Dumbledore Was Tricked to Tears

Dumbledore had expected Argus to open quite a few shops, but in his estimation, given the Acolytes' current assets and the resources they could mobilize,

five or six shops would have been the limit.

After all, shops in Diagon Alley were expensive, and finding suppliers to keep them running was not something that could be done overnight.

But this densely packed sheet before him listed at least twenty or thirty, didn't it?

On closer inspection, it even included shops selling potions and fantastic beast materials, trades almost entirely monopolized by pure-blood families!

This was practically digging up the pure-blood families' ancestral graves!

You don't want me to deal with the repercussions for you. You're forcing them to fight me to the death!

Dumbledore looked at Argus with a complicated expression.

Even with his power and prestige, the sight of these shops gave him a headache.

He might have been the strongest wizard alive, but that did not mean these pure-blood families would let him push them around.

Especially when their most fundamental interests were at stake!

Watching Dumbledore's face turn alternately pale and livid, Argus's smile grew even brighter.

"Headmaster, surely you aren't thinking of going back on your word?"

"You're the greatest light wizard of the century. You wouldn't deceive a little child who's only just started school!"

Dumbledore opened his mouth as though he wanted to say something, but after hesitating several times, he still said nothing.

With a long sigh, he picked up the parchment and vanished before Argus's eyes.

At the ceremony.

Arthur Weasley and Mrs. Weasley were showing their youngest daughter, Ginny, around.

"So many shops opening at once, and so many important people here."

"I wonder who could have arranged something on such a grand scale."

Arthur could not help marveling as he looked at the bustling crowds and the dazzling array of goods around them.

"Look, that's Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement!"

"Beside her is the head of the Nimbus Racing Broom Company's British operations!"

"And that one..."

"Fudge is here too!"

Mrs. Weasley looked rather displeased. "That's enough, Arthur. We hardly ever get to come out like this. Don't spoil it by talking about those things. Let's go look at the clothes over there."

"Ginny will be a big girl next year, off to Hogwarts."

"We need to get her some pretty new clothes!"

As she spoke, she led Ginny through the crowd toward the clothing shop.

Arthur followed sheepishly.

The highest authority in the Weasley family was Mrs. Weasley, who held all the power.

Even he dared not disobey her orders.

They arrived at the clothing shop to find a sea of people.

Quite a few women were looking delightedly at the exquisite garments before them.

Ginny could not help exclaiming as she reached out a little hand to touch the clothes beside her.

"Mum, the clothes here are so pretty!"

"The fabric feels really comfortable too!"

A young witch nearby heard Ginny and came over to them.

"Oh, sweetheart, you have excellent taste!"

"This robe is one of our bestsellers. Not only does it look lovely, it also keeps you warm and adjusts its size."

"It's perfect for a pretty little girl like you."

Ginny's eyes sparkled.

After all, she was only a ten-year-old girl.

She had a natural fondness and longing for pretty clothes.

"Are... are you the manager here? Did you design all these clothes?"

"As much as I'd love to say yes, sweetheart, I'm afraid I'm only a sales assistant. There are plenty of others here just like me." The young witch shook her head.

"But you're right about one thing. Our boss did design these clothes himself."

"Merlin's beard, the ideas are simply brilliant. I'd love to meet him if I had the chance."

"Even you haven't met the owner?" Arthur interjected in surprise.

"Not just me. It seems no one here has met him, but today's the opening ceremony, so I imagine he'll come."

"Do you like it, sweetheart? Shall we buy one if you do?" Seeing Ginny's longing, Mrs. Weasley leaned close to her ear and asked.

Ginny hesitated, then shook her head.

Children from poor families learned responsibility early, and that held true in the wizarding world as well.

She really did like the garment, but she could also tell it was expensive.

Given the Weasley family's finances, buying it would probably leave them strapped for quite a while.

"Please wrap this one up for me. Thank you."

A gentle male voice came from behind her. Ginny whipped around and met Argus's sky-blue eyes.

"Mr. Grindelwald, no, we couldn't let you spend so much!"

Arthur reacted first and immediately stopped Argus.

Argus answered with a smile, "Just call me Argus."

"George and Fred are good friends of mine at school. Percy's helped me a lot too, and even lent me his notes."

"Ginny is their little sister, so naturally she's my little sister too."

"It's only a piece of clothing, not an expensive gift."

Argus waved a hand, signaling for the young witch to wrap it up.

Arthur wanted to say more, but when he saw his daughter's delighted expression, all his words finally became a sigh.

Mrs. Weasley said nothing, but silently decided that once she got home, she would get some more balls of yarn and knit Argus a few jumpers before Christmas as a gift in return.

"Ginny, haven't you forgotten to say something?"

Arthur gently reminded her.

Ginny's pretty face flushed. She glanced at Argus, then shyly lowered her head.

"Thank you, Argus!"

"It's nothing."

Argus reached out to pat Ginny's head, then suddenly realized that he seemed to be only a year older than her.

The gesture was a little too intimate.

His hand froze in midair.

To his surprise, Ginny stepped forward of her own accord, rose onto her tiptoes, and nuzzled his hand.

Then she burrowed into Mrs. Weasley's arms, not daring to look up again.

They left the clothing shop and, seeing that the ceremony had already begun, headed toward the stage.

With Argus supplying topics of conversation, the four of them chatted happily.

"By the way, Argus, as I recall, first-years at Hogwarts aren't allowed to leave school except during the holidays, are they?"

"How did you..."

Arthur asked the question he had wanted to ask all along.

Mrs. Weasley realized this too and gave Argus a questioning look.

"I had something to do today, so I asked Headmaster Dumbledore for permission in advance."

Argus told a lie.

Mrs. Weasley and the others did not suspect anything.

To them, Argus was a good boy.

He excelled in his studies, was gentle and polite, and had the aristocratic bearing of a pure-blood without their overbearing attitude.

Sometimes Mrs. Weasley even thought that if she had another child, she would love to raise them to be like Argus.

As Fudge and the other senior Ministry of Magic officials took the stage, the crowd's excitement gradually reached its peak.

The shop owner's continued absence made everyone curious.

"This owner certainly is mysterious. He still hasn't shown himself."

"I really wonder what sort of important person he is."

Arthur spoke as he watched Fudge on the raised stage.

"Not necessarily. Maybe he's chatting with friends right now!"

Arthur smiled faintly, taking it as a child's joke and paying it no mind.

But the next moment, a remark from the host onstage wiped the smile from his face.

"Thank you all for coming!"

"Now, please give a warm round of applause to welcome our shop owner, Mr. Argus Grindelwald!"