Chapter 6
2 Years later
The year has came and pass, the last two year I spent with Alex were the best time I have in my short life. Now my Hogwart letter came along with few other schools all over the country deliver under the name Eugenia Gladiolus. It is a great opportunity, many of the course that the foreign schools offer aren't even in the Hogwart curriculums. But Hogwart is where my brother are even if they didn't or don't recognize me is it wrong to long for the affection of blood family?
As promise Master Snap have not inquirer the matter of apprenticeship again and still continue our monthly discussion. Many times I want to tell him and Alex of my true name instead of the one I cast away, but I couldn't bring myself to trust them. If I choose to attend Hogwart would I really be able to handle the ignorance of the pure blood? The registry of pure blood status are listed within the ministry but often is left alone, they would consider me as a muggle born and treat me as such.
No, I won't attend Hogwart and be drag into the political power game within the school. As much as political games interest me, I have no intention to be part of it just yet. Especially if the whisper of the Dark Lord returning is travelling through Knoturn Ally, it was proven true when someone order quite few rare ingredients that are use in dark rituals few weeks ago.
The month passes slowly struggling to pick a school for her magical education. Even Alex forbids her to no be closer than two meter of the potion lab, due to the last explosion. To pass her time she resign her self to painting, by the end of the month has fill her room with many painting of varies scenery and subject differ from regular to magical painting. In the end she send more than half to Silver glove arrange to be sold, keeping only a few. During the month she had rejected quite number of school that doesn't offer potion and dueling courses, from there the rejection was stricter till only two were left. Now she is left to choose between Shadow Night and Hogwart.
Shadow Night a prestige school that open by vampire centuries ago. Few invitations were sent to witches and wizard and fewer return, but of those that survive to returns to society stood on top. A school that closely guards its secret, not many even knew it exist.
There was no competition between Shadow Night and Hogwart, sending my reply back to both schools I made my way down to the Apothecary. "I'm going to shop for my school supplies Alex be back in a few hours!" Putting on my boy disguise that Alex insisted it was safer to travel alone in Knoturn Ally after living in the Ally for a year, Alex finally allow me to leave the door when I wear the disguise. Leaving for Gringotts bank the school supplies list is going to put a dent in my vault. And I need to make a new arrangement with Master Silver glove for the next few years.
When I arrive to Gringotts bank Master Silver glove is already with a client, so I went to my vault to collect few book on my school list and a fourth of the gold in my vault. Leaving Gringotts to Flourish and Bots for the few books they do have on my school list.
The shop clerk look weirdly at my purchases after I gather as many books as they have that I require along with few other. "Hogwart dear? Aren't you a first year, these book are a bit advance for your year isn't it?"
"Is the require book for my new school. How much?"
"One thousand two hundred five gallon."
I was expecting that few of the books were a rare find in a light wizard shop, doubt they knew what they have. There was a gasp from behind me as I paid for my books, putting the shrink purchase bag into my bunny book bag turn to leave the shop. A boy with red hair stood behind me looking at me with undeniable jealousy, and calculating glance. The bush hair girl try to make her way toward me arm full of books, she was there browsing the shelf before I was in the shop. Still a long list of supplies needed to be purchase I left quickly to get my robe next.
Deciding to go to Madam Malkin's for my school robes I walk into a tense atmosphere. On one side the Malfoy family heir waiting to be measure for his Hogwart school robe, on the other the Longbottom family heir and the boy who live were also waiting to be measure. The Madam Malkin's were unsure how to proceed between a well influence known Dark family, or the icon of Light family not wanting to offend either since they both demand her personal fitting.
A young assistant approach me, went to the extent to bend down to my eye level to future escape the suffocating atmosphere. "Hogwart dear? Come this way."
Why does everyone refer me to 'Dear' I don't even know them. "No I require the uniform for Shadow Night."
Madam Malkin's look like Merlin has answer her prayers, ordering her assistance to tend to Malfoy and Longbottom who still stood waiting and made her way to me. Leading me to another room, she didn't comment when I begin to remove my disguise as a boy she just begins to measure me for my school robe taking longer to necessary. "A good rescue no?"
