Mysterious Journey

Chapter 29: A萝莉 Who Loves to Study

Perhaps because it was still early, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions was temporarily without other customers.

As soon as Erina entered, she was greeted by a short, plump, smiling witch dressed in purple – Madam Malkin, the owner of the shop.

"Hogwarts first year, dear?"

Before Erina could speak, Madam Malkin said with a smile.

The witch looked up at the figure who had temporarily left outside the door. "Dumbledore? That's rare. Since he stopped teaching Transfiguration, it's rare to see him personally bringing students to Diagon Alley."

Withdrawing her gaze, Madam Malkin curiously sized up the silver-haired little girl standing in front of her, and smiled slightly. "Come on, follow me to the back of the shop and try on some robes first."

The space at the back of the robe shop was very large, much more spacious than it appeared from the street. Madam Malkin gestured for Erina to stand on a footstool, put a robe on her, quickly pinned it to a suitable length, and clapped her hands cheerfully.

"Alright, the robe size is measured. Dear, would you like to sit on the sofa and slowly choose the other clothes you need to buy next?"

"Clothes I need to buy next?"

Erina repeated with some hesitation. This tone reminded her of the hairdressers in her previous life – who would always end up selling her an expensive skincare membership card when she only wanted a simple trim.

The girl warily clutched her wallet and politely shook her head. "No, I remember the list only wrote..."

Madam Malkin shook her head helplessly and chuckled gently.

"Oh, dear, you don't think that all Hogwarts students wear only three sets of black wizard robes, a cloak, and a wizard hat for an entire semester, do you?"

The plump witch shrugged and continued to explain without thinking, obviously this was not the first time she had faced such a question.

"As long as they aren't too strapped for cash, most students usually choose to order a few sets of shirts, skirts, and standardized sweaters for autumn and winter. By the way, Hogwarts is a boarding school, so it's best to prepare all your clothes at once."

Isn't this the legendary semi-compulsory bundled consumption?

From the looks of it, poor children who want to go to wizarding school must first learn how to counter the [Hangman's Knot] spell.

Clearly, a certain unnamed Potions professor most likely suffered a series of tragic love stories because he didn't accept the semi-compulsory bundled consumption offered by the clothing store.

In fact, the income from Hogwarts' tailored uniforms accounts for at least 80% of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions' revenue.

After all, compared to robes that are used all year round, the daily uniform requirements for the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter alone are a big expense, not to mention the extra spending on underwear and stockings for the little witches.

"And, dear, a pretty little witch like you needs to prepare more sets of clothes of different sizes. Here I suggest you refer to the list of clothing that most little witches buy. After all, you will soon grow into a big girl, and if outdoor courses are involved..."

Although Madam Malkin put it quite euphemistically, Erina completely understood her meaning. In short, if she didn't want to go into the field "commando", she would have to buy some normal base clothing to wear under the robe.

Erina imagined the refreshing scene of her riding a flying broomstick, with wind whistling through her clothes, and all the boys in the school looking up and seeing her delicate bottom, and shuddered.

"Enough said, you're right, I'll buy them! However, Madam Malkin, I think there are many details we need to discuss."

The silver-haired little girl sat up straight, opened the reference book Madam Malkin handed her, and began to examine it carefully item by item.

The situation is stronger than people, after all, she is not a steel tough guy like Professor Snape, she definitely has to buy them.

But if she gave up resistance and allowed herself to be fleeced, then she wouldn't be Erina Kaslana, who made all the shops in the Scottish Highlands change color with her skillful bargaining skills.



When Dumbledore returned to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, Erina and Madam Malkin were only halfway through their conversation.

As Erina had guessed, Madam Malkin's "custom package" actually contained many items that could be cut.

"I will definitely not wear high heels before I am sixteen. Therefore, please remove all shoes that do not allow my heel and sole to remain level from the list," Erina said, pointing to the contents of the booklet with a serious expression.

The plump witch's face was completely devoid of the previous ease.

