Harry Potter: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me from Studying

The last week of the holiday flew by. Wade only felt like he'd just started reading a few books when time had already slipped away.

Professor Morrey had left him a small matchbox, inside which was a small, curled, blue-black thin piece, like a dried caterpillar or a membrane torn from a bat's wing.

Since he couldn't use his wand, Vide only observed its appearance with a magnifying glass, without resorting to more destructive monitoring methods. He would only be able to study it carefully once he returned to school.

As Marcionni had said, the "Book of Friends" was released on schedule. Vide also received an invitation from the Aslan Magic Workshop for the release day, and an owl even sent him samples—two sets of each style, with a note saying he could keep one set for collection and give the other away.

Rather than join the "first day release" hype, Vide preferred to stay home and read. However, Fiona saw the advertisement for the Book of Friends in the Daily Prophet and excitedly wanted to go. So, father and son accompanied her.

The family drove to Charing Cross Road in Westminster, parked the car nearby, and then walked to the Leaky Cauldron. It had just snowed recently, and the ground was wet and slippery. Fiona held Ferdinand's arm tightly, but her feet still slipped as she walked.

"I really wish I could just fly to the Leaky Cauldron—and have some butterbeer—no, firewhisky—" Fiona muttered, walking precariously.

"We're almost there," Ferdinand comforted her. In fact, they could already see the sign for the Leaky Cauldron.

Although the Grey couple were Squibs and were not accepted into magic schools, the wizarding world had not completely closed its doors to them. Both Ferdinand and Fiona had magic in their bodies. Though they couldn't use it, it still set them apart from Muggles.

For example, they could see the Leaky Cauldron, which was invisible to Muggles, and potions had their normal effects on them.

If they were pure Muggles, some potions that were commonplace for wizards could become deadly poisons if drunk by them, such as Skele-Gro. Some injuries that were trivial to wizards could be irreparable serious harm to Muggles.

When Vide was studying at Hogwarts, the Grey couple would sometimes wander around Diagon Alley. Although they didn't have wands, they could enter Diagon Alley by following another wizard when they opened the entrance, and people generally wouldn't say anything.

At this moment, Vide felt as if his parents had come home after entering Diagon Alley. They naturally went to the Leaky Cauldron first for a beer (Fiona had stopped complaining about the hygiene there at some point), then followed the winding path to the entrance, both looking at Vide.

Vide took out his wand and tapped a brick on the wall. The familiar archway immediately appeared, and a huge poster greeted them—

[The Book of Friends, a groundbreaking symbol!]

[You haven't bought your child a Book of Friends yet? Merlin, what will they do at school?]

[Peak quality, excellent yet affordable, an irreplaceable enjoyment for the new era!]

[With me by your side, the world is different—instant communication, the Book of Friends changes our world!]

"Oh my goodness—" Fiona couldn't help but exclaim.

Colorful posters were visible in almost every corner of their vision, with various slogans continuously scrolling, urging people to buy immediately. Diagon Alley was bustling with people, full of parents with children, and even many foreign wizards.

They didn't need to go to Marcionni's shop anymore, because along Diagon Alley, there was a sales point every ten meters. Shop assistants shouted loudly: "Limit one per person! Limit one per person! Hey, sir, you took an extra one!"

"Don't worry! We'll produce more products soon! Don't worry, if you're willing to wait two days, you can sit in the store and take your time choosing! All kinds of styles!"

But no one listened to him. People kept pushing forward, clutching Galleons and shouting—

"Give me three! I have three children!"

"Don't push from behind! Who stepped on my shoe?!"

"I want the red one, give me the red one!"

Suddenly, a gasp erupted from the crowd. The packed crowd scattered with a whoosh, and two wizards actually tumbled to the ground, fighting. Screams and shouts mixed into a chaotic mess. Soon, they were pulled apart by others nearby.

Fiona swallowed hard: "Shall we—shall we just watch from here—"

"—A wise choice."

Ferdinand bought ice cream, and the three of them sat at a small table outside the shop, watching the daunting scene of the frenzied buying.

The owner, Fusco, wearing a waistcoat, brought the ice cream to their table, smiling, "Are you also here to buy a Book of Friends for your child?"

"Uh—yes—" Ferdinand said vaguely.

"Then you'd better go buy it early," Fusco adjusted his tie and said, "I have inside information that the Aslan Magic Workshop only produced this current batch of Book of Friends by working overtime. After these are sold out, their staff will take a few days off before continuing production. So, if you miss this round, you'll have to wait at least a week to buy one."

Vide looked up at him—no wonder the shop assistants' shouts to maintain order were ineffective. With these Diagon Alley owners spreading "inside information" to create anxiety, everyone would naturally worry about not being able to buy one.

"Your inside information is—" Ferdinand asked cautiously.

"Oh, my distant aunt's neighbor's daughter works at the Aslan Magic Workshop, specifically in charge of Book of Friends production, so my information is absolutely true and reliable!" Fusco said proudly.

"Oh—" Ferdinand nodded, half-believing.

Vide: ...

Could this "inside information" have been disseminated by Marcionni through his employees? To stimulate consumption, he deliberately spread rumors, while officially promoting "we have plenty of stock," he had people reveal "limited stock" inside information. People would naturally choose to believe the latter.

"Waiting a week—is there anything wrong with that? It was fine with just owls before, wasn't it?" Fiona asked curiously.

"How is that the same?" Mr. Fusco looked at Vide and said, "Think about your son—madam—when he goes to school, all his classmates will be talking about and exchanging Books of Friends, but he'll have nothing. Won't he be isolated? At the very least, he'll feel inferior, right? Imagine that scenario—as parents, wouldn't you feel bad?"

Fiona followed his words and imagined—students at school playing in groups, chatting on their Books of Friends, laughing tacitly, and her Vide standing alone in a corner, looking pitifully—Fiona immediately felt sad and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes! Absolutely! Too pitiful, can't let that happen!"

"Right, everyone thinks that way—at least let your child bring a Book of Friends to school so they don't feel out of place with other children—so who can resist buying one?"

"Can't resist, definitely will buy!" Fiona said enthusiastically.

Fusco sighed and left, still muttering about parents' love for their children. Fiona sat restlessly, watching the frantic crowd, then suddenly stood up, but Ferdinand quickly grabbed her arm. Vide looked at her in surprise.

"Ferdi—"

"Vide already has a Book of Friends, remember?" Ferdinand said helplessly. "He has many, he can exchange with everyone he meets. He's not some pitiful child."

—In fact, he himself was the inventor of the Book of Friends. What kind couldn't he have?

Fiona blinked, then realized, "Oh—right!"

Vide: ...

So, you were truly instigated, not secretly promoting it for me, right?