Joey scanned the shelves carefully, his eyes widening as he recognized some of the training gear Alex had used in Hogwarts. "This is the protective glove you had David and the others test!" Joey exclaimed, picking up a pair. His respect for Alex grew even further. "So all those tests… you were actually preparing to start a company?"
"Exactly," Alex said, amused at how slow Joey was to put the pieces together.
"Then I’ll take these gloves," Joey said, handing them to Gemma. He had long coveted a pair back at school, and now he could finally own one.
As they chatted, Joey’s eyes lit up as he remembered something else. "By the way, Prefect," he asked eagerly, "are you selling those humanoid targets? The ones we trained with?"
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Why? Tired of waiting for practice turns at school?"
"Exactly!" Joey nodded fervently. "That thing is brilliant. I was practicing spells at home this summer, and something felt off. Then I realized, I had no way of measuring progress. If I had a humanoid target that displayed spell power, I’d have been way more motivated to train."
Alex hadn’t really considered how younger wizards might use his products. Now, hearing Joey’s enthusiasm, he wondered if there was untapped potential in the student market. But before he could think too deeply about it, he shook his head. "You could buy one, but it’d cost you 800 Galleons," Alex said, watching Joey’s reaction carefully.
Predictably, Joey’s expression fell. "800?!" he choked. "That’s… insane!"
Alex smirked. "The humanoid target is expensive because it’s built to withstand high-level spells. It also heals itself and accurately measures spell power. That requires complex enchantments, the materials alone are costly."
Joey hesitated, absorbing that information. He had never thought about what went into making the humanoid target, he had just taken it for granted during training. "Alright… but how much can it take before it breaks?" he asked, now curious.
"I haven’t tested its limit," Alex admitted, "but I can confirm it’s fine up to 500 unit."
Joey let out a sharp breath. "500?! That’s ridiculous!" The strongest spell he had managed back at Hogwarts was around 50 points. Even among the top students, no one had come close to 100. Still, Joey’s mind kept working. "Prefect… most young wizards, or even adult wizards, don’t have spells anywhere near that strong," he pointed out. "What if you made a cheaper version?"
Alex narrowed his eyes slightly. "Go on."
"If you lowered the durability, most wizards wouldn’t notice. I mean, who besides Moody or you can even hit 500?" Alex frowned, considering it. Joey had a point. Did all humanoid targets really need to be that sturdy? If he lowered the power limit, he could use cheaper materials, reducing costs, which meant a lower price point and a bigger market.
After a moment, Alex nodded. "You might be onto something," he admitted. "A basic version, less durable, but still functional. I could set the max spell resistance at… 100 points. That should cover most young wizards."
Joey’s eyes sparkled. "Now that’s something people could actually buy!"
Alex had always been meticulous in his research, often obsessively pushing every attribute to its absolute limit. Whether it was spell resistance, durability, or functionality, he felt an innate need to push his creations to their peak performance. But when it came to civilian products, such extreme specifications were unnecessary. A humanoid target built to withstand 500-point spells was far beyond what most wizards, especially students, could ever realistically use. Reducing its strength would cut down on material costs and make it far more affordable. It was a realization that made Alex pause. ‘Maybe I’ve been trapped in my own way of thinking…’
Joey’s comments had sparked something new in his mind. Instead of always building from the top down, perhaps he needed to start with the customers, understand what they actually wanted, and work from there. "You have a point," Alex admitted, nodding at Joey. "Come on, let’s sit down and talk properly." He gestured toward the seating area in the shop, guiding Joey and Gemma to the small, well-arranged corner with comfortable chairs and a polished wooden table.
Once they sat, Alex pulled out a notepad and, with the flick of his wand, set a quill to hover over the parchment, ready to take notes. "If I were to design a low-end version of the humanoid target," Alex asked, "what price range do you think would be reasonable? And what would you suggest for the power limit?"
Joey rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment before answering. "Hmm… I’d say most wizarding families could afford 100 to 200 Galleons," he said. "As for the power cap… well, I’ve never been able to hit 100 points with a spell before. A 100-point target would definitely be good enough for a young wizard like me." Joey hesitated, then added, "Actually, a target with around 200-point durability could probably serve most adult wizards too."
Alex nodded, noting the pricing brackets in his journal. "And for younger students?" Alex prompted.
Joey’s eyes lit up. "Oh! For first to third years, a basic model could work, something that only needs to handle 30 or 50 points. Actually… you could even make a toy version! It wouldn’t need high durability at all, just something small for practice." He spoke faster as he warmed up to the idea, watching Alex jot everything down. "Basically, if you made three types, a toy version, a pre-graduation model, and a regular one, you’d have something for every age group," Joey finished, pleased with himself.
Alex glanced at his notes, considering the categories. The Beginner Model, meant for young students, had low durability and was affordable, almost like a training toy. The Intermediate Model, designed for upper-year Hogwarts students, offered mid-range durability, making it suitable for serious training. The Standard Model, intended for adults, provided moderate durability, sufficient for normal spell practice. This was actually a solid plan. He smirked, tapping the parchment lightly. "Good thinking, Joey. You might have a future in product development."
As he finished writing, Alex turned toward Gemma, who had been quietly watching. "What about you, young lady?" he asked. "Do you have any thoughts? Is there an alchemy product you’d love to buy?"
Gemma’s eyes widened slightly, and she pointed immediately at the metal raven perched on the counter. "I want that!" Alex blinked, surprised. Only now did he notice something, Gemma wasn’t the only one staring at the raven.
Several other young wizards in the shop were curiously watching it, some even reaching out to touch the floating orbs of light that it spat out at regular intervals. Most of his customers had ignored the expensive tactical equipment on display. But this random decoration? It had completely captivated them. He had created the Alchemy Raven purely as a shop aesthetic piece, it had no practical function beyond looking impressive. But now, watching the children’s reactions, he realized it had unexpected commercial potential. "Magic decorations…?" Alex mused aloud. Turning back to Gemma, he asked, "What do you like most about it?"