Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, any of the fictional locations or characters from the Harry Potter series or any other authors work. This is a work of reworked fiction using the world of Harry Potter. However, I do own this plot and any original characters hence forth created for the purposes of this story.
Shifter
XI
Senna grinned smugly as she took Ginny's hand and they both shifted into adults. Ginny became petite thirty-five-year-old woman with creamy blonde hair tied back and deep silver eyes wearing black business skirt suit with white blouse and long black silky robe. Senna turned into a handsome lean and muscular Thirty-eight-year-old man, about six foot two with short cut black hair hair gelled into a forward quiff with brown eyes wearing a black business suit with white shirt with the top few buttons open with long black heavy coat.
Ginny looked at herself in the mirror surprised. "Why are we like this?" she asked startled by her new voice that would match Senna's to some degree.
"Um… I'm Nathan Nightly, Senna's father and you're… um…" he trailed off looking unsure, but his accent was slightly Americanised.
"Elena Vanheim?" she suggested as he gave her a look and she shrugged. "You mentioned the aunt being Elena, and I like the whole Norse Gods myths, so took the name from that, though its supposed to be Vanaheimr; they're supposed to be the more peaceful gods of nature and what not, and I can talk to animals."
Nathan laughed and shook his head. "Okay; cool names for this family are a must," he replied while laughing.
Elena rolled her eyes but laughed too. "So, I'm Senna's aunt? Nathan's sister-in-law?" the blonde added helpfully. "That way makes more sense, just in case we slip up and look too close it won't be weird brother sister weird, as long as Senna's fake mother didn't die yesterday."
"Yeah, that will work," he agreed with a grin and shake of his head as he adjusted her slightly to take away any relation between the two blood-wise. "We're archaeologists from rich families, and met on a muggle site, and you introduced me to your older sister – Senna's mother who passed away a few years ago," he said with a shrug as he grabbed the room key and exited with Elena close to his side.
They walked down into the pub without getting many looks and passed the Weasley's without a word since they didn't know them, and out into the entrance to the alley. Pulling a wand from his sleeve, Nathan opened the arch with a grin, as he tapped the correct bricks in the correct pattern.
"Why do we need a password for a public street?" he wondered aloud.
"I don't know," his sister-in-law replied with a shrug as she didn't care. "But I still can't believe this," she laughed. "I have boobs."
Nathan chuckled nervously. "I noticed," he said as he looked down at the beautiful woman with a nice sized rack pushing at her blouse and wondered whether he overdid it a little even though they weren't huge or anything, but he was trying to make Senna's aunt, and Senna was more athletic because he needed her to be strong and agile, however, he shrugged internally, it was done now and Elena wasn't Senna's mother, so it didn't much matter.
They laughed together as they continued straight towards the bank barely paying any attention to those around them. However, 'Nathan' did notice just next to the Leaky Cauldron Pub that three large shops were empty and up for either lease or sale depending on the offer so stored that knowledge away for later use. He had noticed that they had been like that since his first year so they could be a bargain.
Soon they were walking into the bank and Nathan walked directly up to the nearest teller and went to tap his hand to gain goblin form and was surprised when the goblin moved his hand away glaring at him.
"Um… I would like to speak with someone in private please," he said nervously.
"Of course, you would," the goblin replied rudely. "And please refrain from touching my kind; we won't be able to detect you if you do."
Nathan and Elena started, shocked. "Y-you know?" said Nathan smirking he moved fast and touched the goblins hand. "Now you won't," he chuckled while Elena was stifling her giggles.
The goblin glared with a frustrated sigh. "Whatever," he said, "just follow me," he said hopping down from his seat and leading them through a set of doors into a nice long hallway, then into a large office with an older goblin sat behind his desk, and offered them a seat. "This 'god', and his… assistant have some business with us," he said rudely.
The goblin behind the desk narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "... 'God'...? Ah… the anomaly, and you foolishly let him touch you?" he accused with a growl.
"No. I was unsuspecting that he would try twice on me," the other scowled. "Humans are so unpredictable."
"Very well; you may leave," he said, and his colleague immediately took his leave, closing the doors tight behind him. "My name is Goldbrick. What can I do for you both?"
Nathan slipped him his key. "I want all of that gold transferred to a new vault, under my name, Nathan Nightly, and my twelve-year-old daughters' name, Senna Rose Nightly. Though, I only need one key as of now.
"I want it untraceable, so no paperwork. Also, this is to be kept completely confidential and I shall make it well worth your time as manager of my accounts."
Goldbrick eyed the key suspiciously. "But Mr. Potter is dead," he said blandly, as he looked to a white misty orb on his desk that shimmered with green light.
