Chapter 11: Shafiq Family I
Three months had passed since James started reading the three books. This time was more than enough for James to learn the three books perfectly. He even read them several times.
Although he couldn't do the practical part, his parents could. So he asked them for a demonstration of the charms, to analyze the movements of the wands, among other things.
Also, in the part about potions, he watched on the front page how his father prepared the potions since he had all the necessary equipment. Thanks to this, he was able to grasp many important details that did not appear in the books.
Finally, he asked his mother to see some practical things, although it was more difficult since someone had to be injured, there were some magical ways to learn, such as dummies that took the place of the human body.
He also continued to hang out with Emily and Gwen reluctantly, as their mother was concerned about their social life. It wasn't that he disliked the girls, the problem was that they were children, and although both were smarter than average, they were still 6 and 7 years old.
So he became a sort of big brother, especially with Emily, who was very interested in magic. She would ask James about the history of magic, how he controlled his magic so well, and more.
Gwen was still shrill and more rebellious, but after three months together with James, her personality improved, or so James wanted to believe. Also, on one of these days, Gwen invited him to her birthday.
Since she had attended his birthday, he accepted her invitation, as it would be rude to turn her down.
Today was the day he would go to the Shafiq Family home. James already sensed that it would be a very unpleasant meeting, not because of Gwen. The problem was her elitist family and the people they would invite.
"You look beautiful" said Euphemia, trying to comb James' hair, though she didn't succeed. James was in a fancy outfit about his size. The outfit was black with gold straps.
"You'll have to put up with those pureblood crazies" commented Fleamont to which Euphemia nudged him.
"Don't listen to your father. Not everyone is that way. Have you got the gift yet?" asked Euphemia, to which James nodded as he grabbed an object wrapped in wrapping paper from on top of a piece of furniture.
"Good, do you want us to go with you?" asked Euphemia.
"No, I'll go alone" replied James, who didn't want his parents to have the hassle of talking to those people.
After walking for a while, he arrived in front of a mansion, 'Presumptuous' thought James. Even so, this mansion was not even half of the Rotschild's palace where he lived in his previous life.
The mansion for its size was in a more remote area of the village and where most of the wizarding families who considered themselves purebloods and superior to muggles lived. Very different from his family, who lived in an area of town where they had muggle neighbors.
"You must be the Potter's son" said a male voice haughtily.
James, who was about to ring the doorbell of the mansion, looked out of the corner of his eye and noticed a group of four people. A short adult man with a big belly, next to him a lanky woman with brown curly hair. And behind them, two children James recognized.
The two children were from the Bulstrode Family, who had previously hung out with Gwen, who led them and on several occasions, made taunting remarks towards him.
Mr. Bulstrode looked haughtily and arrogantly at James, "Yes, you must be Mr. Bulstrode" said James, just looking at him out of the corner of his eye and ringing the doorbell of the mansion.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Bulstrode were surprised by James' tone, cold and apathetic. Even far more haughty and arrogant than the children of the more extreme pureblood families.
The most surprising thing is that he would behave this way in front of two adults. James did it automatically, as in his past life, he always acted this way. The only times he didn't was when his mother ordered him to be more sociable.
In this new life, although his attitude changed, especially towards his family, being very loving and showing affection, to strangers and rude people he maintained the same attitude as Edward Rothschild.
The two children being with their parents were more confident, when they saw James' attitude they frowned angrily. They couldn't believe that someone would treat their parents that way, without even looking at them.
"What a rude boy" whispered Mrs. Bulstrode. Her whisper was heard by James.
However, he ignored it completely. Why would he be educated with people calling his family blood traitors?
Within seconds of ringing the doorbell, the door to the mansion opened on its own, 'What if a muggle walks by...' thought James, even though it was a remote area and magical dwellings, such a situation could happen.
When the door opened all the way, a small ugly creature appeared from the other side.
"Welcome to Shafiq Manor. If you allow me, I will lead the way" said the small creature. Its voice was squeaky and somewhat annoying. It was a house elf.
The Bulstrode's glared at the creature and didn't even respond. They just started walking.
"Thank you for leading us" said James, showing himself to be much more educated, something that outraged the family, but they said nothing. Mr. Bulstrode thought it was demeaning if he started arguing with a child, so his sons had to swallow their pride and walk.
The elf made a grateful gesture for James and began to lead the way to the manor gates. When they arrived the elf gestured with his hands, and the double door slowly opened, revealing the interior of the great mansion.
"Adrian, Elara arrived" said a tall, dark-haired, black-eyed man, approaching the Bulstrode family.
A very beautiful blonde woman with an expressionless face followed him and also politely greeted the new guests.
"Marcellus, Lysandra it is good to see you" Adrian Bulstrode said graciously, as he shook Marcellus Shafiq's hand.
"Lysandra, you get more beautiful every day" praised Elara to Lysandra Shafiq.
'That must be Emily and Gwen's parents' thought James with a bored expression. Their presence had been completely ignored.
Adrian's children politely greeted the Shafiqs, and more adults who knew the family arrived and greeted them cordially. Goyle and Crabbe's parents were just as vulgar as their sons.
Finally, after almost 10 minutes, Marcellus noticed James standing static in his place.
"And you little buddy are you...?" asked Marcellus in a calm tone and very different from Adrian's haughty tone.
"The person who saved your daughter" replied James.
All the adults who were conversing fell silent when they heard James' answer, clearly they thought it was rude to introduce themselves that way in front of Marcellus, the master of the house.
However, James wasn't lying and didn't say it to sound rude. He thought that way, he would be able to remember who he was.
"Oh, you must be James Potter" said Marcellus, his tone was still calm and showed no annoyance.
"Himself" affirmed James nodding his head.
Lysandra looked at James curiously. It seemed strange to her that James being a child would show such confidence when surrounded by adults who belonged to very powerful pureblood wizarding families.
'Where does his confidence come from? Is it the ignorance of a child, or did he fully trust himself...?' thought Lysandra, examining James' face.
James was used to conversing with people of high status in important meetings, so he was not at all nervous.
You could say he showed this confidence unconsciously since as a Rothschild he was always the person with the highest status, and his mother trained him to show it. These people didn't respect his family and believed in the supremacy of purebloods, an opinion James didn't share at all.
So, he would not show as much respect for them as they did not show for him or his family.
"Gwen talks a lot about you. Unfortunately, I didn't get to thank you that time, so I can tell you now, thank you" Lysandra said in a polite and emotionless tone.
Hearing her "thank you" James knew instantly that she wasn't thankful at all, but he didn't care.
"It's nothing. It's what any child would have done in my situation" James said with a small smile as he looked purposely at the Bulstrode children.
The cheeks of the two Bulstrode kids turned red. They had been cowards and fled the scene, leaving Gwen alone stranded at the altar in the middle of the night
"Gwen and the other children are playing in another room. Slinky! Take the children to Gwen" said Marcellus. His tone of voice changed greatly as he called out to the house elf.
"Yes, master" said Slinky respectfully.
James and the two Bulstrode children began to follow Slinky. Many adults watched James' back until he left the room.
"What a rude child" said Mrs. Bulstrode again.
"I would say splendid. That's how a pureblood heir should act" said Lysandra in a tone that hid fascination.
Many of the people were surprised to hear that Lysandra praised someone. It was rare for such a cold woman who always has a face without any emotion to praise someone, even her husband was surprised by this.
"I wonder how those traitorous Potters, could raise such a splendid child" Lysandra murmured without anyone listening to her.
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