Chapter 91 .Hermione's Magical World
"Is this the little shabby pub?"
Across the street from the Leaky Cauldron, a boy and a girl stood on the roadside, pointing at a pub that most people wouldn't see.
Lynn, hands in his hoodie pockets, smiled and said,
"Don't underestimate this little shabby pub; it's probably served every wizard in England."
"That's because there aren't many wizards in England, right? Like how Hogwarts is the only wizarding school in all of England, and claims to be the best."
Hermione wrinkled her nose; she wasn't the kind of naive girl who wouldn't think straight... except when Lynn tricked her.
"Don't say that outside. All the wizards in England graduated from Hogwarts; if they hear that, it might cause trouble." Lynn reminded Hermione.
He grabbed Hermione's sleeve.
"Let's go; be careful crossing the street."
"I know, I'm not a child."
Half a month had passed since Lynn returned home, and Hermione's family had returned from their trip to Paris two days ago.
After returning home, she pleaded and begged for two days before Mr. Granger finally agreed to let the brat next door take her to Diagon Alley in the wizarding world.
This is what Hermione told Mr. Granger.
"Just one visit from the magic school professors was enough to scare you both. It took you two whole weeks to recover in Paris. If you get scared again at Diagon Alley, you and Mom will have to live on the moon for two years! Let me go first to scout it out. After I learn the magic, I'll show you every day. Once you're used to it, you can come with me."
Mr. Granger was helpless with his daughter, and could only glare at Lynn as she picked Hermione up in the morning, giving him a cold shoulder the entire time.
This puzzled Lynn, who secretly asked Hermione if her father hadn't washed his face properly that morning and if his eyes were bothering him.
Hermione just rolled her eyes at him and didn't say anything.
There weren't many wizards in the Leaky Cauldron, but there were always some. After Lynn led Hermione inside, they first greeted the old bartender, Tom.
A year had passed, and he clearly didn't recognize Lynn anymore. After all, a year ago, Lynn was just a Hogwarts freshman who had come with Professor Fawkes, nothing particularly memorable.
Casually glancing at the patrons, Lynn actually spotted a familiar face.
The former Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts, this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and the professor who would be the first to kick the bucket—Professor Quirrell.
He was sitting alone in the far corner of the bar, a Butterbeer in front of him, a thick scarf wrapped around his head, dressed strangely like an Indian.
Clearly, at this moment, he had become Voldemort's henchman, sharing a body with him.
Seeing him like this, Lynn couldn't help but maliciously wonder if he would be startled if he used a Whirlwind Charm to blow the scarf off Voldemort's head.
Unfortunately, he didn't have the guts.
He knew Professor Quirrell, but Professor Quirrell didn't know him.
Lynn didn't intend to linger in the pub any longer; he led Hermione directly to the brick wall in the backyard and then teased her,
"Guess how we're going to get into Diagon Alley?"
Hermione crossed her arms and tilted her head back.
"Isn't it obvious? We need to get through this wall first."
"Correct! Too bad there's no reward. To get through this wall, we need something every wizard has—a wand."
Lynn took out his wand, twirled it between his fingers, and then held it in his hand.
"Look carefully, we need to tap this brick with our wand."
Lynn hadn't tapped it yet; he was pointing out which brick it was.
"Why can't we use the trash can as a reference point? Wouldn't that be easier to remember?"
"Because there are always bad guys trying to move the trash can, so you'd better just memorize the location of this brick."
"That's pretty bad."
After confirming Hermione had remembered, Lynn tapped the brick with the tip of his wand.
The brick wall split open, and the gates of Diagon Alley opened before them.
Hermione, just like Lynn on his first visit, looked on with wonder at everything in Diagon Alley.
This time of year is the busiest time for this magical alley, with young wizards preparing for school adding a unique vibrancy.
"What do we need to buy first?" Hermione asked, clutching the small purse her father had stuffed for her before she left home.
Lynn pondered for a moment: "Normally, we need to go to Gringotts to exchange money. Gringotts is the bank of the wizarding world, run by the goblins."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Hermione excitedly walked along the cobblestone path in the middle of Diagon Alley, while Lynn leisurely followed behind her.
Actually, if Lynn wanted, Hermione wouldn't need to go to Gringotts to exchange money. Besides the initial funding Professor Fawkes gave him, he'd also inherited the Fawkes family's treasury.
Kira said there was another family treasury waiting for him to inherit in Gringotts, Germany.
So Lynn was practically overflowing with Galleons.
Paying for Hermione's school supplies was a drop in the ocean—well, barely an atom's worth.
But even setting aside his reasons for paying for Hermione's expenses, even if he were willing, the girl certainly wouldn't.
She had her own money; why should he pay for it?
Miss Granger had always been a strong-willed girl.
"Twenty Galleons!"
Hermione proudly displayed a cloth bag in front of Lynn.
Lynn nodded, pretending to be envious.
"Much better than last year. Last year, Gringotts only allowed a maximum of ten wands."
"So what do you want to buy this year? I can save some and help you—no, lend you some."
"No need. Last year I met a very good professor. He recognized my talent and sponsored me with 525 Galleons."
"Oh."
Lynn led the little girl to Ollivander's wand shop, intending to buy a wand first.
But as soon as they arrived, before they could even go inside, someone pushed open the door and came out.
The narrow doorway was extremely unfriendly to the person; he had to half-bend to squeeze through.
"Hagrid?"
Lynn was taken aback, looking at the half-giant in front of him.
Hagrid and Lynn weren't very close; they were merely acquaintances.
"Oh, it's Belloc." He waved and greeted him.
"What are you doing here?" Lynn asked, peering behind him.
Sure enough, behind him hid a boy wearing glasses, with messy hair, a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead, and looking somewhat nervous.
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(End of Chapter)