Chapter 36: The charlatan's signing session
// THIS IS AN OLD CHAPTER. THE NEW CHAPTERS ARE IN VOLUME 2. YOU CAN READ THESE CHAPTERS IF YOU WANT SOME INSIGHT ON WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN LATER BUT SOME EVENTS CAN BE DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW CHAPTERS.
Today I am accompanying Susan to buy her second-year supplies. She absolutely wanted to come today to get the dedication of a certain charlatan. It wasn't even the signing time yet that a line was already forming in front of Flourish and Blotts, Hermione must have got up quite early because she was very well placed in the line, her parents were waiting for her a little further.
While Susan was waiting her turn in the line, I took the opportunity to go say hello to them.
"Hello, you must be Hermione's parents?"
"Oh yes, hello. Are you a friend of our daughter?"
"Yes, although I'm pretty sure she considers me as much as a rival. Sean Bones at your service."
"Ah yes, Hermione told us about you. Wendell Granger" he said, holding out a hand that I hurriedly take. "And here is my wife Monica"
"Nice to meet you madam."
"I have a few questions if you will allow me, this is all still new for us."
"Go ahead I'm listening" I tell them trying to have a reassuring smile.
"Is it true that you are a shapeshifter? And what does that mean exactly?"
"Ha, a Metamorphmagus, that means I can take on any look I want, I can look younger or get really old, I can still change my hair color or give myself a duckbill. I can also take the shape of any animal. "
"And it's not dangerous, what if you get stuck in the shape of an animal?"
"From memory I don't think it ever happened, and I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've done a complete transformation."
I walk home with the Grangers when the store opens, leaving them alone to browse through several books while Hermione still waits for her dedication.
Our business has started to take off, the investments we made last year have generated a lot of profit, and the production line for my magiphones should be finished by next week.
The samples I handed out at the Potter party made a big impression, and I'm literally drowning in requests. For the moment I assemble them by hand in order to supply the ministry and the noble families but that limits the production to ten units per day.
Still, by selling them for 5 Galleons each, and deducting the production costs, I managed to set 720 Galleons aside. With a little luck I will find several interesting books in the limited choice authorized by the ministry.
I continue to leaf through the books while waiting for Lucius Malfoy to appear. I have a large flask of basilisk venom with me and I don't intend to let Ginny enter a room that is rightfully mine.
I finally see the Weasleys walking into the bookstore followed by the Potters. Ron, Harry and Ginny enter the shop and just as they were about to exit the shop, Lucius Malfoy and his son enter the shop.
I watch the confrontation and when I see Mr. Weasley about to push Lucius Malfoy against a shelf, 'luck' has it that I pass between the two men at that exact moment. Before being thrown back, I took the opportunity to throw my flask of basilisk venom into Ginny's cauldron, dissolving all the books as well as Voldy's diary.
A loud cry escapes from the cauldron accompanied by a flash. Everyone in the shop watches the scene in disbelief.
I hardly get up; I think that moron broke my arm. I also hear Lucius getting up behind me without too much damage. I put my arm on the ground to take support and get up, and I voluntarily let out a cry before letting myself fall back to the ground.
Several adults rush to help me while Arthur is livid next to me. Finally, on my own two legs, it's time to put some extra pressure on good old Arthur.
"Mr. Weasley you better have a good explanation for this assault. You just went after the Lord of one noble house as well as the heir of another!"
"I… I'm sorry, are you hurt somewhere boy?" Arthur is in a panic, photographers who were there to immortalize Lockhart did not miss a thing. If I don't make the front page because of the book signing, I'm at least sure I'm going to make the second page.
"I think my arm is broken, Lord Malfoy maybe you could explain to me what is going on while your friend finds his tongue?"
"A difference of opinion between me and Lord Weasley here has caused him to lose his temper." Lucius knows me and also knows who my aunt is unlike the Weasley family to whom I have never introduced myself formally.
"Oh, and do you want to make an official complaint? My aunt might be interested in this story if this is the case. "
"Your aunt?" Arthur doesn't understand what's going on.
"I don't think it's necessary to involve the director of the justice department in such a minor story. Send my regards to your aunt."
"Director of the Department of Justice !!" Arthur is sweating profusely and even Molly Weasley who had just joined him with their children looked crestfallen.
"In that case, if everyone is good friends, I don't see a reason to escalate things." I show that my arm is broken. "Does anyone know a spell to re-weld bones?"
"Oh, my poor boy, come over here, I'll get you back on your feet in a moment." Lily Potter, who had stayed behind with her husband and Harry hastened to take out her wand. "And here it is like new" I move my arm a bit and the pain in it is gone.
"Thank you, Lady Potter. Lord Weasley, please know that the vial you made me dropped contained pure basilisk venom, I don't think I need to explain to a ministry employee how dangerous that could have been if the liquid had fallen on someone rather than in your daughter's cauldron, or how expensive the substance is. " I glance at Ginny's cauldron. "However, it is also my fault for transporting it carelessly. Allow me to replace the damaged books and I will even add an extra book in compensation."
"That's very kind of you, Ginny come to thank your little friend." Before Arthur could even protest, Molly had accepted my offer. She knew the state of the family's finances and must have known that they would never be able to afford to pay back the destroyed books a second time.
"Thank you ..." Ho no, not yet another little girl blushing, please.
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