I glanced over the debt ledger carefully.
Unfortunately, there were no major noble houses among the debtors.
That wasn't particularly surprising. Truly influential families rarely allowed debts to remain unresolved for generations. Most either repaid what they owed or negotiated settlements long before matters reached this point.
The names that remained belonged primarily to smaller pureblood families and old half-blood lines. Flint appeared several times. Bulstrode was listed as well. Beyond them were dozens of lesser-known names, families that had once sought assistance from House Salvius and never fully repaid what they owed.
I closed the ledger.
There was little point pursuing the matter personally at the moment.
"Send letters to all of them," I instructed.
Griphorn inclined his head.
"Simply remind them that House Salvius has resumed management of its affairs. I want to see what stance they choose to take before deciding how to proceed."
"As you wish, Lord Salvius."
With that matter settled, I requested access to the Peverell vault.
Unlike the Salvius records, the Peverell archives contained something far more valuable than gold.
Influence.
The vault itself remained exactly as I remembered from my previous visit. Ancient shelves lined the walls, protected by wards that had likely remained intact for centuries. Near the center rested a collection of ledgers bound in dark leather.
One in particular caught my attention.
The Ledger of Obligations.
I had examined it briefly during my last visit but hadn't possessed the time to study it properly.
Today was different.
I opened it carefully.
Every page detailed favors performed by House Peverell throughout history, along with the obligations received in return. More importantly, each entry contained supporting documentation, witness records, magical contracts, and in some cases copies of oaths sworn before neutral parties.
The thoroughness was almost frightening.
For centuries, House Peverell had operated from the shadows while allowing others to stand in the spotlight.
This ledger was proof.
Names filled page after page.
Some were insignificant.
Others were anything but.
Slughorn.
Crouch.
Greengrass.
Even darker names appeared among the records.
Travers.
Rosier.
The obligations varied considerably. Some involved simple favors. Others concerned political support, financial assistance, introductions, marriages, or protection during difficult times.
Most would never be collected.
Some, however, might prove useful.
I continued turning pages.
Then I stopped.
Malfoy.
The entry occupied nearly an entire page.
Abraxas Malfoy.
Below it was a second notation added.
Lucius Malfoy.
My attention sharpened immediately.
According to the record, Abraxas had sought assistance following his involvement in the scandal surrounding Minister Leach in 1968. The Peverell family had quietly intervened behind the scenes, preventing the investigation from expanding further and ensuring the matter disappeared before reaching the Wizengamot.
The favor received in return was significant.
An Unbreakable Vow sworn by Abraxas Malfoy and Lucius Malfoy had reaffirmed the obligation and accepted responsibility for its fulfillment.
The wording itself was surprisingly restrained.
The House of Malfoy shall not knowingly act against a member of House Peverell, nor knowingly aid another in doing so. During times of conflict, any threat known to House Malfoy against House Peverell shall be disclosed if reasonably possible.
I read the entry twice.
Then a third time.
My heart gave a small jump.
Lucius Malfoy represented one of the greatest future obstacles to what I intended to build within Slytherin and Hogwarts. His influence among traditionalist families was immense, and his connections reached deep into the Ministry.
Yet this changed everything.
Not because it gave me control over him.
That would have been foolish.
But it removed him as a threat.
For the first time since arriving in this world, I possessed something more valuable than power.
Leverage.
I carefully closed the ledger, forcing my expression to remain calm despite the excitement building in my chest.
There would be plenty of time to decide how and when to use this information.
For now, simply knowing it existed was enough.
Before leaving, I selected several books from the vault archives. Most concerned advanced enchantments, magical storage theory, and persistent spell constructs—the exact subjects causing problems in my current research.
With the books tucked securely under my arm, I left the vault and made my way back toward the bank's upper levels.
After leaving Gringotts, I didn't return to Grimmauld Place immediately.
Instead, I made my way to Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.
The Christmas crowds had made Diagon Alley unusually lively. Families moved between shops carrying parcels and gift boxes while children dragged exhausted parents toward displays of magical toys and sweets. Snow drifted gently overhead, held aloft by enchantments before melting harmlessly against warded storefronts.
I ordered a simple vanilla ice cream and claimed a table near the window.
The cold dessert wasn't what I was interested in.
I needed time to think.
The morning had been productive. Property disputes, family finances, overseas holdings, reconstruction projects, old debts, and now the Peverell ledger.
Each discovery had created new opportunities.
And new problems.
The occupied properties were relatively straightforward. The law was on my side, and Gringotts possessed more than enough resources to ensure compliance.
The debts were similarly manageable.
The real issue was enforcement.
I was eleven years old.
No matter how competent I appeared, there were limits to what an eleven-year-old heir could accomplish personally.
Eventually I would need professionals.
Managers.
Accountants.
Lawyers.
People who could represent House Salvius while I remained trapped inside Hogwarts for most of the year.
My spoon slowed.
Lawyers.
That immediately brought one person to mind.
Ted Tonks.
Over the past few months I had become acquainted with Dora Tonks through the Study Club. Somewhat unexpectedly, she had secured the position of year representative.
She remained as clumsy as ever.
But beneath the chaos was a genuinely kind person who took her responsibilities seriously. Older students respected her. Younger students sought her out for help. Even when she made mistakes, nobody questioned her intentions.
The sort of person who reflected well on her family.
And from what little I knew, her father possessed a solid reputation in legal matters.
Trustworthy.
Competent.
Most importantly, independent.
I considered simply visiting.
Then immediately discarded the idea.
Appearing at a family's doorstep without warning because I wanted legal consultation seemed unnecessarily abrupt.
Particularly for a family I barely knew.
Finishing the last of the ice cream, I left Fortescue's and headed toward the owl post office instead.
A few minutes later I was seated at one of the writing desks.
The letter itself was simple.
Polite.
Professional.
I introduced the matter as legal consultation regarding family properties and historical agreements. Nothing confidential. Nothing alarming. Merely a request for a meeting at his convenience.
Once the letter was dispatched, I felt considerably better about the situation.
That left the rest of the afternoon free.
Which brought me back to the problem I'd been contemplating earlier.
Finding a suitable agent in the muggle world.
So I returned to the Leaky Cauldron.
Tom gave me an amused look when I entered.
"Back already?"
"I liked the breakfast."
He snorted.
Neither of us believed that.
I claimed another corner table and resumed my observations.
The morning crowd had been different.
Now the pub hosted a broader mix of visitors. Ministry employees on holiday leave. Families shopping in Diagon Alley. Independent merchants. Witches and wizards moving between magical and muggle London.
Exactly the sort of people I wanted to study.
Most passed without attracting my attention.
A few did not.
I watched carefully.
Listened occasionally.
And quietly began building a list of names.
The future businesses I envisioned would require more than money.
They would require people.
Finding the right ones would take time.
Fortunately, time was one resource I possessed in abundance.
__________________________
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