Kane... Are You a Crossdresser?

Kane violently tore open the package, pulling out a crystal-clear, irregular purple gem about half the size of a palm from the pile of tattered rags used as stuffing.

"Success or failure rests on this one move! If you're not up to the task, I'll really have to go grave-robbing!"

Kane held the purple gem in both hands, shadows flowing from his hands into the gem, and for a split second, he felt the shadows invade it.

"It'll work!" he cried out excitedly. After letting go, he saw that the purple gem hadn't taken the shape of the Shadow Realm; the shadows had indeed invaded, but they quickly dissipated from it completely, not leaving even a tiny speck behind.

"..."

Kane looked at the purple gem that had cost him one hundred and fifty Galleons...

"Well..."

He shoved the gem into his pocket and sighed helplessly.

"How much did that gem cost you? Down the drain?" Ron asked curiously.

"One hundred and fifty Galleons," Hermione said on his behalf, seeing how dejected Kane looked overall.

In an instant, Ron became dejected too. Fanfiction really did have different fates; Kane was an orphan, yet he could pull out one hundred and fifty Galleons to buy a mostly useless purple gem.

While his own family was happy and complete...

Forget it, forget it, can't be envious, can't be envious. This was all traded for by that family, can't be envious!

On the other side, Harry hurriedly fished out his money pouch and looked inside. Phew, none missing. Perhaps it was just the money Kane had earned again by stealthily selling his looks to weave hair for those rich upperclassmen girls.

"So how do you plan to deal with this gem? Make a piece of jewelry?" Hermione asked.

"Give it away for Christmas.