Despite the fact that he never knew this place existed until recently, never saw it in its full glory, he still felt the loss as if he had. He could easily imagine what this place would have been like before the war, as hundreds of wizards and witches went about their business, cargo being loaded and unloaded, money changing hands, and opportunities seized.
...
It didn't matter what it looked like now, or even what it looked like before, because he would rebuild it, bigger, better, and stronger than the previous docks! He would ward it until it was like a fortress if he had his way; he would make it to last far into the future, the foundation of the Potter family's prosperity. Taking a couple of deep, calming breaths, he watched his warm breath mist and drift in the cold morning sea air, even as his mind started coming up with different designs and layouts.
He would have to visit the Potter vault in the hope of finding any pre-existing plans, rather than getting another architect to redesign it from scratch. Looking over to where the old gatehouse used to be, he was tempted to build a private residence there, a grand new city house, and have an office in it looking out onto the docks as well as the high street itself, by moving the dock entrance further down the street.
'Decisions, decisions,' he mused beneath his breath as he turned his attention back to the sea. He could easily see the faint outline of four piers in the distance, periodically appearing above the broken waves.
Hopefully they wouldn't take too much work to restore, he noted. 'Maybe I should add another pier or two while I'm at it?' He decided to wait on decisions like that until he had an idea of the actual demand for the docks. Leaving the docks and putting his invisibility cloak back on, he headed down the abandoned high street that he now owned, examining the vacant shops as he went. It was like a ghost town in the movies, with only the occasional passerby visible.
As he walked down the street, he noted that some of these buildings he owned were currently being used for seedy purposes, or more likely by rock-bottom wizards as makeshift homes. That would have to change too. At least with all the buildings empty he would have no local resistance to his plans, and he could easily clear the old buildings to make way for new ones.
'Note to self, look up magical building methods,' he dutifully noted. Smiling to himself at the challenge this would all be, he remembered a quote, 'when a forest is burnt to the ground, its ash makes it fertile, allowing new life to grow even stronger than before.' He mentally acknowledged that natural truth and hoped that it applied to this situation too, as he walked along the near-empty high street, before looking down another shadier street, which he also owned, several shadows moving.
Moving along, he considered how long he had spent here; he would have to go soon, he had a meeting at Gringotts with his godfather, who would be more than a bit annoyed that Harry had ditched him. Raising his wand and summoning a day bus to his location, he considered his short- and long-term plans; hopefully he could buy the rest of the surrounding land in the next couple of weeks before knowledge of his plans for the Potter Docks inevitably slipped out and drove the prices far higher.
...
( Gringotts Bank )
Gringotts Bank was surprisingly quiet at the moment, not in terms of noise, but in terms of business. Only two counters were even open today. They quickly made their way through the reception area, before being allowed past the guards to their meeting with their respective account managers. Fortunately enough, both account managers were waiting for them in Dawnberg's office, since he was the higher-ranking of the two goblins involved in the upcoming meeting.
"Thank you for seeing us, Account Manager Dawnberg, and Account Manager Bloodmoon," Sirius stated formally, staying respectful as he sat silently waiting for the goblin to formally acknowledge him.
"Indeed, Lord Black," Dawnberg began. "What is it you wish to discuss?" he asked, and thereby took charge of the meeting.
"First, I want to make you both aware that Harry is my chosen Heir and successor," gesturing across to him. "I recently got medical confirmation of what I had already suspected; my time in that prison has left me sterile," Sirius said soberly as he handed over some documents. "This is the necessary paperwork to finalize Harry as my chosen successor. I trust that you will send the necessary documents to the right parties informing them of Harry's change in position."
"Of course, Lord Black," the goblin replied dutifully, examining me again with his own beady eyes, whilst Bloodmoon sat straighter and stiffer.
"Thank you," Sirius nodded. "Both Harry and I have talked about this, we believe it would be for the best that we coordinate our financial efforts in the markets where we have similar interests, hence the reason why we asked for you both today," gesturing to the two goblins, who quickly nodded understanding at the situation.
"Of course," Dawnberg agreed, his eyes lighting up at the prospect of more gold in play, making coordinated moves. "Do you wish just one of us to oversee your joint accounts?"
Already expecting such a question, they had a response prepared. "Account Manager Bloodmoon will continue to oversee my own vaults and interests," Harry said, quickly nodding to his manager. "He has serviced the Potter family interests successfully for many years; he has my total faith in his abilities," seeing the referenced account manager smile like a shark, as Dawnberg seemed less than pleased at the statement of support. "My godfather and I just wish you to coordinate your efforts. If for whatever reason there is disagreement on what to do in these joint business ventures, please contact us, and we will make the final decision based on which option we find more agreeable with our long-term goals and plans."
"Of course," Bloodmoon said, speaking for the first time in their meeting, now feeling more secure in his position.
"I have finally decided to rebuild the Potter Docklands," Harry stated plainly, but the passion in his voice was hard to miss. "However, I plan on expanding it greatly as well in the process, both in size and scope. My godfather here has agreed to act on my behalf whilst I am in school, since regular and timely contact will be impossible," he said to the pair as Sirius nodded.
"A sound business investment," Dawnberg agreed. "The Black family vaults could also grow greatly if this venture is successful."
"Good," Sirius agreed. "I also want you to investigate this for us." Taking the locket out of his robe pocket and handing it to them. "There are enchantments on it we can't break; we would like to hire some of your best curse breakers to take a crack at them and find out what was so special about this locket."
"Of course," Dawnberg agreed, taking the offered locket. "Just let me get the necessary paperwork for it."
"Bloodmoon," he said, catching his Account Manager's attention. "You know my plans, and have already started implementing them," referring to the letters he had exchanged with the goblin since first learning of the docks. "Please speed up the procurement of the lands around the docks; you are authorized to use your discretion and offer more if it will speed up the process or to ensure the scope of what I'm doing remains secret for longer.
If you can get a binding oath of secrecy regarding the purchases, then do so. I expect that my intentions will be known soon though regardless of the precautions we've taken. So much needs to be done before that happens… I want to start the first stages of reconstruction this spring."
...
if you want to read ahead of the public release you can join my p atreon :
p atreon.com/loveran