Chapter 3

Tightening the Screws

A/N: This chapter takes place directly after Chapter 26 of 'He Did it His Way'.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Office of the Headmistress

"Well," said Harry, "I think that this is about the best that we can hope for at this time. It takes in all of the salient points of your Manifesto. I will warn you though, by presenting it as a single package, it stands a good chance of being shot down. Are you sure that you don't want to present it in separate bills? It would make a lot more sense to get some through now and the rest later instead of the whole thing going down the tubes."

"Harry," said Hermione, "we expect it to be rejected, and have factored that into our plans. When you are going to dock a horse's tail, you do it no favor to whack it off an inch at a time. If we try to get our rights a bit at a time, the Wizengamot will give us just enough to keep us under their yoke. It could take another two or three hundred years to get it all enacted otherwise. Try your best to get support, we are not fooling ourselves thinking it will actually pass, but we will be able to show who our real enemies are."

"Okay, I will work the dorm and wait until your Manifesto is posted throughout Britain. After that, I will introduce it into the Wizengamot."

"Thanks Harry, that's all we ask."

"Minerva, could you speak with the Minister and try to get his support?"

"I believe that could be arranged."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Noble's Dorm

"Harry, there is no bloody way that I can vote for that piece of offal!" Robert Avery was in a meltdown. He was one of the few Nobles who had planned on taking Voldemort's mark prior to the Goblin attack that wiped out the former heads of the seven dark Noble families. "You and Draco told me when I went along with you and rejected the Dark Lord that I wouldn't have to give up my ideals. Now you're asking me to do just that."

"And what ideals would those be?" Harry lifted an eyebrow. "Voldemort was killing off just as many purebloods as he was mixed bloods. Remember, he is a half blood himself."

"I know, and that is one reason I went along with you. I still believe that purebloods should be the rulers of Magical Britain. I might go along with some parts such as the taxation, but we are pureblood for a reason. It is our destiny!" Crabbe and Goyle nodded their heads in agreement.

"Harry, you can count on my vote," stated Neville Longbottom firmly. "Don't get me wrong, I like the perks I have, but I also don't want to keep an oligarchy that gives rise to a new dark lord every 30 or 40 years. Our land has been torn by war for far too long."

"Thanks Neville, how about you, Draco?"

"What do you think? I'm going to wait to see how the voting goes. I'll pass on the first vote, if it looks like it is going down in flames, then I'll vote for it. I don't particularly want it to pass, but I also believe that it may end up in an uprising. If that happens, what we have now is going to disappear anyway, and I will want the winning side to remember that I didn't oppose them. If it appears to have the votes without me to pass, something I doubt, I will vote against it to keep my credibility in this new 'House of Lords'."

"Daphne?"

"It wouldn't look very good for me to vote against my husband, would it? I'm in, but don't embarrass me."

"Theo?"

"I'm with Draco on this one."

"Pansy, how about you?"

"I've spent too many years as the pureblood princess to change now. I appreciate all you have done for my family, but I can't go along with you on this one."

"I'm sure my brother will vote against it," said Jennifer. "He just took over the House, I don't see him doing anything to dilute what power and influence he has gathered."

"I thought that might be the case. Look, you guys who are voting against it, as much as I would like you to change your mind, if this doesn't pass, it will be out of our hands anyway. They won't wait for us to give them their rights, they will probably take them. I just hope that we can survive a civil war as well as Voldemort's terrorists."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

That night, a parchment entitled 'The Mudblood Manifesto' was delivered to every magical person in Britain. In some households, there was outrage, but in many more, a spark of defiance was lit.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Mudblood Act Goes Down to Defeat!"

Potter's Posse Evenly Split!

Exclusive to The Daily Prophet

Staff Writer Mirabella Waverly

Yesterday, in a defeat for the Founder's Heirs, a bill introduced by Lord Hufflepuff, Harry Potter-Black, and supported by no less than Lord Gryffindor, Arthur Weasley, and Lady Ravenclaw, Minerva McGonagall, lost in a lopsided vote in the Wizengamot. The bill would have enacted the key provisions of the so-called Mudblood Manifesto, a document that was spread throughout Britain the evening prior to the session. Despite such people as Lords Malfoy, Nott, Longbottom, and Lady Greengrass voting in favor, Lord Hufflepuff's formerly solid coalition split, with several members sponsored by or previously allied with Lord Hufflepuff deserting his camp to vote in favor of the status quo.

