Aristocrat (HP/SI)

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***

Without Richard's train of thought, it was hard to understand why he had chosen space as his target. It was simple really.

The paratrooper was undeterred by the thought that his appearance in this world could have disrupted the course of history. At the same time, the threat to the world comes from an unknown source and it is not clear what scale it is. Well, if the danger is local, but in Richard's mind he kept repeating the words of his mentor: "MAGIC CAN DO ANYTHING!". This was confirmed by illustrative examples: controlling space and time - there is; the embodiment of mathematical paradoxes into reality - a proven fact. So it is quite realistic that, as in the holoseries, the threat looms over the entire planet, or even the solar system.

And what do you do if you can't detect this threat? At the very least you should try to save some of humanity, yourself and your loved ones.

From school lessons on astrogeography in his past life, Richard knew the space coordinates of at least a hundred earth-like planets. To be exact, not the planets themselves, but the stars near which they were located. And the names of these stars were the same in this world. In fact, there were more such planets in his world, but he could not remember all of them even if he wanted to. It was like with the states in the USA - it seemed that everybody learnt their names at school, but only a rare person could remember the names of all the states, and even only a few unicums could tell their exact location. But hundreds of known stars with Earth-like planets are enough to start space expansion and colonisation.

The only thing left is to create a means of delivery, which is quite feasible with the forces of wizards. And it should be done in the next five or six years, because in the series, according to rumours from the voiceover, the hero defeated the main villain only in the last year of training, that is, in about 1998. And if in reality he does not defeat or something irreparable happens?

If rescue is not required, Richie will not be sad. After all, his own space fleet and colonisation of distant planets - a huge step for mankind. Such assets and the opportunities they present will make Richard Grosvenor the richest man on Earth, which is not a bad thing.

While the sheikhs are building giant yachts, Richie will be building a huge starship, and the price will be much cheaper than a superyacht because of the use of magic and cheap labour in the form of wizards.

So far, preliminary preparations are underway, i.e. magic analogues of the engine, seeker, reactor, platforms of future droids are being created (Dr Octavius' manipulators and spacesuit, which can be converted into an android, it will be left to add the seeker and a ready-made droid will be created).

Preliminary preparations, according to Richard's estimates, could take a couple more years. By this time it will be necessary to prepare a substantial amount of money for the second stage, which involves buying and copying a huge amount of metals and other materials to create the hull starship.

In theory, the spaceship can even be made out of concrete. Wizards could make it fly, too. But the strength of steel and concrete is not comparable.

During this time it is necessary to systematically expand the staff of wizards of the workshop. Ideally, in two years, young Grosvenor should have about ten per cent of all mages in Britain working for him.

To provide salaries for such a number of mages, Richard would need a lot of gold. The boy has calculated that his actions with the infusion of large amounts of gold and high money issue, which for the sake of super-profits will be organised by the goblins of Gringotts (they will not be able to resist such a temptation), will lead to a strong inflation of the galleon. But not so much as to bring down the entire economy of British wizards. It will just turn out that the wizards who work for Grosvenor will become a little richer, and others a little poorer. On the whole it's not terrible, only a few poor mages, who even now fundamentally do nothing, might suffer.

- Richie.

A ringing girl's voice brought Richard out of his musings. It was better to think in a private place than in the living room of a dormitory.

Looking up, Richard found Beatrice Heywood, a charming blue-eyed blonde from fourth year. Her body already had nice roundness in all the right places, but her face was still childish.

- Richie, there are some Gryffindor boys waiting for you at the entrance. One of them is Harry Potter.

- Thank you, Beatrice. Nice haircut. Do you like short haircuts?

Heywood touched her short hair and smiled involuntarily.

- Do you think it suits me? - She asked.

- No doubt about it. Any hairstyle will enhance such beauty.

Richard left the happy Beatrice and headed out of the drawing room. Ron and Harry were waiting for him eagerly in front of the barrels in the corridor.

- 'Good afternoon, mates. I was told you were here to see me.

- Hi, Richie," Potter replied.

- Hi," Ron said. - We're here on business. Do you know who Flamel is?

Richard, who had recently learnt a lot of information for his school exams and had an excellent memory, remembered who he was talking about immediately.

- Yes. I read about him recently in the historical chronicles. Nicholas Flamel, born 1340, died 1418. Bookseller, scribe, assistant, alchemist. He's credited with creating the Philosopher's Stone and the elixir of life.

- This must be the wrong Flamel," Harry said uncertainly.

