For excited students, the best part of shopping was checkout. When they handed over coins warmed in their palms. Got back some scattered change and merchandise. They'd huddle together. Look at coins of different materials, patterns, sizes.
"Who still remembers how many kinds of coins they have?" a third-year student asked quietly.
The fourth-year beside him corrected, "We only learned currency still circulating in Britain... they change it from time to time."
"Nice. I wish we could make some changes too," another person said.
"Why not? Two hundred forty-fifty years ago, gob... uh, anyway we changed fonts once."
"Fonts! You know that's not what I mean." The student hoping wizard currency makers had more creativity said. "Speaking of which, I just realized—why is the twenty pence even smaller than ten pence?"
Anthony spent some time assuring students the shopkeeper really hadn't given them counterfeit coins. Unlike the magical world using copper, silver, and gold coins as distinctions, Muggles didn't care so much about currency material value itself. Think about paper money. They'd discussed it in class.
Students nodded thoughtfully. "Oh..."
Anthony suddenly remembered this student had never passed anything involving Muggle currency. Sighed. "Just remember it for now. Understand slowly. This coin is fine. Don't bother the shopkeeper."
Walking onto Charing Cross Road, knowing they were returning to school, students' shopping enthusiasm grew even higher. After an afternoon of practical activity, they felt filled with Muggle atmosphere—actually just lingering cat-dog smell—couldn't wait to buy something as a souvenir.
Every shop looked interesting. Anthony pulled back a student who'd nearly walked into a pub. Shook his head warningly.
"I thought that was a bookstore!" the student defended.
"I thought you sprained your ankle," Anthony said.
He led students toward the Leaky Cauldron. Made sure no one deviated from the route. Introduced shops he was fairly familiar with. As a native Londoner, he knew somewhat about some famous stores.
"I know there's a particularly famous bookstore here," a student said. "There's a correspondence collection related to it."
Anthony nodded. "Number 84. But we won't pass there today, because—" He led them around a corner. Lively voices and car sounds suddenly pushed away. "We've arrived."
Seeing the familiar Leaky Cauldron sign, Anthony relaxed. Students held, clutched just-purchased souvenirs. Stood frozen. Seemed not to have reacted yet.
Anthony smiled. "Yes. The wizarding and Muggle worlds are only a wall apart. Like two neighbors who rarely communicate. But hear each other shuffling to turn on bathroom taps every day."
He led students inside. Pulled out his wand. Tapped the Leaky Cauldron wall. "Come on. Congratulations. You did excellently this afternoon. Time to return to magic."
"First time I've felt wizards are so few," a student muttered. "God, our streets are so narrow too."
Another student looked at Diagon Alley. "We have too few shops. Can walk through in one afternoon. I doubt I could finish touring London's Muggle shops in a week."
"More than a week," Anthony said. "That's a vast, complex, vibrant world. But at the same time, this side is a hidden, magical world. I believe for many Muggles, this place is more fascinating than all their attractions and shops. Like the Muggle world, the wizarding world naturally has its charming places too."
He couldn't help shaking his head. Recalled his feelings walking Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade village. "Ask your Muggle-born friends. They'll tell you how amazing the wizarding world is. I dare say many would feel the Muggle world is far inferior to the magical world."
"Professor, are you also Muggle-born?" a student asked curiously. Anthony had taught most of the semester. But even the most information-gathering Hufflepuffs didn't know where their Muggle Studies professor came from.
"One hundred percent," Anthony joked. "I'm pure-blood Muggle."
He stood by the wall opening. Gave each passing student a Cleaning Charm. Helped change their outfits back to wizard robes.
A lively Gryffindor girl shouted before he removed the transfiguration, "Wait, Professor!"
She fumbled pulling a magical camera from her bag—she was quite well-off, that was definitely an Undetectable Extension Charm bag—shoved it into a friend's hands. Held up her shopping spoils. Stood in the Leaky Cauldron. Wore a Muggle floral dress. Smiled. Took a photo.
She spun in place. Skirt hem flew slightly. Then happily stretched her arms. "Okay, Professor. Change me back."
Anthony smiled. Tapped her clothes. Changed them back to Hogwarts robes. She took the camera. Also took one for her friend. Students behind also clamored wanting photos. Proposed trading various things with her.
She thought. Waved away all trade conditions. "Happy today. One for everyone!"
With that, students already back in Diagon Alley also wanted Anthony to change them back to Muggle outfits. Even though several were awkwardly half-reluctantly pulled back by friends, their not-very-intense resistance showed they also quite wanted photos.
Returning to Hogwarts, it was already dark. Anthony counted heads one last time. Announced this group's practical activity successfully concluded. Told students wanting to adopt pets to bring parental consent forms to his office. They'd research adoption procedures together.
In cheers, Anthony provided the final arrangement of this activity: house-elves had prepared a late-night snack for them.
"Hungry people can eat something. Not hungry, remember to rest early after bathing," Anthony said. "Be careful. I can tell you—I'll definitely go out tonight to see if anyone's wandering."
He could imagine this group in an excited state would eagerly want to find people to share this journey with.
But if after sharing they chose to explore the castle to vent excessive energy, Anthony would increase too much workload for Filch and other professors patrolling for night wanderers.
"Okay, Professor," students promised. "We won't get caught."
Anthony went to eat some mashed potatoes himself. Leaned back in his chair. Let out a long breath. Smiled. Shook his head. Said goodbye to students still struggling with pork chops on plates. Returned to his office. Before seeing his cat, he'd better take a bath.
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