Diggory's wand is also a C-rank magic item. In fact, most of the wizards' wands in The Leaky Cauldron are C-rank. Only the wands of a few elders and those with a powerful aura have reached B-rank.
According to the System's appraisal information and Dudley's speculation, a new wand should be D-rank. As the wizard uses it, receiving the nourishment of magic power and the blessing of the mystery of spells, the rating of the wand will rise.
At the same time, the wear and tear of the wand during use will lower its rating.
Based on the rating of the wand, one can probably infer the combat power of the wand owner.
Wizards who know few spells and don't have strong magic power can only nourish the wand to a limited extent. Even if they take great care of it, the wand's level will still hover around C-rank, just like Hagrid who rarely uses a wand.
This makes Dudley somewhat understand how Voldemort, a gang boss, managed to rule the wizarding world. The apparent reason is that the enemy is too powerful, but the fundamental reason is that most wizards are really weak.
Not only are they weak in strength, but their thought processes are also rather strange.
Without witnessing it with their own eyes, just relying on the guidance of public opinion and hearsay, they believe that Harry, still in swaddling clothes, defeated the Dark Lord who ruled over all of them.
How did he defeat him? With what?
No one cares.
They just blindly idolize.
What's even more absurd is that afterwards, without even the prudence of verifying whether someone is alive or dead, they believe that Voldemort is dead and start celebrating with champagne.
Thinking of Voldemort, Dudley has a vague feeling of unease. He scans the wizards in The Leaky Cauldron again and finally notices something wrong.
He doesn't see Quirinus Quirrell, the stuttering, garlic-perfumed, turban-wearing professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts for first-year students at Hogwarts who was possessed by Voldemort in the original story.
According to the original plot, at this time, he should be in The Leaky Cauldron like these wizard fans and, under Hagrid's introduction, have his first acquaintance with Harry.
But now, he's not here.
So if he's not here, where could he be?
Not good!
Dudley suddenly wakes up. Someone is trying to steal what he has set his sights on!
"Harry! Hagrid! It's getting late!" Dudley shouts to remind them.
Hagrid also realizes that they've been delayed for a bit too long. There's even someone who has queued up for a second time to shake Harry's hand.
Harry is also a bit overwhelmed by the excessive enthusiasm of the wizard fans. Hearing this, he feels as if he's been granted amnesty and quickly grabs Dudley's and Hagrid's strong hands.
Hagrid leads the two of them through the crowd, bypasses the bar counter, and comes to a space surrounded by red brick walls.
Except for a trash can placed against the wall, there's nothing here.
Hagrid takes out his umbrella wand, points the tip of the wand at the bricks above the trash can, and mutters the method to open the door, something about counting horizontally and vertically to find the brick that opens the door...
Harry finds it very novel and listens attentively.
Dudley doesn't have the mood to care about this kind of thing now. He's in a hurry.
The bricks shift and turn, forming an archway. The door leading to Diagon Alley opens.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley!" Hagrid introduces enthusiastically.
The commercial street lined with all kinds of wizard shops is extremely bustling. Wizards come and go, presenting a bustling and peaceful scene.
There are cauldron shops, stationery stores, robe shops, wand shops, pet shops, pharmacies, publishing houses, travel agencies, newspapers, as well as beauty potion shops and Quidditch specialty shops. There are even shops that recycle and trade second-hand items...
There is a great variety of them, a feast for the eyes.
Each store sign comes with special effects, looking both old and magical.
It's Dudley and Harry's first time here, and they find it very novel, so they can't help but take a few more glances.
Unlike Harry, who keeps looking around constantly, Dudley is very restrained and naturally urges,
"Hagrid, quickly take us to Gringotts to withdraw money! Otherwise, with so many amazing shops, only being able to look but not buy is just too torturous!"
"Oh! Dudley! You're so right! Let's go!" Hagrid replied. "Gringotts is at the end of Diagon Alley, where it meets Knockturn Alley. But Knockturn Alley is not a good place. There are all Dark Wizards there..."
Hagrid started chattering again, still chatting as he walked.
He is extremely tall. One step of his is equivalent to three or four of Dudley and Harry's steps, and he moves forward very quickly.
Dudley led Harry to catch up quickly. During the march, he gently pinched Harry's right wrist three times secretly.
Harry woke up suddenly and didn't care about admiring the scenery of Diagon Alley anymore. The meaning of this secret signal from his cousin was to remain vigilant constantly. Could it be that Diagon Alley is not safe?
That's right. Hagrid said that Diagon Alley is connected to Knockturn Alley. It's very likely that Dark Wizards will sneak in and commit crimes!
Just like this, Harry and Dudley, who had raised their vigilance, followed Hagrid who was leading the way in front and came to an extremely tall white building. They stepped into the golden bronze gate and entered the interior of Gringotts, which was run by goblins.
Guided by the goblin waiter, the three of them came to the service hall of Gringotts, a marble room where nearly a hundred short and ugly goblin-like creatures were busy.
Hagrid found a goblin who wasn't too busy and stated his needs, including Harry's need to withdraw money from the Potter family's vault, and the matter that Dumbledore asked him to come and pick up a 'confidential item' on his behalf.
Then, Hagrid took out a golden key and a letter from the breast pocket of his shirt inside the new overcoat and handed them to the goblin.
The goblin carefully inspected the two items, especially the letter written by Dumbledore for picking up the item.
After confirming that there was no problem, this goblin called a goblin named Griphook, handed him the golden key, and ordered him to take Hagrid, Harry, and Dudley to the two underground vaults to pick up things.
"Follow me!" said the goblin named Griphook.
The three of them, Hagrid included, stepped forward to follow. They left the hall and entered another door.
Everything was normal, which made Dudley's mood very complicated. He didn't know if Quirrell hadn't sneaked into the underground vaults of Gringotts yet, or if he had already got what he wanted silently.
Dudley, this 'butterfly' from another world, clearly hadn't flapped his wings much yet. Why aren't the characters in the original story following the script?
It's so hateful! The Stuttering Garlic Turban Weirdo!
Don't let me get the chance, or I'll definitely teach you a real lesson!
Dudley felt extremely resentful. At this time, Griphook, the goblin, had already led them into a marble corridor that led to the underground vaults.
There was a railroad track in the middle of the corridor, winding and extending into the darkness deep in the corridor.
Griphook whistled and used his goblin magic to summon a cart with a carriage speeding along the railroad track.
"Get in quickly!"
With that, the goblin Griphook jumped onto the carriage, near the front of the cart.
There wasn't much space left for the three of them to sit.
"This..." Harry hesitated. It seemed that the remaining space in the carriage couldn't fit the three of them, especially with Hagrid, who was such a huge guy.
Suddenly, Dudley had an idea and immediately said, "Harry, you and Hagrid sit in. I'll sit on Hagrid's shoulders!"