Journey to a New Start chapter 10

Chapter 10

Walking past the numerous High Elf’s that had started to migrate to his holdings over the past four days, Harry had to wonder where they all were finding places to live, even though this past weekend had seen the house tree pods being harvested, it was only an increase of a little over two hundred trees to the lands.


Stopping at the edge to the gorge to catch a glimpse of the waterfall Harry noticed the elaborate railings and landing going up on the opposite cliff wall. It seemed that the Hidden valley Elf’s, or at least some of them were planning on cliff dwellings which led Harry to wonder if the other hidden Valley Elf’s were also setting up their homes in the numerous ravines and gorges that dotted the interior of his holdings.


If that was true that meant the house trees were going to be occupied by those coming from the hidden forest lands, which made sense as it looked like each family or settler was making their home in the types of places they were used to living.


Which begged the question of where in the world were those from the lands hidden in the mountains moving to, while they had large size hills, none of them could be classified as mountains.


Still slightly amazed at the amount of High Elf’s flocking to his lands Harry put further thoughts on the mystifying reason away for another day as he had an appointment to keep at the muggle Bank that Gringotts did business through. The bank in question was the only branch in London that had all wizard employees so that the Goblins could funnel the exchanged currency back into the muggle world and for those that did choose to invest in the muggle world, a place to do so.


Waving a greeting at another group that were leaving the board holding the map of his holdings where one could register where they were moving too, Harry finally made it to the array and shifted to a little ally outside the muggle bank, near the wall where the back of Diagon ally met up with the muggle world.


Casting a simple notice me not charm on himself with a thought Harry walked around the corner and into the bank.


Walking up the steps to the fifth floor Harry released the charm and entered the door marked overseas marketing.


A perky female receptionist smiled at him and asked. “Can I help you?”


Smiling Harry told her. “Yes I have an appointment for a conference call with my investing advisors in,” looking at the clock on the wall behind her finished, “About one minute.”


Looking down at the appointment ledger she noticed the only appointment was with an extremely reclusive and powerful investor with his managers from that other bank she quickly stood up to show him into the room reserved for the meeting. “This way please Mr. Stockington and the two others of your party are already in the conference room awaiting your arrival.”


Opening the door into a room that had its occupants hidden behind a wall you had to walk around, she held the door open long enough for the young man to walk through before closing it inserting a key into the hole behind the light switch sealing the room.


Walking back to her desk away from the now door less wall she took the printed appointment page and placed it into the ashtray and lit it and kept watch on it until it was burned to ash before dumping it into a coffee mug and stirring it in the cold coffee to further dissolve the ashes.


Picking the cup up she walked over to the loo and flushed the mess down the pipe, before rinsing the cup and flushing the resulting water down once again.


Returning to her desk she knew that she would not see the client return by means of her lobby and promptly forgot about the whole incident.


Walking around the barrier Harry noticed the two Goblins and what felt like a wizard sitting at the table waiting.


Pulling a chair out from the table and sitting down Harry placed the small crystalline structure next to the phone and removed the line in plug from the phone and plugged it in to the crystal.


Glancing at the two goblins on the either side of the table Harry greeted them by name. “Watchblock…Griphook .”


“And you are?” Harry asked as his attention focused on the man at the other end of the table.


“High One, this is Gringotts face to the muggle world, Albert Brockenheim.” Watchblock answered with a bow.


“Not to sound discourteous Mr. Brockenheim, but why are you here?” Harry asked pleasantly though he surreptitiously readied one of his weapon crystals that would stun the man combined with an obliviate charm that would have the man forgetting two days worth of memories.


“None taken High One.” Sensing the slight tightening of the High Ones muscles Albert was quick to add, “I have been acting as the human face for your accounts in the muggle world.”


Sighing in relief when he noticed the High One relax slightly and both hands come into view Albert sat back in his chair just now realizing how much danger he could have been in, he should have let the others call him into the room and not joining them like he had.


