At the counter of the Bank, Harry pulled 500 Galleon coins, and twice that in Pound notes. As he stepped back from the counter, he offered his now custom farewell to the Teller. "Good day. The Gold must Flow."
The goblins in hearing range responded with "the gold must flow."
On the steps, Sue snuggled up to his arm. "What was that?"
"A Book, American Muggle I believe, had as a plot device, a substance called Spice. It did things to the Human mind and body in large amounts. But many things their Society needed, required Spice to be available to the masses… and so it must flow. Gold is the base of Wizard Society… hence the Gold must Flow." Two steps in silence, "I quoted it to my Account Managers… and they repeated it back."
"And the Gold must Flow." Sue nodded. "You are not going to find the best books on Wizard Society Marriage Law and Customs at Flourish and Blotts. You are going to want to go to … an estate retailer."
"And I know just the Shop. And he has done business with me in the past. But it is in a shady part of the Alley. You up to walking on the Dark Side? You are safe… but that's all I can promise."
Tonks sighed, before she shifted to her street rat persona. "If Bonesy fires me, I live in the Townhouse… gratis."
"Of course… Miss N. Black." Harry smiled as he made sure Blackthorn was free. He led the Witches into the Shadows of Knockturn Alley.
The lurkers perked up as the young Lord and the busty redhead walked by… but one of the regulars recognised him and waved the others off…
But one 'hungry' youngster decided to try his luck.
"Your money pouch or the fuck-toy gets hurt."
"Oh you stupid stupid idiot." Sue released Harry's arm. "Had you asked, we might have given you a few coin. But you attempted an armed holdup. He now has to hurt you or he will be seen as weak." She took two steps to Harry's left. "But then you threatened me." Susan looked at Harry. "Leave him alive."
"Yes… Mistress." And the eleven stone wizard became a thirty stone beast of teeth and fur. He ripped the arm holding the wand, arm not hand, off the mugger, crushed the male's stones under foot and twisted. He returned to human form and began to rinse his mouth out. "Gahh! That's nastier than Poppy's Potions."
"Good doggy." Sue cooed, as she returned to holding his arm.
Quickly Potter and company found themselves outside Burke's. Tonks cleared her throat and glared at the Wizard.
"No doubt that She will tell your aunt where we went today, and what we did." Harry opened the door and allowed them to enter. "But considering that I was involved in three Auror related events last week I can understand why Aunty is watching me and us. I am surprised that we only have the one watch dog."
"Less paperwork." Tonks sneered as she followed the lad to the counter. "With just me, she only has to read and file one report. Versus the number of other guards. Odds are the number of dead bodies will not change. My job is to get the girl to the side, shield, and watch you butcher everyone not wearing a red robe."
"I can live with that." Harry turned to look at the huddled wizard behind the counter. "Good day. I was told that your store would be the best place to find books on Wizard Society Marriage, Law, and Customs. I am looking for the books that the pureblood use to teach their children. I am looking for everything you have. Not including duplicates."
"My Lord." The Shop-wizard bobbed his head. "So good of you to return. The necklace was runed by the Goblin Nation as a trapped gift. I decided to see if I could sell it to the Bank… the Goblin that I deal with saw it and offered three times what I had thought to ask for." The yellow toothed grin reminded Harry to keep up his dental charm work. "How can we help you? Books you say…" the man scuttled into the racks and started to mutter to himself.
"Okay ladies. Look around. If you find something that strikes your fancy, call out, but do not touch." Harry wondered off.
Twenty minutes later Burke had a small stack of the books Harry had requested. He had followed and showed the group the things that caught their attention.
Tonks found three sets of manacles, runed D shaped iron, she practiced opening and closing the cuffs before having them added to the shopping. They were 'Fairy Hunting' cuffs that someone had altered for bedroom games. They could even hold a werewolf.
Sue found a Parasol that could hold a wand in the base. Harry had used Yew to test it. He nodded, before retrieving Yew and having Burke add it to the Parasol to the items that they were buying.
A few minutes later Harry declared that they were finished shopping here… for now.
"And How is Your Malfoy problem these days?" Harry smiled as the hunched Shop-wizard rang up the purchase.
"Haven't seen him this week, but I have heard through the rumour circuit that he is planning on doing a runner."
"Oh… and no doubt that you can get word to the Circuit that Heir Black would like a word with Mister Malfoy should he jump English Borders. We might even be willing to forgive any debts. Of course he needs to be alive and either have all his digits… or be able to regrow them."
