Money, Money, Money
Chapter 5
February 1983
Theo Prewett's Background
A Squib born into a prominent wizarding family, Theo Prewett was one of the few who managed to carve out a successful life in the Muggle world despite his lack of magical abilities. His family, particularly his second cousin Molly Weasley, maintained a strained and distant relationship with him. As a Squib, Theo was seen as an embarrassment, but rather than wallow in the limitations imposed by his birth, he decided to redefine what success meant for him.
His family paid for his education, though they made it clear that Theo was not to involve himself in family affairs unless absolutely necessary. This arrangement suited Theo just fine, as he was determined to make a name for himself on his own terms. He excelled academically and eventually became a successful stockbroker, a profession where he could thrive without needing magical talent. His unique position—straddling both the Muggle and magical worlds—did not go unnoticed.
The Royal Mint's Magical Cooperation Branch
After the end of World War II in 1947, the Royal Mint, in collaboration with Gringotts, established a magical cooperation branch. This innovative initiative sought to bridge the economic interests of the magical and Muggle worlds. It was born out of a recognition that half-bloods and other individuals who had lived in both worlds had identified lucrative investment opportunities. This cooperation allowed for the seamless integration of magical currencies with Muggle financial systems, benefiting both communities.
Theo's exceptional understanding of the Muggle financial market, combined with his insider knowledge of the wizarding world, made him a prime candidate for recruitment by this branch. Despite his Squib status, his expertise was invaluable, and he quickly rose through the ranks to become a trusted advisor on magical-muggle financial affairs.
Theo Prewett's Involvement with the Dankworth Family and Harry's Financial Security
When Petunia sought to secure her nephew Harry's financial future, Gringotts directed her to Theo, who had become aware of her recent involvement in the magical financial world. Recognising the complexity of managing wealth across two different worlds, Petunia accepted Theo's assistance. Theo's name was provided as someone uniquely qualified to navigate these complexities.
Theo became an invaluable asset to the Dankworth family. His mentorship of John Dankworth, Petunia's husband, extended beyond mere financial advice; he taught John how to manage and grow Harry's inheritance wisely. Under Theo's guidance, John learned the intricacies of magical investments and how to leverage opportunities that spanned both worlds.
Theo introduced John to the nuances of the financial cooperation between the Royal Mint and Gringotts through their partnership. This allowed John to make informed decisions that significantly increased the value of Harry's vault. The careful and strategic investments made under Theo's guidance protected Harry's inheritance and allowed it to grow substantially.
Impact on the Dankworth Family's Lifestyle
As John became more adept at managing these dual-world investments, he secured a prestigious position at an investment firm that dealt with both magical and Muggle clients. This new job dramatically improved the Dankworth family's financial standing, providing them with a comfortable lifestyle and bringing them closer to the magical world in ways they had never anticipated.
This connection to the magical financial world subtly altered John and Petunia's perception. No longer did they see it as a mysterious or threatening force; instead, they began to understand its intricacies and the advantages it could offer. Theo's involvement thus acted as a bridge, easing the Dankworths' transition into a life that increasingly straddled both worlds.
Theo as a Trusted Advisor
Beyond financial matters, Theo became a trusted advisor to both John and Petunia. His understanding of the magical world's complexities and his experience navigating it without magical abilities made him an invaluable resource. He provided insights that helped the Dankworths make informed decisions, ensuring that Harry's future was secure and that the family was well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
Through his guidance, Theo helped the Dankworths bridge the gap between their Muggle lives and the magical responsibilities they had undertaken. This partnership also deepened Theo's connection to the magical world he had once been distanced from, offering him a sense of belonging and purpose that had long eluded him.
In this way, February 1983 marked the beginning of a significant and transformative period for both Theo Prewett and the Dankworth family. Their collaboration laid the foundation for a more secure and prosperous future for Harry, ensuring that his financial legacy was protected and wisely invested for years to come.
