Rise of the Death Eaters [3]

Chapter 28: Polaris

**A long chapter to make up for my poor excuse of timing. Enjoy**

WORD COUNT: (4358)

"Another Hogsmead visit? I don't think my pocket money can handle it," Sam mused as we looked at the bulletin board idly.

"I'm sure you'll be fine," I said, not falling for her woes.

"I knew that's what you'd say," she huffed as we turned and started back to our table on the second floor to study. "All rich kids have that air about money."

"You need to stop calling me rich," I warned as I took my seat. She did the same though she frowned at my meaning. "What do you mean? You're rich."

"My family is not rich. We are wealthy."

"Same difference."

"Not really. Though only those with that sort of money would see the difference." Sam clicked her tongue and shot her gaze at me from her essay she hadn't even started.

"You're sounding like a privileged ass again."

I smiled at her, well aware of how I sounded, before sitting back in my seat. "If you don't believe me, ask Theo. Ask him if we're rich." Sam narrowed her eyes, before nodding, taking the bet. She turned around in her seat just as fast before finding Theo on his way up the stairs to the boys' dorm.

"Theo!"

He stopped and looked around before catching sight of Sam waving frantically to come over. His uneven look of bafflement followed by curiosity of what this could be appeared on his face before he dejected his original path and came over to us, avoiding the side eyes of fellow Slytherins peeved at the broken silence of their studying.

"May I help you?"

"Yes," Sam said curtly. "Is your family rich?" Of all the things, he expected Sam to ask, this was not one of them. He looked at me with confusion that only furthered at the sight of me smiling at him.

"What did I miss?"

"Just answer the question," I said simply. "Honestly." Theo looked back to Sam's determined stare and shook his head, looking peeved.

"You already know this. We're old money."

"So you are rich." Theo saw where this was going and did not like it.

"I'm not involved in this. If you want to gloat about our parents' money, Ava, have at it. I'm not involved."

"Don't act like that," I said to his back as he turned away. "You act as if the money doesn't have your name on it."

"It doesn't have my name on it. Nor does it have yours, least you forgot." He left us, leaving me in a foul mood and Sam with unanswered questions.

"I don't get it."

"Simply put," I said after a beat, "being rich and being wealthy are two different things. Usually those who are rich are newfound rich and rightly so they are using their money to their hearts content. Usually very materialistic and into named brands of everything. That is rich. Wealthy comes from old-money. Those who have never experienced empty stomachs, nights without power and so on for multiple generations. Their habits are of convenience and their worries are not about the bare necessities anymore but rather on how to play off money to their best potential."

"Best potential?" Sam repeated, sounding far off. "What in Merlin does that mean?"

"Best education money can buy, best health care, best real-estate without nosy neighbors, the ability to be out of the public's eye is usually another one. Having all the wealth and not having fame's eye on you is the best of both worlds but usually very hard to come by. Usually money and fame go hand in hand. So, when you are under the raider, you can do more and act somewhat normal but with all the benefits money can offer."