It's Over

While Harry, Ron, and Hermione were racking their brains trying to get information about Nicolas Flamel from Hagrid, Albert was holed up in the library finishing his weekly homework, trying to free up as much free time as possible for other things.

Fred and George were also busy in the library, but not to do homework. Instead, they were searching for the recipe for the Laughing Potion and detailed information about Arioto, in preparation for making Laughing Toffee.

Right now, the Twins are discussing how to get cheap raw materials. Making decent Laughing Toffee won't be easy; their meager allowances are barely enough to cover the costs. Research is expensive, and they don't have Albert's knack for making money.

Moreover, if the pharmacy doesn't sell Alioto's Leaves and Glumbumble honey, the only options are to try getting them from Mundungus Fletcher or ask the owner of the Hog's Head Pub for help.

"Your letter!"

Lee Jordan pulled up a chair and sat down next to Albert, casually placing a folded note in front of Albert. He smiled at the Twins brothers opposite him and feigned surprise, saying, "What are you doing here?"

"We've figured out the basics of how to make Laughing Toffee. Want to join in?" Fred asked with a grin, waving the parchment in his hand.

"Forget it, don't even think about taking my meager allowance." Lee Jordan clutched his pockets even tighter.

"You really aren't going to participate?" George took the parchment from Fred, held it out to Lee Jordan, and said, "Are you really not interested in our grand plan to make money in the future?"

"You guys?" Lee Jordan glanced at Albert beside him with some unease, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Are you sure they're yours?"

"Yes, I misspoke. It was Albert's grand money-making plan."

"So it's okay since you didn't do it?"

Hearing that it was Albert who made the plan gave Lee Jordan a little confidence; Fred and George always gave him a rather unreliable feeling.

"Whose letter is it?" George asked curiously. He rarely saw Albert receive notes anymore; a thick letter was the norm for him.

"Hagrid invited me to his place for tea tomorrow."

Albert casually put the note into his pocket. He could probably guess the reason. It was probably because Harry went to Hagrid and mentioned that he knew what the item in the Fourth Floor Forbidden Area was, which made Hagrid suspicious of him.

"How was it?" Fred asked with a smile.

"Don't you guys think calling it Magical Grocery Store is weird?" Lee Jordan complained. In his opinion, the name was absolutely terrible.

"It's just a name; we'll definitely come up with a better one later." Fred didn't care about that at all.

"Speaking of which, do we really have this many products?" Lee Jordan asked again, having found a huge list on the parchment containing all sorts of goods, including Wizard Card.

"Most of them are still in the semi-finished stage," Albert explained. "With a little time and fine-tuning, they can be used."

"Why is the main store in Hogsmeade, and the branch in Diagon Alley?" Lee Jordan asked again. "And do we even have that much money?"

"The initial funding is a thousand Galleon? No, but it will definitely come in the future," Albert said nonchalantly. "What we need most right now is to expand the quantity of our products and prepare for the future."

"How much start-up capital do we have?" Lee Jordan asked curiously.

"Five Galleon," Fred said irritably. "That's my and George's allowance."

"It's two hundred times worse."

"Your calculation skills are quite good," George said irritably. "Thanks for the compliment." Lee Jordan asked Albert, "I really don't understand this kind of thing. What are you planning to do?"

"I'll provide the capital and the technology; you'll probably have to run the store."

"What about the Wizard Card? Should we use them all together?"

"Initially, it will definitely be pooled together, since there isn't that much money. As it gradually becomes popular, it will naturally be separated."

Will the Wizard Card eventually be split up?

"Just like you see it up there," Albert said in a low voice, "We'll gradually complete the plan so that the road ahead will be smoother. Of course, that's my business."

"It's all a jumbled mess, I can't understand it at all," Lee Jordan muttered. "Whatever, you decide. But let me make it clear, I don't have many Galleon."

"Nobody expects you to contribute a lot of Galleon," George said irritably. "Albert said he has a way of getting enough Galleon, so we don't need to worry about that. Of course, it would be even better if you could help contribute some Galleon. After all, we'll be short of money at the beginning."

"Can it really succeed?" Lee Jordan was still a little doubtful. It wasn't that he lacked confidence in Albert, but rather that he simply didn't understand these things at all.

"If you don't want to, then forget it."

"Who says I'm unwilling?"

Lee Jordan had no intention of giving up. Ever since he started playing with Albert, he had never lost money. Even if he failed, it would just take him a little more time.

"You have to have faith in Albert." Fred patted Lee Jordan on the shoulder, took the parchment back from him, and carefully folded and put it away.

"But there are seven projects in total?" Lee Jordan couldn't help but mutter.

Not only him, but Fred and George were also very surprised when they first saw the contents of the parchment. No matter how they looked at it, they felt that it was too greedy to cover so many areas.

"No rush, take your time." Albert had already decided to bring more people to work for him. Well, no, he should say he was helping them fulfill their dreams; he really was a good person! They, of course, didn't quite understand Albert's thoughts, and probably would never even consider it in their lives.

"When shall we go for a stroll on the fourth floor?" Fred suddenly asked. They'd been at the school for almost two months and were itching to cause some trouble.

"It's not the right time yet," Albert said, shaking his head.

"Why?"

"Someone has their eye on what's inside. Do you want to become cannon fodder?"

"You think the thief who broke into Gringotts is still in the school?" The three of them were taken aback, finding the idea absurd.

"Why not? I told you before, the Polyjuice Potion can turn one person into another," Albert reminded him. "As long as you keep drinking that stuff, it won't be so easy to detect."

"You mean..."

Who do you think is more suspicious?

"Professor Quirrell?" Freddie Albert replied. "It must be Professor Quirrell, otherwise you wouldn't have gone to trouble with him time and time again."

"I was asking a question. Isn't it normal for students to ask their teachers questions?" Albert said matter-of-factly.

"Ask a question?" Fred's expression was very strange. "Professor Quirrell will avoid you like the plague now."

"Is it really Professor Quirrell?" Lee Jordan couldn't help but ask.

"Possibly."

"That's it," George muttered. "I think he's probably in for a rough time."

"I remember Albert saying at the beginning of the semester that Professor Quirrell would be in big trouble," Lee Jordan nodded in agreement.

I didn't, don't talk nonsense.

Fred reached out and patted Albert on the shoulder, saying, "It's incredible, but what you said has really come true."