Man of Archives

Seven days living near Gringotts proved to be incredibly productive. I absorbed a lot of books on various magical topics, working efficiently. For instance, books on Runes, Charms, Enchantments, and combat spells now reside in my Archive. They still need to be analyzed, but that’s a task for the near future.

 

When I needed a break, I would either go downstairs or stroll along the magical street, attempting to communicate in the local language. My efforts were somewhat poor due to my unfamiliarity with the phonetics. To speak fluently, I need much more practice, which I currently lack.

 

This time allowed me to inquire about the poor treatment I received at an ice cream shop in Antwerp because the people here seemed friendly. After talking with the locals, I learned that the rudeness of that person towards foreigners was well-known. The reason was simple: a foreigner got so drunk that he almost burned down half of the magical street, and the ice cream shop, along with his family, suffered the most.

 

In addition, I sent a letter to Headmaster Dumbledore about how the situation unfolded. I haven't received a response yet because the path from the Netherlands to England is long. Perhaps, along the way, someone might even attempt to read the letter, but I’m not too worried about it.

 

At the moment, I’m considering obtaining the title of Apprentice in Charms and Potions. Charms shouldn't be too difficult since I have the necessary knowledge and some practice. Of course, some spells still need work, but that's just a matter of time and practice. Potions, on the other hand, is more challenging for me, despite receiving top marks this year. If I had more time, I might have improved my skills in this area. But what's done is done. Therefore, getting the title of Apprentice in the Potions Guild will be more difficult, but that’s fine.

 

By the way, the witch's death hasn't been revealed yet. I know the transfiguration has already dissipated, but so far, there hasn't been any major panic. This might change in the future, and it would be ideal if I were already in another country by then.

 

So, there I was, sitting at a small table reading the local newspaper, when the door to the restaurant opened, and Minerva McGonagall walked in. My hand, holding a spoon, froze mid-motion before I resumed eating. The porridge was indeed tasty.

 

The professor scanned the surroundings and found me. I waved at her, and she immediately made her way over. The waitress asked the professor something, but she calmly declined and nodded in my direction.

 

"Good day, Professor," I greeted her. "How are you?"

 

"Good day, Mr. Jody," she replied, sitting down across from me. "To be honest, it could be better if you hadn’t gotten into such an unpleasant situation."

 

I shrugged. What else could I say in such a situation?

 

"I'm familiar with the letter you sent to Headmaster Dumbledore," she continued. "I'd like to clarify this matter once again... Was he really that rude?"

 

"Yes," I nodded. "You see, if he had asked me to apologize, I would have. But to demand that I kneel before him and kiss his shoes... What is that even about?"

 

"I see," she exhaled. "And what have you been doing since then? It’s been a week already."

 

"I’ve been learning the local language and expanding my knowledge of magic," I answered honestly.

 

"And have you achieved much?" she inquired.

 

"With a mind-enhancing potion, you can achieve more than without it," I replied somewhat vaguely.

 

"I see," she exhaled. "Let’s discuss what you’ll be doing next. Do you have any ideas?"

 

"Well," I began, "I was thinking of signing up for a short dueling course to improve my skills."

 

Such courses do exist here, but their level is not very high. They provide basic dueling skills and teach the simplest combat spells. There are more advanced courses too, but they are less affordable.

 

"Hmm," the witch nodded. "And what have you decided?"

 

"Nothing yet."

 

"Look, I have a proposal for you," she began. "The new school year at Hogwarts will start soon. Several students from Muggle families are expected to enroll. Would you like to take on the responsibility of introducing them to the magical world and helping them with shopping in Diagon Alley?"

 

"Professor," I began, "I don’t mind doing that. But I have no authority..."

 

"I wouldn't say that," she smirked. "A Bachelor is not yet a Master in terms of authority, but it’s still higher than an ordinary graduate. Moreover, you’re still my assistant. But first, I need to know if you're ready for such an undertaking. Then, I'll introduce you to how best to go about it. What do you say?"

 

"Alright," I exhaled after some thought. "I agree."

 

"Excellent," the professor nodded with satisfaction.

