Ch. 98 Front Page Worthy

Christmas has always been a very warm affair with my family. I always love spending time with Susan, Amelia and for the last few years, Victoria. We relax in the common room and enjoy the falling snow outside by our burning fireplace.

This year though, I had something to tell my aunt and little sister. I looked at Tory to my right, seeking her permission on something we had discussed the night prior, getting a nod I decided to start.

"Aunty, Susan, there's something I'd like to tell you two about." I say calmly, as the two of them turn their attention to me. Aunty with a raised eyebrow and Susan with a curious look on her face.

"So, for the last year and a half Tory and I have been together. And we talked about it, even though we want to keep this a secret from everybody else, we thought we should at least tell you two." I say gently.

"I knew you two were going to be together the moment you brought her home." Simply chuckled a smiling Amelia.

"Yay! That means Tory is actually going to be my big sister!" Was the excited Susan response.

"Yeah, I kinda figured you knew since last Christmas, but it's still better to just say it." I responded to my aunt while scratching the back of my head.

Victoria was being hugged by Susan, feeling very happy to have such a cute little sister in the future. Then Aunty stands up from her chair and walks over to her as well. Now although Tory is a strong woman, she is now standing in front of the woman who is basically my mother, so her boyfriends mother. It's always nerve wracking to meet the parents of someone your dating. But Amelia just looked at her kindly and hugged her.

"Do try to look after him. He always runs ahead of everyone and I can't help worry that one day he'll get lost." She gently said to the girl her little Aedan chose. She still worries no matter how smart, how strong, or how skilled I am. Because as we see her as our mother figure, we are her children. And no mother ever stops worrying about her child.

"Of course. He's not losing me that easy." She replied with pure determination in her eyes.

"That's good dear. I know that you two will be fine. Both smart and thoughtful to no end. I'm sure you'll be more than fine." She gently said to the girl. "I'm also guessing that necklace you always wear is from my naughty nephew isn't it." She the lightly teased.

Victoria could only nod as her emotions were racing inside of her as happiness, joy, relief, belonging and acceptance flooded her, making tears of joy flow due to being held by the woman in front her.

"I told you aunty wouldn't have a problem with Tory." I say to my girl as I gently help her wipe her tears with a handkerchief.

After she calmed down, she was embarrassed that she had such a reaction and was feeling a bit shy right now.

"Bro, you said you've been keeping it a secret. But why? You both really like each other and most of the school has been betting on who you'd end up with. Tory is on the top of the list by far." Curiously asked Susan.

"It's the twins isn't it?" I just asked with a wry smile.

"Yeah, from what I know it's them." Replied Susan as she innocently nodded her head.

"Well it's mainly because we want to wait until we graduate. Then it's because I'm already pretty famous due to my creations. It's only going to get worse soon. And Tory wants to stand on her own two feet and be acknowledged for her work, not because she's with me. I respect her and I also don't want to do anything which will hamper her path. So you can't tell anyone at all Suz. Not even Hannah can know." I answered seriously.

The girl is a bit sad that she can't tell anyone, but she's 13 now and knows how to keep a secret. I mean, she's never leaked the fact that I have a Phoenix, so I do trust her.

"Just don't go too far you too. And you know the spell dear." Then said Aunty with a teasing grin.

That caused me to be a bit shocked at the fact my aunt just purposefully teased someone, while Victoria turned red, Susan understanding as well turned even redder. Everyone's reaction made her laugh a little too.

With the announcement out of the way, our relationship was then celebrated by a very happy Tilly, ecstatic that our family was growing and that she had more people to serve. The little House-elf was even humming at the thought of having even more little masters and mistresses to take care of. That made Tory blush quite a bit and it was adorable to see, so I spoiled her quite a bit once we got some privacy.

A few days passed during our break, Tory and I relax in each other's arms as we read what we found interesting. That was until it was time for me to go. The Herald requested an interview with Aedan Bones and I didn't want it to happen at my place, so I decided to head to it headquarters in Diagon Alley for it. I know for a fact that there's a comfortable interview room at the place. So I gave Tory a quick kiss on the lips, Suz got one on the forehead, and aunty on the cheek as I headed out with Tilly bring me there.

The Alley was quite busy during the holidays, with many kids back from Hogwarts and families having time off, it led them here to shop or simply walk around. I did have to admit that there is a certain charm to walking around such an old fashioned street with a blanket of snow over it.

I arrived at the Herald's building which stood right in front of the FIRM center. The center itself had a steady flow of people going through their offered classes, seminars, activities, job offers and products. It was nice to see it helping people and slowly making them come around on the muggle-born thing. It's actually been showing good progress as some purebloods have joined and a good amount of half-bloods.

I entered the Herald to find the reception area looking very clean and organized, almost the same as modern muggle equivalents. With the couches, welcome desk, receptionist, coffee table and some new copies of the paper to read.

"Hello, how can I help you young man." Politely asked the nice looking brunette receptionist.

"My name is Aedan Bones, I came here because a journalist named Martha Cromwell asked for an interview." I informed her politely in response.

"Ah, you're the Aedan Bones?!" She exclaimed in surprise.

"Um, yes. Why are you so shocked?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The maker of everything in BonesWorks? The mysterious heir of the Bones family? The nephew of the Amelia Bones? That's you?" She questioned enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling.

"Yes, unless someone else is those things, then that would be me. Got the ring to prove it too." I say as I wave my heir ring.

