novelslam Chapter 169, Section 168: The Boy Who Survived a Great Calamity!
Chapter 169, Section 168: The Boy Who Survived a Great Calamity!
Chapter 169, Section 168: The Boy Who Survived a Great Calamity!
The wand shop wasn't very big.
It was as if they had entered a very strict library.
Apart from a bench, the shop contained only a few scattered pieces of furniture; the rest were towering bookshelves, but instead of books, they held thousands of magic wands.
This is undoubtedly the largest arsenal in the British wizarding world.
Good morning, customers.
The blond boy was smiling very quietly.
He had exceptionally brilliant golden hair, as if woven from the purest sunlight, with each strand shimmering with a dazzling luster.
Bathed in the soft morning light, his golden hair shone even brighter, as if imbued with life, swaying gently with countless tiny points of light dancing within it.
"Have we met somewhere before?" Ian felt a sense of déjà vu about the boy, though he wasn't sure if it was when he was wandering around Diagon Alley earlier.
Just as the little wizard was pondering this...
"It was probably this morning when you were having breakfast with this lady and her family at Miaomiao Cat Dessert Shop. I also had a matcha chocolate cake there."
The blond boy put down the book he was reading, a wizard-themed romance novel called "The Fallen Witch Fell in Love with Me." It was a mystery why a little boy would like to read such a thing.
"is that so?"
Ian tried to recall, but he realized that his attention had been mostly focused on the food. The Grangers were paying for the meal; to be even slightly distracted by it would be a desecration of the food.
"I remember him, that boy was sitting in the corner," Hermione suddenly interjected, her attention only lingering on the blond boy's book title for a few seconds.
Hermione used to enjoy reading romance novels, but now she's only interested in real magic books, which the little witch sees as a sign that she's starting to mature.
"I also remember meeting this young gentleman when I went to the restroom at the cake shop," Mr. Granger said, recalling the event. His words were immediately agreed upon by Mrs. Granger.
"It's hard not to notice such a beautiful child, I remember her too." The family of three all spoke up, providing details, which made Ian a little insecure.
"Strange—I have absolutely no recollection of this."
He scratched his head.
However, I didn't think about it too much.
After all, although the blond boy was indeed handsome, he was still just a boy. As a boy myself, it was understandable that I didn't pay much attention to him or observe him closely.
"We'll all be classmates in the future, so there's plenty of time to get to know each other. Let's choose a wand for this young lady first," the blond boy suggested with a gentle smile.
"That's right! A magic wand!"
Hermione got excited again.
"What a young and energetic voice! I think I've roughly decided on the type of wand you should use." Ollivander began to rub his hands together in anticipation.
"Excellent, excellent, outstanding talent, competitive spirit—I think those adorable little ones..."
They're already eager to test whether you're qualified to hold them.
Hermione immediately felt nervous as the old conman spoke with a serious and earnest tone.
"Do I still need to pass the wand test?" Hermione first instinctively turned to look at her parents, but seeing the blank expressions on their faces, she realized that her parents, like herself, knew nothing about magic. A little flustered, she immediately looked at Ian with pleading eyes.
"What should I call you?"
Ian spoke slowly and deliberately.
He was imitating Snape's frightening tone.
"Ian—Little Teacher?"
Hermione spoke hesitantly, her voice barely audible. Ever since they met this morning, the young wizard had repeatedly reminded her to use a more "respectful" form of address.
She said it was so that if she ran into other students at Hogwarts, they would know that she had a close relationship with the young wizard, and that she wouldn't be bullied at Hogwarts.
"It's Mr. Ian, there's no 'little' in it!" Ian wasn't entirely into bullying children; after all, he had accepted a favor and promised to take care of Miss Granger at Hogwarts.
"Okay, Mr. Ian, what's going on?" Hermione didn't dare to look Ollivander in the eye again, so she gritted her teeth and brazenly asked Ian again.
Well, how should I put it?
This is a very typical sign of a lack of self-confidence.
Hermione in the original timeline was the same; it was precisely because of her lack of confidence that she became even more competitive. What she fears most now is Ollivander's judgment that she is not actually suited to learning magic.
"It's not a big problem. This is just Mr. Ollivander demonstrating his craftsmanship. Don't worry, he'll definitely be able to find a wand that suits you so you can begin your wizarding journey."
Ian's point of view immediately drew a rebuttal from Ollivander.
"The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Prince. This is a well-documented truth—not everyone has the right to choose their wand, rather than be chosen by it, like you."
