"All right, I'll discount them," Erwin said through gritted teeth. The books had been gathering dust for years, and if he refused now, they would likely keep gathering dust until some other unfortunate student wandered in. "Three Sickles a book. Ten books. That is the lowest I can possibly go."
"Twenty Sickles for the lot," Roger replied calmly.
They went back and forth for several minutes, each of them wearing the polite smile of someone trying to rob the other with manners. In the end, the ten extra books were settled at twenty-five Sickles and sixteen Knuts. Erwin looked as if each coin had been pulled from his own teeth.
The rest of the items were harder. Roger wanted the cauldron set, the phials, the scales, the telescope, and stationery, but he pressed every flaw as if he were conducting a Ministry inspection. Erwin's beard trembled with outrage as the boy pointed out soot marks, dull hinges, crooked fittings, and tiny chips that most customers would never have noticed.
"No, absolutely not," Erwin snapped at last. "If I don't sell these things this year, I'll sell them next year. Twenty percent off, and not one Knut less."
"Fine, forget the books and cauldron for a moment," Roger said, lifting one glass phial. "Look at these bottles. They haven't even been cleaned properly. The scales haven't been calibrated, so I don't know whether they'll ruin a potion. And this telescope is rusted here. I can barely turn it."
"Good as new," Erwin barked.
He waved his wand, and the little problems Roger had mentioned vanished one by one. The phials gleamed, the scales balanced neatly, and the telescope turned smoothly in Roger's hand. Erwin glared at him as though daring him to find another excuse.
"And now, young man?" Erwin demanded.
"Twenty percent off is fine," Roger said.
Erwin's mind raced through the numbers with impressive speed. "The remaining items, after twenty percent off, come to sixty-nine Sickles and seventeen Knuts. Add the books, and the total comes to five Galleons, ten Sickles, and four Knuts if I'm being generous and rounding cleanly."
He had old eyes, but when money was involved, not a single detail escaped him. Even after accepting Roger's discount, he silently calculated that he still had room for profit. Not much profit, perhaps, but enough to keep him from throwing the boy out.
"Money," Erwin said, holding out one hand.
Roger placed six Galleons on the counter, then began packing everything into the backpack sitting nearby. It was plain brown leather and looked ordinary, but the inside held far more than the outside suggested. Books, phials, cauldrons, parchment, and the telescope vanished into it without making the bag heavier.
"Wait." Erwin swept the Galleons into the drawer with one hand and slapped the other onto the backpack. "This was not included in the price we discussed."
Roger blinked at him with perfect innocence.
"That backpack has a permanent Undetectable Extension Charm," Erwin said, narrowing his eyes. "It is worth fifteen Sickles. If you want to take it, that will cost an extra seven Sickles at least."
Roger pulled out another Galleon and slapped it onto the counter. Then, with a faintly offended look, he reached into the pen holder full of old wands and casually pulled one out. "How stingy."
"No need to examine it," he added, tossing the old wand into the backpack. Without looking back, he slung the bag over his shoulder and walked out of Erwin's shabby little shop.
Erwin stroked his beard in satisfaction. Trying to take advantage of me, were you? Not a chance.
He flicked the extra Galleon in the air and happily dropped it into the drawer. Only a moment later did his expression stiffen. The old wand Roger had taken was one of the better second-hand pieces, worth at least one and a half Galleons, which meant he had not only failed to raise the price properly but had also lost the backpack as part of the deal.
"You cheeky little fox," Erwin muttered, staring at the door Roger had already disappeared through. "Next time you come in here, I'm charging you extra."
In the end, he had still made a small profit. That did not stop him from feeling deeply annoyed at being outmaneuvered by a child.
I have the wand and the textbooks, Roger thought, checking the weight of the backpack on his shoulder. Now I only need a pet.
He looked toward Gringotts. Diagon Alley spread in a rough branching shape, and the bank stood at the central crossing like a white stone fortress. Whatever Quirrell had done inside had clearly escalated, because Ministry Aurors had arrived and were helping the goblins control the area.
Roger glanced at the crowd ahead and abandoned the idea of visiting Eeylops Owl Emporium on the other side. Pushing through that many witches and wizards while Gringotts smoked in the background seemed unwise. Instead, he turned toward the Magical Menagerie nearby.
