The Sunday after the match began with very light, but still noticeable rays of glory, if that is the right way to put it. Before, within the house, I had been just another mate, someone you could help out or back up if needed. Now, people would smile when they met me, maybe give something like a thumbs up. Of course, without excesses. Even before Sorting, based on what one might learn, it was easy to form the impression that Hufflepuff was full of hyperactive kids who directed all that hyperactivity into friendship and constant violations of personal space. No, that is not how it works. Here, people are "friends" with you exactly as much as you are willing to be friends with them.
All in all, I did not receive any special attention, and I was glad for it. That same morning, I wrote a letter to my parents, briefly telling them about my latest successes, my participation in the house Quidditch team, Quidditch itself, and of course magical medicine, if only in a couple of words. From experience, I know it is better to worry about something known than about uncertainty. This time, I sent the letter with Herbert's personal owl. That way, I would not have to wait until Monday breakfast and could get a reply right away.
After sending it and having breakfast in the Great Hall, I returned to the common room just to sit and come up with a plan for the day, since I had not set any specific goal for Sunday.
"Hey," Cedric approached me and sat down on the sofa next to my chair. "We need to talk."
The prefect cast anti eavesdropping charms, the essence of which I already understood. Creating a field that distorts vibrations leaving it. Or maybe simply preventing anything spoken inside from being heard outside. Magic does not have to replicate physical phenomena. It can easily create something that is, in principle, impossible. Or perhaps my understanding of the world is simply not deep enough yet to match a magical effect to some physical analogue.
"Hey, Cedric. Did something happen?"
"Not exactly. Your pendants have attracted interest from outside the school."
"Are they really that good?"
"Stability and extremely low magic consumption," Cedric nodded. "Basically, a polar expedition is being put together."
"Oh?" I leaned forward, genuinely interested.
"It seems someone among the organizers, or their relatives' children, studies at Hogwarts. In short, they are interested either in buying a batch of thirty units or in the possibility of creating something tailored to their needs."
"Wait, can I ask a question?"
"Of course."
"Is there really nowhere in the country to buy something like this?"
"It never really caught on in European countries, or in America," Cedric leaned back on the sofa. "As I understand it, our wizards find it easier to learn a couple of charms and reapply them periodically than to learn how to create more stable, permanent artifacts. Or to pay large sums for them, since those are bespoke items, expensive. In emergencies, such things are bought from Asian manufacturers. That kind of work is popular there. But it is expensive. Truly expensive. And here there is a chance to save. Asian goods are not eternal either, you know."
"Yeah… not a cheap English knockoff, but a genuine Chinese original," I muttered without thinking, earning Cedric's puzzled look. "Sorry. Muggle humor about poor quality Chinese tech."
"You really have to be in the know for that."
"True. But back to the artifacts. Strange. I thought things like that would be popular."
"At school," Cedric nodded. "I traveled a lot with my father before. We are a settled people. We arrange our homes ourselves, enchant what we need, and the methods of feeding and collecting magic for them are fairly simple. You can stabilize enchantments with runes so they work for quite a long time. And we try to build our homes near places with natural magic. If you are going somewhere, you just enchant what you need for a couple of weeks, even a month, and that is enough."
"But there are long term artifacts, so to speak."
"Of course. One of a kind work, or charm masters like Flitwick make them. The problem is, such masters will not bother with trifles like making reliable temperature maintaining pendants. There are few such wizards, they make exclusive items, very slowly, and in single copies. Then there is low grade mass produced junk. But if you think about it, it is only used at large events, or where children are involved. Hogsmeade sells all sorts of things, just like Diagon Alley. But those are not particularly complex creations. Some, like the Omnioculars, are basically ordinary binoculars with a couple of enchanted lenses and parts that will last three or four years without maintenance. All of it is at the level of school crafts."
"Clear as mud. I will just be glad the money came to us and not dig into details. So, what are the requirements of those respectable wizards? Though I can just make pendants."
"I was given a list," Cedric pulled a rolled up parchment from inside his robe and handed it to me. "Here."
I sensed no magic in it and took it.
"You can read it later," the prefect stopped me.
"Hm. Interesting," I pocketed the scroll. "I am curious. Since I am apparently unique in my kind and you are my intermediary, do you feel tempted to skim off the top?"
"No," Cedric waved it off with a smile. "I get my five percent for keeping your secret. Minimal work. No responsibility. Pocket money secured. And if you decide to develop in this field, my cut will only grow heavier, and a good ally for the future is nothing but benefits. Greed for immediate profit is a bad thing."
"Fair," I smiled back at the logical speech. "I will read it today and tell you whether I can do it, or whether we will stick with pendants."
"I will say this right away. If you meet their requirements, they will pay much more."
"And everyone wins."
"Absolutely," Cedric smirked. "The twins will be halfway to their dream. Believe me, they are ready to pray to Merlin or Mordred if only the mysterious craftsman has enough brains to pull it off."
"Well… I do not know what they are dreaming of, but it sounds expensive."
"A shop on Diagon Alley. And yes, expensive."
Cedric went about his business, and I decided to visit the library, but not for my usual digging into wizarding families. That is interesting and useful, and I have learned a lot about a couple dozen families. It is amazing how tightly financial and social ties can intertwine, connecting two feuding families through two or three business handshakes without them even realizing they share indirect interests. But enough about families. Today, it is all about magic and wizardry.
After walking a few meters down the castle corridors, I again thought about the Dementors. In essence, they are here as guards. But considering Sirius Black's penetration of the castle, they are mediocre guards at best. At the same time, they make life miserable. Destroy them or not? A difficult question, really. They are Ministry property, after all.
Only at the library doors did I come up with a plan that covered many things. I will make a bow.
"Good morning, Madam Pince," I greeted the librarian, who gave me a strict look.
"Good morning, Mr. Granger. As always, periodicals? Social or scientific?"
"Not this time, madam," I smiled. "Today I have a different task."
"Is that so? And what might that be?"
"I need to create a plan for turning student me into a high level healer me. For that, I would like to compile a list of disciplines to study, both school subjects and beyond, the depth of their study, and accordingly, a list of required literature."