"You'll learn all that and more at Hogwarts," Professonagall reassured him, clearly pleased with his natural talent and dedication.

  As she spoke, however, a brief flicker of crossed her face. The world outside was dangerous these days, with darkness lurking in the shadows. But she quickly brushed the thought aside.

  "Let’s not waste any more time, Alex. We still o meet with the orphanage’s ma, and then I’ll help you gather your school supplies." She stood up.

  Professonagall smoothly handled Alex’s paperwork with the orphaaff. Alex suspected some magic might have been involved, sidering how smoothly everythi. No one questioned his suddeure.

  "Did you use magic to viher Triss and the others?" Alex asked with a curious smile. "They seemed a little too happy to let me go."

  Professonagall gave a rare, pyful grin.

  "A small fundus Charm, just to make things go smoothly. Don’t worry—it won’t have any sting effects. They’ll remember you and wele you back for the holidays."

  Alex ughed softly, feeling reassured. "Thank you for making that easier."

  "Now, let’s get you ready for school," Professonagall said. "Given your situation, I’ve applied for a bursary on your behalf. You’ll receive twelve gold Galleons each year to cover your expenses."

  She noticed his puzzled look. "Galleons are the curren the wizarding world," she expined. "One Galleon is worth 17 Silver Sickles, and one Silver Sickle is worth 29 Knuts."

  Alex sighed. ‘Of course, the UK would make even currenplicated,’ he thought, smiling wryly. ‘Looks like I have a lot to learn.’

  " Muggle money be used in the wizarding world?" Alex asked.

  "At Gringotts, Muggle money be exged falleons. Five pounds will get you one Galleon, but you ’t exge more than one hundred Galleons’ worth at a time," She'd been handling admissions for years, so she had all the answers, though she doubted Alex would have much to exge—probably just some pocket money.

  Alex grinned, pulling out a ly folded stack of pounds. "Looks like I’m covered, then," he said fidently, lig his fio t through the notes.

  Professonagall raised an eyebrow, surprised by how much he had. "I see," she said, nodding. "That should be more than enough. You might even have some left over for somethira."

  As they left the orphanage, she led Alex into a narrow alleyway. "Normally, we’d take a Muggle vehicle or the Knight Bus to Diagon Alley," she expined. "But the wizarding world has been a bit… unstable tely, so we’ll o Apparate instead. It’s the safest way."

  She drew her wand and motioned for Alex to take her hand. "Hold on tight."

  'Apparition? Unstable?' Alex thought, trying to process what she’d said. He reached out and grabbed her hand just as they disappeared with a loud "pop."

  The sensation hit Alex like a punch. It felt like he was being squeezed through a tight, spinning tunnel, with invisible hands pressing on him from all sides. His head spun, and he felt as though his body had been squashed into a tiny ball. When they finally nded with a thud, Alex stumbled, hhis legs shaking from the aftershock. His stomach ed, and he instinctively braced himself against a nearby wall.

  "Sorry," Professonagall said, notig his pale face. She pointed her wand at him, and a warm, soft light streamed from its tip, spreading through him. Alex felt the nausea fade, repced by a f warmth.

  "Better?" she asked kindly.

  Alex nodded, standing straighter. "Was that… magic?" he murmured, still processing the strange sensation. "That was rougher than I expected. Couldn’t we have, I don’t know, used a portal or something?"

  "That arition," Professonagall expined. "It’s a on way for adult wizards to travel, but it feel pretty harsh the first time. You’ll learn how to do it in your seventh year at Hogwarts."

  Alex took a deep breath, posing himself. "Do we o… Apparate again?"

  Magall chuckled softly. "No need, we're close." She gestured for him to follow her out of the alley and onto a bustling street. After a short walk, they arrived at a small, unimpressive gap between a record store and a bookstore. Hidden in pin sight, there was a bar with a faded sign hanging above it: The Leaky Cauldron.

  " other people see this pce?" Alex asked, notig that no one seemed to be paying attention to the bar.

  "Good eye, Alex," Magall said with a smile. "Muggles ’t see it. It’s hidden by powerful entments."

  As they stepped inside, Alex was greeted by the dim, shadowy interior. The bar looked old, with cobwebs in the ers and creaky wooden floors. Behind the ter, an elderly bartender olishing a gss, the dim light casting a weary shadow over his face.

  "Tom, how’s business?" Magall asked as if they were old friends.

  "Not great," Tom grumbled. "There was a scuffle in Knockturn Alley st night—Aurors and dark wizards at it again. Almost broke my windows, and business has been dead since."

  Magall gave him a sympathetiod. "Hang in there, Tom. It’ll get better."

  "A udent?" Tom asked, looking at Alex.

  "Yes, sir," Alex replied, bowing his head politely.

  His manners left a good impression on the old bartender. "Take care of yourself, d," Tom said kindly. "It’s getting dangerous out there."

  Magall motioned for Alex to follow as they walked through the bar and into a small courtyard out back. "This is the entrao Diagon Alley," she expined. "You’ll o e here on your own one day, so pay attention."

  She tapped a few specific bricks on the wall with her wand. Owo, three… and suddenly, the wall shifted and rolled away, f a tall archway that led to a lively street beyond.

  Alex’s eyes widened as he stepped through. The cobbled street stretched ahead, lined with all sorts of shops, selling everything from broomsticks to cauldrons. But as he looked closer, he noticed the pce seemed quieter than he’d expected. Several shops were closed, and groups of wizards in long coats—Aurors, he guessed—patrolled the streets.

  "Professor," Alex said quietly, "those people in coats, they don’t look like shoppers. Are they…?"

  "Yes, they’re Aurors," Magall firmed, her tone serious. "They’re here to keep order. The wizarding world isn’t as safe as it used to be, but don’t worry, Hogwarts is well-protected. You’ll be safe there, I promise."