Aristocrat (HP/SI)

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***

Richie was wrong. No one waited for Dumbledore to return from the MCM meeting. At first, the teachers ran like mad around the forbidden corridor area.

Minerva McGonagall looked highly agitated. Snape was wildly angry. Flitwick and Sprout were worried. But, amazingly enough, no one even thought to call the magical law enforcement officials.

As Richard had found out from the Weasley twins when he gave them the rest of the money for their help, they had sprayed Quirrell's office with a stupefying potion that should have knocked the professor out for five hours. And in Snape's office, they used their signature potion to seal the door shut and enchanted it with reinforcing charms that would resist a cancellation spell. They estimated that it would take Snape at least five hours to brew a suitable potion to deactivate the glue. As with the ZOTI professor, they had underestimated the Potions teacher - he had managed it in an hour and a half. Immediately afterwards, he'd heard from McGonagall about Quirrell breaking into the obstacle course and his death. And then Malfoy had complained to the Dean of Slytherin about his owl being bullied. Snape looked furious and threw lightning bolts with his eyes.

Eventually, after dinner, McGonagall and Snape fished Harry, Richie and Ron out. They were arguing in such a way that the windows in the vice-principal's office shook. But since the professors were preoccupied with the problem of Quirrell's demise, the exorcism didn't last very long. The Dean of Gryffindor had taken a hundred points off each of the three boys for making a cruel joke on Malfoy - which she thought was actually a prank - and had given them all a fortnight's work with Filch before the start of the holidays.

McGonagall then threw the boys out of her office.

The boys walked down the corridor in silence. Each was thinking about something else. Ron broke the silence:

- "Got off lightly.

- A fortnight's work..." Harry stretched out, glancing at Weasley. - It's all the owl's fault!

- Harry, are you going to remind me of that forever? - Ron asked.

- Ron's right," Richard said. - We got off easy, really. It would have been worse if it had been a whole year before the end of the holidays, or if the truth had come out...

Harry used his right hand to ruffle his hair, which was already uncombed. He spoke lengthily:

- I wonder how Malfoy got in there?

- He must have been following me," Richard said. - Before you came up, I thought I saw a shadow at the end of the corridor. But I put it down to a shadow play from the torches' flames.

- You should have checked," Ron said reproachfully.

- Guys, I'm not paranoid enough to react to every shadow as a danger," Richard said calmly. - Excuse me, I need to go to the hospital wing.

- Is something wrong? - Harry looked at his mate worriedly.

- I got some burns during the whirlwind," Richard said nonchalantly. - I'll see you tomorrow for the workout.

Madam Pomfrey reacted instantly to Grosvenor's complaint. She didn't ask any questions, but immediately started treating the burn with potions and ointments. The longer she treated the wound, the more she frowned her eyebrows. The inflammation wasn't going away. She pulled out her wand and began casting various spells on Richie's arm.

- A dark magic curse," the school healer muttered to herself. - Honey, who did this to you?

- I don't know, ma'am," Richard lied without blinking an eye. - I didn't pay attention to my hand and didn't feel anything until I looked at the time on the clock and found the burn. It was only then that I felt the burning and pain.

- Boy, you will lie down immediately and drink all the potions I prescribe for you," the healer said flatly.

- Very well, Madam Pomfrey," Richard agreed at once. - For how long?

- I'll be watching you until the holidays," the healer said.

- Thank you, ma'am.

Richard was happy. This way he could get his health back on track, and he could officially get out of doing his chores. He'd find something to do. There were so many books he hadn't read yet. All he had to do was ask Hermione to bring something from the library.

As soon as the healer disappeared into her room, Richie dialled Ron's number on the mahophone.

- Yes?" Weasley answered.

- Ron, I've come up with a great way to get out of my detention.

- What is it? - Ron asked eagerly.

- I need to go to the Hospital Wing.

- Are you insane?! - exclaimed Weasley. - Richie, I'd rather spend an hour or two wiping cups in the Honours Room than be in a hospital bed for a fortnight!

- Look, it's my job to suggest it. I'm already in a hospital bed.

- Ritchie, thanks, but I can do without it," Ron said. - Harry agreed with me. Get well," he said ironically.

The two weeks flew by like a blink of an eye. Richard was worried at first, but it was as if nothing had happened. The Headmaster and teachers had said absolutely nothing to the students about Professor Quirrell's death. There was no mention of the forbidden corridor. There were no aurors or representatives from the Ministry of Magic. It was unclear how the ZOTI teacher's body had been disposed of. It was as if Dumbledore had decided to hide the professor's death from everyone.