"Don't believe everything you're told, Mr. Goldbrick," replied Nathan, amused.
"Ah. I see," the goblin chuckled. "You decided you would be better off without all of the staring and Dumbledore messing with your life."
"Exactly," agreed Nathan with a nod of agreement. "My relatives are not the type of people a sane man would give custody of a magical kid."
"I completely understand, Mr… Nightly," Goldbrick nodded in approval. "Would you like all of your family assets and other vaults transferred as well?"
"Other vaults?" he asked, confused. "I'm afraid I have not been made aware of any other vaults or assets."
The goblin scowled but nodded, and a large green leather-bound ledger of parchment appeared on his desk as if he pulled it up from the wood while pulling his hands back. That was a pretty awesome bit of magical awesomeness.
"Let's see. The short list is; you have two family vaults. Hmm, you have the Potter vault and the Black vault and those vaults do control a few other smaller vaults that both families absorbed as well a couple larger vaults, and nobody thought to consolidate, so I can only explain what you own directly from Potter and Black until we've performed a full inventory?
"But rest assured it shall be complete within a week, and then we can discuss matters further?" he asked while he didn't miss the surprise at the Black vault and the thought of the others but continued. Honestly, he wouldn't have expected to have the boy aware of his heritage if his parents were still alive; he doubted James Potter asked about his finances.
"You also have twelve houses around the world; three mansions, two castles, thousands of stocks in all sorts of muggle companies that bring in a sizeable income, from the Potter side of course as the Blacks were like most and never spent, let alone in the muggle world. Oh, you're lucky to have come in so soon, Mr. Dumbledore is now attempting to take claim over your inheritance."
Nathan nodded unhappily. "Why do I have the Black vault? That is the same vault that should belong to Sirius Black, correct?"
The goblin nodded. "Yes, it is. You're his heir, hence you get control of his vault should he be unable to claim it, and you are more than of age right now."
Nathan's eyes widened with thoughtfulness. "Why do I get his money?"
"He is your godfather," he replied. "Since he has no children or any other living relatives that constitutes family; you became his heir the moment your parents passed. I understand in the muggle world things aren't that simple, but the magical world is a wholly different and interesting place if you learn the system, most of which even I'll agree is dated and foolish with loopholes galore."
"Hmm, my godfather," he growled. "Dumbledore did this. Now I'm nearly one hundred percent sure he's innocent. Thank you this has been most illuminating."
The goblin nodded respectfully as the goblins had never been convinced that Sirius Black had committed any crime. It was just luck and lore that saved the Black fortunes from going to Malfoy's or worse and going to Dumbledore for him to get his grubby paws on it.
"How much in total do the vaults amount too, in muggle currency as well please?"
"In total," he said looking over the ledger. "Just over seventy-two billion pounds, works out at around eighteen and a half billion galleons, and that is not including the gems and other precious jewels the families have accumulated over the years, which we shall value in the audit. Though, the Potter family were unusual in that they spent money and invested, so you have more in shares and stocks. You will come to see, pureblood families tend to scrimp and save rather than putting their wealth back into circulation, which is why the magical world always seems so… broke.
"Though, sometimes, maybe they'll find an investment that will make them power, political, or otherwise. They can be very greedy that even as a goblin I shake my head at such notions. Money comes second to us over family – without family who do we have to leave a legacy to? Then without spending money you'll just make the poor, poorer, and yet the rich won't get richer. It will just stagnate like it has for quite a few years now."
"Good point and I think I have a cunning plan," Nathan said quickly after only a moment to think. "I want it all transferred to my new vault once the audit of my remaining vaults has finished. As far as you and this bank are concerned Harry Potter is dead. I want you to take ten billion pounds, and as 'per his will', which you offered him to make out his first year of school his money was dealt out to the best children's charities throughout the muggle world – or better yet we start a charitable foundation for children in his name, and give money to products where needed.
"That it's to help all those children that are beaten and abused by their relatives or guardians; make it known he didn't even know how much he was willing away upon his death because of... well, you get the drift, and try your hardest to hide the full amount. Make it clear that he hoped it would help other children whereas nothing and no one ever wanted to help him, and maybe it could save some lives.
"Make sure the newspapers print the story, and make it clear the Potter's will was wizengamot sealed and Albus Dumbledore left him with people that his deputy head Minerva McGonagall had watched and knew Harry would not be treated with love or kindness, but he ignored her. That he had so much power within the government and over the people that she could do nothing without him taking everything she had, especially her beloved job as a teacher.
