Brooms and Cocks ch.20

Setting up the factory wasn't easy in such a short time, but with the downfall of the big three, they had help in the form of manpower and equipment. The town of Godric's Hollow was at a crisis point when the big three merged and laid off half of their workforce. For three weeks, their state had the highest unemployment in the country's history, and then the Sisters handed him their list, and Hermione and he began hiring.

In the first week, they conducted interviews with two dozen managers and technical supervisors, hiring them all. Harry was skeptical when Fleur told him she and Gabrielle would be able to staff the entire operation in less than two weeks, but they did it.

The first day of interviews lasted from six in the morning until eleven at night, with two short breaks for stuffing faces and breathing fresh air. Unlike exhaustion, Harry found that work filled him with energy because of his passion, and talking with these men and women who shared his passion and were excited about his plans was exhilarating.

Coming from family broomstick and flying carpet production and the opportunity to build racing brooms or work in a racing team was a thousand times better than waiting for unemployment and watching their town crumble around them. With the investment capital, he could offer generous packages that would provide security for their families in these uncertain times.

After two days of interviews and filling most of the technical positions, they began the tedious process of sifting through thousands of candidates for technical positions. Harry didn't conduct interviews or even scrutinize people deeply; but he wanted to make the first pass for all the hires to build the initial layer of his company culture.

After a big meeting with investors, he spent the flight home explaining his vision of the company culture. Hermione warned him at a few points, using her experience to offer him a slightly different vision. They wanted an independent workforce. One that valued their work and the product they created, without the fawning adoration so prevalent in magical England. He needed workers who would speak up if they saw a problem, not try to hide issues under data and half-truths.
*Easier said than done.*

Finding the right mix of people was crucial, and it wasn't until Harry interviewed Tracey Davis that he began to believe it was possible. Tracey was a junior manager in the HR department at her previous company. An impressive position for someone who graduated from high school just two years ago.

After two minutes of conversation, Harry knew why. This young woman had a way of getting to the heart of people. She captured internal motivations and presented them in a way that filled you with excitement. She did it for him within the first minute, commenting as they settled into their seats.

"I was worried when I heard that Potter's son took over the company and plans to build a new racing broom. The town and its residents can't afford another failure... But you're not interested in having your name plastered in the Godric's Hollow Free Press every day, or being seen with the hottest women in the industry."

"I'm not?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow at Hermione, who sat to his right in a little black skirt that showcased her long, slender legs, and a top that hugged her petite frame.

"No," Tracey replied, but her cheeks tinted a pretty shade of pink as she glanced at Harry's stunning assistant. "You're a wealthy, handsome young man. Such things are commonplace, not indicative." She shook her head and sat back in her seat, crossing her arms and mustering an intriguing smile. "No, you're not interested in the bells and whistles of power... You're in it for the thrill of racing. For competition. To be the best... Am I wrong?"

"You're not wrong," Harry said, unable to hide his smile at being so easily read. "And Hermione? Is your intuition so sharp that you can read a woman who says nothing?"

"I wouldn't call it intuition," Tracey said, furrowing her brow and adjusting her thick-framed glasses. Harry sensed a hint of pride in her response, which he liked. "I studied employer, employee, and organizational psychology."

"Please, forgive me," Harry said.

"Apologies are unnecessary, sir," Tracey said, still pleased with the apology. "Hermione is quite easy to read," she shrugged. "A mix of daddy issues, a need for approval, and a sharp mind seeking challenges. She's wasted as an assistant, but you both know that. That's why she's in this meeting instead of answering phones."

"Keen observations," Harry said.

"If I may propose another," she said, politely raising a finger. Harry nodded for her to continue, and she smoothed her skirt and seemed to carefully choose her words before continuing. "The nature of your... relationship may not be obvious to most, but once they find out, you may have problems with your female workforce."

"I have problems too?" Hermione asked.

"Not exactly, though it's a concern. I'm talking about jealousy," her pale cheeks tinted with a delicate shade of pink, but she continued unabated.

"Forgive me for saying this, but you have the look of a Hollywood actor and you're responsible for the hottest product our country has produced in decades. Knowing the culture of the big three, as I do," she shifted in her seat, her blush deepening before she continued. "Every woman employed under you will be hoping for a chance to... get under you... if you catch my drift."

Harry Potter felt a chuckle rise in his chest, but before he could dismiss the woman's concern, Hermione spoke up again.

"Is Miss Davis speaking from her own experience? The dark eyes of the beautiful woman stared at Tracey with an intensity he had come to know. The sudden excitement of the petite woman caused his trousers to tighten around his growing manhood, but he resisted squirming in his seat, focusing on her response.
"Yes, ma'am, I am." The color deepened on her cheeks, stretching down her neck and chest, but her head remained lifted, proudly meeting the other woman's eyes.

"Can you imagine a setup where those who are willing can be... lenient. Without fear of retaliation?"

"Yes, it's possible," Tracey replied, biting her lower lip at the first sign of nervousness throughout the conversation, unable to meet his eyes. "If your management structure were modeled after some European companies I know and... certain things, presented in a certain way... Yes, I believe we could build a culture that allows employees to... indulge themselves. Assuming everything else is in order."

"Excellent," Hermione said, looking him in the eye with her characteristic smile, letting him know their evening games would have another participant.

"When can you start?" Harry asked, reaching out to the excited woman.

Beaming, she took his hand and said she was ready to start immediately. She was an attractive woman, though thicker in the hips and thighs than he was accustomed to, with a bust almost as impressive as Amelia's. He would have gladly sampled her right away, but they had a tight schedule.

Instead of sending her home, Harry instructed to put her on the books, and she participated in the remaining interviews. Her insights and probing questions proved more effective than his own, and within an hour, she was conducting interviews herself. The woman was unfailingly professional and courteous to all the hires, but she had a way of figuring out who would fit and who wouldn't into the culture they were trying to build.

By sunset, Harry was confident in the team they were building, more so than since securing funding. There are a thousand things to do when growing a company and building a production base, but it's important to make time for oneself. If you're not enjoying the ride, what's the point?

That evening, as their last subordinates left and Hermione locked up the building, Harry asked Tracey to stay late and took her to his office to get to know her better. Throughout the day, the woman openly spoke of her desires, tossing him flirtatious comments and glances between interviews.

He didn't feel like he fully knew her until she leaned over his desk, and her skirt slid down to reveal her soft ass. Then she opened up to him, and he learned how happy she was serving under a strong and competent boss. Like many people, she thrived in such an environment, and if it scratched her itch too, she was willing to devote herself to the job.

For the next few weeks, she and Hermione worked closely together, finalizing personnel and assisting in organizing the company. They weren't alone in this. Amelia was at every meeting, advising on budgetary matters and maintaining some semblance of fiscal discipline.

Harry had to admit he could be the worst offender when it came to extravagant spending. Nothing was spent frivolously, no receptions or thousand-dollar office chairs, but he didn't see the point in scrimping on cheap equipment that would break in a year when they could invest in something that would serve them for a decade or longer.