Minister of Magic Amos Diggory was heard to comment, "too much, too soon." Lady Ravenclaw brought up the shrinking enrollment at Hogwarts and the fact that without muggleborn and mixed blood students, the facility would be required to close its doors, all to no avail. Lord Gryffindor, a longtime supporter of muggles and muggleborn, stated that he "was fearful for the future of Wizarding Britain", since so many muggleborn and mixed bloods were emigrating to other countries following graduation from Hogwarts.

In other action, a hastily inked bill requiring Hogwarts graduates to remain in Britain at least fourteen years after graduation was narrowly defeated when the alliances shifted again. A bill establishing a head tax to recoup lost revenue from people leaving Britain was passed by a very narrow margin. There was an amendment to the bill that exempted all persons who could show a wizarding genealogy going back at least two generations. The Potter-Black bloc voted against both of these bills, with Lord Avery abstaining.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The Leaky Cauldron

London

Amos Diggory and his wife stepped through the door at the Leaky Cauldron, intending to do a day of shopping in Diagon Alley. He never noticed how the conversation stopped upon his entrance. "Just passing through, Tom," he said pleasantly.

"Hold on a minute, Guv'nor," said Tom firmly. "There is a two Galleon charge for purebloods who want to access the Alley through here. Half bloods are one knut and muggleborns free. I need that up front, and return trips are half of that."

"That's outrageous! How do you justify charging like that?"

"Probably the same way that you justify taxing us without representation. 'From those with the ability, to those with needs'. Now either pay up or find some other way in."

"How would you like the Ministry to revoke your license?"

"Go ahead, I'll seal the entrance and sell out to muggles. I have had offers."

Diggory saw that he was in unfriendly territory, so, grumbling, he took four galleons out of his pocket and tossed them onto the bar. As he headed toward the back, Tom laughingly reminded him to save two galleons for the return trip. When he reached the access point, he saw, written on the bricks, "No taxation without representation!" He tried to clear it off but whoever emblazoned it on the bricks had charmed it to be resistant to cleaning efforts. Tapping the bricks with his wand, the access point opened and he and his wife entered the Alley.

"Where are you going first, dear?"

"I'm going over to the apothecary, then to put in a grocery order to be delivered, and you?"

"I need a couple of new robes. Meet me at the ice cream parlour?" His wife agreed, then gave him a peck on the cheek.

As the Minister walked toward Madam Maulkin's, he took notice of his surroundings. In what seemed to be every shop window, was a banner with "No Taxation Without Representation!" Along side that banner was a small parchment, the Mudblood Manifesto. He snorted, 'Let's see how brazen they are when I issue a new regulation on window content', he thought.

Stepping into the robe shop, he saw that there were a couple of people waiting. He took a seat and a number. When the person ahead of him was finished, the shop owner beckoned a couple who had entered after him. "Excuse me, I was here first," he said.

Madam Maulkin gave Diggory a glare that would have frozen a volcano. "Your money is no good in here," she stated. "Please leave."

"I've been doing business in here for 45 years," he sputtered. In reply, she pointed toward a pair of signs on the wall. One was a muggle sign reading, 'We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone', and the other was a hastily scrawled sign reading 'Dogs and Purebloods, KEEP OUT!'

"We don't want your kind in here!" she spat. "Now take your 'too much, too soon' arse out of my shop." Turning toward the other customers, a muggleborn witch who worked for the Daily Prophet and her husband, a half blood Quiddich coach, she purred, "Now dears, where were we?"

Diggory left, but found the same reception at every shop he visited. When he met his wife at the ice cream parlour, she was sobbing. "I couldn't get served anywhere! The grocer even told someone's elf that he wouldn't sell to them because they were bound to a pureblood, and when I asked how I could buy food, he rudely told me to either grow my own or go deal with muggle grocers! What are we going to do?"

"I'm going to nip this in the bud," he growled. "I'm going to call a session of the Wizengamot and get a law passed that says that they either sell to anyone, or they get fined. Let's see how high and mighty they are after that! Damned mudbloods!" Diggory heard his wife start and looked up. There were no less that six wands pointed at him, one of them the owner of the ice cream parlour.

