A Second Part-Time Job

Early the next morning, Li Wei put on his old but tidy clothes, yawned, and walked out of his room with Nami in his arms.

"Good morning, little Li Wei. Your breakfast is over there!"

Boss Tom stood behind the bar, smiling as he greeted Li Wei. Pointing at the breakfast on the table, he said to him,

"Thanks, Boss!"

Li Wei thanked him, sat down at the table, and set Nami down beside it as well. He carefully poured her some Miltank milk and gave her a Pokémon muffin.

Honestly, Li Wei sometimes envied Nami. The little fellow ate better than he did, and he had not even tried any food produced by the system himself.

"Is that little purple cat your pet? She's so cute!"

The moment Tom saw Nami, his heart melted, and he could not help praising her to Li Wei.

"Yeah, her name is Nami. She's adorable!"

Li Wei speared a sausage with his fork and spoke proudly as he ate. Pokémon were simply irresistible; even wizards accustomed to magical creatures could not resist their charm.

"She really is cute. I've never seen a purple cat before, except for ones affected by magic, of course!"

Tom nodded in agreement.

Still, he was not overly surprised. He merely assumed that the cat had been enchanted somehow or possessed the bloodline of some magical creature.

Compared with the strange-looking magical creatures, this cat was simply too adorable and had exceptionally beautiful fur.

Tom stopped paying attention to Nami. After Li Wei had nearly finished breakfast, he casually tested the waters.

"Li Wei, are you planning to start work today?"

"You don't have to stay in the shop all day. Just come back around noon and in the evening, when we're about to close, and wash the dishes!"

As he spoke, Tom watched Li Wei's expression.

Scourgify and Aguamenti were not spells that a first-year wizard ought to have mastered.

What was more, Li Wei was an un-enrolled young wizard from the Muggle world. Before this, no one had ever taught him magic.

"Of course, Boss! I can start today!"

Li Wei had naturally noticed Boss Tom observing him. Amused inside, he answered loudly and confidently, then set the times.

"How about I come back at noon, at twelve o'clock, and again at nine in the evening, Boss?

Other than work hours, I'd like to take a look around Diagon Alley. The magical world is just too fascinating!"

Tom had not received the answer or reaction he expected, and his expression froze slightly. Yet he could not say anything, so he could only stammer along with Li Wei.

"Uh, sure. Fine. Come back at those times, then!"

Once Boss Tom agreed to his request, Li Wei immediately said cheerfully,

"Don't worry, Boss. I'll definitely be back on time!"

"Goodbye, Boss Tom. I'm full, so I'm off to look around!"

With that, he picked up Purrloin, who had likewise finished her muffin and drained her milk, and darted into the courtyard behind the tavern. He tapped open the door leading to Diagon Alley with his wand.

The moment he stepped into Diagon Alley, Li Wei and Nami on his shoulder found everything fascinating.

However, Li Wei had not come to Diagon Alley simply to wander around. He had come to look for work.

His dishwashing job at the Leaky Cauldron only took up two periods, at noon and in the evening.

The rest of his time was completely free. Aside from studying magic in his single room, he could make use of it to find several more part-time jobs.

The more he could earn, the better. After all, he was a father now and had little Purrloin Nami to support!

Tilting his head, Li Wei gently rubbed against the adorable kitten on his shoulder. As he considered where to find his second job, he remembered his frighteningly high Magical Creature Affinity and the reluctance of all those little animals at the Magical Menagerie yesterday to part with him.

"I've decided, Nami. I'll look for my second job at the Magical Menagerie."

Li Wei confidently slapped his fist into his palm and headed straight for the Magical Menagerie with Nami.

There were not many pedestrians in Diagon Alley in the morning, so Li Wei easily arrived at the entrance to the Magical Menagerie.

"Baa, baa~"

"Roar~"

"Woof, woof!"

"Meow~"

The moment he entered the Magical Menagerie, the cries of all sorts of little animals rushed at him. Upon seeing Li Wei, they greeted him with great enthusiasm, their calls ringing out without end.

"It's you, the little wizard from yesterday!"

The owner of the animal shop was a witch wearing thick black-rimmed glasses. She still remembered the "pet riot" Li Wei had caused when he visited yesterday, leaving a deep impression on her.

She smiled warmly and asked Li Wei,

"Child, is something wrong? Did the little darling on your shoulder run into some trouble?"

