Erwin retrieved a substantial pouch of Galleons and handed it directly to Sunny. "Use the magical communication credit system," he instructed clearly. "I'll have Old Tom bring several pre-configured mobile devices tomorrow, already loaded with substantial credit specifically for your group's expenses throughout Diagon Alley. You can pay for whatever supplies you require using the devices, and Tom will handle all the actual currency transfers behind the scenes."
Sunny nodded enthusiastically, accepting the pouch. "Understood! It's getting quite late now, so I should head back to inform everyone about this excellent news!"
Erwin dismissed her with a casual wave.
After Sunny departed energetically toward the castle, Fleur lingered behind deliberately.
"Erwin," she said, flashing her characteristically dazzling smile, "may I accompany you tomorrow as well?"
"Do whatever you prefer," Erwin replied easily. "You're welcome to come along if you're genuinely bored. I need to inform the professors anyway—it's only proper protocol to notify them officially when taking so many students off castle grounds simultaneously."
"I'll go inform Madame Maxime immediately!" Fleur declared, her smile widening as she hurried off toward the castle.
Once she had departed, Hermione and Pansy muttered in perfect, bitter unison: "Shameless tease!"
Fleur breezed past them on her way to the castle, seemingly catching their whispered criticism despite the distance.
With a deliberately provocative flick of her silvery hair, she strutted past with exaggerated confidence, chest prominently displayed.
Hermione and Pansy instinctively glanced down at their own considerably more modest figures, their expressions immediately souring with obvious displeasure.
Charlotte observed the silent competitive dynamics with barely concealed amusement.
She moved closer to Erwin and whispered discreetly, "My lord, I've realized our young witches here at Hogwarts are remarkably... spirited and competitive in certain ways."
Erwin glanced briefly behind him at the obviously disgruntled girls, then waved a dismissive hand. "Let them pursue whatever harmless amusement they find. They need some form of entertainment in their otherwise rather routine academic lives, don't they? It's growing quite late—let's take one more brief walk before retiring for the evening."
Charlotte nodded obediently, falling into step beside him.
Back in the Great Hall, Sunny Finch enthusiastically broke the excellent news to her fellow Kunlun students.
Visible excitement rippled powerfully through the assembled group.
As so-called "leftover" students—those who had been brought directly to Hogwarts rather than shopping in London first—they genuinely hadn't yet had any real opportunity to explore the Western wizarding world's commercial districts and culture.
Now that they had successfully mastered several fundamental Western spells through intensive study, they were extremely eager to test their new abilities in practical settings.
The persistent problem, however, remained their complete lack of proper wands. They simply couldn't cast Western-style magic effectively without the traditional focus.
While the Kunlun students' natural learning aptitude and theoretical comprehension far surpassed their Western peers' capabilities, expecting them to perform competent wandless magic immediately after only one week of study was completely unrealistic regardless of talent.
They also desperately needed proper cauldrons for Potions coursework.
Without appropriate equipment, every brewing attempt became a dangerous disaster of constant catastrophic explosions.
Everyone in Eastern magical communities maintained their own personal cauldrons naturally, but the specialized equipment was remarkably expensive, and absolutely nobody could realistically sustain that kind of severe financial drain on a daily basis from repeated destruction.
Without both wands and proper cauldrons, effectively reviewing and practicing their newly learned coursework was essentially impossible—a prospect completely intolerable to students culturally accustomed to rigorous preparation and review.
That same evening, Erwin went personally to inform Dumbledore of the planned excursion.
Not to formally request permission, mind you, but simply to inform the Headmaster as basic courtesy.
After delivering a brief explanation of the planned shopping trip, Erwin turned to depart without waiting for any response or discussion.
This casual dismissal irritated Dumbledore considerably.
Since his recent extended philosophical conversation with Grindelwald, Dumbledore had reached a profound personal realization: the overall situation at Hogwarts was genuinely beyond his effective control at this point.
Why continue stressing himself out pointlessly over circumstances he couldn't change?
He had decided to simply do what personally made him happy instead.
Especially with his old flame now joining the teaching staff, he could spend his remaining days peacefully stargazing and drinking tea, which had dramatically improved his general mood and disposition.
Given Erwin's characteristically curt dismissal tonight, however, Dumbledore immediately retreated to Grindelwald's private office seeking emotional comfort and sympathetic company.
Grindelwald listened with remarkable patience as Dumbledore vented his various frustrations, steadily pouring cup after cup of strong black tea throughout the extended monologue.
Dumbledore's grievances focused entirely on Erwin's behavior, his tone fluctuating between genuine frustration and somewhat petulant complaint.
By the time he finally finished unburdening himself, it was well past midnight.
Dumbledore slumped back dramatically against the sofa cushions. "Gellert, tell me honestly—didn't he go entirely too far with his dismissive attitude? I remain the Headmaster of Hogwarts, after all!"
"You're absolutely correct in your assessment," Grindelwald agreed smoothly and diplomatically. "You should definitely tell him exactly that directly to his face."
Dumbledore hesitated noticeably at that suggestion.
Confronting Erwin directly and openly? Perhaps that wasn't the wisest course of action after careful consideration.
He couldn't defeat the young man in any form of magical duel, nor could he hope to win any verbal argument or debate.
Erwin fundamentally lacked the traditional social decorum expected of a proper gentleman, and any confrontation would only leave Dumbledore looking foolish and impotent.
Grindelwald chuckled knowingly at Dumbledore's obvious hesitation and transparent second thoughts. "Very well then. I'll personally accompany the students tomorrow on their excursion. It's been quite a while since I last visited Diagon Alley properly."
Dumbledore, recognizing the diplomatic hint being offered, gratefully let the uncomfortable matter drop entirely. "Fine. It's extremely late now—I desperately need proper rest. I'm absolutely exhausted and furious."
As Dumbledore finally departed for his own quarters, Grindelwald shook his head with fond exasperation.
No matter how many decades passed or how much superficial wisdom the man accumulated, Dumbledore's fundamental core nature remained essentially unchanged beneath the carefully cultivated exterior of a wise, measured leader.
The following morning, Erwin was awakened by polite but insistent knocking at his door.
He groggily opened his eyes and waved one hand with casual magic. The door unlocked itself smoothly, and Charlotte stepped inside with her usual efficiency.
"My lord, Sunny Finch is waiting downstairs in the common room," she reported clearly. "If you look out your window, you'll observe that all the Kunlun students are already assembled by the lake shore, ready for departure."
Erwin yawned expansively and sat up properly. "Understood. Escort them to Hogsmeade first—I'll meet everyone there shortly. Has Old Tom been contacted about the transportation arrangements?"
"Yes, my lord," Charlotte confirmed with a nod. "Mr. Tom has a specially configured magical motorcoach prepared and ready to transport all the students comfortably."
"Excellent work. Proceed with the plan."
After Charlotte departed to begin the escort, Erwin completed his morning washing routine efficiently.
His pajamas transfigured seamlessly into a sharp, formal suit with merely a focused thought—one of the many convenient applications of advanced Transfiguration.
He summoned Ebony, who immediately leaped into his waiting arms with obvious affection, and patted the shape-shifting familiar's head fondly.
A distinctive vortex of purple Apparition energy swirled dramatically behind him, then swallowed his form completely.
The next moment, Erwin materialized smoothly on the familiar cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade village.
Two substantial motorcoaches sat waiting at the designated meeting point, the distinctive purple lotus crest of the Cavendish family emblazoned prominently on their polished sides.
The assembled Kunlun students were already efficiently boarding the vehicles in remarkably disciplined rows—an apparent talent for orderly queuing that seemed almost innate to their cultural background.