####
Phoenix Institute of Medical Science & Healthcare,
It was the name of the D&D-owned hospital and college in London. It used to be called something else in the past, but D&D bought it and renamed it, and then renovated it. Now it was larger, better, and absolutely cutting-edge since magic was secretly used to achieve results conventional medicine could not.
Vanguards were also stationed there to ensure secrecy and, at the same time, research on magic-infused medicines for Muggles. It was already the best hospital in the country, with high-profile visitors, from royals to MPs. They'd recently healed the Queen's knee pain.
"They're going in and out of a coma, but nothing to worry about. If we woke them up abruptly, it would do more harm. Their minds are fragile after the torture they faced. But the progress is there; they can recognize you and speak a few words."
Absolutely thrilled, smiling ear to ear, Augusta Longbottom merrily shook the Austrian neurosurgeon's hands, a Muggle but with a witch sister, so he knew about the magical world and received the job at the hospital with a pay too good to refuse. He was at the forefront of the research on magical healing for brain issues.
"Thank you, thank you, doctor."
"I'm just doing my job, Mrs. Longbottom. It's honestly a miracle to my eyes. Using MRI to find damaged regions of the brain so we can focus magic on them is revolutionary. If not for Mr. Dursley, nobody would have tried this. Magic is extremely helpful in healing the body in ways modern medicine cannot," the doctor said as he patted her hand, then gently slipped his hand free. "We'll slowly bring Frank and Alice to good health. Rest easy."
Just nearby, Neville Longbottom sat, eyes wide, speechless as he had finally got to hear his mother and father's voices. Their smiles as they said his name. He had cried nonstop since then, and now, as per the doctor's words, only good days were ahead.
"Thank you, doctor." He jumped to his feet and shook the middle-aged man's hands. "Thank you so much."
"Just doing my job."
####
Granger's Dental Clinic,
The building was bigger now, more imposing and corporate. With Dudley Dursley's investments, the Grangers had expanded the small clinic into a full-fledged dental hospital with a small research department, even. With a dozen or so dentists employed, the company was raking in money since D&D Insurance sent patients to them.
The Grangers still lived in the same building, however, on the top floor of the six-storey building. It was a floor-wide penthouse, lavish and comfortable, cozy with a nice view from massive glass windows.
Life was amazing. Mr. and Mrs. Granger were living the dream, both unaware of what their daughter was attempting in her room. They never checked up on her, being told that she was researching something important.
If they knew what that important thing was… the Grangers would have stopped her from continuing.
Ever the bright and intelligent, Hermione Granger sat in her room, arms crossed, her hair tied behind her head, eyes narrow as she stared at the massive wall. It was covered with pinned snippets from the Daily Prophet and the Quibbler, each with a heading and an image.
"Dudley Dursley's father passes away! Wizards to blame?"
"Dudley Dursley invests in Diagon Alley! New Hope for the Ancient Market?"
"D&D Bank Opens! Dawn Of Banking By Wizards For Wizards!"
The entire wall was covered in dozens of articles, each about Dudley Dursley, from the very first ever mention of his name in the newspapers. Anything even slightly related to Dudley Dursley was there. Even accusations of Lucius Malfoy being behind Vernon Dursley's murder.
And then came the twist.
The disappearance of Lucius Malfoy, the appearance of the unknown wizard army, which was now known as the Vanguards. One after another, in a progressive manner, she noted down everything. All of Dudley's business deals, all his dealings in the U.S., the World Wizard Employment Act.
Finally, the attack on the Ministry by Voldemort. Absolute domination by the Vanguards. The Vanguards then raid Gringotts itself. D&D taking over the Gringotts. Dolores Umbridge becoming the Minister.
It all seemed disconnected when looked at individually. But when she connected the lines to each of the articles, they all somehow pointed at the central figure—Dudley Dursley.
"It can't possibly be that. I… I must be overthinking it. How could he gather an army? He wasn't even a proper wizard until only a few years ago."
