Chapter Fourteen - Undefeated?
Harry was reading the morning paper - Chudley Cannons Undefeated! Well, 1-0 is undefeated, he thought, but he also had to admit the win, on the road over the Kestrels, had been impressive. Ginny came in and joined him for breakfast.
"What are you up to today?" she asked him.
"I'll be at the Wizengamot first thing this morning, followed by a meeting at Gringotts, then hopefully a quick lunch with this beautiful redhead I know and love," he answered. "After that, I have an afternoon of playing guinea pig for Hermione scheduled."
"If that redhead you referred to is me, then your schedule is approved - if not, you're going to be delayed while you dig yourself out of a very deep hole," she warned, and Harry leaned over and kissed her.
"It is you, of course. Do I bring food with me, or would you like to meet me in Chudley at the Diner?" She thought about it for a moment, going over her own morning schedule in her head.
"I'll meet you in Chudley," she decided. "If Hermione catches you there early, she'll haul you away to the lab right away." He laughed and agreed to meet her at the Diner they usually went to for lunches at noon.
During the past couple of years, as the damage from the war was repaired, and the lives of Wizards and Witches throughout the world returned to normal, the duties of the members of the Wizengamot moved from constantly dealing with serious issues toward working on social and economic matters that affected the Wizarding World.
The wise old wizard who had so impressed Harry at his first meeting was now the Minster of Magic, having replaced Kingsley after he'd completed his promised year of service. There were only a few minor issues for the group to deal with at this meeting, and the business was quickly taken care of. Harry found that escaping the socializing that came afterward much harder, and so he barely made it to his meeting at Gringotts on time.
Mrs. Weasley, Fleur, and the Goblin account managers had called for a meeting with him today to discuss investment strategy with him. Fleur opened the meeting with a financial update for Harry. He did get regular reports, and so there were no major surprises. When Harry was called in for these meetings, it was usually because the account managers didn't have unanimous decisions about potential investments.
Today there were four investments that different members of the team supported. Fleur started with the 3MP project. The Goblins unanimously opposed it, and Mrs. Weasley hadn't yet made a decision, so Fleur was on her own.
"Harry, I know that you have one of the prototype 3MP's, so I don't need to go in to the details about the product. The bottom line is that I don't think our Goblin friends can relate to the impact this device will have on the teenage Wizards and Witches, and just how big this product can be." Griphook stepped in for a comment.
"Mr. Potter, our concern with the 3MP project isn't actually the potential for sales. We may not understand why anybody would want to stick things on their head and listen to the awful noise teenagers call music, but we do understand that a lot of them would be sold. Our concern is in the potential legal impact to the Marauder company, and thus ultimately to you. The musicians that create the songs this device will play have not given permission to use their songs. We project there would be lawsuits over the issue, since the 3MP would certainly, within a few short years, change the entire music industry."
Fleur continued when Griphook had finished. "I agree we have to work out the problem, and we will, but to begin production, we do require the investment to add the production space at Marauders Institute in Chudley, create the distribution network, advertising, and everything else that needs to be done to get our first major product to market. We can deal with the legal issues as we go along." Harry looked at his mother-in-law for comment, and she shrugged.
"I don't know, Harry. I've read the research with the teens, and everything looks good, but I'm not sure I get what they see in it, and I certainly concur with Griphook's concern about possible legal issues." Harry pulled his player he always carried with him out of a pocket and handed it to her.
"Put the headphones over your ears and ask for your favourite song," he instructed, and Mrs. Weasley did, and listened for a few moments in amazement.
"That's why, Mum," he said as she handed it back to him and he tucked it away again. "The kids can pick their own songs, don't have to listen to the ones they don't like, and don't have commercials like on the wireless." She nodded her agreement. As Harry had been thinking about listening to commercials and the Wizarding Wireless Network, a light bulb went off in his head.
"Fleur, I know we don't want too much leaking out about this invention, but let's set up a meeting with the MRAA (Magical Recording Artists Association) to discuss working out ways that the music artist will still have income from their songs. I personally have three suggestions on how that could be done. First, we could have a 3MP where we sell advertising for each song requested. These players would require the listener to hear a short advertisement before each song is requested, but would be cheaper for people who might not be able to afford to pay for the music. The second would be a player with a small unlimited monthly fee that would be divided among the MRAA artists based on the number of their songs that were requested each month, and finally, a player with a one time purchase fee for each song requested, with unlimited replay." Fleur was taking down notes as Harry was talking.
