Chapter 22: Heading to Diagon Alley

"Haha, bird's nest hair! You must mind your image when you go out, Chu Yang!" Professor Sprout waved her wand, smoothing down Chu Yang’s messy hair.

"You didn't give me time to tidy up, Professor," Chu Yang shrugged, offering an innocent defense.

"Hurry downstairs for breakfast. We have a lot to buy today." Sprout turned and headed downstairs, her heavy frame making the wooden staircase groan with a teeth-grinding sound.

Chu Yang followed behind at a distance, fearful that she might stomp right through the stairs.

Bread, jam, milk, and sausages—the classic four-piece set.

The breakfast provided by the Leaky Cauldron wasn't exactly delicious; it was barely enough to fill one's stomach, yet Chu Yang still cleared his plate completely. Children from orphanages never wasted food.

After eating, the pair left through the back door of the Leaky Cauldron. A few steps later, they were blocked by a brick wall. Chu Yang felt a surge of excitement; he knew the other side was Diagon Alley, the gateway to the true magical world.

"The third brick from the top of the trash can, then count two bricks to the side. Remember that, then tap it three times, and the passage to Diagon Alley will open."

Sprout tapped the brick three times with her wand. The wall before them seemed to come alive, bricks shifting and rotating outwards until a mysterious world unfolded before Chu Yang.

Sprout took the lead, guiding him while introducing everything about the alley.

"Besides the entrance behind the Leaky Cauldron, there are two other ways to reach Diagon Alley: one is the Apparition I used earlier, and the other is Floo Powder."

"However, the requirements for Apparition are very high. Ordinary wizards find it hard to master; usually, only professors like myself can perform it with ease."

"Floo Powder is relatively much simpler to use, and it isn't expensive—two silver Sickles per scoop. It is the first choice for travel for many wizarding families."

Sprout pointed to the fireplaces along the street, explaining, "Floo Powder only works in fireplaces connected to the Floo Network. The method is simple: just take a handful of Floo Powder, stand in the fireplace, clearly state your destination, and then toss the powder."

At this point, Sprout turned suddenly, looking at Chu Yang with a serious expression. "Remember, when you state the destination, you must speak clearly. Otherwise, the consequences are severe, understand?"

Chu Yang replied, "If you say the name wrong, you get transported to a strange place, right?"

"More than that. Some people have ended up inside walls because they mispronounced the destination, dying on the spot," Sprout sighed. "I don't want to see your name on the list of accidental casualties, Chu Yang."

Following this, Sprout brought Chu Yang to a robe shop to have him fitted for three sets of robes, a pointed hat, protective gloves, and a winter cloak.

Then came the cauldron needed for Potions class. For his pet, Chu Yang chose an owl; he really had no other choice—what normal person would pick a toad or a rat?

This was an annual routine for Sprout, and she was so experienced that she had most of his supplies ready in the blink of an eye. All expenses were covered by Hogwarts.

Now, only the wand remained.

Sprout and Chu Yang arrived at an ancient-looking wand shop: Ollivander’s.

"Welcome, Professor Sprout! Chestnut wood, unicorn hair, ten and two-thirds inches long—you look travel-worn. Have you just returned from somewhere?"

The old man, sporting a hairstyle identical to Einstein's, slid down from a ladder and finally navigated the stacks of wand boxes to stand before Sprout.

Sprout smiled in response, "Hello, Mr. Ollivander. Your memory is as excellent as ever."

"Of course, I remember every wand I've sold and its master." Ollivander lifted his head proudly, then glanced at Chu Yang. "Is this young wizard here to purchase a wand?"

Sprout explained, "He is a first-year student at Hogwarts this year."

"Congratulations on your admission to Hogwarts. It is the best school in the world. Believe me, you have a bright future ahead!" Ollivander blinked, then waved his wand. "Let me measure you first. Please, stand still."

Soon, a set of measuring tools began to move across Chu Yang's body under the control of Ollivander's magic. Truth be told, Chu Yang couldn't understand what physical measurements had to do with choosing a wand—they even measured the distance between his eyes and his nose.

"Every wand is unique. Its characteristics depend on the tree the wood was sourced from and the magical properties of the creature the core came from. Furthermore, once a wand finds its ideal master, it begins to impart its traits and learn from the holder's own nature."

"The wand and the user are complementary. Wands of the same material will grow into entirely different instruments when encountered by vastly different masters."

As he spoke, Ollivander finished the measurements and began to search for a suitable wand.

"Which is your dominant hand?"

"My right!"

Ollivander leaned over to rummage through a pile of boxes, finally pulling out a dust-covered one and blowing on it lightly.

"Cough, cough." Chu Yang coughed as he took the box from Ollivander and pulled out the wand inside.

"Aspen, dragon heartstring, ten inches. Hold it and give it a gentle wave. Remember, keep it light."

Listening to the instruction, Chu Yang gave the wand a light flick. An invisible shockwave rippled out, directly toppling the display case behind Ollivander.

Sprout stepped back, standing at the shop entrance and exhaling a long breath while clutching her chest.

Ollivander was startled, but he still managed to mutter, "Very powerful magic, young man, but it is not the one for you!"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ollivander," Chu Yang quickly put the wand back, shocked by the commotion he had just caused. He had forgotten that due to his "Soul Palace," his innate talents in every aspect were far beyond those of an ordinary person.

"No matter, child. Such things happen, though it is rare to see such a disturbance..."

Ollivander turned back to the shelves to search again, muttering, "Perhaps it is because you have Eastern heritage. I must find you a wand that comes from your homeland."

Generally, there were three materials Ollivander used for wand cores: phoenix tail feathers, unicorn hair, and dragon heartstrings. It wasn't that other materials didn't exist, but Ollivander only used top-tier materials; that was his rule. Consequently, besides the common cores, he would occasionally try to find even rarer materials to craft wands.

Finally, Ollivander pulled out yet another dust-covered wand box.