Chapter 154: Settling Down in Diagon Alley (Patreon)

“That’s enough.”

Wade tapped the table. “I asked you to come here because I have something important to discuss, not so you could pick a fight with him.”

“Malfoy was the one you invited?” Ron asked in disbelief.

“Obviously, Weasley. We’re both Slytherins. Is it really that surprising that he invited me out?”

“What did you want to see him about?” Hermione asked, a trace of unease in her eyes.

She knew Wade was different from the other Slytherins, but she was still worried that he might eventually become one of those Slytherins. If that happened, she had no idea what would become of their friendship.

“Malfoy owed me a favor, so I decided to cash it in.”

Wade smiled smugly. “Interested in coming along to take a look?”

“Of course.”

Hermione answered without hesitation.

“Hermione…” Ron hesitated. “Weren’t we supposed to go find Harry?”

“He lives here too. He might come back later. How about this? You wait for him to return, and then… the two of you can wait here until I get back.”

“Huh?”

Ron looked completely bewildered, but before he could figure out what was going on, he watched Hermione follow Wade and Draco toward the passage behind the bar.

Once they entered Diagon Alley, Draco strode ahead, leading the way.

“My father arranged everything personally. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”

The three of them arrived at the northern side of Diagon Alley and stopped in front of a shop not far from Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

The shop had no sign yet and looked as though it had only just finished being renovated.

“What are we doing here?” Hermione asked in confusion.

Through the crystal window, Wade examined the interior.

The shop was at least two hundred square meters. Soft lights illuminated the room, neatly arranged display cases lined the walls, a fireplace burned warmly in one corner, and an exquisite, luxurious counter stood near the back. Cabinets had also been built directly into the walls.

“Looks pretty good.”

“That’s not all.”

Draco unlocked the door with a key and invited the two of them inside.

“What are those?”

Hermione stared in astonishment at a row of display counters. They were filled with sparkling crystals, brilliant red and golden feathers, boxes of silvery metal, containers of blood that still radiated warmth, and rolls of rough animal hide.

“Elemental crystals, magical crystals, mithril, dragon hide, phoenix feathers, and thunderbird feathers…”

Draco sighed softly.

“My father searched through the Malfoy family vault and even went to the Gringotts vault to gather everything.”

“Easier than I expected.”

“Easy for you to say. The materials alone are worth fifty thousand Galleons.”

“Fifty thousand… Galleons?”

Hermione’s eyes widened in shock. She wondered if she had heard him correctly.

“The real difficulty was getting all the paperwork sorted out.”

Draco looked helpless.

“My father first invited the Minister for Magic and several department heads to our home. Then he made a substantial donation to the Ministry of Magic. Even then, it was barely enough to get everything settled.”

“Barely?”

“Once the shop opens, the Ministry of Magic will send someone to inspect it. Most likely, it’ll be the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.”

Draco patiently explained, “After all, you’re not selling cauldrons, herbs, or ice cream. You’re selling magical artifacts made through alchemy.”

“You know better than anyone how dangerous alchemy can be. Without the Ministry’s quality inspection, no one would dare buy your products.”

“I’m not exaggerating. It’s the same with flying brooms. Every stage of their production is inspected by designated personnel, and every finished broom has to undergo strict testing before it can be put up for sale.”

“That makes sense.”

“My father had to put in quite a bit of effort before the Ministry agreed to skip the inspections during the production process and only inspect the finished products.”

“Wait, hold on.”

Hermione finally couldn’t resist interrupting.

“This shop belongs to you?”

“I told you, I cashed in the favor Malfoy owed me.”

Wade smiled indifferently before turning to Draco.

“So, where am I supposed to live?”

“Here.”

Draco opened a door behind the counter. After turning around a corner, the space suddenly opened up before them.

“My father registered it with the Ministry of Magic and specifically hired someone to cast an Extension Charm, turning this place into a living area.”

“There’s a living room, kitchen, bedroom, study, bathroom—everything you need. It’s a little small, but it’s fully functional.”

“Even the ceiling has been enchanted to synchronize with the weather outside.”

“If you want to make changes later, that’s fine too. As long as you don’t blow the place up, the Ministry won’t interfere.”

Hermione was completely dumbfounded.

Are pure-blood families really this extravagant?

The house built inside the shop alone was larger than her own home.

“Very good. I’m quite satisfied with this.”

Wade nodded happily.

Having permission to modify the place himself was perfect. He also knew the Extension Charm, so he could easily create a potions room and an alchemy workshop of his own.

“That’s basically everything. If there are no problems, just sign this document.”

Draco pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket and handed it over.

Wade gave it a quick glance before signing without hesitation.

At that moment, he officially had a home in Diagon Alley—in the wizarding world.

“What are you planning to call the shop?” Draco teased. “The Moriah Floating Cloak Store?”

“I’ve considered it, but I’ll wait until next year.”

“We’re starting school tomorrow, after all.”

“You’re selling Floating Cloaks?” Hermione asked in surprise.

“Yep. I’ve already prepared all the materials.”

Wade pointed toward the dragon hide in the display case.

“Based on my initial calculations, I can make around thirty of them. I’ll sell each one for three hundred Galleons. That should give me a little more breathing room financially.”

Hermione quickly did the math in her head.

Just the Floating Cloaks alone could earn Wade several thousand Galleons in profit.

Last year, he had still been performing street magic to earn enough money to live. Now, he had opened a shop in Diagon Alley and was making money.

The difference in less than two years was simply too enormous.

They were both thirteen-year-old wizards, yet compared to Wade, Hermione suddenly felt rather inadequate.

“Are you really short on money right now?” Draco asked curiously.

“I am.”

Wade admitted it frankly and pulled two Galleons from his pocket.

“I calculated it. This is all the spending money I have until Christmas.”

“Seriously? Only two Galleons?”

“At least it’s more than Ron has.”

Hermione tried to comfort him quietly.

“What did you spend all your money on during the holidays? How did you go through it so quickly?”

“Don’t misunderstand. I have most of my money stored in my Gringotts vault. I just have other uses for it.”

“I can’t spend it recklessly, but that doesn’t mean I can’t spend any of it.”

“By the way, do you two want to order Floating Cloaks?”

Wade raised two fingers.

“Since we’re friends, I’ll give you a discount. Two hundred Galleons each. You just need to pay a small deposit first.”

“You’re making your intentions way too obvious.”

Draco rolled his eyes helplessly.

Then his expression changed.

“But I actually do want one.”

As he spoke, he pulled twenty Galleons from his pocket.

“Here’s the deposit. This is all I have on me.”

“Come back a week after school starts to pick it up.”

Wade took the money and immediately felt as though his money pouch had become heavier.

Twenty Galleons wasn’t a huge amount, but it had increased his available spending money tenfold.

Hermione quietly touched the ten Galleons in her own pocket. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want one.

The truth was, she simply couldn’t afford it.