- It is! - Ron disagreed.

- But, Ron," Potter said, "Hagrid made it sound as if Dumbledore and Flamel were having some sort of fight of their own. I mean, our Flamel's alive, and this one's long dead.

- Harry, are you what? - Ron looked at Potter like he was stupid. - Flamel created the Philosopher's Stone, so he must have survived to this day. Richie, tell me, where did you learn about Flamel?

- From the historical literature of ordinary people," Richard answered calmly, though in fact he was burning with curiosity.

- You see, Harry! - Ron said in a victorious tone. - They're Muggle books. I wonder how Muggles know about Flamel.

Harry Potter's face lit up with delight. He exclaimed happily:

- I've got it, Ron! There is a Philosopher's Stone hidden at Hogwarts. Just in the Forbidden Corridor on the third floor.

- Friends," Richard put his hands out in front of his face. - Break! Hold your horses. What makes you think there's a Philosopher's Stone hidden in the school?

- You see, Richie," Potter turned to Grosvenor, "it all started when Draco Malfoy challenged me to a duel and I didn't show up. We escaped from the Hall of Rewards from Filch's head boy and accidentally ended up in the forbidden wing of the third floor. I unlocked the door and behind it was a giant three-headed dog.

- A Cerberus? There's a Cerberus at school?! - Richard was stunned.

- Yes," Ron confirmed. - I almost shit myself when I saw that monster. Big teeth, drooling, growling so hard it made my knees shake. It was horrible.

- Lucky he was on a chain," Harry Potter said. - I noticed that there was a hatch in the floor under the Cerberus.

- Okay," said Richie, "I realised that the third floor was off-limits for a reason, they kept a rare magical animal there. I also realised that Malfoy had no honour since he didn't show up for the duel. I won't say I approve of duels, but I don't approve of dishonour any more. But what makes you think there could be such a treasure hidden in a school? It's ridiculous.

- Ritchie, we asked the students," Harry began to answer, "and we found out that Hagrid loves monsters. He's the only one who could have brought a Cerberus into the school.

- Let's say. И?! - Grosvenor raised his eyebrows questioningly.

- Richie, remember when we went to Slanting Lane this summer," Potter said. - There was a robbery at Gringotts, and it was Hagrid who was under suspicion.

- That doesn't prove anything," Richard said.

- It doesn't, but," Potter whispered, "Ron and I decided to follow Hagrid. He was talking to Professor Quirrell. The Professor asked Hagrid how his doggie was doing. To which Hagrid replied that it was none of his business, and only concerned the affairs of Dumbledore and Flamel.

- Very interesting, but I don't see the connection to the Philosopher's Stone yet," Richard said sceptically.

- Richie, come on, it's obvious," Harry continued. - I think that Hagrid stole the Philosopher's Stone from Gringotts on behalf of Headmaster Dumbledore, hid it in a locked corridor, and had a Cerberus guard it.

- Wait," Richard couldn't hide his wide grin. - Wait, Harry, did I understand you correctly - the Headmaster of the School of Wizardry, a respected wizard, sends a 'very inconspicuous' woodsman to steal the Philosopher's Stone from the bank, then they hide such an incredible value in a school full of children?

- Yes!" exclaimed Harry gleefully.

Richard couldn't help himself and laughed out loud.

- Oh, my God!" he said. - Harry, you have a great sense of humour.

- It's true! - Harry said in a slightly hurt voice. - Richie, I know it sounds crazy, but look. Uncle Scott found out that Dumbledore dropped me off at the Dursleys'. Before you came to the Dursleys, they didn't pay my allowance. And that could be because Headmaster Dumbledore put a spell on the caretakers.

- Dumbledore put you, Harry, in the care of the next of kin," Richard objected. - He didn't know Scott existed. And the foster care system is a mess. Your aunt and uncle, for instance, might have been afraid to apply for an allowance because they were afraid you were a wizard. What would be the point of a headmaster stealing the Philosopher's Stone?

- It's old," Ron pointed out. - Mum and Dad used to say that Headmaster Dumbledore was a great wizard, but they never said he was good. He beat Dark Lord Grindewald in a duel, fought Sammy-knows-who. My parents fought on his side against Sammy-Knows-Who. But who knows what it was all about? Maybe Headmaster Dumbledore is only pretending to be good, but is actually the Dark Lord and eliminating rivals under the guise of fighting the good fight.

Ron's words made Richard think.

