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The invitation to Draco Malfoy's birthday came as a surprise. Well, no... not quite like that. I knew it was coming, but I didn’t expect it to not only arrive, but to be delivered by a hired person who handed the letter to me directly. After accepting it, I quickly read through.

 

The letter contained an official invitation, along with a note outlining the dress code, the expected food, and the plans for both adults and children.

 

I quickly drafted a response and sent it back with the messenger. He would deliver it, and in the meantime, I would think about what gift to give young Malfoy. The gift had to be both interesting and useful.

 

To achieve that, I needed to know at least a little about him. The problem was, I knew nothing about the boy. But I did know someone who knew at least a bit. That someone was Hermione Granger. She had been at Hogwarts with him for a while, even though they were in different houses.

 

"Tell me, Hermione," I said to her after another intense training session at the Diagon Alley practice grounds. Her skills, let's just say, had improved significantly since day one. In addition to getting a new wand, young Granger had also grown stronger after taking Panacea. "What do you think of Draco Malfoy?"

 

"That blond prick?" she asked with mild surprise, not quite understanding why I was asking. "People like him are often referred to as 'privileged brats' in literature. Spoiled, thinks everyone should bow to him, but has nothing to offer. Everything he has comes from his father’s wealth."

 

"I see you’re not particularly fond of him," I smirked.

 

"Not at all," she said. "He called me a Mudblood, said his father would get me thrown out of Hogwarts, and was particularly gleeful when I ended up in the hospital, missing classes."

 

"Hmm," I acknowledged her explanation. "Anything else you can tell me about him?"

 

"Putting aside my disdain for him," she continued, "Draco Malfoy loves flying. His father bought the entire Slytherin team new Nimbus 2001 brooms, and because of that, he became their Seeker, hoping to outdo Harry Potter. But he doesn't have the talent of Gryffindor’s Seeker. That’s about all I know."

 

"So, he likes brooms. Thanks."

 

If he liked flying, I knew exactly what gift would suit him: a modern broom care set, packaged in a stylish way. I could customize the packaging myself. A little transfiguration and a spell to make it permanent, and it would look quite impressive.

 

Buying the set wasn’t difficult, and enchanting and transfiguring it was even easier. The plain box with ordinary items transformed into a near work of art—golden veins, soft brown pastel colors, and sharp angles that gave the package a sleek, striking look, all with fine details that would impress anyone interested.

 

When the day arrived, I apparated to the familiar mansion. It was here that I had first met Narcissa Malfoy and where one of my assignments for the Hunter’s Guild had taken place.

 

The place looked a bit different now. It was clear they had done a lot of work on the house and grounds to prepare for the celebration. As soon as I took a step, I was transported to the front doors of the Malfoy home, which stood open. An interesting use of a Portkey spell. If I’m not mistaken, there’s something similar at Hogwarts, though they don’t use it often—likely to make the experience more magical for the children.

 

"Good day, Timothy," greeted Lucius Malfoy.

 

The man extended his hand for a handshake. I reciprocated. His emotions were mildly curious, with not a trace of disdain. The two mastery rings on my fingers were clearly visible. He noticed them too but didn’t linger longer than etiquette allowed.

 

"Mr. Malfoy, it's a pleasure to see you," I replied respectfully.

 

He was indeed a powerful wizard, though not yet capable of wandless magic mastery. Still, I believed he could achieve mastery if he dedicated enough time to it. Even without that, with the vast resources of his family, he had secured a high position in society, one where he could argue with the Minister of Magic and speak as an equal with Dumbledore. But everyone knows that if he ever loses his wealth, he’ll disappear.

 

"I'm sure you'll enjoy the celebration and have the opportunity to mingle with other wizards," said Malfoy, nodding for me to step inside.

 

By magical tradition, he was to greet the guests. Afterward, they would proceed to the celebration area to meet the birthday boy and his mother, or the closest available female relative. Once the gifts were presented, the guests could mingle with other wizards until the banquet began.

