The next morning on Charing Cross Road in London, a family of five—Charles, Diana, Henry, William, and Harry—stood before the entrance of a dingy, cramped pub. They had dressed as modestly as royal circumstances allowed, yet their clothes still carried an unmistakable air of quality.
The pub's sign, showing a broken cauldron, creaked softly in the breeze. Around them, ordinary Londoners hurried past, either oblivious to the establishment or instinctively steering clear of it.
"Is this it?" Charles stared at the unprepossessing building in disbelief, his brow furrowed.
William glanced about with open curiosity while Harry clung tightly to his mother's hand.
"Yes," came Dumbledore's voice from beside them.
He had chosen simpler robes for the occasion, giving him the appearance of a distinguished elderly scholar.
"Welcome to the Leaky Cauldron, the gateway to the heart of British magical commerce."
He guided them inside the dimly lit, bustling pub. Several patrons in eccentric attire looked up, nodded respectfully to Dumbledore, and then swept curious gazes over the well-dressed family following him. The landlord, Tom, wiped his hands hastily on his apron and hurried forward.
"Professor Dumbledore! And who are these…?"
"Good morning, Tom. Some curious visitors here to tour Diagon Alley," Dumbledore replied amiably, sidestepping any direct introduction.
They passed through the small courtyard behind the pub. Dumbledore drew his wand and tapped a precise sequence of bricks in the wall.
The selected brick quivered, then began to rotate and slide aside. One by one the others followed, widening into a grand archway that opened onto a winding cobblestone street.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley," Dumbledore announced, turning back with a warm smile.
The sight that greeted them left the royal family momentarily speechless.
Diana pressed a hand to her mouth. Charles's eyes widened. William let out a short, breathless "Wow!" while Harry ducked fully behind his mother, peering out with just one wide eye.
Henry, by contrast, remained utterly unfazed.
Towering shops pressed close together along the street, their windows alive with bizarre and wonderful goods: spellbooks that pulsed with inner light, telescopes that hovered gently in place, cauldrons releasing curls of strange smoke, and even a hanging cage outside one shop that housed owls, vividly colored birds, and the occasional small fire-breathing lizard.
Wizards and witches in flowing robes moved through the crowds, some balancing tall bundles on their heads, others accompanied by peculiar hopping pets.
The sky overhead was not the familiar grey of London but a clear, vivid blue, with a handful of owls drifting lazily across it.
"This… is truly…" Charles stammered, words failing him.
"Incredible," Diana murmured. Her eyes gradually softened with a hazy wonder, drawn beyond mere shock into the pure enchantment of the scene.
Yes, magic was truly wondrous.
Their presence quickly drew attention. Despite their Muggle clothing, Charles and Diana were instantly recognizable, especially with Dumbledore at their side.
Whispers rippled outward like pebbles dropped in a pond. Some passersby stared with open astonishment; others rubbed their eyes as though doubting their sight. A Daily Prophet reporter, sensing the story of the century, pushed eagerly forward only to be halted by a single kind yet firm glance from Dumbledore.
"Is this the magical world? My God…" Diana kept sighing as she looked around.
Henry's two younger brothers wore expressions of pure astonishment, while Charles, though equally surprised and fascinated, struggled to maintain his composure.
Their tour of Diagon Alley began at Gringotts.
The bank rose imposingly above the surrounding buildings, its heavy bronze doors firmly closed. The figures flanking the entrance made Charles narrow his eyes—they were not human. Short, dark-skinned, and dressed in immaculate scarlet-and-gold uniforms, the creatures possessed pointed ears and faces far stranger than any he had seen. These were Gringotts' goblin guards.
"Gringotts Wizarding Bank," Dumbledore explained in his gentle voice, as though conducting a pleasant tour, though his bright blue eyes carefully observed every reaction. "The principal financial institution of the wizarding world. I believe our first priority today should be to arrange the necessary financial matters for His Highness Henry. After all, future purchases will require the use of wizarding currency."
They climbed the wide white stone steps beneath the watchful gaze of the goblin guards.
At the hall entrance, a goblin wearing a small badge around his neck already waited to receive them. The badge read "Gripper."
"Professor Dumbledore, and distinguished guests," he greeted with a courteous bow. "Gringotts welcomes you. What service may we provide?"
"To open a vault for this young Prince Henry and exchange some Galleons for his expenses in the wizarding world," Dumbledore stated succinctly.
Gripper's dark eyes swept over Henry, then lingered briefly on Charles and Diana.
"In accordance with the International Statute of Secrecy and our ancient agreements with the relevant authorities, our bank does not accept direct exchanges or deposits of non-magical paper currency. For new Hogwarts students, Gringotts maintains specific exchange limits. Account opening and currency conversion must be conducted using assets approved by the bank."
Dumbledore had already prepared them for this requirement.
"If gold is offered as the asset, does it meet your bank's standards?" Charles inquired.
Gripper's pointed ears twitched.
"Gold is one of the eternal currencies recognized by Gringotts, provided its purity and origin satisfy our criteria. Please follow me."
Gripper led them into a magnificent yet austerely cold marble hall. Beneath the soaring dome, hundreds of goblins sat behind long counters, some poring over ledgers while others weighed glittering gems on delicate scales.
Wizarding customers conducted their business throughout the space. At the sight of Dumbledore and this distinctly different group—particularly upon recognizing Charles and Diana—astonishment spread instantly, accompanied by a fresh wave of whispers.
Gripper guided them to a relatively private meeting room. Ancient tapestries depicting goblin financial transactions adorned the walls.
Charles dispensed with further pleasantries and came straight to the point.
"We wish to open a separate vault for Henry with the highest level of security and protection. We also need to exchange some Galleons for his immediate use. We have brought gold for that purpose."
He placed a pouch on the table—a gift Dumbledore had provided the previous day. The pouch, enchanted with a Seamless Extension Charm, contained several large chests.
The goblins lifted the chests onto the table and opened them, revealing neatly stacked gold bars that shimmered softly in the light.