Chereads / Otherworldly Interference / Chapter 87 - Lunch and Plans

Chapter 87 - Lunch and Plans

After Snape disapparated, Harry walked downstairs with a smug look on his face. He was free of those damned glasses and could finally not be worried about them. 

As Harry entered the dining hall with a smug grin, he saw that Petunia and Abigail were already seated waiting on him. Abigail was reading the second book Harry had gotten her for Christmas and Petunia seemed to be explaining it to her. Both looked up and were shocked to see him without his spectacles.

Petunia's eyes widened, her gaze locking onto Harry's now bare face. "Harry, where are your glasses? she asked. "You know not wearing them can harm your sight even more."

Harry smirked as he slid into his seat beside her. "Actually, I don't need them anymore," he said, leaning back with a self-satisfied expression. "I made a potion which I used to fix my eyesight. So, I'm officially free of those glasses."

Petunia stared at him, utterly speechless. She opened her mouth, then closed it, clearly stunned as she tried to process what he'd just said. Finally, she managed, "Harry... Do you mean to say you... fixed your vision?"

Harry gave a single, confident nod, enjoying her reaction a bit more than he probably should. "Yep. It took some work, but now I won't need those things ever again."

Abigail's face lit up, and she practically leapt from her chair, throwing her arms around Harry in excitement. "Yay! Now we can play without you worrying about breaking those glasses!"

Harry chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Exactly. No more holding back."

Petunia shook her head in amazement, finally breaking into a small, proud smile. "You've really done something incredible, Harry. Again." She let out a sigh, half exasperated and half in admiration. "Just… try not to shock us like this too often, alright?"

Harry took a bite of his steak. "You know, Mum," he began, "this is just the beginning. Give me two years, and I'll be running the entire magical society."

Petunia's fork paused mid-air as she looked at Harry, a mix of disbelief and alarm flickering across her face. She forced a small, uneasy laugh, brushing it off as a child's rambling. "Harry dear, really, let's not get ahead of ourselves," she said, her tone light yet faintly uneasy.

But something in Harry's gaze told her he wasn't entirely joking. That unshakeable confidence, the cool determination—she recognized it well enough by now to know he meant every word. And the fact that Harry had already achieved impossible tasks made Petunia afraid, that her son might actually do it.

Forcing a smile, Petunia focused back on her plate. "Well, just… try not to overthrow any governments before dessert, alright?" she said, attempting a teasing tone.

Harry leaned back in his chair, "Of course, Mum." With that he continued eating his lunch in silence, while the echoes of Ollivander's warning replayed in Petunia's mind——was this the beginning of what the wandmaker had feared? Or was Harry truly meant to bring a new era to the magical world?

All she could do now was watch and hope that her son would find the right path in the journey ahead.

As they continued their lunch, Harry turned to Petunia, "Mum, have you read the books that I got Abigail for Christmas?"

Petunia raised an eyebrow at Harry's suggestion, a faint smile on her lips. "Well, I haven't read them myself, but I did help Abigail with a few parts she found tricky. I suppose I learned a thing or two along the way."

Harry's face softened, a smile spreading across his face. "You should give them a proper read, Mum. They'll help you understand a few things that... well, I might need your help with soon."

Petunia looked at him curiously. "My help? In what way, Harry?"

Harry smiled. "Just trust me on this. I've got a lot of plans for... let's say, improving things in the magical world. And in one of those plans, I would need your help."

Petunia's heart warmed at the thought, and she found herself nodding slowly. "Alright, Harry," she agreed softly. "I'll give them a read. Just promise me you'll be careful with whatever you're planning."

Harry's gaze met hers, a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "I will, Mum. I promise."

But first I need to control the ministry and the education board. Harry thought in his mind as he took another steak on his plate. A plan was already on Harry's mind. Although by no means was it legal, but for him to control the ministry and education board within the shortest possible time, he could only go about it in the illegal way. 

