The next Thursday, I find myself back in the CSB's office. I'm meeting my account manager with a confounded Miss Sally.
First, I open a new investment account for the orphanage. Miss Sally will be the one handling the money. I'm not worried about it because Miss Sally is very trustworthy. I'm sure that she will use the money well for the orphanage. The companies she invests in are similar to mine.
After everything is complete, Miss Sally goes back alone to the orphanage. She now knows how to manage the account and could invest in some other companies if she wishes to.
Soon after Miss Sally left, my manager informed me that the house in the Charring Cross had already been sold to another person. Unfortunately, I couldn't purchase it. Well, that's fine by me.
Next, I decided to visit BloodFangs in Gringotts. A few days ago, he gave me some info about the properties and the house-elves I wanted to acquire.
With my Mortiss appearance, I apparate myself to Charing Cross and then to the Diagon Alley through the Leaky Cauldron.
Funnily and luckily enough, every time I come to Diagon Alley, I always go through behind someone who is going there. So, I never use my non-existence wand or ask any help from other patrons. I'm basically invisible to them.
However, I make sure to remember the pattern to open the wall.
In Gringotts, as Lana, I was escorted to BloodFangs' office after requesting for him from the teller.
"Good day, Mr. BloodFangs. I hope the days treat you well! I'm looking for detailed information about the house elves and properties you mentioned before. If you could kindly help me see them in person, I would be most grateful", I said to him.
"Aye, Ms. Vautoure, straightforward as always! The house elves I found were the former servants of a family who went missing a few weeks ago. The bonds were severed and now they need new bonds. They are both males in their 30s, quite young for their kind. They were trained to follow instructions without fail. If you want, I could call them now and if you agree, they will readily bind to you", he said in his gruff voice.
"I'd like to meet them, please."
With a flick of his finger, 2 house-elves appear inside BloodFangs' room. They look exactly like the ones from the movies, with a slight variation in their ear and eyes. They both wear rags that have seen better days. I see that I need to teach them basic hygiene and stuff later. Other than that, they look fairly healthy and able to work.
"These are the house-elves Ms. Vautoure. The names' Jelly and Gilly", BloodFangs said.
"Good day, kind Miss. My name is Jelly, and this is Gilly. We both are worthy house-elves to be of your service", Jelly said while the both of them are bowing deeply to me.
Jelly has large grey eyes, while Gilly has large black eyes. The only easy thing to remember them by is their eye colors.
"Hello Jelly, nice to meet you. What kind of services the both of you could do?" I ask them both.
"Gilly be cooking, cleaning, and maintaining the kitchen and rooms, Mistress. Jelly be going outside to buy groceries, tending the gardens, and sewing", Gilly said innocently with big eyes that appear to beg me to accept them. *sigh*
I understand that most house-elves need a magical bond to strengthen their magic. They don't need a bond to do magic as they have their own core, but the bond will stabilize and strengthen them further. So, I know that Dobby is not most house-elves.
I agree that house-elves should not be subjugated to slavery. They have the right to rest, be paid for their job well done, and be housed and cared for in good manners. So later, I will do just that.
After a few minutes of contemplation, I agree to bond with them. The process is quick. I just need to hold their hands and say that I accept them as my personal house-elves. After that, I pay the fee. The house-elf costs 2000 G each. So, I spent 4000 G on both of them. I actually don't mind. They both are lovely, and I do need them.
After that's done, BloodFangs points me to two properties he had secured for me. One is a flat in Diagon Alley, and the other is a house in the Hogsmead. Since I want to see the properties myself, we all go there by portkey.
The flat is located on the upper floor of a building just beside the Flourish and Blotts Bookstore. It used to belong to a gentleman who now has moved to America to be together with his family. The place is spacious, around 50x50x8 meters. I suspect a permanent expandable space-charm is used here as it is much larger inside than outside. The flat is divided by 4 rooms: 1 living room with a working floo-network, 1 kitchen that is connected to the living room, 1 main bedroom, and 1 guest room.
Both main and guest room have their own working bathroom. Unfortunately, all furniture is old and need to be replaced. The same thing goes to the curtains and all kitchen appliances. No worry though, with 2 house-elves everything would be ready in no time.
The house in the Hogsmead is a two-story building near the Hogsmead train station. It is the last house on the nearby street of the train station. Its location is actually in line with Three Broomsticks' and Honeydukes Sweet Shop. The house is surrounded by a well-maintained flower garden and secured by a white wood fence. The garden is not that large, though.
The house itself is a brick house. The brick has changed color over the years to beige, but the walls still look strong and sturdy. There are 2 chimneys that are connected to 2 fireplaces, one of which is a working floo-network.
The first floor consists of the living room, kitchen, dining room, guest room, restroom, and a patio overlooking the back garden. The second floor consists of 1 master bedroom and 2 guest rooms. There is also an attic above the 2nd floor. All rooms on the second floor have their own bathroom. There is also a huge glass window facing the Hogsmead street outside, which is perfect for snooping. The furniture in this house looks to be well maintained and in good condition, so I would only need to replace a few things.
Overall, I think both properties are proper. I need new places to live and both locations are superb. They are close to strategic locations.
After we go back to BloodFangs' office, I purchase both properties. The flat cost me 100,000 G because its location is very strategic in the Diagon Alley. While the house costs me 550,000G. I also request BloodFangs to ward my new properties, in which one of them (the house) needs to be under fidelius charm. Both also need to be warded as strong as the Black family manor. I won't take any chances.
With the additional 350,000 G, BloodFangs will arrange the warding. I will be the secret keeper of the house.
After signing some documents for property transfer and more, I am off to Diagon Alley with my 2 house-elves as Mortiss. They both know now that I go by 2 characters in which the girl one is my original look. After buying another money pouch for them to use, I give 10,000 G for them to buy food and live in the house in Hogsmead for the time being. I also ask them to clean and maintain both properties and come to me if I call them in the orphanage.
After that, I disapparate myself with both of my elves so that they know where I stay. After making sure that they know they should not be visible when visiting me here, they go back to the Hogsmead house.