Chương 21: Chapter 19 - Society
***** DOUBLE CHAPTER ****** A/N: Double chapter to make up for this weekend. Honestly trying to connect to the internet this weekend was just a nightmare at my parents place in the country. But I'm just touched down! Finally back in civilization again, so we're back to regular releases lol. Anyways..... I know this is a bit late, but hope y'all had a fanatic holiday weekend! Hope you all enjoy! *****
All of them clutching their new souvenirs, Arthur in the lead, they all hurried along the lantern-lit trail.
Sounds of thousands of joyful people came from all around them, the atmosphere of feverish excitement was highly infectious, and soon the group the entire group couldn't stop grinning.
Eventually, they all came into the shadow of a gigantic stadium, gold walls surrounding the pitch.
Looking all about, the entire stadium was much bigger than the one at Hogwarts, looking to house more than 10 cathedrals within.
"Seats 100,000." Arthur told the kids, pride evident in his tone. "The ministry has been busy filling the area with muggle-repelling charms, just to ensure the secrecy of the entire event."
"Prime seats! Top Box!" Announced the Ministry Ticket-witch at the entrance, checking over all their tickets. "Straight upstairs Arthur! As High as you can go!"
They followed the rich purple-colored carpet in front of them, as it led upwards, towards the top box, crowds of eager viewers filtering out towards their own boxed seats.
Eventually the group found themselves in a small box, set at the highest point in the stadium, situated 1/2 way between the goalposts. About 20 chairs set in 2 rows were placed neatly in this box, appearing quite comfortable, decorated in gold and purple.
Looking down, the group saw the entire stadium before them, everyone clamoring about to find their seats.
Bright advertisements flashed before them, on a giant screen, in rotation. Khan himself even recognized one of the advertisements.
Gladrags Wizardwear - London, Paris, Hogsmeade.
It seemed as though his old friend, Augustus Hill had expanded to London and even Paris! Khan still kept the robe Augustus gifted him for defeating that troll in Hogsmeade, that 2nd day of classes.
Khan may have sold the items he found during his adventures, but never a gift from his friends!
"Dobby?"
Khan's thoughts were interrupted, as he looked off to where Harry had asked that question. He recognized that name, as it belonged to the funny house-elf who had found him in his vivarium back at Hogwarts.
"Did sir just call me Dobby?" squeaked the house-elf curiously.
Khan observed the house-elf and saw that it was in fact, not Dobby, but a female house-elf instead. Wearing a tea-towel draped like a toga, its face was hidden in its hands, as though fearful.
Ron and Hermione were both turned around in their seat observing the house-elf as well, in curiosity. Although they had both heard about the antics of Dobby during their 2nd year, they had never met a house-elf before.
"Sorry." Replied Harry hurriedly. "I just thought you were someone I knew."
"Winky knows Dobby too, sir!" Squeaked the house-elf, quickly glancing at Harry through her fingers covering her face. "And you sirs, are surely Harry Potter! Dobby talks about you all the time!"
"Oh? How is he?" Asked Harry in surprise.
"How is freedom treating him?" He followed up, as he fondly remembered tricking Mr. Lucius Malfoy with a dirty old sock, to free Dobby.
"Um.... no meaning disrespect sir." Squeaked the Winky sadly. "But Winky is not sure you did Dobby a Favor sir, when youz set Dobby free... Freedom is going to his head, sir. Ideas above his station, sir. Had trouble finding a position for a long time, Dobby did."
"Why?" asked Harry in worry. "What's wrong with him?"
"Dobby is wanting PAY sir...." Winky almost whispered, as if the very thought was taboo.
"Why shouldn't he be paid?" Interrupted Hermione, with righteous fury.
"House-elves is not paid, miss!" Squeaked Winky in slight outrage. "No, no, no! Dobby is getting up to all sorts of high-jinxes sir, unbecoming of a house-elf. A house-elf is not supposed to have fun and ask for pay, and get up to trouble! A house-elf does what they is told!"
She looked around the top box in fear, before continuing. "Winky is not liking heights at all. But Winky is still coming here to save a seat for her Master, Mr. Crouch, because she was told, like a good elf."
Khan was reminded of some wizards' cruelty towards house-elves in particular. Remembering Deek's house-elf friend, who was deathly afraid of spiders, but was still forced to harvest spider parts for his master, before tragically losing his life, Khan noted that this was further evidence that wizarding culture had not progressed as far as he originally thought.
This also made him worried for Poppy, and her descendants. He had freed Poppy, the house-elf that came with his store in Hogsmeade, after he purchased it. She did still have a position of taking care of his shop after all. And he was paying her, as an employee of the shop... Well, hopefully, she or her descendants were paying themselves from the shop profits, if it is still in business. And hopefully, he didn't cause any unknown trouble for Poppy, by freeing her.
Khan's thoughts were interrupted, when he heard the shatter of something breaking.
Looking over, he saw Percy's glasses had slipped off his face and smashed on the ground, as he was bowing to some important looking wizard. Ears as red as his hair, he quickly repaired his glasses with a repairo in embarrassment.
