Chapter 192 "Working at Honeydukes"

Matthew's summer vacation had just begun.

He currently found himself in a cramped cellar, surrounded by crates and wooden boxes.

Matthew, struggling, heaved a large crate up and laboriously ascended the cellar stairs.

"Bring up a box of buttery peanut candies, Wickfield, we're almost sold out!" a woman's voice echoed from the cellar.

"Coming!" Matthew shouted, then made his way up the stairs with the crate.

"Thank you!" the store owner exclaimed gratefully when he handed over the box of butternut peanuts to Mrs. Flume.

However, she quickly shifted her attention back to the customers.

Matthew leaned against a wall, panting heavily; he hadn't rested in a while.

"Matthew, fetch another box of Bee Candy," Flume, busy at the other counter, called out.

"One moment!" Matthew quickly mustered his strength and headed back into the cellar.

...

This summer, Matthew had chosen to work a temporary job at Honey Duke Candy Store.

The store was owned by Mr. Ambrosio Flume, a broad, bald man, and his wife, Mrs. Flume, who was a slightly plump woman.

Both husband and wife were very easygoing and accommodating.

When they learned that Matthew, a student, was seeking summer employment in Hogsmeade, they enthusiastically welcomed him and offered him the position.

The pay was quite generous, twelve Galleons per week, significantly higher than the average summer temp job.

Plus, Matthew's living quarters were in the attic of Honey Duke, a relatively quiet and tidy little room.

The only downside was the strenuous workload!

It could even be described as quite demanding...

Most of the time, Honey Duke was bustling with customers of all kinds.

Although they all came for various sweets, no one paid much attention to Matthew.

The shelves were lined with the most delectable candies imaginable, all at reasonable prices—

Large blocks of buttery peanut candy, shimmering pink coconut ice, hundreds of neatly arranged chocolate varieties, a large bin of assorted flavored beans, and a container of savory bee candy.

And then the other specialties Honeydukes could offer!

These candies disappeared from the shelves daily at a rate visible to the naked eye, snatched up by eager customers.

Matthew's task was to retrieve another box from the cellar before the shelves were completely emptied.

The Flumes never failed to remind him...

Considering Honey Duke's candy's popularity, he had about five minutes until the next trip to the cellar.

It was astonishing how much the wizarding world loved these sweets; Matthew had seen all sorts of people here, from seven or eight-year-old wizards to old wizards...

Not to mention the occasional peculiar creatures mixed in with the wizards, such as vampires and werewolves who enjoyed licorice lollipops.

Mrs. Flume was somewhat apprehensive of them, but Mr. Flume was equally hospitable...

Hogsmeade was indeed the most popular wizarding shop!

...

Matthew didn't mind the "hard work."

For one, he would turn fourteen in two months.

He'd grown considerably in recent years, now standing at 1.7 meters tall and in good health.

He was no longer the small, impoverished, and helpless child he'd been when he first encountered the magical world two years ago.

Furthermore, if he wanted to take it easy, he could opt for a less demanding position at the Three Broomsticks Bar...

Business there was moderate during the summer break, and the workload was significantly lighter.

He viewed it as a form of exercise.

After a long day's work, his tired body sharpened his mind when contemplating and making judgments...

As the sun slowly set, the number of pedestrians in Hogsmeade dwindled.

Even the Honey Duke customers gradually thinned until the last one left the candy shop—

"Closed!" Mr. Flume declared, hanging the "Closed" sign on the door.

"It's been another satisfying day!" his wife exclaimed as she tidied up the scattered candies on the shelves.

Matthew, bent over, took a few deep breaths.

"Get yourself some butternuts, Wickfield!" She tossed a large butterscotch candy to Matthew. "Refuel while I get dinner ready!"

"Thank you, madam!" Matthew replied, although truthfully, unlike his peers, he wasn't particularly fond of these sweets.

"At this point, may I go for a walk, madam?" he softly inquired. "I'd like to unwind..."

"Of course, it's not healthy to stay cooped up in the store all day!" Mrs. Flume warmly replied. "Just make sure you're back before half-past nine. We'll wait for you to lock up!"

"Thank you, madam!" Matthew expressed his gratitude.

He then wrapped the butternut peanut candy in tin foil and placed it on the table.

Grabbing his wand, which was secured at his waist, he left Honey Duke Candy Shop.

...

In the summer, the sun sets later than usual.

Nevertheless, although the sky had not yet completely darkened, there were few pedestrians on the streets.

Despite the absence of an official "curfew" in Hogsmeade, the recent Azkaban prison break and the residual effects of dementors had discouraged nighttime outings for most residents, even though the dementors had since been withdrawn.

Matthew wandered aimlessly down the central avenue of Hogsmeade.

Up close, one could see that the boy's face was etched with contemplation.

As he approached the post office on Central Avenue, he glanced up toward the next intersection—

There, at the intersection, stood a small, worn-down pub.

A battered wooden sign hung on a rusty bracket above the door, displaying a decapitated pig's head with bloodstains seeping through the white fabric that covered it.