Facing this question, Dumbledore smiled it off, "Because I saw some kind of revelation in that Goblin ruin."
Weilan didn't probe further, but he silently noted the matter in his heart.
Bowing deeply, Weilan bid farewell to Dumbledore.
The moment he stepped out of the office, Weilan took out the Knut coin from his pocket.
He performed a quick divination, the question being, "Is the person who bribed Mr. Bagman the Veela who harmed Weilan?"
The divination gave a "yes" answer.
Without hesitation or panic, Weilan calmly put away the coin.
At least now, he knew what kind of enemy he was about to face.
She possessed powerful charm and healing abilities, strong financial backing, and was simultaneously intelligent and cunning, manipulating Ministry of Magic officials like puppets.
However, her close-quarters combat ability was not strong, in fact, it could be said to be... very weak.
In that direct confrontation between Weilan and her, Weilan had successfully ambushed her four times in close combat.
Weilan returned to the common room.
During Thursday's Transfiguration Class, Professor McGonagall mentioned the upcoming Christmas Ball. Now, everyone in the common room was worried about finding a dance partner.
Ron was an exception; he was worried about his robes.
"Can you get the price down to under 25 Galleons?"
Ron took out his share of savings from the detective agency and stacked them on the table.
"The cheapest robes at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions cost 35 Galleons."
"Floyd's Fine Wizarding Wear is even more expensive, requiring at least 40 Galleons."
"But with me here, I guarantee to help you get cheap and handsome robes."
Weilan confidently assured Ron.
Hermione walked over at this moment, bringing news about Ron's dance partner:
"Lavender said she wants you to invite her in person."
A faint smile was on her face: "Good luck, Ron, it's all or nothing. I think you need to prepare well for this invitation."
"We'll go pick out robes tomorrow morning!" Weilan excitedly rubbed his hands, "You just pick, leave the rest to me, Ron, you have to believe in my eloquence..."
Hearing this, Ron scratched his red hair on the back of his head and lowered his head, smiling shyly.
As for that Merlin coin... Oh, it's almost Christmas, anything important can naturally wait until after the holiday.
Just in case, Weilan brought an additional 20 Galleons, several sickles, and Knuts. On Saturday morning, he and Ron eagerly pushed open the wooden door of Floyd's Fine Wizarding Wear.
"Welcome!"
The proprietress of Floyd's Fine Wizarding Wear, Catherine Hart, though in her forties, still retained her charm, standing behind a clothes rack and waving to them.
Her long, dark red curly hair fell across her deep V-neckline, revealing a glimpse of white skin. Madam Hart had a mole below her lip that trembled as she spoke:
"Oh, it's you two! I recognize you both... two little heroes from Hogwarts, Mr. Gobert once publicly praised you."
There seemed to be another customer still changing in the fitting room behind the clothes rack. Madam Hart walked out from behind the rack, holding several women's formal dresses:
"Are you here to buy formal robes? Please feel free to choose."
Ron and Weilan casually scanned a few robes that looked quite appealing.
"100 Galleons."
"82 Galleons."
"20% off hot sale: only 63 Galleons!"
Ron's eyes widened in horror: "So expensive, are the threads of these robes sewn with gold thread?"
"Normal."
Weilan patted Ron's shoulder:
"The rent in Hogsmeade is not cheap. Honeydukes, Pig's Head Pub, and Three Broomsticks appear to be such good value because the owners use their own properties."
"Alas." Weilan sighed, "If I could buy a house in Hogsmeade, I wouldn't have to worry about food and drink for the rest of my life..."
"Before you stop worrying about food and drink, think about how to attend the Christmas Ball gracefully," Ron raised an eyebrow at Weilan, signaling him to act quickly.
Weilan finally found the most satisfactory robe—"54 Galleons."
It was a burgundy tailcoat, not the cheapest in the shop, but Weilan thought it would go well with Ron's red hair.
"You go try it on first." Weilan handed the clothes to Ron.
The person in the fitting room hadn't come out yet, so Ron waited outside with the clothes. Weilan took the opportunity to get closer to Madam Hart, to gain some goodwill first—
"You're so beautiful, Madam Hart." Weilan said to her with a smile, "Many girls at Hogwarts often feel inferior!"
"I often hear them sigh—'If only I were half as beautiful as Madam Hart. Merlin's beard, I can barely imagine how stunning she must have been when she was young.'"
"Is that so?" Madam Hart seemed to enjoy the compliments, but still feigned modesty: "Oh, how could I compare to them?"
"I'm already old and faded, while those young girls are in the prime of their youth!"
Seeing that the atmosphere was well set, Weilan changed the subject and said miserably:
"Yes, but what's the use of them being so beautiful? No girl is willing to be our dance partner, simply because we don't have suitable robes..."
"No dance partner? You don't have a dance partner yet?"
The fitting room door suddenly opened, and Cho Chang came out, looking at Weilan with some surprise.
The dress she was wearing was a lake-blue cheongsam. Her long black hair and gentle Eastern face unexpectedly made this somewhat old-fashioned color look beautiful.
Weilan's face turned as red as a boiled egg.
"Then can I be your dance partner?"
Cho must have mustered a lot of courage to say that.
Because she was the only one buying robes today; her best friend Marietta was not by her side to encourage her.
"Thank you for your invitation, Cho."
Although Cho's beauty, that kind of beauty unique to an Eastern woman, made Weilan's heart flutter for a moment.
But he still refused Cho without thinking:
"But I might not be able to accept you, um... I haven't settled on my robes yet."
Weilan couldn't use the excuse that he already had a dance partner to turn down Cho's invitation.
He had just played the victim to Madam Hart, saying he couldn't find a dance partner, all to facilitate bargaining.
Now Madam Hart was standing right next to him, so Weilan could only steel himself and continue:
"You know, clothes for formal occasions like this are not cheap, and my money might..."
"How much more do you need?" Cho's gaze on him was almost longing, "Madam Hart and I are very close; I'll ask her to give you a discount, and I'll help you with some of the money."
It felt as if ten thousand ants were crawling on Weilan's scalp.
Now, Weilan's gaze towards the fitting room was almost longing. He yearned for Ron to come out of the fitting room as soon as possible, and then for them to escape Floyd's Fine Wizarding Wear quickly.
"Oh my, could it be...?"
Madam Hart's charming eyes, full of allure, wavered between Cho's eager gaze and Weilan's face, flushed with embarrassment.
Weilan thought she didn't understand anything at all, but Madam Hart seemed to think she understood everything.
"Then I'll take a small loss to fulfill your wishes."
Madam Hart twirled her wand, about to retrieve the most expensive robes from the display cabinet.
"No!" Weilan racked his brain for a suitable excuse to refuse, "Madam Hart, I, I can't go to the Christmas Ball, because..."
"Because I have an urgent matter on those two days of Christmas..."
"What urgent matter?" Madam Hart asked him.
"Yes, what urgent matter do I have on those two days of Christmas?" Weilan was also pondering this question.
