The only disclaimer I will do! I do not gain anything from this, except escapism. It all belongs to J.K Rowling. This is incredibly AU and characters will be OOC, so please don't tell me, as I already know, and it's the way they're supposed to be. ENJOY!
'Thoughts in italics'
'Parseltongue in bold italics'
Deviation from the Plan
"Welcome Harry, t' Diagon Alley!"
Harry was gobsmacked as he stood next to Hagrid. The sounds, sights and smells that hit his senses, nearly bowled him over. Shrieks from excited children, and squawks from owls perched in cages, slammed into his ears. The sights in front of him were a feast for his badly developed eyes, hundreds of people milling about, going about their shopping. I could spend hours here, and still have things to look at! He thought.
"Righ', we'll be wantin' t' go t' Gringotts first! Follow me 'arry." Hagrid told him, whilst marching off towards a rather imposing white building. Harry's little legs couldn't move fast enough to keep up with the half-giant's enormous strides.
"What's Gringotts Hagrid?" He asked curiously, whilst he tried to get a peak into every shop they went past.
"Blimey Harry, I keep forgettin' those damned muggles never told you anythin'. Gringotts is the wizardin' bank, it's run by Goblins, so don't stare at 'em. They're nasty li'l buggers." Hagrid replied. Harry thought that was a bit mean, but decided to see what the goblins were actually like, before forming an opinion of an entire race of beings.
Harry's eyes bulged slightly as they walked through into the foyer of the bank, desks as high as Hagrid's chest ran down two sides of the room, and the most terrifying of creatures sat at them. Slightly green in complexion, with pointy ears, waxy skin and long noses; the goblins appeared to be a fearsome bunch. Hagrid led Harry up to an imposing desk that seemed to be even higher than the others. Upon the top sat a little name plate that said 'Head Teller Gork'.
"Af'ernoon, I'm here t' take Harry Potter t' 'is vault, and then after I nee' t' nip in an' collect somethin' from vault 713, on official Hogwarts Business. Mr Dumbledore gave me a letter t' give t' you." Hagrid explained to Head Teller Gork, and then passed over a sealed envelope. Gork opened and read the letter, before looking from Hagrid to Harry.
"Very well, and does Mr Potter have his key?" Gork inquired.
"Ah, I've go' it 'ere." Stated Hagrid, before he pulled it out from one of his numerous pockets, and passed it to Gork.
"And why do you have his key, rather than Mr Potter himself having it?" He glared at Hagrid, before turning to face Harry. "Mr Potter, there are some very important things that need to be discussed with you that are considered urgent, after you have visited your vault, would you please come and speak to me again, and we can deal with these issues in a timely manner."
Hagrid started to huff and puff, this was not going how Dumbledore said it would. He was on a specific time scale, and had to be back to Hogwarts by a certain time.
"NO, he'll have t' come back another day, we have t' get all his school equipment, and then I need t' get back. We haven't got time." Hagrid glared at the Goblin.
"Well, why don't you get his supplies for him? The only thing he needs to do personally is get his wand. I'm sure by the time you've got everything else, we will be finished. These issues must be dealt with today. I'm sure the good headmaster would understand." He glared at Hagrid, forcing him to do as he said.
"Hagrid, if Mr Gork says it's important, then it must be. If Gringotts is anything like the banks in the muggle world, then they don't muck about wasting time, if they need something done immediately, then it has to be incredibly important. If we do my vault first, then you can do whatever you need to do, whilst I come back up here and sort out the problems." Harry was slightly shocked with how much he'd just said, it was quite possibly the most he'd ever spoken, in his entire life. Hagrid wasn't very happy about it all, but he couldn't exactly throw a hissy fit, without it looking rather suspicious. So he simply nodded his ascent.
