Chapter 3: Inheriting the Legacy

"Looks like he's really dead."

After waiting for about five minutes and seeing no signs of movement from the old wizard, George cautiously pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Testing the old wizard's breathing to confirm that he was truly dead, George finally exhaled in relief.

A seventy-to-eighty-year-old dark wizard wasn't someone he could face head-on. With a simple Shield Charm to protect his body, the man could have knocked him out effortlessly with just a basic Stunning Spell.

For a dark wizard to live to such an age, he surely had some tricks up his sleeve, perhaps even some powerful trump cards.

George's success in killing him wasn't due to overwhelming power but rather because the old wizard had been completely unguarded.

After confirming the wizard's death, George feigned panic, quickly pushing open the shop's front door and running toward Diagon Alley.

He didn't shout in Knockturn Alley—it would likely attract other dark wizards with ill intentions before the Aurors even arrived.

"Help! Help! Mr. Merton got injured in a potion explosion! Somebody, please help him!"

Upon reaching Diagon Alley, George put on a frantic expression and began shouting, as if he had just lost his closest family member.

His cries soon drew the attention of two patrolling Aurors.

"Take us there, quickly!"

Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley, being hubs for wizards and dark wizards alike, were under constant Auror patrols to prevent incidents that could tarnish the Ministry's—and particularly the Minister's—reputation.

It was the back-to-school season, too, with many young wizards shopping with their families.

"Director Scrimgeour, after investigation, there are no traces of a second wand's magical signature, and no valuables were stolen. This rules out homicide; it can be confirmed that the death was an accidental result of potion-making."

Inside Merton's Potion Shop, an 18- or 19-year-old witch with pale, heart-shaped features and bubblegum-pink hair reported her findings to a middle-aged wizard standing opposite George.

The middle-aged wizard nodded in satisfaction.

"Thorough analysis, Tonks. It seems Mad-Eye has trained you well. Keep learning from him, and you'll be a full-fledged Auror in two years."

"Professor Moody may have a temper, but it's an honor to learn from him."

The young witch, Nymphadora Tonks, flashed a slightly proud smile.

Though retired, Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody was a legendary Auror. Over half the dark wizards in Azkaban had been brought in by him.

Receiving his guidance during her Auror-in-training phase was a privilege that her peers envied.

Meanwhile, George, eavesdropping on their conversation, perked up upon hearing their names.

"Scrimgeour… The head of the Auror Office. Isn't he the one who later replaced Cornelius Fudge to become the Minister for Magic? And Tonks… Is she the Metamorphmagus Nymphadora Tonks?!"

George searched his memory of his previous life, gradually recalling details about the two.

This Scrimgeour had taken a hardline stance against Voldemort and the Death Eaters during his tenure as Minister—only to be brutally killed by Voldemort.

As for Tonks, she had the innate ability to change her appearance at will. She later married Professor Lupin, though right now she hadn't even completed her training.

"So Lupin ended up robbing the cradle, huh? Not that it matters."

What mattered more to George was that both Scrimgeour and Tonks were relatively responsible Aurors—something that boded well for him.

"Poor child. To be adopted only to lose his guardian so soon… such bad luck."

After filing her report, Tonks turned to George, her gaze filled with sympathy. She had already learned of the boy's tragic background during the investigation.

"Not necessarily. This might actually be a good thing for him," Scrimgeour interjected with a shake of his head.

As head of the Auror Office, he was well-acquainted with the kinds of people who lived in Knockturn Alley. The boy's thin, scarred body told him almost everything he needed to know.

"For the boy, this could be a blessing in disguise. At least now he can inherit a sizeable estate and attend Hogwarts."

Scrimgeour approached George and explained the situation briefly.

Two key points emerged:

1. George would inherit the dark wizard's shop and his vault at Gringotts.

2. With no one left to teach him magic, George would be required to attend Hogwarts.

These were both within George's expectations, and he readily agreed.

Throughout the investigation, he refrained from overacting grief. He wasn't skilled enough to fool someone as seasoned as Scrimgeour.

At the end, however, George made one request:

"Sir, I don't want to use the name Dora anymore. Could I change my name?"

"Dora" was unfamiliar to him. If possible, he preferred to return to the name George, which felt more natural.

"Of course. Tomorrow, Miss Tonks will help you handle all the paperwork for inheriting the estate. You can change your name then, too."

Scrimgeour found nothing unusual about the request, thinking it might be George's way of coping with painful memories.

"Leave it to me!" Tonks stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on George's head as she ruffled his hair. Her tone was warm and kind.

She wasn't naïve; from the conversation between Scrimgeour and George, she had pieced together some of the boy's story.

"Thank you, Miss Auror."

George responded politely, his manners earning a glimmer of approval from Tonks.

Building a connection with Aurors wasn't a bad thing, especially given the challenges he might face as the heir of a dark wizard's estate.

Knockturn Alley was a dangerous place. Inheriting such wealth as a child was like parading through the streets with a block of gold—it was bound to attract trouble.

"What a sensible child."

Tonks couldn't help but feel a surge of goodwill toward George. Many adults found children annoying, but a well-mannered and polite child was far more endearing.

She decided she would go out of her way to help this boy.