Chap. 39: Mercy, Daphne, Harry's office, the trip and Scrimgeour, and Dumbledore.
Harry and Mercy were sitting in the Hogshead on the first Monday of December after Harry delivered his reward via a sack of galleons that were taken from the Malfoy's old vault, and Mercy decided to celebrate. However, this started a discussion about the few different brands of alcohol available in the British wizarding community.
"I'm tellin' you, Harry," Mercy said, "you need more of a selection! Why, we not only have our own brands from across the fifty, but we sell muggle brands as well, including beer. You need that here!"
"Hmmmm," Harry hummed aloud as he pondered this, "tell me, Mercy, would you be interested in becoming a wholesaler and exporter?"
Mercy took a huge swig from his glass of Ogden's Old Firewhisky on the rocks and thought about it. He was getting up in age, and the merc's work was getting old. Maybe he should retire and find another, well, safer profession.
"And who would be the buyer, Harry?"
"You're looking at him," Harry said with a smirk, as he took a drink of their wizard's brand of grog, McAllister's Jamaican Rum, which wasn't a product of Jamaica at all.
Harry knew of Rufus' appreciation of fine spirits, as the minister liked making his way to Harry's ministry office at least once per day to have a glass of his muggle cognac.
"How would that work?" Mercy asked.
"Well," Harry replied after taking another sip of rum, and licking his lips, "you do know that my father-in-law is an importer and that our family has a large warehouse down in New Orleans?"
"New Orleans," Mercy said with a reminiscing smile while staring off in the distance. "I've been to Mardi Gras several times in February, of course, and I've been to Bacchanalia down there, too, in the fall. One is as good as the other for drinkin' and gettin' laid. Wonderful town! Did you ever visit Flynt's Hustler Club on Bourbon Street? A wicked place that is, man! I've even thought about leaving Houston and moving there!"
"Well," Harry said with a smirk as he clinked his glass against Mercy's, "we might just be able to cut a deal, and I could even see about financing your business, as long as you don't stay in Larry's club too much, and keep me supplied. I know, for a fact, that a few businesses in Knockturn Alley will be out of business before long, and I'm looking at acquiring one of those buildings, which are close to Diagon Alley, on the cheap."
"Might as well take advantage of the situation, eh?" Mercy said, and then let out a booming laugh. "Now, tell me about those giants?"
"A liquor store, Harry?" Daphne questioned with a sigh.
"That, and a proper pub and bar," Harry explained. "I think I could have the laws relaxed on importing certain items, and we would become the first distributor. That would knock the wind out of a few that have monopolized that market for too long."
"You know it will cause a stink with those like the Ogdens and McAllisters?"
"Yes," Harry said, "but their monopolies have also damaged our economy and made them very wealthy. The competition will drive the prices down."
"You think it will be a viable business?" Daphne questioned.
"Of course," Harry said, "and if we're the importer and distributor, our family will make most of the profit."
"Again, Harry," Daphne asked while staring at her mirror, "why weren't you in Slytherin?"
"You know why, dear," Harry deadpanned.
"Christmas is near, darling," Daphne said, "so, do you have a portkey paid for and scheduled yet?"
"Not yet, Daph," Harry said with a sigh. "I'm still trying to coax your mum and da' into going with us, and bringing Astoria."
"Can Tracey come as well?"
"If she wants," Harry said, "as I don't see any reason for her not to."
"Let me work on Mum, Da', Tracey, and Astoria then," Daphne replied. "It would be nice to have a full house. However, dear, if everyone is staying, we'll have to finish furnishing the rooms."
"Yea, I know," Harry said while sighing out. "I'm trying to find the time. That giant business and the aftermath is taking up a lot of time, and I still have to make a show in Europe for the papers."
"What's the European trip for, anyhow?" Daphne questioned.
"Can't say on here, dear, just like I can't about the giants" Harry said. "I'll tell you when we're alone."
Just as Harry said this, Daphne's bed curtain was ripped open.
"Still having mirror sex?" Tracey asked as she plopped herself down on Daphne's bed.
"What makes you think..."
