Chapter 13: The Little Witch and the Rat
"Wait, you can also brew others pet tonics?" Cedric's eyes lit up at Kyle's revelation. "Then could I leave my owl's tonic to you in the future?"
"Of course," Kyle replied, glancing at the gray wood owl perched on the shelf. "But owls need more complex tonics than rats. I'd have to charge nine Sickles. And don't say it's too expensive—that's the market price. My recipe comes straight from Newt, and the tonic is much better than what you'd find in Diagon Alley. It's definitely worth it."
"Hmmm..." Cedric nodded thoughtfully. It was true that in Diagon Alley, even the cheapest owl tonic cost around nine Sickles, with higher-quality ones reaching a Galleon. If Kyle's tonic was really based on a recipe from Scamander, it was certainly a fair price.
But still...
"Can't you make it a bit cheaper?" Cedric asked, a little sheepishly. "We're friends, right? There's got to be a discount."
Truth be told, Cedric really wanted to buy several bottles right away, but as a second-year student with limited pocket money, he was strapped for cash. While Hogwarts covered room and board, the cost of school supplies like quills, ink, and parchment added up. Throw in personal expenses, and there wasn't much left by the end of each term. Sure, he could scrimp and save, but no one wanted to be known as the cheapskate.
Facing Cedric's hopeful gaze, Kyle rubbed his chin, pretending to think. "Well, you're right. We're friends, so I can't exactly charge you the full market price."
Cedric's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Right?"
"Tell you what..." Kyle paused dramatically, holding up one finger. "You only have to pay this much."