Uncertainty

"Why do you need a loan?" Severus asked.

Miles took out a binder from the bag sitting beside him and laid it out on the table for them to see. "I want to run a hotel," the man said bluntly.

Severus studied the name on the binder, Cokey's & Railview, as he absorbed Miles's answer. "... a hotel?"

"A restaurant-hotel." Miles opened to the first page, which showed a layout of the building. "Dudley drew this out. We could combine both properties into one and turn the alley into an internal corridor leading out to the parking lot in the back. We can keep our regular clientele while also catering for guests." He pointed to the number at the top of the page. "This would be the final cost: the price of the hotel itself, plus renovations, plus a buffer zone to take care of inventory and bills for the first few months. Once we get the ball rolling, we should be able to pay you back."

"Isn't this number a bit low?"

"... it's Cokeworth, sir."

"I know that, but is this enough for food costs?"

"We won't need much money for utilities," Miles explained. "Dudley says we could use magic to keep the generator running, and he and Neville installed a vivarium down in the basement."

"A vivarium?"

"Yeah, to grow our produce. That'll cut down on expenses."

Severus thought over what had been said. "Are you certain this will be successful?" he asked carefully. "Cokeworth isn't where most people would think of going. Look at it now; it's barely holding itself together with how the Muggle economy's going."

"We're not advertising to Muggles."

Severus opened his mouth to speak but stopped. After a second, he said, "Go on."

"Marley talks about Muggle Studies a lot," Miles continued. "From what I've heard, she and Tori loved that class."

"Correct."

"Well, most of what she talks about is how she explained to everyone in class about Muggle culture, and everyone listened to her. I thought she'd like to do that as a career."

"Are you sure?"

Miles nodded.

"So... she would be a tour guide for wizarding tourists?"

"Right."

"In Cokeworth?"

"In Birmingham." Miles turned the page and showed a map of Birmingham, along with various sites of interest marked in pen, all connected by a line. "She could show them the sites and organize events for them all to do."

"And you would contribute by...?"

"Cooking meals and managing our finances. Or I could hire a manager and accountant."

"And do you believe you'd be secure with property taxes?"

Miles grinned wolfishly. "That's the thing: I've been in contact with the Muggle Liaison Office to get the property under wizarding rule."

Severus paused. "And?"

"Well, all I have to do is make Snarky a co-owner, and the property can't be taxed."

"I don't-"

"House-elves aren't counted as citizens in wizarding society, meaning any property they own or co-own can't be taxed. So, if Snarky's a co-owner, that cuts down on expense."

Severus remained still for a moment, processing the explanation. "... this is legal?"

Miles nodded. "And even if they change the laws, as our business would have to do with improving Muggle-Wizard relations, we could form a partnership with the Muggle Studies Department at Hogwarts or the Muggle Liaison Office itself."

"Then, you would be beholden to Ministry regulations."

"Only for the property. The tours Marley would be giving would be up to us."

"And you're sure that the wizarding community would be interested?" Severus didn't want to sound as though he didn't believe in the idea (although he didn't).

"I figured we could start by working with the Muggle Studies Department and arrange for students to stay the summer for school credit."

"For the whole summer?"

"I'd have to iron out the details a bit with Marley and Charity, but I think we could work it out."

"And how many students do you expect would be staying?"

"Well," Miles explained, gesturing to the hotel on the first page, "The Railview has eight rooms per floor (not counting the ground floor), so that's a total of fifty-six; if each room could fit two people, then that would be one hundred and twelve guests."

"How many students do you think take Muggle Studies?"

"Oh, it wouldn't be limited to the department. I was thinking it was through the department, but anyone could sign up. And since Marley's friends with Fleur and Gabby, there's a shot that we could advertise to the continental market."

"... you seem very confident with all of this."

"Well sir, there's nothing like it to my knowledge. How often have you heard about wizards going on tours through Muggle society?"

Severus looked down at the layout of Cokey's & Railview once more. "Not to sound insensitive, but I believe the French wizarding community may find the Railview a bit... low-class, perhaps."

"Cuz of the rooms, right? Well, I figure I could hire Lavender to sort out decorum."

"And if they complain about the size?"

"That leads us to Phase 2." Miles flipped to the third page in the binder and showed a layout of Spinner's End and the street behind it. Above the drawing was the name Snape Glen. "Here's Spinner's End, Numbers 1 through 13. There's the path behind the houses and the houses on Widow's Lane across. What I could do with the money we make from the tours is save up enough to buy the vacant lots, renovate them, and then offer them to higher-paying guests."

"How much would that cost?" Severus asked.

"Not very; it's Cokeworth. Besides, they're all empty lots. I think the only ones with anyone in them are 1, 3, 11, and 13, and that's all on Spinner's End. And it's our lot that owns them anyway."

Severus inclined his head, unable to disagree with what Miles had said. "So, after Phase 2, you'll be running a restaurant and hotel while also renting out houses?"

"Sort of."

"And you can afford this?"

"You remember what I said about house-elves not paying property taxes?"

Severus nodded.

"I figured I could buy a house, employ a house-elf, make them the co-owner of the house, and then let them make money off it."

"... you wouldn't be making money?"

"We'd be making it back using the tours."

Severus looked over the pages he'd already been shown before flipping further in and examining a number of spreadsheets in a number of sets of handwriting that broke down the income and expenditure of each site (listing elements such as utilities, food, employment of staff, a potential contract with Lupin & Pettigrew Inspection and Security, and more).

Looking back at Miles, who had developed a sheen of sweat on his forehead, Severus said (with a healthy degree of skepticism), "... this seems... possible..."