 

Upon entering the hall, I was struck by its size, but that wasn’t the most remarkable thing. What caught my attention were the various wizards, most of whom I didn’t recognize at all. There were Ministry officials, guild representatives, and many others connected to the Malfoys in some way.

 

The hall itself also drew attention. The walls were draped with green cloth, adorned with the Malfoy family crest and Slytherin symbols. They were clearly proud of their son attending that house. Small columns built into the walls created alcoves where tables stood, holding gifts.

 

The room was lit by sunlight streaming through large windows and by small magical lamps. The center of the hall was where the birthday boy sat at a large table. Beside him was Narcissa, smiling slightly as she observed the guests and chatted with those bringing gifts.

 

I headed towards them and joined a small line. To be honest, I had no real desire to wait in line to present a gift to this boy, but I decided to wait nonetheless. After a while, I approached the table.

 

"Mr. Jody," Narcissa greeted me with a smile. "I'm glad you could make it to my son's birthday."

 

"Lady Malfoy," I nodded to her with a smile. "I couldn’t ignore the invitation. So, happy birthday to young Draco."

 

I handed the boy the gift and watched as he examined the wrapped box with interest, trying to guess what was inside. But without spells or simply opening it, he wouldn’t be able to figure it out.

 

"Thank you," Draco said with a bored expression, as if imitating someone else—probably his father.

 

"Please, Mr. Jody, I hope you enjoy yourself," Narcissa said, nodding towards her friend Lady Greengrass, who was chatting with her two daughters and an older woman.

 

"Thank you."

 

Wandering around and observing everything was quite interesting. The children were mingling with the adults, many of whom were already grouping off with people they knew from Hogwarts or because their parents were friendly.

 

"Mr. Snape," I greeted the dark-haired wizard who stood a bit off to the side, calmly watching the guests without rushing to join any conversations.

 

"Mr. Jody," he replied, nodding slightly. "Congratulations on your rapid achievements."

 

"Thank you, Professor Snape," I nodded back. I could have called him Mr. Snape, but by addressing him as Professor, I showed a bit more respect.

 

It was clear that he appreciated that, as anyone would.

 

"And yes, I wanted to thank you for the gift of ingredients," he added.

 

"I hope they were helpful in your research," I said.

 

"Indeed," he smirked, allowing a small smile to appear on his face.

 

"Severus," came a voice as a short man with an unpleasant expression approached us. His eyes bulged slightly, his mouth small, and his mustache could only be described as a "creepy little thing." "I see you've already found yourself some new companions..."

 

"Alex Rosier," Snape said, his tone showing clear disdain for the man.

 

To be honest, Rosier’s words sounded a bit insulting, as if he were speaking to someone far beneath him. Slightly tilting my head, I studied him carefully, trying to determine if there was anything about him that might genuinely place him above me or the esteemed professor of an elite school, which he had likely attended himself. Speaking like that to a master... not the smartest move, especially a master from the Guild of Potions.

 

"You still haven’t reached the rank of Bachelor," Snape remarked. "I'm sure next time the title will be yours. By the way, allow me to introduce Master of Charms and Master of Transfiguration, Timothy Jody."

 

Snape nodded toward me. I allowed a smile to cross my face and extended my hand for a handshake.

 

For a moment, it looked as though Alex Rosier might explode with rage. But no, he exhaled and tried to calm down. He managed to do so, and we shook hands. Though I wouldn’t say it was pleasant. His hand was cold, slightly damp, and weak. His grip lacked strength, suggesting he didn’t do much magic, or at least not enough to become a master or even a bachelor.

 

Afterward, Rosier abruptly turned and tried to blend into the crowd. But... there wasn’t much of a crowd, so his attempt looked particularly pathetic.

 

"Who is this Rosier?" I asked Snape.

 

"A local troublemaker," the potions master replied. "He’s two years younger."

 

"Hmm," I nodded. "He doesn’t seem like a strong wizard."

