Disclaimer: Di Yam Gazlonim
Penzance
The night maintenance crew had been off for several turns of the glass and waiting in the pub when the first of the early warding crew returned to Gringotts.
"Free drinks so long as you lot can pass on more information about the Heiress's new projects," one of the technicians said casually as the warders tromped in. His announcement made them all change directions towards the corner of the room claimed by the maintenance crew. The day was young and about to get productive.
IIIIIIIIII
The return of one of their number and the increase in the volume of their chatter convinced Pinch that it might be a good time to get a progress report from the potions research group.
"You lot have anything new to report?" he asked as he walked up to the potions researchers.
"Had a chance to talk to Longbottom," one of the researchers reported.
"Well?" Pinch prompted.
"Kid's a genius when it comes to plant based ingredients. He's able to casually pull up knowledge that I have to go spend time with the reaction tables to find and I've been a potions master for over fifty years.
"So what he did was no accident?"
"Not sure. He's got encyclopedic information of vegetable, but he's got a big blind spot when it comes to anything animal or mineral."
"Explains quite a bit about the hows and whys of the sample he produced," another of the researchers volunteered.
"Oh?" Pinch motioned for the man to continue.
"Going over our memories of the class, he appeared to be reluctant to use anything animal or mineral based. Seemed mainly to focus mixing plant based ingredients in ways that wouldn't explode or produce anything dangerous."
"Most of what he knew about animal or mineral materials was how they reacted to vegetable," the first researcher volunteered.
"See if he can make anything original using his methods and knowledge of the reaction tables," Pinch ordered. "If he can . . . hell, even if he can't, pair him with someone with a better working knowledge of the rest of the tables." They had the opportunity to turn the boy into the very model of a modern major master of potions, he could just feel it.
IIIIIIIIII
Luna and Hermione were a bit surprised to find their astronomy professor happily chatting with the shop foreman when they got back to the engine shed after classes that afternoon.
"Good afternoon, girls," Sinistra said with a broad smile. "I was hoping to get a chance to talk with you two this afternoon."
"Of course, Professor," Hermione agreed automatically. "What can we do for you?"
"I was hoping to persuade you to let me purchase one of the wonderful devices you gave Professor Vector."
"Sure, Professor," Hermione agreed. "I suppose we could check to see if Sprocket's repaired another one."
"Marvelous. Is there any chance you could get more?"
"I suppose so, Professor, why?"
The woman smiled. "Tell me, girls, do you know why is it that Astronomy is considered one of the core disciplines?"
"It's because the alignment of the stars and the planets can have an effect on the brewing of potions and on rituals."
"Correct, take ten points to Gryffindor," the woman said. "Do you have anything you'd like to add, Ms. Lovegood?"
"It's also important to know if you are trying to create a new spell," the girl stated.
"And another ten to Ravenclaw. Most of what you learn at Hogwarts is meant to give you a firm enough grounding to be able to read and interpret influence tables. What you may not know is just how much calculation is required to make those tables in the first place, calculation that your little device would simplify immensely."
"I understand, professor. What do people use now?"
"It depends on the level. In your sixth and seventh years, you'll be taught to use an abacus and another calculating device called Napier's bones. Though since you both take Arithmancy, I'd recommend you purchase a slide rule, it's something similar to a Higgs Type SR Automatic Arithmancy Calculating Device. You see, why I'm so excited by your marvelous device."
"We do, Professor," Luna stated, seeing her friend's distraction at the discovery of another hole in her knowledge that needed to be filled. "We promise to speak with Harry about setting up a production facility so that we can produce enough new ones for everyone."
"What type of slide rule, Professor?"
"Kind?"
"My father sent me several along with the Curta, Professor," Hermione clarified. "He says they used to be common in the muggle world until electronic calculators took over."
"Oh?" the woman's eyes were sparkling. "Do you have time to show me?"
"We do, Professor."
"Wonderful. You can explain to me exactly what an electronic calculator is while you do it." And why they took over, the woman added silently. She was on the verge of a major discovery, she could almost taste it she was so close.