"My Lord." The hunched man's grin was not pretty…
Keeping the cuffs and parasol, Harry had Dobby take everything else to his room.
Tonks quickly pocketed the cuffs, the manicules. The Parasol was under Susan's left arm.
Quickly they were at the back alley to Benkin's shop.
"Mister Black. You would think that you are working on commission here." The small whipcorded wizard smiled at the Lad.
"Yeah… about that… I think I will need three wands after today… maybe four."
"Oh?"
"My Betrothed." Harry turned to smile at Sue. "Her … baton is going to be a bit different. Beloved, show him your new item."
Susan set the Parasol on the counter.
"Ladies Parasol, wand concealer." Running his fingers through the folds of silk, "Arachne woven silk, whale bone vanes, runed, and inlaid, whale bone shaft… scrimshaw, silver, and mother of pearl design covering the runes of the core shaft."
He looked at the two, "Where did you get this?"
"Borges and Burke's. It was in an umbrella stand. I thought my redheaded love, here, could use a sunshade… and being acquainted with Malfoy's walking stick…" Harry shrugged. "Tried it with my Yew wand. A simple light spell… and the tip lit up…"
"It's more than a simple sunshade. It can shield against minor hexes and jinxes. A disarming hex can be blocked. Not knowing what the muggle weapons are capable of these days … but a knife or light sword should be rebuffed and a repair charm should fix up any damage."
He squinted at the couple. "Would you be willing to sell it?"
"No… but I would be willing to allow you to borrow it, if Burke doesn't have any others." Sue smiled her dazzling smile at the man. "now… my second bespoke… baton will need to mess perfectly with the parasol, scrimshaw and all. That's the price I demand for you studying it as you copy it. I will need it back the week before September First. Sugerbear here will be getting me a bespoke wand, a wrist cuff, and a hip holster."
"I can live with that." He looked at Potter. "Is she the one that the bassinet is for?"
Harry ignored the raised eyebrow that both Witches aimed at him. "No… but she might be in the other side. I think she can ride pretty well… for a non Quidditch player."
POMP
Susan returned from the back room thirty minutes later, with a smug smile and adjusted her new wand cuff.
"Your smile makes me both want to ask what you have up your sleeve, and afraid to know." Harry stepped close and kissed her cheek.
"Yeah… well none of the wood samples he had worked for me, but he had an alternative… material. I also had him work the House Bones crest into the hilt, effectively making it a House Bones artifact."
"And so… until I say 'I do' I don't need to know. But you should tell your Aunt. Both for her protection and yours." He kissed her cheek again and turned back to the craft master. "And how are the other orders coming along?"
"Your Broom project is coming along quite nicely. Because I am using the Chest as the base as opposed to the broom, the runic array is easier to align, but the speed will be based on the power of the pilot's core."
Harry nodded as he grinned evilly. Only two wizards were stronger in England, one was trapped in the body of a baby, the other was a century old.
"And the other…"
"Soaking in peppermint as we speak." The man grinned. "I included a potion that causes it to expand with prolonged body heat contact."
"If you could include the volume to match size." Harry smiled like the car that ate the canary.
"Already done. On the thirtieth of August I am going to remove it from the peppermint potion and polish it to a high gloss. And I have already set up the delivery."
"So… What do I owe you?"
"That depends. The broom I am crafting … who owns the design?"
"Why?" Harry scratched his head.
"It will make taking the family out easier now that you can get everyone on one 'broom'. Plus your idea of it all collapsing into the chest or trunk would make it easier to carry and store. When you pick it up, everyone will know about it and then the broom companies will want to get the designs…"
"How about joint ownership." Sue smiled at the Wizards. "That way you need to be of one mind. You can't sell without the other's permission."
When she saw both men nod, "Most of the companies are going to want Harry Potter to endorse the broom as well…What?"
Benkin had gone pale and hit the wall behind him.
"Potter?" the small man simpered, "But you introduced yourself as Charon Black."
"I have been in to, or not to, buy at least three bespoke wands and wand cuffs. We are designing a new Family Friendly Broom, and you have an item that I custom ordered from you for my cousin. What makes you so afraid of me?"
"Your mother. Wait here." The banty bloke bolted for the backroom. Five minutes later he returned with a cherry red burl box. A cubic cubit coffer with gold inlaid filigree.
