While Harry was recovering, we decided not to waste any time and began discussing our own business, the trade, which the boy was not interested in hearing about, and he was really resting. I was given some documents, primary schemes, sketches in general, because the greenhouses, those already repaired, are just being planted, and the first harvest will be in three months (so fast, because some plants can speed up growth and ripening with magic).
I was surprised to find the name "Stechow" on the list of wholesalers, and when I asked if it was Johann, Henry confirmed my suspicion. Well, everything turns out for the best, as they say, and it was good to meet my future trading partner in person. After about twenty minutes, Potter's eyes cleared up a bit and we decided to move on.
Henry Greengrass, as the one with the most experience in diplomatic and political affairs, took on the task of explaining to us what would happen at the hearing, how it would go, and what tricky questions the parties might ask.
Especially for Harry, he explained that in such cases, the witness is often pressured by both sides, may cling to small things, may deliberately make reservations, and then tell the witness that it was he who said it.
There are many different techniques, and most of them are extremely low and mean, so during the trial it is better to have a simple notebook and a pen to write down important points, and also to speak slowly, not to rush, to think through every word and thought, and to express your opinion only when directly asked. I've seen a lot of TV, but even for me a lot of it was a revelation, let alone Potter.
It's going to be a tough trial, but it will be eased by the fact that we have a cool German lawyer. Yes, the one I had before, David Shekele, I fired because of what happened, and the old Jew did not even resist, he just got up from the table and threw the sentence: "I have no extra children and grandchildren," and after these words I did not even take offense at him — and so everything is clear.
The German we hired is not only a member of a "neutral" family, very strong and influential, but also a member of the "Guild of Lawmen", so this man, if someone tries to pin him down or starts threatening, will get a pretty good beating. I've already given him my previous treaty with the French, as well as a reminder of my meeting with Dunois. All this, of course, only after I had signed a much more extensive contract than the one with Chequelet.
I don't want to publicize this case, I don't want to attract unnecessary attention, but if any of the French start clinging to me, seriously clinging, with substantial claims, the documents will be presented in court. And then I can't even imagine how the case will end when the public of the European countries learns about this dark case — the French won't be able to hush it up, but I might be attacked more seriously.
Yes, I said that "I won't do anything stupid", but there was no mention of a well-thought-out revenge. By the way, it has already started, and Yusheng and her fighters will continue to help me because I got a positive answer from her. After the second trial, I will have a duel with Zenzeng and Ju. With that out of the way, we moved on to the question Richard Bulstrode had come to see us about.
— Mr. Potter, what do you intend to do with the Potter family? — Richard's question came through the recess window. It wasn't a good question, of course, and it sounded a bit boorish, but there was no point trying to weave verbal lace with an uneducated teenager, and Bulstrode was no expert at it.
— I don't understand your question, sir, — the teenager said with some apprehension.
— I'm British, but I like to speak plainly, at least where it's permitted. — Well, what did I say? — So I'm going to be straight with you, boy, as it is. You are the heir of an ancient pure-blood family, — I couldn't help smiling ironically at the word "ancient", and I didn't react to the questioning looks. — Besides, you're the last of the family. You have the responsibility to restore the clan, to put things in order, to perform the clan rituals on the awakened altar in the clan mansion, so you have to go to the mansion, awaken the altar, and learn the clan code. — Seeing that he was being listened to attentively, and not just attentively, but with a certain amount of disbelief, the man continued.
— The Potters, as well as every other family on the list of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, have their own family code, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of the head and members of the family. And you, boy, as the future head of the Potter family, will have to learn all of that.
— I'm sorry, sir, is that necessary? — Harry asked hopefully.
— If you want your grandchildren to have magic and not be called blood traitors, then yes, it's necessary. — Richard smiled condescendingly, but not offensively.
— But 'traitor' is just a hurtful insult, isn't it?
— A blood traitor is someone who has betrayed their bloodline, their magic, their ancestral heritage. Someone who has spit on the generations and generations of relatives who have invested strength, blood, and life to form a clan and acquire magical gifts. To be the heir of a family is not only to spend the gold that the ancestors have accumulated, but also to prepare to lead the family in the future, and not only to return the spent money to the vaults, but also to increase the fortune so that the descendants will not need anything, and in dark and turbulent times to be able to survive the dangers normally. Does this sound logical to you? Fair?
— Yes, sir. — Harry nodded thoughtfully and looked out the window. — But I've never really thought about it, — the teenager added quietly, which made the older men smile and I smiled a little at the similarities and differences between Harry and me.
If I hadn't been born into this world, into this body, I would have grown up in the Miyazaki clan as an obedient, brainwashed Arata boy who ended up in the Hoshino family. I've got a great opportunity, lots of advantages, but I'm also in debt.
