บท 311: New residence, new clothes, new life
"Good morning, Blake. I think you should be up by now," she said softly.
Blake groaned, rubbing his eyes, and glanced at his watch. It was already eight o'clock.
"During the holidays, we should sleep in..." Blake muttered, sitting up reluctantly.
He had stayed up "just a little" the previous night, engrossed in studying alchemy. Now, the morning felt too early for his sleep-deprived brain. But, since it was a holiday, he didn't feel the urgency to get up just yet.
Nagini, who had now reverted to her human form, looked at him with a disapproving frown. "Blake, staying up all night is not good for your health, especially at your age. That's what the book says."
Blake chuckled lightly. After turning back into a human, one of Nagini's favourite pastimes had become reading books, especially since her time in the suitcase had left her somewhat bored. Blake's collection in the Room of Requirement had become her sanctuary, and reading had quickly become a habit.
Blake lay back down, rolling over with a tired sigh. "It's not a big deal… I can just drink a potion or something," he mumbled.
"But Blake... my breakfast is going to cool down," Nagini said, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment.
Blake blinked, registering the tone in her voice. "Huh? Is that so...? Alright, I'm coming."
Realizing that Nagini had probably made breakfast for him with care, Blake couldn't stay in bed any longer. The thought of her going out of her way, only for him to neglect the meal, tugged at his conscience. He couldn't let her down.
"Early to bed and early to rise... refreshed! I've always believed in that," Blake said, trying to sound cheerful as he climbed out of bed.
Breakfast was simple—just a sandwich, some fried bacon, and Blake's ostensibly favourite fried sausage. Although it was nothing extraordinary by his usual critical standards, he could tell that Nagini had put effort into making the meal.
Seeing Nagini's eager expression, Blake decided to make sure she felt appreciated.
"Wow, Nagini! This is fantastic! The bacon is crispy on the outside but so tender inside!" he exclaimed, exaggerating his delight.
"And this sausage! How did you manage to get it crispy and juicy at the same time? It's bursting with flavour!"
Nagini beamed, pleased with his praise. As she hummed happily while clearing away the dishes, Blake felt a warmth settle over him. He wasn't a stranger to compliments, but seeing Nagini smile made it all the more rewarding.
Still, Blake couldn't help but think about the kitchen. As much as he enjoyed Nagini's enthusiasm, he liked preparing meals himself.
"You know, Nagini, I'll make you lunch today. I'll let you try my cooking skills," Blake said, smiling playfully.
Nagini paused, looking back at him with a mix of curiosity and excitement. "Alright, Blake. I'd like that."
With that, Blake tactfully reclaimed his kitchen domain. As Nagini continued humming and tidying up, he stepped outside the house for some fresh air.
The first thing that caught his eye was Grindelwald's flamboyant sports car, still parked in front of Dumbledore's house. Blake sighed—Grindelwald had left in such a hurry the previous night that he hadn't even bothered to remove the car keys. Thankfully, the inhabitants of Godric's Hollow were wizards; otherwise, someone might have stolen the car by now.
Blake surveyed the damage to the fence, which had been mostly destroyed by Grindelwald's reckless driving. He scratched his head, feeling relieved that no precious herbs had been planted in the area. If there had been, he would have been devastated.
"That old man, Grindelwald... Driving like this..." Blake muttered to himself.
He climbed into the car, started the engine, and expertly reversed it out of the way before parking it again. Drawing his wand, Blake prepared to repair the damaged fence.
"Blake, are you going to use magic?" Nagini asked, stepping outside to join him. "But you can't use magic outside of school. Isn't that against the rules?"
Blake smiled, shaking his head. "Don't worry, Nagini. We're in Godric's Hollow, a place where many wizards live. The Ministry's trace magic doesn't work well in areas like this. Too many wizards are using magic, so it gets confused and can't tell if it's an underage wizard casting spells."
He paused, recalling the events of the previous day. "Though, if you use magic in a Muggle community, the Ministry definitely detects it."
Nagini looked relieved but still a little uncertain. "But... the Ministry knows about your trace."