The moment he entered, he was dazzled by the sheer number of things inside. Phoenix feathers and curved beaks hung on the walls, while a magical eye floated above a narrow-necked bottle on the counter. Compared with shops that specialized in owls, this place gathered every strange creature and creature-related item Diagon Alley could legally sell.
In one glass tank, a blue salamander breathed tiny tongues of flame. In the water tank beside it, silver fish darted around a green Grindylow that grinned unpleasantly through the glass. Overhead, a purple spider with too many eyes crawled lazily across a web stretched between the rafters.
In the corner, a pile of crooked antlers caught Roger's eye. Their colors ranged from silver to brownish gold, and they were polished enough to look more like decorations than leftovers from a creature. He slowed, trying to guess what they belonged to.
"Winged stag antlers," said a shop assistant, noticing his curiosity and stepping over with a friendly smile. "Quite precious. Winged stags can fly for long distances, and their antlers are useful in wandmaking and certain potions."
"I don't think I've seen you in Diagon Alley before," she added. "A new Hogwarts student?"
"Yes," Roger said.
"Then you'll need a pet." She pointed toward the farther section of the shop. "First-years usually choose from owls, cats, or toads. Would you like to have a look?"
Compared with Erwin next door, the staff here were warm without being pushy. Roger immediately felt more at ease.
"Thank you," he said.
He glanced first at the owls perched along a row of stands, then at the cats lounging in several sunlit corners. "Why are students only allowed to bring those three kinds of animals?"
"That rule is mostly for student safety and convenience," the assistant explained patiently. "Hogwarts is in the Scottish Highlands, and many students live far from home. Owls can deliver letters and parcels, which makes them especially useful companions."
"Cats and toads are small and quiet, so they don't usually disturb other students," she continued. "Cats offer warmth and companionship, which helps homesick students. Toad slime is also useful in some potions, though I admit not everyone finds that charming."
She smiled. "Most importantly, all three are relatively easy to care for and do not need complicated living conditions. The school wants students to focus most of their time and energy on learning magic."
"I'd like to buy an owl and a cat," Roger said after thinking for a moment.
A toad was out of the question. The thought of keeping something damp and cold in his pocket made his skin crawl. He had endured enough unpleasant textures in Azkaban to last a lifetime.
"Oh?" The assistant looked surprised. "Hogwarts first-years are only allowed to bring one pet to school."
"Of course," Roger said with a nod.
He was not buying two pets for himself. For eleven years, he had been at Jessica's side, but in September, he would leave for Hogwarts. Jessica would be alone then, waiting through long weeks for him to return during holidays.
They could write by owl, but letters were not the same as company. Roger wanted to buy a cat to keep his mother warm, watched over, and just a little less lonely.
"I understand," the assistant said softly after hearing his explanation. "That is very thoughtful of you. Come with me, and I'll show you the owls and cats we have."
She opened a small door at the back of the shop, and Roger stopped in place.
Beyond the wooden door was not a cramped storeroom, but a vast enclosed space full of sunlight and fresh air. A clear stream wound through lush grass, trees grew beneath a bright enchanted sky, and colorful flowers swayed in a breeze that should not have existed inside a shop. Magical creatures moved throughout the space, some flying, some padding through the undergrowth, and some watching visitors with bright, curious eyes.
"Where is this?" Roger whispered, stunned despite two lifetimes of memories.
"This is why we are called the Magical Menagerie," the assistant said with a smile. "The space was expanded with an Undetectable Extension Charm so we can properly care for different magical animals."
Roger stared at the miniature world hidden behind the shop door and felt wonder rise in him again. Diagon Alley seemed determined to prove that the magical world could still surprise him, no matter how much of the story he thought he knew.
"Please follow me," the assistant said. "We'll start with the owl area."
Roger followed her excitedly through the greenery to a grove where dozens of owls perched among the branches. They came in many sizes and colors, from snow-white birds with noble eyes to small brown owls that bobbed their heads as he passed. Some slept with one eye open, while others stared at him as if judging whether he was worthy of carrying their letters.
"This is a long-eared owl from Eastern Europe," the assistant said, pointing to a light grey owl perched on a branch. Its ear tufts stood proudly above its round face. "It is strong, steady, and capable of flying through wind and snow. The price is twelve Galleons."
The owl turned its head and looked at Roger with large, round eyes, curious and unblinking.
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