Alex chuckled, unfazed by Snape's usual harsh tone.
"Come on now, don't be so cold, Professor Snape. Holding grudges like that isn't good for your health.
I've helped you a lot over the years, haven't I? Or has the House Cup in the common room already gathered dust?"
He was used to Snape's bluntness and enjoyed poking fun at him. At the mention of the House Cup, the corners of Snape's mouth twitched ever so slightly, almost like he was about to smile, but he quickly forced his expression back into its usual scowl.
Truth be told, winning the House Cup three years in a row had brought Snape immense satisfaction. He'd even been caught sneaking into the Slytherin common room just to admire the trophy, sometimes chuckling to himself like a child. But he'd never admit to any of that in front of Alex.
"That just means you lived up to the expectations placed on you," Snape muttered, clearly struggling to maintain his usual gruff demeanor. "It's nothing to brag about. And don't get too full of yourself just because you did well before graduation."
Alex blinked at him, speechless. 'Seriously? The one acting all smug here is clearly you,' he thought.
"Anyway, since You've looked after me all these years, consider this a parting gift. No need to refuse."
Alex reached into his bag and pulled out a small wooden box, offering it to Snape with a calm smile.
Despite his tough exterior and sharp tongue, Snape had never really made things difficult for Alex, aside from their rocky first meeting. Over the years, he'd been strict, yes, and rarely friendly, but he'd also been fair. Alex had always respected that, even if their personalities clashed more often than not.
When Snape noticed the gift, his expression softened ever so slightly. He accepted the box from Alex without a word, recognizing the craftsmanship. It looked a lot like one of those elegant music boxes sold by the Alex Trading Company.
Though he said nothing, the gesture clearly touched him, more than he would ever admit.
'Heh, this guy's probably just using the leftover stock in his shop to butter me up… what a sly little bastard.'
Snape muttered inwardly as he slowly opened the wooden box in his hands.
The moment the lid lifted, a soft, melodic tune drifted out, it really was a music box. But as his eyes fell on what was inside, his expression suddenly froze. His pupils widened, and for a moment, he seemed completely lost in thought.
Snape quickly looked up, searching for Alex, but the boy had already vanished without a trace.
"That little brat… how could he possibly know?" Snape whispered, a flicker of disbelief in his eyes.
He turned his gaze back to the music box, and this time, his expression softened. Inside the lid was a photo of someone smiling warmly at him. His eyes lingered on it, filled with a rare gentleness, something almost no one ever got to see.
***
The first floor of the Wilson's Arcane Alchemica, located in Diagon Alley, had undergone an incredible transformation. Although only a few months had passed since Alex's journey to Egypt, the place looked completely different, almost unrecognizable.
Originally, the store space was quite small, barely more than a few dozen square meters. In fact, when Alex first opened the shop, he had only reserved a tiny portion of that space as the storefront.
Even after some modest expansions, it still felt limited. But now, anyone who walked through the front door would be surprised to step into a spacious area of at least several hundred square meters.
It was clear that the shop had been enhanced using the "Undetectable Extension Charm." Not only had the floor space grown, but the ceiling had also been elevated from its original height of nearly four meters to an impressive six or seven meters. The space was lit beautifully with magical lighting and decorated with intricate magical designs.
Alex had taken inspiration from the Egyptian Alchemy Research Center, which had left a strong impression on him during his visit. The luxurious and dazzling decor of that place had influenced him greatly. Borrowing some Egyptian design elements, he added his own flair to the interior, embellishing the walls and ceilings with tasteful magical motifs.
The sales area had also been completely overhauled.
At first glance, it now looked more like an international marketplace than a wizarding shop. Thanks to the trade agreements Alex had signed with various foreign companies, Wilson's Arcane Alchemica's products were now being exported overseas, while imported goods also filled the shelves.
Alongside the alchemy tools like magical cameras and weather blankets that had always been popular, there were now many new items, some not even fully alchemical in nature.
The shop featured magical fashion and beauty potions from France, enchanted kitchenware and drinks from Italy, as well as magical tents and snacks from Northern Europe. Alex had even partnered with the Romanian merchant who used to share a stall with him back in the Kara Bazaar.
That man had helped Alex a lot during tough times, and now his products, especially magical animal product like ham, sausages, and bacon, were prominently displayed in the store.
However, Alex couldn't help but notice Fang eyeing all the meat products with great interest every single day. With that kind of appetite, Alex knew one thing for sure, he definitely couldn't leave that guy alone in the shop when he wasn't around.
To accommodate the arrival of foreign products, the Wilson's Arcane Alchemica underwent a special renovation.
Alex took the opportunity to redesign the store's interior, creating a dedicated section specifically for imported goods. He organized this area by country of origin, making it easier for customers to browse. Of course, the store's own products were still front and center, taking the most prominent spots.
Truth be told, selling these imported alchemical items wasn't bringing in much profit, most of them only yielded around 5% to 10%. While that's not exactly a loss, it pales in comparison to the hefty 50% profit margin from selling products made in-house. The success of those original items had already whetted Alex's appetite for more ambitious business ventures.
But earning money wasn't the only purpose behind introducing these foreign products. The real goal was to draw in more customers and raise the store's profile.
After all, it had become the only internationally stocked magical goods store in the entire UK, and over time, Alex hoped it would grow into a landmark in the British wizarding world. In fact, it was already getting there, nearly every wizard in Britain had at least heard of the Wilson's Arcane Alchemica.
In the future, if a wizard claimed to be British and didn't own at least one item from the shop, people might seriously question their authenticity!