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Edited by the MIGHTY pazed!

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Chapter 25

"Again I ask you why I am here and not with Tannim and his family?" said the man sitting next to Lady Ako, his dark eyes staring accusingly at her.

She sighed and patted his hand, and smiled softly. "Because my dear, Tannim and his family need time together. Just as you are, I am quite anxious, and wish to be with my daughter, but they need time together… as a young family… without us in the middle of things while they come to grips with the changes this will bring."

"Hmmph..." said Chinthliss fidgeting in the seat of the jet. "And why was I not told of this news before today?"

"You were told right after Tannim and Harry, and before you ask, they haven't said anything to Tannim's parents yet," she said, pouring the agitated man another glass of water. "They plan on telling them when the Drakes are in town for the holidays. So no spilling the beans till they are ready!"

"Very well," he said. "Now explain to me why I am going to England with you and Keighvin."

She shrugged and nodded toward the third member of their merry band. Keighvin looked at the pair for a moment as he thought about where to begin. Lady Ako was as proper and every bit the Lady one would expect… But Chinthliss… He was another story entirely. He had slightly Asian features, complete with stereotypical beard, and stood almost a foot taller than Keighvin, but what stood him apart was his choice of clothing. The man absolutely loved Armani suits, his current one was a soft butter yellow… He actually shook his head when he first saw him this evening, as he had never seen anyone wear a suit of such a color outside a circus tent. But somehow he pulled it off, even with the bolo tie and deep blue silk shirt.

Keighvin lifted a large leather bound tome from beside him and laid it on the table, turning it so it faced the couple on the opposite side. "This is the first reason, Harry's account at the wizarding bank… though I am hesitant to call it that. It is run by goblins..."

Chinthliss scoffed, "Really? Who would put those little cheats in charge of a bank?"

"English wizards evidently," Keighvin continued. "At any rate as far as I can tell, and my thoughts are supported by Lady Ako, it is more a storage and facilitation operation rather than a bank."

Chinthliss pulled a pair of reading glasses from an inside coat pocket. After placing them on he pulled the ledger closer. "Magical…" He looked up at the elf. "Linked to the vault contents?" Keighvin nodded. "I assume that the inventory of objects is correct?" Again he received a nod. "Vault fee…" He ran his fingers down the pages as he turned them. "Rent collection… Maintenance fee… Conversion fee… Handling fee… Ahhh... I see the little blighters are double dipping on the fees… and charging a premium for exchange rates… Hmm... and an additional charge for time spent…" He pushed the ledger away. "The unmitigated gall of those little bastards! Why the hell would anyone let them be in charge of one of their 'banks'?"

"From what we have been able to find out," said Lady Ako, "it is their only bank."

Chinthliss's eyes grew. "Only…"

Keighvin smiled. "Yes the only, and when I talked with Mr. Johnson he confirmed that it was as far as he knew…" He reached for the long case beside him, and patted it. "My first reaction was to take a more direct approach." He sat upright again. "Then I had a thought... What If we started a new bank?"

Lady Ako's face split in a feral grin, as she pulled the ledger closer. "Harry's family was quite wealthy…" She did some quick figures, "thirty eight million… or thereabout."

Keighvin smiled. "Thirty eight point two… in cash… Evidently Harry's grandfather, Charles, was not only frugal but had planned ahead. From what I can tell he held on to a large nest egg in cash from the beginning of the mid 1930s then Harry's father James let the amount grow, never using over the barest of minimums. After their deaths, all rent and property usage agreements feed directly to the vaults… although some of those rents and fees are definitely in the red."

"And why would they hold on to such cash? It would be worth…" As he spoke it dawned on Chinthliss. "What is their money made of?"

Keighvin pulled three coins from his pocket, and tossed them one by one on the table. "Galleon, twenty karat gold, 2.6 ounces per, current worth on the open market, $958.62. Sickle, 1.8 ounces per, current worth, $10.13. Knut, pure copper, .9 ounce. Each one has been spelled to not be tampered with… it took me about five minutes to find and break it... but that is not what is important."

He sat back and steepled his fingers. "Think of it as if they are still on the gold standard. We open a bank, they make a deposit, we can then use it as collateral on investments and give them say… 3% interest. We also offer loans at a low percentage… say 8%, and vault privileges for free, kind of like very large safety deposit boxes."

Lady Ako's grin widened. "All the while we use their gold to secure investments netting large returns… like a hedge fund. So they are happy with the return they are receiving on an annual rate, and we capitalize on their investment."

"Hmph… you financial types," said Chinthliss. "That still doesn't explain my presence, and why we had to take this thing instead of a portal."

