Chapter 25 – Sloop & Everard

Harry and Hermione had enjoyed an enjoyable meal together after Hermione's shopping trip and it had taken Hamish two trips to take all of the bags and boxes Hermione had bought from Selfridges back to Potter Manor. Hermione had changed into some of her new clothes for her dinner with Harry and she had looked absolutely breath taking and he'd told her so as they went out and enjoyed a lovely evening together before Harry had given her, her first driving lesson on the way home, which they both found amusing to start with until Hermione had started getting the hang of it.

The next morning Hermione had said she was going to go and see Susan and Hannah as well as Daphne and Tracy for lunch as Ron has the second day of his try out and then she was going to track him down in the afternoon to find out where he had disappeared to during the ball and why he hadn't made sure she got home safety as that's the sort of thing a boyfriend is meant to do.

Harry finished up what he had been working on in his office and then apparated to the Leaky Cauldron back yard and tapped the bricks that opened the entrance to Diagon Alley. It was good to see that it had regained its appeal and that people were happy to go back to shopping there as the alley was bustling with people like the first time he'd gone there with Hagrid.

Harry started walking down the alley and was immediately approached by a wizard in a set of brown robes who had a quick quotes quill and a note pad out of his pocket so fast it took Harry by surprise. "Good morning Lord Potter-Black-Peverell-Ravenclaw. I'm Elvis Edwards, reporter for the Daily Prophet and was wondering if I could have a quick talk about your relationship with Lady Bones?"

"Sorry Elvis did you say? No I won't talk to you about Susan as it's not anyone's business who I see or what I…." Harry stopped himself as he thought he might be able to say something that could help Susan.

"Actually Elvis I tell you what I will give you a quote." Harry said causing Elvis to break out into a smile. "Susan Bones is a beautiful and intelligent witch, highly skilled and a really nice person to boot. She and I are discussing our plans together soon. I'm afraid that's really all I've got time for right now Elvis."

"No problem my Lord, thanks for that my editor will be delighted." Elvis responded while watching Harry walk off. "Damn if only I'd had a photographer here as well I'd get some gold for the image rights on the picture."

Unknown to Elvis, Harry had heard him say this and thought about how much gold people must be making out of his photos and interviews these days. Not that he needed more gold but it would be useful getting only what he wanted to get into the papers rather than them just getting to say whatever they wanted about him. He knew that in the muggle world celebrities had agents and teams of people controlling information about them.

He made his way down Horizont Alley to have a look at what was down there and saw two buildings with signs outside them. One of them was a very smart looking building with black brick on the outside and white window frames with a gold sign on the wall that said 'Parkinson Law and Order' on the outside and from looking through the window Harry saw a really smart and professional looking.

The other building next to it was a more normal brick with a silver sign outside that said 'Sloop & Everard Law Practitioners' and looked a lot newer and less grand than Parkinson's. Harry assumed that they were related to Pansy Parkinson after reading Rita Skeeters article about the evening he'd spent in the Spiny Serpent with the Slytherin girls..

Harry decided to go and have a look and see if he could speak to someone in there and entered into a smart foyer with a black and white tiled floor with marble and art everywhere. The place oozed money and Harry approached the reception desk where a witch in her fifties, with her hair tied back in a tight bun with what appeared to be a series of quills sticking out of it, was concentrating on a file of papers on her desk.

"Excuse me I was wondering if I could speak to someone here regarding a potential legal issue I have?" Harry asked politely.

"Do you have an appointment Sir?" the witch asked without looking up.

"No I'm afraid I don't."

"Well unfortunately sir our solicitors only see people by appointment they don't accept walk in's." she replied still not looking up at him.

"I promise I won't take up much of their time." Harry asked getting a bit irritated that the woman wouldn't even look at him. "I'd really appreciate it if you could at least ask if one of them is free."

"I'm afraid that whether they are free or not they won't accept a walk in without an appointment." she responded.

"Well maybe if one of them is free you could give me an appointment now?" Harry asked.