- Hmm..." he stretched out. - You know, Ron, there's some good sense in what you're saying. If you think about it that way, why not? I wouldn't rule it out. But if it's true and there's a Philosopher's Stone hidden in the school...

- We must steal it and return it to its owner! - Harry Potter said firmly.

- Yes, but..." Ron said cautiously. - It's Dumbledore. What if we get expelled?

- We have to do it anyway," Potter continued to insist.

- Gentlemen," Richard interjected, "I agree with you on the first point. I don't agree with you on the second. Why should we give the Philosopher's Stone back to anyone when we can use it ourselves by taking it from the villain? Don't you want your parents, brothers, sister or uncle to live happily ever after? Don't you want to live long enough to see the future of mankind?

- What about Flamel? - Potter asked indignantly. - He'll die without the Philosopher's Stone.

- Harry, don't be silly," Richard shook his head from side to side. - If Mr Flamel has made one Philosopher's Stone, then he can make another. I'm more than sure he has a whole bunch of them hidden all over the world. Would you, if you were him, rely on just one stone on which your life depends?

- Richie's right," Ron agreed at once, his eyes wide with lust. - Flamel knows the recipe for the Philosopher's Stone, so who's to stop him from making a few more?

"The Philosopher's Stone," Richard thought, "could it exist in reality? Considering that magic can do anything, yes."

Richard had every reason to believe that the boys' conjecture, foolish and delusional at first sight, might be true. After all, Harry Potter had somehow encountered a villain in the holoseries. And what could have attracted him to the school? He's not just a little kid. Surely the villain was attracted by the power, longevity and wealth, which can be obtained thanks to the Philosopher's Stone. A huge amount of gold will allow you to beat the competition, because in war usually wins the one who is richer.

And who says that the villain will get into the castle? After all, the trainee vaguely remembers parts of the plot of the series. It may well be that in the role of the villain is the director himself, and the philosopher's stone he keeps for himself or with the help of him organised a trap on the competitor.

In any case, Richard was not going to allow the strengthening of an unknown magician-villain who could destroy the world. That's why Earl Grosvenor easily agreed to steal the stone.

And, of course, it was not without selfish motives. Richard didn't care about gold, he would get it anyway by exchanging coloured metals (iridium, palladium). But the elixir of life would be useful. Before the full-fledged introduction of nanorobots and genetic engineering into medicine, which would allow a rich man to live for about a thousand years, it would take at least a couple of centuries. And I want to live. Yes, Richard was not ashamed to admit to himself that he wanted to live happily ever after. And who doesn't? It is unlikely to find such a person, and even if there are such people... it is not for nothing that psychiatrists say that mentally healthy people do not exist - there are understudied.

But there is a big problem in this whole story with the philosopher's stone - such a case can not be entrusted to anyone. Absolutely no-one!

The Philosopher's Stone is such a valuable and coveted object that almost everyone will want to possess it. That's why you can't hire mercenaries and ask them to steal the stone. You can't create a large group of enthusiasts "to save the Philosopher's Stone" and rake in the heat with their hands, because the mystery will quickly cease to be such and a real hunt for the stone will begin. It remains to take matters into their own hands and try to take measures to preserve the secret. This means persuading Harry and Ron to keep the Philosopher's Stone secret by any means possible and induce Harry to "save the Philosopher's Stone from the villain", but not to give it to anyone (except Richard himself "for safekeeping"). Ron doesn't need to be persuaded; you can tell he's already in agreement. And it's not a problem to persuade Potter - it's not for nothing that the young lord was tutored in rhetoric. The problem is another - how to pull off a theft operation without getting caught and leaving a trail for Dumbledore to follow?! A nontrivial problem.

- Guys," Richard said, "don't you think it's a little unsafe to discuss such matters in the corridor?

- Oh, yes," Ron agreed.

- We should look for an abandoned classroom," Harry suggested.

- Right," Richard agreed. - You'll also need a means of communication, Harry. Ron already has a mahophone, and so do I. Hang on a minute, I'll run and get a magophone for you.

Richie returned to the dormitory and took one of the two spare magophones in his valise, which he handed to Harry Potter as he returned to the corridor.

There were a lot of abandoned classrooms and rooms at Hogwarts. There had probably been a lot more people living here in the past. Not just wizards. From the history of magic we know that goblins and house elves appeared in this world about six hundred years ago, and the castle is at least a thousand years old. Banal logic suggests that young wizards were once served by ordinary humans or squibs. Perhaps the school had more subjects, teachers, and, consequently, classrooms. This can be surmised from the fact that wizards used to create new magical animals, plus ghosts flying around the castle. All of this unobtrusively hints at the existence of chimerology and necromancy.

