The Minister showed no sign of being slightly offended by the Duke's words. Being a good actress, she smiled sweetly and said admiringly:
"Gerald, you're absolutely right. Unfortunately, most wizards consider commoners filthy. I've been trying to combat this for ten years as Minister. I'm trying to eradicate the denigration of magical minorities and the disdainful attitude toward commoners. Sadly, I've had little success. The pureblood contempt for those who lack the gift of wizarding runs too deep. Imagine, many pureblood families disown their children who aren't magically gifted-they're called "Squibs." Some even go so far as to erase the children's memories.
"Nightmare!" Prince Charles was horrified.
Gerald frowned and flexed his jaw muscles before saying:
"Mrs. Bagnold, am I correct in understanding that wizarding society is divided into castes. Purebloods and..."
"Besides purebloods, they also distinguish between half-bloods-those with one wizarding parent. And then there's a third category-Muggle-borns..."
The Minister cast a pointed glance at Richard. Gerald followed her gaze. He pieced together the puzzle in his head and realized that a son with Muggle-born status would be considered in wizarding society something like a black man during the colonial era.
"Mrs. Bagnold," said the Duke, "if you're talking about Richie, he's not Muggle-born. His mother is a witch."
"Oh, really!" the Minister rejoiced. "That's wonderful! And where is she now?! Oh, I'm sorry..." She blushed, feeling she'd asked an insensitive question.
"It's all right, Mrs. Bagnold," Gerald replied. "Four years ago, it turned out that my wife had given me love potions. That's when we separated."
"I understand," the Minister said, not at all surprised. "This happens often."
While the Minister of Magic and the Duke conversed, the old woman, oblivious to everyone, calmly sipped her tea. She closed her eyes in delight and delightedly sampled the various sweets.
"This is a lovely tea," said Marchbanks. "And the sweets are beyond praise. Boy," she said to Richard, "what can you do now?"
- I presume, Madam Marchbanks, you are interested in my magical skills?
"Yes, yes," Madame Marchbanks nodded a couple of times.
- For example...
Richie demonstrated snatching a coin from the air and tossing it into the air, where it vanished. He then transferred Prince Charles's watch to his own hands, showed it off to everyone around him, and then returned it to its place in the same manner.
The two sorceresses watched Richard's manipulations with curiosity.
The young magician needed more emotion and concentration for his next trick. To do this, he uttered the activation key:
- Abra-Kadabra... Cup, fly.
Both sorceresses flinched as if slapped. Almost instantly, small wooden pointers appeared in both ladies' hands and were pointed at the boy.
Richard, who had just levitated his cup, was startled by the ladies' sudden movements and lost his concentration. This caused the cup to crash onto its saucer, creating a loud clink of shattering porcelain.
"What was that, young man?!" Mrs. Bagnold asked sternly. "Why are you frightening us?"
"Sorry," Richard said, bewildered. "I didn't expect you to be frightened by mere levitation."
"Levitation?!" the old woman snorted humorously. "Merlin the Almighty! With the help of the Unforgivable Curse?"
"Hm..." the Minister pursed her lips sternly. "Young man, what were those words you were saying?"
"Madam, I made up these words to facilitate the activation of superpowers. Abra-Kadabra..."
The sorceresses shuddered again. Richard raised his eyebrows in surprise and continued:
- These seem to be ordinary words used by illusionists.
The sorceresses hid their pointers.
"Hm," the Minister of Magic drawled. "Young man, try not to use those words again. It's just that wizards have a spell with a similar trigger. It's a deadly, forbidden spell, unforgivable, and punishable by death."
The old woman smiled and said loudly in a cheerful tone:
- What a good boy! Did you think of it yourself?
"Yes, ma'am," Richard nodded.
"Millie, just think about it-at your age, you've learned to use magical blasts in the form of wandless spells. Levitation and summoning. My friend's grandson, the same age, only recently produced his first magical blast. I'm definitely taking someone with such a talent on as an apprentice." Looking intently at the boy, she added, "You'll be coming to my house early on Saturday and Sunday mornings."
"Um... Madam Marchbanks," Richard began, "where do you live? Is it far?"
"Don't worry about that," the elderly sorceress said matter-of-factly. "Richie, I'll make you a two-way portal from your house to mine."