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Harco Empire	By : Toddy Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 34430 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or films. I do not make any money from the writing of this story, just enjoyment.

Chapter List
- 208
- 209
- 210
[Note: “x-x” = speech & ‘x-x’ = thoughts & *x-x* = telepathy & #x-x# Parseltongue]
~~~ GRUNRASENHOF ~~~
During the buffet reception after the seers’ induction into the League of Saint Nicholas; they, with the goblin Grunter Gossans and Bertie found themselves a relatively quiet table.
“Grunter says he’s talked with you about this development in Vienna, Bertie.”
“Yes, he has, Dorothy has it on the agenda for the next trust board meeting.”
A: *I had put the hotel lease business on the Agenda too. *
“Perhaps you could give us a preview?” suggested Draco.
“As you know the palast has a wing down one side of the inner courtyard. The hotel is of much the same size and has an equivalent wing on the other side of the courtyard. Grunter has an apartment in the buildings at the back; and Gringotts has an option to buy that block.”
“They appeared grotty when we last looked out of the windows.”
“Grotty on the outside they are,” agreed Grunter, chuckling: “Such a glamour maintained have I, so Gringotts a bargain may acquire.”
Barnstable joined them at the table: “Discussing the Vienna proposition, are you? Gringotts needs a branch in that city. Every Austrian and Hungarian Mage goes to our Berlin branch. Quite a number of them are threatening to use a muggle bank if we don’t open up soon. Grunter acts as our agent there, stemming the flow, but at best it is an unsatisfactory arrangement.”
Harry looked thoughtful: “Do I suppose that there is a way-station beneath your apartment. Grunter?”
Grunter looked surprised: “So you know about them. Does the curse impede you much?”
“We haven’t been cursed. However, the Dumbledorians who need to know have been given permission to use the phaetons. That knowledge remains within the purview of just a few members of the society.”
“The Gynulliad gave their permission some time ago for the knowledge to be given, Grunter,” Barnstable informed.
“I see! The phaetons are the way we deal with the customers’ accounts, but it takes time. At least an hour for the simplest transaction. And there are no vaults available.”
“Why did you choose that place to be interested in; apart from being near another magely residence?”
“Simple! After the bombing ceased, new muggle premises were rebuilt hastily in 1946 on the spot where the old Gringotts had been. The rubble had descended into the vaults disguising and filling them. The muggles copied the façade that had been there but created something different behind it. Recently, a developer bought the place meaning to put up a new building. However, the city authorities insisted on the old building being restored. The impasse caused the developer to lose heart and they want to cut their losses by selling. That would suit us as long as we know we can create a suitable environment.”
“So … What you seem to be saying is.” Here Draco looked thoughtful: “If we take over the hotel and use it as we are doing in Grimond Place you would buy the property in Vienna a turn it back into its original form as long as it faced into a magical environment.”
"Exactly! The other point is that, using the demolition as a cover, we can remove all the bomb rubble that is blocking the vaults and see what survives.”
Ginevra looked interested: “My feeling is that we should go and look at the properties before coming to any conclusions. We have a couple of days free before our next public engagement.” *Can we be there tomorrow morning? *
AD&H *I’M FREE! *
“Say ten o’clock European time tomorrow?”
Grunter’s face fell: “I was hoping for some sleep. I’ll not get much even if I start using our network now.”
Harry gripped Bertie’s hand: *Is he suitable to be let into the portal secret? *
B: *I’d heard you could do this mind talking. It’s a bit strange. But yes, his father was one of the ones your grandfather saved from the Nazi pogrom. He is the Gringotts agent, so he will have been very thoroughly vetted. *
H: *Of course! Thanks! * “Grunter, do you have a room booked already?”
“Yes, in your hotel. Why?”
“No need to worry about getting to Vienna on time. Meet us for breakfast at seven thirty in Number Twelve and we’ll get you there.”
“How?”
“Using our portals.”
“Like the one I came through from the hotel’s square to Diagon Alley?”
“Yes. Although, like your phaeton system, we don’t shout about it and it’s organised differently.”
"Very well, I, your proposition, will accept."
"Good. Time for bed, I think!"
