"It's okay if you can't figure it out right now. You'll have time to slowly ponder it once you enter Hogwarts and begin your formal studies."
Professor McGonagall, noticing Dylan's silence, assumed he was lost for words and offered a soothing reassurance.
"Come to think of it, the question you ask touches upon the very origins of spells. Even many wizards haven't considered these things until they graduate."
The corners of her mouth curved upward, a few faint lines forming, and her stern, almost rigid, expression softened.
"And you, a young wizard, are able to gain such insights from your first encounter with magic. That's truly remarkable. If you have any questions about Transfiguration after you enroll, feel free to come and discuss them with me. I'd love to hear from you."
"Oh? Really, Professor?" Dylan's eyes lit up.
"Of course," Professor McGonagall nodded.
Great, great, connections +1!
He truly had a mountain of questions and concerns about Transfiguration.
But these thoughts were obviously not something a Muggle child who had never been exposed to the wizarding world could ask.
He had been wondering if it would be inappropriate to ask for advice frequently after school, but now that Professor McGonagall had brought it up, he was very pleased.
Professor McGonagall looked at Dylan and was also very happy.
Such a smart little wizard, as long as he didn't go astray, might have the opportunity to stay at Hogwarts and teach in the future.
Thinking of this, Professor McGonagall stood up and said, "Okay, remember to take your reply letter, we should set off."
The Hawkwoods were a little hesitant, but in the end they agreed to Dylan's admission to Hogwarts.
"Here are our family savings, honey. Being a wizard must be very expensive, right? Take these." Dylan's mother handed a backpack to her son.
"Thank you, Mom. I will study magic well and take care of you in your old age," Dylan said seriously.
Maeve was touched. "Okay, let's get going! Don't waste the professor's time."
Dylan turned and asked, "Professor McGonagall, are we going to Diagon Alley now?"
"Yes, we can get there by Apparition or Floo powder. However, it's quite remote here, and there's no fireplace nearby, so Floo powder won't work."
Professor McGonagall took Dylan's hand.
"Remember, hold on to me tight."
As soon as she finished speaking, Dylan felt his body lighten, and he quickly clenched Professor McGonagall's hand.
Space distorted.
Instantly, the strange feeling faded, and a cacophony of voices filled his ears.
At the same time, a nauseating feeling surged up his throat. Dylan instinctively swallowed, swallowing it all back.
This only made the nausea worse.
"Wow!"
Professor McGonagall, seemingly used to it, raised her hand and unleashed a spell, which made Dylan feel much better.
"This is a normal reaction to your first Apparition. Don't resist, just get used to it."
Professor McGonagall smiled. "We're here."
Dylan adjusted himself for a moment, then opened his eyes.
He saw a small, dingy bar, wedged between neat buildings on either side. It looked strange no matter how he looked at it.
"The Leaky Cauldron, right on the streets of London. Only wizards can see it. Stay close to me."
Professor McGonagall tried to let go, but Dylan held on tightly.
She paused, then took Dylan's hand and walked straight in.
"Professor McGonagall? It's been a while. Would you like a drink?"
The bartender had just greeted a customer to sit down when he saw Professor McGonagall and enthusiastically took out a dirty rag and wiped a glass.
"Not really, and I have a student with me." Professor McGonagall glanced at the bartender, then motioned for Dylan to follow.
The two walked around the bar and into a walled courtyard. Dylan couldn't help but ask, "Professor McGonagall, isn't there any magic for cleaning?"
"Huh? Of course there is."
"So, that Shrew Bar is so dirty, why doesn't the owner use cleaning magic, but uses dirty rags to wipe the cups?"
Professor McGonagall explained: "Existence of a spell and whether to use it or not are two different things. Many wizards don't care about these... Of course I am an exception."
"So I never drink here. There is a secret restaurant that is not bad and clean... I mean, little guy, minors are not allowed to drink."
"I understand, Professor McGonagall." Dylan smiled slightly.
Professor McGonagall drew her wand again. "Watch out! You can't Apparate, and thus enter Diagon Alley, until you're seventeen."
"So next time you want to go to Diagon Alley, you'll have to go to the Leaky Cauldron and take this route,"
Professor McGonagall said, gesturing with her wand. "Count three tiles up from the dustbin, two tiles sideways, and tap them three times."
With a flick of her wand, the tiled area before them trembled and retreated to the sides.
It transformed into an archway, revealing a bustling commercial street.
Dylan peered inside.
At first glance, Diagon Alley looked like any other market, except that the pedestrians were all wizards, and the decor of every shop had a timeworn air.
"We need to go to Gringotts first and exchange the money in your backpack for wizarding currency."
Professor McGonagall glanced down at Dylan's overflowing backpack. "Your parents seem to love you very much."
"Yes, I love them too," Dylan smiled.
A faint frown crossed Professor McGonagall's eyes. "Follow me."
She led the way, guiding Dylan to the front of Gringotts.
Dylan immediately spotted the warning on the second door: "Enter, stranger, but beware
!" "It's quite intimidating," Dylan looked around curiously.
Passing through two doors, they arrived in a spacious marble hall.
Hundreds of goblins sat behind a long counter, hurriedly recording various information in a large ledger.
"Oh, Professor McGonagall! How can I help you?"
As soon as Professor McGonagall, a Hogwarts teacher, entered, a goblin immediately greeted her with a beaming smile.
"I just need to exchange some Galleons."
"For money?" The goblin's enthusiasm instantly faded upon hearing this. "Then I won't bother you anymore."
As the goblins left, Professor McGonagall looked down at Dylan. "Don't worry about these goblins."
Dylan nodded slightly. "I understand, Professor. They only care about money, just like my father's manager."
Professor McGonagall was startled and patted Dylan's head.
The process went smoothly from then on.
Almost none of the goblins even glanced at Dylan, probably assuming that anyone exchanging Muggle currency was a Muggle-born wizard.
While goblins may have historically been defeated by wizards, that didn't mean they looked down on Muggle-borns.
"Pounds can actually be exchanged for Galleons with no limit?" Dylan narrowed his eyes slightly after receiving the money.
You know, the preciousness of wizarding currency is self-evident. As for the currency of these Muggles...
"An exchange rate of one to five? I'd have to make money even if I just invested in a few stocks."
With that exchange rate, either the goblins genuinely despise Muggles and haven't even considered the purchasing power of the British pound.
Or they're simply obsessed with money, or perhaps they have no idea about economics.
"If there's a chance, let's not even short Gringotts, at least let these uneducated people experience the wonders of economics."
(End of chapter)