My Hogwarts has a serious problem.

Chapter 265, Section 262: It's Dobby's fault!

George and Fred's eyes lit up immediately.

Their biggest dream is to open a magic joke shop after graduating from Hogwarts, but all of this requires money.

Moreover, the alchemy books Lynn mentioned, some of which are things that money can't even buy, are even more precious.

But the Weasley brothers were never fools. They were tempted, but their gazes toward Lynn remained deeply wary.

"The offer is very generous, but Mom taught us that there's no such thing as a free lunch," Fred and George said, exchanging a glance.

Lynn shrugged: "Of course there's no such thing as a free lunch. I'm offering you such good treatment because I hope you'll reciprocate in the future. So this is a collaboration."

"What are your conditions?" Fred asked.

"My conditions are very simple. I will provide you with knowledge and financial support. I will have priority to use the things you research. Also, if I need them, you will need to manufacture some alchemical items according to my requirements. Of course, I will not take these things for free. I will pay you the corresponding rewards. At the same time, you can also conduct your own research on prank props and open your own shops. There are no restrictions on these."

The additional conditions offered by Lynn were not very generous.

Giving money and knowledge is fine, but the two preconditions he added made the Weasley brothers hesitate.

If they do as Lynn says, they will have no shortage of money and knowledge about alchemy items in the future, but their freedom will also be restricted to a certain extent. Lynn will definitely not spend money on them to research some useless prank props. They will have to devote their energy to other things, including custom-made alchemy items for Lynn if he needs them, which will take up their time.

But this also shows that Lynn wasn't playing them for fools, but genuinely wanted them to cooperate.

The Weasleys were not wealthy; in fact, they were poor. It was difficult enough to support a group of children through school, let alone to fund George and Fred's business after they graduated. So this was a rare opportunity for them.

The twins neither agreed nor refused outright, but both said they needed to think it over and would give Lynn an answer after they had thought it through.

Lynn was not surprised by this result. George and Fred were two people who valued freedom. If they felt constrained, even if the conditions offered were very favorable, they would weigh whether what they gained was worth the effort.

Even if they ultimately reject Lynn, it's not a big deal. He just decided on a whim to take a liking to the twins' talent in alchemy, and training them wouldn't cost much anyway.

Besides, the thing he has the least to lack now is money, but he still has to spend that huge fortune on something meaningful, right?

After their conversation ended, the Weasleys slunk back to their Gryffindor dormitories, and probably wouldn't come out again until the effects of the aging bullet wore off. Lynn, on the other hand, was going to teach the fourth-year students of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.

After their conversation, the twins had forgotten what they had originally intended to do by ambushing Lynn. Back in their dormitory, they seriously discussed the pros and cons of their collaboration, because if they missed this opportunity, it would be very difficult to get another one. Given the current situation, the financial support Harry was supposed to give them for opening a shop might not come again.

After the incident where Lynn was attacked by the Basilisk, Hogwarts returned to calm and tranquility, as if nothing had happened, and it was a peaceful and stable term.

But outside of Hogwarts, a huge change was taking place in the British wizarding world.

The Malfoy family's estate.

Dobby, with his large head covered in wounds, shakily opened the door to greet the guests outside.

"Mr. Flint, welcome."

The newcomer was a male wizard who wasn't wearing a hat and was dressed in a dark blue robe. He had gold-rimmed glasses and light blond curly hair, and looked like a dashing rogue.

Flint couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when he saw Dobby open the door and the wound on its forehead.

"Ah, what a poor little elf. Malfoy is still as grumpy as ever. Where is he?"

Dobby respectfully stepped aside; in fact, even if it didn't move, its small size wouldn't have blocked Flint's way in.

"Master, the host is receiving Mr. McMillan, Mrs. Selwyn, and Mr. Travers in the living room. They came in through the fireplace."

Flint then asked, "How many people have arrived so far?"

There were fourteen gentlemen and ladies in total.

"Ha." Flint chuckled. "Then I'm all alone. How rude of me. You don't need to show me the way. Go do your thing and head to the living room."

As he spoke, he walked past Dobby into Malfoy Manor. Dobby wanted to say something, but in the end he couldn't stop Flint and could only disappear in front of the door with a "snap".

The Malfoy family estate was very large, but Flint seemed to be in a leisurely mood, smiling as he admired the greenery in the front yard as he strolled towards a place that was clearly not in the direction of the living room.

After he turned a corner, Lucius Malfoy was waiting in the middle of the path, his face not looking good, even somewhat gloomy.

"Flint, why don't you come over from the fireplace?"

Flint smiled and shrugged at him: "Unfortunately, my Floo Powder ran out recently, and I haven't had time to restock."

"So you're just wandering around my house without the host's permission? Is this how the Flint family raises their children?" Malfoy retorted sarcastically.

Flint had no intention of confronting Malfoy directly, since he was already in the wrong. So he laughed it off and said, "You've misunderstood me, my friend. I got here simply because your house is so big and I got lost without anyone to show me the way."

Malfoy stared silently at Flint, who did not look away from his gaze and met his eyes directly.

After a long while, he suddenly shouted out.

"Dobby!"

Dobby, the house-elf, timidly appeared beside them.

Why didn't you show the guests the way?

Before Dobby could explain his answer to Malfoy's question, he immediately followed up with another command.

"Punish yourself!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Dobby desperately slammed his already mangled head against the ground.

"It's Dobby's fault! Dobby deserves to be punished! It's all Dobby's fault!"

(End of this chapter)