Chapter 10 A new "friend".

Before Hogwarts, as expected, it was necessary to buy textbooks and things on the list on Diagon Alley. Routine all the shopping I had to do it by himself, without any help, but since I was living, I had to take from a shelter a representative of the school.

"Mr. Blair," Professor Snape greeted me, " I have been instructed to notify the orphanage administration of your special situation and to hand over the funds that have been left over from your personal allowance since last year.

The professor spoke through clenched teeth, as if forcing out the words. It was obvious that he had just arrived and had decided to talk to me first.

"Hello, Professor Snape," I greeted the potion-maker, " what means are we talking about?"

"The Board of Trustees, in addition to paying for the tuition at Hogwarts itself, allocates personal funds in the amount of one hundred galleons per year for each student who falls into the grant group," the professor replied. — Last year, with these funds, you purchased the necessary items for training and spent a little less than seventy galleons. The remainder I now hand over to you. You will receive the funds allocated for this year of study yourself at Gringotts Bank. To do this, you should approach any free bank employee in the bank and express your desire to receive a grant from a Hogwarts student. - It was clear that the professor was not particularly happy to talk to me, but he performed his duties clearly and was extremely formal. "Here is a list of necessary items that you should buy for this year of study," the professor handed me a folded piece of parchment. "I warn you, Mr. Blair," the professor said menacingly, " if the funds are spent and the necessary subjects are not purchased, the commission may exclude you from Hogwarts.

"Thank you, Professor," I said — " but how do I get to London?"

"At your own discretion," the professor replied, " you can use the Muggle or magical mode of transport. Of the magical modes of transport available to you "Night Knight", this is a bus for wizards. Just go to any road, preferably one with fewer Muggles, and wave your wand. You have the necessary funds to pay for travel. Do you have any other questions, Mr. Blair?" The professor asked.

"No, sir," I said.

"Then here's your ticket for the Hogwarts Express," Professor Snape handed me the ticket. "Don't be late.

"So McGonagall didn't pocket the money, and it's not going back to the school account. All funds allocated to me remain at my disposal. It's not entirely clear why McGonagall didn't give the money to me right away. But it is likely that the student of the first year of study is still considered insufficiently independent and the accompanying person is responsible for purchases, and except for purchases to school, it is considered that money is no longer needed. In the school itself, we are fed and taught for free, or rather, everything is already paid for."

Gathering myself quickly, I went to the road, where I summoned the Night Knight with a wave of my wand. Shunpike chatter irritated me and was not amused. After paying my fare, I made myself comfortable and clung to the nurse in front of me. The wind was great, but it was fast. Five minutes and we're in London, not far from the Leaky Cauldron Bar.

As I passed through the bar, I got a sharp look from Tom, the bartender, but no one stopped me. In the backyard, I tapped a simple combination with my wand and walked into the opening. The first point was to visit Gringotts, and that's where I went.

I didn't need any advice from the bank. I already knew what services the bank provided, what contracts I had, and what inheritance I could expect.

The bank provided intermediary services that covered almost any field of activity, this is what concerned the sphere other than finance. Hiring employees of any profile, buying and renting land, exchange operations in the Muggle world, all this the bank will do with pleasure for your money. Although, exchange operations will be cheaper to perform through a hired worker, whom you will hire in Gringotts. Goblins themselves carry out such operations for an excessively large percentage.

I have a Hogwarts student contract and a low-income student grant agreement with the school. If I do not buy out the grant agreement myself, it will automatically be transferred to the Ministry of Magic when I reach the age of 17. Why such strange deadlines and where did these contracts come from? It's simple! I automatically confirmed the contract for training, having been assigned to my faculty and having graduated, for the first two weeks. Now my magical guardian is officially the Director Dumbledore and Filius Flitwick, and at the time of study, the Dean has a priority right to dispose of my fate.

A grant agreement is a contract for paying for training and providing additional funds for making purchases necessary in the educational process. These funds fall on me as a debt, but only when I am seventeen years old. Up to this age, I do not bear the tax burden and can not make any large monetary transactions myself, except for expressing consent to study at Hogwarts and receiving a grant. However, the goblins do not care about the restrictions imposed by the ministry, and if I wish, I will be able to perform any operations through Gringotts, or hire a magician who will perform any actions on my behalf legally, for this I will only need to open a separate bank account.

