Harry and Neville opted out of the train ride home. It wasn't that they didn't want to spend the time with the other students but they had a job to do and they were anxious to get going. Harry had managed to buy several more buildings in Diagon Alley besides the new wand shop. He now owned the building housing the menagerie, the book store and the best one in the alley, the twins shop. He had just completed talks to buy part of Puddlemere United. He had forty contracts to obtain potions ingredients. And before leaving Hogwarts for good he had hired three people from his eighth year group to work for him. Seamus was going to demolish and build for him since he said he didn't want to own the business just do the fun part. Neville of course was still working for him. And last but not least Daphne Greengrass had asked if he needed a personal assistant. She would help him navigate the quagmire of the pureblood elite and politics.
"So where are you setting up office?" Neville asked as they arrived at Harry's home in France.
"No clue." He shrugged, "I'm letting Daphne find a place. She'll be there more than either of us. My only requirement for her was it needed to be accessible to both magical and muggle customers. She said she knew the perfect place."
"The pureblood ice princess knows a place accessible to muggles?" Neville questioned.
"I assume so or she wouldn't have said she did." Harry smirked, "I have final approval of any place she picks and it has to actually be for sale."
"Right." Neville shook his head in wonder, "So what is your next step?"
"I will be concentrating on hiring delivery personnel." He frowned, "You get the fun job of going and looking for a suitable green house or site to build a green house. I want you to begin to experiment with muggle plants along with the magical ones."
"I love you." Neville yelled grabbing Harry up in a hug. When he finally let a laughing Harry loose he asked, "Can I hire Hannah to help. She was the one in our year with the closest grades to mine in Herbology, excluding Hermione that is. But I don't want to work with her."
"Don't worry, I wouldn't hire her if… well I don't know what if but I have no inclination to hire her, Ron or Ginny." Harry led Neville into the library where they found seats, "I'm rather glad Dean wanted to learn from Ollivander. This way I won't feel bad not hiring him."
"Any luck starting your next phase?" Neville ducked his head slightly.
"You saw it?" Harry asked.
Neville nodded sheepishly, "You left the plans on the table when McGonagall called you in and Hermione was trying to see it. I grabbed it and put it back in your room. However I couldn't help from looking myself."
"I can't believe I left that laying around. I'm so stupid." Harry frowned to himself.
"Any luck with it?"
"Some." Harry sighed, "As you know Ollivander wants some more cores. Unicorn hair was no problem because I knew Hagrid picks them up in the forest. He's now agreed to sell me part of each month's find. Minnie is thrilled to have another source of income for the school."
"So you're going to be looking for Phoenix feathers, dragon heart strings and all those other cores." Neville nodded, "Any idea?"
"Veela hair is no problem either." Harry grinned, "Fleur has let a few of the full bloods know I'm paying for hair and we'll see what we can get."
"Wand cores, potion ingredients, business startup capital, construction, land lord and philanthropist." Neville grinned, "Any other jobs you want to add in there? Dueling champion, quidditch player or politician?"
"Dueling has some potential." Harry ignored the teasing but took from it what he wanted, "It would keep me on my toes for when the next attempt on my life happens."
"Don't even talk about that." Neville grimaced, "Makes me sick every time I think of it."
"You are a good friend." Harry clapped him on the back as Kreacher brought in tea, "By the way our appointment at Gringotts has been moved up to three. Daphne decided to skip the train too."
Venturing into Britain, Harry decided later that day, was a very risky thing for him to do. Currently he was in Diagon Alley trying to get to the bank but a large group of black clad individuals were blocking his path. He sighed with regret before turning to his two friends, "You two may want to be somewhere else right now."
"No Harry we are not leaving you to fight this alone." Daphne stated before she questioned Neville, "Are we?"
"No we aren't." Neville grimaced, "Even with us you've got like a fifty to one disadvantage."
"Ok, so Neville take the fifty on the right, Daph the fifty on the left and I'll take the fifty out of the middle." Harry smirked as the group continued to rain down curses on their hiding spot that Harry was protecting.
"How about we get ten each and you take the rest." Daphne grimaced.
Harry dropped his shield and stepped out while he was still laughing at the girl. This had an unexpected effect on the attackers. As one they actually paused in their cursing. To see Harry Potter drop his shield and come out laughing at them made them think twice about what they were doing. Taking advantage of the pause Harry yelled out a stunning spell and several in the front row dropped. Seeing that, those now in the front decided to not be next on his list and left, it had a cascading effect as those who were now in the front row left to protect themselves. In a matter of a few moments the street was clear, except for those who lay unconscious in the street. Additionally Harry saw George standing at the door to his shop with his wand drawn. But instead of pointing it at where the attackers were he was bent over laughing with his wand trapped between his hand and knee.
"What did you do?" Harry called out to him.
"I didn't do anything." George held up his hands, "When you came out laughing it freaked them all out. I don't know what you were laughing at but they thought you were laughing at how few people they brought."
Harry shook his head and walked up to his friend and replied quietly, "I was laughing at Daphne, but if they want to think I was laughing at them so be it."
