The Contract

Chapter 121

Harry settled down after his little 'tease' of Aurelius' and Bill. Poor Rabastan honestly looked likely to have a heart attack if he continued. Considering he was just healthy again, well, he thought it best to stop his teasing for now. Harry was suitably distracted within a few moments anyway. The first of the many pieces on auction were brought to the front and centre of the room. Two wizards held it delicately in gloved hands, most items were too delicate to use too much magic upon, and too expensive.

"The Luna and the wolf painting..." the auctioneer described the painting, how old it was, and what its original frame was and what the action first bid was.

"It's beautiful," Harry said.

"Would you like it?" Rabastan asked, glancing at Harry, it was true, it was a nice enough painting. He already predicted Harry's answer, he wasn't one for buying 'frivolous' things. All the books he bought were catering to his education, his ability to use his magic in any circumstances. He would buy anything for anyone in a heartbeat, but rarely did he indulge himself.

Harry shook his head, where on earth would it go? His bedroom where nobody would see it? No, something that expensive deserved to be admired. With a little luck, a few museums were interested in the piece, and companies will have sent their best employees - or owners themselves attending - for this was years in the making, it had been cancelled twice.

Rabastan watched the two wizards get into a bidding war for the piece. His wand out, held loosely in his hand, and just after the second 'going twice' he raised his wand, and a circular white light formed, with yellow digits for number '12' which was his number so they knew to whom the bidder was and where to take the funds from - after he signed it for them to take the money - his details were already logged in.

A short but intense bidding war began in a bid to win the painting, to no surprise Rabastan won. He just continued to bid on the item until the other bidders ran out of steam. Other than the necessities and a few pieces here and there, he hadn't touched his vaults in over a decade. The interest that had accumulated alone, were enough to buy the painting.

Harry had never asked for anything, and was content with his lot in life. So, Rabastan had sworn to spoil him, and this was the first real thing he'd said he liked that he hadn't already bought for himself. Or of course, what Rabastan had bought him for their betrothal gifts.

Harry gave Rabastan an amused look, shaking his head, but he didn't say anything.  Truth was, he thought the painting was beautiful, the white wolf howling at the full moon, with the blue and greens where the water met the forest, it reminded him of the forbidden forest at Hogwarts. Who knows, it may well be, there was nothing known about the painting. Just that it had been sold after being in the Smith family for several generations, and considering the Smith's were descendants from the Hufflepuff family it may well be Hogwarts.

"They should be ashamed of themselves," proclaimed an elderly gentleman, staring in disgust at the Smith family who were all looking a little too relieved and gobsmacked at how much the painting had sold for. They weren't the only family to need their funds replenished and most definitely won't be the last. "Humberto is barely in his grave and they're selling his things." Humberto was Hepzibah's very young husband, that the family hadn't even known about. There had been question whether Hepzibah actually knew, but unfortunately, the marriage was legal, and Humberto became Lord of the family estate, much to everyone's shocked disbelief and then dawning anger. He had never remarried, and didn't have new heirs, the estate had been left to Hepzibah's eldest son, who had a son of his own, Zacharias Smith. Whom was now Heir Zacharias Smith. Truth was Zacharias' father; Zebadiah Smith had been using the Lord title when he wasn't the Lord or the Heir. As an Auror, he should have known better, for it was a crime punishable by a lengthily stay in Azkaban prison.