It should be noted that the Headmaster looked very worried after the MCM meeting. He kept walking thoughtfully and occasionally, appearing in the Great Hall, rubbed his beard.

The Director had a lot to think about and Richard had a lot to be happy about. Thanks to the bought votes of the ICM chairmen, the international law to relax the statute of secrecy had been pushed through at the meeting. Now Richie could safely and legally sell magical items disguised as machinery to ordinary people. Of course, other wizards had access to such things as well, but that was a small thing.

On the evening of the last day before the students were sent home, Richard was released from the hospital wing. Early the next day, a red steam train took the young mages to London. During the journey, the young aristocrat had time to talk to everyone he knew. Richie had recruited some of the older students to work in Grosvenor's Workshop. Harry and Ron took no offence at all to Richie for what they thought was his cunning. Despite the fact that they had to wipe cups in the Reward Room for a fortnight, they sympathised with their comrade who had to spend all that time in a hospital bed.The burn on Richard's left arm had healed, but the scar in the shape of a rune remained. Thankfully, it was small and not uncomfortable.

***

Everything was the same in the living room of Eaton Hall: fireplace, armchairs, table, hot tea steaming in china cups.

Richie sat in the cosy armchair as if on pins and needles. His father's prickly gaze, expressing strong dissatisfaction, did not allow him to relax and feel comfortable.

- Dad, you look better, like you've gotten younger," Richard dared to break the silence.

- Your pyjamas work wonders," Gerald replied with a frown. - So, son, what's your business with the secret service? Why do they bring me some kind of "special cargo" that turns out to be your school bag?

- Dad, it's hard to explain.

- Try me.

- If I tell you the truth, you won't believe me," the boy sighed heavily.

- And yet, I want to hear everything! - the Duke insisted.

- I had a... hmmm... epiphany....

- An epiphany?! - Gerald raised his eyebrows. - Again..." he sighed. - What is it this time?

- Our planet..." Richard said with difficulty. - It could be destroyed in the next six years. The culprit will be one of Britain's powerful wizards. I don't know who. All the powerful wizards are under suspicion, and the first one is Dumbledore.

Gerald's whole look screamed disbelief at the boy's words and expressed outright scepticism.

- The whole planet? - he smirked. - Destroyed?!

- I told you you wouldn't believe me," Richard sighed sadly.

- What can you do? - Gerald asked. - Richie, you're just a little boy.

- I'm a rich and powerful boy with superpowers," Richard replied.

- Don't divert the conversation,' said Grosvenor Sr. - 'Richie, what have you done? What did you do?

- Dad, with the help of the magicians, I've begun to develop a whole range of magical tricks that have no analogues among ordinary people: a quantum transmitter that will allow information to be transmitted over any distance almost instantaneously; artificial intelligence; super-strong composite materials; a safe and almost infinite generator of cold nuclear fusion; an intergalactic spaceship that will be able to jump light-years in an hour, and travel almost instantaneously by teleportation beacon.

- Impressive, but it sounds too fantastic," Gerald said.

- I agree, it's hard to believe, but I already have prototypes of many things, and soon there will be more advanced things. I plan to build all over the UK, and in the future all over the world, powerful cold nuclear fusion power stations that will run on enchanted fire.

- So, son, you managed to sneak that law through the wizards? - Gerald asked.

- Yes," a happy smile graced Richard's face. - Yes, Dad! The statute of secrecy has broken. I can now market any crazy-fantastic product and claim that it is a sample of secret technology.

- So, we're back to the subject of what you did and how the secret service is involved," Gerald's gaze was sharp as a knife, drilling his son.

The smile immediately faded on Richard's face. The boy swallowed convulsively.

- You see, Dad... I knew perfectly well that no one would believe that the planet was in danger of being destroyed. No one! Especially if it was based on some little boy's hunch.

- So-and-so?! - Grosvenor Senior's right eyebrow arched in a bizarre way.

- 'I told you about the weirdness at Hogwarts...' Richard continued reluctantly. - Well, I, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley have learnt that there is a Philosopher's Stone at the school. And, as I understand it, it was known to just about anyone with a modicum of curiosity.

- Hmmm..." the duke said sceptically. - Let's be clear - do you really believe that someone hid a philosopher's stone in the school, with the help of which you can turn lead into gold?

