60 60. Shady Money Scheme 

If you want, you can read 30 chapters in advance on -patreon.com/misterimmortal.

_____________________

Happy successfully swindled the Goblins. But he didn't consider it swindling, but rather something he earned in return for the mistakes the Goblins made. Don't they say, play stupid games and win stupid prizes?

So Happy took ownership of all four family vaults. Of course, the first thing he did after that was an inventory check and get new keys for them so no one else may have them. It took him the entire day to do it, but it was fully worth it in the end.

Ultimately, he felt numb after seeing the number of Gold Galleons he had collected. "Just a bit over a billion… this is madness… It's worth nine billion in muggle money! But, is this really that much considering what I want to do?"

Happy also decided not to do anything with the Black Family money for the time being, as Sirius Black would be making his escape soon. And when that happens, he was definitely going to be asked why he took the vault.

'Mr. Scamander will also come to pick me up tomorrow. Why hasn't Lucius contacted me yet? Does he really not want to invest in me?' Happy wondered and returned to the surface of the Gringotts building with the clerk Goblin.

In all honesty, he had come to detest the little devils, but he tried not to generalize them all. Although, it was a universal fact that they were, indeed, greedy. The only way to quash them was to be overwhelmingly stronger than them to the point they fear you.

"Mr. Lestrange, Lord Malfoy is waiting for you in one of the private chambers. He says you were expecting him." The manager came to inform him just then.

'And that's a bloody goal!' Happy silently cheered at himself.

Wasting no time, Happy rushed to the room and entered calmly, posing as if unbothered and uncaring about Lucius' existence. After all, that was how a superior pureblood wizard was expected to behave in Lucius's book.

"Lord Malfoy, it's a pleasure meeting you again."

Lucius got up, something Happy wasn't expecting. So it appeared Lucius had made up his mind for the good this time.

"We meet again, Mr. Lestrange. You have indulged my curiosity and made me interested. But before I make an investment, I need some answers regarding a few things." Lucius talked with his always-present smugness.

Knock! Knock!

"Ah, Mr. Lestrange, the tea you ordered…Just as you like it, right from the shop, unopened." The manager of the bank came to leave the tea set on the table. It shocked Lucius as Goblins were utterly prideful and would never serve a wizard like that. But he hid his shock underneath his expressions.

"Go ahead, Lord Malfoy. Ask me anything." Happy responded after the Goblin left and began to make tea. Of course, he was only doing the whole making tea gimmick because he read somewhere that it could often intimidate the other side, making them feel as if their words were not as important.

Lucius began. "You spoke of the Dark Lord returning. How are you so sure?"

"Because the signs are clear. In my first year, it was Professor Quirrell who was compromised. He was possessed by Voldemort, turning the back of that man's head into a hideous face. He tried to steal the Philosopher's Stone but failed. Then this year—you know what happened. Lord Malfoy, the Dark Lord's soul, didn't die that night…it's still roaming there and attempting to return to life. One day, it will happen, and we can prepare for it." Happy maturely answered him.

Lucius was visibly frustrated by that knowledge. "What do you plan on doing to tackle it? You need to bring the other pureblood families together as well."

"Money is the answer, Lord Malfoy. We are all connected by blood as one big family, so I'm delighted to help everyone earn something. I'm creating a new business called Lestrange Investment Bank right here in Diagon Alley. They'll be open for pureblood wizards to come and invest their money. In return, all families shall receive profits from it. The more they invest, the more will be the return—a million Galleon, ten million Galleon…the sky's the limit."

"That doesn't answer my first question," Lucius said.

"It does!" Happy pushed the teacup towards Lucius. "What is the Dark Lord's power? It's us and our money. What will happen when we already own the entire Wizarding Britain, and all of us wizards are joined due to our vested interest in the continued prosperity of Wizarding Britain? When the Dark Lord eventually returns, he will see us purebloods rich and thriving, respected for our power, influence, and wealth—the Ministry? It'll be the dirt under our feet. Half-bloods and muggle-born? They'll be our loyal workers, enriching us—the elite!

"Believe me, Lord Lucius, in time, not only us but pureblood families such as Longbottoms, Weasleys, Diggory, Abbots, Browns, Ollivanders, and such, will be with us—Everyone loves money, don't they?"

Lucius smirked. After all, the picture Happy painted in his head indeed appeared very appealing. "And you will be at the top, I suppose?"

'Of course, that's how I will control you all crazy ones.' Happy didn't say that aloud.

