Chapter 44 - An Interesting Blonde

***** Bonus Chapter ***** A/N: Ok so I confused our elf's name at the shop. Too many Poppy's with Khan's old friend, and madam Pomfrey. Her actual name is Penny..... not really important to our current story, as she's dead in the timeline, but just to keep things as accurate as possible, i'll be updating her name moving forward. Blonde moment 🫠 Anyways... Hope you all enjoy! *****

After a few minutes of walking, the group had finally arrived in front of Khan's shop.

Located on the southern side of Hogsmeade, it was tucked away from the many other more popular shops, resulting in very little foot traffic.

Not that Khan minded... not like he was lacking for money, especially with the economic changes observed so far.

*RING* *RING*

A bell hanging on the door frame rang as Khan and Hermione (and Harry) entered into Stitches and Draughts.

"One second please! Lenny will be right with youz!" A small voice squeaked out from the back.

Khan was immediately relieved, as he heard a House-elf respond and proceeded to view the inside of the shop, looking tidy as ever.

Hearing the House-elf speak his name aloud (similar to all house-elves), Khan figured that he had guessed successfully; Even though he had set Penny free, she and her descendants had indeed stayed to take care of his shop.

They were not even bonded and Khan not her master anymore, yet she and her family were loyal enough to stay and take care of his shop for over 100 years? House-elves really were the best!

Looking around the shop, he saw a bunch of familiar items and potions; they were all from him after all!

After he had taken over the shop, many of the outfits and clothing he had enchanted, as well as the obscure books and tomes he had found during his adventures (he also found a lot during his various stealing escapades), had been given to Penny for her to sell.

Seems like over the past 100 years, they still hadn't run out of stock.

Khan, looking over all his old outfits and clothing, was quickly lost in memories of old, reminiscing of all his adventures wearing all his various outfits.

Hermione meanwhile, was looking over the books as usual, and was in shock. She had never seen nor heard of some of these books.

- Obscure Potions originating from South East Asia.

- Wandless Magic: For Dummies

- Phoenix Migration History

- Floo Flames Evolved: A Study on Space Magic and possible Upcoming Discoveries

- Limits of Magic book 4: Unknown Forms

- An Introduction to Rituals

She eagerly pulled out the Rituals book from the bookshelf and quickly began to read it in curiosity.

Harry, still under his invisibility cloak, was quickly forgotten about by his best friend absorbed in her reading.

"Hello sirs! Welcome to Stitches and Draughts!" A house-elf emerged from the back, where The Chest to Fastidio's domain was located. "How can Lenny help youz?"

Khan was interrupted of his memories, as he looked over to where the greetings came from.

He spotted a house-elf wearing a tiny tailored sports coat, reminiscent of the suits from his time. With the same hair and kind eyes as Penny, Khan concluded he was probably right, and this Lenny was possibly Penny's grand-son.

"You have a House-elf working for you?!?" Hermione screeched out in indignation. "How could you Jordan?!?"

"Free him this Instant!" She demanded.

"Hermione…. You should never assume things of me." Khan was slightly offended. "Especially when you know of Deek, one of my best friends."

"Then why do y-"

"I actually freed Penny myself, when I took over this shop." Khan interrupted Hermione with exasperation. "She is the one who insisted on staying."

"Excuse Lenny sir…." Lenny interrupted, ears waving around in excitement as he realized who Khan was, when he mentioned freeing Penny. "Are youz Jordan Khan? The owner of Stitches and Draughts?"

"Yes indeed! Very nice to meet you Lenny!" Khan reached out to shake his hand. "I really must thank you and your family for your hard work in maintaining my shop all these years. Am I correct in assuming you are Penny's child or grand child?"

"Yes sir! Penny is my grandmother!" Lenny was hugging Khan's hand, shaking it with his entire body in happiness. "And Lord sir is too kind! It is all Thanks to Lord Khan, and his generous paying…. Lenny is only doing what should be done!"

Lenny appeared quite honorable and educated for a house-elf.

"Wait….. did he say you're paying him?" Hermione clarified in disbelief.

"Yes that's right! I set Penny free, but she wanted to stay here to work still. I told her she didn't have to, but she told me wanted to…. So then I told her 'fine, but only if she's hired as an employee!'" Khan remembered his funny discussion with Penny. It was the first time anyone was arguing to give themselves less.

"I wanted to give Penny 250 galleons a month, but she wouldn't take it….." Khan continued. "So I forced her to receive 50 galleons a month plus bonus!

