"I'm so sorry, Remi, I... Actually, you don't have to envy Harry too much. When the day comes that you reveal your identity, you'll definitely be even more popular," Hagrid said softly as he approached Remi.
"People's joys and sorrows are not shared—I just think they're noisy."
"Er... okay."
With nothing else to say, the two waited quietly for the excited crowd to settle down.
Once the commotion subsided, Hagrid squeezed back through the crowd and led Harry out, then called Remi to follow.
Leading them through the pub into a small patio enclosed on all sides by high stone walls, Hagrid pulled out his umbrella and pointed it at the wall, muttering to himself.
"Three from the top... two across... Blimey, why do they change this every few months? It's downright unfriendly."
"Alright, here it is. You two stand back."
He tapped the wall three times with the tip of his umbrella.
The brick he tapped trembled and began to move.
Not just that one—several surrounding bricks shifted, rotating and pulling back like a puzzle. In the blink of an eye, an arched doorway appeared, large enough even for Hagrid to pass through.
On the other side was a narrow, cobbled alleyway that twisted out of sight.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley!"
Hagrid gave a gentlemanly bow that looked slightly ridiculous, given his sheer size.
Harry turned to look at Remi, who gave a small shrug and gestured for Harry to go first.
Harry nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped through the arch. His posture was as solemn as if he were headed not to Diagon Alley in September, but to an execution in July.
As he walked through and glanced back, he saw the bricks move once more and reseal themselves into a solid wall.
"Remi, come on."
"Alright, alright."
I took a few quick steps to catch up with Hagrid. The bright sunlight reflected off the shop windows on either side of the street, making the whole alley shimmer.
Harry looked around in amazement, his head turning so quickly it might have spun off.
Remi pulled out the letter Hagrid had given him and flipped to the appendix, reviewing what supplies he needed to purchase.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
[Uniform]
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain peaked hat for daywear (black)
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar material)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note: All clothing must bear name tags.
[Textbooks]
All students are required to have the following books:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Theories of Magic by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
[Other Equipment]
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set of glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set of brass scales
Students may also bring an owl, a cat, or a toad.
Parents are reminded that first-years are not permitted their own broomsticks.
"There's quite a list of things to buy, and I don't think I've got enough money on me... Hagrid, shall we go to Gringotts first?" Remi asked.
"Already headed that way... By the way, did you bring your vault key? You haven't lost it, have you?" Hagrid asked.
"Don't worry, I never let anything out of my hands! Even Grandet would bow and call me a master when it comes to frugality!"
Harry: ...
This was definitely the first time he'd heard anyone describe themselves like that.
As they walked through Diagon Alley—likely busier because the school year was about to begin—there weren't many children their own age out, but plenty of younger witches and wizards clustered around the pet shops and broom boutiques.
They crowded the windows, animatedly discussing the items inside and sharing opinions on the latest gear.
Other shops, such as bookshops or apothecaries, were almost deserted in comparison.
Following Hagrid through the winding street, they finally arrived at a tall white building at the end of a forked path. The building leaned slightly to one side, yet still looked far grander than any shop around it.
Its enormous, polished bronze doors gleamed in the sun, and a pair of goblins stood beside them wearing dark crimson uniforms with gold trim. It gave off the air of a private club... or possibly a very strict library.
"This person is—?" Harry asked.
"Yes, he's the goblin I told you about earlier this morning," Hagrid confirmed.
At that, Harry couldn't help but give the goblin another glance.
The goblin was very short and appeared quite old. His face was lined with wrinkles, and he sported a pointed goatee. His long ears and sharp nose only made him look more severe.
As they approached, the goblin gave a formal bow. Harry, startled, quickly bowed in return.
Noticing that neither Hagrid nor Remi returned the gesture, Harry straightened again, a little confused.
Seeing his lips move slightly as if to ask something, Remi leaned in and said, "Although goblins are allies of wizards, they've betrayed us in the past. There's no need to be overly polite—this place is like a bank in the Muggle world. We're customers."
"Oh, I see."
After stepping through the bronze doors and walking across the gleaming marble floor for a short distance, they came to a second set of doors—this time silver—with lines of engraved text:
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in return.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned—beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
"See? Like I said this morning, no one would try to rob this place unless they were completely mad," said Hagrid.
Harry nodded repeatedly, while Remi beside him gave a faint sneer.
If he had a system that handed out rewards for robbing Gringotts, he'd probably do it in under five minutes!
…Even though he didn't know any spells yet, Remi had absolute confidence in his future.
As a time traveller, he might not have a system, but he did have cheats—two of them, in fact.
One was innate: Remi was a natural-born alchemy prodigy.
The other was self-made: a powerful advantage he had created himself after his magic awakened—an acquired cheat even more potent than the one he was born with.
End of the Chapter.