Richard spoke as never before, he broadcast like a god of rhetoric. The boy used all the persuasive skills learnt from the top managers of the Grosvenor Group and from negotiations with major business partners.

Ronald did not need to be persuaded, the key to him was found very quickly - greed, the desire to enrich themselves, despite the fact that their family was no longer poor. But with Harry Potter's persuasion of the need not only to save (steal) the Philosopher's Stone so that it would not fall into the wrong hands, but to keep it, Richard had to sweat a lot. But in the end, the boys agreed to keep everything secret and look for a convenient moment to penetrate the forbidden corridor.

After chatting with Harry and Ron, Richard directed his footsteps towards Ravenclaw tower. He climbed to the top of the tower and stopped in front of a door, it had no handle or keyhole: a solid canvas of ancient wood and a bronze hammer in the shape of an eagle.

Richard reached out an aristocratically pale hand and tapped the hammer once on the door. This quiet knock seemed extremely loud. The eagle's beak opened, but instead of a bird's croak, a soft, melodious female voice sounded from there:

- Which is heavier: a pound of feathers or a pound of iron?

- Nothing," Richard answered without thinking. - They weigh the same.

After the answer, the doors swung open welcomingly.

The Ravenclaw Drawing Room was a large circular room. The walls of the spacious room were cut through by graceful arched windows with silk curtains that shimmered blue and bronze. The students of this faculty had a marvellous view of the mountains surrounding the school. The domed ceiling was painted with stars like those on the ultramarine floor. There were desks, armchairs, bookcases, and a white marble statue in a niche opposite the entrance.

Logically, Richard guessed at once that the statue represented Rowena Ravenclaw. There was something slightly intimidating about the marble woman who looked at those around her with an enigmatic half-smile, and there was something slightly frightening about her beauty. The head of the statue was crowned by a tiara-like ornament reproduced in marble. On it was engraved the phrase:

"Wit is worth more than gold

There were many students in the drawing room. Most of them looked at Richard in amazement.

A brown-eyed blonde fifth year girl, known to Richard as a Ravenclaw Head Girl named Penelope Crystal, walked towards Grosvenor and asked politely:

- Boy, have you come to visit someone?

- Good afternoon, Miss Crystal. Allow me to introduce myself - Richard Grosvenor. If anyone else at Hogwarts is unaware of this, though I highly doubt it, I own the Experimental Enchantments Workshop, where wizards develop new ways of enchanting.

- 'I've heard of Grosvenor's Workshop,' the Head Girl said, 'but I thought it belonged to your parents.

- No, Miss. It was my idea to set up the workshop. If I may, I would like to make an announcement for those who wish to get a prestigious, interesting and highly paid job in the field of magical engineering after school.

- Is this true? - Penelope's nostrils flared like a predator sensing prey.

- Yes, Miss Crystal," Richard replied politely. - My workshop is expanding rapidly. We need young, active and talented professionals. Not those who want to wipe their trousers in the offices of the Ministry of Magic, but those wizards who want to move magical science forward, to learn the secrets of the universe, to fly into space to other planets.

Richard's loud and well placed voice attracted the attention of all the Ravenclaw students who were in the living room at that time. Boys and girls dropped what they were doing and pulled up to the entrance. Soon almost half of the faculty was gathered here.

- Boy, what were you saying about space?

The question was asked by a tall brown-haired man with long hair and a spiritualised face.

- Mister?

Richard raised his right eyebrow questioningly.

- Stanley Kirk, seventh year.

- Mr Kirk, ladies and gentlemen," Richard continued, "I plan to launch, within the next five years, the first interstellar starship in the history of the Earth, created by wizards with the help of well-known charms. This spacecraft will go to explore the stars near which, in theory, there may be planets similar to ours and suitable for life. Then nothing will prevent to create portals there and explore new worlds, colonise them. It would be a big step for mankind and a huge step for wizards.On the faces of the young magicians there was disbelief on some, amazement on others, some were wildly delighted, and a few older guys looked at Richard with admiration, like fanatical believers in an angel who came down to them from heaven. But there were also those who took Richie's speech as the ravings of a madman.

- But is such a thing possible? - exclaimed someone in a broken teenage boyish voice.

- Nothing is impossible, magic can do anything! - Grosvenor didn't hesitate to answer. - It's just a matter of strength, resources, and time. I have all three. And if there are any talented wizards among you who are ready to have a hand in the greatest event in the world's history, Grosvenor's Workshop is waiting for you.