“May I see this message that has caused all the uproar?” Harry’s voice was polite yet it did not match his stony face at the moment.


Taking out a folder Albert passed it over to Watchblock who in turn placed it in front of Harry.


Opening the folder and reading the message Harry’s eyes narrowed in anger, this was not an invitation to attend the board meeting it was a summons.


The occupants of the room moved their chairs back from the table in an attempt to create some distance between them and the power rolling off Harry.


Looking at the salutation for the phone number Harry started to touch different runes on the crystal structure in the center of the table and a smoky cloud formed above it.


The ringing of a phone could be heard once Harry stopped pressing runes and sat back in his chair.


“Micro software how may I direct your call?” a female voice came out of the crystal while the same time the center of the smoke cleared showing the person speaking on the other end of the phone.


Flipping to the bottom of the letter Harry read the name of the person who sent it. “Mr. David Eddies please.”


“One moment…transferring.” The woman told Harry as the image faded back to smoke before solidifying once again showing another woman in a plush office.


“David Eddies office.” The cultured female voice said over the phone.


Harry pointed to Albert and motioned for him to speak up.


Clearing his thoughts Albert said. “Good morning, this is Albert Brockenheim from Lloyds Bank in London. I am calling on behalf of Lord Arkenea’ghymn who received a letter from Mr. Eddies six days ago about the board meeting tomorrow.”


“My Lord is currently in our conference room at this moment and would like to speak with Mr. Eddies about the letter he sent.” Albert told her.


“Please hold while I see if Mr. Eddies is available.” The woman told him over the phone.


To Albert’s shock when the woman in the smoke placed the line on hold they could still see and hear what was going on.


“Mr. Eddies there is a phone call from London on line three, a Lord Arkenea’ghymn I believe.” The woman said pressing down the button of her intercom.


“Shit…I don’t have time for this, I purposefully sent out that letter not giving him much time to get here.” The hushed mumble of a male voice came over the intercom before in a louder tone he asked. “Did he say what he wanted?”


“No Sir. Do you wish me to find out?” The woman asked.


“Bah…Tell him I am unavailable and then remind him that the meeting starts at promptly at one.” Eddies told his secretary. “One second wait until I get there and then put him on speaker phone while you do that so I have a chance to listen in.”


Albert was slightly awed at the magical crystal that allowed you to see who you were talking to on the other end of the phone, it really made a difference to be able to hear what went on in the background while he was on hold, it also allowed him time to think up responses to the situation that was about to happen.


Hearing a click then the voice of the woman once again. “Mr. Brockenheim, I am sorry to say that Mr. Eddies is unavailable at the moment. Though he did want me to pass along a reminder of the board meeting tomorrow at one p.m. for you to pass along to Lord Arkenea’ghymn.”


Making a motion for Albert to be quiet Harry sat forward and spoke clearly and slowly. “Then transfer me to the CEO…A Mr. William Gats I believe, I have no time to waste on some petty back room politician with delusions of empire building. And tell your boss that it was unwise for him to anger me, as I own thirty-two percent of the voting stock of Micro Software with another million shares of common stock as of this morning.”


Voice cold enough to freeze air Harry told her. “No one sends me a summons like your boss did, now kindly transfer me or by closing today I will sell off every share I own and reinvest it in the competition and hold a press conference at the same time stating that the company I was more than eager to invest in was not as advertised. I am sure by closing day tomorrow you will be looking for another job as your company will have to close its doors.”


Suddenly sweating David used the corner of his secretaries desk to steady himself as the ploy he had used to try to set the tone of the next meeting failed spectacularly.


“Yes sir, hold on one moment while I transfer you.” The woman sounded frantic now as she placed him back on hold.


Seeing the rune glowing on the one side indicating that they indeed were not being overheard Harry said as he looked up into Albert’s face and glared. “I will not be summoned like this so others can try to use me ever. Have I made myself clear?”


