Loren and Hermione took out the British pounds their parents had prepared and exchanged them for wizarding currency. The amount was enough for first-year expenses, which Professor McGonagall said would mostly be gold Galleons. The coins were wrapped in two small cloth bags, carried carefully in Loren and Hermione's hands.
Loren felt dizzy trying to calculate the convoluted exchange rates. He half wished he had an abacus to smash over his head after hearing the goblin's explanation of the odd, prime-number-based system.
Following McGonagall's lead, they visited Madam Malkin's robe shop to buy their school robes, walked a while, and purchased stationery. Finally, they arrived at Flourish and Blotts, the bookstore Hermione had been eager to see.
Professor McGonagall quickly gathered two first-year textbooks, while Loren and Hermione browsed.
The books were anything but ordinary. Some were enormous, like paving stones, while others were tiny enough to fit on a postage stamp. Loren marveled at how they could possibly print such a wide variety of shapes in batches. Several books bore warning labels to prevent accidental handling.
Loren carefully selected a few titles: Standard Spells, Curses and Counter-Curses (the sequel), Wandering with Werewolves, and Alchemy: From Beginners to Masters. But he stopped himself—unsure if he could get through them all.
Hermione, meanwhile, piled up a large stack of books aimed at helping her understand the wizarding world and Hogwarts, including Important Magical Events of the 20th Century, Modern History of Magic, The Rise and Fall of Dark Magic, and Hogwarts: A History of the School.
Loren thought those titles sounded like hair-pulling homework and glanced at Hermione's thick, curly hair—daring not to comment.
Noticing Loren's expression, Hermione frowned and advised, "We should start by understanding the wizarding world, so we can better adapt and fit in. These books are good beginner reads, especially for Muggle-born students like us."
Seeing Loren's reluctance, she added, "The books you picked seem too advanced for new students. It's better to learn the basics first."
Loren had no time to respond, his headache growing from Hermione's chatter, but he knew she meant well.
He decided to be diplomatic: "How about we each pick different books? You read yours, then lend them to me. That way, we can save money and buy even more books."
Hermione nodded enthusiastically. "Then let's write letters to discuss what we learn."
"Deal!"
The atmosphere became warm and cooperative.
The two were tempted by books marked as "dangerous," but after witnessing a customer chased and bitten by a magical book, they wisely backed off.
After buying a crucible, they continued along the street.
Passing a potion shop, they saw rare and expensive ingredients on display—a bison horn priced at 21 Galleons, and 100 Galleons for venom from a giant spider.
Loren thought that if he could get on Hagrid's good side at Hogwarts, money wouldn't be a problem at all.
Soon, they reached Ollivander's Wand Shop, the essential equipment store for novice wizards.
The shop was small and shabby, with its golden sign hanging askew.
Inside, the cramped space was lined with benches and thousands of narrow paper boxes stacked almost to the ceiling.
Ollivander himself was an old man with silvery eyes that resembled the moon. He greeted Professor McGonagall warmly, then turned his attention to Loren and Hermione.
He circled them a few times, then fixed his gaze on Hermione.
"Oh, a distinct quality, almost overwhelming," he murmured.
"Extraordinary foresight, sensitivity, entanglement, and a touch of madness."
"Stand up, little girl. Your wand awaits."
Though a flicker of fear crossed Hermione's eyes, she obeyed and stepped forward.
As she did, a small box nearby trembled incessantly. Ollivander reached out, and the box flew into his hand.
He opened it and pulled out a wand.
"Ten and three-quarters inches, vine wood with dragon heartstring."
"Dragon heartstring helps you learn magic faster. Vine wood was sacred to the Celts as the tenth tree month. Its owner often has lofty ambitions and achieves great things, though the path may be bumpy. Your wand reacted strongly just now, so we can skip some of the usual fitting steps."
Hermione accepted the wand, which glowed warmly at its tip. She smiled brightly.
"I always say—the wand chooses the wizard, not the other way around," Ollivander said, clearly pleased.
Now it was Loren's turn.
Ollivander produced a silver measuring tape and asked about Loren's dominant hand. Then he carefully measured from shoulder to fingertips, wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit, and even head circumference.
As he measured, he explained, "Ollivander's has been crafting wands since 382 BC. After centuries of refinement, we have identified three powerful magical core materials: unicorn hair, phoenix feather, and dragon heartstring. They possess stable, unique properties, unlike the wild wands you'll find elsewhere."
The tape measure loosened, yet it kept automatically moving around Loren as Ollivander examined him.
After bringing out a bunch of long paper boxes, the tape measure finally dropped and rolled away.
Hermione watched the process with sparkling eyes.
"Try this one—maple wood with unicorn hair, seven inches," Ollivander offered.
Loren took the wand, but Ollivander quickly took it back and waved it.
The same thing happened twice more.
Loren narrowed his eyes in frustration. Why does Hermione get it right the first time, and I have to suffer?
Professor McGonagall waited patiently nearby, and Hermione looked a bit worried. Despite his gruffness, she hoped Loren would join her at Hogwarts.
Finally, Ollivander turned and pulled out another wand.
"Ah, this one's apple wood with phoenix feather, exactly ten inches."
Loren gripped the wand and immediately felt at ease. He waved it, and a gentle breeze swept through the shop.
Both smiled in satisfaction.
Ollivander explained, "Apple wood suits wizards with lofty ideals. They tend to excel at dueling and often live long lives. Phoenix feathers are very selective and have unique personalities, but when matched with their rightful owner, they reveal extraordinary potential."
Each wand cost 7 Galleons.
After paying, the group continued shopping.
Loren bought a spectacled owl for delivering letters. Though it looked a bit goofy, he thought it adorable.
On the way back, Professor McGonagall repeatedly stopped them from waving their new wands and warned that magic was dangerous.
"Except for spells marked 'safe,' do not cast magic at home lightly. Once, a student mispronounced a spell and summoned a bison that stood on his chest! At Hogwarts, you'll learn how to perform spells properly."
Loren and Hermione listened, though it was unclear how much they absorbed.
"Remember to write to me!" Hermione waved as she skipped to her parents, eager to share her day's adventures.
Loren once again experienced the squeezing sensation of Apparition. After bidding farewell to McGonagall as she disappeared with a soft pop, Loren thought that being a Hogwarts professor was no easy job.
At home, he suddenly recalled he had forgotten to ask why only he could detect the Apparition landing point, and what that extraordinary talent truly was.
But he didn't dwell on it.
After all, the magical world was full of surprises, and there was still a long road ahead.