What is Your Dream?

Chapter 23: What Are Your Dreams? Brook sat down across from the two of them.

The Weasley twins immediately noticed him.

Fred blinked, flashing a sly grin.

"Hey, new kid? You're... Brook, right?"

George chimed in at once, "What brings you to our table today? Finally realized you're sitting with Gryffindor's most charming duo?"

Brook couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth.

"I really was drawn here by your charm."

The twins stared at Brook, clearly taken aback by his response.

"Good taste." Fred nodded with mock solemnity.

George raised an eyebrow. "So you can tell us apart, then?"

Brook pretended to study their faces carefully.

He had no clue who was who.

These twins looked exactly alike.

Even if he knew them well, he'd probably struggle to tell them apart.

He pointed randomly. "You're Fred, and you're George."

A flicker of surprise passed through the twins' eyes, but they quickly masked it.

Fred shamelessly said, "You guessed wrong. I'm George."

George immediately followed up, "And I'm Fred."

Brook had caught that flash of surprise in their eyes.

He waved a hand. "Cut it out. You two are still pretty easy to tell apart."

Fred clutched his chest in mock agony. "We've been recognized!"

George asked curiously, "Even our mum can't tell us apart. How'd you do it?"

Brook winked playfully. "Well, I guessed."

The twins exchanged a look, then dramatically hugged each other, feigning heartbreak.

"George, we've been fooled."

"Fred, Hogwarts' two greatest prank masters, and we got played!"

Brook found himself grinning more and more. This was way too entertaining.

Fred suddenly turned serious. "Alright, what do you want from us?"

Brook smiled. "I actually have something to ask you. I heard you know every corner of Hogwarts, especially the... less well-known spots."

Fred and George glanced at each other, then both looked at Brook.

Their eyes seemed to say, A kindred spirit.

"A first-year getting interested in these secrets isn't a good look," Fred said, putting on a stern face.

Brook asked, "Oh, since when do you two care about that?"

George replied with mock gravity, "Gryffindor already has enough points lost from us two."

Brook said, "Don't worry. I've got ways to avoid getting caught."

Fred asked curiously, "Have you already learned the Disillusionment Charm?"

"Or do you have an Invisibility Cloak?" George added.

Brook silently noted those two terms.

So that's how the twins got away with their mischief.

"No, and no. But I have my own methods."

Fred lowered his voice. "Fine. What do you want to know?"

Brook didn't hold back. "The hidden rooms in Hogwarts, secret passages leading outside, the kitchen's location—basically, I want to know all of Hogwarts' secrets."

Fred raised an eyebrow, giving a "you've come to the right person" look, but he didn't answer right away.

George hesitated.

They did know these secrets—after all, they had the Marauder's Map.

But they couldn't just spill them to anyone.

If Brook slipped up and exposed those passage locations, it wouldn't be so easy for them to sneak out anymore.

Seeing them both silent, Brook understood their hesitation.

As someone asking for help, it was their right not to answer; if they did, it would be a favor.

But in this world, aside from a few exceptions, most things come down to exchanging interests.

If you can't get the result you want, it's often because the interests you've offered aren't enough.

You need to pay more.

Brook immediately transformed into a Dream Mentor.

"What are your dreams?"

The twins were both taken aback, clearly not expecting Brook to suddenly change the subject.

But they quickly regained their composure and answered in tandem.

"We have a very grand dream."

"To open the most popular Joke Shop."

"Oh." Brook narrowed his eyes.

Wasn't that a coincidence?

One of his system tasks happened to be [operate the most popular shop in Diagon Alley].

And he just happened to have a vacant storefront on hand.

He brushed his hand over the ring on his finger, and a piece of parchment appeared in his palm.

Since the Wizarding World had spatial equipment, there was no need for him to hide it.

He handed the parchment to the two of them. "Take a look."

When the twins saw what was on the parchment, a flicker of shock passed through their eyes.

It was the Deed to a shop in Diagon Alley, and the name on the Deed was Brook Lott himself.

"How about I trade this with you?" Brook said.

"Our information isn't worth that much money." Fred shook his head.

"What if we sell Ron to Brook?"

"Forget it, he eats too much. We'd probably end up paying out of pocket."

George nodded in deep agreement.

"We can tell you the information." Fred forced his gaze away from the parchment.

"But we can't take the Deed." George said firmly.

As much as they longed to open a Joke Shop, they wouldn't take such a huge advantage from Brook for nothing.

Not even trading the Marauder's Map they had on them would be fair.

Brook gave a sly smile.

He had guessed right.

The twins were so well-liked by everyone, and it wasn't just because of their pranks.

They had to have solid principles too.

"I'll take this Deed as an investment. If you're short on Startup Capital, I can cover that too. You'll be the bosses, and I won't interfere with anything in the Joke Shop. What do you say? Friends?"

"Really?" Fred was more excited than shocked.

George was relatively calmer. "What if we lose money?"

"Even if you lose it, I won't interfere. All I'm putting in is money, but you're putting in your dreams. I believe you'll pour your hearts into it."

Fred slapped the table. "Deal! But we're still preparing, so we won't open the shop anytime soon. If you want to back out, just tell us anytime."

George didn't hesitate either. "Wait for me a moment."

With that, he ran out of the hall.

"Brook, let me take you to the kitchen first. George can find us there."

Fred naturally knew what George was going to do.

There were still plenty of little lions around waiting to see the excitement.

He didn't want to expose the Marauder's Map, even if it was about to no longer belong to them.

Brook nodded and followed Fred's lead.