Perhaps because it was still early, there were no other customers in Madam Malkin's Robe Store yet.
As soon as Elena entered the door, a short, fat, smiling witch wearing purple clothes walked towards her - the hostess of this shop, Mrs. Malkin.
"New student at Hogwarts, dear?"
Before Elena could speak, Mrs. Malkin said with a smile.
The witch raised her head and glanced at the figure who had left the door temporarily, "Dumbledore? It's really rare. Since he stopped being a transfiguration teacher, it's rare to see him bring his students to Diagon Alley in person."
Looking back, Mrs. Malkin curiously looked at the little silver-haired girl standing in front of her, smiled slightly, "Come on, follow me to the back of the store and try on some clothes first."
The space behind the robe store is very large, much wider than what you see on the street. Madam Malkin motioned for Elena to stand on a footstool, put a robe on her, and quickly used the pins to
She found the length that suited her and clapped her hands happily.
"Okay, the measurements of the robe are ready. My dear, would you like to sit down on the sofa and slowly choose the clothes you need to buy next?
“What clothes do I need to buy next?”
Elena repeated it with a slight hesitation. This tone of voice suddenly reminded her of the hairstylists in the barber shop in her previous life - they just simply trimmed the bangs, but in the end they usually ended up inexplicably signing up for a skin care membership worth several thousand dollars.
Card.
The girl cautiously covered the wallet around her waist and shook her head politely, "No, I remember that the list only said..."
Mrs. Malkin shook her head helplessly and chuckled gently.
"Oh. My dear, you don't think that all Hogwarts students will only wear three sets of black wizard robes, a cloak, and a wizard hat to go to school for a whole semester, right?"
The fat witch shrugged and continued to explain without thinking. Obviously this was not the first time she had faced such doubts.
"As long as they are not too embarrassed, most students usually choose to order several sets of shirts, skirts, and autumn and winter standard sweaters. By the way, Hogwarts is a full-time teaching system, so it is best to order all the clothes at once.
Ready."
Isn’t this the legendary semi-mandatory bundled consumption?
From this point of view, if poor children want to go to wizard school, the first thing they need to learn is how to counter the terrible magic of "The Upside Down Golden Bell".
Obviously, there is a high probability that a certain potions professor who did not want to be named did not accept the semi-mandatory bundled consumption provided by the clothing store, which led to a series of tragic love stories.
In fact, this part of the income from Hogwarts' personal uniform customization accounts for at least more than 80% of the operating income of Madam Malkin's Robe Store.
After all, compared to the robes that are used all year round, the daily uniform needs corresponding to the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter alone are a large expense, not to mention that little witches also need to wear underwear and skirts and stockings.
There are additional expenses.
"And, dear, a beautiful little witch like you needs to prepare a few more sets of different models of clothing. Here I suggest you refer to the list of clothing that most little witches have purchased. After all, soon,
You will grow into a big girl, and if it involves outdoor classes..."
Although Mrs. Malkin said it more tactfully, Elena had completely understood what she meant. In short, if you don't want to go into battle in a vacuum, you have to buy some additional normal base clothes to wear under the robe.
Elena imagined for a moment, the sour scene of her riding a broomstick with wind leaking all over her body, and the scene where all the boys in the school could see her delicate vagina when they raised their heads, and she shuddered.
"Needless to say, you are right, I will buy it! However, dear Mrs. Malkin, I think we still have a lot to discuss about some of the details."
The silver-haired little Luoli sat up straight, opened the reference album that Mrs. Malkin handed her, and began to examine each item carefully.
The situation is stronger than the person. After all, she is not a tough guy like Professor Snape, so she must buy it.
But if she gives up resistance and accepts the slaughter, she will not be the same Elena Kaslana who made all the shops talk about her in the Scottish Highlands with her skillful bargaining skills.
…
When Dumbledore returned to Madam Malkin's robe shop, Elena was just halfway through the conversation with Madam Malkin.
Just as Elena guessed, Mrs. Malkin's "customized package" actually contains many items that can be cut.
"I would never wear high heels before I was sixteen. Therefore, please remove from your list any shoes that cannot keep my heels and soles level."
Elena pointed to the content in the album and said seriously.
