CH 9
HPHPHP
Hermione had been acting strangely for a while now. Ever since her battle at the Ministry of Magic, something about her had changed.
It was only a week after Ron had given Harry the new password for Gryffindor Tower, that the red-head noticed that here was something off about her this year or else this was the first time that Ron had ever noticed it. She was constantly asking to review Harry's essays until the Boy-Who-Lived finally blew up in her face.
"Bloody hell Hermione," Harry said loudly walking into the Gryffindor Common room to see what she was up to. "What do you think you're doing? My essay was finished and ready to hand in."
"I'm correcting some glaringly obvious errors," she said, continuing to make the corrections directly on the completed essay in red ink.
Harry waited for her to finish, he pulled out his wand and hissed, (...Copyright defence activate...)
The students watch in surprised awe, as the red ink flew from Harry's essay back into Hermione's face and clothes, causing her to step back with a shriek. "Harry," she yelled while using the sleeve of her school robe to wipe away the drippy ink. "What was that?"
"It's a protection against corrections to my essay from someone who's not recognized as a Professor in this school," Harry said shaking the rest of the supplemental ink off of his essay.
The red-ink was still on his paper, as far as the other Gryffs could see, but he pulled off a clear film of transparency paper that contained Hermione's supposed corrections. He was planning to use it as proof to his Wizarding Counsellor to show just how badly his essays had been influenced by the girl in the past. He used a special ink sealing powder on the transparency and then quickly put it and all of his school work away, including his now unblemished and completed potions essay.
"I didn't ask you to make any corrections," he told her. "I never even asked you to review it and you knew that I had finished it." He was glad that he had planned to be there at this time because there was no other way to catch her at it. He had warned Ron to keep an eye out for it with the younger years; just in case she did the same thing to theirs, but it only looked she was doing to the essays belonging to them and those of their year who asked for her assistance.
Ron did confess that his work was usually bad anyway that whatever she did was sure that it was improved. All Harry had to do was point out a few things on Ron's previous essay in Transfiguration that had been answered correctly before Hermione had even touched it.
"You could have gotten a higher O.W.L. mark, if you knew the right answer instead of believing that she was right and choosing to study from your marked essays," Harry had pointed out. "It's your choice to believe her from now on though because I refuse to let her continue doing this to my hard work."
Ron had decided to set up his essays in pretty much the same manner only he didn't have the transparency paper spells, but he did have the duplication spells and left duplicates around for her to correct, if she ever asked for it. They were planning to hand in their proper essays even if she 'suggested'a few 'important corrections'.
'I don't believe that she did that,' he thought. 'I'm glad Harry's method was to confront her, but now we'll see what's going on with mine.'
"Hermione," Ron said. "Did you by any chance see my Transfiguration essay around here?"
"Yes," she said looking over the table that she had commandeered in the Gryffindor Common room with the firm belief that she was the only one who studied and pointed to the scroll on top of a stack of books. "It's right there. I made some corrections on it too, but if you're going to complain like Harry then I'm going to have to refuse to help you study in the future. Do you understand?"
"I was just asking if you'd seen it," Ron said, opening it up and sure enough it was full of red marks and suggested corrections. He looked to Harry and nodded. "I don't care if you made corrections because I'm usually pants at Transfiguration anyway."
The two boys left the room to go to the Room of Requirement for Harry's last one-hour period of the day. It was there that they had planned to review everything and to figure out how to bring this up to the girl and possibly to the Professors' attention.
"I can't believe this," Ron said staring at the red-marked essay. He pulled out his original and noticed that the most important point of the essay had been removed. Even he knew about it, but it wasn't like he cared about the returned work from a professor before, but now that he looked back there were times that he could have sworn that he had the correct information the first time around.
"You'd have gotten Acceptable on that one," Harry said pointing to the red-marked essay. "Probably with a note about how the most salient point had not been introduced or something like that."
"You're right," Ron said. "From studying in here, I know that removing this information would make me think that what I had originally written down was wrong and I would continue to think that. Why? It's not like I was ever competing with her for top of class."
"I don't know," Harry said. "Maybe that's the position she feels she has to have in our 'Trio'. I mean it's not like she really has many other friends or study partners. I know that in the beginning we asked her questions that she was happy in answering because it made her feel like she belonged, but now that we're nearing the end of our time here at Hogwarts, what if she's afraid of not being good enough?"
"No Harry," Ron said. "She's always been bossy, nosy and wanting someone to tell her that she's good in school or something like that. She's seeking praise for knowing things, but this," he looked at his marked up duplicated essay. "This is wrong. As a Prefect, if we caught someone doing something like this they'd be brought before their Head of House, punished with detentions, including an extreme loss of House points and they'd lose their Prefect Badge."
Harry sighed and nodded his head. "So, what now, do you want to hand your original work before or after we confront her? Should we let a Professor know about this? Not McGonagall because I seriously doubt that she'd believe that Hermione would be capable of something like this."
"Before," Ron said. "We need the actual proof to confront her with what she's been doing. We can re-take our O.W.L.s, but it's too late to make corrections for this year for whatever courses we need to get N.E.W.T.s for a particular subject next year. We can test into a class next year by re-taking our O.W.L.s for a particular class and pass another exam for the sixth year, if we want, but we'd have to book those tests with the Professors of those classes. They'd also have to agree to re-test us."
"You're going to need potions if you're still planning to become an Auror," Harry stated. "I can help you there, but we'll have to study here in this room, unless you want Professor Snape to be involved."
Ron paused for a moment and then said, "He will have to be involved eventually, but I want to brush up on my previous years first. What do you think?"