Khan was quite thankful for Penny, especially as he was quite busy with his various adventures. Maintaining his shop in addition to selling items for him, Penny was essentially acting as his shopkeeper. As such, he wanted to pay her appropriately, according to going market rate of most shopkeepers... but she had argued him down from his original offer.

Hermione meanwhile was stunned at the original salary offer. It was on par or higher than current ministry salaries. And higher ranking ones at that.

And Khan had offered to pay his house-elf that originally? Hermione was realizing that she had misunderstood Khan.

'How stupid could I be? One of his best friends was a house-elf.' Hermione lamented her overreaction.

Seems all those years in Gryffindor influenced her to act like most of her other house-mates; hot-headed and rash, leaping into situations without thinking.

"I- I'm Sorry." Hermione mumbled quietly.

Khan waved her off, indicating it was fine…. He knew how passionate she was about house-elves.

He had run into her a few times in the library over the past couple of weeks, while he had gone to take out a few books for his OWL studies.

She was of course still researching house-elves and making notes on policy changes she could propose to help improve abused House-Elves and their individual rights.

Funnily enough, he had also run into Krum a few times in the library.

It appeared that Krum was rather studious in his approach to preparing for the first task.

'Understandable I suppose…' Khan mused to himself at the time. 'He should be in rather good physical shape due to his Quidditch training.'

Khan had attempted to greet Krum, wanting to befriend another champion, but Krum was not too friendly, only grunting in response before studying once again.

"How is Fastidio doing?" Khan shook his head of his current thoughts, and inquired about the resident poltergeist. "He still hanging around causing trouble twice a month as agreed?"

"Oh yes sir! Sir Fastidio has even helped Lenny protected sirs' shop from all the baddies!" Lenny called out in response, almost bragging. "Sir Fastidio and Lenny still play our games 2 times every month in Sir Fastidio's chest of fun!"

Khan opened his eyes wide at Lenny's response.

Did that crazy elf just say 'Fastidio's chest of fun?'

Khan remembered all the horrors he experienced in that chest. He had numerous jump scares, with Fastidio constantly fucking with him. Turning off the lights, moving the rooms around randomly…. All those mannequins just chasing him around endlessly…..

Khan shudders….. he definitely would NOT describe that box as 'fun'.

He was so hung up on Fastidio's box of fun, that he completely missed the first part of what Lenny had just said; that his shop was attacked by some 'baddies'.

*RING* *RING*

The door bell rang out interrupting Khans thoughts, as another customer walked in.

"Hello! Welcome to Stitches and Draughts!" Lenny called out in greetings professionally.

Khan looked over, and immediately recognized the new visitor.

Daphne Greengrass, 4th year Slytherin and Hermione's academic rival.

Khan of course recognized the Greengrass name, it being quite established in Magical Britain, being one of the oldest families around.

Observing the blonde and blue-eyed Slytherin, Khan saw that she seemed quite worried about something, her furrowed forehead giving her away.

Immediately upon spotting and recognizing him however, she quickly assumed her 'Ice-Queen' persona, for which she was famous for around Hogwarts, wrinkles quickly disappearing, her face appearing blank and unemotional, as Khan figured she was employing Occlumany to keep her emotions in check.

'How interesting…'

"Hello Prof. Khan." Daphne greeted Khan professionally, with a slight curtsy.

"Just Khan is fine Greengrass.... we're not in Hogwarts anymore, nor are we in classes." Khan felt awkward when students similar in age were calling him Prof, especially outside of class.

"It wouldn't be proper sir..." She replied politely. "You do not stop being a professor outside of classes. I shall address you as do all my Professors, whether we are in Hogwarts or not."

"...." He was speechless. Khan was quite surprised at the rigidity this woman was showing.

He watched her nod at him once more, before moving over to Lenny, intending to go about her business, completely ignoring Hermione.

"You there!" She addressed the Lenny condescendingly, as Khan was used to from pure-bloods. "Show me your new books on curses!"

"Yes, of course!" Lenny replied professionally, already used to her behavior, before snapping his fingers, teleporting 3 books from the bookshelf, to the counter in front of Daphne.

Daphne quickly began browsing through each book, apparently looking for something specific, before purchasing.

A few minutes later, she had finished, pushing the 3 books back to Lenny, apparently not finding what she was looking for.

"I shall return again next Hogsmeade trip." She placed a Galleon on the counter, before turning to leave.

*RING* *RING*

The doorbell rang out, as she opened the door to leave, before turning to call out to Lenny. "Please try to find more books on curses."

