III
Wreaking Havoc!
III
Chapter Eight – July 28
III
III
Dursley Residence, River Road
"Are you up, Harry?" his Aunt Tia asked knocking quietly on his bedroom door.
"Sure. Come in, Tia," Harry said tying his tie manually in front of his bathroom mirror.
"Don't you look handsome," Petunia said softly brushing the shoulders of Harry's grey suit and looking over her nephew's shoulder into the mirror. "You look like my Daddy from the back."
"I do?" Harry asked.
"Very much so," Petunia confirmed. "But you're late. Isla is downstairs waiting for you."
"Bollocks!" Harry cursed looking at his watch. Without thinking the teen began summoning items to himself as he walked out his bedroom door. Catching his long robes, his wand and one of his journals the teen dashed down the stairs. "Thanks for getting me, Tia!"
Petunia smiled as she followed him more sedately down the stairs.
Skidding across the floor before the front door, Harry bumped into Isla who was dressed regally in a silvery blue dress and black robes.
"We're late!" Harry said grabbing her elbow and transporting them both to Titan Place.
Pulling his robes on in the foyer of Potter house and the deep hood down over his face Harry followed Isla across the square to the inheritance bureau. Pausing outside the door the young woman smiled.
"Let's do this."
III
Bureau of Inheritances, Titan Place
Isla and Harry admitted themselves to one of the Bureaus private rooms with only a few minutes left before nine o'clock. As they entered they say Andromeda drumming her fingers away nervously on one side of the table with her husband and daughter next to her. On the otherside sat the regal looking Narcissa Malfoy and her son Draco, the former dragging the latter to his feet as she stood when the two new people entered the room. On the third side of the table sat Remus Lupin, who was chatting pleasantly with Arthur Weasley. A confused Hermione Granger, flanked by the Weasley twins sat on the same side.
Putting her hood down Isla indicated that Narcissa and Draco should sit before she pulled the documents that had been sitting in front of her at her place towards her.
"Welcome," she began. "I know all of you, however you may not know me. My name is Isla Black and Sirius was my biological father. I was conceived through Muggle methods to Lachlan Black and his wife Louise."
Narcissa nodded in understanding and Andromeda wrung her hands.
"I must ask that you each stand and allow yourselves to be submitted to a spell sweep from my friend here who wishes to remain unidentified until you've each been checked."
Andromeda, Narcissa and the twins all stood quickly followed by the rest of the group.
From his place, Harry waved a hand at each person before stopping for a few minutes on Draco Malfoy. Whispering a message to Isla he sat back in his chair.
"Thank you all," Isla said slipping a scribbled note over to Narcissa and Draco and slid it over.
"Get them off me!" Draco hissed upon reading the note before raising his voice. "Get! Them! Off! Me!"
"Draco!" Narcissa snapped. "Calm down!"
Placing his balled hands on the table Draco looked at Harry who sat still, with his hood up covering his entire face.
Holding out his hand in stop motion in front of the blond's face Harry made a fist before quickly returning to his hand to its former pose.
Draco stumbled backwards and fell over his chair as his mother shrieked in shock, sliding off her own chair and dropping to her knees by her son as he lay on the floor cradling his head in his hands.
"Draco!" Narcissa gasped as she dragged her son upright and back into his chair. "Draco."
The blond teen looked around the room and stared at the occupants.
"Oh Merlin," he whispered to himself. "What happened to me?"
"You had controlling spells on you. They've been broken," Harry replied simply. "I'll explain after the will reading."
"Are you going to take your hood off?" the youngest Tonks asked.
"The room isn't secure," Harry replied, patting Isla on the arm causing his friend to smile.
"The Final Will and Testament of Sirius Orion Black," Isla read from the top of the document. "I, Sirius, aka Padfoot, being of, mostly, sound mind do hereby decree my final wishes. Taking into account my late brother, Regulus' own will which secretly reinstated all family members disinherited by our mother and removing cousin Bellatrix Black Lestrange from our line, I as Heir of the Black family, declare Isla, that is my own daughter by way of adoption and genetics to be the Lady Black."
Isla looking around the table held up her hand and showed the two family rings resting on her fingers.