May 1983
If someone asked Lucious Malfoy what was second most important to him after family, he would say power and money. He always looked for new opportunities to make his family wealthier. During one of Draco and Harry's playdates, Lucius Malfoy overhears a conversation between Narcissa and Petunia. Narcissa mentions John Dankworth's new job and involvement in a promising financial venture, which piques Lucius's interest.
Narcissa, always perceptive and interested in opportunities to further her family's status, shares with Lucius how Petunia spoke highly of John's new job and Theo Prewett's innovative approach to managing wealth across the magical and Muggle worlds.
Intrigued by the possibility of expanding the Malfoy family's already considerable wealth, Lucius discreetly inquires into Theo Prewett's operations and John's new position. He sees an opportunity to grow his wealth and influence the Muggle world.
Lucius approaches John, subtly offering to invest in the financial strategies Theo Prewett has devised. While his interest appears purely financial, Lucius also seeks to strengthen ties with the Dankworth family, recognising the strategic advantage of having a foot in both worlds.
With Lucius's backing, Theo's financial strategies become even more successful, leading to an exponential growth in the wealth of the Dankworth and Malfoy families. This economic security allows Petunia and John to support Harry better while entangling them further with the Malfoys.
The alliance creates a complex web of relationships between the Dankworths, Malfoys, and Potters. While this financial partnership benefits all parties, it also introduces new tensions as the Dankworth become more enmeshed in the politics of the wizarding world. Narcissa continues to play a crucial role in the alliance, using her social acumen to navigate the intricacies of the arrangement. She sees the benefits of aligning with the Dankworths, particularly for Draco's future, and encourages Lucius to maintain the partnership.
June 1983
Her baby has magic… Her child, showing signs of magic, adds another layer to her responsibilities and emotions. Amid all her covert operations and intelligence work, Petunia faces a profoundly personal challenge when her baby begins to show signs of magic. This development is both a shock and a source of internal conflict for Petunia.
Having grown up in Lily's shadow and resenting the magical world, Petunia is forced to confront her feelings about magic now that it's manifesting in her child. This situation tests her resolve and the balance she's trying to maintain between protecting Harry and dealing with her past traumas. Harry having magic was one thing; she could compartmentalise that. She could even think of Harry as just Lily's child. This forces her to reconcile her past with her present.
Despite her longstanding wariness of the magical world, she knows that navigating this unfamiliar territory requires the wisdom and experience of those more accustomed to it.
Elena, with her magical protection and intelligence expertise, provides Petunia with practical advice on creating a safe environment for her son. She introduces Petunia to charms, wards, and other protective measures to ensure her child's safety within and outside their home.
Elena helps Petunia understand the stages of magical development in children, offering insights into nurturing her son's abilities while maintaining the discipline and structure he will need to thrive.
Petunia's decision to seek advice from Elena and Narcissa marks a significant step in overcoming her fear and prejudice toward the magical world. While she remains cautious, her love for her son drives her to put aside her reservations and do what is best for him.
The revelation that her son has magical abilities adds another layer of complexity to her life. Petunia's initial shock and fear gradually give way to a fierce determination to understand and support her son's magical development. She becomes more deeply entwined in the magical world, ensuring her son has the best opportunities while keeping him safe from the darker aspects of magic.
November 1983
November 28, 1983, her son's birthday was in two days. Harry is three now, and her sister would have been 23. She was 27 herself. Petunia thought that if someone had told her what her life had become now, she would have thought them crazy.
After Harry's arrival and discovering that her baby boy has magical abilities, Petunia's life undergoes a profound transformation. She transitions from being an active field operative in MI5's Magical Intelligence Branch to a management role, which offers her greater access to classified information and resources. This shift reflects her growing responsibilities as a mother and as someone deeply involved in protecting and guiding Harry.
Petunia's new role in management allows her to leverage her experience and skills to oversee operations and strategies and gather intelligence without directly being in the field. This change is crucial, given her dual responsibilities as a mother and protector of Harry.
