Hogwarts School of the Dark Arts

"Well, how about I buy their essence at twice the price of these raw materials?"

"100 times! We won't sell it for a cent less! This is a product that transcends the times!"

"Cheaper." Dumbledore nodded, holding the small crystal in his hand thoughtfully: "Based on the unit price of raw materials per ounce, the price of essence per ounce is 10 times."

"Impossible." Xavier shook his head decisively: "Essence made from raw materials costs 1 galleons per galleon!"

"It's too expensive." Dumbledore shook his head: "No one can afford this price. With the pricing method you just mentioned, I will pay up to 20 times the price to buy some for research."

Xavier calculated silently and felt that the price he had mentioned before was a little too outrageous.

"Okay." Xavier nodded: "But the minimum order is 100 Gallons!"

"Hmm..." Dumbledore used his wand to control four globs of essence to fly into his mouth one by one: "Tsk... ok... it tastes really good."

Xavier:…

I now suspect that you are not buying the essence for research purposes, but for consumption!

"But now is not the time you should stay here. Gryffindor will deduct 5 points for you... Go back to the dormitory early. I will go somewhere else and come back later. If you are still here, I I will deduct another 5 points from Gryffindor House...and hand you over to Mr. Filch."

"I know, Principal Dumbledore, I'll go back right now." Xavier nodded quickly and agreed - for the sake of the big order of 100 Galleons!

"Ah."

Dumbledore hummed lightly, turned around, and disappeared.

Looking at Dumbledore who disappeared instantly, Xavier, who was still a little excited, suddenly frowned.

"I seem to have forgotten something... By the way, I didn't sign the contract!"

Xavier clapped his hands suddenly, and then thought about it and thought it was nothing.

He had already promised, and Xavier didn't think that Dumbledore, as the principal, would break his promise for 100 Galleons.This is an order for 100 Galleons, and it's not like I gave you 100 Galleons for free.

"For the sake of the order, I have to be obedient~"

While muttering something, Xavier cleaned the ground and prepared to leave.

When Xavier reached for the box containing the small crystal and prepared to take it away, Xavier suddenly realized that he had forgotten something.

"Gan! My little crystal!!!"

Xavier remembered that just now he only promised to sell Dumbledore the essence, but when Dumbledore left, he took away the small crystal that he had not mentioned at all!

"You actually stole things from students! Your conscience is so bad!"

Showing his middle finger to Dumbledore, who wondered if he could see him, Xavier left the secret room and followed the secret passage.

Although it was a bit baffling, it didn't matter. Xavier had originally thought of giving the small crystal to Dumbledore for study.

With Xavier's current knowledge reserves, he still doesn't know when he will be able to clearly study the use of small crystals. It is better to use the Erudite-Dumbledore plug-in rationally.

"It's just a little unpleasant to go through!"

Muttering, Xavier opened the door of the secret passage and walked out. The door was an oil painting hanging on the wall. This painting was a pure landscape, and it was easy to remember - if there were no other paintings. If you come to visit and cause trouble.

I don't know how Ron's two brothers discovered this secret passage. They probably got the Marauder's Map from Filch.

In contrast, Xavier was actually more curious about how they cracked and activated the Marauder's Map. The activation password was not a serious magic password.

"Oh, my dear, you are finally back. I was so anxious. I thought you were going to run away from school... Go into the dormitory and have a good rest." The fat lady breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Xavier coming back. .

Looking at the open door, Xavier pursed his lips, somewhat suspecting that the Fat Madam had "snitched" to Dumbledore, which was why he was caught by Dumbledore.

"Thank you for your concern, ma'am. I'm just going out to take care of the garbage in the dormitory. Good night."

After a little explanation, Xavier walked into the lounge and went back to the dormitory to rest.

……

…………

On the other side, in the principal's office, Dumbledore held a small crystal and observed it carefully with a serious expression.

After watching it for a while, Dumbledore placed the small crystal on the table, reached out with his wand to open a drawer, and took out a box from inside.

The box was also cast with protective magic, and Dumbledore continued to open it with his wand. Inside was a burgundy irregular-shaped gem.

Dumbledore placed the gemstone next to the small crystal.

"It really looks like...it seems like I have to go there tomorrow...no, I have to ask now."

Putting the gems and small crystals into the box, Dumbledore picked up the box and wand and cast Apparition, disappearing from the principal's office and appearing in front of a small independent building somewhere unknown.

dong dong dong...

"Who is it? It's so late, what's wrong?"

"It's me, Albus. I have something important to ask you, old friend."

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

squeak~

The door opened, and an old man with white hair stuck his head out: "Can't it be tomorrow? I'm getting ready to go to bed."

"Nico, if you still want to sleep after reading this, I can come over tomorrow."

Dumbledore smiled slightly and handed the box in his hand to Nico.

"What is so mysterious?"

Nico smiled dumbly, took the box, and turned sideways to signal Dumbledore to enter the room.

"Perenaal has gone to sleep, let's keep the noise down."

"Okay, Nico, you'd better take a quick look at something."

"Okay, I do want to know what it is that makes you so anxious."

Nico nodded, opened the box and was stunned for just one glance.

"This..." Nico opened his mouth in surprise: "Where did you get it? Do you still have it?"

"Confiscated from a student who was running around at night...theoretically there should be quite a few more." Dumbledore said after thinking about the wording.

"Thank you Merlin! I have been looking for it for hundreds of years, but I never thought I would see it again!"

Nico carefully put down the box and took out the small crystal from it, stroking it lovingly with a pair of skinny hands.

"Did you ask the student where he got it?"

"I asked." Dumbledore nodded: "But old friend, can you tell me what this is and what it has to do with the Sorcerer's Stone? They feel very similar to me. It is what you used when making the Sorcerer's Stone. One of the raw materials?”

"Of course I can tell you this, my friend, but you must tell me where you found this thing later!"

"must."