Chapter 46: Market Street, Diagon Alley in America (for further reading)
"Hiccup~"
Newt happily burped with a slight alcohol smell.
Xu was usually too strictly controlled by Mrs. Tina, but after boarding the carriage with Gretel.
He couldn't wait to order a cup of hot and fragrant butter beer, and drank it in one gulp.
Perhaps feeling Gretel's gaze, Newt said.
"Underage wizards are not allowed to drink, but there is lava chocolate milk here, which is the favorite of young wizards in America."
Grete shook his head and refused. He refused to consume alcohol and was equally insensitive to this sweet drink.
But speaking of it, Newt actually liked butterbeer, which really surprised Gretel.
You know, butterbeer is not so much wine as a slightly alcoholic drink.
This drink has always been more popular among young wizards.
Many senior students at Hogwarts go to Hogsmeade every week just for butterbeer.
Some people even bring it to school to drink, such as a senior at the year-end dinner.
Although Hogwarts does not support this behavior.
But among adult wizards, it is not so popular. The sweet taste always causes complaints from adult wizards.
Adult wizards generally prefer stronger firewhiskey or red currant rum.
Or mead with a slightly lower alcohol content, such as Dumbledore, who often drinks it in the office.
After a short rest, Newt ordered another drink, drank slowly and pointed out the window from time to time, introducing Gretel to the wizarding stronghold hidden below in the Muggle world.
Newt was right, the Thestral carriage was indeed comfortable and fast, and they arrived at today's destination before finishing the second cup of butterbeer.
"Okay, we're here." Newt stood up, poured the last half of the beer into his stomach, and dropped a gold galleons and thirteen silver Sickles on the table.
The place where we got off the bus was in a remote alley in the city, and the street sign said this st.
At another intersection not far away, the sign turned out to be another st.
Gretel secretly complained about the strange road name.
"Follow the sign for thirteen steps and tap the mailbox opening three times with your wand."
Newt spoke as he did so, and after three taps, the huge mailbox cracked open in front of the two of them.
"Hurry up and tie yourself to the wall with a safety belt."
Newt's voice was urgent, and Gretel noticed two safety belts embedded in the wall of the mailbox.
After fastening the seat belt, the cracked mailbox closed again, and with a strong sense of weightlessness, the mailbox disappeared.
——
"How do you feel?" Newt smiled and straightened his messy silver hair.
"Well, how should I put it, it's very exciting."
Gretel was still frightened. Who would have thought that the commercial street of America, which was the benchmark for Diagon Alley in England, would welcome customers in such a wild way.
Hearing Gretel's comment, Newt burst into laughter instantly, and his hearty laughter made many wizards passing by look at him.
But it's obvious that Newt's reputation is well-known in the American wizarding community.
Everyone who saw him took off their hats politely and then left in a hurry.
"Welcome to Market Street."
Newt looked very happy, he was very happy, and it seemed that the young and mature Gretel still retained the child side of him.
"Like Diagon Alley, this is a shopping street for wizards in America. You can buy everything related to wizards here."
Newt was right, you can buy everything here.
There are shops on both sides of Market Street, and there are even black magic shops that can only be opened in Knockturn Alley in the UK.
The mutilated mummy huddled in the corner of the display window, hiding from the sun.
Dried lizards and bats swayed majestically under the eaves in front of the store.
The corpse box, which looks eerie at first sight, is also openly erected in the window, soliciting customers who need it.
But Gretel didn't have the chance to look carefully because he was passing by this store.
Newt grabbed his hand and walked over quickly.
There are also a few dusty fireplaces on the street, and from time to time one or two gray-headed wizards will spit out.
"Floo Network, the Magical Congress of the United States of America exchanged technology from the British Ministry of Magic, but obviously, they basically don't maintain it.
Normally, although the Floo Network is uncomfortable, it won't make people so embarrassed."
Newt's tone was filled with rejoicing, glad that he didn't bring Gretel with him into such a mess.
Perhaps America is really wild, and there are many wizards who directly apparate in front of the store they want to go to.
"Isn't there a counter-curse for disembodiment arranged here?"
Grete asked curiously.
Like Diagon Alley in the UK, let alone apparating, even if you put a simple fluorescent spell in Diagon Alley, you may face charges from the Ministry of Magic.
"It used to exist, but it was canceled after a protest by American wizards."
"Protest action?"
"Yes, the content of the protest is that American wizards have the right to cast spells freely. Banning magic is an inhumane act, so now even magic spells are not banned on Market Street."
Newt's tone was full of confusion and shock.
"Of course, I'm not suggesting you take out your wand."
At Newt's signal, Gretel saw a man being kicked out of the store with a salesperson holding a wand to his head.
Judging from the unreleased magic power hidden at the tip of the wand, it should be a quite powerful attack spell.
After a while, two Aurors wrapped in windbreakers rushed over and took the suspect away.
"I didn't plan to rob. I just wanted to ask them if they could put two magic gems on my wand."
However, upon hearing his excuse, the salesperson spat viciously.
“Have you ever seen a serious person go into a leather thrift store and pull out a wand and ask about gems?
If it weren't for the self-defense rating guidelines that were just promulgated a few days ago, you would have to put yourself together piece by piece now."
Newt spread his hands and said, "I understand."
The people next to me seemed to be tourists from other countries.
After hearing Newt's words, Gretel and Gretel nodded in agreement.
"I brought you here to buy you some golems to practice dueling with. Dumbledore's letter said you were being targeted by Death Eaters.
I think you need to strengthen your self-protection skills.
After all, no one can protect you at all times except yourself."
Gretel's eyes lit up.
Ever since Halloween, when he found himself unable to deal with the troll, Gretel began to research an attack spell that suited him.
However, the unicorn hair wand core did not cooperate, so progress was slow.
As for Newt, there should be a solution.
Grete's sudden intense gaze made Newt confused for a moment.
How come this little Gretel is like a changeable monster, with different faces from moment to moment.
After buying the golem, at Gretel's request, Newt bought him a set of equipment for preparing potions, and then went to the drugstore to buy the potion ingredients Gretel needed.
"Dr. Scamander, I will give you the money after my consignment of potions is finished."
I have to say that the development of potion science in America is really rough.
A bottle of elation potion, which was only 80% effective, was sold for twelve galleons.
You must know that a bottle of perfect medicinal elixir only costs ten galleons in the UK.
It has to be said that Ami has its own national conditions, and Gretel seemed to see a shining golden mountain placed in front of him.