Daily Life at Hogwarts Chapter 502: From platform 7 1/2
Albert couldn't believe that he had followed Serra to platform seven and a half for no reason, preparing to take the steam train that was about to go to an unknown region.
The dark red steam train is parked next to the platform. The number of passengers on this train is small. Two staff members are cutting tickets at the entrance.
There is a sign on the platform with a map of the train's route around Europe. The sign details each wizard village that stops at the station.
The nearest stop was Hogsmeade Village, which took five days to complete.
Serra did not know what she said to the ticket cutter, but she enthusiastically introduced the two of them to the destination of the trip: the French village of Nicolas.
It is said to be the home of Nicole LeMay.
After Nicole Lemay became famous, wizards in France changed the name of the village to commemorate the birth of the great alchemist.
The staff pulled the small suitcase and brought the two of them to their private box. After opening the door of the box, there was a spacious room with two single beds. The layout of the room was simple and comfortable.
"Why not use Floo, Apparition, or Portkey?"
Albert asked his first doubt after the staff member put away the suitcases for them, closed the door of the carriage for them and left.
“Using a door key is illegal entry.” Sera reminded kindly, “It is very difficult to Apparate directly to another country, and it is not worth our risk, and the last time I went to Nikolai Village, it was already Ten years ago, the memory of that place is already blurred."
"What about Floo?"
"Of course we can go directly to France, but Mr. Nicholas has already pre-purchased train tickets for us. How can we let him spend money for no reason?" Serra sat on the sofa and said with a smile, "And, yes Isn't it a great experience for you?"
Albert was at a loss for words, which was so reasonable.
This is similar to the first class of an airplane, and the price is certainly not cheap.
"How much?"
"Five Galleons per person, the food is provided for free." Sera pointed to the menu on the table and said, "Just order and it will appear."
"I thought wizards wouldn't enjoy life." Albert mocked himself, ordering himself an Italian lobster and seafood noodle set.
No wonder Sera reminded him not to eat more at breakfast.
"Actually, most wizards don't ride in luxury cars." Sera probably guessed Albert's thoughts and explained casually, "This is a car for some special customers, so I Said it's better not to waste this opportunity."
"What are you doing at Nikolai Village?" Albert put down the menu and looked at the old man in front of him. He felt that this matter was obviously not that simple.
Sierra went to the door, made sure the door was locked, and performed some kind of magic in the room, before sitting back on the sofa and saying slowly, "We're going to visit someone."
"I thought Nico was in Devon." Albert guessed who Sera was talking about.
"They are dying, and I don't know how Dumbledore persuaded the LeMays to give up the Philosopher's Stone."
Speaking of this matter, Serra's tone is very complicated, "We need to stay in France for three days, you can take time to participate in this year's International Wizarding Tournament in France."
“Does that kind of competition require early registration?”
Albert said here, his tone suddenly stopped, "Who signed me up?"
A new task has appeared on the task panel, 80% of which are related to the International Wizarding Chess game.
"Bud signed up for you ahead of time, and he thinks you'll be interested." Sera said, "That guy used to be a wizard chess champion and has a recommendation."
Actually, the number of wizards who take part in international wizarding games every year is not too many.
"Of course, that's not the point."
Albert was just about to say something when he heard Sera continue, "Nicco also left something for you, we think it's better for you to go and meet him in person."
Albert was silent.
He felt that a lot of the mess was huddled together, and that traveling to America to meet Nicholas became less important.
While speaking, the train suddenly swayed and began to slowly exit King's Cross Station.
Albert looked sideways at the rapidly receding scenery outside the car window, and asked nonchalantly, "Who is Nicholas? Should you explain it to me?"
So far, neither Sierra nor Bard has given him a clear explanation.
No one likes to be concealed or deceived.
"John Nicholas was an alchemist in America." Serra put down her teacup and pulled a bag from her pocket containing Floo powder.
"It's not that I'm going to visit him, it's that you need to visit him, remember what I said?" Serra said in a low voice, "Besides me, there are three more, Nicholas is in charge of the Americas, you will sooner or later I need to deal with him, and I will take you there personally while I still have energy."
"They don't want to go to America."
"Why?"
"There is no freedom over there, you will know when you go there."
