The Hogwarts Contract - I

When I came out of the Ollivander's wand shop, I found the professor waiting for me but it looked like she was preparing to leave in a hurry.

She smiled at me and said, "Congratulations on getting your wand. It seems we have to cut short our trip as I am needed urgently in the school. It is still school year and there are lots of work pending. I can come back and pick you up after school year ends and when I meet some muggle born students. Let me take you back now."

I replied, "It is ok. But you don't have to bring me here again to shop. I know the place already, so I can come back at any time before school starts and buy the things in the list. I like doing my shopping on my own anyway. Let's go back. I need some time to process what I have seen today."

I was relieved. If she followed me then I would not have been able to buy all the things according to my requirements. I needed some pretty expensive things to meet my needs of my studies. I also need to buy things that match my high standings in the society.

She then took my arm and we apparated back to the alley near my orphanage. She then followed me back to my room and then closed the door and said, "We need to finish some formalities before I can go back. Please sign this contract. This is just a standard contract that all students or their guardians are supposed to sign before they begin their education at Hogwarts. It should have been done by your parents when you were born but it was not so you can sign it yourself." She then passed me a quill and a lengthy parchment.

I took them from her hands and started reading the contract. The contract contained many conditions such as you will have to complete all 7 years at Hogwarts and cannot change schools without the Headmasters permission. It also specified that I allow them to collect the tuition fees from my vault before the start of each year. What surprised me was that the fees were even more than what were supposed to muggleborns pay. They were thinking that I am some 11-year-old boy who will carelessly sign these papers. It also said that I appoint the Headmaster as my Magical Guardian.

What surprised me more was that there were some lines hidden using magic. I could feel magic on the paper. I think this was done specifically for me since adult wizards would also be able to detect the hidden words in the contract. I activated my mage sight to see if I was able to read the words and I found out that I could. In it was written that I give complete access to all my vaults to my magical guardian till I gain my maturity. It was also written that my Guardian would be allowed to make decisions like signing contracts for me and resolve issues related to me without asking my opinion on it. It also required that I would not be able to tell what was written in this contract to others at the cost of my magic and life.

This was truly too much. I was seething on the inside but did not show it on my face. I looked at the deputy Headmistress and saw that she was smiling sweetly which angered me even more.

I looked at the contract for some more time and said, "Sorry Professor I would not be able to sign this contract without consulting a lawyer. This looks like a legal contract and I would like to understand everything written on it before I sign. I don't know why my fees are so high as even boarding schools will not cost half of this in the non-magical world. There are many other things I don't understand so I would like to consult a lawyer before I make a decision."

She was a bit shocked after hearing me, I think she thought I would blindly sign it like all other people do. She said, "I assure you Mr. Falken this is the normal fees that all students pay for their education at Hogwarts and the contract does not include anything important enough to consult a lawyer."

I did not want to offend her as I would have to attend her classes for 7 years in Hogwarts but she was not giving me any other choice. I looked at her judgingly and said, "I am afraid I cannot sign this without consulting a law firm. I don't know how the magical world works and how contracts in magical world work. I could be signing my life away as a slave in this contract and I would not know. I have read a lot of books were things like that happen."

She tried again and said, "We would not do anything to harm you Mr. Falken. The contract is a normal one and we would not do anything to harm you."

I looked at her judgingly and said, "Do you know anything about me Professor? Did you ask the matron about me before you met me?" She looked confused and shook her head.

I continued, "Then you should have so that we did not have to play a game like this. You know that I have completed my high school education in the non-magical world. This means that I have completed my school education which is normally completed at the age of 18. So you should stop treating me like a 11-year-old boy because I know how the world works. I know how people like to trick orphans since they do not have anyone guiding them and since I have a large inheritance from my parents I know that I am a prime target. So I am not going to sign any letter without consultation. So you can stop trying to cheat me and give me the real contract."