Harry's Wish List.
A week after becoming the official owners of The Chudley Cannons, Harry and Hermione were locked in the club's rented offices as they tried to sort out how to proceed with turning the failing club around. The first thing Hermione wanted to sort was the club's offices and training facilities. Currently the club rented both office space and training facilities, but Hermione felt they needed something more permanent.
"I was down at the training facilities yesterday, and I think they could be a pretty good base for the team," Harry said. "They're out in the countryside, well away from any muggles, and of course they've got all the appropriate privacy charms on them."
"Do you think we could buy the facilities and build the new stadium nearby?" Hermione asked, finding the relevant paperwork for the training facilities on her messy desk. "I was thinking if we also based the offices at the stadium, we're in one place making things so much easier."
"We've still got money in the bank, so we should look into buying the training facilities," Harry agreed. "As for the stadium, we can bankroll a decent portion of the work, but what we really need is a new sponsor."
"People are taking notice of our purchase of the club," Hermione remarked, talking about the newspaper articles that had been occurring since the news about them buying the club broke. "Or should I say, people are talking about you buying the club."
Naturally, as a former quidditch player, not to mention his reputation as the baby who'd survived the killing curse, Harry was pretty well known, and the fact he'd bought The Cannons was big news. The papers were already speculating about if he could turn the club's fortunes around or if he was just wasting his time. Hermione was merely a by-note in the articles, as most people were only interested in Harry at the moment.
"You think we can attract a new sponsor?" Harry asked.
"I think you can," Hermione replied. "It's definitely something to start looking into. If we can find a new sponsor, we could hopefully have the stadium built by the start of the season after next."
"Our old sponsor isn't willing to carry on then?" Harry checked. While he'd been checking out the players in their squad, Hermione had been talking to the club's current sponsors.
"We agreed it would be best for us both to move on," Hermione replied. "They'll carry on with the sponsorship for the rest of the season, but then we're parting ways. A new start is what we need, and for that we need a new sponsor."
"And a new squad," Harry said. "I want to watch training, but from what I've seen of this shambles we need to replace almost all of them."
"I've been looking at their contracts, and thankfully everyone is on short term contracts," Hermione supplied. "A lot of them expire at the end of the year, and those that don't only have a few years to run."
"Could we buy them out if we don't want them?" Harry asked.
"We could," Hermione replied with a nod. "Once you decide who you want to keep, we can work on sorting the others. Those out of contract, we can just let them go, as for the others we can ask them if they want a transfer. If we make it clear there's no first team place in their future, they might be keen to move on. Those who don't want to leave can either be bought out, or they can stay on as a squad member. I've checked, and as long as were honest and not promising them first team quidditch and not delivering, they can't complain."
"Wow, look at the quidditch expert," Harry chuckled.
"I've done some reading up since you suggested this," Hermione replied with a smile. "The game may not be my forte, but I've got a much better understanding of the background workings of a club."
"That's why I wanted you on my side," Harry said, smiling at Hermione before turning back to the task in hand. "When you were sorting contracts, did you find Ron's?"
"I did," Hermione confirmed with a nod. "And he's got three years left on his contract."
"What do I do, Hermione?" Harry asked. "I don't want to hurt him, but I just don't think he can hack it in the league. He's spent four years playing on the reserves, and it's not like The Cannons regular keeper is a hot shot."
"We spoke about expanding the squad, so why not let Ron stay and see if he can earn his place on the team," Hermione suggested. "If he's not good enough, he'll just not make the cut."
"And what about Ginny, she keeps harping on about joining us?" Harry questioned.
"The team is your call," Hermione replied. "It's your choice if you give Ginny a contract with the team."
"I guess I can think about it later," Harry mused. "Right now let's worry about the players we do have, and the support staff. Right now, the team is run by a management team, but I want to take over the day to day running of the team."
"But you'll need some assistance," Hermione reminded Harry. "You can't do everything."
"I know, but this lot are useless so I want a fresh team around me," Harry replied. "In fact, I have a physio in mind, the best in the business. He's tough, but fair. He gets the best out of his players, and he's not afraid to tell people if they're not fit to play."
"So who is he?" Hermione asked.
"Theo Nott," Harry answered. "He was the physio at The Falcons, and I think I could persuade him to jump ship. We became good friend in my time there."
"If you think you can grab him, go for it," Hermione said. "The staffing is your job. You build the team and support staff you need."
"Let's just hope building the team is as easy," Harry remarked. "We need some big name players."
"I know," Hermione replied with a nod. "Know any?"
"The quidditch world is fairly small, so I know them all," Harry answered. "But I only want the best."
"Any ideas?" Hermione questioned.
"I have three at the top of my hit list," Harry admitted. "One keeper, one chaser and one seeker."
"Do I get names?" Hermione asked, curious as to who Harry wanted for their team.
"First, there's Angelina," Harry began. Angelina Johnson was Harry's former Gryffindor captain, and she also happened to be dating George. "And if we get Angelina, we could get Alicia." Alicia Spinnet was Angelina's fellow chaser from their Gryffindor days, and she was Fred's girlfriend.
"At least we've got an in with the pair of them," Hermione mused. "We can turn on the charm and see if they're willing to transfer."
"We might need more than charm for my other targets," Harry admitted. "They both play for The Tornadoes."