Harry looked at his course schedule and knew that it was time for his Saturday afternoons to be concentrated only on Potions. He'd done nearly every other subject. He was going to have to discuss something with Professor Snape first as the Potions Master of the school. Any insight to the type of books they should be reading or studying from would help.
"Let me check something out first and we should meet with Snape for you so that he can agree to letting you be re-tested for your Potions O.W.L. and let you take an exam to be exempt from sixth year classes," Harry said. "How about you meet me here on the Saturday afternoon, around one, before Halloween?"
"Blimey," Ron said. "I'd forgotten about Halloween. Do you think V…Vol…Voldemort is planning something against the school this year?"
"Ron," Harry said. "How about you call Voldemort by his 'real' name?"
"What's that," Ron said.
"Tom Riddle," Harry said with a grin.
Ron frowned. He thought about it and then said, "That doesn't sound very pureblood."
"Nope," Harry's grinned turned wicked. "He's a half-blood. His father was a Muggle."
Ron's eyes widened and his mouth dropped into an O of surprise. "Think we should spread it around the school?" He asked wickedly thinking of trying to find out more and how to spread it to those that believe in the Dark Lord's propaganda. "Can you imagine the faces of the students when they find out?"
"I have an idea," Harry said. He leaned forward and told Ron of his plan.
Ron was surprised and then he laughed. "We have to get the twins involved," he said chuckling. "They'd love it and I think that they have some of the basic spells or potions already in place, it's just a matter of putting it altogether with a purpose."
"You Owl them to let them know what we're looking for and to meet us at the Shrieking Shack during one of our Hogsmeade week-ends," Harry said. "I bought the Shack this summer from the town of Hogsmeade. The town council was only too happy to have it being used for something useful."
"What are you going to do," Ron asked.
"I'm planning to use it as a Gallery for students to display their projects and ideas," Harry said. "The first floor is for all arts and physical projects. The second floor will be for the projects or ideas the need help. I'm not sure how to present that. I am thinking of something like putting together display boards behind protective glass with suggestion boxes in front so that the general public can give ideas for the students to test them."
The Room of Requirement set up a few of the displays that Harry was talking about for the boys to see what they looked like. They talked about the various tables and forms that they could take. Using the idea that Harry's portable desk had they hashed out a few rough drafts of different styles. Most looked like plain vanity tables with paper in a slot, a quill and ink pot at the top of the table and a slot to allow the paper to be deposited into the desk. The small desk-displays would contain a retractable bench just like Harry's portable one.
The area on the desk that would normally contain a vanity mirror was replaced with a thin glass cover and a solid backing that would allow the vanity to be placed back to back in a maze of straight rows on the second floor of the old Shrieking Shack. They created corner displays for a couple of the arty type projects and as soon as their ideas were solid Harry was ready to commission the tables.
"They have to be plain and solid for the students," Harry marked on his notes next to a copy of the design. "I'm pretty sure that this design is available, but I wonder… Let me have my Goblin manager looked into this item." He turned to look at Ron and then asked a very personal question. "Ron do you have your own personal vault at Gringotts?"
Ron frowned at the question, but he answered truthfully. "No," he said. "You need a minimum amount of 50 Galleons to open up a vault in Gringotts. You have to keep those 50g in there for one full year before they will allow you to empty the vault and keep the vault key. If you make money and take out that money they don't care as long as the original fifty remains in there."
"If I emptied one of the Black vaults, signed it over to you and gave you the key," Harry said. "Would you then own the vault or would you need to have the original amount to take possession of it, like a new vault?"
"I suppose that you'd have to ask," Ron said. "I'm not sure how that would work though. Why?"
"Just a thought," Harry said. "Why don't you let me look into it? If it can be done, then it would negate that 50g rule for opening a new vault wouldn't it?"
Ron opened and then closed his mouth. "They're your vaults Harry," he said. "I'd like to try to get my own started, but it takes time to even earn 10g because I'm only a student."
"Yeah, it's true that earning money will take time," Harry said. "Why not get a vault this way in the mean time? I'm sure that the twins had their own vault after they had started selling their stuff here at the school. You just need the time to make your own money."
"What are you not telling me?"
"I can't tell you that right now," Harry said. "I don't want to give you any hope about it, so will you let me look into that? Sirius would approve of this. It's sneaky and kind of Marauderish, only it's not a true prank, but it is kind of grand on the scale things, if it has never been done before. I mean if the Goblins had never thought of this, they'll flip."
"You're right," Ron said. "All right, but it will only be temporary until we finish school and only if it can be done."
"Deal," Harry said hold out his hand. Ron took it and that's when they both noticed the time. "Damnit we have to leave or else get caught out after curfew." He walked to the door and said, "See you tomorrow."
Ron was out of the door and looked as the door fade into the wall. He turned in the opposite direction saying, "Later Harry."
HPHPHP
Griphook received the missive from one of his most active clients. He was surprised that it arrived with a completely black owl, known as a Sooty. However this owl seemed to have an even temperament, but again his surprise arose from the fact that the letter came from Harry Potter.
He read through the contents, raised an eyebrow and then felt the sudden need to actually look something up among the Bank's policies, regulations and records. The information that his client was asking about didn't seem to be known to him and that hasn't happened to him in a long time.
He read through his standards books that contained the procedures regarding account management, specifically related to the opening and closing of an account. Then he looked up vault transference and cross-referenced that with Harry's question about whether transferring an empty vault to a new client would be considered the same as opening a brand new vault and account for a client.
