The morning light filtered through the small window of the kitchen, casting a soft glow over the room as Aurelius and Bramble sat at the table, poring over the few treasures they still possessed. The pile of items was meager—a few old family heirlooms, some jewelry, and a small box containing what remained of the Voyantil fortune. Aurelius picked up the box, feeling its weight in his hands, and carefully opened it. Inside were 19,405 Galleons, a considerable amount but hardly enough to sustain them long-term, especially with the expenses they were about to incur. Alongside the gold coins were a few Muggle bills, remnants of a time when his parents had tried to blend into the non-magical world.
Aurelius stared at the Muggle money, his mind churning with possibilities. "Bramble," he began slowly, "why don't we just… rob a Muggle bank? We could exchange this money for Galleons. It would solve our problem, wouldn't it?"
Bramble, who had been examining a worn silver locket, looked up sharply, his usually gentle eyes filled with a rare sternness. "Master Aurelius," he said, his voice soft but firm, "that is not an option. The Muggle money regulations are very strict. Wizards do not have the same value system when it comes to Muggle currency. A single pound and ten million pounds are treated the same because Muggle money is not protected against duplication charms. Any attempt to exchange large amounts would raise suspicion, and the Ministry has strict controls. Only Hogwarts students are allowed to exchange limited amounts of Galleons for pounds, and even that is closely monitored."
Aurelius sighed, feeling foolish for not considering the complexities of the situation. Bramble was right, of course. The world of wizards and Muggles, while intertwined in some ways, was fundamentally different in others. I didn't expect it was this hard to make money in wizarding world. Guess, even magic needs money, hah. "I suppose you're right, Bramble," he admitted, setting the box of Galleons back on the table. "We'll have to be more careful with what we have."
Bramble nodded, his stern expression softening. "We'll make do, Master Aurelius. We always have."
Aurelius took out a paper which contains materials that they need to use for the ritual. There were several materials with impressive names like Phoenix Ashes. It seems quite expensive since Bramble's expression was not good when he saw the name. They will have to go using Floo Powder as the house had Floo Network, thankfully. I thought we will have to apparate or something.
Using Floo Powder, they arrived at the Diagon Alley. Diagon Alley was alive with the usual hustle and bustle of witches and wizards going about their daily business. The narrow, winding cobblestone streets were lined with shops, each one offering a dizzying array of magical items and artifacts. The air was thick with the scent of freshly baked pastries from the nearby bakery and the chatter of people bartering over rare ingredients.
Aurelius and Bramble walked side by side, their heads close together as they discussed their plans. Despite the cold nip in the air, the excitement of their mission kept them warm.
"So, where do we start?" Bramble asked, glancing at Aurelius. They already had a list for required materials.
"First, we need to find a few specific items that are crucial for the ritual," Aurelius replied, his voice tinged with both excitement and urgency. "I've made a list of the shops that you had informed me which will likely sell what we need."
"Phoenix Ashes?" Aurelius read aloud, intrigued by the name. He recalled some vague poem that appeared in his head.
"Beware the Ash, spun by hands so sly,
A fool's bargain cloaked in a sly guise.
A golden coin exchanged for a worthless lie,
The price of trust, a fortune's goodbye."
"Master Aurelius..." Bramble looked confused. "Is that a prophecy?"
"W... what?" Aurelius was even more confused. "Was that supposed to be a prophecy? It is a poem that appears in my head since yesterday morning." So, I am gifted in this field. Do I still need to do the ritual? That's so cool.
"Ahmm... Master Aurelius, let's resume the shopping since we have a long list of items to buy. It appears that we will have to change the shop to buy Phoenix Ashes." Bramble had already recovered his composure. After all, he was familiar with sudden poems by Voyantil. Aurelius decided to put the prophecy aside for now.
"A rare ingredient, incredibly powerful in rituals involving fate and transformation," Aurelius explained. "It's not easy to come by, but the shop that you mentioned was one of the shops which might have those ashes. However, we will have to change the shop. "
They made their way to the apothecary, a small, unassuming shop with darkened windows and a faded sign above the door that read Grimbones: Purveyors of Potent Potions and Rare Ingredients. The inside of the shop was dimly lit, with shelves lined with jars and vials of various sizes, each one containing something more bizarre than the last.
A hunched, elderly witch with a hawk-like nose and sharp eyes was behind the counter, sorting through a collection of dried herbs.
"Welcome, welcome," she croaked, eyeing Aurelius and Bramble as they entered. "What can I do for you today?"
"We're looking for Phoenix Ashes," Aurelius said, stepping forward.
The witch's eyes narrowed. "Phoenix Ashes, eh? That's not something I keep on the shelves, you know. Very rare, very difficult to acquire."
"We're willing to pay well for it," Aurelius added quickly, sensing that they might need to sweeten the deal.
The witch seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding. "Wait here."
She shuffled off to the back of the shop, leaving Aurelius and Bramble to glance around the dimly lit space. The shop was filled with a peculiar mix of smells—some pleasant, others decidedly less so.
Aurelius couldn't help but pick up a jar labeled ThestralCarpal Bones and examine it curiously.
"Master Aurelius, you might want to be careful. That jar cost around three thousand galleons." Bramble whispered urgently.
Aurelius quickly put the jar back, making a mental note to be more careful. After a few tense moments, the witch returned, holding a small, intricately carved wooden box.
"This," she said, placing the box on the counter, "is what you're looking for. Phoenix Ashes, pure and unadulterated. But it won't come cheap. Five thousand galleons."
