HP: The Son of Tom

Private Room 13 was small, windowless and silent as a tomb, but it radiated the same feeling as a secret vault: latent power.

Kravix was already waiting for him, with two scrolls on the table and a smile barely visible on his impassive expression.

"Lord Gaunt" he greeted with a brief bow "I have begun work on the fifteen thousand galleons as per your instruction. The first fruits are already sprouting."

Aurelian sat down bluntly, with a mixture of expectation and control.

"Where have you invested?" he asked. 

The goblin extended the first scroll.

"Five thousand galleons were earmarked for a silent stake in Nimbus Racing Broom Company. We were able to gain access to a small fraction of shares through a wizard intermediary acting under a protected identity. The company has just launched its 1500 model and is in development of the 1700, the prototype of which has already begun internal testing. They are capturing the elite sector. It's the most aggressive move with near-term potential."

Aurelian nodded, pleased. He had already considered it as a possibility.

"And the other ten thousand?"

"I diversified into three channels" Kravix replied:

Suppliers of ingredients for basic potions in rural markets. Margins are small, but stable, and contracts with local stores ensure steady flow.

A dilapidated magical bookstore in Paris, which was acquired under an alternative legal form. It has high-value books that could be restored and resold for twice their initial price. We have already contacted two buyers.

An enchanted tunic store in Scotland with spells that adapt to the ambient temperature. Its owner was in debt and agreed to a partial merger. She is innovative, but not very business savvy. Gringotts will oversee operations.

Aurelian ran his eyes over the scrolls. The numbers were solid. Every line made sense.

"Good work" he said at last.

"Thank you" Kravix replied, though it sounded more like a constatation than gratitude.

There was a brief silence. Aurelian broke it calmly.

"I want us to invest what is left of the capital... in a riskier sector. But with the possibility of multiplying the investment tenfold or more."

Kravix cocked his head.

"I'm listening."

Aurelian leaned forward slightly. His voice lowered, though not out of fear, but out of precision.

"I want you to invest in a Finnish Muggle company. Still small, but with structure, technology, and an immense future. It's called NOKIA."

The name seemed to float in the air.

"What does it produce?" Kravix questioned.

"Currently lumber, tires, industrial equipment... but they are already getting into telecommunications. By 1990 they'll be in the cell phone business. By then, everyone will want a device to talk wirelessly. And they'll be ready."

Kravix watched him silently for several seconds. Finally, he spoke softly.

"That's a very accurate prediction."

Aurelian held his gaze.

"It's not a prediction. It's a well-informed intuition."

The elf unfolded the parchment again and made a note.

"We can set up an untraceable investment fund in the Muggle stock market sector, with coverage in Nordic companies. It will require very delicate magic and a specialist contact in Helsinki. But it can be done."

"Do it" said Aurelian "Don't put in all the remainder. Just enough to plant the seed."

"Five thousand galleons"

"Exactly."

Kravix closed the parchment with a black ribbon.

"I have known many heirs. Some ruin their fortune in the first year. Others bury it out of fear. But you... you want to conquer the market."

Aurelian stood up. His eyes showed neither arrogance nor elation. Only vision.

"I don't want the market, Kravix, I want your respect."

And without another word, he left the room as calmly as he had arrived.

Behind him, Kravix smiled for the first time.

There was something fascinating about that boy.

And it wasn't his last name it was his mentality.

_______________

Numbers spoke before words.

"Nimbus is up twelve percent in internal shares since our involvement" Kravix announced as he displayed a floating graph with rising gold lines "The company has begun trials with its 1700 model and has signed agreements with two professional Quidditch teams in Ireland and Germany. Our investment is already producing return."

Aurelian showed no elation. He just nodded.

"And the Paris bookstore?"

"The inventory was restored. We sold four rare volumes to a collector in Prague for three times their initial value. The rest are being cataloged. One of the books possesses living binding magic...it has not yet been opened."

"Keep it sealed. We'll see later."

"As for NOKIA... the operation was completed. We transferred funds through a network of magically controlled Muggle loan sharks. We own a silent minority stake. At the moment, it does not arouse suspicion."