Gork called over another Goblin called Griphook, who led them over to the carts, and escorted them down to Harry's vault. The thrill Harry felt during the journey down to his vault was euphoric. Even Hagrid's green complexion and complaints of feeling sick weren't enough to dampen his spirits. If this was what a rollercoaster was like, then Harry finally understood what Dudley's boastful bragging was all about.
Harry's excitement only increased when Griphook opened his vault for him. He couldn't believe this was all his! Piles of gold, silver and bronze coins in mounds.
"Mr Griphook, what precisely are these coins?" Harry asked politely.
Griphook was astounded at how polite and mild-mannered the young man was. He'd never been called Mr before. He was starting to like the young Potter boy, but still felt that being called Mr, just wasn't normal, although he appreciated the respect.
"Mr Potter, I must insist you call me Griphook, although I do thank you for the kindness and respect you have shown me, it is incredibly rare for a Goblin to even be called their name, let alone be called Mr. You have showed me a great kindness. Now, the gold ones are Galleons, the silver ones are Sickles and the bronze ones are Knuts. 29 Knuts to a Sickle, and 17 Sickles to a Galleon. In today's market, a Knut it worth about a penny, a Sickle is worth about 29 pence, and a Galleon is just under 5 pounds. I'll write it down for you to help you remember."
"Thank you Griphook, I'd like it if you called me Harry, it sounds odd being called Mr Potter. Is there a way that I can access my money without having to come back to refill a bag up with coins?" Harry enquired politely.
"Very well, Harry. And yes, we have two ways of doing that, one is a bag that has direct access to your vault, it can only be used by you, and all you have to do is hold it whilst stating how much money you want, and the money will appear in the bag. When you come of age, you will then have access to something that looks like a muggle debit card, it works in both the muggle and magical world, and it means you haven't got to worry about changing your money to muggle money. But until you're of age, it's not something I can offer you. Would you like to have one of the bags though? It costs 15G for the bag, and an annual charge of 10G for the use of the service?" Griphook explained, delighted to be helping the young wizard who was so polite to him.
"That's good to know, can I get one of those bags today? It would make it a lot easier to be able to use it as and when I need it, rather than having to get someone to bring me here, every time I need a refill." Harry requested, as he smiled down at the unusually friendly Goblin.
"Certainly, I'll make sure it's dealt with at your meeting. Now, I've summoned another goblin to come and collect Hagrid, so he can go and do what he needs to. In the mean time, I'll take you to the meeting." He guided Harry and the still stressed out Hagrid, away from his vault, and sealed it back up. He then led Harry to the cart and waited until the other goblin arrived in another cart to escort Hagrid, before taking Harry back up the ground level.
Once back up to ground level, Griphook escorted Harry along a thin corridor. Half way down, he stopped them outside of a door that had a name plate attached. It read:
'Senior Director Ragnok'
Griphook knocked politely on the door, before escorting Harry in. Griphook knew that arriving without an appointment wouldn't be taken well, but he hoped that because it was the much needed appointment with Mr Potter, that maybe he'd get away with it. Ragnok looked up at them from his seat at his desk, with a most displeased look on his face. That was, until he actually took a closer look at Harry and realised who he was. Upon realising, he jumped out of his seat and wandered over to the boy as quickly as he could, without giving away that he was actually excited to see him.
"Senior Director sir, I brought Mr Harry Potter to see you sir. I'm aware that you needed to see him urgently sir, and I hope I haven't caused offence by barging into your office without an appointment." He got down on one knee and bowed his head in a display of submission to his better.
"Rise Griphook, you are correct, and due to how important this meeting is, I will display leniency and forget this little transgression. But only this once!" Ragnok gave him a stern eye, before dismissing him and guiding Harry over to one of the plush seats facing his desk.
"Please, Mr Senior Director Ragnok, sir. I don't want Mr Griphook to get in trouble. Mr Gork said that the issues needed to be dealt with as soon as possible, I didn't realise that I needed to make an appointment. It's my fault for not asking. Please don't take it out on Mr Griphook." Harry gaze dropped to his shoes, sad and scared that he'd got the nice Goblin in trouble.
