Standing on the crowded sidewalk of Charing Cross Road, Leon Cromwell watched red double-decker buses rumble past stylishly dressed Muggles.
He drew a deep breath of London’s smoke-filled air, and his eyes nearly filled with tears.
“Ah… the wonderful stench of civilization,” Leon murmured.
“It’s a million times better than the poisonous mist in that forest.” Dumbledore smiled as he adjusted his purple robe covered in silver stars, attracting curious glances from nearly everyone passing by.
“I also find London’s energy quite charming,” the headmaster said.
“Now, Leon, we should visit the Leaky Cauldron.
You’ll need to enter Diagon Alley and purchase—” “No, Headmaster.
That can wait.” Leon interrupted him without hesitation and pointed toward a massive department store across the street.
His eyes gleamed with an almost frightening hunger.
“There is something far more important I need to do first.
This concerns my emotional stability after ten years of isolation.” An hour later, Leon stood at the checkout counter while a young cashier stared at the mountain of merchandise piled before her.
There were several sets of modern men’s clothing, expensive silk pajamas, an entire case of Coca-Cola, a new Nintendo Entertainment System, a Game Boy, the largest television Leon could find, and enough potato chips and chocolate to feed a small army.
“That will be four hundred pounds, sir,” the cashier said politely.
Leon froze.
Only then did he remember a small but important problem.
He slowly turned toward Dumbledore, who was examining a nearby display of chewing gum with great interest.
“Headmaster Dumbledore?” Leon cleared his throat and gestured toward the merchandise.
“Since I’ve just finished a ten-year retreat in the forest, I don’t have any Muggle currency.
Do you happen to possess some of those small pieces of paper with the Queen’s face printed on them?” Dumbledore paused and looked at Leon over his half-moon spectacles.
The corners of his mouth twitched as he struggled to suppress a smile.
“You mean pounds?” “Yes, those.” Leon nodded immediately.
“Consider it a loan.
Once we reach Diagon Alley and I exchange some valuables at Gringotts, I’ll repay you at twice their normal rate.
No, three times.
I follow a Lawful alignment, Headmaster.
My financial credibility is beyond question.” Dumbledore did not fully understand the strange terminology, but Leon’s serious expression amused him.
“There is no need to make such a formal promise,” he said.
“It’s only a small amount of money.” Under the cashier’s astonished gaze, the elderly man with a waist-length beard and a star-covered robe pulled out an old wallet decorated with Winnie the Pooh.
He opened it and removed a thick bundle of slightly wrinkled banknotes.
“Fortunately, I occasionally enjoy bowling in London, so I make a habit of carrying Muggle money.” Dumbledore counted the bills and handed them to the cashier with a pleasant smile.
“Please accept this, miss.
Also, would you mind adding a package of that Super Bubble Gum?” After leaving the department store, Leon opened an ice-cold can of Coca-Cola and took a long drink.
He released a loud, satisfied burp as the carbonation burned pleasantly in his throat.
Finding a quiet corner away from the crowd, he placed his purchases on the ground and cast [Shrink Item].
The clothing, food, game systems, and enormous television rapidly compressed until each object was no larger than a matchbox.
Leon casually stuffed everything into the seemingly bottomless pockets of his robe.
Dumbledore held the can of Coke Leon had insisted he try.
His brow furrowed when the bubbles stung his tongue, but after another cautious sip, he smacked his lips thoughtfully.
“Muggle inventions are certainly interesting,” Dumbledore admitted.
“However, Hogwarts does not have electrical outlets.
I’m afraid your new appliances may be useless inside the castle.” “I know [Lightning Bolt], Headmaster.” Leon patted his pocket with a confident grin.
“Producing electricity won’t be a problem.
With a little magical regulation, I can create a stable two-hundred-and-twenty-volt current whenever I need one.
I’m practically a portable power station.” He glanced at the shrunken Game Boy.
“Though I still don’t understand something.
Wizarding photographs can move and react to people, yet no one has invented anything resembling a video game console.
How did an entire magical civilization overlook interactive entertainment?” Even Dumbledore’s vast knowledge failed him.
The headmaster opened his mouth, considered several answers, and ultimately chose to remain silent.
Once Leon had satisfied his decade-long hunger for modern comforts, he finally followed Dumbledore into the Leaky Cauldron.
They passed through the dim pub, entered the rear courtyard, and approached the familiar brick wall.
Dumbledore tapped the correct bricks with his wand.
The wall folded away, revealing the busy streets of Diagon Alley.
Unlike his excitement inside the Muggle department store, Leon showed remarkably little interest in the wizarding marketplace.
Their first destination was Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
The moment they entered the marble hall, several goblins attempted to explain the bank’s exchange procedures and storage services.
Leon could not be bothered to listen.
He opened a dimensional storage pouch and poured a small pile of raw rubies onto the counter.
Each gem was as large as a pebble and possessed exceptional purity.
They were merely byproducts Leon had collected after killing several stone-based magical beasts in the Albanian forest.
To him, the rubies were low-level spell components that had accumulated faster than he could use them.
“Convert all of these into Galleons,” Leon said with a yawn.
“Don’t waste time counting them individually.
Weigh the entire pile, and consider anything left over your service fee.” The goblins stared at the gems with widened eyes.
Their movements became considerably faster after confirming the quality of the stones.
Their next stop was Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions.
The shopkeeper approached with a measuring tape, but Leon waved her away before she could begin.
“Measurements won’t be necessary.” He examined the prepared robes hanging around the store and pointed toward several of the better-looking designs.
“I’ll take that black one, the dark gray set beside it, and anything made from your most expensive silk.
Adjust them magically if needed and package everything to go.” From there, they continued to Ollivanders.
