Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 178: Not Yet Open for Business

Diagon Alley, this is Sheen's second time here.

Unlike last time when he had to count each Nate individually, now Shin can count Galleons.

The dazzling sunlight shone on a stack of crucibles outside the nearest shop. Above the crucibles hung a sign that read: Copper - Brass - Pewter - Silver Crucibles, All Models Available, Automatic Stirring - Foldable.

Below the sign is a price list written in color-changing ink.

"Let's go to Gringotts."

Professor McGonagall's voice was soft. She always remembered that gloomy morning when the people coming and going in Diagon Alley seemed to have nothing to do with the little wizard in front of her.

He always looked at those price lists that no child wanted to think about.

After passing the Ee-la Owl Shop, filled with various grey owls, hawk owls, and grass owls, and the Slug & Giggs Pharmacy, which sells telescopes and many strange silver items, Professor McGonagall led Sheen to a snow-white building that stood tall above the surrounding shops.

The door knocker here is made of bronze, and a fairy dressed in a scarlet uniform stands at the entrance.

Sheen had assumed the professor had come to Gringotts to collect money, but it turned out to be—

"This is yours. You can keep your allowance and any bonuses you may receive in the future here."

Professor McGonagall looked at him and the vault behind him.
“Severus and I have deposited some money for you, and we believe you will make good use of it.”

"It's three thousand Galleons in total."

At this moment, the fairy who led them in said.

Sheehan felt that the professors' understanding of "some" might be very different from his own.

Before leaving Gringotts, the goblins kept trying to persuade Sheen to sell the few potions in his personal vault to Gringotts.

Professor Snape put those in with a cold smile, so as not to make the vault look too "shabby".

"We are willing to offer one thousand Galleons to buy it. What do you think?"

While Professor McGonagall was registering something, the fairy, who was a head shorter than Sheen, said seductively.

Sheehan now understood somewhat why wizards hated goblins so much. If they were willing to pay a thousand Galleons for a potion worth at least three thousand Galleons, then it wouldn't be surprising if Voldemort killed these greedy creatures at will.

When Harry, Ron, and Hermione broke into Lestrange's vault in 1998 and took Helga Hufflepuff's cup, which had been turned into a Horcrux by Voldemort,
Upon learning of this, Voldemort, in a fit of rage, personally killed several goblins who worked at the bank.

This incident also reflects, from another perspective, that magic is power.

Sheehan's thoughts drifted far away, as Professor McGonagall was engrossed in an extremely joyful shopping spree.

He now realized that there were actually three clothing stores in Diagon Alley. The plain-colored robes required by Hogwarts could not be bought at Madam Malkin's Robes Shop alone.

There are also high-quality, high-priced ready-to-wear stores and lower-quality, cheaper second-hand robe stores.

They are currently at the Transcendental Clothing Store. Professor McGonagall would discuss the styles of some robes with the store manager for a long time. The store manager, whose blond hair was meticulously combed, was also happy to promote the robes. After all, it was as easy for the professor to buy an expensive robe as to turn a table into a pig.

Snowflakes drifted down from the sky as a pair of wizards walked past a shop window.

"Why did we only buy one owl cookie? We still have two left."

The little witch asked, puzzled, holding a beautifully packaged cookie box in her hand.

"Because if we do this, then there will be one more child who, like you, craves cookies and will experience joy and happiness."

The wizard holding her hand had a gentle curve in his eyes.

Inside the Tuofan clothing store, Xien was slightly taken aback.

Owl cookies?
Is it the one I'm thinking of? He gazed at the end of Diagon Alley. In a faraway place, wizards gathered, and someone was shouting something:
"Not yet open, limited quantities available..."

It even seemed that some of the snow that had fallen on each store was shaken off.

Sheehan stared at the scene for a long time, recalling that the Weasleys and the Greene's Trick Room seemed to have received approval, and that the Weasleys had even asked him for some Transformers cookies before leaving...

The conversation at the Tuofan Clothing Store had stopped.

"Shall we go take a look ahead?"

Minerva McGonagall lowered her eyes slightly, like ripples spreading across a calm lake, which then expanded into a surging tide.

He was so quiet that it made people forget what a young wizard of his age should be like.

Minerva McGonagall saw a pair of wizards walking by noisily. The younger wizard was saying that he must get a cookie today, while he just watched and gazed into the distance.

Before Sheen could react, the professor pulled him away.

In front of the shop ahead, wizards were crowded together, with cats, owls, and toads darting around. Someone shouted, "My cat!"

The wizards glanced at him instinctively, unsure which one he was referring to.

After finally getting to the store entrance after queuing for a long time, I found that the store was not open at all, but owls were delivering all kinds of packages.

Sheen was now certain: this was indeed the unopened Weasley... and Grimm's Trick Room. The Weasleys had been using "online shopping" for a long time, only the delivery wasn't handled by couriers, but by the wizarding world's postmen—owls.

"Sorry, sorry, today's quota has been sold out. Please come again tomorrow."

A friendly-looking young witch was selling something at the shop entrance. She was wearing a green robe and was repeatedly apologizing wearily.

"I know Ron Weasley, could I have a copy?"

At that moment, a young wizard spoke in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft.

"Ron Weasley?"

The young witch checked it again.

"Yes Yes."

The young wizard's eyes lit up, and all the wizards around him turned to look at him with envy.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

The young witch seemed rather impatient.

"Dean, Dean Thomas."

The little wizard got excited too.

“Okay, Dean Thomas. Your share is gone tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow too.”

The young witch seemed to be suppressing a laugh, and her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.

"what?!"

Dean yelled as if he was about to faint, and all the wizards around him couldn't help but laugh.

The crowd dispersed immediately. Everyone was excitedly discussing the newly opened shop, which was said to have been founded by twins from Hogwarts and their friends. The things sold there were all novel and interesting, such as their signature animal cracker series, which could transform wizards into animals – truly fascinating!

Even though it hadn't officially opened yet and was only selling pre-orders, it quickly became a hit. At the start of the Christmas holidays, they launched numerous advertising campaigns, which were incredibly exciting.

(End of this chapter)