Disclaimer:I do not own anything in this story unless I do own it.
"Speach"
' Thoughts '
Six weeks ago- Diagon Alley (Sorry I Jump around a little)
' Now I'm richer than I could even dream of being ', thought Michael as he walked down diagon alley, 'what do rich people do with there money?'
With this question in mind Michael wandered the shopping district searching for something to spend his considerable wealth on.
Remembering something he had seen on television Michael walked into a small out of the way shop just behind and to the side of the shop named "Madam Malkin's something or other" straight into Carol's Construction and Real Estate.
Entering caused a bell to ring throughout the store signaling a customer in the building. This of course caused a man at the counter to shoot up out of a light doze.
"Welcome to Carol's Construction and Real Estate how may I help... Oh sorry kid I think you have the wrong shop Madam Malkin's is next door." The man was obviously disappointed. From the quiet athmosphere of the shop very little business seemed to occur within these four wall.
"Do you build and sell houses here?"
"Of course not." Was the tall mans insulted response.
"But the name of your shop..."
"We do not build houses. We build homes. Whether it is a hovel on the beach or a palace to rival the Taj Mahal in beauty. What we build lasts for generations when maintained properly." Explained the man with passion in his voice.
"Wow." Michael replied in awe at a grown man getting teary eyed. 'Why are adults all so weird'
"Now, run along kid I got stuff to do."
"I want to buy a place to live though. A big place like the kind on television. Like the show with all the rich people's homes on it." Was Michael's argument to remain in the store.
"Kid if you got money to buy a place bigger than a lean-to. I'll build the place myself."
"That'd be great." was Michael happy reply. Pulling out the bankdrafts he asks,"Who do I fill this out to."
Getting a good look at the draft and the designs around the edges. 'He is a preferred customer at Gringotts that's the only explanation for the gold filigree around the edges. The only other person the goblins offered that to were the flamels when thy were still in the public eye.' Thinking quickly he extended his hand in greeting hoping to present a better impression.
"I don't think we started out right, my apologies sir. My name is Carol Carpenter and welcome to my shop."
Accepting the offered hand he replied in kind.
"Michael Powers, and isn't Carol a girl's name?"
An hour and a half later after an uncomfortable explanation about the girls name and a bad potions accident in school.
"Now, Mr. Powers, are you sure this is what you want? This is going to cost a great deal of money in the end with all the special features. Not to mention the wards will have to be done by Gringotts if you want them to cover the entire area."
"Can you give me an estimate?" Michael hoped that this would work out. This was after all his dream home.
"Well let's see. The land is cheap as dirt. But hard to work with as well. Materials, time, labor, charms, and wards. How soon did you want it done?"
"Four or five weeks if you can."
"Okay, I'd need five teams, and the total comes to..." Whistling at the price for the fortress, for that is what it seemed to be, he slid the bill over to Michael to look at.
Taking the parchment and looking at the cost for his dream home he was surprised at the cost, but it was not because it was too expensive. Quite the opposite in fact. Filling out the amount on the bank draft he hands it to Carol who looks on in astonishment as he limply accepts the largest amount of money he'd ever seen before.
"Well, I'd better get going Carol. See you in a few weeks." Leaving the shop with a bounce in his step he didn't notice the shop owner wake from his stunned silence and begin shouting into the floo for his workers to gather together and be ready to work in cold weather.
Scene break
Fortesque's(sp?) Ice cream parlor
Munching on a strawberry sunday Michael sat patiently looking at the book catalogs from the store Flourish and Blotts while waiting for his uncle to show up. Finally, a half hour after the designated time set, by his uncle, the man showed up.
"So, how do you like the area so far Uncle David?"
"Nice enough people, but did you see the wanted posters they've been putting up today?"
