After discovering they had guests, Arthur was even happier. He kissed Molly again and continued sharing what was special about Managing Emotions Starting Today. After a round of impressions and reflections on reading it, his final conclusion was, "If I ever get the chance, I really want to meet this oddball!"
Arthur had no idea that the oddball he was talking about, Brian, was right there. Brian said little, merely smiling along-he now understood something of the strange smile on Professor Burbage's face when he had praised her alter ego to her face.
It really was rather thrilling, and quite pleasant too.
At noon that day, he had already learned that Managing Emotions Starting Today had become a bestseller-from one of the dozen or so letters in the mailbox outside his home.
The manager of Flourish and Blotts had filled his letter with lavish praise-not formulaic phrases, but carefully considered words. Although a little deliberate, they easily made someone feel valued. Impressive. There was a reason the man had become a manager.
At the end of the letter, this impressive manager had also invited him to Diagon Alley to discuss the arrangements going forward-the timing was entirely up to Brian, offering so much freedom that it was hard to refuse.
Although his share of the book sales would go straight into his personal account at Gringotts, after some thought, he decided to find time to go. They would be working together long-term, after all, so meeting would do no harm.
"Merlin's beard, just how many more astonishing inventions are the Muggles hiding?"
Arthur, looking delighted, had dragged Brian and Harry into a ten-minute discussion of how airplane fuselage panels fitted together. By the time Molly had hurried him into changing into his house clothes and sitting at the long table,