Chapter 12: A Chance for Change

"I thought you would chat more with that young girl"

Professor McGonagall remarked with a smile, petting the black cat, Booker, while observing Luke being 'fitted' by Madam Malkin.

Luke gave a sheepish smile. "There's no need to rush. After all, she'll be at Hogwarts next year. And there's always the summer."

McGonagall had initially been teasing Luke, but his calm, long-term thinking left her a bit speechless.

Already thinking about next summer before school had even started... well, she supposed many students were like that.

The two of them fell into a brief silence, the only sound in the shop being Madam Malkin's busy movements.

Finally, Madam Malkin finished taking Luke's measurements and retreated to her workroom to begin sewing his robes and outerwear.

With magical tools, it wouldn't take long, so Luke and McGonagall were asked to wait for a moment.

McGonagall sat quietly in her chair while Luke browsed the ready-made clothes on display in the shop.

After a while, he couldn't hold back and said, "Professor, you don't need to feel guilty about it. The deal was something I agreed to willingly. Besides, I didn't even know about that contract before, and I certainly don't agree with it."

"Moreover, I don't believe that the Lances, who've been pushed to the brink, could ever be truly loyal to me. I wouldn't trust them with anything important, and there's no point in handing over trivial matters."

"In fact, the benefits I've gained from them this time are more than enough to satisfy me."

McGonagall looked into Luke's eyes and saw his sincerity.

She sighed, shaking her head, "I didn't see any benefits worth getting excited over. If you hadn't accepted so quickly before I could intervene, I would've stopped you."

"The Hogwarts Board of Directors doesn't hold much power. As long as Dumbledore remains Headmaster, no one else will take that position, no matter what the Board does. Even if the Board wanted to appoint a new Headmaster, they wouldn't be reckless enough to try. As for the financial aspect, you'll end up having to pour money into it constantly. That position is nothing but a money pit."

"I know there's always talk of the Board trying to oust Dumbledore, but if he ever agrees, you'll need to pull out immediately."

"As for those so-called industries, if you have enough money, you can buy as many as you want. With your wealth, you could easily dominate the business world."

"And the so-called magical notebook of Gryffindor? That's absurd. Its value as an artifact might be high, but in terms of practical use, it's nonsense. If it were truly decipherable, the Lance family wouldn't be offering it up as a bargaining chip. Even if it could be decoded, what if it's not a book of magic at all? What if it's just a regular diary written in code? Or worse, a travel log?"

"Uh, excuse me, Professor," Luke interjected before McGonagall got more carried away. She shot him a sharp look, which made him a little nervous. "To be honest, if it's a diary, I'd be even more thrilled. I'm quite interested in the Four Founders' personal lives."

What Luke didn't mention, though, was his belief that the notebook could hold more than it appeared. If it truly was Gryffindor's, the encrypted text might contain something far more significant—perhaps even a legacy of Gryffindor himself.

As the heir of Slytherin, Luke felt qualified to make such a statement. After all, a similar item sat in a small room inside a chest in his family's cabin.

Professor McGonagall's simmering frustration was thrown off course by Luke's calm words. She couldn't quite pinpoint if she was more upset with the Lance family, Luke's apparent impulsiveness, or perhaps even herself.

"Professor, very few things in life achieve the so-called 'best of both worlds,'" Luke said with a soft smile. "I learned a long time ago not to pursue perfection too rigidly. Today, you didn't want your friends to fall into a situation where they're trampled over again, and you didn't want your student to suffer even a slight loss. It's a bit too greedy to expect both."

McGonagall didn't feel particularly affronted by being schooled by a child. For one, maturity had been her strongest impression of Luke throughout the day. Aside from the brief moments of genuine emotion he showed around Luna, he had been unfailingly polite.

Secondly, in all her years of teaching, McGonagall had always found that she learned a great deal from her students. Whether it was youthful innocence or burning ambition, the diversity of thought and personality in her students never ceased to amaze her. And clearly, Luke was one of those remarkable individuals.

They locked eyes for a moment before McGonagall sighed softly. "You're right. I was too greedy."

"Greed can be a good thing. It drives people to take action"

Luke said as he shifted his gaze back to the beautiful garments in the shop, contemplating whether he should buy a few more outfits for everyday wear. Since he required a large quantity and the fabric he preferred was likely not in Madam Malkin's usual stock, he decided to place an order and have the clothes sent to either Hogwarts or his home when ready.

"Do you want to be in Gryffindor?"

Out of the blue, McGonagall's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Luke looked at her, seeing the sincerity in her eyes. Clearly, she truly wanted him to consider joining Gryffindor. Perhaps that had been part of her purpose in guiding him today.

Was it an attempt to prevent Slytherin—still fragmented in many ways—from gaining a strong leader? Or did she see echoes of someone else in him and wanted to keep a close eye on him? Or perhaps, given the Gaunt family name, there was an inherent wariness in those who knew Voldemort's lineage.

Luke thought it was likely a mix of all these factors, but ultimately, McGonagall's invitation seemed rooted in genuine recognition after their time together.

"Thank you for the offer, Professor. But there are things in Slytherin that I wish to pursue"

Luke replied, polite yet direct in his refusal.

McGonagall wasn't disappointed. She had expected this response.

"And what are those things you seek?"

She couldn't help but ask.

"A turning point, Professor. A chance for change," Luke smiled.