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"Just making some pocket money... The market is huge, mainly our carrying capacity is limited, Professor Delfino," Fred said smugly.
Involuntarily, Professor Delfino nodded, looking at the pile of things on the ground, his eyes a bit dazed.
"Yes, yes... I can imagine, they must be popular... Where there's a school, there are mobile tuck shops... Honestly, when I was in school, I actually—oh, mainly because my body couldn't handle it—couldn't handle the trouble... I say!"
The three boys were pricking up their ears to listen to Professor Delfino's mumbling, not expecting his expression to suddenly change... They all thought Professor Delfino was going to scold them for disregarding their own safety, so they immediately straightened up and looked serious!
"These things—"
Professor Delfino pointed at the snacks and asked enthusiastically.
"How long will they last you?"
Er—
Fred, George, and Lee looked at each other, unsure what Professor Delfino was thinking.
"That depends—"
George Weasley said carefully.
"If it's Saturday or Sunday, we can sell out in one night... On school days, it's slower, about two or three nights."
"Tell me—"
Ares looked even more interested. He snapped his fingers, floating a few stools behind the three boys' bottoms and signaling them to sit down.
"How do you sell them?"
"Mainly by 'going door to door', Professor Delfino—"
A vague idea drifted through Fred's mind, but he didn't catch it. He said to Professor Delfino,
"During the day we have classes, so it's inconvenient to move around, but at night... er, you must have noticed, we know the castle very well. Dodging patrolling prefects, professors, and Filch isn't difficult for us."
"We have some regular customers in all four houses—"
George added.
"We provide door-to-door service—some students know they can get good stuff from us,"
Lee Jordan said with a hint of pride.
"So they also come to us proactively!"
Ares frowned.
The three boys' sales method was too inefficient.
"What about the profit margin?"
After thinking for a moment, Ares asked.
"We don't have much capital,"
Fred felt the flash of inspiration in his mind becoming clearer; he was about to grasp it. He looked at Professor Delfino, whose expression was somewhat solemn, with burning eyes.
"Our total assets combined are only a little over twenty Galleons. Each trip earns us about seven or eight gold coins... it varies."
"Nearly 30% net profit?"
Hiss—
Ares blinked in surprise.
"That shouldn't be right. If that's the case, your capital should have grown quickly!"
"We can't go too frequently, Professor Delfino—"
George also started to catch on. He exchanged a look with Fred, then looked at the professor with shining eyes.
"After all, schoolwork isn't light... We have to finish our homework, otherwise we'll get detention, which wastes our precious time."
"We do have some income—"
Fred hesitated before explaining.
"But we have a use for the money we earn... supporting a long-term, ambitious project of ours."
Ares knew what Fred was talking about, so he didn't press further, just nodded silently and fell into deep thought.
This silence was slightly long. When he snapped out of it, the three boys seemed to have reached some consensus during this time, staring at him with strange eyes.
"Ahem... well, it's like this—"
Ares straightened his posture, coughed twice into his loosely clenched fist, and looked serious.
"I have to criticize you, gentlemen. Yes, criticize..."
Ares kept a straight face.
"Your behavior is very inappropriate. Hmm... you are students, aren't you?
Your main task is naturally to study—spending energy on making money... well, of course, wanting to make some pocket money is understandable for kids your age.
But using secret passages to enter and leave the school frequently in the middle of the night for this is not a noble behavior worth supporting."
After speaking, he fell into a trance-like silence again.
Fred, George, and Lee exchanged glances again, smiles appearing on the corners of their mouths.
"Um... Professor Delfino?"
Fred's sly eyes flickered constantly as he probed carefully.
"You—er, we accept your criticism. Sneaking out is wrong... but we have no choice—Hogsmeade weekends are too infrequent, and we can't bring back that much at once.
If—er, you are willing... willing to join our business?"
"Me? Join your business?"
Ares snapped back to reality, waving his hands in 'panic'.
"How can I do that... Have you forgotten, Mr. Weasley, I am a professor! Such behavior is too inappropriate!"
"Nothing inappropriate about it, Professor!"
George was sure of Professor Delfino's intentions. He shouted joyfully.
"Join us, Professor Delfino... A student's main task is to study, that's true, but students also need joy!"
"Exactly, Professor!"
Lee Jordan nodded seriously.
"Being locked up in school all year round, doing nothing but studying, it's too boring!
I've seen many older students facing O.W.L.s driven crazy by the pressure of studying as exams approach... Professor, students really need a little joy... That's why our Dungbombs and candies sell so well!"
Fred and George also nodded very seriously. Fred added,
"And you can make some extra money... Professor Delfino, your salary isn't too high, is it?"
"Oh, yes, that's right..."
Ares said hesitantly.
"The annual salary is only 3,200 Galleons... 300 Galleons lower than Professor Dumbledore's. But he's an old man with nowhere to spend money—while I'm in my prime... it's the time to spend money, I need to support a family..."
"Then let's do it together, Professor Delfino!"
George Weasley stood up, impassioned.
"With you joining, our business will definitely boom!"
"Oh... no—don't tempt me, Mr. Weasley. I am a principled wizard... I am a professor, this... is inappropriate..."
Ares tightened the corners of his mouth.
"You are definitely not that kind of boring, pedantic teacher, Professor Delfino!"
Fred also stood up, speaking urgently.
"You surely understand that students want their daily lives to be colorful, right—that's why you led the first-years to fight Dumbledore!"
"Oh, that's not the same thing. Dumbledore is unlikely to understand this time... Hmm, but I can't refute you three... young wizards do live a bit of a repressed, boring life... studying all day... occasionally needing a bit of Quidditch to spice things up."
Ares mumbled.
"If Professor Dumbledore doesn't understand, then lead us to fight him again, Professor Delfino!"
Fred said excitedly. George and Lee also nodded heavily. The three boys shouted together,
"Lead the charge one more time, Professor!!!"
Looking at the three passionate boys in front of him, the 'struggle' and 'hesitation' in Ares's heart were swept away. He nodded solemnly.
"Deal!"
......
The next day, evening, at the staff table in the Great Hall.
Ares looked solemn, staring at the old Headmaster sitting on the large golden chair.
"I'm going to lead the students to charge again, Dum... Oh, ahem, no—I mean, I'm going out this Saturday and Sunday, Professor Dumbledore!"
Dumbledore: "..."