Disclaimer: I'm just an average man with an average life.
*****
Phillip considered Harry's proposal as he lined up his shot. Fitting to have this conversation on a golf course. More deals were made on the green than in a boardroom. There were risks of course, but the potential benefits far outweighed them. The governments would likely be unhappy, they were quite protective of what they saw as their prerogatives.
"You think Gringotts will give us cover?"
"I think they've been recognized as sovereign by the magical government and the non. We'll let them think whatever they want about suzerainty until we have the power to make the matter moot."
Which wouldn't be too long thanks to the work of his lovely daughter, Phil reflected. "We likely do already with the magical government," he pointed out.
"No need to rub their faces in it until after we can do the same with the rest of the governments in the world," Harry pointed out reasonably. "Amelia thinks I'll reduce the number of wands I employ after this. I think it's safest to let her continue thinking that until we come to the point that it comes to a head."
"You think it'll come to a fight?"
"I think that no one will try to push things if it's overwhelmingly clear that it would be a bad idea for them to do so. Not after I've made it abundantly clear how I react to threats to myself or those under my protection anyway. I'm also going to suggest that we all keep the status quo until we have significant off world assets."
Phillip nodded. "I'm cautiously willing to agree to commit the Granger family to this endeavor on two conditions."
"They are?"
"We don't start any fights. There's no profit in it."
"I-" Harry frowned. "I would agree to not looking for any fights. Sometimes the best thing to do is to get in the first hit."
"I think we can find some common ground on that. I think we're in agreement in everything but the wording."
"The second condition?"
"Luna and my daughter get a seat at this alliance you're proposing," Phillip said firmly. "It's their work that's going to make it possible."
"Agreed." Harry grinned. "They're the reason I'm proposing it. Bringing Gringotts fully in will give us more resources to help with both security and development."
"Wonderful. You have my support on this matter."
IIIIIIIIII
Luna and Hermione sat in silence as Anguish ensured that their meeting would be private while, outside two of their technicians stood by the bedroom door to ensure they would not be disturbed.
"We are as secure as I can make us, Mistresses," Anguish stated.
"How's our progress?"
Anguish smiled. "Good. We should be ready to deliver your response next week."
"Sprocket?" Hermione prompted.
"We've modified three piloted work golems and have constructed four more."
"How many under construction?" Luna asked.
"Fifteen more. I believe we will able to complete twenty by the time the big response is ready to be fielded."
Hermione nodded. "Harry will be out of the country in about a week and a half. Try to have as many ready to go by then."
"It'll be a shame to miss Harry's award ceremony," Luna sighed. "Yet another thing to blame on the death eaters. I can't even blame the humdingers or nargles for it this time either."
"Yet another thing to make them pay for," Hermione agreed. "I-" She stopped talking abruptly when her new maid appeared.
"Is time for breakfast," Winky stated. "Will Mistress Hermy have her food in the dining room or does Mistress Hermy want her food here to keep plotting with Mistress Loveygood?"
"You know what we're talking about, Winky?" Hermione asked weakly.
"House elves always know," Winky stated.
"Um?" Hermione glanced around nervously. "Are you the only house elf watching us?"
Winky glanced around. "Harry Potter sir has twenty five elvies watching Mistress Hermy and Mistress Loveygood."
"What?" Hermione squawked while standing up and slamming her hands down.
"Who?" Luna asked in delight. It warmed her heart to see tangible evidence showing how much their friend cared about them.
Dobby made himself known. "The great and generous Harry Potter sir asked his friend Dobby to watch and keep safe his Loveygood and his Hermy from anything that may try to harm them and to destroy anything that may try to harm them."
"Don't tell Harry what we've been talking about," Hermione ordered.
"You is telling Dobby to hide things from Harry Potter sir?" The elf's eyes narrowed.
Luna sighed. "Hermione, be silent for a moment please, you are not helping the matter in the least." She turned to the elf. "I apologize for that, Dobby. Would you be generous enough give me a moment of your time to discuss this matter."
"What does Harry Potter sir's Loveygood want?" the elf asked suspiciously.
Luna cocked her head. "Did the brilliant and kind Harry Potter ask you to spy on us?"
"Harry Potter sir would never spy on his Hermy or his Loveygood!" Dobby shouted, horrified that anyone would think so.
