Chapter 10: Janus Corporation
Nicholas Flamel opened the basket and came face to face with Ilana. Or rather, the big yellow eyes of a small basilisk.
Harry sighted softly as he finished buttoning his white shirt. One last look in the mirror and he threw his robes on, not even bothering with the comb. If his own mother acknowledged there was nothing to do, who was he to contradict her? Especially when he had spent around twenty years trying to get his hair to comply. He wasn't even picky on the end result, but everything he had tried had resulted in utter failure.
With the silence that was now synonymous to him, Harry walked down the stairs and entered the kitchen. His mother was already there, her blue robes seemingly unmoving while the recently acknowledged Charm Mistress was fluttering around, her wand a blur as she scrambled and poached eggs, turned bacon, toasted bread, heated coffee and tea, etc.
Harry didn't need to ask. He knew his mother had only preceded him of a couple minutes. It was a sort of ritual between them. Lily always hoped to reach the kitchen before her son had had time to 'clean' it. What had, at first, been a way of highlighting the wrongs he had suffered because of his father, now was nothing more than a minor irritation for his parents.
Harry would have liked to say they had given up, but the truth was they knew. They didn't know for sure, but they were bright and after being given every excuse from the book, they had understood there was a trick; they also got that Harry was no normal kid. Was it because of Janus, or had Janus chosen him because of it? They didn't know, nor cared. Harry was their son. Lily for her part had never given up. She still wanted to know how he cleaned the house unseen; she also wanted to know why he wore those ugly multicolored boots. She was his mother and wanted to know everything about her son.
It was heart warming for Harry, who took every opportunity he could to be alone with her, mainly in the morning since his father was always the last ready.
Seated at the kitchen's table, Harry welcomed the plate his mother gave with a pat on the head.
"You are going to Janus's office today?"
Harry nodded, munching on a buttered toast. "I thought you weren't supposed to go back?" Lily probed.
"He wants to see me one last time before my birthday."
"Do you need someone to pick you up at the Leaky Cauldron?"
"Nah… I'll be fine." Harry waved dismissively.
"Okay, sweetie." Lily said gently as she gave him a peck on the top of the head.
"Where are the girls?" Harry wondered aloud as he prepared to leave.
"Sleeping, Harry. It's summer, they don't have class. Those two weeks without seeing Janus must have messed with your perception of time, honey."
Harry gave a tiny smile. Rose was going to a muggle private school and Daisy as a six-year-old had received and invitation to the Purebloods and Lords' School of Etiquette as previously agreed upon with Mr. Ackerley. Two very different schedules, mixed with his owns, made it so that Harry never knew which sister to wake up or even if one had to be.
James Potter made his entrance in the kitchen, his Auror red robes in the same state as his hair.
"James! You could at least pretend to change!" Lily reprimanded. "Sometimes I wonder why I bother cleaning your robes."
"Sorry Lily flo-" James started before being stopped by a yawn. "-flower. Didn't ear the alarm, I'm running late"
Harry didn't waste a second and threw on his cloak, leaving his half-drunk tea on the table. "See you later mum. Father."
Swiftly, Harry raced to the chimney and threw a fistful of Floo Powder, arriving in Janus Corporation Headquarter. The only person present was Reginal Johnson. The half-blood wizard was a mix between a guard and a receptionist. Kicked out of the Auror Corps for sleeping on the job and recuperated by Janus, this man was the only face ever seen by strangers.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter." He greeted.
Harry nodded as he passed by. Janus Corporation had been a shadow to hide Harry and his actions. However, as time went on, there were more and more people aware of his existence and wondering about his connections and goals. To appease them, protect his secrets and maintain his cover, Harry had created a corporation that rose to become an empire. An unforeseen consequence of the events, it did, however, serve the purpose of explaining his politic dealings. Furthermore, Harry's knowledge of future events, be it in the Wizarding World or the Muggle one, enabled him to hire the right people, to fund the right researches and thus to provide his contemporaries with new products.
Harry knew he would never be really okay with his upbringing, but there was some things wizards never encountered, like marketing, advertising (lots of it, not just here and then) and last, but certainly not least, monopolies. He knew of all these things and had had to allocated some of his study time to business, muggle way.
As he crossed the circular white room with one single door toward Diagon Alley, Harry couldn't help himself and wonder what his friends would say if they knew how much of the Wizarding and Muggle Worlds he had changed.
He stopped in front of four panels of glass arranged to create a box. He put one hand on a panel that disappeared in small waves. Harry stepped in. The glass reappeared and the projection of a numerical pad appeared on the inside. Harry pressed a specific series of numbers. Another numerical pad appeared asking for a password Harry entered without missing a bit. And with that, Harry Potter activated the TransMat.
A mix between the Floo-Network, Portkeys and Vanishing cabinets, the Transfigurating Matrix was Harry's hope to a better solution than fireplaces and Floo.
To the outside eye, Harry lost his tangibility as he became transparent, then a ghost, and finally disappeared. Outside of Janus office, another cabinet of glass was empty before a ghost of Harry Potter appeared, then a transparent Harry Potter, and finally the genuine guy stepped out just in front of Remus's desk.
"Hello Harry. How was your week off?"
"Boring as expected." Harry said in his beard.
"You just need a hobby." Remus said gently.
"That must be it." Harry replied with laughter in his voice.
"Come on Remus, we got work to do." He added as he entered his office.
Harry calmly discarded his cloak and hung it. With careful and well-thought gestures, he opened a big can that was previously attached to his belt and emptied it in a terrarium. The small figure of Ilana extended itself and slithered in the enclosed terrarium and found a satisfying place where she continued the only action she ever did: digestion.
With a sight Harry dropped in his armchair and popped a Lemon Drop as Remus entered several crates of files in Levitation around him.
"We've got to cover all of those?" Harry nearly wined.
"Unless, you'd rather not, but those are all the up-to-date files of the green and gold folders."
"And we haven't even covered the red ones."
"There is an extra color?" Remus exclaimed.
"Oh yes, Remus. And you are going to be in charge of all of them by tonight. So I hope you are ready!" Harry answered with a grin.
Remus Lupin was having a headache.
Very few people knew him, and those that did really didn't like him. A werewolf's life is not like many thought it was. They believe everything is fine apart for the days of full moon. It was soooo no true.
An identified werewolf was protected against murder, since unregistered werewolves are considered as dangerous uncontrollable beasts, but they have to always be reachable. Like the muggles liberated after sexual crimes, registered werewolves are obligated to indicate their domiciliation, living them open to attack since no Aurors would answer a distress call and no judicial body would believe a beast made to kill humans against an upstanding wizard.
