Softlight Badge

## Softlight Badge

Stepping out of the greenhouse, Wade glanced at the distance to the castle and decisively raised his Wand.

"*Broomstick, come!*"

A Flying Broomstick shot through a Ravenclaw tower window, arced through the air, and came to a stable stop beside Wade.

He mounted the broomstick and expertly flew straight back to his dormitory.

Wade had previously thought that if he were to buy a broomstick, he'd definitely get a new model, one that no one else had used.

Just like how he wouldn't buy a used car.

But ever since the three House-elves joyfully presented him with this Flying Broomstick, Wade's opinion changed.

What if it was a Cleansweep 140?

He wasn't going to participate in Quidditch matches anyway. As a temporary mode of transport, an old broomstick could perform the same functions as a new one.

This broomstick carried an incredibly sincere sentiment, which made it more precious than a competition-grade broomstick bought for thousands of Galleons.

Moreover, after Wade received it, he had modified the enchantments on the broomstick multiple times. While it wasn't as fast as the Nimbus series, its stability and comfort were in no way inferior.

Wade returned to his dormitory for a quick shower. The bells in the castle were already ringing. He changed into clean clothes and went to the Great Hall, where many students were already having lunch.

Wade casually picked an empty seat and sat down. Just as he forked a piece of steak and some toast for himself, Michael, as usual, sat down beside him.

Wade looked at him with surprise.

Michael raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

He reached for a treacle tart and then debated between several roasted meats.

Wade lowered his eyes and chuckled. "After what was said about me today, I thought you'd keep your distance."

Michael tutted.

"Why would I push away my friend just because of what an enemy says?" He wagged a finger. "If I were that easily provoked, I would have parted ways with you during Herbology class."

"Fair enough."

Wade nodded, his faint worries scattering.

Michael, however, looked towards the Slytherin table.

Malfoy was still in a terrible mood. He hadn't eaten much and seemed to have gotten into an argument with someone nearby. He pushed his plate away and stormed out of the Great Hall.

Crabbe and Goyle seemed to want to follow but, eyeing the food on the long table, they ultimately stayed put.

Michael narrowed his eyes.

Bad ideas bubbled up like foam from Michael's mind.

Suddenly, a beautiful girl passed in front of him, her reddish-gold curly hair seeming to glow. Michael's gaze was involuntarily drawn to her.

Someone nearby loudly scoffed, walking past Michael and bumping him hard, almost sending him sprawling into his plate.

Michael was about to get angry, but then he saw that the person who bumped him was Padma.

The girl glared down at him, her eyes like knives. Michael immediately averted his gaze and offered a fawning smile.

"Have you eaten, Padma?"

Padma scoffed again and turned to walk away with her dormmates.

Michael awkwardly rubbed his nose.

After Padma left, he unconsciously looked at the girl from earlier again and was surprised to realize it was Marietta from third year.

A girl whose appearance hadn't been particularly striking in the past.

But after just one summer, she had become incredibly beautiful, looking exceptionally radiant and charming.

"Girls really do change so suddenly…" Michael said with a sigh.

"What?" Wade was bewildered.

"Hmm…"

Michael was about to speak when he suddenly noticed it wasn't just Marietta. Many girls in the Great Hall… and even some boys… looked vastly different from last term.

Simply put, they all looked better.

He touched his face, which had tanned from being at the beach, and felt a bit deflated.

"It's truly bizarre," Michael said to Wade. "Why did everyone else get better-looking, and I just got darker?"

Wade looked around and immediately understood, asking, "Your family doesn't subscribe to Wizarding Weekly, do they?"

"No," Michael said. "Isn't that usually for witches?"

Wizarding Weekly was a magazine that featured celebrity gossip, quizzes, horoscopes, recipes, knitting patterns, and advice columns, making it very popular among witches.

Michael's mother was a Muggle, and their family, besides the Daily Prophet, only subscribed to Muggle-published women's magazines.

"A few days ago, Wizarding Weekly published an article. You'll understand why if you read it."

Wade pulled a magazine from his bag and handed it to Michael.

One of the Pencil Case's designs was shaped like a bookbag, and since it was so light, he usually stuffed a lot of random things into it and couldn't be bothered to take them out.

Michael took the magazine and gave him a strange look. "Wade, you subscribe to Wizarding Weekly?"

Wade's expression was unchanged. "It's a sample issue someone sent me."

Michael opened the magazine and immediately saw several comparison photos, in color no less.

Witches in their twenties and fifties, balding middle-aged wizards, and young people with freckles.

The same person, wearing the same clothes, photographed in the same position: one photo showed a sallow complexion and rough skin; the other showed a radiant glow and delicate, soft skin.

Upon closer inspection, it was an article introducing Aslan's Magic Workshop's new product, the Softlight Badge.

Every line of the article told readers that a small badge could instantly give ordinary people beauty comparable to a Veela.

It also implied that those who didn't wear the badge in the future would likely lose love, self-confidence, and harmonious families.

Wait a minute…

Aslan's Magic Workshop?

Michael immediately grabbed Wade's arm. "Wade, this isn't another one of your inventions, is it?"

Wade nodded and asked, "Why are you so excited? It's a product for women."

"Who says!"

Michael dramatically unfurled the magazine and pointed to the two wizards displayed as examples.

"See? The pursuit of beauty knows no gender! Plenty of boys at school must be wearing the badge too!"

He knew it! Malfoy actually looked more refined than usual today.

But that guy always looked good, so he hadn't noticed too obvious a difference. Some people, though, had changed so dramatically it was like they'd gotten a new face.

"Hmm… so boys wear them too, what about it?"

Wade leaned slightly to the side and asked.

"You must have some on hand, right?" Michael said eagerly. "Sell me one! I need it this afternoon!"

"No need to sell, I can just give you one. Be aware, it's only valid for one month."

Wade pulled a pile of badges from his bag and handed them to Michael.

For the new product launch, Marchioni, as usual, had not only sent magazines but also a stack of samples. Wade had just tossed them into his bag without intending to use them.

Michael grinned as he took them, saying, "How can I accept this?"

"They're just samples, I didn't pay for them anyway." Wade asked, "You don't look bad, why do you still want something like this?"

"Well…" Michael blinked. "That's a secret."

Still 2000 words, this chapter is half-given, half-sold.

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