Ollivander walked up to Hermione and began measuring her body with a tape measure. He repeatedly emphasized the measurements, as if to correct the "wrong" ideas Ian had instilled in Hermione.
"Yes, of course, miss. Your wand will choose you. It has been waiting for you all along, and my duty is to find it from where it is hidden and give it to you."
Ollivander's aged voice carried a steadfast commitment to his ideals.
however.
He never expected that his grandson would jump out and undermine him.
"To put it simply, we've made a bunch of wands. With so many to choose from, there's bound to be one that suits you." The blond boy's slightly teasing words as he stood up instantly dispelled the seriousness of the atmosphere.
"Lirim, you must have reverence for the wand." Ollivander gave his grandson a disapproving look.
His words revealed that the blond boy's name should be Rirem Ollivander.
"I'm more concerned with calming the wand's owner down. Can't you see how nervous this young lady is?" Ririm shrugged and replied to Ollivander with a hint of helplessness.
"How about I help her choose a wand?"
The little boy named Ririm seemed eager to try it out.
"You—"
Ollivander hesitated.
He was very worried that his grandson would not be able to properly inherit his skills in the future, so perhaps it would be a good choice to let his grandson hone his sales skills?
Anyway, if he makes enough wands to last for hundreds of years before he dies, that should be enough to produce a descendant in the Ollivander family with a talent for professional wand making.
Thinking of this.
Ollivander made a decision immediately.
"Alright, you can do it then."
He handed the measuring tape to Ririm and stood aside to watch. Perhaps because he was still a little worried, his gaze didn't even waver when he reached for the cup.
"Mr. Ollivander, you're holding your grandson's fish tank." Ian quickly helped Ollivander change the cup, thus preventing the tragedy of several small fish being swallowed whole.
"This old gentleman must be about eighty years old, right?"
Seeing this, Mrs. Granger quietly discussed Ollivander's age with her husband, the subtext being that she felt Ollivander's reactions and eyes seemed to have degenerated.
"Eighty years old? Hahaha, do you think I'm still such a young man?" Ollivander's hearing was quite good; he actually smiled very happily.
The couple looked at each other, both saying it was difficult to comment. What does it mean to be eighty years old or a young man?
In the Muggle world, people of this age would either be retired or have been in their coffins for who knows how many years!
"Miss, relax. I'm choosing a wand for you now. I won't talk to you about wands choosing wizards. The only thing you need to know is that the wand will reveal your destiny." Riem began to take Hermione's measurements, and he actually took out his own wand and used some kind of magic on the measuring tape.
Immediately, the measuring tape seemed to come alive, starting by measuring the distance from the shoulder to the fingertips, then from the wrist to the elbow, from the knee to the armpit, and even the head circumference.
Hermione and Granger were astonished by this incredible scene. Ian also glanced at the blond boy with surprise; there weren't many wizards who could use spells so skillfully before even entering school.
"What we measure here is body proportion, not height. Even as you grow and develop, the general structure and proportions of your body will not change much."
When Lirrim put away the measuring tape, he thoughtfully explained the purpose of this step. Ian had never received such a detailed explanation when he went to buy a wand from old Ollivander.
"So, will I be able to find a wand that suits me?" Hermione was still visibly nervous, clearly very worried about the phrase "a wand chooses a wizard."
"certainly."
After finishing speaking, Ririm turned and went to the shelf where the wands were displayed.
"She might be better suited for a dragon's nerves or heart tendons; the rest is just determining what kind of wood to use as raw material," old Ollivander couldn't help but offer a reminder.
His judgment is indeed quite sharp.
only.
"Perhaps there are better options?"
Lirim, however, did not adopt it.
"What are dragon nerves? Do dragons really exist? Does the power of the wand come from these magical things?" Hermione began her three-question barrage, filled with doubt and curiosity.
Ririm gently provided an answer.
He continued rummaging through the containers, muttering things like, "Where did I put it?" and "Was it stolen?"
Only within his visible field of vision.
A faint beam of light shone from an old wooden box on the shipping container.
"The wand core is the essence of a wand; it is key to stabilizing and amplifying magical effects. For our shop, the most commonly used wand core materials come from unicorns, dragons, and phoenixes."
"Of course, there are exceptions. With some experimentation and innovation, other types of wands have been created, but basically each of those wands can be considered unique."
Lirem's explanation was accepted by Ollivander.
"That's right, like Mr. Prince's one, elderberry, unicorn hair, an impossible miracle." He had finally seized this opportunity he loved to show off his memory.
"An impossible wand?"
Hermione was just beginning to have doubts.
A brand new wand was handed to him by Ririm.
