Chapter 11 Gringotts Wizarding Bank

As Daniel stepped into the Leaky Cauldron, he was immediately struck by the dim, shabby interior. The air was thick with the scent of pipe smoke, mingling with the faint, musty smell of old wood and damp stone. The low ceiling seemed to hang heavy, casting long shadows across the worn wooden floors.

The bar at the far end of the room was cluttered with empty mugs, and a few tables were scattered in the corners, where witches and wizards murmured quietly amongst themselves. The atmosphere was anything but pristine, but there was a warmth in the chaos, an odd, lived-in comfort that made the place feel strangely welcoming.

"Hello, Professor Sprout, what can I do for you?" came a voice from the far corner.

Daniel turned toward it, and his eyes met the gaze of an old man, bald and slightly hunched, with a face that resembled a toothless walnut.

Professor Sprout smiled warmly. "Hello, Tom. I'm just passing by to get to Diagon Alley," she said, her voice calm and steady. She glanced briefly at Daniel, and, as if on cue, the old wizard followed her gaze and regarded him with mild curiosity.

"Oh, a new Hogwarts student, I presume?" he asked, his voice thick with an amused rasp.

Daniel gave a polite nod. "You are right, Mr. Tom," he replied, trying to match the casual tone, though his heart was still racing with excitement and uncertainty.

After a few more words, they made their way through the pub, threading between tables, toward the back. There, they came to a small, worn door that seemed out of place.

With a quiet click, the door swung open, revealing a brick wall and a rubbish bin on the other side.

Professor Sprout paused and motioned for Daniel to come closer. "Look carefully, Mr. Wilson," she said in a low voice, "This is the password to enter Diagon Alley. You'll need it one day."

She raised her wand slowly, pointed it toward the brick next to the rubbish bin, and began to count. "Three up, two across," she murmured. With a swift tap on the brick her wand was aimed at, the wall groaned and began to shift. It was as though the bricks were alive, slowly parting to reveal a hidden passage.

The world on the other side felt like it belonged to another realm entirely.

Daniel's breath caught in his throat. 'So this is Diagon Alley', he thought, his eyes wide with awe as he stepped into the bustling street.

The cobbled street stretched out before them. Vibrant shops with windows piled high with enchanted goods lined the path, their colorful umbrellas providing shade over the bustling crowd. Witches and wizards in various robes, some brightly colored, some deep and dark, bustled about, exchanging goods and words.

The air buzzed with laughter and the distant clatter of magical contraptions at work. Every corner seemed to hold something new and thrilling.

"We'll need to head to the bank first to withdraw the funds for your school supplies," Professor Sprout explained as they continued walking, her voice gentle but purposeful.

Daniel's gaze was fixed on the towering structures around them, each one more curious than the last. But nothing caught his attention more than the grand, snow-white building looming ahead.

It was Gringotts, and its size was enough to make him feel small as he stood before it. The marble columns shone softly in the morning light, giving the building an air of both grandeur and quiet authority.

They climbed the wide white stairs. At the top, two burnished bronze doors stood, flanked by a goblin in a neat scarlet and gold uniform. His eyes assessed them carefully as they approached.

Daniel, tried to use Observe on the goblin, but as expected, nothing more than his name appeared in his vision, just like with the wizards he'd encountered so far.

The goblin's gaze flickered briefly over them before he opened the door with a stiff, practiced motion.

Inside, they entered a small, minimally furnished entrance hall. Another set of doors led further into the heart of the bank.

As they approached, Daniel couldn't help but notice the engraving on the silver doors. It read:

"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 their turn.

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."

Daniel shivered slightly, the weight of the words sinking in. 'What a creepy text', he thought, a sense of unease creeping over him.

They walked through the doors into a large marble hall with a high ceiling. The air had a faint scent of dust and polished stone, and the size of the place made Daniel feel small. Long counters stretched along the walls, their surfaces neat and polished. Doors lined the hall, probably leading to the vaults deep below.

They joined a small line, waiting their turn.

When they finally reached the counter, the goblin behind it greeted them with a flat, emotionless voice.

"Welcome to Gringotts. How may I assist you today?" His eyes never left them, scanning with a cold, professional gaze. "Please state your business clearly, and be prepared for any necessary identification. We take great care in safeguarding the treasures of our clients."

Professor Sprout spoke with practiced ease, handing over a sheet of paper. "I would like to withdraw the financial assistance funds for purchasing the first-year Hogwarts school supplies."

The goblin glanced at the paper, his eyes narrowing as he checked something before grunting softly. He called over another goblin, whispering something Daniel couldn't hear.

'I wonder what they're saying', Daniel thought, his curiosity piqued.

Minutes passed in tense silence, and then the goblin returned with a small bag of gold coins.

"Your funds, Professor," he said, his voice devoid of any warmth.

"Thank you," Professor Sprout said simply, her tone polite but brisk. Daniel followed her as they left the bank, the gold now in hand. 'Now it's time for a shopping spree', he thought excitedly.