Like Jews in the 1930s and 40s in Germany, a lot of places were forbidden to werewolves. Obviously, a sign wasn't enough since one doesn't have to proclaim their status, but a door handle made of silver was the norm in the majority of the Wizarding shops.
Like black people in the 1800s in the United States, a werewolf was not allowed any civil right. Like a gay person in the current world, a werewolf was not allowed to marry.
In short, as a werewolf Remus was a nobody more likely to be murdered than die in an accident; which says a lot considering the number of dangerous things a werewolf has to do just to eat everyday.
Remus was thankful, each day, for Harry Potter: Harry never looked down at him, there was never a derogatory comment, and there wasn't even the traditional fear wizards have in their eyes. But Remus was really starting to worry.
Who was Harry Potter?
Especially what did he want?
He understood Harry was going to Hogwarts in a month, and had to secure his work of several years before going, but the amount of information Remus had to learn in the past week had been enormous and there were others files he had never even heard of! Him, the personal secretary of Harry couldn't even tell what the young man was doing. Furthermore, the number of things to look after was so important, Remus was starting to wonder if Harry wasn't… well… a bit on the loony side.
And there were also those diverging points between them, always presents, always reminding him the truth: he was a part of the machine. And the brain was Harry. That was terrifying.
"Okay. Nintendo wants to know if we increase our holdings or remain as we are."
"Remain as we are?" Harry erupted. "We provided them with the rights to Tetris and invested heavily in the production of the Game Boy. Why would we invest more?"
"According to Mr. Yamauchi, the launch of the Super Nintendo – the Occidental version of the Super Famicom - in North America is going to be a huge success and since a majority of our assets in the muggle world are in transportations and retail, he figured that…"
"All right, all right." Harry acknowledged. "Tell him, I want a proposition in shares of the company, as well as a model working in the UK."
"Ok. Kenneth Lay called too."
"Who's that?" Harry asked clearly puzzled.
"Enron's CEO"
"Ah. Listen Remus, this company is a good way to make money but the guy is shifty. I don't know what the deal with him is but I think we'll cut ties with them in the close future. Do what you think is best as long as we get totally clear of their clutches when we want to, ok?"
"All right. The ICC" In front of Harry's face, Remus elaborated. "The Integrated Circuit Card? Gemplus International?"
"Ah yes, the French guy. What again? We own 25 percent of it. I hope they don't want more cash."
"No, they just wanted us to know, they have a working prototype and will be ready to mass produce in a few months." Remus explained. "I have to ask, you think it's worth it? I mean Credit Cards do not exist in the wizarding world, why do you care?"
"I care because I know it is going to be a success and I want to have a hand in everything I can."
"But why?"
"Because, the Wizarding World might not remain a hospitable place for us."
"I don't understand Harry."
"Do you wish you did, Remus? Would you like to know what could happen to render the Wizarding World uninhabitable for the both of us?"
"I'm… I'm not sure, it's that simple" Remus stammered. "I think it would be best for the both of us to forget I even asked."
"Sure." Harry reclined as he asked. "We're done?"
"For the muggle part. Do you want to stop for lunch?"
"No" Harry told Remus before yelling "Kreacher!"
The old and decrepit Elf appeared instantly, his strength seemingly intact despite his physical state that was close to corpse's state.
"Bring us lunch for both. Preferably steaks. One Medium and one Rare." Harry ordered.
Turning to Remus he asked "Friday's Full Moon still impacting you?"
"Nope. Medium it is."
Kreacher nodded vigorously, his ears flapping around him, before Disappearing.
Remus looked from the vacant spot to Harry back and forth a few time before saying what was on his mind.
"Isn't it a bit dangerous to ask Kreacher of all Houses Elves for food? I mean… I'm sure your orders are good and all, but isn't he supposed to hate your guts since you killed the Black Matriarch?"
"Yes, he was." Harry said, staring past Remus. "It's good now though."
"Would you mind explaining how?" Remus crossed his arms: a negative answer just wouldn't cut it. Harry nodded as his mind brought him back to a week earlier, just before his lunch with Nicholas.
..ooOoo..
Harry Potter was clearly not in a good mood. Obviously nothing of it reflected on the eternally blank face he wore as Janus, but one close to him could discern his fury. For starters, Harry Apparted to his office, something he just didn't do anymore what with the TransMat and the need for public relations.
Unusually, but not unexpectedly, Remus was missing from his desk. Harry had left him where he was: dealing with a seamstress trying to reap them off on Accromentula Silk.
The Research and Development section of Janus Corporation was very similar to the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic: nobody really knew what was going on. There were a couple differences though. For one, even those working in Research and Development didn't know what they were supposed to do, they just followed the detailed outlines provided by Janus. Secondly, there was no head of this department, it was under the direct control of Janus himself.
One thing only remained constant, the purpose of those researches: Time. Harry had had plenty of it, and now was trying his hardest to use it in spells.
Harry had used the opportunity of the haggling to escape from Remus's presence and check on the progresses in person. It proved to be his undoing, or at least a good mistake on his part.
The visit had started well enough. Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Curses, all went very well. Plans were on schedule if not head, people were dedicated and everything was under control, but for one small division: Mind Arts.
Janus had been researching the ability to use the memories of a person even when not in their presence: a sort of mental link like those used by Hit Wizards, but with a slight derivative. Once the link was established, caster and 'recipient's' could access each others' memories, however Hit Wizards only used it to communicate, not to use someone else's memories.
As Janus walked purposely toward his office, his body started to shift back to its natural size, that of a ten-year-old. With a snarl, Harry flicked his wand and his clothes were exchanged, from Janus's Battle Robes to a tailored wizarding suit.
"Can't believe it" Harry muttered through his clenched teeth as he massaged his temples.
The slightly off-balanced wizards dealing with Mind Arts had not found any other way to test this new spell than trying it on Harry himself. The Boy-Who-Lived(-Twice) had thankfully escaped the place before his eyes could meet anybody else's. His plan was to seclude himself in his office until the magic faded, since there was no-way to know what would happen, at this time of the development, if he did establish a link with someone.
With a growl Harry opened the door of a small study on the side of his office. The overwhelming smell of reptiles assaulted his nostrils for an instant, but soon enough he got accustomed and entered, closing the door.
Nothing had changed since his last passage and that was for the best considering Harry was the only one to know about this room. There was no window to bring air or light, Harry had gotten used to cast Air Replenishing Charms while being lit by candles. A desk and stool were the only furniture but for a numerous number of knick-knacks. Broken terrariums, scalpels, scissors, or glasses littered the floor. In fact the only things that looked remotely cared for were a journal composed of hundred of stuffed notes and a small egg seemingly able to resist gravity on its own.