"I agree this can be worked out. How much investment are we talking about?" Fleur answered. "Fifty million galleons to start, and probably fifty million more over the next two years," she told him, and Harry whistled. He looked quickly over the projections again. They were really impressive, and didn't even take into consideration his own ideas for dealing with selling the music for the players. The upside was just too good to pass up.
"I approve the first fifty million. The last fifty million is conditional on an agreement with the MRAA, and nothing gets sold without that. If we get the whole deal done, this will be our biggest win so far, if not, we'll be out fifty million galleons, so let's make sure we do it right." Harry looked at Fleur and smiled. "I want you to have full control over this phase of the 3MP project, Fleur." She nodded, looking excited about the new challenge.
"What's next?" he asked. Mrs. Weasley had a housing development in Chudley that would help support the growth happening with Marauders Institute. Since the 3MP project had been given the green light, there were no longer any concerns from the Goblins who had been opposed, so Harry approved that project too.
The third proposal was for investment in a Goblin business venture, developed for Goblins. Harry didn't really understand this proposal any more than the Goblins understood why the teenage Witches and Wizards would flock to the stores for the 3MP's. He really only had one question about the whole thing.
"Griphook, do you and the other Goblin account managers believe this will be successful?" he asked, and Griphook nodded. "Very well. Let's go ahead with that project too," he decided.
Finally, they had received an investment request from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. The account managers had decided that any decisions on family investment had to be handled by Harry alone. He knew that Marietta and Cho were now the brains behind the financial side of the operation, while George, and now also Lee, were the creative geniuses and front men for their stores. The girls had put together a ten-year plan for expanding the business into Wizarding communities all over the world. Harry read through their proposal thoroughly, and quickly crunched the numbers.
"Have you all reviewed the proposal?" he asked them, and they all nodded. "They're offering twenty-five percent ownership. It looks to me like we'd need thirty-five percent, and they'd need to hit these sales projections for it to be worthwhile for us." They all nodded again in agreement of his assessment.
"Then counter the offer at thirty-five percent, and I'm willing to take the risk that they'll get the sales," he decided. Harry looked around at his team of managers, and cleared his throat.
"I have one issue I want to go over with all of you before we end this meeting," he told them, looking from face to face as he talked. "You've all been doing an amazing job with my finances, so starting with this coming year, I'm increasing your incentives from one percent to one and a half percent of annual profits. It's obvious that having an incentive works." He smiled at the looks of pleasure and surprise he saw on their faces.
"To that end, I also want the six of you to submit a proposal to me that would create incentive programs for everyone that works in all of our businesses. I want incentives for every carpenter building our houses, every researcher at Marauders Institute, every person that will be building 3MP's - everyone. For a starting point, give me proposals using fifteen, twenty, and twenty-five percent of profits, and how they'd be distributed."
The four Goblins and two Witches all looked at him in astonishment. Including their own just increased incentives, he was talking about giving away up to almost thirty-five percent of his annual profits in bonuses! Harry just laughed, finding their surprise quite entertaininng.
"Griphook, how much are profits up over the past two and a bit years compared to the previous twenty years or so?" he asked, and Griphook immediately answered.
"Average growth before you took over was less than one percent per year. Since then growth has averaged eighteen percent." Harry nodded his agreement, having already known the answer.
"You have to all agree that is a spectacular result. I'm certain we'll get similar results from this. Have the proposal ready for me in a month. I'd like to start this up beginning with the new business year on December first." They all agreed, and with that taken care of, the meeting was over.
Harry met Ginny for a quiet lunch – or as close to one as they could have at the Chudley Diner. They discussed the morning meetings he'd had while they ate. Harry didn't talk with her about the incentive proposal because he wanted it to be a surprise for her when it was announced. Ginny was definitely interested in the news about the housing and 3MP projects. She told him about her day so far, and then it was time to head back to the office for her, and the lab for him.
Hermione was waiting for him. "Your favourite lab rat has arrived!" he told her with a smile, giving her a hug. "What have you got cooked up for me today?" Hermione led him into one of the labs.
"Today, Mr. Potter, you're going to hopefully make history – again," she told him with a laugh. "Growing up in the Muggle world, you and I had television and videos and video games, right?" Harry nodded his agreement, though he was pretty sure that she probably had better memories of most of those things than he did. Hermione picked up what looked like a picture frame about the size of a book, and handed it to him.
"What's this?" he asked, looking it over.
"It's one of the first portable WWVN receivers," she told him. Harry looked up to see her smiling broadly at him. "I've brought about two hundred Wizards and Witches here today," she continued. "I'm going to teach you the spell, and then we're going to help you bring the Wizarding Wireless Video Network to life." Harry was speechless, and Hermione put her hand on his arm as Ginny came in, a huge smile on her face too.
