Travel Funds

"This is only a small town." As Tierra led Arthur Weasley toward the tall building at the center of Tyneham Village—the church that had now been converted into the town hall—he explained, "Our original plan was for all of Tyneham Village to accommodate sixteen hundred households, around eight thousand people."

"So, with such a small population, we don't need to build a large sewage treatment plant like the newly developed district in Hogsmeade. A biogas digester is enough to handle the daily wastewater." Tierra continued his explanation.

Such a small number? Arthur Weasley, walking beside Tierra, was secretly dumbfounded.

To Arthur Weasley, sixteen hundred households, roughly eight thousand people, was practically the entire population of the United Kingdom's Wizarding World.

Yet in Tierra's eyes, it still fell within the category of "only this many."

"The Wizarding World's population is far too small," Tierra said. "That is also what worries me most. Our margin for error is too low."

"Once we're through this busy period..." Tierra smiled and looked at Arthur Weasley's incomprehensible expression. "Once we're through this busy period, this summer vacation, take your whole family, along with Harry and Hermione, and travel around Muggle population centers all over the world."

"Go see those Muggles. Go see the civilization created by the race that drove us into the wilderness. Go see their courage. Go see their history."

Arthur Weasley could sense Tierra's concern over the Wizarding World's population, as well as his respect for Muggle civilization.

"Really? I-I-I can?" Arthur Weasley felt as though an enormous pie had fallen from the sky and hit him.

"Of course." Tierra smiled. "I can even subsidize you a little from my private stash as travel funds."

"R-Really?" Arthur Weasley asked in delighted surprise.

"Really, but—" Tierra paused. "There are conditions."

"Every time you