He looked up some past records for when clients had given away vaults to people in Wills. He reviewed them again to see if any vaults were ever transferred to the name of someone that had never opened a vault at Gringotts and what the process was for that.
"Well," Griphook muttered to himself. "It doesn't seem to have happened in the recent past. " He paused when a knock occurred at his office door. "Enter."
"Sir," it was the one of the younger goblins that Harry Potter had hired this summer by the name of Crosspatch in charge of estate management with a human co-worker. "I received a letter from Lord Potter, but I do not know any good lawyers in the bank that I can recommend to him that would satisfy his needs. He did mention that the estate may have a couple listed on file, but he was hesitant to contact them due to what happened during the summer before his fifth year."
"Let me see the letter," Griphook said. His surprise at the letter's contents was noted by the younger goblin, but fortunately Crosspatch knew better than to question his elders' reactions to missives from clients. "You will stay here to learn how to look up Lawyers and Lawyer speciality. You may begin with those books over there. I recommend that you look into the ones that have been associated with the Potter or Black names first and see if any were involved in with the current contracts of the incoming business ventures."
"Thank you sir," Crosspatch said. He had wondered why his new boss Harry Potter would send him such a letter when he wasn't trained to do these things and that's when he realized that the Boy-Who-Lived was making sure that he'd go to someone wiser to get that training. Maybe that particular someone, just like Griphook Bonebreaker, would teach him and that looks just like what he was doing. He turned to the books with a grin and began the arduous task of finding a lawyer or a couple of lawyers for contract specific jobs.
HPHPHP
Harry waited for a reply from his Estate employees at Gringotts. He knew that Griphook would guide the young Crosspatch in his training and probably help the young one to become a good estate manager.
With the help of Winky and Dobby, the female Sooty owl's offspring were bonded to him and to his Estate. They chose to live at Galaelio's Spindle for the time being, but Hedwig had agreed that she was ready to seek a mate and therefore was willing to train the nestlings in their new magical tasks as Owl Post carriers.
There were three Sooty nestlings in total and all three were given names. The names didn't matter as they didn't affect the owl's personality, but they were Amida (Japanese, god of death), Dev (Persian, god of war) and Lulong (Bornio, goddess of love). They were currently living with Harry in order to get used to his magical aura and that was one of the important parts of training, what were basically wild magical owls. Should these Sooty children breed too, then their offspring were likely to have an easier time living with magical Humans, delivering their Post.
The original Sooty Owl, the Snowy Owl and the Barn Owl had been feral too long to consider becoming magical post owls, but did agree to bring their offspring for evaluation. Should they be strong enough magically, then Harry could effectively supply Eeylops Owl Emporium with some new stock. All this depended on what the newer owls would have to say.
The Snowy Owl from Galelios Spindle was currently courting Hedwig and therefore was tolerating Harry's magical presence in order for something to occur in the spring. Harry consulted with Winky and Dobby about the nesting needs that any mated owls would have. He agreed to the purchase of a nesting pod that Hedwig could use should he still be at school when her eggs dropped in the spring.
He also told the house-elves to get a bigger cage for the owls and the pod, just in case. He didn't want to have to move anything for when they returned to the Watermill and then Harry told Dobby to set up several other pods in the Owlery of the Watermill and at Galileo's Spindle. That way if the Sooty nestlings were doing a good enough job being Post Owls, by the time it came for Hedwig to do as nature intended she'd be able to go to the Watermill House or another secluded place directly without beginning to nest at the school, while waiting for her Master to finish his year.
Hedwig sounded her agreement to all of these arrangements and the other Snowy looked at the female Snowy Owl. He said something to her and she hopped to Harry's shoulder. She got his attention and then hopped down to the book that he had been using in order to find names for the Sooty nestlings. She clicked her beak looking at the male Snowy Owl who bopped his head up and down in agreement.
Harry got the message loud and clear. He looked at the male Snowy Owl and said, "You want me to find you a name too." The Owl bopped its fluffy head up and down. "All right then," the Gryffindor said. "Give me a moment. Hmmm...here, how about Brono, he's the Norse god of daylight."
The male owl looked Harry and bopped his head up and down, hooting his agreement. It was a good name for him. It didn't sound patronizing in any way shape or form.
Winky set up the owl corner with a magical plant called a Puzzle Tree. It had multiple branches that were perfect to use as perches for owls and since it was in a planter, the growth of the tree was magically limited. The base of the planter widened to encompass a large area that was used for the owl droppings. The droppings vanished with a clean scent that was complementary to the tree's faint cinnimony smell and that way the occupants of the rooms were never bothered by the smell of guano or the necessary cleanup.
HPHPHP
Harry received a letter that was delivered by one of his new Sooty nestlings for the first time in the Great Hall. This was just the week before Halloween and just after Harry had told Ron about his Saturday afternoon training plans for improving their understanding and the Potions scores. The all black Post Owl was young, but it drew a lot of attention because it was such a rare thing to see.
He was about to take the letter when Hermione hissed, "Harry you don't know who it's from."
Harry snorted and said, "Of course I know who it's from. I can tell by the seal on the letter." He reached over when she grabbed his wrist to stop him. "What are you doing let go of me?"
She had her wand out and was about to point it at the Owl, when he shoved her hand aside stopping her from casting whatever spell she was planning to cast. He pushed her out of the way and scooped up the young terrified owl.
"Don't you dare cast a spell on my owl," Harry said, anger colouring his tone.
"Your owl," Hermione questioned. "Your owl is a Snowy Owl."