 

It seems to me she’s looking for someone to replace her in this role because Headmaster Dumbledore is once again occupied with some "lofty" matters and has dumped all the school responsibilities on his deputy. Now she’s also going to pass some of those duties on to me, her Transfiguration assistant.

 

"One more question," McGonagall continued. "Are you ready to take a small test from Madam Pomfrey?"

 

"Yes," I nodded confidently. "I believe I'm ready."

 

"Then you'll be able to do it in the near future," she nodded. "When will you return to London?"

 

"I arrived here via Muggle transportation," I said calmly. "I need to change my tickets. I think I'll be in London the day after tomorrow."

 

"Excellent," she nodded. "Then let’s meet in my office at Hogwarts in four days. I think ten o'clock in the morning will be the best time. What do you say?"

 

"Yes," I exhaled after a moment of thought. "That time works for me."

 

"Then see you soon, Mr. Jody," she nodded, rising. "Take care."

 

"Goodbye, Professor," I replied.

 

After that, McGonagall left the restaurant. I finished my meal, paid for it, and started packing. Then I left the magical street and headed to the airport. Returning the ticket was somewhat difficult, but when the manager learned that I wanted a ticket for today and was even willing to pay a little extra, he quickly resolved all the delays and problems.

 

I got a new ticket almost immediately. I had to wait four more hours for the flight, but I spent that time relatively usefully, studying news from the non-magical world. Let’s just say… it was very interesting. For example, a major total solar eclipse and a war in Southeastern Europe. Overall, it was intriguing.

 

When the time came, I settled into the airplane seat and waited for takeoff. My neighbor turned out to be a short, slightly plump woman who immediately pulled out a cigarette, put on her headphones, and started smoking like a chimney.

 

After some time, we landed in London, and I was one of the first to leave the plane because the cigarette smoke was starting to make me nauseous. At the airport, I was immediately met by two Ministry officials who conducted a simple identification procedure. Once satisfied, they released me with a wish for a good day.

 

Stepping outside, I hailed a taxi that took me home. Surprisingly, my parents were there. Naturally, they were surprised that I had returned, but after explaining the situation, they agreed that one shouldn't allow oneself to be humiliated like that.

 

"So, what are you planning to do this month?" my father asked.

 

"I’ve already spoken with the professor," I replied. "I’ll be helping her introduce other future first-year students to the magical world. And I’ll be studying too."

 

"Phew," my father exhaled, relaxing. "I thought you wouldn’t have any work this summer."

 

"No need to worry about that," I smirked at him. "I can always find work, especially in the magical world."

 

"Timothy," my mother addressed me. "I was thinking… You won’t get a general graduation diploma at your ‘private’ school, will you?"

 

"No," I replied, somewhat puzzled about where she was going with this. "Why?"

 

"Well, I was wondering… Would you like to study regular school material in your free time and get that general graduation diploma?" she asked. "I think it would be useful for you."

 

I really thought about it. Getting a diploma from a non-magical school is also a pretty good thing. The local non-magical world has achieved a lot in terms of technology. I think I’d be interested in studying this, and maybe I could even come up with some ideas for developing new magical spells or concepts. Why not?

 

"Well, that's not a bad idea," I nodded to her. "But I don't even know where to start."

 

"Don't worry," she said, cheering up. "I'll prepare all the materials for you."

 

"Thank you," I nodded to her.

 

The next two days I spent analyzing the books I had acquired, as well as reviewing my knowledge of human anatomy. When the time came, I was ready and Apparated to Hogsmeade early in the morning, then walked to the main gates of the school.

 

Hagrid, the school’s gamekeeper and Keeper of Keys, was already standing there, waving to me with a smile. Everyone knows he’s a rather good-natured half-giant who is fond of Gryffindor.

 

He let me in without any questions and went about his own business. I hurried to Minerva McGonagall’s office to learn about my work for the next week… Or maybe a few days. It depends on how many students from non-magical families are enrolling this year.

 

"Good day, Professor," I greeted as I entered the Head of Gryffindor’s office.

 

"Welcome, Timothy," she nodded and set aside a scroll she had been working on. "Please, sit down."