- In fact, I think that with it a wizard can bypass the restrictions of the ritual imposed on the Earth and copy gold, - Richard expressed his point of view. - But I think it is more interesting that the Philosopher's Stone can be used to create the elixir of life. Well, at least, the creator of this stone lived more than six hundred years and is already approaching the seven hundred mark.

The Duke's gaze became stern, he almost threw lightning. In an icy voice, he said:

- Richie, don't tell me you went after the Philosopher's Stone.

- All right, I'll keep my mouth shut.

- You disobeyed me," Gerald's voice was so cold that it sounded as if he could freeze the air in the house.

- Dad, I was trying to save the world," Richard said timidly. - It was necessary to deprive the possible destroyer of the planet of the means to get better health and a longer life.

- Richie, you will tell me everything immediately, and then you will get the deserved punishment! - The Duke said in an emphatic tone. His voice was filled with power, such a commanding tone was impossible to resist.

Richard suddenly, in a hoarse voice, began to tell about everything that had happened at school. Gerald could barely restrain himself from slapping his son immediately and not to start a war with the wizards.

- So, everything is clear, - the Duke, having listened to his son's story, slammed his palms on the armrests of the chair. - The Headmaster of Hogwarts is insane. He has arranged some sort of showdown with a rival right in the school by rude manipulations. He's turned the school into a dangerous place, but no one cares, because the Headmaster of the School of Magic has more power than the Minister of Magic. But you, Richie... You're a clever boy, a genius... How could you get involved in this, and against my orders?

- Dad, no one will believe in the apocalypse," Richard said sadly. - Even you, who know that my predictions often come true, don't believe it either. I must do something to save at least a part of mankind, and if I succeed, to prevent the catastrophe. No amount of power or money will help you survive the apocalypse.

- These excuses won't help you," the duke shook his head reproachfully to the side. - You will definitely get the belt. But good for you for at least thinking of an alibi.

- Dad, no one knows I have the Philosopher's Stone except you and me," Richard said. - Don't tell anyone about it, or we won't live much longer.

- I understand that," Gerald frowned thoughtfully. - What did you promise the secret services for their help? Do they know why this operation was necessary?

- It's nothing," Richard said nonchalantly. - I told Blade I was going to copy some important books with secret spells that were in the headmaster's stash. For help with the alibi, I promised to glamour a dozen military fighters into invisibility, not for free, of course. Thankfully, I have a new magical technology for this. He also promised to sell me a couple of DHDs.

- BFRS? - Gerald didn't know what he was talking about.

- A huge armoured humanoid robot," Richard explained.

Gerald's eyes widened in amazement and he exclaimed in an unaristocratic manner:

- Why would the secret service need a giant armoured robot?!

- Dad, how should I know? - Richard shrugged his shoulders. - Well, they wanted a couple of flying UBFRs, so that they could reach the speed of a missile and have plasma cutters bursting out of their hands, lasers shooting out of their eyes and a lot of weapons that could be mounted on the hull. It's not hard for me to custom build one of these things for them. Especially if they pay fifty million quid for each OBHR, and their cost of production is not more than a million.

- If the intelligence services believe that you can build such things, then I'll have to believe in fantastic 'technology'," Gerald said. - By the way, I wanted to make you happy. Richie, you've been nominated for the Nobel Prize. You have to be in Sweden on the tenth of December. I hope they let you out of school. I'll write a letter to your headmaster.

- Oh! - Richard's face lit up with a big smile. - That's great! Dad, I was going to have a big press conference this summer.

- Why? - Grosvenor Senior asked suspiciously.

- I want to make a big announcement about Grosvenor Junior's "technological innovations" and new industries. I will announce my company's plans to soon launch the latest safe and environmentally friendly cold fusion power plants; to build the first private spacecraft; to launch hundreds of satellites to provide satellite communications, navigation and free internet for everyone on earth.

- Richie, the scientific community will laugh at you," Gerald shook his head unhappily to the side.

- I know, but it'll give me more publicity, and it'll also be a way to publicise the work of the company's 'secret research and production division'. Dad, it's supposed to make it look like scientists will laugh and twiddle their thumbs, and then there will be power plants, spaceships, satellites, and so on. And then no one will be surprised, but will take everything as a given, and will enjoy fast internet, affordable communication and navigation. Winning the Nobel Prize would be a win-win for me. No one will ever think that all my devices are actually magic artefacts. And who in the world knows how technology works? Nobody cares, as long as it works.

