"Wait, you can also brew pet tonic?"
Cedric's eyes lit up as he heard this and asked, "Can I ask you to make tonic for my owl from now on?"
"Of course," Kyle replied, glancing at the Tawny Owl perched on the nearby shelf. "But owls are different from mice. The tonic they need is a bit more complicated, so I'll have to charge nine Sickles. Don't think it's too expensive; this is the market price, and I got the formula from Newt. My tonic is much better than what you find in shops—definitely worth the price."
"Um…" Cedric nodded. This made sense. At Diagon Alley, even the cheapest owl tonics cost around nine Sickles, with better ones going for a full Galleon. If Kyle's recipe truly came from Scamander, then the price would be fair.
But…
"Could you make it a bit cheaper?" Cedric asked hopefully. "We're friends, so there should be a discount."
To be honest, Cedric wanted to jump at the opportunity and buy several batches, but as a second-year student, he had limited pocket money. Despite Hogwarts covering food and accommodation, expenses like quills, ink, and parchment still added up. A discount would really help.
Seeing Cedric's hopeful expression, Kyle considered for a moment and then nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. We're friends, so I definitely shouldn't charge the market price."
"Exactly!" Cedric's eyes brightened.
"How about this…" Kyle hesitated, then raised a finger. "You just need to pay this amount."
Cedric asked in surprise, "One Sickle?"
Kyle shook his head. "No, it's one Galleon."
"…One Galleon!" Cedric's smile faltered, and his tone changed. "Is this your idea of a discount?"
"Yes, it's 20% off," Kyle replied earnestly. "Think about it. At Hogwarts, except for some of the Slytherins, who else would spend a Galleon on owl tonic? It's tough to find business here, so I have to make sure I earn something from the few customers I get."
Cedric was speechless, looking at Kyle with disbelief as the corners of his mouth twitched. He couldn't believe Kyle's audacity. "Kyle, you'll end up in Azkaban for this."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Kyle said with a smirk, completely unbothered. "So, do you still want that owl tonic?"
"...Yes," Cedric grumbled through clenched teeth, reaching for his money.
But before he could pay, the carriage door swung open again, revealing a small, nervous figure.
It was a pretty little girl with brown hair in two ponytails, and a touch of baby fat on her round face, making her look quite young.
Kyle and Cedric exchanged confused glances.
Was she looking for one of them? Neither of them recognized her.
The little girl seemed a bit shy and socially anxious. When Kyle addressed her, she instinctively wanted to run, but then gathered her courage and shook her head. "No, I'm not in the wrong place. I came to find you."
"Me?" Kyle was puzzled. He was certain he didn't know her.
Ignoring Cedric's amused expression, Kyle asked, "What do you need?"
As he spoke, he studied the girl more closely. He was sure he hadn't met her before, and she bore no resemblance to anyone he knew, ruling out any dramatic surprises like suddenly discovering a long-lost sibling.
"Um... I overheard your conversation in the corridor," the girl said in a soft, hesitant voice, as if she was afraid of being misunderstood. She quickly explained, "Please don't think I meant to eavesdrop. The red-haired senior forgot to close the door. It was really an accident…"
Kyle waved off her concerns. "It's fine. Go on."
The Hogwarts Express wasn't known for its soundproofing. Even with the doors closed, conversations could be heard from the hallway. Besides, they hadn't been particularly quiet when Percy came in earlier, so it wasn't surprising that others might have overheard.
The girl seemed relieved by Kyle's response. She reached into her pocket and took out a large gray rat.
Kyle's eyes widened, feeling a sense of déjà vu, as if he had just seen this exact scene moments ago.
It dawned on him—it was just like when Percy had taken out Scabbers earlier. Their actions were nearly identical, even down to the rat they presented.
Was this a repeat performance?
A bit wary, Kyle took a closer look at the rat. Its claws were intact, so it seemed to be an ordinary rat, not anything suspicious. He shook his head, chiding himself for being overly cautious.
There couldn't be that many Animagi disguised as rats lurking around young wizards—one Peter Pettigrew was enough for a lifetime.
After calming his nerves, Kyle guessed the girl's intention and asked, "So, you're here to buy some rat tonic?"
Given her mention of overhearing Percy, her possession of a rat, and the fact that their conversation had revolved around pet tonics, Kyle couldn't think of any other reason she'd seek him out.
"May I?" she asked, her eyes wide with hope, her voice barely a whisper. "I've bought tonics in Diagon Alley, but none of them worked well."
"Of course, I'd be happy to help," Kyle replied with a friendly smile, realizing that the girl was a potential customer. "Just wait a moment, and I'll get it for you. By the way, I'm Kyle Chopper, a first-year. You can just call me Kyle."
"Con...Kana," the girl stammered, her cheeks flushing a little as she introduced herself. "Kana Prince."
**(End of this chapter)**