"Look," she said putting her quill down and looking up at him "we don't take walk in's, you have to book an appointment and if you book an appointment then it will be at least twenty-four hours before you can see someone, plus given the state of your attire I don't think you'd be able to afford to have Parkinson's represent you." the woman added coldly after looking Harry up and down taking in his attire which consisted of a black t-shirt, black jeans with a pair of black classic trainers. He looked very much a muggle, she couldn't see his dragon skin wand holster that Olivander had sent to him as is was charmed to be invisible when placed on the arm.

"Oh really?" Harry asked finally deciding to put this woman in her place for talking down to him. "Well maybe I should try next door and see whether they are more helpful."

"Yes, why don't you do that! I think maybe you should try next door as those errrrr...people next door would probably be more… suitable for a man of your limited means." She said with arrogant disdain dripping from her voice.

"Limited means huh! I think I will go next door. Could pass on a message to the owner of this firm for me though. Could you let them know that Lord Potter-Black-Peverell-Ravenclaw is disappointed with the manner of treatment, he received and is taking his business elsewhere? Not to worry about contacting me and that they should get a new receptionist and preferably one that doesn't act like she's got a silver spoon firmly lodged in her backside. Good day!" Harry said as he turned to leave as the penny dropped with the receptionist who made a sound like she'd swallowed a beach ball as she called out for Harry to wait. Harry ignored her and allowed the door to slam behind him and stepped outside and announced to the street 'What a snooty bitch!' getting a couplemof knowing smiles from a couple of shoppers walking down Horizont Alley.

Harry walked the ten yards to the other law firm and opened the door and heard a bell ring as he stepped into Sloop & Everard to find a pretty witch with auburn hair and a warm smile probably about twenty-four years old wearing a smart grey dress with a white lightweight scarf around her neck sat behind a wooden desk waiting attentively.

"Good Morning and welcome to Sloop and Everard, How can I help you today?" the witch asked maintaining eye contact with Harry.

"Good morning I was wondering whether there was anyone I could speak to regarding a couple of things such as image rights, land ownership and rental agreements?"

"Not a problem I'll go and get someone for you Lord Potter-Black-Peverell-Ravenclaw, if you'd like to take a seat over there, she pointed to two leather couches with a coffee table in the middle of them that had a few magazines on them, "someone will be with you shortly." she responded.

"How did you know who I was?" he asked her surprised that she recognized him.

"Who wouldn't?" she responded then stood and gave Harry a little smile and a wink as she moved off down the corridor Harry watching her swaying hips and killer figure disappearing down the corridor.

Harry took a seat on one of the couches and was surprised how comfortable it was. He'd only been seated there for a moment when the girl from the reception came back with a woman in her forties who was smartly dressed in a black business suit and a pair of silver high heels came into the waiting area and Harry stood to take her outstretched hand.

"Good Morning Lord Potter-Black-Peverell-Ravenclaw and welcome to Sloop & Everard. My name is Hayley Sloop I'm one of the partners here. My business partner is Joel Everard, who I'm afraid is currently with a client, so unfortunately can't come to meet you, which he would have done so." she said shaking Harry's hand and giving him a warm smile.

"This young lady is Angelic Bogard one of our trainee's here and we've got high hopes for her." This earned a winning smile from Angelic who made her way back behind her desk. "Would you like to follow me to my office where we can discuss your queries in private and more comfortably." Harry nodded and began to follow her down the corridor passing pictures that showed Hogwarts and other famous London landmarks in the muggle world plus a photo of the Hogwarts express.

They stepped into Hayley's office that had a series of book cases along two of the walls from floor to ceiling stacked with law books. On the wall behind Hayley's desk was photos of her graduating Hogwarts stood with a group of friends after graduating laughing and joking plus other photos with her family both her parents and what Harry assumed were her children.

Hayley closed the door behind Harry and indicated a seat for him at her desk to sit at. Hayley picked up her wand and pointed it at the door.

"I've just put up some privacy wards so we won't be overheard and no sound will go through that wall so everything you say in this office is and always will be confidential and no one can overhear us. So what was it you wished to discuss Lord Potter-Black-Peverell-Ravenclaw?"

"Please just call me Harry. I'm trying not to use my titles unless in a formal capacity as well, it's a bit of a mouthful getting all of that out. Is it Miss Sloop or Mrs. Sloop?" Harry asked.

