#3 - Knowledge is expensive everywhere
Professor McGonagall left, without clearly explaining how to use the owl, but she left a ticket to Hogwarts.
A ticket for the Hogwarts Express.
A list of required supplies for new students at Diagon Alley.
While Bouncy admired his magic wand toy and ate dried mealworms, Moon carefully calculated their upcoming expenses.
Referring to the shopping list, Moon picked up a handy pebble and began to record the items on the wall.
Three plain work robes, 12 Galleons.
One plain pointed hat for day wear, 3 Galleons.
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar material), 22 Galleons and 5 Sickles.
One winter cloak, 5 Galleons.
"Clothes alone cost so much, but what are Galleons?"
Moon flipped the parchment to the back and found a note left by Professor McGonagall.
"If you need to exchange Muggle money for wizarding currency, please go to Gringotts Wizarding Bank in Diagon Alley.
Also, 5 pounds is approximately equal to 1 Galleon.
1 Galleon is equal to 17 Sickles.
1 Sickle is equal to 29 Knuts.
Remember, do not trust anyone outside the bank!"
"What a careful and meticulous professor," Moon said, looking at the neat handwriting on the parchment, then began to worry.
"But according to this calculation, it seems I really don't have enough money."
According to Professor McGonagall's note, Moon quickly calculated the price.
"At least 212 pounds and 50 pence, and that doesn't include textbooks and school supplies."
Looking at the money bag tied tightly on the bed, Moon took two deep breaths, then raised his hand and continued to list each expense on the wall. He needed to know exactly how many pence he was short to be able to study magic.
Fortunately, the prices of the textbooks that followed slightly improved Moon's mood.
《Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1》, 1 Galleon
《A History of Magic》, 2 Galleons
《Magical Theory》, 2 Galleons
《A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration》, 1 Galleon
《One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi》, 2 Galleons
《Magical Drafts and Potions》, 2 Galleons
《Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them》, 2 Galleons
《The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection》, 1 Galleon
"13 Galleons, which is 65 pounds, so I should only have enough money to buy these textbooks."
One wand, 7 Galleons
One cauldron, 15 Galleons
One set of glass or crystal phials, 5 Galleons
One telescope, 5 Galleons
One set of brass scales, 3 Galleons
......
"Plus parchment, ink, quill... no pet, Bouncy is enough..."
"Chirp~"
"That's right, you're enough. That's 95 Galleons, which means I need to prepare at least 500 pounds!"
"Professor McGonagall, could you please come back and finish what you were saying before you leave?"
Moon dropped the pebble in his hand and shouted towards the entrance of the cave.
......
After counting every coin in the money bag, Moon didn't know whether he should be happy or not.
He had given the money bag to Bouncy to manage, partly for safety reasons, and partly because he was worried about spending money recklessly, as there were too many attractive things in this world.
It was precisely because Bouncy was managing the money that Moon had saved 210 pounds in these two months. Two hundred of it was the income from selling wood carvings, and the change was Bouncy's private money.
It was already the beginning of August, less than a month before school started, which meant that Moon needed to earn three hundred pounds in thirty days.
"It seems Uncle Neil was right, knowledge is priceless."
Moon helplessly lay on the bed, listening to the four-wheeled vehicles driving over the bridge above, and the dust falling down.
Bouncy had already finished the dried mealworms, but his interest in the magic wand had not diminished.
Seeing Moon's chest rising and falling, he struggled to climb up and shook the magic wand repeatedly.
Looking at the magic wand toy swaying left and right in front of him, Moon knew that this was his last chance to learn magic, and he had to seize it.
"Bouncy, we will definitely go to Hogwarts..."
Picking up the carving knife and a bundle of hazel branches, Moon went outside the bridge cave.
The streetlights on the bridge were very bright, and a beam of light shone down to provide a light source for Moon's carving.
So, people strolling along Regent's Canal at night could always inadvertently discover a boy under the bridge and the wood shavings falling around him.
......
Professor McGonagall was very busy, especially in the period before the start of school.
Every year at this time, she had to visit the families of some Muggle-born wizards to explain to the parents that Hogwarts was not some random, unaccredited school.
But this year was even worse. The Dursleys had refused to accept the seven hundred and ninety-two letters she had written.
Although the content of the letters could be easily handled with a duplication charm, the sheer number was enough to drive her crazy.
Especially after discovering that the Dursleys had even taken Harry with them to a deserted island.
"I told you long ago, Dumbledore, the Dursleys are unreliable. To prevent Harry from coming to Hogwarts, they actually moved the whole family to an island! It's really... really..."
Coming up the spiral staircase to the headmaster's office, McGonagall glared at the white-bearded headmaster behind the desk.
"Don't be angry, Minerva. Perhaps you need a hot drink to relax. Besides, you know they are Harry's only relatives."
Dumbledore put down the quill in his hand and gently waved his hand. A teacup and a teapot had already floated in front of McGonagall.
"But that's precisely why, they clearly know the existence of the magical world, but they are doing everything possible to prevent Harry from coming to Hogwarts. This... this is not something relatives would do."
McGonagall picked up the teacup, took a sip, and felt a little calmer. Seeing the unfinished letters on the desk, she spoke again.
"I know you're busy, Dumbledore, but this matter must be dealt with."
Seeing McGonagall's determined expression, Dumbledore reluctantly nodded.
"Very well, Fawkes, please inform Hagrid and ask him to come to the office."
Seeing the phoenix disappear, McGonagall felt slightly relieved.
"Albus, are you writing to Nicolas Flamel?"
"That's right, my old friend is still a little reluctant. You know, after all, it's the only one in the world."
McGonagall naturally knew what Dumbledore was talking about, but she didn't want to express her opinion on this matter.
After all, it was a friendship between a wizard over a hundred years old and one over six hundred years old.
But seeing the quill and parchment on Dumbledore's desk, she seemed to remember something.
"Dumbledore, are you sure we should admit that suddenly appeared child into the school?"
"Of course, as long as his name is on the Book of Admittance, I can't think of any reason to refuse."
"But it's too strange. The Quill of Acceptance and the Book of Admittance wrote his name three months ago, but he only appeared out of thin air in London two months ago. We can't even find a trace of his past..."
"That's the charm of magic, Minerva. Perhaps this child can bring us some unexpected surprises."
Dumbledore was always like this, tolerantly accepting everything, just like Lupin, Hagrid, and of course, him, many years ago.
Now, there was an even more mysterious child, even magic couldn't explain it. McGonagall didn't know if Dumbledore's decision this time was correct.
Just as she thought of this, the person coming up the spiral staircase interrupted her thoughts.
"You've arrived just in time, Hagrid. I need you to do something."
"Very happy to help, Headmaster."
......
After leaving the headmaster's office, McGonagall threw herself back into her busy work.
She really hoped that school had already started so that she wouldn't have to worry about the various problems of new student admissions.