All three nodded their heads frantically not about to disagree with the amount of power pressing down on them.


Harry’s attention was drawn back to the viewing crystal when another suit clad man stepped into the view.


“David are you alright? You look positively pale, do you need me to call for the doctor?” the new man asked.


Turning to David’s secretary the new man told her. “Barbara why don’t you take a break while I sort out David.”


Nodding her head and giving her boss a look of concern she pulled open the bottom drawer of her desk and pulled her purse out of it before walking out of the office.


Once Barbara was out of the office and the door closed the new man rounded on the other. “David pull yourself together.”


“Now tell me what the hell is going on and why line three is on hold?” the new man demanded.


Loosening his tie and talking several deep breaths David told him. “You remember my plan to keep the new investor off balance and to collect his proxy?”


“Yes…Yes I remember your grand plan, and warned you not to take the stance you did without meeting him first.” The new man replied.


“I know Edward, you told me often enough over the past two weeks.” David stood back up straight before pointing to the phone line. “That’s him holding on three, my plan to ignore him and put him in his place backfired.”


Hearing that Harry snapped his fingers and called out. “Tinky.”


A moment later there was a soft popping noise behind Harry and Tinky walked forward holding several folders. “Sir Emerald Eyes needs his reports?”


“Yes Tinky, the ones for David Eddies and any of them marked Edward as the first name.” Harry requested before thanking the house elf for his prompt appearance.


Handing over the folders requested Tinky took several steps back in case he was needed for anything else.


“God Dammit David have a nervous breakdown on your own time.” Edward hissed in anger as he walked behind the desk and picked up the phone.


“Hello this is Edward Barrington, can I help you?” Edward asked trying to sound helpful.


“Picking up one of the folders and moving it to the side where Tinky collected it Harry spoke up. “Mr. Barrington I see MR. Eddies secretary made a mistake in transferring me to the office of the CEO.”


Wincing that turned into a glare directed at David. “Yes well I heard the tail end of the conversation you had with Barbara as I walked out of a meeting with David and thought if I could help it might smooth things over.” Edward said in a smooth sickening voice.


“Imagine my surprise Mr. Barrington when I received from your board what amounts to a summons to appear before the next board meeting. Also imagine my surprise and getting this notice less than a week before said meeting.” Harry told him voice frozen and stern.


“I do not respond to Summons Mr. Eddies, I do the summoning.” Harry told the shocked men.


“I am sorry Mr. Arkenea’ghymn, but you are mistaken, I am Edward Barrington.” Edward tried to defuse the situation.


“Several points that I wish you to pay close attention too.” Harry told him.


“One, when two phones are connected and both are on speaker phone there is a slight feedback that if you listen closely you can hear it. You can also hear people breathing in the background if you are listening carefully.

Two, I have a title, which is Lord, not mister do not insult me by taking the familiar with me.

Three, I oversee a multi billion dollar investment portfolio, as such I do the summoning, not you.

And lastly your own board rules state that no meeting can take place unless eighty percent of the voting stock is represented at the meeting, as I currently own thirty-two percent and will not be present at the meeting tomorrow and will not send a proxy, the meeting will be postponed.” Harry informed them shocking them to the core.


“You cant do that!” David shouted forgetting for the moment he was supposed to be busy elsewhere.


“But I can Mr. Eddies. I do not answer to summons, certainly not to some one the likes of you.” Harry said frostily.



“In fact I have already sent notification by courier to your CEO that I will not be able to attend or send a proxy to any board meeting until the first of the year, and all notices of board meetings shall be given to me at least 8 weeks in advance so I can work it into my schedule.” Harry informed them.


“In case of emergency a conference call can be easily arranged with twenty-four hours notice, in case I am not near a phone while traveling.” Harry did offer that boon.


