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On the last Wednesday of the holiday, the Grangers drove Ryan and their daughter to Diagon Alley for shopping. Since Daisy had to work, and Oden Smith claimed to have a brilliant idea for quickly writing a new book, Ryan was left to spend the day with Hermione's family.
Since arriving in this world, Ryan had noticed that while history generally followed the same trajectory as in his previous world, there were still noticeable differences. Many famous literary works from his original world had alternate versions written by different authors here, while some books had never appeared at all.
Unfortunately, Ryan couldn't recall the exact contents of many books he had read before, nor did he have time to transcribe them. However, during casual conversations, he would share fragments of stories he remembered with his father, Oden Smith, as creative brainstorming. Inspired by Ryan's ideas and the presence of magic in this world, Oden decided to change his writing style this time, aiming to craft a grand magical epic. With that goal in mind, he locked himself away to focus on his work, entrusting Ryan to the Grangers for the day.
From Ryan's perspective, Hermione's parents were the epitome of cultured and gentle individuals. Mr. Granger, in particular, happened to be a fan of Oden Smith's books, which provided plenty of conversation topics during their car ride.
A Familiar Encounter at Gringotts
Upon arriving at Diagon Alley, Ryan and Hermione decided to visit Gringotts first to exchange money. As they stepped onto the white marble steps of the bank, they spotted Hagrid walking toward them with Harry.
"Hey, Harry's here," Ryan called out.
Harry, who had been looking down, raised his head and smiled upon seeing Ryan and Hermione standing on the steps.
"Ryan! Hermione! It's great to see you two again," Harry greeted them cheerfully. "Are you here to exchange money too?"
Ryan nodded. "Yeah. What about you?"
"I'll go once I find the Weasleys," Harry replied.
"You won't have to look for long," Hagrid chuckled.
Just as he said that, the Weasleys arrived, with Fred, George, and Ron chatting animatedly. Upon noticing Harry, the twins and Ron immediately started discussing his misadventure in Knockturn Alley, expressing both concern and admiration.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Ryan discreetly handed Fred a small pouch.
"What's that?" Ron asked, watching their exchange with curiosity.
"You remember I visited Iceland over the summer? Your brothers asked me to bring back some local specialties," Ryan explained with a grin.
As they walked up the steps together, Harry mentioned running into the Malfoys at Borgin and Burkes. Mr. Weasley, who had been following behind, immediately became concerned. He was convinced that the Malfoys were involved in dark magic and believed it was his duty to investigate further. However, Mrs. Weasley advised him to be cautious and put his safety first.
Mr. Weasley's train of thought soon shifted when he noticed the Grangers inside the bank. His enthusiasm for Muggle culture made him particularly eager to chat with them, though the Grangers seemed slightly overwhelmed by his excitement.
After exchanging pleasantries, the two groups parted ways temporarily. The Weasleys and Harry went to withdraw money from the underground vaults, while Ryan and Hermione exchanged their money at the counter.
"This year, the maximum exchange quota for students is 250 Galleons," the goblin informed them impatiently. It was clear he had repeated the same line countless times that morning.
Once their transaction was complete, Ryan and Hermione agreed to meet up with Harry and the Weasleys at Flourish and Blotts in an hour, then set off to explore the bustling alley.
Shopping and Unexpected Finds
Diagon Alley was lively as always. The cobblestone streets were lined with dazzling storefronts, their windows displaying an array of magical goods. Ryan and Hermione strolled through the shops while sharing a large piece of nut cream ice cream. Along the way, they spotted the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan excitedly purchasing a large batch of fireworks.
After some time, Hermione pulled Ryan toward a shop selling parchment and ink, insisting they stock up on school supplies. Once that was done, Ryan made his usual stop at a second-hand bookstore, hoping to find any useful old books. Seeing Ryan's enthusiasm, Hermione—who had previously been skeptical—was now eager to try her luck as well, especially after witnessing Ryan's impressive find last time: a rare 1893 edition of The Making of One Hundred Common Potions.
However, Harry and Ron weren't interested in book-hunting. They quickly excused themselves and made their way toward Quality Quidditch Supplies.
"Honestly, I don't understand why they're so obsessed with Quidditch," Hermione muttered. "How could flying around on a broomstick be more exciting than gaining knowledge?"
Ryan chuckled. "It's in their blood. Quidditch has been a tradition in their families for generations. Besides, not everyone enjoys reading as much as we do."
Pushing open the bookstore's door, they were met with the scent of old paper and ink. To their surprise, they found Percy Weasley completely engrossed in a book titled How a Prefect Gained Power. He was so absorbed that he barely noticed their arrival.
Curious, Ryan glanced at the open page and saw a list of careers pursued by former prefects after leaving school.
Noticing Ryan's interest, Percy quickly shut the book, looking slightly embarrassed. "Oh, hey, Ryan, Hermione."
Ryan smirked. "That book seems a bit... simplistic."
Percy frowned slightly. "What do you mean? I think it's quite informative."
"If you're interested in leadership and governance, I'd recommend mirror for aid, a historical chronicle compiled by Overton, a prime minister from the Chinese Dynasty over a thousand years ago. The cases in that book are far more sophisticated."
Percy's curiosity was piqued. He even asked Ryan to write down the book's title in Chinese, mentioning that he might visit Chinatown to look for a translated version.
After Percy left, Ryan and Hermione began searching through the chaotic piles of second-hand books. Many of the books were worn, with some covered in illegible scribbles, while others carried an unpleasant smell—possibly from exposure to potions.
However, as luck would have it, Hermione managed to uncover something valuable—a set of spell notes from a former Ravenclaw student. The annotations inside contained several advanced magical theories that seemed incredibly useful.
As they paid for their purchase, Hermione turned to Ryan. "You know, I always thought second-hand books were only for people with financial struggles and that they had no real value beyond being cheap. But thanks to you, I've realized that they can actually hold hidden treasures."
Ryan smiled. "Exactly. Valuable knowledge can be found in the most unexpected places."
This concept was something Ryan had learned in his past life while browsing second-hand markets. For Hermione, who had grown up in a well-off household, the idea of treasure hunting through second-hand goods was a completely new and exciting experience. The joy of discovering valuable information among discarded books was unlike anything she had felt before.
Meeting at Flourish and Blotts
After finishing their shopping, Ryan checked his pocket watch and realized that it was almost time for their meeting. Without wasting a moment, he and Hermione made their way toward Flourish and Blotts, weaving through the crowded streets of Diagon Alley.
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