 

"He isn’t," the man scoffed. "I don’t know what it cost him to become an apprentice, but don’t underestimate him."

 

Snape left me after that, heading off to speak with a short witch who was quietly admiring a few rare moving portraits.

 

Then, Lucius appeared again from the corridor, escorting two other wizards. With a wave of his hand, I felt the space shift. It seemed the door to the estate was sealed, preventing easy entry. But leaving, if necessary, was still possible.

 

"Friends," Lucius addressed the room. Narcissa and Draco joined him at that moment. "Today, you have all been invited to celebrate my son Draco's thirteenth birthday."

 

The attention turned to the boy, who was clearly enjoying being the center of it.

 

"He has already achieved great success at Hogwarts, such as being accepted into the Slytherin Quidditch team, earning high marks in all subjects, and receiving only the highest praise from his professors. Moreover, he has already begun his studies under the tutelage of his godfather, Master of Potions Severus Snape."

 

Oh, I didn’t know Snape was Draco Malfoy’s godfather. Interesting. Actually, everything Lucius was saying was nothing but boasting about his son, himself, and the Malfoy family, without a single word of praise for Narcissa. I don’t know if that was just an oversight or if he truly believed his wife did nothing for the family and their son. Failing to acknowledge the contributions of others is a quick path to conflict.

 

When the elder Malfoy finished speaking, all the guests began singing a birthday song, and afterward, the children went off to another room for entertainment. A few adults had been hired specifically for this. Meanwhile, we moved to the dining table, which had appeared in the center of the hall. All the seats were labeled to avoid any confusion or disputes. I was sure the Malfoys had made every effort to show their respect for and connections with the other wizards.

 

Letting the others rush to find their places, I waited. There was no point in hurrying; the unoccupied seat would be mine. And I was right. One of the remaining seats was mine, a few chairs away from Lucius, immediately placing me in a prominent position.

 

Between Lucius and me sat Snape and another older wizard. He glanced at me with interest but didn’t rush to start a conversation. Across from me sat a short, somewhat plump woman who was staring at me rather indecently long.

 

The wizards around me were all familiar with each other. Corban Yaxley sat next to me. His wife couldn’t attend, apparently catching some magical illness. Across from me was Annette Crabbe, wife of Jamie Crabbe, who was considered Lucius Malfoy’s left-hand man. Next to him sat Joshua Goyle and his wife Margaret Goyle. Joshua was Lucius’s right-hand man. From what I gathered, they were ready to fulfill any command from their liege.

 

To my right was Alecto Carrow, a short, stooped woman with stubby fingers and light brown hair. Her voice was raspy, adding to her already off-putting appearance. Let’s just say I’d rather have been seated at the end of the table than next to this “hunchbacked mutt.” She really did reek of a kennel and other less pleasant odors. It seemed she worked with dogs, just like her brother Amycus Carrow. And something tells me their relationship was far closer and more intimate than that of typical siblings. Much closer.

 

The conversations between the wizards surrounding me weren’t particularly informative. They weren’t discussing new developments in magic or recent discoveries. Sure, there aren’t that many, but they do happen. The wizards didn’t even talk about news from other countries. At least something... They didn’t even discuss Quidditch. The conversations mostly revolved around the Ministry of Magic, its staff, how awful Dumbledore was, how they’d run the magical world if they were its sole rulers, and that Muggle-born wizards should be used as test subjects for experiments. No intellectual discussions took place here.

 

Their arrogance was overwhelming, beyond words. I would have gladly been anywhere else, but since leaving would be seen as highly disrespectful, I sat quietly and followed Snape’s example of dignified silence.

 

I didn’t bother asking anyone to pass me a dish. Instead, I carefully summoned it to myself without using a wand. This was somewhat reckless, as it immediately attracted the attention of most of the guests at the table. Alecto’s breathing became wheezy and rapid. The urge to suggest she see a doctor grew stronger, as did the impulse to distance myself from her brother, who oozed an unsettling excitement toward me. Let’s just say I’d prefer to be far away from them.