"This one—"
Ollivander frowned.
"Another story to hear?"
Ian pricked up his ears, ready to begin the plagiarism check.
however.
"No, no, no, there's no story behind it. It was just a practice piece by my good-for-nothing grandson. I can't remember how many years ago it was, but no one has taken it away in the past few years."
Ollivander's words disappointed Ian.
"So, will practice pieces be discounted?" This wasn't a question from the young wizard, but rather from Mrs. Granger, who also seized the opportunity to try and start her bargaining.
Their family is indeed quite wealthy, but those who understand women's desires know what they mean. Besides, a dentist's family isn't at the point where they can buy things with gold without batting an eye.
"This is a finished product, and there are no flaws." Ririm first defended his wand, then looked at the little witch who was holding the wand and looked at her helplessly.
"Swing it."
He gave the little witch a hint. Hermione, understanding immediately, awkwardly waved her wand, and a warm, powerful force instantly flowed through her body. Vibrant flowers condensed in the air, slowly rotating before dissipating, leaving the room filled with gasps of amazement.
"This is truly amazing!"
Hermione felt an unprecedented connection, as if this wand was her destined partner.
To understand her every thought and amplify her every potential.
"Hehehehehehe"
Whether it was her imagination or not, Hermione felt a strange, abstract laughter in her ears. This laughter disappeared without a trace as the vision ended, as if it were an illusion.
"This is it, Miss Granger. This wand has been waiting for you, just as you were chosen by fate. Together you will write a chapter that is destined to be different."
Lirim smiled and offered his assessment, which was similar to old Ollivander's, but he was much more restrained and could be seen as a well-intentioned blessing.
"What kind of wood is this wand made of? And is the core really dragon nerve?" Hermione, who was just learning, looked curiously at the wand in her hand that she could communicate with.
Just as my husband said, you are exceptionally talented and have a strong competitive spirit, so...
This is a wand made from grapevine wood.
"The grapevine wand usually only chooses wizards with amazing talent and lofty ambitions," Ririm explained patiently, then added after a pause.
"Of course, I also noticed something my old man didn't: you have been blessed by fate, and absolute loyalty will lead you to a bright future." The blond boy's words truly stirred Hermione's emotions. It has to be said that when it comes to salesmanship, one might really have to rely on family tradition.
"So, what kind of core is it, Mr. Ollivander?" Ian sighed inwardly, but still asked the question that had been bothering him. There were generally several types of cores that represented loyalty.
He also occasionally learns the craft of making canes.
"A raven's tail feather, Mr. Prince." Ririm looked at Ian with a cheerful smile, "The core I used in this wand is the tail feather of a mad raven!"
He even emphasized the end of his words, creating a sense of stress, and just as Ian frowned slightly and was about to ask how the other person could tell if a bird was mentally ill,
"Seven Galleons, thank you."
Old Ollivander had already rushed up to the Grangers.
It was still that same tone.
The price remains the same.
"Not a penny less, not a penny less. This is the price set by the Ministry of Magic. We haven't made much money." He even anticipated what Mrs. Granger was about to say.
"Forehead--."
Lady Granger sensed the firmness in old Ollivander's tone and could only count out seven Galleons with some disappointment—all the Galleons they currently held came from Ian's private exchange.
One Galleon costs significantly more pounds than Gringotts, but slightly less than the black market price. Gringotts can only exchange a tiny fraction of Galleons for Muggle coins each year.
It simply won't be enough.
"Now that I have a wand, can I start learning magic? Is it difficult to learn magic?" Hermione asked Ian excitedly, clutching her wand tightly.
"Of course it's not difficult."
Ian gave a very affirmative answer.
"Or rather, it's very simple."
He is a person who enjoys sharing, so after summarizing his thoughts, he added, "Every kind of magic has its own color and scent."
"For example, the Patronus Charm tastes like licorice, the Transfiguration Charm tastes like chocolate, and the Unforgivable Charm tastes like—well, that's something you don't need to know."
"In short, when practicing magic, as long as the scent you smell is right, then your spellcasting is not wrong." The little wizard was genuinely sharing his own experience.
His overly abstract expression left Hermione somewhat bewildered.
but.
The young wizard thought Hermione's comprehension skills were lacking, and sure enough, as soon as he spoke,
He immediately gained the strong approval of the blond boy, Rirem.
"Yes, that's right, that's exactly it. If you find that the magic described in a book doesn't appear in the colors you expect, don't hesitate, immediately close the book and go to the bookstore to return it and get your money back. This can definitely serve as strong evidence that the book's descriptions and teachings are incorrect."
