The next day, Hoare took the first-year Gryffindor and Slytherin students' assignments to the dungeons, which also served as the headmaster's office.
Hoare had something on his mind and thought it was a good opportunity to ask the headmaster about it.
The business deal he had discussed with Malfoy and the others—eliminating the source of Professor Quirrell's strange odor.
He tried to exchange for some exorcism potions with the system, but there was no response.
Clearly, the names of these potions were incorrect.
In all of Hogwarts, aside from Headmaster Dumbledore, who else would know more about potions than the Slytherin head, the Potions Master Severus Snape?
"Knock, knock, knock," Hoare knocked on the door and waited outside.
With a creak, the door opened.
Inside, Snape was sitting behind his desk, writing something furiously.
"Professor Snape, the assignments."
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Hoare placed the assignments on Snape's desk.
Snape grunted in acknowledgment. As Hoare turned to leave, he was called back.
"William." Snape looked up, opened his drawer, and took out a piece of paper.
"Sign it."
Hoare took it; it was a patent contract with a confidentiality agreement.
Even if he signed his real name, no one but the institution would be able to see it.
Hoare guessed that Snape had asked him to deliver the assignments because he had something to say, but he didn't expect them to be so efficient.
Seeing Hoare scrutinizing the contract, Snape thought he didn't understand. Remembering Dumbledore's request to take extra care of him, he patiently explained, "Once you sign this, the subsequent agency acquisition and development will be yours."
"Okay, thank you, Headmaster." Hoare picked up the pen and signed his real name.
Hoare understood, but he didn't expect Dumbledore to willingly forgo the benefits.
After all, if this potion were to be released, fame and fortune would be inevitable.
Later, Hoare learned that Dumbledore didn't care because the potion was to be released by Hogwarts, and Dumbledore was practically synonymous with Hogwarts in the wizarding world.
If Hogwarts became famous, so did Dumbledore.
Of course, that's a story for another time.
At this moment, Hoare finished signing the contract and placed it back on the desk. "Headmaster, I'll take my leave now," Hoare said.
"Come to my office every night at eight from now on," Snape thought for a moment and couldn't help but add, "And put my cauldron back on the podium!"
"Are you a troll? Grabbing anything nice you see."
During his morning class, Snape found his podium empty when he was about to demonstrate something to the students!
He immediately knew who was responsible. If it weren't for his extensive teaching experience, this Henry William would have driven him mad on the spot!
"Professor, you're the head of Slytherin, and I'm a Slytherin student. We're family. Can you really call it taking when it's family?" Hoare put on a pitiful expression.
No way he was returning it. If he did, he'd have to buy one himself, and a quality cauldron with stable temperature isn't cheap.
"Hmph." Snape sneered, "You can leave now."
"Headmaster, do you know of any potion that can exorcise demons?" Hoare quickly asked before Snape could dismiss him.
"Of course, but that's not within your scope of study." Snape glanced at Hoare, then, as if recalling something, his expression turned serious, and he said in a not-so-pleasant tone, "Mr. William, if you want to live well, curb your insatiable curiosity."
"I don't care what you're planning, but if I find out, be prepared to spend a semester processing materials in the Potions room!"
Hoare listened to Snape's warning but didn't take it to heart.
It seemed Snape was unwilling to tell him.
Hoare left the dungeons.
He had two plans in mind, Plan A and Plan B.
Plan A was to use his potion talent to create an exorcism potion, but this plan had a flaw. Hoare needed to know the potion's name to exchange it with the system.
However, it was clear that the exorcism potion wasn't called an exorcism potion.
It seemed Snape knew but was unwilling to tell him.
If he were to search through books, it would take at least a few days.
He had already promised his clients to solve their problem today, and any delay would severely damage his reputation for future earnings.
It seemed it was time to implement Plan B.
Hoare had previously researched some books and discovered that China also had its own wizarding world, but it was very closed off and never communicated with the outside world.
They called themselves cultivators.
Hoare thought that the exorcism techniques he had seen before might just work.
He decided to give it a try.
-----------------
Hoare headed to the dining hall; his Plan B was waiting for him.
"Well, look who it is~"
"It's a little snake~"
The Weasley twins were waiting in a corner by the dining hall entrance, one of them holding a bundle with something long sticking out of it.
"George on the left, Fred on the right."
Hoare spoke, immediately identifying the twins.
The twins exchanged a surprised look. To be honest, if they wanted to hide it, even their family might not be able to tell them apart.
Yet this Henry William could recognize them at a glance, which piqued their curiosity.
"Let's skip the small talk. Here's what you wanted. What do you need it for? You have no idea how hard it was to get." Fred spoke up.
George nodded, "We went through a lot for your stuff."
The two said in unison, "You owe us extra!"
Hoare... they completely stole his line.
But... pay them? That wasn't going to happen.
"How much?" Hoare asked curiously.
"Since it's your first time working with us, I'll give you a 12% discount, 1 Galleon and 13 Sickles," Fred said, handing the item to Hoare.
"I heard you're working on a UJoke Potion and need a lot of experimental materials," Hoare mentioned. "And I happen to have free access to the school's supplies."
The twins exchanged a glance. They had heard their brother Ron mention this and were quite envious.
Free access! That could save a lot of costs!
And now, since Henry William brought it up, it meant he was interested...
"Do you have a proposal? What do you want?" Fred asked, unusually serious, as this involved their beloved project.
"I want in. Basic materials will be provided for free, unlimited supply. If I have rare materials, I'll sell them to you first," Hoare's offer was like Merlin reincarnated to the twins.
"What do you want?" Such a good deal made the twins worry about the price they might have to pay.
"When you open your shop, I want 20% of the profits," Hoare thought of the Weasley Wizard Wheezes, which turned the twins into rich men in just two months.
The twins hesitated, "We need to think about it."
Hoare shrugged indifferently, "Sure." But by then, the price wouldn't be the same.
Before leaving, Hoare waved the bag in his hand, and Fred generously said it was their pleasure to help Hoare, and that the item was a gift from them.
Talking about money would just hurt their feelings.