As these thoughts drifted through her mind, she arrived at her destination. Standing outside the Wilson’s Arcane Alchemica Company, she took in the storefront with mild surprise. It had only been a few days since the demonstration, yet the place was already fully set up. The black and silver signature, the subtle magical engravings shimmering on its surface, everything gave off an air of low-key sophistication. Her gaze flickered to the coat of arms above the entrance. A sword, standing upright amid crisscrossing lightning bolts. ‘Is this the emblem of a particular wizarding family’? she mused. Not dwelling on it for too long, Azalea pushed open the frosted glass door, which bore a neat “Open for Business” sign. A crisp bell chime echoed through the shop as she stepped inside.
At that moment, Alex, who had been casually getting a feel for his first day in business, looked up from behind the counter. He briefly hesitated, wondering if he should say “Welcome”, but his expression quickly shifted when he recognized the visitor. Azalea gave him a polite nod. "Hello, Mr. Wilson. Do you remember me? Today’s the scheduled delivery for the first two batches of alchemical equipment. I’m here to receive them." As she spoke, she admired the shop’s décor.
The store’s layout was well thought out, it exuded a sense of mystery and craftsmanship. She took a quick glance at the shelves, noting that the items on display were mostly the same as those shown during the Ministry’s demonstration. Notably, the humanoid targets and jammers were absent, likely due to their restricted classification. She assumed that Alex hadn’t had time to restock, but in truth, she wasn’t familiar with the exact sales restrictions imposed by the Ministry. Still, the overall presentation left an impression. "Of course, I remember," Alex said smoothly, offering her a knowing smile.
There’s more to her than she lets on. Her demeanor, her subtle movements, she was clearly far more capable than she appeared. Azalea casually flicked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I didn’t expect your shop to be up and running so quickly."
"You flatter me," Alex replied lightly. "I already had most of the groundwork laid out. I was simply waiting for the official licensing. And since you’re my first customer, you get the honor of inaugurating my business." He stepped out from behind the counter and gestured toward the back room. "The Ministry’s goods are stored in the back. Follow me to inspect and verify the order. Oh, by the way, I assume you have spatial storage gear? There’s quite a lot to carry."
Azalea adjusted the sleeve of her robe with practiced ease. "Of course. I wouldn’t come unprepared." She followed him into the inner room, which, though similar in design to the front, was noticeably larger and more open.
Against one wall, a long wooden table was neatly arranged with two large trays, one containing handcuffs, the other tracking glasses, stacked in perfect order. Alex motioned toward them. "Take your time checking the goods. If you have any concerns, just call me, I’ll be up front, keeping an eye on the shop."
And with that, he casually strolled out, leaving Azalea to her work. She let out a small sigh, shaking her head. ‘He really trusts me to be alone back here?’ Still, orders were orders. Barnabas had insisted that every item be tested individually, a tedious task, but necessary.
Meanwhile, back at the counter, Alex tapped a small enchanted mirror on the desk. A hazy reflection of the back room flickered to life, showing Azalea standing over the trays of equipment, carefully inspecting each piece. He wasn’t worried about her causing trouble, but that didn’t mean he’d be careless. Still, Azalea seemed genuinely focused on her task. ‘She’s playing the role of a bureaucratic vase, but I’d bet good money she’s got a lot more going on under the surface,’ Alex thought to himself. He didn’t particularly care about her secrets, though. As long as she didn’t interfere with his business, they could coexist peacefully.
A sudden chime interrupted Alex’s thoughts. More visitors. Given his prime location in Diagon Alley, foot traffic was inevitable, especially now, during summer break, when students and their parents flooded the shopping district.
Within moments, a small crowd had gathered inside the shop. Many were curious onlookers, drawn in by the new storefront and mystical ambiance. Most were Hogwarts students, dragging their parents along, their eyes wide with curiosity as they scanned the shelves. But the moment some of them checked the price tags, the murmurs began. "Merlin’s beard!" one witch gasped. "Twelve Galleons for a Defensive Amulet? Sixty Galleons for a pocket watch?!"
More parents furrowed their brows, checking the neatly written product descriptions. Alex expected this reaction. His retail prices were about 20% higher than the wholesale prices offered to the Ministry. This wasn’t just to maintain a profit margin, it was to make Ministry officials feel like they were getting a bargain in comparison.
Even so, for ordinary wizarding families, these prices were steep. Alex wasn’t targeting the average Hogwarts student. His products were high-end, designed for Aurors, bounty hunters, and wealthy wizards who needed practical magical defenses.
While students and casual shoppers could browse, only those with serious money would make actual purchases. And that was fine. The real clientele would arrive soon enough. Alex didn’t bother explaining the pricing of his products to the skeptical customers, his wares spoke for themselves. If they thought the prices were too high, they were free to walk away. Just then, a familiar voice called out, "Prefect?"
Turning towards the entrance, Alex spotted Joey, one of Slytherin’s most capable students. Last year’s fourth-year leader, now promoted to fifth year and recently elected prefect alongside Mona. He hadn’t expected to run into him here. "Joey, you don’t have to be so formal outside of school," Alex said, offering a rare warm smile. "Are you here shopping for new school supplies?"
Joey straightened slightly, his expression full of respect. "You’re our Prefect, that’s a fact that’ll never change." Alex simply chuckled at the unwavering Slytherin loyalty.
Joey stepped aside, revealing a timid-looking young girl standing behind him. "I actually brought my cousin here today, she’s starting at Hogwarts this year," Joey explained, then gently nudged her forward. "Gemma, this is our house Prefect, Lord Wilson. Say hello."
The little girl blinked up at Alex, clearly a bit nervous. "Hi, I’m Gemma Farley."
Alex nodded at her politely. "Hello, Gemma." Then, turning back to Joey, he said, "Since today’s my first day of business, you can pick anything you like, consider it a gift for your sister."
Both Joey and Gemma exchanged surprised glances. The little girl’s eyes lit up with excitement, and Joey, though more composed, was clearly grateful. "You opened this alchemy shop yourself, Prefect?" Joey asked, realization dawning on his face.
"That’s right," Alex confirmed. "Don’t these products look familiar? You’ve seen some of them before."