41 41 Shopping Spree

Lucas took enough from everything and walked back to the reception, where he paid roughly 1 Galleon for everything. 

As he left Slug & Jiggers Apothecary, he carefully stored the gathered ingredients in a small pouch under his robes. The pleasant scent of fresh air welcomed him back into Diagon Alley, as well as the incessant noice it was known for.

Lucas navigated through the crowded streets, the small pouch of enchanted ingredients securely fastened. As he walked through the winding alleyways, he considered what to do next. The day was still young, and he had a lot of money left.

He had thought about giving it to his mother, but then he would have to explain how he got it and she would definitely would not spent it on herself, instead she most likely would sneakily open a saving's account for him, where she would deposit most of it.

'That's definitely what she would do.' he thought with a smile.

Lucas didn't want that, he could always earn more and if his calculations were right than his last customer, Adrian Burke, would either come back for more enchantments now that he knew that everything was legit, or he would recommend Lucas' shop to his other wealthy friends.

So instead of going straight back he decided to go window shopping for a while.

Strolling through Diagon Alley, Lucas happily watched the window displays that showcased a variety of intriguing products, he seldomly ever actually just enjoyed his time. He always either trained or studied magic, the only times he didn't was when he was with his mother. It was a nice breath of fresh air, a welcomed change that came with him embracing his emotions after the basilisk.

The vibrant storefronts were filled with bewitched objects, animated creatures, and small shows. As he strolled through the alley, he found himself drawn to different shops, each offering a unique array of goods.

At Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop, Lucas couldn't resist entering and exploring the shelves filled with playful and mischievous magical jokes and pranks. The shopkeeper, a cheerful wizard with a penchant for humor, demonstrated some of the latest magical joke items. While tempted to make a purchase, Lucas decided to keep it in mind for future fun.

'Maybe Hannah would like some? If I am already here I might as well buy something.'

He walked back into the shop and bought a few smaller trinkets.

Next, he found himself at Obscurus Books, a quaint bookstore with a rich collection of magical literature and also a competitor to Flourish and Blotts. The soothing scent of aged parchment filled the air as he browsed the shelves, contemplating which magical books Hermoine hadn't read yet.

Lucas spent a considerable amount of time in Obscurus Books, carefully selecting a few rare and not well known magical books that he thought might capture Hermione's interest. In hindsight it wasn't particularly nice how he had treated her. At least now they could have a clean start, was what he thought.

The bookstore offered a diverse range of subjects, from ancient magical history to obscure spellbooks, which were for Susan, who was the other person he had to apologize. The knowledgeable shopkeeper assisted him in finding some hidden gems that even the most avid reader might not have discovered. With a stack of carefully chosen books in hand, Lucas made his way out of the shop.

He awkwardly carried them a few meters, when he remembered that he could just buy a magically expanded bag. He had the money now. It was more for convenience than a necessity, because he could easily carry them all day thanks to his daily training.

Lucas smiled at the realization and decided to make a quick stop at Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment, a reputable magical supplies store known for its quality products. The shop was filled with all sorts of magical tools and accessories, and Lucas headed straight to the section displaying enchanted bags and pouches.

'God damn!!! 1000 for a medium one.' He gawked at the prices but reluctantly handed over the money for one that looked like a muggle backpack and stored all of his belongings inside.

Feeling a bit hungry, Lucas stopped by Enchanted Eats to get a bite.

Now with a warm meal in his stomach he continued his shopping spree.

'Who else? Maybe Holly? I am still unsure, but what would she even like?'

He mulled over it for a while, but nothing came to mind.

'It's not like I have to get her something.'

He didn't want to spent more time on someone he didn't really know, but there was one more thing he had planned for today and that was to buy some magically reinforced wood, in order to build a new living room table. The one they had at home had some cuts and chips from the years of wear and tear. He could have repaired it, but he wanted to surprise his mom with a present.

His destination was a carpentry shop next to Potage's Cauldron Shop, called Whittle & Whimsy Magical Woodcraft. As Lucas entered the shop, the air was filled with the pleasant aroma of freshly cut wood. Various wooden items, from intricate carved cutlery to finely crafted furniture, were on display. 

There was also a plethora of raw timbers to buy in the back of the shop. Lucas bought a beautiful piece dark oak with a gorgeous pattern.

As he exited the shop he couldn't help but overhear a young boy yelling, "Daily Prophet special edition!!! Attack at the Noble and Most Ancient House of Nott!!!"

A crowd had already formed around the boy and the papers were selling like hotcakes. Lucas instead of shoving and pushing through the mass of people like the others, simply read the newspaper inside the heads of the ones who had bought one. He had carefully chosen them, after inspecting them for any signs of mind magic without the use of his domain.

The headline read: "Terror Attack. Who would Attack the Noble and Most Ancient House of Nott?"

The article neither went into detail about the attack on the ancestral home of the Nott family nor gave a possible motive for it. It was more speculation than actual facts, but what did you expect from the Daily Prophet.

Although you could disregard 90% of the article, there was one detail that peaked Lucas' interest. Apparently a few house elves had fled the manor like their lives depended on it, without ever looking back or stopping. Only after they exhausted themselves into unconsciousness or split their bodies apart while recklessly apparating, did they come to an involuntary halt. Some allegedly reached Ireland or France.