"I just heard you insult myself, my wife and my staff. I'll tell you what, if you are so eager to be served, I'll make it on the house." He then levitated two large, four litre containers of rocky road ice cream over the Minister and his wife, then upended them, causing the melted ice cream to dump over both of them. "Now, get your solid gold pureblood arse out of my establishment and DON'T COME BACK!" He screamed the last bit and the other five wand holders began sending sparks at the Minister and his wife, causing them to jump up and run. They ran all the way to the Leaky Cauldron, where a pair of angry gatekeepers collected their two galleons before allowing them to use the portal out of the Alley.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Ministry of Magic

Wizengamot Chambers

Harry, along with the other members of the Noble's Dorm, and Minerva McGonagall, arrived breathlessly in the portkey area of the Wizengamot. From the number of shocks on their rings, they thought it safe to assume that Britain and the Ministry were under attack. They arrived with wands out to see a flustered gatekeeper letting in a large group of members including the Minister. The Minister must have been in an awful hurry, Harry surmised, since he had what appeared to be chocolate ice cream stains on his robe. Everyone hurried in and took their seats.

"Oyez, oyez! This special session of the Wizengamot, called by the Minister of Magic and thirty seven other members, is now in session! Chief Warlock Zabini officiating!"

"So Amos, why are we down here? Has You-Know-Who launched another attack?" asked Zabini. "Not that I mind getting out of the house…. My wife was bending my ear pretty bad. Seems she had a bad shopping day, not quite sure what the problem was, she was hysterical at the time…. Where was I? Oh yes, why are we here?"

"The shopkeepers are revolting!"

"Oh, I wouldn't go quite that far, I mean Olivander is pretty creepy, but most of them aren't too scary."

"Chief Warlock, what I am trying to say is that since our vote on that damned bill by Lord Hufflepuff, the shopkeepers are refusing to serve Purebloods! Not only did my wife and I barely escape with our lives from Diagon Alley, even the Hogsmeade shopkeepers have banned Purebloods from their premises. And the Leaky Cauldron is charging two galleons a head for Purebloods to access the Alley while letting Muggleborn in free and only charging one knut for mixed bloods. I lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of Lord Hufflepuff with his rabble rousing bill designed to incite the masses!"

"Whoa, hold on there, Amos," said Harry. "This situation was at a head before I introduced that legislation. We gave you the opportunity to do the right thing and you blew us off. Now you want to hex the messenger? I warned you, Lady Ravenclaw and Lord Gryffindor warned you. You have sown the wind, now we shall all reap the whirlwind!"

"Yes Amos," interjected Minerva, "This body was presented with reforms that would have done nothing more than guarantee basic human rights, but in its wisdom decided that most of our population not only did not deserve such rights as representation in government before they were taxed farther, but attempted to bind them further into servitude and managed to tax them even more! I for one, happen to agree with them, and will fight any effort to take away any more of their freedoms."

In the end, despite the opposition of most of the Posse, the Minister got his way and an emergency bill was passed ordering all businesses in magical shopping areas to serve all patrons, regardless of blood or social status, and declaring that anti-government publications were illegal. Harry left them with a warning.

"Amos, you have just become the very person you replaced. I suggest that you find a smart muggleborn and ask them about the outcome of the French Revolution. If the members here continue on this path, pitting yourselves against a much larger population, it might be wise to begin purchasing your shirts with solid steel collars."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

FF Development Ltd

London

Jasper Finch-Fletchley, majority owner and CEO of family owned FF Development, Ltd, was sitting in the boardroom of his company waiting for the other board members to arrive. He enjoyed the few minutes of quiet time prior to these meeting, a chance to enjoy a hot cup of tea and a biscuit or two while reading the agenda. Since his secretary knew he was not to be disturbed during this period, he was surprised when she stuck her head in the door and gave a gentle cough to get his attention.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Sorry to disturb you sir, but there is an owl sitting on your windowsill, pecking as if he wants to be let in. He seems to have some sort of paper tied to his leg."

"An owl, you say…. Dolly, let it in and go in my upper right drawer, there is a bag labeled 'Owl Treats'. Give him one and offer him a cup of water. Tell the owl that I will be in there in a moment to take the message. And Dolly, not a word about this to anyone, understand?"

