Weasleys' & Green's Wizard Wheezes was finally about to open.
Fred and George had been running to the shop every single day.
Sean didn't pay it much mind. He was busy grinding proficiency on his cleaning brooms, fine-tuning his magic control, and pitching in with chores around the Weasleys' house.
The Weasley home was full of magic and surprises. The mirror on the kitchen mantel never shut up about how everyone looked. Every morning when you glanced in it, it'd yell:
"Tuck in your shirt, you slob!"
Up in the attic lived a ghoul. Whenever the house got too quiet, it'd let out a wail and bang on the pipes like crazy.
But the Weasleys were used to it—and they actually liked the thing.
Same went for the little explosions coming from Fred and George's bedroom. Totally normal.
So whenever Sean came downstairs with his cleaning broom, Mrs. Weasley would gush over his alchemical creation.
"A broom? A broom that cleans for wizards—dear, that's brilliant! It gets everything spotless!"
The whole Weasley family was super warm.
Mrs. Weasley knitted Sean a pair of socks. Mr. Weasley loved sitting next to him at meals, grilling him about Muggle life—how phones worked, what the post office was like.
"That's amazing!"
After Sean explained how to use a telephone, Mr. Weasley sighed.
"Genius! The things Muggles come up with to live without magic."
It was a bright, sunny morning. Sean was up early, etching runes onto his cleaning broom, building a tighter, more precise array.
[You practiced crafting a cleaning broom to expert standards. Proficiency +50]
[You practiced crafting a cleaning broom to expert standards. Proficiency +50]
The little shed was cozy and bright. Books were stacked everywhere but didn't feel messy. In a corner warded with protective spells, Sean finally pushed his cleaning broom to Expert level.
[A new alchemy title has been unlocked. Check it out.]
Sean couldn't hide his excitement:
[Title: Advanced Alchemist]
[Greatly boosts perception of alchemical magic, greatly increases alchemy talent, greatly improves control over alchemical rituals]
Greatly improves control over alchemical rituals?
It clicked. This was pushing him straight into pioneering new rituals.
He'd just set the broom down when a paper airplane zipped through the wall:
"Mr. Green, renovations are complete.
—Your loyal: Quirrell."
Sean smoothed the airplane back into plain paper and tucked it into his bag.
After checking in with Mrs. Weasley, he grabbed a handful of Floo powder and stepped into the fireplace.
With the shop opening soon, Mrs. Weasley had loosened up a bit—kids could go to Diagon Alley, but only with permission and under her watch.
"Diagon Alley."
Flames swallowed him. His body spun wildly… wind roared in his ears…
And then—Diagon Alley.
Sean walked straight to Number 77. The place had been transformed into something whimsical.
The door was a giant leather-bound book. When you pushed it open, copper bells hummed a sweet tune.
"Mr. Green—"
Professor Quirrell hurried over.
"Oh—you see? That alchemy workshop is opening too."
Following his gaze, Sean saw a massive crowd outside Weasleys' & Green's. Today was the day before their grand opening.
Some people were practically camping out, ready to storm the shop at dawn.
Compared to the empty sidewalk in front of Fairytale Workshop, it was… depressing.
"That's a… booming shop, Mr. Green. They've built hype for over six months. Are we really opening at the same time?"
Quirrell asked.
"No need to worry."
Sean said.
"Understood, sir. The International Magical Trading Standards Association will be here soon. We need to pass a few inspections.
After the shop's been running a month, we can apply to connect to the Floo Network."
Quirrell continued his report.
The International Magical Trading Standards Association oversaw wizarding trade rules and issued global standards.
Back in 1994, Percy joined the Ministry and started in that department. They were standardizing imported cauldron thickness, and Percy even wrote a report on it.
Fairytale Workshop's fireplace had been enchanted to warm the whole place. After a short wait, the doorbell chimed.
"Inspections can drag on. Feel free to rest nearby."
Quirrell said.
Sean nodded—but spotted two familiar faces: Riley August, Vice President of the International Confederation of Wizards, and Auror Ollie Mitchell.
"Mr. Green—delighted to see you here. Honestly, we've been waiting for this day forever."
Riley August strode over and shook Sean's hand while Quirrell stood frozen.
"Think about it, Mr. Green—we're willing to go up to eight hundred Galleons—"
Ollie Mitchell still hadn't let it go.
Quirrell barely processed it before the two did a quick lap around the shop, then respectfully handed over a permit.
A business license—usually a nightmare of red tape and strict rules.
Thanks to magic, wizards could cause chaos easily. Diagon Alley once had a "Dungbomb Pollution Incident," which made approvals even tougher.
Now? Quirrell felt like they'd just tossed him a random scrap of paper.
Could… could the shop actually survive?
…
Riley August was in a great mood. As one of the first visitors, they'd snagged a small batch of Fairytale Cookies.
Not much, but enough.
Back at headquarters, a wide-faced, big-eared figure waddled up:
"Riley, do you know how many wizards apply to join the Floo Network every year? Some want ten connections!
You know I've been pulling three straight all-nighters, and you still want me to rush-install a new one? No way! I'm telling you—it's impossible!"
He grumbled, dark circles under his eyes.
"Really not going?"
Riley asked, amused.
"I'd be a Flobberworm if I did!"
The chubby clerk growled.
"What if it's for the wizard who won the Udara Alchemy Conference Pioneering Gold Award…"