"Exactly," Luna chirped. "Harry is far too much of a gentleman to do something like that. He respects our privacy, right?"
"Harry Potter sir is indeed a gentleman," Dobby allowed cautiously. It was just one of his limitless qualities.
"What Hermione is trying to do is to tell you that we would like to keep what we are doing private. Harry is much too good natured to give a proper response to the attack on his person, is he not?" Luna continued.
"Harry Potter sir is most good natured," Dobby sighed. "Dobby sometimes wishes the great and good natured Harry Potter sir was a bit less good natured at times."
"Hermione and I on the other hand? We are not good natured at all." Luna's smile was full of teeth. "So we are going to give a proper response and we do not want Harry to know about it ahead of time because he'd just worry about us if he knew what we had planned and we don't want the wonderful and handsome Harry Potter to worry about us."
"Will Harry Potter sir's Hermy or Loveygood be in danger?"
"We will be absolutely sure to take a stupidly large number of guards with us to ensure our safety," Luna assured the elf.
"Dobby thinks it is fine. Dobby is also angry at bad death eaters," the elf growled.
"Wonderful!" Luna cheered. "A perfect segue! Dobby."
"Yes?"
"Would you care to join us when we give our response?" Luna asked.
"Dobby can help respond to bad death eaters?" The elf's smile nearly split his face. "Good is Harry Potter sir's Loveygood and good is his Hermy."
Luna threw her hands up in excitement. "This is going to be ever so much fun!"
"Dobby agrees!" The elf mirrored her gesture.
"Now then." Luna turned to her best friend. "Hermione, you need to apologize to Dobby for your rudeness."
"I apologize for my rudeness, Dobby, no offense was intended. I shall try to think about what I say before I say it in the future." Hermione said in a daze having once again been flabbergasted by both Dobby and Luna.
"Dobby understands that Harry Potter sir's Hermy is bad at speaking," the little elf replied. "Dobby will try to remember."
"Does Mistress Hermy want her breakfast here or in the dining room?" Winky spoke up in a firm voice, reminding every she was there. "Mistress Hermy will not skip her meals, Mistress Hermy is growing and skipping meals is bad."
"Here please. Thank you, Winky."
IIIIIIIIII
The Hufflepuff Common Room was solemn as the students returned from their breakfast. The memorial service for their late head of house had been held the day before. The entire school had shown up to pay their respects, well, nearly the entire school. Three students had been conspicuous in their absence and some had been ready to take issue with that until two things had been pointed out. Harry Potter had been injured in the fight, injured to the point that it had been more than a week before he'd been permitted to leave the hospital wing and even then only to leave the school to recuperate. That had left the matter of the girls until a firsty had innocently asked who'd keep Harry company if they'd come back to Hogwarts. Their head of house would understand the need to stay with one's friends.
"Damn it!" a frustrated scream broke the atmosphere. Every eye turned to stare at Sarah Green, one of the seventh year prefects. "I'm tired of being sad! Remember when Cedric was murdered? Remember how sad we were, how we cried and swore that we'd never forget him, how he'd never be gone so long as we remembered? Piss on that!" she finished in a roar. "I refuse to shed another tear, I won't be sad a moment longer! Being sad doesn't do anything! I fought in Hogsmeade, some of you fought with me and we got a bit of our own back then and it felt good didn't it? But it isn't enough, not even close, not when I know that some of the murdering bastards who stole Professor Sprout might still be out there. Do you know how I feel when I think about that? I'm not sad I'm-"
Her partner, George Smythfield shot to his feet. "Furious!" his voice filled the room. "So angry I can't think."
"Right!" Sarah nodded at the boy. "I don't want to remember Professor Sprout, or Cedric. I want to avenge them, I want to get my fingers around the throat of one of those masked cowards and I want to look them in the eyes as my hands tighten, I want to feel their pulse slow, I want to see them realize that I'm their end."
George smiled at the crowd. "What say you, Hufflepuff?"
"BADGERS STICK TOGETHER!" the house roared back.
"What were you thinking?" George turned to his partner. "Are you going to become a healer or an Auror?"
"I'd make a horrible healer," Sarah admitted. "But I didn't do too bad at Hogsmeade. I'm not the hero Professor Sprout was, but I think I could do better with a bit of hard work and that's one thing our house isn't afraid of."