"Well, I suggest you can actually replace them with a few pairs of flat leather shoes, sneakers, and ladylike shoes. This would save about 11 Sickles."

"No, I already have several pairs of white sneakers and small tactical short boots.", Facing Madam Malkin's suggestion, Erina refused firmly without wavering.

Raising her head, she happened to see Dumbledore holding two large ice creams and standing by the window. The silver-haired little girl's eyes lit up. "Um, excuse me… I'll be right back. Professor Dumbledore is looking for me."

"Go, go… it's good for me to take a break and sort out what we talked about before."

Madam Malkin rubbed her brow with a headache and waved her hand weakly – frankly, since she started running this robe shop, she had never encountered such a terrible and difficult opponent.

From the size and material of the fabric to the material of the cloak's buttons; from labor costs to so-called human physiology... This silver-haired little girl could patiently reduce the price by one knut at a time from various tricky but irrefutable angles.

To the point that later on, Madam Malkin even had the feeling that she was not talking to a ten-year-old Hogwarts freshman, but discussing a big business deal with several Gringotts goblins.

"It's been so long, and you haven't finished buying clothes yet?"

Dumbledore handed the ice cream in his hand to Erina, and asked puzzledly. In his impression, Madam Malkin had always been a quite capable witch.

"It's only halfway done… I have to admit, Madam Malkin is much better than the clothing store owners in the town. As expected, she is a successful businesswoman who can open a shop in Diagon Alley."

Erina sat directly on the stone steps in front of the robe shop, squinted her eyes and licked the strawberry ice cream, which was almost half the size of her fist. In the summer sun, wisps of ice fog floated above the pink ice cream ball, and the raspberry jam paired with crushed nuts as seasoning made her appetite greatly improved. The sweet and cold taste instantly eliminated all her previous fatigue.

"Only halfway done? Um..."

Dumbledore was slightly stunned. He couldn't imagine why it would take so long to buy a few sets of school uniforms. However, after this period of getting along, he could vaguely guess from the frowning Madam Malkin inside that Erina had started her almost monstrous eloquence speech again.

"In that case, then I'll go to Flourish and Blotts and buy all the textbooks you need for school first. If you finish here early, wait for me in place for a while, and then we'll go buy you a wand together."

Dumbledore pondered for a few seconds and quickly made a decision, turning to head towards Flourish and Blotts.

"Um, wait..."

Hearing Dumbledore's words, Erina, who was still biting her ice cream, quickly stood up and blocked Dumbledore in front of her (because she was holding two big ice creams in her left and right hands, that's all she could do).

Dumbledore quickly stopped, so as not to accidentally bump into the silver-haired little girl who had rushed out recklessly, and asked with some confusion.

"Hmm? Is there anything else?"

"Yes, Galleons. Buy books, with my money."

Erina swallowed the ice cream in her mouth, turned sideways, and showed Dumbledore the small bag containing Galleons around her waist.

"You know, Hogwarts has special funds. There's no problem helping you buy a set of textbooks..."

Dumbledore crouched down, his eyes parallel to Erina's, and said with a smile.

"Benitez-daddy said, I'm not an orphan. So I don't need the school's aid money."

Erina shook her head and said firmly.

"..."

Dumbledore was silent for half a second, nodded solemnly, reached out and counted out twenty Galleons from the small bag around Erina's waist, "Sorry, I'll give you the receipt for the books later. Is there anything else?"

"Anything else..."

The silver-haired little girl blinked her bright big eyes, pursed her lips cutely, tilted her head and thought carefully, and said softly.

"Um... If possible, in addition to *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them* listed on the list, can you buy me a few more books by Mr. Newt Scamander? I've always liked the magical creatures of the wizarding world."

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(Weeping, in the last five minutes, finished writing and uploaded!!!)
(Please feed me with recommendation tickets, I'm going to sleep! I feel like I'm going to die from exhaustion, I only slept for less than four hours. Meow)