"This is allowed because The Black Family and its fortune, is a messy one," Isla continued reading.
"As my primary beneficiary, as followed by the line of claim, Lady Isla Black, leader of the Black Family, receives the houses, the money, the heirlooms, everything that is not bequeathed in the following bequests."
Isla looked to Arthur Weasley and his sons.
"Fred and George Weasley will receive the journal I wrote during my school years. I encourage them to read it and expand upon any ideas it holds or may give them. To the twins I also bequeath fifteen thousand galleons each with the intention it be used to expand their business. They will receive the money in instalments over their next three birthdays. Use it well, boys," Isla read as the twins high-fived each other.
"For the care of my godson over the years Arthur and Molly Weasley will receive a weekly payment of twenty galleons into their Gringotts account for one hundred and four weeks, or time equivalent to the final two years of Harry's education."
"To my godson's best friends, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger I bequeath ten thousand galleons each. However, Hermione is not to use her money to buy books, I will give her five tomes of her choosing from the Black Family Library, and Ron isn't to use his to buy food, I suggest he buys a couple of season tickets to the Chudley Canons' games after he graduates. I also wish to give Ron my first broom, a Silver Arrow XI. Both are to receive their physical gifts as soon as possible but will not receive their money until their seventeenth birthdays."
"My best friend, Remus John Lupin will receive five lump sum payments of ten thousand galleons on his birthday for the next five years and the payments for all costs pertaining to achieving a law degree. I expect someone to ensure that he buys himself some decent attire so he looks the part of a lawyer."
"Andromeda Black Tonks will receive fifty thousand galleons in five instalments over her next five birthdays."
Isla looked up at the group and from Nymphadora to the Malfoys and back.
"Nymphadora Tonks will receive twenty thousand galleons, if, she swears allegiance to the head of her house, Lady Isla Black, and her allies, choosing to follow their requests with the loyalty expected of a family member."
Isla turned to the two blondes sitting closely together on the opposite side of the table and smiled.
"Narcissa, Cissa, you are hereby released from your marriage contract to Lucius Malfoy on the grounds of his failure to represent the family with honour and integrity, if you so choose. If you choose to do so and swear allegiance to my darling Isla, you shall receive fifty thousand galleons, in ten thousand galleon instalments paid on your birthday, and a suite within 12 Grimauld Place, our family home."
"Draco, if you choose to leave your father's side and follow your mother back to her roots, and swear allegiance to the family you will receive twenty thousand galleons also to be paid in instalments commencing on your seventeenth birthday."
Placing the document down on the table Isla looked to the three with conditions upon their inheritances.
"As Lady Black, I wish to stop here and ask Nymphadora, Narcissa and Draco if they wish to abide by these conditions and be fully accepted back into the Black family."
Narcissa immediately picked up the oath that had been on the table in front of her since her arrival and began to read as she held her wand to her heart. As she finished Draco, with no hesitation, took up that page and began to read also. Finally, after some dithering, Nymphadora took up her oath and slowly began to read. As the final spell was finished Isla nodded happily.
"Nymphadora, Narcissa and Draco, I forbid you to communicate to anyone the events in this room connected to the next beneficiary and any of the others who don't give you permission to speak of their gifts from Sirius."
The three nodded as their wand tips glowed, a reminder of the oath.
Taking up the will again, Isla continued to read as Harry removed his hood to the shock of Tonks and surprise of Draco.
"And to Harry James Potter, Prongs Junior, I choose to provide you with emancipation, which I hope you have already worked out I have left you, and that leaves you to take over the Potter Lordships on your sixteenth birthday and become filthy stinking rich. Have fun taking over the world and remember to let Isla join in on the fun from time to time, the girl wasn't a Ravenclaw for nothing. I also leave you my motorcycle collection, with a request that you take one of them to Hogwarts and leave a number of marks on the grass underneath Dumbledore's window."
"Since, James and I promised to swear the houses of Black and Potter into an alliance if it ever became possible I request that this alliance finally be fulfilled with the next generation, Isla and Harry. I also asked that you become like brother and sister to each other so you each have a family, like you both deserve, my children. Look after each other."