"You can have more than one owl Hermione," he said with an exasperated sigh. He took the letter and pocketed it. Then he pulled out an owl treat and said, "Well done, I'm proud you Dev, but you'd better return to the rooms for now. Let your mum know that you did a good job, if she's visiting today." The young owl puffed up his feathers with pride, nibbled his Master's fingers gently, hooted and flew out of his Master's hand. He flew over the bushy-haired girl that had pointed her wand and threatened him. He chose to let loose a dropping in her hair before leaving the Hall.
She shrieked in outrage and cleaned it up quickly with a spell. Unfortunately every time she used that spell her hair frizzed up due to the magical static.
"Why did you go and do that for Hermione," Ron asked her. He was surprised that she would pull out her wand in the Great Hall.
"It could've been from someone who wanted to harm Harry," she huffed. "I don't know what's wrong with the two of you. Don't you care about you own safety?" She said to Harry.
"Of course I do," Harry said. Ron echoed an agreement. "But I told you that was one of my new owls."
"But its Dark," Hermione said.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"It's a Dark Creature," she said crossing her arms daring them to prove her wrong.
Harry and Ron exchanged a look and soon were laughing out loud. "Hermione, its colouring may be dark, but it is not a Dark Creature," Ron said still laughing. "It's just a regular Post Owl. Eeylops had some a couple years ago, but they are still only owls."
"Some were experimented on during the last war," Hermione said. "You can't trust those owls. Are they even registered as Post Owls?"
Harry shook his head from side to side wondering what he was going to do with that girl. "Hermione," he said gently and in a near patronizing tone. "That's really none of your business. However if you ever cast a spell at any of my owls I will not be pleased. See you later Ron," he said indicating that they'd meet up for their next session in the Room of Requirement to practice potions. "I have a meeting right now with one of my Professors."
"Later," Ron waved to his friend. He turned to Hermione and some of the other Gryffindors that had been listening. "Harry has three Sooty Owls that are learning to be Post Owls, two male and one female. They will be delivering his Post as often as Hedwig permits it. No action is to be taken against them, is that clear? Oh, and just to relieve your minds about it, yes they are Registered Post Owls with the Department of Owl Post Regulations. Does that satisfy you now Miss Nosy?"
"Ron," Hermione said, but stopped not sure how to respond.
Ron quickly finished his breakfast and headed towards the one rare room that he never voluntarily stepped in until this day. He walked into the library looking for specific book titles that had been suggested by Harry. He would need to check and review them before they began their potions study.
"Not all happy in Gryffindor Trio paradice," Malfoy drawled out after having seen the books that the red-head was stacking in order to check out. He'd followed him out of curiosity.
"That's none of your business Malfoy," Ron returned, too occupied with his search for the book that contained information ingredient properties related to plants. He found it on a low shelf and bent over to pick it up.
Draco was stunned that the other boy had basically turned his back to him and was now bending over, as though he didn't care how it looked. He was fully prepared to make a comment about how the red-head was always bending over for Potter or some such, but he was stopped by the clear blue eyes that turned to look down into his.
"Don't make any comments today please," Ron said. He knew the direction that Malfoy's thoughts had turned to and he wasn't in the mood to hear any flack. "If you really feel like making some type of comment could you please defer it for another day, when I'm likely to take the time and reply in kind?" He smirked, walked up to Madam Pince's desk. He then signed out the books and left the library in short order.
'Merlin what was I thinking about,' Ron thought looked down at the books in his hand. He glanced back to see the stumped look on the blonde's face and then he quickly left to go meet up with Harry.
'By Morgana's frozen tits,' Draco thought. 'When did his voice sound like that and since when did he ever use a sentence with the word please. It sounded like he was getting culture training or something.' The blonde Slytherin shook his head and then remembered the books that the Gryffindor had taken with him. He smirked and thought, 'There's a bit a fuel in there. That Gryffindor is suddenly interested potions, not bloody likely. I'll just have to keep my eye on him for that.'
HPHPHP
Harry took a few moments to read his correspondence from Griphook before meeting with Ron in the Room of Requirement.
HPHPHP
Mr. Potter,
I have reviewed your requests and was astonished to learn that you are indeed correct in your supposition that should you empty a Family vault and then give it away, the new owner is not penalized like any new account owner. There is no need for the 50 Galleon limit to be observed, because while technically the account is new to the new owner, the physical vault will have been in existence for years.
My superiors could only have supposed that the reason behind such is that no one has ever thought of giving away empty vaults for the purpose of bypassing the new vault criteria.
I feel that I must inform you that having now brought this situation up we feel that it is necessary to implement new procedures and processes to protect against a new owner from receiving an empty Family vault for the purpose of bypassing our current new accounts and new vault regulations. However since the processes need to be debated, analyzed and written, perhaps you will have enough time to transfer an inconsequential Family vault to your friend.
You will both have to meet with a Gringotts representative in order for the proper paperwork to take place and for your friend to get his vault key from us. I'm willing to meet you both during your next Hogsmeade weekend. Just let me know when it is and I will be there with all the appropriate paperwork. You will of course need to inform me whose name is to be the beneficiary of said 'empty' vault.
As to your other request, we found two lawyers that specialize in Creative Copyright Law and Contractual Law. They are currently enjoying several challenging issues that arise from Misters Fred and George Weasley's business practices. I believe that they would suit your needs as well and I can ensure that they come along to our meeting.
I look forward to your next correspondence,
Griphook Bonebreaker
Chief of Vault Security
Primary Accounts Manager for Potter, Black & Grindelwald
Gringotts Bank, U.K.
