Early the next morning, Jessica impatiently contacts the Ministry of Magic again, demanding that they now, immediately, and at once implement all compensation items.
Especially the economic compensation and compensation in kind.
Minister’s secretary, Poli, and accompanying financial official, Thompson, arrive at the hospital room carrying briefcases full of documents.
“Madam Jessica, on behalf of Mr.
Fudge and all colleagues at the Ministry of Magic, I once again express our sincere apologies for the injustice and wrongful treatment you and your child suffered.” Poli and Thompson bow to the mother and son.
Jessica does not like the Ministry of Magic, but she will not flare up at them in anger either.
After eleven years of lightless days in Azkaban, this mother’s originally fiery temper has long been worn smooth.
She nods calmly, indicating that she accepts their apology: “Miss Poli, I also thank the Ministry of Magic for correcting the wrongful case for my son and me.”
Seeing that the other party’s attitude is relatively gentle, Miss Poli secretly lets out a breath of relief.
She hurriedly opens the briefcase full of documents and hands over the relevant materials.
“You have already seen the compensation plan.
This is a more detailed version.
If there is anything you are not satisfied with, please be sure to tell us.” Poli says sincerely.
“In principle, we agree, but when can they be implemented?” Jessica carefully finishes reading and looks at the nervous Miss Poli.
“The Travers Family’s sealed estate and land are still there.
We will handle the return procedures as quickly as possible.”
“But…
because the Travers Family’s industries have had no one managing them all along, they have already scattered everywhere.
Please forgive us on this point.” Poli smiles bitterly.
Those industries were long ago divided up completely.
Those who acted included both the Ministry of Magic and the Travers Family’s former allies, the pure-blood families.
“Sister Poli, what we care about most is the economic compensation and the London property provided by the Ministry of Magic.” Rayleigh walks over, offers a sweet form of address, and uses a smile to dissolve the other party’s tension.
“Please both of you sit down first.
After all, every item in the agreement is very complicated, and we still need to trouble Big Sis to explain it to us in detail.”
Poli hurriedly nods, immediately understanding Rayleigh and Jessica’s core demands.
She instantly relaxes quite a bit inside, especially because of Rayleigh’s form of address, which makes her fond of the child in front of her.
“Considering Rayleigh’s special circumstances, the Ministry of Magic has applied a fivefold compensation.” Poli signals the official behind her to bring the corresponding document and smilingly hands it over.
“But legal restrictions mean most of the compensation is transferred under Madam Jessica’s name.”
“We know deeply that Galleons cannot make up for the harm the Ministry of Magic and Azkaban caused to the two of you.
We only hope to express a little of our apology.”
Poli’s wording is just right, and she also makes a small request: “Madam Jessica, could you let us pay in installments?
For example, within ten months, 40,000 Galleons will be remitted each month.”
“Rest assured, the Ministry of Magic will pay interest according to the highest market rate of that month.” Poli hurriedly adds, looking at them nervously.
Only the economic compensation gives the Ministry of Magic’s financial officials a headache.
Paying out 400,000 Galleons all at once is hard even for the Ministry of Magic.
They hope Jessica and her son can accept installment payments, and they are even willing to make appropriate concessions on other items.
Jessica neither agrees nor disagrees.
She is not good at these things.
She nods at Rayleigh, encouraging her son to discuss with Poli.
“Installments are possible, but we hope the other compensation can be put in place as soon as possible.” Rayleigh takes over the conversation, not bothering to quibble over the interest calculation method in the supplementary agreement.
“Sister Poli, can you introduce the London property provided by the Ministry of Magic?” Rayleigh points at the second compensation item.
“This clause does not look clear.”
The London property is the vaguest clause in the entire agreement, and there is a lot of room for maneuvering inside.
What kind of house they can secure depends entirely on the tug-of-war between themselves and the Ministry of Magic.
“Of course.
The Ministry of Magic is an ancient presence in London.
We have all kinds of properties here for the two of you to choose from.” Poli is already prepared.
