Gaunt and Lans

"You mean Madam Katharine was so afraid of me because her family used to be servants of the Gaunt Family?"

Luke was left thoroughly bewildered by the news.

That made Madam Katharine's reaction understandable. If it were him, after finally waiting for the main family to die out and gaining freedom, only for an heir of that family to appear again, he would definitely feel doubly uncomfortable, both physically and psychologically.

If they had a little more courage, they might even consider making that heir disappear in both the physical and social sense.

Luna nodded. "It's no secret that the Lans Family, before Aunt Katharine's time, was a vassal of the Gaunt Family. Even the utterly destitute Gaunt Family used to swagger into the Lans Family's home and demand money. And the Lans Family had no choice but to give it to them. They couldn't even show the slightest displeasure."

"The power of the Contract."

After a moment's thought, Luke understood what had happened. There were many Contracts in the magical world, and some of them were extremely unequal.

"But I don't know about the existence of this Contract, and none of the notes left behind in my home mentioned it. In other words, this Contract wasn't signed by our branch."

Luke had no interest in such a servant family. More importantly, Madam Katharine—or rather, the entire Lans Family—clearly regarded the Gaunt Family with fear mixed with a trace of hatred now...

If he insisted on inheriting this "family legacy," they might actually summon the "courage" to do something.

And in that instant, Luke clearly thought of even more. Whether it was Professor McGonagall or Luna before him, both were reasons for him to refuse or tear up the Contract.

While Luke was lost in thought, his vision suddenly went black. He jerked back slightly in alarm, then saw what was in front of him. It was a black kitten around thirty centimeters long, with emerald-green eyes remarkably similar to Luke's.

When Luna saw that Luke had been startled, the smile on her face grew even brighter. "His name is Book. Aunt Katharine found him, a new breed of cat, from a Muggle cat breeder. After several generations of crossbreeding, he can adapt to some things in the magical world too."

Luna introduced Book to Luke. The black, short-legged cat raised one tiny paw and lazily waved it at Luke, as though greeting him.

Luke's mouth twitched. If that really had been a greeting, wasn't this cat a little too intelligent?

"You two smell very similar. You should get along well."

As she spoke, Luna stuffed Book into Luke's arms. Luke instinctively wrapped both arms around Book, while Book simply lay there lazily without moving, looking perfectly comfortable.

Luna smiled with satisfaction. "He likes you."

Luke looked at Book in silence for a moment, then smiled as well. "I like him too."

The kitten in his arms meowed twice, then rubbed against Luke's face, as though expressing its affection for him.

Just then, Luke suddenly felt a surge of happiness.

But that feeling did not come from himself. Luke should have immediately become alert, yet he did not react accordingly. Partly because that happiness guided him, and partly because an almost instinctive intuition told him there was no harm in it.

Luke looked at Luna beside him and knew that she was the source of the emotion.

He found the strange girl who could see odd things increasingly mysterious.

"It was just a coincidence."

Professor McGonagall took a sip of wine and said unhurriedly, "I only came to take him shopping for school supplies. I didn't know the Pet he wanted would be a cat. Since it was a cat, I thought we might as well use this chance to clear things up between you."

Katharine drained her glass again, then picked up the bottle and filled it to the brim.

"Why does that cursed family still exist?!"

She spoke through nearly clenched teeth.

"Greedy, indulgent, vile, ugly—this family gathered nearly every kind of evil into itself. A family like that should have died out long ago!"

Seeing her emotions spiraling out of control, Professor McGonagall raised a hand and cast a soundproofing spell around them.

"In fact, they already died out, Katharine." Professor McGonagall stared at Madam Katharine. "As far as I know, Luke's branch has little to do with the Gaunt Family that persecuted you. He may not even know that you exist."

"Besides, before their decline, although the Gaunt Family was known for its perversity, they were still a family worthy of respect."

Madam Katharine could not refute that. Everyone in the magical world knew that these ancient noble families had not become noble simply because of their bloodlines. Their families must have had ancestors worthy of great respect, and there had been no shortage of outstanding figures among their descendants.

"More importantly, Katharine, Luke is still a child. No matter how mature he seems, he is still a child—a child with a noble's pride. I think you may be able to reach an agreement and truly dissolve that Contract."

Professor McGonagall's reminder was solemn.

"Yes, perhaps this is an opportunity. We can offer enough money..."

Katharine pondered for a moment, but Professor McGonagall interrupted before she could finish.

"Think of something else. He lacks neither money, knowledge, treasures, nor Magical Artifacts." Professor McGonagall spoke seriously. "That child inherited all the Gaunt Family's legacy that belonged to him. Honestly, the amount of money is beyond anything I imagined."

Katharine choked on her words. After a long while, she asked, "Then what should we offer?"

Professor McGonagall shook her head. "I don't know. But I won't let you take advantage of my student, either. Bringing him here today to speak with you has already harmed his interests. So if you can't offer a sufficient price, I'll take my student and leave immediately."

Madam Katharine lowered her head in distress.

But a moment later, she raised it again.

"You care about him that much?" Katharine looked curiously at her old friend. "You wouldn't be trying to lure him into Gryffindor, would you?"

Professor McGonagall was immediately displeased.

"How can that be called luring? Everyone has the right to choose their own House, don't they? I'm merely providing reasonable guidance."

Katharine shook her head skeptically.

"Slytherin's founder was one of his family's ancestors. I truly don't think that child will become a little Lion. I'd wager that the moment the Sorting Hat sees him, it won't even need to be put on before it shouts, 'Slytherin!'"

And so, the number of troubled people increased from one to two...