After surviving his own personal version of hell, also known as Herbology, Julian was finally free to hunt down McGonagall with his proof of concept.
The meeting went more or less exactly as expected. She personally tested two of the rings. After she confirmed the rest behaved the same way, she took the batch and went to see Dumbledore.
It came as no surprise to Julian when the old goat agreed to the proposal immediately, on the condition that the Ministry also approved it.
...
Julian sent a letter to Cornelius Fudge, talking about the possibility of attending the annual Yule Ball the Minister held, while subtly hinting that he would appreciate the Minister's help with this plan.
Even without formal permission yet, Julian started stockpiling rings anyway. He made ten more, then slept in the workshop again. He worked that way for the next week, until the Ministry's acceptance arrived, along with a formal invitation to the Yule Ball.
I'm going to need a suit, Julian thought with a tired sigh.
It would be his first public appearance at a high society event, and that meant he had to look his best.
...
The invitation came with an additional letter explaining how he would arrive and depart, since he'd be staying at Hogwarts over the holidays as an orphan.
The route was set through Hogwarts' floo connection directly to the Ministry.
Fudge was apparently sending someone to Hogwarts to escort Julian to the ball on the nineteenth of December at five o'clock. The party would last until eight, after which Julian would be escorted back to Hogwarts, likely mentally exhausted by the entire experience.
...
That meant Julian had to approach McGonagall to request a trip to Diagon Alley the upcoming weekend, so he could have a suit made at Madam Malkin's.
McGonagall approved it, and she was assigned to chaperone him while he was off school grounds, making sure nothing improper happened.
Julian remained professional the entire trip. He even earned an intrigued look from the elderly witch when she heard the specifications he gave for the suit.
It was designed to show off his unusual appearance in an interesting way.
After that, Julian returned to his day-to-day routine, continuing to build up his stockpile of Rings of Protection.
...
The constant forging and enchanting did wonders for his points, and for his efficiency in channeling spirit. His magic had grown stronger too, though not in some unbelievable leap. Magic grew like a muscle, and as he trained it constantly, it developed faster than most of the students in the castle.
Most, not all.
Harry's magic was shooting upward like a rocket.
Julian's theory was that the soul shard's presence was tricking Harry's magic into believing his soul was stronger than it actually was, forcing growth in response.
Julian wasn't jealous. If anything, he was glad for Harry. Julian had his own advantages.
...
A couple of days before the Christmas holidays began, Julian finally reached a stockpile of over two hundred Rings of Protection.
With the system granting him twenty points for each one, he found himself sitting comfortably at over four thousand points.
With help from the twins, and with professors quietly turning a blind eye, Julian advertised the Rings of Protection across the school over the next two days.
...
He'd been slightly off in his estimates.
Seventy-three people wanted one ring.
Twelve wanted more than one.
In the end, he sold eighty-seven rings total, bringing in a profit of fifty-one galleons and three sickles.
The sales were such a success largely because of the professors' silent endorsement. Many students looked to staff for reassurance that the rings were legitimate. Once they believed the effect was real, most didn't mind paying out of their savings for the protection.
...
The day after the holidays officially began, after every student who was going home had already left, Julian could be found in the workshop staring at himself in a conjured full-length mirror.
He adjusted his suit with last-minute precision.
It was a marvelous piece, made of unicorn hair and acromantula silk, cut in the style of a muggle tuxedo.
The coloration was what made it stand out. Black, covered in countless tiny white dots like a starry sky, shimmering faintly whenever the light caught it.
Julian had also used a hair gel charm that could be removed easily, combing back his usually unruly grey hair into a neat, controlled shape.