Chapter 294 Bargaining, Cat and Mouse
Magical Menagerie.
The walls of this shop were covered with cages, filled with all sorts of animals.
Rats, owls, cats, double-tailed newts, tortoises, toads, venomous snails, rabbits, and ravens—everything imaginable.
However, powerful magical creatures like dragons, Snallygasters, Phoenixes, and Thunderbirds were nowhere to be found in this shop; even if they had them, they wouldn't dare to sell them, as the Ministry of Magic would shut them down in minutes.
As the four entered the shop, the Witch behind the counter immediately focused her gaze on Abey, involuntarily swallowing a gulp.
She had seen at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, cats in her life, but she had truly never seen one like this.
"Are you here to have your animals checked?"
"Yes," Ron said immediately, then placed Scabbers on the counter.
A flicker of disappointment crossed the Witch's eyes, but her professional demeanor prompted her to put on a pair of Black spectacles and examine Scabbers carefully.
"How old is this rat of yours?"
"I don't know, my brother gave him to me."
The Witch picked up Scabbers, looked at his damaged left ear and the missing toes on his front paw, and clicked her tongue. "I suggest you get another rat. We have healthy and complete ones here."
Ron looked at the large group of lively Black rats in the cages and turned his face away in disgust. He didn't think these inferior creatures, who only knew how to show off, could compare to his Scabbers.
"Alright!" The Witch took out a small red bottle from under the counter. "This rat tonic might be useful for you."
"How much?"
Just as the Witch was about to speak, an orange shadow leaped onto Ron's head, baring its teeth fiercely at Scabbersin the Witch's hand.
"No, Crookshanks!" the Witch quickly called out, but the orange figure didn't heed her.
Scabbers felt a mortal danger and immediately darted out of her hand, frantically fleeing through the door.
Ron and Harry saw this and chased after him.
"Is that a cat?" Aaron asked, looking at Crookshanks, who had jumped onto the counter. "You should keep a better eye on it. There are so many rats, and it chose to go after a customer's pet."
"Sir, Crookshanks is usually very well-behaved," the Witchsaid apologetically.
"So beautiful!" Hermione exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she looked at Crookshanks.
"Beautiful?" A string of question marks floated through Aaron's mind. "Hermione, are you sure you're not mistaken? With that persimmon-shaped face, I wouldn't believe it hadn't been hit by a brick."
"But I just think it's beautiful," Hermione said, unconcerned. Then she looked at the Witch. "I'll buy it. How much is it?"
"Five Galleons."
Hermione was about to take out her wallet when Aaronstopped her.
"Five Galleons is too expensive. Make it cheaper."
"This is already very cheap," the Witch said grumpily. "If you don't believe me, you can go to other shops and ask. Cats are this price."
"It just scared my friend, and it seems this cat isn't very obedient."
The Witch hesitated for a moment. "Four Galleons, then?"
"With all due respect, this cat's appearance is quite unique. It probably doesn't sell well when it's just sitting in the shop, does it?"
The Witch's eye twitched slightly, then she forced a smile. "Three Galleons, nine sickles."
"Although I don't want to say this, this cat seems a bit old, don't you think?"
"Three Galleons, no less."
Aaron was about to speak when the Witch interjected, "I'm just running a business, making a living isn't easy."
"Alright! What about that rat tonic?"
"Two sickles, no bargaining."
"Actually, this cat's fur..."
"It's free, Sir!" The Witch immediately shoved the small red bottle into Aaron's hand, then looked at the stunned Hermione. "Would this young lady mind paying?"
"Oh." Hermione snapped out of it, cheerfully placed three Galleons on the counter, and happily hugged Crookshanks.
"Just a reminder, you were supposed to buy an owl," Aaronsaid, exasperated.
"I won't buy an owl then. This cat is enough," Hermione said. She couldn't take care of two pets.
"Whatever." Aaron shrugged, preparing to leave the Magical Menagerie.
"Wait, Sir!" The Witch chased him out directly. "May I be so bold as to ask if I could have a photo of your pet? I can pay you ten Galleons for publicity."
"Hehe!" Aaron flatly refused. He didn't want everyone to know he had a dragon.
Not long after the two left the magical pet shop, they ran into Harry and Ron.
The trembling Scabbers immediately hid in Ron's pocket upon seeing the cat.
"You bought this monster?" Ron said, eyes wide. "It almost peeled off my scalp just now. And what about Scabbers? He's a rat! Why buy a cat of all things?"
"Don't worry, Crookshanks will be in my dormitory, and Scabbers will be in yours. As long as they don't meet, there won't be a problem."
