Selenis Gray walked out of Gringotts.
The box she held was filled with Golden Galleons.
In recent years, her family had grown stronger by leeching off the Lestrange family's industry, but they hadn't yet reached the level of extreme wealth.
Her own family also had many people to support, and her uncle, the patriarch, was conducting some very cash-burning research. After so many years of accumulation, the Golden Galleons in the Gray family's vault actually numbered just over ten thousand.
This time, the profits from various places hadn't been entered, and now three thousand had been withdrawn. The Galleons in the vault were already less than five digits.
She clutched the box tightly and hurried toward the Leaky Cauldron. As long as she reached the fireplace, she could hand this box of money to her father.
Although her uncle had told her to liaise with the Ministry of Magic, Selenis felt extremely uneasy. She had a feeling something bad was going to happen.
So she just wanted to get rid of this hot potato quickly.
Before her, her father had always been responsible for communication between the family and the Ministry, so having him step up again now wouldn't seem too strange.
It had to be said, a woman's intuition was sometimes truly terrifying. But it was also possible Selenis possessed the talent of a Seer.
She complained as she ran:
'Why is it such a long walk from Gringotts to the Leaky Cauldron? Why doesn't the Ministry set up a Floo Network node in Diagon Alley?'
It was 1986, and Diagon Alley was not yet connected to the Floo Network. Wizards had to pass through the Leaky Cauldron to get to Diagon Alley.
It wasn't until 1989 that a merchant finally "voluntarily" contributed their fireplace, providing convenience to the wider wizarding community.
In reality, the so-called voluntary contribution was the Ministry paying a fireplace rental fee of one hundred Galleons a year...
After all, so many wizards needed to get to Diagon Alley, and no one wanted strangers coming in and out of their home every day. So that "shrewd" merchant eventually, fed up, built another wall to isolate his own fireplace...
Knockturn Alley, on the other hand, had been connected to the Floo Network as early as 1971. As for where it was connected? Everyone knew: in Borgin and Burkes' shop.
In Old Borgin's eyes, others coming and going through his shop could bring him a steady stream of wealth.
So in this respect, Old Borgin was a genuine, sharp-minded merchant.
Oh well, in any case, there was currently no fireplace in Diagon Alley for Selenis to use for travel.
Apparition?
Please... she wasn't a house-elf, nor a phoenix, and certainly not Dumbledore. She couldn't just go wherever she wanted.
Diagon Alley had so many shops, and Knockturn Alley was right next door.
It could be said that this area was probably the most concentrated region for strange alchemical items in Britain, aside from Hogwarts.
Perhaps some wizard's residence had set up an Anti-Apparition Jinx, or maybe some shop displayed items with strong magical fluctuations...
To be honest, if one wasn't absolutely confident in themselves, or extremely familiar with Diagon Alley, ordinary people truly didn't dare Apparate or Disapparate here.
Especially in 1984, after a witch splinched herself here, leaving behind her pair of mammary glands, even fewer people dared to do it.
So, no matter how anxious Selenis Gray was, she could only rely on her two long legs to be strong, strong, and stronger still.
However, running fast easily leads to accidents.
And so, she bumped into someone.
It was a short person.
But Selenis felt like she had run into a wall.
She lost her balance and fell to the ground, and the box in her hands flew out.
She was horrified. She wanted to do something, but since she'd been clutching the box with both hands, she hadn't even drawn her wand.
So she could only watch as the box fell into the short person's hands.
The short person was wearing a hooded wizarding robe. The two sleeves were wide and thick.
The shorty held the money box tightly, the sleeves covering the box completely, not showing a single gap.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, miss. Did I hurt you?"
The short person spoke; the voice was young and clear. It was a girl.
Selenis scrambled to her feet.
The girl lowered her hood, revealing a pretty but unfamiliar little face.
"Why don't you watch where you're going!"
Already frantic, how could Selenis have a pleasant attitude for the person who bumped her?
"Give me the box, quickly! Or I'll accuse you of robbery!"
The girl was shocked. "Miss, you can't say that! I didn't rob you!"
As she spoke, she aggrievedly handed the box to Selenis. "I just happened to catch your box. Look, it's completely undamaged!"
Selenis took the box, glanced at the upper left corner where her Gray family's secret mark was, and gave it a light shake. The clear, pleasant song of Galleons met her ears.
She let out a sigh of relief. Although her tone was still harsh, it had softened considerably. "I'll let it go this time. If there's a next time, I'll make sure you regret it!"