Harry spent rest of the afternoon with Abigail. He taught her the basics of magic and spent hours teaching her how to feel the magical energy inside her. Although she was slow, she was comparatively faster than Ron or Hermione. By evening, Abigail could feel the magical energy inside her though she was having a hard time manipulating it the way she wanted. 

As Harry entered the house, with Abigail sleeping on his back, fully exhausted, he heard Vernon and Sirius's sound from the living room. Harry grinned and approached the living room. 

Petunia saw Harry enter the room with Abigail on his back. She immediately went ahead and took Abigail from Harry's back and went upstairs saying that she will put her to bed. Harry nodded as he took a seat next to Vernon and Sirius. 

"How did things go?" he asked them. 

Vernon let out a sigh, running his hand over his forehead. "Well, if you call a full day of dodging reporters and prying eyes 'productive,' then we certainly managed it." he said with a dry chuckle. "The entire magical community is in a frenzy since the morning news. But we did manage to finalise the proposal documents and get the initial paperwork done for. You just need to attend a meeting at the Ministry to launch the program."

Sirius chuckled, "I guess seeing the heads of two prominent houses together was quite contributing to that fact."

Harry looked at them confused, "You could have just used a Notice-Me-Not charm?"

This time Vernon and Sirius looked at Harry blankly and Petunia who just entered the room chuckled. 

Sirius and Vernon exchanged a glance, both looking slightly sheepish. 

"Now, why didn't we think of that?" Sirius muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Would've saved us a lot of hassle."

Vernon chuckled, a bit embarrassed. "I suppose we got a bit too caught up in our usual way of handling things. Besides, it's been years since I've had to use any sort of charm or spell to get through a day."

Petunia shook her head in amusement, crossing her arms as she sat down. "Honestly, the two of you—so focused on your business heads that you forgot you're wizards," she teased. "Harry's right. A simple Notice-Me-Not charm would've kept you out of all that hassle."

Vernon grumbled. "Alright, alright. We'll be sure to keep that in mind next time. Though I doubt a simple charm could've quelled the curiosity of the public after the morning news."

Harry laughed, unable to hide his amusement. "You both looked like you'd run a marathon in dragon-hide boots!"

Sirius grinned, ruffling Harry's hair. "Alright, Mr. Potion Master. Next time, you can join us and handle the press. Maybe then you'll see just how relentless they are."

"I'd be happy to show you how to handle the press, dear Godfather." Harry smirked. "Now I have some important things to discuss with you, Dad."

Vernon's brow furrowed as he stared at Harry. "Wait, Harry... where are your glasses?"

Sirius, too, looked at Harry more closely, eyes narrowing as he realized Harry's usual frames were missing. "That's right, I hadn't noticed either. Did you finally charm your lenses to work without the frames or something?"

Before Harry could answer, a proud Petunia interjected. "No, he's not wearing them because he doesn't need them anymore. My brilliant son here brewed a potion to restore his eyesight."

Both men fell silent, stunned as they processed what Petunia had just said. 

"You... made a potion to cure eyesight?" Vernon repeated, disbelief thick in his voice. 

Sirius, equally floored, was staring at Harry with a mix of pride and awe. "That's... that's incredible, Harry! Do you know how many witches and wizards would line up to get their hands on that?"

Harry couldn't hide his smile. "It was one of the potions I found in the same book where I found the Moonsbane Elixir." He looked at Petunia before answering. "As for selling it right now, I don't think I can. I will experiment more before I release it to the public."

"Now onto larger topics. Dad and Sirius, I need you two to organize a large party," Harry said with a serious look.

Vernon and Sirius exchanged surprised glances, still processing the idea of a grand party. Harry's serious expression, however, made it clear that he wasn't suggesting this lightly.

"A party?" Sirius echoed, raising an eyebrow. "You mean to celebrate your Potion Mastery?"

Harry nodded, "Yes, officially it will be a celebration of my Potion Mastery. But it's more than that. It's an opportunity to start building connections, to get a feel for the key players in our society."

Turning to Vernon, Harry continued, "Dad, you'll need to invite all the important people from the Ministry. Specially Fudge. Make it seem like a proper, formal gathering."