~~~ VIENNA/WIEN ~~~
Grunter accepted their invitation to have breakfast at the London house. He was given a recognition amulet and handed through the various portals having a quick glimpse of the Chateau apartment, Lac Léman from the chalet and the ski slope at the Schwartzberg. They were five minutes early into the Grunrasenhof, not that it really mattered. Lukas greeted them saying that Otto was still sleeping, not having felt too well for the last week. He adopted a human glamour and came with them.
They walked into the hotel and were greeted civilly enough by someone almost as old as Grandmamma and shown around the building. It was shabby but seemed to be sound beneath the dirt and peeling paint. It was an hotel of the old type. No ensuite bathrooms only a washbasin in each room. The lavatories and baths [no showers] were hidden away in corners. No doubt early in the morning there would be queues. Many of the larger rooms had been subdivided and artificial ceilings inserted. Compared with Miss Isabel’s old rooms these were third best.
A: *The false-work will have to be removed. It’s more like a doss-house than an hotel. *
The rest of the seers agreed with that remark.
They thanked the ancient concierge and left.
“Are you up to keeping your glamour, Lukas?”
“Yes, Master Harry. Why?”
“I thought we’d go around the block and have a look at the other building.”
“It’s a rather long block, either way Master. May I suggest we use the back door?”
Harry giggled: “Yes please. I should have asked if there was one.”
There was a door by the side of the foot of the stairs which led down three more and out into the quadrangle. It was not in very good order. Perhaps there had been flower beds and bushes, but it was difficult to tell. The whole area seemed to sprout ragwort out of cracked paving stones and piles of rubble, and there were briars and few scraggly trees. Harry suspected that that sea of golden daisy-like wildflowers hid many nasty secrets. However, there was a trodden path through this neglected urban wilderness, one which they followed. Arriving close to what had been a carriage entrance at one time, but was now walled off, they halted.
Surprisingly, next door, there was a small neat garden in front of a neatly maintained façade. The rest of the building was a shambolic mass of peeling paint and stucco with holes and cracks. It turned out that the neat abode was Grunter’s apartment.
Lukas grabbed Harry’s hand: *I’m told I can talk in your mind this way. *
H: *I can hear you clearly. *
L: *Good! Grunter lives by himself and we’ve been looking after him. The Duchessa said we should, but now you seers are in charge. *
H: *I know where this is going, Lukas. Please continue to look after him. *
L: *Thank you! I had to ask, but Elder Kreacher thought you would agree. *
H: *You did the right thing by checking, but we have full confidence in our Reeve. You were also doing the right thing by looking after Grunter. Well done! *
L: *Thank you Master! * Lukas let go of Harry’s hand.
Grunter was explaining the lay-out: “The stables and carriage house over there, were. The other wing the hotel, now is. The decrepit building once a warehouse was, where my residence now is. Rebuilt it quickly its owners did. After the war as a supply base it was used. Through many hands since then, it has been, and Gringotts own it could. Your building squads to rebuild it properly, we hope.”
“Shall we see how bad it is?”
“Carefully you need to go. Most of the pitfalls I know, so to you I’ll indicate them.”
Draco said he thought that the building might not need demolishing.
“What do you mean? It’s in a terrible state,” admonished Astoria.
“I mean; three or four good gusts of wind will probably do the job for us.”
Grunter chuckled: “A good point have you. However, to preserve the façade in order to placate the authorities; much of which is original.” He shrugged: “As for the rest; well?” He removed the internal glamour.
The building was not beyond reclamation but would obviously need much repairing. Its use as a warehouse was still apparent, because rusting hoists hung over oblong openings in each floor.
“Maybe they could be converted into stair-wells or lift shafts.”
Grunter pointed out the places that Gringotts would alter; taking out the first floor to create the banking hall. “Much in the same way your ballroom is constructed.”
They worked out that the five floors were on much the same level as the ones in the hotel or, for that matter, in the Grunrasenhof itself.
G: *Maybe we could buy the half of the building Gringotts don’t want. I don’t much fancy paying them rent for it. We have the capital. *
H: *Good idea. Let Tor handle the negotiations, she’s a wily diplomat. *
D: *Fine by me! *
A: *Not sure if that’s too complimentary. *
Before the internal repartee got under way, Grunter started to speak: “My studio-flat please enter, to sit down we can, and discuss things whilst some coffee imbibing.”
“How many storeys are there?”
“Five, Ginevra, plus for elves an attic.”
“How high was the original Gringotts building?”
“Three floors approximately. A glamour the rest of the façade maintained.”