"An Auror then," he nodded. "I'll help you study for your NEWTs. We'll need-"
"No," she interrupted. "They're under Bones, who's one of us, but she's under Fudge. You know what I'm pondering?"
George's smile deepened. "The same thing I'm pondering, I'd wager. Potter."
"Potter," she agreed.
"Potter!" the sixth year prefects echoed.
"Potter!" the fifth.
"POTTER!" the house roared.
George held up a hand. "Potter showed us the way." He nodded to the poster Bones and Abbot had put up. "Potter knows how to deal with death eaters. Potter is one of us." He snorted. "Plain as day to see this year with all the work he's been doing."
"Defense study every night," Sarah ordered. "Followed by Potions. We'll alternate Charms and Transfiguration. I know Madame Pomfrey will teach basic healing to any student to asks for it, I would suggest that we'll need healers so anyone that wants to help but doesn't want to fight should speak with her. Come to think of it, everyone who wants to fight should speak with her too."
"We'll work on everything else when we have time," George added. "This isn't mandatory, this will be a lot of hard work. Don't come unless you're ready for that."
The cheers were deafening.
Sarah walked up to her partner with a look of expectation on her face.
He sighed. "Looks like you're right, this is helping take everyone's minds off things."
"It's good to have something to focus on to help deal with grief," Sarah stated. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. "I miss Professor Sprout."
"Remember when she showed us the secret passageway to the greenhouse where she grew honeysuckles?" he sobbed. "We went every day for a month."
Sarah nodded against him. "Do you want to go now?"
"Yeah."
"Have you been getting any sleep?"
"Not really, a couple hours a night. The hospital wing only has so much dreamless sleep and it's better the little ones get it."
"Do you think it would help if we cuddled up in front of the fire?" She released the hug and grabbed his hand. "Better yet, we'll ask the elves to bring us some blankets and we'll stay in the greenhouse tonight and for every night until we graduate if we need to."
IIIIIIIIII
Harry glanced over the faces surrounding the table. One thing he'd never expected was how many meetings he got roped into as things progressed. Sure, Vernon had complained about it. Loudly and on multiple occasions. But he'd assumed the bastard's complaints about work had been as substantial as his complaints about his unwanted nephew.
"Are we secure, Flint?" he asked, nodding to his aide.
"As secure as we can make it, chief," she agreed.
Harry nodded, his gaze settling on the one new face at the table. "I don't know you."
"Hammerknee, your personal auditor, chief. My orders are to protect you from all threats physical and financial," the goblin introduced himself. "I'm also Spikenose's elder brother."
Harry's eyes flicked to Flint. "Since when do I have a personal auditor?"
"Part of the new contract with the Granger family, chief. Beefed up security for the girls, for the family, and for the major shareholders."
"Which one do I count as?"
"Officially, you're a major shareholder, chief. Only shareholder aside from the girls and the Granger family."
"I'm being paid to protect myself?"
"You are," Flint agreed.
Harry snorted, he wondered if Phil knew. "How'd the operation go?"
Flint grinned. "Like clockwork, chief. Even managed to turn a nice profit." She nodded to Hammerknee.
"With the aid of Gringotts, recovery operations have managed to secure the majority of the targets' liquid wealth."
"Split it into shares," Harry ordered. "Half the shares go to our operating fund. Two shares to anyone involved in the operation, one share to all other employees." Harry waited for the goblin to finish making notes. "Speaking of our operating fund, how healthy are we?"
"Revenues have gone up by fifteen percent since the house elves began making deposits. None of them are much individually, but a lot of littles add up to a big."
"Put all but ten percent of what the house elves are bringing in into a separate account," Harry ordered. "Put the ten percent into our operating fund."
Hammerknee made a couple more notes. "Do you want it to be a business account or a personal account, chief?"
"Business."
"What's the business name?"
Harry considered the matter for a moment. "Dobby."
The little elf appeared. "You is calling Dobby, Harry Potter sir?"
"We're splitting the house elf part of things into its own business, Dobby. I'd like you to be in charge of that if you're willing to be."
"Harry Potter sir wants Dobby to be his head elf?" Dobby was ecstatic. "Dobby accepts!"
"Wonderful. Any thoughts on what you'd like the new company to be named?"
