About three hours later, Ian had already finished purchasing most of the required items under Snape's guidance.
The list of supplies for a first-year student at Hogwarts wasn't particularly long. Aside from the essential textbooks, all he needed was some equipment for Potions and Herbology—three plain work robes, a pointed hat for daytime wear, and a pair of protective gloves. Any gloves made from a material similar to dragon hide would do, but the ones Snape chose for Ian were made from the hide of a Hungarian Horntail—rare, expensive, and offering top-tier protection.
Since Ian didn't have a single Galleon to his name, he had no say in the selection process. He could only watch as Snape paid for almost everything he needed.
Truthfully, although he had handed over most of his savings to Ms. Elena to help feed his siblings during the winter, Ian had still kept a decent amount of British pounds for himself. His plan had been to exchange them at Gringotts for wizarding currency. But Snape clearly had no intention of taking him there. With no magical money, Ian had no choice but to let Snape take control of the entire shopping list.
Oddly enough, many of the items Snape bought didn't exactly match those listed on the school's supply sheet. In fact, many of them were significantly more luxurious and expensive. Whenever Ian tried to question the choices, Snape would shoot back a sarcastic remark that shut him down completely.
"Expensive things have their reasons," he would say.
As a new student, Ian didn't have the confidence to argue. He simply watched as Snape finalized every purchase. Each time Snape pulled out his money pouch, Ian's doubts grew. This wasn't the version of Snape he knew—Snape wasn't supposed to be this warm or responsible.
In fanfics, Snape might be portrayed as a wizard with a certain charm or depth, but as a Hogwarts professor, he was notoriously unqualified. He often mocked students from other houses and showed blatant favoritism toward Slytherin, which many people viewed as a form of discrimination.
Yet on this trip through Diagon Alley, despite the constant barrage of snide comments, Ian could feel Snape's seriousness and diligence when it came to his education. The cauldron he bought was the finest available. The gloves and work robes were all top quality. Even the textbooks were brand new and full price—definitely not something that would be covered by any Hogwarts student loan.
In all honesty, even without considering how new everything was, the items Snape bought were undeniably premium. The brass cauldron alone cost dozens of Galleons, and the Hungarian Horntail hide gloves were among the best money could buy.
Hogwarts was certainly a prestigious magical institution, but with his basic understanding of economics, Ian refused to believe their student loans could be this generous. Economics, after all, was a universal concept. If a Hogwarts loan could afford an orphan this kind of luxury, the school would need to generate an absurd level of economic output every year.
"Hogwarts can't possibly be that rich," Ian thought.
His reasoning wasn't unfounded. If the loans were really that substantial, then Ron Weasley—best friend to the Chosen One and the poster child for hand-me-downs—wouldn't have been so destitute. By his second year, Ron was still using a broken wand passed down from his older brother. That didn't sound like the result of a well-funded loan system. Even his sister, Ginny, had to start school with second-hand books and supplies.
As a member of a pure-blood family, there's no reason the Weasleys wouldn't qualify for aid. Judging by their financial state, the loans could barely cover used gear. The Weasleys were the kind of family that would blow a lottery win on a vacation and return home broke. It was safe to assume they relied heavily on those loans just to keep their kids in school.
So, for someone like Ian, born into poverty, scraping together enough for used textbooks would've been the expected scenario. But everything Snape had bought for him so far was a premium version of a basic necessity.
It was only natural that Ian began to wonder—just how much guilt did Snape carry to go so far?
If his parents weren't already dead, he would've felt like those Hungarian Horntail gloves were burning in his hands.
"Professor, is Hogwarts really this particular about quality?" he finally asked, unable to hold back his curiosity any longer. The tipping point had been Snape buying him a limited-edition telescope.
"As a student, you'd be better off focusing on how to absorb more knowledge at Hogwarts," Snape replied coolly. "Wasting time on trivial, pointless thoughts like these does you no good."
With his usual deadpan expression, Snape watched Ian stuff his new belongings into his suitcase, then turned and briskly walked toward their next destination.
Ollivanders Wand Shop.
This wasn't just another store—it was arguably more important than any textbook. The only wand shop in Diagon Alley, and in fact the entire British Isles, it was a legendary destination every young wizard visited—a true "starter village" in the magical world.
Time had worn down the shop's sign, and its small, shabby storefront made it look anything but extraordinary. Compared to the grandeur of Gringotts or Flourish and Blotts, Ollivanders looked almost rundown. But despite its modest appearance, it remained one of the few places even Voldemort had never dared to conquer.
That's the power of a business so unique and irreplaceable. Like the aristocratic families of ancient China, it stood unshaken by the passage of time.
"This is the final stop," Snape said. He had been generous with money, but stingy with words.
Ian had been looking forward to this moment. Staring at the faded sign, his eyes sparkled with anticipation—and a touch of anxiety.
He had every reason to feel nervous.
From what little he knew of this world, aside from Harry Potter and the beautiful Hermione, Ollivanders was without question one of its most mysterious places.
After all, the entire Harry Potter saga revolved around prophecy in one way or another. And in both the original story and countless fanfics, Ollivanders was often portrayed as the true heart of it all.
The Dark Lord's fall.
Dumbledore's death.
Those were just side prophecies.
It was the prophecy made at Ollivanders—the one about the wand choosing the wizard—that sent chills down people's spines. Even legendary figures like Dumbledore and Voldemort were caught up in it. Not even Harry Potter escaped the fate foretold when his wand chose him.
If someone claimed the owner of Ollivanders didn't possess a gift far beyond ordinary Seers, Ian would be the first to raise his hand in disbelief.
The ending of the first book had hinted at it already.
Who else's prophecies could possibly compare to yours?
(End of Chapter)