After checking out the flyers, they still had to distribute them through each train compartment.
William took Hermione with him, leaving Boba tea to guard their luggage in the compartment. Cho, Cedric, and the twins split into two teams to cover the other carriages.
Neville, raising his hand eagerly, decided to join William, hoping he could also search for his missing toad, Trevor.
Trevor had hidden himself in Boba tea's cage, but no matter how much Neville called, the toad refused to come out.
William noticed Trevor's clever habit of playing hide-and-seek with Neville, moving just enough to keep him guessing, but he chose not to spoil the game. A bit of exploration would do Neville good, after all.
Their team started at the rear carriages. When they opened the first compartment door, they found two Hufflepuff boys inside…kissing.
"Oh, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt—carry on…" William promptly shut the door.
Hermione, who hadn't fully registered what was happening, leaned curiously forward, trying to see through the small window in the door.
William tapped her head with his wand and steered her to the next compartment.
In this one, things were a bit more typical. A group of upper-year Gryffindors had somehow acquired a small portable grill, and they were drinking butterbeer and having a cookout.
William gave them a thumbs-up, almost like a secret signal. "Cheersi" he said with a grin, then closed the door.
The third compartment was full of girls—all Slytherins this time.
Finally, normal folks.
William walked in, plastering on his best professional smile. "Our shop, Akali's Mystery Store, is now open! Here's our product lineup. Just send an order my way if anything interests you."
He handed over Cho's brightly designed flyer, and the girls gathered around, chattering excitedly.
However, most of their interest seemed to be directed at William himself, with giggles and whispers.
Hermione and Neville stood by awkwardly, clearly never having handed out flyers before.
"Are you short on money, Stark?" one of the girls with curly blonde hair asked, smirking.
She tossed her hair, showing off a hair clip set with a row of tiny diamonds.
Though it was no match for Lucius Malfoy's grandiose style, it still suggested her family was wealthy for someone her age.
"I'm Margery Selwyn. If you'd go out with me, I could…" She lifted her arm, showing off a golden bracelet on her wrist. The implication was clear.
"Uh, I'm not strapped for cash," William replied, helplessly. "Making these little things is just a hobby of mine, a way to improve my magical skills."
This was only partly true. His family, with a dentist for a mother and a university professor for a father, was solidly middle class, not wealthy by wizarding standards but not exactly in dire straits either.
As for William himself, though, he often did find himself in need of more money.
In the time loop he had nearly self-studied all his major subjects like Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions, but now, most of his energy was spent researching advanced potions and delving into alchemy, with occasional French lessons thrown in from a certain older student. And while the French lessons mostly used up paper, the first two studies burned through galleons fast—especially the advanced potions, where even small amounts of some rare ingredients could cost hundreds of galleons.
Without Snape's access to a private potion stash, William had to fund his own experiments, and he wasn't about to ask his family.
Thus, Akali's Mystery Store was born as his way to make some cash.
Hearing his response, Margery looked a bit disappointed.
"Offering custom potion services…" another girl with dark hair looked at William. "Can you make Amortentia?"
William paused, surprised by her request, then smiled. "Of course."
"Hey, Stark, aren't you only a second year?" She looked intrigued. "You can really make it?"
"Being the youngest recipient of the Order of Merlin says it all, miss," William replied with a smile. "But, mind you, Amortentia isn't cheap."
"I'm not short on money!"
"Me too! I'd like a bottle as well," Margery added, her gaze growing intense.
"You too?" William waved his wand, and a quill floated into the air, recording the orders on a piece of parchment. "Though, if I'm being honest, you're quite charming already. I doubt most Hogwarts students could resist you… but of course, the customer's request is our mission."
The girl laughed, clearly flattered.
Soon, thanks to William's persuasive skills, he had several large orders lined up. With all of them filled, he'd stand to make over a thousand galleons. Potions were definitely a profitable business. Ah, these desperate rich girls…
The three of them left the compartment.
As they walked, Hermione whispered, "What's Amortentia?"
"Oh, Amortentia is a love potion," William explained. "It's the most powerful love potion in the magical world, known for its mother-of-pearl sheen and spiraling steam."
"Can it really make someone fall in love?" Hermione asked.
"Of course not—don't be silly, Hermione," William said. "It just makes the drinker become infatuated with someone due to the potion's effects. It's not true love at all."
"Then why are you making it for them?" Hermione seemed a bit puzzled.
"Hermione, do you think Cedric is short on money?" William asked.
"Not really."
"If he did nothing and settled for being an ordinary wizard, maybe he'd get a good job at the Ministry after graduation and have enough.
"But if he wants to become a master wandmaker, he's going to need a lot of money to buy materials and experiment with different techniques, which often means wasting materials. That's a big expense. So he needs to sell fake wands and toys to keep himself going."
"It's the same for me, with potions and alchemy, and for the twins, too, with their prank toys."
"What about Cho?"
"Cho… well, she's our friend and just wanted to help us out."
Hermione fell silent for a moment, then looked up and asked, "William, do you really love potions, alchemy, and all that?"
William thought for a moment, then broke into a wide smile. "It's not just that I like them… I'm absolutely fascinated by anything to do with magic!"
It was the same way that Mr. Weasley was infatuated with Muggle gadgets.
William stared out the window, watching the scenery speed by, and spoke as if to himself.
"If you'd lived for twenty years in a world without magic and never once dreamed that magic could even be real… only for it to suddenly become your reality… and then, one day, you see an owl with a letter from Hogwarts…
"I think you'd fall madly in love with magic, too. And you'd thank whoever—God, Merlin, wizards, or someone else—that sent that letter. Unlike some people, who will wait forever for an owl that'll never come."
Hermione looked at William in wonder. For a brief moment, she felt as if they were gazing at the same sky but seeing different things.
After a long silence, Hermione tugged at her collar and finally gave William a smile, dimples deepening on her cheeks.
"… I love magic too, just like you…"
Neville, hiding in the corner, wanted to say he liked magic as well, but it was clear no one was interested in hearing it.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" Hermione asked.
"For now, just keep studying. You're smart—you'll help me someday." William reached out to ruffle her fluffy hair.
Hermione dodged and ran ahead. She turned back after a few steps, her bright eyes sparkling in the sunlight.
"However, I still think you shouldn't be making love potions for those girls!"
William chuckled and shrugged. "It's fine, Hermione. It's not like they're for me to use!"
"Hmph, we'll see about that!"
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