Harry Potter: Bloodraven

After stepping out of the coffee shop, Maverick's worries faded a little. Watching cars rush by, he felt an odd sense of affection—even for the smell of smoke drifting through the air. And why not? Who wouldn't feel a mix of awe and excitement after gaining a superpower?

As he strolled down the street, his eyes drifted over the row of bookstores, one by one, until a strange-looking shop caught his attention. "Wait… what's this?" He stopped, staring at the dark, slightly run-down building in front of him. He glanced around. "Yeah, this is Charing Cross Road. Lots of bookstores on this street," he muttered, looking back at the shop.

Sure enough, tucked between a bookstore and a record store, there was a dark, shabby-looking place he'd never noticed before. Maverick felt a bit confused. He'd walked down this street countless times—including just this morning on his way to work—yet he couldn't remember ever seeing this shop. How did it suddenly appear? Did I miss it before, or…

A thought crossed his mind, but he brushed it off. Then, he noticed the sign with a few letters faded, and suddenly, the words "Leaky Cauldron" popped into his mind. And then, it hit him: Wait… this is THE Leaky Cauldron!

It was the only thing that made sense. After all, at this point in time, the "Harry Potter" series hadn't even been published yet, so there was no way anyone could've created this shop as a coincidence.

Maverick had once thought about copying the Harry Potter series, but he never imagined the magical world could actually be real. Yet here he was: a "system" had suddenly activated for him today, he'd awakened magical abilities, and now, proof of a hidden magical world was right in front of him.

After taking a closer look, Maverick was sure he wasn't imagining things. There was definitely an extra shop in a spot he'd always overlooked. He figured it might be something he could only see now that he had magic. After all, the Leaky Cauldron was supposed to be hidden by spells that kept Muggles from noticing it—and only wizards could see it.

Wanting to double-check his theory, he stepped into the bookstore next door. "Looking to buy a book, young man?" a man in a brown leather coat and jeans asked, walking over. His hair was parted down the middle, and he looked like he might be the owner. Maverick struck up a conversation, pretending to browse, and after a few minutes, he bought a copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

"Oh, by the way, do you know what that dark shop next door sells?" Maverick asked casually as he was about to leave.

The owner looked puzzled. "A dark shop? What shop are you talking about?"

"Oh, my mistake, sir. Sorry about that," Maverick said, quickly making his exit.

Back on the street, Maverick clenched his fists in excitement, thinking, It really is the Leaky Cauldron… and if it is, then I can get into Diagon Alley. But along with the excitement, he felt a wave of disappointment. I'm 18 now… There's no way I'll get to enroll at Hogwarts and learn magic properly, he thought, frustrated.

Why couldn't my system have appeared when I was 11? he grumbled to himself. But there was no point in regrets now. His only option was to get into Diagon Alley, find a wand, and stock up on magic books. Since his magic had awakened, self-learning had become his top priority. But even though he wanted to rush in, he knew he'd need a solid plan first.

He looked at the Encyclopedia Britannica in his hand, a smile creeping onto his face. I can just say I'm a wizard studying Muggle life… And I'll need money too. Galleons, right? And some reason to get a wand and stay in Diagon Alley for a while. Feeling a bit more prepared, Maverick turned and headed home, planning to come back tomorrow.

The next morning, Maverick stood outside the familiar yet mysterious-looking pub, feeling calmer. Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the wooden door of the Leaky Cauldron and stepped inside. Immediately, it felt like he'd entered a whole new world, far from the busy street outside.

The bar was dim, with a few tables scattered around, some half-hidden in shadow. Flickering candles on some tables gave just enough light to see the room's details. He noticed a few older men and women in robes—definitely wizards. This is it—the Leaky Cauldron, he thought, excitement bubbling up. Behind the bar was an old, bald man who looked a bit like a toothless walnut. That's gotta be Tom, the owner.

As Maverick walked in, most of the wizards barely glanced his way, though a few gave him curious looks. Maverick just avoided eye contact. "Hello, young man. Do you need anything?" Maverick was surprised when the old man—probably Tom—spoke first.

