Kapitel 103: Chapter 103: Ten Instruments and a Single-Handed Sword
Hogsmeade, in front of Dervish and Banges' shop.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Davis!" Ino greeted softly as he walked into the shop.
"Welcome to Banges' Repair... Hmm?" Davis stopped mid-sentence, narrowing his eyes as he carefully examined the person before him. "Polyjuice Potion? Who are you?" His smile vanished, replaced by a calm interrogation.
On the other side, as Davis narrowed his eyes, Ino felt a sudden discomfort. It was like being a prey spotted by a golden eagle, its sharp eyes locking onto him. It was a peculiar sensation; he felt like the prey being targeted, ready to face an attack from the sky at any moment.
"It's me! Ino from the alley next door. I snuck out of Hogwarts," Ino explained quickly. As he did, Davis' face lit up again with a smile, even kinder than before.
"Ino, I always thought you were a good kid, but it seems you've turned naughty! Sneaking out, I'll write to Filius later..." Davis's tone was playful, despite the reprimand.
"He won't care!" Ino waved his hand lightly. "I'm not in Ravenclaw, so Professor Flitwick can't do anything about it."
"Yes, you're not in Ravenclaw," Davis's eyes dimmed slightly as he muttered to himself, "What times we live in! Ravenclaw isn't what it used to be; I wonder what they're all doing..."
"Alright, alright, let's pause that for now. My time is limited, and Polyjuice Potion tastes terrible," Ino quickly interrupted.
Knowing Davis from their interactions over the summer, Ino knew the old man sometimes fell into reminiscing like any other elderly person. He decided to get straight to the point.
"Mr. Davis, I need to order some instruments, a lot of them. Clarinet, violin, timpani, harp, saxophone, guitar, trombone... Oh, and if the price is right, I'd like to order a piano too."
"That many? This will be a big project!" Davis took off his black-framed glasses and pulled out an old, coffee-colored notebook from a drawer, noting down each instrument.
After about ten minutes, he concluded, "I've calculated it! Without the piano, the nine instruments will cost 125 Galleons. Including the piano, it comes to 200 Galleons."
Hearing the quote, Ino quickly did some mental arithmetic. The nine instruments for 125 Galleons was indeed a fair price, considering he had spent 10 Galleons on an accordion in Diagon Alley. Custom orders usually cost more, so 125 Galleons was reasonable. As for the piano, the 75 Galleons seemed fair as well.
"Alright, let's include the piano. Here's a 30% deposit," Ino counted out 60 Galleons from his pocket and placed them on the table. This was why he had only paid Pansy 9,000 Galleons for the house, keeping a few hundred in reserve for emergencies.
"Oh, Mr. Davis, since I'm making such a large order, could you throw in some small items as a bonus?"
"Small items? This isn't Zonkos' Joke Shop. What could I give you, a file?" Davis chuckled.
"I don't want a file; I want a sword! Not a decoration, but a real single-handed sword, sharp enough to cut through a troll's hide. And it would be great if you could assemble an old camera for me. It doesn't need to look nice, just needs to work," Ino said, feeling a bit sheepish at the end. He hadn't spent a huge amount, yet he was asking for more.
"A sword sharp enough to cut through a troll's hide? You're asking for this as a freebie after spending 200 Galleons? Should I just give you Godric Gryffindor's sword?" Davis almost choked on his own words.
Realizing his request was excessive, Ino quickly revised his ask. "Just something sturdy and sharp, not a toy."
"That's more reasonable. A single-handed sword will cost an extra two Galleons. As for the camera, I'll throw it in for free!" Davis said with a mixture of amusement and annoyance. He then started muttering, "A Slytherin wanting a single-handed sword... The Sorting Hat must be broken..."
...
After agreeing on a pickup time, Ino headed back to Hogwarts. Unlike other young wizards who yearned for Hogsmeade, Ino's curiosity had waned since he bought a house there. It was like living in a tourist city and never visiting its famous attractions; the novelty wore off when you saw them daily.
He made his way back to Hogwarts without any trouble. Entering the Slytherin common room, he saw Flint sitting on the sofa, enthusiastically talking. After exchanging a knowing glance with Flint, Ino headed to the washroom and emerged a few minutes later in his original form.
"Mr. Swinburne, please wait a moment!" A voice from behind made him stop.
Turning around, he saw a face he didn't recognize—a first-year Slytherin student. He couldn't recall the name immediately.
"Hello, what can I do for you?" Ino asked calmly.
"I ran into Professor McGonagall in the castle just now. She asked me to tell you to visit the Transfiguration office when you have time," the young wizard said nervously, barely pausing for breath.
"Alright, thank you. What's your name?" Ino asked.
"Harper, my name is Harper Vick!" the young wizard replied excitedly.
"Okay, see you later, Mr. Vick!" Ino nodded in a friendly manner.
...
At the Transfiguration office.
Despite it being Halloween and a holiday, Professor McGonagall was busy at her desk. Unlike her usual stern expression, she seemed in a particularly good mood. The editorial office of "Transfiguration Today" had replied, and Hogwarts would soon have another student winning the Best Newcomer Award, following Bill Weasley.
"Knock! Knock!"
At the sound of the door, Professor McGonagall waved her wand, opening it without looking up, her anticipation clear.
"Ino! Come over; your paper has been accepted. 'Transfiguration Today' sent a prize and a certificate of honor," she said, putting down her work with a smile.
"Good afternoon, Professor! This is the best news I've heard today!" Ino was equally pleased.
His joy wasn't about the honor but the prize money, as his funds were nearly depleted after ordering the instruments.
Walking to the desk, Ino first took the certificate and letter, though he was more eager to check the Gringotts-marked money pouch. However, he had no choice but to read the letter and examine the certificate first, as those were what Professor McGonagall handed him initially.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein