Can Gringotts Be Shorted?

"It's fine if you don't understand it right now. Once you step into Hogwarts and begin your formal studies, you'll have time to think it through."

Seeing Dylan silent for a while, Professor McGonagall assumed he was struggling with the concept and gently spoke to reassure him.

"By the way, the question you asked touches on the origins of magic, many wizards don't consider these things until after they've graduated."

A slight smile tugged at the corner of her lips, and the serious expression on her face softened.

"And you, young wizard, are already able to grasp the essence of magic after seeing it for the first time. That's truly remarkable. When you're at school, if you ever have any doubts about Transfiguration, feel free to come to me. I'd be happy to help."

"Oh? Really, Professor?" Dylan's eyes lit up.

"Of course." Professor McGonagall nodded.

Wonderful! +1 to my connections!

Dylan had a lot of questions and thoughts about Transfiguration, but these were clearly not the kinds of things a Muggle child, unfamiliar with the wizarding world, would typically ask.

He had been worried about asking too many questions once he started school, but with Professor McGonagall offering her help, it felt like a dream come true.

Professor McGonagall looked at Dylan with genuine pleasure.

Such a clever young wizard, if he stayed on the right path, he might one day even teach at Hogwarts.

With that thought in mind, Professor McGonagall stood up. "Alright, remember to take your letter with you. We need to get going."

The Hawkwood couple hesitated for a moment, but ultimately agreed to let Dylan attend Hogwarts.

"Here, dear, this is the family savings. Magic must be expensive, so you take this with you." Dylan's mother handed him a bag.

"Thank you, Mom. I'll study hard and make sure to take care of you both in the future," Dylan said seriously.

Maeve was touched. "Alright, enough talking. Let's not waste the professor's time."

Dylan turned to ask, "Professor McGonagall, are we going to Diagon Alley now?"

"Yes, we can use Apparition or Floo Powder to get there. However... it's a bit remote here, with no fireplaces, so Floo Powder won't work."

Professor McGonagall took Dylan's hand.

"Remember, hold on tight."

As soon as she spoke, Dylan felt his body lighten. He quickly gripped her hand tightly.

The space around them twisted.

Moments later, the strange sensation faded, and the noise of a bustling crowd filled his ears.

At the same time, a wave of nausea hit him, almost making him gag, but Dylan instinctively swallowed it back down.

However, this only intensified the feeling of nausea.

"Ugh!"

Professor McGonagall, seemingly accustomed to it, waved her wand and cast a spell to ease Dylan's discomfort.

"This is a normal reaction to Apparition. Don't fight it, just adapt."

Professor McGonagall smiled. "We're here."

Dylan took a moment to recover before opening his eyes.

In front of him was a small, shabby bar squeezed between two clean buildings. It looked oddly out of place.

"The Leaky Cauldron, right here on the streets of London. Only wizards can see it. Stay close."

Professor McGonagall started to release his hand, but Dylan held on tightly.

She paused for a moment and then, still holding his hand, led him inside.

"Professor McGonagall? Long time no see. Care for a drink?"

The bartender, after seating another customer, spotted McGonagall and greeted her enthusiastically, pulling out a dirty rag to wipe a glass.

"Not really, and I'm here with a student," McGonagall replied, giving the bartender a quick glance and signaling for Dylan to follow her.

They walked around the bar and into a small courtyard surrounded by walls.

Dylan couldn't resist asking, "Professor McGonagall, isn't there a cleaning spell?"

"Hmm? Of course there is."

"Then why is this filthy bar owner using a dirty rag instead of a cleaning spell?" Dylan asked.

Professor McGonagall explained, "Just because a spell exists doesn't mean it's always used. Many wizards don't care about these things... but I'm an exception."

"That's why I don't drink here. There's a nice little tavern I prefer that's much cleaner... And remember, young one, no drinking for minors."

"I understand, Professor McGonagall," Dylan said with a slight smile.

Professor McGonagall drew her wand again. "Pay attention, you won't be able to Apparate to Diagon Alley until you're seventeen."

"So next time you want to go to Diagon Alley, you'll have to come to the Leaky Cauldron and follow this path."

As she spoke, McGonagall gestured with her wand.

"From the trash bin, count up three tiles and then two tiles horizontally. Then tap your wand three times."

As her wand moved, the wall in front of them began to tremble, then shifted, forming an archway.

Beyond the arch, a bustling commercial street unfolded.

Dylan looked inside.

Diagon Alley, at first glance, seemed like any other market, but all the people walking around were wizards, and every store had an old-fashioned charm.

"We need to go to Gringotts first to exchange your money for wizarding currency."

Professor McGonagall looked at Dylan's overflowing backpack. "Your parents clearly care for you a lot."

"Yes, I love them too," Dylan smiled.

Professor McGonagall's eyes crinkled as she smiled. "Come with me."

She led Dylan toward the entrance of Gringotts.

Dylan immediately noticed the warning sign on the second door of Gringotts: "Enter at your own risk, but be cautious."

"That's pretty intimidating," Dylan thought as he curiously looked around.

After passing through two doors, they entered a spacious marble hall.

Dozens of goblins were seated behind long counters, hurriedly registering information into large ledgers.

"Oh, Professor McGonagall! How can we assist you?"

A goblin, seeing the Hogwarts professor, immediately greeted her with a broad smile.

"I just need to exchange some galleons."

"Exchanging money?" Upon hearing this, the goblin's enthusiasm instantly vanished. "Then I'll leave you to it."

After the goblin left, Professor McGonagall looked down at Dylan. "Don't mind them. They're only interested in money."

Dylan nodded slightly. "I understand, Professor. They're just like my dad's manager."

Professor McGonagall paused, then patted Dylan on the head.

The process went smoothly after that.

The goblins barely glanced at Dylan, likely thinking that those who came to exchange Muggle currency must be wizards of Muggle origin.

While the goblin race may have lost to wizards in history, that didn't mean they looked favorably on wizards of Muggle descent.

"Pounds can be exchanged for Galleons without limit?" Dylan narrowed his eyes as he received the money.

The value of wizarding currency was well known, but as for Muggle money…

"A one-to-five exchange rate, huh? If I just invest in a few stocks, I'm going to make a fortune."

This exchange rate either showed that the goblins genuinely looked down on Muggles and never bothered to analyze the purchasing power of the pound, or it was simply due to their greed, or perhaps their complete ignorance of economics.

"If I get the chance, forget shorting Gringotts, at least I'll have to make sure these uneducated guys get a taste of the beauty of economics."