 

I sat across from her, waiting for her to get to the point. The woman pulled out four identical folders.

 

"Here are the names and addresses of the children you need to visit," said the professor, handing me the folders. I didn’t open them yet; I’d look at them later. "Let’s talk about what you’ll need to do and how to go about it."

 

The professor spent the next hour explaining the entire procedure and action plan to me, from meeting the parents and the prospective student to purchasing school supplies and saying goodbye. I also received additional information about what I was allowed to do and say, and what I wasn’t. I’m allowed to show them some small but direct magic, but nothing too massive. If the parents are particularly stubborn, I should just use Confundus, though the professor advised against resorting to that method.

 

"Any other questions?" she asked after I had peppered her with various questions to fully understand all the boundaries and best practices from those who’ve been doing this for a long time.

 

"I don’t think so," I replied.

 

"Alright then," McGonagall nodded. "Each folder contains the date when you need to visit the student. Don’t be late."

 

"Understood," I nodded. That makes sense, because the parents and children could leave home, and tracking them down or just waiting around wouldn’t be the most pleasant prospect.

 

"Then, I wish you good luck," said the professor, surprising me a bit. I thought someone would accompany me to make sure I did everything correctly. But no. I’m going alone. Where does she get such faith in me?

 

"Before I forget," she caught my attention again. "Madam Pomfrey will be waiting for you in the school’s hospital wing."

 

"Then I’ll head over to her," I replied immediately. "Alright, Professor, I won’t let you down."

 

"I believe in you."

 

I left her office and headed toward the hospital wing. The school was empty, which created an oppressive and even slightly eerie feeling. The echo of my footsteps bounced off the walls and returned to me. The living portraits continued to live their own lives, whispering to each other. This added to the eerie atmosphere.

 

When I reached the hospital wing, I knocked on the door. It opened quickly, and I was greeted by a somewhat older but still attractive woman.

 

"Mr. Jody," she addressed me. "You finally arrived."

 

"Madam Pomfrey," I smiled at her. "I’m glad to see you too."

 

"As well you should be," she smirked. "Alright, come over to the table with the skeleton."

 

Indeed, at the far end was a table with two chairs and a large skeleton, staring with its black, empty eye sockets into the void. I prepared myself for all sorts of questions, wondering where she would start.

 

"Well," she said, "Do you think you’re ready to answer?"

 

"I think so," I said.

 

"Then we can begin," she said. "Please name all the bones in the human body."

 

And so began my test with Madam Pomfrey. If I thought the test would be easy, I was mistaken. After I named all the bones, my next task was to transfigure all the muscles and ligaments onto the skeleton. Everything had to be in the correct places and work perfectly, just as a human body would.

 

After she checked my transfiguration, we moved on to the next stage. The next task was to transfigure a heart and then place it in the body. Then came the lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, tongue, and many other organs. Next were the blood vessels and nerve tissues. In the end, I had to fully cover the skeleton with skin.

 

It was, in a way, a difficult and challenging exam, which I passed with honor. If it weren’t for my Archive and my skills in transfiguration, things would have been much worse. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to answer all the questions correctly. After all, it’s one thing to transfigure a heart. For Madam Pomfrey, passing the topic meant transfiguring a heart with the correct tissues. In general, it was hard and challenging.

 

"Well, what can I say," the woman exhaled. "Honestly, I didn’t expect such a result. You see, everyone who wants to pursue healing studies ends up learning about the human body at such a deep level at the bachelor’s level at least. But you don’t know all the medical spells, treatment approaches, diseases, and potions. In general, your knowledge of the human body is at the highest level, which will be an excellent support for advancing to the level of Master."

 

"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," I replied, with a hint of exhaustion in my voice. My test lasted six hours straight, with no breaks. "Can you tell me why this will be a support?"

 

"It’s simple, Mr. Jody," the woman smirked. "Though I’m not the headmaster or a professor, I do know something about transfiguration. The better you know the human body, especially your own, the easier it will be to transfigure yourself from an animal into a human. In magic, everything is interconnected."

 

"I understand," I exhaled. It was a logical explanation, which for some reason I hadn’t thought of myself. "Thank you for the test."

