Chapter 9:
The train arrived from Hogwarts at the end of Draco's first year at Hogwarts. We had a pleasant group waiting for them, with Narcissa and me, Hermione's parents, Sirius. We also had some additions to our group from the previous December. I worked over Crabbe and Goyle. They were both financially dependent upon me, and were receptive to my arguments about accomplishing more in the long run by appearing to accept socializing with the Grangers and Sirius Black and about providing leadership and guidance to those new to magic, instead of an attempt to drive them from the magical world.
I had prepared this group in advance to know that we would discuss topics of no great importance or controversy while in public, but appear to be in good cheer.
Lord Nott knew my arguments and picked a middle approach. He came over to us and greeted all of us, and then headed elsewhere.
After the students arrived, Augusta Longbottom came over to us with Neville and thanked Draco for assisting Neville when he lost control over his broom. She also thanked Sirius for compelling Bellatrix to pay them reparations. I spoke to her briefly about the plans to overhaul Muggle Studies and the new Wizarding Studies class.
As we headed home, us Malfoys stopped off at Diagon Alley and got ice cream for Draco. He seemed happy that Narcissa and I appeared to have a close relationship, which had not been the case for some years.
My business with Snape was being started. It was an alliance with a competent fighter in addition to a means of gaining revenue. Much of my share of the profits would officially disappear in payments to overseas suppliers that I secretly owned. Fudge had a notion as to the percentage of my income that should go to his non-profits and charities, and a little to his campaign fund. Each of those had ways to get much of their revenue to him, and some to payoffs he needed to make. He wasn't an idiot, he only appeared to be one.
I procured a laboratory location for "Spotion", with the "S" drawn as an animated snake. It was a large enough location to have workstations for future apprentices or assistants. It was well warded against enemies, thieves, inspectors, and any other threats. There was also room for Severus Snape to stay there if he didn't want to return to his childhood home in the muggle area called Spinners End. This business would be wholesale plus deal with select private customers. I didn't think that Snape would have the temperament to deal with the general public and I wanted enough galleon flow to the business to occur before considering hiring a store clerk. I also was going to start global distribution of high value unusual potions, and maybe eventually low value ones that we might be able to produce more cheaply with mass production.
Snape was interested in that notion of using the principles of mass production. We considered how to get low cost labor for some tasks, maybe using squibs, werewolves, and muggleborn. The werewolves would be paid partially in wolfsbane potion that prevents most of their symptoms of turning into a wolf.
Snape was well pleased by the variety of potions ingredients from the former Soviet Union that I was able to procure. I was rapidly expanding my network to Eastern Europe, Mongolia, and South-east Asia. Albania became a center of manufacturing. There were already close ties between magical Britain and Albania. The muggle government upheavals resulted in opportunities to buy good facilities for low prices and the price of muggle labor was low.
I had many business locations in the Muggle world. In one of which I had an office with a computer and a Netscape account. I occasionally used the computer myself, but for the rest of the time I had an employee keep tabs of discussions on that sort of proto-Internet.
I had spent some months, and considerable gold, and persuasion, to prevent the enactment of the "Muggle Protection Act". I rallied all of the dark and gray factions, and even some of the light factions. I used two arguments, that artifacts that would be used by pureblood families would never come into contact with muggles. That if they were passed to muggles, that would already be a crime and there is no need to prevent the ownership of such artifacts. I made it public that my family's ancient enemy, the Weasleys, had a bewitched horseless carriage, a muggle Ford Anglia, that they in fact regularly drove, while Arthur Weasley was sponsoring this legislation. My other argument was that a law that would authorize preventative searches of homes would violate an ancient right of considering ones house as ones castle.
I mentioned to Sirius Black that if that law were to be enacted, his flying motorcycle might be problematic, and perhaps there could be things in his houses that he might yet consider useful that would become illegal. I said, "Even if you wanted to get rid of every last Black family artifact, that should be your choice. Would you want some surprise inspection, demanding you to reveal your fidelius protected location, and then searching your place hoping to put you back in Azkaban?"
