Adam and Lance’s first stop in Diagon Alley was none other than Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions.
For most Muggle-born students entering the wizarding world for the first time, their journey would usually begin at Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
After all, ordinary Muggle currency had no value in the magical world.
Every year before the start of term, Gringotts opened a special currency exchange counter specifically for Muggle families.
There, they could exchange a limited amount of Muggle money for wizarding currency.
The amount allowed, however, was never very large.
Gold, on the other hand, was always accepted.
Through special magical refinement methods, goblins could process ordinary gold into Fine Gold, a material highly valued by wizards for crafting magical objects and enchanted tools.
Naturally, this was never a concern for the Ambrosius Family.
As a family that had existed for over fourteen centuries, the Ambrosius lineage possessed unimaginable wealth.
Beneath the towering garden spires of their ancestral estate lay several underground vaults used to store generations of accumulated treasures.
Among all the riches hidden there, Galleons were probably the least valuable.
Even so, the Ambrosius Family still possessed a private vault in Gringotts itself.
According to family records, the vault had been established during the earliest days of the bank’s founding.
At the time, the Goblin King had apparently been close friends with the head of the Ambrosius Family.
At the Goblin King’s personal invitation, the family opened a vault in Gringotts.
Unfortunately, as centuries passed, the vault was gradually forgotten.
No member of the family had opened it in hundreds of years.
Adam himself had only learned about its existence recently while reading through the family archives.
Otherwise, the ancient vault might have remained forgotten forever.
Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions was considered the finest clothing shop in all of Diagon Alley.
Nearly every Hogwarts student purchased their school robes there, and even wealthy pure-blood families often commissioned custom-made outfits from Madam Malkin herself.
Adam was no exception.
In fact, many of his clothes had been specially tailored there over the years.
Since Hogwarts acceptance letters had recently begun arriving, the shop was particularly crowded today.
Young witches and wizards filled the store, accompanied by excited parents buying school supplies for the upcoming term.
“Professor McGonagall, are we buying the school uniforms here?” A middle-aged man standing outside the shop asked cautiously.
Beside him stood a stern-looking witch wearing deep emerald robes and a pointed hat.
Professor McGonagall gave a slight nod.
“That’s correct.
Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions is where Hogwarts students usually purchase their uniforms.” Standing beside them was a woman and a young girl, both staring at the magical storefront with obvious curiosity.
The woman’s eyes immediately lit up when she noticed the elegant dresses displayed inside.
She looked completely captivated by the latest wizarding fashion.
The young girl, however, had her attention elsewhere.
After briefly scanning the store, her eyes suddenly landed on Lance.
The small house-elf’s appearance was unlike anything she had ever seen before.
His large ears, wrinkled skin, and strange proportions reminded her of goblin-like creatures from fantasy stories.
Her face instantly paled.
“Ah!” A startled cry escaped her lips before she could stop herself.
The sound immediately drew the attention of several nearby customers.
Realizing everyone was staring at her, the girl hurriedly covered her mouth in embarrassment.
The middle-aged man and Professor McGonagall naturally noticed her reaction as well.
When the man saw Lance clearly, he instinctively stepped forward and shielded his wife and daughter behind him.
“Professor McGonagall… what is that thing?
Why is there a monster here?” Although visibly frightened, he still tried to protect his family.
Professor McGonagall sighed softly before explaining.
“Mr.
Granger, that is not a monster.” “It is called a house-elf.
They are very common in the wizarding world.
Under normal circumstances, they do not attack people.” Hearing her explanation, the Granger family relaxed slightly.
At that moment, the shop door swung open.
A short, plump witch dressed entirely in mauve stepped outside with a cheerful smile.
“Professor McGonagall!
It’s been far too long since I last saw you!” This was Madam Malkin herself.
Her face was warm and welcoming, and her tone carried the friendliness of someone who knew nearly every witch and wizard in Britain.
“I just received several new designs,” she said enthusiastically.
“Would you like to try them on?” A flicker of interest appeared in Professor McGonagall’s eyes.
However, after glancing at the Granger family beside her, she shook her head.
“Perhaps another time.
I’m here today to help a new student purchase her school supplies.” Madam Malkin immediately turned toward the young girl with a bright smile.
“A first-year student, is she?
Come inside, dear.
We’ll get you fitted right away.” The girl looked nervously at Professor McGonagall.
Only after receiving an encouraging nod did she cautiously step forward.
As Madam Malkin turned back toward the shop, she suddenly noticed Adam and Lance standing nearby.
Her expression brightened even further.
“Oh!
Little Adam!
Why are you still standing outside?
Come in, come in!” She placed a hand against her cheek dramatically.
“I was wondering earlier why you didn’t visit on your birthday this year.
I almost thought something had happened.
Are you here for the usual custom order?” Adam smiled politely.
“Of course, Madam Malkin.
I was just about to come find you.” Unlike many customers, Adam had known Madam Malkin for years.
Ever since discovering he possessed magical talent, Adam had desperately wanted to visit Diagon Alley.
