A/N Thanks for the reviews on the previous chapter. Just a couple quick notes. I wasn't thinking when I made the Potter and Black Will, I forgot to include total amont of money,so from now on the Potter's are worth 3.5 Billion and the Blacks are worth 2 Billion. I really don't have anything else to say other than JK Rowling owns the Potter Universe and not me. Enjoy.
Chapter 14: Investing and Meeting
Harry woke up feeling good about himself. He was not a father, just yet which was a very good thing. Deciding to quit laying around Harry made his way down to breakfast. After a good breakfast without any bad news or annoying letters Harry decided to go up to the library so he and Hermione could talk about Potter-Black Investments or PBI as they were going to call themselves until Harry trusted the wizarding world enough to let them know about who was running the investment company. Seeing Hermione at her favorite desk he went over to her. After giving her a good morning kiss they got started.
"Harry how do you think we need to run this company? I have some ideas I would like you to listen to."
"I also have ideas Hermione. Let me go first and then let me know if we have the same ideas, that way we don't have to rehash it."
"Sounds good, so what did you have in mind?"
"Well, I think this investment company so just invest in companies that we feel can improve both worlds and lead us away from the pureblood ideal of thinking. I think until we get enough money we should start small. No use wasting our money on stuff that is going to fall anyway. I think we should have two divisions, a Muggle and Magical then separate the company even farther from there in terms of what the business is known for. How does my idea sound so far?" Harry said looking at Hermione, who was crying.
"Hermione, why are you crying?" Harry said as he put his arm around her.
"I am crying because I am happy. You said our. I am crying because I am happy that you think of our." Hjermione was sniffling and smiling at the same time.
"Exactly, Hermione, our. You are the only one for me." Harry said giving her a kiss on the lips. "Now as much as I enjoy doing this, I would like to get back to going over PBI."
"It sounds like a good idea so far. I would like to say we should include a board of directors, who at the moment will only be people we trust."
"Sounds like a good idea. So which companies do you think we should invest in?"
"Well, if I remember correctly even without that money that was finally recalled to your vault you still have about 2 Billion galleons in just the Potter vault to use. It should be enough to buy a lot of companies. While you were sleeping late I did some research, most wizarding companies are worth anywhere from 1 million to 100 million dollars. I think if we buy the company at 100% the company worth most of them will not turn it down. I think we should buy Flourish and Blotts, Honeydukes, Gladrags, and Ollivanders for the moment might as well start out small. I think we should write the letters to the companies and seem them to Ragnok to forward them over. Lets get started." Hermione said as she started to get the parchment and quill and started to write. After about 5 minutes Hermione handed Harry a proposed finished letter. Harry quickly read it over, and had to appreciate the writing skills of Hermione.
Dear (name of business)
Let us start by saying we appreciate the excellent business that you are running. We at PBI would like to invest in a stable company and we feel that you fit the profile. We are prepared to offer up to 100% of the current business value. If this deal suits you please send a letter to Dueck of Gringotts who will then forward the letter over to our company. Do you not worry, if you would like to stay on and continue to work in the business that you have been working in for a long time it can be arranged where you will receive a salary. We hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
PBI
"I think this a very good letter, much better than I would write. Lets make 5 copies and forward 4 of them to Ragnok and keep one for our records." With that Harry penned a quick letter Ragnok and sent the copies on their way. "Hermione, I don't hink we should create a board just yet, we don't have enough people who we can trust just yet to run a company, plus I don't word to get out about the company, because our favorite person in the world is going to figure it out and going to demand becoming involved. I don't want to deal with that just yet. I think that is all we can do right now, how about we go visit the Dursley's, and we haven't seen them in a while."
"Good idea Harry. There isn't much else we can do with the company for the time being."Hermione said getting up and grabbing Harry. Harry portkeyed over to the Dursley's and walked up to the front door, knocking when he arrived. Dudley was the one who answered the door.
"Harry, how good to see you. Would you like to come in?" Harry was still having trouble adjusting to this new Dudley. Following him inside the place looked the same as always. Taking a seat in the living room Harry and Hermione were on one love seat while the Dursley's were scattered around the room.
"Would you like anything to drink?" Aunt Petunia said, taking up her usual hostess duties.
"2 waters please." Harry said back smiling.
"So, Harry what are doing back at home." Uncle Vernon started the conversation after the all the pleasantries were done.
"Well Uncle Vernon, two things actually. One, the goblins will be here later today to cast some charms on the house for your safety. The main one hides the house from the wizarding world but is able to be seen by only muggles. Two, I know I already told you I own Grunnings however I would like to stress that you will not lose your job. You guys are family and we don't throw family out onto the street."
