Chapter 275: The Accepted Invitation

Not long after, as Xiang Xiang Xien was brewing potions in the dungeon, yet more letters arrived in great numbers.

Professor Snape frowned, watching the owls drop one letter after another onto the dungeon table, yet ultimately suppressed the urge to crush them all into the cauldron.

The letters were chaotic—first came an overwhelming flood of news reports. The hype surrounding "Mr. Hermes" had never faded; instead, it surged again after some wizards obtained his Chocolate Frog cards.

Then came reports on the Fairy Cookie series; after two rounds of sales, journalists finally confirmed the varieties being sold.

This in itself was unremarkable, but this time was different—the notice board outside had been updated. Clear, large characters were visible in the report’s photograph: “The Three-Headed Dog Series will be available soon.”

Wizards’ enthusiasm nearly overturned the entire shop; every day, crowds gathered at the entrance, hoping the mysterious alchemist would change his mind and issue public invitation cards.

The allure of the Three-Headed Dog needed no explanation—most importantly, this shop clearly possessed immense potential!

If they had the Three-Headed Dog, why not the Thunderbird?

If they had the Thunderbird, why not the Cat-Panther, the Bird-Snake, the Phoenix…?

Just thinking about it was enough to make wizards’ blood boil.

Thus, despite opening only once a month, the shop had people waiting at its door every day. Its agent, Qiluo, spent his days studying Dark Magic and Defense Against the Dark Arts, occasionally throwing out fools who tried to break in, and contacting the Ministry to have them sent straight to Azkaban.

In truth, wizards have always been accustomed to taking such "shortcuts."

When the Philosopher’s Stone was created, two or three wizards each week tried to steal it—and naturally, none ever returned.

This also indirectly proved one thing: the wizards who truly stood at the pinnacle of the Wizarding World must possess formidable personal strength.

Here, perhaps there was no power—only raw, unvarnished differences in magical ability.

Or perhaps, magic itself was power.

After the flood of news reports came a single, separate letter:

【Dear Mr. Green:

Upon your approval, an invitation has been sent to the Chocolate Frog Committee. The Fairy Shop will open tomorrow.

—Yours faithfully, Qiluo】

One hundred gold Galleons per invitation was the request made by the Chocolate Frog Committee last time.

Xiang Xiang Xien guessed what they intended to do, and did not object.

After this letter came others from Luo En, Harry, and others, all hoping the group from the cottage would go together to Diagon Alley to buy books the day after tomorrow; everyone wrote to ask about Xiang Xiang Xien’s schedule.

When Xiang Xiang Xien replied, an owl flew toward Professor Snape, who gave it a cold glance and took the invitation from its claw.

By then, Xiang Xiang Xien’s cauldron had long cooled; he gathered the many crystal vials into a box.

Xiang Xiang Xien could brew some simple potions himself, but some of the potions Qiluo needed were not simple—Qiluo usually went to Knockturn Alley to purchase them.

…

July passed amid violent storms and torrential rain.

Xiang Xiang Xien gradually mastered his Animagus form; his soul transfiguration had reached the [Entry] stage.

On the very day the rain finally ceased, the Fairy Shop opened.

The entire British Wizarding World was in an uproar, hoping to receive that invitation.

At this point, invitations had been secretly bid up to hundreds of gold Galleons—but unfortunately, the invitations bore special magic; those bought on the black market were useless.

This was not because someone was selling them; it was discovered when an old wizard died during this period, and his son was barred from entry.

The Daily Prophet was publishing this story extensively, even pushing aside the news of the famous Lothar’s upcoming book signing.

After all, who could ignore the exclusive interview with “Mr. Hermes”?

As if to stoke the frenzy, the Chocolate Frog Committee released an exclusive interview just two weeks after launching the new cards.

Simultaneously, they dropped a bombshell—one of the “Hermes Cards” had an invitation to the Fairy Shop printed on its back.

This nearly doubled the crowd in Diagon Alley, attracting wizards from other nations as well.

Xiang Xiang Xien paid no mind to the external commotion; he was slightly surprised by the gloomy figure beside him.

The professor was coming with him.

“Have you forgotten you’re still under detention—”

Professor Snape hissed,

“You’d better hurry, Xiang Xiang Xien—”

His voice dragged on, yet the pressure had lessened.

In the corridor.

Sir Cadogan had donned his long-unused helmet, obscuring his face from Madam Violet.

Only after the two black-robed figures vanished did the knight bury his face in his pony’s mane and gulp down wine.

Madam Violet and the Fat Lady finally noticed his tear-streaked face:

“My lady, do you know?

Wizardly courage always falls into two categories: one is reckless bravery, the other is enduring humiliation with patience.

Which is nobler? No one has yet decided…”

The knight muttered words no one understood, drank wine endlessly, then sought out a monk to duel—because, he claimed, monks of the last century had tried to peek at Miss Sunflower’s skirt…

Monks were, of course, lecherous—this was common knowledge among Hogwarts portraits—but few knights remembered black marks from centuries past as clearly as this one.

The Fat Lady finally understood why the knight always found someone to duel.

…

Diagon Alley, outside Shop No. 77.

The shop had not yet opened,

but a small stall selling Chocolate Frogs had already been set up beside it; wizards without invitations, yet filled with longing, lined up directly in front of the stall.

Harry and Luo En were among them.

They had come with Fred and George; unlike a certain absentee shareholder, Fred and George ran the shop with daily enthusiasm.

Now they had even rented a shop in Hogsmeade, excitedly planning to expand the Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes worldwide.

Thanks to them, Harry and Luo En could now buy Chocolate Frog cards—Luo En had long wanted to collect the “Hermes Card.”

The fireplace inside the Fairy Shop suddenly ignited, casting warm orange light,

and amid tense, noisy anticipation, the Fairy Shop opened its doors.

Wizards surged inside—they had been waiting for this day since receiving their invitations.

Professor Snape entered like a dark cloud; the moment he saw Qiluo, his face turned terrifying.

He drew his wand and pressed it against Qiluo’s chest:

“Ah—I thought you’d be smarter—say, leave Britain—”