AN: Hmm, my last chapter got only two reviews. Hope it isn't because it sucked because I kind of liked it. Well better luck with this one.
Disclaimer: I do not owe any HP character or Dumas novel.
BARON RÖNNSKÄR
CHAPTER 11 ATTACKING PERCY
"Baron Rönnskär is here to see you" said a little goblin to Percy Weasley. Percy hadn't been informed of meeting so this must be something pretty important. He quickly improved his already perfected appearance and then commanded goblin to send foreign nobleman in. Baron appeared soon dressed in black. It had been almost two months now that he had first time came to Percy Weasley's office in Gringotts.
"Good morning, herra parooni" Percy said with his quickly learned Finnish.
But baron silenced him raising his hand. "No time for chats, my good banker. I'm in a hurry and there is something I need you to do something for me. The Daily Prophet is the most popular newspaper in wizarding Britain. Arrange that I will get majority of stocks for owning it by tomorrow. Money is no object" he said firmly.
Buy Prophet by tomorrow? This must be some other way of him to get information before others get it. Well, have it his way. Bank will have a nice profit from this deal.
"Will there be anything else you require, sir?" Percy asked with his pleasing voice.
"Yes, I have heard of a new potion created in America that would heal scars and burnings from ones skin permanently. I would like to buy stocks of that also".
"With what sum?" red-haired banker asked from "foreign" gentleman.
"6 millions" Baron said simply.
Percy almost dropped his pen. If Baron what's-his-name is spending 6 millions to a potion it can only mean one thing: he has inside knowledge that the potion will be a success. He has been doing couple of other deals through my bank and all of them became a financial success to him.
"An American potion, you said?" Percy asked to make sure.
"I want the deal to be made as soon as possible and in quite. It would most certainly be unwise to follow my lead" Baron said smiling.
He wants to keep it quiet, eh? Then it's certain that he knows something. "Of course, Baron, this will be strictly confidential" Percy said.
"Excellent. Good day to you, herra Weasley" Baron said and disappeared.
Percy immediately called two goblins in.
"Make sure that Baron Rnskr will owe majority of Daily Prophets stocks by tomorrow. Money is to be used as much needed" Percy said to another goblin, which wrote it down and disappeared. Then Percy turned to another. "Find out about a new American potion that is coming to markets which should heel scars and burnings. Buy stocks with 6 millions to the baron. And with two millions to me and tell our most important clients that the bank of Gringotts recommends buying that American potion with heavy sums".
Goblin looked Percy for a moment as if seeing if he was joking.
"Do it!" Percy shouted to goblin that disappeared. That Baron is a real goldmine. I'm lucky to have met him.
In Scotland:
As soon as Ron arrived to his castle he went to a fireplace and contacted one his agents in London.
"Well" Ron asked eagerly.
"It happened just as you predicted. The moment you left they started to contact their biggest clients and told them to buy heavily stocks of American potion" agent reported.
"When do you think most of them have bought them?" Ron asked.
"By the evening there will be no-one left who hasn't bought" agent told.
Ron closed the contact and jumped. "EXCELLENT! Everything is going as planned! Oh Percy, I told you not to tell anyone!" he said aloud to no-one. Then he called a house-elf to come. "Contact Natasha Blackwood and tell her I require her services now" he said and elf disappeared.
An hour later, Natasha Blackwood finally appeared. "So your Grace finally called?" she said, her voice filled with amusement.
Ron took a paper and handed it to Natasha. "I want that message to become official" he said.
Natasha looked at the paper. "They will soon find out that it is false news" she said.
"I'm not planning on that they wouldn't find out in the end" Ron said. "I want it to become official by tomorrow morning".
Natasha looked at Ron surprised. "To-"she started but then pulled herself together. "Of course, as your Grace wants. I expect a good payment of course" she added.
"Of course and after you've done these there will be few more jobs for you to do" Ron said and watched as the woman left. "Not long anymore" he then said to himself.
