Will spent the entire first week after his miraculous rescue studying the code of laws of the brave new world, with breaks only for sleep and food. He felt an incredible surge of energy
At first, it seemed to Gardner that he was reading a science fiction novel. Is this possible in reality? Unforgivable spells, influence on consciousness, extermination of magical creatures, excess of strength... Will's phone had long since run out of battery, they were looking for him, but he continued to read, forgetting about everything in the world.
Much in common with ordinary crimes, only in a different wrapper. And the trial is more interesting. As the book progressed, the lawyer had more and more questions. But the mysterious Eric didn't appear. Beginning to think that everything that happened was a dream, Will read the news. No, there really was a shooting in the courtroom and Will Gardner, according to witnesses, was really wounded.
Another day later, when Will was making himself breakfast in the morning, he heard Eric's cheerful voice behind him
"Hello, Will! You've been sleeping for a long time."
Will turned around in fear
"How did you get here?"
"That's a philosophical question." Eric sat down on a chair.
"I have many other questions for you, Eric, besides philosophical ones."
"Before you interrogate me, as all lawyers like to do, I'll tell you the news."
"Hopefully interesting" Will poured milk into a glass and motioned to Eric.
"Very, very" Eric nodded, taking the glass, then took a sip with pleasure as if he was drinking expensive cognac "Do you know who shot you?"
"My client"
"Do you really think that this idiot wounded you? And especially it wasn't a random bullet from a security guard. You were shot on purpose. Can you guess who did it?"
"Don't speak in riddles"
"You were an unnecessary witness to some very bad things: bribery of judges, fraud. The man you trusted sided with evil. Terrible evil."
"Is Peter Florrick the terrible evil?" Will laughed. "Just a corrupt politician. The most he can do is put me in jail."
"Nobody's going to put you in jail. I've already solved that problem. But he's got a grudge. You know, like a predator that's been driven away but not exterminated."
"This is nonsense. Who could predict that there would be shooting during a court hearing?"
"You were being followed, Will. Then they just took advantage of the opportunity. If there hadn't been shooting, there would have been another solution."
"Wait. The person I trusted, Alicia?"
"Yes, she is. She is no longer the nice girl from Georgetown University or even the confused mother of two who came to work for you after a long break in her career."
"You know, Eric, I've lost faith in people. I can see from your look that this isn't the most important thing you want to tell me."
"You're right, Will, there's more. Did your father ever tell you anything about the fighters?"
"Never."
"It would be better if he told you himself..."
"What exactly? Eric, I'm losing my patience."
"Okay. Sit back. The story will be long." Eric turned on Will's TV. "It all started in the Middle Ages." The story was accompanied by a video sequence. "In Europe, many witches and wizards were burned at the stake. The rest went deep underground. They hided everything: their lifestyle, educational institutions, occupation."
"So, they, in everyday life, are no different from ordinary people?" Will nodded.
"Absolutely, right. It's better not to repeat mistakes. Let's continue. People are divided into three categories: who have no power, born from ordinary people, but have power; born in mixed families and have power."
"Does it happen, Eric, that both parents with abilities have a child without abilities?"
"No, Will, never." Everton shook his head. "Now we come to the most interesting part. Our community itself is divided into light and dark. Some use their power for harm, others for good. Periodically, serious clashes occur between the two warring camps. Sometimes, these clashes escalate into wars. There have already been two magical wars. A third is coming."
"That doesn't sound very optimistic. Why did you come to me?" Will looked at Eric with distrust. Eric answered very seriously, "You were born during the First Magic War. The dark ones did terrible things. They dealt with entire families of light wizards. Your father was a participant in this war on the side of the light forces, and he was very afraid that they would get to his family. He was frightened by the history of the Potter family, where only a small son survived. That's why he moved you across the country. And forbade the slightest mention of the past in his house. That's why your father decided to raise you as an ordinary person, to give you a normal life, in his opinion. It's amazing that you didn't become an Obscurus, but simply lived without suspecting anything. Amazing."
"Maybe because I'm into basketball. My energy just found an outlet in sports."
"No sport can absorb that kind of energy. Let's check it out now. Let's go outside."
"Why?" Will asked, confused.
"You'll see."
The friends left the entrance, then stood between two buildings so that they wouldn't be noticed by passersby on a very busy street. Will looked at Eric, confused, as he pulled out the same wooden varnished stick from the inside pocket of his bomber jacket with the letter I.
"Nice jacket, Eric. What university?"
"That's my school jacket. I was the star of the Quidditch team."
"What's Quidditch?"
"You'll see," Everton replied vaguely. "Right now, we're going to test what you can do and whether you can do it at all. Here's the wand."
Confused, Will took the wand, turned it over in his hands, sniffed it, and even put it in his mouth for some reason.
"Stop and concentrate," Eric slapped Will's hands.
"What would be safer..." Eric said thoughtfully. "Idea! Let's try to make something smaller. See that cat on the fire escape. Make it smaller." Eric made a V-shaped motion with his finger. "Do it like this, then say Reducio out loud."
The lawyer turned the wand over in his hands incredulously, took a deep breath, exhaled, and quickly made the letter V in the air, shouting "Reducio!" A beam of purple light burst out of the wand and flew at the cat, which immediately has become very small. "Oh... wow! Wow! Did you see that?" Will jumped with joy. "Small! It's so easy."
"Of course, it's simple." Eric patted Will on the shoulder. "Our children learn this spell in school. It's not the main thing. You are one of us. Even though you are very adult, having grown up in an ordinary environment, but you have a power that you must use for the good."
"And they will give me the same thing." Will nodded at the wand.
"You will definitely have one, Will, but your main weapon is a sharp mind. Many of us can wave a wand. Only a few can use their brains to save. It is very difficult to combine both, and many doors open for those who can. Businessmen, politicians, athletes, movie stars... there are many of us among them. Doors will open for lawyer William Gardner, where before he would not have been allowed even on the threshold."
"You should work in advertising, Eric." Will's eyes gleamed with the realization of the possibilities that had opened up before him. "Oh. How do I get the cat back to its normal size now?"
"Tell Engorio, then draw a broken circle with your wand. Just don't forget to point the wand at the cat, otherwise you'll make that rat over there the size of an elephant."
A turquoise beam struck the cat, which, having returned to its natural size, quickly ran away.
"How cool" Will couldn't hide his delight.
"Let's go have a beer, friend" Eric smiled slyly "This needs to be celebrated"
There were almost no people in the pub nearby due to the work day.
After the first mug of beer, Eric for some reason pulled a small flask of whiskey out of his pocket and, looking around, quickly poured some into the beer, saying a short word "Cocktail"
An hour later, already thoroughly drunk, Will asked "How do you know about my father?"
"It's very simple. He studied with mine at the same school. They were very close friends until your father dropped everything and went to live among ordinary people. It would be best if you ask him yourself."
Leaving the pub, Will said goodbye and caught a taxi to the airport. He wanted to think about Alicia, to see her, to tell her everything. But he stubbornly shook his head and returned to reality. The chorus of his favorite song began to play in his headphones
Never again is what you swore
The time before
Never again is what you swore
The time before
The father immediately understood why his son had come without warning, saying only "They found you after all."