"It's not that you're wrong, it's just that the book is wrong." Ririm's firm and resolute answer made Ian feel that he had finally met a kindred spirit.
He had never been able to teach any young wizards this method of learning magic, so he was actually quite unconfident. But now, the facts have proven that his theory was indeed correct.
There are indeed other young wizards who can learn it.
The one with the problem is definitely not him.
"Huh?"
Hermione was getting more and more confused the more she listened.
"is that so?"
She was unsure if she had never come into contact with a magic book, which was why she couldn't understand this feeling. Perhaps she would only be able to understand this feeling if she came into contact with a magic book?
"No problem!"
"Of course that's true."
The two little boys answered in unison.
Hermione increasingly felt that perhaps this was the norm for wizards.
"Okay, I've got it."
Of course, she wouldn't give up her studies because of this.
just.
Thus began the question that would trouble a future legendary witch for almost her entire life.
"Jingle bell~"
Just as Hermione was trying to understand and repeatedly memorizing the information, the wind chimes at the front door suddenly rang out with a clear, crisp sound.
"Welcome to Ollivander's Wand Shop."
Old Oliver almost reflexively rushed out.
As a somewhat uneasy little boy was gently pushed in first, a burly, or rather, enormous figure began to squeeze through the doorway.
The doorway, which wasn't particularly narrow, seemed quite unfriendly to this large, burly man. He had to use almost all his strength to squeeze his body into the shop.
"Oh my goodness!"
The Grangers were both taken aback.
"Giant—Giant!"
Hermione's face was also pale, and she took several steps back.
"Not a giant, but a half-giant." The huge, burly man laughed heartily, not annoyed at all, but correcting Hermione's choice of words. His gaze turned to Ian in the shop.
"I didn't expect to run into you here, little Ian." The half-giant was none other than Hagrid. He was overjoyed to see Ian and immediately came up to give him a big hug.
of course.
It looks like they're going to throw Ian out.
"I didn't expect to meet you here, Professor Hagrid." Ian's legs were like oars in mid-air. He was lifted up for a while before he touched the ground again.
"I brought the young wizard here to buy things, on Dumbledore's behalf, and of course, I have my own selfish motives as well," Hagrid replied as unguarded as ever.
"Looks like you're the same?"
His gaze fell upon Hermione, who had already chosen her wand.
"This is a paid commission from Mr. Granger. They don't know much about the wizarding world, and their child, Miss Hermione Granger, will be attending Hogwarts this year."
Ian gave Hagrid a brief introduction.
"You are so lucky."
Hagrid addressed the Grangers, saying, "Young Ian is very popular at school. With his help, your child will surely integrate into Hogwarts very quickly."
His words immediately delighted the Grangers.
It seems the little wizard we encountered wasn't just bragging.
"That's exactly what we want to see, and we hope you'll take good care of our Hermione," Mr. Granger replied politely and sincerely.
He noticed the way Ian addressed the large, muscular man.
"Of course, no problem! Little Ian's friend is my friend! This little girl can come to me anytime she needs help! In fact, as long as she says she's Ian's friend, no one at school will bully her," Hagrid immediately responded with a hearty laugh and patted his chest.
His words made the Grangers realize the true value of the young wizard's self-proclaimed title of "Little Emperor".
original.
What a school bully!
"Is this the freshman you're mentoring this year?" Ian noticed the Grangers' strange looks and immediately looked at the bespectacled boy, asking a question he already knew the answer to. This boy looked even more reserved than Hermione, with thick glasses, very messy hair, and a lightning bolt scar on his forehead.
His identity was absolutely well-known in the wizarding world. Ian guessed that Lupin staying at the hotel instead of coming to Diagon Alley might be because he knew Harry Potter would be there today.
He hadn't yet figured out how to face his good friend's orphan.
"Yes, that's right, he's the boy who survived the ordeal, the son of Voldemort, Harry Potter." Hagrid immediately pulled Harry in front of him and began to introduce him.
His voice was full of joy, and after introducing Harry, he took the initiative to introduce Ian to Harry, "This is Ian, the genius little wizard who saved a group of boys and girls from death."
That sounds really weird.
Harry Potter's eyes widened in terror.
1
Ian was quite speechless.
Fortunately, Hagrid realized in time that his expression was somewhat ambiguous.
"Well, what I really mean is that he's a little hero who defeated a dark wizard who infiltrated the school and saved everyone. He'll soon be the youngest recipient of the Order of Merlin."
Hagrid stammered as he explained. He knew things that many people knew, but only a few knew about Voldemort's identity.
