"Sean…"
Harry immediately turned toward Sean, who was still polishing his Herbology notes.
"Sean, apparently, we know less about you than the Daily Prophet does."
Hermione sighed dramatically as she lifted the freshly delivered newspaper. Besides a feature on Hagrid, it dedicated an entire section to a newly opened shop:
"Sold Out in Hours! A Series of Books Worthy of the Ministry of Magic's Educational Archives!"
"This report is ridiculous… The writer is Rita? Seriously?"
Ron looked baffled. "Do you remember? She just described Armando as a complete idiot!"
Considering Rita Skeeter had never hesitated to mock even former Hogwarts headmasters, it was hard to imagine what sort of mood she was in to produce such over-the-top praise.
Justin unfolded his copy and quickly located the outrageous line Ron mentioned:
Green's Bookshop sold ten times more books in eight hours than other stores sold in an entire day!
Rita's "comparison" was based on Green's Bookshop being open for eight hours, versus other shops' total of twenty-four hours, including non-operating hours.
Naturally, she managed to twist this into an even more absurd statistic.
Still, with framing like that, she had effortlessly crowned Green's Bookshop as the best bookstore in the British wizarding world.
While the group was still absorbed in reading, Whitey swooped in carrying another copy of the Daily Prophet.
Sean extended his hand, letting the snowy owl settle on his palm. With a flick of his wand, he floated bits of pumpkin juice, bacon crisps, and toast cubes into Whitey's special gold-rimmed dish.
Only after the messenger owl had shaken off the winter chill did Sean finally look at the paper.
"Is Green's Bookshop the Best in the Wizarding World? Absolutely! Beyond Question!
By Rita Skeeter."
Sean folded the newspaper quickly, though his mind had already drifted.
Now that Green's Bookshop was open… his alchemy notes finally had a place to be published.
"I'm not surprised at all," Hermione said, tilting her chin thoughtfully. "Rita loves flattering people."
"Why would Rita try to flatter Sean?" Ron grumbled—then suddenly froze.
Slowly, he lifted his head, staring at Sean with a strange expression.
Right. Sean was the young alchemist officially recognized by the International Alchemical Symposium as the most gifted in six centuries…
The youngest ever admitted to the Symposium…
The second Hogwarts student in history to receive their groundbreaking Contribution Medal—Dumbledore himself had been five years older when he won it.
In many ways, at his age, Sean had surpassed even Professor Dumbledore.
After spending so much time with him, Ron had almost forgotten… Sean was basically a celebrity.
"Hermione, look."
Justin tapped Rita Skeeter's name, his brows raised meaningfully.
"You mean…?"
Hermione froze, then instantly understood.
These past few days, they'd been searching for a reporter bold enough—and sensational enough—to expose Lockhart's true colors.
Well, here she was.
Across the Great Hall, the chatter only grew louder as students naturally accepted the news of Sean opening a new shop.
Once you heard that a first-year had slain a basilisk with a sword, nothing else about him sounded surprising anymore.
At least, not to the Hope Cottage crowd. But at the long house tables, students from all four years were whispering excitedly.
"Green finally opened a shop! I can buy all the Green Notes I want now…"
Hannah blushed as she spoke, and the nearby Hufflepuffs nodded vigorously.
Green's Notes helped them understand their lessons—and during final exams, one book was practically guaranteed to get you a passing grade in any subject.
It was basically a miracle study tool.
Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were just as thrilled. As for the Slytherins—
"It's just a notebook…" Pansy sniffed.
"Buy ten sets," Draco said smoothly, narrowing his eyes with a satisfied grin.
Crabbe and Goyle nodded without hesitation.
"Miss Parkinson, you'll understand soon enough," Draco said mysteriously when she looked at him in alarm.
…
The Great Hall buzzed with excitement. Green's Bookshop was launching a brand-new series, and it was located right in Hogsmeade.
Upper-year students would be able to see it soon enough.
Younger students started begging for someone to buy things for them. A few daring ones considered sneaking out. Upper-years joined in out of curiosity.
Right then, Draco's owl returned from Malfoy Manor with a pile of packages—a normal occurrence. Draco tore them open proudly…
Inside was the entire newly released Green's Notes collection.
At the same time, Neville received a small parcel from his grandmother.
He opened it eagerly and showed the others: a glass sphere the size of a large marble, filled with swirling white smoke.
"You know what this is—it's my Remembrall! I haven't forgotten many things lately, so Gran forgot to send it earlier…"
He held it up.
"Now I just grip it like this—if it turns red—oh…"
His face fell immediately as the sphere glowed bright red.
"…I forgot something again…"
Neville tried desperately to recall what he'd missed. The Remembrall rolled along the table and stopped by Sean's hand.
Sean picked it up gently—and something strange happened.
The Remembrall flashed a vivid red.
Sean frowned.
"You're telling me you've placed dozens of plans into your planning map, and now you've forgotten one or two?!"
Ron and Harry stared in disbelief.
"Sean, take a break," they said in unison.
But Sean simply held the Remembrall quietly as the red smoke churned inside it.
"Neville. Your Remembrall."
He returned it without another word and left the Great Hall.
"Oh—uh, thanks…" Neville said softly as he took it back, watching Sean's retreating figure.
He could feel it—Sean was confused. That almost never happened.
Passing through the entrance hall, Sean noticed Filch standing guard by the doors, checking a long list and glaring suspiciously at every student. He wasn't letting anyone slip out to Hogsmeade without permission.
Filch's double chin wobbled as he muttered:
"Pesky! Pesky! This blasted season again… Nasty little wizards, running off to buy Stink Pellets, Belch Powder, and Dungbombs…"