The inheritance I can claim is none. As long as Sirius, my father, is alive, I can't claim the Black inheritance. Or rather, according to the ministry's version, I could qualify if I was recognized as a father. But according to the bank's version, if anything in matters of inheritance was assigned to goblins, and in magic, I go after my father, anyway. If I try to accept the "title" of the heir through a magical ritual now, at best nothing will happen, at worst the magic will kill me, and most likely I will get a kickback for going where I shouldn't.

"Good luck to you, sir," I said to one of the bank employees. The goblin stared at me.

"The same to you, sir," said the goblin.

"Yes, sir —" I decided to ask the goblin about my allowance, — I'm entitled to a grant as a Hogwarts student."

"Tell me your name," the goblin said.

"Arrakis Blair," I said.

The goblin was waving a finger at a list.

"Yes," said the goblin at last, " indeed, you are entitled to a grant.

With the last word, the goblin took out a bag from under the counter, in which goblin gold jingled.

"A hundred galleons," goblin said, handing me the money. I didn't count it. The goblin code did not allow lying; it was possible to conceal, to keep silent, to speak in riddles, yes, but not to lie. To count the money now is to insult a goblin. He won't attack me because of this, but he will remember and take revenge when the opportunity comes.

Goblin gold is not just another name for galleons, goblin gold is an alloy with a gold content that goblins use to make galleons. Yes, galleons are not made of pure gold.

After buying the necessary items from the list and updating my wardrobe a little, I went to the junk shop, a legendary place in fan fiction. I was going to buy books there, first, old-style textbooks are actually better, and second, I was hoping to spend less, and third, I don't really need textbooks. In the library and in the help room, I had already read a lot of textbooks for older courses, and what I did not read, I at least got acquainted with. I needed the textbooks to follow the rule, formally. It would be a shame if I got into trouble for not following the formalities.

In general, it is strange, but the money of the magical world belonged to goblins, those with whom wizards have fought many times, those with whom all wizards are united by enmity. For all that, the wizards trusted the goblins more than they trusted each other. Contracts with goblins to maintain accounts and other obligations were never broken, even in times of rebellion. And every wizard was sure that if the ministry or anyone else got such power as the power of money, they would spit on any contracts. There will be front men who will take on magical kickbacks, account seizures, money issuance, denomination and inflation. Goblins were the salvation of the wizarding community, the guarantor of financial stability. Although, I suspect that the bank paid the ministry a large tax, which is also why goblins were allowed a lot.

In the junk shop, I didn't discover any of the secrets of Diagon Alley. I did not encounter a legend, there was no mysterious store that sometimes meets the chosen ones, there was no special seller. The most ordinary shop. The seller did not care at all whether they bought something from him or not. I didn't find anything of value. There were no books of ancient magic either, and if there were, it wasn't for me. The junk dealer is not a fool and knows the real value of his goods. At the shop, I bought a set of Hogwarts textbooks for the second, third and fourth year students, spending as much as a set of new textbooks for the second year. Couldn't resist. Although I know that I don't really need textbooks.

I've thought many times, " Can you call Hogwarts students students?" After all, a student is a student of a higher educational institution, and Hogwarts is a school, not a university. However, in some countries, students are considered students and some secondary educational institutions, and the ancient meaning of this word means any person engaged in the process of learning. Since the teachers at Hogwarts are called professors, it would be correct to consider the students as students.

After making all the necessary purchases, I returned to the shelter. There were still a few days before classes started, which I decided to spend on strengthening Hopkins ' position. He also needed to talk to Dick, the leader of one of the "gangs" in the senior group.

On the first of September, at the appointed time, I called the Night Knight and reached the station without delay. I passed through the separation barrier-the portal between platforms nine and ten at King's Cross-and found myself on the right platform. It was still a long time before departure, but the Hogwarts Express was already waiting for its passengers. What can I do, but I am very worried if I need to go somewhere or go, if there is an event planned, I am afraid to be late.

Just like a year ago, I took an empty compartment and watched the mages gradually arrive on the platform. All the children were equally excited, and it was hard to tell who was happy and who was scared. Adults have more exposure, they were easier to read. Here is a young sorceress still escorting her son to Hogwarts for the first time, concern on her face. But a couple of wizards at a more mature age send their daughter to Hogwarts, something like pride on their faces. Everyone's emotions were different, a mixture of different shades of anxiety, pride and uncertainty, but there was no outright fear. And after all, when the lord is reborn, then there will be fear.

Davis appeared on the platform with his father. Davies's father, a man with a prim, disgusted, haughty face, was giving Roger his final instructions. No, no, it wasn't a task, just a pep talk. Father Roger's mask of disgust, and it was a mask, was not perfect. If I have noticed that this is only an image, then those who are more accustomed to such a game will even more notice the unnatural nature of the image.

