Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

Charlie and Dumbledore's discussion about this matter didn't take up too much time.

Regarding the request Charlie made, Dumbledore had no reason to refuse... Even he himself felt that installing a few candy vending machines in Hogwarts might actually be a good choice.

"I remember the magical world didn't originally have this kind of thing?"

After everything was settled, the atmosphere between the two gradually softened, returning to a harmonious scene.

Dumbledore chatted with Charlie with a smile, while opening the drawer and taking out a few candies.

He first put a few into his own mouth, then looked at Charlie, opened his palm, and motioned for him to take some as well.

"Right..." Charlie nodded, leaned forward, and politely chose a chocolate he liked from Dumbledore's palm and put it in his mouth.

Feeling the slightly almond-flavored chocolate gradually melting on his tongue, releasing a hint of bitterness and sweetness, Charlie's eyes couldn't help but narrow in enjoyment, as if the hangover headache had disappeared without a trace with the chocolate entering his mouth.

Charlie changed his posture and continued to say,

"It's a product of the Muggle world, but I asked the research and development department in the factory to improve it to make it more suitable for deployment in the wizarding world."

"So... not only is the Sneeze-inducing Violet Candy being released first at Hogwarts, but the candy vending machine as well?"

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, seemingly still surprised by Charlie's actions. Therefore, he continued to ask,

"Of course!" Charlie nodded, his smile becoming even brighter.

"If the performance at Hogwarts is good, then I plan to officially launch it on the market."

As Charlie spoke, a few glimmers of confidence flashed in his eyes. He slowly raised his hands and naturally began to tell Dumbledore about his future plans.

"At that time, it won't just be Hogwarts... Diagon Alley, and even the Ministry of Magic will have its presence. It will simply be placed in every little corner, everywhere! As long as you want a little candy, a casual glance around will easily find it."

"Clap!"

As Charlie spoke, he suddenly clapped his hands together, making a crisp sound.

"I've even thought of the advertising slogan for then—Candy is always by your side!"

Dumbledore's eyes widened slightly, revealing a bit of novelty and amazement in his eyes without any concealment.

It could be seen that Charlie's plan had simply spoken to Dumbledore's heart.

Under his beard, his mouth moved, as if he was really starting to follow Charlie's thoughts and imagine a time in the future when he could eat a few of his favorite candies anytime, anywhere.

"Seriously..."

Dumbledore came back to his senses, and the expression on his face became very happy, looking at Charlie, he said sincerely,

"This is a genius idea! Charlie, your ideas are always so unexpected, yet so anticipated."

… … … … … … … … … … …

Lunchtime, in the Hogwarts dining hall.

Harry and Ron sat side by side on the long chairs in front of the dining table, eating today's food together.

"I really can't believe it..."

Ron said vaguely to Harry while barely swallowing the bread stuffed full in his mouth,

"Is that Sorting Hat broken!? How could it put you in Slytherin!!"

Ron's face showed an unbelievable look, then he scratched his fluffy red hair, turned to look at Harry, as if wanting to see some agreement in his eyes.

"… … …"

Harry's eyes still carried helplessness, he could only put down the mashed potatoes he had just scooped up and comforted Ron,

"Actually, it's nothing, Ron."

Harry reached out and patted his shoulder, continuing to say softly,

"You know, no matter where I go, it can't change the fact that we're friends. Besides..."

As he spoke, Harry seemed to have thought of something, reached out from his new robe and took out the folded timetable.

After carefully unfolding it, he held it in front of Ron's eyes and waved it.

"And... although the houses are different, it seems our classes are all together."

Ron's eyes narrowed, staring carefully at the timetable for a good while. After he worked hard to swallow all the bread in his mouth, he finally pouted and said, "Alright."

It seemed that he had barely accepted this result.

He also stirred up the mashed potatoes in front of him and started to continue eating lunch.

"Wait!"

Suddenly, Ron seemed to have remembered something again, abruptly raised his head again, widened his eyes, and stared straight at Harry again with a serious expression.

"Wh...what?"

Harry was caught off guard by this sudden fright and almost threw the fork in his hand.

He looked at Ron, who was staring straight at him, couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva, and shrank back, asking softly.

"Harry..."

Ron took a deep breath, and with a serious attitude he had never had before, he asked,

"You wouldn't become friends with Malfoy after going to Slytherin, and then ignore me, would you."

After saying this, it seemed that even he himself felt that this possibility was very high, and the expression on his small face with freckles gradually changed from serious to undisguised worry.

As if in the next second, Harry would overturn the table, then take Draco's hand, and the two of them would run happily into the distance together, leaving only himself standing in place, watching their backs gradually disappear, shouting with a face full of tears, "No!!!!!!"

Suddenly, Ron shuddered, his face turned pale, and looking at Harry again, his eyes were like looking at a scumbag who abandoned him after messing around.

"Phew..." Harry, who had been startled, breathed a sigh of relief again, rolled his eyes at Ron, it seemed that he was already a little speechless by his always wild thoughts.

"How could that be... Ron, you'll always be my friend, don't worry."

"Really?" Ron listened to Harry's words, his eyes lit up again, and then tentatively confirmed again.

"Really!" Harry confirmed again with the most firm tone.

"I'm relieved to hear you say that!"

Having received a reply, Ron seemed to have let go of something important, his expression finally became happy again, as if the person whose small face was wrinkled into a ball just now was not him at all.

"Here! You eat this!"

He quickly grabbed a chicken leg from his plate diligently, and without considering whether Harry wanted to eat it or not, he stuffed it over.

Then he buried his head again and began to feast on the remaining food, as if what was in front of him was some kind of delicacy.

Harry looked at the chicken leg on the plate, and then looked at Ron, who was eating heartily, and couldn't help but smile wryly.