Chapter 253: What Do You Have to Offer to Open a Shop?
Chapter 253: What Do You Have to Offer to Open a Shop?
The two of them hurriedly left.
Fred winked and whispered, "Why don't we follow them and see what's going on?"
"I've never been to Diagon Alley before," George said, intrigued. "Mom never lets us go to places like that."
"Mom's right," Percy said sternly. "You all stay here and don't go anywhere."
George, as if just realizing he was there, exclaimed, "Oh, Fred, we're being scolded by the Head Boy..."
"Is he going to deduct points from us...?"
"Because we didn't listen..."
"Ten points from Leaky Cauldron?"
"Hey, shut up!" Percy said, his face turning red.
"Yes, Head Boy!" Fred chuckled in response, then turned to Kyle and asked, "Do you want to go check out Diagon Alley?"
"No, thanks," Kyle shook his head. "But I suggest you guys go take a look."
"Why?" George was surprised by Kyle's suggestion.
"Because I brought my camera today."
Kyle patted his pocket. "When Mrs. Weasley is beating you up later, I'll definitely capture the best shot."
"If we sell it to the Daily Prophet, maybe we can get Ginny a new set of robes."
Hearing this, Ginny, who had been worried before, suddenly burst out laughing.
She looked up at Fred and George, as if urging them to hurry up.
"Oh, Ginny, we're your brothers!" George said, annoyed.
Ginny pouted. "But I want new robes more."
"We'll buy them for you!" Fred said impatiently.
"And a new magic wand, as long as you stay away from that jerk Kyle."
George glared at Kyle and gritted his teeth. "Damn it, why did we invite you to Diagon Alley?"
After a round of laughter, the group's worries were somewhat alleviated.
Kyle also informed them that the Floo Network's fireplace had a traceable path, and even if Harry wasn't in Diagon Alley, they could still inquire about his whereabouts at the Floo Network Authority under the Ministry of Magic.
Although such records are generally not publicly accessible, they believed that if they were searching for Harry Potter, their request would not be denied.
After that, the group left the bustling Leaky Cauldron and headed to Diagon Alley through the back entrance.
Fred and George kept their promise and took Ginny to Madam Malkin's Robes Shop, where they bought her a new set of robes.
As they exited the shop, they saw Ron approaching with Mrs. Weasley, Harry, and Hagrid.
Before coming to the robe shop, George had sent Ron to wait at the entrance of Gringotts with an ice cream.
From there, he could see the entrance to Diagon Alley, and if anyone came out, he would be the first to spot them.
"You're right, Kyle," Mrs. Weasley called out from a distance. "He really is in Diagon Alley. When we passed by, he was being harassed by some old wizard."
"That's good... Potter, are you hurt?" Kyle asked, looking at Harry.
Harry shook his head. "No, but I'm still a bit dazed."
"Harry, Harry!"
Harry suddenly heard someone calling his name and looked up to see Hermione standing not far from the entrance of Gringotts. She ran over, her hair flying behind her.
"Why do you look so disheveled... Hello, Kyle, Fred, George, and Percy. It's great to see you all again... Are you going to Gringotts, Harry?"
"We'll go once Mr. Weasley arrives," Harry said.
"Then we can go together."
At that moment, the group realized that Mr. Weasley hadn't returned with them.
"Where's Dad?" Ginny asked.
Mrs. Weasley looked around in confusion, clearly unsure of the answer.
"Oh, sorry... Molly, kids."
Fortunately, at that moment, Mr. Weasley strode towards them. He wiped his bald head and whispered, "I thought I saw Lucius Malfoy in Diagon Alley just now, but he disappeared in the blink of an eye."
"Malfoy?" Harry turned to Hermione and said, "Is it the Malfoy from Slytherin? I saw him and his father at Borgin and Burkes."
"That's right, it's him!" Mr. Weasley asked, "What did he go to buy?"
"No, he went to sell something."
Mr. Weasley nodded solemnly and approvingly, "Ha, I knew it, he's afraid too..."
But before he could say more, Mrs. Weasley pulled him away.
"We've been delayed for a long time... Kyle, dear, do you want to go to Gringotts?"
Kyle shook his head.
"We're not going either," Fred and George said simultaneously.
"Then meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour. I'll buy your textbooks, and you two... are not allowed to go to Diagon Alley!"
Mrs. Weasley gave a few more instructions and then led the others to Gringotts.
As soon as she left, Fred and George ran excitedly towards the Joke Shop, laughing and playing pranks.
This was the Joke Shop in Diagon Alley, much larger than Zokko's in Hogsmeade.
Kyle didn't follow them but went to another store instead.
"Mrs. Pringle's Magical Plant Nursery."
This was a shop that sold herbs, and Kyle would always visit it when he was in Diagon Alley, browsing for any rare varieties.
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The owner, Mrs. Pringle, recognized Kyle as a frequent young wizard customer and smiled, "What would you like to buy today? The growth of Cloak Ferns has been excellent lately."
"I don't need Cloak Ferns, I still have quite a few at home," Kyle thought for a moment and asked, "Do you have Armor Pumpkins?"
"No," Mrs. Pringle shook her head, "That's a rare item, and it's not easy to find one even in the entire British magical world."
"Professor Sprout has it in her greenhouse," Kyle thought to himself.
He continued, "What about Sphinx Orchids... preferably the golden ones."
"No."
"Bloodleaf..."
"No."
"Mimblob..."
"No!"
...
"How dare you open a shop with nothing to offer?" Kyle muttered under his breath.
Mrs. Pringle's forehead twitched.
This boy treats these rare plants as if they were ordinary cabbages... easily available at any market?
If it weren't for the fact that Kyle had previously spent a large sum to buy an Eight-Leaf Clover here, she would have chased him away long ago.
Mrs. Pringle struggled to maintain a smile. "Except for the Sphinx Orchids... if you can wait, we can help you find the other plants, but it might take some time, about a year or so.
Additionally, you'll need to pay a deposit of 200 Galleons."
"A year? That's too long," Kyle shook his head.
He had just wanted to try his luck, and it wouldn't matter if he didn't find anything. There was no need to wait for a year.
Moreover, although the plants were not cheap, 200 Galleons... even as a deposit, this markup was too much, and he wouldn't spend such an unreasonable amount.
Just as Kyle turned to leave and find Fred and George, he suddenly noticed a large water tank in the corner with something inside that resembled octopus tentacles.
"Is that Gillyweed?"
"This plant is quite rare, and even in potion shops, it's rarely sold."
"Yes," Mrs. Pringle replied casually, "I must have been out of my mind to buy it from that Greek witch. Ever since the Bubblehead Charm was invented, British wizards no longer need this."
"The Bubblehead Charm is indeed a great spell," Kyle said unintentionally, "By the way, how many Galleons did you pay for it?"
"Twenty..." Mrs. Pringle said with a hint of pain.
"Is it that expensive..." Kyle clicked his tongue, "What a pity, I was curious about what it feels like to breathe underwater, but twenty Galleons..."
After hesitating for a moment, Kyle still shook his head and left the shop.
"Never mind, this game is too extravagant."
"Wait!"
Mrs. Pringle suddenly called out to him, "Considering you're a regular customer, I can offer you a satisfactory discount if you're interested."
"That doesn't seem right..."
Kyle paused and naturally returned to the shop.
...
(End of Chapter)
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