Hogwarts Card System.

Chapter 3: The Enchanting Diagon Alley

"Wait!" The old woman exclaimed in surprise. "You mean, that school that teaches magic? You're really not...?"

The old woman didn't reveal the "joke" that followed. After all, Professor McGonagall's aura and expression naturally commanded much more respect.

This is the kind of aura that only a long-serving dean of students can possess.

Professor McGonagall produced a wand, pointed it lightly at the old woman, and seemed to utter a series of indistinct sounds.

Then Granny McGonagall's attitude changed: "Oh, welcome, Professor McGonagall. I hope little Ted can enroll in your school. That would be wonderful. You two chat, I'll go get you some tea." With that, she walked away.

Ted glanced at the wand in Professor McGonagall's hand. "Is this magic? Won't it have a bad effect on Granny?"

Professor McGonagall's expression relaxed slightly, a rare occurrence, and the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile. "Don't worry, Mr. Epifani, this magic won't have a negative effect on her. She'll just feel reassured that you've entered a very good school."

She tapped the plate on the coffee table with her wand, and the plate suddenly turned into a sparrow, flew around the room, and landed back on the coffee table, turning back into a plate.

Ted looked surprised and excited. "Wow, that's amazing!"

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Mr. Epifani, you have a special ability that the other children don't have, don't you?"

Ted glanced at the guitar on the side—it probably wasn't about my busking.

"You mean this?" Ted reached out to the cup on the table.

The cup started to shake and then flew into his hand.

"Oh, well done." Professor McGonagall looked Ted over again.

Few young wizards are able to control their magic before receiving an education.

This is a very talented child.

"Then come with me, I'll take you to buy some necessities."

"Professor, I'd like to speak to the nanny."

Professor McGonagall waved her hand. "No need. After all, we can't explain this too clearly to Muggles, or she'll think you've already been accepted..."

If they are the parents of a Muggle wizard, then it is necessary for them to know where their child has gone.

They have this power, even though it's permitted under secrecy laws.

But if it's the orphanage nanny, that's a different story. She can't be considered Ted's guardian, which is why she resorted to this tactic—she used a Confusion Charm.

Ted hurriedly asked, "Should I bring my luggage?"

"No, no need. You'll have to come back after you buy things, and there are still two months until school starts."

……

Stepping outside, Ted said, "Um... Professor McGonagall, I don't have any money. I only have £22 and 16 pence on me. Is that enough?"

Professor McGonagall: "Mr. Epifani, I think you don't need to worry about this."

Just call me Ted.

"Okay, Ted..."

It turns out that Hogwarts provides an annual interest-free student loan for special students like Ted.

It's certainly not a large sum, but it's enough to complete your studies. You can repay it after graduation.

Have a conscience!

Wait, wasn't Tom the last person to receive a student loan?

Professor McGonagall led Ted to a nearby alley, a slight smile playing on her lips, her expression somewhat subtle.

"Ted, to save time, we need to use magic to get to our destination. It might be uncomfortable, so bear with it."

"OK."

"Then, take my hand... Apparition!"

Ted suddenly felt himself being spun around and squeezed into a narrow pipe, and it took quite a while for him to stop.

When his feet touched the ground again, he almost collapsed due to weakness. His stomach was churning, and it took him more than ten seconds to stop feeling nauseous.

Professor McGonagall, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice anything amiss. Instead, she was observing Ted: she hadn't expected him to be so adaptable.

Ted now strongly suspects that he has been retaliated against!

That's indeed the case; normally they should have come by car.

But Professor McGonagall wanted little Ted to experience the magic of magic early on, to let him know that some cats shouldn't be petted!

This older catgirl isn't very magnanimous.

Ted: Did you do it on purpose, or was it an accident?

Professor McGonagall: It was intentional!

Ted: I'd better not be sorted into Gryffindor and end up in your hands.

But to be honest, he really wants to try it! Then I'll do this, then that, and then this again…

The daredevil couldn't help but resort to mental victory tactics.

The system seemed to sense something—

"Ding~ Task triggered:"

[Once or again, masturbate her! (Green)]

What's wrong with petting a cat? What's wrong with petting a cat? If you turned into a hedgehog, wouldn't I stop petting it?!

Objective: To rub Professor McGonagall in Animagus form again.

Reward: 250 experience points, +1 level Polymorph.

"She's all fussy and clumsy, let's get her!"

This... I was just kidding! Why are you taking it so seriously?!

How am I supposed to finish this?!

"Alright, Ted, we're here. The Leaky Cauldron on Charing Cross Road." Professor McGonagall looked at the stunned Ted and felt that her preschool education had been very effective.

"Be careful, this place has been cursed with a Muggle exorcism spell. Muggles—that is, ordinary people—cannot see."

Ted looked up and saw a tiny storefront, barely bigger than a door.

An iron rod protruded from the door plaque, from which hung a wooden sign. It had no words, but instead depicted a large, leaky pot. A huge one, big enough to stew a child.

It's located between a large bookstore and a record store. Although its quirky style is very eye-catching, passersby don't even glance at it.