HPHPHP
Harry quickly wrote a reply to let the Goblin know when the next Hogsmeade weekend was and that Griphook was to bring the two Lawyers with him.
Next he dashed off a brief letter to the store called 'Apo The Carry, Distributing & Such' (...i...) in Hogsmeade requesting two full sets of potions kits for first, second and third year students. The kits were to be owled to him immediately as he stated in his letter that he needed to replace kits that had been destroyed in an unfortunate incident. He was handsomely compensating them for the trouble and short notice. His accounts manager wasn't going to be pleased about it, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Professor Snape had discussed with Harry the best method to begin his re-study process and then advised that a potions room would be made available to them once they were prepared to be re-examined on a per year basis only. He wasn't looking forward to it, but he had been most displeased to know that the essays which some of the Gryffindors' had turned in had similar errors to the supposed 'corrections' he was noting on the transparency that the Boy-Who-Lived had brought to him.
He handed the Gryffindor a list of books to use in order to review potions, including a full list of first, second and third year potions that they should have mastered by now. "I will schedule year tests when you advise me that you've completed these potions and the studies," Severus told him. "I will not correct your studies, as it will remain up to you and your friend to decide when you're ready for the year exam. I will be testing your potions and I will be scheduling one exam sometime in November for the two of you in first and second year potions together. Your third year exam will take place at least two or three weeks after. I will be giving you an exam incorporating all three years just before the Holidays and if either of you do not take that final exam then, you'll forfeit my assistance for the remainder of the year. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir," Harry said his lighting up in anticipation. "We are anxious to prove you wrong."
"I doubt that you'll succeed," the Potions Master said with a sneer, but Harry saw the teasing light in the man's eyes. This came from the time they spent together during the summer. The man was reluctant to acknowledge that the young man was quite intelligent in his methods of study. "We'll see," he conceded. "You still have to maintain an O average in this class though and I'll not allow you to slack off, even if you are trying to improve yourself through self study."
"Yes sir," Harry said. "Did you want to know the name of my friend?"
"No," Severus said. "I prefer to be surprised."
"Professor," Harry said in tone that told the man that he knew he was lying. However because the man was teasing him, he teased right back. "You'll see him during that the first exam anyway. I have to dash, got homework to do and I don't want to fall behind now do I?" He was quickly walking backwards to the door of the room and he was out of it faster than Severus could say Quidditch.
The infernal boy had the audacity of saying, "See you later Professor Snape," while his next class of students, a mix of second year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, were gaping at Harry and then turned their stunned expressions onto him.
"Get in here and set up your cauldrons," he growled at them, which caused them to scurry. "Infernal brat," he muttered as he closed the door sharply. He swished his wand to put the potion information on the board and said, "A simple healing salve. Get to it and if you're quiet I'll remain at my desk until they're all brewed. One sound and I'll be forced to hover over next the culprit disturbing my peace, am I clear?"
"Yes sir," the children squeaked.
Silence reigned in the Potions class for the next hour, which caused Severus some amount of concern however it wasn't like he couldn't see where the errors were taking place. "Mr. West," he barked before the student added the wrong ingredient to his potion. "Are you planning to cause hives to appear on your partner's skin by adding mugwort before the slivers of dragon tongue?" The student in question quickly made the proper corrections and that's when he said, "I thought not."
The children wanted to speak, oh how they wanted to speak and chatter, but they were testing their Potions Master's word and it seemed like he didn't need to hover in order to correct their work with scathing remarks. Luckily they were almost done and the clock showed that they had a few minutes left to bottle their work, submit them to the man and clean their workstations properly.
HPHPHP
Hogsmeade – October, just before Halloween
"I'm telling you Ron," Harry said. "This will be brilliant. You just wait and see."
"All right," his friend said.
They stepped into Madam Rosmerta's and were ushered into a back room. Waiting for them was a goblin and two wizards that looked like they were Lawyers.
"Pay up Giles," one wizard said. "I told you that a Weasley was involved."
"You pay up Hatter," the other wizard said. "I told you that with this Goblin the Boy-Who-Lived would be involved."
"Gentlemen," the goblin said with his hand extended with grasping, snapping fingers. "I believe that I wagered that you'd both be right."
The two men looked at the goblin and both said, "You knew!"
"Never said I didn't, did I," Griphook grinned. "Pay up!"
The one called Giles was wearing smart blue robes. He reached into a pocket of his robe and handed over one Galleon. The other who was called Hatter, reached into his grey robes and pulled out the same amount.
"Thank you gentlemen," Griphook said pocketing the Galleons. It was a bet only for fun, but he had enjoyed making the wager. "Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, please join us."
"Brilliant Griphook," Harry said, sitting at the table.
"Bloody brilliant," Ron agreed, sitting next to his friend.
"First here are the papers for you to sign Mr. Potter," Griphook began. He watched as Harry read them, nodded in agreement that they contained exactly what he wanted, an empty vault transfer to Ron. He picked up the quill that he had been given and signed on all of the dotted lines and used his ring with a stick of magical banking wax to seal the deal. The goblin took the papers witnessed the request and then he had Ron sign at all the appropriate places.
"Done," the goblin said. "Here's your vault key Mr. Weasley." He handed a small black key. "I would recommend that you reinforce the security on it as soon as you can." Harry looked at his accounts manager sharply. Griphook nodded and said, "It's true. These gentlemen will ensure that you are protected and that the contracts will be legal."
"Thank you," Harry said.
Ron looked confused, but also said, "Thank you."
"If you'll allow me to begin," Giles asked his companion.
