Hogwarts Card System Chapter 003

“Wait!” The matron was a little surprised. “You mean, that school that teaches magic? You’re really not…”

The matron didn’t say the rest of “joking.” After all, Professor McGonagall’s aura and expression made people involuntarily respectful.

This was the aura of a headmistress who had served for many years.

Professor McGonagall produced a wand and gently pointed it at the matron, muttering a string of indistinct syllables.

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

Ted looked at the wand in Professor McGonagall’s hand. “Is that magic? It won’t have a bad effect on the matron, will it?”

Professor McGonagall’s expression relaxed for a rare moment, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly. “Don’t worry, Mr. Epiphany, this magic won’t have a bad effect on her. She’ll just think you’ve gotten into a very good school and will be very relieved.”

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

Ted’s face showed a mix of surprise and excitement. “Wow! Amazing!”

Professor McGonagall nodded. “Mr. Epiphany, you have special abilities that other children don’t, don’t you?”

Ted glanced at the guitar nearby—she couldn’t be talking about my busking.

“You mean this?” Ted reached out his hand towards the cup on the table.

The cup began to wobble, then flew into his hand.

“Ooh~ well done.” Professor McGonagall scrutinized Ted again.

Few young wizards could control their magic before receiving any education.

This was a very talented child.

“Well then, come with me. I’ll take you to buy some necessary things.”

“Professor, I’d like to say goodbye to the matron.”

Professor McGonagall waved her hand. “No need. After all, this kind of thing can’t be explained too clearly to Muggles. She’ll just think you’ve been accepted by us…”

If it were the parents of a Muggle-born wizard, it would be necessary for them to know where their child was going.

They had that right, even the Statute of Secrecy allowed it.

But if it was the matron of an orphanage, that was another matter. She couldn’t be considered Ted’s guardian, which was why she resorted to this last resort—she used a Confundus Charm.

Ted quickly asked, “Do I need to bring my luggage?”

“No, no need. You’ll be back after buying your things. There are still two months until school starts.”

…

Walking out the door, Ted said, “Um… Professor McGonagall, I don’t have any money. All I have is 22 pounds and 16 pence. Is that enough?”

Professor McGonagall: “Mr. Epiphany, I don’t think you need to worry about that.”

“Just call me Ted.”

“Alright, Ted…”

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

While certainly not a lot, it was enough to complete his studies. He could repay it after graduation.

What a conscience!

Wait, was the last person to receive a student loan Tom?

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

“Ted, to save time, we need to use magic to get to our destination. It might not be very pleasant, so bear with it.”

“Okay.”

“Then, take my hand… Apparate!”

Ted suddenly felt himself being spun and squeezed into a narrow tube, stopping after a good deal of jostling.

When his feet touched the ground again, he nearly stumbled, his legs weak. His stomach churned uncontrollably, and it took him over ten seconds to quell the nausea.

Professor McGonagall, on the other hand, showed no discomfort and was observing Ted: “His adaptability is quite strong, unexpectedly.”

Now Ted seriously suspected he was being retaliated against!

In fact, that was true; normally, they would have come by car.

But Professor McGonagall wanted young Ted to experience the charm of magic firsthand, to let him know that some cats shouldn’t be petted!

This elderly cat-lady was quite petty.

Ted: Was that intentional, or an accident?

Professor McGonagall: It was intentional!

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

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

The little expert in courting death couldn’t help but begin his spiritual victory method.

The system seemed to sense something—

“Ding~ Mission triggered:

[One more time, pet her! (Green)]

What’s wrong with petting a cat? What’s wrong with petting a cat? If you turn into a hedgehog, I won’t pet you anymore, will I?!

Goal: Pet Professor McGonagall in her Animagus form again.

Reward: 250 XP, +lv 1 Transfiguration.

Rough and ready, pet her!”

This… I, I was just kidding! Why are you taking it seriously?!

How am I supposed to complete this?!!!

“Alright, Ted, we’ve arrived. The Leaky Cauldron on Charing Cross Road.” Professor McGonagall looked at the dazed Ted, feeling that her pre-school education was very effective.

“Be aware, this place has a Muggle-Repelling Charm on it. Muggles—that is, ordinary people—cannot see it.”

Ted looked up, observing a tiny storefront, barely larger than a single door.

A metal rod extended from the signboard, from which hung a wooden plaque. It had no writing, but rather a drawing of a leaky cauldron. A very large one, big enough to stew a child.

