"Oh, dear, have some cookies first. They've just come out of the oven." Mrs. LeMay brought over a plate of cookies from the back room. Her steps were still steady, nothing like those of a little old lady several hundred years old.
Muya picked up a cookie, thanked her, and sighed in relief that she no longer had to keep smiling.
Then, she never expected Nicolas Flamel to actually give her the Sorcerer's Stone, calling it a gift for his new student.
Holding the hot potato, Muya did not know whether she should accept it or not. After Dumbledore gave her a look, she decisively put it away.
Dumbledore had just secretly told her that Nicolas Flamel and his wife had plenty of alchemical creations that prolonged life, so they did not lack a Sorcerer's Stone.
Well, in that case, Muya accepted it with a clear conscience. Besides, she wanted to see whether the Sorcerer's Stone could truly turn stone into gold. Hehe.
And so, despite not having finished her homework, Muya was forced into a life of studying alchemy at Nicolas Flamel's house during the day and learning Apparition from Snape at night.
Even after Draco's birthday party invitation arrived, Muya only sent a gift and a letter, writing of her regret and apology for not having time to attend the party.
Then she received a letter from Hermione, asking what birthday present she planned to give Harry next month.
Muya's head instantly swelled. She could only decide to use some of her spare time to prepare Harry's gift.
"Focus. That's enough for today." Snape tapped Muya's little head with his wand, then left her trunk.
When he had first entered Muya's trunk, he had been startled. After that, he had looked over all the strange and unusual things in the house.
He only found it astonishing. Had things in the Muggle world developed to this extent already?
After studying with Nicolas Flamel for nearly a month, Muya could already make some simple alchemical creations. She let her thoughts wander, wondering whether magic and technology could be combined.
Unfortunately, Nicolas Flamel and his wife would be leaving for a vacation next month. While they were at it, they would gather some different Alchemy Materials for their newly accepted student to practice with.
As for Snape, Muya could already Apparate over short distances, so he began urging her to do her summer homework.
Sigh. Muya desperately missed the time during Christmas when Vester had helped her with her homework.
Today, she did not plan to touch her homework. She intended to mail several little alchemical toys she had just made to the Weasley twins to look at, along with the pocket money Dumbledore had just given her.
She had money herself, okay? But since it was free money, she might as well use it to sponsor the prank team's startup.
Suddenly, she remembered the scene of the Weasley twins testing Nosebleed Nougat. She covered her forehead. Why were those two so reckless?
Draco had not been wrong about one thing. Most Gryffindor students really were impulsive.
She was certain those two often tested their prank items on themselves.
Their reply arrived quickly. On one hand, they marveled at how fast Muya had learned alchemy. On the other, they wondered how Muya knew they were planning to open a joke shop.
Muya scratched her head. She had purely guessed that part.
"Come downstairs for dinner." Snape's voice sounded just then. Muya immediately answered and hurried downstairs.
After that, Muya spent a week finishing all her homework, then had nothing to do.
Muya thought she could help Snape decorate his home, so she pestered Snape into taking her to the wizarding world to shop.
Hogsmeade Village. Snape took Muya there, thinking there would not be any colorful decorations like ribbons. He did not want his house to turn into some kind of party venue.
"Professor Snape, what does that shop sell?"
At Honeydukes.
"Professor Snape, I have money. How about I treat you to some candy?"
In front of the Shrieking Shack.
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"Professor Snape, why does this house look so run-down? Does nobody want it?"
Hog's Head Inn.
"Professor, I'm a little thirsty. Can we go in and get some water?"
Snape pulled her away and told her that it was a bar, and a rather rough one at that. He forbade her from going inside.
Frowning, Snape took Muya to Diagon Alley instead.
Seeing so many people on the street, Muya, the socially anxious girl, instantly seemed to have been hit with the Tongue-Tying Curse.
"Hey, Little Badger. Didn't expect to run into you here."
"Yeah, looks like us brothers are ridiculously lucky today."
The moment she heard those voices, Muya knew it was Fred and George. She quickly greeted them.
Snape, standing beside her, gave her a few instructions before leaving.
Fred and George had not dared approach while Snape was there. Now that he had left, they immediately stood on either side of Muya.
"Oh, why are you two here?" Muya asked.
Fred rubbed Muya's head. "We came to buy some things."
"That's right. We were just about to go shopping when we saw you, and Snape."
Muya excitedly grabbed both their hands. "Then let's go. I'll come with you."
"Of course you can."
Muya watched Fred and George pick things out, crossing items off in a little notebook.
"Are these all materials you need?"
"Yeah, we also need to keep brewing potions and running prank experiments at home." The moment Fred finished speaking, he saw Muya staring at him and immediately shut his mouth.
"Oh, Fred, what's next?" George came over carrying some potion ingredients.
Muya sighed. After the three paid, Fred and George decided to buy ice cream. Naturally, Muya agreed.
They chatted while eating their ice cream.
"Will the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher be replaced next term?" Muya stirred the ice cream in her hand.
She did not want another professor like Quirrell. Having a wizard who frequently used Dark Magic teach Defense Against the Dark Arts was probably a rather unusual case of professional expertise matching the job.
"Oh, probably."
"Listen, Little Badger, Defense Against the Dark Arts was cursed by The Dark Lord." Fred spoke mysteriously.
"They say no Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher can last a full term."
After hearing that, Muya thought it was incredibly creepy. She wondered whether the curse could be broken.
Could Dumbledore be busy looking for a new person suitable for Defense Against the Dark Arts?
Honestly, Muya did not think Dumbledore had very good judgment.
After they finished their ice cream, Snape returned, carrying a small black bag.
Muya threw away her trash, said goodbye to the two of them, then obediently took Snape's hand and followed him away.
Once they got home, Snape put the bag on the table, and only then did Muya discover that it was filled with Galleons.
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