A gruff voice answers. "Enter." Brimlow steps forward and opens the door beckoning Petunia to enter before himself.
Petunia steps into a surprisingly modern looking office. The office itself is an odd shape, not box shaped at all; it looks like the Crafter tried for an oval shape but stopped halfway through to add bookshelfs all along one wall on the far side of the room. Directly in front of her and Harry there are two comfy chairs covered in dark blue fabric, made out of dark wood the same shade as the massive carved desk in the middle of the room. Behind the desk there sat Manager Borenok on a black leather chair. Various bins with scrolls and large leather bound tomes sat all around the office and the floor was covered in a deep green rug that looked comfortably a century or more old. Petunia continues forward and curtseys to the goblin with a short polite greeting. Lily said the Wizards are all old fashioned so curtseys and bowing it is. She thinks to herself.
"Good morning Manager Borenok. Thank you for agreeing to meet with myself and Harry on such short notice." Petunia says as she stands straight, still holding tight to little Harry.
"Good morning Mrs. Dursley, Heir Potter. Please have a seat and then we can begin our discussion. Would you like tea?"
"Thank you, tea would be lovely." Petunia looks down at Harry and sees him eyeing the goblin with interest. "and something for little Harry? I would be hard pressed to get him to enjoy a proper cuppa." She replies with a slight chuckle.
"Of course, Ma'am. Brimlow? Please send in a tea cart and find something suitable for Heir Potter to drink as well." Borenok addressed Brimlow in a brisk manner before turning back to Petunia. "Now while we wait, why don't you explain how the savior of the wizarding world ended up on the doorstep of a squib?"
"I guess the beginning is as good a place to start as any but before I do I would really like to know where my sister is. If Harry is with me she would rip apart the island with nothing more than a teaspoon to get to her son. I am afraid we did not have the best relations with one another."
"Ah yes, Lady Potter was a formidable adversary. It is for that reason that you may be shocked to hear Lord and Lady Potter were killed on the night of October 31st. That I believe is why you have not heard from her in regards to her son being in your care." Borenok told Petunia with a grave tone.
Petunia sat in shock for a full minute before replying. "I- I thought it was something like that but h- hearing it is completely different. Well, sir, since you answered my question it is only fair I get on with my side of things. Yesterday morning I went out front to collect the morning milk and found a bundle on my front stoop. It turned out to be little Harry. I would have come straight away to find out what to do but I have another son, his name is Dudley he is about the same age as Harry I believe, and I didn't want to leave him alone nor could I find someone to watch him on such short notice." Petunia stopped to take a deep breath. Still, understandably, upset over hearing the news of her sister's death and preparing for the one thing she has said to a total of three people thus far. "So I arranged for a sitter for my little boy and here I am. I am terribly sorry but I have no idea how to raise a Wizard child. I remember my sister's magic before she went off to that school being very unpredictable and I don't know if I could handle it on my own. Not to mention my walrus of a husband would probably hurt the boy. I have been trying to leave him but I have no money and no one to take care of myself and my boy. My boy may not be the nicest but he still deserves love. I can't take another child into that home. I humbly request your assistance, I haven't told many people about my husband's temper." Petunia slowly got louder as she spoke, getting desperate for help for her charges.
At that moment Brimlow returned with the tea cart, a cup of milk, and a cup of juice for Harry. "Greetings, I hope the choices for Heir Potter are acceptable. If you require anything else Ma'am I will be glad to help." With that short statement the goblin quickly bowed to the Manager and gave a short head nod to Petunia before striding out the door and closing it behind himself.
Manager Borenok turned back to Petunia to reply while pouring tea for them. "Well Mrs. Dursley, that is a surprisingly simple story. Was there a note left for you in regards to Heir Potter?"
Surprised at the nature of the question, Petunia nearly spills the milk that she was putting into a baby bottle for Harry. "N-no not that I found. I was slightly distracted by Harry though. He was crying because I startled him. Kept asking for his parents and someone called, and pardon me, but it sounded like Dafoo. I don't know what on earth he could have wanted."
"Well that is most disturbing that someone would treat Heir Potter with such little care. Ma'am, I don't mean to pry but what exactly is the reason for your desire to divorce your husband?" Borenok asked carefully while leaning back into his chair with a cuppa.
Petunia took a deep breath and put together her thoughts before she began to speak. "Well Vernon, that's my husband's name, has a very explosive temper and while we were dating he was the perfect gentleman I assumed he wouldn't change so I married him and was happy to do so at the time. Once we moved in together he started losing his temper with me more and more until he bordered on abusive. Not physically of course but he is very restrictive about what I can do and such and what I can say. Even if I do the smallest thing wrong he will completely lose his temper with me. It's nerve wracking being around him all the time."
"Well I can honestly say I will do everything I can to help you Mrs. Dursley. Even if the future of Heir Potter wasn't on the line. Goblin's believe that mistreatment of your bonded is one of the lowest offences. I could even offer you a job, get you a safe house for a few weeks if needed. This is troubling news. I cannot release Heir Potter's vaults without permission from the late Potter's themselves. That would have been in their wills to whom Heir Potter was to be intrusted however Chief Warlock Dumbledore sealed their wills and only Heir Potter can request to see them."
