Charing Cross Road.
After the adults parked the cars, the two families, led by Professor McGonagall, headed towards the Leaky Cauldron.
Once Professor McGonagall stopped, she spoke up: “This is the Leaky Cauldron.”
At that moment, everyone was amazed, except for Kyle.
Because Hermione was holding her parents’ hands, The Grangers could naturally see it.
As for Kyle, William wasn’t holding his hand.
However, seeing Kyle’s bewildered and anxious expression, William quickly took his hand to avoid drawing attention from the others.
At this point, Kyle finally caught sight of an entrance to the Wizarding World.
It’s just that this entrance felt far too small and old, almost shabby and cramped.
Especially compared to the clean and tidy bookstore and record shop next door, it looked even more unsightly.
“The Leaky Cauldron has been enchanted with a Muggle-Repelling Charm, a spell used to conceal it from Muggles.
Without a Wizard’s guidance, Muggles wouldn’t be able to find this place,” Professor McGonagall explained to the group before pushing open the door to the Leaky Cauldron.
Stepping inside, everyone except Professor McGonagall wore expressions of utter distaste.
Dirty, messy, and dark were the first impressions the Leaky Cauldron gave everyone.
Despite it being broad daylight outside, the light filtering through the windows did little to brighten the interior, which necessitated numerous lit candles to provide more illumination.
But in the flickering candlelight, the Wizards drinking in the bar appeared rather menacing, much like the evil depictions of Wizards in storybooks.
At this moment, Hermione’s gaze also fell upon those Wizards.
The association with storybook descriptions made her gasp involuntarily.
The sudden gasp drew the attention of all the Wizards in the bar.
When they saw it was Professor McGonagall who had entered, they nodded in respect to her and resumed their conversations.
As the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and the Dean of Gryffindor House, Professor McGonagall was quite famous throughout the Wizarding World.
As for William, Hermione, and their families, they were clearly Young wizards newly enrolled from the Muggle World—a common sight recently, so naturally, they didn’t attract much attention.
“Alright, follow me,” Professor McGonagall said.
Then, Professor McGonagall led everyone to the backyard of the Leaky Cauldron, where there was a small, walled courtyard with a dustbin and a few dusty, empty barrels beside it.
Professor McGonagall brought everyone to the dustbin and, looking at the two Young wizards William and Hermione, said: “This dustbin is enchanted to always remain here, so under no circumstances should you move it as a prank.
From here, you need to count up three bricks, then two across to the left, and then tap three times with your wand.
That will reveal the entrance to Diagon Alley.”
As she spoke, Professor McGonagall took out her wand and lightly tapped the brick.
The wall bricks began to tremble and rotate, as if some mechanism had been triggered.
Soon, a small hole appeared in the middle bricks.
The opening grew larger and larger, forming an archway large enough for everyone to pass through in just a few seconds.
“Remember what I just said.
Next time, you’ll have to come to Diagon Alley on your own,” Professor McGonagall said, her gaze sweeping over everyone’s reactions.
For her, this was one of the few pleasures of guiding new students.
And as for the results, the reactions were exactly as she had imagined.
At this, Professor McGonagall’s lips curved upwards in a pleased smile.
Though others were genuinely shocked, as for William…
William: I’m faking it.
“Let’s go.
We’ll go to Gringotts first to exchange money.
Muggle World currency won’t work in Diagon Alley,” Professor McGonagall’s voice brought everyone back to their senses.
Thinking of the exchange rate Professor McGonagall mentioned last night, Kyle hefted his backpack, feeling quite confident.
Soon, the group arrived at Gringotts.
Passing through the first bronze door, the inscription on the second silver door caught everyone’s attention.
However, William glanced at it and looked away, while Hermione, on the other hand, read it out with great interest:
“Enter, stranger, but take heed of what awaits the sin of greed…
For those who take, but do not earn, must pay most dearly in their turn.”
Seeing Hermione’s dismissive expression, William couldn’t help but think to himself that she was indeed the woman who would later blow up Gringotts.
Then, Professor McGonagall led everyone further inside, finally arriving before two relatively unoccupied Goblins.
“Hogwarts new students, need to exchange some Galleons,” Professor McGonagall said to the Goblin on the high platform, gesturing for the two families to step forward.
“Have you brought the Hogwarts acceptance letters?” the Goblin asked in a detached tone.
William took out his acceptance letter and handed it to Kyle, who then passed it to the Goblin.
He could look up at others normally, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so for these ugly Goblins perched on high platforms to signify their status.
Kyle was puzzled but took it and handed it over.
At this moment, William looked at Kyle’s height with envy in his eyes.
“Confirmed.
Hogwarts new students have a limit of 100 Galleons for exchange.
Five pounds sterling for one Galleon.
One Galleon equals 17 sickles.
One sickle equals 29 Knuts.
Sir, how much would you like to exchange?” the Goblin above said expressionlessly.
“100 Galleons.
Also, I’ve heard you accept gold and gemstones in exchange for Galleons here, correct?” Kyle said, casually pulling out 500 pounds.
“Of course, gold and gemstones are so captivating, they can naturally be exchanged for Galleons.”
At this moment, the Goblin’s expression became more amiable, though the greed in his eyes became even more pronounced.
“Then exchange all of these for Galleons.
See how much they’re worth,” Kyle said, opening his backpack.
The Goblin moved with speed belying his size the moment he saw the gold bars and gemstones, quickly taking them to begin inspection.
Some time passed like this.
The Granger family had already finished their exchange, while theirs was just beginning.
“Sir, these can be exchanged for twelve thousand five hundred Galleons.
I suggest you withdraw enough for your immediate needs and store the rest in a vault at Gringotts.”
“Then let’s do as you suggest.
Withdraw five hundred Galleons for us and store the rest in a vault,” Kyle said.
“Very well.
However, carrying so many Galleons would be quite troublesome.
We have bags enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm here.
Would you be interested?”
In this Goblin’s mind, Kyle’s family was now the most amiable of people, and he was happy to offer some conveniences.
Of course, these conveniences were not free.
In the end, the bags enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm were purchased.
After all, who could resist spatial items?
Two bags, one for Kyle and one for William, each with 50 cubic meters of space.
Though it cost 100 Galleons, in Kyle’s view, it was not a loss at all, especially since Professor McGonagall had said containers enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm were regulated.
After exchanging the Galleons, Professor McGonagall led everyone to purchase the other necessary items.