Chapter 178: Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes (Not Yet Open)
This was Sean's second visit to Diagon Alley.
The first time, he had painstakingly counted every Knut. Now, he was counting Galleons.
The dazzling sun reflected off a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop. A sign hung above them: Cauldrons - All Sizes - Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver - Self-Stirring - Collapsible.
Below the sign was a price list written in colour-changing ink.
"We're going to Gringotts," Professor McGonagall said softly. Her mind drifted back to a gloomy morning months ago. The bustle of Diagon Alley seemed irrelevant to the small wizard beside her, whose eyes were fixed on the price lists that no other child would even glance at.
They passed Eeylops Owl Emporium, with its hooting Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, and Snowy owls, and Slug & Jiggers Apothecary, selling telescopes and strange silver instruments. Finally, McGonagall led Sean to a snow-white building that towered over the surrounding shops.
It had burnished bronze doors, and a goblin in a uniform of scarlet and gold stood guard.
Sean assumed the professor was there to withdraw money. He didn't expect what happened next.
"This is yours. Your pocket money and any future prize money can be deposited here," McGonagall said, looking at him and the vault behind him. "Severus and I have pre-deposited some funds for you. we trust you will use them wisely."
"The total is three thousand Galleons," the goblin guide announced.
Sean suspected the professors' definition of "some" differed vastly from his own.
Before they left Gringotts, the goblin tried to persuade Sean to sell the few phials of potions stored in his personal vault.
Snape had sneeringly placed them there to prevent the vault from looking "too pathetic."
"We are willing to offer one thousand Galleons for them. What do you say?" the goblin, a head shorter than Sean, asked enticingly while McGonagall was busy with paperwork.
Sean began to understand why wizards held such animosity towards goblins. If they were trying to buy potions worth at least three thousand Galleons for only one thousand, it was no wonder Voldemort killed these greedy creatures so casually.
In 1998, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione broke into the Lestrange vault to steal Helga Hufflepuff's cup (a Horcrux), Voldemort, upon discovering the theft, had murdered several Gringotts goblins in a fit of rage.
It reflected a harsh truth: Magic is Might.
Sean's thoughts drifted, as McGonagall had become engrossed in a surprisingly enthusiastic shopping spree.
He learned that there were actually three clothing shops in Diagon Alley. Hogwarts-required plain robes weren't only available at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
There was also Twilfitt and Tattings, which offered higher quality and prices, and a second-hand robe shop for cheaper, lower-quality options.
They were currently in Twilfitt and Tattings. McGonagall discussed robe styles at length with the shopkeeper, a wizard with immaculately groomed blonde hair who was eager to sell. After all, selling an expensive robe to the professor was as easy as transfiguring a desk into a pig.
Outside the shop window, snow fell softly. A wizard and a young witch walked past.
"Why are we only buying one Owl Biscuit? There are two left," the little girl asked, puzzled, clutching a beautifully wrapped box of biscuits.
"Because if we do that, another child who wants a biscuit just as much as you do will get to experience that happiness," the wizard explained, his eyes crinkling in a gentle smile.
Inside the shop, Sean froze.
Owl Biscuit?
Is it the one I'm thinking of?
He gazed towards the end of Diagon Alley. In the distance, a crowd of wizards had gathered. Someone was shouting:
"Not yet open! Limited edition sale..."
The noise seemed to shake the snow from the eaves of the shops.
Sean stared for a long time. He remembered that Weasley & Green's Wizard Wheezes had been approved, and the Weasleys had asked him for some Transfiguration Biscuits...
The chatter in the shop faded.
"Shall we go take a look?"
Minerva McGonagall lowered her gaze. Her calm expression rippled like a disturbed lake, the ripples spreading into a tidal wave of emotion.
He was too quiet. It was easy to forget what a wizard of his age should be like.
McGonagall had seen the noisy pair walk by, the young girl declaring she must get a biscuit today. Yet Sean just watched, observing from a distance.
Before Sean could react, the professor was leading him away.
Outside a shop further down the alley, wizards were crowded together, kneazles, owls, and toads scurrying underfoot. Someone shouted, "My cat!" Everyone looked, unsure which cat he meant.
They finally pushed through to the front, only to find the shop closed. Owls were delivering packages.
Sean was certain now. This was the unopened Weasley & Green's Wizard Wheezes. The Weasleys had pioneered "online shopping" early, using owls as couriers.
"Sorry, sorry, today's allocation is sold out! Please come back tomorrow!"
A young witch with a friendly face was selling goods at the door. Wearing green robes, she looked exhausted as she apologized repeatedly.
"I know Ron Weasley! Can I have one?"
A young wizard spoke up, his voice carrying.
"Ron Weasley?" The witch confirmed.
"Yes, yes!" The boy's eyes lit up, and the surrounding wizards looked at him enviously.
"And you are?" The witch asked eagerly.
"Dean. Dean Thomas." The boy was practically bouncing.
"Right, Dean Thomas. Your allocation for tomorrow is gone. And the day after," the witch said, her voice trembling as she suppressed a laugh.
"What?!" Dean yelped, looking ready to faint. The crowd erupted in laughter.
The crowd dispersed, buzzing with excitement about the new shop. Rumor had it the founders were Hogwarts twins and their friend. They sold strange and wonderful things, like the Animal Biscuit series that could transform wizards into animals. Fascinating!
Even though it wasn't open yet, the pre-sales were booming. They had even launched an advertising campaign at the start of the Christmas holidays that had everyone excited.
(End of Chapter)
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you