My sources told be that the Carrows were saying that I needed to be stopped. This problem would be resolved in a way that it would be obvious that I was behind it, without any legal evidence.
Two Albanian wizards and two Albanian squibs who were also snipers arrived in Britain, with passports showing them to be citizens of Italy. Their unusual luggage was shrunken and not detectable by muggle means.
Amycus and Alecto Carrow were not under siege, and didn't stay within warded places. They walked in a shopping district. The wizards were hidden, but nearby. They were ready to attack if the targets had shields up in time. However, they did not, and each sniper was successful. They all escaped using port-keys. I kept that team in Britain in case they were needed again.
I later sent a note to Avery Junior asking for a meeting at a bar in Knockturn Alley. It was known as a place that provided security for meetings, where they ensured that if two people entered a meeting, two people left it intact, unless one would try to attack someone there. They were also known for their discretion.
I said, "Avery, it is so good to see you in good health. I sincerely hope for your continued good fortune."
Avery said, "And you as well, Malfoy. I understand some of our former colleagues have met with some less than good fortune."
I replied, "You and I can adapt with the times. Unfortunately some cannot and try to hold onto a cause that cannot win and only brings tragedy upon themselves.
I would like to think of you as an ally. I'll tell you how I see Wizarding Britain evolving, and you'll tell me if that is something you can live with."
Avery asked, "Suppose I do. What is in it for me besides survival?"
I answered, "I like the way you think. In my business dealings in Columbia I came across the phrase "plata o plomo", which means "silver or lead". Lead is the deadly part of a muggle weapon that can operate at quite long distances. Lead by itself as a threat, or silver by itself as a reward, are neither as effective as the offering of either, at the choice of the recipient. But, there is no need to discuss these unpleasant aspects of business among friends.
Now, getting to rewarding parts of business, I want you to profit with me. You'll help me move trade items across borders, and be paid a fee each time, plus a monthly retainer for your services. Of course you'll also support me in my political endeavors."
I met with Headmaster Dumbledore. I raised my voice slightly to him, "Lockhart? You do realize that in all probability the curse against the defense against dark arts position is gone?
I know you want to expose him for destroying people's memories, but exposing students to him is not something that the Board of Governors can accept."
Dumbledore answered, "What other candidates do we have? Everyone else seems to think the curse still exists."
I said, "You could try to convince Olivia Green to come back partially by convincing her that the curse is gone. You could also get part time aurors. Even Harry Potter, a second year, teaching the subject would do better than Lockhart. Anyone but Lockhart. I do not want Draco menaced by someone like him."
Dumbledore said, "I shall see what I can do before the letter go out with the book lists.
On a completely different topic, why are you trying to shelter dangerous artifacts."
I answered, "It is the preservation of our traditions and freedoms that I am championing. Many of us have centuries of magical research and development of artifacts. That is not to be thrown away due to a reaction against magical attacks.
Dark magic and dark artifacts does not mean attacking others. Yes, I have heard your arguments that using either changes ones mind towards negative behaviors. I do not accept that argument. In any case, these are adults, who are responsible for their actions towards others, and that is what should be policed, not their knowledge of spells, or private possession of family treasures.
As for enchanted muggle devices, I personally would like a computer in my home. To do so, would require modifying it to use magical sources of power and to shield its electronics from magic. It would fall squarely into the list of devices that some would ban. I would use it to keep tabs on the muggle world, and look for threats to the statute of secrecy and muggle advances that we should be aware of."
Dumbledore, "And to find business opportunities?"
I answered, "Yes. The wizarding world's economy is not completely isolated from the non-magical one. Those that treat it as so, are foolish. For example, your Potions Professor, Slughorn, thinks that candied pineapple is some highly expensive luxury, yet in the muggle world it would be quite affordable for his level of means. That is even with 5 British Pounds per Galleon, while the actual value should be closer to 25 pounds.
Yes, I profit from the Statute of Secrecy, just as my ancestors profited from its absence. That is my goal, not to be a dark lord, but a businessman who finds mutually advantageous and profitable ventures."
