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Chapter 10: Gringotts
🕑 Added 2020-07-12 16:12:42 +0000 UTC
"So where is the first stop going to be?" Harry asked as both he and Sirius came out of side along apparition and on to a dark, dingy alley a block away from the Leaky Cauldron.
"First stop will be Gringotts. We will need to check up on my inheritance plus some other stuff that has me baffled." Sirius answered as he took out a small flask from his black leather coat pocket and drank it all down.
Shaking his head from side to side, Sirius slowly took on a whole new appearance as his grey eyes became blue, his hair blond, his face square with a strong jawline, his straight nose becoming squashed, and his frame much bulkier and wider. Until Sirius looked like an American football athlete from the telly.
"Let's go," Sirius said as he headed out the alley.
"Wait," Harry shouted, "aren't you going to give me some polyjuice?"
"Why would I," Sirius answered back, "You look like a totally different person and your scar is very much faded-- you really can only notice it if you peer right up at it, plus if you let your hair fall down it totally cover it up."
"Alright, sure," Harry said as he removed his hairband, letting his hair fall all the way to his shoulder then messed around his front poof until it nearly reached his eyebrow. "But do I look like a girl?" Harry asked, trying to get Sirius's opinion.
"I grew my hair out," Sirius stated as he pulled his hair back behind his ear, "and do I look like a girl."
"Mhm," Harry muttered, not giving the quick response that Sirius was looking for, "Maybe, I guess. I am always reminded of Lucius Malfoy when I see shoulder-length hair."
"Alright, fine," Sirius stated as he jerked his hands in the air, "we will go to a barbershop near here when we are done shopping."
"Yes," Harry said as he pumped his fists then got started moving towards Leaky Cauldron. "I just did not want to say anything, but...."
"Then do not say anymore," Sirius cut off with a hand.
"Okay," Harry said, "but the latest fashion sense of younger people is neck length hair."
Pivoting his head to face Harry, the older wizard asked in an affronted tone, "Are you calling me old?"
"Well, you are my parents' age so there really isn't any youth left in you."
Coiling his arm around his godson neck, Sirius started knuckling the young wizard's hair, "Oh-hoho, so is that how you want to play it, huh?"
"I was just kidding, I was just kidding," Harry answered through fits of laughter.
"You better be," Sirius stated as he let go of Harry and walked into the wizarding pub, "calling me old. You kids sure do have a lot of guts."
Passing through the customers and passersby both wizards walked into the back of the pub and into a small, walled courtyard with a dustbin. Pressing some stones, Sirius stepped back as the wall slowly started part and an archway opened up into a busy street.
"Let's go," Sirius said with a nod of his head as he stepped through. "Remember," Sirius added, "to all outward appearances we are uncle and nephew."
"Alright, sure," Harry said as he followed after him. "What do we say if anyone spots me?"
"We will still keep up the facade, though me being your uncle isn't false, nevertheless you will only give away that I am your guardian."
"Cool, cool," Harry uttered, though at this point he wasn't paying attention to what Sirius was saying as he took in the sights-- which never got old no matter how many times he walked down this particular street. Ducking under a low swooping owl carrying a letter, Harry watched all the wild display of magic going on as one wizard was putting on a fanciful light show another spelling the most strangest creatures. Sidestepping a goblin who barely reached his waist, Harry tried to catch up to Sirius who was a couple of meters ahead of him.
"Alright we are here," Sirius announced as he stepped onto the first level and waved his hands towards the large white marble bank.
"Well then let head on in," Harry uttered as he climbed the steps by two or even threes. Coming up to the final landing one of the goblin doorman held the door for them, nodding his head in appreciation, Harry walked into the bank which was much cooler than the hot summer air outside.
Walking up to one of the bank tellers who turned his bald pate towards them, it addressed them with, "What can I do for you, today?"
"We are here to see the Potter and Black account managers," Sirius simply stated.
Narrowing it eyes down towards them, the goblin took a glass shard from inside its dress poker and used it to peer at both of them in turn until it finally put the mirror away and replied."Follow me then, Sirs, I will take you to both of them."
Walking in step behind the peach-green creature, they all left the entrance area and started walking deeper into the bank until they reached an office area. Heading down a wide and well-furnished hallway, the goblin came to a stop at an office numbered 26 then knocked on it.
"Yes, come in," a voice called out from inside the office.
Turning the door handle and opening the door, the goblin leading them nodded its head and greeted. "Sir Barnott, Master Harry Potter and Sirius Black are here to see you."
"Oh, hurry up and let them come in," the voice stated as sounds of organization echoed inside.
"Shite," Harry whispered, "they know you are here Sirius!"
"Don't worry," Sirius said as he waved away Harry's concern. "Goblins do not stick their neck in wizarding business unless their gold at risk."