“Did it take up all this side?”
“No! This half only. The other for shops intended is.”
Ginevra looked thoughtful: “The noise from the street was quite loud when we looked out. So, for the hotel residents the upper stories would be best. I have this sort of idea. Use the bottom storeys for the shops, all facing the square. A bit like a mini Grimond Place. That would include converting the stables and the bottom two floors of the hotel, apart from its entrance. The next storey could be the Shopkeepers apartments, with individual access. Like the WWW flat. Then, in recompense, for the two lost floors, we could use the two above the Gringotts block. Probably gaining a few more bedrooms.”
“I had a talk with Grandmamma,” added Astoria: “She would like us to continue the concerts, balls and exhibitions. I agree with her, it’s something that keeps the Grunrasenhof financially buoyant. However, we don’t need all the reception rooms above that on the third floor, that’s the fourth floor to you, Grunter. Nor do we need all the bedrooms above that. I suggest we convert the front reception rooms into a restaurant for the residents and the bedrooms above into residents’ lounges, a bar, or maybe a card-room. That would mean we could reserve the rooms facing the square for family and guests use.”
“You two seem to have this worked out.”
“Much of it is based on Lukas’s ideas.”
“Thank you, mistress. I have been giving it some thought.” He clicked his fingers and a large parchment appeared: “I had not thought of placing more rooms over the Gringotts building, but I imagine it would be a mirror-image of what I have drawn.” Here he spread out the parchment and started to indicate the possibilities.
All of them were drawn into the planning and discussing over the neatly drawn plans. So much so that one of the house-elves came and asked if they wanted their lunch serving there. Grunter was very gratified when they accepted his further hospitality.
By mid-afternoon they had worked out the ideal plan. However, it had a number of ifs. Including whether Gringotts would allow hotel rooms above their premises. Proper costings had to be made, plus a practical feasibility study taken. They adjourned with Grunter going to talk to the Gringotts board and Ginevra with Lukas involving Seamus and Dean. As there was to be one of Grandmamma’s concerts that evening the seers decided to stay over. Ginevra used the daffodils to contact the pair of constructors, so they ported over to look at the outline plan and attend the concert. Which included the first two sections of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. The Magicals were much moved by this start to their Christmas Season.
They saw, in the programme, that the Smiling-ones’ octet was giving a Christmas music concert at the Grunrasenhof. When tasked with this later Honorius replied: “We cover the same repertoire in different places. To the usual St Godric’s and Hogwarts we’ve added the Grunrasenhof’s ballroom, the chapel at the Palazzo, Wilfrid’s chapel and the church at Cerroverde. The goblin choir will also be performing with us. The ones that sang at your recent St Nicholas ceremony.”
“They were good. How did you come across them?”
“They practice in St Godric’s, some of them are in the church choir.”
“Any elves?”
“Some good singers, yes. But, in front of unknowing muggles, holding their glamour and singing is too much of a strain. They’ll join us at the Palazzo. They’re doing their own thing at the Ministry and Helltröllstimø where there are only magicals present.”
“Fine, I can see that’s a problem. The goblins can just about get away with it. After all there are some adult humans smaller than them.”
~~~ HOLIDAY? ~~~
As well as the important religious observances there were the Wizengamot ball to attend, the Godric’s Hollow Yule Fair, plus the various activities in each of the magical academies, their own festive meals both family and Dumbledorian. They were back in Vienna for the New Year’s Day concert having been up late to witness the WWW Firework display in the village. Having nicely recovered from all the jollifications, they started again at the end of January with a round of their children’s birthdays. So, it was mid-February when they applied themselves to thoughts of the Viennese Hotel.
Board meetings had been held, both Harco and Gringotts. Plans had been drawn and a thorough survey made.
“It may look grotty,” remarked Dean: “But the basic fabric is in better shape than it looks.”
“The Gringotts Board purchase of one half of the building is going ahead,” Grunter reported: “Your trust the other half is buying. Four shopkeepers in joining the venture are interested already.”
“The capital expenditure is covered by the remainder of the Miss Isabel bequest,” averred Bertie and Gallus: “Judging by the receipts from the London Hotel, your capital will reap a handsome income.”
“Although we no longer take our train on to the continent,” Sigismund told them: “We still receive requests. We will be most pleased to arrange stays there. We are already co-operating with Septimus about our passengers needs and we have the Paris Hotel on our books too.
