A Meeting of Minds

"Hogwarts is indeed the premiere magical school in Britain by dint of being the only one," I said. "There is a daycare and pre-school for magical children, but that is completely separate. However, despite the decline in recent years, Hogwarts is one of the better schools, being considered one of the Big Three of European education. Its rivals are Beauxbatons in France and Durmstrang of Germany. Technically. The latter school is hidden somewhere in the Balkans or further north. I personally suspect Russia. But the language they speak is German, and they have strong ties to the Germanic speaking countries. There are 'lesser' schools in Greece, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, and Poland, but they are rather small and cater to old blooded families or to their own nationalities."

"Interesting," Mr. Finch-Fletchley said slowly. "So the quality is good?"

"Yes," I admitted. Despite everything, Hogwarts was still rather exceptional, with award-winning teachers in most of the posts. Except for Magical History, Muggle Studies, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, which were piss poor by any stretch, the rest of the classes were quite educational. Even Potions, for all that it was taught by a child-hating greaseball, was seen as being of extremely high quality due to Slughorn and Snape, the latter of which was one of the youngest people in the magical world to be labeled a genuine Potions Master.

"However, I would suggest hiring tutors for Justin's education," I suggested. "His mundane education, I mean. They don't really teach any of the standard schooling at Hogwarts."

"Do you think that's for the best?" Mrs. Finch-Fletchley asked.

"I do, Mrs.," I nodded. "It will help him keep up with the mundane side of things, and it's just common sense. After all, he's still registered as a citizen here in the mundane world, so having a seven-year gap in his education would be suspicious at best."

"That makes sense," the father admitted with a slow nod.

"I'd be happy to throw my hat into the ring for that job, if you're interested," I said, offering my services as a tutor. "I am the top of my class, and have been for years. It'd be no problem to help Justin."

"Thank you, we'll take that under consideration," Mr. Finch-Fletchley said.

"Now, what about his job prospects?" his mother inquired.

"I don't see why he couldn't get a job working with either government," I replied. "In fact, if you played your cards right, Justin would probably be a shoo-in for a lot of high-ranking positions on the mundane side."

"Really?" Justin's mother asked, and I got the feeling she was now more intrigued.

"The Prime Minister knows about magic," I explained after casting a surreptitious look around for eavesdroppers. "And so do a lot of other people in the government. Can't keep a secret as big as the wizarding world hidden without some interaction between the two. Plus, even magical folk are still citizens under Her Majesty."

Which was true. Technically speaking. By law, the Minister of Magic was just another Minister in the British government. He was technically subordinate to the Prime Minister and had to swear his vows to the Queen. But as far as I was aware, those protocols hadn't been invoked in decades. To all intents and purposes, Magical Britain was its own independent nation!

I didn't doubt there were elements in the British government who knew something about the magical side, and kept an eye on things. They'd be fools not to have some contingencies in place. But the Statue of Secrecy had caused most magical governments to all but secede from their mundane counterparts. And in some places in Europe where the borders and regimes had changed for the muggle nations, and the magicals had stayed in more or less the same places, that was indeed the case.

"That's very interesting," Justin's father commented, rubbing his chin as he did so.

"It is," I agreed, giving them a winning smile.

"Tell us more about the society of the magical side," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley requested. "I got the feeling the professor was sugar coating things during the tour."

"Ah, I see you caught on to that," I said with a nod. "Let me enlighten you."

As I explained to them the nuances of the magical world and the shadows Professor Sprout had tried to keep hidden, I watched as their faces went through a variety of expressions.

Bemusement at first. A very 'How quaint' sort of look when I mentioned how it was closer to the Victorian era in terms of society, which shifted into disbelief as I explained the pseudo-nobility and blood system, then anger at said nobility and blood system, disgust at the backwards notions and attitudes the magicals had towards the non-magical, including Squibs like myself, and finally carefully composed neutrality as I went over some recent history as well as the finer points of their laws which limited Justin's success if he only focused on the magical world.

"How do they get away with this?" Mr. Finch-Fletchley demanded through gritted teeth.

"Magic," I said simply. "But times are changing. Within half a century they won't be able to hide anymore. Not without major changes to their own societies. Cameras and electronics are vastly superior to what they used to be, after all. And they'll only get better."

Electronics didn't work at Hogwarts and other old magical sites due to Anti-Lightning Wards, not because of any sort of interference between science and magic, thankfully. I didn't know if EMP hardened equipment could bypass this, but it was something to research.

"You've been very helpful," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley said. "Is there any way we could thank you?"

"There's two things," I admitted. "I'd like help with getting a letter of recommendation to Oxford. Second, I'd like to offer you a chance to invest in my business."

I placed my samples onto the table so they could examine them, and sat back to watch and wait.

"Having a tutor whose attending Oxford would be good for Justin," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley mused as she examined the creams I'd provided, my hopes rising somewhat.

"And this doesn't fall under those magical bans you told us about?" Justin's father inquired as he also tested the samples.

"Nope. Oh, I'm sure they'd try and stop me if they knew, but there's nothing on the books about it," I replied smugly.

"While we are intrigued by this business idea of yours, we really can't make such a big decision so soon," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley claimed, her husband nodding along with her statement.

"Perhaps once I've gotten started with it you'll change your mind," I said with a nod, completely understanding their hesitance to invest or get involved in this magical medical cream business. There was the threat of Obliviation atop financial loses to look out for, after all.

I leaned in. "Still, I hope we can continue to have a good relationship with each other going forward."

"I believe that is more than possible," Justin's mother said, her husband smiling at her side. I gave them a demure and polite smile, while inside I was celebrating wildly.

My first steps towards getting my business up and running were going well, and I'd made a connection with the upper crust through the Finch-Fletchleys. All I had to do now was capitalize on it.

....

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