[49] A Galleon for Your Thoughts

What was Hall thinking? Money. The Black family had so much of it.

Sirius Black's pride meant he'd never approach Hall willingly. Hall's job was to make him bow. Sirius had been a top student in his day — not a question of ability, but desire. But that was then. Now he needed a first-year's help. He'd thought Harry was joking.

The more someone told Sirius to find Hall, the less he'd do it.

Days passed. Harry developed a habit of stuffing candy into his mouth. Sirius hid some. Harry found more. Different flavours. Then Harry got a cavity. His cheek swelled.

Sirius dragged him to the infirmary.

Madam Pomfrey looked relieved. "Luckily Hall made some everyday potions last time. Tooth-worm potion. Otherwise I couldn't have brewed it in time." She scoffed. "Only Dumbledore takes these. At your age, acting like a child."

Sirius nodded frantically.

The full moon approached. Dumbledore wanted Sirius to see an old friend. Sirius was too shy. Dumbledore sighed and shoved him.

"Sirius. Go to Severus and get the Wolfsbane potion."

Sirius forced himself to the dungeons. Snape cracked the door open — half a sallow face. "Go find Hall." Slam.

Sirius nearly broke his nose.

"Hall! Hall! It's Hall again!"

He cornered Hall at the library entrance. "The potion."

Hall was confused. "What potion?"

Sirius glanced around. Draco watched from a distance with a cold smile. Sirius pulled Hall aside. Hall wouldn't budge.

"If Assistant Professor Black doesn't tell me what he wants, I'm leaving."

Sirius whispered, "Snape said to get a potion from you. Wolf—"

Hall understood. Wolfsbane. It was for Sirius. He'd improved the formula without knowing. No wonder Professor Snape looked so relieved when he handed over the recipe.

Hall pulled a flask from his storage pouch. "Improved it. Better taste. Easier to manage."

Neither said what it was. Both understood.

Sirius clutched the potion. Harry's words echoed: If there's a problem, go to Hall.

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He secretly inquired about Hall for two days. Then appeared before him again.

"Hall, can you help me?" Sirius tried to look friendly.

"Potions are monthly. Harry should be in Gryffindor common room."

"Can we talk? Just us."

Draco rolled his eyes and left.

Sirius stammered. Hall started to leave. Sirius grabbed his arm.

"I want Harry to spend the holidays with me. Could you customise a Split Doll?"

He handed Hall the business card.

"What kind?"

Sirius explained his idea. Use the doll to swap Harry between the Dursleys and Sirius's house.

Hall nodded. "I'll solve it."

He smiled. Sirius felt uneasy.

"But it'll cost extra."

Hall presented his plan to Sirius, who listened with growing interest.

Sirius's plan: use a Split Doll to replace Harry at the Dursleys. The doll would absorb the Dursleys' aura and transfer it to Harry, maintaining the blood protection.

Hall was speechless. Sirius, Dumbledore didn't tell me about the protection charm directly. You just revealed everything.

"What's the absorption range? Diameter?"

"Dumbledore said we should live together, so it can't be far."

"Is next door far?"

They sat on the lawn, gazing at the Black Lake. Thinking.

A fiery red ball flew straight at Hall. He raised his textbook, ready to swing.

"Wait! That's Fawkes!"

Sirius screamed. Hall stopped the swing mid-air, nearly falling backward.

Fawkes dropped something on Sirius's head and fled.

A note from Dumbledore: 'Don't even think about it. It's useless. We've tried everything. — From your poor professor, Albus Dumbledore, whose hair is falling out.'

Hall spotted a half-head in a nearby painting, watching them. One of Dumbledore's office portraits. Dumbledore's surveillance was getting blatant.

"Looks like we continue researching the Split Dolls," Sirius sighed.

"Don't worry. Since you paid, you'll be satisfied."

Hall pulled out parchment. "State your request."

Sirius talked until he was parched. Hall handed him a can of pumpkin juice. Sirius gulped half of it.

"Thanks."

"One Galleon. Thank you for your patronage."

"No way! This is Hogwarts pumpkin juice! Free in the Great Hall! You're charging me?"

"Go to the Great Hall then. It's free. You're not in the Great Hall right now."

Sirius seethed. "Put it on my tab!"

Hall took fifty Galleons as deposit. Two-fifty on delivery. Sirius was now his latest client.

The chatter of first-years filled the corridors as exams approached.

Hall told Harry about Sirius's visit. Harry felt guilty. Dumbledore had explained the blood protection. He had to return to his aunt's house every holiday until seventeen.

"Don't worry," Hall said. "It's not trouble."

Harry's eyes reddened.

"Professor Black paid."

Harry wiped his tears. He should have guessed.

Hall's experiment was almost complete. Two commissions, two satisfied clients.

He looked at the keychain-sized Harry doll in his hand. A silent smile.

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