Richie and his bodyguard returned to the estate using another portkey. The purchased motor vehicles arrived closer to the evening.
After the servants had left, Richard used his wand to shrink all the newly bought machines. Then he wrote a letter with technical specifications to Arthur Weasley, asking him to enchant one of the dirt bikes first. When the owl returned from Hogwarts, he sent the shrunken vehicles along with the letter to Mr. Weasley.
On July thirty-first, Richard first send—via Darth Vader—the dirt bike Mr. Weasley had returned the day before (in its shrunken form) as a gift to Harry Potter.
After dispatching the owl, the young Grosvenor went downstairs for breakfast. He was mentally preparing himself for the celebration of his birthday, at which members of the royal family would be present.
Father and son had just begun their breakfast when a maid entered the room.
"My lord," she addressed the elder Grosvenor, "the gate security has called. They say a lady from a private school has come to see Master Richie. She introduced herself as Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall."
"Coming to a student on his birthday is highly improper," the duke remarked with displeasure. "Tell security to bring the guest here. And Lucy, prepare a place setting for Madam McGonagall."
"Yes, my lord."
The deputy headmistress of the school of witchcraft arrived in the dining room, accompanied by the maid, only about ten minutes later. She was a tall woman with a rather stern appearance, her black hair pulled into a strict bun, wearing square glasses and a dark green, high-necked dress.
"Lord Gerald Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster—Madam Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School, has arrived to see the young Lord Richard, Earl Grosvenor."
"Please, Madam McGonagall, join us for breakfast," Gerald said politely.
The deputy headmistress looked distinctly displeased. She pressed her lips together and replied in a dry tone:
"Thank you, my lord."
She was offered a seat in the middle of the large table, between Richard and Gerald.
"Lucy, thank you—that will be all for now," the duke dismissed the servants from the dining room with a commanding wave of his right hand.
For a time, silence settled over the room. When everyone had finished eating and set aside their utensils, the duke politely addressed the guest:
"Madam McGonagall, I trust your journey was not too difficult?"
"Thank you, my lord, you have a splendid home. I must admit, reaching it was not easy. I am the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I have brought an invitation letter for your son, Richard. He is a wizard."
"That is most kind of you, madam," Gerald replied courteously.
Raising her eyebrows in surprise, McGonagall looked at the composed Gerald, then shifted her gaze to Richard, who appeared not the least bit astonished, and asked:
"You are not surprised? I can prove that magic exists."
A wand appeared in the witch's hand.
"That won't be necessary, madam," Gerald said firmly. "Please put your wand away before security interprets it as a threat. We are aware of wizards. A year and a half ago, the Minister of Magic herself visited us. By the way, how is Madam Bagnold?"
At these words, McGonagall's eyes nearly popped out of her head. To her — a witch — some Muggle was indirectly threatening her with security over her wand and casually hinting at ties to the Minister of Magic. No, she could understand such a reaction among wizards—drawing a wand in their presence could indeed be taken as a threat. But a Muggle?! Then again… what kind of Muggle was this? If the Minister of Magic paid him visits—and with such titles…
"I don't know, my lord," she replied. "We have a different minister now—Mr. Fudge."
"What a pity," Gerald said with a sigh. "Madam Bagnold struck me as a very well-mannered lady—she announced her visit in advance and was most courteous. Tell me, Madam McGonagall, do you visit all students on their birthdays?"
Such a sharp barb the witch endured with great difficulty. Her face twisted as though she had bitten into a lemon. The question seemed polite enough, yet in the duke's words — in the tone with which they were spoken — there was an unmistakable implication, something along the lines of: Do you barge in uninvited on important occasions for everyone, like a mountain troll crashing a party?
"It is tradition, my lord," McGonagall said, forcing the words out with a hint of irritation. "Pure-blood wizards receive their invitation letters by owl from mid-July to early August. As for Muggle-born and half-blood young witches and wizards living in the Muggle world, a Hogwarts professor visits them in person. Those whose birthdays fall in July or August are usually visited on the very day they turn eleven."
"Does that not lead to… unfortunate overlaps?" Gerald asked with interest. "In six hours, guests will be arriving to celebrate Richard's birthday—the Queen of Great Britain, princes, and lords. I am curious—had you come at that time, how would you have explained yourself to royal security?"
McGonagall's face tightened in displeasure.
"The Queen?!" she asked in surprise.
"Yes, madam," the duke confirmed with a faint nod. "The Queen."
"No one informed me…" the witch said, clearly taken aback.
Not a single muscle moved on the duke's face, but his eyes were eloquent. From his slightly raised brows, one could almost read the unspoken question: Were we also supposed to inform you that the Queen would be visiting—and that perhaps it was not the best idea to arrive uninvited at a duke's estate?!
(End of Chapter)
Hey! Don't forget, your support is very important.
Please donate power stones, write reviews, and leave comments. It will be a huge help!
🎁 Bonus chapter at 50 power stones!