Chapter 455: Marcus

When they left the Jade Workshop, the sky had already grown dark.

Wizard Sean and Mr. Malfoy and Witch Suya finalized the last details of the magical hand mirror.

The two-person call version was the most common; the three-person and four-person versions were priced at terrifyingly high levels.

Mr. Malfoy explained it this way:

“Respected Mr. Hermes, this is necessary—without such a high price, how could one demonstrate the rarity of the multifaceted mirror?”

Moreover, this is something you crafted with your own hands, Merlin above…

You needn’t worry at all—I swear a military oath: within three days, thirty models of the multifaceted mirror will be sold out.”

Mr. Malfoy mumbled phrases like “celebrity effect” and “rarity drives value,” then enthusiastically refined the product further.

“The slim dual-face version must be halved in weight—five centimeters! Too thick, too thick—it’s practically a brick! Would you use a brick?”

Come on, my dear Lawrence, stop making garbage—do you want our noble customers who buy the slim mirrors to use iron blocks? It weighs a full kilogram!

The pattern on the back? Didn’t I already emphasize that?”

Mr. Malfoy rolled up his sleeves and stepped onto the production line.

He seemed very familiar with the alchemy apprentices at the Jade Workshop, directing them effortlessly.

Wizard Sean and Professor Terra simply watched him quietly as the range of magical hand mirrors expanded to an alarming extent.

Magic proved even more wondrous than Wizard Sean had imagined—in just one afternoon, they had already improved the appearance of the previously produced magical hand mirrors.

Now Wizard Sean held in his hand a magical hand mirror shaped like a catling.

Its back bore the catling’s pattern, and atop it hung two soft, dangling cat ears as ornaments.

In Wizard Sean’s understanding, it was like a phone case.

Not just the catling—Mr. Malfoy had also designed versions for young witches: the Sniffle version, with a plush pouch for small items; the Colorfish version, whose plump belly opened the mirror when pinched; the Unicorn version, featuring a glowing soft horn decoration, crafted entirely from glow-dust and pure white material…

Additionally, there were versions designed for male wizards: the Dragon version, maintaining constant temperature and automatically heating up when touched by anyone other than the owner; the Pegasus version, capable of floating autonomously in midair; the Phoenix version, adorned with elaborate, regal feather carvings…

Of course, Mr. Malfoy also designed simple, unadorned versions, as well as special ones like the Voldemort Bat version, the Dementor version, the Golden Snitch version…

Suya followed beside him, diligently recording every detail in awe.

After overhauling the appearance and thickness, Mr. Malfoy turned his attention to the magical hand mirror’s display capabilities.

“Respected Mr. Hermes, aside from displaying wizards, can it also display the surrounding environment?”

“If we add some film, could it record this environment?”

Mr. Malfoy asked hesitantly.

“Yes.”

Wizard Sean thought—this was just a camera function.

“By Merlin’s name… we’re going to make a fortune this time!”

Mr. Malfoy let out a low exclamation and plunged back into the production line.

Seeing his return, the already overworked alchemy apprentices glared darkly.

“New feature added—we must complete all modifications before tomorrow—”

Mr. Malfoy announced.

Dozens of wizards remained silent.

“Mr. Malfoy, forgive me, but this is impossible!”

One wizard protested.

“Wages doubled!”

Mr. Malfoy waved his hand.

“B-but, modifying three hundred magical hand mirrors in less than a day—only if we don’t sleep at all might it be possible…”

The male wizard in the gray-black robe spoke more weakly now.

“Bonus doubled!”

Mr. Malfoy added.

“I have no problem anymore, Mr. Malfoy!”

The wizard immediately brightened.

Alchemists—even apprentices in the workshop—were paid well.

Now their pay had doubled.

Wizard Sean knew money held great power, but he hadn’t expected it to be this powerful.

By the time they stepped out of the Jade Workshop, he already held samples of every revised version.

“Time is short—I cannot accompany you—use this pair of magical hand mirrors to contact me—Merlin, how incredibly useful this thing is, ten times better than owls or fireplaces—”

After seeing Wizard Sean and Professor Terra out of the workshop, Mr. Malfoy vanished back into the production line.

He grinned broadly, muttering over and over, “Made it, made it.”

The Jade Workshop was bathed in twilight; the evening breeze lightly brushed the clouds, and the setting sun painted young and old wizards alike in orange.

“Mr. Malfoy is a fine merchant—he possesses all the cunning of a trader, yet he retains conscience, which is rare.”

Professor Terra said.

At that moment, they were heading toward the fireplace.

…

The day after the Easter holiday.

Wizard Sean remained busy in the dungeon, seemingly having angered Professor Snape by being taken away by Professor Terra a few days prior.

That day, Professor Snape did not even return to his office—he stayed glowering beside the cauldron until the misty steam obscured his face.

Wizard Sean brewed the potion, thinking he might not be able to go to Diagon Alley for the sale today.

He didn’t mind—it was no loss—and turned his thoughts back to brewing the Polyjuice Potion.

Beyond that, he had to consider how to break the curse of the Resurrection Stone.

Inside the cauldron, green bubbles rose and burst; outside, the flame burned and died.

Only after the Polyjuice Potion was complete did Professor Snape impatiently release a snowy owl clutching a letter.

Wizard Sean took the letter from Bai Yi’s claws and returned Bai Yi to the Book of Wizards; even then, Bai Yi chirped loudly, trying to peck at Professor Snape’s robe.

【Dear Wizard Sean:

Diagon Alley has reportedly opened a new, excellent shop—do you have time to accompany an old bone on a stroll?

Yours affectionately: Grandpa Marcus】

Wizard Sean looked up; Professor Snape let out an unceremonious snort.

Wizard Sean knew then that Grandpa Marcus’s hope would be dashed.

As he prepared to reply, a knock came at the door.

Minutes later, Professor McGonagall laboriously led the young wizard out of the dungeon.

“Olivia told me the magical hand mirrors have gone on sale.”

Professor McGonagall said gently,

“You should have been there.”

Thus, Wizard Sean met Grandpa Marcus at the Leaky Cauldron.

The Leaky Cauldron.

It was dark and filthy. A few old women sat in the corner sipping sherry from tiny cups; one smoked a long pipe. A small man in a top hat chatted with the barkeep, whose hair was nearly gone and whose face resembled a shriveled walnut.

Marcus stood before the barkeep, setting down a butterbeer, his voice brimming with cheer:

“Come here, let me take a good look at my lovely McGonagall child.”