Unfortunately, Lance and Ecter had always worried about his safety and refused to bring him.
It wasn’t until Adam’s seventh birthday that he finally got his wish.
After relentless pleading, Lance and Ecter eventually agreed to take him to Diagon Alley as a birthday gift.
From that moment onward, visiting Diagon Alley became an annual tradition.
Every year on his birthday, Adam, Lance, and Ecter would spend the day exploring the magical shopping district.
And every single visit included a stop at Madam Malkin’s.
Adam usually purchased enough clothes there to last the entire year, which naturally left a deep impression on the shop owner.
Still, what Madam Malkin remembered most vividly was something that happened when Adam was nine years old.
That year, Adam requested an entirely custom-made outfit.
It included a long coat, tailored trousers, undergarments, and even a specially designed cloak.
Normally, such requests were nothing unusual for Madam Malkin.
Wealthy pure-blood families commissioned extravagant clothing all the time, and her tailoring skills were renowned throughout magical Britain.
Even Professor McGonagall occasionally ordered custom robes from her.
But Adam’s order had been different.
Very different.
The material he requested nearly gave Madam Malkin a heart attack.
Unicorn hair.
Not embroidery.
Not decorative stitching.
Actual unicorn hair woven directly into the fabric.
To this day, Madam Malkin remained convinced it was the most expensive set of clothing she had ever created in her entire life.
Before meeting Adam, she would never have imagined anyone insane enough to use unicorn hair as a clothing material.
After all, unicorns were among the rarest magical creatures in existence.
Most wizards would consider themselves fortunate simply to see one during their lifetime.
As for unicorn hair, it was an extremely valuable magical material commonly used in wand cores and advanced enchantments.
For ordinary wizards, the closest they would ever come to touching unicorn hair was probably holding a wand that contained it.
If someone had told Madam Malkin in the past that a child would use unicorn hair to make an entire wardrobe, she would have laughed so hard she’d spill her Butterbeer.
Yet that impossible scenario had become reality.
And the culprit behind it all was standing right in front of her now.
Adam Ambrosius.
The absurdly wealthy young heir of an ancient family.
Madam Malkin still remembered the expression on her assistants’ faces when the materials had first arrived.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Terror.
One apprentice had nearly fainted after calculating the value of the fabric alone.
The finished clothing radiated faint magical energy even without enchantments.
The unicorn hair naturally enhanced the fabric’s resistance to dirt, water, and minor magic.
The robes were soft, elegant, and nearly indestructible.
Even several pure-blood nobles who visited afterward became jealous upon seeing them.
Unfortunately for them, unicorn hair was simply too precious.
Not even wealthy families could casually acquire enough of it to make clothing.
But Adam was different.
The Ambrosius Family’s resources were beyond ordinary imagination.
To them, rare magical materials were merely another household commodity.
Madam Malkin glanced at Adam now, unable to suppress a small sigh.
Compared to other children his age, Adam carried himself with an unnatural calmness and grace.
His silver-white hair and striking appearance already made him stand out in a crowd, but his composed demeanor was even more extraordinary.
He looked less like a child and more like the young heir of some ancient royal family.
Even many adult pure-blood nobles lacked his natural elegance.
“Honestly,” Madam Malkin muttered with amusement, “every time you visit, I end up questioning my understanding of wealth.” Adam simply smiled.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Nearby, the Granger family had unconsciously overheard part of the conversation.
Mr.
Granger looked utterly confused.
He had assumed the boy was merely another wealthy wizard child.
But from the way Madam Malkin spoke to him, it was obvious Adam’s status was far from ordinary.
Even Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes slightly.
She had naturally recognized the Ambrosius surname the moment Madam Malkin addressed him.
The Ambrosius Family was ancient even among wizarding aristocrats.
Very few people truly understood how deep their influence ran.
In fact, many believed the family had deliberately withdrawn from public affairs centuries ago.
And yet, here stood one of their descendants.
Professor McGonagall quietly studied Adam for a moment.
Adam noticed her gaze almost immediately and politely inclined his head.
“Professor McGonagall.” His tone was calm and respectful.
Professor McGonagall returned the greeting with a slight nod.
“Mr.
Ambrosius.” The brief exchange caused the Grangers to become even more nervous.
They could clearly sense that this silver-haired boy possessed an extraordinary background.
Hermione Granger secretly peeked at Adam again.
This time, however, her attention wasn’t on Lance.
Instead, she found herself curious about the mysterious boy who could casually use unicorn hair to make clothes.
To her, it sounded unbelievable.
Even in the magical world, surely that level of extravagance was absurd.
Meanwhile, Lance puffed out his chest proudly beside Adam, looking immensely satisfied by the reactions around them.
As Adam stepped into Madam Malkin’s shop, the surrounding conversations gradually quieted.
Many customers recognized him.
Others simply sensed that he was unusual.
But regardless of the reason, nearly everyone’s eyes followed him.
After all, a child who could make Madam Malkin herself react with such enthusiasm was clearly no ordinary wizard.
Give me more motivation!