Chapter 252: The Muggle Aristocrat
"The world is far from as simple as you imagine. When you truly enter into life, you will find just how incredibly complex it is."
Hermione finally had a profound appreciation for Professor Lockhart's words.
As soon as the holiday began, she and Draco Malfoy started surveying the locations Percy had selected. Ron, Luna, and Pansy, who had come along, were all in agreement about the plot of land by the coast.
It was perfectly suited for all the events of the Dueling Club's Quidditch Dueling tournament and was also the closest to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. One could arrive by broomstick without spending too much time.
The only problem was the owner of the castle and the surrounding land—a Muggle aristocrat.
This nobleman was even a director at a Muggle bank Hermione was familiar with and had seen in the newspapers before.
But what Hermione found unbelievable was that this Muggle gentleman actually knew about the existence of wizards!
Not only that, he even knew Draco Malfoy.
And that's where the problem lay.
"I can't possibly sell the castle to you!" the Muggle aristocrat's attitude completely changed after hearing Malfoy's request. It was he who had put out the word that he was selling the castle and land, and he had already had an initial discussion with Percy.
"This castle!" the Muggle aristocrat exclaimed excitedly, "is the home my ancestors struggled to build here in Scotland after being driven out of England by the despicable demon William and his followers. He should have been living a happy and prosperous life in England, and you, the Malfoy family, you were William's accomplices!"
Draco looked helpless. "Sir, at the Queen's banquet, you didn't say that to my father. You said you were very fond of our family."
The Muggle aristocrat looked furious. "This is different! Now you want to buy my ancestor's castle, the very one he was driven here to build! Do you think I would sell it to you?"
He said a lot of passive-aggressive things, like how the Malfoy family's manor was originally granted to them by William, a Muggle, which made Hermione's expression grow increasingly strange.
His furious demeanor clearly frightened the young wizards; even Pansy, who was determined to stand by Draco's side, didn't dare to speak.
Hermione, however, saw his huffing and puffing and shrewdly realized the deal could still be negotiated.
There would only be this much nonsense if a deal was possible. If not, the conversation would have ended long ago.
The man in front of her was likely just trying to exploit their youth and raise the price!
"Sir, this isn't for a Malfoy to buy," Hermione stepped forward, pushing the obstructive Draco aside, and spoke to the man. "Strictly speaking, we're here to purchase the venue on behalf of our professor. The subsequent acquisition agreement will be in his name."
The young wizards didn't have enough money to buy the ancient castle and land; it was all being provided by Professor Lockhart. The Dueling Club's members had discussed it: they could use the venue, but the ownership must be crystal clear—it belonged to Professor Lockhart.
"Professor?" The Muggle nobleman's expression shifted.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!
It was a powerful and influential force separate from the Ministry of Magic! The very magic school that those wizard aristocrats had always prevented them, the Muggle nobles, from approaching!
"Yes, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart!" Hermione put forward her professor's name, though she wasn't sure if it would help.
"I've heard of him!" The Muggle aristocrat's eyes lit up. "I heard he's about to be inducted into the Order of Merlin, becoming one of our nobles!"
!!!
Hermione blinked, suddenly gaining a deeper understanding of the magical history she had read in books. The Order of Merlin, whose knights were historically knighted by Muggle kings, seemed to maintain that tradition even in the modern era.
The connection between Muggles and wizards was clearly far more complex than she had ever imagined.
Unfortunately, even though the Muggle nobleman became willing to sell after she mentioned Professor Lockhart's name, they couldn't come to an agreement on the specific terms of the purchase. Hermione keenly sensed that the man was deliberately stalling.
It wasn't until Percy arrived and they discussed it that they suddenly realized the Muggle aristocrat was probably trying to use this opportunity to get in touch with Professor Lockhart.
"Keep negotiating, but be prepared to give up on this place," Percy's attitude was firm. They couldn't let this matter cause trouble for Professor Lockhart, even if it meant abandoning the project.
For a wizard to contact Muggles, especially Muggle nobles and powerful Muggle figures, was a very taboo thing. Just because some wizards did it didn't mean it was permitted. Families like the Malfoys had a lot of historical precedent for it, such as maintaining tight channels of communication between the Ministry of Magic and official Muggle bodies. Every wizard who dealt with Muggles had a respectable, official reason.
If this Muggle aristocrat could contact Professor Lockhart through some official channel, a meeting would be acceptable, but never through them, his potential customers. Percy didn't want to bring any trouble to Professor Lockhart.
But clearly, Percy was still just a student who hadn't graduated yet, and he thought some things were too simple.
The Muggle aristocrat, who had planned to host the young wizards at his manor and negotiate slowly, had already set his sights on them.
Yes, a meeting with the legendary magical master, Gilderoy Lockhart, would be excellent, of course.
But compared to that vague possibility and the uncertainty of his attitude, the young wizards in front of him were a much more direct and marvelous opportunity in the Muggle aristocrat's eyes.
He provided the young wizards with countless things and delicacies they had never seen before.
Like a video game console.
Like remote-control helicopters and robot dogs.
Like exquisite clothes with an aesthetic far superior to that of the modern wizarding community.
And so, in just one week, the Muggle aristocrat became familiar with the young wizards, even exchanging phone numbers with Hermione. For the sake of the young wizards' convenience, Lockhart had specially provided Hermione with a mobile phone.
The Muggle nobleman was a master of his craft. While the land purchase wasn't going smoothly, his hospitality was nothing short of meticulous, and he provided plenty of emotional value during their conversations.
Finally, the Muggle aristocrat's gaze fell on Hagrid's cat, Hagrid, in Ron's arms.
A magical creature!
A legendary magical creature!
He had watched with his own eyes as the beautiful-looking cat jumped from the boy's arms and, when he tried to get close to pet it, grew bigger than a lion!
Even though the upper echelons of Muggle society had known about the existence of wizards for generations and sometimes even saw pureblood family house-elves, they had no channels to learn more. It was only when they needed the cooperation of Muggle authorities that they would learn there were magical creatures like giants and merpeople in the world. But beyond that, they had no opportunity to learn more.
"May I pet it?" The Muggle aristocrat looked at the giant cat hissing at him, suppressing his instinctive fear, and did his best to make his smile look gentle and kind as he pleaded with Ron.
Ron instinctively glanced at Hermione. When he saw her hesitate and then nod, he tried to comfort Hagrid. "You'd better not pet him; he only lets his owner touch him. But you can shake his paw."
"Shake his paw?" The Muggle aristocrat looked confused, but then he saw the giant cat slowly lift a paw bigger than his head and gently shake it.
The Muggle aristocrat swallowed, then quickly reached out and lightly touched it, feeling the plush, yet powerful and muscular, thickness. He instinctively bent down and kissed Hagrid's paw.
Click!
Luna, standing by, used her magical camera to capture the moment. She wasn't sure if the scene in front of her was newsworthy or if it could even be discussed, but it looked so interesting that she decided to take the picture first.
Then the Muggle aristocrat noticed the camera in Luna's hands.
Oh, my God!
He was so amazed as he watched a photo that moved on its own. This thing was absolutely incredible!
His expression was exactly the same as Draco and Pansy's, who were both engrossed in the video game beside him.