Ep. 20

Soon enough, Christmas arrived. After my little stunt, McGonagall forced me to get registered as an Animagus and demanded that I limit my use of apparition until I get my license. Sure, as if I'd ever do that, but I can't exactly say that. And it also doesn't constitute a particularly positive or negative thing. It really doesn't change much.

Anyway, that means that I will be getting my license during the break, but only for my bat form. If I were to ever need my Animagus form for scouting, I'd use my fog form or raven form. Mother was quite happy that I would get famous again, since all Animagus in Britain were basically celebrities due to the low number. Risa on the other hand snickered at my misfortune.

A couple of days after returning to London, I finally used the fireplace to get to the Ministry. I found McGonagall waiting for me.

"Good day, Professor McGonagall. Sorry for being late."

"Nonsense. Now come with me, we'll get you registered in no time." she said. I followed her and arrived at the 'Improper Use of Magic Office'. McGonagall dealt with the jurisdictional stuff, so I just had to fill in a form, show my transformation, and *boom*, I was registered as an Animagus. Eighth in British magical community. Seeing as we were done, I bade farewell to McG, with a promise to send her a Christmas present, and I apparated secretly to Diagon Alley.

I met up with Rita Skeeter and jotted down yet another couple of articles to up my public image. I also gave her the scoop that Hogwarts was infiltrated by a Troll and that I defeated it. I posed for a couple of photos for the next 'Most Charming Smile Award', then went home. What an exhausting day…

In the end, I sent a series of potions to Professor McG: the 'Veela' potion, though I made it permanent, a health potion, which would ensure that the drinker was in good health for a decade, and a de-ageing potion, which would make the user physically younger by a couple of decades. They are all upgraded potions in comparison to those that I let the Goblins sell.

Needless to say, within a week I was once again on the Daily Prophet's front page as the youngest registered Animagus, the Troll-killer, and genius inventor/enchanter/potions master. Basically, I was really Merlin's third coming after Dumbledore. I could also imagine Umbitch just screeching that a 'filthy Vampire' was gaining so much popularity. Well, after opening the bookstore last Summer, I basically gained fanatics. If I were to say 'Fuck the Minister', a shit-ton of wizards and witches would support me, in particular the witches. Ah, I was also nominated for the 'Stylish Wizard of the Year Award', which could be a nice addition to my collection.

Talking about bookstores, Risa was a bundle of joy since she got to do what she always dreamt of, including selling some of the rarest books in history of mankind. We might also start selling some low-level grimoires after I graduate, but for now we offer a selection of hard-to-find books and the various rare ones I created.

However… The dreaded moment arrived! Risa's parents are coming to visit! Obviously she informed them of her new job and living arrangements, so her family got extremely worried and curious, so they decided to check on her. They will be arriving on Christmas Eve with a Muggle airplane.

I decided to accompany Risa to pick her parents up. I wanted to take one of Mother's cars, but she didn't allow me to. I'm too young, she said, 'wait until you grow up', she said… I am mature enough! Damn… I'll go and fight a Dragon or two in the next few days, to calm down.

We ended up apparating in a secluded area, then we entered the terminal and waited for her parents to arrive. I was flipping through my grimoires, which I almost mastered, when Risa started waving at someone. I put the books away and looked at the new arrivals. They were normal: a normal middle-aged man and a normal, if a little above-average in appearance, middle-aged woman.

"Maman! Dad!" Risa shouted, attracting their attention.

I leaned in and whispered: "'Maman', huh? So cute…" to pick on her

"You have no right to say anything with how your mother is." she said with a glare.

I shrugged and said: "Touché. Let's greet your parents now."

I turned to the couple and smiled with my best smile yet. No, probably my third best smile yet. "Good morning! I am Azagareth. Your daughter is currently living in my house and is my business partner." I said, extending a hand.

Her father shook hands with me and said: "Richard Banfield. Thank you for taking care of my daughter." I could feel that he wasn't thrilled to meet me, but he hid it well enough. I think I gained some kind of empathic power through drinking blood. "Did no one ever teach you that keeping your hat on indoors is disrespectful?"

"Ah, dad… He's very sensitive to the light, so he needs to keep the hat on. I'll tell you more later. For now let's go." Phew, saved me there. I'm much more nervous than I let on.

"Excuse me, but why are you speaking French?" asked Risa's mother.

"French? We've been speaking in English all this time, Rosaline." Ah, so that's her name

"It's magic, Mrs. Rosaline. I am speaking in English, but it will sound to you in French and German to a German native." she nodded while Risa looked curious, so I winked at her playfully.

I took Mrs. Rosaline's baggage and led them to an isolated area, casted a disillusionment charm, and apparated us back home.

"Welcome to London. My mother should be about to arrive, please wait a moment. In the meantime, why don't you take off your coats?" I could hear Mother's footsteps, so I guessed that she wanted to greet her daughter-in-law's parents. What followed was quite comical since Mr. Banfield was ogling at Mother due to her Veela charm, so I had to keep my hands still to not kill him instantly, while his wife scolded him. Mother was laughing lightly, while Risa was just laughing her ass off.

