Chapter 147

I left Gringotts with the next receipt and a copy of the contract for today, safely hiding them in my unchanging bag, the belt of which habitually weighs on my shoulder. It is funny because the habit of my past life, of adjusting the strap on my shoulder, is back. A couple of times, I noticed that I was trying to fix it even when there was no need for it. Very... strange feeling, forgotten, but somehow pleasant.

I wandered around Diagon Alley for a while and looked in the bookstore, searching for something interesting, but everything seemed too dull after the Restricted Section. I visited the store of magic animals and was surprised by enlivened snakes trying to whisper something, praise their enclosure, or complain about bad mice. What they want from me? Perhaps it is the influence of the Basilisk soul? After all, I have not checked. But the snakes were trying to speak out.

I did not ignore the Fortescue Cafe, ordering hot chocolate and a portion of regular ice cream with chocolate chips - I do not like the frills in the ice cream.

It was only after all this traveling through London's main magical shopping street that I finally went into the Twilfitt and Tattings atelier to pick up my order. There I changed my clothes in the big dressing room. What can I say? If I change my hair, I'll look like Percival Graves, but blond and with a completely different face. I can't help it - I can't dress colorfully and youthfully. Black and white colors, suits, vests, shoes or boots, turtlenecks, shirts... Of course, I can wear jeans and T-shirts, and there are tracksuits, but I don't see much difference between them, as long as they're not pink.

Over a conversation with a saleswoman, I learned about how to do stable charms on clothes. It turned out, though I might have guessed it, that they use very complex proprietary chains of runes. They're even patented by the relevant ministry bureau, so even if you figure it out and calculate the materials and the potion impregnation to embroider them, you can't use them for commercial purposes, of course. But on the whole, I think I will study this direction myself someday because the small range of fitting clothes and the greater range of comfortable temperature are pretty useful knowledge. I adhere to the opinion that the wizard must be a self-sufficient unit and should be able to survive in the most diverse and adverse conditions.

Anyway, a little refreshed in terms of clothing, now with a definitively clear conscience, I left Diagon Alley and took the next shuttle bus to the Knights.

"Look how handsome you've grown," Sarah smiled at me from the doorway. "When are you going to get a girlfriend?"

"First of all, I'm a wizard. I need to study. Where can I find time for girls?"

"I advise you not to delay," she wagged her finger with a smile. "Other boys will take all the beauties."

"The world is not limited to England alone."

"Sit down to lunch, wizard."

After a hearty lunch, the first thing I did was dial Hermione's number.

"Hello..."

"Mrs. Granger? It's Max. Max Knight. Can I hear Hermione?"

"Max? What an unexpected call. Sure, one second."

From its sound, the receiver was placed on something wooden, and a couple of moments later, I distinctly heard very fast footsteps.

"Max?"

"Yeah, hi, Hermione."

"Hi! Something happened?"

"No, just wanted to say hello and ask how are you doing."

"Everything is fine. The holidays have just begun."

"Hmm..."

"What's up?"

"There's Sarah walking around, smiling snidely and pretending she has a lot to do in close proximity to me and the phone."

"Sarah? Oh, the foster mom? Why?"

"Well... I called a girl, myself, and there was some talk about girls earlier, like, 'Get yourself a girlfriend.'"

"Ma-a-ax."

"Yeah?"

"Um... Nothing. Why do you call her by her first name?"

"Well, I kind of know I'm adopted. Also, I remember and know my mother very well. Besides, nobody objects here."

"Weird. And we've already decided where we're going to France, and we've even bought tickets. Can you imagine, it's as if I guessed then in the common room. To Nice! There's so much to do! The sea, vacations, museums!"

"Do you think you've opened your third eye?"

"A pseudoscientific statement."

"I can scientifically explain to you the possibility of prediction in terms of multiple universe theory. Quite scientific, by the way."

"No, no, thank you. I'll read it myself. Isn't a similar idea used in string theory?"

"Exactly."

Then Sarah's voice came from the hallway:

"And in Everett's interpretation."

This was unexpected. Hermione was pensively silent.

"I didn't know that. I'll have to look for more information. Surely there are good public libraries in Nice..."

"Earth to research ship Granger. Psh-psh..."

There was a sorrowful sigh in response to me:

"Boys."

"Earth reports that there are two tickets available for excellent seats to the championship final. It remains to find an escort. Can you hear me?"

"Yes, I'm here. When do you have time to do everything? All I had time to do was sleep and tell my parents about my adventures and accomplishments."

"Adventures?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary, and it's mostly other people's adventures, from girlie gossip."

"I see. Hermione, when are you leaving?"

"Oh, it's tomorrow. For two weeks."

"Interesting. I have an appointment with a combat master tomorrow. If I'm lucky, I might be able to go into an apprenticeship. I can't even imagine how to combine it with Hogwarts. But anyway, this experience is better to get with a mentor than in an actual magical battle. Hmmm... I'll ask if she needs another apprentice. If so, I'll recommend you. You seem pretty talented."

"Oh, come on... I'm not that talented... You're better at a lot of things."

"Don't belittle your accomplishments. You're the best among peers at everything. Besides, what would I do without you? You can think, analyze and compare facts, and I can only memorize and practice all sorts of crap - everyone who can learn occlumency can do that, and practice is persistence and hard work. The ability to think is not given to everyone."

"Yeah... Really."

"Anyway, I'll recommend you, and if she's interested, I'll introduce you. If not, I'll help you with the same program."

"That's good news. I hope this master will be interested in you."

We talked about everything else for a few more minutes, but soon Hermione was called by her mother to help with something, and our conversation ended there. Now I must somehow prepare for my meeting with Lady Greengrass. Perhaps knowledge of etiquette? Sarah knows a lot in this area. It's just that it's not customary for us to be overly polite.