The sounds of papers being rustled about could be heard over the phone as Harry opened the first folder in front of him, and started to read out loud its contents. “Lets see what your profile tells me about you David Eddies.”


“I must say for being fifty-two years old you sure do not look your age.

Interesting tidbit on how your house has a hidden tunnel under your basement that leads to a hidden playroom.

My, my it is set up as a hidden dungeon sex room, how utterly naughty of you.” Harry scolded in his emotionless voice.


“I must say I am not impressed with this information or the pictures of you and that eight year old boy.” Harry looked up towards the viewing crystal to see a very frightened and sweating man.


“I am going to make things very easy on the two of you.” Harry informed them.


“I am going to purchase all your shares of stocks at the closing rate today and allow you to disappear.” Harry told them.


“But Since I have opened up your file and read what it contains Mr. David Eddies I find that the most I can do is give you a fourteen day head start, after all anyone that kills their sex partner in the throws of passion on purpose does not deserve to be allowed to go free.” Harry let the hate he was feeling color his voice.


“After all my people had to retrieve the body of that eight year old boy and give him a proper burial.” Harry watched the man slide down to the floor in fright.


“Whether I buy your portfolio now or from your estate tomorrow does not matter to me, the only thing you will gain by cooperating with me right now is a fourteen day head start before my cleaner comes after you. One never knows, you might be bright enough to out run them.” Harry clearly had the upper hand.


“Now Mr. Edward Barrington shall we open your file next.” Harry sounded almost gleeful if it was not for the hate showing in his face.


“No your Lordship I will sign over everything to you at the going price of this moment, there is no need for you to open your file and bother yourself or your people on my account.” Edward said very quickly, he had broken out in a cold sweat at hearing how complete the report on David was.


He was also very disgusted at hearing how depraved David was, while he did not have anything against getting some from those younger then the law allowed as long as both parties consented before hand, he had to draw the line at snuff sex.


Harry perked up and the smile that crossed his face had the Goblins ready to soil themselves .


“Good, I will have a representative over to your office in fifteen minutes or so, please prepare your portfolio with the current ticker prices to compare to our copy.” Harry told him.


“With your five percent and MR. Eddies seven percent that will give me Forty-four percent of the voting stock in this company, very nice.” Harry’s voice frightened both men further as they heard it.


“Oh and Mr. Eddies if you are not there when my representative gets there you will not be alive an hour later, and the fourteen day head start I promised you will start the moment you sign the papers my man has.” Harry disconnected the line in disgust.


Handing the unopened file back to Tinky Harry told him. “Tinky if you would tell them it is a go, when you get back.”


Nodding his head Tinky grinned before popping out. “Tinky will do as Sir asks.”


Now that his business was taken care of he glanced over to the wizard and Goblins and noticed both awe and fear warring on their expressions.


“Someone will be by later this afternoon with the signed agreements for selling me their portfolios, I do expect that the funds shall be transferred into the named accounts no later than noon tomorrow.” Harry told them as he stood up.


Nodding his head nervously Albert stood up and swallowed audibly several times before finding his voice and bowing. “As you order my Lord.”


“Good.” Harry told them as he nodded his head and slashed in front of him with his hand and opened a rift and shifted to Diagon Ally.


Griphook spoke up for the first time and said what everyone was thinking. “The High One smites his enemies with a fierceness never seen by the other races.”


XXX


Harry walked down the center of Diagon Ally intent on entering Flourish and Blotts unnoticed so he could browse the history books sold there, he had a mission. A mission to compare the two worlds and find out when, if at all possible, the two worlds diverged.


He had made a list this morning of the major history books in his personal library, a library that he had collected in his world during the years of the war. Not out of a desire to become a scholar in his spare time, but more out of the desire to safeguard the worlds magical knowledge.


That of course was early on in the war when he still had hopes that the world could be rebuilt, then later on when he knew that the world was doomed to the dark ages and the long struggle to haul itself back on its feet once again, he did it out of habit and the thought running in the back of his mind when he came across another cache of books, that they might be useful when he traveled to a new world.