Most people know that Ian defeated Voldemort's most loyal follower.
Ok.
That's not wrong.
"You're really amazing!"
Harry Potter was speechless with astonishment. He began to feel a little inferior; these people were only a little older than him, but they seemed so much more outstanding.
Even his appearance is so outstanding—this is perhaps the savior the wizarding world should be chasing, not himself—he has already experienced his fame in the bars outside.
That's why.
The boy, who had miraculously survived, felt increasingly that he was all talk and no action.
"So-so, third from Hogwarts." Ian honestly assessed his own level, while Hermione and Lady Granger didn't react too strongly to Harry Potter either.
After all, the two adults and the child had only just come into contact with the wizarding world today, and they didn't know much about the history of magic or the legend of Harry Potter. This made Harry Potter feel less panicked.
of course.
This sense of ease didn't last long.
"It really is you! I recognized you the moment you came in!" Old Ollivander's sudden reaction immediately left Harry Potter feeling bewildered once again.
"Hello."
He could only quickly and politely greet them.
"I've been looking forward to seeing you soon, Harry Potter. Your eyes are just like your mother's, and it feels like only yesterday that she came here to buy a wand."
The wand she bought was ten and a quarter inches long, made of very beautiful cypress wood; it was an excellent wand. Your father, on the other hand, preferred a peach wood wand, eleven inches long, which would be very powerful for transmutation. Old Ollivander probably hadn't had enough of showing off his memories yet.
After speaking to Harry Potter, he turned his gaze to Hagrid.
"Bru Hagrid, I never expected it would be you who brought him shopping. This is wonderful!"
"You're Oak, a big guy who's sixteen inches long, right!"
"That magic wand is truly unforgettable."
Old Ollivander wore a nostalgic expression.
"Yes, that's an exceptionally fine wand," Hagrid remarked, prompting old Ollivander to sigh heavily in response.
"But I think they've already destroyed your wand. What a terrible Ministry of Magic." Ollivander expressed his regret for the wand and a slight dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Magic's handling of the matter.
"Uh, of course, they've ruined everything, beyond repair." Hagrid's eyes darted around, and his expression was somewhat stiff.
"But I think you still keep it, right?"
Ollivander looked at Hagrid with bright eyes.
Hagrid didn't dare look him in the eye.
"I've found it a—suitable home." Hagrid tried to imply that he had buried the wand, but his thugs were still tightly gripping a tattered pink umbrella.
"That's good."
Ollivander's gaze lingered on the tattered umbrella for a moment, but he did not ask any further questions.
He looked at Harry Potter again.
"I am very sad. The wand I sold hurt you, hurt your family, and many innocent people." The old man's gaze lingered on Harry Potter's forehead.
"Thirteen and a half inches, a very powerful wand, extremely powerful, but I gave it to the wrong master... If I had known that wand would do such a thing..."
His face showed a hint of regret.
Harry Potter was unsure how to respond, but the Grangers immediately became suspicious, as if they had heard evidence that the wizarding world was in great danger.
"Aren't wizards allowed to kill without breaking the law?"
Mrs. Granger looked at Ian with a look of horror.
"Of course not."
Ian first glanced at Harry Potter, then at the blond boy Rirem who had gone back to his book, before pulling the two adults and one child toward the outside of the wand shop.
"I'll explain the specifics to you later."
It was clearly inappropriate to bring up Voldemort and the crimes he committed in front of the victims' families, so Ian kept his voice as low as possible.
He was somewhat interested in the remnant soul in Harry Potter's forehead, but he had plenty of time to deal with it later, so he wasn't in a hurry to study Harry Potter's head right now.
Are you getting ready to leave?
Old Ollivander suddenly turned his head again, probably because he had noticed the Grangers' wallet earlier, and began to enthusiastically promote his products.
"Buying a wand doesn't mean it doesn't need maintenance. It's a very delicate item, so you might need a wand maintenance kit."
"The latest technology and the latest products will keep your wands young and in perfect working order forever. The kit, originally priced at five Galleons, is now available for only three Galleons during the school term."
have to say.
There's a reason Ian would be thinking about Ollivander's Wand Shop.
His sales techniques were incredibly advanced.
It has a distinctly Muggle-like feel.
"Forehead-"
While Mr. Granger was still hesitating.
"What? A new maintenance package? And it's on sale? Me! Give me one!" Hagrid jumped up from the bench immediately, his voice filled with excitement.
He is genuinely not short of money.
It's just this kind of behavior.
This left Ian speechless.
Even the Grangers, who knew nothing about the wizarding world, sensed that something was wrong.