"So if I were able to get Harry to request to see them we would be able to do something for him?" Petunia asked.
"In short yes, many more options would be available to you if that were the case. Of course his legal guardian is also allowed to request any pertinent information regarding the care of upbringing of their ward." Borenok answers with a sly half smile.
"So Harry being dropped off with me and my blood relation to him... would that be enough for guardianship, then i could request all the information." Petunia asks slowly while trying to put information together.
Borenok's half smile turns into a full toothy grin. "I am glad you asked, yes Mrs. Dursley. Since the will was sealed by the Wizengamot, you being the closest blood relative gain custody."
Petunia lets out a relieved breath she wasn't even aware she had been holding. "Well then Manager Borenok I would like to request a copy of their wills to be reviewed as well as a summary of vaults that Harry has access to at this time along with any properties he is owner of." She replies somewhat formally.
"Of course, I had a feeling you would want to take a look at these so I sent for them earlier in anticipation of this." Borenok pauses to take out a folder from one the piles in the top corner of his desk and hands it over to Petunia. "The first two pages are the wills of Lord James Charles Potter and Lady Lily Elizabeth Potter nee Evans. The next three pages are brief summaries of Potter family Vaults as well as a trust Vault for Heir Potter. The rest are properties under Potter Family deeds. As current guardian of Heir Potter you will receive a monthly allowance for the upkeep of Heir Potter in the amount of no less than 500 Galleons which if I am not mistaken is approximately 4000 pounds. An appropriate amount for someone in Heir Potter's standing. Any other questions?"
Petunia is stunned by the wealth of Harry's family and the onslaught of information Borenok is giving her. "Ah, if I, ah, may take a few minutes to look over the wills I am sure I will have a few questions after that." Petunia immediately opens the folder and turns to Lily's will.
The last Will and Testament of Lady Lily Elizabeth Potter nee Evans
I, in sound Body, Mind, Soul, and Magic, hereby bequeath to my only son all of my worldly goods. Including, properties, vaults, personal effects, and heirlooms.
Until such time that Heir Harry James Potter turns the age of 16 he is to have a guardian forthwith to be chosen by the following list:
Heir Sirius Orion Black (Blooded Godfather of Heir Harry James Potter and Blood Brother of Lord James Charles Potter)
Lady Alice Rose Longbottom nee Fawley (Godmother of Heir Harry James Potter and Ally of House Potter) and her husband Lord Frank Thomas Longbottom
Remus John Lupin (Blood Brother of Lord James Charles Potter)
Minerva Isobel McGonagall (Dear friend and trusted professor)
Amelia Susan Bones (Dear friend and Ally of House Potter)
If any of the above persons are unable to care for Heir Potter then House Potter requests the Leader of the Goblin Nation to place Heir Potter with a suitable family of their choice. It is our opinion that they will be impartial and take their job with the highest respect, putting the need of a good home above their person feelings on the matter.
Heir Harry James Potter is NOT to go to his maternal Aunt and Uncle Petunia and Vernon Dursley under any circumstances.
If this will is being read, that means the Fidelius Charm placed on Godric's Hollow has been broken and our Secret Keeper has betrayed us. Our chosen secret keeper was Peter Richard Pettigrew. Please take the appropriate legal action against the guilty party for their crimes.
I do Solemnly Swear that this is the Final Will as witnessed by the appropriate parties.
Signed, Lady Lily Elizabeth Potter nee Evans
Witnessed, Lady Alice Rose Longbottom nee Fawley
Witnessed, Heir Sirius Orion Black
After Petunia finished reading she mechanically held the paper out to Borenok for him to review as well and sat there rocking Harry trying to figure out what everything said in the document meant for her and Harry.
Borenok swiftly finished the document and handed it back to Petunia to set back in the folder.
"Manager Borenok, is there anyway to get in contact with the others mentioned in the will as guardians of Harry. I don't feel comfortable being his guardian knowing Lily did not want me to be."
"Mrs. Dursley, I am confident that I would be able to reach every single one of those people however Magic has accepted you as Heir Potter's guardian the moment you took him into your home and treated him like your own. That is the only reason you were able to view the document at all. There is nothing we can do to change Magic's decision." Borenok says firmly, making sure to leave no room for mistake of meaning.
"I can't take Harry home with me! My husband will be furious if i do so! with the allowance i would be able to take care of him and my son but I can't leave him in a day!" Petunia says in desperation.
Borenok looks at her for a moment and then writes a short message down on a piece of parchment. A few seconds later a goblin that Petunia doesn't recognize comes in takes the message and rushes out again. "Mrs. Dursley here at Gringotts we pride ourselves on being able to handle any monetary or legal matter that might pop up for our customers. If you wish to be rid of your husband in 2 hours then we can make that happen for the right price. Now since the reason for the divorce is abuse, which we goblins despise above almost all else save dark soul magics, we will waive this fee however it is my understanding that you will not get a fair say in court due to Vernon Dursley's standing in the community. I am fairly he would be able to gain full custody of your son Dudley if he wished. I tell you this not to scare or upset you, but so that you will be fully informed when our legal department comes to speak with you and get the paperwork moving. Also we can in fact help you with your own son, placing certain protections so that he will have no chance of being mistreated if that is your fear."
