Chapter 162: Down time

As it just so happened he did indeed get a visitor in the form of a boy with slicked back short blonde hair and green lined robes , Draco Malfoy. Nick couldn't help but raise and eyebrow in surprise at the fact that the boy was alone as well. Malfoy looked around the workshop curiously before his eyes focused on Nick on his comfy chair. "Good evening Malfoy , what can I do for you?" Nick asked with a polite smile. As much as it killed him Nick did know the importance of pure blood etiquette thanks to Daphne drilling it into his head whenever she could.-

"You were the one who created those quidditch rings that the Gryffindor team has been using correct?" Malfoy asked getting straight to business. Nick nodded "Indeed I did as I received a commission for seven linked playmakers rings. I am told they have been put to good use as well." Nick said politely hinting at the final quidditch match coming up that the Gryffindor team had thoroughly prepared for thanks to the rings. The corner of Malfoy's mouth twitched in irritation but the boy kept his cool which was pretty impressive for him.-

"I would like to commission a ring much the same as those but of better materials of course , name your price." Malfoy said seriously. Nick just smiled widely and pulled out his order note book and his phoenix feather quill to jot down the order. "Anything specific in mind , as you can see I have quite the selection of materials and depending on your choice the price will vary greatly." Nick said pointing to the neatly arranged stacks of metal. "Though if you need it I also have a list of my current material stock as well." he said pulling a sheet of paper from Greed and offering it.-

The paper contained a neatly written list of each metal at his disposal as well as their respective prices on the open market. Malfoy took the paper but paled when he reached the really rare stuff like adamantium and star metal that had prices at nearly a thousand galleons an ounce at minimum depending on purity. Nick was sure that before reading that list Malfoy had been pretty close to saying "spare no expense" but definitely decided against it after reading the list. The pureblood house of Malfoy could easily afford the price of course but it was still unacceptable to pay so much for what amounted to entertainment.-

"Gold with silver inlay and a natural emerald as well." Malfoy eventually said after some thought. Nick quickly drew up a rough sketch of a playmaker ring and added a small emerald to it located right at the head of the broom and the bristles of it as well. he then labeled where it would be gold and where it would be silver. "Like this?" he asked handing the sketch to Malfoy for confirmation. The boy looked the design over and pointed at a few spots that he wanted different but the design was mostly the same in the end.-

Nick went over prices in his head for material , work and specific design before speaking "The ring will cost you forty galleons even and be more powerful than the normal versions as well for reasons I won't get into. Is this acceptable?" Nick said seriously. Malfoy thought about it for a moment before nodding and reaching into his robe for a coin pouch that he counted out twenty golden coins from. "Half now and half when the job is done." he said and Nick nodded in agreement.-

"A pleasure doing business with you." Nick said with a wide smile but Malfoy merely hummed before leaving the workshop. "It still surprises me how avaricious you are despite having the entire fortune of the Ravenclaw house in your hands." Helena teased with a smirk. "You can never have enough money I'll have you know." Nick said defending himself. Helena rolled her eyes at him but didn't argue since she was well aware how greedy Nick was. He had once made an enchanted ring to ward off and kill slugs for profit after all.-

Nick didn't get another visitor for another two hours letting him get a decent way into the veritology book. This time the visitor wasn't a student but one Madam Hooch who looked around the workshop with much the same curiosity that Malfoy did. Unlike Malfoy however she was here for an entirely different reason than he was. "Madam Hooch what can I help you with?" Nick asked with genuine surprise to see her in his workshop. "I came to enquire if you were planning to play quidditch next year." she said honestly without any wasted time.-

_____________________________________

my patrons can read at least twelve chapters ahead along with using the site as a way to directly contact myself rather than needing to hope i respond to your comments.

pa treon.com/pa treon_loskro