"Perfect" said Aurelian sounding proud.

Kravix narrowed his eyes, appraising.

"Few people at your age would understand the importance of diversifying between worlds. You... plan for the long term."

"There is no other way to play this game" Aurelian replied.

The months that followed were a whirlwind of work.

During the nights, while the rest of the orphanage slept, Aurelian perfected his experimental incantations. He sought not to copy what already existed, but to create what had not yet been imagined.

Theory 59 was now complete. The principle of controlled magical saturation had opened up new ways of channeling energy, and although physically demanding, Aurelian could now activate small areas of intensified magical flow at will. He used it as an extension of his instinct: magic that responded to thought, not just gesture or word.

In parallel, he was still working on his most ambitious project: a truly new magical broom. He had no working prototypes yet, but he had created several conceptual designs that combined Muggle aerodynamics, magical channeling channels, and power steering runes. He was testing them with modified branches, just to understand the physics and balance.

The sun of July 5 filtered through the orphanage window like a silent blessing.

Aurelian dressed in a new tunic, discreet, dark gray, with an enchanted brooch that Kravix had sent him as a sign of trust, he went out quietly. Mrs. Hargrove hardly noticed him. Most of the children were unaware that it was her birthday that day.

He preferred it that way.

Stinky was waiting for him in an alley three blocks away. He greeted him with a brief, proud bow.

"To the bank, young master?"

Aurelian nodded.

"Yes. Today is an important day."

Together they headed for Gringotts.

The temperature inside Gringotts was always the same: cold, silent, and charged with a subtle tension.

Aurelian enjoyed it. It reminded him that every stone, every goblin and every underground passageway, was meant for one thing only: to protect what it was worth.

A lesser goblin guided him to Private Room 13, where Kravix was already waiting for him standing, with three documents spread out on a runic onyx table and a small locked box on the right side.

Seeing him enter, the elf greeted him with a slight nod.

"Mr. Gaunt. Welcome. And... happy birthday."

Aurelian raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn't mentioned it at any point.

Kravix caught his expression and smiled slightly.

"Gringotts doesn't ignore any relevant data about its customers, especially when they have a birthday."

"Thank you" replied Aurelian in a neutral voice.

"It has been seite months since we began the first stage of operations" continued Kravix, opening the first scroll "I am pleased to inform you that the investment portfolio has exceeded our projections"

The elf projected a set of floating figures into the air, with animated golden bars.

"The initial investment was 15,000 galleons. As of today, after movements in Nimbus, Parisian bookstore, ingredient distribution and the covert stake in NOKIA, the total consolidated capital stands at 22,340 galleons."

Aurelian nodded, satisfied.

"A profit of over 7,000 galleons in six months," he said, crossing his arms, "Not bad for a start."

"Correct. Nimbus has been the main driver, followed by NOKIA, which is up quietly after an industrial tender in Northern Europe. The Scottish retailer has regained solvency and is expanding. The bookstore, still awaiting its second sales cycle."

"And the expected margins for the end of the year?"

"If trends hold and we execute the planned secondary strategies, we could reach 30,000 galleons by December. Even more if NOKIA enters the digital market as anticipated."

Kravix paused and pushed toward Aurelian the small dark wooden box.

"A symbolic present. Not from Gringotts, but from me. For your birthday and... for your way of doing business."

Aurelian opened the box cautiously.

Inside, rested a magic fountain pen, forged from polished thestral bone, with inscriptions of enchanted ink that only appeared under the light of the wand. On its side, a single word: Visio.

"Infinite ink, resistant to fire, water and tracking. Use it well."

Aurelian closed the box carefully. He had learned to distinguish a valuable gesture when he saw one.

"Thank you, Kravix. I will" he replied with genuine happiness.

The elf nodded, needing no additional words.

Kravix was picking up the scrolls when Aurelian spoke again, this time in a tone that sought not approval, but execution.

"I want to increase our investment in NOKIA."

The elf looked at him with interest.