"Why not? I'll be earning all the money—with you at my side, of course. I need people I can trust with money and secrets, Lord Malfoy; I need a right hand. Remember, our goal isn't just Wizarding Britain. The horizon is limitless—France, Germany, entire Europe, Asia, the Americas, and beyond—We shall be absolute! Our voice will be the law of the land, and no one shall ever oppose us, be it wizards or muggles."

His heartbeat raced, face frozen and mind numb. Lucius Malfoy had never heard anyone utter such words, not even Lord Voldemort. Ultimately, Voldemort's only desire was to be the strongest, the death of muggles, muggle-borns, and the hegemony of the purebloods. It was rather foolish and illogical to his sound mind, but Voldemort was too powerful to be opposed or denied.

Now, however, what he saw and heard was something far greater and yet more plausible-sounding than Voldemort's plan. Remembering his own family history, Lucius remembered his ancestors used to be shadow advisors to kings, queens, and nobles, silently shaping certain situations for their benefit.

It made sense the same rule should apply now but on a grander scale.

'I'll know when Voldemort is near his return. Until then, there is no harm in seeing what this boy brings me. If his words hold true value—Voldemort shall be my enemy.' Lucius made up his mind.

"Words without meaning, Mr. Lestrange," Lucius spoke and passed over a sheet of paper. "But, I'm inclined to give you a chance. This is a transfer deed of one million galleons to you—let's see what returns you bring me by the start of the next school term."

"Wonderful." Happy gulped the tea and raised his hand to shake him. "To absolute authority!"

Lucius reacted with his hand, a natural smile clearly forming on his face. "Indeed."

…

Happy wasted no time returning to school with the help of his house elves. He needed to prepare stock for a big sale of food and grain items soon. So, he began his work with the Room of Requirement.

"Hah! My right hand? In your dreams Lucius… There will only ever be one right hand of mine—Koko, my lovely Goose!"

"Roar!"

"Hell yeah, you're my mighty lion!" Happy counted the number of rice sacks with his lovely Goose. "Ah, we have a hundred thousand tonnes; considering the price of rice out there, this is about twenty million dollars worth of rice right here. Sad, if cannabis was legal, I could have made so much money…Well, let's stick to food. I'm the boy who eats, not the boy who smokes."

Happy finished calculating everything and left the room to return to his dorm. The school was mostly empty for the duration of the day, and at night it felt haunting. Hagrid hadn't returned either, so he really had nobody to talk to.

"Errr…Where do you think you're going, Lestrange?"

Happy turned around just as he was about to turn towards the common room corridor. "Ah, Filch? School isn't in session anymore. No need to be grumpy all the time."

"Have you been loitering? Keep your Goose locked in as well, I don't want any dirt in the school, or I will know it was you!"

Happy sighed and walked closer to the ugly man. "Filch, did you read the paper this morning?"

"Aye."

"Then, did you read my interview? Tell me, do you want to double, triple, or quadruple your money?" Happy asked the man. After all, what could Filch's salary even be?

Filch's eyes had a radiant expression, understanding what Happy was talking about. "What's the guarantee?"

"None." Happy turned around to leave. "My newly opened business is only for pureblood wizards. Lord Lucius Malfoy and many more have already entrusted me with their money—if they find out that I also helped a squi—leave it."

"You lot are all the same…" Filch muttered before leaving as well. The disappointment was evident in his voice, understandably so. It was hard for a man without magic to live in a magical world. Even elves were above him in the magical hierarchy.

"Wait!" Happy planned the theatrics to bring Filch under his wing. "No, we're not the same. Alright, I will help you increase your money, but this must remain our secret forever. If word got out, I wouldn't care what those others would do to you."

Filch scoffed. "Why the change of heart?"

"Why not? You're a loyal, hard-working man who gave his life to this school that I dearly love. Why do you think I chose to confront the Basilisk—it's because I love this school and didn't want it to close down." Happy rambled about Hogwarts, knowing well it was what Filch liked. This was Happy's advantage, to know people's character by default.

"I only have a hundred thousand galleons." Filch proudly claimed.

Clap!

"Great!" Happy chirped. "It'll turn into two hundred thousand by the start of the school year."

"..."

"What?!"

Filch's jaw fell. It took him thirty years to collect a hundred thousand.

Happy chuckled and proceeded to leave. "Welcome to the rich club, Filch…don't forget to treat me to something tasty once you get the money."

"..."

Filch silently and confusedly watched Happy's fleeting back. He then glanced at his palm and wondered deeply.

'Four hundred thousand in three months? A million in a year?... Will she come back to me then?'

________________________

Join the Monke family - Discord https://discord.gg/misterimmortal

Special thanks to *phong thanh nguyen* *andy cohen* *Martin Bosley*