The Magical Underground
Chapter One: A Fair Deal
Richard Armitage stood in his office within the City of London. It sat at the top of a large skyscraper, with on what was most days a spectacular view of the skyline, which frequently served to inspire him to keep going. Today was not so great for him. Things would get messy today. He walked towards the door of his glass-walled office, his secretary rising when she saw him, a pile of papers in hand. As he opened the door he spoke to her. "Not today Laura, I'll deal with them tomorrow." Before she could reply, Richard had already passed. But she was not prepared to say anything when seeing his mood.
Five minutes later saw Richard exiting the building. The home of a business he had grown from small beginnings. In all of his thirty-five years, he never thought he could be so successful. Odysseus Enterprises was the name. And it spent its time developing gear that was used for scientific and historical exploration. NASA was a frequent client of his on this front, and it was their orders that were the most lucrative. However, he also had a second business which was took up a lot of his time. As he entered his chauffeured car, it was this second business that he was concerned with. Someone was refusing to pay up, and it was his policy to try and talk them around personally before any unpleasantness was needed. His destination was a place called Privet Drive. And as the car drove off, he readied himself for a verbal, and possibly physical confrontation. Though he had backup if it came to that.
Vernon Dursley was extremely nervous that day. Taking a day off from work today originally seemed like a good idea. Vernon Dursley was not a very observant man, but he could tell when there were unfamiliar cars parked on the opposite side of the road that something was happening. And as always, he believed there was one person who was the cause of it. "Petunia!" He shouted, causing two separate cries from the house. "Where is the freakish thing?" In response to the question, Petunia came downstairs, a child in her arms with a towel wrapped around it. "Please do try not to shout dear. She's where she always is." At the confirmation, Vernon nodded. "Good, there have been cars watching our house all day. We can't go out for dinner as planned. It would be strange if we were to go out when I was supposedly ill." He left the window, and returned to his seat in front of the television. "So if you could dear, tell the old bat not to come around." And as Petunia left to go and phone Mrs Figg, they both missed a Rolls-Royce roll up in front of the house, and a well-dressed man exiting the vehicle.
Richard was not impressed with the outside of Number 4. These people had borrowed money, but hadn't appeared to of spent it too well. But that wasn't his problem. His problem was that his operation needed to be viable, and wouldn't be if people didn't pay. It wasn't the only thing his little venture did obviously, but it was a part of it and he wanted everything to be good, not just some. He needed people to hold up their end. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. He was greeted by a woman, who had a horse-like face. She was holding a crying child in her arms. "Yes?" She asked, though judging by her tone she wanted nothing but to be done with this as soon as possible. "Mrs Dursley, I do hope I'm not intruding too much. I'm a business associate of your husband, and need to discuss an urgent deal. Would you mind if I come in?" Petunia looked up and down his clothes, as if she was wondering how much money could come from this deal, then peered around him to look at his car. Her eyes shined with greed as she replied to him. "Of course, Mr?" She trailed off.
"Robinson. Erwin Robinson." Richard said, stepping inside. It wouldn't be good if something happened, and they had his real name. The woman closed the door, before turning round to face him again. "He's just in the living room. If you'll excuse me, I have to give Dudley his bath." Richard nodded to her, and went through to what he assumed was the living room, and saw a large man sitting in a chair. Stepping through the door of the living room, he closed it behind him, making the large man jump in his chair. "Mr Dursley, we need to talk." The man turned off the television, and stood to face him. "Who are you?" Dursley asked angrily.
"I am the man you owe money to Mr Dursley. Payment is due."
"Get out of my house!" Dursley shouted, stepping towards Richard in a threatening manner.
"Do not try and fob me off Dursley. I have people outside ready at the touch of a button. Sit down." At the mention of possible reinforcements against him, Dursley wisely sat down. Richard continued, examining the room as he did so. "I assume from your reaction that you don't have my money." He paused for confirmation, which he received when Dursley shook his head at him. "So I'll take possessions that are equal to your debt." Seeing the eyes of the Dursley patriarch widen, Richard pressed on. "So I think I will be taking the TV, but apart from that I will need an audit of your home. Obviously your wife will find out."
"No, not Petunia." Dursley interrupted. Facing away from Dursley, Richard smirked. "She doesn't know. I have a bit of the money, can I pay in installments."
"No, all or nothing Mr Dursley. I will send my associates around tomorrow." As Richard left the living room and headed for the front door, he heard what seemed like a whimper coming from the cupboard under the stairs. Curious, he opened it, and saw a baby girl, not more than a year or so old. He turned around to Dursley, who had just followed him out of the living room. "You keep a child in a cupboard?" Richard asked, a cold fury flowing through his words. He continued quickly, not allowing Dursley to answer. "I will take this child with me, and give you an extra week to repay the debt. This is a final non-negotiable offer." Richard was disgusted to see the man nod his head eagerly. "I will need her birth certificate and any other relevant documents pertaining to her. Bring them out to my car." As Dursley went upstairs, Richard picked up the baby girl, and carried her out to his car.
A few moments later, saw Richard and the baby girl who he had since found out from the birth certificate the Dursley's had handed to him to be call Harriet Potter, in his car. A knock came on the window, and he opened to see his his right hand man, Henry Kilmore. "Is that a baby sir?"
"Yes Henry, I struck a deal with the Dursley's, one I am loath to keep. In a weeks time, I want you to break into their home, and ruin everything. Electrics, water, gas. Then once they borrow more money to fix that, I want you to make the older male Dursley to have a slight accident. I'll leave you to figure out the details." At the last point, Henry smiled.
"I look forward to it intensely sir." Richard nodded.
"How it happens is up to you Henry." Turning to his driver, he requested the drive home. How was he going to inform the wife that the family had just gained a fourth member. A sister for David? Yes, he thought. That would work comfortably.