Chapter Twenty-Five – December First
Lily and her parents had been home from their trip to Marauders Paradise for almost a week. It was Saturday – Mommy's day to sleep in, so she tried to be quiet as she got dressed and went downstairs, where she smelled breakfast cooking.
Her Dad was at the table, looking over some paperwork that had obviously been delivered by Owl Post, since an Owl was still there waiting, she guessed, for a return letter. She remembered what day it was then, and smiled. She loved watching her parents on Bonus Day. She'd never read any of those reports that came each year, but whatever was in them must be pretty great.
"Morning, Daddy," she said brightly, stopping to give him a hug and kiss before sitting down herself. "How's Bonus Day going for you so far?"
She watched as his eyes lit up and he grinned back at her. "I'd say about as awesome as possible, sweetie."
"Anything I can know about?" she asked, not sure exactly why this year she was interested in asking.
"What would you like to know?" he asked her in return.
Lily laughed. "Everything there is to know in the whole world, but that's probably going to take me a while. For this morning, how about learning all about what those reports are about, and why you and Mum are always so excited on December First every year."
She was surprised when her Mum walked into the kitchen instead of staying in bed late like she normally did on Saturday.
"She's the only one that's asked so far," her father commented to her mother. "Think she's ready?"
Ginny laughed, and gave her a hug and kiss. "I get the feeling she could probably run things right now if we let her."
Harry laughed. "Well, Lily, here you go. Read everything over, and give me your analysis." He handed her the stack of parchment, then got up to keep working on breakfast for the three of them.
Lily's eyes were alight as she took the parchments, and started reading.
Dear Harry,
PBP Investments, and the Investment Partnership completed another outstanding year. We have been continuing to expand ReVive in the Muggle World, and all other divisions continue their extremely strong performance.
A major new product launch is coming next year, and we are devoting a significant proportion of profit into that venture. The return potential will quite possibly be the most outstanding in our history.
The PBP Investment Financial Summary, and Phoenix Foundation reports are included in this package. The Owl will wait for your return post when you have reviewed and approved my incentive authorization.
Fleur Weasley
CEO – PBP Investments
Lily was starting to get really excited as she continued to read the first report.
Annual Financial Report - PBP Investments
Year Ending November 30, 2018
Beginning Balance PBPI: 34,379 million galleons
Beginning Balance PF: 3,990 million galleons
Beginning Balance - IP: 28,267.5 million galleons
New Investment: 0 million galleons
Total Beginning Balance: 66,636.5 million galleons
Profits:
Marauders Institute 14,300 million galleons
Property Division 4,100 million galleons
Goblin Ventures 1,000 million galleons
Witch Investment 1,200 million galleons
Other Investments 500 million galleons
Total Profit 21,100 million galleons
Less incentive (40%) 8,440 million galleons
*Pending approval of projected incentives.
Profit after incentives 12,660 million galleons
PBP Profit 4,220 million galleons
PF Profit 4,220 million galleons
IP Profit 4,220 million galleons
Ending Balance PBPI: 38,599 million galleons
Phoenix Foundation: 8,210 million galleons
Less Expenses: 4,010 million galleons
Ending Balance - PF: 4,200 million galleons
Ending Balance - IP: 32,487.5 million galleons
Total Ending Balance: 75,286.5 million galleons
Lily stopped when she got to the end of the report, and stared up at her parents, who looked back at her and grinned.
"Having fun yet, sweetie?" her mother asked her.
Lily smiled back. "So far, I'd have to say 'yes'."
She flipped to the next page.