"Oh Merlin! Keep calm Sarah. Keep calm." She muttered to herself, while being so close to me I had no choice to hear her. She then looked at me with determination. "Please sign my box!" She the exclaimed as she took out a vanishing box.

"Oh, that's all it was. I'll engrave it. How's that?" I asked with a smile. She nods her head furiously in response.

So with a quick use of my wand, a nice Aedan M. Bones was written in elegant cursive in the wood.

'Never thought I'd ever actually feel glad I went through those penmanship lessons.' I thought to myself afterward.

As Sarah was hugging her newly autographed box, I broke her out of her happy place with a cough.

"Could you notify Mrs. Cromwell that I'm here now?" I asked with a smile, making her a bit embarrassed at her behavior and quickly getting to it.

Martha came down excitedly, with her light blonde hair in a loose bun, some signs of lack of sleep around her eyes, but a fire was in them as she looked at me, wearing black womens pants and a blue blouse. She approached me as if eyeing a valuable treasure.

"You're Aedan Bones? 6th year at Hogwarts? Bones family Heir? Owner, founder and supplier of product for BonesWorks?" She asked seriously.

"Yes that would be me Mrs. Cromwell. Ms. Sarah over there has already asked almost the same questions." I answered with a chuckle.

"You don't look possible. You're too perfect looking." She blatantly stated. Most would take her blunt words as an insult, but I know this woman very well, she's trying to gauge me carefully to know how to get information out of me.

"Yes my looks are unique, there is a reason but it is very personal and shall never be discussed unless I choose to. Any attempts to dive into the topic will be met with an immediate end to the interview." I seriously responded to the woman's probe.

"That bad huh?" She simply said.

"The worst memories of my life. Also it has nothing to do with the subject of the interview you mentioned." I plainly stated.

"Right. Follow me." She said as she opened a door to a hallway behind the reception area and guides me to an interview room.

Like I said, they are cozy. With comfortable modern couches, enchanted properly for maximum comfort, the room being not too bright or hot nor too cold or dark, with a table between the interviewer and the interviewed.

"Sit, sit. Let's get started. You know me, I know you. Sorry for out there." She quickly said in an odd order.

"It's ok Mrs. Cromwell, I've done my research and knew what I was getting myself into before agreeing to your request." I say as I seat with a smile and impeccable manners.

"Right. Of course the genius prepared in advance. Why wouldn't he?" She mostly said to herself.

"Alright then young Mr. Bones, let's get started." She then said as she looked at me seriously.

She placed a voice recorder on the table and looked at my expression to see that I knew perfectly well what the device was, so she just began her interview.

"You are now 16 years old and currently attending Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You have only finished your OWL's last summer and have started on your path. But the reason I have called you here today is for two reasons: your newly published books and something we found after we looked into you. So let's start with the books. You released four books on four very different subjects during the summer. They are Potions beyond Potions, Practical Arithmancy: A step towards true mastery, Runes for a new age, and A Herbologists guide to growing wild plants. Unknown to the vast majority of wizards, each of these books are near revolutionary and I'm sure you know that there has been a steep increase in sales for each book. So i have a few questions about them." She straightforwardly stated.

"How can a student possibly come up with even a fraction of the ideas in these books?" She asked in slight amazement due to what she's heard by people who could understand them. Hell, even she understood some of the Arithmancy ones and she's never done any.

"In all honesty, these are the compilations of my foundations. After I was taken in by my aunt, I wished dearly to improve myself and learn everything I could. So I convinced her to hire tutors in every subject that a wand would not be strictly needed and the tutor could fill in the role for. So I had been studying and experimenting with those four subjects for 6 years before I had even boarded the Hogwarts Express." I answered honestly.

"And how long had you been working on these books before publishing them?" She asked curiously.

"Those are the nearly ten years of efforts and learning, brought together into the foundations of what I know today." I answered.

"So you're saying this isn't all you know? This is the basics you what you can do?" She asked incredulously.

"Yes. I don't want people to just blindly follow a path made by me. I published the tools they would need to pursue their own futures. Their own interests. And I hope to see people go even further beyond what i have. Because I want to see people strive to truly improve what we have and can do today. I wish to avoid constant stagnation. So I showed people how to really play with potions, the first steps on how to create spells, showed them how to raise new plants, and created a much better rune system to let our fields of warding and enchanting face a revolution." I replied with my ideals behind my books.

"That is quite the sentiment Mr. Bones. But many are doubting the legitimacy of the work and that it has truly been done by you. I must admit that it does seem impossible. You're thoughts?" She then asked.

"I'll let my grades speak for themselves." I answered to the question.

"But that is the issue. No one has been able to get a peek at your grades to confirm it. It seems they are determined to hid you. So on the record, what are your owl results?" She finally asks.

"8 O++ and 4 O+." I directly state.

"I beg your pardon. But I seem to have misheard you Mr. Bones. I thought I heard you say O++, but there is no such grade." Awkwardly chuckled Martha after a confused pause.

I simply handed her the result letter I received this summer.

"If you still doubt me, I'll give you permission to check with Madam Marchbanks. I would also suggest you look into James Calloway, Christian Ward and Victoria Travers. Their time at Hogwarts will surely help you fill that front page nicely." I reply with a wide smile.

I didn't even get a response from the woman as she immediately bolted out of the room while shouting at me.

"That's all for today!" I heard as she got further away.

"I guess I'll go home then. I wonder how the article will look like?" I asked myself as i headed for the exit.