She takes a magical map from the box and spreads it on the table.
She waves her wand and taps it, and a miniaturized three-dimensional map of London appears before everyone.
As the wand moves across the map, the available properties emit a soft glow.
“We have a 200-year-old top-floor apartment on Grosvenor Square, and also a detached villa by the Thames…” Poli points at the map with her wand.
Some of the options exceed the Ministry of Magic’s budget range.
This is entirely out of her personal goodwill, hoping to give the mother and son a larger choice space.
If the final property chosen is slightly over budget, she can also use her authority to help finalize it.
“A high-end apartment by St.
James’s Park, close to Buckingham Palace, is a high-end wealthy area of the Muggle World.
The house has a Muggle-Repelling Charm.
Living here, you can enjoy a luxurious life.”
“Whitehall Villa by the Thames, with a garden suitable for living, can enjoy riverside views, and the location is also relatively unique.”
“There is a Victorian terraced house in South Kensington that preserves traditional charm.
Pure-blood families would prefer this kind of classical architecture.”
“…There are some small estates in the suburbs of London.
Those have larger areas, and even come with small Quidditch pitches.”
…
Poli introduces them to Rayleigh and his mother one by one, among which there are also top-floor duplex apartments unique to the Muggle World.
“Rayleigh, you choose.” Jessica cannot help but sigh at the Ministry of Magic’s wealth.
But no matter which house is chosen, as long as her son likes it, it is fine.
“500,000 to 800,000 pounds.
The properties are all registered in the Muggle area, so they are priced in pounds.” Poli hurriedly explains, slightly raising the upper limit.
Thompson is somewhat surprised.
This standard is 100,000 pounds higher than the Ministry of Magic’s original bottom line.
But considering Poli’s status, plus the fact that the compensation payment issue has already been resolved, he can only swallow his doubts.
Rayleigh gazes at the magical map ahead, and a surge of emotion rises in his heart.
The difficult years are about to pass.
Across his previous life and this one, decades in total, he never expected he would finally have a warm home of his own.
“What is the price of this villa?” Rayleigh points at the three-story villa by the Thames, a building in modern minimalist style.
The villa stands high overlooking the river.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows one can take in the full Thames scenery.
In the spacious garden are planted all kinds of roses and wisteria.
Near the riverbank there is even a wooden dock, which can be used to moor a small boat.
“This one?” Poli furrows her brow, ‘The Muggle price of this medium-sized villa is between 1 million and 1.5 million pounds… far beyond the budget.’
“This villa has an excellent view and suits you very well.
But the price…
to be honest, it really exceeds the budget.
Perhaps you could consider another property?” Poli hesitates as she suggests.
“What if we use the Galleons compensated by the Ministry of Magic to make up the difference?” Jessica also gazes at the map.
She likewise has a particular fondness for this property.
Remote and peaceful, very suitable for her and her son to live in.
“Really?
No problem, absolutely no problem!” Before Jessica can finish speaking, Thompson jumps up excitedly.
Although the official exchange rate between Galleons and pounds is 1:5, no wizard would be foolish enough to exchange at this price for Muggle currency.
Ever since the Bretton Woods system was kicked away by Muggles, Muggle currency has already broken away from the support of gold.
Whether pounds or dollars, to wizards they are just a piece of waste paper.
A Galleon weighs 8 grams, of which goblin metal accounts for 95%, and the remaining 5% is the gold Curse Breakers brought out from tombs.
Considering that the current Muggle price of gold per ounce is 700-800 pounds, plus the goblins’ minting costs, the actual exchange rate between Galleons and pounds is about 1:10.
Calculated this way, the property Rayleigh chooses is worth 100,000 to 150,000 Galleons.
Considering the villa is in a prime location, and the interior decoration and magical facilities are also costly, a price of 150,000 to 180,000 is more realistic.
Poli kicks Thompson.
Thompson smiles apologetically and sits back down awkwardly.