IIIIIIIIII
Neville looked at the Aurors that had cornered him after his last class with a profound sense of confusion.
"Could . . . could you please repeat what you just said?"
"We'd like you to brew a potion for us," the head Auror replied.
"Are you sure?" the boy was having a hard time believing his ears. "You know I'm absolutely rubbish at it, don't you?"
"We'd just like to see you go through the process," the Auror assured him. "You can use our lab and our materials. We just want to watch and take notes."
"Maybe ask a question or two," one of the other Aurors added.
"Think what your grandmother would say to you if she found out you had a chance to get a number of Aurors in your debt and turned it down," the Head Auror said calmly, cutting the boy off before he could say no.
He checked his pocket-watch, having been inspired to get his own after seeing the one Harry had gotten for Christmas. "I suppose I could spare an hour or two," he said reluctantly. "No more than that, I have an important Floo I need to make that I absolutely can not miss."
"You can use our floo point too," the Head Auror said with a grin as he and the others guided Neville to their section of the castle. "More private and secure than the ones most students have access to, just the thing if you've got a pretty young thing you're charming."
IIIIIIIIII
It was with much trepidation that Daphne and Tracy approached the engine shed, the very center of their new business partner's power. A place of both mystery and odd odors. A place all together too muggle for most of the members of their house.
"Shall we?" Daphne asked as the two girls paused in the doorway. The bright sun made it almost impossible to see into the comparatively dimly lit vestibule.
"After you, dear cousin, after you," Tracy replied.
"No reason to be worried," Daphne said firmly, "I'm sure the reason she hasn't been very communicative is because she got wrapped up in some project or something. You've heard the same rumors I have."
"I'm sure you're right, but of course you are the one from the great pureblood family which naturally makes you superior to me in both intellect and social standing. Meaning you get to go first," Tracy finished smugly.
"You're as much of a pureblood as I am," Daphne protested.
"Yeah, but in my case it was from my ma while in your case it was through yer da."
"So?"
"So you've got the pureblood family name which makes you my natural superior. If you think back, I'm sure you'll recall Quince educating us both on the subject back in first year."
"And you'll recall how my dear aunt reacted when word got back to her," Daphne retorted.
"Mum never did have much of a sense of humor," Tracy lamented.
"Not when it came to family anyway," Daphne agreed. "I still think she should have let us deal with it rather than . . . we're wasting time."
"Right you are," Tracy agreed. "After you."
"I . . ."
"Daphne, Tracy!" Hermione's voice echoed happily from the gloom. "Perfect timing. We were hoping you two would come by for a visit."
"I'm going to take that as a good sign," Tracy whispered. "So stop dawdling and either enter or move out of my way, pureblood scum."
With a snort, Daphne complied, stepping into the shed. Both girls paused for a few moments to allow their eyes to adjust to the reduced light level. Slowly, the shape of the Hogwarts Express and its identical sisters began to reveal themselves. Each engine surrounded by a dozen denim clad attendants performing all manor of mysterious tasks to keep the locomotives in tip top condition.
"Over here!" Hermione called out, summoning the girls to the corner of the shop she'd claimed as her exclusive domain. "So what do you think?" the girl asked breathlessly the moment the other two had arrived, waving excitedly towards an odd vaguely muggle looking contraption that looked as if someone had chopped the front end off the Knight Bus and stuck it onto one of Hogwarts' thestral drawn carriages.
"What is it?" Tracy asked after it became apparent that her cousin was not going to. Bloody useless half-pureblood.
"Oh." Hermione blinked. "Of course you wouldn't know," she said with a nod. "It's a delivery lorry. Should make transporting things from the rail depot to their final location much easier and less expensive."
"We based the power plant off the Doble Ultimax steam unit," Luna announced, popping her head out from under the odd boxy device. "Which I'm sure you know is one of the best, if not the best power units for this application."
"Daddy managed to get us a copy of the plans," Hermione chirped.
It took a few minutes for the two Slytherins to understand the device's intended use, but once they did they both immediately grasped its utility.
"So what do you think?" Hermione asked, eager to get her new business partners' opinions.
