Frank Longbottom was a tall man, around 6'2", with short dark brown hair and blue eyes and a rather impressive physique, for a pure-blood that is. His wife, Alice, was head shorter at only 5'8", with dark blond hair done in a pony tail and hazel eyes. Her appearance was what most people would call slim and attractive. Though Frank would argue that "slim and attractive" just didn't cover it. Both were wearing what at first appeared to be casual robes but upon closer inspection were cut slightly different, in a manner which gave more freedom of movement, in case they were attacked. Young Neville Longbottom was smiling from his mother's arms, small for his age with his mothers blond hair and his father's eyes he looked around giggling at all the sights of Diagon Alley, which they were currently strolling down. They arrived at Gringotts, more than happy to be out of the cold, and saw Remus Lupin sitting off to the side. His light brown hair was matted and unkempt and his cloths looked rumpled, as if he had slept in them. When they drew closer they noticed a strong smell of alcohol and that he obviously hadn't showered in days. Neville noticed none of this; he only saw that his favourite 'uncle Moony' wasn't smiling like he usually always was. When they reached him he didn't seem to notice at first, until Alice sat next to him. He looked up into her concerned eyes then at Frank who smiled weakly at him and then to Neville, who just reached up for a hug. Remus smiled for the first time in over a week at that and gave the boy a quick hug. Alice looked back at Frank and he nodded so she turned to Remus and said, "Maybe you should come stay with us for a few days Remus. Merlin knows we could use the company." He smiled gratefully and nodded.
Griphook, who had stood by and watched the exchange silently, smiled slightly. The goblins had always liked Remus because he treated them as equals. He took a few steps forward to ensure they noticed him and said, "Greetings. Follow me please."
The four quietly followed the young goblin along the same path he had taken the Minister and Headmaster along yesterday. They too gasped when they saw the amazing carvings in the grand hall. Griphook stopped and looked back at them, "Magnificent isn't it? This is a visual representation of the entire history of the goblin nation. Very few humans have ever seen this room. Follow me please." With that he turned back and kept walking. They soon reached the large double doors of Ragnok's office and Griphook turned to them again. "This is the office of Director Ragnok, current leader of the Goblin Nation. He has decided to deal with the issue of the fake will personally. Please follow me." He pushed open the large doors and waited for the four to come through before closing them again. Albus Dumbledore was seated there along with a very angry looking Minerva McGonagall. The Minister of Magic was also there as were two young boys who looked almost like twins at first glance. Young Harry Potter was however being tended to be a healer with a very grave expression on her face.
"Welcome. Please take a seat." Ragnok said as he gestured and three very comfortable chairs materialized. Both Frank and Alice noted with some mirth they looked far nicer than the straight backed, steel chairs the others were seated on.
"We asked for you to be present today for the reading of the reading of the real Last Will and Testament of James and Lily Potter. Now I don't know about all of you but I'm a busy Goblin so I shall read the terms of the will only. All their belongings, property and stock interests are left to their son, Harry, and are to be made available to him no later than his eleventh birthday. Fifty Thousand Galloons are left to Remus Lupin. The remainder of the liquid capital is also left to their son. They have forbidden Harry from ever coming into contact with, let alone live with, the Dursley family. Custody is given to Sirius Black, however since he is not available then Harry is to go to the Longbottom Family. They also state that Mr. Black was not their secret keeper and the Peter Pettigrew was. The will is signed in blood by both Mr. and Mrs. Potter. Griphook here is the manager for the Potter family and was the one who notarized the will. Sirius Black and Filus Flitwick were the witnesses. Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom do you accept custody of young Mr. Potter?"
Alice and Frank looked at each other then back at Ragnok and together said "We do."
Ragnok smiled. "Excellent. Thank you for coming Minister, Professors, your presence is no longer required. Mr. Lupin, Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom would you please remain. Griphook please show the others back to the lobby."
Griphook stood and bowed. "Yes sir. Follow me."
The door closed with a soft thump and Ragnok seemed to relax slightly. "I hate politics." He grumbled.