Vernon stroked his chin thoughtfully, nodding as he began to understand Harry's intent. "So you're hoping to feel out the influence of these people. A social gathering to measure their intentions, strengths, and… weaknesses, perhaps?"

Harry's slight smile was all the confirmation Vernon needed. Sirius, catching on, grinned. "And I assume you don't want this hosted at the Dursley mansion? A bit too close to home for such an open event?"

"Exactly," Harry confirmed. "That's why I need you to find a place, Sirius. Somewhere grand, something with enough elegance and space to make the right impression on everyone."

Sirius gave a mock salute. "Consider it done. I'll book a banquet hall big enough to host a Quidditch match if you need."

Petunia, who'd been listening with quiet interest, spoke up. "And I'll invite my own connections, Harry. There are a number of people I know from the higher circles who could be useful to meet as well."

Harry's gaze softened as he looked at her. "Thank you, Mum. I'd appreciate that."

Vernon frowned thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on Harry, while Petunia and Sirius exchanged enthusiastic ideas about the upcoming party. After a moment, Vernon interrupted, his voice laced with curiosity. "Harry, what's your true intention with this gathering? I know you, and it's never just about socializing or even building connections."

Petunia shot him a playful glare. "Oh, Vernon, you're reading too much into this. It's a party to celebrate his achievement, nothing more."

Sirius grinned, nudging Vernon. "Harry's eleven, not a political schemer. Relax!"

But Harry held up a hand, stopping their protests. "Actually, Dad's right. This party isn't only about building connections." He leaned forward, his tone dropping to a serious note. "There's more to it."

Vernon's brows furrowed, and he nodded as if his suspicions had been confirmed. "Go on, then. What's this hidden agenda of yours?"

Harry took a deep breath and decided that he will share it with them, considering that they were his family and that they could help them. "My goal is to use this party as an opportunity to get close to Cornelius Fudge. I need to evaluate him firsthand because, eventually, I intend to remove him as Minister of Magic."

The room fell into stunned silence. Petunia looked at him in shock, and Sirius's jaw dropped. "Remove…Fudge?" he echoed, eyes wide. "Harry, that's… ambitious, to say the least. Why would you want to remove the Minister?"

A cool smile crossed Harry's face, his expression steely. "I have reason to believe Fudge is obstructing the progression of our society. Worse, I suspect he's been taking bribes to introduce certain policies which would only benefit a select few. For our world to evolve, we need leadership that actually prioritizes growth and progress, not petty personal gains."

Petunia looked concerned, studying Harry's face carefully. "Are you certain about this, Harry? Accusations like that could be dangerous, especially if they're just suspicions."

Harry hesitated for a moment. He couldn't tell them that these were not accusations but a reality since he had no way of proving them yet. "I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have a strong basis for concern. Fudge's questionable decisions alone are enough for me to take action, even if I can't yet prove the extent of his corruption."

Vernon leaned back, visibly impressed and troubled in equal measure. "So, the party is a cover… an excuse to meet Fudge and observe him closely."

Harry nodded. "Exactly. I can assess his motives, learn more about his alliances, and gauge the kind of influence he wields. And it won't just be him. I'll also be keeping an eye on key figures from every corner of our world. Understanding their loyalties, their values—or lack thereof—is the first step in ensuring the right people are in positions of power."

Vernon's eyes narrowed, studying Harry like he was seeing him for the first time. He had always known his adoptive son was sharp, far more astute than most children his age, but this—this was beyond anything he had anticipated.

A slow, proud smirk spread across Vernon's face as he processed Harry's words, his inner patriarch beaming with pride. Eleven years old, he thought, and here he is, talking about political maneuvering and societal reform as if he were an old hand at it. The business mind he himself had honed over decades, it seemed, paled in comparison to the natural instincts of his adopted son.

"Harry, dear, you're only eleven," Petunia managed, her voice laced with shock and a touch of awe. "Most boys your age are more concerned with their favorite sweets than ministers and alliances!"