"She made me promise to keep it a secret," she said, coming over to hug him. "It's her invention after all, so it's only fair she got to spring the surprise on you."
When Harry recovered from his surprise, they got down to work. He'd taken the WWN for granted, not really known how it worked, but now he realized how complex making the network had been, and those Witches and Wizards hadn't had the advantage of Hermione's power transfer spell that now allowed them to combine their magic together.
Once the WWVN started, they wouldn't have very many shows to watch - this would start a whole new industry in the Wizarding World. Until that started to develop, a Marauders Institute team had been selected to start the WNN (Wizarding News Network). The WNN would start on the first day that the WWVN devices went on sale. The network would also be broadcasting selected Muggle television shows while new Wizarding shows and networks were started up. The spell was very complicated, and it took Harry quite a while before Hermione was confident he had it right.
"What will we see on this screen when we're done?" he asked the girls.
Ginny answered. "For right now, we've got a WWVN - Coming Soon logo, and it will simulcast the WWN until the WWVN receivers are available to the public. Over the next year, we'll also run test shows and some Muggle shows to make sure everything is working and ready."
Hermione got everyone ready, and they started. The power that flowed through Harry from two hundred Wizards and Witches was indescribable. He focused their magic, added his own to it, and released the spell. The little receiver in front of him came to life, just as Ginny had explained, and then Harry could hear cheering from all over the building, as everyone was able to see on the small receivers that were set up for each group that they had all just helped bring Wireless Video to the Wizarding World.
Harry got hugs from both girls, and a kiss from Ginny, and then sat down for a few minutes, suddenly feeling exhausted. Ginny gave him a piece of chocolate, and put her arms around him as he recovered from the spellcasting.
"Just relax a minute," she told him. "That was a pretty amazing spell, and you got the hardest part of it being the focus wizard." When he felt strong enough, Harry sent a patronis to Mrs. Weasley, calling for an emergency meeting with the account managers, and then he took Hermione and Ginny with him and apparated to Diagon Alley and Gringotts. When everyone arrived, Harry sealed the room, and started the meeting.
"I know we just finished meeting, but we've had a major research breakthrough this afternoon that you all need to know about," Harry told them. The Goblins, Fleur, and Mrs. Weasley looked surprised. "Our resident genius and her team have just created the Wizarding Wireless Video Network, WWVN for short," he continued. "They have developed portable receivers for this network. I have no doubt that this will be one of the biggest new industries to have ever happened in the Wizarding World." Everyone there looked at Harry as he continued to control the meeting.
"Fleur, double your plans for the 3MP production facility, and combine it with the WWVN manufacturing we're going to need," he told her. Turning to Hermione he nodded at the portable WWVN she had on the table in front of her. "I love the portable receivers, but have your team also create larger models. Wizards and Witches are going to want these in sitting rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens. Does anyone know the approximate Wizarding World population off hand?" Hermione answered him.
"Somewhere around forty-five million." Harry nodded his thanks.
"Fleur, I want you and Hermione to have a proposal to me by the end of the week with cost estimates to have three million 3MP's and five million WWVN receivers ready to ship by this time next year." Fleur and Hermione looked at each other, knowing it was going to be a busy week.
"Griphook, Fleur's going to need to do this full time. See if the Chairman is still interested in that 'demotion'. If he isn't, pick the best Goblin account manager you can find and bring him up to speed. With the WWVN, the 3MP, and everything else we have going, I'm going to use my limited divination power and predict we're going to double in size in the next two years." Ginny laughed at him.
"That's great Harry," she told him. "Should Hermione and I tell them now that you failed Divination, or let them carry on in blissful ignorance?" They all laughed at that, knowing that Harry could very well be right, and none of them would bet against him, considering his track record.
By the end of the week, Harry had signed off on a plan that was putting more than a quarter of his assets into the 3MP and WWVN now joint project. The chairman of Gringotts was now an account manager for him. Having watched his supposed subordinate account managers make far more money than he did for the past two years, he had jumped at the chance to join Harry's group.
Harry was feeling pretty good about everything that weekend as he and Ginny watched the Cannon's trounce the Magpies in their home opener, and taking their undefeated season to two wins. Ron, Dennis, and Demelza were all spectacular, and the home crowd roared their appreciation even long after the game ended. The whole town of Chudley had gone crazy after the game, so Harry and Ginny went back to Ron and Hermione's place for a quiet evening together.