"Whatever," is all that came out of Mr. Hatter's mouth.
"I believe that introductions are in order," Harry stated. "I'm Harry Potter; to my left is Griphook Bonebreaker Head of Security and Executive Manager to all of my Estates. To my right is my good friend Ronald Weasley."
"I'm Gregory Giles," the man in the blue robe said. "This is my partner, Archibald Hatter. We prefer to be addressed by our surnames."
"Harry," the Boy-Who-Lived said.
"Ron," the red-headed boy said.
"Very well," Giles began. "You manager has brought your concerns to us and we've decided to accept you both as our clients. Here is our standard contract and fees."
"Oh don't you worry about this first meeting young man," Hatter said to Ron as he noticed the boy about to say something. "This first meeting is Gratis for you both. We rather enjoy doing things in this manner that way whenever shares of products become available we request that ten percent be considered a gift to us."
"Three percent," Harry said. "We don't yet know how well our products will be received. We are after all using existing patterns."
"Yes, but with different spells and purpose," Hatter pointed out. "Your display cases, once patented will be in demand, eight percent"
"How can you be sure of that," Ron asked and then countered, "Four percent."
"Because we will be the first customers," Giles said. "We were intrigued by the idea and we would like to set up a couple in the Lobby of our business... seven percent."
"What is your business," Ron asked, not countering, but waiting for Harry to make the choice.
"We are the Hatles Law Firm," Giles said with a grimace at the name. They had been fighting over it for years and yet it was the fight that made it fun.
Harry's eyes sparkled and Ron snorted, trying to hold in a laugh. "So what needs to be done," Harry asked when he felt that he had some control of his emotions back. "These were only rough plans...five percent."
"Plans that upon review need to be creator protected before the world begins to see even one actual table-display of this nature," Hatter said. He ignored his partner's ire about the company name. He pulled out Ministry Forms filled and only needing signatures to be filed correctly. "These have to be signed properly and then we file them at the Ministry...six percent."
"Some ideas like these plans will be stored in the Ministry's Grand Patent book," Giles told the boys. "A copy of the book is available to anyone who builds things, like magical trunks or mirrors. If a company or business had any interest in your design they will contact your Lawyers, which would be us, and request the use of your patent. The payment for use is based on originality and the number of times that they wish to use the design."
Hatter continued from there, "First we file the patent and then we find a business willing to build a few."
"We've figured out that we need about fifty for our project," Harry said. "After that the business can produce them, when they pay for the right to produce them." He looked at Griphook regarding the last counter offer and received a nod that it was quite a good idea to accept. "Six percent, deal's done!"
"Why so many," Giles said.
"We're converting the Shrieking Shack into a Hogwarts Student Display Museum & Emporium," Harry said.
"That's right," Ron piped in. "The display cases will be placed on the second floor against the walls and in a maze pattern. The displays will contain student ideas for projects and these will allow the public or other students a chance to contribute to it."
"Now that's a smashing idea," Giles said and then cautioned the boys. "You'll need to give out copies of these patent forms to the students and make sure that they understand that there are magical consequences for creating something using someone's idea without compensating them for it. Six percent, deal's done!"
Griphook looked over the prepared contract and using Goblin magic he inserted the percentage that the Law Firm would be receiving out the total income that the two young men would be making. Ironically the first batch of money they'd be making is their own by commissioning the desk-displays for the Shrieking Shack. All parties initialled, signed, sealed in wax or blood their agreement for this contract.
Only Ron had to sign with a blood print because he had never even thought about creating his own personal seal. It could only be done with the permission from his Head of Family, but he knew that Bill, Charlie and Percy had all gone to their father for it. He wondered if the Twins had created one for the two of them for their business, but it was acceptable to have a personal seal when dealing with personal business outside of the larger Family matters.
"It ethics isn't it," Harry said tucking away a copy of the contract into his portable desk and storing Ron's copy with it, in the meantime for his friend. "There is some kind of magically ethical law that will prevent them from succeeding if they don't acknowledge the contribution. What about the students putting their ideas on display could they not use a Copyright spell to claim original ownership? I mean that would be a way for them to credit someone with the final solution that made their project or idea actually work."
"You are smart. Yes they can and it would help if they filed those ideas with the Ministry too in order to really protect them," Hatter told him. "Now is there anything else that we can do for you today?"
"Yes, I have something else," Harry said. "I created something and have used a Copyright spell to protect it, but I know that it could be improved upon."
"What is it," Giles asked, curiosity lacing his features.
"I'm currently taking fourth year Runes and came up with this during one of our study hall sessions," Harry said. "I had help, but the base idea was mine." He pulled out a copy of the huge Runes Cross-Reference Table. He opened it up in full and then everyone gasped when they noticed the crest flickering faintly in the background.
"Only powerful Witches or Wizards can claim something in the name of their Family," Griphook said.
"Or they went and had their name protected," Ron observed. "Anyone thinking of making money off of the name Harry Potter or his Family would have to think twice because of that…" He pointed to the crest and the initial HP with the date and the copyright symbol.
"You are quite correct young man," Hatter observed. "Is there any chance that you are good at playing chess?"
"He's one of the best," Harry said.
"Harry," Ron said flushing slightly with praise.
"Unfortunately he hasn't been able to test himself against other students because there is no Wizard's Chess Club at the school," Harry said. "I can think of a couple of ways to test him, but…"
"Why are you asking," Ron interrupted. He didn't even want to dream of being tested for such.
"There isn't a club," Giles said. "That's surprising."
"There was always one when I was there," Hatter said.