“I’m negotiating with the Gringotts solicitor about the rent to be paid for using the two floors above their premises,” Francis stated; “I have suggested offsetting our labour against the rent and had some positive response. I think a graduated deal is possible on this basis so that the full rent will not be payable until seven years’ time. That will give us space to grow the business. By and large, the rent from three shops will cover it, anyway.”
“We are preparing a number of flower display-beds for the centre lawns,” Hortulanus said: “Not that they will be ready for a couple of months yet.”
Just before Easter Seamus informed them: “The shops are ready where the stables were, plus the one in the old hotel. We have the managerial flat sorted and twenty-one double bedrooms decorated. So, you can start taking hotel bookings.”
###
The Smiling-ones-plus came to see them: “Hi Harry. The grapevine tells us you have another hotel starting up,” Honorius remarked chirpily: “Are we still in the running to become managers? On our off days we’ve been helping Set and Fen out. Learning on the job, like.”
“The position’s unchanged and we know you’ve been at the London hotel. Who are the next volunteers?”
“It’s Sophie and I, Harry,” replied Mordant: “We can start in a week’s time. We reckon our flat’s better than Set’s and Fen’s.”
“Casing out the joint, were you? Why you two?”
“I speak German and Sophie speaks Hungarian for starters. Then Sophie’s had an argument with her overseer. Not her fault really, apart from being extremely attractive, that is. He made inappropriate remarks and she thinks he might try something on.”
“Ginny and I went to that restaurant for dinner once. If it’s the one I’m thinking of. He thinks he’s God’s gift to all witches. He had itchy balls when we left.”
“How come?”
“He knew of Harry’s and Draco’s attraction to each other and was suggesting he could deputise if we wanted to make more babies.”
Ginevra giggled: “We thought he was displaying himself so … a little unobtrusive finger pointing and a modified Rictusempra sorted him out.”
“You must teach me that one, Ginny,” suggested Sophia: “I might return and hex him.”
“I’d rather you didn’t Dear One. He’d see you pointing a wand at him. With Ginny’s finger magic he couldn’t be sure. I’d rather not have to arrest you for using aggressive hexes.”
Sophia smirked: “Well … It was a nice fantasy!”
While the joshing was going on the seers had had a mental conference. Draco spoke up: “Start on the first of March, suit you?”
“Great!” from Mordant.
“Thank you!” from his fiancée.
###
Grandmamma was told of the forthcoming opening.
“Have you had the new project blessed?” she asked.
“Not yet. We believe you have a Lutheran pastor and wondered if he would like to do it.”
“I will ask Konrad if he will officiate when I next visit Vienna.”
A couple of weeks later Herr Konrad Stein met Astoria at the Grunrasenhof. He had the tingle when he shook hands.
“I understand you wish a blessing on your house? Surely this was carried out many years ago.”
“Yes, it was. However, we have created some new shops and altered the area where the hotel is to be situated. I do believe we met briefly after one of the ecumenical services.”
“Ah yes! I remember. You belong to another church; I think?”
“Mainly Anglican but there are priests from the Roman Church as well. Each in their turn have blessed our houses; dependant on the place where they are situated.”
“So, you feel that my church is suitable.”
“The Duchessa, my grandmother, attends your church sometimes, I believe.”
“She tells me of a Methodist church she attends in London, and of a country Anglican Church too.”
“The London house where her granny-flat is situated, is in a square which has a Methodist church within it. Its pastor, like you, is aware of our special status.”
“Ah yes! Once a year there is a meeting of ministers who are aware. Not all of us can attend every year. Now, if I remember there was a new priest … Mmm … Timothy perhaps?”
“He’s the curate at our church. The Methodist minister’s call William Weatherspoon, he’s a doctor of divinity.”
“I remember a doctor from a few years back. He said he had not met anyone of your persuasion; maybe that was him. Oh, but I’m straying from the point. It seems you are ecumenical in outlook. Surely a roman priest would represent the majority of Austrians.”
“We could import one from Venice or Spain if necessary, or an orthodox bishop, for that matter. We do need to represent all branches of Christendom in our membership.”
“Yes, I can see that. Very well I will do as you ask. Maybe we should sit together and sort out the details.” … … … So they did.
