Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is not meant to infringe upon copyrights.
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In the wizarding world, mice, being the cheapest of the designated pets at Hogwarts, naturally have a wide appeal, including many young witches.
However, most prefer similarly priced hamsters with beautiful fur, sweet personalities, and adorable appearance. Black mice, which live longer, and white mice, which look cleaner, are also popular choices.
This was the first time Kyle had seen a young witch who favored the common field mouse. And judging by her attire, she didn't seem like a wizard short of money.
Having spent eleven years in the wizarding world, Kyle had some experience.
While the girl's clothes weren't particularly fancy, the fabric was exquisitely crafted, and the workmanship was exquisite. And with the signature pattern on the cuffs, it must have come from the Twilfitt and Tattings clothing store.
That place was much more expensive than Madam Malkin's, with a starting price of twenty Galleons.
How could anyone who could afford to spend money there afford a better pet?
It seemed she truly loved the mouse.
No wonder she came to him.
Rat tonic in Diagon Alley? That stuff was, frankly, just sugar water, similar in nature to an energy drink. It was fine for a boost, but don't expect it to be of much use.
While the other person's taste was certainly somewhat unique, Kyle didn't make a big deal about it, his expression remaining unchanged.
Don't forget, even the wizarding world has its share of ruthless individuals who love Acromantulas.
He'd seen that thing once before, in Newt's trunk. Well, its appearance was practically a challenge to any normal human perception, the kind that would haunt a childhood.
Kyle was so disgusted that he didn't enter Newt's trunk for a whole year.
By comparison, a little witch liking a field mouse was perfectly normal.
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Quickly, Kyle pulled a thumb-sized bottle from his trunk and handed it over. "This bottle is for you. If you find it effective, come back. You'll need to pay for it. It might be a bit pricey, a Sickle, but it's definitely worth it."
"Thank you, thank you."
The little girl named Kanna hurriedly reached for the bottle, but she didn't leave. Instead, she stood there, looking at the bottle in her hand, then at Kyle, a look of confusion on her face.
"Why, don't you think it's enough?"
Kyle, assuming she was complaining about the small amount, explained, "It's not that I'm stingy. It's mainly to try it out first. Besides, the amount of rat tonic you need isn't that high. Two or three drops at a time is enough. This bottle isn't much, but it's enough for you for a month."
"No, no, that's not what I meant."
Kanna shook her head repeatedly after hearing Kyle's words. Under the gaze of Kyle and Cedric, she murmured, "I'm not complaining about it. I want the red one."
Red?
Cedric, standing by, only then noticed that the rat tonic in Kanna's hand was a cloudy orange-yellow color, a bit like mashed orange pudding.
The one Kyle had given Percy earlier was a pure, translucent red, without a trace of impurities.
They were clearly the same thing, yet the difference was stark, and anyone could tell that the translucent red was infinitely superior to this muddy orange.
Even if it was free, he couldn't be so frivolous.
For a moment, Cedric's gaze changed.
Sure enough, a profiteer like Kyle would surely be assigned to Azkaban.
Then, as if on a whim, Kanna frantically pulled out a delicate little clutch.
"Well... I can buy that."
Kanna gently shook the clutch, and a flurry of Galleons jingled onto the table.
Thirty-three Galleons in all, plus a few Sickles.
Cedric's eyes nearly popped out of his head at the sight.
He only had ten Galleons a semester, and thirty-three, even with the decimals, would be three times his.
Is this envy? Of course it was, but Cedric could hold it in. After all, with his personality, he didn't really care about the number of Galleons; just enough was enough.
But Kanna's next move completely broke his defenses.
"Is that all you have left?" Kanna looked disappointed, biting her lip and whispering, "It's okay. If it's not enough, I can get more from Gringotts. As long as it keeps Pochi alive longer, any Galleons will do."
More??
Cedric's mouth couldn't help but twitch. In that moment, he was truly frightened by the inhumane words.
Listen, any Galleons will do...
If it were an adult wizard, it would be fine, but for a first year, isn't that a bit too much?
Or is this just the norm in Slytherin?
Something new to learn.
Meanwhile, Kyle wasn't in the mood to care about Cedric's thoughts. He looked at Kanna, hesitantly, feeling a headache.
Look, that was specially made for Scabbers. Rat tonic is supposed to be this orange-yellow color.
As for Percy's bottle, it was spiked. A normal rat would probably freeze instantly after drinking it.
The problem was, he couldn't explain it. And judging by Kanna's expression, she seemed convinced he had a tonic that could prolong the rat's lifespan. She must have listened to Percy's every word.
In this situation, Kyle couldn't explain it unless he told the truth.
"Well... Kanna, it's like this,"
Kyle thought for a moment and said, "That special rat tonic is too potent to drink directly. You have to use a regular tonic to strengthen the rat before you can."
Bullshitting and evading.
That was the only solution Kyle could think of.
If he said he didn't have it, or couldn't make it himself, what if Newt turned around and went after him? That would be a real problem.
Newt wouldn't be easy to find, but Dumbledore was at Hogwarts. In the wizarding world, even a three-year-old knew how close they were.
Since Kanna was wearing extraordinary clothing, she couldn't be a Muggle-born. If she found Dumbledore, she might actually meet Newt.
"I wish I'd closed the door when Percy came." Kyle rubbed his forehead and smiled bitterly inwardly.
Fortunately, this matter wasn't difficult to solve. He just had to go to Dorset during Hogwarts's break.
He remembered that Newt had once brewed a tonic for the Murtlap Rat. This magical creature had a body structure very similar to that of a field mouse. The rats in pet stores generally had some Murtlap Rat bloodline, just like cats and kneazles.
So, when the time comes, just dilute it slightly and use it directly. It would definitely extend the lifespan of an ordinary rat by at least three to five years.
"I'll feed Pochi the tonic on time."
Kanna nodded seriously, not doubting his intention.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine." Kyle smiled and handed over a chocolate frog: "Have some chocolate, it will make you feel better."
"No, no, I can buy it myself."
Kanna glanced at the chocolate frog, then immediately looked away, pinching the hem of her robe with both hands. She looked like a child receiving red envelopes during the Chinese New Year, wanting them but feeling embarrassed.
"It's okay, take it." Kyle smiled and said, "Just think of it as a meeting gift. I hope we can become classmates."
"...Thank you."
Hearing what Kyle said, Kanna blushed and took the chocolate frog, but did not eat it. Instead, she carefully put it away.
[End of the chapter]