Richard quickly did the sums in his head. He would have to invest seven million for roughly a year and a half. Projected revenue was around twenty-nine million. Minus thirty per cent. That left a profit of roughly twenty million Galleons. Bagnold was offering to split the money equally. Which meant he would ultimately get ten million back. His net return on the investment would be around forty-three per cent. Given a term of twenty months, that worked out to around twenty-five, closer to twenty-six, per cent a year. A very tidy return indeed.
"Agreed!" he declared.
Bagnold did not even attempt to conceal her delight. Beaming broadly, she placed a parchment on the table.
"By sheer coincidence, I happen to have brought the contract with me."
"Coincidences are never coincidental," Richard replied with consummate scepticism.
Then began the most intense part of the proceedings—going through the contract and making amendments. In the end, however, both wizards were satisfied. The Minister was positively glowing like a little sun. Grosvenor tried not to show it, but anyone could tell that he was in high spirits as well.
Almost immediately after the contract had been signed, the two Hermiones entered the pub. They spotted Richard and approached his table.
"There you are, Richie," began Hermione in the pink glasses. "Good afternoon, ma'am." She gave the Minister a polite curtsey.
"Good afternoon," the time traveller said stiffly.
"Hello, my dears," the Minister replied good-naturedly.
Richard politely rose and, under the stunned gaze of the displaced Granger, used non-verbal, wandless magic to summon two empty chairs from a neighbouring table. Neither the Minister nor the original Hermione seemed in the least surprised by the display.
"Millicent, allow me to introduce you," he began. "Hermione Granger, a very promising witch and one of Hogwarts' best students. And... Miss Hermione Granger, who, owing to a mistake by the administration of her Hogwarts, has become an involuntary traveller from another world—a world where, on Minister Fudge's orders, Dementors are guarding Hogwarts against Sirius Black, who escaped from prison."
Granger from the other world's jaw dropped. Her gaze darted from Richard to Millicent and then back to Grosvenor, whom she stared at with bulging eyes.
The Minister for Magic's eyes widened in astonishment.
"I'll have to ask St Mungo's to examine Fudge for mental disorders," she concluded. "Pleased to meet you, girls. Do sit down."
Richie politely pulled out the chairs for the girls. Both Hermiones sat down.
"Millicent," Grosvenor continued, "Headmaster Dumbledore has admitted the second Miss Granger to our Hogwarts, but the girl needs Muggle documents. I decided not to trouble Uncle Charlie over such a trivial matter, particularly since this is wizarding business."
"A trivial matter indeed," Bagnold agreed. "Richard, of course we'll help the poor girl with her documents. Well, Richard, it was a pleasure speaking with you. Unfortunately, I must be going. Miss Granger's documents will be ready shortly."
The Minister left the pub through the fireplace. Until the moment green flames flared up, a deathly silence hung over Grosvenor's table. The instant the Minister disappeared, however, the displaced girl burst out indignantly:
"Richard, do you actually call the Minister by her first name?"
"Why not?" He shrugged unconcernedly. "Millicent herself suggested that we dispense with formality."
"Richie, what did the Minister want from you?" the original Hermione asked.
"As usual, Hermione, money. Next summer, Britain will be hosting the Quidditch World Cup. Then there'll be the Triwizard Tournament between the European schools of magic. Millicent wanted money to organise them."
"And you gave it to her?" his friend continued inquisitively.
"Invested it, rather. Miss Granger, how did you get out of the castle? I hope there weren't any problems?"
"No." The time traveller shook her thick mane of hair. "I changed into the ninja suit, turned invisible and slipped past Filch."
"Richie, how much longer are you planning to sit here?" the original Granger asked. "We've already had time to stop for tea at the tea shop..."
Grosvenor took the hint, and in any case, his mug of butterbeer was nearly empty.
"In that case, I suggest we take a walk around Hogsmeade. I'm interested in property."
"What do you need property for?" Hermione Two asked.
"Richie, are you thinking of buying yourself a house near Hogwarts?" Hermione One asked.
"Buying a house," Grosvenor confirmed with a nod. "Then sending in some of my wizards and building a large hotel. During the Triwizard Tournament, it should quickly pay for itself and turn a profit. And after the tournament, the hotel can be converted into a branch office of the Grosvenor Workshop."
Accompanied by two identical girls, the boy left the Three Broomsticks. The trio set off at a leisurely pace to explore Hogsmeade.
"The Shrieking Shack looks abandoned," Hermione Two pointed out the obvious.
"I doubt they'd sell it to us," Hermione One replied doubtfully. "There's a secret passage leading there from Hogwarts, underneath the Whomping Willow."
"Hmm..." Richard thoughtfully ran the back of his hand over his chin. "Why not? We simply need to find out from the Ministry of Magic who owns the shack. Perhaps we can buy it. The location is excellent: closer to the castle, well away from the rest of the village, and there's a sizeable abandoned garden. An ideal spot for a hotel or an office."
While the boy and the girls were admiring the abandoned, lopsided shack with its boarded-up doors and windows, a woman's voice suddenly called out from behind them, taking all three by surprise:
"Richie!"
Richard and both Hermiones turned round. Before them stood an agitated young woman in a fashionable light-green dress and a coat of a darker shade of green. She was a charming blue-eyed blonde who looked somewhere between twenty-five and thirty. Richard recognised her face, although he had never seen the woman in person before.
"Richie," she said, holding out her arms towards him, "I'm your mother!"
(End of Chapter)
P@treon: /SadRaven
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