Diagon Alley — indisputably the most bustling commercial street in the British wizarding world.
Many world-renowned magical brands had set up "flagship stores" here, showcasing their unique and enchanting allure.
As always, the place was lively and brimming with energy.
A group of young witches and wizards happily clutched their ice cream from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, innocent smiles lighting up their faces as they chased each other playfully through the broad streets.
Wes Elwin took a deep breath and sighed contentedly.
"Yep, this place still feels much better."
Compared to the Marvel world, Wes felt a far stronger sense of belonging in the Harry Potter world. Most of the time, he chose to stay in this world full of magic and wonder.
"Still need to convert that gold into Galleons. Time to get fleeced by those sharp-nosed goblins again…"
He muttered under his breath as he weaved through the bustling crowd, heading straight toward Gringotts.
The first door of Gringotts was a gleaming bronze gate, guarded by goblins in crimson and gold-trimmed uniforms standing stiffly at attention.
Every time a customer arrived, the goblins would bow respectfully, embodying professionalism and strict decorum.
The second door was silver, with a prominently engraved warning:
Diagon Alley
Enter, stranger, but take heed,
Of what awaits the sin of greed.
For those who take, but do not earn,
Will face a most severe return.
If you attempt to plunder from our vaults below,
A wealth that never was your own—
Then thief, you have been warned full well:
Beware the curse that guards the spell.
Beyond this grand silver gate lay a vast marble hall.
Around a hundred goblins sat behind long counters, busily recording figures into thick ledgers.
Some focused intently on weighing coins to ensure every piece matched precise standards.
Others held monocles and examined gemstones for authenticity and quality.
Inside this grand white marble structure, everything buzzed with a sense of busy but ordered efficiency.
"Well, well, look who's here."
A sharp-eyed goblin wearing gold-rimmed glasses quickly rubbed his hands together, a flattering smile spreading across his face as he gave Wes a deep bow.
"Mr. Elwin, your presence always brightens my day."
"You're only excited about the gold I bring, Augustin."
Wes bluntly called him out without hesitation.
"It's all the same, Mr. Elwin. Please, come with me."
Augustin didn't seem bothered by Wes's directness and remained just as hospitable.
He led Wes into a lavishly decorated VIP room.
An attendant silently poured tea and left without a word, maintaining an air of respect.
"Shall we begin, Mr. Elwin?" Augustin asked eagerly.
"In such a rush?" Wes raised a brow, deliberately taking his time.
"There's a Muggle saying that I find very wise: time is money, Mr. Elwin," Augustin said seriously, adjusting his glasses.
Calmly, Wes opened his suitcase. With a flick of his wand, shimmering gold bars flew neatly out and stacked themselves into a tidy pile.
"Oh! That scent of gold is just too intoxicating."
Augustin's eyes gleamed with obsession as he stared at the stack.
He swiftly put on a pair of spotless white gloves and pulled out a magical tool shaped like a needle. Gently placing it on one of the bars, the tool instantly glowed with a dazzling brilliance.
"Wonderful! 99% pure gold — top quality!" Augustin cried out in excitement.
"The usual," Wes said, taking a sip of tea. He frowned. "Augustin, your tea quality is still awful. I'm a VIP, remember?"
"As long as it quenches thirst, it does the job. Speaking of which, won't you consider storing your funds at Gringotts? I could get you a better interest rate," Augustin said, continuing to tempt him.
"No need," Wes replied without hesitation. "I'll be spending all of it soon anyway. Saving money's never been my thing."
"A pity," Augustin said with a sigh, dropping the topic after his persuasion failed.
Just then, several goblins staggered in, carrying a massive weighing scale.
"Be careful, you idiots! If you damage this treasure, I'll sell you to the dark wizards!" Augustin barked furiously.
The goblins visibly trembled at his words and moved with far greater caution.
Wes, unsurprised, had seen this scene many times before.
Once the scale was securely placed, the goblins fled like they were running for their lives, not daring to lift their heads.
Wes gently twirled his wrist, and the gold bars began floating into one side of the scale as if they had lives of their own.
On the other side, weights appeared out of thin air, one after another, until the two sides finally balanced.
A string of numbers appeared above the scale, drawing immediate interest.
Augustin swiftly recorded the number onto a neatly prepared contract.
"Mr. Elwin, if everything looks correct, please sign your name here."
"Fair price."
Wes signed the document with a confident flourish, not hesitating for a moment.
With a snap of his fingers, Augustin made the contract vanish without a trace.
"Please, follow me."
Without delay, Augustin turned to lead the way.
The two entered an old-fashioned elevator, which began sinking rapidly into the depths below.
Ding!
The elevator doors opened to reveal the deepest vault level of Gringotts.
The place was riddled with complex mechanisms, faint magical glows shimmered everywhere, and ominous curses seemed to stir in the shadows.
Even a massive dragon could be seen lying in wait — an imposing guardian of the vaults.
Goblins had long proclaimed this to be the safest place in the world.
Most British witches and wizards, including the ancient pureblood families, trusted Gringotts to safeguard their fortunes.
But Wes always believed in relying on his own strength to protect his wealth.
Next, they boarded a rickety mining cart. After a wild, roller-coaster-like ride through twisting tunnels, they finally arrived outside the vault.
Then came a series of complex verification steps: strict identity checks, contract confirmations, and precise magical validations.
At last, Augustin carefully inserted a key into the lock.
Click... click...
With a heavy grinding noise, the intricate vault door slowly swung open.
Wes, experienced as ever, opened his suitcase.
In an instant, countless Galleons surged from the vault like a golden tide, orderly flowing into his suitcase.
As the final coin dropped in, the vault door shut itself tight again.
---
After leaving Gringotts, Wes went full throttle into shopping mode.
His first stop was Slugs & Jiggers Apothecary, where he roamed the shelves with expert eyes, purchasing a wide array of herbs and rare magical ingredients.
Then he visited Scribbulus Writing Instruments, carefully picking out high-grade parchment, premium ink, and a finely crafted self-writing quill.
Even after sweeping through all of Diagon Alley, Wes still had a hint of dissatisfaction on his face — clearly, he wasn't done.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, he put on a mask, applied some simple disguises, and headed into the mysterious and dangerous Knockturn Alley.
While Diagon Alley represented the bright and orderly side of the British wizarding world, Knockturn Alley was its dark, chaotic, and lawless counterpart.
It reeked of smoke and danger, crawling with shady thieves, ruthless poachers, wicked dark wizards, and even fearsome Death Eaters.
Almost everything sold here was illegal or morally abhorrent — rare organs from protected magical creatures, dark magical artifacts radiating malevolence, and even horrifying human body parts.
Wes was no stranger to this place. He made his way effortlessly to Borgin and Burkes, searching with hope.
Unfortunately, this time, he left disappointed.
Nothing he found stood out or piqued his interest.
Having money but nothing worth spending it on — that too was a frustrating and bitter feeling.