Hogwarts: Homecoming

Chapter 3: The Hogwarts Commission

Amos hefted the pouch, its space expanded by an Undetectable Extension Charm. Even with a Permanent Levitation Charm weakening its pull, the sheer weight of it was a heavy, satisfying presence in his hand, filling him with a deep sense of pleasure.

Seven hundred Galleons. This was his reward for half a month of roughing it in the old forests of France's Jura Mountains, enduring hunger and exposure. It was a sum equivalent to the annual salary of a full-time Hogwarts professor or a high-ranking Ministry official.

Across from him, Cacus Fawley closed the lid of a coarse wooden box after inspecting the Cockatrice heart Amos had brought him. Finding no flaws, he smiled with satisfaction.

"Your reputation is the most brilliant light in the underworld, Mr. Golden Viper. Every transaction with you is a perfect pleasure!"

Amos pocketed the money silently, ignoring Cacus Fawley's praise. Everyone in this world was ultimately in it for the glittering Galleons; there was no need to muddy the waters with false friendship.

"Are there any other decent commissions available?"

"As diligent as ever, Mr. Golden Viper."

Amos's coldness didn't seem to faze Cacus. In reality, most people who operated here were cautious and tight-lipped. Cacus, with his polite and enthusiastic demeanor, was the anomaly.

His smile never wavering, Cacus offered some subtle flattery while pulling out a notebook and flipping through its pages. "Do you have any specific requirements regarding the type of task or the payment?"

"My preferences haven't changed, Cacus. Don't waste our time," Amos said coolly.

"Of course, of course, how could I forget?" Cacus muttered as he scanned his notebook, his brow gradually furrowing. "No commissions targeting wizards or Muggles, payment of five hundred Galleons or more, and the task must be completed in a relatively short time... I never forget a client's habits, Mr. Golden Viper. But..."

He flipped to the last page, still unable to find a single task that met Amos's criteria.

"Hmm... I'm afraid I must apologize, Mr. Golden Viper. Tasks that fit your profile are usually hot commodities. There was one—providing raw materials and brewing a batch of Magic-Inhibiting Potions, worth five hundred and fifty Galleons—but unfortunately, it was taken by someone else three days ago."

Hearing this, Amos stood up and turned to leave, his movements sharp and decisive.

"Please wait, Mr. Golden Viper!"

Having laid his groundwork, Cacus immediately moved to stop him. Seeing the hostile glare from Amos, a vein throbbed on Cacus's forehead. He was terrified the man might pull out his wand and pin him to the ground with a conjured spear, just as he had once done to a pack of unruly werewolves.

"No offense intended," Cacus explained hastily. "I truly don't have any commissions that fit your usual requirements. However, I do have some tasks with very generous rewards, though they come with a higher risk. I was wondering if you might be interested in hearing about them?"

"Higher risk?"

For a man like Cacus Fawley, who spent his days steeped in the underworld, to label a task 'high-risk' meant it was certainly more than a simple smuggling job. Amos hesitated, but after a moment's thought, he sat back down and nodded at Cacus.

"Let's hear them."

Cacus let out a subtle sigh of relief. Earning a broker's fee from dangerous wizards like Golden Viper was no simple task. You never knew what trivial thing might offend them and get you killed, so you always had to be ready to run for your life.

"The first commission pays twenty thousand Galleons."

Just hearing the sum made Amos's brow twitch. He held his breath, listening intently.

"—The client sent me a magical contract from Albania. He wants someone to break the Lestrange couple and the Carrow siblings out of Azkaban. What do you think of this one?"

"Hmph. I'm not a fool, Cacus. I refuse," Amos rejected without a moment's hesitation.

If it were just a simple rescue, for that many Galleons, Amos might have considered it. The Dementors of Azkaban were dangerous, but not unbeatable for him. The true danger of this mission lay in who he would be rescuing.

Everyone in the wizarding world knew that the Lestranges and the Carrows were among the most fanatical of the Death Eaters. If someone were to free them, it was a certainty that Dumbledore, who had dedicated the better part of his life to fighting Voldemort, would personally intervene in the investigation. Amos had no desire to spend the rest of his life on the run.

Besides, the location of Azkaban was one of the wizarding world's most closely guarded secrets; just finding it would be incredibly time-consuming.

Cacus wasn't surprised by Amos's swift refusal. In his opinion, whoever posted this bounty was probably drunk on too much Firewhisky. After all, who would willingly face those disgusting, terrifying creatures?

"A very wise choice, Mr. Golden Viper. Well then, let me see... There is another commission. Someone claims to have found the location of a magical ruin built by a powerful wizard from ancient times. They wish to recruit some skilled wizards as guards. The client states they can't offer a high upfront payment, but they are willing to share the discoveries from within the ruins. How about this one?"