"Well, Harry it would be Ms. Sloop as I'm now divorced but please call me Hayley, as we like to try and be professional here but we have an informal and relaxed working environment although we are professional I can assure you." Hayley said leaning back on her chair.

"I can tell you're a very professionally ran business considering the welcome I've had compared to the…. Well I would say welcome next door but it wasn't very welcoming." Harry said.

"Ah I take it you encountered Martha the bitch receptionist from hell at Parkinson's?" Harry nodded, "Let me guess you didn't have an appointment so she didn't give you the time of day?" Hayley asked getting a laugh and an affirmative from Harry.

"Well, Harry, Parkinson's is the longest standing wizarding law firm in the country and is made up entirely of pureblood wizards and they are very selective of their clientele. Here we just want to help as many people as we can regardless of their background and financial standing. If there is a matter, we can help with but the person can't afford our fee then we do take on a certain amount of work for free to work on in our spare time."

"That's really good of you. So I take it your firm is a lot newer than Parkinson's?" Harry asked.

"Yes we've only been around for about eight years as I used to work at Parkinson's but I left over a disagreement about the types of clients they wouldn't accept. You see I wanted to help anyone that needed help and they said that they were a business not a charity so unless someone could pay the fee then I couldn't represent them or use work resources in my spare time.

I left there and was trying to get started on my own and was operating solo out of a back room in the Leaky Cauldron when I met Joel. Joel was a couple of years above me in Hogwarts and had been working at a firm in the United States and was coming back to set up shop here and he'd heard about a few cases I'd won and offered to make me a partner of his firm and split everything thirty, thirty, forty so I couldn't really refuse and that's how we got started." Hayley explained putting her fingers together in a way that reminded Harry of Dumbledore.

"Thirty, Thirty, Forty?" Harry asked confused.

"Yes any profits we made we both took thirty percent of and the remaining forty we put back into the business to expand. We've now got two junior partners, three solicitors and six support staff, which includes Angelic."

"I see. Well I must say Hayley thus far I'm very impressed with how things have been handled with me. I'd like to hire you to represent me on all my legal matters if you are able?" Harry asked.

"Thank you Harry. We aim to please. Speaking on behalf of the firm we would be delighted to act on your behalf and the services we can offer are varied. We can either work on an hourly rate, so we get paid for work we do as and when you need something or we can take a retainer off you and be at your beck and call although that is quite a bit more money depending on whether you wish to have a solicitor, junior partner or a senior partner at your disposal."

"Is there a limit on how much work you'd be able to handle under a retainer as I don't want you doing more work and not getting paid properly for it?" Harry asked.

"Well we would normally include any contract negotiations and the three clients we have on retainer have about four contracts a year that we work on for them, they also have legal matters in regards to their name being used or something said about them that wasn't true etc. It's all a very personal service Harry."

"Well given that I'm me I think I'd be taking up a lot more of your time than your other clients would. How much do they pay you a year to keep you on retainer?" Harry asked.

Hayley took a deep breath as she hated talking money when it came to their services but she owed it to Joel to try and make the firm money.

"They normally pay us ten thousand galleons a year." Hayley responded.

"Ok no problem well we'll work with that number at a minimum then but after I've told you all what I want you to do then we can negotiate a suitable fee agreed?" Harry asked.

"Ok agreed." Hayley replied as she reached into a drawer in her desk and took out a silver piece of parchment the kind Harry has never seen before. Hayley taped the parchment with her wand and words appeared on the parchment along with two signature lines. Hayley picked up a quill from inside the drawer and signed the document before turning the parchment around and sliding it and the quill over to Harry.

"This is a magical contract Harry. I've kept it very broad stating that whatever matters we discuss in a business capacity will not be disclosed to any other parties without your express permission except for members of staff whom have already side confidentiality contracts with the firm or as part a negotiation on your behalf. The quill is a blood quill, but it only takes your blood and registers it on the page, it's not like the torture quills that some evil people used to use." Hayley said reassuringly as Harry eyed the quill with suspicion.