Vernon couldn't be more proud of his little monstrous prodigy of a son. "Don't worry son. I'll make sure the party is everything you need." He said with a smirk.

Sirius on the other hand had been speechless so far. He couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that an eleven year old was discussing power play rather than ranting on about their favourite Quidditch team.

Just as Harry got up to leave to his room, he remembered that he needed to tell them about the twins business and how they were planning to set it up officially. "There's one more thing I wanted to tell you," he began. 

His family braced for another bombshell of political or strategic revelation to be dropped on them. 

Clearing his throat, Harry continued, "I'll be setting up a proper contract with the Weasley twins. Their business—well, our business—is getting to the point where we'll need an actual shop to keep things running smoothly. The current system just isn't enough anymore."

Petunia blinked, her mouth opening slightly in surprise, while Vernon's brows shot up in shock. A shop? A full-on business?

Sirius finally found his voice. "You're saying that you and the twins' prank venture needs its own storefront?"

Harry nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. "The demand's been... overwhelming to say the least. We have so many orders that managing them from just Hogwarts alone isn't feasible anymore. We're ready for an official shop."

Vernon's pride only grew as he leaned forward, his interest piqued by the financial angle. "And what kind of profits are we looking at here, son, to justify such a step?"

Harry glanced at his father, his tone nonchalant yet revealing. "Last month alone, we cleared over 6,000 Galleons in net profit."

For a moment, there was silence as everyone processed this new piece of information. Petunia covered her mouth in shock, her eyes wide. Vernon's smirk broadened, his inner businessman thrilled by his son's success. 

"You're telling me…that the joke and prank items alone are making that kind of money?" Vernon finally said. 

Harry nodded with a grin. "Moreover, our orders are more from outside of Hogwarts than inside." 

Ten more minutes pass by as Harry laid out the detailed plan for the twins' business, discussing everything from profit margin to expansion strategies. By the time he was finished, Sirius let out a long, low whistle, shaking his head in admiration. 

"Bloody hell..." he murmured. "You're making it incredibly hard to treat you like an eleven-year-old, Harry."

Petunia nodded in agreement, unable to mask her awe. "Indeed, Harry. Anyone would think you've been running businesses for years with that kind of insight."

Harry's smile grew, but he kept his thoughts to himself. I have been, Mother, he mused silently. By twenty-six, I was the founder and CEO of a multi-national corporation.

Vernon's gaze held a deep pride as he looked at Harry. Sure, he was proud of Harry's magical achievements, but this—this business acumen, this sharp, almost predatory sense of strategy—this was something else. He's practically a beast in the business world already, he thought, both proud and impressed.

As the discussion wound down, Harry glanced over at the clock and made a decision. "I think I should probably have the discussion with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley." he said. "It would probably help if you both came with me," he said further, looking at Vernon and Sirius. 

Vernon and Sirius exchanged a glance and, with a quick nod, agreed immediately.

Turning to Petunia, Harry softened his tone. "You can come over to the Burrow later, Mum, once Abby wakes up. I expect we'll be there for a while, and we'll probably stay for dinner."

Petunia nodded and smiled as she got up to head upstairs. 

Harry's eyes sparkled as he turned back to Vernon and Sirius, "Right, then—race you there!" he challenged, grinning as he Disapparated from the living room without a sound.

Sirius let out a bark of laughter. "Oh, it's on!" he shouted, vanishing a second later. Vernon chuckled, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for a match before disappearing with a determined look.

Within moments, the three of them appeared outside the Burrow. Harry, who arrived a few seconds earlier than the others, was already making his way toward the door when a flash of red hair caught his eye. Ginny had spotted him from the window, and in an instant, she burst out of the house, racing toward him with barely contained excitement.

"Harry!" she cried, her face beaming as she skidded to a stop just in front of him, her brown eyes wide with excitement. "You're a Potion Master? Why didn't you tell anyone?"

