The burn on Richard's left hand had healed, but a rune-shaped scar remained. Fortunately, it was small and didn't cause any discomfort.
***
In the Eaton Hall drawing room, everything was as before: a fireplace, armchairs, a table, hot tea steaming in porcelain cups.
Richie sat in his comfortable chair as if on pins and needles. His father's piercing gaze, expressing intense displeasure, made it difficult to relax and feel comfortable.
"Dad, you look better, like you've grown younger," Richard decided to break the silence.
"Your pajamas work wonders," replied a sullen Gerald. "So, son, what's your deal with the secret services? Why are they bringing me some 'special cargo' that turns out to be your school bag?"
- Dad, it's hard to explain...
- You try it.
"If I tell you the truth, you won't believe me," the boy sighed heavily.
"And yet, I want to hear everything!" the Duke insisted.
- I had... hmm... an epiphany...
"An epiphany?!" Gerald raised his eyebrows. "Again..." he sighed. "What this time?"
"Our planet..." Richard managed to squeeze out. "It could be destroyed within the next six years. Someone powerful British wizard will be responsible. I don't know who. All powerful wizards are under suspicion, and Dumbledore is the first of them."
Gerald's whole appearance seemed to scream distrust of the boy's words and expressed outright skepticism.
"The entire planet?" he grinned. "Destroyed?!"
"I told you you wouldn't believe me," Richard sighed sadly.
"So what can you do?" Gerald asked. "Richie, you're just a little boy."
"I am a rich and powerful boy with superpowers," Richard replied.
"Don't steer the conversation away," said Rich Sr. "Richie, what have you done? What are you planning?"
"Dad, with the help of magicians, I've begun developing a whole series of magical gadgets that have no equivalent among ordinary people: a quantum transmitter that will allow information to be transmitted over any distance almost instantly; artificial intelligence; ultra-strong composite materials; a safe and nearly infinite cold fusion generator; an intergalactic spaceship that will be capable of hopping a light year in an hour and traveling almost instantly via a teleportation beacon."
"It's impressive, but it sounds too fantastic," Gerald said.
"I agree, it's hard to believe, but I already have prototypes of many things, and more advanced ones will appear soon. I plan to build powerful cold fusion power plants throughout the UK, and eventually throughout the world, that will run on enchanted fire."
"So, son, you managed to push that law through the wizards?" Gerald asked.
"Yes," a joyful smile adorned Richard's face. "Yes, Dad! The Statute of Secrecy has been weakened. Now I can bring any crazy, science-fiction product to market and claim it's a piece of top-secret technology."
"So, we're getting back to the topic of what you did and how the secret services were involved," Gerald's knife-like gaze pierced his son.
The smile instantly faded from Richard's face. The boy swallowed convulsively.
"Uh... You see, Dad... I knew perfectly well that no one would believe that the planet was in danger of destruction. No one! Especially if this assertion was based on the premonition of some little boy."
"And-and?!" Rich Sr.'s right eyebrow arched strangely.
"I told you about the oddities at Hogwarts," Richard continued reluctantly. "So, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and I learned that the Philosopher's Stone was kept at the school. And, as far as I understand, practically anyone with a modicum of curiosity knew about it."
"Hmm," the Duke said skeptically. "Let's get this straight-do you really believe someone hid a philosopher's stone in the school that could turn lead into gold?"
"I actually think it could allow a wizard to bypass the ritual's restrictions on Earth and replicate gold," Richard opined. "But what's more interesting is the possibility of using the Philosopher's Stone to create an elixir of life. Well, at least the creator of this stone has lived for over six hundred years and is approaching seven hundred."
The Duke's gaze became stern, almost flashing lightning. In an icy voice, he said:
- Richie, don't tell me you're going after the philosopher's stone.
- Okay, I'll keep quiet.
"You disobeyed me," Gerald's voice was so cold that it seemed as if his speech could freeze all the air in the house.
"Dad, I was trying to save the world," Richard timidly tried to justify himself. "I needed to deprive the potential destroyer of the planet of the means to improve his health and gain a long life."
"Richie, you will tell me everything immediately, and then you will receive the punishment you deserve!" the Duke declared categorically. His voice was filled with power, and such a commanding tone was impossible to resist.