Later that evening, the three of us sat around the table. We were almost silent for a while, but then the teacher spoke.
— Victoria and I know what happened. — After a short pause, he continued. — I hope you're not going to do something stupid?
— What do you mean? — I asked lazily.
— The Dunois are quite influential, Lucy and Ludovic hold important positions in the Ministry, they have great opportunities... — Victoria said what everyone at the table knew.
— Yes, — her husband nodded. — They have many means of defense and offense at their disposal.
— I understand that. — I also understand that if I were to retaliate, the easiest thing for me to do would be to die, because I would have to fight the whole of France — the other nobles would help Dunois out of solidarity. If it were just one or two families, I would consider it, but I can't go against the whole state. — I pause for a bite of salmon and then continue. — But I won't forgive that kind of humiliation.
— We understand, that's why we ask. — Boisselier said. — Perhaps we can warn you against indiscretion or help you.
— You're friends with Dunois, right? — I was surprised, honestly, it's one thing to protect, but another to help.
— Lucy and Ludovic are the ruling aristocracy, they are either friends or enemies, and our family is on the brink, you know. — I nodded at these words, having been in a similar position where I had to hold back in many ways. — But there are two kinds of friendship: political and real. — Jacques Francis Boisselier, the head of the family that got the chance, smiled mischievously. From me. I smiled back.
— I had the opportunity to put a family curse on the Dunois family, and I even seriously considered it. — Noticing the marital tension, I continued. — But if I did, it would be clear whose work it was, so I discarded that option. — The Boisseliers breathed a sigh of relief. — There is, however, an option in my contract for the supply of seals and staffs that requires me to work exclusively through the Diocese of Lucy, but there are a few loopholes, so I can easily transfer the supply to another department of the Ministry. A department run by one of Dunois' rivals.
— Doesn't the contract specify which department the shipment goes to? — Victoria was genuinely surprised.
— There is a specification that states the final destination, but it doesn't say anything about restrictions on intermediaries. — I smiled contentedly at my teachers' surprise. — No, I had not anticipated this betrayal, and I was not the one who had raised these points. I suppose Lucy left herself room for maneuver in this way, but it allows me, for example, to deliver the next batch on time, and even through the department, for example, licensing or testing new inventions ....
— And then Lucy will get her goods in a few months at best, if not later. — Victoria nodded, smiling with satisfaction. — And the seals?
— I've already put the contracted amount of First Aid seals into DMLE, and then I can either not renew the contract, or I can change the addressee, add a middleman or more to the chain. — I shrug. — And in general, I sold a lot of such seals to the Russians, they had a war there, and there is a good demand for such goods. I can steer the cooperation in that direction.
— I ask you, student, as a Frenchman, not to refuse to help my people. — said the teacher earnestly, looking me in the eye. — Do not punish the common people for the intrigues of the authorities. In recent months, the number of deaths and disabilities of law enforcement officers has decreased significantly. Just so you know, France is the gateway for various scum from the dark corners of the magical world. Our people don't let various cults and psychos flood Europe.
— Good, — I nodded. — I agree with you and I won't go to extremes, but you should know that... — I said. — Then I gave a long, detailed account of what I had read in the papers Dunois had given me.
I was listened to very attentively, then I listened to some very strong and meaningful expressions characterizing the life and thought processes of the people in charge of the country. I was given a little more insight into the secrets of local life, and I learned that nearly half of the local clans are convinced that I am a creature of Dunois and have sworn a vassal oath to them. And there are whispers that the Dunois and Ternier families
and Ternier families are preparing some kind of "news," and some of them, by the way, are turning their eyes in my direction, figuratively speaking, of course. Gentlemen, I am stunned. Jacques shrugged his shoulders and said, "You should have a head on your shoulders," and I had to agree with him.
And then Victoria gave me the address of a shop owned by a family of German wizards, and advised me to talk to them about working together, since news of my Hogwarts greenhouses had already spread throughout Europe.
That was the end of our meetings, and we went to rest. I stayed in the Boisselier family's guest room today, and Tonks didn't bother me, so I didn't think about going back to the hotel.