- How much do they pay? - asked a full brown woman with her hair in a tight ponytail, adjusting her round glasses with the index finger of her right hand.

- The salary of a young specialist, who has not yet had time to prove himself, is from two hundred and fifty to three hundred galleons a month. Plus bonuses.

There was a dead silence in the Ravenclaw faculty lounge. The students were trying to digest the enormity of it... The enormity! At best they could start with a hundred and fifty galleons, or even a hundred, and here they were earning as much as the head of a department in the Ministry of Magic. His imagination was conjuring up fabulous riches after a few years of work.

Before the clamour began, Richard continued:

- Ladies and gentlemen, that's not all. Some of you may have heard that first year students in your department are working on a challenge to create graphene film. I am announcing that anyone can participate in the project to create a simple and affordable way to produce graphene film. For the finished result I will pay a grant of one hundred thousand galleons. Information about what is graphene, you can get from the first-year students of your department. I'll leave you now.

When Richard turned his back to the crows, a terrible clamour went up behind him. There was a hail of questions, but no answers. Young Grosvenor knew how to get people interested. You have to get them to seek out the information themselves. If he spent his time answering the hail of questions, he would only break his voice, get a migraine, and at least a third of the possible candidates for work and research would be eliminated. But Ritchie had created intrigue, given a hint of mystery and a field for research, lured him with untold riches and incredible prospects. One could expect that at least a third of the students of the blue-bronze faculty would start actively trying to invent a way to cheaply produce graphene, probably with the help of magic, but what did it matter? This material will come in handy when building a spaceship.

The next day during breakfast the whole of Hogwarts witnessed an amazing picture. The Ravenclaw students were almost entirely engaged in a strange activity: they were holding pieces of scotch tape, which the students were gluing and ungluing with incredible enthusiasm.

As Richie walked past the faculty table, he saw the elongated face of Minerva McGonagall. The Professor of Transfiguration kept her round eyes on the Ravenclaw table. Her left eye twitched slightly. Headmaster Dumbledore looked extremely pensive. He was tilting his head to the side and twirling his beard on his finger.

- Filius," McGonagall addressed the dwarf in a puzzled voice, "what are your students doing?

The Professor of Charms didn't realise what was going on. He was watching his students curiously.

- 'Yes, Filius,' Dumbledore joined in, 'I'm curious to know that too.

- Probably a new game, Minerva,' Flitwick replied.

- A game?

McGonagall glanced down at the Ravenclaw table and shrugged at the noise of dozens of adhesive tapes coming apart.

- A game," Flitwick nodded. - 'Probably... But it's not certain.

- It's a strange game," McGonagall said.

From behind the raven table came the loud voice of an older boy:

- 'And what I'm saying is to collect all the scotch, enlarge it with enchantments, find the particles and transfigurate it into a single sheet, then multiply and glue it into a larger sheet and so on until we have a film.

- It wasn't your idea! - exclaimed a blonde-haired third year boy who jumped out from behind his desk in an accusing tone. - It was our idea!

- Boys, calm down," Penelope Crystal tried to calm the students down. - Let's divide it up among everyone involved in the research.

- I'm not going to share with everyone! - said the full-figured, brown-haired girl with glasses.

A brief moment and the argument turned into a fight. Professor McGonagall exclaimed loudly:

- Stop fighting! One hundred points to Ravenclaw!

The Ravenclaws fell silent. A moment later, a furious Deputy Headmistress appeared near their table.

- What in the world is going on?

No one answered her.

- Can you hear me? Miss Crystal, what is this?! - McGonagall asked in a stern tone.

- I'm sorry, Professor," the Ravenclaw Head Girl bowed her head guiltily. - It was just a scientific debate. It won't happen again.

- Get this outrage out of here at once! - McGonagall's finger jabbed at the scotch of the nearest student.

The Ravenclaw students began to hide the scotch in their pockets with visible displeasure. The boys and girls looked glum and were silent.

Minerva McGonagall returned to the faculty table irritated, nostrils flaring widely.

- No, did you see that, Albus? And these are Ravenclaw students! There's no way I expected them to fight.

- Of course, it's usually your students who put up fights, Minerva," Flitwick said in a snide tone.

- What were you looking at, Filius?! - McGonagall asked irritably.

- I'm sorry, Minerva, I'm not in the habit of getting involved in academic disputes," Flitwick's face showed a snide smile.