The steam from the Hogwarts Express rose in thick white clouds that mingled with the cold London air. Aurelian calmly stepped off the train, carrying his trunk in one hand and watching as the crowd of students dispersed amid hugs, laughter, and shouts of welcome.
At his side, Hestia and Flora walked together, keeping pace with him. Neither seemed eager to search the crowd for their parents.
Once they crossed the platform boundary and were out of sight of curious onlookers, Aurelian stopped in a secluded corner and, with a subtle gesture, called out:
"Stinky."
The elf appeared instantly, with a sharp click, bowing with an exaggerated reverence.
"Master Aurelian, Stinky was waiting for your call."
Aurelian looked at him seriously.
"Did you add Hestia and Flora to the mansion's protections?"
Stinky nodded firmly, his ears twitching.
"Yes, master. The Gaunt Mansion now recognizes the young ladies as authorized residents. If anyone tries to harm them inside, the house itself will act."
The twins exchanged a fleeting glance, and Aurelian saw in their eyes a glimmer of something more than relief.
"All right," Aurelian finally said, "Let's go then."
Stinky spread his hands and with a snap, the world around him distorted. The noise of the station disappeared, replaced by the distant crunch of snow under the wind.
In an instant, they were standing in front of Gaunt Manor.
The old residence stood imposing, two statues of basilisks guarding the entrance, its black stone walls and windows illuminated with a warm glow. The air was filled with a solemn silence, broken only by the distant murmur of a stream.
"Welcome to my home," Aurelian said, looking at the twins.
Hestia smiled sweetly, while Flora watched him intently. For them, the only thing that mattered was that they were with him and that, for the first time in years, the festivities would be in a place where they would not be ignored.
The entrance hall of Gaunt Manor was lit by enchanted chandeliers, casting a golden light on the stone walls. The scent of wood mingled with a hint of herbs, a sign that Stinky had been working to keep the place spotless.
Aurelian walked down the main hallway, his shoes echoing against the floor.
"First, I want you to see your rooms," he said, without turning around but confident that the twins were following close behind.
They climbed the grand staircase to the second floor, where a long corridor stretched out on both sides. Aurelian stopped in front of two adjoining doors.
"The one on the left is yours, Hestia. The one on the right is Flora's, although," he added with a half-smile, "I imagine they won't remain strictly separate."
The two smiled as if they had been caught hiding a secret.
Aurelian briefly touched the frame of each door.
"Both rooms are protected with security runes linked directly to the magic of the house. No one can enter without your permission, not even me."
Flora ran a hand over the frame, feeling the faint magical pulse.
"It's as if the mansion accepts us," she said softly.
"It does," Aurelian replied with certainty. "Stinky made sure of that."
Then he led them elsewhere, where a large double door opened onto the library. Tall bookshelves rose to the ceiling, thousands of books visible from all sides. A dark green carpet covered most of the floor, and a soft fire burned in a fireplace.
"This is one of the most important places in the house," Aurelian said proudly. "Some of these texts are rare, others... dangerous. If you want to read something, let me know first."
Hestia walked slowly between the shelves, brushing each book with her fingertips.
"It's perfect," she murmured.
Flora, meanwhile, couldn't take her eyes off Aurelian.
"Come on," he said at last. "It's time for dinner."
They went down to the dining room, where Stinky was waiting for them with the table already set. The feast included a juicy roast chicken, steamed vegetables, freshly baked bread, and a bottle of cold pumpkin juice. Candles floated above the table, illuminating the room with an almost homely warmth.
"Stinky hopes that the master and the young ladies will enjoy the meal," said the elf, bowing.
"We're going to love it, thank you very much, Stinky," assured Aurelian, taking his seat at the head of the table.
Hestia and Flora sat beside him, unable to hide their smiles. They ate slowly, enjoying not only the food but also the atmosphere. Outside, the snow continued to fall, but inside, the mansion was alive, protecting those it recognized as its own.
Several days had passed since their arrival at Gaunt Manor. Outside, winter continued to claim the days with a blanket of snow and a gray sky that seemed to stand still. Inside, time felt warm and slower, as if the walls themselves wanted to keep them there, safe from everything.
Aurelian had discovered that living with Hestia and Flora without the pressure of Hogwarts or the constant gaze of other students was... different. In the mansion, they didn't need to hold back. There were no teachers to judge them for their attitude, no classmates to whisper about their behavior.
Hestia used to spend her mornings reading by the fireplace in the library, her legs crossed on a sofa, while Flora occupied a nearby table, practicing simple spells on some of the mansion's objects. Aurelian, for his part, divided his time between researching books he couldn't consult at Hogwarts and chatting with them about anything and everything.
At mealtimes, the conversations were more relaxed than in the Great Hall. Stinky always appeared with dishes that seemed to anticipate their cravings, and the twins took the opportunity to play some light-hearted pranks on the elf, who remained unwaveringly patient.