"The reason that we're asking is," Giles began.
Hatter continued, "We have an internship during the summers at our office…"
"But only to a student that can…"
"Beat the both of us at Wizard's Chess," Hatter finished.
"Why such a strange method of getting an intern," Harry asked, seeing the shocked look that his friend had.
"Contractual Law and the Creative Copyright Law, requires someone with a strategic mind," Giles said. "We usually intern the top three chess players from Hogwarts, but for the last two years no one has even applied."
"We were wondering if internship placement was no longer in effect or offered to students," Hatter said.
"I'd have to ask my brothers," Ron said. "They'd be in a better position to let me know. I do know that Percy did an internship at the Department of Regulatory Affairs, but I don't know how he was hired for it."
"Didn't the twins claim that they wanted to intern at Zonko's last year or the year before," Harry said. "I don't know if they did or not, though."
"They didn't," Ron stated. "They were home during their summers and hadn't mentioned anything about interning to any shop or business."
"Right," Hatter said. He pulled out two chess boards and set them up. One had white pieces facing Ron and the other had black pieces facing him. "Let's begin."
"Why do you get to begin," Giles asked.
"Because it is my turn to play while you fiddle with the Laws," Hatter said. He turned to Ron and said, "You start with white. Giles will play white, while he's working. Go on then."
Ron looked at Harry confused and his friend said, "Oh just go for it. You're a good player so why not see, if you can intern with them. Maybe you'll find your own ambition."
Ron just huffed, but there was something about the Laws that these two Wizards practiced that somehow felt comfortingly right to him. He understood most of what he had read in the forms and he was curious about their work.
"May I ask questions while we play," Ron asked, making his first move on the board and keeping an eye out on the second board. Sure enough they were both going to play him at the same time.
"Of course," Hatter said.
In the meantime, Giles concentrated on his game as well as explaining to Harry what happened when he created the full Runes Cross-Reference table. He explained how it was automatically filed because of what Harry had done this summer in regards to his name and Family names. He also explained that any improvements to it in the future would be exactly like the process for the display table that they had been discussing early.
"It will only happen once you fully file this design properly," Giles said. "Also it will depend on how many copies you created."
"There are one hundred and one total," Harry said. "There's the original and then one hundred copies. I gave most of the copies to my classmates and allowed them to claim the Runes reference like ordinary books. The Family Crest and the copyright logo are still on theirs, though."
"As it should be," Giles said. He pulled out a couple of reference books, forms that needed to be filed before Harry gave away the remainder of his reference tables and sample contracts that the young man needed to know about how to fill before allowing the 'new' table to be available for mass production or modified before production.
The chess games were well in hand and it was not without distraction for Giles because he was doing actual work while playing chess. Hatter was another matter. He kept an eye on both boards and it was clear that the young man he had challenged knew what he was doing.
"Checkmate Mr. Giles," Ron said as he turned his focus to the last few moves on the other board.
"What," Giles said looking over. He huffed and then turned back to Harry to finish filing the necessary paperwork for his reference table. "I hate it when we play like this."
"You love it enough when it is your turn to only play," Hatter said. He frowned because every move he could make would land him in check. He even had to pull out the move of switching the King with the Castle, but it didn't help him. "Damn," he said looking at Ron's face. The young man was still calculating moves. He wasn't even gloating or anything. "I believe that I will have to concede this game to you."
Ron blinked and then really looked at the board. He smiled and said, "I was wondering when you'd see it."
"I see it," Hatter sighed, toppling his King. The little chess piece wasn't happy about it, but it knew too that there was no other move to make. "Are you about done?"
"Yes we're done," Giles said putting away all of the papers. "You boys can now take your plans to a builder unless you have someone in mind."
"I was thinking of hiring a business that is Goblin run," Harry said to Griphook. "They'd have access to more materials."
"Any World Wood," Griphook said. "They do have more selections and have enough workers to produce the quantity you need in the limited time that you're requesting. They have a branch of their store here, so we can go and see if they are currently occupied at this time of year or not."
"That's it then," Harry said. "Can I hire your firm to handle my contracts? I mean on a more permanent basis. I'd like to see that business today, too. I'd also like to see if they can refurbish the Shrieking Shack before making the diplays."
"Of course," Hatter said. "We have a standard retainer contract that can be renewed every six-months or yearly as per the choice of the client. However we must be clear that we do not handle Family Law cases nor do we handle Criminal Law cases either."
"I understand," Harry said. "You're specialists in one type of Law. I'll have to see who's on retainer with the Family Estates for other types of cases. Griphook is my accounts manager so please send all bills to him."
"So Mr. Weasley," Hatter said. "This is a copy of the standard internship agreement for summer studies. We ask that you review it and drop by our office someday soon in order to get a feel for the environment. You find in the scroll some of what our expectations will be. You will be tested in various situations just likely to trip up young ones."
Ron pocketed the scroll given to him with a pleased grin.
All five left the back room in order to go visit 'Any World Wood' to see if the company would accept a contract for Harry's idea of a Hogwarts Accomplishment Display Museum. The name of the museum kept changing and until it was ready for use Harry wasn't firmly attached to any name.
HPHPHP
Draco Malfoy and a couple of his Slytherin fellows were in the tavern when they noticed the quintet leave.
"Damn Draco," Blaise Zabini said. "I've never seen a Goblin away from the Bank before."
"Those two Wizards are famous for the type of Law they practice," Theodore Nott said. "They're very good at it too or else they wouldn't be that well known."
