"Professor, where is Diagon Alley?"
"London, Charing Cross Road in Westminster. There's a well-known landmark of the magical world there, the Leaky Cauldron. If you go through the Leaky Cauldron, you'll reach Diagon Alley."
It seemed that she had answered this question many times, as Professor McGonagall replied without a pause.
"London, Charing Cross Road, the Leaky Cauldron," Andrew repeated, committing the location to memory. "Alright, Professor, I've got it. So, how are we going to get there?"
"The Knight Bus, Floo Network, Apparition, or Muggle transportation," Professor McGonagall replied, giving him a nod. "If we were in London, I would recommend Muggle transport, but as we're a bit far and there's no large Floo Network hub nearby, we'll be Apparating."
"Apparition? You mean... a spell that moves a person from one place to another?" Andrew tried to keep up his talkative persona. "That sounds like a remarkable spell."
"Most students attempt to learn it once they're of age. But yes, it requires sufficient magical knowledge and power," McGonagall nodded. "Grab my arm, Taylor, and don't let go, or we might run into some trouble."
Andrew complied quickly; he wasn't about to act recklessly in the face of the unknown.
"Close your eyes, Taylor. Ready—one, two, three."
At the final word, a thick darkness enveloped Andrew, accompanied by a crushing sensation, like he was being submerged under deep water, with pressure squeezing in from all directions.
But the discomfort soon lifted, and Professor McGonagall's voice sounded again, "Alright, you can open your eyes now, Mr. Taylor. That was a very smooth Apparition."
Even amidst the intense discomfort, Andrew had sensed that McGonagall had been observing him, almost as if she were checking him for something.
"Is there anything wrong, Professor?"
"No, everything's intact; nothing to worry about, Mr. Taylor," she assured him confidently. "I was just doing a routine check for Splinching. It's quite common if one doesn't hold on properly."
"So, one of the possible outcomes of improper magic usage, like you mentioned before?"
"Exactly, Taylor," Professor McGonagall nodded. "But now, you can focus on something else—this is the Leaky Cauldron."
It was finally here.
The surname "McGonagall" might not immediately conjure thoughts of the magical world, but the Leaky Cauldron was another story entirely.
Andrew looked at the pub in front of him—or rather, the tavern. Compared to the nearby bookstore and record shop, it truly lived up to its name.
"Perfect for a hidden entrance."
Andrew evaluated the building. "It seems that people can't notice it, or perhaps they're ignoring our sudden appearance. Is that yet another type of magic?"
"Not just one type. This place is protected by a vast number of concealment charms to keep the pub and the land around it hidden. But we should get inside quickly so we don't block others' access." McGonagall nodded and made up her mind about something.
Perceptive, analytical, and restrained—the positives outweighed the quirks.
They soon entered the pub.
Andrew noticed that as soon as people saw Professor McGonagall enter, the temperature in the pub seemed to drop at least ten degrees—maybe more.
The sounds of drinking games, near-shouting conversations, and hearty laughter disappeared instantly, as if someone had cast a "Silencing Charm" on the place.
It went beyond that; most patrons seemed to slump, almost as if under a strange spell, their heads bowing as though they couldn't bear the weight of their necks.
In this atmosphere, even Andrew, who usually kept up his talkative facade, remained silent, quietly following behind Professor McGonagall.
When Professor McGonagall exchanged greetings with the pub's owner, Andrew noticed that several gazes flickered toward them, though they quickly turned away—and yet the bar remained quiet enough that he could hear people breathing.
In fact, the sound didn't rise even a bit until after Professor McGonagall led Andrew out through the back door, but even then, the noise was subdued as they approached a brick wall.
"Here," Professor McGonagall pointed to the wall. "From this spot, three bricks up, then two bricks in. Tap it with your wand."
Andrew's wandering thoughts snapped into focus as he memorized the brick. He watched as McGonagall tapped it lightly with her wand, and the bricks quickly began shifting to create a wide passageway.
"This is Diagon Alley," Professor McGonagall said, handing Andrew a coin pouch—one that, despite being very small, held enough room for at least four bags. It was clearly magical.
"This is the school's fund, seventy Galleons, for buying books, a wand, school robes, and class supplies. Each year, you'll receive an additional thirty Galleons to purchase new books and supplies. But the money won't be enough, so you may have to buy some second-hand items."
(Considering Dobby's weekly wage of 10 Galleons and possible Ministry subsidies for wands, this isn't set as a standard. Exchange rates have fluctuated historically, so assuming a £5-to-1-Galleon rate in 1991, with UK minimum wage around £2.45 per hour, is just an approximation.)
"The gold coins in the pouch are Galleons. Seventeen silver Sickles equal one Galleon, and twenty-nine bronze Knuts equal one Sickle."
"The items you need to buy are listed in the letter's inventory." Professor McGonagall handed him a letter, gesturing for him to read it.
Andrew wedged the pouch under his left arm and opened the letter with his right. The first page was just a cover, but he carefully read it for a minute before turning to the list on the second page.
Textbooks for each subject, robes, cauldrons, and potions ingredients (he noted there was a potions class), wands, and even a telescope.
"Excuse me, Professor," Andrew thought about what he knew regarding the cost of academic books and asked, with a bit of reluctance, "Can magical currency be exchanged for regular money?"
"Of course. Each year we accept students from Muggle families, so there's an exchange limit per person, and they must fill out a source-of-income form to confirm the funds are legal. However, Muggle-born students are exempt from this form until they graduate but will need school documentation. Currently, the exchange rate is seven pounds to one Galleon."
(Remember, the exchange rate fluctuates…)
(Chapter End)