Roger's father was in a hurry, and after giving his final instructions, he apparated directly from the platform. Roger noticed me, but pretended not to recognize me, or to be preoccupied with something. A minute later, I witnessed a meeting between Roger and the current captain of our faculty quidditch team. Roger greeted the Captain eagerly.

Well, Roger took away my last doubts about him. Good looks, good potential, a well-known name among wizards and ... a dummy. Of course, I understand that I am a dummy now, rather, myself, but for me, Davis has become a dummy. This man, in my opinion, was not capable of friendship. Let him seem really noble, but it turned out that he tried to "buy" me, for a deception. After all, as I thought: loyalty should be given for loyalty, friendship for friendship. I gave my friendship for his, but Davis, unlike me, felt that he was saving a lot on me, getting my friendship and loyalty without giving anything in return. He just can't give what he doesn't have.

I was filled with dark, heavy thoughts when I saw Diggory waving at me from the platform. The simple gesture of greeting lifted my spirits a little. Having lost one friend who was never my friend, I may have found another who will be.

There was uncertainty ahead of me. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I did not have the real abilities of the Kwisatz Haderach, could not see the way in the future, respectively, could not choose an action based on visions, could not "shorten the path". I looked into the genetic memory, but it was something like blood magic. And the blood itself could not carry as much information as I imagined. Through the blood I gained access, the blood provided me with access to a certain information space. But access was limited to a certain time frame.

My ability was akin to that of a vampire, but it was also very different. In my feelings, there were hints that the restrictions could be lifted, get more access to the memory of ancestors, and possibly expand their ability beyond the circle of direct relatives.

Blood magic, that's where I should have looked for answers. My ability is not the result of special training of the mind or hardening of the spirit, and not the effect of melange on the body. My ability is born of the magic of a mother who longed for her child's special abilities: to be like a Dune. Magic fulfilled this wish as best it could, giving a special ancestral gift. My mother might no longer be a sorceress, but I wasn't exactly a blank slate, either, as it turned out. What little magic she had left was enough.

Diggory came into the compartment smiling, greeted me, and sat down opposite me.

As I listened to Diggory talk about how he'd spent the summer, I considered the right thing to do with blood magic. But what can I find at Hogwarts? What can I find in England? I probably won't be able to find anything. All books on blood magic were banned and protected as a rule. Hogwarts… Help out-the Room will not be able to provide me with these books, most likely. But an attempt should be made.

On the other hand, perhaps I don't need the power of foresight and other extended ancestral memory? The power I already have is enough for me. No, no, before the war, I must be as ready as I can be. I should use all the power I can. Especially if you don't have to pay a lot for it. Sometimes, you have to pay too much for knowledge and power. Yes, too much…

I finally turned my attention to Cedric, who was asking me if he had enough time to do quidditch and extra classes in the medical wing.

"Davis figured he wouldn't have too much time," I said, referring to another similar decision.

"Davis," Cedric said thoughtfully, " I don't want to throw dirt on him in your eyes, but I can't do it any other way. Davis thinks you're a waste of time, so he doesn't have time.

"And you?" I asked.

"In our department, Blair," Diggory said, " friendship is very important. Friendship is what our faculty is all about, or so it's supposed to be.

I wanted to press Diggory for a more specific answer, but it didn't take much, he just kept talking.

— I don't think you're a waste of time. I get no less from you than I give you. Your friendship for my friendship, my time for your time. I am quite satisfied with this state of affairs, " he said.

Diggory almost exactly echoed my thoughts about friendship, which made me doubt my choice of faculty. Perhaps I should have chosen Hufflepuff. But my doubts quickly left me. We are who we are, with our fears, desires, choices, and mistakes. Ravenclaw was my choice and my mistake. Ravenclaw didn't give me anything Hufflepuff could give me. It has already happened, and it cannot be otherwise.

Before Hogwarts, I no longer fell into deep thought. On the train, Diggory and I discussed all sorts of little things. Diggory's friends came into our compartment, the headman of Hufflepuff came in, the captain of Hufflepuff's Quidditch team came in. It was obvious that Cedric already had a certain amount of authority in the department. No one came in with Ravenclaw, which showed that I had no authority in my department, and the fame I had gained was more intimidating than attractive.

At Hogwarts, Cedric and I split up, he went to his desk and I went to mine.

"Are you all right, Blair?" Bruce Attwood asked me when I sat down, not with Davis as usual, but on the other side of him.

"Subah un-nar —" I answered without hesitation, being deeply engrossed in the impact of my mother's infatuation on me.