The fat witch's face had completely lost the previous relaxation at this moment. She thought for a while as if facing a formidable enemy, and then answered slowly.
"Well, I suggest that you can actually replace it with a few pairs of flat leather shoes, sports shoes, and ladies' shoes. In this case, you will save about 11 cents."
"No need, I already have several pairs of flat white shoes and small tactical boots."
Faced with Madam Malkin's proposal, Elena refused again unmoved.
Raising her head, she happened to see Dumbledore standing at the window holding two large ice creams. The silver-haired little Luoli's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Well, I'm sorry... If you can excuse me for a moment, Professor Dumbledore is here to see me.
"Let's go, let's go...just let me take a rest and reflect on what we talked about before."
Madam Malkin rubbed her brows with a headache and waved her hands feebly - frankly speaking, she had never encountered such a terrifying and difficult opponent since she started running this robe store.
From the size of the fabric to the material of the cloak's buttons; from labor costs to the so-called human physiology... this little silver-haired girl can always patiently explain one copper nut to another from various tricky and difficult to refute angles.
Nutter slashed prices.
So much so that later, Mrs. Malkin even had the impression that she was not talking to a ten-year-old Hogwarts freshman, but was discussing a big business deal with several Gringotts goblins.
Feel.
"It's been so long and you still haven't finished buying clothes?"
Dumbledore handed the ice cream in his hand to Elena and asked confusedly. In his impression, Mrs. Malkin had always been a very capable and skilled witch.
"We're only halfway through... I have to admit that Mrs. Malkin is much better than the clothing store owners in this town. She is indeed a successful businessman who can open a store in Diagon Alley."
Elena sat down directly on the stone steps in front of the robe shop, narrowed her eyes and licked the strawberry ice cream that was almost half the size of her fist.
Under the summer sun, there is a trace of ice mist floating above the pink ice cream ball. The raspberry jam as a condiment paired with chopped nuts is even more appetizing. The sweet and cold taste instantly eliminates her.
All the fatigue from before.
"Only halfway? Hmm..."
Dumbledore was slightly stunned. He really couldn't imagine why it took so long to buy several sets of school uniforms.
However, after getting along with her for this period of time, he could vaguely guess through the frowning Mrs. Malkin inside that Elena had probably started her almost demonic eloquent speech again.
"In that case, let me go to Flourish and Blotts Bookstore to help you buy all the textbooks you need for school. If you finish here early, just wait for me where you are for a while, and then we will go buy them for you together.
Magic wand.”
Dumbledore pondered for a few seconds, quickly made a decision, turned around and was about to walk to Flourish and Blotts Bookstore.
"Hmm, wait a minute..."
After hearing Dumbledore's words, Elena, who was still biting the ice cream, quickly stood up and stopped in front of Dumbledore (she had no choice but to do this because she was holding two large ice creams in one hand, one on the left and the other on the right).
Dumbledore quickly stopped his steps to avoid accidentally bumping into the silver-haired little Luoli who came out carelessly, and asked slightly confused.
"Hmm? Any more questions?"
"Hmm, Jin Gallon. Use my money to buy books."
Elena swallowed the ice cream in her mouth, turned sideways, and showed the small bag containing gold galleons at her waist in front of Dumbledore.
"You know, Hogwarts has special funds, so it's no problem to help you buy a set of textbooks..."
Dumbledore knelt down, his eyes were level with Elena, and he said with a smile.
"Daddy Benitez said that I am not an orphan, so I don't need the school's relief fund."
Elena shook her head and said firmly.
"..."
Dumbledore was silent for half a second, nodded solemnly, stretched out his hand and counted twenty gold galleons from the small bag on Elena's waist, "I'm sorry, I will give you the book purchase receipt later.
Is there anything else?"
"Other things..."
The silver-haired little Luoli blinked her big bright eyes, pouted her mouth cutely, tilted her head and thought carefully, then whispered.
"Well... if possible, in addition to the "Monsters and Where to Find Them" noted on the list, can you buy me a few more books by Mr. Newt Scamander? I have always loved magical beasts in the wizarding world.
They."
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(嘤嘤嘤, in the last five minutes, I finished writing it and uploaded it!!!)
(Please give me a recommendation for feeding. I went to bed! I felt like I was going to die suddenly. I only slept for less than four hours. Meow)