Pausing Isla smiled and showed the bottom of the document to where Harry sat at her side.
"Live on pranking," Harry read laughing before pulling up his hood.
Isla looked at each person in the eyes before speaking again.
"Thank you, for coming on such short notice. I know I sent the invitations yesterday but it was important that this stay out of them media so that those who needed to grieve, could," Isla said taking Harry's hand and holding it. "I assume that you all have lives, jobs and holidays you should return to so thank you. I hope that we will be able to get together and talk soon."
"If you don't mind, Lady Isla, my son and I would like to stay for a few minutes and talk with you both," Narcissa requested.
"Of course," Isla replied as Andromeda bid goodbye to her family and drifted to stand behind Harry.
After Tonks had left, Harry allowed himself to send a small wave to Hermione and the twins before they left before returning his attention to Draco and his mother. Pulling off his hood again, Harry looked at the duo.
"Hello. I'm Harry. Harry Potter," he said offering his hand to the other teen.
"Draco Black," the blond replied, causing Harry to start in surprise.
"You're feeling okay?" Harry asked checking.
"Much... lighter," Draco replied.
"Good," Harry replied. "That's how I felt. Now somewhere you have letters from Dumbledore. I want you to find them and send them to Andromeda at your earliest convenience."
"Why?" Narcissa asked.
"It's evidence for round two," Harry replied turning to look at his attorney whose face lit up in anticipation.
"How many rounds do you intend to go, with the master manipulator?" Narcissa asked, a light behind her smoky blue eyes.
"The whole ten to only the deliver the knockout blow in the final seconds," Andromeda replied. "We've more than one person researching this for us, but the more evidence we have the better the case. You know that Cissa."
"I'll look into it for you within other circles," the blonde woman replied.
"May I ask what you wished to talk about?" Isla asked.
"My apologies, Lady Isla," Narcissa replied quickly. "My sister Andromeda and I have a surprise for you. You see we have refurnished the entire house to make it firstly fit for habitation and secondly acceptable for a Lady, such as yourself, to live in."
"You redecorated Number Twelve," Isla asked Andromeda who nodded.
"I'm sorry I didn't announce it to you but we thought it would be a good gift, to help reunite the family," the witch replied.
"Thank Merlin!" Isla sighed. "I was worried about the condition of the house after what Harry told me."
"Never fear," Narcissa replied. "Shall we go and visit?"
"Mother," Draco whined.
"Come on, Draco. You should come shopping with me," Harry said quickly standing up and changing his appearance to the short haired grey eyed version of himself he called Zeb.
"Very well," Draco replied, pulling on his robe and tossing the hood over his head.
"You won't need that," Harry laughed before noting the clothes Draco wore underneath. "Right."
With a quick wave of his hand Draco was wearing a light weight pair of trousers and a polo shirt while Harry wore jeans and a t-shirt.
"Have fun," Isla said grinning at Draco as he pulled at his clothes.
"I will," Harry replied before bidding goodbye to the two sisters and leading Draco from the room.
"Where are we going?" Draco asked as Harry grabbed him by the shoulders and apparated him into a dingy subway alley.
"Muggle London," Harry replied. "You need to find out who you are, Draco Black."
"Why are you helping me?" the blond asked.
"Because I believe in second chances," Harry said, as he climbed the stairs with other train passengers to the surface. "Are you coming?"
As Draco ran after Harry up the stairs he emerged in downtown London in amazement.
"This is incredible," the teen whispered. "I didn't think it would be anything like this."
"It can be better," Harry replied. "But the first thing you need is to know who you are."
"Why are we sitting?" Draco asked as Harry sat on the edge of a fountain.
"This, Draco is Trafalgar Square. You are going to watch the people who walk past and then we are finding a stylist who can redo your hair."
"What's wrong with my hair?"
"It's befitting of a Malfoy heir," Harry replied and Draco scrunched his face to show his disapproval of Harry's comment. "I'm not asking you to die your hair purple," the dark haired teen said laughing. "I'm asking you to become an individual."
"What about this?" the teen asked.
Harry turned to watch as Draco's hair colour changed from white blond to being an ash blond of no specific shade with natural highlights varying between light strawberry and dark golden blond.