Exploring ruins could indeed yield great rewards. Not just gold and jewels, but also the potential for rediscovering lost forms of ancient magic, known for their raw power. If he could learn from them, it would be a great benefit to his own abilities.

However, after a moment of consideration, Amos refused this commission as well.

It wasn't out of fear of the risk. Exploring ruins also required extensive preparation, and more often than not, it ended with finding nothing. Amos disliked entrusting his earnings to something as unreliable as luck.

Cacus was patient. He presented several other long-held commissions to Amos, but each one was either a poor balance of risk and reward or would bring him immense trouble upon completion. All were rejected without exception.

Finally, even Cacus began to grow frustrated with Amos's pickiness. He sat in brooding silence for a long while.

"There is one more. The very last one, Mr. Golden Viper. If you are not satisfied with this..."

After a long pause, Cacus leaned forward, his expression cautious. Though he couldn't see the face behind the swirling vortex of magic, he did his best to read the dangerous figure across from him.

"Have you ever heard of... the Chamber of Secrets?"

"The Chamber of Secrets?"

Amos's body tensed slightly. Although his memories of the old stories were mostly gone, anyone who had attended Hogwarts knew the name. Amos had fought people in the underworld before; his spellcasting style clearly marked him as a product of modern, formal magical education. There was no point in hiding it.

"It's just a Hogwarts school legend. Why bring it up?"

Seeing that Amos had taken the bait, Cacus was secretly delighted but kept his composure. "You don't often stay in the country, so you may not know. While the Daily Prophet hasn't reported on it, rumors are spreading like wildfire. They say the Chamber has truly been opened. Someone at Hogwarts is using its power to create widespread panic, and Dumbledore is powerless to stop it..."

"Wait," Amos interrupted bluntly. "What does this have to with a commission? Is someone paying me to go to the school and protect a bunch of children?"

"Of course not!" Cacus said with a cunning smile. "But the name Salazar Slytherin is certainly enticing, isn't it? The client believes that Slytherin left a secret treasure in the Chamber, which this so-called heir has found. Otherwise, how do you explain how even a wizard as powerful as Dumbledore can't find a single clue?"

Amos said nothing. He truly didn't remember much of the original story, but he was fairly certain there was no great treasure, powerful magic, or legendary alchemical item left in the Chamber.

However, given the greedy nature of the wizards here, such speculation wasn't surprising. After all, the four founders of Hogwarts were historically documented as immensely powerful wizards, possessing magic beyond the reach of ordinary people. The discovery of any legacy they left behind would naturally attract a flock of vultures.

"Even if that's true," Amos said, unmoved, "does someone really dare to charge into Hogwarts and steal something from under Dumbledore's nose? You'd be safer trying to fish those lunatics out of Azkaban."

"It's not about stealing, but about using a more... reasonable approach." Cacus was now animated, clearly determined to convince him. "I can provide some assistance. For instance, getting you into the school under the official title of an External Investigator hired by the Board of Governors."

He leaned in closer. "The esteemed wizards on our Board of Governors need to show a response to the terrifying events at the school to quell the growing public discontent. At the same time, they are worried the attacks will continue, and that any wizard they send will be useless, making them a laughingstock. But if they had a reliable wizard, they would be willing to negotiate with Dumbledore. After all, Dumbledore's performance in this series of events has been... disappointing. They probably think he's getting a bit old, a bit slow..."

"It seems you've been targeting me for this from the start."

If Amos hadn't figured it out by now, he would be a fool. Cacus wasn't out of suitable commissions. The high-risk tasks he'd offered earlier were merely bait. His true goal was to get Amos to accept this final offer.

As expected, he had been seen through.

Cacus's heart tightened, but he put on a humble smile. "Well, the choice of investigator requires Albus Dumbledore's approval, so a Hogwarts graduate is the top choice. Strength and reputation are also crucial. Here, only you meet all the requirements."

Amos didn't deny it. "How do you solve the problem of identity? You know this will expose my true face."

A man as sharp as Cacus Fawley had naturally considered this. He eagerly assured him, "The client will not know that Mr. Golden Viper accepted the commission. While the Board will know your public identity, they will not learn of your underworld persona from me."

"And what about you?" Amos pressed, his voice sharp. "In your plan, you are the only one who will know both my public and underworld identities. How do you guarantee that you can be trusted?"

"An Unbreakable Vow," Cacus said immediately, his voice firm. "Sworn on the lives of the entire Fawley family, to keep your identity a secret forever."

Amos stared hard at Cacus's not-so-young face, not responding immediately. "It seems you stand to gain a great deal from this commission, don't you?"

"That, Mr. Golden Viper, is my personal secret," Cacus said, a triumphant gleam in his eye. He smiled. "Eight thousand Galleons, plus the gratitude of the Board of Governors, perhaps even an award from the Ministry, all in exchange for the secret treasure of Slytherin's Chamber... This is a very good deal, Mr. Golden Viper..."