 

"You’re welcome," she nodded. "Since you passed my exam with honor, I should offer you a spell that will allow you to examine your own body. Actually, it’s not just a spell, but a method for developing such a spell. Your next task on the path to mastery will be to develop your own spell for body examination."

 

She handed me a large book I had never seen before.

 

"What’s this?" I asked, surprised.

 

"Think about it yourself," the witch smirked. "When you finish the spell, contact the headmaster or McGonagall to have it checked."

 

"Alright," I exhaled, shrinking the book to the size of a matchbox and tucking it into my pocket.

 

"Mr. Jody," Madam Pomfrey called out as I was about to leave. "You forgot something."

 

She nodded toward the skeleton with the transfigured organs on it.

 

"Don’t forget to clean up after yourself."

 

"Finite," I cast the spell, and the transfiguration instantly melted away, leaving the same white skeleton, forlornly staring at the wall. "Thank you again for the test."

 

"Off you go," she smirked.

 

I left the hospital wing and headed toward the exit. Getting out of the school was simple, but getting back in… that was more complicated. From Hogsmeade, I Apparated back to my own home.

 

"How was your day?" my mother, Cindy, asked.

 

"Not bad," I nodded. "They gave me an assignment."

 

"Oh, excellent," my father, who was sitting in front of the TV with a drink, nodded happily. "Do you need my help?"

 

"I don’t think so," I replied.

 

"Alright," my father waved his hand. "If you do, just let me know."

 

"Of course, thanks."

 

I went to my room to start studying the future Hogwarts students. The folder contained the names Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hermione Granger, Lisa Turpin, and Morag MacDougal. Among them was only one boy, and that was Justin.

 

The familiar name pleased me. It was Hermione Granger, whose father had checked my teeth a year ago. I remember that bushy-haired girl who was always interested in books. It was noticeable to anyone with eyes.

 

But I’d be visiting Justin first. There wasn’t much information about the student—just a name, date of birth, and address. But some information gives me even more important insights. For example, Justin Finch-Fletchley lives in a wealthy part of London’s suburbs. Not just expensive and rich, but outrageously so. This means that to make a good first impression, I need to look the part.

 

Apparating there would be easy because the information sheet included coordinates for Apparition. Without them, I’d have had to take the bus and subway, then Apparate.

 

The outfit I chose was formal and sharp, with soft, muted brown and green tones. A classic tie, a light hat. The jeans were a slightly looser interpretation of a classic suit. The shoes were also classic derbies with additional patterns and some almost invisible holes for better ventilation. Such a suit is expensive, but I worked well with my clothes using Transfiguration.

 

"Wow," my father exclaimed when he saw me in the suit. "You look like a Westminster dandy."

 

"Thanks," I smirked back at him.

 

"I like it too," my mother said. "Good luck with your business."

 

I just nodded in response and walked outside. Entering the familiar Apparition spot, I exhaled. Mentally preparing myself, I spun around and Apparated, only to appear a moment later in a small forest. Stepping out of the bushes and adjusting my clothes, I headed toward the house I needed.

 

The house was on a slight rise but hidden among trees. It was surrounded by an iron fence with well-maintained grounds. I noticed a few gardeners tending to the flowerbeds. There was even some sort of Muggle security system.

 

Stopping at the gate, I pressed the intercom button.

 

"Who’s there?" came the almost immediate response.

 

"I have an appointment with Mr. and Mrs. Finch-Fletchley," I replied. I wondered how the local communication system worked. Even that interested me in studying, which is why I should get a school diploma.

 

"Identify yourself," the same voice replied.

 

"Timothy Jody, from Hogwarts," I answered.

 

"Alright, wait," the same voice said.

 

I had to wait about fifteen minutes. A small white golf cart arrived at the gates, driven by a man in a black, formal suit with equally black shoes.

 

"Mr. Jody?" the man asked questioningly.

 

"Yes, that’s me."

 

"Come on in," he said, unlocking the gate and letting me through. "Take a seat, and I’ll drive you to the house."

 

I had no choice but to follow the man’s instructions, though I still didn’t know his name. Although, getting that information would be easy. I just needed to briefly access his mind. But I was too lazy, and besides, I didn’t want to take the risk.