Professor McGonagall pushed open the door first and led Ted inside.

The bar was rather dimly lit, with oil lamps on, which explained why it was so dark, making it look like a nightclub.

By the way, it seems that electrical appliances are not allowed in the magical world.

Why don't you at least get a magic lamp? Oil lamps and candlesticks are so outdated.

Long, square, or round wooden tables were scattered around. Some strangely dressed wizards were drinking and chatting.

Many people took the initiative to greet Professor McGonagall.

Tom Abbott, the bald owner behind the bar, put down his glass and greeted Professor McGonagall, "Oh, Professor McGonagall, it's been a long time. Are you going to pick up this year's new students?"

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Yes. I took him to Diagon Alley to buy things."

"Oh, that's wonderful. My granddaughter is also a freshman this year."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Professor McGonagall led Ted out of the Leaky Cauldron's back door, which seemed to be a dead end. A trash can stood against the wall.

"Remember how to open it," Professor McGonagall said. "Use your wand, starting from the dumpster, count up three blocks, then count two blocks horizontally. Tap it!"

Then the very thick brick wall began to change. With a clattering sound, the bricks began to recede and overlap, and an arched doorway appeared.

Inside the gate was an alley about four or five meters wide, with cobblestones worn smooth and strange shops on both sides.

All sorts of incomprehensible goods were displayed on the street, wizards in robes went in and out of the shops, and many owls flew around...

This is Diagon Alley, the starting point of the magical world!

Even Ted, who had seen it countless times in movies and videos, was still shocked by this scene. He almost overlooked the system in his mind.

"Ding~ Task triggered:"

[Explore Diagon Alley (Green)]

The most famous wizarding commercial street in Great Britain, you have to explore it thoroughly! You can't miss a single shop!

Objective: Complete 100% exploration of Diagon Alley.

Progress: 1%.

Rewards: 100 experience points, random cards.

Fighting is much more fun than shopping!

Seeing Ted's dumbfounded expression, Professor McGonagall smiled slightly. "Alright, Ted, there will be plenty of time to surprise you later. Now, let's go get the money. You have quite a few things to buy..."

Professor McGonagall walked at a brisk pace, pulling Ted forward.

Ted looked around so much that he couldn't see everything, and he could only keep walking forward, feeling dizzy from all the sights.

After walking for five or six minutes, the two came to a fork in the road, and Professor McGonagall finally stopped.

Across the intersection is a three-story white building.

Other shops are at most two stories high, and most are made of wood, but this building is constructed of white stone and looks quite impressive from a distance.

Of course, this is only limited to viewing from a distance.

Because upon closer inspection, you'll discover: Good heavens! The white marble columns outside Gringotts are actually crooked!

Moreover, each of the crooked pillars has its own unique characteristics. The pillars on the first, second, and third floors are not only not in a straight line, but they are not even in the same direction!

As someone who once ran away with a bucket in the construction industry, this scene is incredibly damaging!

Ted had an urge to run over and straighten the pillar!

On either side of Gringotts' bronze entrance stood haughty goblin guards in crimson uniforms trimmed with gold, their gazes not exactly pleasant.

Further inside is a large, silver-white gate with a row of large, eye-catching characters engraved on it:

Please come in, stranger, but be careful, there are consequences for greed.

Those who relentlessly demand and gain without effort will inevitably face the most severe punishment.

If you want to take a fortune from our underground vault that never belonged to you.

Thief, you have been warned that what you will gain is not treasure, but retribution.

Ted pursed his lips and said, "They seem very insecure."

Professor McGonagall nodded in agreement.

Most people who see this would probably think that the fairies have a terrible attitude towards the wizards.

But Ted saw through the fairies' bluster.

They were guilty and afraid, but greed and pride made them put on a brave face.

Professor McGonagall quickly retrieved the Ted student loan from the tall counters on either side of the hall.

To emphasize their superior position, those fairies put up a 1.5-meter-high chair behind the counter. You'd probably need a small ladder to get up and down.

Actually, they should be considered a type of goblin?

In the past, the West was not very cultured and had a limited vocabulary, so many similar things were called by the same name—Goblin.

This has led to confusion between goblins, goblins, fairies, and dwarves.

Fairies' appearances are far removed from human aesthetics; they're truly unappealing. In Ted's opinion, calling them monsters would be more fitting than fairies.

A poem testifies to this: His body is as thin as a dwarf, his frame as tall as half a person, and his height is three inches. He has a broad face, a sunken nose, and amber eyes. He has pointed ears, poisonous fangs, and fists that reach his knees. His hammer strikes with a sound that startles the sun and moon. He roams with a dire wolf, making ghosts and gods weep. He is brothers everywhere in the land, and his nickname is Goblin.

Their concept is very unique; they believe that what they create belongs to them, and the fees paid to them are considered rent. They have the right to reclaim their possessions once the first owner dies.

They once tried to extort Gryffindor from the goblins who forged swords for them, but they ended up getting badly beaten.

Ted: Don't force me to become a goblin slayer!

Wand in hand, follow me! Slay goblins and raid Gringotts!

(End of this chapter)