Annual Phoenix Foundation Report
Year Ending November 30, 2018
Financial Report:
Beginning Balance: 3,990.00 million galleons
New Revenue: 4,220.00 million galleons
Total Expenses: 4,010.00 million galleons
Ending Balance: 4,200.00 million galleons
Phoenix Foundation Program Expenses:
Residences: 1,210 million galleons
Vaccine Program: 5 million galleons
Goblin Programs: 200 million galleons
Food Program: 985 million galleons
Housing Program: 700 million galleons
Work Program: 855 million galleons
DREAM Christmas: 55 million galleons
Total Expenses: 4,010 million galleons
Phoenix Foundation Program Statistics:
Program Persons Aided Cost Per Person
Residences: 23,000 19,100 galleons**
Vaccine Program: 1 million 5 galleons
Goblin Programs: 80,000 2,500 galleons
Food Program: 4.38 million 225 galleons
Housing Program: 70,000 10,000 galleons*
Work Program: 342,000 2,500 galleons*
DREAM Christmas: 550,000 100 galleons*
Lily was astounded, and fascinated. This was like seeing a whole new world open before her eyes! She turned to the next page, completely absorbed now.
Deary Mr. Potter,
The Phoenix Foundation account managers are pleased to report another incredible year for our organization. We have continued to expand our operations in every area, and were able to continue to provide aid to millions of Witches and Wizards.
The one hundred and ten residences account for nearly five billion galleons worth of physical assets for our foundation. Those residences can accommodate twenty-two thousand children, and we now have more than one thousand graduates each year who are all well prepared for their futures.
New efforts to help our seniors continue, and the food and housing programs are placing more effort on helping this segment of our population. We hope to nearly eliminate poverty among our seniors within the next ten to fifteen years.
The Phoenix Foundation employees and volunteers should again be pleased with the extraordinary accomplishments that they had achieved in the past year.
Sincerely,
David Matthews
Senior Account Manager – Phoenix Foundtion
Lily glanced quickly at the last page of the report, then finally looked up again and saw that her mother was just finishing reading her own reports, which she then handed to her daughter with a smile.
"I guess if you want to know all about it, you might as well keep going."
Lily took the thre new pages of parchment, and started to read.
Dear Ginny,
I am pleased to advise you that a transfer of one hundred and forty-three million galleons has been made to your account. Marauders Institute had another exceptional year, and we are again pleased to congratulate you on another record year and incentive payout.
Molly Weasley
Senior Account Manager – PBP Investments
Lily smiled, finding it a bit strange seeing Grandma's first name on a letter to her mother. She continued reading.
Dear Mrs. Potter,
Witch Investments enjoyed significant growth again this year, with new investment and re-investment of profits, our partnership continues to prove that our strategy is working extremely well.
We continue our global expansion, and to move into new markets as we move into the future.
Please find your copy of the Witch Investment financial statement included in this package.
Victoire Lupin
CEO – Witch Investments
Lily laughed in delight. She hadn't known that her cousin was now the CEO of a company. Her eyes widened when she looked over the financial report.
Annual Financial Report - Witch Investments
Year Ending November 30, 2018
Beginning Balance WI: 8,760 million galleons
New Investment: 900 million galleons
Beginning Balance PBPI: 5,840 million galleons
New Investment: 600 million galleons
Total Beginning Balance: 16,100 million galleons
Profits:
Manufacturing: 1,200 million galleons
Retail: 2,800 million galleons
Total Profit: 4,000 million galleons
Less Incentive (25%) 1,000 million galleons
Profit: 3,000 million galleons
WI Profit: 1,800 million galleons
PBPI Profit: 1,200 million galleons
Ending Balance WI: 10,560 million galleons
Ending Balance PBPI: 7,240 million galleons
Total Ending Balance: 17,800 million galleons
When she finished the last page, she got up and hugged both of her parents.
"I love you," she told them both.
Harry smiled at her. "Any questions?"
"Nope, I'm good."
Ginny laughed. "That was easy. Let's eat then. Since I have that party today, I'm going to go to work this morning and play in the lab."
Lily laughed too. "OK, now that you say that, I do have one question. Why do you work at all?"
Ginny gave her a hug. "For the same reason we live here instead of some drafty mansion. Because we love livning here. I get to play with my best friends, and do some really cool things that either make a difference helping people, or entertain them."
Lily nodded. "But I'll be starting school next year. Do you think you might consider taking a little extra time off between now and then to come play with me and Daddy instead?"