Harry laughed, catching her energy, and smirked. "Youngest Potion Master, huh?" he echoed, crossing his arms. "So...does that mean you're not mad at me anymore?"

By this time, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had come to the door, expressions of awe mixed with the warmth they reserved for family. They exchanged looks with each other, then with Sirius and Vernon as they stepped up beside Harry.

Ginny's eyes widened as she remembered her previous annoyance with him—whatever it was, it seemed entirely forgotten in her excitement about the news. Realizing this, her face shifted to an exaggerated frown, and she huffed, crossing her arms with mock anger.

"Oh, I am very mad at you, Harry Potter," she declared, spinning on her heel and marching back to the house with an air of defiant indignation.

Harry couldn't help but chuckle at her attempt to appear cross, her faux anger only making her look even more adorable. Vernon and Sirius exchanged knowing smirks as they watched the interaction unfold, amusement clear in their expressions.

"Trouble with the ladies already, I see," Sirius teased with a grin.

"Runs in the family, no doubt," Vernon added, his tone proud and amused.

Harry just shook his head, smiling as he watched Ginny stomp away. She is cute, he thought.

"Harry, dear, come on in," Mrs. Weasley managed, almost as if unsure whether to address him formally or not. Mr. Weasley looked equally torn, clearly struggling to reconcile the eleven-year-old boy he knew with the idea of addressing him as a Master.

Harry caught the looks on their faces and grinned. "I'm still just Harry, Mrs. Weasley," he said, his voice relaxed. "A title doesn't mean much at home."

The Weasley boys—Fred, George, Ron, and even Percy—snickered at this, scoffing lightly. Only Harry could call the prestigious title of Potion Master "meaningless."

Fred grinned, elbowing George. "Oh, right. Just Harry, our eleven-year-old mate who's already making history."

George snorted, clapping Harry on the back. "Exactly, no big deal at all. I mean, it's only the title every Potioneer dreams of."

Vernon and Sirius exchanged a glance and sighed, shaking their heads with a mixture of pride and exasperation. This was Harry in his truest form—unfazed by titles, humble despite his accomplishments, and still every bit the same kid they'd come to admire.

Harry caught the twins eyes and gave a subtle nod. He let his voice slip into their minds through Legillimency. "It's time for the talk" The twins' eyes widened in surprise as they heard his voice echoing in their heads, but they quickly composed themselves nodding subtly in acknowledgment. Harry caught Percy's eyes and gave him a pointed stare to let him know that they were about to start. Percy seemed nervous but he nodded understanding what he had to do. 

Turning to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley who were talking with Vernon and Sirius, Harry cleared his throat. "Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, would it be alright if we had a quick talk?"

They exchanged a glance, noting the serious tone in Harry's voice and agreed. Harry took a seat next to the twins which immediately let Mr. and Mrs. Weasley understand that this talk would be about the twins' business. 

As they took their seat, Mr. Weasley began, his voice warm. "Now, boys, before you say anything, I want you to know that your mother and I are proud of you both. Even if things didn't go as you hoped, you gave it a shot, and earning anything from it is an accomplishment on its own."

Harry nudged Fred and George, encouraging them to speak up. George exchanged a quick look with Fred before leaning forward. "Actually, Dad, things are... quite the opposite." He grinned, unable to hide his excitement.

Fred chimed in, "Yeah, not only are we making a profit, but we're also considering taking things to the next level."

Mr. Weasley's brows furrowed in curiosity. "The next level?"

Fred and George shared another look before George spoke up. "We were thinking... it's time to open a proper shop. In Diagon Alley."

As Mr. and Mrs. Weasley processed the twins' announcement, Mr. Weasley leaned forward, his face a mix of pride and disbelief. "Hold on a moment, boys... You're telling us you've made enough profit to consider opening a store? That's... quite something." He paused, glancing at Mrs. Weasley, who looked equally astonished. "How is the business actually doing?"

Fred shared a grin with George before clearing his throat, trying to suppress his excitement. "Well, Dad... last month's net profit alone was over 6,000 galleons."

