AN:
Alright, readers, here's the deal—if we hit 100 power stones by the end of the day, I'll drop a new chapter. Simple, right? The fate of the next update is in your hands. No pressure… but also, lots of pressure.
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( Harry POV )
A week had passed since telling Tonks, and it had proven to be fortunate telling her the truth. Now Tonks seemed to spend every spare moment visiting him, so she could practise her spell work, and skills without her parents knowing. Also had taken to using the archery range he had set up, after he had explained his logic behind it.
When he had asked her what her parents thought she was doing, she had said she was around her boyfriend's house or hanging around with school mates, which frankly was amusing because 'Michael Hutt' was all but forgotten about now.
He had also arrange for private appointment with Ayra, in next couple days, hopefully everything be processing well.
But today he was visiting Padma and her family, not that it matter much, but he wouldn't be able to talk to Padma for over a month since she was going to visit her family in India. So they thrown together this last minute get together for chat.
Walking up the main drive way, towards the manors front doors, the manor itself was moderate in size as far as he could tell; after all it was his first manor he had ever visited. It had a Victorian design, which was odd, considering that he would have thought it would have Indian features, but considering it may be ambassadors' residents provide in part by ministry, not so much.
Knocking on the front door, before being allowed in by a house elf whose name he didn't catch.
Where he waited in the reception room, looking around the room, it an odd mixture of Victorian features, with Indian decorations, it was an interesting mix. Not his personal taste, but it was nice to a point.
Eventually Padma and her mother arrived on the scene, resulting in him almost being crush from Padma's hug, before gesturing to her mother. "Let me introduce you to my mother." It was easy to see the resemble between the pair, Padma mother appeared to be in her mid 20's, but that really meant nothing with magic, since magicals aged slower depending on their magical strength, so for all he could know she could be in her late forties. He also remembered that Padma had older brother, so it was good chance that was the case.
Going into full charm mode, one that was rarely seen around Hogwarts "Lady Patli, It's a pleasure to finally meet you, I must say it's clear where your daughters receive their beauty from," he said, before kissing her hand, before flashing a smile, causing Padma to blush at the remark, at the same time as getting a minor blush from her mother.
That was interesting, since he expected she would be use to such comments from meeting different lords, which meant either that she was young, as her appearance suggested or she had lived a rather sheltered life, and didn't get out much. Or he was just that charming, which he personally like the sound of, but he doubted it.
"Charmed, its pleasure to finally meet you, Padma has spoken most highly of you, it was unfortunate we were unable to meet you sooner," she replied, making a subtle reference to the platform.
"Thank you, it is unfortunate, however due to the train being delayed leaving, it made me late for meeting with my account manager, and as I'm sure you know Goblins hate time wasters, and the last thing I wanted to do was upset the fellow who manages my accounts," he replied respectfully, offering an explanation.
"Padma, how about you give Harry here a tour of the house, I'll go find out what your sister and Lavender are up to," she said before leaving them.
"I guess I'll give you the tour then," Padma stated.
The next hour or so was filled with Padma showing him around, the house was turning out to be most impressive. During it he made small talk, but one thing he noticed was Padma mother regularly popping up discreetly, checking up on them or eavesdropping. It didn't matter all that much, it made sense she would be interested in her daughters friends.
Plus wouldn't surprise him if she was already checking to see if there was any possibility of future marriage contract, after all she was a pureblood, and it was common for families to start looking around at possible suitable matches, even if the eventually contract wasn't signed until several years later. He personally wouldn't be signing any contracts for long time, after all he wasn't going to 'buy' a wife.
"And here's our library".
"Impressive," he said, whilst looking over the library, maybe sometime in future he would be able to get a look at it in depth, but it seem rather small, when thinking of Hogwarts, and the amount of books and tomes he had in his own two vaults.
"Hardly, this is just what we've gather since we have been living in Britain, we have a far bigger one at our ancestral states back in India," she replied, before giving quick tour of it.
"Now that's everything, so what you fancy doing?" Padma questioned
"How about we head outside and have good chat, at the same time as playing a game of chess?" he offered, after all no point sitting inside on nice sunny day.
After getting a chess set and heading out into the garden; so they could have a quiet game on the patio, overlooking a swimming pool. Where both Pav and Lavander were sunning themselves, they didn't even notice him or Pad.
So they spent the afternoon, talking, chatting and just enjoying the sun for change. "So you looking forward to visiting your family in India?" he asked.
"Yea, it be nice to see my brother, and my aunts and uncles, it's been several years since we all had a collective get together."
"Yea must be nice, plus you get to see another culture and all," he replied.
"Hardly, most of time I'll be forced to stay within the state, and play nice with my cousins," she explained, while looking out over the grounds.
"Oh, that's a shame, I was going to asked if you could pick up any spells books on runes, and wards, and any DADA ones." He asked, thinking over the advantages of using foreign spells.
"Why is that?" Lady Patil asked, surprising him with her sudden appearance, before casually draping herself across one of the chairs.
"Simple really, a man cannot defend himself if he does not know the spell, by using spells and wards, what are non-native to Europe it will give me advantage in any fight, giving me better chance of surviving to old age," he said seriously, whilst thinking over the additional areas of magical knowledge he could gain access to, since rituals, and blood magic were still in practise in India.
"Boys, always thinking of fighting, duels and glory," she said in disapproving manner.
"Maybe Madam, but being last Potter I need every advance I can get, besides their no guarantee I would even use the knowledge, but it's better to be prepared, than lacking then you need it," he answered politely, getting impression that Padma mother was very much an idealist.
"Indeed, Well spoken, It's better to be prepare and ready for the future, than not, it shows that you have fine making for being head of family," came the a smooth voice with heavy Indian accent, what could only be Padma father.
"Lord Patli, its pleasure to meet you," while shaking the man's hand, forgoing any charm, deciding get down to business.
"Indeed, both my daughters' speck very highly of you, are you staying for dinner?" He asked
"Only if I'm not a burden, I understand you are busy with preparations for your travels, and I don't want to intrude," he responded, giving the lord an easy way out of the invite.
"Of course, I'll just have House elves set another plate" he replied.
"Thank you, I was wondering If I could talk to you about some possible business both our houses can profit from?" he asked, wondering if he at all would be taken seriously.
"Perhaps, but you guardian should handle this on your behalf," Lord Patli said in a disproving tone.
"Well my guardian at times does not have my best interest at heart, and this is just an idea on the drawing board. I'm just trying to see if there will be any interest in the idea." He answered seriously.
"Then let's retire to my office and discuses business then, follow me," he ordered, before leading harry to his office, neither Padma or lady Patil make any tempts to follow. The office itself was very unique, similar in many ways to Bloodmoons, But far more homely with Hindu themes.
"What is it you wanted to discuses, I hope you not wasting my time," Lord Patli stated in non-nonsense tone. Causing him to decide to cut the sweet talk, and just give his pitch.
"I'll keep it short then, I understand that you run one of the biggest shipping companies coming from Far East and are responsible for majority of shipping from India.
I myself own series of independence dockyards outside the ministry taxation and control. In the near future I hope to reopen these docks, if I can find enough interest. I am sure you can see the potential to lower your running costs, and get higher profit, and uncut your rivals further ensuring your own continued control of the market." Taking a break to catch his breath, before continuing on with his sales pitch.
"So at the moment I am currently asking around to find out if individuals such as you would be interested. After all if there is another dock opened, it means other owners will be forced to lower their own prices to compete, either way you can gain." He answered, hoping his pitch was good enough, since it was first time he had spoken allowed of this idea.
Sure Bloodmoon loved the idea on paper, but reading something was different from doing something.
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