Winky had, since she joined Harry and Ginny's family, undergone an amazing transformation, just like Kreacher had changed once Harry and the others had started treating him with some respect and love. Ginny was gone at work a lot, and Fleur was busier than ever with her new projects, so Winky was given the job of being Victoire's nanny during the week when Fleur and Bill were working.
Harry got to spend lots of time with his little niece, and spoiled her on a regular basis. He continued to take Teddy out at least a couple of times a week too. They might head to the island for an afternoon playing in the sand, or stay at Hogwarts and read a book or play with Teddy's many toys, or travel to London, Paris, or anywhere else their whims took them. Whatever it was, they both made sure they had fun.
Through October, the Cannons continued to win, still undefeated after four games with victories over the Harpies and the Arrows, both games on the road. They now had three straight home games to look forward to. Harry, to the shock of his collective account managers, approved the twenty-five percent incentive proposal they submitted to him. With the incentives of the now seven account managers, Harry was committing thirty-five and a half percent of profits to everyone that worked for him. Even with their current profits, that was a staggering amount.
Harry seemed to be the only one to realize that his overall personal assets would still continue to grow faster than ever, and he could still help everyone who helped to make that happen to have better lives too. Fleur put a deal together with the MRAA, and they confirmed plans to produce all three types of the 3MP players Harry had suggested.
Advertisers would pay one knut for the advertisement that would play before each song requested on the 3MPa type of player. The 3MPm would have a monthly charge of two galleons, and the 3MPi would have a one-time charge per song of two sickles. The MRAA and its member artists would receive eighty percent of this income, and Marauders Institute would receive the other twenty percent. Fleur then lured Luna away from her father's magazine to take charge of advertising and media at Marauders Institute. The manufacturing building was already getting built, and was ahead of schedule.
December first was becoming one of Harry's favourite days. He was up early and ready when the Owl Post arrived with the annual report. Ginny came into the kitchen as he opened the envelope, having heard the owl arrive. She put her arms around him and hugged him tightly as she looked over his shoulder and they read through the summary. Another record year, and even with the surge in investment Harry had authorized over the past two months, the results were outstanding, and each account manager's bonus was their highest so far. Harry signed off on the bonuses and sent the owl back to Gringotts.
"Mum and Fleur are going to need account managers of their own soon," Ginny said with a laugh.
They celebrated with a special breakfast that she'd worked out with Kreacher and Winky the day before. She took the day off, and they picked up Teddy and Victoire, and spent the day wandering the Malls in London with their favourite little Wizard and Witch. When they got back home after dropping two very tired little tykes off at Hogwarts and Bill and Fleur's home, Ginny had an Owl Post waiting for her from Gringott's. She opened it, and quickly read the several pages of parchment. She looked over at Harry, who had given up any hope of keeping the big smile off of his face.
"When did you do this?" she asked him incredulously.
"I approved it a little over a month ago," he answered, still smiling.
"Why didn't tell me?" she asked, and Harry went over and put his arms around her.
"I wanted to surprise you," he answered. "This way you get to share in the surprise with everyone else together. I'm sure it'll be a lot more fun this way." Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck.
"That's probably true," she agreed. "but I think I'll volunteer to be the one girl thank-you committee. I don't think I'll need any help with that." Harry laughed as she pulled him close for a long kiss and proceeded to prove that she didn't need any help with that at all.
The Weasley family Christmas was at the Burrow this year. Harry and Ginny were regular visitors there, and in most ways it was the same as always, but over the past two years, Molly and Arthur had started to feel more comfortable with their newfound wealth, and the place was looking decidedly fancier both inside and out. Molly had managed to get everyone, including Andromeda and Teddy, to commit to coming Christmas Eve day for their gathering.
Harry was glad to get to spend the day with everyone. He and Ginny saw Ron, Hermione, Bill and Fleur regularly, but with everyone so busy, they didn't get to see Percy, George, or Charlie and their wives nearly enough anymore. Kreacher and Winky were asked to put the whole dinner together this year so they were all able to relax and have a great day.
Victoire was passed between the aunts, uncles, and grandparents, and Teddy alternated from 'hanging out with the guys' to shamelessly using his little boy charm to get hugs, kisses, and from his perspective preferably, treats from the girls. They opened presents, played games, and at dinner they all ate too much. It was getting late and time to go home too soon. When Harry and Ginny got back home, Kreacher and Winky were waiting for them.
"You two did an amazing job with dinner today," Ginny told them proudly. "You are the best House Elves anyone could ever want." They both bowed to her. Harry handed each of the elves a small bag of gold, and Ginny gave them each a wrapped present. "Merry Christmas," she told them softly. Harry saw that Kreacher looked a bit uncomfortable.