"We think it'll be great if we can get Ministry approval to use it," Daphne stated.
"All comes down to how large the bribe will have to be," Tracy agreed. "Too big and it won't matter how great it is."
IIIIIIIIII
Neville eyed the workstation and was relieved to note that nearly everything on the table seemed to have originated from gardens and greenhouses.
"What kind of Potion do you want me to make?" Neville asked.
"Whichever sort you like," the Head Auror stated. "Use any ingredients you like and make whatever you like."
"Yer kinswoman's been complaining about the oil she's using to protect some of her toys from the elements," Auror Pinch announced as he joined the group. "Might think about making something to solve her problem."
"Um, alright," Neville agreed, reaching for his pack to retrieve his potions book.
"Don't bother with that," Pinch said calmly, but firmly. "Just use your knowledge of how things react to make it."
"I . . . I suppose," Neville sighed. The boy closed his eyes for a few moments. "Could I get a quill and a piece of parchment, please?"
"Here you are, lad," Pinch agreed.
Neville wrote out a quick formula. "I'm not sure if this'll be better than what she has now, but I think it'll work."
"Get started then," Pinch said with a grin.
"Can't," Neville refused. "I'd have to leave before it was done to make my floo."
"How about something simple and quick then," Pinch suggested, noting how excited his colleagues were by what the boy had so casually created.
"I suppose I could make a pain relief potion," Neville said thoughtfully. "Well, assuming you've got some whomping willow bark and . . ." he took a moment to look over the ingredients cabinet. "Maybe some olive oil. I don't see any here."
Pinch nodded to one of the other researchers, causing the woman to sprint out of the room to procure the needed items. Looked as if Potter wasn't the only gem to be discovered at Hogwarts.
IIIIIIIIII
Hermione was able to conceal all outward signs that she was even slightly worried about what her business partners had revealed until the departure of the afore mentioned partners. The second they were gone and she was sure they weren't likely to return, she let her worries flow.
"Do you think it's really going to be as bad as they said?" Hermione asked, biting her lower lip in distress. "I'd like to believe they're overstating things, but after the lesson we got on how the Ministry works last year . . ."
"One hesitates to believe that they'd be that foolish," Luna mused. "Still, as you said; they were foolish enough to attack Harry last year and they've yet to replace Fudge even after his incompetence and veniality was so publicly revealed."
"Yeah," Hermione sighed. "So what do you think we should do?"
"I would suggest we speak with either Susan or Neville on the matter with a request that they write their aunt or grandmother respectively. Possibly both."
"Neville?"
"Your kinswoman, his grandmother is quite influential," Luna replied.
"I hadn't realized," Hermione said with a disinterested shrug. "Best be Susan. Neville's gonna be busy for the next hour or so."
"Oh?"
"He really hit it off with my cousin," Hermione said, happy for the chance to share the gossip with her best female friend. "They've been flooing each other for at least an hour a night."
Luna's eyes lit up. "Do tell."
IIIIIIIIII
Tracy monitored the temporary wards they'd thrown up around the private floo booth while her cousin and constant companion cast a few additional privacy and encryption charms.
"We're secure on our end," her father announced.
"One moment," Daphne said. "We're secure on ours."
"What's the emergency?" Tracy's father asked in concern. "Did your meeting with the Granger girl go badly?"
"It was your best case scenario number three, uncle," Daphne replied. "She'd gotten wrapped up in a project and forgotten to contact us."
"On the plus side, the project was related to our business," Tracy added.
"So what's the problem?" her uncle replied.
"The problem is with the Ministry," Daphne explained. "She's got a steam powered package wagon which the current administration could potentially use as an excuse to shut our entire business down if we don't get it licensed first."
"You explained to her the necessity of getting Ministry approval?"
"We did, daddy," Tracy agreed. "We're fairly sure she listened too."
"She's fairly law abiding so long as the law doesn't conflict with something she's decided she really wants to do," Daphne stated.
"If it does?"
"She'll ignore it," Tracy predicted. "Well, judging on how she treats the rules at Hogwarts."