"He must still have his wand."
Hermione whispered very quietly to Ian.
It has to be said that Hagrid really can't act or keep a secret. Even a child could see through the problem, which really exposed the secret he thought he had kept so well hidden.
"Alright!"
Perhaps only old Ollivander knew how to play dumb. Without asking any questions, he simply pulled out a whole bunch of maintenance kits and started recommending and selling them to Hagrid one by one.
What is the first thing a child would want to buy when entering the wizarding world?
For Harry Potter, it might be a wand; for Tom Riddle, it's a powerful wand; but for Hermione Granger, she actually prefers a spellbook.
She only bought the wand first because Ian was leading the way. When Ian brought her to Flourish and Blotts, the little witch showed even more excitement than when she entered the wand shop.
Flourish and Blotts is the largest bookstore in Diagon Alley, but unfortunately it doesn't belong to Ian's property, so Ian can't get a landlord's discount. The entire vast store is filled with all kinds of books.
of course.
Aside from the annual textbook buying frenzy and those mediocre bestselling novels, most books here might not sell for decades.
Especially the books on the very back shelves, according to the bookstore owner, who was in his fifties or sixties,
When her mother took over, the books were already placed on the back bookshelves.
indeed.
With the intention of finding treasure, Ian flipped through the books. They were mostly history books that hadn't been updated in many years. They had no magic, and the stories they recorded were long gone.
In comparison.
Current events news like the Daily Prophet are what most wizards prefer as "history".
"This! This! This!"
She practically wanted to bring the entire bookstore back to her home. Of course, the Grangers knew their daughter's personality well and were carefully selecting the books she chose.
"I also want to buy some textbooks for this year."
Ian stood in front of the front row of bookshelves and took out the second-grade reading list. In addition to the most basic "Standard Spells: Level 2", they had many new textbooks this year.
History of Magic: Medieval Era
Defense Against the Dark Arts: In-Depth Analysis
Basics and Advanced Guide to Magical Potions and Brewing
Fantastic Creatures and Where to Find Them: New Discoveries
History of Magic: Medieval Era
These are all new textbooks that need to be added this year. In addition, Ian felt like he was under a "plot curse" because Professor Lockhart had added a few essential books that he thought were meaningless to the reading list.
Dumbledore the Magician
Traveling with Dumbledore
There were six or seven books that Ian had never even heard of, all written by Professor Lockhart over the past year. It's really hard to imagine that these books could actually be used as teaching materials.
Some shopping.
Ian bought all the books he needed, and when he approached Hermione, the inquisitive little witch had already selected more than sixty books that had nothing to do with the textbook.
The Grangers didn't object, since elite education involved extra learning and they didn't have much financial pressure, as they could exchange the currency of the magical world from the junior wizards.
"You can buy 'The Greatest Advances in Magic in the Last Ten Centuries' and 'The Geniuses of the Nineteenth Century,' especially the latter, which was just updated this year."
"It already includes my name, and I think this is the kind of textbook Hogwarts needs." Ian was also recommending some books to Hermione.
Well, how should I put it?
Highly specialized books are rarely available in bookstores like this; you can only find some basic learning books. The more advanced knowledge is either in the hands of various powerful families or in the Flip-Flop Alley.
I also recommend you buy a copy of "Hogwarts: A History of the School," not for any other reason than that it's something you'd enjoy—damn it, put down that utterly meaningless book you're holding!
Ian had originally intended to guide Hermione back to her old ways, but when he saw Hermione showing little interest in "Hogwarts: A History of the School" and instead picking up "How to Win Friends and Influence People: The Secret of Prince"...
He admitted it.
My mental state is about to collapse.
"I think this book is also by Gilderoy Lockhart. We have a lot of his works on our reading list." Hermione looked at the book that Ian had taken away with some confusion.
"Was this book written for you?"
She not only kills people, but also destroys their spirits.
Ian was utterly helpless.
"It's slander, persecution, and—nonsense!" Ian strained to read "How to Win Friends and Influence People: The New Principles of Human Nature."
He put "The Secret of Prince" back in its original place and put "Hogwarts: A History of the School" into Hermione's hands.
"This is the kind of book that respectable people should read."
The young wizard emphasized this point.
Hermione was a little confused as she held the book that had been shoved into her hands.
Until the parents paid the bill and left.
She couldn't understand why Ian's reaction was so strong—as the saying goes, the more unattainable something is, the more one desires it, and Hermione's interest in "How to Win Friends and Influence People: The Secret of Prince" grew stronger.
People come and go on the street.