Blake nodded. "Yeah, that's how they caught me last time. But today, I'll be careful."
He pulled out his custom wand, provided by the system, and cast the repair spell. The fence that had been destroyed by Grindelwald's car slowly returned to its original form, with not a single trace of damage left.
"Blake... I've never seen a young wizard as powerful as you!" Nagini said, her voice filled with admiration.
Blake laughed. "Nagini, you're a witch too. You can do this as well! By the way, I'll buy you a wand."
Nagini's eyes widened with surprise and excitement. "Really? Where can we get one?"
"In Diagon Alley," Blake explained. "All young wizards go there to buy their first wands."
Nagini bit her lip, looking hesitant. "But... how much does a wand cost?"
Blake grinned. "Don't worry about that. I'll buy it for you. Consider it a gift."
Nagini fidgeted with her purse, looking nervous. "I'd like to buy it myself if I can."
Blake chuckled. "Nagini, there's no need. This is my gift to you. You've earned it."
He tapped his clothes with his wand, instantly transforming his attire into a set of wizarding robes. Looking at Nagini with a playful glint in his eye, he said, "Shall we go?"
Nagini blinked in surprise. "Go? Right now?"
"Of course!" Blake responded, already holding the car keys.
Nagini flustered, turned to go back inside. "Wait, I need to change clothes..."
But before she could take another step, Blake gently tapped her with his wand. Her pyjamas morphed into a stylish white witch's dress, and a fashionable witch's hat appeared in Blake's hand.
"This... is this really alright?" Nagini asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Blake conjured a mirror from a nearby stone with another flick of his wand. "Take a look for yourself. If you don't like it, I can change it again."
Nagini stared at her reflection in the mirror, amazed. She had never seen herself look so elegant before, even with just the right amount of light makeup. She blinked in awe, hardly recognizing the stylish witch looking back at her.
"I... I look amazing," Nagini whispered, her eyes lighting up. "I've never felt better."
Blake smiled warmly. "Let's get you that wand. And we'll pick up some clothes for you too."
Nagini's heart skipped a beat. "Clothes? I haven't bought new clothes in... I can't even remember the last time."
Blake took her hand, drawing a circle with his wand to open a Dimensional Gate. "New residence, new clothes, new life," he said, stepping through the portal with Nagini by his side.
On the other side, Diagon Alley came into view. Nagini's eyes widened at the bustling street, filled with witches and wizards going about their day.
She had wandered the streets before, but never like this—without fear, without the weight of her past. For the first time in a long time, Nagini felt free.
"Let's go," Blake said, smiling as he led her into the crowd.
Meanwhile, back at the Ministry of Magic, Dumbledore was speaking to an employee in the Department of Misuse of Magic.
"Professor Dumbledore, there's nothing unusual to report today," the employee said politely.
Dumbledore had spent the entire night searching for traces of Grindelwald, but the dark wizard had seemingly vanished into thin air. Exhausted and frustrated, Dumbledore had come to the Ministry to see if there had been any reports of strange magic usage.
Grindelwald had claimed that the Department of Misuse of Magic would "disappear." Dumbledore knew the man well enough to take his threats seriously.
But just as Dumbledore was about to leave the Ministry, something—or rather, someone—caught his eye in the visitor's line.
There, standing boldly amidst the crowd, was Gellert Grindelwald.
The Ministry employee at the reception desk was frozen in shock, recognizing the infamous dark wizard from the photos that had been circulating in the Daily Prophet. Grindelwald, in typical fashion, wasn't trying to hide his identity at all. He had even written his name down in the visitor's log.
"Gellert Grindelwald," it read.
Dumbledore hurried over, gripping the Elder Wand tightly in his hand. "What are you doing here, Gellert? Are you planning to attack the Ministry of Magic?" he demanded, his voice rising in alarm.
Grindelwald, standing calmly in the middle of the now-empty hall, looked at Dumbledore with a bemused expression.
"Dumbledore, don't be ridiculous," Grindelwald said, waving a hand dismissively. "I'm a law-abiding citizen now. If you keep talking like that, I might just have to sue you for defamation."
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