The leaning tower of Gringott's
Jean and her family were taken aback when stepping foot on Diagon Alley for the first time. People in pointy hats and wacky capes bustled around in the street. Storefronts held swirly designs. Owls, rats and many other animals could be heard squeaking and growling. Gothic fonts were supplanted by colourful illustrations, which Jean was immediately enamoured by. Her small sketchbook burned a hole in her pocket, just waiting for her to sketch such a wonderful moment. The whole scene seemed to be a product of time travel. Her favourite science fiction series could take a page out of these wizard's book!
Her father could not contain his excitement. Before she could pull her sketchbook out of her jacket, he entwined his arm with hers and pulled her forwards. "You ask this time, Jeanny," he admonished her. Here we go, she thought exasperatedly.
After a stammering exchange with a small, round witch with earmuffs, they made their way to a marble building. Pillars seeming to bend beneath the weight of the bank, Gringott's exterior put the leaning tower of Pisa to shame. Walking closer, she was confused at the absence of an ATM.
The marble outside was mirrored in excess inside. Every visible surface was made form the natural stone, although covered by a thick layer of dust. The only dustless spaces were occupied by small people with long fingers and ears. She was afraid of making them uncomfortable, so she quickly averted her gaze.
Jean's mum had caught up to them and approached a bank teller. "Excuse me, would it be possible to convert pounds to the wizarding valuta here?" The small man took some time to finish up his work on a set of scales before slowly making withering eye contact. He spared a disdaining look at the four before nodding his head. But before Emma could respond, he bared his teeth. "But we do not take card."
Peter had prepared for just this situation by packing a sufficient sum into his wallet. Placing what he assumed would be enough in front of the teller. With a whoosh, the notes were replaced by a pile of golden, bronze and silver coins. A long finger pointed from the bronze to the silver coins, and from the silver to the golden. "29 Knuts to the Sickle. 17 Sickles to the Galleon."
Her father could not contain his excitement. Before she could pull her sketchbook out of her jacket, he entwined his arm with hers and pulled her forwards. "You ask this time, Jeanny," he admonished her. Here we go, she thought exasperatedly.
After a stammering exchange with a small, round witch with earmuffs, they made their way to a marble building. Pillars seeming to bend beneath the weight of the bank, Gringott's exterior put the leaning tower of Pisa to shame. Walking closer, she was confused at the absence of an ATM.
The marble outside was mirrored in excess inside. Every visible surface was made form the natural stone, although covered by a thick layer of dust. The only dustless spaces were occupied by small people with long fingers and ears. She was afraid of making them uncomfortable, so she quickly averted her gaze.
Jean's mum had caught up to them and approached a bank teller. "Excuse me, would it be possible to convert pounds to the wizarding valuta here?" The small man took some time to finish up his work on a set of scales before slowly making withering eye contact. He spared a disdaining look at the four before nodding his head. But before Emma could respond, he bared his teeth. "But we do not take card."
Peter had prepared for just this situation by packing a sufficient sum into his wallet. Placing what he assumed would be enough in front of the teller. With a whoosh, the notes were replaced by a pile of golden, bronze and silver coins. A long finger pointed from the bronze to the silver coins, and from the silver to the golden. "29 Knuts to the Sickle. 17 Sickles to the Galleon."