Bonds Made in the Stars
Chapter 2
Trip to the Bank
They would walk down the hallway and up the stairs to the second story where he would follow her into what appeared to be a rather nicely done study. The furniture was all made from thick dark woods while the walls were a rather soft blue, golden accents finished the look. It was a rather proper room, with a soft more feminine touch. He thought it was likely her study as there was a desk by the rather large window and various bookcases along the walls. There was a cream colored couch and loveseat by the rooms fireplace and a few paintings along the walls.
She sat down on the loveseat and invited him to sit across from her with a gesture as she placed the little one on the space beside her. She smiled softly and warmly to the toddler who had woken up when placed down and immediately went to climb down to the floor, before turning her eyes back to her husbands friend. They had business to attend to after all. Her voice was soft but firm when she spoke to him, "Are you certain that I have the most claim?"
Remus looked at her sighing, and couldn't help but shrug as he replied, "The most that I am personally aware of. To the best of my memory he was to go to Sirius, then Alice Longbottom and her husband. If both couldn't take him then, if I remember correctly, Peter and I were to help select a new guardian, but that he was not to go to her sister. They hadn't spoken in a few years I think and the last time ended on rather bad terms."
Süheyla would frown slightly, "I thought you said he was with his aunt?" Remus could only nod at that so she continued "Who placed him with her? If what you said is true then he should have been placed with me before the Longbottoms were attacked...Sirius would have to properly refuse him before he could have went to the Longbottoms." Her frown would deepen as she gathered her thoughts, "Sirius legitimized Henry(Ignoring Lupins' gasp), if not brought to me then he should have awaited Sirius here with I remember the laws on custody correctly, Sirius and not even myself would have had to formally refuse him and sign a document stating as such with those in Wizarding Childrens' Services."
Remus, while still a bit shocked and confused, runs his hand through his hair, "While I didn't know Sirius legitimized him, which is shocking in and of itself to be honest, I only know that his Aunt said he was placed on her doorstep sometime on Hallowe'en night as she woke up the next morning and found him there. She said a note from Headmaster Dumbledore was left tucked into his blanket..." Looking down and losing himself in thought a bit, he would look up after a few moments, "You're right...Harry should have been with you...He should have been with you when the Longbottoms were attacked, and when Sirius kil-killed Peter...This makes no sense. I'm sure Dumbledore must have had a reason but for the life of me I can't understand what that could be right now."
Süheyla would sigh and wave his comments away with her hand, "Dumbledores' motives are a matter for another day then. More to the point, Sirius legitimized Henry about two weeks after his birth if I remember correctly. He had to have my approval since the ritual would give little Henry some of his blood making him an Heir of the Blacks alongside any children we would have. Evidently there were some Potter family by-laws that would have kept the full inheritance from Henry as a half-blood. He still would have gotten the majority but James wanted him to have the whole amount, thus he approached Sirius about it. I was fine with it honestly, Sirius and I are required to have three children per our contract but both families could use for several male heirs."
In order to give them both some time to digest the information, she called out for her personal elf, Moxie, to bring them some tea and snacks along with a bottle and appropriate snacks for the toddler. The little elf would disappear and not a moment or two later a delicate blue bone china tea service would appear on the table between them. She invited Remus to help himself and handed Harry his fresh bottle and a grape that had been halved.
Both were lost in their own thoughts while they ate and drank their tea, little Harry of course found things to amuse himself with all over the strange room. He occasionally toddled or crawled over to the table for more grapes but was happily exploring for a bit before he laid down to drink his bottle and ended up falling asleep again.
Süheyla would smile down at the baby when she noticed that he had drifted off, poor little thing probably needed his nap badly...So much had changed for him within the last few weeks that she was honestly surprised he was being as sweet and quiet as he was. Most people, regardless of their age, would be fighting against all of the changes trying to hold on to any sense of normality that they could find. Yet here was this little one, just cruising through it all like it was no big deal, she could only hope he didn't resent the lot of them once he was older for all of the mistakes and missteps they were bound to make along the way.
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An hour and half later they were on their way to Gringotts. Süheyla would need to speak with the Potter accounts manager to verify she had the strongest claim and file any relevant parchment-work through them. She had decided to raise this boy and she would do her best to raise him correctly for his station in life, part of that would of course be making sure the Potter vaults were in order.
Little Harry was, of course, disguised as they went through the alley. A simple charm gave him sandy blonde hair and pale blue eyes, and no one should question Remus about the baby he carried since he would be walking directly to the bank to await Süheyla.
