Hogwarts was particularly lively this weekend.
With no classes, students were scattered around the grounds, playing and enjoying the rare leisure.
The moment Lucius stepped through the castle gates, the tall, burly man behind him couldn't help but sigh.
"Been a while."
He glanced up at the familiar stone pillars and archways, nostalgia flashing in his eyes.
"Hogwarts hasn't changed one bit."
He stopped, then suddenly snorted in disdain.
"Too bad that old geezer Dumbledore is still the headmaster… and the place is crawling with Mudbloods."
Lucius's brows immediately furrowed into a sharp crease.
He whirled around and hissed under his breath, "Goyle, when we meet Charlie, you'd better keep your mouth shut."
"Actually, don't say a single word."
Goyle looked unconvinced. "Is all this caution really necessary for a student?"
Lucius almost laughed in frustration.
"Goyle, if that's your attitude, then forget about making any money."
"Go home and live off your family fortune."
That shut Goyle up real quick.
Though his family was pure-blooded, the Goyles weren't exactly rolling in galleons.
Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, he muttered, "Alright, alright. I'll keep quiet."
Lucius nodded in satisfaction. "Good. When we meet him, I'll do all the talking."
"And as we agreed, profit split, 70/30."
Goyle's brows furrowed again. Something didn't feel right.
"Wait… why do we only get 30?"
Lucius's expression darkened.
"Seventy percent goes to him, obviously!"
"We're getting the thirty!"
Goyle's face fell instantly.
He opened his mouth to protest but caught Lucius's glare and wisely shut it.
Lucius seriously considered hitting him with a Cruciatus Curse to knock some sense into him, but the Goyle family was still one of the Malfoys' most loyal allies. He had to grit his teeth and bear it.
Soon after, Lucius paid a brief visit to Dumbledore and requested a vacant classroom.
Dumbledore, maintaining civility, readily agreed, after all, Lucius was a Hogwarts Board Governor, and protocol demanded courtesy.
Inside the empty classroom, Lucius adjusted his robes meticulously, ensuring every detail was flawless.
He checked the time, still a few minutes early.
"Draco should be bringing Charlie any moment now," he murmured, mentally rehearsing his negotiation plan.
At that moment, the classroom door opened.
Draco stepped in first, followed closely by Charlie.
Charlie glanced around the room, his eyes finally settling on Lucius.
"Mr. Malfoy," he greeted with a polite nod.
Lucius stood up, offering his signature aristocratic smile.
"Charlie. A pleasure to meet you."
"Please, have a seat." He gestured to the chair in front of him.
Charlie sat down without ceremony, then got straight to the point.
"So, Mr. Malfoy, what do you want from me?"
Goyle frowned at the bluntness.
This kid doesn't know how to make small talk? Where's the manners?
Even Lucius was taken aback by Charlie's directness, but he quickly composed himself.
Perhaps potion masters are all a bit eccentric…
"Well, since you prefer to be direct, I won't beat around the bush," Lucius said, clearing his throat.
"I'm here to discuss business."
Charlie raised an eyebrow, signaling for him to continue.
"I would like the Malfoy family to act as your distributor," Lucius said, adopting a formal tone.
"We'll handle the sales of your potions, for a seventy-thirty profit split."
"Seventy percent to you, thirty to us."
Lucius didn't try to manipulate or pressure him, he simply laid his cards on the table.
He knew Charlie's value.
Charlie didn't respond right away. He studied Lucius with a thoughtful gaze.
The Healing Elixir was notoriously difficult to brew. Aside from Charlie, only a few top potion masters in the entire magical world could produce it successfully.
Lucius had approached Charlie because, as the original creator, his potions were the most effective.
But more than that, Charlie's talent was undeniable. To be capable of brewing such advanced potions at only twelve years old, who knew what he might invent next?
Securing an exclusive partnership now meant first access to any future breakthroughs.
That alone was worth giving up the lion's share.
Charlie finally spoke.
"I want eighty percent."
"But I'll let you handle the sales of any new potions I develop in the future."
Goyle nearly jumped out of his seat.
Eighty percent?! What are we, beggars?
He shot to his feet, about to speak, when he met Lucius's death glare.
The message was crystal clear: Not. A. Word.
Goyle wisely clamped his mouth shut.
Lucius's voice turned frosty. "Goyle, why are you standing?"
"I… I need to use the restroom," Goyle muttered, scratching his head awkwardly.
"Then go," Lucius snapped.
Goyle slunk out of the classroom, humiliated.
With the idiot gone, silence settled over the room.
Lucius fell into deep thought.
Giving up eighty percent for the exclusive rights to a potion master's creations didn't sound like a great deal, on paper.
But this was Charlie White.
The youngest potion master in the magical world.
The marketing potential alone was immense. Twelve-Year-Old Potion Prodigy would sell itself.
And with Charlie's promise to funnel future potions through them, the long-term gains could be enormous.
If they didn't secure this deal now, they might not even get a chance to talk to him later.
Lucius nodded slowly. "Deal."
"But I have one condition."
Charlie looked at him. "What is it?"
"I'd like to draw up a formal contract. Something to secure the partnership," Lucius said.
"And I want you to commit to providing at least one hundred bottles of the Healing Elixir each month."
Charlie considered it.
One hundred bottles wasn't a big deal.
"Alright," he agreed. "But I have a condition too."
"I'll deliver the potions each month, but when and how I brew them is entirely up to me."
His tone turned serious.
He didn't want anyone breathing down his neck, demanding potions day and night.
Lucius nodded quickly. "Of course. That's only fair."
The two swiftly finalized the rest of the agreement.
Lucius pulled a prepared contract from his robe, made a few magical adjustments to the terms, then handed it to Charlie.
Charlie read it thoroughly to ensure there were no traps, then signed his name.
Lucius followed, and magically duplicated the contract so both parties had a copy.
"A pleasure doing business," Lucius said, extending his hand.
"Likewise," Charlie replied, shaking it firmly.
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