Ethan scanned the letter again, mentally editing as he went.
His mother didn't need to know about potential murder or political dangers. She was already anxious about him entering the magical world.
Adding paranoia about assassinations would either make her refuse to let him go, or worse, make her ask questions that could put her in danger.
But the parts about her? Those might actually help.
"He talks about you," Ethan said, looking up. "He says... 'Your mother is good people, but she never understood our world. Don't hold that against her. She tried. She just couldn't see magic the way we do. Protect her if you can, but don't let her fear hold you back.'"
Catherine's hand went to her mouth. Her eyes glistened.
"He also left instructions about the vault," Ethan continued smoothly. "There's a family grimoire—a spell book—and his wand, though he says I should get my own. And he recommends someone at Gringotts named Griphook who can help me."
He paused. "Basic stuff about Hogwarts, being careful who I trust."
Ethan folded the letter and slipped it into his pocket with the watch and coins. "The usual dad advice. Study hard, don't be stupid, that kind of thing."
It wasn't entirely a lie. Just... incomplete.
Catherine wiped her eyes carefully, preserving her makeup.
"He always worried I didn't fit in his world," she said quietly. "I tried, Ethan. I really did. But the magical people, they have this whole society with rules I didn't understand. I'd say the wrong thing, use the wrong term. They'd look at me like..."
She trailed off.
"Like you were an outsider," Ethan finished.
"Yes." She took a breath, composing herself. "But Marcus never made me feel that way. He loved that I was different. Said I kept him grounded."
A sad smile crossed her face. "I miss him. Even after Richard, even with this new life... I miss him."
Ethan stood and moved to her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
It was calculated—building the emotional connection, ensuring her cooperation—but it was also genuine. She was his mother in this life, and she was hurting.
"He loved you," Ethan said. "That's clear from the letter."
She nodded, then straightened, back in control.
"Right. Well. Saturday, then. I think I should come with you to Diagon Alley. Not to hover—I know you need to learn this world yourself—but for the Gringotts part. They'll want guardian verification for a minor accessing an inheritance."
She was right.
And having her there initially gave him cover—just a kid with his mother, nothing suspicious. Once inside Diagon Alley proper, he could probably separate and explore on his own.
"Okay," Ethan agreed. "That makes sense."
Catherine closed the safe and swung the painting back into place.
"We'll need to leave early Saturday morning. Charing Cross Road is in central London—at least an hour's drive, possibly more with traffic. We should arrive by 9:30 to be safe."
"McGonagall said 10 AM at The Leaky Cauldron."
"I remember that pub," Catherine said, surprising him. "Between the bookshop and the record store. It's... strange. I can see it now, but when I first met Marcus, before I knew about magic, I walked past it a dozen times without noticing. Like my eyes just slid right over it."
Fascinating. So the concealment was perceptual, not physical. It affected muggle minds specifically.
"Do you need anything else from me before Saturday?" she asked.
Ethan considered. He had the vault key, the inheritance papers, the letter.
His birth certificate was probably in the safe too.
"My birth certificate, for the Gringotts verification."
She nodded and retrieved it—a standard British certificate, nothing magical about it. Ethan added it to the envelope with the other documents.
"And..." He hesitated, then decided to test something. "Do you remember anything specific about Dad's work? Like, who he worked with, or what projects he mentioned?"
Catherine frowned thoughtfully.
"Not really. He didn't talk about work much at home. He'd be gone for weeks or months on expeditions, then come back with stories about ancient tombs and curse puzzles, but never names or details. I got the impression it was confidential—Gringotts business."
"Did anyone from Gringotts visit after he died? Besides delivering the paperwork?"
"An official came once. Goblin—very short, very sharp-looking. He gave me the documents, asked if I needed anything, and left. Very professional, very cold. Why?"
"Just curious," Ethan said casually. "Dad mentioned someone named Griphook in the letter. Thought maybe I'd already met him."
"I don't remember a name," Catherine admitted. "But Saturday you'll meet him, I suppose."
She glanced at the clock on Richard's desk. "I should start lunch. Will you be alright up in your room? I know this is a lot to process."
"I'm fine," Ethan assured her. "Actually excited. This is what Dad wanted for me."
She smiled, genuine warmth breaking through her careful composure.
"He would be proud of you, Ethan. I can see so much of him in you—that determination, that curiosity."
If only she knew how little of "Ethan Drake the child" was actually left in this body.
---
After she left, Ethan returned to his room and locked the door.
He spread the documents on his desk:
Vault key
Inheritance certificate
Death certificate (June 3, 1989, 3:47 PM—matched the watch)
Birth certificate
Marcus's letter (in his pocket)
The watch itself (in his pocket)
Two Galleons, five Sickles, assorted Knuts (in his pocket)
Everything he needed for Saturday.
But he had three days before then. Three days to prepare, to think, to plan.
Ethan pulled out his notebook and started a new page:
---
SATURDAY STRATEGY:
OBJECTIVES:1. Access vault—retrieve grimoire, examine artifacts, read any additional documents2. Meet McGonagall—gather intelligence on Hogwarts, magical society, possibly Egypt incident3. Scout Diagon Alley—identify key locations, useful shops, potential contacts4. Get wand from Ollivanders—crucial for any magical learning5. Assess magical society—observe how people interact, identify power dynamics6. Stay unremarkable—don't reveal adult mind, accelerated learning, or suspicions
QUESTIONS TO ASK (CAREFULLY):- McGonagall: "What's Hogwarts like? What should I study over summer?"- Griphook: "Did you know my father? What happened in Egypt?" (gauge reaction)- Shop owners: "What's popular? What do most students buy?"- General: Listen more than talk, observe, take mental notes
THINGS TO AVOID:- Mentioning father's suspicions about his death- Revealing adult knowledge or sophistication- Asking about specific people (Malfoy, Nott) without context- Spending money carelessly (assess prices first)- Trusting anyone too quickly
---
Ethan reviewed his notes, satisfied.
He was as prepared as he could be without actual magical training.
The watch in his pocket felt warm against his leg. A reminder: his father had suspected danger, and danger had found him.
Ethan wouldn't make the same mistakes.