"What?" 'said Attwood.

"It's Arabic," I said, " a sort of return greeting."

My answer to Attwood was more of an answer to my thoughts. How much did my mother's infatuation affect me? Yes, " Subah un-nar "is Arabic for" morning of light "-" Sabah El Nur", if correct, but at the same time" Subah un — nar " means the same thing in the language of the Fremen of Arrakis. Laughing inside my thoughts at this answer, I removed the question of the depth of influence from the agenda. It was obvious.

— Do you know Arabic?" Attwood asked.

"No," I said, " just a few sentences, no more.

"Ah, I see," Attwood said. "Look —" he said, turning my attention to Davis, " Roger seems to have quickly found a replacement for you. He doesn't even seem to notice that someone else is sitting next to him.

"We parted friends at the end of the school year," I told Attwood, " but today he just ignored me, preferring not to notice when I tried to get his attention. I don't think we're friends anymore.

"Ho, ho, Blair," Attwood said, smiling at me, " you don't have to worry about that.

Attwood's amusement was so infectious that instead of the irritation and anger I should have felt in my own mind, I wanted to smile back.

"We all betrayed you," Attwood said confidentially. "That's it! Well, except for the dean. But we had a right to be scared and turn away, you weren't a friend to any of us except Davis.

Attwood turned away, starting a conversation with Myers, who was sitting next to him on the other side. They chatted about the significance of this or that action in the ritual of taking a name and the similarity to the ritual of naming and initiation. Myers was really engaged, unlike Attwood, who watched me out of the corner of his eye from time to time, trying to read my thoughts.

I caught Attwood's eye and nodded to let him know I understood, and then Attwood smiled at me.

Who says there's no intrigue and power struggles on Ravenclaw? There is, still as there is. Today Attwood has taken an invisible hold on his faculty. Let the authority outwardly belong to Davis, but in reality the decisions on the faculty will be made by Attwood. Let him never push his importance outwards, let him never go against society, but he will always be able to influence this society from within, set the direction, give the right assessment of this or that action.

Looking closer, I realized that already many older guys, having expressed their opinions, are looking for approval from Attwood. With a look, a gesture, or simply inaction, Bruce expressed his opinion.

"When did Attwood put himself like this?» — I was surprised. "And how did he even get to this school?"

— I hope, ' said Attwood, that you become to me who you were for Davis.

Bruce was still smiling at me, just as he had a moment ago, but now I could feel not only amusement and enthusiasm in that smile, but also a predatory grin.

"What did you think I was to Roger?"

"A friend," said Attwood, " a friend and adviser.

I nodded to Bruce to let him know that I accepted his offer.

Just think of the passions and intrigues that have been unfolding at Hogwarts since the first year. Is it possible that Bletchley also began to put pressure on me not for his own reasons, but from someone else's suggestion? There were three people who lost their credibility: Bletchley, Davis, and mine. I myself could not be the formal leader and face of the faculty, I did not have a pedigree, but for an informal leader, my kinship with the Blacks would be more than enough. Davis will now only be able to be a face, a formal one. Bletchley will now always be on the sidelines in his department.

"Don't think anything bad, Blair," Attwood said, nudging my shoulder. But if it makes you feel any better, I didn't influence Bletchley to launch an attack on you. Slytherin is full of its own combinators, and the place of chance can not be excluded.

— I will not for you "Ghanima"? I asked Attwood, noting that I was using the Fremen term again.

— What is the "kanima"? Attwood asked.

"This is a trophy that is no longer used for its intended purpose," I explained the term.

"No, Blair," Attwood said, " I don't think you can be used lightly. It seems to me that you will not tolerate neglect of yourself.

We nodded at each other again. It was a contract, a silent contract between Attwood and me, a contract of equals. After all, only equals or almost equals agree among themselves.

The distribution and feast passed my attention. I was too wrapped up in my own thoughts, and all my attention was focused on Davis, Attwood, and the memories of last year.

The very next day, Attwood asked me to evaluate the new students in our department. And by the evening I gave him a concise description.

— Well, what can you say about Davis? Attwood asked.

What was disappointing was that I could now see all the negatives of Davis perfectly. Now that I didn't consider him a friend, I could clearly see all his flaws. Attwood noticed the change in my face.

"Don't answer that," Bruce said.

So I got a new "friend". I never knew what was more important about Attwood, friendship or calculation. That's why I could never trust him completely. We trusted each other consciously, understanding where our trust begins and where it ends. Was it a real friendship? I don't know. But we never betrayed each other.