19 Setting up Shop!

{30th June 1993}

{Gringotts Wizarding Bank, Diagon alley, London}

{10:22 AM}

"...Here are the available shops for rent in Diagon alley." BloodFang opened another folder from his desk and started looking through it, at this point I was curious as to how many folders were there in his desk.

"Alright, Is there any shop available between Slug & Jiggers Apothecary and Potage's Cauldron Shop?" I asked.

"...No there aren't any but there is one shop empty just next to the Slug & Jiggers..." he replied.

"Perfect! how much is the rent?" I asked as the goblin gave the folder to me specifying the inactive wards set up on the shop.

'Hmm, almost the same as the ones on my house but instead of lethal spells this one mainly works towards banishment.'

"That would be 467 Galleons a month..." The goblin said already going through several pieces of paperwork.

'Now I have an excuse to buy a House-elf, can the house elves make potions? I guess not because several complex potions would have several different reagents and they won't be able to use a wand to activate them.'

"I would like to buy a house-elf too, to take care of the house and the shop," I said and the goblin pressed another rune on his desk.

'I guess Griphook would be coming soon.'

"What about employees? Do you have someone specific in mind or do you need to send out an advert?" the goblin asked.

"I need to send out an advert," I replied, thinking about how to fill the manager's space.

'Maybe someone reliable while I am in Hogwarts for 4 more years, for the next two years the plan is to basically just expand and solidify the shop in Britain and then expand to neighboring countries.'

"Alright, I have applied for the shop rental, the Bones family own's that shop so your identity will be known to them, are you sure about this shop?" BloodFang asked.

'The Bones, Susan should be starting school at Hogwarts this year right? Many fanfictions depicted her as the girl with the biggest assets in Hogwarts so I'm quite looking forward to seeing her.'

"No the Bones are good, I need you to send out an advert for the manager, the manager will handle all the tasks after that so he/she is as connected to the system as possible. Set up the meeting time to be in 4 days." I asked and Bloodfang grunted.

"Your new House-elf will be here soon, here are the papers-" he passed me a few pages which looked like a contract.

"This house-elf was acquired by Gringotts quite recently when the Bennet family's heir's business went bankrupt and Gringotts seized all his properties as compensation. The Elf is quite distraught and is growing weaker by the week not having any family wards to rely on. She costs 1000 galleons as you can see from the paperwork." BloodFang grunted, "If you sign those forms the Elf would be bound to your house in Branton, and any other properties you own/co-own in the future..."

I read the contract carefully and it was a simply worded slave contract, the goblin's gained the full 1000 Galleons while the Elf was bound to me through this. I picked up a quill and signed my name on it, "Is there a limit to the number of Elves you could own?" I asked the goblin, more plan's already forming in my mind.

'The House-elves are quite a powerful workforce but I can't afford a lot of them with their high price tag.'

"No, as long as you own a place with wards set up, you can own any number of House-elves as you want."

I nodded as the door opened and Griphook walked in with an elf in tow, the elf looked small, and gaunt. I spoke, "Do you know where my house is?" I asked the Elf. Who nodded frantically so I continued, "Go there and wait for me." I watched the elf vanish with a pop.

'They are quite obedient, I wonder how much can they help, how are they bound to wizards? Surely they weren't born that way?'

The questions keep coming up so I had to force myself to stop thinking about it and turn towards BloodFang, "That would be all for today BloodFang, send a letter to me when you have arranged the meeting, see you in 4 days." I said swiftly and then walked out of his office.

'I need to talk to the elf, maybe she would have some clues.'

I walked out of Gringotts and was walking towards a nearby alley, "Blaise! Wait!" I heard a familiar voice.

I turned around to find Harry and Evan walking towards me. I scanned the other potter for the first time. He looked more Lily than James as he had softer features with red hair but hazel eyes rather than a vibrant green, dressed in muggle jeans and t-shirts, you could easily mistake him for a muggle-born as the aristocratic features were missing from his face.

"Hey Brat, Potter! what are doing here?" I asked.

"Uhh, Just running some errands for Mom" Harry replied and then he hesitated so I cut him off.

"Listen, Potter," I started, "you know it, I know it, we will never be friends again, so let's cut through this crap and be done with this?" I felt quite calm talking to him now, looks like all the emotional outbursts because of the potion have subsided now.

"Let's go back to Selwyn and Potter should we!" I exclaimed happily, "That suited us better anyway, alright what about you brat you excited about going to Hogwarts?" I smiled evilly at Evan, "You know there won't be Mommy to save you there," I smirked as his face grimaced.

I chuckled and started walking away, "See you at the Gala Evan," I said as I touched my wand and apparated away.

'Why am I still bothering with the Potter family... I guess my fanboy tendencies do come out in front of the famous characters from my favorite world!'

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AN: Next chapter we'll discuss House-elves, and the shop will be set up in the next 5 chapters before Blaise goes back to studying magic for a few more chapters before finally Hogwarts semester begins. So expect the Hogwarts year to start in the next 8-10 chapters!