 

In ten minutes, we reached a truly massive house. The cart was parked next to a few similar ones. He then led me up the white steps into the house, which made it clear that its owners were swimming in money.

 

Inside, my certainty that this family was very wealthy was only confirmed.

 

"Mr. and Mrs. Finch-Fletchley, along with young master, are waiting for you in the Red Room," the man said. "Follow me."

 

I followed him and soon found myself in a room decorated in red tones. Three people were sitting there: a man, a woman, and a young boy. The door closed behind me. The man stood up and extended his hand for a handshake.

 

"Anthony Finch-Fletchley," he introduced himself.

 

"Timothy Jody," I responded, shaking his hand, neither trying to outdo him nor yielding.

 

"This is my wife, Montana Finch-Fletchley," he pointed to the woman who was watching me with cold indifference. "And this is my son, Justin Finch-Fletchley."

 

Justin looked interested, though he tried to hide it. But his childlike enthusiasm was getting in the way.

 

"Pleasure to meet you," I nodded to them.

 

"Please, have a seat," Anthony said. "Perhaps some whiskey?"

 

"Thank you," I replied, "but I’ll pass."

 

"Alright," he exhaled. "I’ll have some myself then."

 

He turned to a cut-glass bottle and slowly poured himself a drink, casting glances at me through the polished surface. Then he added a bit of ice to his glass and came over to sit in a chair opposite me.

 

"You know, when we received the letter by owl, we were very surprised," Anthony began. "They’re a rare sight around here."

 

"Hogwarts uses owls almost always, or in most cases," I replied. "It’s a fairly common method of communication."

 

"And what is Hogwarts?" he asked. "I asked my colleagues in the Ministry of Education, and they gave me one piece of advice: don’t turn down your offer. And I got such a vague response from the big guys at the Ministry of Education. It piqued my interest."

 

"Hogwarts is one of the best magical schools in the world," I replied simply. "You’ve probably heard of the legends of Merlin?"

 

"Who hasn’t," the man smirked.

 

"He was a graduate of Hogwarts," I said, sharing well-known information from the History of Magic course. "A brilliant graduate."

 

"So you’re saying magic exists?" the man asked.

 

"Of course," I nodded. The next moment, I had a wand in my hand, and the small table transfigured into a large clock. Shocked expressions were guaranteed. The glass fell from Anthony’s hand, spilling alcohol on the carpet.

 

"Well," the man muttered. "Well."

 

The silence dragged on a bit, so I returned the table to its original form.

 

"Was that magic?" Montana asked.

 

"Yes," I nodded.

 

"What else can you do?" she asked almost immediately.

 

"Magic can do a lot, a great deal," I replied calmly, without giving any specifics. "It all depends on the wizard’s power and knowledge. Your son, as soon as he had his first outburst, was immediately enrolled as a Hogwarts student."

 

"Alright," Anthony, who had finally processed all the information, nodded. "Let’s discuss this more concretely. How much will his education at this school cost? We’ve already enrolled him in Eton and paid the initial fee."

 

"Education up to the fifth year is covered by the Ministry of Magic," I informed them. They’re allowed to know this information. "After that, it depends on the exams, which determine how further education will proceed."

 

"Even so," Anthony said. "That sounds almost too good to be true. What’s the catch?"

 

"Hogwarts is a closed boarding school for future wizards," I told him, shrugging.

 

"And what if we refuse?" the woman asked. Justin just listened and watched me with admiration.

 

"Well," I began, taking a moment to think. "A painful death."

 

Silence and suspicion were their responses.

 

"You see, if he doesn’t learn to control his magic, his outbursts will become frequent. This will make Justin an outcast among other non-magical children. To avoid standing out too much, he’ll try to suppress the magic within him. Suppressing magic will turn him into a balloon that will keep inflating until it bursts. That’s the simplest way to explain it."

 

I wasn’t about to tell them what an Obscurus is. That would take too much time.

 

"Hmm," Anthony muttered. "What do you say, Justin? Want to be like Merlin?"

 

"Yes, I do," the boy quickly answered, as if he had been waiting for the question.