"Yes… yes… that makes sense, I want you to set up a children's aid charity with this money, to protect children," he mumbled mainly to himself for a few moments before continuing. "Then, going so far as to start working with charities worldwide to make sure children see this money; we can even take donations, so we can get them help so that when they are adults, they can have a good life. Make sure they know it came as the wish of an abused child. I want every muggle and magical paper around the world to be reporting this for weeks, months, even years! I want Dumbledore's name to be mud with the magical world and muggle world!"
The goblin and Elena stared at him in a state of semi-shock. "You're willing to give away all of that money just to begin the destruction of Dumbledore?" asked Goldbrick shaking his head clear with a look of awe and wonderment.
"Partially," he agreed. "The other part is because those kids need it more than me, and I'll trust you to vet honest and responsible people to run this foundation?"
"I am honoured, sir," he replied with a grin. "It shall be front page news tomorrow. What else can I do for you, Mr. Nightly?"
"I have a business opportunity your bank will be interested in," he chuckled. "I didn't know I didn't need to offer this, but your bank will love this anyway. I have a map with the précised location of several famous and 'undiscovered' areas with full blueprints of their treasure vaults.
"I'm willing to give the bank ten percent of the findings; the rest goes into my children's foundation. However, anything of scientific or historic worth goes to either a muggle museum or magical, under conditions that they spend the 'cost' of the items on school fieldtrips to visit them. And then everything of magical power, I want catalogued and placed within a new segregated vault. I want Harry Potter to get credit for everything and anything that lets say is discussable about the discoveries as per his continued wishes.
"Liquidate all of my properties, anything of value, sentimental or otherwise is to be taken out and placed in my vault, and paid for as if they were liquidated, and add all of those funds to the foundation. Also, I need a home, somewhere within Ireland or Wales, in the country would be nice, perfectly warded-to-the-max, and to include all the muggle and magical conveniences people like us could need and then some, and maybe an apartment building in London, or hotel or something with a penthouse for our use.
"Fawkes!" he called while the goblin had been writing and nodding in agreement before the scarlet bird flamed in carrying the maps and dropped them for the goblin. Nathan didn't know how he knew to bring them but was grateful it would all wrap up faster like that; he needed to make good ground with the goblins, because if they invested in him, made money with him; they would be loyal and powerful partners. "Thanks, Fawkes." The bird then landed on Elena's shoulder, standing proudly.
"That's Dumbledore's familiar," the goblin commented as he looked over the maps.
"Or our spy," laughed Nathan, amused as he handed the goblin information to show that he was trusting them, so they would trust in return and a healthy business relationship would form, and that was what they needed for Senna's plans to work. It was just a good thing the plans were so flexible and could easily change if the need arose, and the goblins were smart enough to use that to make their plans a reality.
Goldbrick chuckled. "Well, these are very impressive. Ten percent seems more than reasonable considering what you are doing with the rest. Yes, some of these places we have been searching for for a very long time; thank you."
"Don't worry about it; it's all in my plan to gain power, and politics is by far the hardest and least useful area to do that," he answered and the goblin nodded, as he knew that goblins were limited to what they could do, so Nathan was in a roundabout way telling him that he could do things for them. "I trust as my new manager you'll make sure that if anyone undesirable were to try alerting the wrong people about our business dealings that might be a little more questionable, legally – that they would... disappear never to be heard from again while bearing in mind, if they potentially have important information, maybe holding them for a while, and handing them over to us would be prudent."
Goldbrick nodded in respect and admiration of Nathan's request as he saw him as a very lucrative business, and playing right could help his people a lot more than siding with Dumbledore and his stupidity ever did, considering the old human was a lying backstabber who never tried to get them recognised to sit on the wizengamot to have their say.
He could read between the subtle lines like all goblins, it was natural, and this man didn't promise to try anything for them; he might as well have come out and said it would be a done deal. Working with the Nightly's was going to be an interesting adventure, yes, very interesting. He would have to speak to the elders of Gringotts afterwards, as finally they had met a human who didn't say 'try' but said 'yes', 'no more lies to use goblins as cannon-fodder'. He couldn't quite remember ever meeting a mage who could be so cunning, and truly dangerous.
"Of course, sir," he agreed with a nod, after a few moments of thought. "So, a dungeon and cell set up for your new home would be appropriate... just in case?" he asked while Nathan nodded. He liked the idea of that; his client was a thinker, not a person who rushed in head or arse first unless necessary.
"Now, on to other business I think, as I need a cover, or should I say, starting venture that will keep eyes away from other ventures for a while… hmm… I've decided to call it Firefly."
The goblin began writing quickly as Nathan spoke. He could feel some interesting ventures about to cross his lap, and he would be sure to follow through with everything. If it angered pureblood wizards; all the better in his opinion.
"I saw three buildings next to the Leaky Cauldron that are for sale… buy them for me," he said smirking. "I want a modern… muggle design used, and it magically expanded inside to the max, all three buildings turned into one containing a restaurant, pub, and hotel of the highest standard.
