As night fell, with a dull creak from the oak door, Willy stepped into the Shafik Family Old Manor, carrying his suitcase.
Compared to the stifling bureaucratic atmosphere of the Ministry of Magic, the air here was filled with the faint scent of dragon's blood incense, creating an exceptionally tranquil ambiance.
The foyer had an extremely high ceiling. The scent of time's passage mingled with the aromas of teak furniture and old parchment. A floating crystal chandelier cast a soft glow, illuminating several ancient portraits of dozing ancestors on the walls.
The corridor walls were paneled with dark wainscoting, adorned with a few alchemical instruments that shimmered with magical light, silently speaking of the family's heritage.
"Young Master! You've returned!"
With a sharp crack, a House-elf appeared out of thin air. Wrapped in a clean pillowcase, its large eyes brimming with eagerness, it hastily took the suitcase from Willy's hand.
"Rock has prepared dinner for you, your favorite escargots à la bourguignonne and..."
"No need, Rock, I've already eaten outside." Willy handed his cloak to the elf as he walked deeper into the corridor, instructing, "Take the suitcase to my room on the second floor."
"Yes, Young Master." Rock bowed deeply with the suitcase in its arms, squeaking, "The Master is in the study having tea and reading the newspaper."
With that, it hugged the suitcase, scurried off on its short legs, and quickly disappeared around the corner of the staircase leading to the second floor.
Willy nodded, walked down the long corridor covered in thick carpeting, reached the mahogany door at the end, and gently pushed it open.
Warm, dry air, carrying the faint aroma of tea and the scent of burning pine from the fireplace, greeted him. The study was large, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on all four walls, crammed with books of varying thickness and ancient bindings.
A fire crackled merrily in the fireplace, emitting a comforting sound.
A white-haired Wizard was comfortably sunk in a deep crimson velvet armchair by the fireplace, holding that copy of *The Daily Prophet* evening edition that Snape had scorned.
Hearing the door open, the old Wizard didn't look up, merely waving a hand casually.
The exquisite silver teapot on the table immediately floated up, poured steaming hot black tea into an empty cup, and then steadily floated over to Willy.
Willy walked over naturally, sat down in the chair opposite his father, picked up the teacup, and blew away the foam on the surface.
"So, you really did inflate Fudge and that toad Umbridge?"
The speaker was none other than the current head of the Shafik Family, Willy's father, Richard Shafik.
He peered over the newspaper with a pair of gray-blue eyes very similar to Willy's. His tone held no reproach, instead carrying a hint of amused interest.
"Could *The Daily Prophet* possibly be wrong?" Willy took a sip of tea and replied.
"Hah, *The Daily Prophet* also said the England Team was a top-tier European powerhouse, and look how that turned out?" Richard scoffed, shaking the newspaper in his hand. "You can't even trust their punctuation marks fully."
With that, Old Shafik set the newspaper down and gave his son a once-over, as if checking if he was missing any pieces.
"But since you've left your job, that means you're unemployed now, which is actually quite good." Richard suddenly changed tack, leaning forward, his tone becoming persuasive. "Look, I'm getting on in years, my back and joints ache lately. Since you're free now, it's time for you to take over the position of family head."
"The family's various businesses, negotiations with the Goblins, and all those tedious accounts—it's perfect timing to hand them over to you to manage."
He leaned back in his chair again, spreading his hands. "Anyway, that pitiful salary you got at the Ministry is practically negligible compared to the family's assets. Coming back to inherit the family business is better than suffering outside."
Willy set down his teacup and said calmly, "Father, you're only sixty. For a Wizard, that's the prime age for making your mark. Hang in there a bit longer."
"I won't hang in there. I want to retire."
"Sorry to disappoint, but I've already found a new job." Willy smiled, shattering his father's retirement fantasy. "Just now, I accepted an invitation from Hogwarts. I start in September and should head to the school by the end of August."
He then briefly explained how Snape had come to ask him to take the position of Professor of Alchemy.
After listening, Richard's expression visibly fell, showing clear disappointment. "Hogwarts? What's so great about that noisy place... and having to deal with a bunch of chattering half-grown Wizards."
As the father and son conversed, Willy keenly sensed several pairs of eyes peeking at him from under the table.
He looked down and met the gaze of two raised snake heads. The moment those heads noticed Willy looking, they instantly ducked back into the shadows under the table as if caught red-handed.
"Come out, Otto."
Willy shook his head with amusement, reached directly under the table, grabbed a large, colorful snake, pulled it out, and placed it on his lap.
It was an exceptionally rare Runespoor, about six or seven feet long, covered in orange scales with black stripes, looking majestic and imposing.
It had three heads.
As soon as it emerged, the left head became very affectionate, nuzzling Willy's hand. The middle head squinted its eyes, motionless, as if pondering some profound philosophical question. The right head hissed angrily at Willy, baring its fangs, seeming quite displeased at being dragged out.
Willy skillfully scratched the left head under its chin, pacified the irritable fellow on the right, and looked up to ask, "Has Otto been fed today?"
"Rock fed it mice at noon." Richard glanced at the snake with disdain. "But the right head is picky and didn't have much appetite."
"Oh, that's fine. It all ends up in the same stomach anyway." Willy replied nonchalantly.
This Runespoor named "Otto" was a rare specimen Richard had acquired a few years back. Willy remembered how ecstatic his father had been when he got the snake egg, guarding it for ages just to watch it hatch.
But just a few days after it hatched, he dumped it on Willy to raise and had been avoiding the snake ever since.
Willy knew his father, while not a legendary Parselmouth, could understand snake language. So, he strongly suspected Otto might have said something that shattered his father's composure.
But no matter how Willy asked, the old man remained tight-lipped, never revealing a word.
"Since you're going to teach at Hogwarts," Richard picked up the newspaper again, blocking his face, and said in a muffled voice, "take Otto with you. It's too noisy at home, always with its three heads arguing, disturbing my rest."
Willy, absentmindedly tying the Runespoor into a knot, said, "Taking it is no problem. But since I'm bringing a pet, could I take Rock along too? The food at Hogwarts is good, but I'm still used to Rock's cooking."
"No."
A resolute refusal came from behind the newspaper. "I'm old now, my legs and feet aren't what they used to be, I need someone to attend to me."
"With your magical prowess, that entire room of furniture could dance and attend to you itself. You don't need a House-elf at all." Willy mercilessly exposed the excuse.
Richard ignored him, just rustling the newspaper loudly, pretending to be immersed in the news and completely deaf to his son's protests.
"You shouldn't need me to remind you what day tomorrow is." He suddenly turned his head again, speaking seriously. "Remember to get up early."
"I know. All these years, I've never needed your reminder." Willy said calmly.