The final price for the panoramic telescope or Omniocular was five Galleons and ten Sickles each, which was even cheaper than Bryan's expected price. It couldn't be helped, as it would take Mr. Banges an entire week to prepare three hundred panoramic telescopes!
When Bryan was leaving, Mr. Banges still had a mournful look on his face, as if he had lost a large sum of money.
Bryan felt that he was overacting a bit. For most magical items and alchemical tools, the cost was about 40% to 50% of the selling price. Even considering taxes and operating expenses, it would not exceed 60%. For this deal, Mr. Banges was still, um, anyway, not losing money!
The negotiation process for the final seven Sickles was extremely difficult. By the time Bryan walked out of the magical supplies store, the sun had risen high in the sky. Bryan stood in the middle of the street, allowing the bright sunlight to shine upon him, fully enjoying the rare moment of ease. Since graduation, this kind of leisurely and unhurried pace of life had completely left him.
"There is still a more difficult negotiation ahead." After a while, Bryan took a deep breath and looked towards the castle standing under the blue sky and white clouds. There was still someone waiting for him to persuade, and it could be expected that the negotiation process would not be particularly smooth.
Before noon, around 10:30, Bryan returned to Hogwarts Castle again. In order not to affect lunchtime, he hurriedly stepped onto the marble staircase and skillfully crossed the moving stairs to enter the activity area of the Gryffindor students on the second floor.
Rough arguing voices came from the other end of the corridor. Bryan stretched his neck and listened for a few sentences but couldn't make out what it was about. Due to being in a hurry, he quickly turned to the other side of the corridor and knocked on the office door.
"Come in." The stern voice from behind the door awakened the image in Bryan's memory. He smiled slightly and turned the doorknob to step inside.
Professor McGonagall's office was much smaller than Snape's. The walls on all sides were piled high with documents, the students' homework, and teaching aids. Professor McGonagall's small desk was next to the window, directly facing the Quidditch pitch.
When Bryan entered, she was bowing her head to review documents. With his keen eyesight, Bryan quickly glanced and saw that it seemed to be the purchase requests for teaching materials submitted by the professors for the second half of the year.
"Oh, it's you Bryan." Professor McGonagall, who was working at the desk, adjusted her black-framed glasses and turned around. When she saw who the visitor was, her tightly pursed lips relaxed slightly. "You look much more mature than three years ago. I almost didn't recognize you."
Professor McGonagall stood up and scrutinized the outstanding student of Snape in front of her, her expression was much gentler than when she usually faced the young wizards.
To be honest, before Bryan's fifth year, her communication with Bryan was limited to a few exchanges in class and the annual review of his scholarship application. Other than that, she had not paid special attention to this inconspicuous Slytherin wizard.
Until the night before Christmas in Bryan's fifth year. That evening, Bryan Watson refreshed Professor McGonagall's evaluation of this child twice in a very short period, from extreme disgust to extreme gratitude.
Since that night, she had kept a close eye on Bryan.
"It's been a while, Professor McGonagall," Bryan said with a sincere smile. "You haven't changed much compared to three years ago."
While Professor McGonagall was examining him, Bryan was also observing her with a smile. The previous sentence was just his polite flattery. To be honest, Professor McGonagall looked older than before, thinner, and had much more white hair.
This was unavoidable. With such an 'irresponsible' headmaster like Albus Dumbledore, it could only be considered her bad luck.
The window of the room was open, and the faint scent of violet wine could be smelled in the air. Professor McGonagall directed Bryan to sit down, while she walked to the fireplace with vigorous flames, took the teapot from the shelf,
"Last night, Headmaster Dumbledore left me a message, telling me that the board of Governors sent you back to the school." There was a hint of dissatisfaction in Professor McGonagall's tone, and it was unclear who she was complaining about.
"Anyway, Bryan, welcome back to school!"
Bryan took a sip of tea and, as expected, it was so bitter that it made his scalp numb. It seemed that this pot of tea was brewed by Professor McGonagall to sober up. He put down the teacup without any change in expression, having no desire to take another sip.
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall. I'm also very happy to have the opportunity to return to Hogwarts. You know, many young wizards dream of coming back here a few years after graduation to relive the carefree campus life."
"Yes, there are many beautiful memories here." Bryan's words made Professor McGonagall happy, and her shoulders were no longer as tense.
"By the way, if I remember correctly, this seems to be our second face-to-face conversation, right?"
Bryan nodded slightly, recalling the old days. "You're not mistaken. It was more than halfway through the second half of my fifth year. You found me and talked to me once, with the purpose of persuading me not to deliberately create errors in my homework for each subject and to show my true level as much as possible. Heh, I'm sorry, Professor, I was indeed a bit strange back then!"
"Snape mentioned to me in private that you have a preference for staying out of the limelight. But this time, it's your turn to persuade me."
Professor McGonagall didn't mind chatting with Bryan for a while to get to know him better, which was also her responsibility as the deputy headmistress of the school.
But unfortunately, she had a lot of things to do today. After dealing with the daily operations of Hogwarts, she still had to make teaching plans for each grade next year, salary adjustment plans for the professors, and several transfiguration papers in "Transfiguration Today" were urgently waiting for her comments.
Because of these complex affairs, while other professors were still enjoying the happy Christmas vacation, she had to plan ahead to squeeze out time to attend a cocktail party.
"...Headmaster Dumbledore asked me to arrange accommodations and an office for you," Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, her expression turning solemn.
"I originally planned to meet with you after dinner, but this morning when I ran into Professor Snape, he mentioned your plan in passing, which made me have to talk to you in advance... This matter should have been Headmaster Dumbledore's responsibility, but... well, let's not mention that."
Professor McGonagall's mood turned sour. She took a deep breath, her eyes sharp, and asked pointedly, "I'm not questioning the feasibility of your plan, Bryan. My question is, do you think this solution is really appropriate? In order to find the Heir of Slytherin, you'll monitor the daily lives of all the young wizards?"