Harry read the contract quickly and saw no loopholes or ways the wording could be interpreted and signed his name. The contract folded its self-up on his signature and a blue wax seal appeared on the back sealing the fold and Hayley pressed a ring to the wax putting a seal on it and then put it into another drawer and locking it.

"So to the matter at hand what did you wish to discuss?" Hayley asked him.

"Well obviously you know who I am and a version of my life be it accurate or not. I was just asked a question by a reporter, which I wasn't going to answer but I was wanting to help a friend out so decided to give him an answer and when I was walking off I overheard him say that he wished he'd had a photographer with him so that he could have made some gold off the rights to the photo. I was just wondering how that worked and if I could control what was printed about me as well?"

"Well, Harry, in answer to your question yes you could register yourself as a limited company and make yourself it's trade mark and register an official photographer, so that unless their images are used anyone who publishes a photo of you would have to either pay to be able to use it or ask your permission or your companies permission to use it."

"Wow so I can't potentially stop my name and images being used ever?" Harry asked sitting up in his seat.

"Well I doubt that you could ever stop things being written about you although a publication would have to present information or stories about you as hearsay and not be able to say anything as an official capacity unless you give them a direct quote and if they requested interviews for example you could collect payment for that interview."

"So I can't stop anything being written about me that people just want to write?"

"No but if someone wrote something very loose with the truth or factually incorrect you could potentially sue them for damage caused to your image and it would make publications very hesitant about writing anything untrue about you." Hayley responded getting up and going to a book shelf and selecting a book and starting leafing through it.

"Would you be able to help set up a company for me to try and make that happen? I'm fed up of lies being written about me."

"Certainly Harry that wouldn't be a problem at all, although if you are wanting to do that I would suggest hiring an official photographer as well as that way you've got a little more control over the photos that can be published of you and can make a fairly big amount of money having publications purchasing photos off your company." Hayley said to Harry as she replaced the book back onto its shelf.

"Yes I'd like very much for you to do that and I'll have a look for a photographer to act in an official capacity for me." Harry said.

"I would recommend going to Shutterbuttons in Knockturn Alley. They've been taking my family photos for year and they are very nice people." Hayley indicating the photos behind her and getting a smile from Harry.

"Speaking of Knockturn Alley I wanted to discuss that with you as well. I wanted to talk about some plans I have as I own the land of Knockturn Alley and I have a couple of ideas that I'd need your help with as I'm not sure about the legal part of what I want to do."

"What is it you wish to do with Knockturn Alley?" Hayley asked curiously

"Well I want to clean it up and get rid of the shops there that are associated with dark magic as it's got a reputation that is damaging some business down there that I know aren't associated as dark magic but they can't get a place on Diagon Alley because shops there aren't coming available very often or aren't big enough for what is required."

"So I assume that you're wanting to know what rights the tenants of the dark shops, shall we say, have if you tell them that you want them out?" Hayley guessed getting a confirming nod from Harry that this was the case.

"Well if I can see a copy of a rental contract for Knockturn Alley then I'll be able to go through the terms of the contract and see if we can get those businesses to relocate or turf them out if they refuse to budge." Hayley said confidently and Harry was really starting to like her no nonsense way of dealing with things.

"I'm sure my account managers at Gringotts will be able to sort that out if I send them instruction to contact with you on all matters and plans that I've got at the moment. In fact, are you free for lunch?" Harry asked.

"Well, Harry not that I'm not flattered but I'm afraid I'm already in a very happy relationship with another man." Hayley replied stone-faced and causing a horrified look to appear on Harry's face at the misunderstanding.

"I'm joking Harry!" Hayley laughed with mirth as her laugh ended up going up a level as Harry started to laugh with her. She reminded him of Luna when Ron had first told a joke in front of her and Luna had laughed until tears were running out of eyes. "Seriously the look on your face. Don't worry Harry I know what you meant and of course I can clear some time for lunch, plus after seeing Lady Bones and Lady Granger-Dumbledore-Hufflepuff, I don't think I'd get a look in, especially as I'm technically old enough to be your mother!"

Hayley erupted again as Harry's face dropped again at her teasing before he eventually joined in. "Well I'll ask if one or all of my account managers could join us for lunch as I've an idea that I'd like to run past you all." Harry said and with that Harry sent his patronus off to Gringotts to go and speak with Griphook to see if they were free to join them for lunch at Gents and Gentry.

