Chapter 37: It's a Promise
Bones Manor
Ronald Bilius Weasley
July 15, 1989, Saturday
After Ron and Madam Bones reached an agreement, they were both visibly relieved, their shoulders slumping.
Then Madam Bones sighed deeply and said, "I knew you were going to empty the DMLE's coffers. Normally, this was a budget I set aside for buying new equipment for the Auror Office."
"New equipment for the Auror Office? What kind of equipment are you talking about, Madam Bones? Have you decided on anything yet?" Ron asked curiously.
"I'm open to anything that can enhance the safety of the Aurors. Nothing has been decided yet, but defensive and protective magical items are quite rare. So, I always set aside a budget for when I might encounter them. But now, that budget is gone." Madam Bones.
"Haha. I'm sorry about that. I guess…" Ron said, but then added, "But if you'd like, I can work on custom-made equipment for the Aurors according to your requests. I think we can find common ground on the price. We can even arrange installment payment plans if you wish."
"Huh? You can make custom magical items on request?" Madam Bones asked in astonishment.
Ron, raising an eyebrow, asked, "Do you think I can't?"
Madam Bones glanced for a moment at the two items on the table, which would likely cause a great stir in the wizarding world, and then thought that crafting custom-made items wouldn't be too difficult for this young man.
"Then I would be happy to discuss equipment requests on behalf of the Auror Office. But before I can relay some information about the Auror Office, some contracts need to be signed. This information cannot be shared randomly. It would be best if you obtained your Crafter License first, Mr. Ronald Weasley," Madam Bones said.
"I think so too. Besides, I have a business to set up and products to put up for sale beforehand. Give me one month. Then we can sit down and talk about this. I hope this is suitable for you as well." Ron said.
"That's no problem for me," Madam Bones said. Then, pointing to the items on the table, she added, "Now you must explain the detailed use of these items to me. I also need written instructions," Madam Bones said.
"Actually, I don't think that's necessary," said Ron, then tapped the MPF's wooden block and said, "Little Merlin."
With a puff, a Little Merlin appeared on the table, but unlike the Little Merlin he used in the games, this mascot's clothes were blue.
"You can ask Little Merlin any question you want, or command him to give you detailed usage instructions. Moreover, if you wish, Little Merlin can record these instructions in writing on the back pages of the ledgers. And you can remove these writings from the ledgers whenever you want," Ron said.
"You've really thought of everything, haven't you?" Madam Bones said.
"Producing user-friendly items is very important to me," Ron added. "The first thing I recommend you do for the products is to take over the administrator authority. Since the products are brand new, you can easily do this through Little Merlin," Ron said.
Then, with a wave of Ron's hand, many wooden boxes floated out of his wooden chest, floating in the air and stacking neatly on the table.
Besides the wooden boxes, ledgers of different colors also had come out of the wooden chest and were placed on the table.
Actually, Ron had an Undetectable Extension Charm applied to his wooden chest as well. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to fit so many things inside. But Ron hadn't mentioned the charm to anyone, so no one noticed.
"All the products you requested are here, Madam Bones," Ron said.
Now all that remained was for them to collect the money for the products and then for Madam Bones to write him two letters.
Then he and Bill could go home.
But Ron couldn't help but sigh, realizing he had a lot to do even after returning home. It seemed this day was going to feel even longer than it had.
"Pilpy," said Madam Bones, and with a pop, the house elf reappeared beside them.
"How can Pilpy help?" said Pilpy.
"Pilpy, go to the DMLE's Gringotts vault and bring back a coin chest with 1200 galleons inside. But first, get me some parchment, ink, and a quill. I have letters to write," said Madam Bones.
"Pilpy will do right away, Madam Bony," Pilpy said, and disappeared. But soon, the parchments, ink, and a quill that Madam Bones had requested appeared on the table.
Then Madam Bones began writing the letters, but as she wrote, she asked Ron a question. "By the way, Mr. Ronald Weasley, how did you summon Pilpy to convey your request for a meeting? I didn't know that others could summon house elves from other magical houses," Madam Bones said.
"Huh? The book I read said that this is the proper way to proceed according to wizarding etiquette. Lord or heir apparent of a magical house can summon house elves from other magical houses to convey requests for meetings," Ron said.
"Oh? I didn't know about that. And I doubt the other magical houses know about it because no one uses it. Obviously, this method is much more convenient than sending messages through a fireplace or by letter. The only downside, I think, is the possibility of the house elves being in danger. Someone might want to use it as a trap," Madam Bones said, looking up from the letter she was writing.
"You don't need to worry about that, ma'am. The person performing the magical summon must swear that they have no malicious intent with magic as their witness, and they must truly mean it. Otherwise, the summons won't work," Ron said.
"Then I'd like to know where I can find this information, Mr. Ronald Weasley. That would be very helpful," Madam Bones said.
"I'd be happy to help, ma'am. Writing the book's title for you is quite easy for me," Ron said.
"Then, please accept my thanks on behalf of House Bones," Madam Bones said.
"You don't need to be so formal, ma'am," Ron replied.
Madam Bones then returned to writing her letters, and it didn't take her long to finish both. This wasn't surprising, considering she, as Head of DMLE, dealt with a lot of paperwork every day.
Just as Madam Bones finished writing her letters, Pilpy reappeared, and with her, a small chest appeared on the table.
"Your payment and letters are ready, Mr. Ronald Weasley. Would you like to stay for dinner? I know this meeting doesn't include dinner, but Susan and I would be delighted," said Madam Bones.
