51 Vacation with Father

After exiting the train, Casimir bid goodbye to Draco and began waiting for his father alone. Before they had left Hogwarts this morning, Casimir had received a letter from his father that he would be personally picking him up from the platform.

Although Casimir was confused why his father suddenly had the impulse to do this, seeing that the man barely left the manor, he was still filled with warmth, knowing that there was someone who would take the time to pick him up. So, this is what a family feels like...

Casimir stood patiently at a corner and, not long after, he spotted a tall, slender, yet, imposing man with dignified features approach him. He had finally arrived!

Casimir smiled and walked towards the man. "Good afternoon, father."

Alexander smiled lightly as he studied his son. "I've heard you've done quite a lot of things at Hogwarts these past months?" He said in teasing scrutiny. "How about we talk about those achievements of yours slowly over lunch?"

At this moment, Casimir had a feeling of dread despite his father speaking in a gentle tone. Ah... Can I get a refund..?

...

"-and let's not forget about the time you beheaded the troll! I mean, what were you thinking!" Casimir had his head lowered, being scolded by Alexander.

The place I'm which they had decided to eat lunch in was a small, ordinary looking pub in London which was actually run by a family of wizards. Unlike most wizard families which had hidden themselves from the eyes of the muggles, this wizard family actually ran several pubs and restaurants audaciously.

Their customers were not limited to only wizards. Even muggles can freely enter and dine. Of course, some more special menus are unavailable to them.

"I have also been told that you've been wandering around the castle during nighttime when you students are not supposed to be found wandering about!" Alexander exclaimed as he bit into a screaming pie.

How in the world did he even know that?! Casimir was covered in cold sweat. He was sure that nobody knew of his midnight adventures!

"Meahh..." Noir let out a soft sound, seeking attention or perhaps, was just eyeing the food on the table. Sadly, he was destined to be ignored.

"You should know of the less than positive image of our family right now. The last thing we need is unneeded attention and that was just what you brought!" Alexander huffed, finishing his food. "Maybe it's time I take you around and let you see the world. Let you see how big it is and how much our family influences it. Maybe, then, you can learn how to be less reckless."

Oh? Ohhh???!! A vacation?! How nice!

Perhaps, Alexander had seen the excited gleam in Casimir's eyes since he said, "We're not going there to have fun. It's for you to learn and to mature. Don't be so stupid all the time."

Ack! I have been shot with an arrow to the knee! Father, why are you so mean to me?

Casimir grumbled and finished his food tearfully.

...

During the course of the next few days, Alexander had been dragging Casimir all over France. Even visiting the cathedral of Notre Dame where an old family of olden knights, the Durands, secretly guarded. As it turned out, the family was once a branch family of the Proulx centuries ago but, since their head at that time was a squib, they decided to recede from the wizardry world and became knights instead.

The Proulx family's connection to them was the reason that they had survived the purge against witches and wizards long ago and even managed to solidify their influence in the muggle world as well. Unfortunately, good fortunes are often followed by misfortunes as when the Proulx family had not been persecuted unlike the other wizardry families, many have had the speculation that the family was actually secretly aiding the muggles in the war against wizards.

This, although proven to be untrue years later, still cast a negative light to the family amongst other wizards. Even now, hundreds of years have passed, many still did not have a good opinion towards them.

Despite this, however, nothing would change the fact that the Proulx family was one of the most influential wizardry families in Europe, with their connections spanning all over the globe. It was to the extent that, if you were to ask a random wizard which family they least wanted to offend, most likely, they would answer, "Proulx".

Because you'd never know when they'd find out and spread all of your secrets.

Anyways, as of now, Casimir was drinking tea quietly as his father chatted with a valiant looking man. Although not a wizard, what the man lacked in magic, he made up with physical strength. Casimir really admired this type of people. Even when they had no talent in magic, they chose not to give up and persued strength in a different way.

Beside the man, sat a dainty girl with a head full of golden locks. Her name was Beatrice, the youngest and most spoiled daughter of the current head, Clement Durand. And right now, Beatrice was in the middle of staring at Casimir in obsession as he drank his tea, causing Casimir to be filled with cold sweat.

Miss, please stop staring. I just want to drink this tea and leave after father finishes his conversation. I really have no other plans so stop looking at me like that already. QAQ

Still, unfortunately, the little girl had no ability to read minds and just kept on staring as if Casimir was the most interesting thing she had ever seen.

This is so awkward.

QAQ I want to go home...