"Thank Merlin that you came the time when you did I have no interest of a repeat of what happen earlier with the Potter and the Snap family they almost broke out in a fight. Beside I'm the only one in Britain who knows how the Shadow Night uniform looks like and is permitted to creating them."
The Potter and the Snap feud begun when mom was a student, I suppose it continue to our generation. Finally the school robe has been measure for; I realize I have out grown most of my clothes in the trunk, if I need to replace my wardrobe why not now. "I would also need a set of battle robe." With all intend to take the dueling class with the war brewing so close. "Two set of masters of potion use spell as much protection charm you offer; two formal and non formal dress robe in blue and silver; few casual robe in black, blue, silver, emerald green, blood red, and white; seven set of night clothes and undergarment; to complete with three muggle dress one formal blue made with silk, shirt and jeans regular fabric of muggle style. Other than the battle robe and potion robe please set one order for summer and one for winter season of the exact same order."
Madam Malkin's look like Christmas came early with the amount of order.
The school robe has finally been complete during the order, I was shock how much difference it is compare to the school robe of Hogwart I saw my brothers worn. The uniform is a half formal muggle style high collar suit cuffed long sleeves and a left breast pocket the trim ends above the stomach, knee high skirt over lapping the white shirt under the half suit, complete with dragon hive boots; the whole attire is black with silver trim. Looking at the boots I realize I have no interest in picking out shoes to match the clothes I order. "Can you also pick two pairs of shoes to match the formal dress robe, and muggle dress?"
"Of course, does the uniform fit well?"
"Yes please commission two more."
"That is fine dear…"
"Eugenia, please." I am no one's dear, especially when I hardly know them.
"Eugenia then, the order is quite large I'm afraid it can't be completed today."
"That is fine as long as it's completed by the end of the week."
"Then the total will be five thousand gallons for the robes and clothes I trim it to an even price. I'll pick out some shoe and you choose when you and your parent come pick them up will add to it then."
"I'll pay for the clothes and robes now." Emptying one of the endless weightless bag of gold on the counter, any extra can you put it on account?"
"Of course de… Eugenia."
Putting back on my boy disguise when we step out of the room Madam Malkin's order her free assistance to work on the new orders; the Malfoy and Longbottom heir just finish with their robe. Before I could make my way out the door I was stop when someone pulling on my knapsack, turning around I was pull by the Longbottom heir. He seems to think all should warship him.
"Let go I'm not interested in whatever you are selling, though one has to wonder why they hire you to advertise their product." Everyone in the room was shock expect by the Longbottoms who look out rage, the Malfoy family and Madam Malkin's were try to hide their amusement along with the unfortunate attendant that was attending to Longbottom heir. Apparently the boy heir didn't understand the words that form the sentence, the next thing out of his mouth infuriate me more.
"I'll allow you to accompany me to get my school books, you can even carry them."
"This is what the wizard world relies on to save them from Voldemort," everyone in the shop flinch at the word Voldemort, "how sad did British ministry fall to relying on a boy that wit give up on him due to the lack of exercise." By now the spectator grew, and the boy who live really didn't understood the insult though his parent did and she made her way over to slap me on the face. I let her for the retribution will be so sweet.
Slap.
She has this sickly sweet smile on her face. "I don't know who's son you are but you need a lesson in manners, manners that you parent neglect and I'm going to teach you."
"My my Longbottom heir sends his parent to battle for him. Alice Longbottom I challenge you to a wizarding duel to reclaim my honor."
"Accept." Slowly making her way to the center of the street, the crow parted for her. "No unforgivable."
"First blood or first to lose conscious lose."
"Agreed." Smiling brighter "can you even hold a wand properly?"
As answer I throw a cutting hex at her, she doge and retaliate with puppet curse a mile form of a unforgivable."
I still need to shop for the rest of my school supplies "noctes araneum." As the spell directed spider from the shadow emerge and begin to attack Alice Longbottom it continue its advance despite the hex and charm she threw at it. "Good to know that the light family of the boy who live isn't shy from using such dark hexes and curses. The time I spend to develop the spell, and all of Alex practice duel has finally pay off. Now completely submerge by the shadow spider it gone just as fast it came reveling a unconscious Alice Longbottom.