Aurelius opened the box carefully, revealing a small pile of shimmering, golden ashes. The amount was around a fist of a baby. He could feel the power radiating from them even without touching them.
"We'll take it," Bramble said before Aurelius could say anything.
Aurelius recited the prophecy inwardly. Maybe we are interpreting the prophecy wrong? Are we being cheated? Why is there no name or indication of the shop that supposedly cheated us in the prophecy?
After exiting the apothecary, Aurelius asked Bramble quietly. "Bramble, is that really, okay? I mean the prophecy mentioned us losing money more than necessary. Shouldn't we bargain for a bit before buying Phoenix Ashes?"
Bramble had the answer already for this question. "Master Aurelius, supposed that we know we were in danger for walking on the street. And we take a detour, can you be sure that we will not be danger. What if the danger appeared because we take a detour and not the usual route? We change the shop since the prophecy said so. This apothecary has a solid reputation so even if the prophecy is fulfilled, the amount will not be much."
"Ohh, that's true. Guess prophecies are not omniscience." Aurelius said as he thought about the self-fulfilled prophecy of the fall of Dark Lord. He realized that he needs more accurate prophetic ability for him to have any advantage over others. His desire for the completion of the ritual became stronger. "Then, let's proceed."
Next, they visited Mystic Threads, a shop that specialized in magical fabrics and enchanted materials. They needed Moonveil Silk, a rare fabric spun from the webs of moon-spiders, essential for wrapping the sacrificial books during the ritual.
The shop was run by a tall, thin wizard with a mane of silver hair that looked almost like it was floating around his head. His eyes sparkled with an almost unsettling enthusiasm as they entered.
"Ah, Moonveil Silk, you say?" the wizard mused when Aurelius explained what they were after. "A delicate material, quite expensive, but worth every Galleon."
He led them to a back room where rolls of various fabrics were stored, each one more beautiful than the last. Finally, he unrolled a bolt of silk that shimmered with an ethereal light, as if it was woven from the very essence of moonlight itself.
"This is Moonveil Silk," the shopkeeper said reverently. "Strong as dragon hide, yet as light as a feather. Perfect for any magical books requiring protection and sanctity."
Aurelius ran his fingers over the fabric, marveling at its texture. It was cool to the touch and seemed to glow faintly in the dim light of the shop.
"We'll need several yards of it," Aurelius said, handing over a pouch of coins.
As they left Mystic Threads, Aurelius couldn't help but feel a growing sense of excitement. With each item they acquired, the reality of the ritual drew closer.
Their final stop was at Magpie's Curiosities, a shop known for selling rare and unusual magical artifacts. The shop was a cluttered maze of strange and wonderful objects, from cursed mirrors to enchanted quills that wrote by themselves.
"We need a Blood Quill," Aurelius said to the shopkeeper, a portly wizard with a monocle perched precariously on his nose.
"A Blood Quill, you say? That's an unusual request. Not many people know how to use them properly," the shopkeeper replied, his monocle glinting in the light.
"We have our reasons," Aurelius said cryptically.
The shopkeeper rummaged through a dusty cabinet and pulled out a quill that looked a bit creepy and dark.
"This is a genuine Blood Quill," the shopkeeper said, handing it to Aurelius. "It has been charmed to draw blood from the wielder and heal and comfort the wound."
Aurelius took the quill, feeling the magic humming uncomfortably within it. "This is perfect."
After a few more minor purchases, Aurelius and Bramble returned to their temporary home, a modest but comfortable house in the middle of nowhere.
Back at the house, Aurelius wasted no time. He cleared a space in the small, cozy study and set out his materials. The Blood Quill, the Moonveil Silk, and a stack of parchment were laid out neatly on the desk. Bramble watched in silence as Aurelius took a deep breath and began to write.
The process was slow, painful and meticulous. Aurelius wrote page after page, recording everything he could remember about the world he had once known. The names of key figures, significant events, and the timeline of the muggle world and wizarding world alike. His hand moved swiftly but carefully, guided by the Blood Quill, which seemed to almost write on its own, capturing not just the words but the very essence of the memories he poured onto the parchment. As he writes and writes, his face became paler and paler. After two hours of nonstop writing, he had to drink Blood-Replenishing potion. Bramble stayed away to not disturbed hard working Aurelius and accidentally looking at the pages.
Days turned into weeks as Aurelius continued his task, rarely leaving the study except to eat or sleep. The pages filled with information that only he, as someone who once lived in another world, could provide. He wrote of Harry Potter, of Voldemort's rise and fall, of the trials and tribulations of the wizarding world, and even the major events in the muggle world that had shaped the future.
By the end of April, Aurelius had filled several thick volumes. The books were dense with knowledge, each one a testament to the memories and future he was sacrificing for the ritual. Bramble was astonished when he saw the completed books, each one carefully wrapped in the Moonveil Silk. He will forget about this information once he had done the ritual. He didn't know what will happen next, but he very much hoped that everything will be ok.
"I've never seen anything like this, Master Aurelius," Bramble said, his voice filled with awe and worry. "Most seers struggle to even fill a single book with their visions. But you… you've written an entire library's worth of knowledge. Are the really your visions? Master knows that you cannot joke around about this, right?"
Aurelius, exhausted but determined, looked at the pile of books on his desk. "It's not just visions, Bramble. You need to trust me. They are all genuine."
Bramble nodded solemnly hiding his worries. "I believe the ritual will be successful. With this much knowledge, this much sacrifice… the fate will have no choice but to respond. If this is true, the ritual will be completed without a hitch, and you will become someone so unique that there will be no one like you in the whole world."