HP and the Parseltongue Chronicles - Chapter - 4

Harry, Fred, George, and Neville stepped out of the Granger home with wide smiles and lighter hearts. The meeting with the Grangers had gone better than they had hoped. Daniel Granger, with his calm and pragmatic demeanor, had assured them he would handle the auction with the utmost professionalism. With a handshake and a promise of updates, the deal had been sealed.

Walking down the cobbled streets of the quiet neighborhood, the group couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.

Fred grinned, throwing an arm around Harry’s shoulders. "I have to hand it to you, Harry. That was brilliant. I didn’t think we’d find someone so perfect to handle the Muggle side of things."

George nodded, juggling a few Galleons in his hand. "Not only that, but I didn’t expect the Grangers to be so enthusiastic about our plan. I thought they’d be skeptical."

"Well," Neville chimed in, his voice thoughtful, "we’ve barely scratched the surface of the vault. If this is what we’ve found from just one section, imagine what’s waiting in the rest."

Harry’s emerald-green eyes sparkled with excitement. "Exactly. Godric’s Vault is enormous. We’ve only explored about fifteen percent of it. And even that small portion has already set us up for something incredible."

Fred raised an eyebrow. "Fifteen percent? That’s generous, mate. I’d say it’s more like ten."

George laughed. "Or less! With the size of that place, we might need all seven years at Hogwarts just to go through it."

The group chuckled, the thought of untapped treasure fueling their enthusiasm.

"We need a proper plan for next year," Harry said as they sat down in the shade of a large oak tree in the Weasleys' backyard. "We’ve already proven we can handle organizing the treasures. Next year, we start early—right from the beginning of term."

Neville leaned forward, his expression serious. "We’ll need to map out the vault better. It’s easy to get lost in there, especially with all the sections."

"And bring more supplies," Fred added. "Last time, we underestimated how much we’d need to catalog everything properly."

George smirked. "Maybe we should recruit Hermione. She’s good at organizing chaos. And you know she’ll want to get her hands on those ancient books."

Harry chuckled. "I’ll think about it. But for now, let’s focus on this auction. Once we’ve sold everything, we’ll have the resources to tackle the vault properly next time.

After weeks of planning and gathering resources, Harry and his friends were ready to embark on yet another ambitious project. The treasure they had uncovered in Godric’s Vault was already providing them with enough resources to consider expanding their horizons even further. But they had another vision, one that would establish their presence in Diagon Alley in a way that could support their ventures long-term: opening a furniture shop.

It wasn’t just about making money. For Harry, Fred, George and Neville, it was about creating something lasting. They wanted a legitimate business—a place where magic met craftsmanship. They had already collected an impressive range of broken furniture from the vault, including items that would be perfect for display, but now they needed to bring it all together under one roof.

However, there was one major issue: they were still too young to manage a business on their own. While Fred and George had honed their entrepreneurial skills within Hogwarts , managing a shop was a different kind of challenge. They needed someone they could trust—someone with the experience to oversee the day-to-day operations.

It didn’t take long for Harry to come up with the solution.

"Remus would be perfect," Harry said, speaking aloud to Fred, George, and Neville as they sat in Highgarden.

Fred, who had been fiddling with a new invention, looked up. "Moony?"

"Exactly," Harry replied, leaning forward. "He’s been having a hard time finding work in Britain because of his condition. But he’s brilliant, and he has the right temperament for running a business. Plus, he’s someone we can trust completely. I know he would agree to help us—he wouldn’t want to accept charity, but managing a business for us would be different."

George nodded thoughtfully. "That could work. Remus is good at keeping things organized and fair. He wouldn’t mind taking on the responsibility, and I’m sure he'd appreciate the opportunity."

Neville added, "And we can make sure he gets paid fairly. Not like some charity case, but a legitimate salary for his work."

Harry smiled, knowing that they had made the right decision. He and Sirius had discussed it in private and agreed that Remus would be the perfect person to oversee the shop.

The day had been long, filled with hours of intense training under the watchful eyes of Sirius and Remus. Harry, Fred, George, Neville had grown accustomed to these training sessions, where they honed their magical skills.

It was during one of these sessions that Harry and his friends decided it was time to bring up their new business plan to Remus. They had spent days developing the idea and were now ready to present it to their trusted friend.

After the final spell of the day was cast and they all gathered around a table in the Highgarden’s cozy sitting room, Harry took a deep breath. "Remus," he began, his voice serious, "we’ve been talking, and we think it’s time to take our next step. We want to open a furniture shop in Diagon Alley, and we were hoping you'd be interested in managing it for us."

Remus, who had been absent-mindedly brushing the dust off his robes, looked up at Harry, Fred, and George, a curious look crossing his face. He could sense the weight of their words.

"A furniture shop? That’s quite the venture. But you’re asking me to manage it? Why me?"