"Thanks for that, we were worried that that you wouldn't let me keep the job as director of Grunnings." Vernon stated.
"Don't worry, that's all I came here to do. I guess I will you see you guys at a different time." Harry and Hermione let themselves out of the house, it was still weird to be treated normal by the Dursley's. After arriving back home Harry and Hermione noticed that there was an envelope with an official Gringotts seal on it. Deciding that Gringotts wouldn't send anything cursed Harry opened the envelope to see what it contained. 2 letters fell out.
Lord Harry James Potter-Black
Per our discovery with the crimes against an Ancient and Most Noble House a court date has been set. The trial will occur on Wednesday October 2nd, 1996 at 10 o'clock in the morning. The trial will take place in a full Wizengamont session however it will be a closed session. Not a single member of Wizengamont knows why a special session has been called for that date. If a person involved in the case releases the reason for the meeting to the general public additional charges of breaking secrecy could also be added to the list of charges. Until that time, it is imperative that people involved in the case keep it quiet. I expect to see you there.
Sincerely,
Amelia Bones, Director of Magical Law Enforcement
Well, at least Harry could finally put away the people that caused him all the harm. Harry felt this was a open and shut case and he hoped that Dumbledore wouldn't do anything to make it go in his favor. The letter was from Ragnok stating that the letters had been sent. Deciding to get some lunch Harry and Hermione made their way to the dining room.
"I think we should start deciding what we are going to be doing with that special order. What do you think?" Hermione said as she grabbed a slice of bread.
"I think your right. If both of us were to take the Auror test right now we would be considered Senior Auror's. I think its about time we started the campaign against the injustice in the wizarding world. Ok here is what I was thinking, the group is going to consist of many different members from purebloods, to muggleborns to even I think elves and goblins. We are going to be an underground resistance group focused on taking down both Pureblood Supremacists. I think it would work best if not one of us was a leader, because from what I have seen with both the Order and the Death Eaters they only do what the leaders say to do. I think it's stupid to listen to the leader without thinking logically the leader might be wrong. In this group not one of us is the leader but working together we will be able to get a lot more accomplished." Harry said taking a break to catch his breath.
"You have really thought this out haven't you, Harry. I agree with all you are saying. It would be better to work underground then be out in the open and fight both sides at one time. It will be easier to infiltrate both sides without them having a clue as to what our faction is going to be. What do you think we should be called?"
"I think we should be the Shadow Order. It just sounds mysterious because we will be focusing on operating away from public eye. That was the bad thing about both sides of this conflict, both of them were out in the open publicly fighting each other which really resulted in a stalemate."
"Good idea, Harry. Now that we got a name we should create a list of names that could be part of this order and meeting place." Hermione grabbed a piece of parchment and was ready to write as Harry started to list off names.
"Well I think the two easiest ones to pick would be the twins. Next I guess would be Remus Lupin seeing as he and Sirius uncovered all this in the first place. Thirdly I guess Neville and Luna seeing as they fought with us in the Department of Mysteries and from the letters sounded like they believe us. I guess Dobby and maybe Winky would be good choices also seeing as we could use non-wizard help. From the goblins, how about Ragnok. I don't know if he would be willing to do that although if word it in such a way that doesn't offend him we could have a powerful ally. I would like Dudley in this also, he has started to become nice and we could always use a Muggle's perspective on things. I guess the last one would have to be Malfoy. If he is anything like his last letter it would be good to have him on our side. I guess looking at the names we have 5 purebloods, 1 mixed blood, 1 muggleborn, 1 werewolf, 1 goblin, 1 muggle and 2 elves. This seems like good mixture. We have some spies into the Order of the Phoneix but we wont have spy into the Death Eaters just yet. For the meeting place how about the Potter House in London?"
"That's all very good choices. What do you think we should write in the letters that we are going to send to potential members?"
"Here give me a piece of parchment and let me write one out and you can look at it." With that Harry wrote out the potential letter.
Dear (potential member)
Thank you for being a great help to me at some point in my life. I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to a special dinner at a hidden location on Tuesday August 6th, 1996 at 6 o'clock. This dinner could be very beneficial to the improvement of the Wizarding World. I cannot mention more in this letter however if you take the time to show up to the meeting you will not be disappointed. The location will reveal itself at 5:30 on the day of the event so please do not lose this letter. Thank you for your time. One note, please do not respond to this letter only show up at the proper them.