Janus Corporation dealt with many things and the end result of the R&D department weren't always very legal. However, Harry could not actively disregard the law. As such, the less legal research was conducted by himself, in this small study.
He was no fool. He knew his first fight (if one could call it that way) against the Basilisk had been a situation that likely would not present itself again. The sword of Gryffindor was in his trunk for example, and Dumbledore would probably watch Neville Longbottom, meaning Harry had next to no chance at all to receive help from Fawkes this time.
In order to guarantee his survival, Harry had broken a nearly sacred law: he had toads hatch hen eggs.
The first basilisk taught him many things in the several minutes it was allowed to live after hatching.
Harry now knew a basilisk had no venom at birth, even though fangs and venom pouches were already developed. He also knew spiders didn't flee from a young basilisk who in turn was truly scared of roosters even at birth, something like a genetic memory.
The second hatchling taught Harry that not closing the door could deal to loads of problems (like explaining to a six-year-old why her part Kneazle cat would not be coming back).
The third hatching proved that its gaze could kill even at birth.
The fourth one was, like the two following, used to determine if Harry's protective Charm designed especially for basilisks' gazes worked and protected people. Two hens were instantly killed, the third lived long enough to end up on the Potters dining table.
As for the final and last egg, it was still there in a Suspension Field, waiting for the time of its hatching.
Maybe it was fate, maybe it was bad luck, but in the end Harry believed it was his stupidity that led him to drop his wand on the table. At the contact, half a dozen sparkles flew out of the tip as is common when one doesn't let the magic flow entirely through the focus. A tiny burst of Harry's magic, that's exactly what exited the wand. Just a tiny burst, but more than enough to upset the delicate equilibrium of the Suspension Field.
A small noise drew Harry's attention back to his wand, then toward the cracking egg. It probably could have ended there, but the basilisk miniscule head was already out and staring straight toward Harry.
Before a blinding headache exploded in his brain, the wizard barely had the time to formulate one thought: Fuck!
Then darkness.
Harry awoke in the bed of his little infirmary, his hands tightly bandaged, his eyes highly sensible, a hunger to eat a mammoth and a wet and scaly thing on the sternum.
What happened? How did I get out of there?
"Harry Potter stay still." A gruff and rusty voice said.
Harry identified it instantly.
"Kreacher?"
"Master?"
"What happened?"
"Master get in an accident with snaky. But Harry Potter great wizard. You is fighting with all strength even magic from Kreacher. You did not kill Kreacher or snaky."
"So?"
"Kreacher feel Master weaken. Kreacher understand Master was protecting him because Kreacher saw."
"What did you see?" Harry asked, panic griping his heart.
"Kreatcher see truth! Kreacher see Master fighting for wizards. Master fighting like Master Regulus. Kreacher is bad Elf".
"What? Why are you saying that?"
"Kreacher not believe you good Master. Kreacher know you better Master than Mistress."
"How would you know this?"
"Kreacher strong! Kreacher know deceit. Kreacher see Master doing. Master is great wizard. Master know Ministry no good, but Master kind."
"What are you rambling about? How did I get here?"
"Kreacher found Master and snaky. Brought you to infirmary. Kreacher heals Master."
"Why?"
"Because without Master, Kreacher is useless. Without Master, wizards is useless. Without Master, wizards dead."
"How could you know this Kreacher?"
"Kreacher saw!"
"Saw what? Where?"
Kreacher pointed to between his eyes with his long finger, his pupils crossing and dilating. "Kreacher saw here."
"You saw some of my memories?"
"Yes Master."
"And you decided I was a worthy Master I guess, since I never ordered you to take care of me in any form."
"Yes Master."
"Am I close to death or are you less decrepit Kreacher?"
"Kreacher is strong! Magic from Master make Kreacher strong!"
"You still look old though."
"Kreacher strong!" The House-Elf screeching voice manage to rattle on Harry's already pounding head, snapping his fingers didn't help either, except for the light lunch that Appeared in front of Harry; the wet and scaly thing was moved to a terrarium where Harry could identify it as a new-born basilisk, and Harry bandages Disappeared to reveal unblemished skin.
Harry blinked. Twice.
"Kreacher sit on the bed."
The words had barely left his mouth, the old House-Elf popped and was seated cross-legged in front of him.
"Ok. Hold still, and open your eyes."
"Yes Master."
Harry didn't reply and delved into the Elf's mind. It took much more time than with a regular human being but Harry managed to reach the memories transferred to Kreacher.
The House-Elf was quite clever if not intelligent Harry noticed. With the very few strands of past events it had witnessed, the small being had managed to reach a somewhat correct conclusion.
Kreacher had 'seen' Harry killing the 1,000 years old basilisk. Saw him fake genuine interest when talking with Dolores Umbridge and saw the state of the Wizarding World during the few weeks of total domination from the Dark Lord. Apparently he also saw a flash of Harry's intentions rather than memories as his beliefs on werewolves were absent: before he just hated them, now it seemed like he waited to see what he should think.
"Right" Harry muttered as he exited his House-Elf's mind.
"Now Kreacher, I want you to think about what you saw in the study." Harry raised his hand. "Shhhh… Don't tell me. Just think about it, ok?"
Kreacher nodded his ears flapping around him, then suddenly went still as Harry plunged inside his mind once again.
Pain. Darkness. Pain and darkness, this is what Harry felt before being forcedly Apparated from what dark recess of the world he was in to his study. Suddenly everything appeared so big, so excessively big that it was useless.
He saw himself staring straight at the basilisk. None of them moved, and through Kreacher's eyes, he could see a link of blue magic between their minds, as green energy poured from the basilisk to Harry and silver energy from Harry to the snake.
It lasted for so long Harry figured it was all Kreacher had seen, when suddenly, the silver energy stopped flowing. Harry saw his body double over, but his eyes stayed connected to the snake and torrents of silver energy started to pull again when Kreacher casually pressed a stone on Harry's Suppression Bracelet.
White hot flames exited his hands, burning the desk, the egg, and his flesh. The basilisk's energy finally diminished and then stopped. The white hot flames were around it, entirely covering it, but the snake seemed unarmed.
At last, the link between them snapped from the Basilisk's end. Harry took a step back as if struck, before taking a deep breath and screaming as hard and as loudly as he could.
Kreacher put him in a Body Bind, stopping his wild trashing around. Strangely, the basilisk moved to the side of the table and let itself fall on Harry body, before curling itself and falling asleep.
Harry carefully exited the House-Elf's mind and pondered what he knew.
"How long was I out?"