Dobby nodded his head furiously. "The Great Kind and Merciful Harry Potter sir, best of wizards, greatest of men, benefactor of the elves, conquer of the death eaters, master of business-"
"Why don't we make it something shorter," Harry interrupted when Dobby paused to take a breath. "Like, say, House Elf Housework and Landscaping or something?"
"Dobby might be willing to shorten it to the Great Harry Potter sir's Cleaning, Housework, and Landscaping. Best business from the world's best wizard."
Flint suppressed a laugh. "How bout, Potter Cleaning and Landscaping. Short, sweet, and it has name recognition."
"Dobby likes it. Dobby thinks it could be a bit longer but Dobby understands that only so much can be fitted onto a business card."
"Fine," Harry sighed. "Potter Cleaning and Landscaping. Hammerknee."
"Yes, chief."
"I'd also suggest increasing our rates when we expand beyond our inner circle, chief. We've had a few inquiries about our services."
"Up to Dobby," Harry said calmly. He turned to the house elf. "I trust you, Dobby. What you say goes. If you think you have enough house elves to clean up more places, you can."
"Yes, Harry Potter sir," the house elf whispered. Rare was the human that gave so much trust to his elves.
"That means the account is under your control too," Harry added. "Use it for anything or anyone you need. My only suggestion is that you make sure to consult someone you trust, like I do with Hammerknee, to make sure you're managing it correctly."
"Dobby will, Harry Potter sir."
Dobby was pleased to see that Harry Potter sir approved of his relationship with Spikenose so much that he was giving his elf excuses to spend more time with her. Truly great was Harry Potter sir, a wizard whose genius knew no bounds and-
The elf froze as his mind informed him of another dimension of the great wizard's plan. Many elves had bemoaned the fact that Hogwarts' pigs were too few to satisfy their demand, even with the groundskeeper acquiring more of them. A problem easily solved thanks to the account Harry Potter sir had opened for his new elves. Truly, his greatness knew no bounds. Truly his wisdom knew no bounds. Truly, Dobby was the luckiest of elves to be given a chance to serve the greatest of wizards. How fortunate were they all to live in the same era as the kind and wonderful Harry Potter sir, benefactor of all elves."
Harry nodded. "Good. Course, there is a downside to being in charge, Dobby."
"Yes, Harry Potter sir?"
"You're going to need to start attending these meetings with me," Harry said apologetically. "Flint will give you a scheduled after we wrap up today."
"Harry Potter wants to spend more time with Dobby?" the house elf felt tears forming. "Yes, Harry Potter sir, Dobby will be in meetings."
IIIIIIIIII
Fred had a wide grin on his face when he found his twin who had a matching grin on his own. There was business to be done and mischief to be made and money to be earned and spent. Not necessarily in that order and not necessarily not.
"Do you recall the letter we got from the young heroes of Hogsmeade? The couple suggesting we write a follow up on how to keep the girl?"
"I do indeed," George agreed. "I take it that you have gotten replies to the queries we sent out to other couples?"
"I did indeed," Fred stated. "Briefly; Ron said that it's important to find time to spend with each other, Neville said you need to want to spend time together and you need to be sure to talk things out-"
"Which agrees with both Ron and and the young couple that sent the original letter," George observed. "Anything else?"
"Harry states that he is not dating anyone but that if he was, he would suggest that one needs to be willing to preemptively keep one's significant other's safe by any means necessary." Fred paused. "Which is a bit terrifying when one considers Harry and what he considers prudent preventative measures."
"We'll rewrite it to state that keeping one's significant other safe is important and so is keeping in shape to do so," George suggested. "We'll also add that keeping in shape helps keep the witch. Might be good to confirm it but I'd wager most witches, or at least the sort that seem to be attracted by blokes using our methods, would like the idea of dating a dangerous bloke."
"True," Fred mused. "We'll have to ponder more on the subject. Oddly enough, we also got some unsolicited missives from witches."
"Unsolicited but not unwelcome," George said quickly. "I trust that you've already sent letters of thanks and requests that their friends send us their ideas on the subjects of attraction and maintenance? This sort of intelligence is nothing short of invaluable."
"Of course," Fred laughed. "What do you take me for? We got three letters; the first is from Flint, Harry's aide, stated that you need to be willing to give up anything and everything for a relationship. The second is from Auditor Spikenose and it is both frightening and stomach turning but it backs up our belief that the ladies like dangerous blokes."
"And the last?"
