Bab 241: Chapter 241: Galleons, Galleons
After entering December, snow became more frequent in the Scottish region.
Hogwarts Castle and the surrounding forest were covered in glistening white snow. A thick layer of ice had formed on the surface of the Black Lake near the castle. This led to a new wave of ice skating by the lake, and Albert went once. He encountered the skating "killer" Katrina, Miss McDougal, who still hadn't given up on learning to skate.
Whether due to lack of talent or other reasons, the clever Katrina just couldn't learn how to skate.
However, Albert wasn't particularly concerned about encountering this skating "killer" while skating. He rarely went ice skating by the Black Lake. Most of his free time was spent with a few roommates searching for a winter delicacy around the school grounds – snow mushrooms.
Snow mushrooms, also known as snow cedar mushrooms, were a type of fungi that only appeared in snowy winters. They were rare in number, had a good taste, and held high medicinal value.
Of course, this stuff didn't keep well. Once removed from the cold snow, it would quickly spoil and rot. Typically, after harvesting snow mushrooms, they needed to be processed as soon as possible.
Of course, they could also be directly turned into delicacies. Grilled snow mushrooms were quite delicious and unforgettable.
Last year, Albert sliced and grilled the mushrooms he dug up, almost causing his roommates to worry about him.
In apothecaries, snow mushrooms were extremely precious ingredients. However, this didn't mean that they could take the harvested mushrooms and sell them at a high price directly.
Although it might sound cruel, the apothecaries in Diagon Alley didn't accept unprocessed snow mushrooms. Even if processed, if a merchant realized you weren't a potions expert, they wouldn't be interested in buying.
Processing snow mushrooms was a technical task. Doing it incorrectly would directly lead to a decline in the quality of the mushroom powder, seriously affecting the effectiveness of the potion made from it.
The black market wasn't a bad channel, letting Montague's gang help sell them on the black market would surely earn them some money. However, in Albert's opinion, this approach was a losing proposition.
During commodity circulation, middlemen were always the most parasitic, especially when dealing on the black market.
Albert wasn't willing to take a big loss, especially since directly selling magical ingredients was foolish. If the raw materials could be turned into finished products, they could obtain even greater profits.
"Let's store the snow mushroom powder first." Albert put the freshly harvested snow mushrooms into a wooden box filled with snow. He brought up the matter again with his roommates, "I don't agree with selling raw materials directly. That's definitely the most loss-making trade. If you want to sell your share of snow mushroom powder, I can contact Montague and ask him about the price of purchasing snow mushroom powder. However, don't expect to get many Galleons from Montague."
The four of them worked busily in the forest for half an hour, only finding five snow mushrooms.
Of course, the main reason was that, due to their gathering, the number of snow mushrooms available on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest was rapidly decreasing.
Albert also didn't agree with venturing deep into the Forbidden Forest, so they had always stayed on the periphery.
However, the four weren't just simply looking for snow mushrooms. Albert also took time to sketch a map of the Forbidden Forest and roughly marked the locations where they found snow mushrooms. This way, next year, they could harvest the mushrooms more easily and efficiently.
Upon hearing Albert's suggestion, Fred and George were both conflicted. According to Albert, even if they sold the snow mushroom powder he processed, they might not get many Galleons. At least five to eight out of every ten Galleons they were supposed to receive would be lost. The black market price was indeed high, but that was a price set by black market merchants to exploit customers. Unless they were willing to personally go to the black market to sell and could find customers urgently in need of snow mushroom powder, they would only end up being ripped off.
Albert never liked being taken advantage of; he preferred to empty others' purses. Therefore, he didn't agree with selling at a low price.
Fred and George were both in a dilemma. In their view, as long as they could sell a few Galleons' worth, their hard work in finding snow mushrooms would have been worth it. However, they also understood that Albert's mind and thinking were clearer than theirs about what to do and how to make big money.
They ultimately agreed to let Albert handle these matters. Another reason was that Lee Jordan also agreed with Albert's approach.
"Albert would rather grill the snow mushrooms he dug up and eat them directly than let himself be at a loss!" Lee Jordan had said to the twins in private.
In fact, Albert had considered selling the snow mushroom powder to the potions master Daggworth, but later thought better of it and simply gave up. Daggworth had many channels to obtain snow mushroom powder, and Albert also felt a bit embarrassed about it. After all, he didn't have much experience in processing snow mushroom powder, and the quality of the stored powder was only average.
Both sides were friends, and there was no need to ruin the relationship over a few Galleons.
Cheating each other was something many people liked to do in their past lives, but once such a thing was done, the friendship between the two parties would basically come to an end.
Of course, some people might be willing to sell it at a good price, but after careful consideration, Albert felt it wasn't worth doing so. Therefore, he never brought up this matter.
"When you go back, grill these snow mushrooms and eat them." Albert suddenly suggested on the way back to the castle.
"I feel sorry for you." Lee Jordan couldn't help but roll his eyes at Albert, but he didn't oppose the idea. He responded in a whimsical tone. The taste of snow mushrooms was indeed excellent, and the four of them had found quite a few that winter.
"It feels like a waste." Fred couldn't help muttering. He preferred stuffing Galleons into his pockets over delicious food.
Although George didn't say anything, he likely had the same thought. Nothing was more substantial than Galleons.
"Don't worry, Galleons will come sooner or later." Lee Jordan reassured them. At this moment, Lee Jordan's mind was actually clearer than Fred and George's.
Turning things into wealth was a skill. To earn Galleons, one had to use their brains to figure things out.
Albert was clearly more adept in this area than they were, so entrusting him with handling the matter was undoubtedly the best choice.
After all, a vial of Babbling Beverage could be sold for ten Galleons, and several students had secretly inquired if they could get a bottle.
If the snow mushroom powder could be turned into a potion, its price would naturally be even higher.
In fact, Albert knew how to further refine potions using snow mushroom powder. After all, he had a good relationship with Daggworth and had quickly obtained the formula for a Vigor Restoration Draught through some indirect means.
The formulation of the Vigor Restoration Draught wasn't difficult; what was difficult was the magical ingredients used in potions, which were quite expensive. Thus, the price of a small bottle of Vigor Restoration Draught was almost equivalent to Felix Felicis, and it was in high demand.
As for the effect of the Vigor Restoration Draught, it was just as its name suggested – it replenished expended energy and rapidly restored physical strength.
Of course, it also had the effect of nourishing the kidneys.
If only he could acquire the knowledge of snow mushrooms like he did with Mandrake.
Unfortunately, such things truly depended on luck.
At this moment, a burst of barking came from a distance, followed by the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching their location.
"What was that sound just now?" All three of them stopped in their tracks, turning their heads towards the direction the sound had come from.
"Was it barking?" George muttered.
"Anyway, it can't be anything good. Let's leave quickly." Albert had already guessed what was happening and urged his three companions to leave.
Slightly late, but Happy New Year.
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(End of this chapter)
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