"So whenever someone asks what you were laughing at I'll just tell them you thought it was funny that they sent so few." George smirked.
"No, don't tell them that. They'll just start showing up in larger groups." Harry protested, "I'd rather they know the truth and feel so ashamed of themselves that they don't try again."
"You take all the fun out of it." George sighed, "So where are you and your entourage heading?"
"Gringotts." He thumbed over his shoulder at the building behind him. Neville and Daphne had caught up by this time.
"Mr. Weasley." Daphne nodded.
"Miss Greengrass so lovely to see you." George bent over her hand and kissed it, "What in the world are you following this clown around for."
"I work for Mr. Potter." She smirked knowing many from the neighboring shops were listening to their conversation, "Assistant to the director of a huge corporation is a very prestigious place to be."
The group of four heard whispers start up from nearby shops like a buzz of bees. George grinned back and said, "First he helps Fred and I start up then he helps me get some rare ingredients, so now what has he done?"
"He bought some buildings here in the alley and is lowering rent so people can make more money themselves." Neville scratched his chin, "I know he is helping a few other businesses start up. He has potion and herbology research laboratories. Is there anything I missed?"
"I'm looking to hire some good people." Harry said, "I have the labs to staff and then of course the potion ingredient and wand core people to find."
"Potions and wand people?" George asked.
"People who are willing to travel to either find or pick up potion ingredients and wand cores." Harry stated, "They need to have a bit of an adventurous spirit."
"If I didn't have the shop I think I'd want to do that." George grinned, "Well you need to get to the bank and I need to get back to the store so I'll catch you later."
"Later George." The three turned and headed for the bank noting the aurors picking up the stunned attackers.
"Nothing like free advertising." Neville snickered, "I bet that whole conversation is in the Prophet by morning."
"If they don't have a special edition for it tonight." Daphne added with a smirk, "He got free job advertisements out of it too, very Slytherin."
"Of course it was." Harry grinned at her, "You did think of it."
"Yes I did."
After they finished in the bank they stepped back out into the alley to find a crush of people. Harry looked at his friends with a raised eyebrow as the questions began to fire.
"Mr. Potter do you really own a huge corporation?"
"Mr. Potter, are you dating Miss Greengrass?
"Mr. Potter can you hire me?
"Mr. Potter what can you say about You Know Who?"
"Mr. Potter any comments about the lawsuits from last year?"
"Did you really ride out on a dragon?"
"Hold up." Harry waved his hand. The chaos at the mouth of the bank was extremely loud and Harry could only discern a few of the questions being hurled his way, "First off I didn't call a press conference. Second I have absolutely nothing to say about Voldemort. Third if you have any other questions I can give you five minutes but if you all ask at once I can't understand any of you."
One reporter raised his hand and after being acknowledged, "There is a rumor going about the alley today that you own a huge corporation, is that true?"
"I wouldn't call it huge yet." Harry said, "But I am trying to make sure that our society has everything it needs. The war took many people and left many holes that need to be filled. I am interested in helping people start businesses but I'm not a bank so I don't loan money. I ask for a portion of the company in return. Potter Enterprises owns pieces of about seventeen companies right now and we're in talks with a few more. We also have three divisions in house which are Acquisition, Research and Development and Business Building."
"What do the three divisions do?" another asked.
"Acquisition gathers plant and animal pieces for potion ingredients and wand manufacture, Research and Development is exactly that, they're working on things to help our society and Business Building is the portion that owns pieces in all the other companies." Harry answered.
"What kinds of things are being researched?" another reporter asked.
"One thing dear to my heart is a cure for werewolves. I hate to see the victims suffer so much because of animals like Greyback. We have not found anything yet and I expect any type of cure to be years away but if we don't start researching we'll never find it." Harry explained, "That isn't all but its first on my list because I know it would make my parents proud."
Rita Skeeter spoke next, "Harry, are you dating this girl beside you?"
"Come on ask a real question, you're wasting valuable time." Another reporter shouted.
"I'm not, she is my assistant." Harry explained, "Without Daphne I'd probably be lost, Neville as well."
"What do they do?" the one who had yelled at Skeeter asked.
Harry waved to them to come up and explain. Daphne went first.
"I make sure Mr. Potter gets all the information he needs to make good decisions." Daphne stated, "I am his eyes and ears so if you want something you'll have to go through me first."
"Does that mean all muggleborns can forget getting in?" a yell came from the back.
"Not at all." She smiled sweetly, "I work fine with muggleborns and muggles. Just because I was a Slytherin doesn't mean I have the same views as all the others."
Neville jumped in before any more could be said, "I'm the head of research for the herbology section of the R&D department."
"No muggleborns in the top of the departments." another shout was heard.
"I've not got heads for the other departments. I really am looking to hire more people. Neville was my first employee and my second was Dean Thomas. He has however gone on to another job he thinks he'll like better. I have time for one more question before the Goblins chase us off for blocking the door."
"What are some of the companies you own part of?"
"Weasley's Wheezes, Puddlemere United and Bolt Broom Company." When he finished several goblins came from the bank and insisted they all move on.