So I turn, I turn, I travel, because unlike Potter, I have no choice, and I can only help myself, well, I mean, we'll help Harry if he agrees. In my affairs I must seek help only from myself, for no one but I and the gods know of my debts.
— So I ask while you still have time to make your decision and prepare for the consequences. You can choose to refuse the rights of the clan, ignore the pureblood stuff, and have yourself or your children branded as blood traitors. You may not become the head, but you can do your best to raise your son with the right qualities to become the head. Then you and your children will not be branded, but your safe in Gringotts will be the only family safe available to you until the next head takes over. Or you can take the responsibility yourself, and work to be able to personally teach your son in the future what you've learned from your own experience, and then at the end of your life have every right to declare, "I wasn't afraid, I did it." — It sounded simple, but I liked it because there was no snot or pathos.
— In that case, sir, let me ask you: Why do you need to know my decision? — The teenager had been frowning and brooding for the past few minutes.
— I ask because I can help you if you decide to work on yourself instead of passing this burden and right on to your son. — Richard just shrugged.
But how 'just'? He's deliberately teasing the teenager, trivializing him, and Harry is being led on.
— But you have a personal interest in this, or am I wrong? — The boy doesn't hide his suspicions, and in general he can't hide his emotions, and his thoughts are often written on his face.
— Of course! — The man showed his indignation by shaking himself and expressing this emotion with his whole appearance. — Those who offer free help always have their own hidden benefit. But in our case, I will tell you what my benefit is, and the other person will keep quiet about his, and you will hardly know what he has gained and what you may have lost. So what do you think?
— I think it's wrong to leave the children to do what I could have done myself. — Potter frowned thoughtfully. — If I can do it myself, I'll do it. — He nodded. — What do you have to gain by helping me?
— You see, boy, — Richard didn't hide a satisfied smile. — It's a difficult thing to regain the influence of a fading family, to regain possession of property that the officials have dispersed, and without authority and influence you can't do much. However, unlike you today, we have everything we need now, and we can return all of this not sometime later, but in the next few years. I say 'we' because the Bulstrode, Greengrass, Malfoy and Hoshino families have formed a political alliance — just so you understand. — The man paused for a moment to let the boy absorb the information, then continued. — Specifically, I am offering you the help of our alliance in exchange for your agreeing to marry my daughter, Millicenta.
— Potter was literally shocked by this proposal, his eyes opened wide, his eyebrows hid under his fringe, even his mouth opened. — And I say that the Bulstrode family benefits from this marriage, because we have not interbred before, so the purity of the blood will be preserved, and one of your sons can become my successor, also with this step the Bulstrode family gets a piece of blood of several strong families at once, which is also very important and valuable. You see, I'm being honest with you.
— I'm sorry, sir, but I can't accept your offer because I already have a girlfriend that I love. — The teenager spoke slowly, clearly fearing a violent reaction.
— Is she British? Purebred?
— No, she's French. And yes, she's purebred, but I can't remember which generation....
— Sixth generation. — I add, laughing at the guy's reaction. — Olivia, Arleth's mother, is a good friend of mine and we've talked a lot about all sorts of things. — I see a strange mix of emotions in Harry's eyes, even a slight skepticism, and it's understandable, because Olivia is good enough to be my mother, and she's practically the same age as Junko. But I'm not going to explain anything to anybody — it's her business, and it's her right to choose who she tells.
— Then there's no problem. — Richard shrugged calmly. — You can marry them both: take Millicenta as your first wife, thus appeasing the local "hotheads," and your friend as your second. — And again, pitfalls, lots of nuances that no one will explain to the "naive Chukchi boy", but I will keep silent, because there is no direct threat to Potter as a man and the family.
— But let me tell you... how can this be... how is this possible? — was a very confused teenager raised by ordinary British people.
— In some cases, polygamy is allowed, and your case is one of them. In fact, there are some old laws that not only allow triads, but consider them obligatory. — Seeing the incomprehension, the man continued. — It's just that the last of the family will restore it faster, and in a generation he'll have a branch, or even more than one — it all depends on his diligence. — The man grinned wryly and played with his eyebrows. I smiled broadly, as did Henry and Richard, and Harry didn't notice right away, but when he did, he blushed almost immediately.
— I'll tell you more than that, lad, in the magical society of Europe it is possible to have an official mistress or lover chosen by one's spouse — if there is consent, of course. — This time the men laughed openly and the teenager lowered his eyes to the ground, blushing intensely.
Ah, youth is a wonderful time! You look at such open and sincere children, and even the old and cold heart somehow thaws....
Well, I'm going in the wrong direction, but it's really fun to watch something like this from the outside. Now I understand why Se-do always has that sarcastic look on her face — I think she's seen so much in her years that she's amused by our young reactions. I wonder what I'll be like when I'm her age?