"No, I was kinda busy in one of the shops, and it turns out they have a mail order system of sorts. Why they use birds to deliver mail and packages I'll never understand. It's much more reliable to have it delivered by express like back in the U.S." The magical Pony Express uses shadow mares to travel massive distances in very little time. As long as you have a registered address with the magic government they have no trouble delivering the mail to you for the cost of a muggle stamp.
"Well some guy named Black escaped from a magical version of Alcatraz. You know they would do well to remember that as impossible as it may seem to escape...there is always a way to do the impossible." He seemed somewhat amused by the escaped convict on being on the loose. "Yes, with magic all is possible. Even calling upon the demons of the 17th level hell to inhabit my enchanted blade is possible." Clearing his throat after his slight if startling outburst he continued, "ehem, like I was saying any thing is possible. Given the right circumstances."
'Again with the demons of the 17th level of hell thing. If he wasn't my Uncle and legal guardian I'd have him commited, again.' Michael thought as he marked the catalogue straight through deciding to simply purchase one of every book in stock. It's one way of starting a library. The rich guys always have a nice posh library to lounge in. Again television influencing the minds of the children, but for once in a good way.
"So how did the pub work out?" What are the odds he'd get any contacts the first day in town.
"You may be rich, but I don't intend to stop working. I enjoy staying busy you know that." Was his Uncle's easy response. "I might get some business here in the near future. It mostly depends on how things turn out in the more political areas in Britain. I hate politics, but it brings me a lot of my work."
"Yeah, yeah just don't go exposing yourself like the Rushmore situation."
"Hmmph," quickly changing the subject,"I booked us rooms at the Leaky Cauldron. I probably won't be around much. The area is too new to me and I need to get the lay of the land. Will you be alright on your own?"
"I can take care of myself. You taught me well Uncle David. Well enough to stay out of trouble here at the very least. There isn't a power level above 100 mu any where on this alley or within a two mile radius of our position except for us."
"Yes, well, don't forget that there are surprises that can't be detected or planned for so don't get to cocky."
"Surprises are the spice of life wouldn't you agree?" Came a voice from behind his uncle. Standing there was an identical copy of the young Lord Gryffindor carrying a full bucket of ice water.
Sighing in exasperation David apparates out of the way of the large bucket of ice water causing the original Michael to be soaked to the bone. Teeth chattering he formed a symbol with his hands and the double dissappeared in a puff of smoke.
Reappearing dry, and in the same spot he was sitting in before, David looked fondly at his young and innovative charge.
"I don't know how you manage to use those techniques so effortlessly, but once I determine where you learned them we'll realy have some fun." Grabbing some napkins from a nearby table he tosses them at the drenched boy. "Clean yourself up you're embarrasing me." Laughing at the look directed his way he makes his way out of the near empty shop.
Leaving a large tip on the table to make up for the mess made Michael quickly made his way to the leaky cauldron to get a change of clothes. As he made his way there he desperately hoped his uncle never figured out he learned his 'special techniques' from. Muggle cartoons and comic books are true inspirations. He may not know why he could do what he does, but where he gets the inspiration is not for others to find out. His uncle was crafty enough with what he had already.
TBC
Got what I could written. Next chapter Harry floos to a potential new home with a new slightly odd family. Please read and review. MU's are magical units. normally only measurable using a specific medical spell it has been adapted by Michael to act much like how power levels are measured in Dragon Ball Z. Magic is very like a muscle the more used the stronger it becomes.
Muggles 1-10 magical units Vernon Dursley
Squibs 10-30 magical units Arabella Figg 20, Petunia Dursley 15, Filch 20
Wizards 30-125 magical units Hermione 70, Ron 90, Harry 120
Sorcerer125-250 mu Dumbledore 190 Voldemort 205
Warlock 250-500 mu Michael ? David 250
Mage 500-1000 mu Merlin
Remember these are power levels and do not include the decades of experience Dumbledore and Voldemort have over all other characters (except Merlin). Yes Voldemort is more powerful than Dumbles but at that level the difference isn't as noticeable. Ask questions and I'll answer as best I can later.