Chapter Sixty-Nine: Sending a Letter to Inquire

Kahn enjoyed a rare period of tranquility. After spending a day touring London with Hermione, he devoted part of his attention to the world of ordinary people.

He sent out several shadow clones, using transformation magic and money to acquire a few identification documents. Then, Kahn exchanged some pounds and set out to make a little profit in the stock market—this year happened to be an excellent opportunity for wealth accumulation. However, he was late to the game, and most of the profits had already been scooped up by financial oligarchs, leaving Kahn to earn only modest sums based on his memories.

Even so, his wealth multiplied several times, and Kahn intended to use the money to purchase gold, which in turn could be traded for magical resources in the wizarding world. Half the earnings would be used to develop his local influence, while the other half would go toward buying gold. Now, with legitimate identification, Kahn no longer needed the help of security companies even to rent a flat; he could invest in local businesses as a bona fide citizen.

Naturally, these tasks were handed over to his shadow clones. With his current chakra reserves, splitting off three clones allowed them to maintain transformation magic all day, virtually undetectable to others. The side effects of the clones could also be offset by the Desolation Virus, which conveniently eased the impact of processing large quantities of memories.

Kahn only reviewed the clones’ memories briefly unless something unexpected occurred. Despite the presence of wizards here, Kahn’s ninja techniques were no less effective than magic—especially the combination of shadow clones and transformation magic, a pinnacle of caution. The terrorist technique of human bomb tactics had become second nature for Kahn.

He was more discreet in Diagon Alley, where the Ministry of Magic had stationed Aurors at the junction of Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley to screen for extremist dark wizards. The last explosion, fortunately, happened in Knockturn Alley and claimed only dark wizards. Fudge could hardly imagine the criticism he would face if such an incident occurred in Diagon Alley; the Daily Prophet might devote three pages to his incompetence.

So lately, all Aurors were working overtime. Even if they couldn’t unmask the mastermind behind the Knockturn Alley bombing, they needed to show their resolve in eradicating crime.

While waiting for school to start and for Borgin and Burkes to reply, Kahn stayed quietly in his Diagon Alley home. He only ventured out occasionally to buy wizarding food. Unfortunately, most magical confections required magic to produce and couldn’t be mass-produced industrially; otherwise, Kahn would be a dessert tycoon in the Marvel universe.

There were still a few days before Hermione started school.

“Kahn Godfather, come see my work!” Hermione entered, a little proud, maintaining a levitation spell with her wand. The objects floating were two bottles of potion—Life Water and Blood Replenishment Potion. With Hermione’s personality, anything she showed him had surely been praised as perfect by Kettle.

“These look excellent, Hermione. Let me keep them as a collection—if I’m ever injured, they’ll come in handy.” Kahn took the potions, unreserved in his praise. At this age, a girl who loves to show off needs recognition and encouragement. Whenever Hermione performed well, Kahn would praise her.

As for discipline and supervision, Kettle and the Hogwarts professors were enough to prevent Hermione from becoming overly complacent. If needed, Kahn could play the strict role on occasion.

“I was planning to give them to you anyway…” Hermione beamed at the compliment. During her consultations with Kettle, she’d basically mastered all first-year potions and spells. Though it was a crash course, she was proficient in both. Now Hermione had plenty of time to read and practice other subjects.

Kettle had advised Kahn that Hermione could relax a little before school—spend some time each day reading, then enjoy other activities. Kahn suspected Hermione would continue to push herself not to waste a single moment.

Still, Kahn could share some of Hermione’s progress with the Grangers, letting them help with her upbringing. Yet, perhaps it was his imagination, but the Grangers seemed less inclined lately to ask about Hermione—showing signs of letting her grow freely.

...

“So this is Felix Felicis…” Kahn examined the potion in his hand: the luck elixir, capable of altering the elusive tide of fortune. Yet this luck was illusory; Felix Felicis changed the drinker’s perception, not the world itself.

It couldn’t be consumed in excess, or it would bring unwanted effects—arrogance, dizziness, and so on.

After receiving the items from Borgin and Burkes, Kahn didn’t take them home directly. He had them inspected for authenticity and then, upon returning, asked Phil and Isaac to check for traces of dark magic before he felt at ease.

Felix Felicis couldn’t be stored indefinitely—it was best consumed within its shelf life, lest its effects expire and the galleons spent be wasted.

But Kahn had a spatial backpack, so he needn’t worry about such things. Felix Felicis was not irreplaceable; though difficult to brew, one or two bottles appeared on the market each year. Kahn believed that with Hermione’s talent, she’d surely be able to brew it herself in a few years.

Therefore, Kahn divided the potion into three portions, as the owner of Slugh’s Potion Shop had advised: one third of a bottle was the ideal dose for a single use.

He kept one portion for himself, tried another, and set the last aside for Hermione.

As Kahn’s goddaughter, Hermione was entitled to a third of Felix Felicis.

As for the blood and flesh of other magical creatures, Kahn carefully stored them, planning to research their compatibility with the new Desolation Virus.

He intended to remain here until school began; this period coincided with the Ministry’s reply to his shop application, and when school started, Kahn could have Hermione deliver a letter to Dumbledore for him.

...

Time passed swiftly, and soon the day of the Hogwarts opening arrived.

That day, Kahn tried Felix Felicis. Upon drinking it, his mind felt extraordinarily clear, and his more complex emotions were somewhat subdued, putting him in a “more rational” state.

At that moment, Kahn composed a letter to Dumbledore: a third was greetings and praise, another third expressed his longing for Hogwarts, and finally, he wrote of his regret as a Squib unable to experience wizarding school. Along with the letter, he donated five thousand galleons as educational aid to Hogwarts.

He hoped to contribute to Hogwarts’ educational enterprise; the envelope contained a Gringotts transfer statement, which would allow anyone presenting it to withdraw five thousand galleons from Kahn’s private vault.

Only at the very end of the letter did Kahn mention his fascination with magical creatures, asking Dumbledore where he might purchase phoenix blood or tissues—he was willing to pay thirty thousand galleons for them.