Yet, the possibility of it being true gnawed at her mind.
"I should… research more. They said Dudley hired Vanguards… yeah, he hired them. Their true owner is still out there somewhere."
Woosh!
In the end, she waved her wand and hid the entire crazy wall.
####
D&D Headquarters, London,
"Fuck, fuck, fuck this shit!"
Dudley Dursley may be a trillionaire, but he faced the same common issues as others. And currently, he was facing the bane of changing weather, the hangnails. A little skin tear near the base of his fingernails. Annoyed, he tried to tear it apart and only made it worse as the damn thing made a fucking line of wound.
"Seriously? You don't have a spell to heal that?"
Dudley annoyedly looked at Edwin, a man like his own family, the second in command of D&D Holdings. "Shockingly, no. I asked my people to make one. I should just get a humidifier for my office."
Edwin chuckled, seeing his boss act so normal. Usually, people imagine the super-rich living like kings or something. And while it was true in some cases, Dudley Dursley was a different breed of ultra-wealthy.
"In any case, I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want first?"
"Good."
"Alright. Just yesterday, we wrapped up our long-term investment plan in ExxonMobil, signed off by their board. In ten years, we'll stand as its biggest individual institutional shareholder," Edwin said cheerfully. "Still, I can't see why you are putting so much into an oil company. I was under the impression you were focused on tech only."
"I am balls-deep in tech, Ed, but I'd be daft to ignore the sort of money oil can bring in. It's a straightforward, reliable commodity that will give us extreme leverage over half of the globe. If we control their energy, we control… a lot. Don't worry, in ten years, ExxonMobil will be moaning my name and the board will tattoo D&D on their foreheads."
"..."
"So confident?"
"Ed, Exxon's more than just an oil firm—it's the key to pushing D&D into the top tier. Their political reach is extraordinary, far beyond what we could manage in the near future. Besides, my people are working in a certain South American country to earn their friendship. You'll have the report soon enough. If it all plays out, we'll be sitting on more oil than you can possibly imagine."
Edwin nodded, aware of what Dudley meant when he said 'my people'. The Vanguards were being used to expand D&D's influence on an unprecedented level. In a certain way, D&D Holdings was a corporation with a personal wizard army. It was scary, yet empowering, knowing he was a part of it. Besides, Dudley had been nothing but net-positive to the world in every possible way. Although it was impossible not to make some shady deals, D&D still held on to the target of improving the world one step at a time.
"I'll wait for the report, Dud. Now for the bad news. I did what you asked and checked into Sony and Samsung. Without some kind of miracle, it's impossible to buy them. It's not the money. The fact is Sony's thriving, and Samsung's a family conglomerate. Impossible to fully acquire."
"Hmm…"
Dudley fell into thinking, relaxing back in his chair. "According to my Arithmancy calculations, these companies will be absurdly massive in the future. Samsung will be cutting-edge in semiconductors and tech; Sony will remain a powerhouse in entertainment and beyond. Even though D&D has an edge now, I'd prefer to nip any future threat in the bud. I'd like their patents, research sites, and current ranges. Hmm… I'll have my people investigate these companies and work on a radioactive package, a big enough scandal that'll shake the two companies. Then D&D will come in like a heroic savior."
"That… might work."
"It will work, Ed. Anyway, here's the list of companies you should acquire next." Dudley passed him a list. "Most of them are in entertainment. Take-Two and Ubisoft do video games; a few others are film studios. I might go for one of the bigger Hollywood studios later, something with a solid library we can fold into Netflix since we already own most of it."
With a sigh, Dudley got up from the chair and put on his suit jacket.
"Anything else?" Edwin asked.
This time, Dudley let go of his cheerful, harmless demeanor and spoke seriously. "There's a company called Black Rock. Have you heard of it?"
"I do. It's very promising." Edwin nodded. "Met their founders on—"
"Destroy it."
"..."
______________________
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