HP: Hogwart's Model Wizard

"Wait, you know how to brew pet tonics too?" 

Cedric's eyes lit up at the revelation. "Then could I count on you to make tonic for my owl in the future?" 

"Of course." Kyle glanced at the gray forest owl perched on the nearby shelf and said, "But owls are more complicated than rats. Their tonic requires more effort to brew, so I'll have to charge nine Sickles. Don't think it's expensive—that's already the market rate. Besides, my formula came directly from Newt himself. The quality is leagues better than what you'd find on the market—absolutely worth the price." 

"Hmm…" Cedric nodded in agreement. 

He couldn't deny it. In Diagon Alley, the cheapest owl tonic cost at least nine Sickles, and the better ones could go for a full Galleon. If Kyle's formula really did come from Scamander, then it was indeed a bargain. 

Still… 

"Couldn't you make it a little cheaper?" Cedric asked hesitantly. "I mean, we're friends, aren't we? Friends should get a discount." 

Honestly, Cedric would have loved to slap a Galleon on the table and confidently order seven or eight doses. But as a second-year student, his pocket money was painfully limited. 

Sure, Hogwarts provided room and board, but quills, ink, parchment, and other essentials weren't free. And with all the miscellaneous expenses over a term, he barely had enough to scrape by. While he could save by cutting unnecessary spending, who would complain about having more Galleons? A discount would certainly help. 

Faced with Cedric's hopeful expression, Kyle rubbed his chin thoughtfully and nodded. "Hmm, you're right. We're friends, so I can't charge you market price." 

"Exactly!" Cedric's eyes sparkled with anticipation. 

"In that case…" Kyle took a deep breath, then held up a single finger. "You only need to pay this much." 

"One Sickle?" Cedric exclaimed in delight. 

Kyle shook his head. "Nope. One Galleon." 

"…" 

Cedric's smile froze, and his voice wavered. "O-One Galleon?" 

"This is your idea of a discount?" 

"Sure is. That's 20% off," Kyle said, straight-faced. "Think about it—aside from the rich kids in Slytherin, who else at Hogwarts would spend a Galleon on owl tonic? My business prospects aren't exactly great. Now that I've got a confirmed customer who won't bail, I have to make the most of it." 

"…" 

Cedric was speechless. His eye twitched as he stared at Kyle. Shameless. Utterly shameless. Who said stuff like this right to someone's face—and with such conviction? Did wizards have no moral compass anymore? 

Shaking with frustration, Cedric took a deep breath and muttered, "Kyle, you're going to end up in Azkaban." 

"Appreciate the blessing." Kyle raised an eyebrow, entirely unbothered. He even asked, "So, do you still want the owl tonic?" 

"…Yes." Cedric ground the word out between clenched teeth. 

But just as he was about to reach for his money, the compartment door slid open once again. 

A small figure stood in the doorway, looking nervous. 

It was a pretty little girl, her brown hair tied into twin pigtails, and her round, slightly chubby cheeks gave her a hint of baby-faced charm. She looked like she was a first-year too. 

Huh? 

Kyle and Cedric exchanged a glance. 

Did she come to find you?

I don't know her! 

Though neither said a word, they somehow communicated the exact same thought 'She's not here for me.'

Once they'd both come to that realization, Kyle turned back to the girl, his confusion evident. "Did you come to the wrong compartment?" 

The girl, clearly shy, instinctively took a step back. But she stopped herself, shook her head, and said softly, "N-No, I'm looking for you." 

"For me?" 

Kyle raised an eyebrow, even more perplexed. He was certain he didn't know her. 

Ignoring Cedric's teasing smirk, Kyle asked, "What do you need from me?" 

As he spoke, he gave the girl another once-over. 

Nope, still didn't recognize her. And with no resemblance to Chris, he could rule out any melodramatic surprises, like suddenly having a secret sister. 

"Well… I overheard your conversation in the corridor earlier," the girl murmured. 

Her voice was soft, almost timid, and she quickly added, "I didn't mean to eavesdrop! The red-haired upperclassman forgot to close the door. I really didn't mean to…" 

Kyle waved it off. "It's fine. Go on." 

The Hogwarts Express wasn't exactly known for its soundproofing. Even with the door closed, Kyle could still hear the shouting in the corridor, and it was no surprise their voices had carried outside. Besides, Percy hadn't exactly been subtle earlier, so someone overhearing wasn't unusual. 

Relieved by Kyle's response, the girl reached into her pocket and pulled out… a scruffy gray rat. 

??? 

Kyle blinked, a sense of déjà vu washing over him. Hadn't this exact scene just happened? 

Oh, right. Percy had done the same thing with Scabbers. Their actions were practically identical, right down to the type of rat. 

Was this some kind of classic reenactment? 

Feeling a sudden chill, Kyle instinctively studied the rat more closely. 

All its paws were intact. It seemed like a regular rat. 

Kyle shook his head, chuckling at his own paranoia. 

Seriously, how many illegal Animagi could there be in the wizarding world? Even if there were more, surely not all of them would disguise themselves as rats to blend in with young wizards. One Pettigrew was more than enough. 

Once he calmed down, Kyle ventured a guess about her intentions. "So, you're here to buy rat tonic?" 

She had a rat, mentioned Percy, and their earlier discussion had revolved around pet tonics. Adding it all up, what else could she be here for? 

"Can I?" 

Sure enough, the girl nodded, her big, watery eyes looking up at Kyle hopefully. "I've tried the tonics from Diagon Alley, but they didn't work very well." 

"Of course you can. It'd be my pleasure." 

Realizing she was a customer, Kyle broke into a warm smile. "Wait here. I'll go grab it for you. 

By the way, I'm Kyle Jobar, a first-year like you. You can just call me Kyle." 

"C-Conna," the girl stammered, her babyish cheeks tinged with pink. "Conna Prince." 

(End of Chapter)