"Avada Kedavra. - Good, unforgivable, and most importantly, it doesn't require much magical power. But it replenishes my safe with Galleons. The Forbidden Forest is magnificent, it's where many creatures run around that Malpepper pays well for. Through it, I managed to sell goods abroad. I decided not to get involved with the other dealers. After all, my apothecary is bound to me by a magical contract, and even though his face sometimes turns blue with rage, he won't betray me.
"Imperio" was a more difficult spell to cast, but the spider under my control, the largest of the five that had jumped out onto the clearing, rushed to destroy its comrades. While it distracted them, I sent a few more green flashes. I was in an excellent mood. And yet my life had started out so gloomy. But now, dawn was breaking. I found out that I had entered a lucky streak completely by accident. I went to the bank under a disguise and tried to replenish my safe. Not a personal one, but one that responded to a code phrase. But disguises are no obstacle for employees with their many protective and identification devices. And when I was asked to step into a separate office, I got a little nervous.
"Mr. O'Henley," said another representative of the goblin people sitting in front of me, "we have a specific agreement with the Ministry, and that is the reason for our meeting. Minister Fudge, for outstanding services to the magical world, has awarded you the equivalent of 1,000 Galleons. Assuming that you would not respond to official search warrants, it was decided to transfer this amount to you through our bank the first time you appeared here." My face grew longer and longer in surprise. I had expected a reward in the form of old acquaintances from Azkaban and a hot kiss. Purebloods don't forgive such things, but here it was.
"Um.
"Don't interrupt, a certain person, who did not wish to give their name, wished to transfer the sum of 500 Galleons to your account for 'light in the darkness'." I don't know why, but I remembered Alecto. And I didn't talk to anyone except prisoners and some suppliers.
"So I have one and a half thousand galleons." The goblin pursed his lips again in dissatisfaction, revealing the tips of his teeth.
"Your account, Mr. O'Henley, shows one thousand five hundred and twenty-three galleons and three sickles." I almost spat in his face, not remembering how much money I had.
Since then, I have been considered not the most worthless customer of the green-faced dwarfs. And not so long ago, another bright event happened in my life. I met Fletcher. You might think, what's so great about that? Seeing the ugly face of a thief and a card shark? It's simple. Thanks to Imperius, I became the owner of some wonderful things from the old house on Grimm Street. I didn't disdain anything, even took his spoons and forks, and then transferred them to my own safe. I was particularly delighted by the books on dark magic that had been thrown away by the children led by Molly Weasley. I reread the old books with trepidation and tenderness, and some copies remained untouched thanks to protection and various curses. But what could be learned from them was priceless. Not only spells and incantations, methods of training magical channels, but also real stories of the Black ancestors, where the realities of life were described without any restrictions. With laws, rituals, spells and intrigues. Several months flew by in an instant. I continued to increase my wealth by reselling various creatures from the forest and entered into a similar agreement with the goblins, thanks to which I received small discounts on some services. And I studied. Not systematically, devouring entire historical eras, but meticulously selecting what could be useful to me. I memorised laws and tried to learn more about different magical clans and their gifts. All this time, I wanted to find my way in life, to stop existing and start living. The state of being a "victim-hunter" had already become a habit.
"This old elf has completely lost his mind..." my "guest" mused, sitting on a chair.
I had to build my home underground with my own hands using magic. It was risky to live anywhere else, and even though I had a couple of places to apparate to, this place could rightly be called my home. But now Fletcher is sitting on a chair in the middle of a large room, with a table next to him, and I am sitting opposite the thief, listening intently. He couldn't tell me much, as Dumbledore had made his people take certain oaths, but even such small details as the grumbling of the house elf and the general condition of the house could tell a clever person a lot. The house on Grimmauld Place was dying, Sirius hadn't renewed the defences, and he hadn't accepted leadership of the family. Everything was going according to plan. What I liked most was that last time my new "friend" had brought a remarkable medallion along with various other items. Now it lies in my safe, waiting for the next ritual I want to perform. Crazy times call for crazy measures. Half listening to the mage's tall tales, I decided on a few things myself.
1. Should I let the thief live? He had to play his part and tell the chosen one about the location of the crucible. I already had specific plans for it. Besides, his knowledge posed a serious threat. After arguing with my conscience, I decided to bind him with oaths and erase his memory of me as a farewell gift. It would be a great expenditure of magical power, but it was acceptable for now.
2. The epic battle at the Ministry had already taken place. Was there an opportunity to gain an advantage during the fighting? To take something valuable? But without knowing where the artefacts were, how to get in and out quickly, my assumptions were nothing more than the vivid fantasies of an idiot. The decision not to interfere was the only correct one. This time, Sirius survived. Maybe he'll live a little longer without his cousin. I made a note to send an anonymous letter and indicate the location of the Hufflepuff Cup. If Black wasn't a complete idiot, Potter wouldn't have to epically overcome and rob Gringotts. Sirius, having accepted the title of Head of the Black Family, could quite legally clean out Bellatrix's personal safe.
3. Should I intervene in the events during the attack on Hogwarts? Malfoy is supposed to kill Dumbledore, but the two-master chain dog will do it for him. Some students may get hurt. But which of the Death Eaters will make it into the castle this time? I think you'd have to look hard to find anyone crazier than the ones I've killed. That's why I'm not getting involved.
4. Nagini, aka the Dark Lord's hard-to-kill Horcrux. Rumour has it, even I've heard, that this leech has sworn to avenge the murder of his loyal Death Eaters. So, hiding out might not work if they find me first, they'll send me to the other world. And the chances of victory aren't that great. It's the butterfly effect. I didn't crush her, I just thinned out the forest on a mammoth. Will Neville kill this plague or not? I don't want to let things take their course. While Fletcher sings like a nightingale, I sit down and dictate a letter to my self-writing pen, addressed to a half-goblin who is quite reasonable and understands his own interests. The weapons of these evil little men are among the best, and they never miss an opportunity to get a good war trophy.
Towards evening, after much effort and partially erasing the thief's memories, I transport him to the outskirts of London. I have never cast so many weak and accurate Obliviates. Yawning sweetly, I double-checked the protective spells and went to bed. It had been a good day. A productive one.
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