Seems his intuition had been right, he needed those books to find out why this world was like it was, in some ways it was the same and in others it was glaring the differences.


Entering the bookstore Harry made his way over to the history section and started to scan the titles and picking out books to match those on his list.


While he was doing that he had been spotted by an off duty Auror that was part of the capture squad from several days ago that had tried to take Harry into custody.


Noticing some of the books on his list were not on the shelves Harry went up to the counter and asked. “Do you happen to have a copy of the history of Magical Britain as it pertains to magical theory or The Life and Times of the Founders?”


The clerk looked at Harry strangely, must be a history student, most likely a Ravenclaw he thought before closing his eyes and thinking back over titles he seen over the years.


Not finding a memory of either title he moved over to a magical publishing list and tapped it with his wand while saying the names of the two books Harry had requested.


Not finding a match he looked back at the young lad and told him. “Sorry it seems that I can find no match for either title, are you sure you have the correct titles?”


Harry nodded his head. “Yes I copied them from the inside book covers myself this morning, I was hoping to be able to purchase another copy so that I could take them with me.” Implying that he was a student that wanted to take the books with him to school.


The clerk just stared back at him with slightly disguised lust in his eyes, a lust for the lads books that is. And almost missed when Harry asked for the total.


Quickly snapping out of his lust induced daze before he started to drool, the clerk quickly added up the total and tried to come up with a way to broach the subject on getting his hands on those two titles. “That will be thirty-two Galleons and seven Sickles along with three Knut’s…Though if you would be willing to sell me copies of the two books you mentioned I might be able to reduce the price quite a bit.”


Placing the requested amount of coins on the counter Harry un-shrunk the trunk he had taken to carrying around on his belt and while placing the books inside the trunk glanced over at the clerk and noticed the creepy expression on his face. Running the clerks words back through his mind he realized the clerk was hoping to get his hands on the two books he had asked about.


“I might consider it on my next trip into the ally.” Harry told the creepy clerk that seemed to have an unnatural book fetish, intending to never step foot in the store again after today he would owl order anything needed through Hogsmeade or have one of the house elves run after the needed tomes.


Backing out of the store slowly in such a way he never lost sight of the clerk Harry had to wonder if this is how Hermione would act if the war and Ron and his friendship had not affected her for the better, in his opinion.


So intent on making sure the creepy man did not follow him or place any tracking spell on him, he had not paid attention to what was going on in front of him and ran into a group of Aurors.


“Hold it right there lad.” The lead Auror told him. “You are going to have to come with us, we have some questions that need answered.”


Harry blinked a couple of times as he looked around at the eight robed Aurors in a semi circle in front of him.


Sighing he did not need this today, Harry asked, “Is there a reason you are hounding me, or does this have to do with that stalker Dumbledore?”


Hearing surprised mutterings of what do you mean calling the headmaster a stalker and other such outrages the lead Auror cut his across the air motioning the others to be silent. “The headmaster does have a few questions that need to be answered, and I agree that they are very good questions too.”


Harry stared at the lead Auror for a moment with his head tilted sideways before saying. “I did not realize that the headmaster of a school had the authority to order the law enforcement branch around. Please tell me what laws I have broken?”


Slightly uncomfortable because he knew very well this kid had not broken any laws, only refused to cooperate. If it went before the head of the DMLE he would more than likely be looking for a new job. “That’s beside the point, all this could have been avoided if you just answered the headmasters questions, assuring him you are no threat.” He blustered.


“I see, since I refused to play his games and allow him to rape my mind for his answers while he talked in circles, never asking ANY questions, and rightfully call him on stalking me, he calls in the local law officials to do it for him.” Harry sneered angrily.


“Now see here kid stop giving us a hard time and cooperate.” The Auror that had moved behind Harry yelled out.


