Unlike the times before, the instant Rowan stepped into Gringotts Bank, she was ushered by a guard to wait in a private room. A female goblin attendant had presented her with a variety of drinks and snacks, while she waited. Enjoying a cup of fresh lemonade and some biscuits she patiently waited for Ragnok, who she had been told would be shortly with her. Not that she minded provided he was not delayed too long. She only had an hour window to complete her business transactions at Gringotts.
Rowan internally winces as she leans back and the chair presses into her bruised back. Ever since grandfather had really taken to his role of seriously training them, it had become a hellish summer for them. After homework and lunch for the rest of the afternoon, she and Severus would duel each other for an hour, and the rest of the time was spent dueling their grandfather.
One would think that a man of his age should never be so spry, but somehow, he moved like a shark through water, both deadly and graceful. Reginald never tired and seemed to be able to read their every move. It got to the point where Severus and Rowan were just trying to dodge rather than attack. And they considered their day successful if they ended up on the floor on their back less than fifteen times. The floor and them were rather well acquainted with each other. There was no need for further introductions, but rather a sense of bitterness that would always follow with each of their abrupt, painful reunions.
Rowan had not drunk even half of her lemonade, when the door swung open to reveal the youthful face of Ragnok. Looking much more elegant than the last time she saw him; she nodded her head in greeting at the pointy-eared goblin.
Ragnok tilted his head in a sincere bow and said, "It is a pleasure to see you again, Miss Prince."
"I hope that many riches find their way to towards you, Ragnok," Rowan courtesy replied in Gobbledgook.
Ragnok flashed her a sharp grin as he took a seat before her. "Your accent has much improved, Miss Prince." Opening the ledger before him his long fingers with neatly trimmed fingernails tapped at the pages making sure everything is in order, before speaking.
While Rowan waits for Ragnok, she makes small talk. "I've noticed quite the amount of patrolling A.P.D. officer's and that of at least of two Auror teams on patrol on my way here."
Ragnok does not glance up to reply, but he drily murmurs, "Well, it is to be expected after the attack on Master Belby. The Head of Auror's, Bob Ogden was quite displeased, and the Minister of Magic was as well. Apparently, he has been given full leeway to hunt down any sort of miscreants. There are daily raids by the A.P.D. and the Auror's, and dozens have already been apprehended."
"Hmm, I read something of that sort in the Daily Prophet," Rowan mumbled back. "Though one can't always trust what one reads in the paper."
"Most certainly," Ragnok replied as he at least glanced up from studying the ledger. "It would seem that indeed everything is in order regarding your investments and vault, Miss Prince. How can Gringotts help you on this fine evening?"
"I would like to meet with a squib or muquib stockbroker to open an investment portfolio in the muggle world," Rowan confidently answered.
"Most certainly," Ragnok said. "I shall bring our best broker on hand, a former accountant turned stockbroker, Geoffrey Prewett."
"Prewett?" Rowan though to herself. Could this possibly be the famous second cousin of Molly Weasley, a squib accountant in the muggle world?
Ragnok rose for a moment, before leaving the room for a few minutes, before quickly coming back. "He'll be here shortly, he is presently jotting a few notes down for a portfolio, before heading back to Gringotts Incorporated to make said changes on the com-pu-ter."
Ragnok, once more took his seat as Rowan said, "Well, you've certainly gotten up in the world since the last time I saw you."
Ragnok nods his head at her and says, "In part due to you, Miss Prince. The handling of your contract has brought me and Gringotts much wealth. It was a serendipitous blessing which I am profoundly grateful for."
"Flatterer," Rowan chuckled as she took a sip of her lemonade.
The two of them did not have to wait long as a knock on the door caused them to glance up as a medium sized, middle-aged man with broad shoulders appeared before him. He bore a striking resemblance to Fabian Prewett. However, the biggest difference between the two men is that Geoffrey Prewett had none of the mischief of Fabian, but rather wore square glasses and had a more stern, professional air about him.
"Hello Miss Prince," the chestnut-haired man said. "I'm Geoffrey Prewett, a pleasure to meet you." His eyes did not even flicker at her age nor gender. And why should they, he had been born in the wizarding world after all.
Rowan tilts her head in acknowledgment and says, "I would like to initially invest only one hundred thousand galleons into the stock market. I would like a wide array of portfolio's please show me, what is readily available."
Geoffrey Prewett without any hesitation opens the suitcase at his side and pulls out a folder with investment suggestions. His wife had thought him made when he switched careers out of the blue. However, the pay was triple of that he earned per year with the bonus of commissions. But more importantly, he could finally make his deceased parents proud and show the wizarding world that a squib was just as useful as any another other wizard or witch.
"I would like to suggest some stock in oil, and foreign trade as well as a few options here in the United Kingdom including real estate," Geoffrey said as he showed her his ideas for an investment portfolio.
Rowan nods her head at most of them and says, "All the selections I believe are excellent investments. As for electronics I will hold off investing including computers in computers, this will be a rough patch for a bit. However, invest in Micr*soft, I know that it is new, but I believe that it proves to be a worthwhile investment. I will also write down the names of several companies and the minute their stock market opens, buy up all the stock that you can. The company owners are all former Microsoft or computer engineers with excellent reputations in their field of work."
Rowan writes down the names and circles them as Geoffrey in disbelief slowly reads one of the names and says, "A fruit company?"
"No, it's an electronic company," Rowan instantly said. "As for everything else, we shall proceed according to your recommendations."
"Thank you for your trust," Geoffrey Prewett said, before handing over documents for the client to read, and sign in agreement. Unlike the regular contracts of Gringotts, these documents were more straight forward. Only a bit.
Finished reading the documents, Rowan arches her brow and says, "A 5 percent commission and 7% for an annual maintenance fee? That is rather high for annual maintenance fee and simply ridiculous for a commission."
Ragnok cackles loudly and says, "Most wizards don't recognize that clause. It would make sense that you would, Miss Prince." Of course, most wizards did not know said term as it was completely new jargon to them. And the goblins would use that to their advantage. Who would have ever suspected that the muquibs and squibs of the wizarding world would be so particularly useful?
Geoffrey rolls his eyes and says, "I work as a part of Gringotts, Miss Prince. Just because Gringotts Incorporated now exists in the muggle world that does not mean the Gringotts nature of the establishment does not still exist therein."
"No, I will only agree to an annual fee of 2 percent and only 1 percent commission," Rowan flatly said. "No more nor less."
"Agreed," Ragnok slyly said causing Rowan to roll her eyes knowing that was exactly what Ragnok had been aiming for.
After a quick redraft of the document, Rowan finally signs the document only after reading the contract a second time. Satisfied, Ragnok hands one contract to Geoffrey and the other to Rowan. Closing his suitcase with a loud snap, Geoffrey nods his head at her, and says, "A pleasure doing business with you, Miss Prince. I look forward to a long lasting and rather fruitful relationship."
The two of them shake hands, before Geoffrey leaves and firmly closes the door behind him. With a wry expression, Rowan says, "I take it that the squibs and the muquibs of the world are thriving like sharks in an ocean filled with swarms of fish."
"Precisely," Ragnok said with a pointed grin. "It is one of the best investments Gringotts has ever made."
Rowan only wryly chuckles to the goblin's words. She could only imagine considering the squib status in the wizarding world. And when said squibs had been ignored all their lives within the wizarding world, and now that the ball was finally on their side of the court, they would do everything in their power to change and secure a future for their children. And they would be successful too for they had reliable allies now, the Goblins.