Chapter 4
Julian walked into the crowd, looked at the men and women around him and couldn't shake the feeling that these people were all wizards.
- Julian, we need to go to Gringotts first to pick up your grant before we can go shopping.
"Okay, professor," Julian answered energetically.
They continued moving against the flow of the crowd, and along the way they heard people discussing the prices of potion ingredients, discussing broomsticks, and Julian even heard about a wizarding sport called Quidditch.
"Professor Dumbledore, what is Quidditch?" Julian asked curiously.
- Quidditch is the only competitive sport among wizards. It is full of charm and passion, but of course, also danger. Many Quidditch players die because of the game.
- If it's so dangerous, why not ban it?
- Oh, no, Julian. As I said, Quidditch is a very attractive sport. There is not a wizard in this world who would refuse to play Quidditch. It has too high a position in the minds of wizards.
- Hogwarts actually has Quidditch games, and when you play, you'll enjoy it.
- Here we are, Julian, Gringotts, Wizarding Bank.
They approached a building that was taller than the other shops. The tall building was made of marble, which was radically different from the architectural style of the other shops on Diagona Street.
As if returning from the Middle Ages to modern times, the sudden feeling of inadequacy caused discomfort.
In front of the large bronze doors of the bank stood a strange man dressed as a waiter. He was very short, about half the height of a normal adult, even shorter than Julian. He had pointed ears and wrinkled skin like an old man.
- Is this... a goblin?
- Yes, they are goblins. They are guards of Gringotts and natural masters of alchemy. The alchemical products they create are very famous, as is their greed.
- Well, that's not like me.
- I think, Julian, you are probably thinking of fairies. They are truly fascinating, but in recent years few have been able to see them. They are almost extinct.
Eventually, Dumbledore ushered Julian into Gringotts. As they reached the cash register in the lobby, a goblin who looked very old even among goblins was writing something down and looked up when he saw the new customers.
- Yinghua, I want to get a subsidy from Mr. Julian Wallace and take something from you, you know, from underground storage No. 713.
- Okay, Professor Dumbledore, please wait a minute.
After these words, he put down his pen and summoned two fairies.
- Griphook, go get Mr. Julian Wallace's grant, and Rollo will take Professor Dumbledore to get something from vault 713.
Griphook turned and walked out of the room, while Dumbledore followed the other elf, Rollo, in the other direction.
After some time, Griphook brought a leather bag and handed it to Julian.
- The exchange rate between the magic coins is: one Galleon is equal to seventeen silver Sickles, and twenty-nine Nuts are equal to one Galleon.
Having said this, Griphook was about to leave, but Julian hastened to stop him.
- Wait, sir, what if I want to exchange Muggle money for wizarding money?
Griphook thought for a moment, looked at Julian, and said, "The exchange rate between Galleons and British pounds is 1 to 5, meaning one Galleon is worth five pounds. Are you sure you want to exchange?"
"Exchange," said Julian, after which he took out a wad of uneven pounds.
- It may be a bit scattered and difficult to count, but the amount is still significant.
After that, he handed the wad of pounds to Griphook. Surprisingly, Griphook did not laugh at Julian, but accepted the money with respect.
Griphook walked up to the cash register, handed the pounds to another goblin and said, "Lylai, exchange this customer for gold Galleons."
When he finished, he turned and bowed slightly to Julian, adding, "Please wait a moment, esteemed guest."
After that he went about his business.
After some time, Lailai, the goblin at the checkout, handed Julian another large bag of gold coins and asked:
- Dear guest, the exchange rate between Galleons and British pounds is 1:5. You need to exchange 4000 British pounds, which is 800 Galleons at the rate. Do you want to take all the gold coins with you or keep them in our bank? Believe me, sir, we at Gringotts are the safest place in the wizarding world. No one will be able to steal anything from us.
- Okay, leave a hundred Galleons and keep the rest. - Julian handed the two bags he was holding to the goblin at the checkout.
- Don't worry, dear guest, your choice won't be wrong. - The goblin became even more polite.
The goblin then handed Julian an elegant pouch and a silver key.
- Dear guest, this is one hundred gold Galleons and the key to your vault, please keep it safe.
- OK, thank you.
Having collected the gold coins and keys, Julian returned to the hall and continued to wait for Dumbledore.
After a while, Dumbledore returned to the room, muttering quietly about how terrible Gringotts transport was.
- Did you get the money, Julian? We should go shopping before the sun sets.
- Okay, professor.
After leaving Gringotts, Dumbledore took Julian to the robe shop, Madam Malkin's hat shop.
The doorbell rang merrily.
"Good afternoon, Madam Malkin, how are you?" asked Dumbledore.
- Oh, hello, Professor Dumbledore, you are such a respected guest, I've been doing well lately. How are you?
- Not bad, a new group of young wizards will be arriving at Hogwarts soon, I am very pleased. Oh, yes, this is Julian, Julian Wallace, he needs to prepare a school uniform. Julian, this is Mrs. Magic, her wizarding robes are the best in the whole kingdom.
"You speak too well, they are not so good," said Mrs. Malkin with a smile, and Julian noticed that she was very happy.
Dumbledore smiled tenderly and then turned and walked towards the door as he spoke.
- Julian, I'll wait for you at the door.
"Okay, professor," Julian replied, turning around.
"Good afternoon, Madame Molkin," Julian greeted politely.
- Good afternoon, dear, your name is Julian, yes? You are a handsome young man, come and put on this robe, - she said, handing Julian the measuring robe.
Once Julian was in the robe, Madame Molkin began pinning it to him and taking measurements.
"Honey, do you want a loose or fitted fit?" she asked as she measured.
- Well, I want it to be loose and a little longer. What do you think? - asked Julian uncertainly.
"Of course, dear, your robe will be ready in three hours," Madame Malkin replied when the measurements were finished.
- Okay, thank you, Mrs. Malkin, sorry to bother you.
- Nonsense, you stupid boy, this is my job and what I have to do. Go, don't keep Professor Dumbledore waiting long, go.
"Okay," Julian simply replied and walked out of Madame Molkin's robe shop.
As Julian approached the door, he saw Dumbledore petting an owl in front of the pet shop.
Seeing Julian leave, Dumbledore stopped what he was doing and walked over to him.
- How are you?
- I was measured, Madame Molkin said that the robe can be picked up in three hours.
- Great, then I think we can buy you a magic wand now.
- Okay, sir.
Dumbledore turned and led Julian towards the crowd. After a while they came to a small old shop.
Even on this quaint street, the store looked very old.
The gold sign on the shop door was peeling, and from a distance you could still make out the words "Ollivander: Since 382 BC, Quality Wands."
One stick stood in the old window.
"Well, this is a store that looks very old," Julian thought to himself.