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"Can I refuse?"
Walburga smiled very, very predatory.
"Why not?"
"You said yourself that Greengrasses are better not to be messed with."
"That's not what I said. You cannot be indebted to the Greengrass. After all, they still have to keep the secrets of necromancy. However, you can go as an apprentice to Delphine, and that would be even better than all the other options."
"But... They're kind of sympathetic to the Dark Lord."
"Only their public Head, Henry Greengrass, Delphine's husband, sympathizes with him. But he's a consort, nothing more. A weakling and a coward with a huge ego, but completely under Delphine's control. Necromancers, after all."
"I'll tell you as a relative to a relative. I've had enough trouble and adventures lately. Here they are. I don't feel like going into a necromancer's lair..."
"Ha-ha-ha, don't be afraid," brushed off a cheerful Walburga. "Delphine is a good and sensible lady, and it's all Henry's own fault. There was a very loud story in narrow circles, which I will not tell, of course. If you're interested, you'll find out. But believe me, Henry-then-Fowley got off very lightly, and so did the whole family. And you, if I understand correctly, might be extremely talented at fighting. Delphine will grip you with her teeth. She must somehow get a grandmaster in the end. And she doesn't have to know you're Black."
"You are pulling me into some kind of fierce adventure, with all due respect."
"Well, then stay home and do nothing. You won't find any other really worthy candidates in England anyway. Or on the Continent, for that matter. There won't be a master, less interested in the contract than Delphine and more interested in your success than Delphine."
"All right. Fine!" I put my hands out in a defensive gesture. "I'll write her, and we'll talk it over."
"It's a good decision. Trust me, Max. Even if it seems like it isn't. Regarding the affairs of the House, come back after you've rested with your parents. We'll discuss everything then."
"Good. In that case, Lady Walburga, I have to take my leave - the Knights are waiting for me."
"Have a good rest, young Lord Black."
"That certainly sounds powerful," I couldn't help but smile, getting up from the transfigured chair.
"I hope, young Lord Black, that this very 'sounds powerful' will not yet leave this house," Walburga took another puff, set the mouthpiece aside, and took a more relaxed pose in her chair. "Like I said, Lord is just a nice nameplate, a status. It doesn't make you invulnerable, and you yourself are not yet ready to face the filth of this world with all your strength. Have a good rest, and don't forget to contact Delphine."
Nodding goodbye, I left the Grimmauld House and headed toward the coffee shop around the corner. John was already waiting for me in the car.
"How was it?" he asked as soon as I got in the front seat.
"She gave me more problems. Learning. And from those from whom it is rather scary for me to learn ..."
On the way home, I briefly talked about what I had learned and understood about Greengrass.
"I think, Max, you need to have a word with this lady. Just prepare your defenses, countermeasures, and retreats."
"You mean you don't mind? It could be very dangerous."
"Well, it's dangerous to live at all. You can't run or hide from all dangers. You have to know them, accept them, and be prepared to deal with them. Tell me, how useful is it for you to learn from this lady?"
"As much as possible. If she's really that good at the various martial uses of magic and other tools, it's extremely useful training. The magical world is not a safe fairy tale at all."
"There. And your grandmother said she could be trusted, if not trusted, but cooperated with for sure. Do you think she would put you in danger, considering the purpose of her existence is for you to become great in every aspect? And don't look like that. You told me the essence of the portrait yourself."
"Yes. You're right. So I write the letter and prepare myself to the best of my ability. Don't trust, but cooperate, right?"
"Exactly. From the looks of it, you've got a swamp there, but that's no reason not to cross it. The important thing is to know where you can and can't go and to prepare yourself for the fact that your knowledge is wrong and people are ready to push you in the back and walk all over your sinking carcass."
When I arrived home, I took a good parchment and, in the most beautiful handwriting possible, which was not without Rowena's help, wrote a rather simple letter to Lady Greengrass and sent it with the Pirate.