Harry Potter : This Progress Too Much

Final Preparations

Professor McGonagall had finished answering the questions from David's parents and turned her attention back to him.

The meeting had gone smoothly—compared to other parents who often bombarded her with endless questions about Hogwarts, Philemon and Nitia Adrian were relatively easy to deal with.

Their primary concerns revolved around the learning environment and school regulations rather than superstitions or outlandish fears.

McGonagall looked at David, who was still deep in thought while absentmindedly petting one of the cats she had transfigured earlier.

"It is completely normal not to understand Transfiguration before receiving proper instruction," she reassured him. "Once you begin your studies at Hogwarts, you'll have time to reflect on these concepts. If you still have questions, you can always come and ask me."

David looked up and smiled.

"Thank you, Professor McGonagall."

"This is simply my duty as a professor," she said kindly.

With a casual flick of her wand, the eight cats—one large and seven small—levitated into the air and seamlessly transformed back into the fruit bowl and apples on the coffee table.

Even the sofa that had been scratched by the cats returned to perfect condition, as if nothing had ever happened.

McGonagall then stood up and addressed David's parents.

"Mr. and Mrs. Adrian, it is now time for us to visit Diagon Alley to purchase David's school supplies."

Philemon nodded and retrieved a stack of British pounds from a drawer. As he handed them to David, he turned to McGonagall.

"Professor, thank you for taking the time to explain everything. We appreciate your patience."

McGonagall gave them a slight nod. She was pleased that they seemed to trust her and accept the situation without resistance.

If she had ulterior motives, she certainly wouldn't have gone through the trouble of explaining everything in such detail.

A Magical Journey Begins

Standing outside in the courtyard, McGonagall instructed David, "Take my hand and hold on tightly. We will be using magic to travel to Diagon Alley. The process can be a bit uncomfortable for first-timers."

David took a deep breath and nodded firmly.

"I'm ready, Professor."

Before he could process what was happening, he felt a sharp pull at his navel, as though an invisible hook had yanked him forward. His body was being compressed, his lungs felt starved of oxygen, and a dizzying sensation of being twisted overwhelmed him.

Then, just as suddenly as it began—

"Pop!"

The disorienting feeling vanished, and David stumbled forward, gasping for air.

They now stood in front of a shabby, dimly lit pub tucked between buildings in a seemingly ordinary London street.

David quickly steadied himself, inhaling deeply to regain his balance.

"Are you alright, Mr. Adrian?" McGonagall asked.

"I'm fine," David replied, exhaling sharply. "That was… intense. But I've recovered now."

Seeing that he had adjusted, McGonagall continued.

"That was Apparition—one of the ways wizards travel. You will have the opportunity to learn it in your sixth year, but be warned—it is not easy. Apparition requires a separate paid course and a Ministry exam to obtain a license. It is one of the more dangerous forms of magical transportation."

David nodded, taking mental notes.

McGonagall then gestured to the Leaky Cauldron, the rundown pub they had arrived in front of.

"This is the Leaky Cauldron. It serves as the entrance to Diagon Alley and is only visible to wizards. Remember this location—you will need to come here on your own when buying supplies in the future."

With that, she pushed open the wooden door, leading David inside.

The Leaky Cauldron

The pub was almost empty, likely due to the early hour.

Behind the bar stood a hunched old man, diligently wiping down the counter with a ragged cloth.

As soon as he noticed them, he set his cloth down and greeted them in a gruff voice.

"Good morning, Professor McGonagall. Guiding new students again today, I see?"

"Good morning, Tom," McGonagall replied.

David followed her through the pub, glancing curiously at the bartender.

The man had a wand tucked into his apron, so he clearly wasn't a Squib.

Then why was he cleaning manually? Did wizards just prefer doing some tasks the non-magical way?

He pushed the thought aside as they stepped into the backyard.

It was a cramped, unremarkable space—aside from a few weeds and a couple of trash bins, there was nothing particularly interesting about it.

McGonagall stopped in front of a brick wall and turned to David.

"Pay close attention," she instructed.

She then pointed her wand at a specific brick and tapped it three times.

Instantly, the wall quivered as if it had come alive. The bricks shifted and rearranged themselves, forming a large archway.

On the other side lay a bustling, magical marketplace—Diagon Alley.

David's eyes widened.

Cobblestone streets stretched ahead, lined with winding pathways, oddly shaped buildings, and hundreds of witches and wizards dressed in flowing robes.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley," McGonagall said. "Our first stop is Gringotts, the wizarding bank. You'll need to exchange your money for Galleons, the currency used in the magical world."

Inside Gringotts

As they walked down the busy street, McGonagall spoke.

"Usually, we buy wands first—not because of location, but because most students are too eager to wait. I have lost count of how many times I've been begged to visit Ollivanders before anything else."

David chuckled.

Soon, they arrived at a massive white building with bronze doors—Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

They stepped through the first set of doors and reached the second set, which were silver and inscribed with a warning:

Enter, stranger, but take heed,

Of what awaits the sin of greed.

For those who take but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors,

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned—

Beware the curse that lies in store.

David read the words carefully.

Didn't goblins themselves have a reputation for greed?

Their mythological origins depicted them as creatures who loved gold and conflict.

Before he could dwell on it, a goblin in a neatly tailored suit approached them.

"Professor McGonagall," the goblin greeted respectfully. "How may we assist you today?"

"Mr. Adrian needs to exchange Muggle money for wizarding currency."

"Right this way, please."

David followed the goblin to a small counter.

The exchange rate was five British pounds per Galleon, with a maximum exchange of one hundred Galleons per student.

McGonagall explained, "If you don't spend unnecessarily, one hundred Galleons will be more than enough for your first year—and you'll likely have some left over. Hogwarts doesn't have many places to spend money."

David nodded and handed over the pounds he had received from his father.

The goblin counted them swiftly before placing a heavy pouch of gold coins in front of him.

As David pocketed the pouch, he realized—

His journey into the wizarding world had truly begun.