This girl was, naturally, Hydrus Lestrange.
She smiled as she watched Selenis Gray leave, murmuring to herself happily:
"A next time? Oh, I'll be looking forward to that!"
...
...
Wearing Hermione's head, Hydrus entered Gringotts.
Gringotts was the only bank in the wizarding world. Its architecture was strange, its decorative taste unique, but we won't dwell on that here.
Inside the door, the goblins were busy with their own affairs and unwilling to bother with an underage witch.
So, aside from the greeter at the door, Hydrus received no reception.
She didn't mind. These money-grubbing goblins only recognized money, not people. It wasn't the first day she'd known them.
When she was still the great lady of the Lestranges, she was taken to the VIP room every time she came.
Hydrus walked straight to a counter and stated her request directly:
"I want to buy a vault."
The goblin banker, who was weighing gold, looked up, glanced at Hydrus, and then asked, "What tier would you like?"
It was Hydrus's first time buying a vault, so naturally, she didn't know the market. She asked, "What tiers are there?"
The goblin banker introduced, "A standard vault for five hundred Galleons, one-hundred-year property right. After it expires, you only need to pay a small service fee to continue holding it. Located on the uppermost level of the underground vaults;"
As everyone knows, the deeper the Gringotts vault, the more secure. At the lowest levels, there are even dragons guarding.
"A high-security vault for two thousand Galleons. Larger capacity than a standard vault, more secure, with diverse security services. Most large families prefer this type of vault. In fact, a family just withdrew their savings from a vault of this tier..."
Hydrus's eyes lit up. She asked, "Was it the Gray family?"
"I'm sorry, Miss," the banker said seriously. "We must keep our client information confidential."
Hydrus laughed. "I know even if you don't say. It must be the Gray family. My family and theirs are very close. Aunt Selenis Gray, who just left, is my mother's best friend! We talk about everything!"
"Oh, alright," the banker nodded. "I didn't realize you were so close to the Gray family... Yes, yes, you're correct. It was the Gray family."
Hydrus made an instant decision. "I've decided. I'll buy this tier of vault!"
"Won't you consider the highest-tier vault? Only ten thousand Galleons, a one-time purchase for permanent use, guarded by a dragon, and the best vault to reflect your family's honor! The vaults of great families like Black and Lestrange are all..."
"No, I'll choose the second tier!" Hydrus was insistent. "If possible, I'd like to buy the one next to the Gray family's vault, so when Aunt Selenis and I come to get money next time, we won't have to separate."
The banker scratched his sparsely-haired head. "That's difficult. The Gray family's vault is number 833. The ones on either side, 832 and 834, already have owners..."
"Ah! Vault 870 is still empty. This vault is directly below vault 833. Although not adjacent, it's close enough. It only takes an extra ten seconds or so in our cart."
"Alright!" Hydrus nodded. "That's the one!"
She decisively took the wooden box she had "swapped" from Selenis out of her sachet and handed it to the banker. "Count out two thousand Galleons from this!"
The banker opened the box, and his eyes went wide.
This unassuming girl was actually a little rich woman!
He quickly counted out two thousand Galleons and returned the remaining one thousand Galleons, along with the small box, to Hydrus.
"Miss, my name is Puzzi! I have several investment products here, I wonder..."
"Puzzi, cut the chatter. Hurry up with the paperwork. I want to deposit my money!"
"Yes, Miss..." Puzzi said fawningly, his attitude a sharp contrast to the business-like tone from before. He was a perfect example of "arrogant first, obsequious later." "May I have your name?"
"Audrey Astley."
"Will your withdrawal method be key-based or identity-based? If it's identity-based, we will need to perform a full data registration for you..."
"No need for that trouble. Key-based is fine."
"Very well, Miss Astley."
Puzzi could tell at a glance this name was fake. There was no great Astley family in the wizarding world. But what did that have to do with him?
Whoever she was, the vault was sold by him, and he would definitely get his commission. Money in the bank.
'What was there to fear? What, is this girl a fugitive? Besides, even if she is a fugitive, so what? The Ministry can't control Gringotts.'
"Here is your key. Please take it and be very careful not to lose it!"
Hydrus took the key and stored it carefully.
"Well then, esteemed Miss Astley, I, Puzzi, will now escort you to your vault!"
A brilliant smile spread across Hydrus's face.
As a cheapskate, how could she be happy after just paying two thousand Galleons? That wasn't Hydrus's style!
It was for no other reason than she had found another opportunity to fleece the Gray family.
But this time, she was going to play rough!
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]