"Look at that trash can, count three bricks up, two to the other side and three taps with your wand, and you will open the passage to Diagon Alley." said Tom to Mr. Granger and Hermione, who were standing next to him.
Mr. Granger was Hermione's father, kindly looking, with gold-rimmed glasses and a refined appearance. Of course, as a dentist running a practice in London, Mr. Granger is definitely an intellectual. Doctors in the UK are different from those in China, where the status of doctors in public hospitals is definitely higher than that in clinics, and where doctors are more likely to work in tertiary and secondary hospitals as attending physicians than as general practitioners in clinics. Unlike in the UK, where private practice physicians are the big players, physicians in public hospitals are worse off than those in private practice.
Mr. Granger, as a dentist with a practice, was certainly effective, but such status was of little use in the magical world, being a doctor or a plumber made no difference in the eyes of a wizard: both were Muggles. Naturally, Mr. Granger was apprehensive about facing the magical world. So he welcomed Tom's help with open arms.
As they entered Diagon Alley, the Grangers were amazed to see the stores full of owls, the women buying dragon livers, the shop windows with flying brooms.... They were like Alice entering Wonderland, curious and amazed by everything.
"Shall we go to Gringotts first to change our money?" Tom offered his advice. Visiting the Wizarding World was no different than traveling across the border, first getting a visa, then exchanging money.... The process was the same.
Tom's suggestion eased the tension in the minds of Mr. Granger and his daughter, and they suddenly calmed down.
Tom led the couple to the most imposing building in Diagon Alley, Gringotts.
It was a snow-white building that towered above the surrounding stores. Standing by its bronze doors was a goblin in a scarlet and gold uniform.
"Yes, it's a leprechaun." explained Tom quietly to Mr. Granger and his daughter. They watched as the small, thin boy in front of them walked towards Gringotts, and they followed him, up the white stone steps to the Pavilion doors, where the goblin bowed to them. Above the bronze door was a silver door with a poem engraved on it.
"Is that a giant?" asked Hermione quietly in Tom's ear, seeing that the giant of a man who had entered a little before them was already at the counter.
"No, that's just a hybrid giant, the real one is taller." muttered Tom in reply. The three of them walked straight in.
Guided by two goblins, they arrived at a marble room. There were a hundred goblins sitting behind a row of long counters, weighing coins, examining gems and writing drawings. There were innumerable doors in the hall, and every now and then a few goblins would come out of them or take customers away.
Tom walked up to the counter and greeted one of the goblins who was idle, "Good morning, we need to change some money."
The goblin looked up, noticed the trio's attire and showed a hint of imperceptible disappointment. "Could you show me your ID, sir? The student exchange limit for a semester is ten galleons."
"Here's my acceptance letter," Tom said, pulling out his Hogwarts acceptance letter and placing it on the counter, then pulling out some bills. He then pulled out three gold bars, and the goblin's expression softened as the glint of gold appeared on the counter. He respectfully took the bars from Tom and carefully weighed them on a scale. As for the pounds, he just looked at them and put them in the drawer.
The gold had been bought on the black market after Tom and Yuri separated, and since it came from an obscure source, it was cheaper than what was sold in the banks, as 500 pounds sterling was enough for 70 grams of gold. He then did the same and obtained 180 grams of gold,
Adding to his ten-gallon limit for the year, Tom was able to collect 46 gallons directly from Gringotts, instantly earning a lot of money, 20 gallons of which he had to pay back to Hogwarts, of course, and which had already been transferred to the Hogwarts account, as Tom is not in the habit of owing money.
Mr. Granger behind him was no exception, and took 200 grams of gold and 50 pounds for 50 galleons, Hogwarts had done a good background check, and with Hermione's family, there was no need for an allowance, some of the purebloods didn't have as much money as his family.
The elf behind the counter was grinning from ear to ear as he handed Mr. Granger a card, hoping to work with him again. Under his gaze, the three of them walked out of Gringotts.
"Well, what are we going to buy now?" asked Tom once the group was back on the sunny street.
"I want to buy books!" Hermione's eyes were full of stars, she had been looking forward to magic books for so long that she couldn't wait to spend the rest of her vacation reading them.
"Well, I don't have all my textbooks either." Tom took her up on the offer and led Hermione to Flourish and Blotts Bookshop.
"Standard Spells, Elemental, History of Magic, Theory of Magic, Thousand Herbs and Magic Mushrooms, Potions and Magic Potions, Fantastic Animals and Where to Find Them, two galleons each, and Black Magic: A Guide to Self-Defense, one galleon, for a total of thirteen galleons." The clerk handed the packed books to Tom.
"You forgot to buy the Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration!" Hermione knew the list of books by heart and immediately realized that Tom had forgotten to buy one.
"Professor McGonagall gave me your old book." Tom smiled at Hermione.
At the news, Hermione perked up, "Really?! That's great, it's a teacher's book, can I look at it with you?"
Mr. Granger also kindly invited Tom to stay at his house for the vacations, so that we could all go to King 's Cross station on September 1. To this, of course, Tom agreed: why live under a bridge when you have a house? It wasn't stupid.
When they left the bookstore, Hermione went shopping for robes at Madame Malkin's store, Robes For All Occasions. They then bought many other things, such as quills, cauldrons, scrolls, etc.
They met the big guy again, and his conversation with a thin, black-haired boy reached Hermione's ears.
"...There are four houses at Hogwarts. They say Hufflepuff has a lot of food, but..."
"I think I'm going to be assigned in Hufflepuff."
"I'd rather be in Hufflepuff than Slytherin! The dark wizards are all from Slytherin, and the Dark Lord is one of them..."