"Are you here to buy Hogwarts School uniforms, dear?" As soon as Albert stepped into the tailor shop, a short, plump Witch greeted him with a beaming smile.
"Yes, Madam," Albert nodded, "Thank you for your trouble."
"What a polite young man. Come, let me take your measurements." Madam Malkin beckoned with her finger, and a tape measure, pins, and scissors flew towards them, automatically beginning to measure Albert's body, a sight that left Herb dumbfounded.
Customizing clothes was a complicated process, taking a full half-hour. Madam Malkin told them to pick up the package after they finished their shopping.
"Madam, besides the school-required clothes, I would also like to order a black pointed hat and a plain black cloak, made to my size, but without a name tag. Oh, and please package them separately." Albert said to Madam Malkin after tidying his slightly disheveled clothes.
"A black pointed hat and a plain cloak?" Madam Malkinlooked at Herb in confusion, repeating Albert's words.
"Yes," Herb nodded. He knew this was a gift for Nia.
"Alright," Madam Malkin didn't dwell on the strange request, nodding to show she understood.
After prepaying a Galleon, the two left Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. They went to Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment, not far from there, and bought the brass scales, brass telescope, and glass phials from the list.
In fact, Albert simply handed the list to Wiseacre, indicating that he needed to buy the items on it.
Wiseacre took only a few minutes to find all the items on the list and help package them.
With the shopkeeper's introduction, Albert easily found Potage's Cauldron Shop and bought a pewter cauldron there.
They then found the apothecary through the shop owner, Potage, and replenished the ingredients needed for Potion Class there.
The apothecary was definitely not a pleasant place; a nauseating smell, as if specially prepared to drive away customers, could be smelled as soon as one approached.
The apothecary was filled with many peculiar things: jars of Herbs, dried roots, and brightly colored powders on the shelves.
Bundles of feathers, strings of fangs, and furry claws also hung from the ceiling.
Oh my, how could a Wizard possibly brew these things into Potions and drink them?
Herb dared not think further because he saw a jar of slugs.
It was simply too disgusting.
This father was already doubting life a bit.
Perhaps, letting his son enter that Hogwarts was truly not a wise move.
Besides the Potions, Albert also bought some tools that would be used for brewing Potions.
After paying, he pulled the perplexed Herb out of the apothecary.
"Albert, how about we give up?" Herb said seriously after pulling Albert away from the apothecary, "We'll go to Eton College."
Albert's face twitched, and he shook his head.
"But… the more I think about it, the more unreliable it feels. Maybe Daisy was right." Herb looked at his son with a complicated expression.
"We still need some books, a wand, and an owl," Albertlooked at Herb and said, "At least, don't jump to conclusions before understanding the Wizarding World."
"Alright," Herb was a bit depressed, but he still nodded in agreement.
At Flourish and Blotts, Albert bought the books on the list and also purchased a few extra books on the history of the Wizarding World.
Actually, Albert wanted to stay in the bookstore for a while, but considering the time, he gave up and got a booklist from the bookstore manager so he could order books he needed via owl in the future.
Then, at the stationery shop in Diagon Alley, next to Quality Quidditch Supplies, he bought a large amount of parchment, quills, and ink.
With the enthusiastic help of the owner, they found Eeylops Owl Emporium. This shop was located on the north side of Diagon Alley, easy to find, with many owls hanging outside.
He had to buy an owl, otherwise he wouldn't be able to contact his family.
Herb also helped buy a bag of owl treats and owl nuts.
Pushing the trolley, Herb crossed off the purchased items one by one; only the wand remained.
Ollivander's wand Shop was on the south side of Diagon Alley. They learned the location of the wandshop from the Witch selling owls.
It was a small, shabby shop.
As Albert pushed the door open, a tinkling bell rang inside. The shop was very small, with nothing but a long bench.
When Herb pushed the trolley into the shop, he felt it immediately filled the space. He sat on the bench, eating a pumpkin pasty he had just bought from a stall. There were also some sweets on the trolley, also gifts for Nia.
Albert also held a pumpkin pasty in his hand; he was hungry too.
"Is anyone here?"
"Good afternoon," a soft voice rang out, and Ollivanderemerged from the back.
"Hello, sir, I'd like to buy…" Albert said, putting down the pumpkin pasty in his hand.
"A wand, oh, of course, a Hogwarts first-year."
"Yes, sir."
"By the way, what's your name?" Ollivander probably saw the confusion in Albert's eyes and explained, "The Ministry of Magic requires a record of all Wizards who purchase wands from me."
"Albert Anderson," Albert introduced himself.
"Alright, Mr. Anderson," Ollivander pulled a tape measure from his pocket, "Which arm do you use most often?"
"I'm right-handed," Albert raised his arm.
Ollivander began to measure Albert, first from shoulder to fingertip, then from wrist to elbow. The complicated measuring process made both father and son suspect that Ollivander wasn't selling wands, but clothes.
"Every wand I make is unique; Wizards always find the most suitable one here," Ollivander said to himself while measuring, but Albert was already starting to doubt life; the tape measure was even automatically measuring the distance between his nostrils.
Albert reached out and pushed the ruler away, walking towards the counter.
Ollivander had already taken a wand from the shelf and introduced it: "Holly and Phoenix feather, seven inches, quite flexible."
Albert had just reached out to take it when Ollivandertook it away.
"Try this one, made of ash and Unicorn hair. Eight and a half inches long. An extraordinary combination, good springiness."
Albert took it and waved it, but nothing happened.
"Doesn't seem to fit," Ollivander said to himself, "Try this one next…"
Albert tried wand after wand. Sometimes the wandwould show great destructive power, and the vase on the counter was blown to pieces, startling Herb.
"I like particular customers," Ollivander brought another pile of wands, smiling, "red cedar and Phoenix feather, nine inches long, good springiness."
Albert took the wand and felt a slight warmth at his fingertips. He gently tapped it, and red sparks shot from the wand's tip, bursting like fireworks in the shop.
"That's the one," Ollivander happily put the wand into its box and smiled at Albert, "Legend has it that wands made of red cedar bring good luck to their users."
"Do you believe that?" Albert retorted.
"No, I believe that wands made of red cedar are attracted to certain specific Wizards, and these Wizards already possess the ability to turn danger into safety when they encounter it."
"So, it's not that red cedar brings luck, but rather its owner creates its lucky reputation?" Albert raised an eyebrow.
"You could say that," Ollivander nodded, "That will be 10 Galleons. Thank you for your patronage."