Chương 84: Chapter 84: The Hogsmeade Property
Slowly opening the door, what greeted him was Pansy's slightly anxious face.
Upon closer inspection, Ino noticed something different; Pansy seemed to have put on a bit of light makeup today. Her usually somewhat gaunt face, with a slightly sharp look, now appeared softer and fuller.
"Miss Parkinson? This is...?"
He stood at the door, not immediately inviting her into the room.
Perhaps in France, it wouldn't matter, but in England, etiquette and subtlety are indispensable parts of any occasion.
"Good morning, Mr. Swinburne."
Pansy nodded slightly, a small gesture that perfectly conveyed friendliness and respect, as if she had practiced it many times. Her demeanor was very proper.
"Do you remember what we talked about on the train? I've brought some property contracts for you to choose from. Rest assured, these have all been approved by my parents."
Perhaps to avoid any misunderstanding, Pansy's voice carried a hint of urgency, especially emphasizing the words "parents' approval."
"Thank you sincerely, Miss Parkinson!" Ino bowed slightly.
He had thought that their conversation on the train was just a momentary whim on Pansy's part. Who would have expected her to be so serious, bringing a stack of property deeds to his door three days later...
"If..." Pansy hesitated for a moment, then quietly said, "I mean, if possible, I hope you call me Pansy."
"Okay! Pansy, you can call me Ino too!"
Although her voice was small, it was clear to Ino's ears.
Looking at the slightly shy girl in front of him, he once again realized that one shouldn't be misled by stories.
A living person, a vibrant life, is always multifaceted and complex, not just a single, stereotyped character.
In stories, their personalities and conduct might be just a one-sided definition by the storyteller.
"Shall we go to the lobby downstairs?" Ino glanced at the room behind him and suggested.
"Mm."
Pansy answered softly, her voice so low that one couldn't discern her tone.
…
In the morning, the Three Broomsticks was still somewhat quiet.
Walking down the stairs with Pansy, the hall was sparsely populated. Under Madam Rosmerta's amused gaze, Ino chose a table near a corner.
There was no helping it; Madam Rosmerta's curious, probing, and meaningful look was really annoying, much like a parent discovering their child's early romance.
A relatively secluded corner perfectly avoided the sight of a nosy onlooker.
"Please have a seat! Honestly, I'm quite eager," Ino said half-jokingly.
Owning a property of his own seemed to be etched into his soul.
"Mm! Take a look. There are six shops and twelve residences, all priced around ten thousand Galleons. Shops might be more expensive, but the difference won't be too significant."
Pansy placed the stack of parchment on the table, not mentioning anything about discounts.
Looking at the pile of property deeds on the table, Ino didn't immediately reach out.
A shop selling for ten thousand? That's a joke! He wasn't a novice; although Hogsmeade wasn't as bustling as Diagon Alley, it shouldn't be that cheap.
Perhaps pure-blood girls are all skilled at reading expressions. Seeing that her documents remained untouched, Pansy explained:
"Shops are more expensive, but my parents agreed you could pay ten thousand Galleons now and settle the difference later."
"Thank them for their generosity!" Understanding the situation, Ino began to review the parchments.
Though he had decided not to touch the shops, the prices of the twelve residences still made him sweat.
It was mostly because they were too cheap. The discounts were comparable to the nearing-expiration sales at London's supermarkets.
At the end of each month, those supermarkets would heavily discount near-expiry foods, and the prices could be incredibly low.
…
Despite having a comparison in mind, Ino quietly reviewed all the parchments. Pansy politely sat beside him without any interruption.
About fifteen minutes later.
"Pansy, this... really isn't necessary. My funds might be insufficient, but I will gradually repay the difference."
After some thought, Ino decided to be honest. Everyone likes cheap goods, but debts of gratitude are hard to repay.
"Just pick one first, and I'll tell you the real price afterward."
Pansy seemed prepared for this situation and responded without hesitation.
"Alright! Then these three. If possible, I'd like to take a look."
Ino picked out three parchments, all standard residential properties: two apartment-like units and one standalone house.
Each had its pros and cons, but they all shared the common features of small area and remote location within Hogsmeade.
For others, these disadvantages might be unacceptable, but he welcomed them.
A secluded place was perfect, quiet and undisturbed. As for the small area... he had his plans.
Regarding the Ministry of Magic's regulations on Extension Charms, whoever wants to comply can comply.
In the coming years, the British Ministry of Magic would be too preoccupied to bother with him. As long as he didn't flaunt it, no one would keep a close watch.
…
Leaving the Three Broomsticks.
Deep within Hogsmeade, far from the commercial street.
With Pansy as his guide, Ino navigated several quiet alleys to the first property.
From a distance, the two-story house stood quietly at the end of an alley, seemingly isolated from the world. Although some surrounding houses were old and abandoned, this house remained well-maintained and tidy.
Here, it's necessary to mention the troublesome Ministry of Magic.
Earlier, at the Hogwarts library, he specifically looked up some information and found that the Ministry's residential regulations for wizards were indeed peculiar.
Apart from wizarding communities like Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, wizards could build homes anywhere in the British Isles with just a permit signed by the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
Of course, if discovered by Muggles, the wizard would be responsible, with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures handling the specifics.
However, Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade had their own unique systems, where no one could randomly construct homes, not even the Ministry of Magic.
This resulted in a high demand for residences in Hogsmeade, despite the abundant vacant properties.
Perhaps this also reflected pure-blood ideology; many old pure-blood families would rather let their houses fall into disrepair than rent them to what they called Mudbloods.
Therefore, selling a house in Hogsmeade was rare, and even renting was uncommon.
This perfectly embodied the British Empire's mentality of preferring to let things go to waste rather than sharing with others.
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