Harry stepped back and saw… A Stag and Doe under a Fool Moon with a hairy dog.
"Can't get it open. She had me include a lock with no key."
Harry smiled and placed his palm on the lip. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." A click was heard from the box. As Harry removed his hand, the box folded open to reveal a portable potions lab. On the small, six inch diameter Cauldron was a folded letter.
The letter lifted into the air. "Mr Benkin. You have delivered my box to my son. And he has opened it. This concludes your services. As promised, payment is the Plans for the Potter's Portable Potions Preparation Palanquin. Of course Harry will have the Originals with all my notes. Good Day, and Magic Bless." The letter unfolded like the Marauders Map displaying diagrams and equations… all written in a neat hand.
"I do believe that these are yours." Harry handed the pristine parchment to the man. "And I would like to order three 5-P boxes. One stained green with silver inlay, and the House Crest for Greengrass. One black oak, two silver does, nose to nose. And one… chestnut with gold vine inlay. The last one needs to be a bit bigger to hold two one inch books."
"Granger." Sue hissed. "But why is hers bigger? And I noticed that you didn't order me one."
"First, Granger loves to take notes. Using her muggle teachings, she will have two binders for her potion recipes and such. Second, Greengrass has a 'Mind Palace' and Snape brews by instinct. Makes him a great Potion Master, but a horrible Teacher." Harry took her hands, looked her in the eyes. "And lastly, I am not buying you a Christmas Gift with you standing right here. Besides…I was thinking that I need a few more days of knowing you before I double down on Red."
"Smooth." Tonks coughed.
"That was Greengrass, Snape, and Granger." Benkin was scribbling on his order pad. Due the week before Christmas and…" he looked up at the Lad, "would a simple tap of their wand do?"
"Yes, and include instructions for changing the lock. Snape and Greengrass are Slytherin." Harry leaned on the counter. "And so… what are we up to?"
"With your permission to use your name, and bragging rights that you commissioned another three from me… and you swear that I get first refusal to buy the Originals…"
"No can do on the last one. But I am not taking the courses needed to craft one… so I couldn't make one for another… six years … Minimum. The plans are a Potter-Evens Heirloom."
"A week before Christmas… You're planning on bringing at least one more witch in for a bespoke wand…"
"Three. Granger and the twins." Harry turned to look at Tonks… "and maybe four Wizards. The twin witches are of Indian Heritage. One is into fashion and the other is very… traditional."
"Give me until the First of August. I know of a focus that is high fashion and very traditional, but the… pieces are in India and I will need time to get them."
"Make the arrangements." Harry frowned at the man. "We will be in after the First. Having a birthday party and I might need a day to recover."
"Three more wands… retail?"
"The Gold must Flow." Sue and Tonks chorused.
"Done." Harry smiled at the man. "Send me an invoice when the Boxes are ready. I will leave you to your work and take my sexy witch out and spoil her."
Once back on the street of Knockturn Alley, Susan leaned out. "If you don't mind me asking, just how are you paying for all this?"
"Between the windfall from my end of year adventure from our second year, and the interest from not spending anything for fourteen years…" Harry smiled at her again. "After all…"
"The Gold must Flow!" They chorused.
Once back in Diagon Alley, Susan hit the Menagerie to buy dog grooming supplies. Harry grumbled but knew that care and upkeep of pets was half the fun.
Having her send the items to her home by Elf, he whisked the sunny redhead out into the busy streets of Muggle London.
"As it is, you are getting over-stimulated." Harry Potter kissed her cheek as he flagged down a cab. "And as I promised to take you and a friend out shopping later this summer… I thought I would let you and Tonks hit the women's floor as I go hunting for the item I promised your Elf."
"My Elf?" Sue played the scandaled lady. "My Lord, are trying to Corrupt my Elf?"
"No." Harry played the smug Lord. "If I was trying to Corrupt her, I would hogtie Dobby and throw him at her." He smirked, "Winky was very pleased with his service."
Tonks snorted.
At Harrods, Harry smiled at the older witch. "Keep it under one fifty…each." And he let them go. He followed the directory to the book section and whistled. "I now know where to go when Hermione gets angry with me."
He tracked down four cookbooks that he knew would interest Tully. He then tracked down Susan by the smell of her shampoo.
Big mistake.
The perfume counter was murder on his nose.
He found them in shoes.
"I knew you forgot something at the pet shop… chew toys."
TBC