Chapter 108

Is it hard to buy a sweater?

When the weather turned cold, Wizard Sean had already asked two senior students from the Weasleys to find an opportunity to slip into Hogsmeade Village and buy him some clothing—scarves, sweaters, light coats, and boots.

But they had bad luck—just as they were about to leave the castle, they were caught.

In the corner of the corridor at the time:

“Sweaters—of course—very easy!”

Fred winked.

“Since you came to us—”

George gave Fred a subtle glance.

“Then you’d better know our price!”

Fred understood at once.

“Five sickles each!”

George shouted, then casually glanced at Wizard Sean.

“Deal!”

Wizard Sean declared firmly.

“Wait no no no no no—six sickles!”

George frantically tried to backtrack.

“Deal!”

Wizard Sean shook hands with the Weasley seniors.

The seniors recoiled as if shocked:

“Seven!”

“Deal!”

“Eight—no, nine… Merlin’s beard!”

George wilted.

“Three gold Galleons—scarf, sweater, light coat, gloves, and boots all included!”

Fred quoted the final price,

“We only made you one sickle profit—not a single Knut more!”

“I believe you.”

Wizard Sean said.

“Two gold Galleons—please stop talking.”

George said weakly,

“I’ve never met a wizard like you—those others…”

“They thought we’d charge them ten gold Galleons!”

Fred picked up the thread.

“But they only bought ten Knuts!”

George stared oddly at Wizard Sean.

“Let’s go—before we regret this…”

Wizard Sean nodded.

Just a few steps away, Fred pulled George’s shoulder close and whispered:

“How much did we make?”

“Two sickles.”

George blinked.

The two exchanged a grin and clapped hands.

But as they turned to leave, a sharp cat’s yowl rang out.

The two figures who had just entered the secret passage bolted.

“At nine at night, Mrs. Norris would be here? Fred!”

George shouted.

“How should I know!”

Fred threw a ball filled with large bubble powder, but unfortunately Mrs. Norris had already caught up.

Wizard Sean, waiting in the corridor for Mrs. Norris, left disappointed.

In short, when Wizard Sean next saw the two seniors, it was in the dungeons, watching them serve detention.

For five full days, they couldn’t escape Professor Snape—even though they promised they’d slip out for an hour to buy Wizard Sean warm clothes.

Only today, after being assigned by Professor Snape to clean the toilets, did they finish their detention; Fred claimed they got released early because they snitched on a few Gryffindors.

“Oh, them—they’re our brothers in arms—”

George said nostalgically.

“But you paid enough!”

Fred winked.

This fit Wizard Sean’s stereotype of the twins perfectly—he couldn’t help wondering: if someone else paid more, would they betray him too?

Actually—

“Tell me—why did you sneak out?”

Professor Snape’s voice cut like a freezing wind, making Fred, scrubbing glass, and George, sweeping the floor, shiver.

“We were just testing a secret passage.”

Fred said stubbornly.

“One that’s supposedly been abandoned.”

George said with solemn seriousness.

Professor Snape said nothing, only smiled coldly and threatened:

“If I make you clean the bathrooms for two weeks…”

“To buy sweaters, Professor!”

George groaned.

“We need sweaters, Professor.”

Fred put on a look of earnest sincerity.

But Professor Snape merely stared at them silently for a moment, then told them to get out of the dungeons.

In the Hogwarts Great Hall.

The enchanted ceiling showed a clear, pale blue-gray sky, with thin clouds drifting slowly overhead; the air carried the warm scent of baked bread, mingled with morning mist.

Suddenly, a distant flapping sound grew louder, like heavy rain pounding against windows.

Hundreds of owls flooded in through the high windows, their brown, gray, and white wings interweaving—so blurred the young wizards couldn’t tell them apart—until the owls landed in front of their tables.

A sudden shrill cry from a Howler echoed somewhere; beside him, Wizard Sean, Hermione, Neville, and Jia Jia Siting all covered their ears as if used to it.

Jia Jia Siting stared out the stained-glass window; the rain had just stopped, but the trees weren’t so lucky—most of their leaves had already fallen.

A silver-gray owl soared proudly to Jia Jia Siting’s side, carrying a thick, heavy package.

He glanced carefully at Wizard Sean, who was still devouring his apple pie; then he exhaled deeply in relief.

Inside the package was a thick sweater and gloves, along with a photo of four young wizards—each of them shivering from the cold, their expressions different, yet strangely all staring at the wizard in the center.

His emerald eyes, in the firelight, gained a faint warmth.

On the back of the photo were words:

【Dear Finley:

I’ve heard many stories; I think his eyes must be smaller than a Black Lake;

Eyes like those wouldn’t cry;

Perhaps standing before him is like standing by a Black Lake, with fine mist stretching from earth to sky.

Cherish your friend always.

—Always proud of you: Liliana】

Jia Jia Siting quietly put away the letter and left the Great Hall, as if Wizard Sean hadn’t noticed.

Meanwhile, a spotted owl landed beside Hermione; the young witch glanced at Wizard Sean, then swiftly left the Great Hall.

Wizard Sean quietly tore his gaze from the delicious food—he couldn’t shake the feeling that Jia Jia Siting and Hermione had been acting strangely lately.

In the classroom.

The fireplace burned fiercely; Wizard Sean entered carrying Standard Spellwork: Beginner and a small notebook belonging to Professor Flitwick.

As he instinctively moved closer to the fireplace, a sudden gust of cold wind struck like a final assault—but Wizard Sean took one large step forward, and it missed.

On his usual seat lay a letter with golden edges.

Wizard Sean walked over silently and saw a package beneath the letter.

He paused, then opened the envelope:

【Can’t believe it’s already autumn,

The trees are withering.

The advantage of autumn is,】

You can wear a warm and pretty sweater,

Wizard Sean, make it even warmer.

—— Your ever-loyal: Jia Jia Siting

Outside the colorful window, an owl glided past, carrying away the last chill of autumn.

There are two more chapters in sequence; they will be posted tomorrow morning.