Petunia is speechless at the generosity of the goblins. She takes a long moment to think over her options with in the Wizarding world and in her world. "I- I would love nothing more than to leave my life behind. If you can make sure Dudley is protected then I want nothing to do with him. He may be my blood but he is a spoiled rotten child and I am at a wits end trying to raise him while Vernon comes home and ruins everything I worked for that day! I just want to start over Manger Borenok. truly. My life is as much a sham as my marriage. I have few things to return to." Petunia looks down at the floor in shame of her outburst.
"Mrs. Dursley, if this is truly what you want then you must say so in no uncertain terms when the legal aids get here. You can then be taken to gather your belongings and find a place to stay. It is after all only early afternoon." Borenok says.
Petunia looks up sharply. "Everything would move so fast." She gives Borenok a small smile. "I would be free. I would have a new life. Could we take a look at the Potter properties to see what is suitable for me a little Harry?"
"Of course. I know that there are many properties across the globe would you like to stay in England?"
"Yes, Gringotts has been above and beyond helpful I would prefer to stay close, just in case."
"Very well. In that case, there are four cottages, two vacation homes, three apartments, and three Manors in the United Kingdom."
Petunia sits there once again in shock of the wealth and power Lily married into. James did not seem like the rich rich type. Well off maybe, the wedding certainly was grand if the pictures were anything to go by. She thought to herself. Vacation homes and Manors are out. I don't think Harry and I would need that much space. Just enough room for him, myself, and maybe a helper. "May I please look at the summaries of the cottages and apartments?"
"Certainly, if I may I will pull those out right away." Borenok says while gesturing to the folder Petunia still had open in her lap. She picks it up and places it in his hands. "Now, if we may start with the apartments, there is one here in Diagon Alley, one above an abandoned shop in Hogsmeade, and one in Ireland. Since you prefer to be close for the time being; the apartment in Diagon Alley has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a formal sitting and dinning room, as well as a small library and den. The cottages are in West Midlands, Liverpool, Dublin, and Godric's Hollow."
"Dear me, I think for simplicities sake I will be best with the apartment here in Diagon Alley for now." Petunia said after a few minutes of deliberation.
"Wonderf-" Knock knock. "Oh, I guess they have finished with the preliminary paperwork. Come in!" Borenok said.
Three goblin's in the same color robes silently make their way into the spacious office. The oldest looking one steps forward a bows. "Good Afternoon Manager Borenok. I have brought the requested documents. If I may speak to Mrs. Dursley in private."
Petunia stands and curtseys to the newcomers as she had to Borenok. "Thank you for being so prompt. I am Miss. Evans now if you do not mind." she said with a slight smile. "I do not need private for this conversation I assure you. I want a clean split with Vernon. I never should have married him or brought a child into that house."
The elder goblin steps forward. "Very well. This should be easy then. Do you have any personal bank accounts in your name? are there any personal effects you want from the marriage?"
"I don't have anything in my name but the house itself. I would only like the trunks in the attic, they have everything I'd want along with my clothing and personal items and such."
"Very well Miss. Evans. Please sign here, here, here, and there." Petunia picks up the fountain pen and signs her name on a divorce document, reliese of parental rights, slit of monetary holdings, and a legal change of name. "Wonderful, I will file these and send someone out to persuade Mr. Dursley to sign the divorce papers." He says with a dangerous grin. "tis a shame I an unable to go myself for these things anymore. I'll also set up a vault for you Miss. Evans and deposit the estate money in there. Do see Brimlow when you leave here today for the vault and an escort to your home to collect your things."
"Thank you so much sir!" Petunia says to the goblin.
"tis nothing my dear." the Elder goblin says. "I couldn't stand by and allow a mere child to grow up in such a situation."
"What will happen to Vernon?"
"Oh nothing to concern yourself with, we shall take care of everything for you. I suggest inquiring as to the whereabouts of the other guardians on Lady Potter's will." the Elder goblin turns to his companions and speaks in low tones in a language Petunia does not recognize for a few minutes. "Miss. Evans I believe we will have everything sorted out for you tomorrow. I am aware that the money given as part of Heir Potter's upkeep is not unsubstantial however if you wish for a job, Gringotts is always looking for competent workers. Good day." With that puzzling statement he left with the others and it was once again Borenok, Harry, and Petunia left in the office.
Petunia sits thinking for a few moments before taking a deep breathe. "Sir, would it be possible to go see the apartment now? I would prefer getting a list of things I will need to take care of Harry so that by tomorrow I will be settled."
"of course! I'll have one of our wizards on staff take you."
Anything you recognize isn't mine! Jk Rowling is our queen!