"If you weren't late, as usual, that would have been evident," she said looking at him. "We thought you might like to get a look around and get acquainted with a few people… you will be Harry's Headmaster after all."

His eyes widened. "Headmaster!" He perked up at that. "I'll be in charge of Harry's education while he is here?"

Lady Ako smiled softly. "Within reason, yes." His smile grew. "But, you will not go overboard! And you must take into account his other needs, and schedule them in as well. Understood?"

He nodded, already making plans, as she continued. "As for the portal, the ones left behind were deactivated ages ago. Roe and the people at Grand Central have been working overtime preparing a few new ones. Even the 'Home' portal would not work for any of us, save possibly Harry, as none of us has any connection to England."

Even as she explained things she knew that she had lost his interest. Sighing she pulled a file from her bag. "This is what we know of the tournament; I suggest you start there."

He plucked it from her hand, and stood flipping through the pages as he walked toward the rear of the plane. She then looked at Keighvin. "It also never hurts to have a Dragon on your side if things go badly. So, tell me more about your plans."

'A brother', Harry was still not sure how he felt about being 'a brother'. He was thinking hard about it while on his way down the stairs, his parent's voices stopping him short. "–do about Harry?" Tannim's disembodied voice asked.

'Do about me?" He froze, hand touching the door.

His mother's voice answered. "We include him, in everything. Doctor's appointments, getting the nursery ready, choosing a name, all of it." Harry felt something inside him thaw. "I talked to Ariel earlier in the week, about how to approach this and not cause any problems in the family. She told me that what would be important is that Harry feel included, and know that he is still part of our family and hearts."

He heard a chair scrape on the floor. "Ok, we include him in the decisions," said Tannim. "But what if he wants to name the little one STP, or Goodyear like…"

Harry smiled, and heard his mother slap Tannim with something that made a wet sound. "He was six! Who knew he would get attached to a box turtle like that!" Not wanting to intrude Harry sat on the lower stairs, and just listened to the wonderful sounds of his parents in the kitchen.

"I'm going to be a brother!" he said quietly, a smile blossoming on his face.

"Please have a seat, I'll be with you in just a moment," said a man's voice from a room to his left. He could hear water running and the sound of someone washing their hands. He looked around the room slowly, as he waited. The room was exceptionally clean, blue and white walls, broken up by cabinets and counter tops, while in the center of the room sat a heavy metal chair with instrument table and porcelain sink attached by an arm. He shivered a little, god he hated the dentist but after four root canals who wouldn't.

A smiling man entered the room. He was dressed in tweed slacks, dress shirt and sweater in colors that reminded a person of the fall. Laugh lines shone from around brilliant blue eyes that were tucked behind glasses with metal frames. He was wiping his hands on a paper towel which he quickly crumpled into a ball then with a little hop he tossed his hands up and made a perfect three point shot. "Welcome to Granger Dental," he said putting his hand forward. "I'm Robert Granger, pleased to meet you Mr.-"

"Higgins, Phillip." He shook the offered hand.

"Oh, a yank! Delightful! Please be seated and we'll get started!" Robert gestured toward the chair. "What can I help you with?" he asked as he moved across to a counter and unwrapped a tray of instruments.

"No sir, you misunderstand. I'm here to speak with you and your wife, about your daughter Hermione," Phillip said.

"Hermione?" Robert turned to face him. "How do you know my daughter?" Gone was the laughing man of a few moments before, replacing him was a very suspicious father… holding something that looked very sharp.

"Uh… Let's start this again. My name is Phillip Higgins, and I am with the US Embassy here in London… I am also a wizard," he said, arms held out slightly from his sides, palms forward.

Suspicion was replaced in the man's face with rage. "She is going to your damn…"

"Mr. Granger, please!" He cut the man's rant off before it could get started. "I have nothing to do with the British Ministry or Hogwarts…"

Skepticism was plain on the man's face. "A yank wizard knows about my daughter how?"

Phillip let out the breath he didn't even know he was holding. "A young friend of mine, another American, met her recently. His name is Harry."

Confusion flickered across Robert's face, his daughter had mentioned this Harry… Something about the tournament being held at the school. "Why would a yank be at a school in Scotland?"

"That is a very long story… One that I would be pleased to tell once your wife is free to join us, but for now what you need to know is that my country's dealings with the magical is nothing like what happens here."

He walked a wide circle around the man and sat on the stool next to the small desk. "I'm going to reach for my wand, and lay it on the desk." He did so slowly. "Please, take it if it will make you feel safer. Then please ask your wife to join us when she can."

