Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Inheriting the Legacy
"It seems he's truly dead."
After waiting for about five minutes and hearing no signs of movement from the old wizard, George cautiously pushed open the door and stepped inside. He checked for the old wizard's breath and, once certain he was truly dead, finally exhaled in relief.
A black wizard in his seventies or eighties would have been impossible for George to defeat in a direct confrontation. With an ironclad spell to protect his body and a simple Stunning Spell, the old wizard could have easily incapacitated him.
As a black wizard who had lived to such an old age, he undoubtedly had a few tricks up his sleeve, perhaps even some powerful hidden cards. The only reason George was able to kill him was that the old wizard had been completely unprepared.
After confirming the old wizard's death, George feigned panic, quickly pushing open the shop door and running toward Diagon Alley.
He didn't shout in Knockturn Alley—it would likely attract some ill-intentioned black wizards before any Aurors arrived.
"Help! Help! Mr. Merton was injured in an explosion while brewing a potion! Somebody, please help him!"
Once he reached Diagon Alley, George began shouting in a frantic voice, acting as though he had just lost his father.
Soon enough, two Aurors on patrol in the area were drawn to his cries.
"Take us there quickly!"
Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley, being hubs for both wizards and dark wizards, were patrolled around the clock by Aurors. Their presence prevented any incidents from making headlines, which could negatively affect the Ministry of Magic, particularly the reputation of the Minister. Moreover, it was the back-to-school season, and many young wizards were being brought by their parents to do their shopping.
Inside Merton's Potions Shop, a young witch with pink hair and a pale heart-shaped face, about eighteen or nineteen years old, was reporting the results of her investigation to a middle-aged wizard standing across from George.
"Director Scrimgeour, after conducting the investigation, we found no evidence of a second wand's magical traces, and there were no missing valuables. We've ruled out foul play. It appears that his death was indeed an accidental result of potion brewing," the young witch concluded.
The middle-aged wizard, satisfied with the report, nodded. "Well done, Tonks. It seems Mad-Eye Moody has trained you well over the past year. Keep learning from him, and in two years, you'll be ready to become a full-fledged Auror."
"Though Professor Moody can be a bit harsh, it's an honor to learn from him," the witch, Tonks, replied with a hint of pride on her face.
Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody was a retired Auror but was still renowned throughout the wizarding world. More than half of the prisoners in Azkaban had been put there by him. Being mentored by such a legend during her Auror apprenticeship was the envy of her peers.
Meanwhile, George, who was eavesdropping on their conversation, perked up when he heard their names.
"Scrimgeour, the Head of the Auror Office... Is that the same Rufus Scrimgeour who later replaced Cornelius Fudge as the Minister of Magic?
"And Tonks... Is that Nymphadora Tonks, the Metamorphmagus?"
He racked his brain, recalling memories from his previous life, and gradually pieced together who these two were.
Rufus Scrimgeour, after succeeding Cornelius Fudge, took a much harder stance against Voldemort and the Death Eaters, only to be brutally murdered by Voldemort in the end.
As for Tonks, she had the rare ability to change her appearance at will. She eventually married Professor Lupin, though George hadn't expected to see her here, freshly graduated and not yet a full Auror.
"Looks like Lupin really did end up with a much younger wife," George mused, finding the situation a bit amusing.
Of course, the details about Tonks and Lupin weren't important right now. What mattered was that George knew that both Scrimgeour and Tonks were relatively responsible Aurors, which was a good thing for him at this moment.
Are all Aurors trustworthy?
Not necessarily.
The Ministry of Magic was rife with corruption, and many Aurors were involved. If George had encountered a greedy Auror, who knows how much of the inheritance he would actually be able to keep?
"Poor child. He was just adopted, and now he's an orphan again," Tonks said sympathetically, glancing over at George. Her eyes were filled with pity as she reflected on the boy's fragile appearance and recent misfortunes.
However, Scrimgeour, overhearing Tonks' remark, shook his head. "That might not be the case. For him, this could actually be a good thing."
As the Head of the Auror Office with years of experience, Scrimgeour was well-acquainted with the kind of people who populated Knockturn Alley. Seeing the boy's thin, scarred body, he had already guessed most of the situation.
That's why he thought this could be a blessing in disguise for the boy—he could inherit a decent fortune and finally attend Hogwarts to receive a proper education.
"Child, your name is Dave, correct? Due to Mr. Merton's unfortunate accident, and since you have no other relatives…" Scrimgeour began explaining the situation to George.
The main points were twofold:
First, George could inherit the black wizard's shop and the money stored in Gringotts.
Second, since the black wizard had died, leaving no one to teach George magic, he would be required to attend Hogwarts.
Both points were exactly what George had anticipated, so he readily agreed.
Throughout the entire investigation, George didn't put on an overly dramatic show of grief. That would have been too suspicious, and he wasn't a skilled enough actor to fool someone as seasoned as Scrimgeour.
However, he did make one request in the end.
"Sir, I don't want to be called Dave anymore. May I change my name?"
He was unfamiliar with the name Dora, and if possible, he wanted to change it back to George, which felt more natural to him.
"Of course. Tomorrow, Miss Tonks will assist you in completing all the necessary inheritance paperwork. If you wish to change your name, she can help you with that as well," Scrimgeour replied without surprise. He assumed George wanted to forget the painful memories associated with the name.
"Don't worry, I've got it all covered!" Tonks stepped forward and gently patted George on the head with a warm smile.
She wasn't naïve. From the conversation between Scrimgeour and George, she had already pieced together much of the boy's troubled past.
"Thank you, Auror Tonks," George responded politely, grateful for the assistance.
Building a rapport with an Auror wasn't a bad thing, especially since George might need their help in the future. Knockturn Alley was a dangerous place. Inheriting the black wizard's fortune was like a child carrying a gold bar down the street—many would be tempted to seize it.
Even if they wouldn't dare try anything openly, there were no guarantees that they wouldn't scheme behind the scenes.
"What a polite young boy," Tonks thought, growing more fond of George. She appreciated well-mannered children, especially in contrast to the many misbehaved kids and irresponsible parents she often encountered. When she came across a child who was respectful and polite, she found herself willing to offer a helping hand.
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