“Now, for the unicorn blood, I need to make a few more tests.
After all, cursed unicorn blood can significantly shorten one’s lifespan and even lower the amount of magic in your body to the point of becoming a squib.
Cursed unicorn blood is oftentimes used in poisons and is subject to restrictions by the ministry of magic.” He explained as Lux nodded his head.
He knew that even if it was cursed unicorn blood, not that he thought it was, he would be safe since he hadn’t actually hunted a unicorn for it and the blood would only be confiscated.
Using an item stored under the desk, a gray light lit up as the young man explained.
“This item is a curse detector.
As long as there is any form of curse or deep negative energy in the item, the light will turn from gray to red.
Should the item be fine, it will turn green instead.” He started before continuing.
“Should the unicorn blood be safe, the price will be quite high.
The amount of willingly given unicorn blood is extremely slim on the market as unicorns rarely accept to be raised in captivity, stay away from wizards most of the time and they refuse anyone with a negative aura from getting close to them.
Even if you were able to get close to them, getting them to offer their blood willingly is something else entirely.
They hate the thought of offering their blood, considering it an affront to their own lives.” He explained as the light finally lit up green much to his surprise and delight.
“Well, it is confirmed to be willingly given unicorn blood.
Since the price should be within the thousands, the manager will be the one to make the trade with you.” He explained as the moment he finished a man walked closer, knowing that when the green light of their curse detector lit up, it meant that there was oftentime a big deal to make.
“Hello esteemed customers.” Started the balding man as he showed what he thought to be a handsome smile, his eyes glancing with greed at the young boy who was obviously the owner of the two vials.
“Would you mind accompanying me to a private room where we can discuss a deal for those two vials?” He asked, staring at Lux as he started moving, trying to incite him to follow him.
“Sorry it won’t be possible.
I am on a tight schedule and I need to escort more students to Diagon Alley.” McGonagall said as she stopped the man from pulling Lux into a private room.
“Oh, it’s alright professor McGonagall, I’ll have one of my employees escort him to make his purchases once it is done.” He said with a smile despite seeing the frown on the Hogwarts professor’s face.
“I’m afraid not.” She replied while staring at him.
“Either offer a price right now or we’ll be leaving.
Anyway he has enough money to buy everything he needs for the next couple of years.” She said, refusing to budge on the subject of her prospective students. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
“Of course, of course.” Replied the middle-aged man as he clasped his hands together, his eyes trailing back on the two vials of golden liquid which he instantly recognized as willingly-given unicorn blood.
He needed to get it, they specifically had a customer who had come requesting this life-giving liquid a few days prior.
Despite the turban on his head and the smell of garlic, the man had proven his ability to buy such materials with a pouch filled with galleons.
“Since your professor is in a hurry, how about we exchange these two vials for a thousand galleons?” He asked, turning his attention back to Lux who would certainly be easier to scam.
“I’m afraid not.” Cut the professor once more.
“Either make a real price or we’ll find somewhere else to sell these two vials.” She said with a voice filled with authority.
“Alright, three thousand five hundred for both.” He said, showing a difficult expression.
“Lux, take your two vials we’re leaving.” Said the teacher as the young boy listened to her, taking back both his vials and storing them in his bag with the rapidity of someone who oftentimes fought with animals for his food in harder times.
“Wait, wait.” Said the manager who didn’t even have time to react before both vials had disappeared from his view.
‘Really, how can you be so fast in taking them back?’ He grumbled mentally as he stopped the duo from leaving.
“Six thousand Galleons, not one more.” He said with a defeated sigh as the glasses-wearing professor finally nodded her head.
Yet, despite the defeated sigh, he knew he would be able to make quite some profit by reselling it to the turban-wearing, garling-smelling man albeit not with as much profit as he would have liked.
“Perfect.” She said as she nodded at the young boy who handed back both vials as he received the payment of galleons and was briskly taken out of the shop by the professor.
“As you can see, there will be plenty of people trying to take your things for a price far lower than it is worth.
It is for this reason that you need to keep learning and increasing your knowledge.” She said with a serious expression as the boy nodded his head, now ready to explore this magical street with his large amount of money that could last anyone for years while living lavishly.
“First, considering the large amount of money you currently have, I recommend opening a vault in Gringotts.
There, your money will be safe and you can go and take back your money whenever you want.” She explained as he nodded his head, ready to follow her words.
He knew nothing of the magical side of the world and was more than happy to take any advice as long as they were sound.
The largest building in Diagon Alley was Gringotts.
Standing at five stories high, it was two stories higher than the highest building in Diagon Alley.
Manned by goblins, it was said to be the safest location in Britain except for Hogwarts due to the presence of Albus Dumbledore, the greatest light mage in the world.
Three gates were placed at the very front of the building with goblin guards armed to the teeth in front of each of them.
Going through the bronze colored doors, Lux nodded at the goblins standing guard before passing through and arriving in front of the silver colored doors.
‘What, is there going to be a golden door next?’ He wondered internally as he finally saw the third set of doors made of gold as he had guessed.
Goblins were everywhere.
Sitting at a high desk, higher even than the professor next to him, he felt them look down from their high desk as they judged the two of them.
Yet, as he looked back, all he could see were some galleons and jewels being examined as other wizards stood in front of various desks while talking with the goblins.
Following the professor, to a free counter, they stopped in front of what he guessed was the main teller of the bank.
“Purpose?” Asked the gruff looking goblin as he tilted his body above the desk, looking at the child hidden from view.
“We wish to open a vault for this new student.” Said McGonagall as she took over the conversation, unwilling to let Lux be at the mercy of the goblins’ insults as they were so often good at throwing.
His attention lost after hearing her words, he waved his slightly clawed hand as he pointed at a counter in the corner of the large golden hall.
“Head to the last counter, she will help you open a vault.” He said before turning back to the papers on his desk, uncaring whether the two wizards in front of him would listen to him or not.
“As you can see, goblins aren’t the friendliest race.
Yet, you can trust them with your gold.
You will learn of this in your History of Magic classes but after the last war, we came out as winners and to calm down the goblins, we let them control the banks but the entire race is bound by contracts preventing them from stealing from us or blocking us from taking our money.” She explained as Lux nodded his head, finally understanding why the wizards left their whole currency to the goblin race.
After all, it seemed kind of stupid to leave your entire economy to a race you had gone to war against.
However, if even a child like him could see the problems, the adults would have seen it as well and taken measures to prevent any problems.
Barely had they finished their conversation that a soft voice rang from above.
“Hello!
What can I do for you?”
This goblin, compared to the others, had a welcoming smile on her face, completely different from the others who made it look like the wizards were wasting their time.
However, the biggest change was the lack of jewels and gold on her counter.
If one compared her to the others, she looked more like a pariah as she was for one, way younger than the others but she also didn’t seem to work for any wizards either.
After all, under each goblin counter were the names of wizard families under their care.
Yet, hers was surprisingly empty.