Richard noticed the future hero's embarrassment. When the food was cleared from the table, he said:
- Harry, do you want me to show you my owl?
"An owl?" Potter was surprised. "I want one!"
"Ahem!" the Duke of Westminster drew attention to himself. "Richard!" he said suggestively.
- Dad, Harry is not just Scott Potter's nephew, he is also a wizard.
- Ahem...
Gerald rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Harry held his breath. He didn't know how the unfamiliar adult man would react to such a statement. The boy cringed in fear, since his only example was Uncle Vernon, who would fly into a rage at the mention of magic.
"Well, if he's a wizard," Mr. Rich chuckled, having recovered somewhat, "that's a different matter. Have fun, don't pay any attention to me. But, Richie, you remember not to mention the existence of magic in front of the servants? Did you warn Harry about that?"
- I warned you.
Richard lied brazenly and winked at Harry, who nodded in response.
Richie knew that even the smallest shared secret unites people-a time-tested fact. Yes, he had manipulated the hero a little, but he felt no guilt. Richard knew from his tutoring and life experience that all people use each other. If they do so with good intentions and for the benefit of each other, deriving pleasure from it, then that's called friendship. But if someone uses another person for their own gain, or if the exchange is far from beneficial to the other person, and there's no trace of pleasure-that's brazen exploitation and blatant manipulation.
Harry and Richard climbed into the attic. The barn owl, sitting on a perch, immediately turned its head toward the boys and began hooting.
"Wow!" Harry marveled. "A real owl! Why do you need one?"
"Wizards use owls to send letters to each other. When I heard about this, I immediately bought myself a messenger bird."
"Do owls deliver mail?" Harry Potter's eyes widened.
"I was even more surprised. Actually, I found out about it on Monday and still can't believe it. And I couldn't really check it, since I didn't really know any wizards before. Now I can at least send you letters. Do you think we should test the bird?"
"I'd love to," Harry answered uncertainly. "But is it definitely a carrier pigeon? Why not a pigeon?"
"Who the hell knows," Richard shrugged. "Most wizards are complete lunatics! Although, perhaps my opinion is overly biased. And I haven't met many wizards. For example, my mother was a witch, but she abandoned me when I was five, robbed my father, and ran away. I don't think that's normal behavior for a mother. Or what happened to your Uncle Scott..."
"Um..." Harry said, embarrassed. "I hope we don't end up like that. Richie, what did you name your owl?"
- Darth Vader.
- Darth Vader?
- Yes, Darth Vader!
"Oh my God," Harry rolled his eyes. A smile lit up his face. "Darth Vader?! But why?"
- He loves cookies... owl cookies.
"Wizards are definitely crazy!" Harry stated cheerfully. "You and I are too..."
"Probably because it's fun," Richard said with a smile on his lips.
"Listen, Richie, since you and I are magicians, that makes us kind of like superheroes. Well, we have superpowers."
"Something like that. But I'm not going to dress up in a funny costume, just as I'm not going to be chasing hooligans at night. And I don't advise you to either. Wizards have their own laws, and the most important of them is the Statute of Secrecy. It states that wizards must not reveal the existence of magic and wizards to ordinary people. The entire Ministry of Magic, which has its own wizarding police, enforces this statute. So if any wizard starts using their superpowers, even for a good cause, they'll be immediately arrested by police with similar skills.
"Oh!" Harry sighed with genuine sadness. "What a pity... Can you at least teach me one trick?"
"I can try to teach you what I've mastered myself: summoning things and levitating objects. Just practice where no one will see you."
"Yes, of course!" Potter rejoiced.
Richard spent the rest of the evening explaining his system of wandless magic to Harry Potter. Harry grasped the information quickly, and by nightfall, he even began to master some of it.
"That's it, my friend, stop torturing yourself," Richard interrupted the tired Potter. "Magic uses up energy too. At first, after two or three tricks, I felt like I'd been swinging a rapier all day. Let's get to bed already."
"Thank you, Richie," Harry whispered. "Good night."
- Good night.
Harry went to the guest room, which the maid had shown him a little earlier.
That morning, Richard managed to catch up with Harry Potter at breakfast. They chatted briefly and then said goodbye. Harry was driven in a Bentley to his Uncle Scott's house in London, and Richie traveled via portal to Mistress Marchbanks.