"We've just finished up, Tracey," Harry said, cutting his wife off, which made her cheeks blow up. "It was good, too, so you'll have to ask her about it."
"Harry!" Daphne said while looking scandalized.
"I've gotta go, dear," Harry said with a smirk, "as you've drained me. I'm now knackered!"
Tracey cackled out at this.
"Ask her about Barbados, Tracey," Harry said before Daphne could complain, "and I'll talk to you tomorrow, Daph."
"Okay, lover boy," Daphne finally said, "and I'll talk with Tracey and Astoria."
Daphne gave the mirror a kiss, and it changed back to normal.
"There are not enough hours in the day," Harry muttered as he turned over to go to sleep.
"Where are the remaining giants now?" Harry asked, who was now sitting in the Black's office at the ministry on the 6th.
"A French and German team are escorting them back to the Urals," Rufus said as he took a drink of Harry's cognac. "The Russians don't like it because they were hoping to be shot of them."
"We only killed five of them," Harry said, "before the others gave up. There were only eighty still living, and now the population is down to seventy-five. Surely, the Russians don't want to see an entire race die out?"
"Harry," Rufus explained, "the Russians are afraid that some of the giants will obtain a big head, and try to take ground outside the highlands they're now in, and might even try to attack some of the larger cities. It's not as simple as it sounds."
"Well, without Golgomath alive," Harry remarked since he had literally taken the giant's head off, "the ICW should try to find another gurg like Karkus, and coax them into accepting him. What about Hagrid's brother, Gorp?"
"No, he's too small," Rufus remarked with a shake of his head, "and they would kill him in no time. No, there'll be a fight for a new gurg, and the remaining Russian tribe has probably a new one, now. Whether these eight will accept that, and whether the tribe will accept these eight back is another story, in itself."
"What a mess!" Harry exclaimed as he poured himself a drink as well. "I have an awful schedule leading up to Christmas over this, and that's on top of the Wizengamot meeting on the twelfth, which should have been held yesterday. At least Cuffe agreed to hold off mentioning the giants until Saturday, or could you imagine the mess that would create, what with those like Xenophilius wanting to go observe their resettlement? It's a wonder that he's not caught a whiff of it now!"
"And you wonder why an old lion like me drinks?" Rufus said as he handed Harry his glass for a refill.
Harry snorted. "I've got the wife demanding that we go to Barbados for Christmas," Harry explained, "and the house is not fully furnished yet. We're trying to talk Cyrus and Helen into going with us, and Daph is wanting Tracey Davis to come. When am I supposed to go out furniture shopping, for Merlin's sake? Plus, I have the paper to run, and Saturday's edition will be about the giants and my European visit."
"Have you got the towns settled on?" Rufus inquired.
"Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and then hop over to Berlin, and finally, up to Copenhagen. The wizarding press still needs to be notified of when, and that needs to be done over five days."
"Think he'll buy it?"
"It'll sure confuse the hell out of the psychotic bald gobshite, that's for sure," Harry said with a chuckle. "Drink up, Minister, I'm buying!"
"Where did you pick that word up," Rufus said, "if I may ask?"
"My old roommate in Gryffindor was Seamus Finnigan. He's from around Belfast."
"Ahhh," Rufus said with a nod and took another drink.
Harry decided on doing the trip on the morning of the 7th, where he notified the Portuguese and Spanish ministries of a quick half-day visit to each. So, that morning at seven o'clock, his portkey triggered, and he found himself at the Ministério da Magia Português, where he was met by the Ministro da Magia and the press. He was sure to be holding another long wand box in the photo. After a quick diplomatic visit, and a discussion about Voldemort and his movement, Harry was taken side-along to Madrid by a Portuguese diplomatic page.
Once in Madrid, and at the Ministro espanhol da Magia, Harry was met by their Ministro da Magia. Once again, he was holding a different but long wand box when photographed by the press. After a similar discussion that afternoon, Harry stayed at The Westin Palace, Madrid. Here, after breakfast, he made his way back to the Spanish Ministry and took a portkey to Paris.
