Films are, after all, just films.
They're limited by special effects, limited by camera angles—what they show is just the tip of the iceberg of Diagon Alley.
But once you actually set foot here—
Ian finally realized this place was nothing like the small-town market so many people joked about, nor was it a rundown relic of days gone by; this was the most bustling wizard gathering place in all the British Isles!
"It's... magical!"
Ian was really excited.
He didn't feel any of the nausea and dizziness people said came with their first Apparition; only now did he realize it was probably due to that vile potion Snape gave him, which, weirdly, tasted better than milk.
He hadn't expected Snape to have such a considerate side, and this kind of upended Ian's idea of what Snape was like. At the same time, it made him recall Dumbledore's words once again.
Just what kind of debt—
could make Snape show this uncharacteristic care?
"Could it be that my parents in this life actually died during one of his Death Eater assignments?" Ian wondered, puzzling over it again and again in his head.
But just then—
"Keep up."
Snape had already released his grip on Ian's neck and started marching ahead without looking back. Ian hurriedly dragged his huge suitcase to catch up.
The street was crowded with people coming and going, but Snape, without ever turning around, kept his pace just right—so that Ian could follow without getting lost in the sea of wizards.
"Professor, where are we going? Is it the bank?"
Ian asked curiously.
"It's called Gringotts. Don't use Muggle-brained thinking to guess at the rules of the Wizarding World," Snape replied coolly, though he still bothered to correct Ian.
"Keep your mind to yourself—everyone here is a wizard. They won't go easy on you just because you're a child. A Dark Wizard might snatch you away for some unspeakable experiment at any moment." Snape's tone was sinister, clearly a warning not to use Thought Perception to mess with other wizards.
"I'll do my best..."
Ian tried to empty his mind; sure enough, this made his Extraordinary Trait of Thought Perception less sensitive. Controlling this power completely just wasn't possible for him yet.
To keep his mind off it—
Ian turned his curiosity to the magic creatures that lived among wizards.
Other than fantastic beasts,
creatures from fairy tales like giants and dwarves were very real in this fantasy world he now lived in. He was dying to know just how ugly goblins really were in person.
Yet—
Snape didn't actually lead him to Gringotts.
"Give me all of the first-year Hogwarts textbooks," Snape said. The first place he took Ian was Li Hen Bookstore, which sold all manner of Magic Books. Who knew which pure-blood clan stood behind it, but they basically had a monopoly on all textbook sales in the British Wizarding World.
It was just like the schools Ian went to before he crossed over, always making students buy workbooks and books at certain stores—he did not believe there wasn't some under-the-table deal going on here too.
"Of course, Professor Snape."
The store clerk was clearly no stranger to Hogwarts professors—he even seemed a bit intimidated facing Snape, perhaps a former Hogwarts student himself.
"I don't even know what books I need, let alone received my Hogwarts acceptance letter yet." Ian mumbled behind Snape's back.
"You really care that much about a worthless piece of paper?"
Snape gave him a sideways look.
"It's just... it feels like something's missing."
Ian blinked.
"Hah, what a laughable attachment."
With a sneer, Snape reached into his robes, pulled out a wrinkled sheet of paper, and tossed it toward Ian as though he were throwing away a scrap of trash.
Ian quickly fumbled to catch it.
And saw—
At the very center of the paper was a bold letter "H," made up of a lion, eagle, badger, and snake. This was his Hogwarts acceptance letter.
[Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(International Wizarding Federation President, Merlin Order First Class, Great Mage, Chief Mage of the Wizengamot
Dear Mr. Prince:
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of all necessary books and equipment. The term begins on September 1st. Please send your reply by owl no later than July 31st.
Deputy Headmistress
Minerva McGonagall]
...
There was also a long appendix listing various things new students needed to buy. Ian quickly scanned it and got the gist.
"Well now, Mr. Fuss-and-Bother, are you happy?" Snape's super-draggy tone was as annoying as ever, and now he'd even given Ian a nickname.
"I was hoping to see a Hogwarts owl…"
Ian pouted.
"Instead of chasing after vanity, you'd do better to think about what useful things you'll actually learn at school—so you don't end up as aimless as those Hufflepuffs."
As Snape was saying this—
The bookstore clerk just happened to be bringing over a huge stack of books for Ian.
From the clerk's aggrieved expression (though he didn't dare complain), Ian figured Snape was probably insulting him too, killing two birds with one stone.
Wow, this guy's personality is really awful.
"Thank you."
Ian, not wanting to get on the clerk's bad side because of Snape, quickly put on his best sincere face, thanked him, and accepted the big stack of books.
"Don't listen to Snape—Hufflepuff has produced many great wizards, like Master Newt Scamander, author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
"It's something to be proud of, being a Hufflepuff." The clerk, while handing Ian the books, bent down and whispered a word in defense of Hufflepuff.
"Totally agree,"
Ian whispered back with a smile.
The clerk, looking quite pleased, patted his head kindly.
"15 Golden Galleons, thank you."
The front counter spoke up at just the right moment, but before Ian could pull out his money bag, Snape whipped his own out first and paid for all the books.
"Is this a student loan, Professor?"
Ian still kind of wanted to exchange the money himself at Gringotts.
"That's not your concern."
Snape replied coolly.
After paying,
seeing Ian struggling to fit the massive pile of books into his nearly full suitcase, Snape just raised his wand and cast a spell over all the clothes and odds-n-ends inside Ian's luggage.
"Reducio."
Next second—
With all that random stuff shrinking down, the books fit right inside with no trouble at all.
"That's amazing!"
Ian looked positively thrilled.
"Word to the wise—this spell only lasts 24 hours. If you don't take everything out by then… well, you won't want to see what happens."
With that, Snape—
swept his cloak and strode out the door.
Ian hurried after him.
No kidding, with Snape's magic, his suitcase was noticeably lighter—magic was so miraculous, even Lavoisier would be spinning in his grave.
So much for the conservation of mass!?
Totally unscientific!
I love it!
Ian's craving to learn magic just got even stronger.
"Professor! Wait up!"
With Snape picking up his pace, Ian had to scamper like mad on his short legs just to keep up.
And so—
Snape marched Ian around gathering the rest of his essential school gear, paying for everything along the way.
It even reached the point that—
when buying a cauldron for potion-making, even though the clerk put out the standard student kit, Snape told them to swap the cauldron for a brass one instead.
That costs more.
Way more than the regular cauldron.
"Professor, but the letter says to buy a standard size 2 pewter cauldron." Ian clutched his letter uncertainly.
But—
Snape shot back, in that ever-sarcastic tone, right at the cash register,
"So, Mr. Prince, you think you know everything already—teaching me, the Professor of Potions, what the proper choice is?"
A master class in snark.
Left Ian speechless.
If Snape weren't paying for everything, Ian would've risked his life to talk back—but honestly, this just left Ian doubly confused.
Could it be—
Snape really killed his parents on a Death Eater mission and felt so guilty he's treating Ian differently? If not, why was Snape so exceptionally nice to him?
It was a complete mystery!