- It's crazy, but I won't get in your way," Gerald replied. - But you'll have to talk to your grandmother to get permission to build the power plants.

- She's not going to deny me that little thing.

- She won't, except that you'll have to say goodbye to ten per cent of the shares in the power stations - to give them to Granny," said Gerald. - Now let's go - in practice we'll fix in practice that it's not necessary for a noble gentleman to stick his head in trouble....

- Dad, can't we do without the belt? - Richard asked hopefully.

- No," the Duke shook his head negatively. - We can't. I want you to think with your head next time. There are specially trained people to take risks. And you did the right thing, involving them in the case, but used this resource completely in vain.- It's always like this," Grosvenor Jr. sighed sadly, "You want to save the world, make it a better place, and you get a belt for it... Life is cruel and unfair.

***

Three days later, when Richard was finally able to sit up properly, he became very active. There were too many cases that needed close attention.

Richie, in the company of Detective Potter and Stephen's bodyguard, travelled by portal from Eaton Hall to 69 Grosvenor Street and to Grosvenor's Workshop, and several times he popped into Slant Lane and the Grosvenor Group offices.

A start was made on the establishment of divisions: "G Electrics", which was to deal with energy; "G Skynet" - artificial intelligence; "G Galanet" - telecommunications; "G British Cosmo" - as the name suggests, this division would deal with space programmes; "Galaxy Engineering" - this division would deal with wholesale of wizards' goods under the guise of high-tech microelectronics to various factories (Richard's plan was to set up the manufacture by wizards of microchips, which would be enough to install on any boards, and these chips would be positioned on the ground in Scotland in the vicinity of the Grosvenor Group.

Several grandiose buildings were laid out on land in Scotland near the Grosvenor Workshop.

Firstly, a skyscraper, which would house offices for new employees of magicians from all over the world (Ritchie was not going to be limited to wizards from Great Britain, he decided to attract talented magicians from all countries).

Secondly, a multi-level bunker was being built - a very spacious structure, inside which a spaceship would be created, and away from prying eyes mages would enchant military equipment, create OCDRs and realise similar projects.

There was plenty of work to do on the surface as well. It was necessary to build a spacious car park, a road, to create a beautiful park around the lake. After all, it would be unseemly for a solid company to have an unfenced area.

All the buildings would be powered by a new experimental power plant, based on the magic system that powered the Hogwarts Express. The cheap, even free electricity allows for a lot of possibilities: to install electric lighting everywhere, to make climate control in the building. It is easier to make lighting and heating with the help of technical means, because for quick casting of spells in the classical way on such a huge building as a skyscraper, it would be necessary to hire about a thousand wizards. In terms of money, it is more expensive than buying a small batch of equipment and giving the technical task to a group of specialists from "Grosvenor's Workshop" to reproduce and enchant this equipment. The result is very cheap, durable and long-lasting equipment, light bulbs and the like.

Another area that Ritchie has ordered to be set up as soon as possible is a small company that will produce labware. The company is quite small, the equipment for it requires relatively inexpensive, but the whole point is that the firm will bring more than a hundred per cent profit, even if it becomes a loss. How to realise this? Naturally, with the help of fraud. The company Metal Glazes will make laboratory utensils from free platinum. Naturally, according to the papers, platinum will be purchased from a fake company registered offshore, but in reality Ritchie himself will create this expensive material at his leisure and sell it above market value in the form of finished products that do not require number stamps.

***

Another day in July brought sunny and warm weather to the UK. But Richie had no time to enjoy the hot summer air. He had a lot to do.

The sudden ringing of the telephone caught young Grosvenor in his London home, from where he was just about to go to the office and find out how things were going with the hedge fund.

- Hello," he picked up the radiotelephone.

- Kid," came the hoarse voice of Detective Potter from the speaker, "rejoice, I've found some 'special' people to be your bodyguards.

Richard didn't immediately realise what he was talking about. But the intonation of the word "special" made everything clearer at once.

- Mr Potter, have you found any candidates to be my bodyguards! - Richard asked excitedly.

- Exactly! - replied the detective proudly. - It was difficult, but I keep my word. Will you meet with them?

- Of course," Richard answered immediately.

- Then they can be fished out this afternoon at the Hole Cauldron pub," said the detective. - Or you could make an appointment for them to meet at a time convenient to you.Richie thought about his schedule for the day and realised that he could put a few things on hold and free up some time at noon.

- Sir, today would suit me just fine," he replied. - Could you accompany me?