Sera pulled another photo from her pocket and pushed it in front of Albert. The photo showed an old man in his sixties and a blond girl.
The two in the photo are smiling at him, the blond girl looking like a delicate porcelain doll.
"That's Nicholas' heir and her granddaughter. It seems to be called Catherine. She should have just graduated from Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year." Sera said, "Catherine is also a genius. Of course, not as talented as You are."
In Serra's eyes, Albert is the most gifted wizard in centuries.
“Why is everyone else reluctant to go to America?”
Albert took a bite of the lobster spaghetti that appeared out of nowhere and curiously asked why.
"Some unpleasant things have happened." Sierra curled her lips and said, "That country is not as beautiful as you think. The Ministry of Magic in the United States has strict management of wizards, and you need to pay attention to a lot of things. "
"Because of Muggle connections?"
Albert naturally guessed the reason.
"America's wizards had to carefully hide their presence from Muggles"
"Yes, it seems you know more than you think." Serra nodded and said, "Although Muggles can't use magic, they are not as weak as they think. Once they realize the existence of wizards , it will cause us a lot of trouble."
"The connection between Muggles is closer than you think, and information spreads very fast. Once someone discovers the existence of the wizarding world, it will be known to most of the people in the entire United States within a few hours." Ai Burt knew exactly what those people would do when they discovered the existence of wizards.
No one likes to have uncontrollable forces threatening their safety, especially the rulers of that country, which would never be tolerated.
"Those Muggles," Serra said suddenly. "A terrible weapon called a nuclear bomb was tested near Las Vegas, Nevada, and the wizards living in that area were miserable."
"Nuclear Bomb Experiment" Albert's mouth twitched slightly.
“They are very defensive about Muggles, just like most wizards do with Dementors,” Serra said. “Not only does the US Ministry of Magic prohibit intermarriage between wizards and Muggles, but wizards are also strictly required to take care of themselves. children, they will not be allowed to cause a riot in the presence of Muggles.”
"There must be a lot of people in prisons at the US Ministry of Magic!" Albert couldn't help laughing.
"It is said to be overcrowded." Sera pouted, "Breaching secrecy laws is a felony."
"There is something to be aware of."
"Less dealings with the US Ministry of Magic, we go to that country in the name of visiting friends, and spend most of our time on Nicholas's little farm, so we don't have many opportunities to deal with those guys. "Sera said: "By the way, you shouldn't bring anything strange!"
"Strange stuff?" Albert repeated.
"Any magic item other than a wand," Sera added, "preferably not even a wand."
"No, I just brought some galleons and a double-sided mirror. However, I don't know if galleons work in other countries as well."
Before Albert came ~IndoMTL.com~ locked all the contents of the deformed lizardskin bag in the closet.
"Canon of course can also be used, but it will be more troublesome. They usually use Zhuo pot."
Sera took out the purse from her pocket and put it in front of Albert. There were some gold coins similar to Galleons, and the magical currency system there was similar to that of the United Kingdom.
Among them, Albert also found several Franklins.
"The American wizards are more strict in the management of magic money, and they are not left to goblins to take care of them." Sera thought for a while and added, "There is a depressing atmosphere in the entire magic world over there."
In fact, wizard banks in all countries except the UK are run by the Ministry of Magic.
Canon is very popular in the wizarding world and is basically recognized.
This has to do with the fact that the goblin coins cannot be counterfeited.
"This row of numbers represents the goblin who minted this coin." Sera took out a Galleon, pointed to the row of numbers on the edge, and said, "That's why they can't be counterfeited."
The food on the train was very good. After finishing the food on the plate, Albert leaned lazily on the sofa and looked sideways at the fast passing scenery outside the window.
The train was still running, and the rest of the journey was very boring. Sera suggested that he rest in bed and gave him a piece of parchment, which was said to record some precautions after traveling to the United States.
"I'm curious, how exactly does this train take passengers to the wizarding villages in continental Europe." Albert asked, covering a yawn, "Are we going to fly over the North Sea, or pass through the bottom?"
"Passing through the seabed, this train will drop into the sea from Mali Bay, cross the North Sea directly to Denmark across the sea." Serra pulled the curtains, apparently ready to lie in bed to rest, to an elderly man , Traveling is still too energy-consuming.