Ginny hugged her daughter and smiled. "Already planned, sweetie – you're just to quick for us to keep any surprises from you."
Lily hugged her back, and kissed her. She pointed to all of the parchments on the table. "You know the biggest surprise with all of that is the fact that it's so big, and yet is still such a well-kept secret."
Harry nodded. "We'll keep it that way too, if possible."
Just for fun, he had Lily sign off on Fleur's incentived, then signed the letter too to make it official. He sent it back with the Owl, then they sat down for breakfast together, talking happily about their plans for the day – all thoughts about finances, investments, and foundations left behind in favour of planning shopping trips, lunch, and dinner.
The mood at breakfast for the Ravenclaw New Marauders was pretty buoyant too – until the Owl Post arrived. There was a letter for Scorpius, and within moments of opening it, his hands began to shake, his face paled, and there were tears in his eyes.
"Scorpius, what's wrong?" Brianna asked in alarm, getting the attention of the rest of their friends as she put her arm around his shoulders.
He couldn't speak, but just continued to read, even though it must have been nearly impossible with his hands shaking so hard, and the tears clouding his vision. Finally, he just handed the letter to Al, and laid his head on Brianna's shoulder and cried.
Al took the letter, and quietly read it aloud to the others.
Scorpius,
It has been brought to my attention, by a trusted friend, that you have, by your actions at Hogwarts, disgraced me, and all of your family.
How dare you! Bad enough that you were sorted into Ravenclaw, against all tradition, but then you choose to become friends with the detestable spawn of half-bloods, mudbloods, and blood-traitors!
You surely knew that your so-called friends were all enemies of your family!
Then to top it all off, you choose a pathetic orphan for a girlfriend, and parade around your school with the tramp who is certainly only chasing you for your family money. See how long she stays now that you have nothing!
You've made your choices, boy, and now I must make mine.
You are no longer welcome at Malfoy Manor. The shame and humiliation that your acts have caused your family require nothing less than complete disinheritance!
So go, join that filthy bunch of scum that you call friends in squalor and reap the consequences of your choices. You will certainly soon regret giving up a life of privilege as you deal with the shame and disrepute that comes with the poverty you will now face, and the scorn of all true purebloods who must now shun you for the traitor you are.
Lucius Malfoy
As he'd read the letter, the others had all paled right along with their friend.
"Let's get out of here, guys," Carolyn suggested. "This is way too public a place to deal with this."
When they were walking out, Al happened to look over at the Slytherin table and saw another second year student, Dirk Avery sneering at Scorpius, and laughing with his friends. He thought he now had a pretty good idea where the information Scorpius' grandfather had received had come from.
They found an empty classroom, and surrounded their friend, all of them wanting to comfort him.
"I'll write to Mum and Dad today, and they'll let us know what they have planned, Scorpius. We're all going to be here for you, whatever that is," Al told him gently.
Nick nodded. "Count on it. You're my best mate, and we're going to make sure everything works out."
Brianna still had her arms around him, holding on tightly. "When I find out who the big mouth was, I'm going to get Al's Mum to teach me her bat-bogey hex, and make them regret it."
Al smiled. "I can help you with that, Bree. I saw Dirk Avery laughing it up with his boys when he saw Scorpius crying when we left. I'd say that's a pretty good sign that he was the source."
Scorpius looked up, wiping his eyes. "Makes sense – the Avery family have been friends of the Malfoys for a long time."
Brianna was fighting her own tears. "When you write your Mum and Dad, Al, ask her to send me instructions on that hex."
Rose smiled. "I like your idea, Brianna, but I think this might just be a job for the combined force of the New Marauders. I'm sure you all feel the same as I do about adding a little side trip to our mission."
Everyone nodded. "I'd say that was definitely motion carried – Next Marauders mission – Operation Avery."
Ginny, Harry, and Lily were all in the kitchen Sunday morning when the priority Owl Post arrived. Ginny opened the letter and read it aloud.
