Harry Potter: Master of Talismans

‘I’m sorry about the interruption,’ I told them. ‘And the cauldron. For the rest of today, books from the stock here will be half price.’

Tom turned his head towards me very slowly. I lowered my voice before he could begin another explanation. ‘The difference comes from my account too. The shop and staff receive what they should. Stock here today, not orders for half the books in Britain.’

He held my gaze for another moment, then directed the assistants towards the till and fallen display. People began moving again as interest in the shelves replaced disappointment that the argument had ended. I watched a customer pick up three books where she had been holding one, hoping I had made the limit clear enough. My account would provide the answer later.

Harry was still looking at me. ‘You bought a bookshop,’ he said, as though repeating it might reveal a meaning he had missed.

‘And the one opposite,’ Ron added. I confirmed both, which led Hermione to look between me, the fresh paint and Lockhart’s enormous smiling photograph. She said I might have mentioned it before walking into the shop as if this happened every afternoon.

‘I hoped my first visit would require less explaining.’ I glanced towards Tom, who was making sure the new prices reached the till before the customers did. He had been quite clear about retaining responsibility for ordinary business. I was beginning to suspect that he would also want a discussion about my definition of an extraordinary afternoon.