NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: 6. Diagon Alley
"Oh, two new faces I haven't seen before," said Tom, the innkeeper, with a welcoming smile. He leaned over the bar, eyes twinkling with curiosity as he took in the sight of the young newcomers. "Are you both starting at Hogwarts this year?"
"Yes, Tom," Professor McGonagall nodded with her usual composed smile, guiding Ivan and Hermione forward. "And I'd hope you know better than to drink while on duty, Tom."
Tom chuckled, amused. "Hagrid would have a good laugh at that one," he said, and his gaze lingered fondly on the trio as they passed through to a small, enclosed courtyard hidden behind the bar.
The courtyard was modest, walled on all sides with only a lone trash bin and a few stray weeds to fill the space. Professor McGonagall directed her students' attention to the wall, gesturing with her hand. "Now, watch carefully: count three bricks upward, and then two across," she instructed.
Ivan and Hermione followed her instructions, eyes fixed as Professor McGonagall drew her wand, tapping the specified brick three times. With a soft rumble, the bricks began to shift, rearranging themselves to reveal a small opening that gradually grew wider and wider until a grand archway emerged, leading to a bustling, vibrant street.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley," Professor McGonagall announced with a touch of pride.
Ivan and Hermione's eyes widened as they took in the sight. Witches and wizards bustled along cobblestone paths, dressed in an assortment of robes in all styles, colors, and ages. Ivan was struck by the bustling activity; it was as if he had stepped into another world entirely. Hermione, too, looked around with an almost dreamlike wonder, her eyes moving rapidly as if trying to capture every detail at once.
They moved together under the archway, and Hermione paused to look back, watching with amazement as the archway slowly shrank, sealing back into a solid brick wall. For a moment, she simply stared, captivated by the hidden magic of this world.
Diagon Alley was unlike anything they had ever seen. The street was filled with shop fronts, each boasting its own unique offerings, from robes and cauldrons to owls and enchanted instruments. Ivan looked around, recognizing many of the names from stories and yet marveling at the reality of them: Ollivander's Wand Shop, Flourish and Blotts Bookstore, Madam Malkin's Robe Shop, and even a shop selling Quidditch supplies. Every corner revealed something new, and Ivan felt a thrill at realizing that the magical world was far more complex and detailed than he'd ever imagined from books or films.
Professor McGonagall led them steadily toward Gringotts, the bank, where Hermione would be able to exchange her Muggle money for gold Galleons. Since Hermione's family was Muggle, they were subject to a yearly limit on how much they could convert, but it would be enough to get her started with her studies.
Hermione's father was a dentist—a well-paid profession in the Muggle world—and if the conversion rate was really five pounds to one Galleon, as Professor McGonagall had explained, her family's earnings would go a long way here.
"This is incredible," Hermione whispered to Ivan as they walked, clutching his hand tightly in her excitement. She had taken his hand since they'd first met Tom, clinging to the one familiar presence in this sea of the unknown.
"It really is," Ivan replied, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Living in a world like this must be amazing."
"Aren't you even a little nervous?" she asked, glancing up at him in admiration and surprise.
Ivan shrugged slightly. "I guess not. I grew up in an orphanage, so maybe it's easier for me to adjust."
"Oh," Hermione murmured, her expression softening with empathy. "I didn't mean to—"
"No worries," Ivan assured her, giving her a smile. "It's not something I'm upset about." He glanced around, brightening up as he spotted a familiar shop sign. "Hey, look—a bookstore! Maybe we could get a few books together and share them. We'd save some money that way."
Hermione's eyes sparkled at the idea. "Yes, that's brilliant!" She was quickly energized at the thought, her gaze sharpening as she looked toward the bookstore in anticipation.
Professor McGonagall glanced back at the two students with an approving smile, pleased to see their budding friendship even before their classes had begun.
At last, they reached Gringotts, a gleaming, snow-white building that towered over the surrounding shops. Flanking the impressive bronze doors was a goblin in a striking scarlet and gold uniform. The goblin was short, barely reaching Hermione's shoulder, with a long, sharp nose, pointed ears, and a sharp expression that gave him an air of intelligence and intensity. Ivan noticed how disproportionately long his hands and feet were, adding to his distinctive look.
The goblin inclined his head in greeting as they passed through the doors.
"What are they?" Hermione asked softly, her eyes fixed on the goblin.
"Goblins," Professor McGonagall replied, her tone respectful. "They manage Gringotts, safeguarding the wealth of the wizarding community."
Ivan's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. He didn't know much about the history between goblins and wizards, but it seemed odd that wizards would entrust something as important as a bank to goblins, especially given their history of conflicts with humans. It felt risky.
"What's wrong, Ivan?" Hermione asked, noticing the change in his expression.
"Nothing," he replied quickly, deciding to keep his thoughts to himself for now.
The group walked through a second set of doors made of polished silver. The doors had an inscription carved into them in bold lettering:
"Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed.
For those who take but do not earn
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there."
Ivan read the words, feeling a strange sense of both awe and annoyance at the stern warning. There was something about the goblins that felt both mysterious and irksome.
They stepped into an enormous marble hall with high ceilings and grand pillars, filled with goblins sitting at counters, each busy with their own tasks. Some were weighing coins, others examining gems, and others writing in massive ledger books with long, pointed quills. The walls were lined with numerous doors leading to other areas of the bank, and goblins flitted between them, guiding wizards and witches through with a mixture of efficiency and aloofness.
"How can I help you?" a goblin asked from behind one of the counters, perched on a high stool so he could look down on the visitors. He greeted them with a small nod, acknowledging Professor McGonagall with a hint of respect.
Professor McGonagall was not only a master of Transfiguration but also one of the most respected teachers in Britain's wizarding world. Her reputation and authority seemed to extend even here, in the heart of goblin-controlled Gringotts Bank
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