Silence filled the room as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stared at their sons in shock. Mrs. Weasley's hand flew to her mouth, while Mr. Weasley looked pale, clearly grappling with the enormity of the number.

"S-six... thousand?" Mrs. Weasley finally stammered, her voice almost a whisper. "In just a month?"

George nodded, grinning from ear to ear. "That's right, Mum. Demand is through the roof. Our products are flying off the shelves faster than we can make them!"

Mr. Weasley, his voice shaky, managed to ask, "Could you... tell us more about it? How you've set everything up and... and how you're running things?"

The twins quickly launched into an animated explanation about how they were taking care of the business and how Harry was helping them. They included how Harry was doing every single of their assignment and schoolwork to allow them to focus on their inventions. 

Finally, after the explanation, Mrs. Weasley reached across the table, taking each of her sons' hands in hers. "Fred, George, we never imagined... we never dreamed you'd be capable of achieving something like this. Your father and I couldn't be prouder."

"You have our full support to go forward with the shop. You don't even need our permission at this point, considering..." Mr. Weasley managed a chuckle, though it was tinged with amazement. "You're making more than I do in a year."

Sensing the perfect moment, Harry leaned forward and met Mr. Weasley's gaze. "Actually, Mr. Weasley, I've been wanting to discuss something with you, now that we're moving towards opening a store."

Mr. Weasley looked at Harry, his eyes curious. "Of course, Harry. Go on."

Harry took a deep breath and gave Percy a pointed look to make him understand that his part was coming up soon.

"Mr. Weasley," he began, looking the older man squarely in the eye, "I think it's time you quit your job at the Ministry."

There was a sharp intake of breath from everyone in the room, but Harry continued, unflinching.

"You've been underpaid and undervalued there for years. And it's obvious they don't appreciate what you do. The twins are now making more in a single month than you make in an entire year, and it's only going to keep growing. I know it's a big decision, but honestly, you should be considering it. You deserve more than being stuck in a position where you're barely scraping by."

The room fell silent again, with everyone staring at Harry as they processed his words. Mr. Weasley looked a bit taken aback, his mouth opening and closing as though trying to form a response. Mrs. Weasley, on the other hand, looked concerned, glancing from Harry to her husband.

"I know it's hard to think about giving up something so secure," Harry added, his voice steady, "but with the business growing the way it is, I need you to see this with an open mind."

Harry paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in. Then, he finished with a quiet yet determined tone. "I want this business to be a family endeavor. Not just the twins' success, but something for all of you—the Weasleys—together. You all deserve that. And honestly, if you stay at the Ministry, you're just going to keep getting stuck in the same cycle. The business needs you, Mr. Weasley. It's time to step up."

Fred, George, and Percy all spoke at once, their voices overlapping in agreement with Harry's blunt assessment.

"Harry is right, Dad," Fred said. "The business is only going to keep growing and we can't do it all on our own. We need you to step in."

George chimed in, "Exactly. If anyone can help us take this thing to the next level, it's you Dad. You are the one who can run the store along with Mum."

Percy, who had been unusually quiet up until that point, finally spoke up. "Dad," he said, trying to sound calm but firm, "you've been undervalued at the Ministry for years. You've always been brilliant at what you do, but they've never really seen your worth. The twins have built something huge here, something real. And it's only going to get bigger. You have to see it, Dad. We all do. This is a chance to do something meaningful, something you deserve. We need you, and you deserve better than what they've given you at the Ministry."

Mr. Weasley opened his mouth several times to respond, but every time he did, Fred and George would launch into another round of enthusiastic support, and Percy would chime in with even more reasons why he should accept. It was clear they were all pushing him toward something they believed in, but it was starting to overwhelm him.

Finally, with a deep sigh, Mr. Weasley raised his hand. The room fell silent, the only sound being the faint crackling of the fire. The twins and Percy stopped mid-sentence, eyes wide, and they all turned their attention to him, waiting for his response.

"I never said I wouldn't do it," Mr. Weasley said with a slow smile.