Bit of a gap in postings, I know. Didn't forget about my hobby, just had family trouble and couldn't concentrate. My Mother was diagnosed with dementia a few months ago and was in and out of the hospital lately. Finally home just 2 weeks ago, I had to rush her back where she was also found to also have COVID. That was just the last straw. And she was just in that wrong demographic. Age 80, asthma. You know it's bad news when the phone rings at 6am. Bye Mom 💔
[a/n] This is from a cameron1812 review of chapter 27 "...and had Harry bring pureblood friends just post war for an outing in muggle London..." I needed to do something light.
Harry Does Different CDLXXIa
Pureblood Tourism
"How was the shift Harry?" the desk sergeant greeted the DMLE's most famousest of aurors.
Although the redhead was technically his superior and he liked her well enough, she was strictly an administrator and no older besides. They'd been on a firstname basis for nearly a decade "Rather slow, Sue, I - - -"
"Merlin Potter! How can you be so cheery?!" a dark-skinned solidly built auror complained. "Come on Bones! Let a man who really worked get home to his witch!"
Harry rolled his eyes "Oh please. Your day wasn't any harder than mine, Zabini. A couple attempted thefts at most. On a real exciting day, MAYBE a couple spells exchanged. Compared to a Muggle bobbie we got it easy. Well, outside of the Battle of Hogwarts. Where were you?"
"How dare you!?" the offended auror snarled.
Susan got between the posturing males "Blaise cool it! Harry, he has a point. I once saw a report Auntie had. There must be ten times the number of Muggle aurors.
"I'd actually guess about a thousand." Agreed Harry amiably enough, then "And that'd be great if Muggles didn't outnumber us at least 10,000 : 1."
Blaise snorted in disbelief "There's not enough room on the planet. They'd almost have to stand shoulder to shoulder."
"Have you been to London?" asked Harry with growing incredulity.
Susan interjected "It's the seat of government. Of course. The atrium has hundreds flooing in and out almost all day."
"I know. There's an underground station within walking distance that makes it look like the Great Hall during Christmas hols. And a grocery store. ONE store that's as busy as Diagon Alley in August." Just by their expressions he knew they didn't believe. With an eyeroll he suggested "Why don't we just visit London?"
To this, both were agreeable, though causing another eyeroll, the former Slytherin quipped "Sure I got an hour to spare. Worth just hearing your Weaselette's response to you having a date with another redhead."
Abcij
"So to your way of thinking, Blaise, London may be a bit larger than Hogsmeade?" asked Harry as the trio were making their way from the floo chamber to the outside world. "And you, Sue? Didn't Amelia ever tell you about Muggles?"
Excusing herself after a near collision, the redhead shrugged "Auntie never talked in detail about cases. You know the rules. And I just never had much interest in Muggles."
"I don't know how many we could see, but I know The Shard is …ahhh 300 meters… err, 900 feet or so. The Gherkin is my favorite. Picture a 600 foot tall Bludger. I think there's 50 over 500 feet." Harry explained allowing his companions to exit the Ministry first "Any of them has thousands of people inside."
Susan giggled remarking "Quidditch on the brain."
"Impossible, they don't have magic to keep them standing." Blaise scoffed at the notion "Remember the World Cup before Fourth?"
Harry just quipped "You'll see. This way. Don't know about you Zabini, but I thought Susan would be impressed by Harvey Nichols. Oh, and by the way, Ginny wholeheartedly approved of some Purebloods seeing the outside world. I doubt either of you have pounds, but I keep a few hundred in my desk all the time. Feel free to pick something out and you can repay me later. Ah! Here we are. Oxford St and House of Fraser."
"It's huge!" exclaimed Susan as she walked through an automatically opening door "And how do they do that?"
To this, Harry quipped "That could be taken a lot of ways. Especially to a bloke."
"Sir should be more attentive to the fairer sex." A uniformed man scolded, then introduced himself "Noah is my name and how may I direct you this evening?"
Harry waved dismissively "She's heard worse. We're police officers. Off duty that is. How about a little information? My companions are transfers from a small town in Scotland."
"Well, the company has changed hands a few times since founding back in 1850." The brief lecture began "After the World Wars, we branched out and now sell many products, like Clothing, footwear, cosmetics, jewelry, perfume, toys. Madam looks especially lovely, but could always use a touch-up." He wrapped Susan's arm in his and escorted the trio.
The undercover magical was awed by the counter display "Wow! Just wow! So much to choose from! That smells excellent."
"Go on, Sue. I can cover a big bottle of the stuff." Said Harry with a permissive wave "You can pay me back at the office."
With a touch of condescension, Noah interjected "Sir is less than chivalrous. A lady should never pay for her adornments."
"Yeah Potter." Quipped Blaise with a light elbow "You heard what the salesman said."
Harry didn't miss a beat "Says the guy who isn't married, Blaise. And sir, perhaps your wife is okay with you buying personal gifts for other women. But …ahh… let's say mine can be a bit of a witch at times." He hid a laugh at the magicals' stiffening at the seeming violation and queried "How much, Noah?"
The cash register pinged and beeped as the employee pushed buttons "GBP92 p72 plus tax comes to GBP130 p25, please."
"Just a last question." Harry began as money changed hands "About how many people work here?"
After passing over the item and receipt, the man tapped his teeth a few times in thought, then "Welllllllllll, I would not be allowed to give exact numbers ….even if I knew them… but, considering everyone, all shifts, not quite a thousand. For the company as a whole, that's public, about 20,000."
Abcij
"I forget, what's the conversion from rate from Muggle money to Galleons?" asked Susan in muted tones, as they left the store.
Harry gave the bottle she held a speculative look then answered "I'd say that comes in at about 25 Galleons. I'd need a quill and paper to work it out. Or if we can find a Ravenclaw on duty who can do it in his head."
"Cheap stuff then." The former Slytherin was not impressed.
The former Hufflepuff sniffed in offense "I can assure you, Zabini, I have quite refined tastes. And this is a quality scent. Easily worth ten times what we just paid. Makes me feel like a thief!"
"That clerk was clearly a liar." Declared Blaise "No one company has that many employees. Ridiculous!"
First to the witch, he said "No worries, Sue. Muggles call it mass production. We didn't steal a thing." Then to the wizard "Use those investigative skills, Zabini. What's your theory as to a motive? Now if you both want to impress me, make your way back to the Ministry without me. And without apparating. Bye!" Then Harry stepped off the sidewalk between two parked cars and vanished with a pop..