"Thank you very much for your hospitality, Mrs. Weasley!"
Audrey and Rick bade farewell to the Weasley family and Apparated away.
Ginny excitedly ran to her mother, hugged her, and whispered:
"Mum, did you know? Audrey is super amazing!"
"She can fly, and she can summon lightning! Trolls and goblins are no match for her!"
Molly froze for a moment. Trolls, goblins?
"Arthur, you were only out for a short while, how did you run into trolls and goblins?"
Arthur shook his head. "Someone wants to harm Audrey." He hurriedly put on his formal suit jacket. "I need to go notify the few families we are on good terms with to attend the preparatory meeting for the new wizarding bank the day after tomorrow!"
Molly walked up and straightened Arthur's collar. "Go and come back quickly. Stay safe."
...
...
Lucius Malfoy leaned comfortably on the sofa and took a sip of red wine—this was a Christmas gift Hydrus had sent him. It was said to be brewed by the Lestrange house-elves themselves, and the taste was exquisite.
He listened to his son tirelessly recounting his cousin's wonders, feeling incredibly fortunate in his heart.
Fortunately, he hadn't made a move to seize the Lestrange family assets back then, otherwise, he would probably be as miserable as Gringotts right now.
Now, not only did he avoid the purge, but because of the kinship between Narcissa and Hydrus, the Malfoy family was able to preserve itself amidst the financial crisis that nearly overturned the entire British wizarding world.
Even better, when the Ministry auctioned off Gringotts' real estate, he had acquired quite a few properties at low prices because other families barely had the capacity to bid against him!
Since becoming the Malfoy patriarch, when had he ever enjoyed such comfortable days?
Crack!
Audrey suddenly appeared in the living room.
She looked around and spoke, "Yo, Uncle Lucius is here!"
Lucius paused for a moment, but Draco shouted out, "Cousin!"
Audrey reverted to Hydrus and laughed, "Uncle, noble people tend to have short memories!"
Only then did Lucius recognize Hydrus and hurriedly stood up. "It's Hydrus! Long time no see!"
His attitude toward Hydrus was completely unlike facing a junior; he felt as if he were facing the Dark Lord himself.
Truly his seed!
"Draco, go call your mother down quickly. Tell her Hydrus is here. We must entertain her well tonight!"
Draco nodded, and the young boy rushed upstairs excitedly. He was looking forward to when he could finally let his classmates know that Audrey Astley was his cousin!
Lucius shook his head slightly. "Draco is still too unsteady. I'll have to trouble you to give him some pointers at school."
Hydrus sat unceremoniously on the sofa opposite Lucius. "Draco is overprotected and lacks honing." She summoned a glass and poured herself some wine. "When I was his age, I was being hunted by the Gray family and had a wanted order stamped on me by the Ministry."
Lucius felt a bit embarrassed. After all, when Hydrus was in trouble, he hadn't lifted a finger to help her. So he quickly changed the subject:
"You came to see me this time for a reason, right?"
Hydrus nodded. "That's right. I need you to notify all the families you know that the preparatory meeting for the new bank will be held at the Gringotts ruins in Diagon Alley at two o'clock in the afternoon the day after tomorrow."
Lucius frowned. "They've all been pitted into paupers now; they might not be willing to come."
Hydrus smiled. "What if I say that the new bank will compensate them to a certain extent for the assets Gringotts swindled from them? Do you think they will come?"
Lucius Malfoy was stunned.
Was Hydrus Lestrange already wealthy to this extent?
No! This young girl had grand designs! She...
"By the way," Hydrus put down the wine glass. The crystal glass made a pleasant sound against the obsidian coffee table. "I won't attend the meeting the day after tomorrow. It will be hosted by Gellert Grindelwald's grandnephew."
"This Girl is Extraordinary, Destined for Greatness"
Lucius asked in wonder, "Shouldn't you appear in person to win over people's hearts?"
Hydrus waved her hand. "My identity is too sensitive. Before things are accomplished, it's inconvenient to show my face. It's best if you don't tell anyone my true identity either."
Lucius was greatly amazed. This girl was only sixteen, yet she was already this steady?
This girl is extraordinary; she is bound to achieve great things!
My Malfoy family must take a stand on her side in advance!
...
It was lamentable that Hydrus, simply out of laziness, had her actions interpreted by Lucius as having the demeanor of a great general.
It seems over-interpretation is everywhere.
...
...
Diagon Alley.
The Gringotts ruins.
The days of customers coming in clouds were gone; now, visitors to this weird white building were few and far between.
But on this day, the shop owners opposite Gringotts were surprised to find that people were actually visiting the Gringotts ruins!
They were all too familiar with these people—in the final days of Gringotts, these people had come to collect debts every day.
But hadn't Gringotts already closed down? Why were they still coming to collect debts?
The ones responsible for reception at the door were still goblins. They respectfully invited the patriarchs or spokespersons of these major families into the building. This forced people to make associations—was Gringotts going to be restored?
"Is Gringotts really going to be restored?" the shop assistant from Madam Malkin's asked the sales clerk from Tory Potions Emporium next door. "If it's going to be restored, then hurry up. I'm practically dying of exhaustion these days!"
"Who says otherwise!" the sales clerk from Tory Potions echoed. "Since Gringotts closed, our shop's revenue has to be kept in the store. This attracts thieves too much! The boss has already made me live in the shop!"
"It's simply a nightmare," the shop assistant nodded repeatedly. "Those little thieves from Knockturn Alley are truly detestable!"
"They only dare to steal from us shopkeepers. If Gringotts were still around, see if they'd dare to steal!"
"Exactly!" The shop assistant watched the big shots walk into Gringotts one after another. "Did you hear? Old Ollivander's shop attracted thieves last night. Fortunately, that old fellow is exceptionally strong and had set up many traps, catching six thieves in one go!"
The sales clerk shivered in fright. "Six! Heavens, if those thieves visited our shop, wouldn't I be dead meat?"
The shop assistant snorted coldly. "Look at your shop's business; it's barely enough to pay your wages. Which blind little thief would come to steal from you?"
That stung, mate!
However, looking at today's posture, it seemed Gringotts was really going to be restored? Better make it quick; Diagon Alley really couldn't do without a bank!
Lucius Malfoy and Arthur Weasley met in front of Gringotts.
Lucius habitually wanted to mock him with a few words, but suddenly remembered that today's meeting was the first task Hydrus had given him. He couldn't mess it up, so he forcibly swallowed the malicious words back.
Arthur looked at him strangely. Could this Lucius Malfoy be someone impersonating him with Polyjuice Potion?
Usually, wouldn't he start with a round of belittling sarcasm upon meeting?
He had thought that since today was Audrey's big day for setting up the bank, if Malfoy said a few words, he would just let him say them. As long as he ignored him, it would pass.
But now, Malfoy's sudden misfire left Arthur confused.
"Ah, good afternoon, Arthur Weasley."
"H-Hello, Lucius Malfoy."
The success of the bank preparatory meeting was already foreseeable. Two families that could almost be considered enemies were actually greeting each other at this moment.
Audrey Astley, or rather Hydrus Lestrange...
This girl is truly extraordinary!
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]