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As soon as they left, Dumbledore beamed at Jane with satisfaction.
Look at this wonderful child he'd nurtured!
A few words and she'd broken through Slughorn's defenses!
She was truly on his side, not just standing for justice but walking the right path!
After all, Euler Bloch's "Secrets of the Darkest Art" was the only known book detailing Horcrux creation and destruction; the despicable Herpo was the first wizard to successfully create a Horcrux; and Grindelwald's "Most Potente Poisons" mentioned Horcruxes as the most evil magical invention!
Slughorn was hinting that his once-favorite student Tom Riddle, aka Voldemort, had indeed created Horcruxes - and quite possibly seven of them!
This was a major breakthrough, undoubtedly pointing the way forward!
Thanks to Jane - who knows how long it would've taken to persuade that slippery old wizard otherwise!
With these thoughts, his hand found its way to pat her head.
"Good child, good child..." he was too moved and delighted for words.
As a proper guardian, when a child does the right thing, they deserve encouragement and reward.
He decided to reward her.
Candy? No, she wasn't fond of sweets.
School supplies? No, too ordinary.
Books? No, it was summer holiday.
She deserved something better.
Weighing his coin purse, Dumbledore calculated his Gringotts reserves...
—And decided to take the child on an epic shopping spree.
...
In Hogsmeade village.
Dervish and Banges welcomed their big spenders.
"Your presence truly honors our humble shop," the shopkeeper opened the door with a fawning smile.
Dumbledore pushed Jane forward, saying cheerfully:
"We're shopping for magical instruments for her today. What would you recommend?"
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up as he launched into an enthusiastic speech about various magical devices - Omnioculars for Quidditch matches, Remembralls... In his telling, possessing any single item would make one invincible in the wizarding world.
Though Jane didn't particularly want anything, Dumbledore was enthusiastic:
"We'll take all of these... yes, everything in that cabinet... and those shelves... all of it."
After clearing out the shop, Dumbledore whisked her to Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop.
Faced with the eager shopkeeper, he ordered passionately:
"Yes, supplies for the child... this quill looks nice... the black and gold one... and that white one..."
"Quick-Quotes Quill? Excellent... Self-Correcting Ink? No, perhaps not suitable for students..."
No, it was perfect for her!
Jane's gaze held intense longing as she looked at the Self-Correcting Ink.
Dumbledore predictably wavered.
"Oh, alright," he conceded. "But promise you won't take it into exams."
Next was Gladrags Wizardwear, where Jane acquired hundreds of socks - enough that she felt she could wear once and discard.
After Shopping-maniac Dumbledore's sweep, every shopkeeper except the Hog's Head made a fortune, sincerely wishing the parent-child relationship would last forever.
Yet even after clearing out this wizarding shopping center, Dumbledore's enthusiasm hadn't diminished.
He took Jane to Diagon Alley.
First at Eeylops Owl Emporium, he bought enough owl treats to last Jane's eagle owl a year. Then at Potage's Cauldron Shop, he purchased over ten cauldrons - pewter, brass, copper, silver, gold... The shopkeeper was so delighted he could barely keep his bearings, even throwing in two large bags of potion ingredients.
"Severus will be pleased," Dumbledore winked. "Even if you blow up ten cauldrons in his office... though I hope you won't, or his Howlers might bombard the headmaster's office."
As he finished speaking, he spotted Twilfitt and Tattings' sign and led Jane inside without hesitation.
Their clothing was considered luxury wear in the wizarding world. Compared to Madam Malkin's, the materials were finer, craftsmanship more exquisite, with velvet hats and various glittering evening gowns cascading like liquid silver.
"Ten sets, ten!" he gestured. "For the child - I assume you can custom-fit them?"
Leaving the shop, he made straight for Quality Quidditch Supplies. Even Jane's strong protests couldn't dampen his enthusiasm:
"Don't worry, child, this is from my personal vault, not Hogwarts funds from the governors. No one goes to Azkaban for buying a Firebolt."
He spent lavishly.
—Even though Jane might not ride it once all year.
Following Hogsmeade's shopkeepers, Diagon Alley's merchants also broke into smiles, even inviting these two money trees to cut ribbons for their shops.
Their Diagon Alley trip ended at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.
Each with a raspberry ice cream in hand, Dumbledore smiled fondly as he pulled the summer planning parchment from his robes.
"Let me check our next schedule... Thank Merlin everything's back on track..."
"We only need to visit 30 more wizards, let's see... France, Austria, quite far. We'll need some Floo Powder."
Jane couldn't believe her ears!
Only need to? 30 people?
Was this Christmas or New Year's?
She doubted even New Year's family visits required meeting so many people!
"Sorry, did I hear 13 instead of 30?"
Dumbledore answered cheerfully:
"No, no, you heard correctly. Visiting one every two days, the remaining two months of summer will fly by."
Humming an unknown tune, he checked off Aberforth and Slughorn's names.
"We'll visit the Flamels tomorrow," he set down the parchment, smiling. "You must miss them after a year."
But his smile gradually faded.
Because a figure appeared at the ice cream parlor's door.
It was a panting Minister Fudge.