Hogsmeade.
Fred and George were the first to arrive at Zonko's Joke Shop. They had been helping their father assemble Magic Mobile Phone at home and finally had some spare money. But every time Fred wanted to buy them for himself, he would exchange a knowing glance with George.
"We can't buy it, Fred," George, clearly not entirely convinced, his words perhaps directed at himself, "We still need to go to Dervish and Banges to learn how to repair magical artifacts. Have you forgotten our dream—"
"Make real magical items," Fred continued.
"We secured Director Lorne's investment," George added.
"Create a section in the magic item shop that's full of prank items."
"Let pranks flourish."
"And make some money on the side."
The two brothers exchanged words of advice, and did not buy a single item until they left Zonko's Joke Shop.
Zonko, the owner of Zonko's Joke Shop, doesn't appear in the store often. His shelves are all self-service mischief shelves, but he does know the Weasley Twins, and he often hears some novel and ingenious ideas from them.
Their quick departure made Zonko doubt his own products.
Ambrosius Flume, the current manager of Honeydukes, suddenly walked into Zonko's shop with a big smile on his face. He approached him familiarly and started chatting. " Zonko, do you have any extra shelves? My shop is too busy."
"And what about your wife? Your shop is doing incredibly well."
Hogsmeade Week is to Hogsmeade what the start of the school year is to Diagon Alley —both are the busiest times for business, with several long-established shops vying to make a fortune during this period.
Flume chuckled, "It's not that my business is doing well. You haven't been out yet, have you? Right now, the most popular shop in Hogsmeade is the newly opened Magic Mobile Phone Shop. My business is booming thanks to it. The owner of the Magic Mobile Phone Shop discussed a 'collaboration' with me before even opening the shop."
Zonko asked in confusion, "What is a collaboration?"
"It's about incorporating elements of the Magic Mobile Phone into your product, and Magic Mobile Phone. This increases the purchasing desire of people who like both products, while also allowing those who only temporarily like the Magic Mobile Phone to quickly understand your product. They might even impulsively buy your product because they love the Magic Mobile Phone so much..."
Flume recited Lorne's words with pride. He was the one who made the decision to collaborate; these young people these days are truly remarkable, able to bring traffic to both stores with just a few simple tricks.
His information was too limited; he had never even heard of the Magic Mobile Phone before, only knowing that it was a shop that was hostile to the Death Eaters.
In hindsight, the decision was absolutely right. Just one Magic Mobile Phone gummy candy brought in so many customers for his shop; who knows how many more people would actually own a real Magic Mobile Phone shop?
There were indeed quite a few people, but for Lorne, who had experienced several Diagon Alley sales days, it was nothing special.
Inside the store at this moment.
Lorne personally oversaw the front desk, without a chair, and even raised his feet to ensure that no guest was overlooked.
Looking at the hands reaching out with Knut to board the machines below, Lorne felt like he had stepped into the apocalypse. He cleared his throat and announced loudly, "Boarding is on the second floor, currently full. Please be quiet if you are in line. Magic Mobile Phone are sold on the left side of the first floor, and derivative products are sold on the right side. After you have made your selection, you can pay at the counter. Seventh-year graduating students can go to the basement to enjoy another purchase option."
"That's unfair!"
Harry and Draco were the first to speak up. They had both played around in the Magic Mobile Phone Shop in Diagon Alley and knew that there were no alternative plans there.
But there was nothing they could do to stop it.
Ruchel had already obtained his ticket to the basement. He deliberately walked past Harry and Draco, went straight past Lorne, and went up the stairs behind the reception desk into the basement.
A group of seventh-graders registered their names in Lorne's notebook and went into the basement; even Percy curiously went in.
Harry was frantic. "What's next? You're keeping it from even me, a long-time employee?"
Hermione shook her head. "Maybe we can ask Percy later, what do you say, Ron?"
Ron looked enviously at the Magic Mobile Phone in the display case. "If you ask me, what could be more attractive than the Magic Mobile Phone in the display case?"
Lorne raised an eyebrow and smiled. There really is.
What could be more appealing than the Magic Mobile Phone displayed in the store is having your own Magic Mobile Phone!
"The price of the Magic Mobile Phone is too high, and I know it's probably unaffordable for many. So, for those capable seventh-year graduating students," Lorne held up one finger, "I've offered them an exchange service. If they learn my spells and complete my tasks when Hogsmeade Week begins next time, I'll give them a Magic Mobile Phone."
Lorne glanced around and solemnly repeated, "It's their own Magic Mobile Phone. Of course, the activity will still be valid when you're in seventh grade."
Ron finally looked up from the Magic Mobile Phone in the counter and stared at Lorne with wide eyes. "Director, I think I'm quite capable too. Can I go to the basement as well?"
Lorne shook his head. "When you're in seventh grade, or if you're really capable, you can take on missions from the upperclassmen who just went in."
Ron yelled at the top of his lungs, " Percy, come out here—"
With just a glance from Lorne, Harry instinctively covered Ron's mouth.
"Dear students, please refrain from making noise inside the store. Please feel free to use the computers or make purchases."
Inside the basement.
Ruchel walked down the stairs to the end, where a bright room had its door open. He pushed the door open and entered, only to find that the layout was exactly the same as that of the classrooms at Hogwarts.
As the number of people increased, the room door suddenly closed, and then, a person wearing a banana-shaped headgear emerged from a cubicle next to the podium?
"Hello everyone, I'm Xiaotian... Little Banana Star, and I'm a contracted teacher for Magic Power Matrix Studies at the Magic Mobile Phone Shop."
Sirius gritted his teeth. If he had known he would appear in this guise, he wouldn't have agreed to Lorne's conditions. Why would Magic Mobile Phone shop choose a banana as its logo and mascot? Isn't it strange to have such a huge banana headpiece on your head? He himself felt top-heavy.
Sirius took a deep breath, steadied himself, and continued, "This promotion for seventh graders is ongoing. In this course, you will learn how to create a miniature matrix within Magic Mobile Phone from scratch. Students who successfully complete the course can choose to work long-term at the Magic Mobile Phone shop after graduation, or take short-term orders."
"During the course, you will receive Magic Mobile Phone for every five stone tablets with a complete Magic Power Matrix engraved on them. Alternatively, you can choose to exchange them for an equivalent amount of Galleon. Those who wish to take the stone tablets back to school and engrave them at their own pace can register with Director Lorne to receive them."
"Now, tell me, among you, who is more proficient in the Gouging Spell and the Branding and Scoring Charm?"