"I wonder why they were here to meet those two," Draco said looking from Harry to Ron and lingering on Ron for a bit. The red-head seems to have changed again. There was some kind of inner confidence about him that made the blonde Slytherin want to provoke him into a fight in order to take him down a peg or two. Although for some reason he had a feeling that it wouldn't work today.
"Should we bug them," Nott asked.
"I don't think so," Draco said. "We don't want to be messing with them when they're in the company of a Goblin."
"Why not," Blaise asked.
"That one is the Head of Gringotts Vault Security, if I'm not mistaken," Draco said. "It'd bad business to mess with the Gryffindors on a lark in front of one like him."
The other two blanched slightly and Nott asked. "How can you tell one from the other?"
"My father taught me to recognise those in management," Draco said with pursed lips and a sour look. "He believed that was necessary in order to not get shafted. It was good practice for any place of business to know who's in charge of what, including which Goblin is the Head of which department."
Theodore, Theo to his friends, nodded his head in agreement and said, "That makes too much sense."
"I'm glad you did," Blaise said. "I think we should just avoid those two for today."
Draco finished his butterbeer and said, "I'm going to the Ole' Bookshop."
"I'll join you," Blaise said. "I want to look for something new."
Theo laughed and said, "There's nothing new in that shop."
"True," Blaise said. "However one of the younger years asked me about an Arithmancy book and I'm curious to see of the shop would have it. It wasn't on the catalogue list at Flourish & Blotts or in McNicker's Books either."
"What Arithmancy book," Draco asked.
"Arithmancy Structure & Tables by Level," Blaise said. "Apparently it was written by someone with the name Maximillion Tremont. Have you ever heard of the book?"
"No, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist," Draco said. He snapped his fingers to call one of the Malfoy house-elves. "Twiddle, go to Malfoy Manor's Library and see if there is a book on the shelves called Arithmancy Structure & Tables by Level, written by Maximillion Tremont. If it's there, please bring it to me, if not you pop back and tell me immediately, please."
"Yes sirs, young Master sirs," Twiddle said popping away.
The other two Slytherins looked at him and he only shrugged, "He's one of the few that know how to read and I'd rather keep on his good side because he can usually locate any book in the Malfoy Libraries."
Half a minute later the house-elf popped back with a huge book floating behind him. "Shrink for travel," Draco said. "Make it so that it will return to its original size in five hours."
Twiddle snapped his fingers and handed the book to his young Master. He popped away when Draco made a shooing motion and said, "Return to your duties."
"Well it looks like it exists," Draco said handing it over for Blaise to look at it. "Now let's go see if the Ole' Bookshop has any copies."
Blaise looked at the publishing information and the dates. "I doubt it," he said. "This was published in the Wizarding United States of America." He looked at the other's stunned expressions. "Ten years ago."
"Ten years…" Draco paused and was thinking. "Ten years…"
"Ten years ago the Ministry of Magic put a temporary ban on the importation of new products from any country," Theo said. "That's when there was a shipment of hexed toys that were badly labelled and several children got hurt."
"I remember," Draco said. "I had one of those. They were fun, but there was an addictive quality added to the toy that sucked the life-force from us. Severus had to keep me in potions until the addiction wore off. It was like having Dragon Pox and a stomach flu at the same time."
"Nasty business that," Blaise said. "However the ban was temporary because of that situation, so no new products, books or anything else came into the country at that time. If this book was only published once, then of course none of the British shops would carry it. Most businesses are still afraid to import new things, even though the ban was lifted two years later."
"Which is why purely magical shopping areas like Diagon Alley wouldn't have anything like net-books or music pods," Draco commented on. "Bloody hell, the Ministry of Magic is keeping us in the dark. Do you know if the ban is still in effect?"
"It isn't," a Wizard in smart blue robes told him. He was the same Wizard that had accompanied Harry Potter out of the Tavern. "But the Ministry didn't advertise it because that way…"
The three Slytherins nodded. They understood the reasons for keeping the majority of their World ignorant of a few things. "Things are starting to trickle in though," Draco said. "I saw a net-book."
"Pardon," the Wizard said. "You saw a muggle device working in a magical area."
"Yes," Draco said.
"Brilliant," the Wizard said. "I love those things. Oh, pardon my manners, Gregory Giles of Hatles Law Firm. I only saw them when I was in the Muggle World at an Internet Café about a year ago. Useful little things they are."
"Draco Malfoy," the blonde said. "That's Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini." He pointed to his two fellow Slytherins.
"Who had the net-book and do you know where one could be purchased," Giles asked.
"Malfoy," Harry said coming up to the group wondering why Draco was subtely waving to him to come towards them.
"We'll leave you now," Draco said to the man, looking at Harry, but not saying another word. The other two knew that something had happened, but since they wanted to go see if the Ole' Bookstore could put in an order from outside the country for a brand new Arithmancy text they ignored the subtle communication that had occurred.
"Mr. Giles," Harry said looking at the blonde Slytherin confused about why he had been waved over.
"Net-books that work in a magical environment," he said watching the other students walk away quickly to get out of hearing range. "Apparently you know about them."
"There is a store in Muggle London," Harry said understanding why he was called over. "I'll give you a map to the location for it and tell you how to get to the right section of the store. Come on I think you're due for another drink, now that all contracts are complete."
He lead the stunned man back into the Tavern, only this time Hatter joined them for a real drink while Harry explained about how he found the store and how their unique layout hid them from the UK Ministry of Magic's attention.
HPHPHP
TBC…
(...i...) 'Apo The Carry, Distributers & Such' - made up name, not meant to represent any person, place or thing, real or imagined and of course it's punny.