"Was jointly written by Hermione and Luna and they stated that after careful consideration that while they lack any personal experience in the subject, they believe that one must be willing to overlook their significant other's small flaws and the ability to compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses. They were also kind enough to send along a couple rune constructs which they believed may be useful in the field of pranking."
"Thoughtful of them."
IIIIIIIIII
Alfie Allitt had a wide grin on his face as he stepped into Diagon Alley. Bold as brass he strutted down the center of the street, reveling in the looks of fear and disapproval on the norms' faces. It was the best thing about being a hardman, the knowledge that you were someone that inspired terror.
It wasn't a minute before he realized something was wrong and another before he realized what it was. The people weren't looking at him the way they normally did, they were eyeing him the same way a lion eyed a gazelle.
Alfie quickened his step. This wasn't fun, this was how they were supposed to feel when they saw him. Alfie didn't relax until he was safely back with his own sort. It wasn't hard to find out why things had changed, dark lord had pushed too far and too hard. Worse, he'd failed, failed in a way that showed the ordinary decent sort that they could beat him.
Alfie had been receiving feelers from some of the dark lord's people, feelers asking if he wanted to join up. No, he decided, not after his walk through the alley. The criminal gave the matter some thought. He knew a bloke that always needed a bit of cargo moved across international borders. Good money if you were willing to pretend to be a muggle for a couple days. It'd also see him safely on the other side of the world. Alfie was sure there'd be plenty of opportunities to be had once he got there. There had to be as there was no way in hell Alfie was ever coming back.
IIIIIIIIII
A smile was on Dobby's face as he addressed Harry Potter sir's elves. He told them about his appointment, about Harry Potter sir's great trust in his elves, of how they'd been granted permission to expand the areas they cleaned. The elves cheered at every one of his pronouncements until he got to the last. Looks of joy transformed into looks of confusion and wariness when he told them of the bank account and those looks turned positively murderous when he told them that Harry Potter sir had told him to use the funds to hire more humans to help them.
"Wonky says it isn't right!" one of the elves screamed. "Elves should not boss wizards! Is unnatural, is what it is!"
Kreacher had to fight down his rage at the thought of an elf questioning his master's orders. This sort of thing would never have happened in his day. Any elf that so much as thought about questioning the orders of their master would be burned to death or skinned alive or worse. Such a shame that times had changed. With a glance, he sought and received permission to deal with the situation from Dobby the head elf.
The Black family elf stepped forward glared at the young upstart. "Elves not be bossing wizards! Master Blackest be bossing wizards." He sighed, the folly of youth. "Hiring humans to help his elves is beneath Master Blackest's notice, things beneath Master Blackest's notice will be done by Master Blackest's good elves."
"Wonky doesn't understand. Wonky thinks Kreacher and Dobby is trying to trick Harry Potter sir's good elves."
"Truly great is Master Blackest," Kreacher cackled. "Truly unlucky is Master Blackest to have so many dim elves."
"Zippy wants to know what Kreacher means?" one of the other elves spoke up.
Kreacher snorted. "Why does Master Blackest does not torture bad muggles?"
"Because bad muggles are beneath Master Blackest's notice, bad muggles are too unimportant for Master Blackest to deal with so Master Blackest gives them to his good elves."
"Does any elf think hiring assistants for Master Blackest's good elves is important enough for Master Blackest to do hisself?"
The other house elves mouths closed abruptly.
"Kreacher doesn't," the Black family elf stated. "Master Blackest does important things, house elves do unimportant things."
"Wonky understands, Wonky was wrong," the elf said. "Great is Master Blackest! Great is Harry Potter sir!"
"Great is Master Blackest! Great is Harry Potter sir!" the house elves shouted in agreement. "Great is Master Blackest! Great is Harry Potter sir!"
"Never ending is the work of Master Blackest's good elves," Kreacher continued. "Kreacher has found more bad muggles that would threaten Harry Potter sir's Grangy and his Loveygood and his peoples and things. What say Head Elf Dobby?"
"Dobby says that Harry Potter sir has given orders to destroy all bad muggles that would harm his Grangy, his Loveygood, his peoples, and his things! Dobby says that Harry Potter sir did not give orders to stop after we destroyed the first group! Great is Harry Potter sir! Great is Master Blackest! End the bad muggles!"
"Great is Harry Potter sir! Great is Master Blackest! End the bad muggles!"