"The Reason?"

"They have begun experimenting with mobile telecommunications. The signs are clear, and their operating model is about to break the traditional production cycle. By the end of the decade, they will dominate the market on at least three continents. We need to expand the position while they have not yet become visible to others."

Kravix folded his arms, assessing.

"How much do you wish to invest?"

"Another five thousand galleons. Quietly. And if possible, with preferential access in the next rounds of expansion."

The goblin smiled. Not out of politeness, but because he enjoyed it.

"Done. I will proceed with the move later this week."

Aurelian then pulled a rolled leather tube from his tunic and deposited it on the table.

"And this... is something I also want to set in motion. Not as an outside investment. But as my own brand."

Kravix raised an eyebrow before unwrapping the plans.

What he found inside was no childish scribble, no makeshift schematic. They were technical drawings, carefully annotated, with references to magical and Muggle materials, float lines, weight distribution, magical stabilizers, and a runic pulse acceleration system the elf had never seen on modern brooms.

Aurelian pointed to a portion of the blueprint.

"Inspired by Muggle aviation designs, but adapted to magical channels. The handle would have an outer layer of dark spruce, but reinforced internally with magical filaments and a core that responds to the user's magical imprint. The bristles would be floating, not physical, except in the initial test model. Total stability, adjustable speed, intelligent response."

Kravix scoured the lines with the sharp eyes of one who sniffs for gold.

"This...doesn't exist yet."

"I know. That's why I want to do it. But not as an amateur inventor. I want to set up a whole division. Brand, workshop, permits, testers. Everything. And I want you to help me set it up."

The goblin looked at him, pondering.

"Creating a broom brand is a war. Nimbus and Cleansweep are titans. But..." he looked at the blueprint again "if what you propose works... it won't be a broom. It will be an aerial revolution."

"Exactly."

Kravix extended a hand of slender fingers and filed claws.

"Then let's get started. I'll find a discreet workshop outside Wales or Norway. Loyal staff. And we'll need a name."

Aurelian looked down at his plans.

He thought for a second... and replied:

"Noxum. It will be the name of the line. Brief. Elegant. Deadly in the air."

Kravix nodded slowly.

_____________

Kravix finished storing the plans for Noxum in an enchanted folder with a triple confidentiality seal. But before completely closing the meeting, he pulled out an additional small scroll.

"There is another matter you may be interested in, Mr. Gaunt. I have claimed the old Riddle manor in your name."

Aurelian looked up, curious.

"Was it difficult?"

"Moderately. The property had been abandoned after... previous incidents. It was not registered as active, but was still listed under properties indirectly linked to the Gaunt line through its progenitor. I used a lineage-linked possession clause to assume control."

Aurelian reflected for a moment.

"Good. Begin the restoration. I want you to reinforce the entire structure with higher level magical protections. I don't want to live there yet... but I will. When it's safe."

Kravix noted without saying anything.

"I also researched the Gaunt manor, as you requested. Magical law states that a direct heir can officially claim a blood title at age 17. However..." the elf raised a claw "if that heir is the last of the bloodline and demonstrates sufficient magical mastery, he may initiate the process at age 14, under a lineage preservation clause."

Aurelian nodded, processing.

"Then I am five years old."

"Correct. But I warn you... keeping this process hidden from the Ministry will become increasingly complex. Your family name is now linked to vaults, land, and financial movements. We elves can hide a lot... but if someone connects the dots and requests a magical audit, they will raise suspicion."

"Does it worry you?"

"Yes. Because I can't file any report on the rebirth of House Gaunt without setting off a chain of political fallout."

"Then don't present it" said Aurelian without hesitation "Not yet. The Gaunt name will be reborn, yes... but when I decide, not before. If anything gives us away before the time, the surprise factor will be lost."

Kravix smiled softly. Not with derision, but with approval.

"Sometimes I forget that I have a nine-year-old boy in front of me."

"And I that not all goblins are as cunning as you."

The silence between the two was brief, but full of understanding.

Two conspirators. Two builders.

One young, one old. Both playing a game.