Anthony and Hector both turned to stare at Charlie.
"Lely, what the hell—"
They felt it instantly. This Lely was different. The old Lely had always stayed quiet in her little frame on Charlie's desk, smiling softly, watching the room like a polite ghost. If someone remembered her, she'd wave. If not, she faded into the background.
Now she felt alive.
"Trouble?" Charlie asked.
"The chocolate's almost gone. After tonight, we're sold out."
Charlie's face twisted. "I gave you dozens before Christmas. Fifteen of each kind. What happened?"
Lely nodded fast. "Slytherin and Ravenclaw kids bought more than ten between them. Harry grabbed a bunch too—he came back after break for two more Dream ones. Then…"
"Then what?"
"Professor Dumbledore bought a ton. And Professor Snape…" She hesitated. "He bought two Sunshine, two Moonlight, and one Dream every single night."
"What?!" All three boys shouted at once.
"Snape?" Anthony yelped.
"No fucking way," Hector muttered.
"Where did he even buy it?" Charlie demanded.
"The night before last," Lely said.
Charlie yanked open his system panel and scrolled through the Wish Dust log. Nothing from Snape. Not a single point.
Real adults, he thought bitterly. Chocolate doesn't do shit for them unless a Dementor's already sucked them dry.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me? We talked about this—"
Lely shrank back, voice small. "I… I figured if even Dumbledore was buying—"
"Oh, sweetheart." Charlie reached out and gently tapped the edge of her frame. "I'm not mad at you. Snape's just… complicated. Did he do anything to you?"
"Exactly," Anthony and Hector chimed in, both leaning closer.
"Did he hurt you?" Anthony added.
Lely shook her head. "It was one night. He dragged in a Hufflepuff kid—probably trying to sneak out for chocolate after curfew. Snape caught him night-walking and brought him straight to me."
She paused, then kept going. "Dumbledore showed up too, in his nightshirt. He looked surprised to see Snape. Bought some chocolate, said goodnight, and left. Snape just… stared at his back the whole time. Then he bought one of each kind without a word."
Lely tilted her head, thinking. "Oh—right. He took five points from the Hufflepuff and marched him out. Half an hour later Snape came back and bought another round."
Hector whistled low. "If Dumbledore hadn't been there, Lely, you'd be screwed."
Anthony looked half-terrified, half-impressed. "Charlie… what the actual fuck did you do over break? You got Dumbledore buying your chocolate?"
Charlie didn't answer right away. He just looked at Lely, steady and calm.
"Next time you see either of them, you tell me every single detail. Got it? Hector's right—if Dumbledore hadn't walked in, our whole shop could've vanished overnight."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Wonka," Lely whispered, head down.
"Hey." Charlie smiled, soft but firm. "Everybody screws up. It's normal. And honestly? I kind of like this version of you. You're not just a cold painting anymore."
He paused. "But don't make the same mistake twice. That's how idiots get caught."
"I won't be an idiot," Lely blurted, then caught herself. "At least… not about this. Definitely not about this!"
Charlie laughed under his breath and waved her off. "Go on. Get back to work."
"Okay!" She vanished in a swirl of paint.
The second she was gone, Anthony and Hector rounded on him.
"Alright, spill," Anthony said, arms crossed, grinning like he wasn't planning to sleep until he got answers. "What the hell happened over break?"
Charlie told them most of it. The magic painting shop on the second floor. How Lely ran it like a living vending machine. The Christmas gifts. Everything except the long talk with Dumbledore and whatever he'd seen in the Mirror of Erised.
"So you literally painted a shop, hung it on the second floor, and turned Lely into your salesgirl?" Anthony shook his head, laughing. "Like a goddamn vending machine. You're a genius."
Charlie snapped his fingers. "Exactly. Got the idea from Muggle vending machines. I wanted to build a real one, but the magic's not there yet."
"Inspiration hits and the rest follows," Hector said, nodding like a sage. "Small step for you, giant leap for magical candy."
He glanced at Anthony. "You didn't even ask what a vending machine is."
Anthony gave him a flat look. "Do I look like an idiot who doesn't know basic words?"
Hector opened his mouth, clearly about to say yes, but Anthony lunged and grabbed him in a headlock before he could nod.
"What about you two?" Charlie asked, watching them wrestle. "How was your Christmas?"
Anthony let go, grinning. "Oh man, my mom lost her mind over your gift. Bit into one of those chocolate eggs and a tiny bird popped out in her mouth. Scared the shit out of her. She wants more—kept asking where I bought them. I had no idea what to say."
Charlie rubbed the back of his neck. "I can make more for her. Just tell her you bought them."
"Perfect." Anthony pumped a fist. "We also hit Diagon Alley. Picked up this little guy." He nodded at the gem turtle on the floor. "Nothing else crazy."
He turned to Hector. "What about you?"
Hector opened his mouth—
But before he could answer, the door swung open again.
Lely's face popped back into her frame, eyes wide with panic.
"Mr. Wonka! Another emergency!"