Sometimes, they would go out into the snow-covered garden. There, Flora would cast little spells that made the snowflakes swirl around, while Hestia tried to catch the ones that fell on Aurelian's hair, laughing genuinely.
It was the first time in a long time that the three of them could be completely themselves. No masks. No fear of being judged by anyone.
Aurelian could see it in the girls' eyes, which expressed a calmness that seemed new to them.
The snow fell gently behind the windows of the main hall. Aurelian was reviewing a parchment while the twins chatted quietly, sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace.
Finally, he rolled up the parchment and put it in his coat.
"I'm going out for a couple of hours," he announced, looking at them. "I have a meeting at Gringotts. There are GauntCorp matters that require my attention."
Hestia looked up, frowning slightly.
"Will you be back today?"
"Of course," he replied calmly. "I'm not going to leave you here alone all night."
Flora smiled, as if his answer was exactly what she wanted to hear.
"Fine... but don't be too long."
Aurelian approached to say goodbye, but before he could say anything else, Hestia stood up, walked over to him, and without warning, gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.
"So you won't forget us," she murmured with a smile.
Flora wasn't far behind. She approached from the other side, leaning in to kiss him on the other cheek.
"So you remember who's waiting for you here."
Aurelian looked at them both with a mixture of amusement and affection.
"I could hardly forget."
They sat down again, watching him as Stinky appeared to prepare for departure. A moment later, he disappeared with Stinky in a snap, leaving the twins in the warm peace of the mansion.
The echo of his footsteps resounded in the marble hallway of Gringotts as they led him to a private office. There, Kravix waited behind a low wooden desk, with a couple of open scrolls and an account book to one side.
"Young Gaunt," the goblin greeted him with a smile. "I'm glad to see you, and even more glad to see you so..." He paused, tilting his head. "Happy."
Aurelian settled into the chair opposite him, raising an eyebrow.
"Happy?"
"Let's just say that your expression isn't usually so relaxed," Kravix replied with a smirk.
Aurelian looked away for a moment, remembering Hestia and Flora, feeling a slight warmth on his face.
"It's nothing," he said, changing the subject.
Kravix, pragmatic as always, didn't press the issue. He opened another scroll.
"Moving on to important matters: GauntCorp has exceeded our initial projections. Noxum brooms are a resounding success. We have signed contracts with seven professional Quidditch teams and are in advanced negotiations with five others. Demand in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade stores is so high that we are working overtime to keep up with inventory."
Aurelian nodded, pleased.
"I'm glad to hear it. But I don't intend to stay in the magical market alone. I want to expand the Muggle portfolio."
Kravix raised an eyebrow.
"Do you have something in mind?"
"Of course," Aurelian replied without hesitation. "Research and invest in IBM, Microsoft, and Apple. Companies with great growth potential."
The goblin quickly took note.
"We can allocate a percentage of current liquid profits to that. It will be a risky move in the short term, but with good long-term potential, if they are as successful as Nokia."
"I trust your judgment on the investment," added Aurelian.
Kravix closed the account book with a sharp blow.
"Speaking of figures... your total capital currently stands at over eight million galleons and continues to rise. Your position is extremely solid for someone of your age... or of any age in general."
Aurelian smiled.
"Perfect. Keep up the good work and make sure that no one, under any circumstances, finds out the true extent of my fortune."
"Of course," replied Kravix with a serious expression. "As always, discretion is part of our service."
The meeting with Kravix had been as productive as it was intense. Aurelian left the private chamber at Gringotts with his mind full of projections, strategies, and possible future moves. The cold London air hit him as he stepped through the bank's doors. Stinky was already waiting for him, ready to take him back.
With a snap, the bustle of the city faded away. In its place appeared the imposing silhouette of Gaunt Manor, shrouded in silence broken only by the wind moving the snow. The windows, lit up, seemed to invite him in.
As he opened the front door, the heat enveloped him along with the soft aroma of freshly baked bread. He had barely taken two steps inside when he heard the echo of hurried footsteps in the hallway.
Hestia and Flora appeared almost simultaneously.
"You're late," said Hestia, although her tone sounded more relieved than reproachful.
"Not as late as I could have been," Aurelian replied with a slight smile.
Flora approached him, assessing him as if to make sure he was all right.
"Did everything go well?"
"Yes," he replied, "More than well," remembering his future investments.
No more needed to be said. The twins exchanged a brief glance, as if sharing a language of their own, then led him to the dining room. There, the fireplace was burning and Stinky was already setting the table for dinner.
Aurelian took a seat, watching the fire and feeling the tension of the meeting slowly fade away. Here, far from prying eyes and external intrigues, he could afford something that the rest of the world did not give him: calm.
As Hestia and Flora began to serve themselves, he realized that, no matter how much GauntCorp grew or how much his wealth and influence increased, this "the warmth of the mansion and, above all, their company" was the only thing that really mattered to him.
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