"Two hours Master"
"Does anyone know about this?"
"Yes Master?"
"Who?"
"Ministry man. Very big, very mean. With scars everywhere."
"Mad-Eye?"
"Yes Master."
"Well… At least, there is that I suppose…"
Harry pinched the bridge of his nose for several instant.
"Ok. Kreacher, get me some writing utensils and something to drink this taste is horrible."
"Taste? Kreacher not give potions to Master. Only Paste for burns."
Harry opened his mouth and took a breath in, intending to-
It wasn't a taste but a sort of… Like a new information he never had before… Sort of flexing a muscle you didn't know. Harry could see a difference there. As he sucked in the air, he could feel hundreds of different data appearing to him. Data he had no hope of understanding… That is, until he mechanically took a quill offered by Kreacher who, having just come back, was behind him.
"Wait… How did I know you were there?" Harry opened his mouth again, breathing deeply. Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide and slapped his forehead.
". Get me Healer Rasiac A.S.A.P."
"Yes Master"
..ooOoo..
"Wait a second. Are you telling me, that you, Harry 'Paranoid' Potter, trust your House-Elf because he used Legilimency on you?"
Harry slowly nodded. "Ye-… No."
"Then why?"
"Because I never receded any of my previous orders to him anyway, and that includes doing everything in his power to prevent attacks on me, my family, and my associates."
"Fair Enough. Well… If it is good enough for you, who am I to question it? Anyway, what's the catch?"
"Catch?"
"Come on Harry! You have been mentally linked to a basilisk, managed to survive its gaze, and now you know it's female and has a name. Let's not even talk of how Mad-Eye knew to come or what Sofia Rasiac found as a downside."
"Right… Awfully chatty today Remus, ain't we?"
The werewolf at least felt a bit sheepish at the remonstrance, but in the absence of any warning tone and since Harry seemed willing, he pushed.
"Back to the catch?"
"Hmmm… Yes. Well, it seems I created another paradox. Apparently animals and humans aren't supposed to be able to link mentally. The Ministry being quite paranoid with the things it doesn't understand perfectly well and control, Mad-Eye was sent personally. Since there is no official reason for an inquiry, Alastor being retired, the Ministry can claim it doesn't care or didn't even know about it. But truth be told, I only feel alright because it was Moody."
"How is it any better?"
"Come on Remus, you've been there for years. Who's the person you've seen the most beside me?"
"Point taken. What about the medical check-up?"
Suddenly Harry was silent, something that instantly put Remus on edge. The young man got up and stared absently at Diagon Alley though the window.
"That didn't go as well."
"So bad?"
"Apparently, many changes occurred. The majority to Ilana, but I got my fair share too."
"Can I ask wh-?"
"The brain for starters. Seems Ilana's got larger cerebral hemispheres like mammal, I got a new organ linked directly to my brain: a Jacobson Organ"
"Is it dangerous?"
"According to Sofia, if doesn't evolve, no problem, I'll just be able to smell with my tongue more accurately than I can see with my now perfect vision."
"And if it does evolve?"
"Then I'll get rid of the problem, even if every instinct of my being screams at the very thought of it."
"Anything else?" Remus asked after the shock of hearing the planned execution of the first 'familiar' had worn off.
"Ilana's heart isn't right anymore. She's got a four chambered heart."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing. Apart maybe for the fact that snakes have three chambered hearts, explaining their inactivity."
"I thought it was due to them being cold blooded?"
"Not entirely, and even then, it seems Ilana creates heat with her food."
"Okaaaaaay…. First, how could you notice that in five days? Second, isn't it how snakes get warmer?"
"I noticed because it seems I instinctively know everything about her and no, snakes do not derive energy from their food. But Ilana, apparently."
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing. Dumbledore bought Alastor's report and agreed to let her come with me to Hogwarts. I hope she'll be able to learn enough to know how to behave around students."
"How could she? She's a snake. Not the most intelligent type of animals."
"This is where the larger cerebral hemispheres come in play. They're supposed to allow for learning. Since snakes lack it, they're stupid, but it seems I got stuck with the one and only snake that will ever be able to quote Kant." Harry paused before dead-panning "Lucky Me."
"Why did it happen? I mean, Healer Rasiac must have had an explanation, no?"
"Apparently, the link tried to establish itself, but it was developed fro humans. Since Ilana isn't it tried to modify our brains so that we could match. Bigger heart to irrigate the brain, and a brain closer to that of mammal for Ilana, and a Jacobson organ for me."
"How are you dealing with it?"
"Well enough. You should have seen me last Friday and Saturday. I spent a fortune in ASDA, just to be able to know the 'new' smell of food. It was strange really, but quite informative. I am ok now, though."
"You are not hiding something else about this, are you?"
Harry laughed softly as he turned around and went back to his chair. "Thank you for the concern Remus. No, I'm not hiding anything from you. Except maybe how unsettling it is for me each time I open my mouth and feel like I know what is around and where it is located, even in total darkness, I checked."
"I am sorry Harry."
"Don't, because I'm not. I screw up big time with this experimentation, twice. I am lucky to be alive, and I know it. I'll deal with damage control when the other shoe drops, if it ever does. Now, where were we?"
"Wizarding state of business."
"Right. Let's do this."
Five hours later, it was a truly exhausted Remus Lupin that asked the question he had been dreading since the beginning of the meeting.
"The Red Files Harry?"
Harry's head snapped back to stare at Remus.
"You can handle it?"
"Of course I can!"
"Quit the indignant tone Remus. I am not going to tell you what the aims are, but I can put you in charge of those files too if you want. You will have to accept not understanding what they are for. You will have to deal with me being angry for a spell I can't use like I want to but does what I asked. You will have-"
"Spit it out already!"
"Very well Remus."
Harry opened his drawer and dropped seven red files on his desk.
"Remus, those are not open to discussion. You can fuck up everything you want, but if you don't make it with those seven cases, I'm afraid I will have to let you go."
"That bad?"
"Worst Remus, if I tell you what is inside of those files, you can only leave in a body bag."
Remus swallowed the lump in his throat. Harry was many things but not a violent man and certainly not someone who made threats he didn't intend to follow… The werewolf's gaze hardened.
"I can do it. Hit it."
"Very well." Harry opened the first file and turned it so that Remus could read it as he made a quick summary.
"Dark Arts. Three specific curses. The first is supposed to age as much as the caster wants. Nasty curse since getting older of a hundred years in a second is going to kill you. Don't even let me start on the possibility to rejuvenate with the Counter-Curse. It's a derivative of a Potion so you might want to check with the Potion Master."
A small laughter escaped Harry's lips at Remus's scowl.
