Chapter 11 -

7th September, 1896

One week had passed since Adrian's meeting with William Stone - The Muggle Man in his plan. During this period, he didn't meet with Stone or visit Portsmouth, staying occupied with his responsibilities in Diagon Alley. The remaining time was dedicated to Angelina and their unborn child. Adrian had heard suggestions in his previous life about the potential impact of parents' behavior on children during pregnancy, although he wasn't certain about the accuracy of such claims.

Nevertheless, Adrian decided to spend quality time with both Angelina and the unborn baby. In his free moments, he shared stories of heroic yet humble and clever personalities, delving into fairytales, politics, sports, and culture. He left no room for regrets. Angelina appreciated this change in behavior, relishing the increased time spent with Adrian. Their marriage had seen limited time together due to Adrian's busy schedule in both the magical and muggle worlds. They hadn't shared much time before marriage either, barely knowing each other, which had strained Angelina's heart, though she kept it to herself. However, this past week had been nothing short of heaven for her. Joining Adrian's efforts, she, too, contributed to sharing stories with their unborn child.

Having lost her mother during her teenage years and spending much of her life alone, Angelina hoped to give birth to the child soon, longing for a companion. Rocco and Miara, the magical turtles, seemed to sense the joyous atmosphere through the family blood connection. Knowing their master was expecting a child, they endeavored to keep Angelina as cheerful as possible in their own unique ways. Overall, the entire Walcombe family was cheerful and content during this time.

...…..

As Adrian cherished moments with his family, an owl mail suddenly arrived. The contents comprised an invitation from his colleagues at Caldwell Apothecary, urging him to join them at the Leaky Cauldron to celebrate the 80th birthday of Mr. Jonathan Caldwell, their esteemed master and owner.

While initially hesitant as he wanted to spend more time with his family, Adrian decided to attend after discussing it with Angelina. Recognizing the importance of gaining support, guidance, and backing from these individuals for his upcoming endeavors, he quickly prepared dinner for Angelina before heading out to the celebratory dinner. Adrian advised her to sleep early, anticipating that he might take some time to return, considering the nature of the event—a party essentially dedicated to showing deference to the boss.

...….

At 7 PM, Adrian arrived at the Leaky Cauldron. Upon entering, he found familiar faces—senior acquaintances from Caldwell Apothecary such as Mr. Noel, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Kidd, all seasoned Master Potioneers and part of the first batch of apprentices under Mr. Caldwell. Adrian shared a good rapport with them, as they had guided him during his initial days.

While waiting for Mr. Caldwell and others to arrive, they engaged in discussions about potions and other light-hearted topics. As the celebration officially commenced with Mr. Caldwell and his junior Potioneers joining, the atmosphere became lively. Despite Mr. Caldwell hailing from an ancient and esteemed Pure-Blood family, he was more of a potion enthusiast and wasn't keen on extravagant banquets for every occasion. Nevertheless, in acknowledgment of the respect his apprentices held for him, he set aside his eccentricities to enjoy a few hours of revelry.

As the night progressed, most attendees became quite intoxicated and satiated. Near the end of the party, Mr. Caldwell approached Adrian, surprising him.

"Little Adrian, how long do you plan to keep it a secret?" he remarked, prompting Adrian to respond calmly, "Sorry, Senior Caldwell. What are you talking about?" Although Adrian suspected that Mr. Caldwell might be aware of his potion mastery, he preferred not to disclose it until directly addressed.

Mr. Caldwell, with a mix of sternness and warmth, continued, "So you're going to keep it a secret from your master, too, you little brat. I'm talking about when you're going to take the exam to become a Master Potioneer. I know you've already reached that stage. If you're concerned about what people from Pure-Blood families with bad motives might think, just wait another 4-5 months. I'm going to become a Grandmaster by then. After that, I can take care of this smoothly so that you don't have to keep it a secret and become a target for a few undesirable individuals."

Without allowing Adrian to respond further, Mr. Caldwell left the Leaky Cauldron. Adrian was taken aback but could appreciate Mr. Caldwell's goodwill. It felt like the care of a mentor for a student with the potential to reach or surpass their level. Individuals like Mr. Caldwell, despite some prejudices toward those from Muggle backgrounds, were more tolerant of prodigies who respected wizarding culture.

Feeling somewhat reassured by Mr. Caldwell's words, Adrian also felt a surge of happiness. He now looked forward to advancing his mastery sooner than he initially thought, shortening the path to his goals. With a cheerful disposition, he headed back home.

.....

10th September, 1896

The past 2-3 days have been leisurely for both Adrian and Angelina, spent in Portsmouth. Their visit had several purposes. Firstly, the second trimester of pregnancy can be challenging for witches, marked by the fetus undergoing its initial magical transformation phase, leading to mental instability in the mother. To provide more support during this critical period, Adrian decided that Angelina would stay in Portsmouth with his family for the next three months. Mrs. Hanna and little Diana would be constant companions, offering the necessary care and company.

With the house now more available, Adrian planned to focus on his career, requiring a quiet environment for deeper contemplation. This period of tranquility would allow him to concentrate on completing missions, earning rewards from the system to enhance his power further.

Adrian pondered on how to tackle the upcoming missions. In the last round, he received rewards for completing the OWL and NEWT exams for all subjects registered with the British Ministry. Now, his goal was to upgrade and register his mastery level in all subjects he already possessed. Notably, he had yet to register as Healer, Ritualist, Occlumens, and Legilimens. Additionally, despite reaching Apprentice level, he had not upgraded his alchemist identity.

However, he acknowledged the need to proceed cautiously to avoid arousing suspicion. Registering for these roles at a higher level might attract unwanted attention. Instead, Adrian decided to register as an Intern level for Healer, Ritualist, Occlumens, and Legilimens in the coming months, aiming to navigate the magical community of Britain smoothly.