Leaving to get the last of my supplies the crow parted quickly and Frank Longbottom leveted his wife promptly to St. Muggles. All in a days work, getting large supplies of inks, quilts, and parchments. I made my way back to Gringotts bank.
Master Silver glove was free of clinet this time around though he look quiet wary. "Good evening Master Silver glove, may your gold run like the endless river."
"And may your vault forever fill with gold. Now all pentry aside, your former father came made an inquire if there has been withdrawn from Lucy Potters vault."
"Ahha it seem that he has paid a visit to the Duddley's, one has to wonder how he forgets a child in a magic hating muggle family for so long." Bitterness marries my voice.
"You do realize that your name was wipe out of the Potters tapestry right?"
"But of course, it was gone the day I change my name. You know that."
"He thinks your dead."
"Let him."
Sigh, "your family is fill with stubborn people. I don't know if yours are worst or the Weaslys."
"And what have the Weaslyes done now?"
"Two of their seven children repeatedly request loan of thousand gallons to start a joke shop business, they have inquire almost every master goblin in Gringotts."
"The twins? Who else is in the business with them?"
"Yes you know them?"
"We meet a few times." Draw back to the few visits they made to the Potter manor to plan mischief they were quite talented and got the Madrads a few times.
"They in the business alone with no investor, their parents are quite against it."
"Draw up a contract for me Master Silver glove I will give them two thousand gallons to invest in their business if they could pass both O.W.L and N.E.W.T on at least four subjects with Exceed Expectation. I want 20% cut of future profits."
"The other master goblin will be quite relived to hear this."
"Are you one of them?"
"…"
"How did the painting go?" Changing the subject the look on goblins face was all the answer I need filing the information for future black mail.
"Half of the regular paintings are sold slowly in the muggle world, but for quite high price. Large number of magical painting are sold in the last auction, the second auction is tonight displaying the rest of your paintings. You are making a name for yourself in the both art world. A million gallon is added to your vault. There are large number request for you to paint personal portrait."
"Why so many?"
"Most of the portrait today is painted by spells not painted by hand with control magic. Portrait painted by hand with control magic has unique property."
"Oh, I didn't know but then again I never draw human subject in magical painting."
"Its lost what the unique property are most of the text on the subject were burn in the war with the last two Dark Lords."
"Too bad then I'm not interested in changing my subject just yet."
"Why are you here today other than to ask for statement of your art auction?"
"I'll be attending Shadow Night in upcoming school year, so I doubt I'm going to be painting anything for a while. I still want the monthly statement, and notice if the Weasly twin accept the contract and when they will be starting the business as well as what they name it, I want to be a silent party."
"Are you expecting that they will meet the requirement early?"
"Of course they are jokers, born of mischief there for unpredictable. I also want to notice immediately if the ministry will try to claim my vault, or if you are no longer in charge of my account."
"Are you expecting something to happen?"
"You and I both know that another war is brewing, I'm sure you have your source, I don't trust the ministry with my painting now they will un-doubtly bend the rule to suit them in the future for their gain. If it so happen that they discover my pure blood statues before I'm of age, I need steps to prevent robbery and a fail safe. If that happens I want you to move almost everything to the second account I'm opening now under the name Eugenia Lily. I want my assets dive between the two vaults. Can't let them have every thing, but can't let them have nothing either."
"It will be done I assume you want no attachment between the two."
"Yep."
"Here is the key you know what to do."
Accepting the key setting it to me it joins the rest of my item in the stuff bunny bag.
Leaving Gringotts I head back to Knoturn Ally for the rest of my book, and get a bird for mailing. Seven years worth of core class books dented my pouches of gold's more than expected. Several books on laws, ritual, potions, and defense joined the pile. After wandering several pet shop I finally found a baby falcon just finish its training in a small run down shop at the end of Knoturn Ally. Finally able to return my bed and sleep off the exhaustion before packing.