Nothing of the Nott family or what might have happened inside was released.

'???'

----

A few hours earlier.

POV James Potter.

The urgency in the distress call sent a shiver down my spine as I Apparated to the dedicated area near the Ministry of Magic. The air crackled with tension, and I wasted no time, running purposefully towards the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

As I reached the entrance of the Department, I could see two of my colleagues already gathered, their expressions a mix of concern and graveness. The situation must be dire for such short notice. Without pausing, I joined the group, nodding to them as a greeting.

The Head of the Auror Office, Rufus Scrimgeour, and the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones, stood at the front, their features etched with seriousness. Ms. Bones wasted no time in addressing the situation. "There was an attack at the Nott manor. We suspect a vigilante wanted revenge, but nothing is confirmed."

The words hung in the air, and a collective sense of gravity settled over the assembled witches and wizards.

She continued, "The situation is most likely settled by now, but I want you three to go there immediately. No matter what they say or how much they try to block you from entering, you have to, this is an order. It might be our only chance getting inside their home legally. Once you are inside you will inspect the situation and covertly search for anything that could proof that the Notts were working with Voldemort out of their own will. They have gotten away consequence free for too long." 

I exchanged a quick glance with my colleagues, Vance Sterling and Elena Frostwood, who were as determinated as I was in arresting those pesky law dodging bastards. The trial after the war was a joke and most noble families who fought side by side with Voldemort dodged their sentences with the imperius excuse. Dumbledore also said that we should let them go, as well as stopping any attempts at using Veritaserum, because it was for the greater good that we didn't weaken magical britain any more than it already has been. Bullshit if you ask me.

He could have at least stopped them when they unjustly threw Sirius into Azkaban. It makes my blood boil just thinking back. 'Someday I will get you out. Hang in there for a while longer.'

It was the project I spent most of my free time on, trying to get Sirius out of there, but every inquiry or request was rejected immediately. Cornelius Fudge would never admit that they made a mistake after the war.

However, now we had the perfect oppotunity to find evidence agianst that same injustice by searching the Nott's home. 

Rufus Scrimgeour added a final word of caution, "This is a delicate mission. We can't afford any missteps. The Notts are influential, and if they catch wind of our investigation, they'll use every means to obstruct justice. Be discreet, but thorough. We're counting on you."

With a resolute nod, we Apparated directly to the outskirts of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Nott. The atmosphere around the manor was heavy with an ominous stillness. The sight of the grand estate sent memories of the war rushing back, a reminder of the battles fought and the lives lost.

Approaching cautiously, we encountered the expected ward, protecting the manor against uninvited guests. The visible tension among us heightened as we faced the protection surrounding the house. Vance, our resident ward breaker quickly started his work, while Elena and I were inspecting the perimeter. The silence was making me uneasy. It was not normal. There was neither a wizard nor a house elf checking in on what we were doing.

The wards around the Nott manor were formidable, even more so than what we encountered in standard noble houses. Vance's brow furrowed in concentration as he worked his magic, unraveling the layers of protective spells with meticulous precision. The air crackled with energy as each layer was dismantled, revealing the sheer complexity and potency of the Nott family's enchantments.

Normally you would go for a more sneaky approach, where the ones inside the ward wouldn't even notice that someone was tinkering with it, but because we were in a hurry and because of the odd stillness, we thought it didn't matter.

As Vance successfully dismantled the final ward, the invisible barrier dissipated, allowing us access to the Nott property, which was also strange. Normally the one responsible for the ward would actively work against the ward breaker, prolonging the time it took for one to break in. This could take up to hours if not days.

The grand entrance loomed ahead, and we proceeded cautiously. With every step we took the whole situation became even more worrying. There were no shattered artifacts, blasted walls, or other remnants of magical duels anywhere. It was as if nothing at all happened, which awoke some bad memories, because I have seen something similar after a reported break in, back during the war when the dark lord broke into a home. He was so strong that any resistance was futile. Neither were there any signs in that house.

The unsettling stillness persisted, heightening our senses. Maybe whatever or whover was responsible for this was still here.

The trio of Vance, Elena, and I slowly moved with practiced coordination, each of us attuned to the nuances of our roles. As we navigated the interior, the grandeur of the Nott family's history loomed over us. Portraits of ancestors adorned the walls, their eyes staring into the distance, unfocused. The air was thick with a sense of foreboding, and an unspoken understanding passed between us – this is more than a vendetta. Whoever did this was out for blood.

Yet the only thing damaged were the paintings.

We proceeded cautiously. As we turned a corner out of nowhere Vance was catapulted into the wall like he was hit by a moving truck. There was neither an audible nor a visible warning sign. Instantly Elena cast a protego on him, while I shot a binding spell at whoever hurt Vance. "Incarcerous"

I positioned myself between the attacker and my colleagues, ready for a fight, while Elena got Vance back on his feet.

Though the dull sound of someone collapsing on the floor made me relax enough to ask, "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah." Vance replied, the cushioning enchantments of his robes took the blunt of the impact.