NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: Chapter 6:
Chapter 6:
…..
The air inside the courthouse was dense and formal, a stark contrast to the crisp winter air outside on the streets of New Jersey.
Adam sat on one of the wooden benches beside his mother, Sylvia, watching as people in pristine suits and serious expressions bustled about, carrying papers and briefcases.
It wasn't a place he was accustomed to, but it wasn't as intimidating as he'd imagined. Instead, it felt uncomfortable… the benches were hard, the atmosphere was too quiet, and the air smelled like an odd mix of old paper and disinfectant.
On the other hand, he had already faced far stranger situations in the magical world, like holding a conversation with Lucius Malfoy without slipping up.
Yup. Compared to that, sitting in front of a judge seemed manageable.
Almost easy, even. Well, maybe not so easy.
His discomfort didn't stem from fear or anything of the sort but from the formality of the moment. It felt strange to him that something as exciting as acting in a movie required something as serious as a court hearing.
Sylvia had explained everything to him again that very morning:
"It's to make sure everything is in order and that your rights as a minor are respected. They just need to hear the basics, and then the contract will be signed"
Adam nodded to himself. Although he didn't understand all the legal details, he knew this was important to start filming. Besides, he was more excited about receiving the official script, which Norman Jewison, the movie's director, had promised to hand over once the hearing was over.
"Are you okay, Adam?" his mother asked suddenly, adjusting the scarf around her neck.
"Yes, Mom," he replied with a small shrug.
'It's not like I'm facing a dragon,' he thought, making a minimal effort to stay calm without using any of his skills for now. The comparison with a dragon amused him, as it felt like something Draco Malfoy might have said rather than his own thought. Lately, he had noticed that he couldn't entirely avoid being influenced by Draco's memories.
That's right… Draco's memories seemed to influence how he saw the world now.
It was strange… Adam hadn't really changed or felt different in any way, but he realized that his thoughts and reasoning were often automatically influenced by the memories of Draco that were ingrained in his mind.
….
After a brief wait, a court clerk approached and informed them it was their turn.
"Adam White and Sylvia White, you may enter now"
Sylvia stood up first, clutching her bag tightly, and Adam followed, adjusting the button-down shirt she had insisted he wear.
He walked confidently toward the room, reminding himself that he just had to answer the questions and behave.
'I just need to do what I usually do,' Adam thought, already applying a trick he had learned during his time in the magical world as Draco: fake confidence until he genuinely felt it. He didn't like relying solely on his system abilities, so he had tried to get used to handling certain situations on his own and only used his skills when necessary.
The courtroom was smaller than he expected, with a judge seated behind a dark wooden bench and a couple of lawyers at opposite ends of the room.
Norman Jewison, the director and one of the movie's producers, was also present, seated to one side with another representative of the production team.
When Adam and Sylvia entered, Norman gave them a reassuring smile.
"Good morning, Mrs. White. Good morning, young Adam," the judge greeted, adjusting his glasses with a professional gesture. His voice was firm but not harsh, which helped ease some of the tension in the air. "We're here to review and approve the contract regarding young Adam's participation in the movie Bogus. Before we proceed, I want to remind everyone that all financial and private details concerning the minor will be treated with strict confidentiality"
Sylvia nodded quickly, grateful for the clarification.
'Thank goodness they won't be saying numbers out loud,' she thought, as the hearing was in a public space and it would have been uncomfortable to discuss such large sums in front of others… especially when it involved her son.
As a teacher, she understood the importance of protecting minors' privacy, and even more so now that her son was entering an entirely new world.
A world that had already left her stunned when she saw the amount offered in her son's contract… $100,000.
It was almost as much as her husband earned annually as a private pilot and several times more than what she herself made as a teacher.
Yes, it was a very very different world, but one with great potential for her son's future. If Adam earned enough in the future, he could live comfortably and without worries.
She had already discussed with Morris, her husband, about setting up a savings account for Adam. Even though the state required a portion to be saved, they planned to save additional funds themselves. After all, it was Adam's money, and they wouldn't touch it.
...
One of the production team's lawyers stood and presented the contract to the judge.
It was a lengthy document with several annexes detailing everything from the work schedule to the educational and welfare measures that would be implemented during filming.
