Professor McGonagall kept walking, leading the group past the dingy bar.
"It is quite alright," she said with a faint smile. "You may give it a try once the term ends."
"Almost every young wizard tastes Butterbeer at some point. It is a non-alcoholic drink, and the flavor is actually quite pleasant."
"But for now, I shall take you to Diagon Alley."
As she spoke, she continued to lead the way to the small, walled courtyard at the back of the pub.
She stopped in front of a brick wall and pointed at a specific spot.
"Remember this trash can. From the trash can, count three bricks up and two across."
"Finally, tap the brick three times with your wand, and the entrance to Diagon Alley will appear."
The moment she finished speaking, the bricks around the one she had tapped began to quiver.
They skipped aside as if alive, opening up until a large archway appeared.
"Wow!" The Grangers and Hermione exclaimed in unison.
Only Harvey stared at the trash can, lost in thought.
If...
Just purely hypothetically, if he moved that trash can, would everyone else be unable to find the entrance?
McGonagall stepped through the entrance first. The others followed with faces full of anticipation.
As Harvey passed by at the very end, he gave the trash can a subtle, "accidental" kick...
Ten minutes later, a wizard hurried into the Leaky Cauldron, only to find the entrance to Diagon Alley missing!
It took over a dozen patrons half an hour of searching before they finally found the real entrance with Old Tom's help.
Tom shouted in frustration, "You bunch of idiots! Some little prankster obviously moved the trash can!"
"You're all grown wizards and you can't find the way? You're as thick as a troll's skull..."
...
Harvey and the others stepped through the archway into Diagon Alley.
A bustling street paved with cobblestones materialized before their eyes.
People surged back and forth, with many bearded adult wizards in long robes weaving through the crowd.
The buildings lining the street fused Medieval and Victorian styles, mostly made of stone and brick with a vintage aesthetic.
Professor McGonagall pointed out the various shops as they walked.
"Diagon Alley is the economic hub of the Wizarding World."
"Here you will find Gringotts Wizarding Bank, Ollivanders Wand Shop, Flourish and Blotts, the Magical Menagerie, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, and many more."
"Do you all have your acceptance letters with you?"
"Of course we do," Hermione said, quickly pulling hers out from her pocket.
The Grangers looked like country bumpkins on their first trip to the big city.
They marveled at every strange and wondrous product displayed in the shop windows.
To be honest, even Harvey—who had mentally prepared himself—was stunned.
There were broomsticks hovering in front of signs, and fire-breathing salamanders in the pet shop window...
He saw mouth-watering magical photographs of food decorating the restaurant windows.
He couldn't tear his eyes away from these magical wonders.
Was this... the true Wizarding World?
Beside them, Professor McGonagall continued her briefing.
"Upon entering Diagon Alley, Muggle-born students must first go to Gringotts to exchange their currency."
"Which is right here."
She led the group to a halt in front of Gringotts.
"Once you have exchanged your money, you can purchase everything you need according to your list."
"The rest of this wonderful journey is yours to navigate. I hope you have a pleasant time in Diagon Alley."
She turned to leave, but stopped abruptly as if remembering something.
She turned back, her face grim. "One more thing. You must never enter Knockturn Alley."
"That is the dingy street entrance right over there, adjacent to Diagon Alley."
"Knockturn Alley is a gathering place for Dark Wizards. Think of it as a dangerous neighborhood for bad people."
"It is outside the Ministry's direct supervision. Do not go near it."
The Grangers nodded with utmost seriousness.
"We will keep that in mind. Thank you, Professor McGonagall. We'd love to have you over for a meal sometime."
"If my schedule permits, I would be delighted," she replied calmly.
Her voice was so level it was impossible to tell if she was being polite or sincere.
But this time, she truly departed.
The Grangers stood with the two children at the entrance of Gringotts.
Enter, stranger, but take heed of what awaits the sin of greed...
Seeing the warning inscribed on the first set of bronze doors and the goblin guards, the couple hesitated.
"Enter, stranger, but take heed... for those who take, but do not earn, must pay most dearly in their turn..."
Hermione read the warning out loud. Harvey quickly gave her sleeve a tug.
"Hey, aren't you embarrassed? Reciting warning signs at a bank entrance!"
Hermione turned to Harvey, then to her parents. They were all standing there looking incredibly awkward.
Her delicate face was full of confusion. "Is reading a warning sign out loud considered rude?"
It was the first time the Grangers had witnessed their daughter's socially fearless tendencies in such a high-pressure environment.
The two ugly creatures at the door were terrifying enough just to look at, let alone speak near.
Mrs. Granger whispered, "A bank with monsters as guards... this is terrifying!"
Wizards were filing past them into Gringotts. Some gave them puzzled looks as they stood frozen at the door.
Harvey felt his secondhand embarrassment reaching critical levels.
"Let's just go in. These are Goblins. They are a specific race in the magical world."
"They might look a bit... 'ugly-cute,' but they don't have much combat power out here."
Hermione agreed. "I think so too. They are actually quite adorable in their own way..."
"Adorable...?" The Grangers were speechless for a moment before gathering the courage to follow.
They were met by a well-dressed goblin who took one look at them.
Seeing them gawking at everything, he knew immediately they were Muggle-born.
"Exchange for Galleons, I assume?" he asked coldly. "Counter three handles currency exchange."
The Grangers were stiff as they thanked him and walked toward the empty counter.
The goblin behind counter three looked bored as he greeted them.
"The exchange rate for Hogwarts students is five pounds to one gold Galleon."
"The limit is one thousand Galleons per student."
"Alternatively, we accept gold at two ounces per Galleon. There is no limit on gold exchanges."