"Maybe this won't be as difficult as I thought," Harry replied as the pointed features of Draco's face melted away to become softer and squarer. "Come on. Now we need to get that hair of yours cut."
"You're not surprised I can morph?" Draco asked following Harry closely, while still trying to take in the sites of London.
"Nothing much surprises me anymore," Harry replied, leading the other teen behind a dumpster before apparating them to another part of London.
III
Grimauld Place, London.
Harry and Draco arrived at the blond's new home to find Isla and Narcissa sipping green cocktails and laughing.
"Hello, Mother," Draco said getting his mother's attention.
"Draco!" his mother gasped slopping her drink a little.
"What do you think?" the teen asked with a nervousness Harry had never witnessed before.
"You look hot!" Isla declared slipping out of her chair to kiss the teen's cheeks. "Gorgeous. I think this is Draco."
"This is Draco Black," the blond teen confirmed nodding holding out his arms. "Mama?"
"What is that on your arm?" the shocked woman asked pointing to Draco's left forearm.
"It's a reminder that I am my own man and I deserve to be loyal to myself," Draco said rolling up his sleeve to show the angular profile tattoo of a horned dragon. "It's fake for now."
"Your hair?" Narcissa asked.
"Harry made me have it cut at a Muggle hairdresser," Draco said running his hand over his one inch long hair. "It still slicks back for formal occasions but the colour is natural."
"I thought so," Narcissa said smiling changing her own hair to be a similar shade. "Your new clothes suit you well, even if they are Muggle, and casual."
"Thank you, Mama," Draco replied. "What are you drinking?"
"It's an 'Oh Merlin, I don't know'," Harry replied to the other teen before turning to the witches. "Isn't it a little early to be drinking anyway? It's not even twelve."
"It's a special occasion," Isla and Narcissa said together before giggling.
"I'm going out," Harry said. "The world doesn't stop for anyone and I have things that must be done, like purchasing properties. Isla, I'll meet you and Draco at our one o'clock rendezvous?"
The young woman nodded sipping from her glass. "Bye!"
Harry just shook his head and apparated away.
III
Lakeside, Wales
Harry sat on the wall separating the town from the lake it had been built beside his picnic hamper at his side.
"Good morning, Harry," Sophia greeted sitting down on the wall next to him. "How are you this morning?"
"Emancipated," the dark haired teen replied. "I plan on going to the bank tomorrow to get the financial side of things set up for you."
"Oh," Sophie replied. "It's no problem. I've been doing many other things. You need plans to spend the money on."
"True," Harry replied a slight smile on his face. "Tell me of your ideas."
Harry's eyebrows shot up towards his hairline when Sophie retrieved a muggle notebook, divided into multiple sections by coloured plastic from her purse and opened it to the first section.
"If we could begin with quidditch?" she asked and Harry nodded giving his permission. "A Ravenclaw two years above me, her brother is a Muggle engineer and works with an architecture firm. Now in terms of technology, I will admit, that Muggles are far superior. I have put out my feelers with this particular group and they believe they can have a steel structure built by Halloween with a little help from magic if it is commissioned right away and made a company priority. To do that it will cost extra but you will have 'the steel framework on a concrete footing' with a special team to assemble it."
"What about warding?" Harry asked taking a sandwich from the basket and giving Sophia a bottle of butterbeer.
"We can get a wizarding group like Gringotts to form wards for a fee."
Harry thought for a minute. "Tell the construction people that I will accept any offer and pay an extra twenty percent to have the work completed a fortnight before Halloween. If they blanch at that offer remind them that warding must be done and the shops underneath must be outfitted. If they take too long to agree you can increase the offer to fees plus thirty percent."
Sophia marked the instructions in her book before handing Harry a large manila envelope containing a wad of papers.
"I had Ollie put together his dream team, a group of people he'd want to play quidditch with if he could. As my brother tends to do he went over the top and included the ultimate squad he'd like to play in as well as five back –ups for each position," Sophie said.
"Including keeper?" Harry asked accepting the envelope.