Sincerely,
Harry James Potter
"Well I think that should do it, lets make copies of all these letters and then send them out. For Dudley I say we send Dobby to pick him up." Harry said handing Hermione the parchment and let her perform the copy spell. After the note was copied, Harry took it upstairs to the Owlery to mail it.
"Well that is done I say we call Dobby to see how is doing." Hermione said as Harry came back into the library.
Ok, wouldn't hurt. DOBBY" Harry shouted. With a pop a excited looking elf appeared.
"Did Master Harry Potter call Dobby?" Dobby was bouncing up and down.
"Yes I did Dobby. How many times have I told you not to call me Master. If you must call something call me Harry."
"I am sorry, Master, Dobby will go punish himself now." He grabbed a book off a shelf and started to hit himself over the head with it. Before he could do too much damage, Harry quickly grabbed the book out of his hand.
"Dobby, don't do that to yourself."
"Dobby was being a bad elf, disrespecting Mas… Harry Potter." Dobby was balling.
"Dobby you were not being a bad elf. Listen to me. I was wondering if you could help me with something?"
"What does kind wizard Harry Potter need Dobby's help with?"
"Are you still a free elf, Dobby or are you bonded to the Headmaster." Harry read up on elf bonding rights before calling Dobby so he had a general idea of what to ask for.
"Dobby not bonded to bad Headmaster. Headmaster want Dobby to follow Harry Potter. Dobby told him Harry Potter too nice to Dobby to betray him." Dobby was still sobbing. This was a good thing to here. Harry wanted Dobby to work for Harry but wasn't sure if Dumbledore got to him first.
"Dobby, would you be willing to work for me? I have a house that needs upkeep. I would pay you." Harry saw the elves eyes expand to the size of dinner plates.
"Dobby would love to work for the great Harry Potter." Dobby was bouncing up and down at the prospect of working for Harry Potter.
"That's what I wanted to hear. I will give you 50 galleons a month and weekends off." Harry knew elves always wanted to work for free so that is why he gave such a high bargain.
"Dobby would work for free and have no days off."
"How does 20 galleons a month sound with weekends off."
"I can do that Master Harry Potter." Dobby looked excited to be finally working for Harry Potter.
"Okay Dobby now that we have that established I would like to set a couple rules. One, you are not to punish yourself every time you make a mistake. Two, I would like to be called Harry, not Harry Potter and especially not Master Harry. Three, you can make a uniform out of clothes, no more wearing tea rags you are a Potter Black elf. And finally four, if I accidently give you clothes, ask me about it. Do not assume that I am kicking you out. Do you understand me?" Harry was kneeling in front of Dobby when he was talking to him so he was looking right into Dobby's eyes.
"Dobby understands. Is there anything else?"
"Yes there is actually. Do you know where Winky is, I would like her to also come and work for me."
"Dobby can call her.
"Can you do that?" Dobby nodded and the next second Winky was standing in front of them, she was even in worse shape than when the last time Harry and Hermione saw her.
"Winky, I would like you to come work for Hermione and I. Would you willing to do that?" Harry said kneeling in front of her.
"Great Harry Potter wants bad elf to work for him?" Winky was coughing and sniffling.
"Yes, I do. You will get paid 20 galleons a month and weekends off. Dobby can fill you in with my rules. Would you be interested in doing that?"
"Winky, would be honored to work for the great Harry Potter."
"Good, I need your guys help cleaning up the Potter House in London. I am having a little meeting there in a couple of days. I would like the place clean, but make sure you guys take breaks." With them now being part of the Potter Family, they knew exactly where to go. With two small pops they were gone.
"Well, I think we should relax the rest of the day, what do you think Hermione?"
"That would be a wonderful idea, Harry. I cant believe you were willing to pay for the elves." Hermione had tears in her eyes.
"Of course I would pay them. I worked like a slave for 10 years of my life even if the Dursley's have no recollection of it. I don't want anybody else to go through it." Harry and Hermione just spent the rest of the day cuddled up in front of the fire reading books. Life was very good for them. They were away from the control freaks and they could be themselves. It was very nice.
The next couple of days passed without much incident, really the only incident worth noting was the attempt by Harry to jokoe with Hermione when she was studying which wasn't the smartest thing in the world. Other than that nothing of importance happened. Before they knew it the time of the first meeting of the Shadow Order was going to commence. Harry casted the charm on parchment so the potential members knew where they were going and he and Hermione went to the Potter House. When they arrived they saw it was extremely well cleaned. Harry smiled, seeing Dobby and Winky do such a good job. They were greeted by the pair who Harry was happy to see were dressed in new clothes. The uniform was in a style of butler or maids outfit except the colors were red and gold. The Potter crest was on their left pocket.