"I want everything set up and running as soon as possible." The goblin nodded his head. "I want it clean, fresh, and perfectly family friendly, so no smoking inside. I want you to hire the staff, waitresses, waiters, bartenders, receptionists etc. I also want it primarily staffed by muggle-born's, half-bloods, and throw in some blood traitors too, as long as they're competent and willing to learn, of course."
Again, the goblin nodded his agreement as he thought about it. "But sir, putting it… The Firefly right next to the Cauldron will lose it business…!"
Nathan just shook his head in amusement. "I want you to under-price the Cauldron in everything, and not only that but have a nicer, spotless clear atmosphere even if it costs us money. No… cost us money if its needed. I want to own the Leaky Cauldron and if running at a loss, or just breaking even is what it takes to take the muggle main entrance then it's a small price to pay. Take the Cauldron as soon as you can as I have a plan for that cesspool."
The goblin laughed as he got over his surprise. "I admire your underhandedness sir," he replied respectfully.
"In addition," Nathan continued. "I want you to start buying out as much of Knockturn Alley as you can, starting with those closest to Diagon and working your way down."
"Yes sir," the goblin replied as he wondered what Nathan wanted to build in their place, and the amusement it would garner to see the look on people's faces when one person owned the whole alley would be priceless; he could certainly admire a man who would waste money for a good cause, just to get what he wanted. Then the Potter Children's Foundation could grow into its own and become something special in the muggle would too.
"If you have too…!" Nathan scrambled for words. "Well, sometimes such… filthy people may need other means of persuasion too… shall we say get out of the way; take the money and… fuck off? Sometimes they're so fixated on the past that they forget they need money, and accidents do happen, especially to pureblood mongrels that won't get out of my way."
"So, a little short of killing them…?"
"Exactly…!" he agreed smugly. "But if their accident is fatal, as long as they deserved to end that way, no big deal!"
"N-Nathan…!" Elena suddenly reprimanded.
He smiled at her, rolling his eyes. "Just think about it… everyone complains about that cesspool, yet no developer has ever just bought the place out and made a difference. I was down there once yet saw no law. It's lawless because the ministry doesn't care. They like it that way. Its apart of their history and tradition. It's full of murderers among other things that always get away with their crimes! Because their crimes are against muggles or poor witches and wizards who don't have protection! Crap like Dumbledore think that because the victim 'forgets' that the crime ever happened that it didn't, but it still did! It's time we start putting a stop to it, anyway possible, no more second chances.
"Elena, if proper development gets underway," he shrugged. "The law will have no choice but to start doing their jobs or else I'll have no choice but to start my own security organisation to do the job for them, for me. To protect the people of my new district..."
She eyed him suspiciously for a moment before a small smirk lined her lips. "You don't expect them to start patrolling the alley even after it's been fixed up do you?"
"No…! Well not without me paying them too at least, but I would rather pay people I can trust. If people were paid enough, they wouldn't need to skim some from innocent shop keepers for 'protection' or take back alley handouts to look the other way. The Law Enforcement Department is hugely underfunded while the Department for Magical Sports is way over funded; then let's not talk about the Minister's office."
"Underhanded Mr. Nightly," the goblin commented with pride. "It shall be a pleasure working with you… and your daughter in these matters."
"I thank you sir," he replied. "And I look forward to seeing The Firefly up and running, but it shall be my 'daughter' you'll be working with from after this meeting as she is the owner of this company. Invest two thirds of my… our combined wealth into this company. But how about a proper company name…? How does, Fairytale, sound…?"
The goblin smirked with a wide toothy grin showing off his sharp teeth as he nodded his head in agreement as he kept writing down his instructions.
"Fairytale…?" Elena asked in surprise, looking confused. "W-why that?"
Nathan smirked smugly. "Because the world we live in is like one messed up fairy tale, it seems to fit quite… ironically… as this Fairytale plans on messing with their messed up little world, and maybe we can finally give it that fairy tale quality it was always lacking," he laughed.
Elena's eyes widened in surprise and awe as she realised what it symbolised. It symbolised the fantasy, and story book quality that the magical world had come to represent, trying to show itself to muggle-born's as Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty from the reworked kids versions of the books when it wasn't happy and sweet like that, but more like the grotesque originals she had heard about, (she certainly had no plan on EVER reading them), and it took too long for them to find out, but Fairytale could bring back the magic that children felt in their hearts to the disillusioned adults they had or would become.
"In this world," she spoke while smiling. "In this world we'll make our own happy endings!"
Nathan laughed and nodded in agreement as they took another few hours to finish with their meeting.
To Be Continued…