"Nobody warned me..." the sorceress said, confused.
The Duke's face didn't move a muscle, but his eyes were very expressive. His slightly raised eyebrows suggested a question: "Didn't we have to warn you that the Queen was coming to visit us and that you shouldn't come to the Duke's estate uninvited?!"
The sorceress took out a letter on yellowish parchment.
"Richard, here's your invitation letter to Hogwarts. We'll probably have time to stock up on the shopping list at Diagon Alley before the celebration."
"Madam McGonagall," Richard said with a hint of irony, "thank you for such a generous offer, but I must disappoint you. I do not require your company on my shopping trip. Firstly, it's worth noting that I have acquired practically everything for Hogwarts, with the exception of robes, potion ingredients, and a wand. Secondly, I am not prepared to trade my long-planned preparations for a shopping spree. Thank you for your letter and your visit."
McGonagall clearly didn't like the situation she found herself in. She felt like a pig who had burst from the barn into a smart home. Two impeccable gentlemen in suits, one young and one old, might not have shown it, but the witch felt out of place and had clearly committed a grave folly in deciding to introduce a Muggle-born wizard to the delights of the magical world. Minerva had planned to perform a few colorful magic tricks and prepare to convince the child's parents of the need for a school of magic. But instead, it turned out as if she had arrived uninvited to the home of pureblood wizards like the Malfoys.
"Mr. Richard Rich, do you agree to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?!" the woman asked.
- Yes, ma'am. Will you stay for tea?
"No, no, business... Yes, I still have a lot of important things to do. Since my help is not needed, I'll be going."
"Thank you for your visit, ma'am," Richard said, standing up from his chair and nodding his head.
"Have a safe journey, Madam McGonagall," Gerald, standing up to his full height, said goodbye to his guest with a polite bow.
Minerva left Eaton Hall feeling disappointed. She decided that since she had planned to spend the day educating a Muggle-born wizard anyway, she should visit another Muggle family whose child was due to attend Hogwarts this year.
Having left the estate, the sorceress called the Night Knight bus and went to the required address.
When McGonagall stepped off the bus, she saw a tall wrought-iron fence with ornate gates, beyond which a huge mansion could be seen in the distance. A bad feeling immediately settled in her soul...
***
A few hours after the visit of the Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts, Richard was greeting guests at the entrance to the common room.
Guests arrived, brought gifts, which young Rich handed over to the valet, after which they dispersed throughout the first floor of the house.
And then another car arrived-a luxurious, sky-blue Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit. The driver obligingly opened the rear door, and out stepped a chubby-cheeked boy and a stocky man, his ample belly clinging to an expensive black jacket.
Richard peered closely at the new guests, recognizing them immediately. Mr. Finch-Fletchley, with his tall stature, substantial waist, chestnut hair, and piercing brown eyes, was hard to mistake for anyone else.
"Richie, hi!" the boy said happily. "Happy birthday!"
- Justin, good to see you. Thank you for your congratulations. Lord Finch-Fletchley, welcome. Wonderful jacket.
"Ho-ho-ho!" the man chuckled good-naturedly. "Richie, you've grown so much and matured! Enough with the politeness, we're practically business partners. Our last deal brought me a tidy profit. If anything like this happens again," he winked, "contact me. We'll figure something out."
"I'll definitely be in touch, Lord Finch-Fletchley. I have... let's just say I have something to offer you. What do you think of iridium, palladium, ruthenium?"
- Iridium?
- Yes, sir.
"These metals are of some value and will not attract close attention," Mr. Finch-Fletchley said cautiously. "I am prepared to handle their sale..."
- On the same terms, sir.
"Richard, you could ask for a discount," Mr. Finch-Fletchley said suggestively. "These metals don't have a serial number stamp," he added in a whisper.
"Sir, I understand perfectly well how rare such elements are. They'll take a long time to realize, lest the market crash. I can't force you to take risks for a small spread."
"Well," a broad smile adorned the banker's face, "excellent, Richard. Call me Robert or Uncle Robbie. Happy birthday!"
"Thank you, Uncle Robbie," said Richard, accepting the gift from the banker's hands and handing it to the valet. "Father was somewhere in the dining room. He'll be glad to see you."
- Well, have fun, boys.
The joyful banker walked away towards the dining room.
"Richie, where should I go?" Justin asked.
"Jas, you're the last ones to arrive. Come on, we're going to sit in the cafeteria with the adults first, and then we can go riding ATVs and mopeds."
"Mopeds?!" Justin exclaimed joyfully.
- They are the ones. Jas, why are you so down today? Something happened.
"Yes, I..." Justin hesitated and didn't know how to answer this question.
- If you don't want to, you don't have to say it.
"Well... Richie, you see, just as we were about to get into the car, a lady showed up and introduced herself as the deputy head of a boarding school... She... Well... Convinced my father that I'd have to go to that school. And I was planning on going to Eton at the end of August!"
- Uh-huh... And this lady... Green dress, strict hair bun, and answers to the name Minerva McGonagall?
Justin stopped dead in his tracks, his jaw dropping to the floor and his eyes fixed on Richard in utter amazement.