Harry smiled and sat back, feeling the weight of his offer. "We need someone we can trust. Someone who has the experience to manage the day-to-day operations, and frankly, someone who isn’t afraid of a little hard work. Fred, George, Neville, and I are all still learning how to run a business, and we could really use your expertise. Plus, we’d like to offer you a stake in the shop. We’d give you 10% share as a partner. The rest of us would have 20% each and Sirius get 10% as he promised to fund, but we thought you'd be a perfect fit."

Fred nodded enthusiastically. "You’ve been a huge help to us already, Remus. We know how difficult it can be for you to find work, but this is a real opportunity, not charity. We want you to be a part of this business with us, if you’re interested."

Remus’s expression softened as he considered their offer. The idea of managing a business that was not only successful but also something they had all worked toward together felt... right. He had spent enough years feeling like an outsider, struggling with the limitations placed on him because of his condition. But this—this was an opportunity to be part of something legitimate, something he could take pride in.

"Well, if you’re offering me a stake in the business, and if I can help in a meaningful way, then I accept," Remus said after a moment of quiet contemplation. "I can’t think of anything more rewarding than seeing your business succeed, and I’d be glad to manage it for you all."

Harry’s face lit up with relief and gratitude. "Great, Remus. We knew you’d agree. But there’s more. We’ve been gathering magical furniture from Hogwarts—enchanted items, rare pieces, and some that just need a little repair and polishing. We need a carpenter, someone who knows how to fix and polish the furnitures.

Remus nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. I actually know a Muggle carpenter shop in the village, just outside of London. They specialize in repairing and restoring antique furniture. I’ll go and speak with them, see if we can work out a deal."

The next day, Remus set out to find the perfect carpenter. He had a good eye for quality work, and he was determined to find a shop that could handle the large, often fragile furniture that Harry and his friends had collected. After a few hours of searching, he found a small, unassuming shop nestled between two larger buildings near the outskirts of London. The sign outside read "Halloway's Antiques and Repairs." It was exactly the kind of place they needed.

Inside, the smell of wood polish and freshly cut lumber filled the air. A thin, gray-haired man with spectacles perched on his nose greeted Remus with a smile.

"Good day, sir. Can I help you?"

Remus smiled back. "I’m Remus Lupin. I’ve come about your restoration services. I represent a small group of individuals who are opening an antique furniture shop in London, and we have some antique furniture that needs repair and have special wood to built furniture. We were hoping to strike a deal with you for your services."

The carpenter, Mr. Halloway, scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I see. Well, it’s not often we get requests like this, but I’ve been in the business for over thirty years. I know the value of quality craftsmanship, and if your pieces are worth restoring, I’d be happy to take a look."

After a short discussion and a few inspections of the furniture Harry and his friends had already collected, Mr. Halloway agreed to take on the job. He was more than willing to repair and restore the Muggle furniture—polishing old wooden chairs, fixing broken tables, and refurbishing antique chests—and he was happy to work with Remus on a fair payment plan.

"You’ve got yourself a deal, Mr. Lupin," Mr. Halloway said, shaking Remus’s hand.

The Highgarden was buzzing with excitement as Harry, Fred, George, Neville, and Remus gathered around the large collection of broken furniture they had acquired from Godric’s Vault. The pieces were scattered across a large room, each showing varying degrees of wear and tear. Some were just a little scratched, while others were in near total disrepair. But Harry and his friends saw them not as broken, but as opportunities. Remus stood at the center of the room, his eyes wide with astonishment as he examined the furniture.

“Blimey, Harry, where did you find all this?” Remus asked, running his fingers along the intricate carvings of a large wooden chest. The craftsmanship was impressive, even in its damaged state.

Harry grinned. “It’s all from a secret vault of Hogwarts. Most of it’s old and broken, but the wood is something special. We’ve got a few ideas about what we can do with it.”

Fred jumped in eagerly, already bouncing with excitement. “We’ve been talking about this for months. We don’t want to just sell normal furniture, Remus. We’ve got a plan for something much bigger.”

George nodded. “Something that mixes magic and Muggle craftsmanship, but with a twist.”

Remus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “A twist? What do you mean?”

Harry stepped forward, his face lighting up as he began to explain. “The wood in these pieces is unique, and it’s not just any ordinary wood. It’s highly resistant to magical interference. No spell can alter it or change its properties. That means the furniture we make with it is truly special—nothing in the magical world can touch it.”

“That’s brilliant,” Remus said, his voice filled with admiration. “So, you're telling me that this broken furnitures can’t be enchanted, cursed, or altered with magic?”

“Exactly,” Harry confirmed. “That’s why we want to use it in our furniture. We’re not going to make regular chairs and tables. We’re going to create pieces that can withstand all forms of magic, including destruction. Furniture that’s impervious to magical interference.”

Fred leaned in, eager to explain further. “So, say someone tries to cast a spell to make the furniture vanish, or change its shape. It won’t work. The wood will always remain exactly as it is. It can’t be altered by magic.”