It was late at night when Natasha returned to the castle. "Payment is better being good! You have even the slightest idea how difficult it is to send wrong information to the ministry and make sure press gets it also? Not to mention how little time you gave me!" she yelled. Russian woman was obviously tired.
Ron gave deep sigh and then threw her a sack of jewels. "Get some sleep, Natasha. You need before the next assignment I'm going to give to you" he said smiling.
Next morning in London:
Percy never had time to read Prophet at home but plenty at work. He asked the goblin if the deal of Baron owning the paper was in order and goblin said it had been taken care of. Satisfied Percy read the latest news only to be turned very pale.
What the hell is this!
"For sometime now healers have eagerly waited for news of a new potion from America that is supposed to heal burns and scars. Unfortunately the latest news that ministry got last night tells us that an unpleasant side-effects have been found from this potion. It seems that for a time being potion must be called off from the markets-"
I don't believe this! I advised the clients of my bank to invest to that potion and now it's off! Gringotts bank has reputation of being Britain's most trusted bank. Peoples turn to me in financial problems. After this no-one will trust us again! Think, Percy, think! There must be someway to make things better still.
Percy called a goblin in.
"Have you read the paper?" he eagerly asked from the goblin.
"Yes" it answered quite rudely. "It seems we are in a bit of a trouble".
Percy couldn't take the goblins attitude at the moment. "Really, I wouldn't have guessed!" he snapped sarcastically. "Do you have some advices then? My reputation as well as the banks is in jeopardy!" he yelled.
Goblin seemed to think this only for a moment, probably had already planned what to do. "Well, if I may suggest…" it started.
Merlin's beard! Isn't that what I asked! "Well suggest, suggest!" Percy yelled, his face as red as his hair.
"You must sell it all. All the stocks that have been bought must be sell immediately. All what you bought, all what your clients bought also" goblin said.
What a mess this is going to be, but there isn't any other choice really. "Yes, you're right. Start selling immediately! Sell everything! Every last one of the damn stocks must put to selling! Oh the reputation of my bank…"
Percy looked at the goblin that hadn't moved anywhere. "Anymore ideas?" he snapped.
"Yes" goblin stated calmly. "You must make good all loses your clients had" it stated.
Yes, of course! If I don't make them up they will draw their accounts away and then will everyone else also.
"You are right again" Percy said. "Where will we get the money? From banks safes?" he then asked.
"From your personal account, Mr Weasley" goblin said.
Percy felt his blood stop in his veins and all the redness left his face making him extremely pale. That would be millions of loses to me! My entire fortune!
Goblin seemed to read his thought and instead of waiting just said "I'll arrange selling immediately" and disappeared.
Percy sank to his chair. My fortune, my entire fortune…gone…gone…
Meantime in Scotland:
"Yes, sir, they have been starting to sell Mr Weasleys private fortune to make good all loses" agent in the fireplace said.
"Very well, keep an eye on Percy Weasley and report me from everything" Ron said. The connection was shut down.
Ron felt a smile of satisfaction come to his face. "That's it for you, brother" he said.
"Talking to no-one?" Anna asked.
"Allow me to have my odds; I've waited this moment a long time. There is nothing Percy can do anymore. I just whish I would be there seeing his when he finds out that there is nothing wrong with the potion" Ron stopped and breathed deeply. "But enough of Percy, he is finished. Time to move to our mutual enemy, Anna" Ron said. "Last chance to back away" he then added.
Anna smiled but shook his head. "There is no way in Heaven or Hell for me to back away now. I want that bastard to pay for what he did" Anna said. "But how do we get this story known?" she asked.
"Ah, don't underestimate power of media. I happen to owe a quite popular newspaper nowadays" Ron said.
With a little trouble seen Ron arranged a meeting between Anna and Rita Skeeter, who had got her job back after the war. And hardly had the wizarding London recovered from the shock that could Gringotts be trusted anymore when even greater shocked came a day after. In the morning edition of The Daily Prophet had a picture of Baron's sister Anna and a large headline saying very clearly:
"VICTOR KRUM RAPED ME".
AN: Well, that's it for now, hope you liked it. Press the review button and you'll make me very happy.