The next morning dawned bright and early, the Hawthornes finishing breakfast with uncommon speed before settling together in the living room, the air thick with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and an anticipation that hung palpably between them as they awaited Professor McGonagall's arrival.
As the clock's hands slid precisely to the appointed hour, the doorbell chimed punctually.
Opening the door, Professor McGonagall stood outside, her presence as crisp and commanding as ever.
"Good morning, Mr. Hawthorne," she nodded slightly, "Are you ready?"
"Of course, Professor!" David stepped forward, clutching a bulging leather wallet in his hand. "We've prepared enough pounds, and I'd like to personally accompany Kevin to Diagon Alley, if that's alright?"
"No problem," Professor McGonagall nodded, "However, long-distance Apparition can be a bit dangerous for those new to Magic, so we'll first go to the Floo Network hub in Plymouth and then travel to London via the Floo Network."
"Is Apparition the Magic you used yesterday when you suddenly disappeared into thin air? And what are the Floo Network and its hubs?" Kevin blinked, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.
Although he had read about them in books in his previous life, hearing these terms firsthand still thrilled him.
"Exactly right." Professor McGonagall's lips curved slightly, and a hint of approval flashed in her eyes behind her square spectacles.
"Apparition is indeed the Magic I used yesterday, but long-distance Apparition can cause severe discomfort—" Her gaze swept over David, "especially for ordinary people without Magic resistance."
Then, her slender fingers retrieved a small bag of glowing powder from inside her robes.
"The Floo Network is much safer.
It's a transportation system regulated by the Ministry of Magic, connecting thousands of registered fireplaces across Britain through specially made Floo Powder."
The powder flowed in her palm like living stars.
"Each connection point is a 'hub,' such as Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour or Flourish and Blotts in Diagon Alley, but this time we're only using it to travel to London."
Through the Floo Network, the group quickly arrived at Charing Cross Road in London.
The three stopped in front of a narrow gap between a bookstore and a record shop.
Unnoticed by passersby, Professor McGonagall walked straight towards an oak door that seemed forgotten by time—between the peeling black paint on the door, the word "Leaky Cauldron" was faintly visible.
"Remember this location, Mr. Hawthorne." Her wand lightly tapped the door knocker, and the rusted metal suddenly opened a pair of brass-colored eyes.
"In the future, this will always be your necessary path to Diagon Alley."
The wooden door creaked open automatically, and a warm scent, a mixture of butterbeer and musty wood, wafted out.
Under the dim light, more than a dozen oddly shaped figures whispered.
An old Witch in a pointed hat was feeding her Niffler, a few ragged Goblins were counting gold coins in a corner, and behind the bar…
"Good morning, Professor McGonagall." The bar owner, Tom, was wiping a glass.
He was hunched, but his smile was exceptionally kind.
"Good morning, Tom.
This is this year's new student, Kevin Hawthorne."
Tom squinted his cloudy eyes, scrutinizing Kevin: "Ah, new blood for Hogwarts! Child, welcome to the world of Magic."
After greeting Tom, the three passed through the noisy bar and entered the small courtyard in the back.
Professor McGonagall stood by the dustbin and took out her wand.
"Remember this location, Mr. Hawthorne," she pointed to a specific brick, "Count three bricks up, two bricks across, then tap it three times with your wand."
As the wand tapped, the brick wall seemed to come alive.
The bricks receded like a tide, revealing a wide archway.
The clamor of voices, the dazzling Magical light, and various strange scents instantly assailed them.
Diagon Alley was thus revealed to them without reservation.
"Wow!" David's eyes widened, and he let out a gasp.
Kevin, meanwhile, held his breath, greedily scanning the shops on both sides of the street: books that bit, cauldrons that stirred themselves, brooms dancing in display windows…
"Now we'll first head to Gringotts to exchange Galleons with the Goblins; pounds cannot be used directly here."
The street was bustling, with Wizards in various strange outfits moving through it.
David couldn't help but murmur, "It's like going back to the Victorian era here…"
The white building of Gringotts soon came into view.
In front of the bronze doors, a Goblin in uniform stood guard solemnly.
He had a sharp nose and long fingernails, his eyes alert and shrewd.
"That's a Goblin," Professor McGonagall explained in a low voice, "They are responsible for managing Gringotts' vaults and have an almost obsessive greed for contracts and wealth."
"They look… unique." David tried hard to control his expression.
Kevin, meanwhile, muttered to himself that they were even uglier than in the movies, with no aesthetic appeal.
Passing through the bronze doors, the second silver door was engraved with a warning:
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed.
"Do Wizards also rob banks?" David couldn't help but mutter.
"This is just a warning.
In fact, Gringotts is very safe, no need to worry," McGonagall said calmly.
"Yes, unless you're the Dark Lord or Harry Potter, don't expect to break in easily," Kevin thought.
Entering the second door, a Goblin appeared and led the three to a tall marble hall, where a Goblin was responsible for helping Kevin with the exchange.
The exchange process was unexpectedly smooth.
When Kevin offered to exchange additional Galleons for gold, the eyes of the Goblin attending them instantly lit up, and his attitude became uncomfortably obsequious: "Honored guest, how much gold do you wish to exchange?"
