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In terms of both publicity and profit, Adam had no reason to refuse Stein's order.
When students arrived in the afternoon through various publicity channels, they found only a large box with the top hollowed out in place of the legendary small shop. The menu was still posted on the wall, but there was a notice alongside it.
In addition to explaining the situation, the notice included a tip:
"Students who came to the store but were empty-handed can pick up a number slip from the box. There will be a mysterious surprise at dinner—stay tuned!"
Harry and Ron, who hadn't gotten out of bed in the morning but tasted the sweet treats Seamus Finnigan had in the afternoon, arrived in awe and curiously read the notice:
"What do you think it will be?"
"Maybe something like colorful firecrackers?"
The colorful firecrackers appeared on the Hogwarts dining table that day. When opened, they produced explosions, colorful smoke, and small toys. It was indeed a surprise.
"But if that's all it is, why add an extra sentence?"
Regardless, Harry and Ron each took a number slip from the box. Ron tried to grab a few more but almost fell into the box and couldn't get a second one.
Amid everyone's anticipation, the Christmas dinner began as scheduled. The doors of the Great Hall, which had been closed at Adam's request, slowly opened, revealing everything to the waiting students:
The aroma of honey, caramel, and fruit… a refreshing sweet fragrance filled the hall. The dishes on the tables were unlike anything from previous dinners, making every student who walked in swallow their saliva.
"They actually put flowers on the table."
A Ravenclaw girl leaned in to smell a rose. What she inhaled wasn't just floral fragrance but something sweeter. She was stunned:
"This scent… this isn't just a flower?"
"How could that be? It seems obvious..."
Before her friend could say more, the girl plucked the flower and popped it into her mouth.
"What are you—?!"
"It's not a flower; it's pastry!"
The entire flower melted in her mouth. The rich rose flavor and delicate sweetness spread through her senses, leaving her intoxicated.
Seeing this, her friend cautiously plucked a flower and tasted it. Roses weren't poisonous, so there was no harm in trying. Soon, he, too, was lost in the delicious pastry.
After a moment, the Ravenclaw girl opened her eyes and suspiciously eyed other objects on the table that didn't seem like food—like an unlit candlestick.
"This is chocolate!"
—from a Gryffindor who had actually chewed on a candlestick.
"This is cake!"
—from a Slytherin who ate a little snowman.
"This is candy!!!"
—from a Gryffindor, shocked after chewing on a small Christmas tree.
"Here are cookies!"
—from a Hufflepuff nibbling on a mistletoe branch.
"Ouch!!! This is the table!"
—exclaimed a Gryffindor who confidently bit into the table after being fooled by his brother.
"Ahem!"
Seeing that nearly all the decorations had been eaten, Stein quickly tapped his goblet with a spoon to capture everyone's attention:
"I believe you've all noticed that tonight's dinner is unlike any before. There are many new and delicious foods. This is all thanks to Mr. Adam Robert—"
Adam stood up and acknowledged everyone.
"Before we start dinner, I have one more thing to say: Although Adam put a lot of effort into tonight's decorations, I do hope you'll focus more on the food."
Stein added, casting a glance at the Gryffindor table.
Adam looked over and saw two identical boys quietly trying to put a branch back under the table.
They were identical, from Gryffindor, and resembled the characters from the film—they were unmistakably the Weasley twins.
But Adam didn't remember turning such a large Christmas tree into food. Where had the twins gotten it?
He glanced at the remaining Christmas trees in the Great Hall and noticed that one had a noticeable break.
"Especially avoid tampering with decorations that aren't on the table. I can assure you they aren't edible."
Stein concluded.
The dinner allowed all the students staying at Hogwarts over Christmas to experience the delights of Adam's shop. The unique and delicious foods left a deep impression on everyone.
The professors were pleased, and the students were content. After spending many Christmases at Hogwarts, this year's festivities were refreshingly new, which heightened their appetites.
Adam even witnessed Stein devouring half a pot of stewed fish soup, and Hagrid polishing off six elbow joints, prompting Adam to summon the family house-elves to bring more food for the teachers.
Stein was in high spirits. The professors had meticulously prepared the hall's decor, but attendance had been sparse. However, Adam's innovation filled the gap, and though Hogwarts had no formal rule allowing students to run businesses on campus, this event was a win-win. The school's dinner went off smoothly, and Adam's business thrived. While a little extra money was spent, it came from the school board's budget, so no one felt the pinch.
As for Adam… he was probably the happiest of all.
Even though the students remaining at Hogwarts over Christmas were a small fraction of the total, they were diverse enough. Along with the professors, everyone had tried his store's offerings. The promotional impact was priceless.
Adam had even taken the extra step of labeling each food container with the name of the dish so that everyone could easily remember their favorite and purchase it next time they visited his shop.
As for the cost… not only had he spent nothing, but he had also earned a handsome profit. He was undeniably the evening's winner.
Back in the dormitory, even Uther couldn't contain his curiosity:
"How much did you make from tonight's dinner?"
"Hehe, just a little bit, just a little~" Adam made a "tiny" gesture with his thumb and forefinger.
"It seems like a lot, but you really earned it."
Stein, who was reclining comfortably on the couch, patted his belly.
"Adam, you've got to open a shop right after graduation. Why not open one in Hogsmeade? It only costs 50,000 Galleons for a place there." Most importantly, it was next to his house.
"Sure, then I could develop dishes made with magical creatures and buy them directly from your place."
"Deal! I'll give you a discount!"
Listening to them talk, Mark chimed in:
"If you're serious about opening a store, Diagon Alley might be better. Although it's more expensive, the foot traffic is higher. You could always rent a place first."
"I still prefer Hogsmeade."
Adam shook his head.
"The shops in Diagon Alley are too cramped. It doesn't fit the restaurant I have in mind."
"You're planning to open a 'Black Swan' in the wizarding world?"
Robert asked, surprised. The Black Swan was the name of Robert's French restaurant.
"The name definitely won't be Black Swan. I haven't settled on one yet, but I want the décor to fit the wizarding world. It'll be something along those lines."
( End of the chapter)
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