The Animal Market had an unwritten rule: before the market opened each day, the stallholders gathered to agree on a minimum selling price for each kind of animal.
If anyone sold animals below that minimum to boost sales, the guild would punish them.
Of course, they set no maximum price, because everyone wanted to fleece their customers!
And eight Silver Sickles was the price they had agreed on that very day for a Mackled Malaclaw!
Anyone who knew the minimum price was either an insider or had connections in the market.
After hesitating for a dozen seconds, the stallholder cheerfully agreed. "Right, an expert! You should've said so sooner. I wouldn't have wasted so much breath!"
The stallholder deftly muzzled the Mackled Malaclaw and handed it, cage and all, to Hermione. Luo Bin had only just reached into the Blue Cloth Pouch when Harry pressed ten Silver Sickles into the stallholder's hand.
"I promised Hagrid I'd give him a special present. He told me that although Fang runs fast and loves digging up mouse holes, he can never catch any mice. He's worried a cat would fight with Fang, so a Mackled Malaclaw is just right. So..."
"It's fine. It doesn't matter who pays. I was planning to settle it in the Wooden Hut in the Hunting Grounds too. Mackled Malaclaws are brave, so having one around should make Fang feel safer. Here, open your mouth. This is medicine. Once you take it, you won't cough up blood anymore!"
The Mackled Malaclaw seemed to understand him. It opened its pointed mouth, curled its tongue lightly around the tablet, then huddled into a ball, its bright red eyes gazing steadily at Luo Bin.
"Tsk. Harry paid for it, and if Hermione hadn't stayed put, we'd already be at the chicken stalls.