It was April First. All Fool's Day. More importantly, it was my birthday. And what made this particular birthday so special was that it was my 18th birthday, according to my forged muggle birth certificate.
I was now an adult in the mundane world. I could vote, I could buy property, I could do all sorts of stuff with my ascension to adulthood. It was liberating, in a way.
'Now if only it wasn't raining cats and dogs,' I grumbled despondently as I sloshed through another puddle as I walked the short distance from the bus stop to Archibald's office building. It was hard to get into a festive mood when the weather was so poor.
"How are you doing today?" Archibald asked politely as I entered his office. I was wet from the rain that was drenching the city, and uttered a huff as I gave silent thanks to my warming runes sewn into my coat.
"Soggy," I replied. Springtime in London was a rainy time. He just nodded in sympathy and switched to a different topic.
"I have good news," he said. "I got you a recommendation letter to Oxford, just as you asked."
"Yes! That should help a lot," I said with a grin. "And with the one I'm getting from the Finch-Fletchley's, I'll be a shoo-in!"
"Tuition costs won't be cheap, even with those scholarships you're applying for," Archibald cautioned me.
"That's why I'm stepping up production on my products," I declared as I sat down. "Do you have any more information on the storefronts available that I asked about?"
"I do," he said, taking out a folder for me to peruse. "Of course, buying a place to start your business and all those supplies will be expensive as well. It won't be easy to pay for both your education and your business, even with a loan and scholarships."
"I'll make do," I said. It was more of a vow, in truth. I wasn't going to let anything stop me.
Archibald stared at me for a moment, before nodding. "Very well, then. I'm just here to advise you, after all."
He leaned back in his chair. "So, how is school going?"
"Top of my class, but that's no big deal," I replied. "Graduation is only a couple months away and there's no way I can flunk the exams."
'And Harry will be back around then, too. Late afternoon on June 26th is when the Hogwarts Express is due back. I can't wait! I hope he likes his welcome home present,' I thought to myself. I wasn't going to let Harry spend more time than necessary at the Dursleys. He'd spend the minimum two weeks – fifteen days at most, just to be on the safe side – to recharge his Love Barrier and the Blood Wards protecting the house, and then I was whisking him away to my apartment. I'd get a spare cot set up if I had to. Or maybe I'd smuggle him to the Weasleys. Yeah, that would work. But first, he'd be going with me to France!
'Note to self, have Inky be on the lookout for Dobby,' I mused idly as I thought about the events of Book Two. If I could convince the Malfoys' abused House Elf to work with me in protecting Harry, then I hoped he wouldn't try any funny business with blocking Harry's mail or messing with the Bludgers.
I then dismissed those thoughts for the moment with a bit of Occlumency, and returned my attention to the contents of the folder.
It contained a number of different storefronts and buildings that were within my price range and had good – or at the very least decent – rents or leasing agreements. I wasn't going to be able to outright buy anything, not yet, so this was what I'd have to live with.
In the end, I narrowed my choices down to two – a former bakery, and a laundromat. The bakery would be good as potion brewing was very much like cooking, and the layout of the electrical wiring meant I would be able to move in and set up my mixers and other brewing items without issue, as well as it having a good-sized storage area. The laundromat had similar benefits, but was closer to the city and was thus more expensive. It was also part of a chain of buildings, mean there were stores built above, below and to the side of it. I'd get more foot traffic too, compared to the bakery, which was located firmly in the suburban outskirts of London.
"I'll have to keep thinking on it," I said after passing my choices back to Archibald. "Let me know if somebody else tries to horn in on either."
"I can do that. By the way, Happy Birthday, Edward," Archibald said, giving me a nod.
"Thank you," I said, touched by his words. I then stood and shook his hands. "I hope to keep doing business with you in the future."
He nodded in agreement. Squibs gotta squib together, after all.
After my short meeting with Archibald, I had another one to get ready for later in the evening. I had a dinner planned with my mother, but before that I was going to see a movie with Sam and his family.
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