"Pays attention to them more than the regular students and harps on the rest to do the same until the rules get in the way."
"Then they may well not exist so far as she's concerned," Tracy finished.
"We'll have a word with her father about how much he's willing to put up or allow her to put up for . . . ah . . ."
"I've been putting the term 'easement fee' in the books," Tracy's father supplied.
"Thank you," his brother in law replied. "In the mean time, I want you two to have a word with Potter about . . ." he trailed off, noticing the looks of profound discomfort on the girls' faces his words had effected. "What is it?"
"We do our best to avoid Potter," Daphne said carefully.
"Why?!" her uncle barked, face going completely expressionless.
"It's not because of anything he's done to us," Tracy assured her father. "It's because of what he was preparing to do to the family."
"Explain," her father said, calming a touch.
"We managed to get a draft of his original proposal for our partnership with Granger," Daphne said reluctantly.
"Corrupted a house elf, did you?" her father asked with a grin. "How bad was it?"
"It was step one of a plan to gain a stranglehold over our family," Daphne continued. "It showed that despite his approval of the partnership, he doesn't trust us any further than he could throw us."
"Less if some of the rumors about him are to be believed," Tracy muttered.
Tracy's father visibly relaxed. "You don't have to worry about that, the issue's been resolved."
"Your cousin Livia Augusta is one of Potter's arms-women," Daphne's father explained.
"She interceded on our behalf?" Tracy asked in relief.
"She saw a chance to repay a debt," her father agreed. "Explained that we were a family of both honor and pride. Told him that he didn't need to put us in chains to force us to keep our word and that putting us in chains would do nothing but breed resentment and was able to convince him that we will deal fairly with our partners so long as our partner deal fairly with us." Her father nodded to his brother in law.
"Her read on him is that he'll treat us with honor and respect so long as we do the same." The man licked his lips. "She told us that he went on to say that he'll exterminate us without hesitation if it later turns out that trusting us was a mistake. Her advice is to avoid convincing him that giving us his trust was a mistake at all cost and added that she would be at his side if we were stupid enough to make ourselves his enemies."
"Not an issue," Tracy's father interjected quickly. "We'll treat the Grangers like we'd treat any business partner. Livia tells us Potter won't go off just because of a misunderstanding or mistake on someone's part."
"That do something to set your minds at ease?"
"It does, father," Daphne sighed.
"Good."
"What was the debt cousin Livvy needed to repay?"
"We provided a bit of discreet assistance for her elopement. Nothing public, just enough so that she and her new husband would disappear before her family realized exactly what she'd done and arrange for them to disappear in a more permanent fashion."
"Do you think she'd be willing to accompany us to the meeting with Potter?" Tracy asked, her voice betraying hope and nervousness.
"Why?"
"It's always better to have an introduction, daddy, you taught us that," Tracy evaded the question with a weak grin.
"True. Potter's arms-men have taken over most of the non public parts of the Broomsticks. Introduce yourselves to Rosmerta if she doesn't already know you; tell her who you are and who you want to speak to. She'll be in and available if luck's with you."
"If it isn't, leave a note asking her to contact you," Tracy's uncle finished. "You've got a bit of time before any of this turns critical. Don't dawdle, but be mindful of the fact that there's no need to rush either."
IIIIIIIIII
Hermione and Luna found Susan through the simple expedient of approaching and asking the first group of Puffs they came across. A tactic which proved to be surprisingly effective as they were led to the Hufflepuff common room and escorted to Susan's room a few minutes later.
"Look who's here, Hannah," Susan said with a smile at her closest companion.
"Bit of a surprise," Hannah agreed with a matching grin. "Thought you'd forgotten about us since we all got back to Hogwarts."
"Sorry," Hermione winced. "It's just we got back and we have access to the shop again and . . . well, there's so much work to do."
"Relax," Susan assured her friend. "We're just messing with you. We understand how easy it is to get wrapped up in a project. Happens to Aunt Amelia and Hannah's parents all the time."
"It does," Hannah agreed. "What can we do for you two?"