###
Draco was surprised how similar the service was. Konrad had brought along some of his choir and Hamish had organised both the goblin and elfin choirs to join them. To stop alarming the muggles Justin held glamours on the elves so that they could concentrate on the music. The highlight was at the end in the ballroom when some of J S Bach’s Cantata BWV 34 was performed in its original language. The seers and the Dumbledorians understood everything because they used their St Georges.
That service was the last public function that Otto attended, for, two days later, the ancient elf died.
Konrad took the funeral service before the small coffin and its occupant were cremated. There was a wake afterwards and the attendees were kept enthralled by Grandmamma’s tales of her Hauptdiener and the difficulties they had overcome. Some were funny and some harrowing, but it was a fitting tribute to a faithful retainer.
“That’s how I want to go,” said Kreacher solemnly: “Not the remembrances, but to be cremated. I don’t want my head stuffed and mounted. Those heads frightened me continually. I think that that was why I was so curmudgeonly.”
Draco smiled at him gently: “I think there’s a lot of life left in your old bones, Kreacher. So, we’re not thinking of your immediate departure. However, we are younger than you, so we’ll bear in mind your request when the time comes.”
“Thank you!”
~~~ MARKET ~~~
It was Easter 2014 before the next development.
Oddball collared Draco: “I’ve got to get away from Papa Willerby. He thinks I’ve corrupted his son.”
“Who Julie?” Draco grinned: “More like the other way around.”
“He’s threatening to emasculate me. Merlin knows what he’ll do to Julie. He turned a blind eye when he thought my patrimony was lucrative. Perhaps it was until the wool market collapsed. The Smarts are great at selling their clothes and I do get some return. Julie’s folks are in much the same boat and he doesn’t see himself as the dutiful son of an impoverished laird almost starving on their meagre income.”
“So, what you both need is to marry a rich heiress!”
“Neither of us relish that thought. I know you and Harry managed to produce heirs; and I suppose we’ll have to do the same. Laird Willerby has some witch in mind and Julie’s scared he’ll strong-arm him into marrying her. Neither of us want that and she behaves like a dragon. She’s of the Umbridge clan and a lowlander to boot.”
“I know her, I think. She behaves worse than her aunt did. Don’t mention her name to Harry or Seamus. She tortured them sexually.”
Oddball giggled: “I’ve heard the stories about a sweet cat with big claws and a rasping tongue. Seamus says he has an idea to help us. Has he told you about it?”
“No! He’s over there. Let’s go and see him.”
They went over to where Dean and Seamus were sitting.
“Seamus, Oddball says you have an idea. Do tell?”
“Yer were busy when I tried a couple of days ago.”
“Well, I’m not now.”
“Yer see it’s about the shops in Vienna. Four of them are up and running, but no-one wants big ones. However, a number of traders want ter set up stalls. Horrty is dead set against them spoiling the lawns and flower beds and we agree, don’t we Love?”
Dean nodded his head and continued: “The shop in the corner could be made into a mini-market area with stalls inside. We think that’d take off. But we’d need a Superintendent to take the rents and ensure the daily tenants behaved themselves. Our idea is to use the flat intended for the shopkeeper’s family as the Superintendent’s abode.”
Astoria was listening in: *We need someone there to look after the Grunrasenhof and develop the cultural programme. Grandmamma keeps calling me away from what I’m doing. Her energy levels are not what they used to be. We cannot put this on to Set and Sophie. They’re willing, but we owe it to them not to overload them. *
Harry had been tuned in and wandered over: “Julie’s an amateur violinist isn’t he, Oddball?”
“Yes, and he’s into classical music too. I quite like it and he’s taken to educating my musical palate. “Where’s this going?”
“How about a trial?” Draco suggested: “You and Julie go and hide out in the Vienna flat. You take on the market super’s job and he organises the cultural happenings at the Grunrasenhof. To begin with it will be on an all found plus expenses basis. You’ll be able to keep an eye on your Scottish estate and commute via the portals.”
“I like the idea. Papa Willerby doesn’t know we’re connected. I’ll have a chat with Julie, I’m almost sure he’ll like it.”
In early May two enamoured young men went to live in the Market Superintendent’s flat. Helping each other as and when needed. By and large Oddball’s elves looked after his Scottish estate; using the daffodils to contact him and advising him when Papa Willerby was otherwise engaged so he could port over and fulfil his laird’s duties there.
###
It was June when the two male seers received an urgent daffodil from Kingsley.
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