At night, George's consciousness returned to the Marvel universe. Another day of intense training passed, but nothing particularly remarkable happened. However, his intuition told him that the prison break might happen soon.
He noticed that the group of mutant children had a comic book titled "Uncanny X-Men." He still hadn't fully grasped the history of this universe. This universe had the X-Men and comics related to them, suggesting that mutants were quite prominent. Then why was there a Super Soldier Program and Captain America? He would have to wait until he escaped this experimental base and researched history to understand the truth.
In the world of Harry Potter, early morning arrived. While retrieving the Daily Prophet from the inbox at the shop entrance, George found an extra letter.
"Finally," he said, holding the pale yellow envelope addressed in emerald green ink: "Knockturn Alley, To: Mr. George, Merton's Potions Shop."
Indeed, it was the reissued acceptance letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Although he knew Scrimgeour and Tonks had said it couldn't be wrong, he still couldn't calm down after receiving the acceptance letter. It was Hogwarts, a real school of wizardry, and he would soon be there to learn all sorts of magical arts. Magic, who could resist the wonders of magic?
"Then let's get shopping!"
George quickly finished his breakfast, grabbed the enclosed list of books and equipment, and walked out of Merton's Potions Shop in high spirits. But his good mood was quickly ruined by an unwelcome encounter.
"Isn't that little Dora? I heard you've been readmitted to Hogwarts. Are you going to buy school supplies?" A hunched old wizard with greasy hair, standing in the doorway of the opposite shop, greeted George with a sinister look.
"Good morning, Mr. Borgin. I'm on my way to buy some magic books for school. Also, I've changed my name to George now," George replied politely, feeling a bit uneasy.
This old wizard's identity was no ordinary one. He was arguably the most senior Dark wizard in Knockturn Alley. His shop, Borgin and Burke's, was the largest magic shop in the area. Its business was extensive, dealing in items tainted with Dark magic and providing confidential valuation services for rare and ancient magical artifacts. In his youth, Voldemort had worked at this shady shop, and it was through the shop's complex connections that he was able to locate and create two Horcruxes.
Borgin, the old wizard, was the one George was most worried about. If he gave up on him, no Dark wizard in Knockturn Alley would have any interest in the potion shop he inherited.
"What a good boy! I saw that Auror lady had lunch at your house yesterday?"
Borgin smiled, though it was a slightly creepy smile.
George smiled back, though his was much brighter. "Yes, Sister Tonks really likes my cooking. She said she'd bring her colleagues and Uncle Scrimgeour over for dinner next time."
"That'll be hard work for you," Borgin narrowed his eyes slightly.
George shook his head and said innocently, "It's not hard work. I really enjoy cooking. How about I make more next time they come over, and Mr. Borgin, you can come and taste my cooking?"
"Well, that's not necessary." Borgin's face froze, and he turned and returned to his dark shop.
Seeing Borgin leave, George muttered to himself, "You dare to take over my shop sooner or later, and I'll deal with you, old man."
After calming himself down, he set out again into Diagon Alley. Compared to the cramped, dark expanse of Knockturn Alley, Diagon Alley was much brighter and more spacious, filled with normal wizards and witches bringing their children to buy things and shop assistants hawking various goods.
"Dragon liver, sixteen Sickles an ounce." "Crucibles, copper, brass, pewter, silver, all sizes available, automatic stirring, foldable." "Tawny Owl, Screech Owl, Grass Owl, Brown Owl, Snowy Owl, we have every pet you could want." "Nimbus 2001, the fastest broomstick, you deserve it."
Strolling through the bustling Diagon Alley, George didn't skimp on his spending, buying mostly the best tools. While poor students often had more tools, he felt that good tools meant greater efficiency, and since he had money, why save?
"A complete uniform, a crucible, a telescope, a medicine bottle, a scale, a wand, all I need are books, oh, and a pet."
Two hours later, George, pushing a cart filled with school supplies, counted the items on his list that remained unpurchased. Actually, buying other items didn't take much time at all, even the wand itself. After trying on a few, he found the one that suited him best and bought it. The only delay was getting the uniforms measured, which took a while.
"Eeylops Owl Emporium, perfect! Let's buy an owl then."
Seeing the owl shop on the street, George thought for a moment before pushing his cart inside. The young wizard had many pets to choose from, but he felt the most useful was an owl because wizarding owls were different from ordinary ones. The magical owls of the wizarding world were not only smarter but also had built-in locating magic, allowing them to find the recipient no matter where they were, unless they had used shielding magic. Besides delivering messages, they could also deliver a variety of other items, and their strength far surpassed that of a normal owl, capable of carrying items weighing 10 or 20 pounds.
He was practical, so if he was buying a pet, he had to buy one that was useful. Otherwise, it would be better not to buy one. He didn't have the energy to care for a pet.
"Welcome to Eeylops Owl Emporium, sir. What kind of owl would you like?"
A clerk quickly approached George upon entering.
"That one!"
Glancing through the shop, he quickly found the owl he liked. Following George's finger, the clerk's eyes flashed with surprise.
"Are you sure you want that one?"
"Yes," George nodded affirmatively.
After a moment's hesitation, the clerk explained, "Just a reminder, that one is ten times more expensive than a normal owl, costing one hundred gold Galleons."
The owl George was referring to wasn't an ordinary-sized owl but a Great Horned Owl, nearly a meter tall. Only adult wizards with special hobbies or for research would pay for such a large owl. He had never seen a young wizard buy one as a pet. It was too expensive, and even wealthy parents wouldn't trust them; such a large owl wouldn't be safe.
(End of Chapter)