapped the corresponding position. The original dilapidated brick wall kept tumbling after Professor McGonagall tapped it, gradually transforming into a tall arch.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley, Anduin."

Anduin looked at this scene with his mouth slightly open, and became more and more fascinated by the magical world. Looking through the arch, what came into view was a long street paved with cobblestones, with various shops distributed on both sides of the long street.

However, Anduin noticed that Diagon Alley was not as bustling as he had imagined at this time. Some shops on both sides of the street were not open, and there were some pedestrians in trench coats on the road. The way they looked didn't seem like they were shopping, but rather like they were patrolling.

"Professor, those passers-by in trench coats don't look like customers. Could it be..." Anduin asked his question. Combined with the conversation between Professor McGonagall and Tom at the beginning, a ominous thought arose in his heart.

"Those are Aurors, maintaining law and order here. The magical world hasn't been very peaceful recently, but this is the most prosperous commercial street in the British magical world, and it's still very safe. They're just doing their routine duties, and don't worry, you'll be very safe at Hogwarts, I guarantee it!" Professor McGonagall explained to Anduin.