 

"Alright, you’ve convinced me," the man exhaled. "The letter also mentioned that you’d accompany him to buy school supplies."

 

"Yes," I nodded. "That’s also part of my duties."

 

"How much should I give him?" he asked, moving on to more practical matters.

 

"For students from non-magical families, Hogwarts provides a certain amount in the bank," I explained. "It’s a small scholarship, but if you wish, you can give him some spending money as well."

 

"Mr. Jody," the man addressed me, casting a quick glance at his wife. "Tell me, what’s your position at Hogwarts?"

 

"Student and assistant to the Transfiguration professor," I replied calmly.

 

"So you definitely know what a normal student needs?" Anthony asked.

 

"Yes, I know," I answered.

 

"Then I’ll give you ten thousand pounds," he said. "Can you buy Justin everything he needs as a wizard?"

 

"Of course," I replied. "Justin will come with me to the magical street, and we’ll buy everything that’s necessary."

 

"Excellent," the man nodded, satisfied. "Where is this street?"

 

"Non-magical people simply won’t be able to access it," I shrugged. "So we’ll have to get there by various means of transport."

 

"And there are no magical ways to get there?" the woman asked.

 

"Why not? There are," I replied. "But Justin isn’t ready for them yet, and your house isn’t prepared for it either. Besides, it would be good for him to know how to get to the right place."

 

"Then I’ll provide you with a car," the man nodded. "They’ll drive you quickly, and then pick you up from there as well."

 

"As you wish," I nodded to him.

 

"Justin, go to your room and get ready," Anthony told his son. "Montana, help him."

 

"Alright, dear," the woman nodded and followed the young boy.

 

"Mr. Jody," the man addressed me. "I have a few more questions. I hope you can answer them."

 

"Go ahead and ask, and we’ll see," I nodded.

 

"Is the magical world big?"

 

"Smaller than the non-magical one," I replied with a smile. Such questions were also discussed with McGonagall.

 

"Are there any aristocratic families there?" he asked his next question.

 

"Yes," I replied. "They’re not just aristocratic, but ancient. Some trace their lineage back to the ninth century."

 

"Hmm," the man mused, thinking for a few seconds. It was clear that the thoughts in his head weren’t the most pleasant, but he was processing them and trying to build some logical chain in his mind. "Can a child from a non-magical family enter the circle of aristocrats?"

 

I paused to consider my answer.

 

"Yes," I nodded. "At Hogwarts, everyone is equal, with the same curriculum and material. But children from ordinary wizarding families are much more familiar with magic than children from non-magical families. The same applies to aristocrats. My parents aren’t wizards either, so I have a rough idea of the challenges he’ll face."

 

"You know, before Justin took his exams for Eton, I hired several tutors to prepare him as best as possible," the man said. "Can you prepare my son for studying at Hogwarts so that he doesn’t lag behind the children from ancient wizarding families?"

 

I like this proposal. In the magical world, there are several options that answer such a request. There’s mentoring, tutoring, or training. Preparing him to the level of children from ancient wizarding families will be somewhat challenging, if not impossible.

 

"I won’t be able to prepare him to the level of children from ancient wizarding families," I said immediately. "But I can try to get him to the level of a child from an ordinary wizarding family."

 

"How much will it cost?" Anthony immediately inquired.

 

"I’ll let you decide how much it’s worth," I said.

 

At that moment, Justin returned, dressed in new, almost formal clothes that weren’t much different from what I was wearing. His mother followed behind, nodding to Anthony.

 

"Alright," the man exhaled. "I’ll think about it and let you know when you return."

 

Then he picked up the phone and pressed a button to speak.

 

"Vasily, prepare the car."

 

"Understood," came the gruff response. "Five minutes."

 

"Perfect."

 

He then pulled out a checkbook and wrote down the sum of ten thousand pounds. He handed the check to Justin. Justin pulled out a small wallet from his pocket and tucked the check inside.

 

We all went outside. A black, expensive-looking car was already waiting. The windows were tinted. It was nearly impossible to see through them. By the door stood a bald man with a face that had seen a lot. But the most attention-grabbing detail was his maroon jacket.