 

After a while, the wizards watched as I levitated a small portion of food onto my plate and, using the same wandless method, sent the dish back. As soon as it landed exactly where I had taken it from, the wizards gasped. It seemed my display of fine control over wandless magic had left quite an impression on them.

 

Ignoring them, I quietly continued eating. The wizards resumed their conversations, but now they were centered around me. It was clear many of them wanted to speak with me, since I had just demonstrated that I could back up any bravado with power. Life goes on.

 

Corban Yaxley finally decided to address me:

 

"So, you’re Timothy Jody?"

 

"Correct," I nodded. "Master of Transfiguration and Charms."

 

Most of them already knew this, but they hadn’t really considered it. To them, my mastery was somewhat distant. But now, combined with my demonstration of personal power, my titles had become much more significant.

 

"And you?" I asked him.

 

"Corban Yaxley," he introduced himself with a somewhat feral expression. "Head of the Yaxley family."

 

It was said with such pomp, as if it was supposed to impress or awe me. But seeing no hint of respect on my face, he seemed a bit disappointed.

 

"And what does your family do?" I asked.

 

"I supply potion materials to St. Mungo’s," he said calmly. "Recently, my family received a large order from the hospital."

 

"That’s wonderful," I nodded.

 

The conversation didn’t flow much beyond that, as I wasn’t particularly eager to discuss any matters with the wizards around me. They didn’t quite understand this and kept pestering me with questions, ideas, and even suggestions. I had to reply neutrally, though I had the urge to land a heavy blow right between their eyes.

 

The fact that I was Muggle-born couldn’t stay hidden for long, and I wasn’t trying to hide it anyway. This immediately changed the attitude of the surrounding wizards to negative. Of course, they were smart enough not to vocalize it, but not smart enough to conceal it in their expressions and emotions. The only ones who didn’t seem to care much were the Crabbes, Goyles, and Snape. Perhaps a few others, but I wasn’t paying too much attention beyond my immediate surroundings.

 

After the meal, the wizards began to scatter around the hall, mingling with each other. I noticed Amycus Carrow trailing after me, as if planning something. I stopped in one spot, pretending to study a painting, and realized he had placed a tracking charm on me. I was familiar with the spell, having tested it several times myself. Removing it was easy, but I didn’t want to just yet. I wanted to see what they planned to do.

 

It wasn’t hard to sense the satisfaction emanating from the Carrows and Yaxley. The latter seemed to be the organizer of this quick and hasty conspiracy against me. The other wizards who noticed didn’t bother to intervene. Well, if something happens in England, I’ll happily write you all off.

 

"Mr. Jody," came a voice, drawing my attention to Lady Greengrass.

 

"Lady Greengrass," I responded with a smile. "You look just as well as the last time I saw you."

 

"Oh, come now," she smiled, slightly flustered by the compliment but clearly pleased. "To be honest, I wasn’t expecting you to be capable of wandless magic."

 

"Yes, during my travels, I discovered this ability," I nodded. "And later, in the Eagle’s Nest, they helped me unlock my full potential."

 

"You’ve been there?" she asked, surprised.

 

"Yes, it’s a magnificent place. If you ever get the chance, I recommend visiting."

 

"You know, I’d love to hear more about your travels in detail. I’m sure my daughters would find your stories fascinating as well…"

 

Her words carried a subtle invitation.

 

"And what does Mr. Greengrass think?" I inquired.

 

"My husband would also like to have a conversation with you," she nodded.

 

"Well, then I have no objections."

 

"And one more thing," she lowered her voice. "You should be careful... Some wizards are eager to bring back the old times."

 

"Thank you for the warning," I nodded. "Then those wizards will have their work cut out for them."

