We ended up watching Cape Fear, a thriller by Martin Scorsese, even though Kate and Mrs. Parson had tried to get me, Sam, and Mr. Parson to watch a rom-com called Father of the Bride. I couldn't recall seeing either film in my past, so it was a treat to experience something new.
But once that was done, and I'd bid the Parson's farewell, I hurried back to my apartment to change and get ready to meet my mother at Lumpkin's Patch.
"Inky, how do I look?" I asked the loyal old House Elf as I put on my dress robes and a tie.
"You look excellent, Young Master Eddy," Inky praised.
"Great! Mind popping me over to the house?" I requested, and he snapped his fingers. We went from my bedroom to Lumpkin Patch's living room.
'Hasn't changed a bit,' I mused thoughtfully.
"Edward, welcome home," Wisteria Hunch said, having heard the telltale popping sound of displaced air that accompanied Inky's teleportation.
"Hello, mother, how have you been?" I inquired, stepping forward to give her a fond embrace of greeting. She looked good, wearing an upbeat expression as I hugged her. She smiled so much more often compared to before that day.
"I am well," she replied. "Come, sit, and talk."
She led me into the dining room where plates had been set up for a meal for two. There was soup bubbling in a pot on the stove and the smell of garlic suffused the air, making me drool a bit in eager anticipation of the feat to come.
"Son, before we start to eat, I need to talk to you about something," she said, her voice unusually stern, and I was immediately on guard.
"About what?" I asked, careful to conceal any of my panic of fear from her.
"You are sixteen now, but to the muggles, you are older. An adult, in their world. Not to mention you're about to finish your schooling," Wisteria said, and I sagged a bit in relief at what the topic was about. Unfortunately, she took my reaction the wrong way, and immediately tried to reassure me.
"No, no! It's not what you think, I am not throwing you out or anything! You're always still welcome here, at home, whenever you need!" she hastily said.
"I see," I replied neutrally, recomposing myself. "What, then?"
For a moment, she looked like she wanted to say something, but struggled to find the words. Eventually, though, she declared, "I'm proud of you."
"Huh?" I uttered, confused.
"I was always worried you would struggle to fit in. Here or in the muggle world. But now… now I'm not. You have done so well for yourself. Far better than I ever imagined, or dared to hope," Wisteria Hunch said, and I flinched a bit at that. Even though she was trying to be supportive, her words still stung unintentionally.
"That's why… oh, I'm not good with words right now. Here," my mother said, passing me a slip of parchment. I took it, and then blinked in surprise when I saw what I was holding. It was a bank draft for a little over one thousand galleons!
"It's not much, but that is the money we would have spent on your seven years of schooling at Hogwarts," my mother told me. "It's yours to do with as you wish. Open up that business of yours, or whatever else you want to do!"
"It costs over a hundred galleons a year for admission?" I asked, surprised.
"Well, yes. Where did you think the school got its money to pay for the professors and everything else, like food and sundries?" Wisteria Hunch chuckled. "Plus, the books and other supplies cost a pretty sickle."
"Good point," I murmured. "I always thought Hogwarts was free, or at least ministry sponsored."
"Hogwarts predates the Ministry," my mother tutted, amused to be teaching me for a change.
"Then how did poor students pay in the past? And I highly doubt many Muggleborn in the past could afford a hundred galleons a year."
A hundred galleons might only be half a grand in Pounds Sterling now, but for the 90's that was still fairly expensive as far as schooling went. And the price disparity would have been even worse centuries ago as most wealth was owned by nobles, and peasants would have had next to nothing. Hell, even fifty years ago a hundred galleons would have been more than a middle-class factory worker could afford to pay for their kids!
"There are a number of options. And in the old days, Hogwarts would pay for students who couldn't afford it by having the students work for the school during summers and holidays. That's where the Prefects position originated from. They were students who were paying off their debt to the school," my mother explained. "Also, many of them might become apprentices or teachers themselves. Nowadays, though, the ministry offers several loans and deals as does Gringotts. Though their loans generally stipulate that you are agreeing to work for them upon graduation, and your wages are garnished until you pay your debts back."
"That's surprisingly sensible," I mused. "And those who can't do either of those things? Are there any charities?"
"None for Muggleborn, and you'd need to be a Pureblood or a well-connected half-blood to benefit from anything like that," my mother said with a shake of her head. "And if a Muggleborn can't afford Hogwarts, or are unwilling or unable to take a loan or attend any other school, then the Ministry binds their magic and Obliviate the student and parents."
'Eeesh, no wonder the magical population is dwindling with responses like that,' I thought darkly. 'Student debt is no joke even in the magical world it seems.'
I then sent my mother a warm smile. "Thank you for the gift, mom. I'll spend the money wisely."
...
....
Join my P*atreon for 100 premium chapters ahead of the public release.
Link: pa*treon.com/MysticVerse (Remove the *)
Free members also get 2 advanced chapters for free.