After Ron's impromptu wiz-t.v. appearance, calls and owls were flying in from all over Hogsmeade and neighboring villages. People were already starting to gather outside the store.
The Empress Records staff frantically began to set up. Ron was on the wiz-phone with Fred and George ordering as much butterbeer and firewhiskey as possible. Hermione and Pansy were making signs that flashed 'Save the Empress!' and 'EVERYTHING IN THE STORE IS FOR SALE…EXCEPT THE EMPLOYEES' in sparkling letters.
In the back, Lee Jordana was busy owling some Hogwarts students who made up his band. He was transfiguring some furniture on that he and Ginny had brought to the roof into instruments.
Inside the store, Seamus was given full run of the register. As he sold a record to a young student, he leaned over and looked the boy sternly in the eye.
"You know, this," he said, pointing to the record he just sold, "is something you have to invest in when you're young because you know what mate? A record like that is like life. It goes around and around!" The boy just stared at Seamus, who he supposed was barking mad…much like the rest of the staff seemed.
Draco, who arrived to relieve Seamus from the register, was haggling with a wizard who was asking about a poster of Britta Sparks. The pop singer in the poster winked at the wizard who wanted to purchase it. "How much is this?"
Draco thought for a moment, then grinned slyly, "Forty Galleons…and that's a steal, my good wizard, because at night, she sleeps naked." The wizard promptly handed over the money and rushed out of the store, no doubt to sit and watch his new poster strip. Grinning wildly, Draco began to charge exorbitant amounts of money for the remaining items in the store, not caring that he was ripping customer off.
'Anything to save this place,' thought Draco as he charged a young witch a hundred galleons for a poster of a less-than-amused Gilderoy Lockhart.
//
"Butterbeer!" Ron was rolling in several kegs with his wand onto the sidewalk in front of the empire. As soon as the first keg was tapped, the queue for butterbeer already stretched around the block. Draco came up behind Ron and helped him hand out the beer.
"Who's watching the register man?" Draco shrugged, and then pointed to a bewildered Seamus who was attempting to use the register.
"No worries, mate, we've already made a profit." He took the tap and smiled a the people in line. "Alright folks, that's five knuts a cup!"
Soon, Lee and his band were playing a few tunes on the roof. The small fundraiser turned into what seemed like full on block party. Hermione and Pansy were walking around with large barrels levitated in front of them that read 'Save the Empress! Any donations accepted!' Surprisingly, everyone in the crowd pitched in whatever they could.
The party in full swing, and the store being cleared of its contents, Severus smiled. But it soon faded when he saw a horseless carriage pull up in front of the crowd.
Mitchell Fudge stepped out and glared at the a group of dancing witches by the entrance to the store.
Approaching Severus, Mitchell gestured towards the entrance to the backroom. Snape nodded and walked into the back.
"What the hell in Merlin's name is going on here Severus? Why do I get the feeling that I am getting royally screwed right now?"
By now, the entire staff had convened in the back to watch what would happen.
Snape just smiled slyly, and approached Mitchell, "Well, because you are Mitch. There was never any money in that bag I handed you this afternoon; one of my employees needed it."
"Who," stuttered Mitch, looking frantically about the room at the entire staff gathered by the couch, "Who took my money?"
Harry, who had resumed his position on the couch looked up and put his hand to his ear. "Will you listen to that Mitch? This is some party, one hell of a turn out."
Staring at the boy on the couch, Mitchell stared at him blankly until Harry pushed his hair aside to reveal his scar. "Harry Potter, remember Mitch? I still work here."
"Oh, yes, Mr. Potter, we were having a discussion abou—" Harry put his finger to his lips and Mitchell stopped babbling. Getting up, Harry walked towards Mitchell and Snape, tapping his chin.
"Mitchell, I wanted to talk to you about this whole Magik Muzik town bit. Next week you're going to be the owner of one of many Magik Muzik Towns in wizarding Britain, am I right?"
"Yes," answered Mitchell.
Harry continued to pace in front of the bewildered man who was starting to back away from him. Making an about face, Harry, still tapping his chin and speaking in an oddly soothing voice addressed Mitchell again.
"And you like this because Magik Muzik Town jacks up their prices to make more money?"
"Well, Mr Potter, they said you were a smart boy…"
"Mitchell, let me finish. Now, when MMT comes in, well, Severus will be out. Draco will be out, and all the beautiful little tattooed, Bertie Botts eating freaks are out as well. And it, er, pretty much goes without saying that I won't have a job as well."
Mitchell was no longer amused by Harry, but annoyed and angry. "Well," spat out Mitchell, "I wish it had gone without saying, but you don't seem to shut up!" Draco managed to stifle a laugh, as did most of the staff.
Severus stepped in between Harry and Mitchell, his hand on Harry's chest holding him back. "Mitchell, what I think Harry is trying to say is that I'm going to open my own store."
Mitchell stared at Snape, then let out laugh, "You? Ha, you don't have the start up capital!"
"Yes he does," scoffed Harry. Snape turned and gave Harry a look that said 'shut up!'
"No, I don't," admitted Snape, "But I will. I will get it Mitchell." As he turned away to walk back out into the store, he turned to look at Mitch one more time. "By the way, I quit."
Severus and his staff walked out into the store leaving Mitchell standing in the back room looking completely dumbfounded.