Chapter 4: Gringotts
Sean got up early in the morning. He was going to Diagon Alley today to buy a pair of appropriate robes and some textbooks that Hogwarts students used last term in preparation for the interview.
Surrey is only a few dozen kilometers away from London. He did not choose to take the train or the Knight Bus. In comparison, driving was obviously a smarter choice. Sean had been fortunate enough to ride each of the first two once. Britain's terrible transport system had clearly left an indelible impression on him—both in the Muggle and wizarding worlds.
Before leaving, Sean did not forget about Bellatrix. He considerately used physical means to ensure she remained in a coma. The story behind this was actually heartwarming. The reason was that he was afraid Bellatrix would be too lonely at home.
The wind was particularly noisy today, and Sean drove his old second-hand Ford car slowly towards London. He held the steering wheel with one hand and a steaming cup of coffee with the other, looking very relaxed. But Sean always felt that this atmosphere was lacking something.
He finally figured out the reason while waiting at the traffic light at the intersection. Sean let go of the steering wheel and turned the knob of the black radio in the middle of the car. As he turned it gently, the radio broadcasted news.
Sean slapped his thigh; this was just right. But less than a minute later, the radio began to make a buzzing sound. Sean hated the noise so much that he punched the surface of the radio, and miraculously, it returned to normal. Sometimes, force was simpler and more convenient than magic.
"Since June 5, when the two Yugoslav republics of Slovenia and Croatia declared unilateral independence, the situation has been tense. As of yesterday, August 1, the war has spread... The Times continues to bring you reports..."
Sean casually switched radio channels. If he remembered correctly, something major would happen in December that would shock the world.
"The Silence of the Lambs, starring Anthony Hopkins, has received critical acclaim and received multiple Oscar nominations and is expected to..."
Sean switched to another channel.
"There are places I'll remember All my life, though some have gone Some forever, not for better Some have gone and some remain All these places had their moments..."
A music channel. A Beatles song. Sean put down his hand, picked up the coffee, and took a sip. He looked at the scenery outside the window that was getting farther and farther away from him and couldn't help but hum along softly.
"With lovers and friends I still recall Some are dead and some are living..."
A beautiful day might start from here: a cup of warm coffee, a classic song, a journey, and...
As Sean drove his car past a road full of bookstores, record stores, hamburger shops, and movie theaters, he finally pulled over next to a bookstore that was slightly larger than the one he had just passed—on the other side of it was a record store.
Sean had already seen a shabby little bar with only a door and its sign sticking out. Without a doubt, this was the famous Leaky Cauldron.
Walking into the Leaky Cauldron, Sean couldn't help but curl his lips. He hadn't been here for a long time, but the layout of the bar hadn't changed at all. It was still as dim and simple as before. Apart from the bar, there were only a few tables in the shadowy corners.
Without looking around too much, Sean walked straight to the bar.
"Sir, what would you like to order?" An old man with almost no hair and looking like a shrunken walnut leaned against the bar and asked with a smile.
Sean didn't say anything but pointed behind the bar. Looking at Sean, whose dress and behavior were a little strange, the old man frowned and then seemed to remember something. He patted his head as if he suddenly realized something (Sean suspected that this was how all his hair fell out) and then let out an ugly, strange laugh.
"Phillips, I know it's you..."
The old man had just finished speaking when Sean frowned and gestured for silence while looking around. Fortunately, no one paid attention to the little episode that happened there.
Sean looked down at his current attire: a black cloak, a black face scarf, and black sunglasses. He guaranteed that even the dark wizards who went to Knockturn Alley were not dressed as tightly as he was. How come he was recognized?
As if he saw Sean's confusion, the old man took a sip of the butterbeer on the bar and moistened his throat: "Although you are dressed like a dark wizard, you don't have the rotten and sour smell of them... Combined with the fact that Flourish and Blotts is promoting your and Lockhart's new book..."
"Tom, are you saying... Flourish and Blotts is promoting my... new book...?" Sean asked uncertainly.
"Yeah." The old man named Tom nodded as a matter of course. He looked at Sean with some confusion, "Aren't you here for this?"
Sean lowered his head and cursed silently. As the author, he didn't even know that there would be a pre-launch conference for his new book. He only found out about it from someone else on the day of the event. It was absolutely ridiculous.
Seeing Sean's obviously embarrassed expression, Tom shrugged his shoulders and tactfully said nothing more. Instead, he turned around and made way to the back—a small patio surrounded by walls on all sides.
Under one wall, a trash can with its lid fallen off was standing there quietly. Sean picked up the fallen lid and put it back on top of the trash can, then counted three bricks upwards and two horizontally. He used his magic wand to lightly tap it.
Accompanied by a friction sound, the noise of a bustling street market suddenly came to his ears. A winding, seemingly endless cobblestone street with all kinds of quirky shops came into view.
Sean's first stop was Gringotts. He had a lot of money deposited in Gringotts and hoped to withdraw it all this time.
Sean stood in the middle of the street, in front of a snow-white building that stood tall above the surrounding shops. Next to the shining bronze gate stood a figure dressed in a scarlet uniform inlaid with gold—a goblin.
As he stepped into the door of Gringotts, the goblin guard bowed and saluted, using his wrinkled, hairy hands to lead the way for Sean.
After entering the brass door, there was a silver door with the following words engraved on it:
Come in, stranger, but be careful What will happen if you are greedy? Just asking for something without working for it, Will be punished most severely. So if you want to take it from our underground vault A wealth that never belonged to you, You have been warned, thief. Be careful, or you may attract bad consequences instead of treasure.