A Big House and a House-elf

Jon did not think having more children was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but he was only an eleven-year-old child. What could he possibly decide?

Seeing the expectant looks in his parents' eyes, Jon finally gave in under his aunt's and maternal grandmother's gentle gazes, along with Bella's curious stare, and agreed to the request.

After all, Britain had a relatively small population. To keep Wizarding Bloodlines from dying out completely, having children was an important matter, and he could understand that.

As for where he would live... he could stay at his maternal grandmother's house. It was nearby anyway.

"But when school starts, you'll come see me off, right?"

"Oh, of course." Mr. Smith hurriedly nodded. "We'll take you and Bella to the station together."

After all, he still wanted to see what Platform Nine and Three-Quarters looked like.

Jon nodded. Though he knew that non-wizard parents might not be able to enter the platform, his father theoretically counted as a Squib. Besides, this world differed from the Original Work in some ways, just as the shops in Diagon Alley were not as shabby as they had been described in the Original Work.

After dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Smith used the Floo Network to return to Greenwich, while Jon stayed behind.

Bella Young seemed happiest of all. She usually spent her holidays alone in the manor, and there were no other Wizarding Families living nearby, so she had no one to play with.

Now that she had a cousin to keep her company—and one who would continue keeping her company from now on—she was overjoyed.

But Jon did not particularly want to play with Bella. Playing with a teenage girl would kill him.

"My dear cousin, if you're really that bored, why don't we discuss magic studies? You can also tell me about Hogwarts. I'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about."

His mind was packed with an entire collection of Harry Potter spells.

Even so, he did not want to practice magic today. He had used the Floo Network several times in a row and spent most of the day wandering Diagon Alley. His young body was genuinely exhausted.

"All right, then. Go to sleep first."

Once Bella confirmed that Jon was truly tired, she could only abandon her plans to start having fun that evening. "Then I'll teach you two simple spells tomorrow. It's a deal."

Jon nodded and returned to the prepared guest room to sleep.

Mr. Smith worked quickly. When Jon woke up the next morning, he heard the rumbling sound of machinery outside.

"What are they doing out there?"

After getting dressed and walking into the corridor, he found Bella leaning by the window, watching the house across from them being worked on.

Because the Wizarding Bloodline had faded away, the magical barrier around the Smith Family Old Manor had long since vanished, and the magical energy within had dispersed along with it. It was now nothing more than an ordinary small estate.

Since it had become too old to live in, it naturally needed a thorough renovation.

Jon drew his gaze away from the construction workers and suddenly spotted Aunt May talking to an old man.

"Oh, that's the Old Butler who used to look after the house. He's getting old, so Uncle gave him some money and let him retire," Bella explained at once.

Only then did Jon think of another problem. "Without a butler, am I supposed to live alone in such a huge house?"

"Not exactly. Maternal grandmother prepared a very big gift for you—or maybe it doesn't really count as a gift." There was a hint of envy in Bella's voice. "Part of the Smith Family's inheritance was with maternal grandmother, but she used it up to exchange for some rather precious materials. So this time, she bought you a House-elf to serve as your butler."

A House-elf?

That was far too big a gift!

Naturally, Jon did not believe it was because of that inheritance. A declining wizard family whose Wizarding Bloodline had grown thin might have left some inheritance in its vault, but even if there was more besides that, it could not have been much.

His maternal grandmother had probably taken pity on her youngest grandson and spent a fortune to buy the House-elf. Jon did not know exactly how much one cost, but judging from the Original Work, even the Weasleys, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight Families, did not own a House-elf. It definitely could not have been cheap.

So this was what being rich felt like?

Having suddenly inherited an estate and a vault—while possessing a wealthy maternal grandmother—and soon to become a pure-blood Young Wizard at Hogwarts, Jon Smith felt immensely satisfied.

"By the way, did Aunt May say how long the renovations would take?"

Jon was already impatient to move into his own Old Manor and meet his House-elf.

"Probably three or four days. Oh, and Uncle said that if you have any ideas about the decoration, you can tell my mother and have the workers do it for you."

Jon nodded and turned to go downstairs, intending to find his aunt.

"Hey, don't forget that we're playing together this afternoon!"

Bella shouted from behind him. Jon did not turn back, merely waving to show that he understood.

His mind was now filled with house designs. He had not been able to afford a big house in his previous life, but he had looked at plenty of interior designs. The lighting had to be good; he did not like gloomy places. A room without enough light looked bad for the eyes. Dumbledore was proof enough—wizards could become nearsighted too.

He also planned to imitate the magical practice room in the Room of Requirement and make a similar space for practicing spells... A library could not be left out either. He needed somewhere to store books and conduct research. He had not forgotten his goal of becoming a magical scholar.

Buying books would probably be another huge expense... He should buy secondhand books instead. Maybe, like the Half-Blood Prince, he might find some unexpected gains.

With his thoughts racing, Jon told Aunt May all of his ideas. May Young was not surprised by her nephew's unusual thoughts. Ever since he was little, the child had often said things that did not fit his age. There was nothing strange about it.

Besides, Jon was the owner of this house. The renovations should naturally follow his wishes.

"However, the practice room you want may take a little longer. That kind of room needs magical reinforcement. Once these Muggle workers are done, Aunt will hire some wizards to cast spells on the house for you."

Jon agreed with that. Wizarding houses generally needed Protective spells such as the Muggle-Repelling Charm. He had seen that in the Original Work long ago.

"It would be best if it could be finished quickly. I still want to study ahead and review the magic we'll learn in first year before school starts."

Jon appropriately displayed his anticipation for magic and school, making May Young even happier.

"Don't worry. Aunt will have it done as soon as possible. You can go learn some first-year magic from your cousin. I'm sure Bella will be more than happy to tutor you."