Dear Mum and Dad,
Scorpius got a letter from his grandfather today. One of the boys in Slytherin House, Dirk Avery, apparently told his family about Scorpius being our mate, and Brianna being his girlfriend.
I made a copy of the letter, and included it in this post. Lily might not want to read it – his grandfather is not a very nice man if that letter is any indication.
Scorpius has been disinherited, and told to never go back to Malfoy Mansion. We need to know what to do for him next, other than the love and support we're already giving him.
Please let us know as soon as you can.
Love, Al.
P.S. Bree would really like bat-bogey hex lessons, and we were wondering if Uncle George happened to have developed a Chocolate Rat Fink Wheeze. :^)
Ginny looked up at Lily before turning to the copy of the letter from Lucius. She looked at her for a long minute, then read the second letter out loud too.
Lily was in her father's lap before her Mum had gotten very far, and was crying into his chest by the time she finished.
"Al's right," she sobbed. "He is a very bad man. How could anyone do that to their own grandson? Why would his parents just let it happen?"
"Mostly because they're self-centered, Lily," Ginny told her quietly as Harry stroked their daughter's hair and cradled her on his lap.
"Why don't you make the calls, Ginny, and then we can write them back and have the letter there by tomorrow. Lily and I will clean up from breakfast. Then I think maybe a shopping trip, and a small gift to go with that letter."
He smiled down at Lily. "There's no rule about the New Marauders doing something to help out one of their own members, is there?"
Lily hugged him tightly. "None that I know of. Thank-you."
"For what?"
Lily laughed through her tears. "Didn't you know that going shopping is an almost instant 'cheerer upper' for girls?"
Ginny laughed, and Lily grinned. "See what I mean?" she said, pointing to her mother.
Ginny stood up and headed for the sitting room. "I'll get on those calls," she told them.
Harry set Lily down in another chair and got up. "And we'll get the cleanup done." He grinned at Lily. "You sit there and be supervisor of the crew."
Scorpius was more scared than he'd ever been before. His friends had been there for him all day, and he appreciated them more than he could say, but the fear was like a iron cold lump in his stomach.
He knew that Al's parents had said they'd be ready to help him, but he had no idea what that meant. Would he be sent to the residence to live with Brianna and Carolyn? Maybe they were full right now. Maybe he'd be sent to an orpanage somewhere. He'd heard stories about some of those horrible places.
Then there was just the fact of dealing with the horrible things his own Grandfather had said. He didn't even know his friends, and had still heaped all of that hate and scorn onto them. He knew he was different than his family, but now realized that the differences were much deeper than he'd ever imagined, or at the least, admitted to himself.
"Scorpius?"
He looked up from where he'd been staring at his hand – and the hand he'd been holding.
"Are you going to be ok if I go to bed now?" Brianna asked him quietly. "We're going to have a long day tomorrow."
He looked around, and saw that the Common room was nearly empty, except for them, Al, Carolyn, and Nick.
"Yeah, Brianna," he said just as softly. "Thank-you for staying with me so late."
There were tears in his eyes again as she hugged him, kissed him goodnight, and then stood up to head for the girl's dorm. Carolyn stood up and went with her, putting her arm around her best friend's shoulders.
Nick walked over and offered Scorpius his hand. "Come on mate. Let's go get some sleep too. There's nobody better than Al's Dad at taking care of big problems. If he does come up with nothing, though, I'll just smuggle you back and forth to my house on holidays in my trunk."
Scorpius smiled. "Thanks, Nick." He took his friend's hand and allowed him to help him stand up. "I don't know about you guys, but I'd rather do back-to-back double Herbology classes before having another day like this one."
Al and Nick both laughed. "How about we don't' have either again," Al suggested. "Those are two really crummy options. Why couldn't you have chosen a double lesson in girlfriend snogging or something?"
Scorpius managed a small laugh. "Easy, because I'd rather do that than just about anything else."
The three boys went to their dorm room, got changed, and into their beds, but it was a long time before Scorpius finally joined his friends in sleep, and his was restless, and filled with dreams that shifted from one uncertain future to another – none of them good.