The classroom had been transformed into something resembling a study. Richard's desk had transformed into a luxurious desk, and the boy himself sat in a comfortable, transfigured chair. Opposite was a comfortable visitor's chair, on the edge of which Chelsea perched.
The girl looked at young Rich with admiration and hidden excitement.
"Miss Chester," Richard began, noticing the girl's hesitation, "I confess, I was perfectly familiar with all the methods you demonstrated for using graphene. But the fact that you came up with something like this yourself speaks volumes of your extraordinary intellect."
Chelsea slumped her shoulders in frustration and asked in a shaky voice:
- So they won't pay me?
"What are you saying, Miss Chester? How could you?" Richie asked, mildly indignant. "I promised a reward, and the Richs keep their word. Here, Miss Chester. Upon presentation of this parchment at Gringotts Bank, you will be paid ten thousand Galleons, but on the condition that you continue your research into the uses of graphene. And if you show any success, you can count on another reward."
Chelsea clutched the parchment with a death grip, delight evident on her face.
"This is for me? Really?" she asked, as if she couldn't quite believe it was happening.
- Yes, Miss Chester. Are you in a hurry?
"No, my lord," the girl shook her head from side to side.
- Miss Chester, tell me about your plans for life. What do you plan to do after graduating from Hogwarts?
"I don't know, My Lord," Chelsea murmured quietly. "I've thought about it, but..."
"Miss Chester..." Richard's hand lay on the folder.
Chelsea looked at the folder and was surprised to find her name there.
"Yes, yes, miss," Richard continued. "That's your personal file. It says you're an orphan and live in a shelter in Chester. Coincidence? I don't think so! More likely, the shelter staff have a poor imagination."
"Yes, My Lord," the girl said shyly, "that is indeed so."
"It's surprising you weren't adopted or even fostered, miss," Richie continued.
"Um... Yes, sir..." Chelsea looked down.
"Or not," Richard raised his right eyebrow. "From the shelter staff's character references, it appears that you're a hooligan and have criminal tendencies."
Chelsea jumped up, her eyes widened and she looked at Richard with immense amazement.
- N-no... No, sir! I'm not like that! It's...
- I'm listening to you, miss.
Richard leaned his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his interlaced fingers.
"It's all because of the magical emissions, I guess," Chelsea said more quietly. "Well, when I was a kid, all sorts of weird things happened to me, like things would catch fire, things would break, and the teachers thought I was doing it on purpose and punished me for it."
- I see... I suppose, Miss Chester, you are not eager to return to the orphanage.
"Yes, My Lord," Chelsea nodded her head vigorously.
"And you won't be able to spend the money properly," Richard continued to muse aloud. "They won't let you out of the orphanage, and magic is prohibited during the holidays..."
Chelsea just sighed sadly. She knew it all too well.
"But let's get back to my previous question," Richard said. "What will you do after school?"
"To work, sir," the girl shrugged.
- Are you aware that you are considered a Muggle-born witch?
- Yes, sir.
- And have you also heard about the attitude of most wizards towards Muggle-borns?
- Yes, My Lord.
"So, Miss Chester, you don't have any illusions about a high-paying job awaiting you after Hogwarts? In the wizarding world, you're a nobody, which means the best you'll get is a waitress or a cleaner, and even that's not guaranteed. You're also unlikely to find a decent job among ordinary people, since you don't even have a high school education."
"I..." Chelsea sniffled, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. "I know, sir..."
"Now, now, enough of this Yellow River," Richard said soothingly. "All is not lost. Miss Chester, you are a young witch, and with great desire you can achieve a lot."