"About 100 ounces," Kevin replied, feigning calmness, yet keenly noticing Ragnok's breathing quicken noticeably. The goblin's wrinkled green skin flushed unnaturally, and even the golden scales pendant hanging around his neck began to tremble slightly.
"However, it's not for exchange this time. It will have to wait until my next visit to Gringotts."
"Of…of course you can!" The goblin's voice suddenly became shrill. He fumbled under the counter, pulling out a hot-stamped parchment, his fingers trailing a series of shimmering green sparks as they moved. "Esteemed guest, you can come find Ragnok anytime! Gringotts offers exclusive service channels for VIPs—"
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat softly, and only then did the goblin somewhat rein in his overly eager demeanor. But Kevin Hawthorne could still see the veins behind his pointed ears throbbing incessantly—that was the goblin's instinctive craving for gold.
Ragnok pushed over another contract, and the parchment displayed real-time fluctuating exchange rates. Kevin Hawthorne noticed that Gringotts' exchange rate for gold to Galleons was 15% higher than the normal rate. Even more striking was the additional clause in the corner: gold transactions exceeding 100 ounces would enjoy private vault storage services.
"Alright, I understand. I'll bring the gold next time," Kevin Hawthorne said to Ragnok after reading the contract.
"We look forward to your next visit." As Ragnok bowed, Kevin Hawthorne heard several envious hisses from other counters. A few goblins peeked out from behind their ledgers, their yellow eyes gleaming greedily in the dim hall.
As the trio walked towards the bronze doors, Ragnok remained in his exaggerated bowing posture.
After leaving Gringotts, the three headed straight for Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
"Are you here for Hogwarts uniforms, dear?" Madam Malkin—a plump, kindly Witch—greeted them with a smile.
True to being a tailor of the Magic world, there were self-flying tape measures, hovering pins, and scissors that cut precisely without being manipulated…
"The clothes will take some time to make," Madam Malkin finally said after all the measurements were taken. "You can come back to pick them up later."
After paying the deposit, Kevin suddenly asked, "Madam, do you accept owl post orders here? I'd like to customize some clothes for my family."
"Of course, dear! Just include accurate measurements and style requirements."
Following the list, the subsequent shopping proceeded like a whirlwind: first to the cauldron shop, where Kevin Hawthorne chose a standard-sized pewter cauldron.
Then to the apothecary, where the peculiar smell made David wrinkle his nose as soon as they entered. It was filled with all sorts of bizarre ingredients: sticky lizard eyeballs, powders shimmering with eerie light… They bought everything on the list and fled as if escaping.
Next was Flourish and Blotts. Kevin not only bought the required textbooks on the list but also additionally purchased "Essentials of History of Magic," "Basic Introduction to Alchemy," and other introductory books related to Magic. Afterwards, Kevin also inquired about mail order from the owner, and the bookstore owner readily agreed to the owl post request.
Then it was time to buy an owl. In the owl shop, a pure white snowy owl caught Kevin's eye. It held its head high, its amber eyes seemingly able to see through people's hearts. Kevin Hawthorne bought it without hesitation. The clerk also gave him some owl food.
The grand finale was Ollivander's Wand Shop.
In the narrow shop, mountains of wand boxes reached the ceiling. The air was filled with the scent of wood dust and some ancient, mysterious aura.
"Is anyone here?" Kevin asked upon entering the shop.
"Good afternoon," a soft voice came from the shadows. "A new Hogwarts student?"
Mr. Ollivander's silvery-white eyes were startlingly large, and he floated out from behind the shelves like a ghost. His gaze immediately fixed on Kevin. "Let's see, which wand will choose you…"
"May I ask your name? You can call me Mr. Ollivander."
"Sir, my name is Kevin Hawthorne."
"Alright, Mr. Hawthorne." Ollivander reached out and summoned a tape measure. "Now then, which is your dominant arm?"
"I am right-handed, sir."
The measuring process was even more meticulous than Madam Malkin's: from shoulder to fingertip, wrist to elbow, even head circumference and interpupillary distance were recorded.
"Try this one first," Ollivander handed over a wand. "Vine wood, Phoenix feather, nine inches."
As soon as Kevin gripped the wand, a violent energy erupted, and the boxes on the shelves clattered to the floor.
"No, not that one…" Ollivander, however, became even more excited. "Ah! Perhaps black walnut would suit you better? Dragon heartstring, eleven and three-quarter inches."
When Kevin's fingers touched this wand, a warm current spread from his palm throughout his body. He gave a gentle flick, and golden sparks burst from the wand tip, swirling upwards like fireflies on a summer night.
"Absolutely perfect!" Ollivander clapped his hands. "Black walnut symbolizes keen intuition and powerful insight, while dragon heartstring imbues it with immense power and wisdom… It seems you are destined for an extraordinary path, Mr. Hawthorne."
Kevin carefully turned the wand in his hand. The black walnut wood gleamed with a deep brownish-black luster in the candlelight. When his fingertips lightly touched the handle, a warm pulsation emanated from the point of contact, as if the wand had come to life.
"Thank you for your patronage, that will be seven Galleons," Ollivander said.
After buying the wand, Kevin and David went to Madam Malkin's shop to pick up the finished clothes.
Then they went to a snack shop and bought some unique Magic world snacks.
With all the items on the list purchased, Professor McGonagall took Kevin and his father out of Diagon Alley and saw them home.