"Don't worry, Kreacher," he said. "I won't ask you or Winky about your freedom again. We hope that someday, when you're ready, that you'll let us set you both free, but we'll never force it on either of you."
Kreacher sighed in relief, and the two elves unwrapped the gifts Ginny had given them to find matching medallions. Ginny had them made with the Potter and Black family emblems intertwined. Kreacher put his on and wore it with the locket he always now wore, and Ginny helped Winky put hers on, fastening it around her neck, and then hugging the happy little elf.
"Thank-you, masters," Kreacher said for both of them. "Kreacher and Winky are honoured to serve your house." Ginny gave both elves hugs, and they popped back to Grimmauld Place.
Harry took Ginny's hand and led her upstairs. When they were both changed and had climbed into bed, she snuggled up against him, her head on his chest, and closed her eyes, already starting to drift off to sleep to the sound of his breathing and the rhythm of his heartbeat. Harry's arms were around her in a gentle embrace, and he kissed the top of her head, breathing in the gentle fragrance that always made his heart skip a beat.
"It was a pretty good day today," he whispered.
"Yes it was," Ginny agreed and sighed.
"Merry Christmas, Ginny," Harry said. "I love you."
Ginny tilted her head to look into his half closed eyes. She kissed him, a soft, warm and tender touch. "I love you too," she told him before snuggling close again and drifting off to sleep.
They stayed in bed much later than normal the next morning, warm, comfortable, and content to take their time waking up for the day. They had the whole day to themselves, so there was no hurry. When they finally decided to get up, Harry went to make breakfast while Ginny went for a bubble bath. They were relaxing in the sitting room later in the morning when Harry leaned down and brushed his lips against her neck to get her attention.
"I thought you'd have wanted to open your present long before now," he whispered, and Ginny's eyes sparkled as she smiled at him.
"It's been such a nice morning just cuddling here I didn't want to stop. I think this time, though, you should open your present first." A package floated out from under the Christmas tree and landed in Harry's lap. He carefully opened it up to find a sleek, silver coloured WWVN receiver. Ginny waved her wand, and the screen came alive with the 'Coming Soon' Logo, and a Christmas song was playing on the WWN simulcast.
"That's the final design for this model," she told him happily. "I'm a personal friend of the inventor, and know the company administrator intimately, so I was able to get you the first one." Harry hugged her, and gave her a kiss that made her forget, at least for a while, about the present still waiting under the tree for her.
Harry put his gift aside and smiled, watching his beautiful little wife as she opened the present that had just arrived in her lap. She pulled out what looked like a thin, hinged little black box. When she opened it, one half was a small polished mirror, and the other half had a thick piece of parchment with a small gold quill clipped along the side. Ginny looked up into his twinkling green eyes.
"What is it?" she asked him.
"I happen to be best friends with a genius inventor too," he said. "Hermione is calling them WiComm's, short for Witch (or Wizard) Communicator. The top is a two way mirror, or in this case a many-way mirror, and the other part is permanent parchment, and with it you can send written messages to anyone else who has one of these," he explained. "Pick up the quill and tap the parchment twice," he instructed, and Ginny did, smiling as she saw words appear on the parchment.
'You have eleven new messages. Tap twice to continue.'
She laughed delightedly and did as instructed. The first message was 'Merry Christmas. I love you more every day. Harry.' There were four choices below the message. She could 'Reply', 'Delete', 'Next Message', or 'Exit Messages'. Harry pulled his communicator out so she could see it.
"You're probably one of the last ones to open your present this morning," he told her. "Everyone in our family, and all of our friends got them this morning." He opened his and said "Call Ginny". Her WiComm made a cheerful chiming sound, and then she could see Harry's face in her mirror. He was right beside her, so it wasn't the same, but she could also hear him talking through the little device.
"You can use the mirrors to talk like this to anyone else just like that," he said. "When you're done you just say 'End Call'." When he said that, his image in the mirror slowly faded and the mirror was again clear. Ginny spent a few minutes reading and replying to the rest of her messages, and then closed the lid on her WiComm, wrapped her arms around her amazing husband, and proceeded to have some up close and personal communication with him.
They took some time over the holidays to do some visiting, catching up with Neville, Luna, and their families, and to get away to the island for a couple of days. Harry took Teddy to Ron's road game over the holidays, where they watched their Cannons win their eighth game, remaining undefeated. Their next game would be another road game against the also undefeated Tornados. Harry and Ginny ended the year by taking their friends for an evening in Paris, where they had a great time ringing in the New Year. With new inventions like the WWVN coming to an as yet unsuspecting Wizarding World, the New Year was going to be absolutely amazing.