With more access to high-level intelligence, Petunia is better equipped to understand Harry's threats and the broader implications of magical events. This access also allows her to uncover crucial details about her sister Lily's death and the larger schemes in the magical world. They had not found Voldemort's body, and if there is no corpse as far as Petunia is concerned, that only means he went to lay low and knows what else.
Petunia remains committed to keeping Harry safe. She uses her intelligence network to monitor potential threats and ensure he is shielded from dangers within and outside the magical community. Her management position enables her to coordinate protection efforts more effectively.
December 1983
Petunia's life becomes a delicate balancing act between her duties as a mother, a wife, and an intelligence officer. Her management role requires her to remain vigilant and informed, while her responsibilities at home demand emotional resilience and adaptability.
With John's new role at the investing firm and their partnership with Theo Prewett and Lucius Malfoy, the Dankworth family's financial involvement in the magical world deepens. This involvement secures their economic future and cements their place within the wizarding community.
Petunia leverages her intelligence background to navigate the complexities of their new financial and social standing. She uses her position to discreetly influence decisions that will benefit her family and Harry, ensuring they remain on solid ground.
March 1984
Petunia takes her protective instincts to a new level by buying the houses around her home. This move is part of her broader strategy to create a safer, more controlled environment for her family, particularly as she navigates the challenges of raising a magical child.
By purchasing the neighbouring houses, Petunia can better control who comes in and out of the area, reducing potential threats. This allows her to set up more robust magical and non-magical security measures, protecting her family from magical and mundane dangers.
These additional properties give Petunia more space to create a haven for her son and Harry. She can establish private areas where they can practice magic safely, away from prying eyes, and set up layers of protection to guard against outside interference.
Petunia discreetly enhances the security of these properties with wards, charms, and other protective measures. She collaborates with Elena and other contacts to ensure these enhancements are as effective as possible without drawing unwanted attention.
Owning the surrounding houses gives Petunia influence over those who live nearby. She can rent them out to trusted individuals or even use them to house allies from the magical community, further strengthening the protective network around her family.
This move gives Petunia a greater sense of control and peace of mind, knowing she has done everything possible to protect her loved ones. It also symbolises her commitment to embracing the magical world while ensuring her family remains safe and secure. The expanded space provides a more supportive environment for her son and Harry to grow up without fear. It also provides a sanctuary for them to explore their magical abilities without worrying about exposure or danger.
September 1984
After three years of navigating the complexities of raising Harry and her magical child, Petunia reaches a pivotal moment in her journey. Having taken significant steps to ensure the safety and security of her family—buying the surrounding houses and transitioning to a management role to gain better access to information—she finally recognises the need to address her own emotional and psychological well-being.
Petunia, who has been holding back her grief for years, finally allows herself to confront the pain of losing her sister, Lily. The weight of this unresolved grief, compounded by the responsibilities of protecting Harry and raising her magical child, becomes too much to bear without proper support.
Petunia decides to seek therapy, a courageous step that marks the beginning of her healing process. In therapy, she confronts her feelings of resentment, guilt, and sorrow, slowly untangling the complex emotions that have shaped her actions over the years.
In her sessions, Petunia explores the deep-seated resentment she harboured towards Lily for being the favoured child with magical abilities. She begins to understand how this resentment influenced her behaviour towards Harry and how it was rooted in her feelings of inadequacy and exclusion. In her mind, it was always Harry and her child and never her children. The aloof and somewhat emotional distance from Harry was something she had to confront. She has two children who depend on her now.
As she works through her emotions, Petunia gradually finds a path to forgiveness for Lily and herself. She slowly lets go of the bitterness that has defined her for so long, opening herself up to the possibility of healing and peace.
Therapy helps Petunia come to terms with her choices, both good and bad. She begins to see herself not just as a protector but as someone who deserves care and compassion.
As Petunia heals, her relationships with those around her begin to change. She becomes more open and empathetic, allowing herself to form deeper connections with her family, including Harry and her child, her children.