We moved to the living room, where Silty got us some refreshments, and I answered a few of their questions.

"So, could you explain your sensitivity to the light? You are keeping your hat on even here." asked Mr. Banfield.

"I am partly a Vampire, so I am more sensitive to the light in general. We are a nocturnal species."

He glared at his daughter. "You're living with a Vampire and you didn't tell us?!"

"Well, it's not important. Az here is a very 'docile' Vampire. Look, a few headpats and he's immediately happy. Plus, he doesn't even drink human blood!" said Risa while taking off my hat to pat my head. Ah, her hand is so soft… No, I need to concentrate.

"How about your business?" he asked again

"We opened a bookstore that specializes in extremely rare books. We might branch out into grimoires in a few years. I also sell potions and communication devices through the Goblins." I said.

"Ah! That's where I saw your face before! You were on the Witch Weekly!" said Mrs. Rosaline

"Not only that, he also was given two 'Order of Merlin' awards." said Risa like a proud girlfriend.

"Mm… Tell me, how did you meet?" she asked

"Well, I was working at Flourish and Blotts, then in comes this guy searching for books on medicines and healing. One thing leads to another and we talked over lunch." Risa said. Why do I feel like I'm in some sort of marriage interview.

They asked a few more questions, then they seemed to have sated their curiosity. I playfully whispered "You seemed like a proud girlfriend back there." to Risa. She elbowed me in the ribs, which didn't hurt at all. She had a deep blush on her face. Hehe, I'm breaking through the brother-zone!

Slowly, her parents seemed to grow a little more open towards me, probably because they started chatting with Mother. That was until I had to drink some of my blood-shake. Stupid Vampiric bloodthirst.

"What are you drinking, lad?" asked Mr. Banfield

"... Blood?" He wasn't exactly pleased with the answer. "As a growing Vampire, I need to consume some blood, but I only drink the magical beast blood I bought or collected myself." I said, lying. Argh, I think I did worse…

If I were in an Otome game, I would've gained five points until now, and immediately lost 20… Fuck my life. No, you know what? I can live without exactly gaining the man's friendship. The important person is Mrs. Rosaline. After all, she can easily convince her husband.

Anyway, Risa's parents stayed with us for a few days, so I brought them sightseeing in London, since it's been a decade since they've been here. In the end, they got used to me, kinda like when someone says they don't like dogs but then end up loving them… Did I just equate myself to a dog? Ah, Risa's birthday ended up being the day after Christmas, so I threw a surprise impromptu party for her. She was very happy, to say the least. At any rate, they left shortly after New Year's and I had to return to Hogwarts for my second semester.

This time, my friends decided to stay at Hogwarts to spend the Christmas in Hogsmeade, so I directly apparated to my room in the Slytherin dormitories. I set my stuff to the side and exited the room. Who did I find? Harry! He and Daphne were bashing his head against some books to find out who Flamel was.

I sneaked behind them and looked through their notes. Daphne remembered that he was a Frenchman, so they narrowed down the amount of books to look through, but I expected more from the heiress of a noble family.

"Flamel is an alchemist. The only possessor of the Philosopher's Stone other than me." I said. The two kids had a jump-scare and Daphne actually drew her wand.

"Oh, it's you, Az! You scared us!" protested Harry

"Yeah, I noticed. You're looking to see what's hidden on the third floor, right? Don't bother searching. It's the Philosopher's Stone. Hagrid got it from Gringotts in front of you, Harry."

"Wait, we're missing the important part here: you have a stone as well?" asked Daphne

"One? I have tens of those gimmicks! My cane uses one to power the enchantments on it."

"You're walking around with such a priceless thing every day?!" she shouted.

I just shrugged. "It's not that big of a deal. It's just that Flamel has never revealed the formula to create the stone, but it's actually a little harder to make than Felix Felicis. And before you ask, yes the stone can prolong your life, but it will basically turn you into an undead, so not an optimal compromise if you ask me. Well, I'm already an undead…"

"But still, Snape is trying to steal the stone, we need to stop him!" said Harry, with Daphne nodding in agreement.

"I'm disappointed in you, Daphne. I guess that you are also getting help from Hermione Granger, so I don't see how two intelligent witches and a smart wizard can't see the truth. Snape is protecting the stone. Quirrell on the other hand? Eh, he's pretty sus."

After that, I went to hang out with my friends. I noticed a sixth year girl reading the Witch Weekly. I gained yet another 'Most Charming Smile Award' and also the 'Stylish Wizard of the Year Award'. Hoho, I challenge anyone to be better than me right now. I have money, power, good looks, a hand in the media, a bookstore to potentially spread disinformation, and I can easily get involved in politics if I play my cards right. Let's not even talk about my influence on the heirs of most Noble houses: I have most of them already hypnotized to become my 'sleeper agents'. One letter and I will have all of them under my control.