"We were hoping you'd be willing to write your Aunt for us," Luna replied.
"What about?"
"Did you know that I bought the Hogwarts express?" Hermione asked.
"We did not?" Susan stated, outwardly calm, inwardly reeling. She didn't know why she was surprised, wasn't like the other girl's family couldn't easily afford the purchase.
"Well, because of that, Daphne and Tracy came to us to ask for a partnership with their company since they do a lot of imports and transports and they didn't want to compete."
"And?" Susan prompted.
"Well, Luna and I decided to build a vehicle to make it easier to transport things from the railhead to the shops."
"We based the power plant on the Doble Ultimax steam unit," Luna supplied helpfully. "The body and the rest of the components are mostly from other sources."
"They're worried about the Ministry?" Susan asked bluntly, presuming they were speaking about some sort of motorized vehicle.
"Yeah," Hermione agreed.
"Don't." Susan nodded thanks to one of her housemates as they came in with a tray of tea and snacks. "It's not a problem."
"It's not?" Hermione asked, perking up as Luna did the same at her side. "You're sure?"
"As sure as I can be before Aunty replies with confirmation," Susan agreed. "Let's look at things logically, shall we?"
"Alright."
"You have close ties to myself, Hannah, Harry, Neville, Luna, and Ron, along with our families. Right?"
"Yeah," Hermione agreed. "So?"
"So?" Susan choked a laugh into a snort, barely managing not to shoot tea out her nostrils. "Luna, who's in charge of the Ministry Department that handles violations of the acts on misuse of muggle artifacts?"
"Ron's father," Luna replied.
"Who is also responsible for investigation and referring cases for prosecution and above him is my Aunt Amelia. Leaving that aside we have your family." She nodded to Luna. "Which runs the oldest and second most popular newspaper in our world."
"As for the rest," Hannah picked up the conversation to give Susan the chance to enjoy a square of lemon cake. "Neville's family's had you as a guest at their manor and have publicly claimed kinship with your family. Makes you sort of an honorary pureblood with the sort that cares about that sort of thing and puts everyone else on notice that she's in your corner if need be. My mum and dad are senior healers at St. Mungos, which gives them a bit of influence. And then there's Harry."
"Who no one in their right mind would cross right now," Susan finished in a tone of deep satisfaction. "Not after 'you-know's' public appearance anyway."
"Not to mention the spectacular failure of Fudge's campaign to destroy him," Susan agreed. "The only reason Fudge is still the Minister is because Harry hasn't decided to remove him yet and everyone knows that. Trust me, Hermione, no one with even half a brain cell would even dream of trying anything."
"What about Malfoy?"
"Which one?"
"Either," Hermione stated.
"Lucius could make some waves but he's not really in the position to influence anyone that could do too much to hinder you, not after all the capital he burned to stay out of prison last year. Draco is a dimwit but he has enough sense that he won't dare do anything that would so much as inconvenience you," Susan finished.
"He's been very careful not to do anything that would cause direct harm to you, Ron, or any of Harry's close companions," Hannah said in response to Hermione's look of skepticism. "As I said, he's a dimwit be even he knows what Harry would do to him if he were stupid enough to cause any of Harry's friends to get hurt."
"First year; you get attacked by a troll." Susan raised a finger. "The troll dies at the point of Harry's wand."
"Second year; you get attacked by a snake." Hanna paused for Susan to raise another finger. "Snake dies. Harry kills it with his bare hands and the teacher that attacked Ron gets his brains obliviated out his ears which is something most people think is a fate worse than death."
"Third year-"
"That's not what happened," Hermione squawked.
"Doesn't matter," Susan stated firmly. "School believes it's what did."
"My dorm mates have been very careful around me since they found out I was in Harry's circle," Luna confirmed. And had apologized and begged her not to tell Harry what they'd done. None of them had any doubt that Harry's response would have been excessively violent at best. She felt a warm glow in the pit of her stomach, it was so nice to have friends.
"What?!" Hermione gave her friend a look. "They were still bothering you at the beginning of this year." The girl's hands were clenched so hard her knuckles were white. "I want a list of names, Luna, this can not be permitted to continue."
