Chapter 29: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Simon smiled as he read the letters he received from Row's dad. Acting as the legal agent to Wiccan Insensitivity LLC, he was able to funnel the proceeds through various shell companies, both wizarding and muggle before splitting the money to accounts that Simon, Phoebe, Cedric and the Weasley twins had set up to store their profits from this secret project. A cut was also provided to Row whose help was essential in their setting up of the business. He made a mental note to show the balance in the accounts to the others on their Hogwarts Express ride home before destroying this evidence.

Simon was hopeful that the money made from this card game and future products could provide the starting capital for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes in the future. Simon wanted to ensure the twins still had the opportunity to be the entrepreneurs they were destined to be, even if perhaps by 1995, the timeline had changed so much that they could not bank on Harry Potter's Triwizard Tournament winnings.

Meanwhile, Simon was certain it would be good for Cedric to have some money of his own on the side. The poor boy was mainly living a life dictated by his helicopter parents, especially his mother. He hoped whatever money they make would help Cedric down the road should he ever decide not to be the next Minister of Magic.

Simon was not super sure how the money would best serve Phoebe. However, given how strangely supportive Phoebe was of this risky investment, he assumed she had plans for the profits should they make any, and he trusted Phoebe to make wise financial decisions.

As for himself, Simon knew preparations for the future war would not be cheap. He could probably get a bunch of stuff from the Room of Requirement but he should always be prepared if he actually needed to buy something from the open or black market. He was going to have to deal with a generational talent in the wizarding world who was willing to split his soul 6 times consciously to further his chances of world domination. Simon gulped even just thinking about the things Riddle did.

Anyways, this Cards Against Humanity remake in Wizarding Britain was a good start. He was honestly quite surprised when the faculty allowed the game to be played openly. That kind of made selling through Jae somewhat redundant as the game was not contraband. It made more sense to provide order forms like a legitimate business. With the help of Row's dad, they were able to get Jae to sign a settlement which allowed Jae to have rights to sell and earn 50% cut of the first 50 sets of any new game they develop during his remaining time in Hogwarts, with guarantees of at least another two new games in the next year and a half. Simon should really start thinking of other muggle games from his time he can make wiccan-friendly using the book of spells from the Ice Vault.

The book of spells was certainly a stellar find that he did not expect during his investigations of the lake. The notebook mentioned not just a Lake Vault but also an Ice Vault and Simon had to go check it out. The late-night adventure was a breeze – since whoever wrote the notebook unlocked the Vault already and left the book of spells for whichever descendant of theirs comes across the notebook. Simon pored through the book and showed the spells to Lord Lian. With his help, he was able to decipher which were useful and which were better left away from fellow first years or most people even. Then, Simon copied the more useful ones and added in a few niche spells he recalled from canon and shared it with his friends, before hiding the book of spells in a hidden drawer in his study room. He shall save those nasty dark spells for when he came across Tom Riddle himself or a deranged Bellatrix Lestrange.

The notebook did provide some useful information about the Black Lake – the fact there was a cursed vault known as the Lake Vault far below. It appeared to be something sacred to the merpeople but the notebook did not elaborate. It seemed like the author was not able to find much about it after that. Simon considered going for a swim once the Black Lake was not so cold or frozen to learn what his ancestor was unable to.

Honestly, this first term had gone by surprisingly quickly and things were going quite well. And now he could enjoy a well-deserved break….

"Hey! Are you done yet?"

Simon heard George shout from downstairs and he quickly stuffed his remaining items into his suitcase.

"I am coming!"

Raze glided up the stairs to check on the progress of his familiar's packing.

*"How are you 'coming' when you still have so much to pack?"*

"You really need to ruin my good mood, huh?"

*"Never knew you were that into Christmas."*