52 Opulent Christmas

As I announced in my Pa-treon, I got sick for a few days. I'm fine now and I'll resume the fanfics and the rest of my work from today.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Soisen went home to spend Christmas with his family when the time came and left behind one last gift for his House along with stocks of Filter of Reason, a book that only Galegold members can access.

The title? Occlumency.

It always struck him as odd that Occlumency was something so complicated to find and learn, but when one thinks that pureblood wizards and the like surely have some accomplishments in Legeremancy, it all becomes clear.

Would the Dominants give the subjugated a tool to protect themselves from them?

Next, popularize Occlumency in the House. It only requires a small magical oath to prevent information leaks and other minor inconveniences. If Dumbledore then wants to use Legeremancy on Galegold members, it won't be so easy.

And why not give that information to everyone?

Simple, Soisen had no problem helping his House, but if others want to learn, he won't deny, but they will have to pay him for it. As for worrying about the Ministry's regulation of this knowledge... well, that was what the oath he put in place was for.

Christmas was livelier with Nagini in the family. Soisen got her mothers some Chinese biting cabbage seeds, Nagini got some books about the detective writers she liked that she couldn't read when she was in the jungle. In Hermione's case, he sent her a book about house elves and a letter where he spoke in praise of those who worked in the Hogwarts kitchens.

That's right, he would take advantage of her absence to avoid Hermione's protest phase for house elf rights.

May she go wild while she's gone and be calm when she returns!

He sent Sylvia some unusual woods so she could carve them to her liking along with a letter warning her of Hermione's possible actions regarding house elves, so she could psyche herself up in time.

Would he grudge her for making him endure this phase of Hermione's life without him?

...

Nah.

He sent Hagrid a large cloak made of mink fur, extra large so that the half-giant could perform his duties in cold weather. Pomona got some sacks of dragon dung for the plants, McGonagall a set of enchanted needles with Quidditch motifs, and Flitwick got a teapot that can heat and cool tea at will. Snape was sent a voucher to have a new set of robes made, as the potions master had his current ones somewhat damaged due to accidents constantly occurring in his lessons. Dumbledore received a pair of thick woolen socks in the motif of the Icecream King from Adventure Time.

Just to throw him off the scent. It's not like I'm hinting at anything, not at all....

Some French and Bulgarian recipe books for the Hogwarts kitchen.

He even sent a set of cat care books to Argus Filch along with some cans of gourmet cat food for Norris!

He also sent some gifts for Luna, Ginny, the Weasley twins, Neville, etc. that were primarily some knick-knacks or useful tools for their newfound hobbies.

He didn't send anything to the likes of Potter and Ron.

But! He did send a gift to Olympe Maxime, the headmistress of Beauxbatons and Chloe, his future Charms teacher. It's always nice to have a little something for the person in charge who is going to be looking after you in a foreign country for practically half a year. As for the gift, it was some sets of magical soaps that she had specially prepared.

Unexpectedly, the next morning she received a couple of letters from France, where the headmistress thanked her for the gift and commented that she hoped she had a pleasant exchange while Chloe also thanked her, but asked if she had some strawberry or currant scented versions.

Well, it looks like they took the bait.

How was she going to continue her business without the consent of the people in charge of the place?

He had months' supply of magic soap with him along with his other products.

Two days later, Nagini took him to Diagon Alley and presented him with the premises cleaned, disinfected, with no parasites or beasts behind the walls.

All looking as if it was newly built.

After an in-depth chat in which Nagini revealed her newly gained administrative and business knowledge, they established a rough idea of their inventory for sale:

Buenavista Potion.

Magical Soaps.

Filter of Reason.

Crazy Rubik's Cube.

...

They would stock a little bit of everything and seeing how sales flowed, they would make adjustments as they saw fit. The Filter of Reason therefore, was to be hidden until two weeks before Valentine's Day and then aggressively promoted with a catchy slogan.

Death to Amortentia!

It will be a hit.

-Did the rats find anything about the werewolf? -Soisen asked Nagini when they were alone in the store, after dismissing those who transported the new furniture and used a levitation spell to move them to their designated place.

If there was no change, Lupin would be teaching at Hogwarts next year and the only time he would be able to attempt a move would be during the summer, which might already be too late.

Who says move, he means turn Snape loose on the place and let him do his thing.

-There have been sightings, but he seems to be quite practiced at hiding and doesn't stay in one place for too long," Nagini shook her head as she moved a bookshelf with her wand, "Frankly, I see little chance of us getting reliable or useful information before next school year if we employ these people.

-I see -although it wasn't ideal, maybe he could think of something during his teaching at Hogwarts. Remember there was that one night he forgot to take his Matalobos potion and went mad, then eliminating him in self-defense wouldn't be outrageous, would it?

But... lycanthropy was a contagious thing in that form and Soisen might be getting a lot better at magical fighting, but he didn't have the confidence to take on a rampaging bloody werewolf. It would be unacceptable for him to be infected.

Maybe I should try setting up a trap? Or ask Snape to add some slow-acting poison, the kind that only kills a year later with no possible salvation?

-Do you want me to take action personally? -Nagini asked him suddenly.

Soisen turned around with a surprised expression and stood still looking at her for a few seconds, before slowly shaking his head and continuing to move the furniture.

-It's not worth it.

Soisen might be thinking of avenging Lily, but he wouldn't risk his people for it. He could wait and adopt new plans or approaches, but not revive the dead.

He still had time.