"Y-yes, sir. Right away." Dolly recognized that tone. If she valued her job, she would not even tell her husband about this strange happening. She scurried back to Jasper's office. Crossing to the window, she opened it to allow the large eagle owl into the office. The bird perched on Jasper's chair and regally held out its leg.

"Mr. Finch-Fletchley will be in momentarily to take your message." Dolly felt somewhat foolish talking to the beast, but it seemed to understand and pulled its leg back in. She reached in the desk drawer, found the owl treats and offered the bird one. It gave a delighted hoot and gently took the treat from her. She then got a teacup and, after filling it with water, placed it in front of the bird. He bobbed his head and began to drink. Just then, her employer entered.

"Ah Dolly, I see that you have seen to our guest." The owl held out his leg and Jasper took the message from it. "It is from my son, he is attending an academy for gifted students, they have trained these birds somewhat like carrier pigeons." The owl gave an angry hoot, insulted to be compared to such a lowly bird. Jasper leaned over and whispered to it. "Play along, she doesn't know about you and it will be worth another treat." The owl turned to look at Jasper, then slowly bobbed its head. "I can take it from here," he said, dismissing her. The owl glared at him expectantly. "Alright, here you go" Jasper passed the bird another owl treat, which the bird took. He bobbed his head to let Jasper know that the slight would not be forgotten.

Jasper took a penknife and slit the envelope open, took out the letter and began reading. He furrowed his brow, then a smile began to grow on his face. He quickly jotted down a note, then attached it to the owl's leg. "Have you rested enough to return?" The owl bobbed its head and flew out through the open window, glad to be quit of this insulting human. Crossing to the intercom, he hit the switch to his secretary. "Have records bring up everything on that Pitcairn Shopping Mall. It is that white elephant that we have been unable to unload. I want it on my desk by the time the board meeting is finished." Yes, this could turn out to be a profitable day after all.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Diagon Alley

London

Owls began arriving at each shop in the Alley bearing the edict from the Wizengamot. Once the shopkeepers read the notices, there was a spate of floo calls between businesses. One at a time, the stores began to close, the shopkeepers placing signs on the windows reading, "Closed for Remodeling." After the last patron had left, Tom at the Leaky Cauldron called the Weasley twins and together, they sealed shut the portal to the Alley from the pub. Then they locked and sealed the front of the pub and placed various wheezes set to make anyone who dared breech the doors eternally sorry. As a last measure, Tom placed a sign reading 'Gone Fishing' on the front door, then left to go home for a while.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

The Great Hall

Two days later

Harry, having just finished a grueling DADA session with Professor Tashimoto, had just sat down to what he thought would be a peaceful lunch, when Justin Finch-Fletchley sat down in the seat next to him. He wasted no time getting to the point.

"Harry, you know that my family members are all muggle businessmen, don't you?" At Harry's nod, he continued. "The whole situation with the shopkeepers escalated a lot faster than we thought it would. Every magical shop in Britain, save Olivander's, is closed, on strike, over that last bit of repression from the Wizengamot. Now we have made it clear to everyone that you are one of the good guys, but many of the same people who voted to keep the shopkeepers under their thumbs were the same people who own the shops and rent them for outrageous prices."

"What do you think I can do about it? Even with Lady Ravenclaw, Lord Gryffindor, and my coalition, we were shot down in flames. I sometimes wonder if it is worth fighting Voldemort when so many people think just like him. Don't get me wrong, I support your uprising, I hope that every reform I introduced goes through. I am just at a loss as to what I should do next."

"That's what I wanted to speak with you about." Justin placed a large folder on the table. "I was wondering if you could get me in to see some smart goblins about a business proposition…."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Gringotts Bank

Flickaxe's Office

"Flickaxe, I am glad that you could see me on such a short notice. I would like to introduce you to Mr. Justin Finch-Fletchley."

Justin gave a bow. "Account Manager Flickaxe, it is a pleasure to meet you. May your vaults overflow with gold and may your enemies end up as appetizers." Justin stretched out his hand and the two shook.

"Lord Hufflepuff, I see that your friend has very good manners." Turning to Justin, he looked him over. "Justin Finch-Fletchley, heir to the muggle FF Development Ltd?"