With a wave of his hand, Ron cast the tempus spell and realized it was a little past seven in the evening. This meant they had less than an hour to get home for dinner.
"Thank you for the polite invitation, Madam Bones, but we told our mother we'd be home for dinner, and I don't want to worry her," Ron said.
"Oh. That's a pity. But I would like to host you for dinner another time," said Madam Bones.
"I'll look forward to that day, ma'am," Ron said politely, and with another wave of his hand, the coin chest and letters flew up and landed inside his wooden chest.
Then the wooden chest closed, shrinking to the size of a key chain, and Ron fastened it back to his belt.
Finally, everything they needed to do here was complete, and they were ready to go home.
Madam Bones, Ron, and Bill rose to their feet, and just as Ron and Bill were about to say goodbye to Madam Bones, a voice from a table a little further away made them turn their heads.
"Yay, I won!"
The voice, of course, belonged to Susan Bones. And apparently, Susan had won another round as a result of the tower falling. Ron looked at the scoreboard above Little Merlin and saw that Susan had won the series 3-2.
Apparently, during their approximately hour-long conversation with Madam Bones, Susan had finished five games of Hightower against her fairy opponent.
"I haven't seen her so happy in a long time," said Madam Bones, looking at Susan's joyful face. And then she added, "I can't thank you enough for that, Mr. Ronald Weasley."
"If my games can't bring a smile to the faces of the players, then I'm a failed crafter, Madam Bones. So, you don't need to thank me. Because the smile on your niece's face is the greatest reward for me." Ron said.
In response, Madam Bones just smiled, but Ron realized it was the most sincere smile he had seen from her today.
Then, turning to Susan, Madam Bones said, "Susan, darling, our guests are about to leave. We need to return their game now."
"Oh," said Susan, her voice filled with disappointment.
But she quickly composed herself, rose from her chair, and after taking a few steps forward, said, "Thank you for letting me play your game. It was truly enjoyable."
"You're welcome, Miss Bones. I haven't yet received the necessary paperwork for this game, and therefore I must not sell or give it away to anyone." Ron said.
"I understand," said Susan.
"But if you promise not to mention or show it to anyone until it goes on sale, I can give it to you as a gift," Ron said.
"Really?" Susan said, her eyes suddenly sparkling.
"Really," said Ron.
But at that moment, Madam Bones intervened and said, "You don't have to do this, Mr. Ronald Weasley."
"I know I don't have to, ma'am, but that doesn't change the fact that I want to," Ron said, looking at Madam Bones. Then, turning to Susan, he asked, "What do you say, Miss Bones? Can you keep this game a secret for a while?"
"Hmm. I promise. I absolutely won't tell anyone," Susan said, nodding her head quickly.
"We agreed then," Ron said. But at that moment, he heard Susan lower her head and whisper something.
"Susan..."
"I'm sorry, Miss Bones, I didn't quite understand what you said," Ron said.
"You can call me Susan," Susan said.
"Oh. Then please call me Ron," Ron said.
One of the etiquettes that wizards and witches in Magical Britain still observed was that if someone didn't allow you to use their first name, you should address them by their family name.
If there are people from the same household with the same family name, you can address them by their first and family names, just like Madam Bones addressed him as Mr. Ronald Weasley.
While some wizards and witches no longer adhere to this etiquette, established families and pureblood wizards and witches used to place great importance on it, especially those from the Black and Grey groups.
And for someone to permit another person to use their first name meant they considered that person close, at least on the level of an acquaintance or friend.
Ron thought Susan's reason for giving him such permission was most likely because she wanted to be friends with him.
And as a peer, it would be rude of Ron not to give the same permission, as the person in question was the heir apparent of House Bones.
But Ron wouldn't mind being friends with Susan regardless. So, permitting Susan to use his first name wasn't a problem for him.
"So, Ron, do you have any other games you've made?" Susan asked.
"Yes, I do. Do you want those too?" Ron asked.
But Susan quickly shook her head and said, "No. I'll wait for you to put them up for sale. Then I'll buy them and support you." Susan said. But then, turning uncertainly to Madam Bones, she added, "We can buy them when they go on sale, can't we, Aunt Amelia?"
"Yes, darling. We can buy them." Madam Bones said.
"Yay! But Ron, will it take a long time for them to go on sale?" Susan asked.
"Not too long. In a few weeks at most. But you don't have to wait that long. Once all the necessary paperwork is complete, I'll send you one of each as a gift." Ron said.
"Really?" Susan asked excitedly.
"You can be sure of that. After all, we're friends now, aren't we? As my friend, you'll inevitably have some privileges." Ron said, smiling.
And he could see Susan's eyes widen in surprise. Then Susan said in a bewildered tone, "Are we really friends?"
"Aren't we?" Ron asked, tilting his head.
Susan paused for a moment, then quickly nodded and said, "So, since we're friends now, can I write you a letter?"
"Of course. Just write 'The Burrow' as the address. The owls will find it easily," Ron said.
"Hmm. I'll definitely write, so make sure you write back," Susan said.
"Don't worry. I'll reply as soon as I get your first letter," Ron said.
"It's a promise," Susan said, and Ron smiled at her.
It seemed that here, in addition to obtaining his first capital, he had also made his first friend.
Then, after saying goodbye to Madam Bones and Susan, Bill and Ron started walking towards the fireplace.
It was time to go home.
End of Chapter 37.
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.38: A Lucrative Job Offer
Ch.39: The Talk
Ch.40: Succeeding in Obtaining Permission