 

"Vasily, this is Timothy Jody," Anthony introduced me. "He’ll be accompanying Justin today. You should wait for them and then bring them back."

 

"Understood," the man said. He didn’t bother to introduce himself to me. I had seen this type before somewhere. "Get in."

 

The man opened the door for Justin and then closed it behind him. I had to walk around and sit in the front seat because the door to the back was locked. I didn’t show it, though I could have easily unlocked it with my wand.

 

"Where to, Mr. Jody?" Vasily asked.

 

"We need to go to Charing Cross Road, between Tottenham Court Road and the subway station," I gave the address. The Leaky Cauldron doesn’t have a precise address because non-magical people simply can’t see the sign.

 

"Understood," he nodded. The car started moving.

 

We reached the destination in silence. Vasily parked the car, and Justin and I headed toward the Leaky Cauldron, which was located between a bookstore and a shop selling some technological gadgets.

 

"Justin," I addressed the boy. "Do you see the sign for the Leaky Cauldron?"

 

"Yes, Mr. Jody," he replied. "What is this place?"

 

"The Leaky Cauldron is the gateway to a magical street called Diagon Alley," I explained to him. "Now, be attentive and cautious."

 

"I’ll try, Mr. Jody," he answered.

 

We passed through the Leaky Cauldron. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a familiar wizard in a turban, but he looked rather jumpy. Nodding to the bartender, we exited into the back courtyard, where the passage was.

 

Pulling out my wand, I began slowly pressing the protruding bricks. The archway opened, allowing us to step inside.

 

Justin gasped in amazement as the street was filled with wizards and witches, chatting with each other, along with children of various ages shopping for school supplies. Here and there, you could see Hogwarts students, but they were a small part of the crowd. Many other children studied in simpler schools but also shopped in Diagon Alley.

 

"Let’s go," I nodded to him.

 

We reached Gringotts Bank, where I began introducing him to the magical world. The boy looked around in awe, asking all sorts of questions, which I tried to answer as best as I could without overly complicating things for him. In Gringotts, he exchanged his money for Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts. Ten thousand pounds was two thousand twenty-eight Galleons, one Sickle, and ten Knuts. To avoid carrying the entire sum with him, he immediately opened a bank account and received a magical checkbook. I have one as well.

 

After that, it was time for shopping. First, we bought him a large trunk with expanded space inside. The trunk was expensive, but its features were worth it. Next, we went to get his robes fitted and purchased three sets of black work robes, two pointed hats, and two winter cloaks. Additionally, we bought two pairs of shoes with extra enchantments for anti-slip on ice and snow, as well as waterproofing. All the clothing was also enchanted against light curses, hexes, and stray weak spells. This already increased the cost, but I think the boy should feel safer.

 

Next, we bought specialized clothing for working with plants and potions. Various aprons, gloves, goggles, and earmuffs were added to the trunk. Then came the books. First, we bought all the books from the list, and then I added a few more that should be useful and interesting. Among them were fairy tales and legends, useful spells, and much more that could be interesting to the boy and could serve as a topic of conversation with children from wizarding families.

 

After that, we bought other items for school, like a telescope, scales, cauldrons, and much more. All of this also went into his trunk.

 

To take a break, we went to get some ice cream. Justin became a stream of questions about everything magical. But I didn’t stop him, instead trying to answer. Sometimes he would think after my answer, and then resume his questions. A very curious boy.

 

Afterward, we went to buy him some general-purpose artifacts that could help with various interesting matters. And only at the very end did it come time to buy a wand. We went to Ollivanders, where the old wizard quickly found the right wand for the boy. He didn’t speak to me, though I felt his strange glances.

 

"What do you think?" I asked him when we were in the pet shop. We almost forgot to buy him a pet.

 

"I’ll get a cat," the boy said. "I like them, but my mother doesn’t allow them."

 

"So be it."

 

We bought a small, newborn black kitten. Justin named him Cheddar. And only after that did we leave Diagon Alley. It was still light outside, but the time was no longer early, and not even afternoon. It was six o'clock, and the heat outside felt all-consuming. You didn’t feel it so much in Diagon Alley.