 

She nodded, accepting my response, and went off to chat with someone else. I could only thank her for the warning, as not many would have the courage to offer such advice. Watching her elegant figure move away, I turned my attention back to the hall and began carefully studying who associated with whom. I had already started this earlier, but now I had much more time to observe.

 

Lucius approached me again, having just finished speaking with a plump woman who resembled a toad. She was dressed in a pink jacket adorned with little images of cats. The cats were cute, but the woman they adorned... not so much. I suspect she will become quite a piece of work in the future.

 

"How are you enjoying the party?" Lucius asked.

 

"It’s not bad, thank you," I nodded. "And how about you?"

 

"Things are going well," he said vaguely. "I’m sure many have already approached you to discuss your abilities and skills. Word has reached me that you learned wandless magic at the Eagle’s Nest. Is that true?"

 

"Absolutely," I nodded. "I can almost feel the books before me. I even have the sensation that I can feel the pages under my fingers."

 

"I see you remember everything well," Lucius said with respect. "Tell me, Mr. Jody, if you were presented with an offer, would you be able to teach someone this skill?"

 

"Could I teach it?" I repeated, pausing for a moment to think. "If you’re asking whether I promised not to teach anyone else... no. There was no such promise."

 

"Hmm," Lucius pondered. "So, you could... How much would such training cost?"

 

The last question was asked very quietly.

 

"Let’s discuss that another time," I replied in the same tone. "How about meeting the day after tomorrow?"

 

"The day after tomorrow," he considered. "All right. Would breakfast work for you? I have a free block of time then."

 

"That works."

 

"Then I’ll expect you the day after tomorrow for breakfast, and we’ll discuss this important and intriguing matter."

 

"Of course."

 

And with that, our conversation ended. Other wizards approached me as well, eager to introduce themselves and gauge what benefit they could gain from knowing me. I couldn’t offer them much right now, as I wasn’t deeply involved in the political affairs of magical England. As a master of two disciplines and someone who could perform wandless magic, I had considerable influence that could shift the political landscape. But I wasn’t using it yet, and it lay dormant. When the time comes, I’ll use it.

 

Since nothing particularly interesting was happening, I decided to leave.

 

"Leaving already?" Narcissa asked me.

 

"Yes, it’s time," I replied. "Thank you for the invitation."

 

"Did you at least enjoy yourself?" she asked.

 

"Yes, it was interesting," I nodded, noticing that the Carrow-Yaxley group was also beginning to make their move.

 

Narcissa noticed this too and looked at me with a questioning gaze. For a moment, I allowed a predatory smile to cross my face, just enough for her to see it. She understood everything and merely nodded.

 

"Well then, take care," she said. "I hope to see you at breakfast."

 

"Oh, don’t worry," I chuckled. "I’m not one to make promises I can’t keep. Take care."

 

I stepped aside, spun on the spot, and Disapparated. However, my destination was not London or Diagon Alley. No... I Apparated to a desolate area where I could receive any “guests” without much concern about being noticed or interrupted. A dozen spells instantly fell into place, turning the space around me into a trap. Another dozen reinforced the traps, allowing me to activate them at will.

 

I then concealed myself and waited. The tracking charm was still on me, but I was ready to remove it at any moment. The wait dragged on a bit, but I never doubted that an attack would happen. They must know that the longer they delay, the more prepared I’ll be for their arrival, as I could easily detect the charm.

 

And indeed, after half an hour, three black figures landed at the spot where I had been standing. In an instant, the area was sealed by an Anti-Disapparition Jinx, along with several other barriers to ensure they couldn’t escape. The tracking charm was obliterated, fully concealing me from their senses.

 

"What the—!" Yaxley shouted, pulling out his wand and waving it frantically in all directions.

 

Although I couldn’t see their faces due to the black robes and white masks, I could feel their emotions. They had not expected to turn from hunters into prey. That realization hadn’t dawned on them yet, but I figured it wouldn’t take long.

 

"Come out, Mudblood!" Yaxley screamed, casting some spell in a desperate attempt to find me. But of course, he found nothing, as his tracking spell was weak. "Revelio Maxima!"

