Strings of Fate

Strings of Fate

Cam 19- Bills and backup

In the end, it takes another twenty minutes until I’m completely closed up and ready to head home. The place is already clean since I was avoiding Harry so awkwardly earlier, but it takes a few minutes to finish counting the till, put the money in my safe which I keep locked physically and with a magic lock, much like my potion storage shelf. I’m the only one who can open it. I spoke to my co–owner about it when setting it up and he agreed that the additional safety of a magical lock was worth giving up his own access. I don’t think he even lives in town so he has no reason to be here in the first place. Lastly, I finish locking up the building.

“You left the lights on.” Harry observes. Moments later, they all –

eyebrow. I grin back.

off and he raises an

“I had a slow night so I rigged a spell. Once this door gets locked for the night the lights will turn off as long as there is no one left inside the building. It’s not perfect, but it means I don’t have to worry about forgetting a light and driving up the electric bill.” I explain.

“You can do that?” Harry asks dubiously.

“Sure, there are a lot of things you can do with magic. But a lot of them aren’t available to the public because they would be too expensive. Like the spell I did on the power. It wasn’t that difficult, but it took hours. Can you imagine what it would cost you to get HOURS of a Witches time? They charge an arm and a leg for potions that they can make in bulk which

take only an hour to make. Unless they charge thousands of dollars an hour which realistically noone is actually going to pay, a spell like that just isn’t going to make them any money. So it isn’t advertised. People don’t think to buy something they don’t know is possible or don’t imagine they can afford. You should visit a coven house sometime. I swear those places are so jam packed with spells that if you took the magic out they would all come tumbling down.” I joke as we walk, Harry seems cheerful, swinging his arms as he walks.

“That’s surprising. Witches make all magic seem so difficult and out of reach.” He comments.

1 roll my eyes.

years of practice and experiments to figure out the exact way to make something work, why do you think Witches are so protective of their grimoires? It’s much easier to learn

1/4

Bills and

using magic is as easy as breathing. The hard part is knowing what the end result of a spell will be. It’s why I prefer potions.

that’s even more surprising. Given how much you like to experiment. How many untested potions have you

that I didn’t try myself first. I might not react the same way you do since I don’t have the same system as you, but

I am a little concerned at the implications that you’re testing random potions on yourself. You don’t do that on your

demands.

I shouldn’t be testing them on myself?” I had this argument with my family many times. They used to insist it was too risky and that I should just pay someone desperate to try

one on me. But surely you don’t test them alone… right?” Harry actually sounds really concerned. I never used to test them alone. My mother didn’t agree with my choices, but she was still

Not that

around that have been thoroughly tested.” I answer. Damn it, I sound like I’m making excuses. I sort of am, I

YOUR not anymore. Next time you decide to do something reckless, I’ll be your back up.

ask, strangely nervous about his answer.

2/4

Bills

me.or

or maybe I’m judging

stop you. You’re the expert, not me. But I do want to make sure you’re safe.” He states firmly and I can’t help but smile. That was the answer I wanted to hear. Maybe

home. Mostly because the walk didn’t feel as long as it usually does, particularly after a night as long as this

night Harry.”