Seeing a reporter nearby hastily scribbling in his notebook Harry held onto his anger, barely. “Oh so this headmaster of yours has the right to interfere in my life and ask anything he wants of me and demand answers, even though I am not one of his students, is that correct?”


Seeing a crowd had gathered and most of them had uncomfortable expressions on their faces the lead Auror started to have second thoughts about the headmasters request for his help, it seems that there was a significant amount of information that was not passed along.


“Enough of your lip boy hand over your wand and shut the bloody hell up.” The arrogant Auror voiced from behind Harry.


Looking over his shoulder and through a glare at the man that coined the phrase, if looks could kill, Harry slowly spat out in anger. “I have no need for a silly stick like you. I grow tired of the Headmasters interference once again, so tell me the charges against me or step aside.”


Seeing the angry stares from the crowd that was now surrounding them and knowing that they had nothing to charge the boy with the lead Auror yelled out. “Jones enough, he has broken no law that we can charge him with.”


Taken aback the man Harry now knew as Jones spat on the ground in disgust before turning slightly away from Harry.


Harry turning back to face the lead Auror sensed the man behind him was about to do something and gathered his magic into a shield and twisted around just as the man shouted out. “Stupefy.”


Sidestepping the stunner Harry caught the spell in his hand which caused those that gathered around him to mutter in shock and some in fear before he turned around to face the man who had attacked him while his back was turned.


Jones only had a moment to look at the sight of the boy holding his spell before doubling to the ground in pain as he started to glow red and energy started to spike away from his body.


Harry closed his hand around the spell assimilating the energy as he watched in amazement the man arching his back in pain screaming at the top of his lungs as his magic was ripped from his body.


“Stop this…STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO HIM.” The lead Auror yelled out in horror as Jones finally gasped one last time and fell back to the ground, chest barely rising.


Not even bothering to turn around Harry said coldly. “I have done NOTHING. Your man attacked me from behind while my back was turned.”


Casting a few rapid emergency diagnostic spells on his partner he looked up shock written all over his face. “Sir I can’t find any trace he is magical.”


“Get him to St. Mungos quickly.” The lead Auror yelled as he stalked up to Harry and attempted to place his hand on the boys shoulder and pull him around to face him.


Attempted being the key word, for as soon as he reached for the boys shoulder he stepped sideways out of reach.


Taking a few steps in a circle as he turned to face the Auror Captain, Harry had enough, his anger was now very evident and power was swirling around him as he glared at the man who stepped back when he felt the power pressing down on him.


“I have put up with more than I should have had too, more than I should have allowed.” Harry’s voice echoed with power, as his hair rose in the air and slowly braided itself exposing the curve of his ears.


“I do not want to be drawn into your world at the moment, but you refuse to leave me alone. I have had enough…The next person that attacks me will not have to deal with the pain of their magic being ripped from their body. I will incinerate them, is that understood?” Harry said viciously as he stalked after the back peddling Auror.


Nodding his that he understood he watched the legend that had become reality in front of him slash his hand down and walk through some strange rift before slumping to the ground in relief that he was still in one piece.


A High One, Albus had them hounding one of the High Ones, he was dooming them all was his thought before he stood up in a panic and apparated to the ministry lobby.


Nodding his head to the desk guard he walked over to a little known alcove off the main part of the lobby.


Cleaning the dust and cobwebs off the right side of the panel to expose a small hole in the wall he took his wand and inserted the tip inside and cast a Lumos spell, which caused the panel to click open.


Only the top captains in the Auror squads knew about this panel, and only the top people in the ministry knew what he was about to set in motion really meant.


This panel was linked to similar panels in every ministry worldwide and it all meant one thing.


Pushing in the gems at the cardinal points of the pentagram he watched as the center crystal lit up, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly he placed his fingers over the center crystal and pushed it home firmly.


Alarms started sounding in ministries across the world announcing that once again the High Ones walked among the race of man.