Chapter 783 - Extended Invitation (1/2)
The minute hand was halfway to the 10 o'clock hour. The shadows were long in Reginald Prince's study as the grandfather clock in the corner ticked away. Reginald pensively read the doc.u.ments before him on his study by the light of the orange of the fireplace and magical lamps. He received a rather interesting bit of news from the Intelligence offices that were located near the Shafiq shipping branches overseas.
Various wizarding ministries around the world were more than intrigued by the potential of the Auto-Database, the Magical Brain, and Wiz Link. Wizarding ministries were considering agreeing to a beneficial trade with the British Ministry of Magic in order to learn the technology and have it implanted in their own country. With the British Ministry of Magic having the upper hand there was quite the potential to obtain expensive materials including potion ingredients at a cheaper cost. It would certainly benefit many potion guilds and further cause brilliant potion masters and others from around the world to immigrate for a time to their land. In turn, merchants would follow followed by others which would further revitalize the British Ministry of Magic.
With such an event and transition there always followed a change in power, Reginald could sense it in his bones. It had been a most excellent choice for Georgine to bind herself to the Avery family. Considering the shares that the Avery family owed in the shipping industry and that of Shafiq's large shipping enterprise they would only stand to gain. In fact, all those with shares in the shipping and trade business would be the ones gaining wealth.
A loud popping sound startles Reginald as he turns towards the study door and hears a loud knock. ”Enter,” he instructed setting the doc.u.ments he was reading aside.
The small form of a male house elf can be seen at the door, Tadbey to be precise. His blue overalls are crisp, his white ironed shirt freshly starched. His large ears are no longer full of hair neatly trimmed away. His b.a.r.e, hairy toes stick out at the bottom of his overalls, while his spectacles hanging from the tip of his very long nose.
”What is it Tadbey?” Reginald asked. ”It is rather late.”
”I apologize for the interruption at this late hour, but I was summoned by Miss Georgine to Hogwarts and requested to deliver immediately a letter. Miss Georgine stated that it was urgent, and the letter could not be sent via owl,” Tadbey explained as he carefully placed the letter on Reginald's desk.
Reginald took the letter and a silver letter opener from the first drawer of his desk. The wax seal of his sister's letter is unbroken and shows the Prince family coat of arms, a Wyvern wrapped around a dagger. Carefully breaking the wax seal with the letter opener, he says, ”Dawn commented that your nephew came to visit again yesterday with Edwyn in tow. I hope it was a mere visit and anything else. I have already accepted Peregrine Mulciber's oath of loyalty in exchange for protection for Gringotts ensured that the binding oath was more binding even that of an unbreakable vow,” he deliberately paused and coolly stared at Tadbey. ”Or is there something else that I should be made aware of?”
Tadbey is silent for a moment, before bowing deeply. ”It is not my place to speak of, sir,” he firmly answered.
Reginald lets out a snort as he removes his sister's letter from the envelope. ”It is plain as day that that child was born out of wedlock from one of Damian Mulciber's many romps before his prem.a.t.u.r.e death. Still, the child, Edwyn had been officially recognized by Peregrine and that is what truly matters. No matter what his parentage may be even that of a house elf, he will still be considered with the full rights of a wizard.”
Tadbey stiffens in shock and raises his gaze to meet the cool gaze of Reginald. ”Children between wizards and house elves is nothing new, Tadbey. It is not the first time in history such an incident has occurred nor will it be the last. The only unusual difference, in this case, is that in this instant the child was not hidden away as a pariah, but instead was openly accepted.”
”My apologies, sir, I mean no respect,” Tadbey sincerely replied, before bowing again.
”I understand that you are s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e about your old family, the Mulciber's, Tadbey, but I am not them,” Reginald pointedly reminded the house elf. ”I have paid for your services, and not in accord, you have unfortunately in this manner. However, do remember in turn that your loyalty belongs to this family.”
”It will not happen again, sir,” Tadbey promised with a stiff expression, before straightening back up.
”I do not mind your nephew, nor that child continues to visit,” Reginald dismissively said. ”but I cannot tolerate falsehoods under the roof of Prince Manor.”
”Understood, sir,” Tadbey firmly replied. ”Will that be all?”