 

This time, the spell was much stronger and might have revealed quite a bit, but... it still wasn’t enough to locate me, as I had also warded myself against such detection. I had no intention of fighting them directly, but I certainly wanted compensation.

 

With a flick of my wand, the traps activated. Their wands were wrenched from their hands, vines entwined around them, and they were stretched out, unable to move. Most of the traps remained unused, as they had been set as a contingency in case the attackers proved more powerful and skilled in magic. I had thought they would come with some sort of backup, but no—it was just the three of them.

 

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," I clicked my tongue, making the sound echo from all directions, preventing them from locating me. I had no intention of revealing myself. "Why did you decide to follow me, unworthy gentlemen?"

 

"A Mudblood shouldn’t be a master, or have wandless magic," Yaxley shouted.

 

"So, you're one of them," I drawled. "What a pity. For you, that is. As for me, I'll have a few experimental samples to test."

 

Without any delays and without worrying much about casualties, I invaded their minds, searching for answers to a few questions. The first was whether they truly hated Muggle-borns or if it was just a façade to conceal their thirst for power and domination. The answer was disappointingly simple... They did hate Muggle-borns, and they were willing to do anything to kill them. They even indulged in it—gathering in small groups, breaking into the homes of unsuspecting Muggles and Muggle-borns, and slaughtering them. Deep inside, they longed for the return of the Dark Lord, when such policies were official, and they were even rewarded for these acts. That was all I needed to know.

 

"Crucio," I cast one of the Unforgivable Curses, summoning a foreign wand.

 

The torture curse was indeed powerful, contorting the faces of my captives in agony. They couldn’t scream, though—I had sealed their mouths. The curse had a backlash effect, flooding the caster with adrenaline, sexual excitement, and other pleasurable sensations. Now I understood why so many people lose their grip after using it.

 

I cut the curse off and began selecting my next spell, this time from the arsenal I had acquired through books.

 

For the next two hours, I experimented with various torture spells, none offering the same thrilling feedback. I felt no pity for Yaxley or Carrow. What I saw in their minds was enough. Clearly, they were going to serve me not only as torture mannequins but for other purposes as well.

 

"How are you feeling, friends?" I asked them. "Everything okay?"

 

"Kh-ha," Yaxley began coughing. I unsealed their mouths, and they eagerly spat out blood.

 

A wave of my hand doused them with cold water.

 

"I can tell you enjoy these kinds of games," I said calmly. There wasn’t an ounce of pity in my heart. "So, we’ll continue. But, as much as I’d love to, I don’t have that much time."

 

While I tormented them with these spells, I also pondered what to do with them to get full compensation for my wasted time, distress, and ruined mood.

 

"Scum," muttered Alecto Carrow.

 

"Oh," I drawled. "Yes, I know how you’ll compensate me for everything. I can’t just let you go after you tried to torture and kill me."

 

Another hour of torture, but this time aimed at completely breaking their resistance. For what I needed them for, the Imperius Curse or simple mind-tampering wouldn’t suffice. They had to come to the right decision themselves. Using certain spells, an hour of real-time torture could stretch into hundreds of hours in their perception.

 

"Who is your master?" I asked the trio of exhausted, broken people. I derived no satisfaction from this last hour.

 

"Master, please!" Yaxley was the first to fall to his knees. "I’ll do anything for you!"

 

They were already somewhat broken, even without my influence. The Dark Lord had done his work, as he couldn’t tolerate even a hint of independent thought from his followers. All I had to do was reopen those old wounds and then deepen them with a dull, rusty knife, rubbing salt in all the way.

 

"Then, Corban, you must give me all your property," I said to him with a smile. "That will make me happy."

 

"Of course, master!" he cried. Tears of joy ran down his face. "Everything belonging to the Yaxley family will be yours, master."

 

"And what about you, Alecto and Amycus?" I asked the other two captives.