Robert didn't know what to make of this man. "And you have nothing to do with the Ministry here?"

"Nothing," he said trying to reassure the dentist. "My limited dealings with them have left me disgusted, at best."

"Hmph…" the man grunted. "I can agree with you on that!" Robert nodded to the telephone. "Push three then the speaker button."

Phillip glanced at the phone and quickly did as instructed; when he looked back Robert had seemed to relax a little more. "Well, it seems you are a little more informed than most of the wizards in this country, most of them couldn't use a telephone."

"Most of them couldn't find their ass with both hands…" Phillip muttered.

Robert chuckled. "Too true."

A voice crackled across the speakerphone. "Yes?"

"Sweetheart? We have a guest that would like to speak with us. Can you join us?"

"Mrs. Loughton is just leaving, and I asked Margaret to put our lunch in to warm. Meet you in the kitchen?" asked the voice. "I'm sure there is plenty."

"Right, see you shortly."

In short order Phillip found himself sitting at a small table with a bowl of amazing smelling vegetable soup in front of him along with a crusty piece of French bread, although he did feel a little naked without his wand which he had left on the desk.

He smiled as he watched the couple rattle around the small galley style kitchen, moving in almost perfect harmony. A well choreographed dance in tight quarters that told volumes about how long they had done that particular dance. The funny thing was they never spoke, all communication was done with glances, gestures and loving touches.

Lisa, as she had introduced herself, was petite with her hair pulled back into a tight brown bun. Her smile was wide and genuine. "Well eat up!" she said as she placed the tea service on the table. "No need to be shy, we'll be along in a tick."

Phillip 'played mother' as he had been told it was called and poured them each tea, asking, "How do you like your tea?"

Lisa answered for the pair. "Mine sweet, two lumps. His a touch of milk." Phillip did as instructed as the couple finished up and sat down to join him.

They sat in silence and ate till Lisa broke the ice. "So you are a yank Wizard, and somehow know this bloke Harry that is in the Tournament Hermione wrote us about?"

"Yes. Thank you for lunch by the way, it's delicious. Perfect on such a cool rainy day," he said.

"You are quite welcome," she replied. "If you don't mind me asking? You seem much more… relaxed in the muggle" - she watched as he cringed at the word - "world than most of your people."

Phillip frowned. "I may be magical, but my home is probably much the same as yours… when I am there that is."

The couple looked at each other, then back at Phillip. This time Robert spoke. "Hermione told us most homes of wizard folk were very different."

He nodded. "In England that is probably true. I was in the Ministry building recently, and they still used what looked like gas lights, and according to Harry it was the same at Hogwarts."

The couple nodded, that is what their daughter had said. He thought about it a moment then figured that starting at the beginning was best. "My family immigrated to the United States in the late 1800's, and after a time in the north east they moved west and settled in California. My grandfather is what the magicals here would call a squib, and was cast out of his family when he did not receive his Hogwarts Letter on his eleventh birthday. My mother, his daughter, was also a squib but I showed signs of magic at an early age."

He took a sip from his tea and continued. "It scared my mother to death the first time it happened." He chuckled. "It took her almost an hour to find me sleeping on the back porch with the puppies I had been playing with earlier. Later that afternoon a man arrived with my grandfather and they explained magic to my mother and father."

"I was two, and just talking," he said. "I went to school, like other children till I turned ten. Then I was invited to join a special after school program, and began my magical education. Two hours each afternoon after school, and every other Saturday for six hours. In the summer we went to a special day camp for six hours every day, but were home each evening."

The Grangers looked at each other in surprise, that system would have been much more welcome. "When I graduated I entered the Marines and then went to college. I have a degree in Communications Technology and Runic Warding from the University of California, San Diego. "

Again the pair looked at each other in surprise. Lisa almost stuttered, "U-Universities teach magic? But they told us magic disrupts technology…"

"Not that I have ever seen," said Phillip with a shrug. "I work with some of the most hi-tech communications gear every day."

Robert asked the question that was floating unseen in the room. "And why are you here about Hermione?"

Phillip smiled. "Harry met her up at that 'school' and she told him her story, and now a unique opportunity may be presenting itself, and we were wondering if your daughter may wish to be a part of it."

The conversation between the Grangers was over almost as soon as it began. "What would this opportunity be Mr. Higgins?"

Phillip's face broke into a wide grin. "How would you like to meet the Headmaster of the newest magical school in England? One with a non-magical curriculum approved by the United Kingdom Ministry of Education? As well as an outstanding magical education? One with the best equipment, and best teachers he can find?"