"Don't you worry he doesn't like you anymore than that either. The third curse is either the Counter-Curse to a specific Rotting-Curse. You've got the specificities here" Harry indicated a diagram. "Or, a Rotting Curse with the same effects but that can be lifted at will."
"Those are…"
"Dark Arts?"
"Yes!"
"Though. Second file. Potions. The Potion Master is currently brewing Polyjuice and testing it as much as possible to try and get a longer active period. I also want him able to disguise potions in my Lemon Drops. Later, he'll brew a batch of the 'Bélier Ténébreux' potion. But we have years for that."
"What is this potion?"
"You do not need to know Remus."
Harry ignored the growls as he opened the third file.
"Charms. I want that A.S.A.P. It's a modified version of the Memory Charm, but with a time delay on it. I've help as much as I could, but since I know nothing about timing in spells…"
"Harry, those Researches are…"
"Illegal? Over the top? Totally ludicrous?"
"Yes!"
"Though!"
"Harry you can't always get away with it by saying 'Tough' each time you don't like my comments."
"I don't think you understand me Remus. The whole purpose of this company is to be able to develop those without having half of the wizarding population breathing down my neck. I don't care if you don't like it. I don't care if it's immoral. I. Don't. Care. All I care about is success. Got it?"
Remus seemed on the brink of doing something he'd regret, so Harry made a quick exit.
"The other files do not need you for the moment. We'll see how you deal with those. Do not forget to drop this at Ollivander's tonight" Harry said gently as he placed his wand back in its original box. "I'm going home now. Remus, you are officially in charge of Janus Corporation.
"I've always been in charge of Janus Corporation Harry. Now I'm in charge of your whole project. That's why you didn't want to let me in. Those files are your real baby. No offense to Iraka."
"Ilana!"
"Whatever."
"Listen, tomorrow is my birthday, and I'm supposed to do my shopping with Mum. If she's in a good mood, we might swing by."
"I'm not sure…"
"Unless you'd rather tell me how you ended up beneath my crib?"
"Are you ever going to let that one drop?"
"Never Remus. You will tell me."
"Is that a threat?" Remus asked, his Alpha stance awakening in an instant.
"No Remus. It's a fact. In six years, you will tell me or I'll force it out of you."
"Why in six years?"
"Because it is the day I die."
..ooOoo..
Harry slid the last yards leading from the stairs to the kitchen, stabilizing himself by grabbing the door's framing, he brightly announced himself.
"Hellllooooooooooo Potters!"
"I'm afraid it's only 'hello mum' sweetie."
Harry's face didn't move. Outwardly, he looked as he always did: like he knew everything before even seeing it. Inwardly, he was saddened. Of course, he had never expected James Potter to care about anyone, but the girls weren't there either. Then again, he could hardly fault a nine and six years olds kids.
"Happy birthday honey." Lily Potter said as she put a plate overflowing with pancakes and maple syrup in front of her son.
"Mum… You are not really expecting me to eat everything, are you?"
"No sweetie, I just hope you'll like them."
Okay… Am I really good or is she that bad at lying? he wondered.
"Harry…"
Said wizard dropped his fork with noise in his plate and sighed. "I knew it!"
"What is it mum?"
"I can't come with you today."
"What? Are you fucking with me?" he snapped before recoiling when he felt his left cheek burn.
"You watch your tone and your language with me young man!" Lily angrily told him, her right hand still raised and extended.
"Did you just slap me?" Harry asked aloud, clearly surprised. "I don't… I don't think you ever did it…"
"You were never disrespectful before either."
Harry slowly raised his eyes to meet his mother's. "You're kidding right?"
"I don't include your father, since you took my place in always putting him back to his place."
"Still, mum… We planned this day in advance three months ago. Even Janus wanted to spend the day with me. I wanted to be with you, I wanted us to be… just us. You never have time to spend with me anymore…"
"I'm sorry sweetie" Lily said as she warped her arms around her son's frame. His head found a position in the crook of her neck, and suddenly she felt wetness as tears were soaked in her robes. Somehow, she couldn't help herself anymore and tears fell freely on her cheeks.
Harry himself couldn't believe it! He hadn't cried in years, and here he was on his eleventh birthday, wetting his mother shoulder because he couldn't spend a day with her! What a humiliation! For the first time of his life since he knew of magic, Harry addressed a small prayer to whatever deity was out there, asking Him/Her to make sure such an occurrence would not be included in any text that might tell his story in the future.
With a sniff, mother and son released each other and wiped their faces clean.
"Dad will take you. I specifically ordered him to be nice for your birthday, so do not hesitate to threaten with telling me if he isn't."
"Mum, are you really expecting me to look at him in the eye and say 'I'll tell mum'?"
Lily seemed to thing for a second before nodding energetically. "You bet!"
Harry laughed in spite of himself. "You'd better have a great excuse and a brilliant bribe."
"I'm sorry to say the excuse is not so great Harry. I have to work, nothing more, nothing less. As for the bribe, what do you want?"
"A Nimbus 2000"
"Harry…"
"Please?" Harry asked halfway through a whine, widening his eyes and letting his chin and lips shake a bit. "Pwetty please? With a cherry on top?" Come on, nobody can resist puppy eyes.
"Fine. But no trying it until you are in Hogwarts."
"I know I know. I am not allowed to fly a broomstick until I had training at Hogwarts. All of this for a miserable toy broom I fell from nearly ten years ago. Don't you think it's a bit harsh?"
"You make the rules when you get to be a father, in he mean time, I make them."
"Someone talked of me?" James Potter asked as he entered the kitchen.
The poor Auror had never realized there was nothing better to cheer mother and son than getting under his skin. In unison they answered "No.", just to see his face loose the tiny smile he often wore. This day was no exception, and James looked like a dear caught in the light.
"Ah… What the subject then?"
"You are buying me a Nimbus 2000, father."
"Says who?" James returned, astonished at his son's gal.
"Us." Lily and Harry said, indicating each other.
"Lily Flower?"
"He won't fly until Hogwarts James."
"You really want a broom Harry? I can make it you birthday gift if you want."
"I do not remember asking you for anything, father."
James rolled his eyes and exhaled loudly. "You are such a drama queen, Harry."
"If you say so, father." Harry returned neutrally. He gave a quick hug to his mother and went to the chimney where he donned his cloak before waiting with the patience that now characterized him.
Ten seconds after his cloak was fastened he was already hitting the ground in rhythm with his feet. Five seconds later, he was already beside himself. "You're coming or what?"
"You could at least have the decency to let me finish breakfast" James claimed as he showed up, a half-eaten toast in one hand, the other half eaten or wasted in crumbles on his robes.
