"Can Mr. Kuler directly withdraw Galleons from your vault?"
Wade quietly asked Marchioni while they waited for Professor Murray in the main hall.
"Don't worry," Marchioni said, lowering his voice, knowing what Wade was thinking. "Goblins—they can deposit Galleons into a vault, but they can't withdraw them without authorization from the vault owner. The Ministry of Magic made a contract with the Goblins a long time ago—a very old and powerful contract. It's precisely because Goblins would never embezzle that people are accustomed to storing their valuables at Gringotts."
"But I heard—Gringotts was broken into this summer?" Wade remembered a news report he'd once heard mentioned.
"Yes, that's true."
Griphook, the Goblin who was walking back with Professor Murray, overheard Wade's words and immediately emphasized, "But nothing was stolen. Gringotts remains the safest place in the Wizarding World."
Professor Murray, who had gone to retrieve something, still had empty hands. Marchioni didn't ask any questions. After they exited the Gringotts building, he told the two of them, "My apologies, Professor, Wade, I need to arrange the new product launch as soon as possible. There are only a few days left until school starts, and I have a lot of business to coordinate!"
Professor Murray nodded. "You go on, Marchioni."
"See you next time, Mr. Marchioni," Wade also said goodbye.
Marchioni tipped his hat with one hand and hurried off. Wade noticed he seemed to be heading towards the Daily Prophet's office. Though he'd already thought it several times, he couldn't help but say again, "Mr. Marchioni really makes every second count."
"When it comes to money, he's always more proactive than anyone else," Professor Murray said, leading Wade down the steps. "But he's a very excellent businessman—I don't mean he's more honest than others, but he has a more long-term vision. To gain greater profits, he can spend years, even over a decade, building a foundation."
He looked at Wade with an appreciative gaze and said, "If you were thirty or forty years old and accidentally created the Book of Friends in a flash of inspiration, then I'd have to warn you to be careful—Marchioni might find ways to extract more profit from you. But you're only eleven years old—"
He paused, then inexplicably chuckled.
Wade guessed, "Doesn't being young make it easier to be deceived?"
"No, Wade—" Professor Murray said with emotion. "Being young is your current weakness, but it's also your strength—Marchioni, like me, believes in your potential and looks forward to you shining brightly in the future. Therefore, he will do his best to help you now, investing time, resources, and energy, even willing to give up some extra profits to support your growth, hoping that you can bring him greater returns in the future."
Wade frowned slightly.
Professor Murray didn't look down at him but seemed to know what he was thinking, smiling as he said, "Unhappy? Do you think he's too pragmatic?"
"—Not unhappy," Wade didn't admit, but said, "I understand that most human relationships stem from being needed and being used, but Mr. Marchioni is very enthusiastic… it's hard to accept his inner considerations being so—"
He hesitated, unsure how to subtly describe that contrast.
Professor Murray smiled. "—Ruthless? Does he value practical benefits too much?"
Wade nodded silently.
Professor Murray said, "Wade, in this world, the most frightening thing isn't being used—because 'being used' is also an acknowledgment of your talent and value. A person who has no value to be used is truly pitiful, like a speck of dust, whose disappearance or existence no one cares about. So don't be afraid or disgusted by others' desire to use you. You must learn to leverage your talents and overcome obstacles within such interest-driven relationships, using these resources to foster your own growth. But you must always remember to keep a clear head and protect your own interests, so you don't become someone else's tool, but rather your own master."
He lowered his head and saw the boy's gray eyes looking at him earnestly. Though Wade said nothing, Morrie knew that the child would take his words to heart and thoughtfully reflect and learn from them.
A complex current surged within him.
On one hand, Terence Murray felt the satisfaction and gratification of sharing wisdom and experience, watching a student grow from ignorance to knowledge, from immaturity to maturity.
On the other hand, he also felt as if he was transmitting the harshness, ruthlessness, and complexity of adult society to an innocent child, worrying that the child might go down the wrong path due to negative influences. A sudden regret and guilt welled up inside him.
So Professor Murray changed the subject, saying in a relaxed tone, "However—all of that is too far off for you; you don't need to consider it for now. Just remember not to promise anything lightly—if you don't know what to do, just come to me."
Professor Murray made a promise he would normally never utter.
"Thank you, Professor." Wade looked up and asked, "Since we met, you've given me so much help. I'm truly grateful—how can I repay you?"
"Then, please continue to maintain your passion for learning and your relentless curiosity for the unknown, Mr. Gray," Professor Murray said with a smile. "For a professor, what better reward is there than seeing the fruits of his hard work?"
...
Professor Murray once again used the Floo Network to send Wade home. However, since the Floo Network Administration's acquaintances had already gone home for the day, they couldn't temporarily connect to the Grays' fireplace. They could only Floo to a nearby location and then walk the rest of the way.
"Professor?"
"Hmm?"
"I heard Apparition can instantly transport you to another place?" Wade asked, patting the soot from his hair. "Why do we use the Floo Network?"
"Because Apparition isn't a suitable travel method for carrying children," Professor Murray said gently. "It's advanced and dangerous magic. One wrong move can lead to catastrophic consequences, and children are especially vulnerable to harm. So, when we don't need to flee for our lives, we should choose safer transportation methods."
It was late when they arrived home. Mr. and Mrs. Gray were worried, one peering out the door, the other standing guard by the fireplace. Fiona, standing by the window, saw the two figures, one tall and one small, slowly approaching, and immediately shrieked with delight, rushing out the door, her skirt held up.
Professor Murray stopped, looking at Wade and smiling. "Child, you've experienced a lot today, and you must be very tired. Although as a teacher I shouldn't say this, get some good rest at home tonight. Don't read any books, okay?"
"Yes, Professor," Wade said respectfully and gratefully.
Seeing that the two still had something to say, Mr. and Mrs. Gray stopped at the doorway, waiting for them to finish.
"Finally, because your first work pleased me so much, I want to give you a small reward," Professor Murray said, pulling a small box from his pocket and handing it to Wade.
Wade immediately guessed that this was what he had specifically gone to Gringotts to retrieve. How valuable must something be for Professor Murray to keep it in his vault? He didn't know, but he instinctively refused, "No, Professor, I—"
"Don't refuse, Wade." Professor Murray pushed the box into his hand, unequivocally saying, "This isn't just a reward, but also a test—use it well, Wade."
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