Chapter 292 - 292
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I didn't find out anything else during the three days of training at the house on Grimmauld. On the morning of the sixth day, I was already dressed in a brand-new black business suit - a three-piece with a rare vertical stripe. A coat over it, a muffler, a wand in a holster, the second in a cane. Behind my shoulder is the invariable bag with an Extension Charm on it, in which I carry all my belongings — I spent two hours to put everything in order and sort everything into its places.
I put a muggle-repellent spell on myself and left the Grimmauld house, but as soon as I was out the door, a clearly disgruntled owl flew up, defiantly dropped the letter, and flew away, hooting furiously. I intercepted the letter with my telekinesis, and after checking for surprises, I opened it - from Hogwarts. A list of everything I needed. Shouldn't they have been sent out earlier? Or did Kreacher again decide to close the house from seemingly necessary but not mandatory correspondence? But Hermione's letters come without problems, even if they do not come often. I'll have to talk to him about this.
I put the letter in the inside pocket of my coat and apparated to the Leaky Cauldron. Having entered the pub, I expected to plunge into the unpleasant atmosphere created by the regulars again. However, in fairness, it should be noted that, frankly, homeless characters were not observed here today. To some extent gloomy - yes. And in general, it somehow became cleaner, and the smells of something mushroom with vegetables and spices were quite pleasant.
Like the appearance of other wizards, my appearance attracted a little attention, but just enough so that the locals did not recognize their acquaintance in me and continued to go about their business: drinking, eating, reading books ... Oh, what? Hawking's book?
Without any trouble from the bartender, who obviously recognized me, I made my way to a dead end in the backyard and tapped my wand in the right places to open the passage.
Life on Diagon Alley was just getting into its normal course: there were almost no wizards always scurrying back and forth; some shops had just opened, and some were still closed. On the walls of some of the shops, there were wanted lists of prisoners who had escaped from Azkaban, but they were not looked at as if they were fascinated by the diversion of the eyes. Careless wizards.
Since I found myself on Diagon Alley, it would be logical to buy everything for the upcoming school year, especially since the main stores are already open. Moreover, time permits.
Without queues and crowds, having managed to do my shopping in just half an hour, I stood at the Fortescue Cafe, enjoying the taste of just bought ice cream with chocolate chips and watching the wizards gradually arriving on the Alley.
Exactly at the appointed time, I noticed in the crowd the familiar figure of Lady Greengrass in a black fitted coat and a hood, from under which only the lower half of her face was visible. However, this and the peculiarities of movement with gait were more than enough for me to recognize her. Approaching me, Delphine slightly lifted her hood, letting me see her face, and at such a distance, I could easily feel her magic - it's her.
"Hello," she smiled politely and held out her hand, but not for a polite greeting. "We're leaving now, with a portkey."
Nodding, I took her hand, and we were immediately pulled into a soft portal, and a moment later, we were standing in a small clearing next to her Norwegian-style wooden house. Still, what a huge difference it makes in the air when you're surrounded by woods.
We walked into the house in silence, and it was only during the tea party in the great central room, sitting at the table in the chairs across from each other, that at least some conversation broke out.
"I'll be brief," Lady Greengrass spoke in a serious tone, looking at me. "The program for the next couple of days is simple. First, we'll decide on training, schedules, and other things. After a couple of days, through a ritual and a potion, we will reveal the effects of your lycanthropy treatment. As I understand it, something is left, and the form of this "something" is unknown?"
"Exactly."
"After that, you'll have to study on your own for a while. I'll give you all the materials, instructions, and the work of other transfiguration masters, so you can orient yourself on a future project - you can start now."
Nodding, I reached for a simple raisin cookie.
"Now, over the next few days, we'll go over the basics of these works. The rest is up to you. Questions?"
"Why so little time? And how will the learning take place during school hours?"
"Time is short because now everyone has little time. The rebirth of the Dark Lord is an extraordinary event. All the rich, powerful, or influential… Or all in one… Everyone now has an unthinkable number of problems and worries that need to be solved, as usual, yesterday. Supporters are recruited, old ties are restored, voluntarily or forcibly - it doesn't matter. I've already thought about classes. Will it be a problem for you to get out to Hogsmeade once a week?"
"I don't think it would be a problem. There are plenty of secret passages at Hogwarts."
"Then that's what we'll do," Delphine nodded.