Chapter 59: Rush Purchase
The final week of the holiday passed in a blur. Wade felt as though he’d barely opened a few books before time had already slipped away unnoticed. Professor Mor had left him a small matchbox—inside, a curled, bluish-black fragment, thin as a dried-up caterpillar or a scrap torn from a bat’s wing.
Unable to use his wand, Wade had only examined its shape through a magnifying glass, refraining from more destructive methods. He’d wait until he returned to school to study it properly.
As Machionni had promised, the Book of Friends was released on schedule. Wade also received an invitation to the launch day at Aslan Magical Workshop. An owl delivered a sample—a pair of each style, with a note indicating he could keep one for himself and give the other as a gift.
Rather than join the chaotic rush of the launch event, Wade would have preferred to stay home reading. But Fiona, having spotted the advertisement in The Daily Prophet, was buzzing with excitement. Reluctantly, the family set out together.
They drove to Charing Cross Road in Westminster, parked nearby, and walked the rest of the way. Fresh snow had fallen recently, making the ground slick and treacherous. Fiona clutched Ferdinand’s arm tightly, her steps still wobbling with every step.
“I really wish I could just fly straight to The Leaky Cauldron—have a Butterbeer… no, Firewhiskey…” she muttered, shivering and stumbling.
“It’s almost here,” Ferdinand reassured her. In truth, they’d already spotted the pub’s sign.
The Gray family, though Muggle-born, had not been accepted as students by the magical school. Yet the Wizarding World hadn’t shut its doors entirely to them. Ferdinand and Fiona both carried magic within them—though they couldn’t use it, it set them apart from ordinary Muggles.
They could see The Leaky Cauldron, invisible to Muggle eyes. Potions worked on them normally. For pure-blood Muggles, certain potions that were harmless to wizards could be deadly—like Draught of Rebirth. And minor injuries that meant nothing to a wizard could be fatal for a Muggle.
When Wade attended Hogwarts, his parents sometimes wandered Diagon Alley. Though they had no wands, they could slip through the entrance whenever another wizard opened it. No one usually questioned them.
Now, Wade noticed how naturally his parents seemed to step into Diagon Alley—as if returning home. First, they stopped at The Leaky Cauldron for a pint (Fiona, surprisingly, no longer complained about the place’s cleanliness), then followed the winding alleyway to the hidden entrance. They all turned to look at Wade.
He pulled out his wand and tapped a brick. Instantly, the familiar archway appeared. The first thing they saw was a massive poster:
> Book of Friends – A Revolutionary Breakthrough!
> Still haven’t bought a Book of Friends for your child? Merlin’s beard, what will they do at school?
> Unmatched quality, affordable price—The ultimate experience of the new era!
> With me by your side, the world changes—Book of Friends transforms us all, anytime, anywhere!
“Good heavens…” Fiona breathed in awe.
The poster shimmered with dazzling colors, flashing slogans across every corner. Messages scrolled endlessly, urging people to buy immediately. Diagon Alley was packed—parents of children, and even foreign wizards, flooded the streets.
There was no need to go to Machionni’s shop. Along the alley, a vendor stood every ten meters.
“Only one per person! One per person! Hey, sir, you’ve got too many!” a shopkeeper shouted.
“Don’t panic! We’re producing more! Just wait two days, and you can pick your favorite in peace!”
But no one listened. People surged forward, clutching Galleons and shouting:
“Give me three! I’ve got three kids!”
“Back off! Who stepped on my shoe?!”
“I want the red one—give me the red one!”
Suddenly, a gasp rippled through the crowd. The throng parted as two wizards tumbled to the ground, grappling violently. Screams and shouts erupted—until bystanders pulled them apart.
Fiona swallowed hard. “Maybe… maybe we should just stay here and watch?”
“—A wise decision.” Ferdinand bought ice cream and sat with them on a small table outside. They watched the chaotic rush purchase scene with growing unease.
Owner Fosco, wearing a tiny waistcoat, brought their ice cream over with a smile. “You’re here to buy a Book of Friends for your child, too?”
“Mm… yes…” Ferdinand replied vaguely.
“Then you’d better hurry.” Fosco adjusted his tie. “I’ve got insider information—Aslan Magical Workshop is working overtime to produce these books, but this is the only batch they’re releasing right now. Once it’s gone, their workers take a few days off before resuming. So if you miss this round, you’ll have to wait at least a week.”
Wade looked up at him. No wonder the shopkeepers’ pleas for order fell on deaf ears. With owners like Fosco spreading “insider news” to stir anxiety, of course everyone panicked, fearing they’d miss out.
“Your insider information… comes from?” Ferdinand asked cautiously.
“Oh, my distant cousin’s neighbor’s daughter works at Aslan Magical Workshop—she’s in charge of Book of Friends production. So my info is 100% reliable and authentic!” Fosco declared proudly.
“Oh…” Ferdinand nodded slowly, clearly unconvinced.
Wade: …
Could this “insider tip” have been planted by Machionni himself? To boost sales, they’re officially claiming “plenty in stock,” while quietly leaking “short supply” rumors through trusted vendors. Naturally, people would believe the latter.
“A week… isn’t that bad?” Fiona asked, puzzled. “We managed fine before with owls, didn’t we?”
“How is that the same?” Fosco glanced at Wade. “Think about your son—Mrs. Gray. Imagine him starting school, and all his classmates talking about exchanging Books, laughing together, connected through their new Books. He’d be left behind—alone, isolated. He’d feel embarrassed, ashamed. Doesn’t that pain you, as a parent?”
Fiona pictured it: her son standing alone in a corner while other students laughed and chatted, their books glowing with shared messages. Her heart sank. She nodded rapidly. “Yes! Of course! That would be awful. Poor Wade—he can’t be left like that!”
“Exactly,” Fosco said. “Everyone feels this way. At minimum, every child should bring a Book of Friends to school—so they don’t stand out. Who could possibly resist buying one?”
“Absolutely not,” Fiona agreed enthusiastically.
Fosco sighed, shaking his head, muttering about the depth of parental love. He walked away, still speaking softly about the sacrifices parents make.
Fiona fidgeted, eyes glued to the frenzied crowd. She stood up suddenly—only to be yanked back by Ferdinand’s grip.
“Ferdinand—” she started.
“Wade already has a Book of Friends,” Ferdinand said, exasperated. “He has so many—he can trade with anyone he meets. He’s not some poor, lonely kid.”
—In fact, he was the inventor of the Book of Friends. What kind of book couldn’t he get if he wanted?
Fiona blinked, then grinned. “Oh—right! Of course!”
Wade: …
So you really were caught up in the hype. You weren’t secretly promoting me behind the scenes, were you?
(End of Chapter)
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