Chapter 72: 72: He Has Plenty of Galleons

Cho scowled at the two figures walking closely ahead of her. She couldn't shake the feeling that the spot next to Nolan should have been hers. With a swift step forward, she looped her arm around Nolan's free hand, nudging her head slightly into his shoulder. From the corner of her eye, she caught Eve's flicker of surprise. Eve's expression cooled almost instantly. In one smooth motion, she latched onto Nolan's other arm. Nolan glanced down at one girl, then the other. With a long sigh, he muttered, "Let go. We can't walk like this." "I won't." Cho's grip tightened defiantly, pulling herself closer. "It was supposed to be just the two of us today. Now there's three. My time's been cut short—so you'll need to make it up to me." "This is how you want me to make it up to you?" Nolan raised a brow, amusement flickering across his face. "If this counts as compensation, I imagine every boy in Britain would happily oblige." Cho's lips curved into a playful pout. "I'm not interested in anyone else." Something about Cho had shifted since the last school year. Nolan couldn't quite place it, but she seemed... refined. More graceful, even when throwing a fit. Whatever she had done over the summer, it had transformed her from the tomboyish first-year he remembered into a proper young lady. Even sulking, she looked charming. Eve's lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something. But nothing came out. Her steps slowed, and she drifted half a meter behind them, hands tucked behind her back, gaze lowered. The silence lingered until they passed by the Quidditch shop. "Nolan, let's check out the broomsticks," Cho suggested suddenly, her eyes lighting up. "Next year, Eve and I will be on the House team. You're trying out too, right?" Nolan shook his head. "Eve's a starter. I'm just a reserve. I never intended to play full-time. You know me, Cho—I'm not exactly great on a broom." "I know," Cho huffed, puffing out her cheeks in frustration. "You're better at breaking brooms. Two Nimbus Two-Thousands... gone, just like that. Do you have any idea how many students couldn't even afford one? Roger—our captain—spent days practically sobbing. It was like you stole his girlfriend and dumped her in the lake." "That wasn't my fault," Nolan replied indifferently. "I know... but seriously, I don't get how any boy could have zero interest in Quidditch. I'm guessing you didn't watch the European Cup this year either?" Nolan blinked. "Quidditch has a European Cup?" Cho stared at him as if he'd just sprouted another head. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, with a heavy sigh, she conceded, "Expecting you to know these things was clearly a mistake. Of course Quidditch has a European Cup. There's even a World Cup. The European Cup happens every three years—this year was one of them. Portugal hosted, but... I didn't get to go either. My dad's been too busy at work." "Who won?" Nolan asked casually. "Who won?" Cho repeated, incredulous. "Who won?! Merlin, Nolan... Ireland lost to France. Utter humiliation. Our Keeper—Ryan—got knocked clear off his broom! Nearly snapped his neck, too. And, as usual, Germany took the Cup. Three-time champions. Honestly, it's getting ridiculous. Maybe three years from now we can finally stop those pureblood supremacists..." Her voice trailed off. "Nolan, are you even listening?" "Hmm? Yeah. I'm listening." He wasn't. Quidditch wasn't exactly high on Nolan's list of interests. Still, he noticed something curious—Cho wasn't the only one fascinated by the sport. Eve, trailing quietly behind them, had been watching Cho intently the entire time. She didn't say a word, but Nolan caught the way her eyes flickered with interest. It was as if she wanted Cho to keep talking—encouraging her silently to continue the conversation. Cho noticed Eve's quiet demeanor, her eyes shifting between the two of them. She suggested, "If you want to see the match highlights, there's a book at the Leaky Cauldron with all the schedules and illustrations of the most spectacular plays. It's a bit pricey though. If I remember right, it's over twenty Galleons." "Twenty Galleons... never mind then." Eve sighed, clearly disappointed. "So, what kind of broom are you thinking of buying?" Nolan asked, guiding the two girls toward the Quidditch shop. Outside the window, several younger wizards were pressed up against the glass, eagerly trying to get a glimpse of the shiny Nimbus Two Thousand broomstick on display. Once inside, Cho politely declined an enthusiastic salesman who was wearing a bright Ireland team jersey. She pulled out the broom catalog and began flipping through it, muttering to herself. "The best option right now is the Nimbus, but it's so expensive. Honestly, it's more of a luxury item. No one's going to spend double the Galleons just for an extra twenty miles an hour." "That's like a supercar, right?" Nolan nodded, understanding. Cho gave a short laugh. "Why is it that as soon as I use a Muggle comparison, you get it?" As they wandered further into the shop, Nolan mumbled, almost to himself, "Why don't they have broom models here?" One of the nearby sales assistants, overhearing him, suddenly brightened. "That's a brilliant idea, young wizard! Thank you! If Miss Libera showed off brooms with her legs wrapped around them, we'd definitely sell more. What a fantastic concept!" Nolan's lips curled up in a proud little smile, clearly pleased with himself. Cho ignored him, continuing to look at the catalog with Eve. "If you want something a little cheaper than the Nimbus, the Comet series isn't bad... the Comet 260 looks nice. I've seen Mrs. Hooch using it." "But the Comet 260 is still pretty expensive..." Eve sighed, looking a little down. "If I were older, I could maybe get a job and save up for one." "Well, if you're looking for something more affordable, you could consider the Meteor," Cho suggested. "It's slower than the Comet, but since you're going to be a Chaser, you don't really need blazing speed." Nolan, clearly getting a bit impatient, rubbed his temples. "Can we just decide already? The Nimbus is the best, so just go for that. I'll buy it for you. There's no need to make this so complicated." "My god." Cho rolled her eyes dramatically. "Is he always like this?" Eve, knowing the wealth Nolan came from, shrugged. "It's not a big deal to him—he has plenty of money." "Maybe to you, it's nothing, but to me, it's too much. I couldn't accept it." Cho's tone became more firm. She didn't like the disparity in their financial situations, and it made her uncomfortable. She selected the Comet 260, paid with a mix of about ten Galleons and a handful of silver Sickles—seemingly saved up little by little by the determined young witch. "I've been saving ever since I first got pocket money," Cho explained, holding her broom tightly, her face flushed with excitement. It was clear how much this meant to her—this broomstick felt like her true companion. Even when Nolan offered to help carry it for her, she refused firmly, insisting that she wanted to hold onto it herself. "So, what about you, Eve? I've told you, there's no pressure. I never thought Galleons were anything special." But Eve shook her head, declining the offer. As they walked out of the shop, Eve's hands were empty. Her face looked a little downcast. But then, as if she'd had an epiphany, her expression brightened. She turned back toward the Quidditch shop, her eyes sparkling with a renewed sense of hope.