Slytherin common room.
A group of students gathered around Malfoy, curiously examining the exquisite map spread across the table.
"So many routes! And it can even choose the fastest one?"
"So there are secret passages in the castle? Let's go check them out tonight."
"Hey, why does this show someone's name—Argus Filch… Filch?"
"And Mrs Norris! Even Filch's cat is displayed."
Some of the more adventurous students quickly realized the map's purpose and value.
Although they could use magic to avoid a Squib and an ordinary cat, if they weren't careful, they could still be discovered.
"The patterns and design are so intricate. Why is it different from the one I bought?"
"Exactly. Why doesn't mine show Filch and the cat's location?"
"Draco, didn't you get yours from the Seventh Workshop?"
As pure-blood wizards who were not short on money, some had also purchased the most expensive maps and now took them out for comparison.
Enjoying being the center of attention, Malfoy curled his lips slightly at the envious looks around him. He cleared his throat.
"This was specially customized for me by Lucien, so of course it's not some ordinary product."
At the same time, he lightly tapped the map with his wand. As magic spread across it, the Malfoy family crest appeared in the most prominent position.
The overall design was in black, green, and silver, adorned with dragon and serpent motifs.
Along a silver ribbon, small Latin words were inscribed:
"Sanctimonia Vincet Semper."
Meaning: "Purity Will Always Conquer."
In addition, there was the Slytherin house crest, a graceful serpent coiling within it, with faint, shimmering golden edges… There were many elements, yet they were combined so skillfully that the design did not appear cluttered. Instead, it added a sense of luxury to the map.
Those who had bought ordinary maps suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. By comparison, what they held truly seemed mass-produced.
"Look, this one was personally made by Lucien, and it even has an exclusive logo."
Malfoy flipped the map over, revealing the emblem that appeared in the upper left corner as magic was infused into it.
A book transformed into a hawk, its wings spread, with the capital letters L.G. inscribed upon it.
Someone muttered quietly, "Why does even the logo on the custom version look better than mine…"
The younger students simply enjoyed the spectacle, but some sixth- and seventh-years who had chosen Alchemy as an elective noticed something deeper.
They could not fully grasp the level of Alchemy behind the map, but they could vaguely sense that it was far from ordinary.
Lucien… they remembered him. The one who had caused that great fire in the Great Hall last Halloween, and who had helped Ravenclaw win the House Cup at the end of the year.
"Draco, how many Galleons did this map cost?"
Hearing the long-awaited question, Malfoy smirked and lifted his chin arrogantly.
"Galleons? I don't even remember."
He repeated the word lightly.
"For a Malfoy, value is never measured in Galleons, but in taste. What I choose is naturally a unique masterpiece."
Many people thought he was putting on airs, but at the same time, his words struck a chord.
Yes, as noble pure-bloods, as refined aristocrats, wasn't what they sought precisely uniqueness?
At that moment, Malfoy glanced sideways at Zabini and said with a smile,
"Blaise, what do you think of this map? Take a look at the craftsmanship."
He pointed to the "VIP Map No.1" marking, where golden and emerald threads made it particularly eye-catching.
Blaise Zabini, a boy with dark skin and narrow brown eyes, stood in the same year as Malfoy and was also a pure-blood.
Although Malfoy's question came rather abruptly, something in his tone and expression made Zabini uncomfortable. He frowned, wondering what there was to show off about a map.
The map's design was indeed elegant, and its functions were convenient, fitting the refined tastes of pure-bloods.
Zabini suddenly stood up without a word, adjusted his collar, and walked straight toward the exit of the common room.
It was just a map. It wasn't as if he couldn't afford one.
His mother had had seven husbands—seven!
After those "fathers" passed away, their vast inheritances had naturally all gone to his mother, Madam Zabini.
The Malfoy family did indeed have a strong foundation, but Zabini's accumulated wealth through those marriages was not to be underestimated either.
Quite a few pure-bloods shared similar thoughts.
Although the Malfoy family held a prominent position among pure-bloods, other families were well aware that much of it came from choosing the right side at the right time, essentially acting as opportunists.
Still, that map truly did look impressive. The craftsmanship was exquisite and elegant, and most importantly, it carried an exclusive mark. How could a true pure-blood not possess such an item to display their status?
As for those older students studying Alchemy, they were genuinely curious. Could such an alchemical creation really be made by a second-year student?
Even for Ravenclaw, known for intelligence and scholarship, that seemed rather extraordinary.
It was worth buying one just to study. After all, for most Slytherins, money was merely a number.
Watching Zabini's silent retreat, Malfoy felt quite satisfied. He was also glad that he had established a connection with Lucien, which was why the Weasley twins had allowed him to cut in line.
Otherwise, wouldn't that kind of attention have gone to Zabini?
…
After receiving the new custom map orders and detailed requests from the twins, Lucien returned to the Ravenclaw common room.
He casually flipped through the stack of parchment, looking over the various requirements and designs.
Some wanted their names engraved, some wanted family crests drawn, some requested personal mottos… there were even a few with romantic vows for couples exchanging gifts.
Lucien felt slightly uncomfortable reading those overly sentimental lines.
However, it also gave him an idea: bundled sales.
Or linking certain products with concepts like love or friendship, similar to "diamonds are forever," or "a ring that can only be customized once in a lifetime." These were marketing tactics, but they were effective.
Lucien Grafton, the merchant, could certainly make use of them.
He set the papers aside, appreciating Malfoy's effectiveness as a promoter.
When he had given Malfoy the map, he had only briefly suggested that he promote the custom VIP maps within Slytherin. The rest had been left to Malfoy's own initiative.
He had thought that Malfoy's usual high-profile nature, combined with his popularity among Slytherins, made him a suitable choice for promotion.
Now it seemed that quite a few Slytherins had indeed been influenced.
Since Malfoy had helped him, Lucien decided that in a few days, he would make Malfoy's flying training a bit more rigorous.
After all, nothing came for free.
________
(^///^) Please support this fic and also read 12 chapters ahead at Patreon.com/DrakDevil1