“Well then, my dear friend, make your choice.”
Professor Fig rose from his chair and held out his hand to Ethan, looking every bit like a calm, self-assured old charlatan.
“In that case, there’s only one answer for me.” Ethan sat up and played along beautifully.
“I will go to Hogwarts with you.”
Ethan reached out to Professor Fig, and the old man’s hand and the young man’s clasped tightly together.
Was that even a question?
Of course he was going.
What could possibly be more fun than going to Hogwarts to learn Magic?
“Good.
Then I’ll write back to the Ministry of Magic right away.
You stay here and focus on recovering.
Don’t go wandering around.”
Professor Fig gave him a few more instructions, then turned and walked out of the ward.
Ethan watched Professor Fig close the door, and the moment he was gone, all pretense dropped.
He leaned back against the headboard, looked up at the ceiling, and could not help grinning like an idiot.
“Heh heh…
Hogwarts…
heh heh…”
…
“We’re here.” Professor Fig stopped.
Ethan pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked up at the small, shabby pub Professor Fig was facing.
“The Leaky Cauldron.
A very famous place in the wizarding world,” Professor Fig explained.
“It’s also the entrance to Diagon Alley.”
For such a famous place, the Leaky Cauldron was really quite small and run-down.
Compared with the other shops on the street, it looked even more unsightly.
Yet the hurried passersby seemed completely unable to notice this out-of-place storefront.
Their attention went entirely to the bookstore and record shop beside it.
“Those people…
muggles.
They can’t see it, can they?” Ethan said thoughtfully.
“That’s right.
A Muggle-Repelling Charm has been cast on it.
Secrecy is very important, after all.
Come, follow me.” Professor Fig led Ethan into the Leaky Cauldron, past a few scattered tables and chairs where several people were sitting, and up to the equally old bar.
“Well, there’s a rare guest, Fig.
Finally found time to come in for a drink?” The pub owner stood behind the bar and raised his glass to Professor Fig.
Clearly, the two of them knew each other.
“Not today, Tom.
I still have to take my student to Diagon Alley to buy supplies.
We’ll save the drinks for another time.” Professor Fig gestured toward Ethan and politely declined.
They passed through the bar and arrived at a small courtyard behind the pub, enclosed by brick walls.
Apart from a covered dustbin and a clump of overgrown weeds, there was nothing there.
Professor Fig walked up to the dustbin and counted the bricks on the wall as he said, “Watch closely.
Three bricks up from the dustbin, then two to the left.
Tap three times.”
Professor Fig drew his wand and lightly tapped that brick three times.
“Step back, Ethan.
Remember where the brick is.
In the future, just do what I taught you, and you’ll be able to get in.”
The brick he had tapped began to tremble.
Along with the surrounding bricks, it shifted outward in all directions.
A small hole opened in the middle of the wall, growing larger and larger until, before long, a broad brick archway appeared before them, leading to a winding cobblestone street with no visible end.
“Welcome to Diagon Alley, Ethan.”
They stepped through the archway into Diagon Alley.
Ethan turned back and saw the bricks around the edge of the arch tremble and shift again, changing back into the original stone wall.
“Potage’s Cauldron Shop sells cauldrons of every size and material for brewing potions.
Quality Quidditch Supplies mainly sells Broomsticks and Quidditch robes.
Eeylops Owl Emporium specializes in all kinds of owls, which can help you send letters and parcels.
Flourish and Blotts sells all the textbooks and reference books you’ll need for school.
Quill & Ink has stationery like quills, ink, and parchment…
Ah, that white building up ahead is Gringotts.” Professor Fig led Ethan through all sorts of strange shops while introducing them.
“But we’ve already gathered most of the necessities for the start of term.
You can buy most of those things in Hogsmeade as well.
Let me think about what’s still missing…
A wand, a properly fitted set of robes.
Hmm, and an owl for delivering letters.”
They stopped in front of a shop called Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions.
“Madam Malkin’s.
The finest robes in all of Britain.
Go in by yourself, Ethan.
I’ll pick out an owl for you.”
Ethan walked into Madam Malkin’s shop alone and looked around.
“Here for your Hogwarts uniform, dear?” Ethan turned toward the voice and saw a short, plump witch in purple robes come out from behind a cloth curtain.
She was presumably the shop owner, Madam Malkin.
“Yes, Madam,” Ethan replied with a nod.
“Come to the back, then.
I’ll measure you for a set that suits you perfectly.”
Ethan followed Madam Malkin to the back of the shop and stood on a low stool.
Madam Malkin took out a black robe and had Ethan put it on, then measured him for the right length.
“Mm, five feet ten inches…
Now, arms out…
Turn around…
Good, that’s done, dear.
Go wait out front for a moment.
Your clothes will be ready very soon.”
The fitting was over quickly.
Ethan hopped down from the stool, returned to the front of the shop, and continued looking at the various styles of robes hanging on the walls.
Tap, tap, tap.
The sound of someone tapping on the glass caught Ethan’s attention.
He saw Professor Fig standing by the window, smiling at him and lifting a birdcage in his other hand.
Inside was a pure black short-eared owl.
At that moment, Madam Malkin came out from the back as well.
She handed Ethan a bag and said with a pleasant smile, “Three sets of robes, waterproof, self-ironing, self-repairing, with maximum pocket capacity.
All packed for you.
Ten Galleons in total, dear.”
Ethan reached into his bulging trouser pocket and took out the Galleons Professor Fig had given him before they set off, supposedly a stipend for new students.
He counted out ten gleaming gold coins and placed them in Madam Malkin’s palm, then took the bag of robes with his other hand and turned toward the door.
“Goodbye, Madam.”
“Looking forward to seeing you again, dear,” Madam Malkin called warmly from behind him.
Ethan came to Professor Fig’s side and looked at the owl in the cage.
The short-eared owl crouched quietly on its perch, turning its head from side to side as it met Ethan’s gaze.
“Black Cat.
Let’s call it Black Cat,” Ethan suggested, looking at the two pointed tufts of feathers on the short-eared owl’s head that looked very much like cat ears.
“Then you can hand your clothes to Black Cat now and have it take them back to the carriage.” Professor Fig opened the cage, and Black Cat flapped its wings and flew out, landing steadily on Ethan’s arm.
“Now all that’s left is to buy your wand and go to Gringotts to find out what’s going on.”