She turned to give a slight curtsy in farewell to Khan, before making a quick escape.

"That was weird...." Khan said aloud, more to himself than anyone else in particular.

'Greengrass appeared to be quite interested in curses...' He thought, as he too was interested in curses. 'But from her current actions she appears to be looking for a specific curse in particular.... I wonder what for....'

"Ms Greengrass visits every Hogsmeade trip since last year sirz..." Lenny answered Khan, hoping to help clarify. "Always asking about curses, but never buying anything... Lenny finds new Books about curses.... but Ms Greengrass still hasn't bought anything."

"Lenny looks through Sir Fastidio's Box of Fun, as well as Sirs' books Sir has left to sell, but Lenny still hasn't been able to help Ms Greengrass. It is Lenny's fault, Ms Greengrass is still disappointed!" Lenny's ears dropped, upset he wasn't able to help a customer.

Khan listened eagerly, as curses were always always of interest to him, especially after meeting Anne Sallow and wanting to help cure her of her curse.

But the more Khan listened, the more he noticed the similarities between Sebastian and Daphne Greengrass.

Similar looks of worry on their faces. A keen interest in curses, to the point of almost obsession.....

With Sebastian, Khan himself had witnessed his obsession with the dark arts and finding a cure for his sister. And while his intentions may have started out good, His focus on the dark arts slowly appeared to be corrupting Sebastian's mind, causing him to obsess over a dark arts relic that Summoned inferi, instead of focusing on curses and cure for Anne.

This all cumulated in a confrontation between Solomon and Sebastian, with Sebastian himself casting the Killing Curse as his uncle.

And while Khan himself, hated Sebastian's uncle, and probably would've killed him if Sebastian hadn't, unfortunately for Sebastian, Anne had witnessed as well, causing quite the misunderstanding between the 2 siblings.

Nonetheless, Sebastian's obsession with the dark arts had stemmed from the desire to cure his sister's unknown curse.

With Daphne however, if she had been coming every Hogsmeade trip since she was allowed, she must have been researching curses for some time now....

It must be for someone truly important, if she has been researching for over 1 year at least....

And if she was looking for obscure old books, then the person she knew probably was suffering from an unknown curse as well, similar to Anne.

Khan immediately sympathized with the Blonde girl. If things were similar to what he had just reasoned, then she was the same as Sebastian, with probably a family member suffering from an unknown curse, which she was attempting to cure.

'I should speak with her..... I wasn't able to cure Anne, but perhaps I can help cure someone else's suffering.'

With Khan's growing skill with ancient magic, he previously held hope that he could cure Anne from her curse, once his skills were mastered.

Unfortunately he had slipped into his Coma before he could even try.

Now however, he possibly had another opportunity to help someone else suffering from a curse. With new undiscovered skills for his Stronger Ancient magic, perhaps he could cure or cast a stronger counter-curse with his power.

"OOOOOOHHHHHHH! Looooooooook who it is!!!!!" Fastidio had finally realized Khan was back, and was greeting him happily, calling out from the back room from where his chest was located.

Fastidio was quite pleased with Khan after all.

The shops new owner rarely visited, but still kept to his word, and sent over numerous playmates and dark wizards for Fastidio to play around with.

Khan had even sent him Lenny, who had been playing with him in his Chest for the past few years!

Fastidio of course, had misunderstood, assuming the dark wizards and death eaters who attacked their shop, had been sent by Khan for him.

"JOOOOORDAN KHAAAAN!! YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE!!!!!" Fastidio immediately floated out of the back room, rushing forward to grab Khan's hands, acting like a maiden. "AN INVISIBLE PLAYMATE..... ALLL FOR MEEEEE?!?!?!"

Khan, used to Fastidio's shenanigans, didn't pay any attention to his maiden pose, instead greeting him and clarifying. "Hey Fastidio! I hear you've been having fun with Lenny over here..... And what do you mean by 'invisible playmate'? I didn't bring another ghost/poltergeist with me....."

Fastidio looped up in the air flying to the corner to grab a large barrel, before throwing it around and letting go, launching it randomly calling out in glee. "LETS PLAY!"

He had apparently not heard (or simply ignored) Khan, intending to play with his new 'invisible playmate.'

Khan already used to

Khan, used to Fastidio's antics, assumed he just wanted an excuse to make a mess.

"Ooooof!"

'Or not…' Khan mumbled to himself as he Looked over in shock to see a sprawled out Harry, parts of his body still invisible, his glasses askew, groaning in pain under the thrown barrel.

"Harry?"