Moving Forward ch21
Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt walked with his entourage through what was soon to be the premier shopping district in the entire wizarding world. Three levels of shops, pubs, restaurants, office space and the very first wizarding amusement park.
Harry Potter had disappointed him when he walked out of the auror academy. The cunning little bastard had used the goblin treaties to his advantage. Under the treaty goblins could only live underground. This was there reasoning for never opening up a second branch or Gringotts forcing nearly all trade to happen close to the bank. Who wanted to carry all of the gold from the days business half way across the country. Hogsmead only thrived because of the school and the heavy auror presence.
000
Gnarlfang watched the wizards. Five generations of Potter's sat on this worthless piece of property slowly losing money to taxes. Leave it to the muggle raised half-blood to see it potential. The Bathesda slate mine had once been Europe's largest slate mine. One hundred and ninety years ago they ran out of slate, leaving a twelve miles long, eight mile wide, mile deep scar on the planet.
They had drained the poisonous lake that had formed at the bottom and covered the top of the hole with a steel framework that held a magically imbued canvas roof. The side facing in showed the sky above and the outside showed any muggles looking a disgusting water filled out.
The two and a half thousand seat stadium in the center of it all pushed the bounds of magical engineering to it's absolute limits. A built in pocket space that allowed it to expand to over five hundred thousand seats. It would undoubtedly host the quidditch world cup.
Because the entire space was underground Goblins could move freely. Bathesda Gardens would host the first goblin owned jewelry store in over a thousand years.
The warding scheme Potter had developed for this space ensured the safety of everyone in it. Individual shops could set the level of and types of magic allowed in their store.
On the bottom level under the four weather controlled practice pitches sat the hidden red light district. It had taken some convincing for Potter to allow it. His insistence that the entire area had an age line ensuring no children would be working in any brothel was expected. The wards no mind altering potions or spells would work in the space, ensured no one could be forced into prostitution.
"Who am I to tell two or more consenting adults what they can or can't do with their own bodies? Just make sure the lease agreement includes medical testing and tests for elicit potions and muggle drugs. If you're going to sell your body it should be to feed yourself not your habit." Potter had said.
It was that attitude and the safe surroundings that had two Veela covens in a bidding war for shop space.
000
Augusta Longbottom was one of only four Wizengamot members who retained their seat after the war. Augusta was a progressive traditionalist. Wizarding culture was important and parts of it should be maintained but muggleborns were still magical and needed to be brought into the fold not pushed out.
Much of what muggleborn thought was predudice was actually nepotism. Space in wizarding areas was very limited. Of course you were going to rent an apartment to a family member or give a job to your worthless son-in-law. It may not have come from a place of hate but the results had been the same.
Looking around at the marvel that was Bathesda Gardens, Augusta held real hope for the future of wizarding Britain.
"I wonder if they'll let us ride the carousel?" She mused.
000
As Harry looked around his little house on the beach he thought about the last four years. School had been a blur of classes, research projects and studying. He had made a few good friends, some he would be seeing much sooner than they knew.
Quidditch had been a blast. Four undefeated seasons. A new record for Harry, in ninety seven games he never missed the snitch once. Some had been very close calls though.
He looked into his bedroom ensuring everything was packed. That was the bed where he lost his virginity. He loved that bed. Without his pictures on the walls and his clothes in the closet the room felt cold and lonely.
He was keeping the house. This would always be his sanctuary from the pressures of being Harry Potter in Britain. Besides British waters were cold. He would miss being able to fish whenever he had the time.
"Harry, Love? Do you want to take your stereo system too?" Lavender Brown his soon to be fiancee asked from the living room.
"No Hun, I'll get a new one for the new house." He called back.
He reached into his nightstand and pulled out the ring box. Popping it open, just to make sure the ring was still there, he quickly pocketed it.
He would be leaving Australia tonight right after his graduation ceremony. He looked forward to this part of his life being over. Time to go be an adult.
000
Helen Hagrid looked over the site that would soon hold her day care center. When Harry had suggested this at her wedding to Rubeus she had thought it a silly idea. Later though when she really took the time to think about it, with all of the employment opportunities in Bathesda Gardens witches up and down the isles wouldn't stay satisfied staying at home. Even just having a safe place to leave the children for a nice, quiet day of shopping would be a godsend to many of them.
000
A/N: Hope you are all enjoying my story. If you're not why are you still reading? Thanks for the support, I appreciate the favs, follows and reviews.