Chapter 265

(A/N: Want to read ahead of what I have posted so far? Go to my Patreоn and get your early access chapters :3

By becoming a patron, you'll instantly unlock access up to 40 chapters ahead of the Webnovel update (Chapter 306 already!)

https://www.pаtreon.com/HPMan

Thank you and have fun! Two chapters, as promised. :)

______________________

When I left the house on Grimmauld Place, I walked briskly along the houses in the evening square. There were not many people around, but due to the lack of various charms on me at the moment, some with curiosity tried to understand which school I study in. Hogwarts uniform, damn it. I didn't focus on that, though, moving quickly toward the cafeteria where John had been waiting for me the last time.

His BMW was parked at the curb, and John was sitting at a table by the window. He noticed me crossing the road right away. As soon as I walked into this quite average establishment, the waitress immediately smiled at me. Nodding with an equal standard smile, I hurried over to the table and sat across from John.

"There's serious talk, but that's for home."

"There's always serious talk," John shrugged.

After a quick bite, we left the establishment and drove home, talking about all sorts of everyday little things like the weather. Already at home, at dinner, I told Sarah and John about the situation in the wizarding world.

"What do you mean by that?" John asked earnestly as we moved on to tea.

"The Dark Lord will be gathering strength for a while, restoring the health of his imprisoned followers, and then... Then it's hard for me to predict his actions. It's worth considering that he and his supporters hate or despise ordinary people, equating them to cattle. If they want to kill, they will kill. If they want to torment, they will torment them. Any form of violence and permissiveness."

"You're obviously exaggerating," Sarah shook her head with a smile, but there was a slight concern in her eyes.

"Not at all. I'm not saying that the Dark Lord will rush in to exterminate everyone and everything, no. First, he will psychologically and physically destroy and crush the disgruntled, the opponents, the enemies. He will clean up and take under strict control the "unreliable" class - Muggle-borns and Half-bloods. De jure, I was born into a family of ordinary people, that is, you. Yes, of course, adopted and all that, and someone who knows my mother will immediately see the similarity, and so on, and so on, and so on. However, the problem lies elsewhere ..."

Taking a sip of tea, I tried to formulate my thoughts into shorter and clearer phrases.

"I am, without unnecessary modesty, a very promising and strong wizard. Such people must either be lured over to their side or eliminated. In both cases, you can think of a whole bunch of different ways to influence me to make the "right" decision. The impact through, though not blood, but relatives, dear people, is simple and reliable. Eliminate ... Take you hostage and shout: "Come out and fight. Otherwise, your beloved guardians are dead." Or they may just kill you for ideological reasons, like: "Kill the unworthy Muggles who dared to raise a Wizard child. Something like that."

We sipped our tea in the general silence.

"Anyway, you, like the parents of other Muggle-Borns, and in general as ordinary people associated with the wizarding world, are at risk. The government will remain inactive until the lawlessness crosses some critical line. The Ministry of Magic won't lift a finger until the wizards are directly involved, and even then, if you pay the right people, nothing will happen. For the top, we are just numbers on paper. You should understand that."

"We understand that," Sarah smiled. "I'm surprised that such thoughts enter your bright head at such an early age."

"Kids grow up fast these days," I shrugged. "Amidst all this looming quiet terror, I would like to be assured of your safety. Until his authority is finally established here, the Dark Lord will not risk openly or secretly infiltrating the territory of other nations. Germany and France are not the best options - the Lord's allies are old families with many relatives in Europe. The USA? Their Magical state, though young, is as strong as the ordinary one. You can't drive up to them on a crooked mare."

"It's high time to open a branch of a law firm in the states too, huh, honey?" John smiled slyly. "Moreover, Charlie has already created a good foothold there, and he keeps asking us to live there..."

"And we refused all the time," Sarah shook her head.

"Why is that, by the way?" I asked, shifting my gaze from John to Sarah.

"It was better to raise a child in a familiar and stable environment."

"Me?"

John grinned.

"Do you see any other children here?"

"Fair enough."

"We will consider moving options. But can you handle it? Stupid question, though. You've been doing well for a long time. You have a house, money, I suppose, too. Am I right?"

"I certainly won't be left without a livelihood."

"Good. The issue with your "ordinary" education is practically solved. You have another year of high school and exams, then it's up to you. If you decide to go to "A," we will arrange it. If not — it's up to you."

"Excellent. Okay, then you think and discuss plans, and I have to call."