"No, there is only a reserve and one back up keeper," Sophia admitted. "Also included are drafts of how much money they are likely to expect to be paid, what sponsorship deals Ollie suggests, and draft letters that I wrote enticing the various players on board."
Harry chuckled. "I only saw you yesterday."
"I didn't sleep last night," Sophie replied blushing. "I was too excited."
"What about the existing stadium?"
"Jim, the engineer, has agreed to come here and look at the timbers of the old stadium to see what can be saved and reused to build a boardwalk down by the water," Sophia asked flipping to a different section of her book.
"Great idea!" Harry congratulated causing the older girl to blush slightly.
"I also did some designs for The Hub," Sophia said handing over her book.
Harry accepted it and looked at the cauldron motif designed in half a dozen different ways with the words 'The Hub' always present.
"Is this what you've named us?" Harry asked.
"Oh! No!" Sophie said quickly. "It's all just an idea. I was playing around. 'The Hub' of information for your company. 'The Hub' of Lakeside, getting things going. 'The Hub' as an ideas cauldron from where little things grow..."
"That's well thought out," Harry said. "I like it! The Hub. The Hub Corporation. Hub Corp."
"Better!" Sophie replied taking back her book and making notes.
"What about the nightclub come lounge?" Harry asked.
"Swing?" Sophia said flipping to the orange pages. "Sure. Again we will have to pay to get it warded but other than that the building is totally empty. I visited it with Dad once and from memory you enter and there's a cloak room and toilets before you go into the main part of the hall. I have a few ideas so I'll sketch them out for you and then you can decide what you want done with the place."
"You're going to need an assistant sooner than I think!" Harry said standing. "Come, let's walk."
The duo chattered as they made their way through the empty village before they stopped before a tiny stone cottage surrounded by garden and a small stone wall. Passing through the gate Harry smiled.
"What do you think?" Harry asked.
"It's pretty," Sophia said looking at the flowers and shrubs. "Someone has tidied up recently."
"I'm deft with the odd gardening charm," Harry said stepping up onto the porch and opening the front door.
Inside the duo moved into the lounge room on the right to find a man sitting in a chair reading as he waited.
"Ted!" Harry said getting the man's attention.
"Good morning," Ted said smiling, standing and crossing the short distance to shake Harry's hand. "Edward Tonks, this is Sophia Wood, managing director of Hub Corp, my company. Sophie, this is Ted, soon to be legal director and assistant director of Hub Corp."
Ted looked at the teen in shock as he distractedly shook Sophie's hand. "Harry!"
"You need a job, I need legal advice and so does Sophie," Harry told Ted. "When you accept, this will be your main office."
"When I accept?" Ted asked in disbelief.
"You're not going to?" Harry asked.
"I need to talk to Andy first."
"Sure," Harry said. "Then you can accept. I've got all the charms and some of the furniture so I will be back here tonight to start decorating. I will also make a space for an assistant but could you please share for now?"
"Harry..." Sophie began before stopping under Harry's gaze. "Sure."
"Good. I want a short list by the end of the week," Harry said. "Gringotts is my final stop this afternoon so you'll have access to money to get everything else started too. Ted, once you've accepted you'll also need to owl me you and Sophie's bank details so I can transfer in your pay."
"I have a question, Harry," Ted said speaking up. "How will we get people to come to Lakeside?"
"Leave that to me," the teen said smirking.
III
King's House, King Henry Road
Harry walked into the second chamber of the centuries old business house to find that all of his guests were assembled sitting silently in their places.
"Good afternoon, all," Harry said theatrically swinging his robes off his shoulders and banishing them to hang them over the back of his chair. Walking up to the table he held a hand out to the first lady on the his right hand side and kissed her knuckles when she offered her hand. "Miss Greengrass, lovely to see you again."
"Mr Potter."
"And you also, Miss Bones," Harry said moving to the young woman on Daphne's right. "You are a vision in periwinkle blue."
The Hufflepuff giggled softly patting her robes. "How did you get so tall and handsome?" Susan asked referring to the now five ten, muscular frame Harry now had.
The emerald-eyed teen laughed. "Good genetics, one massive growth spurt and a gym membership. I honestly don't know how I put up with growing."