- Of course, lad! - Scott Potter said. - What are you talking about! It's my job.

- Sir, can you tell me in a nutshell who these people are? - Richard asked.

- Young people, recently graduated from a public school you know, - the detective tried to minimise the mention of magic in the phone conversation. - After school, the girl spent a year on a "special" police special forces course, and the guy went through a full three-year training, worked as a trainee for six months and as much as a cop. It was a miracle I managed to recruit the pair. The guy had seen the other side of the bobby's work and felt the paltry salary and zero prospects on his own pocket. All in all, the guys are okay, they're good for the pay and the prospects. If you put them through bodyguard school, they'll do well.

- Sir, thank you. I'll see you at noon at the Hole in the Cauldron.

At twelve o'clock sharp, Richard walked into the Hole Cauldron. Half the tables were occupied. At a table in the corner of the room on the right hand side, Scott Potter was immediately recognised. Across from the detective sat two young men.

Closer to the aisle, a blue-eyed brunette about one hundred and sixty-seven centimetres tall and about eighteen years old was seated on a bench. Her hair stuck out in all directions like stiff, thin wire. Richard noted the girl's sturdy build, took a quick glance at her small breasts, and was a little surprised by her clothes. She wore a tight black shirt with many steel rivets and similarly coloured trousers. The shoes were boots with thick, solid soles - the kind English football hooligans and informals like to wear. A magic wand hung in a pouch on his belt.

The guy looked to be in his early twenties, maybe a little more. Average height, stocky and athletic. His brown eyes scrutinised Richard carefully. The young man was dressed in a classic black suit, inexpensive but good, even a navy blue tie over an ironed white shirt. His dark brown hair was cut short, sticking out an inch at most.

As Richard approached the table, Detective Potter stood up, followed by the girl and the boy.

- 'Allow me to introduce,' Scott began, 'Earl Richard Grosvenor, your possible employer. Richie, this," he pointed to the girl, "is Miss Nymphadora Tonks.

Richard was surprised to see the girl's hair colour change to purple. She said in a beautiful voice:

- Sir, it's a pleasure to meet you. Just call me Tonks.

- All right, Miss Tonks," Richard nodded affably. - It's nice to meet you.

- And this," the detective continued, shifting his palm to the boy, "is Mr Hector Proudfoot.

- Mr Proudfoot," Richard indicated the nod politely. - Pleased to meet you.

Hector looked surprised, apparently not expecting his possible employer to be so young. He replied:

- And me, sir.

Richie sat down at the table next to Mr Potter. The others, following his example, sat back down in their seats.

- So, let's start with you, Hector," Grosvenor began. - Tell us about yourself.

- What is it, sir? - Proudfoot asked.

- Background, political views, attitudes towards ordinary people, hobbies," Richard listed.

- Sir, my parents are both wizards," Proudfoot began. - Both half-bloods. We lived in Manchester in an ordinary house among the Muggles. I am familiar with the Muggle world. I don't dislike Muggles. I was a Gryffindor at Hogwarts. Graduated from Hogwarts four years ago with four highest GPAs. I have no hobbies. No interest in politics.

- Bad habits? Drinking, smoking, drugs? - continued Richard.

- No," Proudfoot shook his head. - I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I abhor drugs.

Richard watched Hector's reactions carefully, and so far the boy didn't seem to be lying. He asked:

- Hector, how do you feel about having to guard such a young man for a long time?

- It's all right, sir," Proudfoot shrugged. - If it's true that you'll pay me five hundred galleons a month, I can't think of a better job.

- Five hundred? - Richard raised his eyebrows in surprise. - No, my personal bodyguards will be paid seven hundred galleons, but half of that will be paid in pounds. You will have to be trained at an elite bodyguard school. Is that all right with you?

A happy smile lit up Hector's face. He nodded a couple of times and replied in a happy voice:

- Yes, sir! I'm ready. This is more than I bargained for.

- Hector, are you married? - Richard continued. - Any children?

- No, sir," Proudfoot shook his head from side to side. - I haven't thought of starting a family yet.

- Well, I'm satisfied with your candidacy," Richard said, and turned his gaze to Nymphadora, whose hair had turned a lettuce colour. - Miss Tonks...

- Sir," Nymphadora said worriedly, "I'm eighteen, I graduated from Hogwarts a year ago. I was a Puffendui.

- Oh, glorious Puffendui! - The corners of Richard's lips lifted involuntarily. - I'm a Puffendoo student myself. Miss, tell me, what's wrong with your hair?

