As one of the wealthiest men in Britain, Raymond Sebastian was naturally recognised almost everywhere he went.
"It's an honour to meet you," Wendell Granger said politely while handing over a business card. "I'm a dentist. If your family ever needs dental care, I'd be happy to help."
Sean glanced at the card.
Then, almost instinctively, his business brain activated.
"Have you ever considered offering financed dental treatment?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Alice frowned.
"Sean."
Sean coughed lightly and shut his mouth.
Occupational habit.
Whenever he saw a market opportunity, he simply couldn't help himself.
Unexpectedly, Wendell's eyes lit up.
"I actually have," he admitted. "But the banks refused to approve the necessary financing arrangements."
Alice immediately stepped in before the conversation transformed into a corporate seminar.
"You men can discuss business later," she said helplessly. "We're here to buy school supplies for the children."
Then she looked around Diagon Alley with amazement shining in her eyes.
"I still can't believe the magical world actually exists…"
Wendell nodded deeply in agreement.
"Same here. If Hermione hadn't insisted, I probably would've thought this entire thing was a prank."
Then his expression turned awkward.
"But I still don't understand how we're supposed to buy anything. They said pounds can't be used here."
"Follow me," Sean said calmly.
Without hesitation, he led everyone toward the towering white marble building at the end of the street.
Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
As they walked, Hermione quietly moved beside Sean.
"I've read your paper on advanced economic restructuring," she said with obvious admiration. "It was brilliant."
Sean blinked slightly.
"Oh. Thanks."
"I wrote it casually."
Hermione looked completely unconvinced.
Meanwhile, they had already arrived at the enormous bronze doors of Gringotts.
Sean pushed them open.
The moment everyone stepped inside, the parents froze in astonishment.
The bank's interior was incredibly luxurious.
Long marble counters stretched across the hall while hundreds of goblins hurriedly worked behind them. Some weighed coins on delicate scales, while others examined gems through jeweller's eyepieces.
The atmosphere radiated wealth and greed.
Raymond recovered first and calmly followed Sean toward one of the counters.
Behind it stood two goblins.
One looked ordinary.
The other wore an exquisitely tailored suit that practically screamed authority.
Even his cane appeared expensive.
"Hello," Sean said calmly. "I'd like to exchange pounds for Galleons."
Then he casually placed an entire suitcase onto the counter.
The ordinary goblin barely glanced up.
"Muggle currency may only be exchanged for a maximum of eight hundred Galleons."
Wendell frowned immediately.
"Why? What if that's not enough?"
Sean understood instantly.
"To prevent inflation," he said calmly. "There are too few people in the wizarding world. Flooding the market with outside currency would destabilise the economy."
Then he added thoughtfully:
"The goblins are smarter than I expected."
The refined goblin finally looked up properly.
A trace of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.
Unfortunately, Sean immediately continued:
"Though it's a shame they still don't understand how to truly make money."
Silence.
Every goblin nearby slowly lifted their heads.
The atmosphere instantly turned dangerous.
The ordinary goblin's face darkened.
"Little wizard," he hissed coldly, "do you know what happens to people who insult goblins?"
Raymond immediately stepped in front of Sean protectively.
The goblin pointed sharply toward the doors.
"Get out. Gringotts will never welcome you again."
Sean remained completely calm.
Instead, he shook his head with genuine disappointment.
"What a pity," he sighed. "Sitting on a mountain of gold while lacking the ability to exploit it properly."
"No wonder Gringotts has only managed to operate a single bank for thousands of years."
Several goblins looked furious enough to attack him on the spot.
Sean simply turned as though preparing to leave.
"Stop."
The voice came from the refined goblin in the expensive suit.
Sean slowly turned back.
The goblin narrowed his sharp eyes.
The badge on his chest read:
Hart — General Manager of Gringotts.
"You speak very confidently," Hart said slowly. "So I assume you have a better way for Gringotts to earn Galleons?"
Sean smiled faintly.
Hooked.
Beside him, Raymond shivered internally.
Whenever Sean wore that expression, it meant someone was about to be thoroughly manipulated.
Sean casually asked:
"Mr Hart, approximately what percentage of Hogwarts students come from Muggle families every year?"
Hart thought for a moment.
"Forty to fifty percent."
"Excellent."
Sean folded his arms calmly.
"So these students arrive without wizarding currency. Their families are unfamiliar with the magical world and often lack immediate access to large amounts of Galleons."
Hart slowly nodded.
Sean continued smoothly:
"So why not provide student loans?"
The surrounding goblins frowned in confusion.
"Lend the money for school expenses," Sean explained. "Then allow repayment in instalments after graduation, with interest."
Hart immediately pulled out a ledger and began calculating rapidly.
Several minutes later, he looked up.
"The profits would exist," he admitted carefully. "But the repayment cycle is too long. Hogwarts students graduate after seven years, and repayment isn't guaranteed."
Sean waved dismissively.
"We'll return to risk management later."
Then his eyes swept across Gringotts.
"Now let's discuss housing."
Hart narrowed his eyes slightly.
"In the wizarding world, homes in prime locations are extremely expensive, correct?"
Hart gave a slow nod.
"Then offer mortgages."
Several goblins looked utterly confused.
Sean explained patiently:
"Customers make a partial payment up front. The bank covers the rest. The buyer repays the debt gradually over decades, including interest."
"That's still risky," Hart said immediately.
Sean smiled.
"The bank may not wish to absorb all that risk…"
"But wealthy pure-blood families certainly would."
Hart froze slightly.
Sean's voice remained calm and steady.
"You package the debt and sell the creditor rights to wealthy investors."
"The bank earns immediate liquidity."
"The investors collect long-term profit."
"And Gringotts never keeps the dangerous debt itself."
Silence filled the hall.
Even the goblins handling nearby counters had stopped working entirely.
Sean calmly continued:
"You could also provide business investment funding."
"Support promising wizard shops."
"Take percentage ownership."
"Expand commercial lending."
"The wizarding economy is tiny, isolated, and primitive. You're sitting on endless untapped markets."
Hart's breathing gradually became heavier.
Every sentence Sean spoke felt like a door opening before him.
A completely new financial system.
An entirely different way of making money.
Finally, Hart stared directly at Sean.
"And who," he asked slowly, "would carry the risk?"
Sean smiled brilliantly.
"Who said Gringotts needs to carry it at all?"