She, personally, didn't want to carry Harry to the bank as it was fairly well known she was the wife of Sirius Black, the man who had recently been reveled to be You-Know-Whos' right hand man. While she didn't believe it one little bit, the common witches and wizards did. Thus she didn't want the little one to be scared by their possible reactions to her. She was wearing pale blue silk robes with a darker blue border, that were both modest and accentuated her figure with a shimmery champagne colored hijab with a matching dark blue border that covered her hair. While her family had been living in England for several centuries now, they still held on to a few of their Ottoman traditions. Her wearing of a hijab being one of them.
She took a deep breath as she entered the dimly lit pub and held her head high, refusing to back down or even seeming to take notice of the hostile glares and whispers being directed her way. She made her way through and out to the back where she tapped the correct bricks and entered the alley proper.
Again she ignored the whispers, the cruel and crude comments, the children yanked away from her direction by foolish and frightened parents. Acting as though they were all beneath her, she made her way to the front of the bank where she quickly found Remus. After both had made sure the other was alright, they went over to the counter and found a free teller, whom Süheyla requested to go see if the Potter account manager could see her. With a bit of sneer on it's face the teller directed them to a waiting area where they could sit.
After sharing a look with one another, they both moved that direction and sat down. Letting Harry stretch out some and play in the floor a bit as neither knew how long of a wait they were in for. They spoke of lighter topics while they waited, getting to know one another a little, her getting information about the baby, and him feeling out how his friends son would be raised by his other friends wife. Nothing too identifying was discussed as a precaution, neither wanted information being leaked until everything was settled.
At around the thirty minute mark of their waiting, a younger goblin would come into the waiting area and direct them to follow him as the Potter Accounts Manager Grimjaw would see them now. Süheyla nodded her head as she stood gracefully and followed, making sure Lupin and the baby where right behind her. After all the baby would be needed for the discussions and issuance's of orders for his accounts. Their odd group walked along the winding, nondescript stone hallways for several long minutes until the goblin leading them stopped at a plain looking door and knocked three times before speaking in it's own tongue as it opened the door, gesturing them into the room.
Süheyla sat down across from the old fierce looking goblin, gesturing for Lupin to sit next to her and taking Henry when he did so, getting him settled into her lap for the time being. Within moments of them sitting, the door closed with a snap, and Grimjaw spoke.
"I was informed that the Potter Heir would be being raised by his muggle relatives, as his Godparents were unable to care for him, and I was to lock everything down until he came of age. Seeing him with you makes that appear to not be the case."
She would smile softly, "Your instructions were given in error it appears. My husband, Heir Primary of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black, had never refused his godson. The Heir Potter was left with his mothers sister by mistake. I have been told it states in the Will of the late Lord Potter that he was to not go to Lady Potters' family at all. I also am aware as are you that my husband legitimized the Heir Potter shortly after his birth, thus he will remain in my care. Unless you in your wisdom of his family and their bylaws and accounts knows of someone with a greater claim then myself?" Though she kept her expression carefully neutral, she was a tad bit curious. Family bylaws could be tricky and specific, as well as down right odd. Most important ones were filed with family Account Managers, in case the Lord of the family died before his Heir(s) could be instructed in them. As had happened in this case. They could also come into play in various contracts that involved a member of the family, schooling choices, so on and so forth. Her family ,the Shafiqs', for instance required a certain number of passing OWLs and NEWTs be attained by the Heirs of the family. Failure to do so could see them not gain their lordship if they were the Heir(ess) Primary or a reduced inheritance. Some Families bylaws only allowed males to inherit the Lordship, while others only allowed females.
Grimjaw would lean back in his chair with an amused, and yet almost shark-like grin. "You are correct Lady Shaifq. Due to your husband being not just the boys godfather but also his legitimizer, we know of no one who could challenge his claim to the child, or yours on your husbands behalf. I have had the Will and the pre-arranged custody parchment-work between your husband and the late Lord Potter brought up. You need to merely sign the parchment on your husbands behalf and if it glows then magic will have accepted it as so and copies will be filed with the relevant ministry offices.
Once that has been done then we can, with your permission, execute the will. I will then have a file prepared with all of the House Potter business information prepared and brought to you. We can then go through it now or you can go over it at your leisure and owl me your directives or make an appointment to discuss your directives in person."
She would incline her head, relief visible on her face, "Where shall I sign then?" Grimjaw would slide the papers across his desk to her and indicate all of the places she should sign, turning the pages as needed. Less than a minute after she signed the last section, the papers would glow a bright golden color before it duplicated itself several times with each set disappearing until only two remained on the large stone desk.