"You could at least have had the decency to wish me a happy birthday" Harry returned fiercely. "That being said, I think I'd go with just clean robes."
James checked his clothes, before a chuckle erupted from his belly. "Yes, yes. I'll clean it."
"Please, hurry. We are late."
"Do we have somewhere to be? Is there a girlfriend I should know about?"
"There is nothing you should know. Mum cannot take me, so I'm settled with you. The day gets gloomier by the second. I believe it would be best to get it over with quickly."
James sighted. "Pull it out, for Merlin's pants" the man muttered in his beard.
"I'm sorry father. Were you referring to a stick of some sort?"
James became red beat. "Hmmm… I didn't believe you'd hear that."
"I will pass over the fact that such comment should not be directed toward ones' children to point out that this is the pot calling the kettle black."
James sighed. "None of your sisters will ever enter an apprenticeship!"
"Refusing to sail, stop your ship from sinking, not from conceptual errors."
"Never heard this one before."
"I made it just for you. Both in meaning and simplicity."
James Potter could feel the blood rushing to his face. In order to save himself from a certainly already lost battle, he waved his wand, cleaning his robes and sending his remaining toast to the kitchen.
"Ok, let's go" He said as he grabbed his cloak.
"You go first. You are unable to step outside the Floo correctly."
Wisely, James kept quiet and threw a pinch of Floo-Powder, yelling 'Diagon Alley'.
Harry stepped outside of the Floo-Network as if nothing had happened. A few steps away, his father was picking himself up.
"Hello Mr. Potter, are you here for breakfast? It's on the house."
Harry's head turned to stare at Tom's toothless face.
"Sure, why not?"
"I don't think he was talking to you Harry."
"Actually, I was and you are?"
James faced Tom fully.
"Ah… Mr. Potter Senior, I'd wager?"
"You are correct. However we do not have time for breakfast."
Tom made a noise in the back of his throat and pointed to a booth. James gave it a glance before swiveling around abash. Harry was already calmly seated smiling brightly to the help Tom had hired for the holidays as she served him a steaming hot mug of coffee.
"Harry!" James hissed as he crossed the room with the biggest steps he could manage.
"Yes father?"
The Auror stopped for a second there. He could comment about accepting candy from strangers, but this was Tom and the Leaky Cauldron, hardly a hazardous situation. He figured he could object to his eleven-year-old-son drinking coffee or even accepting an offer without consulting him first; then again, he knew it would serve no purpose. Harry would whine, growl, threaten and in the end he would be drinking coffee and eating this breakfast, courtesy of Tom, without a care about his father's opinion like he had been doing for the past years.
James let himself drop in front of his son, motioning for the waitress to pour him a mug of coffee too.
"You could at least have the decency to let me talk before making a decision for both of us." The remark seemed useless as Harry didn't even acknowledge it. Finally after several minutes he locked eyes with his father.
"I was offered breakfast by a man I know well-enough. He knows it's my birthday. It would be extremely rude to refuse it, especially after using his fireplace to Floo here. As for the booth, it was the only one empty with a direct view on both doors. Do you think I should have waited?"
The question hung in the air for an instant before Harry continued.
"I could have, but you would have offended Tom and/or we would have ended with a place where we wouldn't be able to see anything in case of an emergency."
"What type of emergency?" James Potter asked with a tone akin to contempt.
"Oh… I don't know. What about a fire?"
James made to answer but their table was suddenly filled with food.
"That's a breakfast?"
"It is my birthday after all, and I eat here often enough for them to know how much I consume."
James didn't comment as he pocked his poached eggs.
"I prefer them scrambled."
"To bad for you, I like them poached. But look, lucky you, we like bacon the same way."
"True." A smile lit the Potter patriarch face as he started to gorge himself with food.
"Father."
"Yeff?" James answered his mouth still full of greasy bacon.
Harry made a disgusted face but hid quickly enough, he wasn't fast enough to hide from his father however.
"I understand your need for food since you are obviously growing. Horizontally. But, could you please chew it? I went to great pain to be identified as someone well-educated and I would hate your appalling table manners to reflect poorly on me."
James saw red. He was going to –
"Or on my behavior around you today."
James swallowed quickly before eating at a much more sedate pace. He slowly shook his head. This wasn't going as well as he thought it would. The father-son bonding day he had hoped for was really not going according to plan. Actually, now that he thought about it, any plan including Harry went very well, until Harry was included. Like this day for instance: he had managed to get Lily's day off canceled, he had managed to calm his wife, but that was it. Harry was going to be the death of him.
Speaking of Harry, the boy was still eating but his eyes often darted to a space James couldn't check without being too obvious.
"I am watching Quirinus Quirrell." Harry explained under the inquisitive gaze of his father. "He was the Muggle Studies Professor, but rumors are he will be our Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. I really hope not though. The guy is terrified of his own shadow."
James nodded and was spared an answer as Rubeus Hagrid crossed the passage for Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron before carefully lowering himself in front of the counter.
"Gimme a little pick-me-up Tom. I hate them Gringotts carts."
"Don't we all?" The bartender returned.
"Aye… Worst are those littl' buggers and their 'One speed only' comment."
"Sure is."
Harry carefully cleaned his mouth with his napkin and emptied his mug.
"I believe we should start with the Trunk Shop father."
James blinked before hastily getting up. "Sure. Let's go"
The Auror bolted outside. Harry shook his head and sighed. Several coins ended up on the table to cover James's breakfast and the waitress's tips. "And I am supposed to be the kid…" he muttered as he followed his father through the archway.
Like twelve years before, Harry took a good look at the Alley. The first time it was amazement, this one he was critically checking the differences, and what differences!
For a brief instant, Harry felt his own heart beat increase, there were so many of them!
Ninety-five percent of the shops had a small, nearly inconspicuous golden sign next to their name or ensign. A small circle with two faces separated by a lightning bolt. Janus's symbol.
It was one thing for Harry to buy out shoppers, gain control of the production lines or own the buildings of the most renowned street of Wizarding England. It was another to see how far he had gone first hand.
A young boy brushed past Harry. He wasn't wearing traditional robes but the new style Janus had installed: pants, shirt and an outer-robe. Come to think about, half of the population of the alley was wearing new robes, mainly young people, but in any case, enough for Harry to continue dressing himself like he wanted without looking like an oddball.
The visit to the Trunk Shop went easily. Harry didn't really need a new one since he always wore his faithful seven-compartments one Miniatured around his neck, but he did need one for Hogwarts. James had been slightly against buying one with an Expansion Charm and a second compartment, but it had created a discussion about pocket money and how Harry didn't get any allowance. James quickly relented, especially after seeing his son haggle the price for nearly an hour and manage to get a twenty-five percent discount plus his initials (H.J.P.) engraved for free on the dark wooden trunk he had chosen.
