AN: Sorry for the long wait, folks. I've had a very busy last month, I started at a new company for work, and had to deal with all that transition entails. Hopefully I can update more regularly. My muse tends to hide away when I am stressed. ;)
xxxxx
Hermione awoke the next morning, once again loving her new bed. She stretched, getting up and starting her day. Knowing it would be another long, busy day, she got dressed and ate some breakfast. Sitting at the breakfast table, she made a to do list of what she wanted to do for the day. Deciding to get started, she gathered her things, and left, driving the Bentley to Diagon Alley again.
Arriving at Gringotts, she asked to see her account manager. "Good morning, Miss Granger, I am Picktooth, and I have been assigned as your account manager. What can Gringotts do for you today?" the goblin introduced.
"It is nice to meet you, Picktooth," Hermione stated, "and please, call me Hermione." She smiled, and the goblin nodded his acknowledgement. "I have some forms to submit authorizing a transfer from my muggle bank account, I had my estate manager fill them out with all the pertinent information." Hermione said as she handed the forms over to the goblin. Picktooth's eyes widened at the amount, but said nothing. He placed the forms into an in/out tray and it flashed and they disappeared. He told her that her funds should be transferred within two or three days.
Hermione nodded, then asked, "I was hoping to either buy, or get partial ownership of a few businesses, such as the daily prophet, and also wanted to look into buying some rental properties." She stated. Picktooth agreed that he would look into buying shares in the Daily Prophet, but then told her that renting housing was not really done in the magical world, most people either owned their homes, or they had mortgages through Gringotts.
Hermione was surprised, and had to ask, "But what do people without enough money to buy a home, or sufficient income to have a mortgage do?" Picktooth grimaced, "it is usually muggleborns, and some half-bloods that fall into that category, as most purebloods either inherit properties from family, or have enough in the bank to purchase a home for their offspring. Most that would have enough money to purchase properties to rent out, do not wish to rent to the demographic that would utilize it."
Hermione looked horrified. "That's terrible! Well, that will have to be one of my first priorities. I would guess then, that there are no existing properties that have multiple apartments?" she asked. Picktooth shook his head. He told her that she would have to buy land, and build. She got a list of magical builders, and asked if any of them were muggleborn, or at least familiar with the muggle world. She reasoned that since most of her tenants would most likely be muggleborns or half-bloods, that some of them might want muggle amenities in their homes.
Picktooth said he would look into that, and she told him that she would like to build a complex of 10 apartments, each with 2 bedrooms, near London, and build another complex, this one with at least 20 apartments, both 1 and 2 bedroom units, near Hogsmeade to start, but asked that the properties have land to expand if she wanted to in the future. She got asked him to get some quotes together from a few builders for her to look at, and then they could decide which would be best.
She also told him to keep an eye out for people coming in for business loans, that may not qualify for a Gringotts loan, but have a good business plan, and would possibly be willing to enter into a partnership. She thanked him for his assistance and bid him a good day, leaving for the alley to do some more shopping.
Arriving back in the alley, she purchased a number of potion ingredients and supplies, completed potions that were good to have on hand, and a full wizarding wardrobe in high quality materials and cuts. She also purchased a four compartment high security trunk, one that had a wardrobe compartment, library compartment, potions ingredient storage compartment, and a general storage compartment. She also purchased an owl, naming her Athena, after the greek goddess of wisdom and war. Shopping done for the day, she made her way back to her car, and then home.
Once she got home, she organized her purchases, and used her landline to call Sir Michaels, who had set up a meeting with his grandson, for that evening. They met in a nice muggle restaurant, and Ryan and Hermione hit it off quite well, discussing many topics, including their goals for the wizarding world, and made a tentative agreement to become allies. He also gave her his notes for how to create the magic shielding case for her phone, and told her that it should work on any electronic device.
After a very satisfying meeting, they parted, and Hermione left and went home, where she proceeded to make a case for both her phone and laptop. She sent text messages to both Ryan and Sir Michaels, so that they had her cell phone number.