 

"Master, we are your loyal slaves!" Alecto shouted. "We will do the same!"

 

"Wonderful," I smiled back at them. They beamed with ecstasy at my praise. But I had no desire to keep such slaves.

 

I sent a Patronus to Straightgrip with a request for a meeting to discuss a business proposal. His response came quickly, along with a young house-elf. The creature looked at me with terrified eyes and said:

 

"Lord Straightgrip invites you to his office, master," the elf said.

 

"Then take me—and these three."

 

The elf bowed, took my hand, and the trio of broken pureblood wizards touched him. In a second, we found ourselves in a large office, where the goblin I knew, along with his guards, sat. Two goblins in heavy armor stood ready to attack anyone foolish enough to threaten their master.

 

"Mister Jody," the goblin said, ignoring the trio who collapsed on the ground, pressing their foreheads to the floor. "What brings you at such a late hour?"

 

"It's simple, Mister Straightgrip," I answered and nodded at the trio. "They wish to transfer all their property to me, without any obligations."

 

"Who do we have here?" he asked, then ordered, "Show your faces."

 

"Show your faces," I repeated his command.

 

"Ah, Yaxley and Carrow," the goblin exhaled. "I need to summon the attorneys of their houses. One moment."

 

He muttered something quickly and harshly into an artifact, then turned back to me.

 

"The bank will take seven percent of the total as a tax," the goblin said, clearly expecting me to haggle.

 

But I wouldn’t.

 

"That works for me," I nodded.

 

"Excellent," the goblin grinned widely. "Would you care for some tea?"

 

"I wouldn’t mind," I nodded.

 

The goblin clapped his hands, and moments later, two cups of hot, pleasantly fragrant tea appeared on the table, along with some simple biscuits.

 

"Delicious tea," I said after taking a sip. Straightgrip only nodded in response, dipping his biscuit into the tea and savoring it.

 

"From South Africa," he said. "I liked it, and now I get a shipment every month."

 

A few minutes later, two goblins entered the office. They bowed deeply, respectfully, and approached Straightgrip’s desk.

 

"Your clients wish to transfer all their hard and soft assets to my client’s name," Straightgrip got straight to the point. "They will retain all obligations."

 

The goblins were visibly shocked. The older one stepped forward.

 

"Lord Yaxley," he addressed one of the purebloods groveling on the floor. "Do you truly wish to do this?"

 

"Yes," Corban nodded. "I, Corban Yaxley, transfer all the assets of the Yaxley family to Timothy Jody. All obligations remain with the Yaxley family."

 

"Understood," the goblin replied in a monotone voice.

 

He then pulled out a stack of documents and handed them to Straightgrip. The goblin quickly stamped them and passed them to me for signature. I signed, making sure to read what I was receiving. Lands, money, accounts, and many other assets were transferred into my ownership. All changes would automatically be reflected with the Ministry of Magic, which was quite convenient.

 

It took two hours, but by the end, I had a new key to a bank vault containing all the Yaxley family’s wealth. The sum was quite decent. Not enough to buy Stormhammer Fortress, but I was no longer a poor man.

 

The next two hours were spent on the same procedure with the Carrow family. When it was all over, I handed Gringotts their seven percent.

 

I offered Straightgrip the position of handling my affairs, which he accepted quickly and without hesitation. It was an unofficial connection for now, but if all went well, we could formalize it later. The goblins who had been the trustees for the Yaxley and Carrow families ceased to be so.

 

Of course, this didn’t mean I had fully become the owner of their lands and houses yet. I still had to obtain the magical keys. That took another full half of the following day, as all the wards, control circuits, and much more were transferred to me. I simply put Yaxley’s wife to sleep—forever—and absorbed her soul.

 

With the Carrows, it took much less time since they didn’t have nearly as many properties. But even so, I managed to wrap it up by evening.

 

After that, I killed them too and absorbed their souls, immediately beginning to unpack the information I had obtained.