Young wizards who came to the Magical Menagerie were either there to buy pets, buy pet supplies, or seek help because something had gone wrong with their pets.

"No, Mrs. Ethel. Thank you for your concern!"

Li Wei replied politely. There was no helping it; finding work at his age was difficult. After all, this was Diagon Alley in the Wizarding World, not London, England during the Industrial Revolution, where child laborers were treated as expendable tools.

Under the witch shopkeeper's puzzled gaze, he tactfully explained his purpose.

"When I came yesterday, I noticed that you seemed rather overwhelmed, Mrs. Ethel. You were constantly busy taking care of all these mischievous little darlings, so I thought perhaps I could come help?"

Li Wei sweet-talked her, turning his job hunt into an act of kindness. Only after seeing Mrs. Ethel smile broadly did he continue,

"So I came today!"

"Mrs. Ethel, do you need any help? I've noticed that all the little darlings in your shop are quite friendly toward me. I think I can even understand their cries, so I'm sure I can help you take good care of them!"

Mrs. Ethel was touched and did not realize at all that Li Wei was merely sweet-talking her. She nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, of course I do! Child, you're such a good child! Your Magical Creatures grades must be excellent!"

However, when Mrs. Ethel noticed Li Wei's young, adorable face, she asked in some confusion,

"But child, helping out here and caring for little animals requires magic. You came with Professor McGonagall yesterday to buy school supplies for Hogwarts, didn't you?"

Mrs. Ethel was practically saying outright that she appreciated and was moved by his good intentions, but without magic to support him, it would be difficult for him to work in a magical pet shop.

Li Wei naturally understood what Mrs. Ethel meant. He had not come here to cause trouble.

He reached out, and the quick-storage sleeve in his cuff sent the Elderwood Phoenix Feather Wand springing into his hand.

"Scourgify!"

Li Wei chanted the spell, and his wand traced a graceful S-shaped arc. The filth in one of the dog kennels was immediately cleaned away, leaving the entire kennel spotless and tidy.

"Woof! Woof!"

The spotted dog inside the kennel barked twice gratefully at Li Wei, thanking the outstanding pooper scooper.

"Aguamenti!"

Li Wei chanted another spell and waved his wand again.

A stream of clear spring water gushed from the tip of the Elder Wind Feather Wand and poured into the spotted dog's water bowl. The dog hurriedly lapped it up with its tongue, becoming even more grateful to Li Wei.

The instant he entered the Magical Menagerie earlier, he had "heard" that dog complaining. It hated its current living conditions and was both thirsty and hungry. It was absolutely awful!

"Wonderful! Those are outstanding spells!"

"If this were Hogwarts, I'm sure the professors would not hesitate to award you points!"

Mrs. Ethel was the sort who knew how to encourage people. She clapped as she praised Li Wei.

One intermediate cleaning spell and one advanced conjuring spell immediately made Mrs. Ethel recognize Li Wei's level of spellcasting.

When she had attended Hogwarts, at Li Wei's age, she would probably still have been worrying over homework due the next day. How could she have cast such advanced spells as effortlessly as Li Wei?

"Kind child, you... Oh! Sorry! I don't even know your name yet.

"You can call me Mrs. Ethel. I'm the owner of this Magical Menagerie, and I'm formally informing you that you've been hired!"

"Just call me Li Wei! Mrs. Ethel, I'm Lee Wickens." Li Wei puffed out his chest like a proud child as he introduced himself. He grinned, his little white teeth gleaming.

"Purr~" Purrloin, lying on Li Wei's shoulder, called out as well, as though introducing herself.

"Her name is Nami," Li Wei added. Daddy's little sweetheart could not be left out.

"Very well, Li Wei, and little darling Nami!"

Mrs. Ethel smiled with amusement as she watched Li Wei interact with little Nami, then gave him the details of his pay.

"Then, Mr. Lee Wickens, I'll pay you fifteen Galleons a week. Your job will be to clean the little animals' living areas in the morning and evening, refill their water and food, and help me soothe these little darlings!"

"Of course, if you notice anything unusual, you can report it to me. I'll have extra little rewards for you too!"

"What do you think, little Li Wei?"

As she spoke, Mrs. Ethel had already started smiling.

"Of course, Mrs. Ethel," Li Wei shouted yes in his heart and accepted his second part-time job.