- Mr Grosvenor, I am a metamorphmagus," Nymphadora replied. - I can change my appearance, take on the appearance of other people.

The girl immediately demonstrated her talents. She changed her hair colour to black, her eyes to brown, grew a huge hooked nose with a hunchback and made her eyes narrower. She looked like a witch of balzac age.

Richie was surprised at such magical talent, he had heard nothing about metamorphs and found himself impressed by the demonstration.

- Amazing! - he said honestly with admiration. - Can this be learnt?

- I don't know, sir," Nymphadora shook her head negatively. - They say you have to be born with this gift. My parents are both wizards. My father is a muggle-born wizard and my mother is a pureblood with the maiden name of Black. But she ran away from home because she didn't share her family's racist views, which were against bonding with muggleborns.

- Black..." Richard stretched out thoughtfully, going over the information in his head. - I remember a few Blacks. Narcissa Malfoy had that surname in her maidenhood. Bellatrix Lestrange also had that surname before her marriage - one of the closest supporters of the terrorist Riddle, now in Azkaban. And Sirius Black is also a Riddle supporter and is in prison.

- I'm ashamed to admit it, but these are really my relatives on my mother's side," Nymphadora changed her hair colour to ash grey and returned her nose and eye slits. - Our family does not share their views at all.

- Good, Miss," Richard didn't notice Tonks lying. - What about your personal life? You're not going to end up spending a lot of money on your education and then suddenly get married and go on maternity leave and then be out of shape for a long time?

- No, Mr Grosvenor," Nymphadora shook her head, this time showing off the pink colour of her hair. - I don't intend to start a family in the next few years, I want to build a career. But if suddenly I-" The girl's hair turned red, as did her cheeks. - If I get pregnant, I'll try to get back to work as soon as possible after the birth!

- Good," Richie rubbed his chin thoughtfully and kept his eyes on the girl's hair. - Miss Tonks, can you control your ability? I'm in public a lot. It would be strange if my bodyguard were to demonstrate, for example, at a press conference, for example, right in front of the video cameras, a change of hair colour.

- Sir, I can control it," Nymphadora sounded a note of uncertainty in her voice. - Well, or I can wear a headdress.

- Excellent," Richard said. - You are both accepted on probation.

Nymphadora glowed with happiness. Her eyes turned bright green and her hair pink.

Proudfoot exhaled with relief, though he had been told before that he was accepted, but Hector couldn't fully believe it.

Nymphadora couldn't resist asking a question:

- Sir, excuse me, but what will the probationary period consist of?

- You will accompany me in shifts over the summer," Richard began to explain. - One day Miss Tonks, the next day Mr Proudfoot. As bodyguards, of course. I will look after you, you will look after me and the job of personal guard in general. In the meantime, you will be paid a full salary. If by the end of the summer everything is satisfactory, you will go to bodyguard school and take the best six-month course. You will also need to learn how to drive a car and fly a light aircraft. In addition, you will continue to keep in shape with hand-to-hand combat and magic training. You will receive a stipend of half your salary for the duration of your training. Once your training is complete, you will begin work with a full salary. Whilst I am at Hogwarts, you will guard my father, the Duke of Westminster. Does that suit you?

- Yes!" Proudfoot replied eagerly. - Sir, I'm happy to upgrade my qualifications. To be honest, at first I thought I would have to live on my savings during the training. That's an excellent offer, sir!

- Duke? - Nymphadora was taken aback. - I'm sorry, are you really an earl?

Richard burst out laughing softly.

- 'Yes, Miss Tonks,' he replied. - Count Grosvenor.

- Merlin! - Nymphadora exclaimed. - 'And I thought it was such a joke. I had heard of Grosvenor's Workshop, and I thought you were the son of the owner of that business.

- 'No, Miss Tonks,' Richard indicated with a shake of his head. - 'This is my business. My father is an ordinary man, if you can call a duke and a billionaire member of the royal family that. Well, it was a pleasure to meet you. Come round to 69 Grosvenor Street at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. That's in London, not far from here. I'll get a magical notary and we'll make a magical contract.

- Good day to you, sir," Proudfoot rose from the bench.

- Goodbye, Count," Nymphadora said goodbye.- Scott, we should go too," Richard said.

- Yeah..." Detective Potter, who had been silent throughout the conversation, set aside his nearly empty mug of beer with a blank stare and stood up. - Let's go, mate. I don't like this place, but I have to use it to meet wizards.