"Why yes, I am surprised that you have heard of us."

Flickaxe grinned. "Heard of you? Lad, the minor stake that Gringotts has in FF Development is one of our best paying enterprises. And the way that your father conducts business is worthy of Goblinkind. Are you sure that you don't have some goblin in your background?"

"I don't believe so, although we have always wondered a bit about my Aunt Bernice." Flickaxe roared with laughter.

"I think that I could get to like you. Now, what can I do for my account holder and his friend?"

"You know about the shopkeeper's rebellion, I assume?"

Flickaxe's face darkened. "I certainly do. It has been very bad for business. We have had to open the direct floo up into the bank since Diagon Alley's access point has been sealed. The Board is planning to explore what can be done about it, although threatening shopkeepers to force them back to work is probably not in our best interest. That is what the Ministry is trying to get us to do."

Justin smiled. "How would you like it if the stalemate could be broken and the Goblin nation could put the screws to the Wizarding government at the same time?"

"Okay, you have my undivided attention."

Justin pulled out the folder he had shown Harry. Harry poured a cup of tea, this was going to take a while. Justin showed Flickaxe the photos and specifications for the shopping mall, then went over his financing plans that would enable the shopkeepers to purchase their own shops while paying a small 'Association Fee' to the goblins who would own the complex itself. In return, the goblins would maintain the complex, provide security, and maintain a branch office of Gringotts for banking convenience. As he spoke, Flickaxe became more enthused. This could earn him a spot on the Board if it was successful! Flickaxe turned to Harry.

"What are your feelings on this, Lord Hufflepuff?"

"If the Goblins don't go for it, I will. With Old Line Protections, I can keep the Ministry out of it since I would own the complex. I would also make a fortune on selling the stores to the shopkeepers. I would certainly give Gringotts a good price so they could open a branch in the new hub of wizarding commerce. I brought Justin here as a sign of my respect to the Goblin nation. You have been excellent stewards of my money, I believe that you should be offered first right of refusal. Flickaxe, these people are in the same position as Goblinkind has been in for centuries. There is a wizarding government doing its best to hold them in servitude. They are looked down on and mistreated, but, just like the Goblins, they hold the wizarding economy in their hands. I believe that you have common interests."

"So, if the Board goes for this, what do you get out of it?"

"Either a finder's fee, or I can invest as a partner. I can open "Potter Property Management", sell and finance the stores. The opportunity to charge small amounts of interest on the loans would be a good steady conservative cash flow to my vaults." Harry knew that if he was not getting something out of the deal, the Goblins on the board would be suspicious and look down on him as a foolish wizard.

"This sounds acceptable to me, I will call a board meeting and present it tomorrow. Wish me luck, gentlewizards. If all goes well, I will owl you tomorrow evening."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

It was a hard sell to the Board, but within a week, FF Development, Ltd had unloaded the vacant shopping mall at a fire sale price to the Goblin Nation, which made the property disappear from muggle maps and records. Shops in Diagon Alley which had borne 'Closed for Remodeling' signs were now vacant with signs that read 'Moved to new Location, See Gringotts for details. The Leaky Cauldron closed as a pub, the property sold to the Ministry as an access point only, while Tom opened 'The Cauldron II' in the new mall. Tom upgraded his new facility to include a four star wizarding restaurant and a nightclub with live music and dancing.

Because of the political situation, shops still refused service to most purebloods, in fact there were wards banning certain people from accessing the floo and apparition points. Purebloods who sympathized with the movement were allowed in and were served, but the majority of the Wizengamot members and their families were forced to disguise themselves as muggles in order to purchase the necessities of life in the muggle world. Many Hogsmeade stores reopened, grudgingly selling the bare necessities to purebloods at wildly inflated prices, but each store having a floo access point to their counterpart stores in the new Liberty Mall, where a full selection of goods at reasonable prices could be had. These stores, of course, were not accessible to wrong thinking purebloods, but the majority of the wizarding world was very happy with the new arrangement.

Since the Mall itself was a wholly owned enterprise of the Goblin Nation, the Ministry could not enforce their edicts on the premises, in fact, Ministry enforcement personnel were barred access. The wizarding world settled down into what promised to be a long economic war.

Harry received his finder's fee and a permanent portkey into the new mall.

Life was good.