"Dobby, Winky. Nice to see you two made a uniform. It looks very nice. " Harry said smiling at them.
"Yes, Dobby very proud of costume. Dobby and Winky leave now so Harry and his guests wont be disturbed."
"I will have none of that, Dobby and you too Winky. I would like you to stay for the meeting. I could always use your input. You guys are now off work and are as friends."
"Great Harry Potter is nice to lowly elves. We will work extra hard to repay you for your kindness."
"You will not over do yourselves. Now lets get the dining room all set up. Dobby can you please fetch my cousin at my old house?"
"Dobby can do that" With a small pop Dobby was gone and came back a second later. Dudley was with him, who looked shocked at magic. He quickly recovered when he saw Harry.
"Harry, is this your place?" Dudley looked around in amazement.
"Actually, Dudley, this is not my actual place. I do own this place but I live somewhere else."
"Wow, I didn't know you were so rich. Why did you invite me anyway, I am not a wizard."
"Nice to see you, Dudley. We invited you to this special meeting because we feel it could be good if we have a different set of eyes to help us look at a situation" Hermione said. As they were just sitting and talking in the sitting room, the doorbell rang. Deciding to be the host, Harry went and answered the door. All potential members of the Shadow Order were still there. Although they mostly looked like they were going to get along, Harry did see the way the twins and Malfoy were looking at each other, old habits were going to be hard to break. Harry stepped aside and let everybody. Each one of them acknowledged Harry and Hermione, who came to the front door, as they came in. Malfoy and Neville who were the only ones versed on proper customs when invited over for dinner, gave Harry a small gift for the house.
"Welcome all you guys, to my house. So nice of you to join, Hermione and me for this special meeting. We will be having dinner during the meeting so if you guys would follow me we will make our way to the dining room so we can get this meeting started." Harry turned around at led everybody to the dining room. Everybody took their seats, Harry had marked seats so each one of them was sitting by somebody who they would normally not be associated with. Once everybody got seated, dinner was brought out by Star, who had come and helped because Dobby and Winky were part of the meeting. Hermione started the proceedings after everybody got their food.
"Thank you guys, for coming. I guess we can get started. The purpose for this meeting is to discuss a possible forming to a possible fifth side to this war that is affecting our world."
"What do you mean, fifth side. I thought there were only 2 sides, Dumbledore's and the Dark Lords." Malfoy who may have changed sides still had some of his old attitude.
"Draco, I thought that at one time also. This summer I found out that nobody is as they seem. Dumbledore cant be trusted, Voldemort and his loyal Death Eaters hate my guts, the Order is acting mostly on Dumbledore's orders, and the Ministry ran a smear campaign against me all of last year. I decided to start my own side for that exact reason." Harry looking right in Malfoy's eyes.
"I thought you were Dumbledore's golden boy, Harry." Harry's name was said with a little sneer much less than normal.
"I was, and I will disclose what I have found out after we get this meeting started. Hermione, can continue please?" Harry said with no hint of annoyance.
"Okay, like I was saying, we are going to fight the pureblood supremacists in our society. Harry and I feel that blood should not determine what place a person has in society. Did you know that even if your half blood you cannot get higher than an assistant in one of departments in the Ministry. Draco, I know you're a pureblood so this is really tough to here, but Slytherin wasn't a pureblood supremacist. He in fact encouraged Muggleborn witches and wizards into his house. The main rule in his house is you had to be cunning and intelligent. Not until the early 1900's were the purebloods considered the ruling class. Before that time, all wizards and witches no matter the blood type could run for any official Ministry position. We would like to get back to that type of society. Does anybody have any questions at this time?" Hermione said taking a breath.
"Yeah, I have one what are our plans for accomplishing this, I know purebloods are pretty strong." Draco said, he still looked shocked at what he was hearing.
"Well, we are called the Shadow Order for that exact reason. At this point we don't have the contacts or the power to fight all sides at once. Our plan is to operate in the shadows until we are able to gather enough underground interest." Harry said, hoping to answer Draco's question.
"Now, for those of you who remember the D.A from last year, we will operate under the same veil of secrecy expect this year the consequences will be much more severe if you betray us. Harry has lost his trust in most of the wizarding world and he doesn't want it to happen again with people who know of his secret." Hermione said looking at Harry.
"Harry, why is Ron and Ginny not here. I thought they were your best friends." Neville spoke up for the first time which made Harry happy, it meant he was coming out of his shell.
"Well they were until this summer when I found out that they really weren't my best friends. They were paid off to become my friends and Ginny was meant to be married to me and if I died in this war, which was inevitable she would control the Potter wealth." Harry answered him.