Harry pulled out his portkey and the group left in a swirl of color. Upon landing the three of them broke out into gales of laughter. It took several minutes before they could recover enough to talk.
"That went way better that any press conference could have gone." Harry cackled, "Remind me to thank George for his muggleborn yells. Hopefully that will let them know we'll hire qualified people not just certain people. Daphne you are a genius."
"Of course I am." She grinned, "Now if we could just get you a bit more civilized you'd fit in even a pureblood circle."
"No that's what you and Nev are for. I'm not becoming a social butterfly." Harry shook his head in disagreement, "I planning on being one of those eccentric people who can get away with being rude because I'm so rich and powerful."
"That's horrible." Daphne frowned.
"It is but he can get away with it." Neville laughed.
"Master Harry, Minister Shacklebolt is here to see you." Kreacher entered the library with the man behind him.
"Minister." Harry stood and shook his hand.
"What happened to being that weird rude guy?" Daphne asked in a huff.
"I don't have anything rude to say to him yet." Harry shrugged and offered the man a seat and some tea.
"I'm not going to even ask about that." Kingsley shook his head, "Instead I'm going to ask what happened in the alley today?"
"Which part?" Neville asked.
"All of them." He stated.
Harry, Daphne and Neville explained everything from the time they entered the alley, through the attack and conversation with George, and then wrapped up with the press attack at the end. They had Kingsley laughing along with them by the time they finished.
"Only you Harry." Kingsley shook his head humor evident in his voice.
"What?" Harry almost whined.
"I try to tell him the same thing." Neville grinned at Harry's helpless look, "Any news on the attackers?"
"The aurors arrived while you were talking to George. They didn't even bother to ask you what happened since you've been attacked so often." Kingsley frowned, "They did question those who were around so I was wondering, what were you laughing at?"
"Daphne." Harry pointed an accusing finger at the girl who was snickering, "She refused to take her third of the attackers. I tried to get them to take fifty each leaving me the fifty in the middle and she said she'd only take ten and leave the rest to me."
"Were there that many?" he asked.
"No I don't think so." Harry yawned, "I think really there was like fifty or so there."
"Well during questioning, the three you stunned said that it was closer to sixty." Kingsley informed them, "We also found that the person paying them all off is a female."
"Any jilted lovers Harry?" Daphne questioned with a smirk.
"No." Harry answered her with a faked frown, "I only dated Parvati, Cho and Ginny."
"Luna." Neville added, "You took her to that Christmas party of Slughorns."
"But we just went as friends." Harry waved him off.
"It's more likely to be someone who wanted to date you that you ignored or told no." Kingsley offered.
"That's the rest of the girls at Hogwarts." Daphne grinned cheekily, "Even Pansy wanted at least one date with him."
"I do not need that mental image." Harry cringed.
"At least they've narrowed it down to only half the population." Neville tried to hide his laughter at Harry's sour face.
"Thanks Nev, that makes me feel a thousand times better." Harry faked a grimace before he joined the laughter.
"We have narrowed it down a bit farther than that." Kingsley added, "But we'll let you know when we have more."
"Have you considered it to be Granger or Weaslett?" Daphne got serious.
"We have. We're keeping an eye on both of them and we are pretty sure we can rule them out." The man nodded, "However we are continuing to keep them under observation."
"I don't think you have to worry about Ginny." Harry offered, "She didn't want to date me. She was right ticked when they tried to force her to marry me by sticking her with those rings."
"Harry." Daphne paused not really wanting to add to what he'd already suffered, "Unless she said that under veritaserum I wouldn't believe it. She could have been faking that anger to have something to hold over you for years. She could have used that to control you and bleed you dry."
"She's right." Neville admitted, "It's very possible. She's as good as the twins at acting innocent when she most definitely is not. I was witness to it several times our seventh year."
"I wouldn't have let her…" Harry tried to start.
"If you thought she had been forced into marriage the same as you, you would have tried to make her as comfortable as possible, no matter the expense." Daphne placed a hand on his arm, "You care a lot about people who you see as victims. She could have bled you dry."
"You're right." Harry finally sagged, "I don't want to believe my friend could do that. I know I would never do that to anyone so I don't think anyone would do it to me."
"That's what I'm for." Daphne smile lightly, "I watch for those people trying to use you and I block them from doing so. You are a sucker for a sob story and I make them prove it. Once we are assured they are in need then we help."
"Thank you." He sighed and patted her hand that was still on his arm, "What did I do to deserve you?"
"You saved me from a horrible life as some stupid idiot's wife." She smiled, "Mother made Father make a vow to wait to sign any marriage contracts until I finished Hogwarts. I insisted that he include that if I had a job where I could support myself he couldn't sign one."
"But you were of age." Harry frowned.
"I can tell you this, he was not happy to lose the payment on that contract." She smiled, "I was just glad we had an extra year. I was worried all last year when there were no jobs to be had anywhere. When I found out about your company I was really hoping I could get something in potions. But this job is much better. So thank you.