"The contract stipulates that Adam White will work as the lead actor in the film Bogus, directed by Norman Jewison," the lawyer explained in a measured tone. "It also specifies that a private tutor will be present on set to ensure his education is not affected, and work schedules will comply with state and federal regulations regarding child labor"
The judge listened attentively, making notes in his notepad as the lawyer continued to elaborate on the terms and conditions. Though he already had a copy of the contract, Adam could only assume this was some sort of protocol.
Adam also watched the lawyer with a mix of curiosity and boredom, wondering how someone could remember so many legal details without getting confused… because, yes, the lawyer wasn't reading from a document… he was reciting everything practically from memory.
"Additionally, a trust has been established for the benefit of the minor, in compliance with state laws, and a portion of his earnings will be allocated to ensure his financial protection in the future"
Sylvia, seated beside Adam, gently squeezed her son's hand as she listened to the lawyer. While she wasn't an ambitious person, she couldn't help but feel a little shocked that Adam was going to earn almost as much as her husband, a pilot, made annually… and far more than what she, as a teacher, earned in a whole year.
'All for one movie,' she thought, trying to process it.
But beyond the money, what really concerned her was Adam's well-being and how he would handle the pressure of something so big.
...
After reviewing all the documents, the judge looked up at Sylvia and Adam.
"Mrs. White, do you agree with the terms established in this contract? Do you believe these conditions are adequate to ensure your son's well-being while participating in the production?"
Sylvia responded calmly but firmly. "Yes, Your Honor. I am satisfied with the measures that have been taken"
The judge nodded before turning to Adam.
"And you, Adam, do you understand what this contract entails?" he asked, lowering his tone slightly, as if to make sure he didn't intimidate the boy. "Do you agree to work under these conditions?"
Adam, who had remained silent up to that point, replied confidently:
"Yes, Your Honor."
The judge gave him a brief smile.
"Good. It's important that you understand, as this will be a significant step for you. Congratulations, Adam"
Adam didn't say anything in response, but he felt relieved.
'Well, that wasn't so bad' he thought, relaxing a little more in his seat. He might have told himself that none of this was intimidating compared to other things, but he was a little tense.
Perhaps it was the anticipation, the excitement of it all, and the desire for everything to go smoothly that had made him feel on edge.
With all parties in agreement, the judge picked up his pen and signed the contract, sealing it with a firm gesture.
"The contract has been approved. I hope this marks the beginning of a positive and enriching experience for Adam"
Norman Jewison, seated nearby, nodded in satisfaction as one of the production team's representatives gathered the signed copies to distribute them to the involved parties.
Before leaving, the judge made one final comment directed at Sylvia:
"Mrs. White, I appreciate your diligence. Not all parents are as careful when it comes to protecting their children's interests in this industry. I hope everything goes well"
Sylvia thanked him with a polite nod. "Thank you, Your Honor."
…..
Outside the courthouse, the atmosphere was far more relaxed. Norman Jewison approached Sylvia and Adam with a wide smile and a script tucked under his arm.
"Well, that was pretty quick. Now we can focus on what's important" He handed the script to Sylvia, emphasizing its importance. "Remember, this is confidential. Please don't share it with anyone"
This made Adam wonder why Norman hadn't given the script directly to him, but he didn't dwell on it too much. He knew he'd have it in his hands soon… it was just a matter of minutes. It wasn't worth complaining or asking unnecessary questions about something so trivial and unimportant.
Sylvia accepted the script carefully, nodding.
"Of course. Thank you for trusting us"
Norman then turned to Adam, leaning slightly to speak directly to him.
"Adam, I just want to give you a piece of advice: if you can, practice your lines before we start filming. It'll help you feel more confident when we get to the set"
Adam smiled enthusiastically.
"I will, Mr. Jewison!"
The director bid them farewell with a handshake, leaving mother and son to walk back to the car. While Sylvia placed the script in her bag, Adam couldn't stop thinking about everything that had just happened.
'All this just to act in a movie. It's more complicated than I thought, but… it's also amazing. I could be a celebrity soon!'
On the other hand, a part of him wanted to immediately demand the script from his mother so he could start reading it. However, he calmed himself down and decided to chat with her casually on the way home, where he would finally ask for the script. There was no reason to rush.