"Harry what do you mean inevitable death?" Luna said in a voice that really did not sound like her own. Everybody who knew Luna from the D.A looked at her in shock.
"Well, I found out that if I did end up killing Voldemort, Dumbledore was going to have me captured and executed because I must have been a Dark Lord too kill a Dark Lord. He was then going to be the hero of killing more than one Dark Lord. Ginny who was going to be pregnant with my child at that time would end up getting the Potter Wealth because after all the child was my heir."
"So, what about the article in the paper a couple days ago about you being engaged and Ginny being pregnant?" Neville asked, everybody wanted to know the answer to that one.
"Well, that article is half true. That article was leaked at another attempt of Dumbledore to try to control me. I am not engaged, but Ginny is pregnant. The father is not me though. Its Cormac McLaggen." Everybody looked at Harry in shock. Fred or George was the first to respond.
"That's good Harry. As much as I would enjoy you being in the family, we see the way some of your family treats you. Plus we are happy you are together with Hermione. She is much better for you."
"Thanks Fred or George, you guys should really let me know how to tell you two apart. Now onto to better, more exciting things. I think it is time we swear everybody in." With that Harry went and grabbed the piece parchment he wrote earlier and copied it enough times for everybody to sign. He walked around the table handing it out.
I, undersigned, agree to not betray the Shadow Order and any of its secrets. If I betray the order in any way or form, I agree to pay fines associated with the crime. I also agree that I will accept any consequence of my action. If the secret that I disclosed was important in the running of the Order I agree to possibly face the loss of magic. So mote it be.
(sign here)
Harry and Hermione made a way for a magical binding oath could be attached to a piece of paper. After everybody signed the parchment and the oath was administered. Harry stood back up.
"Okay, now that we have that out of the way, I would like to talk to you guys about missions I would like done in the next couple of weeks before most of go back to Hogwarts. I will not give missions to you one on one. It is better if the entire group knows what the mission is, maybe somebody else could be help. Draco, I would like to know if we would be able to get any other Slytherin's on our side. Let me know in the next couple weeks. I don't have to tell you to be sly about it.
"I can do that, Harry. I do have some people might want to listen to what you have to say." Draco nodded at Harry.
"Neville, and Luna the same goes for you two. Let me know if anybody in the other 3 houses would be willing to join us." Neville and Luna nodded at this.
"Fred and George, talk to your other brothers see what they have to say. Be discrete though." Fred and George responded that they knew what Harry talking about.
"Dobby and Winky, I know you guys talk to other elves, see what other ones can be on our side." Dobby and Winky were crying with happiness that the great Harry Potter gave them a mission to do.
"Director Ragnok, Dumbledore metioned in one of his letters to me that there is a goblin that is pretty much his informant inside Gringotts. His name is Killaxe. Bring him down, I don't Dumbledore knowing what I am up too that way."
"You don't have to worry about that, Lord Potter. A goblin who betray's a Gringotts client can face the death penalty. I will try to get some information out of him first though. " Ragnok nodded at Harry, not lost on any wizard. Here was a wizard who was on speaking terms with the elves and goblins.
"I think that is all. Dudley I did not give you a mission because at this moment I just want you to observe making sure we are doing things a correct way. "
"At this moment, you are Harry"
"Ok, that's it you guys. Thanks for coming all of you. I will see you guys in a couple days for our next meeting." With that everybody left and that left Harry and Hermione alone.
"Ok, I think that meeting went very well. What do you think?" Harry said looking in Hermione's eyes.
"It did except I am dead tired. Lets go back to the manor and go to bed." Harry agreed with her and they appeared back at home and they went straight to bed. Harry was out like a light.
A/N That ends Chapter 14. I think this is an important chapter. It shows Harry leading a group that's ready to change the way the wizarding world works. That should be all. Chapter 15 should be up sometime in about a week. I have to write the outline for it still. Now some time to answer reviewer questions.
SablePhoenix-I attempted to make Hermione interact more with the other characters, I think the result looks good.
Bobmin356-Thanks for the information about that.
Fire from above-Yeah most of my story is pointing out how some wizards use some messed up logic.
Stormshadow13-O, old dumbles is going to have going to have his hands full when Harry comes back to school. With Harry being the son of one Marauder, Godson to another and Friends with the Weasley Twins it could interesting.
Cateagle-Ron and Ginny have their work cut out for them.
Turnlach-Yeah I made my story Adventure/Drama because I cannot write romance. I am still going to try writing some H/Hr in.
Until Next time,
Hrddawg306