"You want to poach players from the champions?" Hermione laughed, before she suddenly realised who her partner's targets were considering each team only had one regular first time keeper and seeker. "You want to poach Malfoy and Zabini?"
Draco Malfoy played seeker for the champions, while his best friend, Blaise Zabini, was their keeper. Like Harry, both boys had been signed professionally before they'd even left Hogwarts. Even though the pair were Slytherins, and Harry hadn't been overly friendly with them in school, he'd gotten to know them both a little bit over his three years as a player, and he actually liked both wizards. He certainly thought they could be an asset for the team.
"I know it won't be easy," Harry admitted.
"Not easy," Hermione snorted. "More like impossible. You expect two of the biggest players in the league to leave a champion side and join the bottom team. Are you mad?"
"Not mad, merely ambitious," Harry replied with a shrug. "And if I play up the ambitious part, I think I can sweet talk Malfoy and Zabini."
"How?"
"Anyone can win the championship at a team like The Tornadoes," Harry answered, giving Hermione a glimpse of the pitch he was planning on using on the two former Slytherins. "The Tornadoes have money, a powerful sponsor, and a top batch of players. A team like that can win the league without breaking sweat. But it takes a special sort of player to join a failing club and helping them turn their fortunes around. There's more adulation to be gained by winning the league in a team like The Cannons, than with a team like the Tornadoes."
"You think that will persuade them to move to our team?" Hermione asked, sounding quite sceptical of the idea.
"It's worth a shot, isn't it?" Harry retorted.
"It is," Hermione confirmed with a nod. "Give it your best try, Harry. If you can get Malfoy and Zabini, great."
"I'll try my best," Harry vowed, before the pair returned to the business in hand and moved on to other problems they had facing them.
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A couple of days after his talk with Hermione, Harry went out for a drink with Theo. After catching up with how The Falcons were faring without him, talk inevitable turned to Harry's recent purchase.
"I never saw Granger as the quidditch type," Theo remarked as they enjoyed their drink.
"She's not," Harry confessed. "But she's the smartest person I know. If anyone can help me run the club, she can. I can take care of the quidditch, and she can handle the rest."
"I don't envy you trying to sort that team out," Theo chuckled. "Let's be honest, Harry, The Cannons suck."
"That they do," Harry agreed, shocking Theo with his honesty. "But I don't plan on keeping many of them. I want to build a fresh team, with new staff to support me."
"Why do I get the feeling this is leading somewhere," Theo said warily.
"Because I'm about to offer you an opportunity of a lifetime," Harry said. "I want you to come and work with me, Theo. I need someone like you on my team. Together we can build a good team, I just know it."
"What about my contract with The Falcons?" Theo asked.
"Is that a yes?" Harry returned with a small smile.
"It's a maybe," Theo replied. "If I did say yes, and I'm really not sure at the moment, I'm still contracted to The Falcons."
"We can deal with that if you say yes," Harry answered. He was actually willing to use some of his own money to buy Theo out of his contract with the Falcons, and if it came to it he would do the same with Malfoy and Zabini.
"So what do you have to offer me, Harry?" Theo asked. "The Falcons is a good job."
"It is, but you'd have more say with me," Harry replied. "I don't just want you as a physio, Theo, I want you as my friend and advisor. You'd be my right hand man, Theo."
For the next hour, Harry laid out just what sort of job he had in mind for Theo. As he talked, Harry could see Theo's interest being raised and by the time he finished his appeal, he was confident he had the former Slytherin on side.
"So what do you say?" Harry asked with a grin.
"I say it's madness," Theo replied. "But it sounds like fun. It's not going to be easy though, Harry."
"I know that, but it will be easier with you onside," Harry replied.
"You mentioned getting rid of most of the players, so who do you have in mind to replace them?" Theo asked.
"I've got a few options, but I haven't approached anyone yet," Harry replied. "In fact, you might be able to help me with a couple of them. I want Malfoy and Zabini."
"Draco and Blaise?" Theo spluttered, surprised by the ambition Harry was showing.
"They're two of the best in the league," Harry replied. "What do you think, can I sway them?"
"I don't know, they both like to win and at The Tornadoes that's virtually guaranteed for them," Theo answered thoughtfully. "But I do know there's something Draco wants that he can't get at The Tornadoes."
"And what's that?" Harry asked, leaning forward expectantly as he hoped Theo was going to give him something he could use to woo Malfoy.
"The chance to play chaser," Theo replied. "He always wanted to play chaser, but it just never happened. He loves playing seeker, but he still harbours the desire to play chaser."
"So if I offered him a duel role, playing seeker or chaser depending on what we needed each match, I might be able to woo him?" Harry checked excitedly.
"It's worth a shot," Theo admitted. "And I would also trot out your building something new speech you've just given to me. Play on their ego's, and insinuate they could be the backbone of a new era. A team rising from the ashes."
"I don't suppose you can arrange a meeting, could you?" Harry asked.
"I can," Theo confirmed. "And just for the record, I'm on board."
"Welcome to the team, Theo," Harry said with a grin as he shook hands with his friends. "It might take a few years, but we're going to return The Cannons to the top of the league."
Toasting to The Cannons, Harry and Theo shared a few more drinks as they talked about the future. By the end of the evening, Theo was just as excited by the plans for The Cannons as Harry. He now couldn't wait to leave The Falcons behind and embark on a new chapter in his life. A new and exciting chapter, with all sorts of adventures in store for The Cannons and everyone associated with them.