It was situated between a large bookstore and a record shop. Although its peculiar style made it quite noticeable, passersby didn’t even glance at it.

Professor McGonagall pushed open the door first, leading Ted inside.

The pub was somewhat dim, lit by oil lamps, which explained why it was so dark, like a nightclub.

Right, the wizarding world couldn’t use electricity, it seemed.

Then why not get some magical lights? Oil lamps and candlesticks were far too outdated.

Various long, square, or round wooden tables were scattered haphazardly around. Some strangely dressed, peculiar-looking wizards were drinking and chatting.

Many people actively greeted Professor McGonagall.

Behind the bar, the bald owner, Tom, put down a glass and greeted Professor McGonagall, “Oh, Professor McGonagall, long time no see. Are you here to pick up this year’s new students?”

Professor McGonagall nodded. “Yes. I’m taking him to Diagon Alley to buy things.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful. My granddaughter is also a new student this year.”

After a few pleasantries, Professor McGonagall led Ted out the back door of the Leaky Cauldron. It was like a dead end, with a rubbish bin against the wall.

“Remember how to open it,” Professor McGonagall said. “With your wand, count three bricks up from the rubbish bin, then two bricks across. Tap it~”

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

Inside the doorway was an alley about four or five meters wide, with cobblestones so worn they were very smooth. On both sides were strange shops.

Various incomprehensible goods were displayed on the street, and wizards in robes moved in and out of the shops. Many owls flew back and forth…

This was Diagon Alley, the starting point of the wizarding world!

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

“Ding~ Mission triggered:

[Explore Diagon Alley (Green)]

The most famous wizarding shopping street in Great Britain, shouldn’t you explore it thoroughly? Don’t miss a single shop!

Goal: Complete Diagon Alley exploration 100%.

Progress: 1%.

Reward: 100 XP, random card.

Combat is much more fun than shopping~”

Looking at the wide-eyed Ted, Professor McGonagall smiled slightly. “Alright, Ted, you’ll have plenty of time to be surprised later. For now, let’s go get some money. You have a lot of things to buy…”

Professor McGonagall’s pace was not slow; she pulled Ted along, walking steadily forward.

Ted’s eyes darted left and right, unable to take everything in, dazed, he could only follow along.

After walking for five or six minutes, the two arrived at a crossroads, where Professor McGonagall finally stopped.

Across the crossroads was a three-story white building.

Other shops were at most two stories high and mostly made of wood, but this building was constructed of white stone, looking quite imposing from a distance.

Of course, that was only from a distance.

Because a closer look revealed: Oh my! The white marble pillars outside Gringotts were crooked!

And they were crooked in unique ways; the pillars on the first, second, and third floors were not only not in a straight line, but they weren’t even facing the same direction!

As a former construction worker who had abandoned his tools, this scene was too damaging!

Ted felt an urge to run over and straighten the pillars!

On either side of Gringotts’ bronze main entrance stood haughty goblin guards in scarlet, gold-trimmed uniforms, their gazes not very pleasant.

Further inside was a silvery-white door, on which a striking row of large words was engraved:

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.

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

Professor McGonagall heard him and nodded: “Indeed.”

Most people, seeing this, would probably think the goblins had a bad attitude towards wizards.

But Ted saw the goblins’ bluster.

They were guilty and afraid, but their greed and pride made them maintain their facade.

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

To emphasize their condescension, the goblins had chairs five feet high behind the counters. They probably had to use small ladders to get up and down.

Actually, should they be considered a type of goblin?

In the West, in earlier, less cultured times, vocabulary was limited, and many similar creatures were called by one name—Goblin.

This led to gnomes, goblins, elves, and dwarves being indistinguishable.

The goblins’ appearance was truly far from human aesthetics; they really weren’t presentable. In Ted’s opinion, calling them “monsters” would be more fitting than “goblins.”

A poem could attest: Their bodies are like dwarves, five parts thin, their forms like half-height, three inches tall, with broad faces, sunken noses, amber eyes, pointed ears, venomous fangs, and fists hanging to their knees. Their hammers stir the sun and moon, their wargs traverse, making ghosts weep. Brothers are found throughout the nine provinces, and their nickname is Goblin.

Their concept was very peculiar: they believed that what they created was their own, and any payment given to them was considered rent. As long as the original owner died, they had the right to reclaim the item.

Gryffindor, when he had the goblins forge his sword, was extorted by them, but they were severely beaten as a result.

Ted: Don’t make me a Goblin Slayer~