The robes were another story. While James had never really cared how his children got dressed at home as long as they were covered enough in relatively good clothes, he couldn't imagine his son wearing those… outrageous new robes in Hogwarts. Harry cut the brewing storm by simply pointing to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions's display. Through it they could see the current customer being fitted. A small boy with almost white blond hair and a pointed face. James head snapped back.
"Maybe Twilfitt and Tatting's?" Harry offered softly.
"Yes, yes. I don't want to see you associating with Malfoys."
"I am afraid I cannot make any promise father, since I do not know what the future holds."
"Get in." James Potter snapped as he opened the door of the shop.
"Mr. Potter" the gerent greeted them with a big smile. "Here for Hogwarts robes?"
"Yes" James answered testily after seeing his son greeted like an old friend and him forgotten for the second time of the day.
"Three set please."
"Of course. Please step up on the footstool so we can take your measurements."
Harry stepped up and silently let the attractive witch do her job as he clearly, yet discreetly, checked her out in the mirror.
"About the shirts?" the gerent asked.
"Half a dozen white. One deep green, one red and one blue."
"Maybe a round ten?"
Harry smiled.
"Very well. A deep mauve then."
"What are you two talking about?" James inquired, his eyes going back and forth between Harry and the gerent.
"The shirts your son will need to wear with his robes, sir."
"No, no, no, no, no. I don't want him to wear those new stuffs. I want traditional full-robes. Black, cotton and that's it!"
The gerent looked lost for a second. He stared at James Potter then gave a quick glance to Harry.
"I am afraid I don't understand Mr. Potter."
"What is it you don't understand? I am paying and I am telling you what I want!"
Harry was having the time of his life. The girl was gorgeous, his father was getting riled up and he had already gotten what he wanted before he had even stepped foot in the store: he owned it, and it didn't provide old-style robes at all only the new ones. He was clearly not going to pay in his shop, so he left his father and the gerent in their heated discussion while he browsed the different materials around with this so pretty brunette.
"I will have two outer robes made of cotton, Anti-staining and Growth percentile Charms on both of them. The third one, with the same charms, I would like it in Accromentula Silk."
"I'm afraid we don't-"
"Do not worry, I would not be asking if I did not know for a fact you have a great quality Accromentula Silk. I am the one who brought it in yesterday." Harry smiled brightly, his dazzling white teeth lighting his face.
"As for the pants, I will have two in cotton and the third one in tinted Green Welsh skin. Tinted black, obviously."
The witch took notes, her eyebrows raising as she mentally computed the price.
"A pair of boots, same thing: Green Welsh skin tinted in black. And another pair of regular trainers. I want five white cotton shirts, the five others in Accromentula Silk. I will take this color, this one, and… these two." Harry continued, casually pulling out and back the samples to let the brunette take the good references. "A regular wizarding hat, no charms so I can Transfigure it. Those gloves in Dragon-skin. And two winter cloaks with Water Repellant Charms, a white gold fastenings. I left them at the counter yesterday too."
"I think we are good." He finally said, stopping by his father.
"No we are not! This shop doesn't make what we want!"
Harry stared dispassionately at his father. "I do not know what you want, but I have what I do want."
A package containing his orders was put on the counter. The gerent took it and offered it to Harry with pleading eyes that said it all: get this guy out of here!
Amused, Harry put the clothes in his trunk amidst his father incoherent ranting.
"Too expensive for you?"
"They say it has already been paid!" James looked at his son with suspicion.
"What? I do not have an allowance. Do not look at me like I have something to do with it."
"Then who?"
Harry pointed to the shop's sign as he left, letting his father finally understand Janus wasn't just his son's master but also a highly successful businessman.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what father?"
"That Janus owns the shop."
"In order to avoid pointing the obvious, I will only warn you when we enter a shop he does not own. How about that?"
"Fine" James growled as he led his son to the astronomy shop.
As the entered, the father couldn't help but ask
"Does he-"
Harry pointed to the sign. Sure enough the golden stylized sign of Janus Corporation was there.
"I don't need those!" a girl's voice screeched.
A fond smile blossomed on Harry's usually expressionless face.
"Think about it, those are used by scholars and have the same information and more so than the beginners' guide. It is the best money can buy."
"I don't need it" the girl repeated before crossing her arms and sulking in a corner.
"You should ease up." Harry offered
"Nobody asked you."
"Maybe not, but I know."
"Know what?"
"Your parents are lost. You are their baby girl, and seeing how you behave you certainly are their only child. Muggleborn if your clothes are anything to go by. You received your letter and your life was turned upside down. Am I right so far?" Harry explained.
"Keep talking" the girl said less aggressively.
"You are going to a school you had never heard about. Your parents know they cannot hope to follow through the struggles you will face in the magical world. They will not be there for you. They will not be able to offer advices nor follow your studies. The only thing they can do is to make sure you have the best furniture money can buy."
"What are you saying?"
"I am saying they are probably as scared as you are if not more."
The girl turned toward her father who had been silent at hearing Harry's explanation. "Really?" she asked in a small voice.
"There is only so much we can do honey."
"I tell you what" Harry offered. "You let your parents and my father buy our stuff here and we'll go to Flourish and Blotts grab our books and find a couple of extra for light reading. Considering the size of the shop we will need time. How does it sound?"
"Sound good to me." The father said after checking where the bookshop was.
"By the way, the name is Potter, Harry Potter. This is my father James Potter."
"Granger, Hermione Granger."
Harry took Hermione by the hand and led her toward the bookshop but was stopped by his father's arm. "Do not stray. I would hate it if something happened to either of you."
Harry swallowed the derogatory comment that came to him, and just shrugged as he pointed to the Janus Corporation's sign, "You really think something could happen to me, in Diagon Alley?"
James Potter stayed speechless long enough for his son to disappear in the crowd, towing his 'new found' classmate.
In the heat of the last day of July, Harry and Hermione walked side-by-side in the Alley. "You should be more respectful of your father." Hermione admonished.
"You are right. However, my father and I have a long history of unresolved issues. I assure you I was very respectful today."
"He is your father. What ever he did it was for your own good even if you didn't like it."
Harry stopped in his tracks and stared at her. She was really bossy. "I am not saying it is what happened, but let's suppose my father sold me so he could be free to do what ever he wanted. Do you think it would be for my own good?"
"No… But it is not a good example since it is not what happened."