George added with a grin, “And that’s where it gets interesting. We’ll market this as a line of furniture for magical families who want something that can’t be destroyed by the chaos of a household. Think of all the accidental spells that get cast—this furniture will never break or change, no matter what.”

Neville, who had been quietly listening, spoke up with excitement. “And it’s perfect for places where you don’t want your furniture to ever be affected by magic. Imagine someone’s office or a wizarding school, where magic is constantly flying around. Our furniture will stand the test of time.”

Remus was silent for a moment, taking it all in. He walked around the room, inspecting the broken pieces once more. It was clear that he was impressed by their vision, and the idea of creating something so unique intrigued him. He had always believed that there was room for innovation in the wizarding world, and this idea felt like just the kind of challenge he could get behind.

“You’ve got something really special here,” Remus said, his voice filled with approval. “ You’ll have a unique niche in Diagon Alley, that’s for sure.”

Harry nodded. “Exactly. We’re not just selling furniture. We’re selling peace of mind. If you buy our pieces, you know that no matter what happens, your furniture will last forever. And it’s something completely new. No one’s ever done anything like it.”

Fred grinned. “And it’s not just about durability. We’re going to sell these pieces as high-end, magical furniture—something that can’t be found anywhere else.”

Remus nodded thoughtfully, clearly impressed. “You’re thinking long term. This could be a game-changer in Diagon Alley. People will pay a premium for this kind of quality and uniqueness.”

“Alright, then,” Remus said, his eyes gleaming with a new sense of purpose. “I’ll help you get this started. I’ll go back to the carpenter shop with this, and we’ll start getting some of these pieces repaired or rebuilt and ready for sale. We’ll need to find a place in Diagon Alley, too.”

With Sirius included as a partner in their furniture business, the next step was clear. Harry, Fred, George, Neville, and Remus had already mapped out their vision for the new shop, and the only thing left was to focus on getting enough pieces rebuilt and ready to showcase in Diagon Alley. With the influence and wealth of Lord Black behind them, acquiring a prime location in Diagon Alley was no longer an issue—Sirius had promised it would be taken care of with ease.

As they gathered in the Highgarden's sitting room, the excitement was palpable. The group was buzzing with ideas, and Remus stood at the center, carefully assessing the work ahead. While the location was secured, they knew the real work was still to be done: the furniture.

“We need enough pieces to really show what this business is about,” Harry said, pacing back and forth. “If we’re going to make an impact, the first batch of furniture has to be impressive. We can’t afford to make it look half-done or shabby.”

Fred clapped his hands together with a grin. “Don’t worry, Harry. We’ve got this covered. We’ve been working on a few ideas already. The pieces in the vault aren’t going to repair—they’re going to be rebuilt into works of art.”

George nodded, his eyes bright with enthusiasm. “We’ve started sorting through the furniture we’ve already collected, and some of it, even in its broken state, is still beautiful. The craftsmanship is top-notch, even if it needs a bit of a polish.”

Neville was looking at a particularly damaged wooden chair, nodding slowly as he turned it over in his hands. “I think we should mix and match the designs—make some modern, some traditional, and even a few eccentric pieces. It’ll show the range of possibilities with this wood. People will be more intrigued if we don’t just stick to one style.”

“Great idea,” Harry said, smiling at Neville’s insight. “We can offer a little bit of everything, and people will feel like they’re getting something unique no matter what they choose.”

Sirius, who had been silently listening from the doorway, stepped forward. His presence alone brought a calm sense of confidence. “I’ve already arranged for a spot in Diagon Alley,” he said, his voice steady. “I’ve spoken with a few key contacts, and we’ve secured a great location right near the center. It’s high-traffic, but also a little off the main path, which means we’ll attract customers who are looking for something special. And the space is perfect for what you’re planning.”

“That’s fantastic,” Fred said with a grin, clapping his hands together. “With proper location, we’ll definitely get noticed.”

George winked at Harry. “Now, it’s all about getting the furniture ready for display. We’ll make sure it’s something people can’t ignore.”

Harry couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. “Alright then, let’s get to work. We’ll focus on quality over quantity, but we’ll need to have enough pieces ready to make an impact when the shop opens. We’ll need chairs, tables, cabinets, and any other furniture we can get our hands on. The idea is to create a collection that showcases furniture’s durability and unique properties.”

Remus nodded. “I’ll organize the repairs with the carpenter shop. We’ll need to work quickly, but carefully. We want these pieces to be in pristine condition.”

With a sense of purpose, the group got to work, carefully planning their next steps. Remus headed off to meet with the carpenters, while Fred and George began sketching out some preliminary designs for their furniture line. Harry and Neville spent the afternoon going through the remaining pieces of broken furniture, picking out the ones with the most potential.

The clock was ticking, but Harry was confident. This was only the beginning. With hard work, creativity, and a little bit of magic, their furniture shop was about to become the talk of Diagon Alley.