The area is filled with young wizards who come to Diagon Alley to make purchases.
Ian saw several familiar faces.
Everyone was avoiding him.
It was obvious which house they came from. Amidst the clamor of vendors selling all sorts of dolls and statues, Ian led Hermione and Granger to the place where they bought potion ingredients.
Hermione was immediately drawn to the shop and began shopping with great enthusiasm. Her parents stayed close by her side, worried that she might encounter some danger in the shop.
no way.
After all, Hermione almost had her head bitten off by a book in the bookstore—the Grangers really couldn't understand why books with teeth sharper than crocodiles would be openly sold in a bookstore.
Good morning, madam.
Ian then went to the front desk.
"Is there anything I can do to help you, sir?"
The freckled girl at the front desk of the potion shop gave Ian a genuine smile; she always treated the handsome young wizard with exceptional service.
"I want to sell some medicines here."
Ian shared his thoughts.
"what?"
The freckled girl was clearly not expecting this situation, but after a slight pause, she quickly recovered and responded to the little wizard in a rather regretful voice.
"Sorry, we have our own suppliers and generally don't accept goods from other places." The freckled girl's answer was not unexpected for Ian.
He already knew this.
but.
"My name is Ian Prince, the Prince of the Prince family. My uncle is Severus Snape, and all my potions are brewed under his professional supervision."
Ian had long understood the Prince family's prestige in the potions world.
This is not.
The freckled girl looked surprised upon hearing this.
"You—you are the Keeper of Hogwarts?" She was clearly also following the recent news in the wizarding world, and Old Man Dumbledore and Grindelwald's publicity about it was quite comprehensive.
"Shouldn't our focus be on my potion?"
Ian blinked.
The freckled girl immediately became a little embarrassed.
"Feel sorry."
She looked into the inner room.
"I need to inform the boss."
talking.
The shop assistant immediately ran into the back room of the shop, and a few minutes later, she came out with a mature woman who looked very well-off and had a lot of assets.
"Hello, Mr. Prince, I am Loan Lilivy. I heard you want to sell us some potions?" the female boss asked cautiously.
"That's right."
Without wasting words, Ian took out a large quantity of potions he had stockpiled. There were no prohibited potions, just some potions he usually used to train his proficiency but which were not very practical.
"Such excellent quality—they are indeed much higher quality than the potions provided by our suppliers. Are these all the results of your usual brewing process?"
After checking the potion, the female boss, Loan Lilivie, couldn't help but praise it. Seeing the little wizard nod, she also sighed softly with a tone full of emotion.
"Truly worthy of being a descendant of the Prince family, I bet you are a rare genius even in your family's history, and perhaps you will even surpass your master uncle in the future."
Loan Lilivie spared no praise for the young wizard.
The little wizard was very pleased.
"So, can I sell it to you?"
Of course, this is the issue Ian cares about most.
Faced with Ian's repeated questioning.
Loan Liliwei chuckled softly.
"Aside from the works of established masters and experts, we generally don't choose to acquire even some excellent potions."
"However—well, the principles are in your hands after all."
Loan Liliwei's words clearly indicated that the deal could be finalized.
"Are principles the hallmark of the Prince family?"
Ian seemed to be deep in thought.
only.
His guess made Loan Liliwei shake her head.
"No, the principle is the land deed you have in your hand." The female boss gave a reply that surprised the young wizard, who quickly took out a large bunch of keys from his waist to check them.
"So there's a family like yours."
This is perhaps the troubles of landlords.
When he came to Diagon Alley to "inspect" before, he actually missed a few properties.
"Don't worry, we'll definitely give you the highest purchase price. We just don't know how many of these potions you have to sell?" It was clear that a sacred family was standing behind Loan Liliwei.
"So many?"
Ian held up five fingers.
"A five-pink?"
Loan Liliwei made a guess.
The little wizard shook his head.
"Fifty pints?"
She was somewhat taken aback.
"It's fifty kilograms, ma'am." The little wizard pulled out several unexpectedly large barrels, which nearly made Loan Lilivia and the freckled girl's eyes pop out of their sockets.
Hermione had purchased all the necessary items.
Ian has already completed a major transaction.
He removed some useless inventory.
In return, they received a large box full of gold coins.
"I should probably go to Gringotts and open an account." Ian considered the weight of the Galleons he carried with him; even with magic to lighten the load, it was still a considerable burden.
"Then let's go and check out the wizards' bank, and while we're at it, exchange our share for this year," Mrs. Granger said, clearly a thrifty person.
That's not a problem.
It's foolish not to enjoy the benefits.