"He eats," Neville Longbottom offered to the amusement of all.
"Thank you for coming today Sue," Harry said moving on. "Draco, did you enjoy lunch?"
"It was pleasant," the blond replied as Harry clapped Fred Weasley on the shoulder before walking around the top of the table, and his own seat, to kiss Isla on each cheek.
"How many of those green things did you drink?" Harry asked, winking at the young woman.
"Only two," Isla replied.
Harry high fived George and Neville who was seated on the red head's left before reaching the final member of the table.
"Mr Zabini," Harry said shaking the other young wizards hand. "So glad you could join us."
"Why have I joined you?" the coffee skinned teen asked.
"That is precisely the question, isn't it," Harry said returning to his seat and sitting down. Clapping his hands he smiled as drinks were served and a document printed on Muggle paper appeared on the table.
"Let's get to it," the raven haired teen said after taking a drink from his water glass. "Now, as you can see from the document in front of you, page two, we are the heirs of the four Hogwarts lines. If we take the Ravenclaw line for example, Lady Isla Black who was only a few years above most of us at school, is the head of the family. There are other direct heirs within the Black line after her but I have chosen not to include them or they have not asked to be included, which leads to the presence of the next heir, Miss Daphne Greengrass, heir apparent."
"What is this about, Mr Potter?" Blaise Zabini asked again.
"I want changes to occur in this stagnant world of ours," Harry declared. "The wizarding world needs to update and progress before we get left behind. We need our own version of Muggle technologies such as the telephone, email, computers and the like. And NOW is the time."
"What did you plan to do?" Susan asked, looking to Harry.
"That's what this meeting is for," Isla answered speaking up. "Harry and I have discussed ideas, the most prominent and the most whimsical as taking over the Daily Prophet and actually making them write the news rather than sensationalist crap."
Harry watched the expressions of the others at the table. Neville smirked and nodded his head in agreement, while Daphne remained composed. Blaise on the other hand began to chuckle before he laughed outright.
"About time, Potter!" he said his slight accent coming out. "I was wondering when you were going to rebel against all the forces around you. It's about time!"
"Thank you," Harry replied smiling. "I believe the point is... do you, the heirs of the founders have any ideas you wish to contribute?"
"Create a heavily warded community for us to live in so Voldemort and Dumbledore cannot attack us," Blaise said.
"Create a centre where magical children can go to socialise," Neville declared.
Harry looked to Daphne who returned his gaze.
"Harry already has an idea he wants to implement," she announced. "And I feel it's going to be good."
"What?" Isla asked, snapping her head around to look at Harry as the twins smirked in the background.
"What if we took over Hogwarts?" Harry said sitting forward in his seat. "As the majority of heirs of a single generation we could, according to the book."
"According to the book, Hogwarts is sentient," Blaise retorted. "But Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, Slytherins and Hufflepuffs is an ancient tome and it is possible that it is more than a little out of date because as far as I know Hogwarts is just a draughty castle."
"My Uncle Nic always said Hogwarts was beautiful," Daphne whispered looking from Harry to Blaise. "Maybe he was trying to tell me something."
"Maybe he was hoping someone else would guard his stone from Voldemort," Harry speculated. "Not just Albus Dumbeldore."
"You want to take over Hogwarts?" Susan Bones asked Harry. "What changes would you call for?"
"Sortings, at first, third and sixth years," George said immediately.
"People change," Fred explained further. "Our needs as students change and the school does nothing to modify that."
"The twins are right," Isla conceded. "And the decor needs updating badly."
"The curriculum needs updating badly," Blaise retorted. "It's based on an era where Muggles were intent on persecuting and burning us."
"Here, here!" Susan agreed.
"Well, if that's what you think needs changing, we have a few hours now to begin with our ideas. Then we will meet again in a couple of days to talk further and at the same time we will celebrate Neville's sixteenth birthday," Harry said.
Neville lifted his head and shook it negatively.
"That's not necessary."
"It is," Harry replied. "And you saying otherwise is not going to stop me."
Daphne took up her quill and began to write on one of the pages quickly. "What about this?" she asked slowly. There was a flurry of sound as people turned the pages in their own documents and then sounds of shock.