Widening the door for them, Harry and Sirius stepped into the office and was greeted to a plump creature with gold-rimmed spectacles seated on an elevated chair. "Yes, yes," the goblin called out in a cheery voice, "please have a seat Master Potter and Black."
"I shall go receive the Black Family account managers," the bank teller announced to the crowd then closed the door and left.
Sitting down on the leather-bound chairs, the plump globlin turned to face Harry and announced, "Oh, Master Harry Potter how I have been trying to reach out to you or your guardian ever since that horrid night."
"I never got anything from you," Harry stated.
"No thanks to that meddling old fool," Sirius muttered with distaste.
"Whatever do you mean, Master Potter, did you not get any of the monthly, quarterly, and yearly bank statements I have been sending you?"
"NO," Harry answered with a shake of his head.
"Oh, dear, my sincerest apologies Master Potter," the lump goblin profused as he quite a bit distressed.
"It is not your fault," Harry tried to console, "you had no idea, and I had anti-mailing spells placed around me."
"No, no, this is a failing on my part, I should have known something was wrong when I did not get a single reply back all these years. Here," the goblin said as he reached into a large stack and pulled out a binder, "This holds all the records of Financial transaction that went on the last 13 years."
Tanking the binder from out the goblin's hands, Harry skimmed over it and his immediately got dizzy as he saw all the money moving around. Closing the binder shut, Harry placed it on his lap, and spoke to the goblin, "I will go look over later Barnott, right now just tell me were there any unusual transaction that I should no of."
"Mhm," the goblin said as he rubbed at his chin, "Right now at the top of my head I can't think of any. There have been the usual gains from profitable business and some which you will need to look over and think about getting rid of, but for now, I can only think about a transfer to a family named the Dursleys."
"WHAT!" Harry shouted as his eyes nearly popped over.
"Ow, yes, Master Potter, I believe that they get 1,000 Galleons each year," the goblin replied, not noticing the young wizard's outrage. (A/N: 1 Galleon equal to 25 Pounds)
"Who authorized this?" Sirius asked in a deadthly quiet voice.
"Ah... Wh-who authorized it? Di-didn't the Potters do it? No, wasn't it, you? No. Who authorized?" Like a broken and confused record, the plump goblin stared off into nowhere and kept on asking itself the same question over and over.
"What the hell happened to?" Harry inquired as he got up from his seat.
"He has been Confunded," two voices replied at the same time.
Harry knew who the first voice belonged to, obviously his godfather, but for the second one, it was a first that he heard it. Turning around to face the second speaker, Harry came face to face with a grumpy looking goblin that had a permanent scowl on and behind him was the bank teller that lead them to the office.
"Gorkit, you old bastard, what is going on here?" Sirius asked as he gazed down at the goblin.
"We will need to go see King Ragnok about this then you will have your answers.
"Don't avoid the question Gorkit," Sirius stated, "it looks to me like one of your account managers has been compromised."
"You can bring all your charges and complaints before King Ragnok, other than that let's head-on." Then spinning to face the teller, the grumpy goblin uttered, "boy, go see to Barnott and have a goblin healer check up on him."
Nodding his head in acknowledgment, the bank teller grabbed the confused account manager and lead him off and away.
"Alright then follow me," the Black family account manager stated as he moved along.
Before long the small group made it to a large bronze door guarded by two goblins wearing golden pristine armor and holding massive halberds for their size.
"State your business," the guard on the left declared.
Coming to a pause at the door the goblin spoke up, "I am here to see King Ragnok about a very important matter."
"One second," the guard on the left stated as his companion took out a small orb and whispered into it. One the creature was done talking, he nodded his head to his companion which he nodded back and said, "You may go in, King Ragnok awaits you."
Suddenly as if by magic, of course, the large doors slowly swung open on their own volition and a large chamber hall greeted them inside.
Walking in ahead of them, the short goblin ambled into the chamber hall and both wizards followed in step. Coming up to a large throne seating a stout goblin a bit taller than his other kins, the grumpy goblin took to a knee and stayed there.
Looking to Sirius for direction when they stood before a Monarch, Harry saw that the older wizard didn't bow or anything but give a simple nod-- if anything really Sirius stood more taller and proud.
Following his example, Harry fixed the slight creases on his clothes the best he could, and stood as straight as he could. If had known before that he would be meeting royalty, he really would have dressed his best then this regular clothes.
"You may arise," the Monarch finally spoke as the goblin got up from the floor and bowed his head.
"What is this important matter you have for me, Gorkit?"
"Your Majesty...." the goblin began as he retold everything that happened to the best of his knowledge.
"Mhm. What you told me is very worrying Gorkit, only a Sorcerer- a legendary Wizard- could do that by getting past our wards, having the spell remain active for years, and nobody being any the wiser at all."
"Your grace," Sirius uttered as he stepped forward, "I might know who it was."
"Who?" the goblin king asked as he turned to face the wizard.
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore!"