When Harry arrived at the Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France at nine o'clock on the 8th, he was met by their minister and the press. Another wand box was in hand before he left for a long meeting. That afternoon, he stayed in the muggle area at the Ritz Paris just across the Seine from the Palais Bourbon and Palais du Luxembourg. That afternoon, over supper, he dined with Fleur's parents: Maurice and Apolline Delacour. Thank Merlin, Harry thought, that Gabrielle was in school at the Académie de Magie de Beauxbâtons.
The next morning, it was the same thing, where he took a portkey to Brussels for a half-day, and then on to Amsterdam. Again, two different wand boxes were caught by the press photographers. That night, he stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam.
On the morning of the 10th, Harry took another portkey to Berlin and arrived at the Deutsches Ministerium für Magie. Before another day-long meeting over Voldemort and the giants, Harry was photographed holding another wand box by the magical press. That afternoon, he dined and stayed at The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin.
On the morning of the 11th, Harry had his breakfast and took another portkey to Copenhagen for a half-day diplomatic visit. He was photographed, yet again, before his meeting with the Danish ministry. Just after lunch, he took another portkey back to Black Manor where he flooed the Minister for Magic.
Once he saw the minister, Harry sat down with a smirk on a floor cushion.
"So, everything turned out well, I take it?" Rufus asked.
"Oh, yes," Harry replied, "but I'm dragging. I believe I'll rest for most of today, as the Wizengamot meets tomorrow."
"You're intending on introducing the bill on repealing the alcohol importation restrictions tomorrow?"
"Yes," Harry replied with a huge grin, "and I believe that I'll have enough votes for it to pass if I watch my step.
"Getting through the War Committee's report isn't going to be easy, though."
"How long do you expect?" Rufus wondered.
"Knowing some of the members, it may take until lunch," Harry explained, "which will push old business until after lunch."
"We'll not be making it home before seven, then," Rufus scowled.
"No, Minister," Harry said, "I'm afraid not."
"Bollocks!" Rufus grumbled out.
"Headmaster," Snape said, who was holding up a few newspapers, "what is going on with Potter?"
"Whatever do you mean, my boy?" Albus replied, who wasn't looking well at all.
"He's been to Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Copenhagen, Headmaster. Also, he was photographed each time carrying a different wand box."
"You don't say," Dumbledore replied with a smirk as he raked his left hand through his beard.
"You know something?"
"I dare say that I know many things, Severus! You will have to hone your questions better than that," Dumbledore said with a chortle.
"About the wand boxes, Headmaster!" Snape exclaimed, who was frustrated. "He was seen in all the magical quarters, here, and once in Belfast doing the same thing. He was also making a huge show of placing a wand in a high-security vault at Gringotts as well. He's up to something!"
"Oh, I'm sure that he is, Severus! This, I wish you to inform Tom about," Albus commented. "Do tell him of every place he's been.
"By the way, how is Tom after the demise of Nagini?"
"Pyrites was killed over her," Snape explained. "He thought that he would one-up me, and take credit for feeding Nagini. I was lucky, as I was planning on making my escape after her demise."
"Escape, Severus?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Yes, Headmaster," Snape deadpanned. "I am thinking about eeking out a living in Argentina to be honest."
Dumbledore silently studied Severus for a moment, and then it hit him. The Malfoys, of course. So, that was where they had fled, Albus thought.
"I do hope that you would give me advanced notice, Severus," Dumbledore said, "to find another Defense Professor?"
"Yes, Headmaster," Snape replied.
"If that is all, Severus," Dumbledore remarked, "I have some paperwork to finish this afternoon."
"Headmaster," Snape said with a nod and made his way out of the office.
Once Snape had been gone for about ten minutes, and once Albus had signed off on that quarter's budget, he stood from his desk and opened a wooden casket that held a silver diadem.
"What you have done, Tom, is despicable," Albus muttered.
At Fawkes' call, the old and sickly headmaster looked over at his familiar, which had once followed his nephew.
"Yes, old friend, I'll have you take young Harry a message to let him know that I've found it."
A/N: Another chapter, though short, to set up what's coming. Thanks for all the reviews!
