Bryan, who was jogging along the lake in the morning, stood under a willow tree to rest for a while and saw a black shadow approaching him quickly from the castle.
"Dumbledore asked me to give this to you."
The pale golden sunlight mixed with fine powder hit Snape's face, softening his cold and rigid expression a little. After a few steps, he threw a black money bag to Bryan.
"How much is it in total?"
Bryan shook the heavy purse in his hand and asked with great interest, "Two thousand Galleons. Dumbledore generously added two hundred Galleons on top of your request. Minerva doesn't seem too pleased. By the way, she just found out that you returned to Hogsmeade. She wants to talk to you alone about your next plan."
"Tsk tsk!"
The meeting with the stern deputy headmistress didn't bother Bryan. He unbuttoned the bag and looked inside, instantly feeling extremely comfortable with the dazzling golden light.
"You know, what if I ran away with the money right now?"
"Unless you can escape to the moon, I don't advise you to do such a foolish thing."
Snape replied indifferently, staring at Bryan as he lowered his head, picked up a gold coin, and fiddled with it between his fingertips, his gaze fixed on Bryan's shining eyes.
"Also, I should remind you, Bryan, I'm not entirely sure, and I'm not curious about why your eye color has changed so much since you started school. But Dumbledore seems quite interested. He gave me the opportunity to inquire with you. Generally, when he's interested in something, he'll do his best to find out. So I suggest you be prepared."
Bryan's fingers suddenly froze, and after a brief silence, he regained composure and let out a deep sigh.
"Ah, what a great wizard!"
Compared to the ever-changing pace of the Muggle world, the evolution of the wizarding society, which is more rooted in tradition, is astonishingly slow.
Although there have been calls for reform in recent years, those voices advocating change remain feeble, like seeds buried deep in permafrost, waiting for the right time to sprout.
Hogsmeade, the only remaining village inhabited by pure-blood wizards in the British wizarding world, remains largely unchanged since Bryan attended Hogwarts. The few modifications are perhaps the signage of Zonko's Joke Shop and the introduction of new products at Honeydukes Candy Shop.
Bryan even wondered if a medieval wizard accidentally time-traveled to the present, they might not even feel out of place in Hogsmeade.
It was still the Christmas holiday, and the streets of Hogsmeade were deserted with only a few people hurrying about their own affairs. Bryan walked on, eventually stopping in front of a shop with gray glass windows.
Dervish & Banges Magic Supply Store—this was Bryan's destination.
Ding ding ding...
The copper bell hanging above the door produced a crisp sound as Bryan pushed it open and entered the shop.
The dimly lit magic supply store featured several tall shelves lining the walls, displaying looking glasses, memory balls, leprechauns, broomstick care kits, Quidditch ball toolboxes, and numerous other magical and alchemical items.
The bald-headed Mr. Banges seemed taken aback by the unexpected early visitor, but quickly regained his composure and came out from behind the counter with a courteous smile.
"Dear customer, what can I assist you with today? Dervish & Banges Magic Supply Store has everything you need. I'm here to guide you."
"Thank you," Bryan replied, glancing up and scanning the towering shelves. "Do you have panoramic binoculars here?"
"If you mean the panoramic binoculars typically used for watching Quidditch matches..."
Mr. Banges hurried over to a shelf near the inner wall, jumped up, and retrieved a dusty pair of binoculars from a pile of miscellaneous items. While Bryan's vision was obstructed, Mr. Banges quickly wiped the binoculars on his robes, removing the dust, and returned to Bryan with a smile resembling a blooming flower.
"This one is from the family's alchemy workshop. The quality is guaranteed, and it's priced at nine Galleons and seven Sickles!"
Bryan accepted the binoculars. He was quite familiar with this versatile panoramic telescope, which could be modified for various uses. Skillfully adjusting the knobs, he placed it on the bridge of his nose, close to his eye sockets, and carefully observed the image.
"No, no..."
After a while, Bryan set the binoculars down with disappointment in his voice.
"What I need is the 190 model of the Shadow Chaser. It provides a clearer image and a longer trace-back time. The one you have is the 185 model, which doesn't meet my purchasing requirements."
Mr. Banges felt a sense of awe, realizing that he was dealing with an expert.
"Unfortunately, sir, the high-precision Shadow Chaser 190 is usually only produced during the World Cup. We typically sell the 185 model. However, if you're willing to purchase, I can offer you a discount on the price!"
"How much of a discount can I get?"
Bryan's expression turned indifferent, showing no intention of giving up. He transformed into a shrewd buyer, ready to negotiate.
"To be frank, nine Galleons is the cost price. Since you're our first customer today, I can offer that price only!"
Mr. Banges looked distressed.
"—What if I want to buy a large quantity?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but that's already our best price. Even if you ask for more, I can't..."
"I need three hundred pairs of panoramic binoculars." Bryan interrupted straightforwardly, a smile on his face. "Mr. Banges, you still have one more chance to give a quote. If you're not satisfied with the price, I can check out another shop in the corner alley."
"Three hundred?!"
Mr. Banges widened his eyes in surprise, but quickly realized that his reaction wouldn't help in the upcoming negotiation. He composed himself and coughed twice.
"That's indeed a substantial quantity. I suppose a little extra discount is warranted."
Mr. Banges carefully observed Bryan's smiling face.
"My lord, if you're truly intent on buying that many, I think eight Galleons and ten silver Sickles would be a fair deal."
Bryan frowned, seemingly dissatisfied.
The cunning Mr. Banges immediately changed his tone and spoke decisively.
"Seven Galleons and ten silver Sickles. You're a knowledgeable wizard, and you understand what this price implies!"
Without saying a word, Bryan turned around and headed for the door, preparing to Apparate.
"Damn!"
Mr. Banges exclaimed.
"Alright, alright, six Galleons. Come back, sir. You're the cleverest customer I've encountered this year!"
Bryan put down his wand, turned, and smiled happily once again.
"Alright, Mr. Banges, let's discuss the delivery time!"