"And I have the evidence to prove it works," the young woman said producing her copy of Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, Slytherins and Hufflepuffs.
Discussions continued for three whole hours, intersected with heated arguments and frivolity before talks wound up. People soon left leaving only Neville, Blaise and Harry in the room.
"Yes, Blaise," Harry asked.
"Were you serious about buying up the Daily Prophet?" the teen asked causing both Harry and Neville to look at him seriously.
"Yes. Why?" Harry asked.
"My mother knows the identities of so many shareholders that we could buy up more than fifty percent of the newspaper. Only, I can't buy out half a newspaper on my own. That would draw unwanted attention to myself. I need other people to buy into the newspaper with me to make it credible. You," Blaise said before pausing over the other teen's name. "Harry, have indicated interest in doing such a thing."
"I'm interested too," Neville said.
Harry looked into Blaise's dark eyes.
"Would you mind if I called my lawyer in?" Harry asked.
"Would you mind if I called my mother in?" Blaise replied.
Harry smiled and walked to the fireplace and contacted Andromeda quickly and soon the woman had stepped through the fireplace. The teen then turned to find a beautiful woman with creamy coloured skin in a classically cut Chanel dress seated at the table beside Blaise.
"She was literally outside the room," Zabini explained his amusement showing in his face.
"Adrianna Lines," the woman said politely, shuffling the folders before her. "Pleased to meet you, Mr Potter."
"This is Andromeda Tonks," Harry said by way of introduction as Andromeda sat down between Neville and Harry opposite the other pair.
Adrianna nodded before moving forward on her chair.
"I have many assets and over the years I have signed a number over to my son who is now the leader of his family," Adrianna explained. "Blaise now owns sizable interests in a publishing company and a printing press. Over the past few years I have been preparing things in the chance we could find a partner or partners for the next step: to buy up the primary daily newspaper for Great Britain."
"You want to buy that rag?" Andromeda asked.
"To improve our image internationally," Andrianna explained. "As a society, British wizards are not very well thought of. And that needs to change."
Harry caught Neville's attention and the other boy nodded slightly.
"The Bicorn Group," the brunette continued pushing a file over to Andromeda. "Is ready to go as the public face of a group of wizards who have the controlling interest in publishing and printing companies. The idea was to start with the Prophet and move onto other magazines and the rest. The three of you can individually buy much or as little of the Daily Prophet shares as you like so long as the total is more than fifty one percent."
"What would you do with the power we give you to work in our best interests?" Harry asked. "As you know the Prophet has defamed me in the past."
"We will work out a method of submitting articles that involves at least three sources, preferably two confirmed and create a new attention grabbing lay out that invites our audience and audiences that have formally ignored the daily Prophet and getting the respect back slowly."
"Voldemort is back. How do you feel about printing information about that? I believe Rita Skeeter has a number of articles that could be reprinted," Harry asked.
"Fine. As long as we as a nation look slightly more sensible than we do now," Adrianna agreed.
"What are in those other folders?" Neville asked.
"Names of people who have interests in printing companies and the Daily Prophet," Andrianna explained. "These are the names of people who we can approach and offer to buy their shares. In fact, one of them is you Mr Longbottom. Your family has a ten percent holding in the newspaper."
"I'll need this evening to look over these business plans and contracts carefully, though at the moment I see no problems," Andromeda announced.
"Of course," Adrianna replied sliding folders across the table. "Take the lists of names also so you can see if this quest is even financially viable."
"You'll hear from us tomorrow," Andromeda announced standing.
"Thank you," Adrianna said shaking Andromeda's and then the two teens hands before moving to leave.
"See you in two days, gentlemen," Blaise replied following his mother from the room.
Andromeda, Neville and Harry stood in their places for a moment.
"You are doing this," Andromeda hissed to both of them. "Neville, you and I need to speak with your grandmother, urgently."
"I have to go to the bank," Harry announced. "How about we meet tomorrow at Potter House, with your grandmother, Nev, for breakfast and a discussion of things?"
Neville nodded moments before Andromeda apparated him away. Smiling to himself, Harry nodded and then disappeared from the conference room.
III
III
