As Alan left the bank accompanied by William, he could feel the goblins' piercing gazes on his back, as another client had just left them, taking the entire contents of the vault.
"Why were they staring at you like that? Did you really steal their gold?" the salesman asked, trying to make fun of him.
"Let's just say we didn't get along from the start, and now they probably think I was the one who talked you into taking everything from the vault."
"Um... I understand, but I would still recommend that you don't quarrel with them..."
"It's mutual dislike at first sight, and why should I keep all my wealth with them? I'll just buy a bag with an expanded space and that's it."
"It's still safer there..."
"It depends on how you look at it, but let's close this topic. Better tell me why you trust me so much. I thought you would immediately try to throw me out of the building, just having heard that I want to buy it."
"Over the years I've been working here, I've gotten pretty good at reading people," William replied with a smile. "Even though you didn't look like a rich kid, more like a poor man, your poise, your manner, and your eyes told me you were someone more than just a man, and my instincts have almost never let me down."
"Okay, by the way, when are you planning to leave?" he asked again.
"This evening. The sooner the better…"
Already approaching the building, both wizards immediately noticed the door that was slightly open, although they had previously locked it with a spell.
The man jumped up and kicked the door open, immediately pointing his wand at the man sitting behind the counter.
"You again!" William hissed venomously, not taking his eyes off the smiling wizard in worn trousers with a dark cloak draped over his shoulders.
"I warned you not to do anything stupid, but you just went and sold the place," he continued, matter-of-factly stroking his thin mustache. "You know, I was offended and decided to teach you a little lesson..."
"Where is my wife?! Answer me, or I'll kill you right now!"
"Oh-oh-oh, you scared her so much. You better put the stick down, otherwise she might get sick..."
"If even one hair..."
"Shut up, will you?" He snatched his wand and pointed it at William. "Stupefy!" A red beam erupted from it, hitting him in the chest and knocking the door open. "We told you: give it up the easy way..."
"For a thousand Galleons?!"
"It's not worth more," the stranger bared his teeth and kicked the former restaurant owner in the chest, causing him to cough violently. "Don't anger my boss, or else..."
"What else?" a playful voice rang out, causing the previously calm man to perk up. He turned sharply and stepped to the right, his wand pointed briskly at the speaker.
A smiling Alan was descending from the second floor towards the two mages, with two bodies hovering behind him, and a middle-aged woman descending behind them.
"Leila!" William exclaimed, jumping up and ignoring the pain in his back and chest.
"I'm fine, they didn't do anything to me," seeing her husband's worried face, she answered him tenderly, at the same time Alan threw the two still living bodies at the latter's feet.
"Tell your master that this place belongs to Snape. He'll understand. Now take them and get out of here. Don't make me dirty the floor."
Hearing Alan's words and seeing the confidence on his face, the bandit swallowed the threats he wanted to shower his opponent with, because if it was true, he would simply bury himself with threats, so the man did not say anything, but just gritting his teeth, grabbed his partners, and silently left.
As soon as only the three of them remained in the room, Leila ran past Alan and "jumped" into her husband's arms.
"Do you know them?" William asked him sullenly, putting his arm around the woman.
"No, I was poking around in one of their memories," Alan dismissed weakly, going downstairs and sitting at the table. "And it turns out I know their owner, which is why I didn't kill them. I still have to manage this place in the future, and I don't need any extra problems. I think you understand that yourself."
The man just nodded, agreeing with his words, although deep down he wanted to strangle those bastards who dared to touch his wife.
"Darling, go get your things, we're leaving right now," he said warmly, kissing her forehead. She nodded timidly and quickly headed up the stairs. "Sorry I thought you were one of them," the wizard added guiltily, lowering his head.
"I would have thought the same thing myself, so forget it. Consider it a thank you for selling this place for next to nothing, and if you need help in the future, I'll be happy to help."
