"Each person can only exchange 70 Galleons, but because of Dumbledore, I can give you a limit of 100 Galleons, totaling 505 pounds, including a 5-pound handling fee."
"So little?" Tom frowned in dissatisfaction. "Professor Dumbledore just told me that it can usually be exchanged for about 200 Galleons."
"Because times have changed."
Goblins never had a good attitude towards people who couldn't help them make money, but Dumbledore's presence made him more patient and polite.
"Muggle money is not very useful to us. We can't spend all the pounds we exchange every year, so Gringotts can only control the amount. But don't think it's too little. This money is enough for you to spend a year at Hogwarts."
"Two hundred Galleons? That was the price fifty years ago. Is your Muggle money worth that much now?"
"Sorry, Tom."
Dumbledore looked embarrassed: "The last time I brought students to Gringotts was more than 40 years ago. I don't really know much about the situation..."
Tom couldn't help but roll his eyes.
From forty years ago to now, prices in the UK have skyrocketed, more than doubling and doubling again. Looking at it this way, the goblins actually still have some conscience?
"Professor, can you lend me some money?"
Taking advantage of Dumbledore's fault, Tom did not hesitate to press on.
"I don't think this money is enough for me to buy more books. I can pay with pounds. Of course, if you are patient, you can wait until I graduate and return it to you in Galleons. I will pay with interest."
Tom tends to think that Dumbledore would choose the second option, because Dumbledore should have died when he was in sixth grade, so wouldn't it be a no-cost deal?
"Muggle currency is really of no use to me, so just wait until you graduate and return it to me. I'm looking forward to that day."
Dumbledore was never reluctant to provide students with some help, even in terms of money. Moreover, this misunderstanding was caused by his own error in judgment, so he readily agreed.
"Wait for me here for a while. I'll go get you some money and do some personal business."
After giving these instructions, Dumbledore followed a goblin to the underground vault.
Tom's heart skipped a beat and a question suddenly occurred to him.
Could it be that Dumbledore's personal matter was to take away the Philosopher's Stone? He remembered that he originally asked Hagrid to take it away, but because of his appearance, there was a change?
But this had little to do with him. After thinking about the possibility, Tom stopped paying attention to it and discussed with a goblin the possibility of exchanging gold for Galleons.
The answer is yes, but if converted into purchasing power of British pounds, Tom instantly felt that he had lost a lot of money.
According to the current exchange rate, five pounds can buy about 0.8 grams of gold, and 10 grams of gold can be exchanged for one Galleon.
It costs about sixty pounds, more than twelve times more expensive.
Just because a gold Galleon is called a gold Galleon doesn't mean it is made of gold. It is goblin metal, and God knows what is used in it.
The horrible exchange rate immediately dissuaded Tom from this idea. His family fortune was not enough for him to squander.
It's better for the magical world to make money and spend it.
After waiting for about half an hour, Dumbledore reappeared in the lobby of Gringotts, holding a key and a bag in his hand.
He handed the bag and the keys to Tom.
"Here are 100 Galleons. In addition, I rented a vault for you, which has 600 Galleons in it."
Dumbledore reminded, "One hundred Galleons a year. I hope you can plan the use of this money well."
"Thank you, Professor. I will make good use of your money."
Tom secretly admired Dumbledore's generosity.
Eight hundred Galleons. This amount of money is enough for him to live comfortably until graduation, provided he doesn't buy any luxury goods, such as a flying broom, custom-made clothes, or the like.
The old man blinked his eyes, feeling that this sentence was a bit strange, but he couldn't tell why, so he had to change the subject.
"Then let's go, Mr. Riddle, we have a lot to buy."
The two left Gringotts and bought uniforms, textbooks, scales, crucibles, and other items for the next semester. With Dumbledore accompanying them, the shopkeepers were polite and gave them certain discounts.
But even so, more than forty Galleons have been spent for one trip, and without a discount, it should be more than fifty.
Adding the wand that will be purchased later, the fixed cost will be more than sixty Galleons.
According to Gringotts' standards, Tom only has a few Galleons left in his hand. It doesn't seem to be difficult to get through a semester. After all, food and accommodation are free at Hogwarts, but it will be a bit tight.
Ron's annual pocket money may be less than one Galleon, which makes him a wealthy man in comparison.
Tom has just taken a fancy to a lot of books, each of which is very expensive. He is just waiting to buy them individually next time he comes.
With Dumbledore around, he felt a little uncomfortable with everything he did, fearing that it would be over-interpreted.
And he didn't plan to stop after spending the 100 Galleons he had on hand; he would also use some of the money in the vault.
"Why is there no system?"
Tom lamented his bad luck in his heart and followed Dumbledore into the last stop of the day—the wand shop. Without a system, he could only study hard and become stronger and could not just lie down.
After entering the door, Tom subconsciously held his breath, fearing that the dust shaken off by opening the door would be inhaled into his nose.
"What a rare visitor, Albus." A soft voice said, an old man came out from between the tall cabinets.
"The last time you visited my shop was forty-eight years ago, also in the summer."
Dumbledore smiled helplessly: "Garrick, stop showing off your excellent memory to me. It will only make me crazy with envy."
"Hahaha, my memory is only related to this shop and the magic wand."
Garrick Ollivander walked forward, gave Dumbledore a hug, and then slowly looked at Tom.
"So, what is your name, lucky little wizard? How could you have Dumbledore as your guide?"
"Tom."
Tom said, "Tom Riddle."
Plop——!
Ollivander fell to the ground, staring at the boy blankly.