“That’s certainly… an unusual way of looking at things.” Tina raised an eyebrow.
She seemed rather fond of the handsome young Rowle already.
“Do you have any idea how wealthy the Potter family is?” “No.” David reopened his book.
“And I don’t need to.” He lowered his gaze to the page.
“All I know is that he grew up without his parents.” “Galleons can fix almost anything.” Tina apparently refused to let the subject go.
She pressed one hand over David’s book, the gemstones on her rings glittering beneath the pub lights.
“If he doesn’t have parents, he can still have friends.” She nodded towards the crowd around Harry.
“Why don’t you try talking to him?
Perhaps you could become friends.” “No.” David looked up.
“Money isn’t everything.” Tina stared at him.
David continued with complete seriousness.
“And I never choose friends based on how much money they have.” He paused.
“Because however rich they are, they’re probably not richer than the Rowle family.” Tina blinked.
Yule slowly turned his head.
David’s confidence didn’t come solely from the castle and enormous estate in Norfolk.
James had taken him to Gringotts.
He had seen the family vault.
And after that visit, David had finally realised something.
John and Yule had been deceived.
Completely.
A family fortune accumulated over centuries did not simply vanish because James claimed they were “nearly destitute.” Those two idiots had actually believed him.
The foolish sons of a wealthy landlord.
“Yule.” Tina’s voice suddenly became dangerously calm.
“I think you owe me an explanation.” Yule stiffened.
She turned towards him.
“Didn’t you tell me you despised wealth?” Her eyes narrowed.
“That you valued freedom, wandering the world, and living without material attachments?” “Well…” Yule shot David a murderous look.
“Tina, listen.
I can explain.” He quickly adopted his most sincere expression.
“I genuinely don’t care about money.” He placed a hand over his chest.
“I’ve never been interested in wealth.
Truly.” “He’s telling the truth.” David nodded helpfully.
Yule relaxed.
For half a second.
“Grandfather didn’t give him a single family property.” David continued.
“So Uncle Yule really might end up wandering the streets.” Yule’s smile died.
Tina stared at him.
Then shoved him away.
“Scumbag!” She stood.
“Liar!” Then she turned her glare on David.
“And you’re a little scumbag too!” David’s eyes widened.
“Hmph!” Tina stormed straight out of the Leaky Cauldron.
David slowly spread his hands.
He looked at Yule.
“What did I do?” “You just destroyed my love life, David.” Yule glared at his nephew.
By now, the pub had mostly returned to normal.
Harry Potter and Hagrid had already disappeared through the back.
David closed his book.
“Can we finally buy my school things now?” Yule sighed.
“Yes.” He drained what remained of his brandy.
“Let’s go.
Apparently I owe you.” “It’s about time.” David slipped the book back into his bag.
“My time is valuable.” They left the pub and headed into Diagon Alley.
After a few steps, David casually asked, “So which family is Tina from?” “She isn’t from one of the old families.” Yule glanced at him.
“But she’s rich.” “Ever heard of Celestina Warbeck?” David shook his head.
“Tina’s her granddaughter.” Still no reaction.
Yule sighed.
“She’s one of the most famous singers in the British wizarding world.” He began counting off titles on his fingers.
“A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love.” “You Charmed the Heart Right Out of Me.” David stared at him.
“…And?” Yule nearly stumbled.
David shrugged.
“You’re not poor either.” “So why pretend you are?” “Just date her normally.” Yule scoffed.
“What would you know?” He lifted his chin with the dignity of a man about to impart ancient wisdom.
“The highest level of seduction is spending absolutely nothing…” He raised one finger.
“…while receiving all of a woman’s love.” “Understand, Young Master?” David nodded solemnly.
“I understand.” Yule looked pleased.
“You’re a scumbag.” David’s expression remained perfectly serious.
Yule’s face darkened.
School shopping began in earnest.
At Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions, David bought three sets of plain black school robes, two plain black pointed hats for daytime wear, a pair of protective dragon-hide gloves, and a black winter cloak with silver fastenings.
Yule informed Madam Malkin that David was transferring into Hogwarts, so every item was fitted with a name tag.
Next came Flourish and Blotts.
David needed a complete new set of English textbooks.
The Standard Book of Spells.
A History of Magic.
Magical Theory.
A Beginner’s Guide to Transfiguration.
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.
Magical Drafts and Potions.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection.
He already owned equivalent textbooks from his previous schools.
Unfortunately, those weren’t written in English.
So an entirely new set was unavoidable.
At least he didn’t need another wand.