Ignoring Percy, the important looking wizard turned and greeted Harry like an old friend. "Harry my boy! How are you?"
"I'm good Mr. Fudge!" Harry responded politely. "I had no idea we were sharing a box with the Minister for Magic."
Shaking his hand, he introduced Harry to the wizard beside him. "This is Harry Potter... You know.... The Boy who survived You-know-who... Harry this is the Bulgarian Minister."
The excited foreign minister excitedly pointed to Harry's scar, in recognition of him.
Khan meanwhile, looked on in thought. He still wasn't quite convinced that Harry vanquished the dark lord.
Harry had no redeemable heroic features from what Khan could learn, living with the boy the past few days.
He had not grown up with magic, instead living with his muggle relatives.
He was not serious with his studies, not choosing to study with himself and Hermione, instead spending his time, playing Chess and Gobstones with Ginny and Ron.
He was quite skinny and short. Not seemingly very athletic, or well fed, if his stature is any indication.
So how was it, that this boy at the age of 1, managed to destroy a dark wizard at the height of his powers again?
No, the only explanation was the weird dark magic lingering around his forehead, constantly battling some pink colored magic, protecting him.
'That pink magic must repel dark magic somehow..... I really need to investigate this magic.' Khan muttered to himself, still watching the exchange.
Soon, an older blonde gentleman and his family came to the top-box.
"Ah.... Lucius! Glad to see you and your family could make it!" Mr. Fudge greeted the newcomer and his family.
Looking over, Khan saw a pale boy a few years younger than him, white-blonde hair slicked back, with an ever present sneer on his face, an exact younger replica of his father, Lucius. The woman accompanying them, presumably the older gentleman's spouse, was blonde as well. Tall and slim, Khan noted that she would be quite good looking, if she too wasn't wearing a sneer similar to her son. It was a sneer Khan was quite familiar with, as he was on the receiving end of it quite a bit, during the time he was thought of as a squib. If there's someone that purebloods hate more than muggles, it was squibs.
'Ah. There are the pureblooded supremacists I know and love.' Khan mused to himself sarcastically.
"Fudge!" The older gentleman greeted back. "I don't think you've met my wife, Narcissa? Or our son, our heir of the House Malfoy, Draco?"
'House of Malfoy?' Khan was vaguely familiar with the house from his family etiquette training, but to his knowledge, they were always quite subtle with their dealings, preferring to stay out of the spotlight, as to not attract attention to their dark magic studies. 'It seems that in the past 100 years, this new generation of House of Malfoy, has more political aspirations, if his close relationship with the minister is any indication.'
"How do you do? How do you do?" Greeted Fudge enthusiastically to Draco and Narcissa. "Allow me to introduce you to the Bulgarian Minister. And lets see who else... I daresay, you know Arthur Weasley?"
Khan felt a sense of tension between Arthur and Lucius, as Fudge introduced them.
Wanting to diffuse the situation a little, Khan stood up and flashed his head of house ring, performing a bow, indicative of his stature as head of a Noble and Ancient House.
"I should probably introduce myself in my proper capacity. My name is Jordan Khan, head of the Ancient and Noble House of Khan. I am here as a guest of Arthurs. A pleasure to meet you gentlemen."
Khan felt it was as good a time as any to reintroduce the Khan Family back to Magical Society. It was not everyday you had 2 ministers for magic present together. Perhaps he could set up some spice trade agreements with Bulgaria, and expand the family business.
"A pleasure to meet you!" Fudge, the ever-present opportunist, was delighted to meet the head of house of a Noble and Ancient Family, especially one so obscure. To his limited knowledge, the head Khan family had disappeared during the early 1900s, with only distant branch families attempting to claim head status over the years. It seems that another Noble family in addition to the Potters, had reappeared back in Britain!
Lucius, meanwhile looked quite deep in thought. He was quite familiar with the Khan family after all. His father was terrified of them. And not just politically because of the power and wealth the Khan family wielded. Apparently, he had attending school alongside a family heir back in 1891 as a lower year, and heard all sorts of rumors surrounding the heir.
Joined Hogwarts in his 5th year.
Slayed a troll on his 2nd day.
Fought and tamed a dragon with another student.
Destroyed a Dark Wizard group called the Ashwinders.
Stopped the Goblin Uprising of 1891.
If this newly emerged head of house was anything like his ancestor, Lucius was sure he was going to be a force to be reckoned with, in not just magical Britain, but the greater magical world. Perhaps, with his Lord missing for so long, it was time to hitch his carriage to another thestral, so to speak. He should speak with Draco to approach and befriend this Young Head of House.
"A pleasure to meet you Lord Khan." Lucius greeted him with respect and warmth, similar to how he greeted Voldemort previously, subconsciously shaking his hand as a subordinate does. "I had no idea the Khan family was returning to Magical Britain! I am Lucius Malfoy, Head of the House Malfoy. I hope our families can get along."
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực