Professor McGonagall took a delicate sip of her tea, her gaze calm and assessing. "Do either of you have any more questions about magic or the wizarding world?"
Lucien and his aunt exchanged a brief glance before both shook their heads. Their acceptance of this new reality was surprisingly swift. For Lucien, a transmigrator, the existence of magic was a known fact the moment he saw the Hogwarts crest. For Penelope, having witnessed a woman transform from a cat, a bedroom twist itself into a chaotic menagerie, and then be restored with a flick of a wand, all doubt had been thoroughly vanquished.
While his aunt engaged Professor McGonagall in polite conversation, Lucien turned his focus inward, taking stock of his new abilities. A mental panel seemed to unfold in his mind's eye.
White Magic: S
Dark Arts: SS+
Defense: S+
Transfiguration: SSS
Potions: A
Alchemy: A+
Magic Power: SS (Locked)
His gaze lingered on the final entry. The words "To be unlocked" pulsed softly. He directed a thought to the system. "Why is my Magic Power talent still locked?"
[The Host's current physical constitution is insufficient to handle such a significant increase in magical power. Please acquire a suitable item to channel and safely release this power first.]
A suitable item to channel magical power? If he had to find something in this new wizarding world... a thought suddenly crystallized in Lucien's mind. It was the one item every wizard possessed, an object described as being uniquely compatible with its owner, designed specifically to channel magical energy.
"System," he asked, "would a wand from this world meet the conditions?"
[The wand must be highly compatible with the Host. The strength of the wand's core and wood materials must also be taken into consideration.]
Hearing the system's reply, Lucien felt a wave of relief. He recalled reading about a particular shop in a place called Diagon Alley—Ollivanders, a place that housed countless wands. Surely, among them, he could find one suitable for him.
"Professor McGonagall," Lucien interjected, his voice earnest. "When can we go to purchase the necessary school supplies? Also, regarding the Transfiguration you mentioned... I find myself very interested. May I begin learning the related theory in advance before the classes start? I find myself to be really intrigued with all this."
He knew that the stern professor before him was a master in the field of Transfiguration and the head of that department at Hogwarts. She was the best possible resource. With only one year to achieve 'perfect mastery' and repay the 'Loki's Faceless' loan, he couldn't afford to waste a single moment. He didn't even know the most basic concepts yet.
A genuine smile touched Professor McGonagall's lips. Her earlier emphasis on the wonders and complexities of Transfiguration had not been in vain; the boy was truly captivated. To ask to learn in advance showed a scholarly drive she deeply respected.
Putting down her teacup, she spoke with a measured warmth. "I am delighted you've taken an interest in Transfiguration. As it happens, it is the subject I teach at Hogwarts. We can go to Diagon Alley now to purchase your supplies. You will find everything you need there."
The three of them stood. At a nod from Penelope, a servant waiting outside quickly entered and handed Lucien a heavy suitcase. During their conversation, Professor McGonagall had reminded them to prepare some Muggle currency for exchange into the wizarding currency, Galleons.
Professor McGonagall placed a hand on Lucien's shoulder. "This will feel a bit uncomfortable," she warned softly, "but it will be over in an instant. Apparition."
From Penelope's perspective, the two of them simply vanished, their forms twisting and swirling inward before disappearing completely. For Lucien, the world dissolved into a dizzying blur of color and pressure. A moment later, they solidified in a small, grimy alley. Professor McGonagall glanced at Lucien, noting his composed expression with a flicker of surprise.
"Most people feel quite dizzy, or even vomit, their first time Apparating," she commented. "You adapted very quickly."
Lucien rubbed his temples, his dark green eyes narrowing slightly as he processed the strange sensation. This resilience had to be a physical change brought on by 'Loki's Faceless.' The integration had just finished when the professor arrived, leaving him no time to explore his new state. A strange, fleeting impulse pricked at his mind—an urge to turn a passing pedestrian into a baboon. Could this be a side effect of his SSS-rank Transfiguration talent? He remembered that Loki was also known as the God of Mischief. Had the loan affected his personality as well?
Unaware of Lucien's internal musings, McGonagall assumed he was simply recovering. "Sorry, Professor, I was a little distracted," Lucien said, reigning in his wandering thoughts.
"It's quite alright," she replied, shaking her head. She led him toward a rather dilapidated-looking pub named The Leaky Cauldron. They passed through the noisy, crowded common room to a small, walled-in courtyard at the back, where a lone trash can stood. Professor McGonagall drew her wand and pointed it at the brick wall.
"Remember this," she instructed. "Three bricks up from the trash can, and two across..." As she spoke, she tapped a specific brick twice. A magical scene unfolded. The brick she tapped receded, triggering a cascade as the surrounding bricks shifted, protruded, and flipped, rearranging themselves until they formed a grand stone archway. Through it lay a bustling, cobblestoned street.
Shops of every shape and color lined the street, their windows displaying a bewildering array of goods. Lucien turned his head, taking in the bubbling cauldrons, the owls hooting from their perches, and the robes in a shop window that waved their sleeves and bowed to passersby. Even with his mental preparation, the sheer reality of stepping into the wizarding world filled him with a sense of wonder and excitement.
Seeing his reaction, Professor McGonagall smiled. "We'll exchange your money for Galleons first. Then you can browse the shops at your leisure."
She led Lucien toward the imposing white marble building of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. As they walked, Lucien's analytical mind kicked in. "Professor, was that trash can back there enchanted to be immovable?" he asked. "If some drunkard or prankster were to move it, how would anyone find the correct brick?"
A slight smile played on Professor McGonagall's lips. "A very astute observation. The trash can is not only immovable but also impervious to Transfiguration and most other forms of magic. Indeed, mischievous students and inebriated wizards have tried to move or destroy it over the years. They all failed."
They arrived before the bank. Lucien surveyed its grand columns and polished bronze doors, feeling its opulent style was starkly out of place with the quaint, crooked shops of Diagon Alley. It certainly lived up to its reputation as the only bank in the wizarding world, exuding an aura of immense wealth. Inside, numerous short, pointed-eared goblins were hard at work. Lucien knew they were intelligent but also notoriously greedy. The thought that wizards entrusted their entire economy to this species gave him pause. It seemed like a dangerous vulnerability. Then he remembered that goblins were forbidden from carrying wands, keeping them suppressed by the magical might of wizards. In the end, raw power was the ultimate truth.
Soon, a goblin approached them. "A new student needing to exchange currency?" he asked in a high-pitched, reedy voice, before launching into the rules. "The exchange rate is five British Pounds to one Galleon. One Galleon is equal to seventeen Sickles, and one Sickle is twenty-nine Knuts."
Lucien didn't even bother trying to make sense of the bizarre exchange rate. "The annual limit for exchanging Pounds is one hundred Galleons," the goblin continued. "Of course, there is no limit if you are exchanging pure gold."
After finishing his explanation, the goblin looked at Lucien with keen, anticipatory eyes, a flicker of avarice in their depths. In his decades at Gringotts, he had learned to size up a customer's wealth at a glance. This handsome human youth carried the unmistakable scent of money.
Lucien wasted no more words and simply handed the heavy suitcase to the goblin, eager to buy his wand and get his hands on some books. The weight of the case brought a flicker of delight to the goblin's face. He deftly unlatched it. His professional demeanor momentarily shattered, his eyes widening as a sharp intake of breath hissed between his teeth. The case was filled to the brim with gleaming, solid gold bars.