"Correction Miss Granger, it is not exactly what happened, but it is unfortunately very close to what occurred."
"What? But that's… that's… sooo…"
"I know. Do not worry, the Wizarding world is not that backward. Human people cannot be sold or bought. At least, legally. Did you get your potion ingredients?"
Hermione seemed a bit lost at the sudden change of subject, however she quickly took hold of herself and showed her purchases from the Apothecary.
"That is not going to cut it." Harry said sharply as he pushed her back in the smelly shop.
It took a few minutes for the children's eyes to adapt to the darkness of the place. Finally Harry spotted the gerent.
"Mr. Potter. A pleasure to see you. Are you here for your Hogwarts furniture?"
"Yes I am. I need two Standard cauldrons in pewter, a size 2 and a size 3. I will also take this set of glass vials. We will need you to change those." Harry threw back Hermione's ingredients on the counter. "and will take two premium sets."
"I am deeply sorry Mr. Potter, I didn't know this young lady was your friend. Had I known…"
Harry waved dismissively. "No need to apologize. Just change it and put all of these on my tab."
Hermione's eyes had grown to the size of saucers. "It is not your father whom you are disrespectful to! It's the entire population!"
"Not really. I personally know nearly all the traders of the Alley, because they work with my master. I do not want to make them loose time on such a week when business is booming, and we have already spent a life-time exchanging pleasantries."
The gerent gave Harry his order. The young wizard lost no time in stuffing all of it in his new trunk. He saw himself out, still leading Hermione around.
"You have a master?"
"Caught on that, did you?"
"You said your father sold you?"
Harry laughed. "No. My father did not sell me to this guy. I have simply entered an Apprenticeship. While it is quite rare for children to do it, it is not unheard of."
"Who is your master then?"
"He is called Janus."
"Never heard of him."
"You will."
All of a sudden, Harry noticed how talkative and cocky he was on this day. Was it because of Hermione? Yes, he definitively thought.
"Let's grab our books." He offered with a cheeky grin as they entered Flourish and Blotts.
Two hours later, a starving Harry Potter took his leave from a Hermione Granger truly engrossed in Apprenticeships for all ages and subjects.
The lunch between father and son was strained. Not that they were angry at each other, but Harry had nothing to say to his genitor and said man was afraid to start an argument with a comment.
Finally, Harry and James Potter reached the door of Ollivander's small shop. Father and son entered the dusty shop. Nothing had changed, be it in his 'first set' of memories or after his 'accident', Harry always remembered the wand shop exactly as it was on this day: quiet, dark, dusty and seemingly stuffed everywhere with wand boxes.
Ollivander was writing something on his register and was thus robbed of his traditional scaring technique. He raised his milky eyes and stared at them. "Good afternoon, Harry. Here for your wand, then? Ah, Mr. Potter, eleven inches, mahogany, rather pliable, was it? I trust you are taking good care of it?"
James nodded as he took out his wand and showed it to the crafter. "Hmmm… It seems you could take a few pointers from your father Harry."
The young wizard was mortified. The way his father understood it this comment was going to be used for years each time they'd argue. The way Harry understood it, Ollivander was reprimanding him. He had taken such a loooot of care of this wand, knowing he'd have to pretend to buy it again. This comment was like a stab to the heart. Then he remembered he wasn't perfect and couldn't be brilliant at everything. However, the following sentence eased his worry a bit.
"You should talk to Janus too. He took excellent care of his focus. Now, which is your wand arm?"
"Right"
Ollivander provided his measurements tape and let it do its thing as he started rummaging through the hundreds of wands available.
As the old crafter pilled boxes on the counter, Harry couldn't help but notice the style of wands Ollivander selected and he knew with the limited knowledge of wands at his disposition that none of them would be right for him. What idea had the wand maker?
"Hmmm… That's enough."
With a startle Harry noticed the measuring tape was measuring his ear lobs. He flushed in front of the craft man's gaze and gripped the wand offered to him. As expected nothing happened. Second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, none provided a single sparkle. The seventh however blew a drawer.
"It's going to take a while." Ollivander said to James Potter. And he wasn't lying.
Two hours later, Harry was fed up, so was his father who strategically offered to go and buy the Nimbus 2000 while Harry found his wand. The instant the man stepped outside of the shop, Ollivander closed it.
"I thought he was never going to leave."
"He remains your father Mr. Potter. I think he genuinely cares about you."
Harry dismissed the comment in a used fashion. "So, why did you need him out of there?"
"Follow me."
Ollivander took Harry in the back of the shop where two armchairs waited for them.
"It is time for me to have a feel for your magic especially since you had this accident. We'll do a second in one year and I'll craft this wand for you before teaching you how to attune more accurately when you'll have integrated both of your cores."
"Ok" Harry sat himself. "I was wondering, would it be difficult for you to make two wands?"
"Not so much, the difficulty would be in making them identical. But if you want me to craft a copy of your customized wand, then yes, I can easily, but it's going to cost you."
"How much?"
"1,000 galleons"
"No way. 50 galleons plus the raw material."
"I can't, in all honesty, go below 700, and even then, I make nearly no money on it."
"Not even in your wildest dreams Ollivanders. I know you will have to close shop for two days after crafting a customized wand, but you do not have so much customers past September 1st. If you make one sell and two creations a day, you're lucky. No. I cannot offer you anything more than 100 raw materials included."
"100 galleons plus the materials I need even if don't use them all."
"Agreed."
"That was quick."
"I own nearly all Apothecaries of England."
"Blast! I knew I shouldn't have tried that."
Ollivander's eyes hardened. "Now, de-activate your bracelets and relax. You'll feel pressurized on all side of your body. It is the norm; make sure not to react too strongly. You will feel my magic all around you, do not fight however uncomfortable it makes you, understood?" Harry nodded. "Let's begin."
Twenty minutes later, Harry Potter was in front of his father to showing up his 'new' thirteen inches ebony wand with a dragon heartstring.
"I forgot to leave you money. I have to go and pay Ollivander before we leave." James Potter started walking purposely toward the shop but his son's voice cut him out and he couldn't help the comment that escaped his lips.
"Janus-"
"I hate that man and his damn Corporation!"
..ooOoo..
Despite his intellect and the advances he provided the Wizarding World with, Harry Potter was not considered a figurehead of his family until several years after the birth of his first-born Hannibal Alexander Potter. The discovery of the child's lineage led to two very violent criminal attempts against the Potters that in turn led to what is known as the 'Potter Fury'. The consequences of those attempts shattered the world before shaping it as we know it today.
Of Conquerors and Conquered. Romulus Leonidas Stevenson. Part I: Harry Potter - Introduction.