The mission to tease Glenn ultimately ended in spectacular failure, with Hermione getting a proper taste of sourness herself. However, this didn't prevent her from surreptitiously slipping Acid Pops into the gifts she intended for others.
I'll just plant this little landmine here for now~
Beyond that mischief, Hermione also selected some of the most distinctive and fascinating magical sweets and chocolates, purchasing them as proper gifts.
Though the Galleons in Hermione's protective charm were sufficient to buy every variety of confection available, she remained admirably frugal. Even with both her and Glenn's family fortunes under her control, the sensible girl had no intention of spending recklessly.
Especially considering most of this wealth came from Glenn secretly hawking his inventions behind her back.
Hermione was thoroughly perplexed. She'd wondered why the coin pouch felt incrementally heavier each time she retrieved it, assuming she was imagining things.
Turns out someone had been clandestinely earning money without her knowledge!
Absolutely infuriating!
"But Glenn, aren't you going to buy more? It's rare we're out like this."
Hermione thanked the Honeydukes proprietor, accepted the bag, and handed it to Glenn. She then indicated another bag in his possession containing magical gadgets he'd selected from Dervish and Banges.
According to him, he planned to dismantle them for studying their internal mechanisms and magical operational methods.
"These magical contraptions represent the only merchandise that genuinely interests me. Besides, you've already purchased duplicates of everything else for me, so that's quite sufficient."
Glenn hefted the bag and explained matter-of-factly.
The perceptive girl had anticipated Glenn's minimal shopping enthusiasm during their outing, correctly predicting he'd show little desire for acquisitions. Consequently, when purchasing items for herself, she'd discretely secured Glenn a share as well—though he'd still noticed.
Hermione shrugged helplessly. Predictably, her subtle machinations hadn't escaped Glenn's attention.
But this simply wouldn't do. What if Glenn evolved into someone who only knew how to earn money but never spend it?
"Look at all these fascinating things! Don't you feel even the slightest urge to buy them and take them home?"
Exiting Honeydukes, Hermione spread her hands dramatically, gesturing toward the dazzling array of merchandise displayed in shop windows lining Hogsmeade village's streets, her voice heavy with theatrical despair.
Since Hermione had raised the matter so emphatically, Glenn felt obligated to articulate his perspective thoroughly.
He raised his hand, pointing toward Gladrags Wizardwear, and stated with characteristic calm:
"Clothing establishment, purveying various garments and hosiery. Firstly, I already possess several outfits you've helped select. Secondly, I harbor no desire to acquire different clothing styles. Finally, I consider garments to serve purely functional purposes—bodily coverage, protection, and warmth—therefore, those few sets completely suffice for daily activities. Unless they no longer fit properly, I see no reason for replacement."
The extensive monologue left Hermione rather stunned, but Glenn showed no inclination to pause. He immediately redirected his finger toward another location—the Honeydukes they'd just vacated.
"Magical confectionery, specializing in enchanted sweet treats. While the merchandise proves undeniably intriguing and potentially inspirational, deliberately purchasing items for such purposes seems unnecessary. Moreover, I don't particularly favor sugary foods. These candies, chocolates, and similar confections serve poorly as actual sustenance, containing nutritionally imbalanced compositions—predominantly sugars and fats—while contributing to internal heat accumulation and potential obesity. Their sole value lies in satisfying cravings, which I simply don't experience."
"Hold on..."
Hermione extended her hand with considerable exasperation and mounting desperation, attempting to halt Glenn's uncharacteristically verbose discourse, but he demonstrated no intention of stopping.
He pivoted his finger toward yet another direction. This time, Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop became the unfortunate target.
"Quill establishment, offering various writing implements at disparate price points. Their fundamental function remains consistent—textual inscription. Price variations stem primarily from factors including manufacturing material rarity, production complexity, and writing fluidity. However, as instruments for textual composition, I believe adequate functionality requires merely ink absorption capability and proper transfer to parchment, therefore..."
"I'm terribly sorry—I was completely wrong, Glenn. Let's continue walking, shall we?"
Hermione clapped her hand over Glenn's mouth and promptly dragged him away from the vicinity.
One could only conclude that Glenn remained quintessentially Glenn.
Through their mutual pulling and tugging—though realistically only Hermione was doing the pulling and tugging—the pair arrived before one of their intended destinations.
Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.
"I'd heard from others that Madam Puddifoot's decorating style was rather... pink and frilly. I never imagined reality would prove more excessive than the rumors suggested..."
Hermione squinted at the establishment ahead. Honestly, she wouldn't have fancied such decorative aesthetics even as a small child... well, perhaps she might have shown mild interest then, but presently, Hermione felt absolutely zero attraction to this notorious establishment—indeed, she rather wanted to flee.
The structure presented a diminutive building whose exterior was saturated with overwhelming pink elements. Through the windows, one could observe the relatively cramped interior space compared to neighboring shops, where everything appeared adorned with rather gaudy white lace trim. The display window showcased various exquisite teapots and cups, surrounded by numerous extraordinarily ornate dolls, cakes, and tea treats serving as decoration—as though these miniature figures were conducting a tea party within the window display.
It possessed a somewhat fairy-tale-like, dreamlike quality.
But wasn't this just a tad too sickeningly sweet?!
The current Hermione genuinely believed she absolutely couldn't tolerate such decorative sensibilities. She glanced toward Glenn.
Glenn stood expressionlessly studying Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. Though Hermione couldn't see his eyes beneath the black silk covering, she could confidently guess this bloke was definitely employing his enhanced senses to analyze various details about the shop's interior.
Never mind that. Setting everything else aside, Glenn probably harbored absolutely zero interest in decorative styles and similar considerations anyway.
"Hermione, why've you stopped?"
Glenn completed his preliminary reconnaissance of the personnel and spatial configuration inside Madam Puddifoot's, turning to regard the motionless Hermione.
"Oh, nothing really—just got a bit knackered from walking."
"Shall we go in?"
Hermione shook her head, grasped Glenn's hand, and steeled herself to push open Madam Puddifoot's door.
An overwhelmingly concentrated mixture of competing perfumes combined with the peculiar odor of humans crowded into a small, stuffy, overheated space assaulted them immediately.
Hermione expressionlessly closed the door.
"Let's check out The Three Broomsticks instead."
She simply couldn't bear it—genuinely couldn't tolerate it whatsoever, at least from Hermione's perspective.
Rather than lingering in such a cramped establishment with appalling air quality and absurdly romantic—bordering on ridiculous—decorative themes for romantic conversation, Hermione much preferred taking Glenn somewhere with excellent ambiance, peaceful atmosphere, and comfortable surroundings where they could leisurely sip beverages and chat about everything under the sun.
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