Harry started telling Hayley his idea and what he wanted to do with her eye brows going further and further up towards her hair line the more he told her and she reminded him of a toddler listening to a story that blew their minds.

As Harry was telling Hayley about it a note was slipped under the door addressed to Harry from Griphook confirming that he, Bogrod and Furybreaker would be in attendance at twelve o'clock sharp.

Looking at his watch Harry saw that it was eleven thirty and suggested to Hayley that they go now as normally he gets mobbed when he's out and he knows the goblins don't like to be kept waiting.

Hayley and Harry got up and left the office and Hayley said that she was going out and either Angelic could come with them to take the notes of the meeting and get a free lunch if she could find someone willing to cover the reception desk for her and she had by the time she got to Gents and Gentry to try and sort it and Hayley and Harry left the office as they heard Angelic go running off down the corridors.

"I like to tease her as she reminds me of my niece." Hayley said fondly as she and Harry started walking down Horizont Alley and a few people came up and asked for his for autographs and to thank him for winning the war. Harry just gave Hayley a look to say "see I told you" as they made their way to Diagon Alley and Harry warned her that he would be moving quickly and trying to not get stopped and to be prepared.

They managed to get to Gents and Gentry without getting stopped but people were asking Harry to sign things as he was walking down the street and as they approached the restaurant the head waiter was waiting for them and closed the door behind them as they entered before showing them to a table where the three goblins were sat waiting for them around a table.

Hayley left a message with the waiter that Angelic would be joining them shortly and the waiter said he'd show her over as soon as she got there.

"Harry, how good to see you. I see you made quite the splash in the prophet. I must say Sirius would be proud that you're attracting so much female attention." Bogrod commented

"As would your father…. Although your mother not so much." Griphook added with a cackle and getting one from Bogrod and Furybreaker

"Gentleman this is Hayley Sloop of Sloop & Everard. I've hired Hayley as my magic solicitor and wanted her to meet with you as we're all going to be working very close together. Ah and this is Angelic Bogard who is a trainee solicitor working for Hayley who will be joining us for lunch." as Angelic gave them a small curtsey and a hello.

"Hayley, Angelic these are my account managers from Gringotts, this is Griphook who is the Potter and Peverell family account manager amongst other things, Griphook nodded his head in acknowledgement. This is Bogrod and amongst other things he is the Black Family account manager, Bogrod nodded and gave a slight wave, and last but by no means least this is Furybreaker, who again amongst other things is the Ravenclaw family account manager." Harry introduced taking his seat.

"So Harry to what do we owe the pleasure?" Furybreaker asked on behalf of himself and his colleagues.

"Well I wanted to get you all together as I've been doing some thinking regarding my families' legacy and I just wanted to thrash out an idea and see how feasible it is." Harry answered as the waiter came over and took a drinks order and left to get their drinks. Harry casted a quick muffilato and Hayley cast some privacy charms as well as the goblins added their own privacy charms so that they wouldn't be overheard.

"So I've been giving it some thought," Harry said as he pulled a piece of parchment out of his back pocket and cast a charm to multiply the parchment by five and distributed them about the table. "This is my plan or vision."

Author's note - Firstly thanks to Goldzar for editing this chapter for me.

This has been one of my favourite chapters to write and it's surprised me that it's not had as high a viewing figures as lots of my other chapters. Some may find the contents in the chapter a little boring but this is an important chapter as it give several clues as to something BIG I have planned for Harry's future and how he's thinking of getting all his ducks in a row ready to make his family legacy a reality.

I've added a little more as I'm sure everyone was wondering what happened on Hermione's and Harry evening after her shopping trip and even though it's not a lot of information it's still there any hope it helps.

So I hope you enjoy this chapter and remember some of the clues that I'm dropping in here as they are the start of Harry's shall we say 'Legacy Project'.

Thanks for getting to Chapter 25, I hope you've enjoyed this so far and that it's kept your attention. There is still some more ground work I've had to put in before Harry goes with Hermione to Japan but I've had to do it.

Thanks

Craggle