"Is this about whether they meet?" Ron said, somewhat annoyed. "Look at Abey, why is it..."
Mid-sentence, Ron's voice abruptly trailed off.
He almost forgot, Abey was a dragon; catching rats was beneath him.
"Um... don't misunderstand. My Abey doesn't like your rat either. He didn't like him the first time he saw him, but I kept him in check," Aaron said calmly, and Abey cooperated by letting out a low growl.
Ron subconsciously covered his pocket, as he noticed his rat trembling violently.
"Don't scare him. Scabbers isn't in good shape already."
Aaron shrugged, then patted Abey's dragon head, and he quieted down.
"Oh, you forgot this," Aaron said, handing the rat tonic to Ron. "It might be of some use to your rat."
"How much is this?"
"The Witch gave it to us," Hermione said, a little excited. "You weren't there just now. Aaron managed to cut the price of Crookshanks by forty percent and even got the Witch to give us a bottle of rat tonic."
"It could have been even lower," Aaron said with some regret. He was confident he could have cut the five Galleons to less than two, but the Witch was too perceptive, and he didn't feel right continuing to bargain.
Arriving at the Leaky Cauldron, Arthur Weasley was sitting at the bar reading a copy of The Daily Prophet.
He smiled when he saw Harry. "Harry, you're back?"
"Mr. Weasley." Aaron extended his right hand. "It's good to see you."
"You too."
Harry looked at the newspaper in Arthur's hand. "Sirius Black still hasn't been caught?"
"No, the Ministry of Magic has mobilized most of its forces, but there's been no progress so far."
"How much is the reward for catching him?" Ron asked with interest. "Enough for us to travel again?"
"Forget once, ten times would be enough." Arthur also recalled the joy of traveling in Egypt, but as soon as he finished speaking, his face darkened. "Ron Weasley, I warn you, put away your unrealistic ideas. Black cannot be caught by thirteen-year-old Wizards."
"We have Aaron," Ron said immediately.
Aaron quietly took a step back. He wasn't getting involved in something like that!
Sirius Black was no ordinary wanted criminal; he could laugh out loud after killing thirteen people, which indicated a twisted psyche. To survive twelve years in Azkaban and then successfully escape showed an unyielding will.
These two traits combined made him a pure madman, and Aaron always kept his distance from such people.
Seeing Aaron take a step back, Ron said nothing more, instead placing a newspaper on the table.
"I have something to show you."
The three of them leaned in, looking at a Black and white photo in the newspaper: the Weasley family, dressed in local attire, laughing and chatting in front of several Pyramids.
"Egypt is a magical place, with many ancient things. Mummies, ancient tombs."
"How enviable," Hermione said. "The history of ancient Egyptian Wizards is truly worth exploring."
"Aaron, where did you go this summer?" Ron asked. "Did you go traveling too?"
"Ah, well... that's a secret," Aaron chuckled. Was that traveling? That was an adventure, a life-threatening adventure.
Just then, Mrs. Weasley came in, carrying large and small bags, accompanied by Fred, George, Percy, and Ginny.
Seeing Aaron and the others, they all greeted them warmly. Mrs. Weasley even asked Harry several questions, afraid he would forget something when he boarded the train tomorrow.
Only Percy's greeting made them feel a little overwhelmed: a solemn handshake and an exceptionally polite tone, as if it had been deliberately rehearsed.
However, his twin brothers, George and Fred, mimicked his greeting style, but added seven parts humor and three parts wit to their imitation, which made his face look rather displeased.
Percy had been elected Head Boy, his silver badge pinned to his chest, meticulously polished.
"The second Head Boy in the family!" Mrs. Weasley looked at Percy proudly, then cast a disapproving glance at Georgeand Fred. "Why weren't you two elected Prefects?"
"Why should we be Prefects?" Fred said, exasperated.
"It would take all the fun out of life," George added.
"You should set a good example for your sister."
"Ginny has other brothers to set an example for her," Percysaid haughtily. "I'm going upstairs to change; I'll be down for dinner later."
Seeing him leave, George and Fred both looked a bit more relaxed.
"Aaron, what do you think of Prefects?" George asked.
"Uh... Neller is a responsible Prefect. At least the Slytherins trust him."
"That's not what I'm asking," Fred said, laughing. "Do you want to be a Prefect?"
"No," Aaron shook his head decisively. "Being a Prefect is too tiring, and it doesn't pay anything. Compared to my own affairs, the duties of a Prefect are simply a burden."
The two exchanged glances and, in unison, gave Aaron a look of approval.
"That's brilliantly put."
"Next time Mother complains, we'll use that reason."
Aaron:...