"The situation had been resolved, Hermione, don't trouble yourself worrying about it," Luna replied, closing that line of inquiry.
Hermione shot her friend a look which promised that the situation was anything but closed and would be readdressed in the future. One which Luna ignored.
"Even leaving the rest aside. Most people think it prudent to stay on the good side of a wizard that's faced 'you-know' in single combat on multiple occasions," Hannah said dryly. "Most people that face the dark lord just hope to survive, Harry's fought him and won."
"There!" Susan said with a grin, putting down the quill the other girls hadn't noticed she'd had. "I've just finished the letter I'm going to post to Aunty asking her about this. I can almost guarantee that she will tell us not to worry and that everything will be handled."
"Thank you, Susan," Hermione said brightly, mentally shelving the rest of the issues the girls had brought up.
"Business out of the way, let's get personal." Susan's grin sharpened as she leaned forward. "What's this I hear about Neville having long floo calls with some mysterious girl every night in one of the public floo terminals?"
The four girls spent the remainder of the afternoon catching up and later, at Hermione's insistence, doing and revising their homework assignments.
"We had an absolutely lovely time," Luna stated brightly. "Thank you for having us."
"Please do feel free to drop by any time," Hanna replied. "You're both always welcome to come visit us."
"We'll try not to be such strangers in the future," Hermione promised.
"We'll be sure to visit you in the engine shed if we go too long without seeing you," Susan promised in return.
"You're always welcome to come," Hermione replied. "It'll keep us from getting too wrapped up in projects if you do. You can also drop by Gryffindor if it's less trouble, no one will object to your visiting."
"So," Hannah said as the entrance to the common room closed. "Do you think she was joking about Harry?"
"No, I think she was dead serious about not knowing how everyone sees him."
"Really?"
"Girl's got a blind spot a mile wide when it comes to things like that. You saw how much notice she takes of her security detail."
"Considering the matter, I'm not sure she even realizes she has one," Hannah said thoughtfully. "You remember how she introduced them." She cleared her throat. "This is our librarian, Ms. Jane, she used to be my governess when I was younger. She taught me a game in which the object is to fall on the ground and then she jumps on top of me to shield me from attacks . . . uh, I mean tickle me," she said in a reasonable imitation of Hermione's voice. "This is mum's driver, Thomas, he has that knife up his sleeve to open letters. I'm not sure what that mysterious bulge on his waist is but it's probably not important."
"Must be odd to have grown up that way," Susan mused. "I remember how odd it was after Aunt Amelia became the Head Auror and I suddenly had two people following me around everywhere to keep me safe."
"Normal's just another word for the things you're used to," Hannah decided. "Meaning it's too subjective to have any use at all."
"Suppose that's one way of looking at the world."
"Gives us an excuse to ignore the people who say we shouldn't associate with anyone that doesn't fit the boxes they think they should anyway."
"Bugger 'em," Susan agreed.
AN: Omake Below
Omake by Veive
"First year; you get attacked by a troll." Susan raised a finger. "Troll dies at the point of Harry's wand, person most likely responsible for the troll is a teacher who disappears under mysterious circumstances at the end of the year. Auntie says there is no evidence of foul play."
Hermione gaped in shock.
"Of course there isn't" Hannah giggled. "It's not like there was a struggle, or he ever left the school grounds."
Susan rolled her eyes. "Opinion is split as to whether Dumbledore or Harry is responsible for that particular bit of mischief." She said imperiously.
Hermione finally found her voice. "Wh-Bu-Why would the headmaster kill a teacher?" She stuttered.
"Well, rumor has it that he takes exception to teachers sneaking mountain trolls into the girls water closet." Hannah said with a conspiratorial wink.
"Much like rumor has it that Harry Potter takes a dim view of people setting dangerous magical beasts on people named Granger, Weasley or Lovegood." Susan agreed cheerfully.
Addition by prince_charon
"Oh, I'm sure he'd be offended by anyone setting them on someone named Abbot or Bones, as well," said Luna.