HP: I Can Control Lightning!

"Can't sterling be used in the wizarding world?" Anduin asked, furrowing his brow.

"In Gringotts, Muggle currency can be exchanged for gold Galleons. Five pounds can be exchanged for one Gold Galleon, but you can't exchange more than a hundred Galleons at a time." Professor McGonagall, who was responsible for admissions all year round, was well-versed in all such matters. She paused for a moment, though, thinking that Anduin probably didn't have much savings. Perhaps he just wanted to exchange a little pocket money.

"Oh, I see. Well, I've got some money." To Professor McGonagall's surprise, Anduin pulled out a stack of pounds from his pocket. He flicked them through his fingers with practiced ease. "This should be enough. And the rest... I can use it for something else on the way back."

Professor McGonagall led Anduin out of the orphanage and turned into a quiet alley nearby. "I was going to take you to Diagon Alley by Muggle transportation or the Knight Bus, but with the current instability in the wizarding world, we'll have to use Apparition instead."

With that, she drew her wand and said, "Come grab my hand, Anduin."

Instability in the wizarding world? Anduin hesitated briefly but stretched his hand over to hers as he processed Professor McGonagall's words.

In an instant, with a sharp "pop," the two of them vanished from the alley.

"Ugh!" Anduin and Professor McGonagall stumbled as they reappeared. The feeling was disorienting, like being thrown into a dark washing machine on its highest setting, twisting and turning uncontrollably. Anduin even had the sensation that his whole body had been compressed into a tiny ball.

"Sorry about that," Professor McGonagall said, pulling out her wand. A soft stream of light shot from the tip of her wand, flowing into Anduin's body, and the disorienting feeling gradually faded. "That was your first time using Apparition, wasn't it?"

"Yes," Anduin replied, taking a deep breath. "That was... different from what I imagined. But I'm alright now." He glanced around, his calm exterior hiding his discomfort.

"Apparition isn't the same as simple teleportation," Professor McGonagall explained. "It's a more advanced magical method used by adult wizards. You'll learn it in your 7th year."

"And don't worry," she continued, "we'll be there in just a minute."

They walked down the street for a while, passing a record store and a bookstore. Anduin's eyes wandered, and he noticed an inconspicuous opening between the two shops, revealing a bar that looked completely out of place. Passersby seemed to ignore it entirely.

"Can't they see this bar?" Anduin asked, intrigued.

"Good observation, Anduin," Professor McGonagall said with a smile. "The bar is under a charm, so Muggles can't see it. It's called the Leaky Cauldron." She led him toward the entrance.

"Professor, what do you mean by 'Muggles'? Do you mean ordinary people who don't know magic?" Anduin asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. He vaguely remembered bits of the "Harry Potter" story from his previous life, but it all seemed like distant memories now.

"Yes, that's right," Professor McGonagall confirmed. "We call non-magical people 'Muggles'. Because of the International Statute of Secrecy, Muggles are unaware of our world."

Anduin pondered the idea of Muggles, then remembered his parents. "So my parents were Muggles?" he asked softly. He had looked into their lives at the orphanage, but they had seemed like any other ordinary people.

"Perhaps some of your ancestors were wizards," Professor McGonagall suggested. "Sometimes, magical talent can appear in Muggle families. Hogwarts' job is to help children like you control their magic."

They entered the dimly lit Leaky Cauldron, where the owner, a man named Tom, was wiping glasses behind the bar. The place was quiet, and there were only a few people sitting in the shadows.

"How's business, Tom?" Professor McGonagall asked casually.

"What else can I do? It's getting worse every day. Last night, Aurors had a run-in with the dark wizards in Knockturn Alley. There was an explosion that nearly shattered my cup. Business is slower than ever..." Tom complained, clearly relieved to talk to someone.

"Anduin, this is Tom," Professor McGonagall said, introducing him. "He runs the Leaky Cauldron. Don't worry, it's safe here. But we should get moving."

Tom nodded and greeted Anduin politely, but it was clear he wasn't too surprised to see a new face.

"Welcome, sir," Tom said.

Professor McGonagall led Anduin through the bar and out into the small courtyard behind it. There, Anduin saw a wide archway.

"This is Diagon Alley," she said, motioning around. "This is where you'll come to buy your school supplies. Remember this entrance, you'll need to come here by yourself in the future."

She raised her wand and tapped a particular spot on the brick wall near the bin. After a few moments, the wall shifted and a tall archway appeared, leading to the bustling alley beyond.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley, Anduin," Professor McGonagall said, her voice warm.

Anduin's jaw dropped slightly as he took in the sight of the street. Cobblestones stretched out in front of him, lined with shops of every kind. However, as he looked closer, he noticed that some of the shops were closed, and the streets weren't as crowded as he had expected. There were a few people wearing long coats, but they seemed to be on patrol.

"Professor," Anduin asked, his voice cautious, "those people in trench coats, they don't look like customers. Could they be..." He trailed off, a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"They're Aurors," Professor McGonagall explained. "They keep law and order around here. The wizarding world hasn't been very stable lately, but Diagon Alley is still the safest place in the British magical world. Don't worry, you'll be safe at Hogwarts, I promise!" She gave him a reassuring smile.

###

10+ advance chapters available on my Patreon 😭🥲🥹

Link: [email protected]/Tyrouge