Rubbing his chin as he thought it over the goblin finally answered, "That would make sense, he is the only accursed Sorcerer thousands of kilometers around except for that Dark Lord. Now the question is do you have any proof?"
"No," Sirius replied, "but as you can see your grace, there has been a breach in the Potter's accounts and a transaction they never made has been done on their behalf."
Nodding his head, the goblin king turned his gaze towards the Black family's account manager and addressed him, "Gorkit see to it that the Potter family are paid back in full and with interest. Also, increase their security measures to Marquisdom."
Then turning back to face Sirius, the large goblin stated, "Although there is nothing much we can do about Albus Dumbledore, we shall still freeze his accounts for investigation matters," the Monarch uttered with a savage grin, "and for the gold, we shall personally collect on it."
"Thank you, your grace," Sirius said with a nod. "Now, I would like it if the Potter Will where to be unsealed!"
"Are you authorized to?" the goblin asked with a narrowing of his eyes.
"I am his godfather, you tell me, do I?"
"Fine, wizard, Gorkit go see if Barnott is mended and if he is, bring him to my office immediately."
Bobbing his head, the goblin account manager hurried then the goblin turned back to Sirius. "Let's head to my office, wizard, we can have refreshments there while we wait for Barnott."
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Sitting back and enjoying some tea with biscuits, the door to the goblin king's office swung open, and both the Black and Potter family's account manager strolled in.
"My King," both goblins called out as they took to a knee then hurriedly got up when the Monarch nodded his head.
"Did you bring the Potter Will?" the bulky goblin asked.
"Yes," Barnott replied as he presented a golden plaque.
"Play it," the goblin king stated with a wave of his hand.
"Of Course your majesty," the goblin replied as he made some weird hand gestures and two voices that he knew instinctively where his mother and father.
"I, Lord James Fleamont Potter, Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter and I, Lily J Potter(née Evans), do of sound Mind and sound Body, declare this to be our Final Will and Testimony, voiding all previous filed Will and Testimony. This Will and Testimony is dated on 31 July, 1980."
"To Sirius Black, we leave you with 100,000 Galleons, thanking you for all the joy and laughter you have brought in our lives! Don't you dare spend all our money partying and chasing women," Harry's mother seemed to add in the end. That got a laugh out of Sirius as he sadly smiled.
"To Remus Lupin, we leave you with 100,000 Galleons, thanking you for all the wisdom and cautiousness you have brought in our lives! Fuck the system, you can live comfortably for your whole life even if you are a werewolf," this time it was Harry's father who made the remark.
"To Peter Pettigrew, we leave you nothing if we are dead, let it be known that he must have betrayed us if we have been found. Peter Pettigrew was our secret keeper," Harry's mother tried to say until his father cut in, "I will be coming for you, you rat-tailed bastard even from beyond the grave!" However, he was quickly cut off as somebody seemed to have elbowed him and his mother continued, "let the Auror force know that Peter Pettigrew is a Death Eater."
"To...." Harry's mother and father continued as they kept on listing more and more people that they wanted to bequest a fortune to. Each and every single one of them where good friends of his parents who done them great favors and helped along.
"In the event of our death," Harry's parents continued, "We wish to leave our son in the care of one named Sirius Black. He is Harry's Godfather and although reckless t times, he has a good heart and will do his best to take of our son and there is no one we rather trust with our son's care."
"If anything we to happen to Sirius Black, we wish to leave our son in the care of one named Remus Lupin. There is a separate account we opened which should deposit 5,000 Galleons a month to Remus Lupin for Harry's care."
"If anything we to happen to Remus Lupin or if he was refused guardianship of our son within the grounds he is a werewolf, we wish to leave our son in the care of one named Alice Longbottom. She is our son's Godmother and she will raise Harry just like her own son."
"If anything we to happen to Alice Longbottom, we wish to leave our son in the care of one named Amelia Bones. She is a close friend of ours and is the fiancé of a certain someone."
"If.... we wish for Minerva McGonagall...."
"If.... we wish for Amos Diggory...."
"If.... we wish for Molly Weasley and Arthur Weasley..."
"If.... we wish for Pandora Lovegood...."
"If.... we wish for Rubeus Hagrid...."
"If.... we wish for Garrick Ollivander...."
As the list of people who Harry's parents wanted to live with went on and on, it finally reached the end.
"In the event of our death, we do not wish to leave our son in the care of any known Death Eater or the associates. Neither do we want to leave our son in the care of one named Albus Dumbledore as we know that he wouldn't give the proper care that our son deserves. Nor do we wish our son to be ever left in the care of one named Petunia Dursley(née Evans) or her husband as they have a total hate for magic anything to do with it."
"So mote it be!"
As the recording dead down, silence greeted the office until the goblin king spoke up, "Was this Will cared out to the best of our abilities Barnott?"
Hanging his head low, the goblin answered, "No Your Majesty, it seems like I have been Confunded in this matter too."
