Gary didn't know how to explain to Alfrina.
Greengrass and Shafik are renowned Pure-blood families in the British Wizarding World.
In recent years, there have been increasing public calls for Pure-blood families to rule the Wizarding World, supporting 'Pure-blood supremacy' rhetoric, and society has already shown signs of unrest.
Some Muggle-born and half-blood Wizards living in the Wizarding World have already felt uneasy; the Pure-blood families throughout the Wizarding World seem to be gradually going mad and losing their minds.
Gary heard his father say that many Muggle-born Wizards had died mysteriously in their homes, and the conflict between muggle-borns and Pure-blood families was gradually coming to the forefront.
Madam Malkin's husband was a 'muggle-born' in the words of Pure-blood supporters, so Ina's reaction wasn't surprising.
However, according to Alfrina, her parents were just ordinary people with no magic, and Gary guessed her father just happened to be named 'Greengrass' and had no relation to the Sacred Twenty-Eight families.
He couldn't tell these things to Alfrina, who had just entered the magic world; he could only let her slowly discover the darkness hidden behind the light.
"I'm not sure either. Let's go buy the cauldron first. What did the letter say?"
Gary fumbled around and pulled out the list sent by Hogwarts from his pocket. Alfrina leaned in and read word for word:
"One standard size 2 pewter cauldron, one set of glass or crystal phials, a brass set of scales, and a telescope."
"Hmm… what do we need a telescope for?" Alfrina bit her lower lip.
"...Oh, the list didn't specify. We have Astronomy Class every week," Gary replied.
Next, they rushed into Patridge's Cauldron Shop, opposite Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. After each paying twenty-six Galleons, they received a large basket containing a telescope and a simple Potion-making kit.
Next, they purchased the first-year textbooks at Flourish and Blotts, the largest bookstore in Diagon Alley. Gary spotted a rare Alchemy treatise, but seeing the price marked next to it and the fourteen Galleons he had left, he convinced himself to give up the idea.
Alfrina squeezed through the crowd, holding a large stack of books. Gary opened one of the books and glanced at it twice, then reluctantly put it back on the shelf.
"I've picked everything out! Let's go!" Alfrina grinned happily. Gary saw the top book in Alfrina's hands, "Terrifying Monsters from the Deep Below," with a fierce Merperson on the cover brandishing a trident.
This book wasn't on the first-year reading list. Gary looked at the innocent and joyful Alfrina, feeling a little envious.
His family didn't have much spare money for Gary to buy expensive extracurricular books. He usually could only rummage through the books his parents bought when they were students in the study at home.
Most of these books were disorganized and unsystematic, not suitable for a child of Gary's age, and often required a deep accumulation of magic knowledge. However, Gary had no choice but to bite the bullet and read the books in their entirety.
Gary collected his thoughts and accompanied Alfrina to the counter to pay.
Every book in Flourish and Blotts had a unique Alchemy imprint. Even if one were to grab a book in the store and Apparate directly, the Alchemy imprint would cause the book to disappear within twenty-four hours and return to the shelves in the bookstore.
The shop assistant used a device similar to a Muggle supermarket's barcode scanner, scanning the Alchemy imprint on the last page of each book.
Four Galleons. Gary counted four gold coins from his pocket and placed them on the table.
He had ten Galleons left. If the wand was cheap, he could even share a raspberry ice cream with Alfrina.
Walking along the cobblestone path of Diagon Alley to the very end, they arrived at Ollivander's Wand Shop. The storefront was small and dilapidated, even the golden signboard on the door had peeled off, reading: Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C.
Gary pushed open the creaking door and heard the faint tinkling of bells from somewhere at the back of the shop.
The shop was small, with nothing but a long chair.
The shop was silent and empty, a stark contrast to the bustling, shoulder-to-shoulder scene outside.
Alfrina followed behind Gary, letting out a gasp of surprise when she saw the thousands of narrow boxes stacked almost to the ceiling.
"Good morning, two more young Wizards," a voice suddenly said from above them.
An old man stood before them, his large, pale eyes shining like two bright moons in the dim shop.
"Good morning, sir," Alfrina said gracefully.
"Oh, miss…" Mr. Ollivander's gaze lingered on Alfrina's light golden curly hair, and he paused for a moment.
"Sir?" Gary asked tentatively.
"..." Ollivander's cloudy, silver-white eyes shifted from Alfrina's hair to Gary's face.
"Sir, we've come to buy wands."
Gary raised his voice.
Ollivander then startled awake from his own world. He pulled a long, silver-marked tape measure from his pocket.
"Which arm do you use for your wand?" His voice was somewhat wavering, as if it could drift away at any moment.
Gary nudged Alfrina's waist. She reacted, "Oh, my right hand, sir."
"Hold out your arm. Good."
He unfurled the tape measure and took Alfrina's measurements: first from shoulder to fingertip, then from wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit, and finally head circumference.
As he measured, he said to them, "Every Ollivander wand contains a powerful magical substance, which is its essence. We use Unicorn hair, Phoenix tail feathers, and Dragon heartstring. Every Ollivander wand is unique, because no two Unicorns, Dragons, or Phoenixes are exactly alike. Of course, if you used a wand that belonged to another Wizard, it would never work as well."
Alfrina nodded vaguely. Ollivander released the tape measure and went to the shelves to select a wand.
Freed from Ollivander's control, the tape measure shivered and danced excitedly in the air.
Alfrina also watched the tape measure's performance with a happy expression. Gary stood by, his face serious, lost in thought.
"Maple, Phoenix feather. Nine inches, quite flexible," Ollivander said, walking out with several boxes.
The tape measure immediately slid to the floor and coiled into a ball.
He took a wand from a box and handed it to Alfrina.
"Give it a wave and try it out," Ollivander explained when he saw Alfrina standing there, dazed and unresponsive.
Alfrina obediently waved the wand from top to bottom. A few sparks shot from the tip, startling her.
Ollivander reached out and took the wand back directly.
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