"Thank you for your understanding, you've already done too much. If you ever find yourself in Italy and decide to visit the city of Bari, I'll be happy to welcome you as a dear guest."
"I'll remember that," Alan nodded with a smile, shaking the outstretched hand. "Should I see you out?"
"No need, we'll use Apparition."
"As you wish..."
A minute later his wife came down with a small handbag on her shoulder...
As soon as the couple disappeared, Alan was left completely alone in a dilapidated room that needed urgent repairs, so he decided to stay until the evening and, with the help of Reparo, restored the floor and wallpaper on the walls, as well as the tables and chairs, returning the room to a more or less human appearance, although it still required a good repair and an interior update.
The second floor still looked pretty good, except for the cauldrons in the warehouse, which needed restoration, and the remaining rooms, like the office, bedroom, and living room, still needed furniture.
He decided to temporarily turn this place into his home, as well as a shop where he would sell potions and artifacts in the future. Of course, he didn't intend to stop at this building, and the very next morning, after leaving the bar, he continued his stroll through Diagon Alley and by evening he had purchased two more buildings: one smaller for three thousand Galleons and one slightly larger for three and a half thousand.
Alan had no doubt this foolish war would soon end, as his world had seen many such Dark Lords in its long history, and each one had met a tragic fate. Therefore, he was confident that afterward, during the restoration period, the price of every building would skyrocket, and he would be able to make a handsome profit.
Two days later.
Lying on his huge, soft bed, he couldn't help but smile with satisfaction, as he'd finally finished tidying up the building and even slightly improved it, adding Invisible Expansion charms to two rooms, and then Illusion charms over them to conceal them. The charms themselves were forbidden for private use, only for the production of items like the pouch Eileen left behind or Leila's purse.
One of the rooms was specially designed for Alan's training, and its size was comparable to a football field. In addition to numerous exercise machines, it also contained an "alchemy corner" where he planned to refine recipes from his world.
Alan also didn't forget about security, adding a couple of traps for uninvited guests and signaling charms.
My last day of rest, I should get a good night's sleep today, and tomorrow will be my personal hell... ugh... if that old man saw me getting ready to train, he'd definitely shed a tear. He muttered with a grin, clenching his fist tightly and closing his eyes. I hope Lucius manages to find those ingredients before the school year starts, and I wonder what she's doing now...
An image of a large, dark hall, tastefully decorated in dark tones, appeared in his mind. In the center of the room stood a table, around which sat sixteen wizards, including Bella and Lucius. Alan had never seen the others before, but only one caught his attention: a pale-faced, thin, humanoid creature with a pair of narrow slits for a nose and blood-red eyes. It wasn't this that surprised him, but his magical power, only slightly inferior to Dumbledore's.
I was lucky to come in and was able to immediately see the local Dark Lord…
"...my lord, I managed to come to an agreement with our suppliers, and they will be able to increase the supply of potions by another ten percent, but that is already the limit."
"Good... very good, that will do for now. Abraxas, you're raising yourself a wonderful heir..." the pale-faced man drawled with a smirk, a hint of hiss in his voice, looking at the man who looked very much like Lucius himself, but much older.
"Thank you, my lord, for such high praise," he answered reverently, also standing up, and then sitting back down with his son.
"Rodolphus, were you able to find out where those artifacts came from...?"
The thin man trembled at the Dark Lord's question.
"No, my lord... we searched every magical shop, but we couldn't find anything except that their source is Albus Dumbledore..."
"I won't kill you only because I still need your help, but don't you dare fail my tasks again. This was your last warning, there won't be a next time..." He glanced indifferently at the trembling mage and then looked up at the others. "...that applies to you too, I won't forgive any more mistakes."
"Yes, my lord!" they cried in unison, rising from their seats and bowing.
I didn't expect him to sell them so quickly, but... it's none of my business... When Alan's gaze moved from the body lying on the ground to the pensive Bellatrix, his smile faltered...