After a lengthy trek through the tunnel, Evan lifted the trapdoor at the end and found himself in a cellar filled with boxes of sweets. He realized he must be underneath Honeydukes, the famous sweetshop in Hogsmeade.
Creak...
Evan carefully pushed open the cellar door, expecting to see the shop bustling with people. Instead, the spacious store was somewhat deserted.
Of course, he thought. It wasn't Christmas or a weekend, and the third years and above didn't have much time to visit. Considering the lack of a crowd, Evan's plan to sneak away unnoticed was compromised before it could even begin.
"Hey... kid, when did you get in here?" The kindly wizard who owned Honeydukes, always dressed in a loose robe, chided Evan upon spotting him near the cellar, away from where customers should be.
"Just now, you might not have noticed," Evan replied nonchalantly, his tone disarmingly casual.
Evan's relaxed demeanor convinced the owner that he wasn't there to steal sweets. His tone softened, and he joked back.
"You must have sneaked out of Hogwarts, huh? The third years are taller than you; no wonder I didn't see you."
Evan's lips twitched in annoyance. He regretted not learning a silencing spell - he was actually quite tall for a first-year!
Slightly embarrassed, Evan pulled out a silver Sickle and placed it on the counter.
"So, does this mean you're not going to sell me any sweets?"
"Of course, I will," the Honeydukes owner said, snatching the Sickle with a speed Evan couldn't see, then pulling out an array of treats from behind the counter.
"What are you looking to buy? Fizzing Whizzbees? Chocolate Frogs? Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans? How about a Cockroach Cluster? That's the Headmaster's favorite."
Evan bought a little of everything and, driven by curiosity, braved a taste of Dumbledore's favorite. The Cockroach Cluster was indeed repulsive to look at, resembling an oversized cockroach.
He gingerly broke off a leg, fighting back disgust, only to find it sweet, clearly made of syrup, but with a crunch that mimicked the sensation of chewing on an actual insect.
"By the way, do you know where I can find potion ingredients in Hogsmeade?" Evan asked nonchalantly after sampling a few more Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's Beans.
"There's only one apothecary in Hogsmeade," the Honeydukes owner said, his expression suddenly serious, looking around cautiously.
Evan's heart sank, fearing he might have said something wrong, but then the owner leaned in and whispered.
"If you're after love potions, you'd better head to Diagon Alley. They're cracking down hard here, and old Reic not selling anything illicit."
Love potions? Evan rolled his eyes. Why would he need such a thing?
He was only eleven - even if he had the inclination, he lacked the means.
Ignoring the sleazy grin on the Honeydukes owner's face as he left, Evan turned into an alley and spotted a half-fallen sign with the faint outline of the word 'potions'. The shop was filled with a peculiar, pungent smell.
Holding his nose, Evan entered, not finding the shopkeeper but seeing green smoke wafting from a room at the back.
Just as Evan was about to speak up to get some attention, a voice floated from the room.
"Basic potion ingredients are by the entrance. Compound decoctions and growth serums are in the cabinet... And no love potions or vitality tonics for underage wizards, no matter how much you offer!"
Evan was too weary to comment on the love potion issue. How many young wizards had come by, asking for it, that the response was so practiced?
He moved towards the area with potion ingredients,
Thankfully, his Potions class had advanced to level four these past days, and he quickly gathered the materials needed for the Blood-Replenishing Potion.
To avoid anyone guessing the potion he was brewing based on his selections, Evan also picked out some unnecessary herbs and adjusted the quantities slightly.
After making his selection, Reic, clad in a patched coat, emerged, emitting the same pungent odor Evan had smelled at the entrance.
"What do you need all these ingredients for?" Reic had thought Evan was there for a growth serum, not expecting him to choose such a variety.
"Practicing... for money," Evan laid nine Galleons on the counter.
Reic instantly fell silent, pocketing the money and handing back twelve Sickles.
"Where can I find Bubotuber pus and Fluxweed?" Evan asked, taking the remaining Sickles.
Reic's expression darkened, and he leaned in, his bloodshot eyes scrutinizing Evan for a moment before speaking.
"I don't know what peculiar formula you've found in the Hogwarts library, but I advise you not to experiment recklessly. Bubotuber pus and Fluxweed are restricted materials, only used in very advanced potions."
"What if I offer double the Galleons?" Evan inquired.
"Bubotuber pus is three Galleons an ounce... Fluxweed is two Galleons and seven Sickles an ounce..." Reic's eyes gleamed with mockery.
"The doubled price?" Evan frowned.
"No, the price before...," Reic chuckled.
Why don't you just rob me? Evan nearly blurted out. In Diagon Alley, an ounce of dragon liver went for seventeen Sickles, and dragon blood was probably similarly priced.
Even with dragon breeding causing prices to plummet, these were still top-tier materials.
Why should Bubotuber pus and Fluxweed be so expensive?
"As I said, those are contraband. There's a record for every sale, and no one would sell to a young wizard like you," Reic said, noticing Evan didn't have enough Galleons and losing interest. But he still warned, "Even if you had the money, I couldn't give them to you right now. You'd have to wait."
Evan sighed, abandoning the idea of purchasing Bubotuber pus and Fluxweed.
With the windfall from his bet and what he already had, he only had eleven Galleons in total, not nearly enough to complete the purchase.
He had considered using Floo Powder to check Diagon Alley's prices, not wanting to be swindled by Reic.
But Diagon Alley was much more dangerous than Hogsmeade,
Here, at least, third-year students often wandered alone, so both the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts kept a strict watch, assuring safety. That was why Evan dared to come here alone.
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