C 66
Since the house-elves failed in their war against wizards, they have been subjugated and trained in a servile manner for generations. Differentiated as magical creatures, they are subject to the oversight of the Department of Magical Creatures Management and Control within the Ministry of Magic in the UK.
Free house-elves are virtually nonexistent; the Ministry believes that an idle house-elf poses a potential threat to wizards and the human world, with consequences that could be more severe than those caused by some magical beasts.
House-elves possess magical abilities, and despite their status as slaves for centuries, wizards have maintained a vigilant stance toward these creatures. Moreover, adopting a house-elf comes at a significant cost.
A deposit of 5,000 Galleons is required, which many wizards deem excessive. However, this high deposit reflects the fact that house-elves do not require wages.
Once they recognize a master, they serve that family for life, barring any extraordinary circumstances. Therefore, the financial commitment primarily revolves around the adoption process itself.
For Kain, who considers himself lazy, having someone to serve him is more appealing than doing tasks himself. This practicality underscores his interest in adopting house-elves.
Hermione also decided to visit the Ministry of Magic. At this point in time, Voldemort had not yet returned, and the Death Eaters were lying low.
The British wizarding community was relatively safe, aside from the more perilous Knockturn Alley and deserted areas. Eager to learn more about the wizarding world, Hermione's curiosity prompted Kain to agree to accompany her.
Aside from the peculiar mode of transport to the Ministry of Magic, the experience was eye-opening for Hermione. It was her first encounter with such a large number of wizards outside of Diagon Alley, particularly in a central governing body of the wizarding community.
Once they arrived, guided by Ministry staff, Kain and Hermione made their way to the fourth basement floor.
Exiting the elevator, Kain noticed a significant reduction in the number of wizards in the vicinity, but he could still spot several in the corridor. A dozen wizards were seen bustling about, clutching various documents.
According to Boss Tom, the Fantastic Beasts Management Control Room employs the second large number of personnel in the Ministry of Magic, while the Department of Legal Enforcement—home to the Aurors—employs the most.
The Ministry exists primarily to maintain stability within the wizarding world; its foremost aim is to combat dark wizards and, secondarily, to regulate magical creatures.
Following the signs on the office door, Kain quickly located the House-Elf Resettlement Office. After explaining his intentions, the Ministry staff member who assisted him looked momentarily taken aback before proceeding with the process.
"Here's what you need to know about adopting a house-elf," she explained, handing him a form.
"Please fill in your address and the number of elves you wish to adopt. Once you leave a deposit, you can return home and await further information."
Most wizards seeking to adopt house-elves are either affluent or simply willing to pay the high costs involved, which influenced the staff's relatively cordial demeanor. Kain completed the form quickly.
After depositing the required funds, the staff informed him that he would receive a reply within seven days regarding whether he could adopt the elves immediately or if he would need to wait.
Once he had settled the house-elf matters, Kain inquired about opening a store. There is no distinct departmental oversight regarding this; primarily, two departments from the Law Enforcement Division dictate regulations.
One cannot sell Muggle items or anything related to dark magic without proper reporting. The former requires contacting the Misuse of Muggle Items Office, while the latter involves notifying the Auror office.
Operating a shop in Diagon Alley without appropriate notifications would result in Aurors inspecting the establishment daily.
This visit was primarily informational for Kain; he was not yet prepared to open his store but sought to familiarize himself with the required processes. He planned to return to the Ministry of Magic once he had everything in order.
After concluding their business, Kain and Hermione returned. They stopped by Diagon Alley to enjoy some desserts before heading to the Leaky Cauldron for a casual meal, as Kain did not have a penchant for cooking.
His goddaughter, full of energy when encountering new experiences, exemplified this enthusiasm during their outing. Hermione had spent the entire morning running alongside Kain, exhibiting no signs of fatigue.
She informed him that she would reach out to her parents upon returning home, likely about schoolwork and preparations for the upcoming term.
Hermione could sense Kain's genuine care for her, prompting her desire to meet his expectations. She was increasingly captivated by the wizarding world, directing more focus and energy toward her studies.
After savoring the last sip of her juice, Hermione looked at Kain and said, "Godfather, I want to continue learning how to make potions when I get back."
"Of course, you can, but I believe having a guide is essential for mastering the science of potions. Figuring it out independently can be quite challenging, as you probably realized over the past two days, Hermione," Kain advised.
Once he agreed to her desire, Kain further elaborated on his perspective. He acknowledged Hermione's intelligence but pointed out that mastering potion-making requires more than textbook knowledge.
Even the simplest potion requires practical experience and guidance.
"I'll help you find someone to teach you about potions. With a month left before school starts, having someone mentor you will facilitate significant progress. What do you think, Hermione?"
"Thank you, Godfather!" she replied enthusiastically.
Her face lit up with happiness. She had already sensed the depth of knowledge involved in potion-making, and the prospect of having a mentor excited her.
Although Kain had been recommended as her godfather by her parents, spending time with him made her realize how much he genuinely cared for her. Without Kain, Hermione felt she would struggle to find motivation, even while immersed in her studies.
Now, with access to a myriad of magical books, including the latest releases from the bookstore, and a plethora of magical materials to experiment with, her situation was vastly improved.
The idea of securing a Potions teacher before the school year began thrilled her. Hermione reflected that even if her parents doted on her, they likely wouldn't allocate such resources to her studies, given their circumstances.
Kain, however, was different. With substantial Galleons at his disposal, he could afford to hire a qualified teacher.
While he might not secure renowned figures like Snape or Horace, he could find other skilled wizards or some Hogwarts graduates who excelled in Potions and possessed sufficient knowledge to assist Hermione.
Kain approached Tom, the proprietor of the Leaky Cauldron, to help him find a suitable teacher. Upon learning that Kain was willing to pay fifty Galleons for the service, Tom enthusiastically agreed to assist.
He viewed this as a straightforward task—simply finding a Potions teacher to guide young witches and wizards who hadn't yet started school.
As long as the candidates passed their N.E.W.T. Potions exam and met Kain's standards, Tom was confident he could find several suitable options. The number of such qualified individuals was limited, but with Kain's generous compensation, it should be manageable.
In addition to arranging for Hermione's Potions teacher, Kain received a response from the Ministry of Magic three days later.
His application for two house-elves had been processed, and the Ministry informed him that he could come to pick them up at his convenience.
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