Hogwarts: The Witch Education Handbook

Sean got up very early in the morning.

Today he's going to Diagon Alley to buy a decent robe and some textbooks used by Hogwarts students last semester to prepare for his interview.

Surrey is only a few dozen kilometers from London.

He didn't choose to take the train or the Knight Bus; driving himself was clearly a smarter option.

Sean was fortunate enough to ride in both of them once each.

Britain’s terrible transport system clearly left an indelible impression on him—both in the Muggle world and the wizarding world.

Before leaving, Sean didn't forget Bella; he thoughtfully used physical means to force her into a deep sleep.

The story behind this is surprisingly heartwarming.

The reason was that he was afraid Bella would be too lonely at home alone.

The wind was unusually noisy today as Sean slowly drove his old, secondhand Ford toward London.

He had one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding a steaming cup of coffee, looking extremely relaxed.

But Sean always felt that this atmosphere was missing something.

He finally figured out the reason while waiting for the traffic light at the intersection.

Sean lowered his hand from the steering wheel and turned the knob on the black radio located in the middle of the car. With his gentle turn, the radio broadcast news.

Sean slapped his thigh, "This is exactly what I wanted!"

But less than a minute later, the radio started making a crackling sound.

Sean hated the noise, so he punched the radio's surface, and miraculously, the radio returned to normal.

It turns out.

Sometimes, force is simpler and more convenient than magic.

"Since June 5th, when the republics of Slovenia and Croatia in Yugoslavia declared unilateral independence, the situation has been tense, and as of yesterday, August 1st, the fighting has spread... The Times continues to bring you the latest news..."

Sean casually switched radio channels.

If he remembers correctly, a major event that will shock the world will occur in December, not long from now.

"The Silence of the Lambs, starring Anthony Hopkins, has received critical acclaim and multiple Oscar nominations, and is expected to..."

drop.

Sean switched to another channel.

"There are places I'll remember

There are some places I still remember.

"All my life, though some have changed

All those changes in my life

"Some forever, not for better

Some things will never get better.

"Some have gone and some remain

Some have left, some remain.

"All these places had their moments

Every place has its own moment.

Music channel.

Beatles songs.

Sean lowered his hand, which had been hanging in the air, picked up his coffee, and took a sip.

As he watched the scenery receding into the distance outside the window, he couldn't help but hum along softly.

"With lovers and friends I still can recall

I still remember my lover and friends.

"Some are dead and some are living

Some have passed away, while others are still alive.

A wonderful day might begin here: a warm cup of coffee, a classic song, a journey, and more...

As Sean drove his car past bookstores, record stores, burger joints, and movie theaters along the street, he finally pulled over to a slightly larger bookstore—on the other side of which was a record store.

Sean had spotted a dilapidated, cramped bar with only a door and its sign visible.

Without a doubt, this is the famous Leaky Cauldron.

As Sean entered the Leaky Cauldron, he couldn't help but purse his lips.

He hadn't been here for a long time, but the bar's layout hadn't changed at all; it was still dimly lit and shabby, with only a few tables in the shadowy corners besides the bar counter.

Without giving it much of a second glance, Sean walked straight to the bar.

"What would you like to order, sir?" An old man with almost bald hair, who looked like a shriveled walnut, leaned against the bar and asked with a smile.

Sean didn't speak, but instead pointed to the back of the bar.

Looking at Sean, whose appearance and behavior were somewhat strange, the old man frowned, then seemed to remember something and suddenly patted his head (Sean suspected that this was how all his hair had fallen out), and then let out a strange, unpleasant laugh.

"Phillips, I knew it was you..."

The old man had only spoken halfway when Sean's face darkened, signaling for a shushing response. He then looked around, thankfully no one was paying attention to the little incident unfolding there.

Sean glanced down at his current attire: a black cloak, a black mask, and black sunglasses. He was sure that even the black wizard who went to Knockturn Alley wasn't dressed as conservatively as him.

How did he get recognized?

Seemingly sensing Sean's confusion, the old man picked up the butterbeer from the bar, took a small sip, and cleared his throat: "Although you're dressed like a dark wizard, you don't have that rotten, sour smell they have... combined with Flourish and Blotts' promotion of your and Lockhart's new book..."

"Tom, you mean... Flourish and Blotts is doing... pre-release hype for my new book...?" Sean asked uncertainly.

"Yes," the old man named Tom nodded matter-of-factly, looking at Sean with some confusion. "Isn't this what you came for?"

Sean lowered his head and cursed under his breath.

The author himself was completely unaware that his new book was going to have a pre-book promotion event; he only found out about it from someone else on the day of the event.

It's utterly absurd.

Seeing Sean's obviously embarrassed expression, Tom shrugged and wisely refrained from saying anything more. Instead, he turned and made way for the path leading to the back—a small courtyard surrounded by walls on all four sides.

Beneath a wall, a trash can with its lid on the ground stands quietly.

Sean picked up the lid that had fallen to the ground, put it back on top of the trash can, then counted three bricks up, and then two more horizontally.

Gently tap it with your wand.

Accompanied by a scraping sound, the sounds of a bustling street market suddenly came to my ears.

A winding, seemingly endless cobblestone street and all sorts of strange and wonderful shops come into view.

Sean's first stop was Gringotts.

He had a lot of money in Gringotts and wanted to withdraw it all this time.

In the middle of Sean Street, in front of a tall, snow-white building that stands above the surrounding shops.

Beside the gleaming bronze gate stood a figure dressed in a scarlet uniform inlaid with gold—a fairy.

As Sean stepped through the gates of Gringotts, the goblin guards bowed and led the way with their wrinkled, hairy hands.

After passing through the brass door, there is a large silver door with the following inscription:

Please come in, stranger, but be careful.

What will be the consequences of insatiable greed?

To take without giving, to reap without sowing.

They will be subject to the most severe punishment.

Therefore, if you want to take from our underground vault

A fortune that never belonged to you.

Thief, you have been warned.

Beware that what you attract will not be treasure, but retribution.

(Sean Phillips/Phillips Sean, the order of the two names is reversed, either is acceptable, but to avoid padding the word count with four characters, Sean is used except in special cases)