Garrick Ollivander’s pale eyes brightened when Leon entered his narrow shop.
He had barely begun explaining that the wand chose the wizard when Leon interrupted him.
“I’m buying a casting tool, Mr.
Ollivander, not searching for a life partner.” Leon looked along the shelves, pulled out a sturdy ebony wand, and tested its balance in his hand.
“The material feels durable, and the weight is acceptable.
I’ll take this one.” “But, sir, you haven’t allowed the wand to choose—” “I don’t need its approval.” Leon placed seven Galleons on the counter and tucked the wand into his belt like a slim conductor’s baton.
He then turned toward Dumbledore, who had watched the entire exchange with quiet fascination.
“We’re finished here, Headmaster.
Now we can deal with the truly important matter.” Dumbledore followed him outside.
“And what would that be?” “Buying a house.” Leon stopped in the center of Diagon Alley and surveyed the tightly packed shops.
“I need a permanent residence in London.
More specifically, I need somewhere safe and private enough to establish an arcane workshop.” Unfortunately, finding a home capable of satisfying an eleventh-level wizard with access to sixth-circle magic proved far more difficult than repeatedly killing Voldemort.
A wizarding real-estate broker named Pickering spent the next several hours leading Leon and Dumbledore through properties across London.
Their first option was a concealed luxury apartment in Kensington.
“Too small.” Leon tapped one of the walls and frowned.
“These walls are practically made of paper.
If I conduct a [Fireball] experiment in the living room, the Muggle family next door will be incinerated.
There is no privacy, and the structural defenses are completely inadequate.” Pickering wiped sweat from his forehead.
“But, sir, this is one of the most heavily protected wizarding apartments in London.” “Show me the next property.” The second location was a large house with a garden near Hogsmeade.
Pickering seemed hopeful until several children flew past in the distance while playing an informal game of Quidditch.
“It’s too noisy.” Leon pointed at the children.
“Is the entire neighborhood filled with wizarding families?
How am I supposed to enjoy a peaceful afternoon with people flying past my windows?” He crouched and pressed one hand against the ground.
“The local ley lines are weak as well.
This place would be useless for advanced rituals.” “Mr.
Cromwell…” Pickering looked close to tears and turned toward Dumbledore for help.
“Headmaster, could you please explain that this is one of our finest properties?” Dumbledore was examining a Fanged Geranium growing near the garden fence.
After hearing the broker’s plea, he offered a sympathetic smile and shrugged.
“I’m afraid Professor Cromwell has rather specialized academic requirements.
You should continue searching according to his preferences.” “But I’ve already shown him nearly every suitable mansion available in or around London!” Pickering cried.
“He wants somewhere enormous, silent, magically powerful, completely private, and far away from neighbors.” Leon opened another can of Coke while considering the problem.
“Do you have any properties where nobody is willing to live?” Pickering blinked.
“What?” “Places near old burial grounds, cursed estates, or houses with a reputation for being haunted,” Leon explained.
“Those locations usually contain abundant negative energy and very few unwanted visitors.” The broker stared at him.
“You’re serious?” “Completely.” Pickering hesitated before searching through his collection of property documents.
After several minutes, he pulled an old piece of parchment from the bottom of a drawer.
“There is one place.” His voice lowered nervously.
“An old Victorian mansion stands beside Highgate Cemetery in northern London.
The atmosphere is extremely unpleasant because the property is located so close to the graves.” Pickering swallowed.
“People also claim that the mansion is severely haunted.
A dark wizard purchased it several decades ago, but he fled after spending only one night inside.
He immediately sold it for almost nothing.” He pushed the parchment toward Leon.
“The building has remained abandoned for nearly fifty years.
The asking price is extremely low, but no one has been willing to approach it.” “Highgate Cemetery?” Leon leaned forward.
“A haunted mansion so dangerous that even a dark wizard refused to stay there?” His eyes lit up like those of a dragon discovering an unguarded treasure hoard.
“That’s perfect.” Leon slapped his thigh and stood.
“Take us there immediately.” The mansion stood in a withered grove beside the mist-covered grounds of Highgate Cemetery.
It was an enormous black Gothic structure with pointed roofs, narrow windows, and walls covered in dead vines.
The building looked like a set constructed for a classic horror movie.
Rust coated the iron gate in dark red streaks resembling dried blood, while an unnatural chill drifted from the shattered windows.
The only sound came from several crows calling from the bare branches above.
“This is the property.” Pickering stopped nearly a hundred yards from the gate and refused to move any closer.
His face had lost all color.
“Mr.
Cromwell, I’ll leave the key here.
Headmaster Dumbledore, I strongly advise caution.
The dark magical fluctuations surrounding this place are extremely unstable.” Dumbledore approached the rusted gate and studied the mansion with a deep frown.
As one of the most powerful wizards alive, he could clearly sense the cold and disturbing force leaking from the building.
The property did not merely feel haunted.
It resembled the lair of a dangerous dark creature.
“Leon.” Dumbledore drew his wand, and his usually gentle voice became serious.
“There is something deeply unnatural inside that house.
If you merely require privacy, Hogwarts has several unused chambers that could serve as a temporary workshop.” “No, Headmaster.
You don’t understand.” Leon stepped toward the gate and inhaled the cold, decaying air.
Instead of fear, his face showed complete satisfaction.
“Can’t you feel it?
The concentration of negative-energy particles is extraordinary.
They’re active, pure, and almost completely undisturbed.” He gazed at the abandoned mansion with undisguised admiration.
“A property this valuable has been sitting empty because everyone else is afraid of it.” Leon pulled a heavy bag of Galleons from his robe and tossed it into Pickering’s arms.
“I’ll take the house.” Enjoyed the chapter?
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