The Ministry of Magic's Muggle freshman policy offers a very favorable exchange rate. On the way to Gringotts with his group, Ian also gave Hermione and Mrs. Granger a lesson on Voldemort and the Potter family.
"He actually defeated a great demon king at such a young age!"
Hermione looked shocked.
Recalling her meeting with the boy, she had no idea that he was such a powerful character, so strong that he could kill an evil demon even when he was still an infant.
"That child is a pitiful one." Mrs. Granger didn't care about the savior story, but felt a little sad because of the tragedy of Harry Potter's family.
"The wizarding world's little mustache? Thankfully, the dark ages are over!"
She was also a little scared.
If her daughter lived in that era, she would never let Hermione learn magic.
"I think that Dark Lord is more like a terrorist leader than a leader." Mr. Granger's opinion was completely in line with that of Ian and a small number of other clear-headed individuals. Although he was just a Muggle, many things in the Muggle world had in common with the wizarding world.
Just as several people were talking around Voldemort.
We've arrived at Gringotts.
Located in the very center of the entire Diagon Alley commercial district, it is a slightly old but very, very tall building that looks much more impressive than the surrounding low-rise shops.
It's a bank, after all.
No matter the world, banks are never short of impressive buildings.
Before some gleaming bronze doors stood two wary goblins, whose unique appearance immediately filled Hermione and her parents with both surprise and fear.
"Is this also a property under your name?"
Hermione may have overheard Ian's conversation with the female shop owner while she was at the apothecary.
"I would love to own these properties, but they belong only to the fairies here." Ian sighed with some regret, not understanding why the wizards would hand over the bank to the defeated.
"Someone else is here."
The fairies at the entrance were bowing mechanically.
He didn't even look up.
You could tell he was somewhat reluctant.
Ian, Hermione, and the Grangers entered Gringotts and passed through the second silver door.
Immediately, a rather conspicuous warning sign came into their view.
"Please come in, stranger, but beware of the consequences of greed; those who take without working will be severely punished; so if you wish to take a fortune from our underground vault that has never belonged to you, thief, you have been warned that what you will gain is not treasure, but retribution."
These signs are all in Old English.
Everyone present was a top student.
So it wasn't difficult to read. Entering the inner room, even more fairies came into view.
One after another, tiny fairies were busily working behind rows of counters.
They were weighing gold coins with scales or examining jewelry with eyepieces. All the fairies were meticulous, as if they were afraid of suffering some loss due to negligence.
That's the kind of race they are.
The gleam of gold coins and jewels bathed the entire lobby in a golden hue.
"The presentation here is quite good."
Mr. Granger felt he had finally found a place in the wizarding world that he found acceptable. Just as he was about to continue his evaluation, a fairy wearing an earring approached him.
"Do I need to deposit money? I smell Galleons?"
It may have transplanted a dog's nose into itself.
"They're exchanging their share of Hogwarts new student gold coins, while I'm going to open a warehouse. Yes, I have a lot of gold coins." Ian shook his gold coin box vigorously.
The earring fairy immediately beamed with joy.
"Okay, okay, this way please. By the way, my name is Ring. You can come to me to deposit your coins often." It immediately led Ian, Hermione, and Mrs. Granger to the counter.
"Give this gentleman a storage room! He needs to deposit money!"
The goblin ring spoke to another goblin with a chicken-like hairstyle standing in front of the counter. Nearby, Hermione and her parents were still somewhat afraid of these strangely shaped creatures.
"no problem!"
Upon hearing that it was about saving money, the fairy with Chicken Bro's hair immediately perked up.
"What's your name?"
It pulled out a booklet and intended to register.
"Ian Prince".
The young wizard spoke with some unease.
He suspected that these fairies' anti-theft measures might not be very effective. Wasn't this registration method risky enough to prevent impersonation? Or was the key corresponding to the warehouse the anti-theft measure?
"Ian Prince, okay."
The fairy registered.
then.
It began to sketch the little wizard's face—it quickly drew on the booklet with a paintbrush, and would occasionally look up at Ian's appearance.
It is for this reason.
The more the fairy drew, the slower her hand movements became.
"you--.·
It seemed to have encountered some problem. After staring at Ian for a while, it put on a pair of reading glasses, climbed over the table, and came closer to Ian to examine him carefully.
"Hiss~"
suddenly.
This fairy seems to have gone mad.
She covered her face.
His expression was abnormal—terrified.
"It's him! It's him! The Sorcerer Supreme, Medivh!"
A terrified scream.
It almost filled the little wizard's eardrums.