Nor did he need a cauldron, glass phials, telescope, brass scales, or the other standard equipment.
The family already had plenty of those.
Yule studied the Hogwarts list as they walked.
“It says you can bring a pet.” He glanced at David.
“What do you want?” David answered immediately.
“Can I have Fluffy?” Yule stopped walking.
“Er…” “No.” He thrust the equipment list towards David.
“You may bring one owl, one cat, or one toad.” David tilted his head.
“Then what exactly is Fluffy?” Yule’s expression froze.
David watched him.
He had absolutely no intention of letting the matter go.
His uncle and Charles shared a rather unhealthy hobby.
They both loved collecting dangerous magical creatures.
Which meant anything Yule had secretly sold to Hagrid was almost certainly interesting.
Yule stared at him through gritted teeth.
David stared back.
Neither moved.
Finally, Yule’s shoulders sagged.
“A three-headed dog.” David’s eyebrows rose.
Yule lowered his voice.
“John and I brought it back from Africa.” His irritation vanished almost instantly, replaced by delight as he remembered the deal.
“That great idiot Hagrid traded me an enormous sack of unicorn tail hair for it.” Yule stretched his arms as wide as possible.
“A huge sack.” He grinned.
“Enough to pay for twenty years of brandy.” David stared at him.
Then slowly asked, “Didn’t you tell Grandfather that you’d quit?” Yule raised an eyebrow.
“I did quit.” He looked offended.
“But everyone needs a little side business.” David nodded thoughtfully.
“You make an excellent point.” Yule smiled.
“Then I want one too.” Yule’s smile disappeared.
David looked him directly in the eye.
“I want a three-headed dog.” “I want a Fluffy.” “Of course!” Yule threw up his hands.
“Absolutely!” “You want a three-headed dog?” “Why stop there?” He grinned mockingly.
“You can have a three-headed dragon for all I care, Young Master.” David narrowed his eyes.
Yule continued, “You just have to wait until you’re an adult.” “And become Minister for Magic.” “Then you can legalise keeping monsters like that as pets.” Yule burst out laughing.
“Hahahaha!” David glared at him.
“Just you wait, Yule.” After that, he refused Yule’s offers to buy him an owl or cat.
David could barely be bothered to look after himself.
Why would he voluntarily acquire something else that needed feeding?
They continued through Diagon Alley.
When they passed Quality Quidditch Supplies, a group of boys were crowded around the shop window.
One pointed excitedly at the broomstick on display.
“That’s the new Nimbus 2000!” “It can reach—” David stopped.
“Is it expensive?” One of the boys turned around.
The question was so absurd that he looked personally offended.
“Of course it is!” He jabbed a finger towards the broom.
“Five hundred Galleons!” “Five hundred!” “It’s a professional racing broom!” David nodded.
“Right.” “Five hundred Galleons.” He slowly turned towards Yule.
A pleasant smile appeared on his face.
“Uncle.” Yule immediately became suspicious.
“I think I like Quidditch.” The children around the shop went silent.
Every one of them recognised the tactic.
They had all tried something similar on their own parents.
Who didn’t want a Nimbus 2000?
Yule stared at David.
“Oh, stop it.” “You don’t like Quidditch.
What you like is gir—” He stopped.
David was smiling.
Not pleasantly.
Yule’s eyes narrowed.
“Are you serious?” “Maybe.” David nodded towards the window.
“Perhaps I’ll discover a passion for it.” He pointed towards the price tag.
“You never know.” Yule stared at him.
David remained exactly where he was.
Yule finally marched over.
He looked at the broom.
Then at David.
“If I buy you a Nimbus 2000…” His voice dropped.
“…will you forget everything you heard about Fluffy?” David considered the proposal.
“Maybe.” Yule’s eye twitched.
David gave him his most innocent smile.
“I’m still a child.” “Children forget things.” His expression clearly said something else entirely.
Buy it, and perhaps I forget.
Don’t buy it, and Grandfather hears everything.
Yule closed his eyes.
A few moments later— “Thank you, Uncle!” The doors of Quality Quidditch Supplies opened.
David stepped outside carrying a brand-new Nimbus 2000.
“WHOA!” The boys gathered outside stared at him in open envy.
David smiled.
Yule followed behind him looking as though someone had stabbed him through the heart.
He stared mournfully at the broom.
Then at his considerably lighter purse.
“Five years…” David glanced back.
Yule looked close to tears.
“That was five years’ worth of brandy.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS SYSTEMATIC_MANIAC Enjoying the novel?
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