Therapy has given Petunia a new perspective on her life and role in the magical world. She starts to embrace the complexities of her situation with a sense of acceptance and resilience, no longer driven solely by fear and control.
May 1985
A year later, Narcissa and Elana suggested getting a house elf to help with Harry and her son's magical abilities. Petunia is confronted with a moral dilemma. Remus was one thing. Being a werewolf, she understood the prejudice and why people hated and feared werewolves in the wizarding world. In the muggle world, she had the power to help Remus find a job and finish his muggle education to be financially stable and independent.
Initially, she helped Remus get a job at a library. Petunia had suggested being a curator for the Royal Museum. The schedule would benefit him, allowing him to work around his condition. She knows that Remus and Sirus are in a relationship after being more stable.
Petunia supports Remus and Sirius in their journeys and relationships. Petunia knows this newfound empathy is thanks to her therapy. Improving her relationships highlights her evolving empathy and understanding. Her efforts to help Remus find stability in the Muggle world, from securing him a job at a library to suggesting a curator position at the Royal Museum, show her dedication to ensuring that those around her have the opportunities they need to thrive.
However, helping Remus and ensuring his safety as a werewolf in the muggle world was one thing; getting a house-elf represented a different ethical and moral dilemma.
The idea of acquiring a house-elf unsettles Petunia. Her sense of justice, honed through years of intelligence work and growing acceptance of the magical world, makes her uncomfortable with the notion of owning a sentient being. While she had been able to help Remus Lupin, a werewolf facing prejudice, by securing him meaningful work, the concept of house-elf servitude presents a different ethical challenge.
The house elf presented a different moral and ethical dilemma. She knew buying as many house elves as possible, their families, and the whole shop was impulsive. She thought that she stopped being that impulsive after her first field assignment. While she had previously navigated the ethical landscape of helping Remus Lupin, who faced prejudice as a werewolf and being gay in the muggle world, the situation with the house elves presents a different challenge.
Petunia's immediate impulse was to do something drastic—to buy as many house elves and their families as possible, freeing them from servitude. This reaction is reminiscent of her early days in the field, where impulsive decisions were sometimes necessary for survival. However, she also recognises this impulse might not be the most practical solution.
The house elves had become distressed by the notion of freedom. Living Petunia was in a moral and ethical dilemma and unsure what to do next, short of working with the house elves. For them to work at her house and the Potter properties. Petunia struggled with owning a house elf because of her sense of justice and fairness. She recognised the inherent inequality in the system that subjugates house elves, making her uneasy about the prospect of benefiting from their servitude.
Despite her usually calculated approach, Petunia had purchased the house elves as a rare impulsive act. This decision makes her reflect on the internal conflict and desire to do the right thing, even if she's not entirely sure what that is.
It's a throwback to her more impulsive days as an intelligence operative when quick decisions were sometimes necessary. Still, it also shows how deeply she cares about creating a fair environment for everyone around her.
Petunia grapples with the ethics of owning house-elves, questioning how she can ensure their freedom and fair treatment while they assist with Harry and her son's magical education. She feels a responsibility not just to her family but also to the creatures in her care.
Unlike her experience with Remus, where she could advocate for his rights in the muggle world that would shun him for being gay, the house-elves situation is more entrenched in wizarding society. Petunia knows she must navigate these murky waters, balancing her desire to help with the reality of the world she now inhabits.
Remus and Sirius, who are now more stable and frequent guests in Petunia's home, offer a contrasting perspective. They seem comfortable with house elves as they are, which adds to Petunia's internal conflict. If even individuals like Remus, who has faced significant prejudice, accept house-elves roles, does that mean she's overthinking the issue? Or is there a more profound injustice that she can't ignore?
This experience forces Petunia to reflect on her past impulsiveness and how her values align with her actions. She recognises that while her intentions are good, she must consider the consequences of her decisions, especially in a world where moral dilemmas are often more complex than they first appear.