"Oh, yes. I was studying a spell recently, and, well, my wand got damaged," Maverick said, trying to sound calm even though he was nervous. "So I need to go to Diagon Alley to get a new one." He shrugged casually, using the excuse he'd prepared.

He did his best to look natural, not letting any hint of doubt show. "Is that so?" Tom asked, eyeing him with some suspicion, which made Maverick's heart race. But then, whether convinced by Maverick's story or just not wanting to pry, Tom gave a nod and gestured for him to follow. "Alright, come with me."

Maverick followed Tom through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard. Aside from some weeds and a trash can in the corner, it looked pretty empty. "Count three bricks up from the top of the trash can, then two to the right, and tap three times," Tom muttered, pulling out his wand and tapping the wall. As Maverick watched, the bricks began shifting, forming a hole that quickly widened into a passageway. Diagon Alley—the heart of the wizarding world—lay open before him.

"Be careful with your magic experiments next time, young man," Tom said with a final look.

"Yes, sir, I will," Maverick replied with a smile, giving a little nod. He stepped officially into Diagon Alley. Turning back, he saw the entrance close again, replaced by a solid brick wall. Incredible, he thought, barely containing his awe.

The streets ahead were bustling with people—shopping, chatting, going about their day. With students prepping for Hogwarts, the whole alley was alive with energy. Owl shops, broom stores, and shops filled with strange silverware lined the streets. Even though he'd prepared himself for this moment, Maverick was completely captivated.

This is really the wizarding world! he thought, an exaggerated smile spreading across his face. But he quickly reined in his excitement; he'd need to exchange some money first if he wanted to buy anything. Following the crowd, he found himself outside a striking white building. This must be Gringotts—the wizarding bank.

Inside, goblins were hard at work behind tall counters, each absorbed in their tasks. Maverick approached one and said, "Hello, I'd like to exchange some pounds for Galleons," pulling out ten 100-pound notes.

The goblin gave him a skeptical look. "You're not from around here, are you?" Maverick tensed up, doing his best to stay calm.

"Uh, well, I've been living in Muggle society, doing research—" Maverick began, but the goblin cut him off.

"I don't need your life story," the goblin said with a scowl. "Muggle-borns can exchange up to 50 Galleons at a rate of five pounds per Galleon, once per month. That's basic knowledge," he sneered.

Great, Maverick thought. "Right. I've been away for a while…" he started to explain, but the goblin interrupted him again.

"I don't care," the goblin replied impatiently. "That'll be 250 pounds." He took three of Maverick's 100-pound notes, handed back the remaining 700 pounds, and tossed a small pouch of 50 Galleons at him.

Maverick decided not to argue over the leftover 50 pounds. He had more than just cash to exchange. Knowing there might be restrictions, he'd also brought a solid gold piece as backup. "Anything else?" the goblin asked, eyeing him suspiciously as he stayed by the counter.

"Yes," Maverick replied, pulling a small gold trapezoid from his bag, weighing about 200 grams.

The goblin's demeanor instantly shifted, his irritation turning to a glimmer of interest. "198 grams… or seven ounces of 99% pure gold. How much for this?" Maverick asked.

The goblin snatched the gold and inspected it with a small magnifying tool. "Where did you get this?" he asked, eyeing Maverick with suspicion and greed.

"It's mine. My Muggle family is well-off," Maverick said smoothly, giving just enough detail to satisfy the goblin's curiosity.

The goblin and Maverick locked eyes for a moment, each sizing up the other. Finally, Maverick sighed, showing a hint of impatience. "Give it back. I can always sell it somewhere else if this isn't—"

"Three thousand Galleons!" the goblin interrupted, startling Maverick. Three thousand? he thought, caught off guard.

He quickly recovered, ready to push for the highest price possible. "Five thousand. Not a Galleon less," he said firmly.

"Deal!" the goblin agreed instantly, surprising Maverick again.

The goblin tossed another small, enchanted bag at Maverick, this one also filled with Galleons. Maybe my info was wrong, or these goblins are even greedier than I thought, Maverick considered, realizing he might have miscalculated. Either way, he now had 5,050 Galleons—a huge sum for a new wizard.

Without a word, Maverick turned and left Gringotts, feeling both accomplished and ready to start his journey.