At the very beginning, Vaughn had actually dreamed of becoming a proper rising star in the Potions world.
Unfortunately, there were simply too many giants in the field…
The first potions he brewed, things like Invigoration Draughts and Blood-Replenishing Potions, were standard healing brews.
They couldn’t compete with the products of famous potion masters.
Most potion shops weren’t even willing to stock his work, let alone sell it.
Then one day, he saw his mother washing Ginny’s hair while complaining that it was getting thicker and thicker, forcing her to buy Sleekeazy’s Hair Potion.
In that instant, inspiration struck like lightning.
His future suddenly looked bright.
After all, what was easier to make money from than women and children?
Nothing.
Reality proved that witches were women too.
Their pursuit of beauty and fear of aging made them far more willing to spend money than wizards.
Even when Vaughn was only eight years old and completely unknown, there were still witches willing to try the products developed under the “Vaughn Beauty” label.
By now, it had grown into an entire product line.
Not only had it earned him considerable fame, but it also brought in several hundred Galleons every month.
“Vaughn, sweetheart, are you finished yet?” A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
Closing the system panel, Vaughn packed the Beautification Potions neatly into an emptied crate while replying, “I’m done, Mom.
Did Mrs.
Primpanel’s owl arrive?” The attic door opened, and Molly entered.
The plump witch affectionately rubbed his fiery red hair.
“The owl is waiting downstairs.
Your father is feeding it treats, so there’s no need to rush.” As she spoke, she pulled a money pouch from her apron and placed it on the workbench.
“This is the payment the owl brought.
Vaughn, make sure you keep it safe.” “Mom, you should keep it…” “No.” Molly rejected the suggestion with a stern expression.
Then her face softened, and she pulled him into her broad embrace.
“My precious boy, how can this family keep using your money?
Your father and I have told you before.
Whether it’s you, Bill, or Charlie, whatever you earn belongs to you.
Besides, you’ve already given us more than enough.” Ever since Vaughn had started earning money and tried to contribute part of it to the family, they had had this conversation countless times.
The outcome was always the same.
Under Molly’s insistence, Vaughn could only put the money away.
Truthfully, whether in the novels he had read in his previous life or through personal experience in this one, the Weasley family might have been poor, but Arthur and Molly had never once failed as parents.
With Molly’s help, he packed the crate, cast a cushioning charm to prevent the bottles from breaking, and carried it downstairs.
On the first floor, Arthur had already finished feeding the owl and was sitting at the dining table reading the newspaper.
“Morning, Dad!” “Morning, Vaughn.
Hurry up.
That little fellow is already getting impatient.” “If you know it’s getting impatient, then why didn’t you go upstairs and help Vaughn pack?” Molly snapped immediately.
“Arthur Weasley, besides reading the newspaper every morning, do you do anything else?
Poor Vaughn works so hard.
Sometimes he spends days brewing a single batch of potions, yet you’ve never once helped him.
And you won’t do housework either…” As Molly’s voice rose into a familiar roar, Arthur hurriedly retreated behind his newspaper again.
And so another day began.
With Molly’s shouting and the owl’s strained wingbeats as it struggled to lift the heavy crate.
It was a scene everyone in the household knew well.
Without changing expression, Vaughn headed off to wash up.
As he passed the enchanted mirror, it immediately began to tremble.
“Be quiet.
Not a word.” Vaughn pulled out his old wand and pointed it threateningly at the mirror.
The mirror instantly froze.
Only after he had walked away did he faintly hear a barely audible mutter.
“Sloppy…” When he emerged after washing up, the rest of the family had also been dragged out of bed by Molly.
A freckled boy was just about to enter the bathroom.
The moment he saw Vaughn, he hesitated.
Vaughn smiled.
“Good morning, Ron.” “…” Ron glared.
“Morning, Vaughn.” “Where are your manners?
Call me big brother.” Ron flushed bright red.
“You were only born five minutes before me…” The smile on Vaughn’s face widened.
He still remembered the moment of their birth.
Ron was originally supposed to come out first.
But Vaughn had felt horribly cramped at the time and instinctively kicked him…
Before their standoff could continue, a pair of identical twins appeared behind Ron.
Full of energy as always, they slung their arms over his shoulders from either side like Aurors escorting a criminal.
“Being born five minutes earlier still makes him older, right, George?” “That’s right, Fred.
Just like I’m ten seconds older than you, so you should call me big brother.” “George, you’re still half asleep.
I’m the one who’s ten seconds older.” “No, I am!” Ron’s head spun from the argument.
Finally reaching his limit, he exploded in frustration.
Fortunately, Ginny came running over at that moment and happily threw herself into Vaughn’s arms.
Ron muttered something under his breath and seized the opportunity to flee into the bathroom.
“Good morning, Vaughn!” “Good morning, Ginny.” Vaughn kissed his little sister on the forehead.
Out of everyone in the family, he was closest to Ginny.
Partly because by the time she was born, he had already adapted to life in this world and genuinely accepted his new family.
The other reason was simpler.
The two of them looked the most alike.
They were practically the visual pride of the Weasley family.
When they were younger, Arthur and Molly often joked that Vaughn and Ginny looked more like twins than Vaughn and Ron, despite the latter being actual twins.
The noisy morning continued right through breakfast.
Yet something felt different today.
Arthur didn’t rush off to work at the Ministry of Magic.
Percy, who normally buried himself in books immediately after eating, sat by the window staring outside.
Fred and George, who were usually causing trouble somewhere, remained surprisingly well-behaved in their chairs, constantly winking at Vaughn and occasionally taking shots at Ron.
Even Ron, who would normally storm off in defeat after being tormented by them, stubbornly stayed put.
The entire family was waiting.
Waiting for a letter from Hogwarts.
Time passed.
The sun climbed over the hills and poured through the windows of the Burrow.
Then, finally, they heard the sound of flapping wings.
Molly, who had appeared calm but had actually been distracted all morning, immediately jumped up and opened the window.
Arthur set down his newspaper and brought out the owl treats he hadn’t finished using earlier.
Moments later, an owl flew inside and landed on the dining table.
Two letters were tied to its leg.
The envelopes were made of thick parchment.
Even before removing them, the seal was unmistakable.
A large wax crest bearing the letter H surrounded by a lion, eagle, badger, and serpent.
Molly excitedly untied the letters.
One glance at the backs of the envelopes was enough.
The joy she had been suppressing burst forth immediately.
“Thank Merlin!
Hogwarts acceptance letters!
I’ve been worried since yesterday.
What if they didn’t arrive?” Arthur, who had also risen halfway from his seat but lost the race to the letters, tried to appear calm.
“You worry too much.
How could Vaughn possibly fail to get into Hogwarts?” “I’m worried about Ron!” Molly shot back.
“You have no idea how terrified I was that he wouldn’t receive one.
Ever since he was little, this child has been as dull as a stone.
Even his accidental magic was pitifully weak…” “Mom!” Ron’s face turned as red as his hair.
He snatched the letters away, tossed Vaughn’s toward him, and then clutched his own letter tightly before racing upstairs.
Watching everything unfold with amusement, Vaughn paid it little mind.
He picked up his envelope and turned it over.
Mr.
Vaughn Weasley The Burrow, Dining Room At the same moment, the system panel popped up before his eyes.
[Main Quest Activated] [Main Quest ①: Enroll in Hogwarts (Incomplete)] [Reward: 1 Talent Point, 50 Magic Power]