ELOISE POV—
There were countless stores around me. Like the broomsticks, book stores, a curse-breaking store and many more. Kids around my age had pressed their noses against the window of the broomsticks store. There were shops selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments I had never seen before, windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels' eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon. It was as if everything that J.K. Rowling wrote in her book came alive in front of my eyes. I don't know what to describe this as.
The only word that comes to my mind is magical. I heard one of them say, "the new Nimbus Two Thousand— fastest ever —"
Ah, the broomstick which was given to Harry by McGonagall. Currently, I don't have much interest in this broomstick.
I asked, 'Professor Snape, could you please give me the slip on which the things that are required are written.' Snape handed me the slip.
[ UNIFORM:—
First-year students will require:—
Three sets of plain work robes (black) One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS:—
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Draughts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT:—
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl or a cat or a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS. ]
After sometime, we reached a snowy white building that towered over the other little shops. Upon observing closely, I found that this entire building was made up of gold. Ok, so we are now at Gringotts. Standing beside its burnished gold doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold, was, a goblin.
Snape said, 'It's a goblin. No need to pay any attention to it. Just follow me.'
This goblin in front of me differs very much from the goblins I have seen in games. He is kind of like a midget with pointy nose and long nails. He bowed as we walked inside. I think he pretended as if he didn't hear what Snape said.
Snape said, 'Don't try to touch anything needlessly. Goblins tend to be territorial. These creatures don't like anyone touching their things without permission. They are embodiment of greed themselves.'
I nodded my head. When we reached inside, I saw another goblin. Upon spotting us, he bowed and said, 'Good morning, how may I help you?'
Snape said, 'I want you to build an account for this young lady.'
The goblin said, 'Yes, very well sir and young lady. Griphook, come here.' As soon as he called out, another goblin, probably Griphook came.
'Please follow me,' said Griphook.
We followed Griphook and entered a new room with him guiding us. He gave me a document to fill. I filled the document and gave it to him.
Griphook said, 'If you would be kind enough, could you please put a drop of blood on this document? It's for security purpose.'
I agreed to his request. Griphook pinched my finger with a needle and took a drop of my blood and put it upon the document. The document glowed.
'It's done. Now, how much money do you want to deposit in here?' said Griphook.
Normally, if this question would be asked to an average person, they would answer that they would want to deposit the bare minimum amount. To perform only the required task or to spend just the right amount for the things they require.
But I am not like them. One thing that I have clearly learned after my reincarnation was to spend money like water. I am rich, fucking rich. I don't care for boundaries. I want to build a name here. I want my own fucking business empire. I know that Stark Industries is indirectly mine, as I am the only heiress. Yet, I want my own empire. I want to make my own name in this world. I don't want my identity just to be Howard's daughter and I certainly don't want a tag of nepotism on me. I don't want to be what Richards thought of me. This wizarding world will help me in taking the first step to build my own business empire.
I said, 'I want to make a deposit of 100 million dollars. If possible, I want to invest in this bank.'
His eyes widened in disbelief. He asked, 'Are you serious?' when he saw me nod my head, his eyes glistened with greed, 'wait a minute, please. Let me call the manager.'
After saying this, he dashed out of the room. Snape asked, 'Do you want to do this?'
I said, 'Yes, I am taking the first step to build my own business empire. Besides, my father is reach, I mean very, very rich. He won't mind at all.'
'Yes, I have seen how your father acts towards you. He won't mind even if you burn down all of his industries,' said Snape with a click of this tongue.
Griphook returned to the room with the manager in tow. The manager said, 'Good morning, my name is Hoppick. I am the manager and the owner of Gringotts. Ms. Stark, are you really serious about investing in our bank?'
I said, 'I am serious, Mr. Hoppick. I want to invest in your bank. Tell me what can you offer? Or what are your demands?'
Hoppick said, 'I want you to invest 500 million dollars in our bank. I will give 35 percent share of our bank.'
Hmm, I am impressed, his offer is appealing and also, his demand is not impossible for me to fulfil. Investing 500 million dollars will not make a single on my family's fortune. Though, it's appealing but I want more.
I asked, 'Do you any other branches of this bank around the globe?'
He replied, 'No, our bank doesn't have any other branches around the globe. This is only place of our operation.
Hmm, fine. I know what to do. I said, 'You know what I am going to invest 1 billion in this bank but I want 50 percent of the shares, and I am going to build more branches of this bank. I want to you, Mr. Hoppick to be the Overall Associative Operator of this bank as well as the branches. I will double the salaries of the employees. Also, I will provide employment to the most of our kin in these branches. Hoppick, I want you and me to be equal partners. Do you accept it or not?'
Hearing my words, Hoppick was shocked, probably thinking how a child could offer such terms to make a deal with the creatures of greed themselves. After contemplating for a minute, he said, 'I agree. I accept your business deal; I never thought a human could be capable for making a business deal like this. I am impressed.'
I said, 'I will send you the draft of our deal tomorrow at this very time or you can come to my house, I have written my address in the document that I had filled.'
'No, we will wait for you to send the draft,' said Hoppick.
I said, 'Now, that's over, first thing I want you to address me as madam and the second thing is from now on, I want to rename this bank as, Marxe. Do you have any problem with these conditions?'
'No,' answered Hoppick.
'Good, I will send you the draft tomorrow. Hmmm, I will send the draft with Professor Snape.' Ok, I don't even know why I did that. There is not even a chance, he would agree to my request.
Snape raised his eyebrows at me and nodded his head at Hoppick. What!?
After discussing some other matters, I took 10000 galleons from the bank with me for shopping. Apparently, they had no problem with me taking this much amount of money as I was now one of the owners of the bank.
Going out of the bank, I asked, 'Professor Snape, why did you agree to my request?'
He smirked and said, 'You are a very cunning little fox, Ms. Stark, you played with the very greed of goblins and I can't believe I am going to say this, I am very impressed with you. As the head of the Slytherin house, I am sure you will be in my house. I await your presence there, Ms. Stark.'
Wow! Never in my entire life, I thought I would impress Snape in our very first encounter. My wizarding life started with a good start, I guess.