Ragnok looked at Harry as if he'd just jumped onto his desk and performed the Cancan. He'd never heard a wizard ever talk of a Goblin with such respect before. To call one by name was incredible, but to actually call one Mr! It was astounding the respect that he was showing. Ragnok was incredibly impressed with the young man. Well, Mr Potter, you've certainly gone up in my estimations. Perhaps, this meeting will be more fruitful than I expected! He thought.
"Do not panic, Mr Potter, Griphook will not be in trouble for his actions today. Now, do you know what this meeting is about Mr Potter?" Ragnok asked him politely. Given the politeness the boy was showing, he decided to be polite right back.
"No sir, I only know that it's important. Although, the fact that it's being done without Hagrid present leads me to believe it must be highly confidential too." Harry replied.
"Correct Mr Potter. It's all with regards to your accounts. We've noticed that there have been some odd removals from several of your vaults, and they seem mighty suspicious. Are you aware that your parent's Will was never read?" Ragnok queried.
"I didn't even know they had a Will, sir. I've never been told about it. In fact my parents were never mentioned, if it could be helped, whilst I was growing up." Harry looked back down at his feet miserably.
"Mr Potter, might I ask where exactly you grew up, and whom you grew up with?" Ragnok was starting to get mildly worried. As his prerogative as Sr. Director, he had the right to read a will before it was read out. Having done so with the Potter's Will, even though it never got read, he was aware that Mr Potter wasn't to be placed with his Aunt and Uncle under any circumstances. He had a sinking feeling in his gut, that that's exactly where Mr Potter had been placed.
"I grew up and live in Little Whinging in Surrey with my Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, sir." Harry looked at him curiously. He'd had years of practice at being able to read people's emotions, it kept him out of Vernon's reach often enough to keep himself out of trouble. He was getting the distinct impression that Ragnok was most definitely not happy.
"And, do you happen to know who decided that you should be living with your Aunt and Uncle, Mr Potter?" Ragnok had a feeling that he knew exactly who had placed Harry there, and it was the same person who'd prevented the Potter's Will from being read.
"That would be Headmaster Dumbledore, Sir. He had Hagrid collect me and bring me to the Dursleys, where they left me on the doorstep with a letter. I was dumped there just like the morning milk, and the Dursley's have never let me forget it." Harry's ears turned red and he blushed with anger at how he had been treated as a baby, and all his childhood.
"Mr Potter, according to all the information I have gathered, Headmaster Dumbledore is most certainly not looking after your welfare. He assigned himself as your Guardian within the magical world, even though that went against your parent's Will. He also was the one who stopped their Will from being read, stating that it was unnecessary. This prevented you from being placed with the family that your parents chose for you to go to. According to the Will you were to be placed with the Longbottoms, as Alice Longbottom is your Godmother. If you couldn't be placed there for whatever reason, you were to be placed with your Godfather Sirius Black, and should that not be possible, you were to be placed with Minerva McGonagall the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. You were not to be placed in the care of your Aunt and Uncle under any circumstances. And yet that was exactly what happened. Furthermore, after some investigating with regards to the discrepancies within your accounts, we discovered it was Dumbledore that was causing these issues, by accessing your accounts with a supposed letter you'd written giving him express permission. I am going to assume, since he is clearly not looking out for your welfare at all, that you did not write that letter?" Ragnok rounded off his rather long explanation of the issues with a soft sigh. It was rare for him to say as much as he had, he was know to be a Goblin of few words.
Harry was gobsmacked. After hearing all these great things about Dumbledore from Hagrid, he was starting to realise that maybe the half-giant had been brainwashed, as the headmaster certainly didn't sound like a 'great man'. In fact he sounded like a bit of a bastard. But at once it was incredibly clear to Harry, Dumbledore was not to be trusted.