"Who is the other child?" Alice asked.
"Alexander Mackinnon. The night his family was murdered he was staying with the Potters. Since there was no will and they knew He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had many spies in the Ministry they kept the boy a secret. Mrs. Longbottom, as a former Mackinnon you are his last remaining family, will you take custody of the boy?" Ragnok said tiredly.
Alice's eyes immediately brimmed with tears at the thoughts of her lost family. Frank leaned over and held her. He turned to Ragnok. "We will."
Rangok nodded and wrote a few things down. He pushed forward several papers. "These are the documents you need to sign for custody. Would you like some Goblin Warders to be available?"
"No thank you. I think we might go and stay in one of the Longbottom properties overseas until the remaining Death Eaters have been rounded up. Perhaps when we return. Can you organize an international portkey for all of us? Preferably within the hour. And please make all our funds available from the overseas branches." Frank replied.
"Very well. Where is it you would like to go?" Ragnok replied.
"Remus? Any preferences on country?" Frank queried.
Remus, who had been watching the Healer with Harry the entire time, looked back around. "Not really." Before turning back to look at Harry again.
Frank thought for a few moments. "We have a nice place in Miami, Florida. A portkey to there, bottomless bags for each of the adults here, attached to our own vaults, and a portkey to Mages Way in California that also returns us to our home in Miami. Only needs to be one use, we can apparate after that. Is there anything else you would recommend Director?"
Ragnok pulled out a file and flipped to a page near the back. His eyes flicked back and forth as he scanned it. He closed the file and put it back. "No I believe the wards there are strong enough and yet discrete enough to escape notice. Everything shall be ready for you in approximately forty minutes. Healer Swanson, how are the boys?"
The Healer stopped and turned to face the room at large. "Well young Alex is fine, perfect health for someone his age. Young Harry however is almost the complete opposite. Whoever he was staying with before this should be executed! He had one broken bone, was malnourished, probably starved, his diaper has obviously only been changed once in over a week. I've treated everything I can but he needs a lot of care for the next two months at least. Childs Nutrient Potions with every meal for at least a month and then he needs a check up. Other than that he's fine."
Remus looked murderous until Ragnok said with a huge grin, "Good. I shall make a note and have charges brought against the family and Mr. Dumbledore who placed him there."
Frank and Alice both signed the documents as Griphook returned. He handed two lengths of rope to Frank, each with a label as to the destination, along with the box of potions the Healer had requested earlier, and two money bags. He also handed a money bag to Remus. Remus's one was black and the both the Longbottom's ones were a dark red with the Longbottom crest in gold.
"The cost for the portkey's has been taken directly from your vaults. Two hundred Galloons total. If that is all for our business today then I thank you for meeting with me. Griphook will show you to a room that allows people to portkey out. Enjoy your holiday and perhaps when you return we shall speak again." Ragnok said.
They rose from the seats, which promptly vanished once they were no longer touching them, collected the other two boys and followed Griphook to the portkey room. Frank had one final thought before they left. He turned to Griphook and said, "You are the manager for the Potter accounts correct?"
The goblin nodded. "And with our being the guardian of Alex can we make any decisions about the Mackinnon vaults?" The goblin nodded again. "In that case I need a quill, ink, and some parchment before we leave. Griphook nodded again and produced the items from somewhere. Frank very tidally wrote out a note requesting the Longbottom and MacKinnon accounts also be managed by Griphook and a set of brief and rather broad instructions concerning future investing and handed it to the confused goblin. "Thank you." Frank said, and with that they all grabbed the appropriate portkey and left.
A/N 27/1/10: I'm almost surprised no one noticed it but then again it took me this long to notice it myself. A small edit to the opening paragraph where one moment Remus was standing and the next he was sitting. Fixed. Called Sirius "Mr. Blank" at one point. Fixed.
Alorkin raised a good point about them turning down the Goblin warders. Frank is going for discretion rather than being impenetrable, preferring to slip under the radar as it were.