 

In front of Justin’s awestruck eyes, I shrunk his trunk and put it in my pocket. He had already attached his wand to his belt. It hung somewhat awkwardly, which would immediately give away a lot of information to an experienced wizard.

 

Then we stepped out into the non-magical part of London and headed toward Vasily, who was still parked. People looked at the kitten with interest, but no one dared to approach and ask about it, or even inquire. The boy's wealthy appearance subconsciously warned ordinary people not to do so.

 

Vasily opened the door for Justin without question, and then took a seat in the driver's seat. I sat next to him, relaxing a bit.

 

We drove back to Justin’s house. His parents were already eagerly awaiting their son’s return. You could see it in their eyes.

 

"What’s that?" Montana asked. "Is that a cat?"

 

"Yes, Mom," Justin happily replied.

 

"Did you buy him a cat?" the woman asked, somewhat displeased. "And you didn’t even consult with me, Mr. Jody."

 

"Why not," I shrugged. "The cat will live for fifty years and be a faithful companion to him. You can even get some rare ingredients from it."

 

"There will be no cat in my house," the woman said categorically. Anthony, meanwhile, stayed out of the conversation. Smart. Smart.

 

"But Mom," Justin tried to say something. "The list said either a cat, a toad, or an owl."

 

"No animals in the house," she added. She then snatched the wooden cage and walked over to the phone. "Margot, come in."

 

A short girl in a maid's uniform entered through the door. Montana handed her the cage and said:

 

"Drown it."

 

"Yes, ma'am," the maid said, looking at the kitten.

 

"Maybe I should just take it myself?" I suggested.

 

"No," the woman nodded, still fuming. "Margot, drown it."

 

In the next moment, my wand appeared in my hand, and the cage jumped into my grip. The kitten began to cry. Margot stood frozen in place, not quite understanding what had just happened and how the cage ended up in my hands. Now I’d have to clean it all up.

 

"Obliviate," I cast the spell with a wave of my wand, a mental effort, and the moment with the kitten was erased from the maid’s memory, as well as the fact that I had used something completely unfamiliar.

 

The woman looked around with a slightly dazed expression, not really understanding why she was there.

 

"Sorry," she said, quickly leaving.

 

"What was that?" Anthony asked, a little frightened.

 

"One of the manifestations of magic," I replied calmly. "I can’t allow a kitten to be drowned. But let’s not dwell on that..."

 

The Finch-Fletchleys exchanged glances, showing their slight apprehension. And I understood them. After all, they had only seen Transfiguration before, and now they had witnessed mind control. And they probably didn’t even understand what had been done.

 

"So," I continued, pulling out another letter from my pocket and handing it to Justin. "Here’s your ticket to the Hogwarts Express. The entrance to the platform is at the column between 9 and 10."

 

"Alright, I got it," Justin said, taking the letter.

 

"Well then," I said. "I think my work here is done. I suggest looking through some of the books before the school year starts."

 

I pulled out his trunk and enlarged it.

 

"Any more questions?" I asked, looking at each person in the room in turn, waiting for questions.

 

"Ahem," Anthony cleared his throat, "I want to offer you a job to prepare Justin for Hogwarts."

 

Now his tone was respectful.

 

"Justin, go unpack your things from the trunk," his mother said.

 

"O-kay, sure," the boy exhaled and quickly left, dragging the trunk behind him.

 

"My wife and I discussed this," the man said. "And we believe that fifty thousand pounds sterling for this month and seventy thousand for the next will suffice. What do you say?"

 

I took a moment to think. For the non-magical world, that’s not just a lot of money. It’s astronomical. My parents’ house costs forty-five thousand pounds, and here they’re offering me fifty just for July.

 

"Agreed," I nodded to them. "That sounds attractive. How would you like his preparation to look?"

 

"He should arrive at Hogwarts prepared," Justin’s mother said, already seemingly having forgotten about the kitten.

 

I thought about the things that definitely needed to be passed on to him. Besides that, I shouldn’t forget about my own development and other tasks that might come up. But I think I can integrate him into the magical world.

 

"Alright," I nodded and exhaled. "So be it."