The Opportunity for Enrollment

Chapter 7 The Opportunity for Enrollment

After silently apologizing and bidding farewell to the somewhat disappointed Mr. Ollivander, Ian quietly left the wand shop, preparing to head to his second planned stop, Flourish and Blotts.

This bookstore, which is incredibly popular and frequently visited, gave Ian the first impression of being a special and magical shop. Standing in front of it, you'll be drawn in by a subtle yet profound atmosphere, making you want to walk inside.

The shop has a captivating oak scent, mixed with the faint aroma of ink unique to books. Two barren magical ornamental plants on the shelf by the entrance only contribute the scent of damp soil. The lighting inside is somewhat dim.

The warm morning sunlight streamed through the bookstore's old wooden window frames, dancing on the rows of bookshelves. At the corner, the golden sunlight was abruptly broken, scattering onto the bronze lampshades. The lampshades, speckled with mold and rust, seemed to tell the story of this bookstore's past.

Moreover, Flourish and Blotts has its own special Easter egg. If you spend time there before the start of the school year, you're likely to encounter a beaver. If you put this in 1991, there's a certain probability of triggering the "capture" mechanism.

……

"Welcome to Flourish and Blotts. Do you need to buy Hogwarts textbooks? 4th year? 5th year? We have complete sets of textbooks packaged over there. Or do you need to buy individual books? Textbooks are all over here, and other books are on the shelves behind."

The bookstore manager was a somewhat greasy and overweight middle-aged man, whose slightly sunken deep-set eyes indicated that he was not a native of England.

As he explained to Ian, he pointed to the two rows of bookshelves in front of him. Perhaps because there was still a day before school started, textbooks were still placed in the most prominent position in the bookstore.

"Thank you, sir, but let me check first, and I'll call you if I need anything."

That's how bookstores are; Ian can wander around without a care in the world and search for the books he needs.

Looking at the textbook shelf filled with all sorts of books: *History of Magic*, *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*, *Standard Spells: Beginner, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4...*, *A Thousand Magical Herbs and Mushrooms*, *Magic Potions and Elixirs*, *Black Magic: A Self-Defense Guide*...

After a cursory glance and some deep thought, Ian chose to buy only two books: "Standard Spells: Beginner" and "Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration".

Although he was also very interested in "Potions and Elixirs," he had to reluctantly give it up because he realized that he didn't need such high-end items as potions in the post-apocalyptic world.

The key to a clear mind lies not in the breadth of knowledge, but in the depth of understanding. "Controlling input" is a habit Ian maintained in his previous life. Reducing the intake of upstream information is the necessary method for having a clear mind.

Of course, he wouldn't say that he chose these two books because he needed to pay off Old Tom's debt and because 15 Galleons really couldn't buy much.

Even so, the two books cost a huge sum of nearly 5 Galleons, and these are just introductory books for beginners. In the wizarding world, you always have to pay a price to learn knowledge.

Ian had considered secondhand books, but since he wasn't accompanied by any Hogwarts staff to guide him, he wasn't sure if some secondhand books were missing pages or words.

Another example is the notes and scribbles in books. If he has a teacher, he can quickly apply these notes to other situations, but if he doesn't have a teacher, these notes may become an obstacle because no one can judge whether the notes are correct.

In conclusion, for various reasons, Ian ultimately chose to buy the new book, even though it was more expensive, because it was safer.

"Safety first, safety first. A moment of financial pain is only temporary, but safety is for a lifetime."

While comforting himself, he reluctantly took out five Gallon coins that he hadn't even warmed up yet to pay the bill.

Having completed these two primary tasks—identifying the wand and purchasing the book—Ian lost interest in further shopping and immediately quickened his pace, heading straight back to the Leaky Cauldron.

……

After pushing open the bar door, greeting Old Tom, and paying for the previous week's food and lodging with 3 Galleons, Ian wanted to return to his room in the attic.

After all, new books are meant to be studied, not just used as decorations. So she didn't notice old Tom behind her, who seemed about to say something but then stopped himself.

Looking at the two books in Ian's hands, old Tom hesitated for a moment, then, as if he had made a decision, suddenly spoke.

"Ian, wait a minute, I think we need to talk."

Upon hearing this, Ian turned around. He still respected Old Tom very much and was grateful for the other party's hospitality, so since the other party had spoken, he couldn't ignore it.

"Although I don't know what happened to you in the past, nor do I know what you went through in your own country, I still want to say that you should be in school now, not doing odd jobs in Diagon Alley..."

"Merlin's stockings, I've wanted to say this for a long time, but you seemed a bit terrified when you first arrived. However, after seeing the books you bought as soon as you earned money, I'm even more certain it's time to bring it up. As for the school matters, I'll write to Professor McGonagall. Oh, she's the Vice-Headmistress of Hogwarts, a very kind lady. If I'm lucky, I should get a reply this afternoon."

Old Tom seemed to have thought of something and added:

"As for tuition and books, you don't need to worry. Hogwarts will provide a long-term interest-free loan to students who are unable to afford it, to help you complete your studies. You just need to pay it off within three years after graduation."

Going to school? To be honest, Ian did consider it when he first arrived, but as a newcomer, he had no way of communicating or connections, so he put the idea aside for the time being.

Most people are thinking about making money to buy supplies to bring back to the post-apocalyptic world. Food is the most important thing for people. Only when they are full and alive can they do other things.

Moreover, he didn't have an admission notice, and his obviously older body was also a problem.

He probably won't be able to go to first grade, but since he has no foundation, if he goes to a higher grade, he'll probably just be listening to gibberish and wasting his time.

Instead of doing that, we should earn some money first and save it to buy enough survival supplies.

As for magic, one can always pay someone to teach them later. It's likely that most Hogwarts students wouldn't refuse this easy pocket money.

As the saying goes, "a pillow is sent to someone who is sleepy," and since old Tom was willing to help write the letter, Ian was very happy to communicate with this upright and selfless vice-principal about the enrollment issue.

He really liked Professor McGonagall when he read the original book; her abilities, character, and temperament were all impeccable.

"Thank you so much! I had nothing before, so I never thought I could go to school. It's so great to have a student loan."

Ian didn't say much, but simply explained his reasons, starting with the fact that he had no money.

"Ha, I thought it was something serious. If that were the case, you should have told me sooner. But it's not too late now, since it's only August 30th. There's still time. I'll go write the letter now. You can go and rest first. I'll call you when I get a reply."

Old Tom was also quite happy as he spoke. After all, as an elder, seeing the younger generation's eagerness to learn always brings joy, doesn't it?

After returning to his room, Ian casually placed the books he had bought on the bed. Instead of reading them immediately, he sat down on the edge of the bed and began to think deeply.

After all, it's not a big deal to learn now, but what's really important is what comes next, whether it's dealing with Professor McGonagall or facing Dumbledore.

"Sometimes, one lie requires countless more to cover it up. That's not really the problem. The most important thing is how I'll live at Hogwarts from now on. The plot won't follow me at all, but I need to think carefully about how to use my foresight to my advantage..."

New book, please add to your favorites! Please add to your favorites! Please add to your favorites! Thank you to all my dear readers!

(End of this chapter)