Sitting back in his chair the old goblin would say, "Well that's done. The Ministry files should be noticed within the day, so I wouldn't keep Heir Potter out from behind wards long. The Potter portfolios are being brought up now along with the regent ring, shouldn't be but a few more moments on those. Once your husband is no longer indisposed then he will need the ring turned over to him."
"Of course Grimjaw. I intended to have that matter sorted sometime in the coming weeks so that my husband may rejoin us for the Yule holidays."
Remus looked shocked by her statement but the old goblin just looked amused, smirking, "Is there anything else Gringotts' can assist you with this day?"
"Yes actually. I would like to carry out an inheritance ritual on Heir Potter. With many families dying out due to this war I think it's necessary to make sure he is getting all he is entitled to." Now that got Grimjaws interest, his shark-like grin returning, as he pressed a rune on his desk which almost immediately had a younger goblin knocking and entering the office. It left quickly after being spoken to in the goblin language.
"I shall have the fee for the ritual deducted from your account. The supplies will be up shortly..." A knock on the door had a different goblin entering and handing over a large file of to Grimjaw. "The Potter portfolio has arrived, I will check through it quickly while we await the ritual supplies." He immediately began quickly going through the papers, making sure it was all in order. Right around the time he finished and was setting the folder aside, two young goblins would enter the office and set down some parchment, a ritual knife, a rather ornate bowl, and some potions in vials.
Grimjaw would pour one of the potions into the small bowl, setting the knife inside it, then he begins to chant softly in goblin. By the end of the chant the knife is glowing softly(the potion had disappeared) and he sets out the roll of parchment, gesturing for her to step forward with the baby.
She stands and steps a bit closer to the desk, setting Harry down next to the parchment. She takes the knife from Grimjaw and makes a small cut on the babys' finger before pushing out a few drops of blood onto the parchment. Harry had been very interested in the things on the desk...until about five seconds after the cut was made, when he promptly started crying.
At once words and glowing lines started forming on the parchment, she picked the baby back up and started lightly bouncing and shushing him to calm him down, "I will be taking Heir Potter to my familys' manor, so that he is safely behind our wards. I trust that you can await the completion of the ritual and gather all relevant files and send them to me to sort through? I foresee the next few days being rather hectic. I will of course be available if there are any emergencies with any of the accounts."
Grimjaw would nod in agreement,"Of course Lady Shaiq. Your requests will be carried out properly."
She would incline her head, "We shall take our leave then." With a pointed glance a Remus she walks out of the room with Harry on her hip. Remus follows after saying his goodbye's to the goblin, and catches up to her at the Floo's near the entrance of the bank. After Süheyla has a few quick words with one of the goblin guards, she and Remus are both cleared to use the Floo.
Making a sudden decision, Süheyla turns to Remus, "You may join us at my manor for a time. I daresay Harry could use a familiar face as he gets settled in. We also still have much to discuss. The floo address is "Starborn Manor", I will go through first and add you to the wards. Please give me about ten minutes to attend to it first."
"Of course, thank you for not cutting me out of his life. I was worried about that." And indeed, it seemed that the worry had taken up root within him because as she had been speaking it looked as though a physical weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Süheyla gave him a soft smile before adjusting her hold on the baby and going through the floo to return home. Remus followed about twelve minutes later and looked around in awe at the bright and airy sitting room he stepped into.
The room had a mix of dark and light shades of blue and green accents, while the furniture was all deeper browns. Bits of cream or beige mixed in here and there kept the room from looking too dreary or formal. All along the outside walls were large windows that kept the room looking bright, pastel flowers outside the windows also added a nice pop of color. Süheyla would smile at Remus' awe, "Obviously the house elves will have to make some adjustments in here for little Harry over the next few days, but I am glad to see you like the beauty of the room."
Remus jumped slightly, being started out of his looking about and would rub the back of his neck a bit in embarrassment. "This room is far more comfortable looking than what I've seen at Grimmauld, and is definitely cleaner than i remember Sirius' apartment ever being." He smirked slightly.
Giggling softly, "Yes, I refused to allow him a house elf until he could act like an adult on his own. I think he thought I was joking at first, but he soon learned otherwise and was slowly starting to take care of himself."
Remus would snicker some before sitting down on the rather comfortable couch and then give her a serious look. "Now what did you mean by you intend to have Sirius home soon?"
"Simply put, it's been two weeks and there has been no trial nor any formal charges filed. It's what his mother and I were discussing before you showed up with Harry."
AN: Here is chapter 2!
