I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. It all belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling!
Chapter 2
Harry woke up with a groan as his alarm clock rang out 6am. He got up, washed his face, dressed in some shorts and sneakers and quietly headed downstairs and outside. He stretched for some time and then started jogging down the sidewalk. 45 minutes later Harry returned out of breath and sweaty. He made a mental note that his endurance was vastly low and he would have to increase that time drastically if he wanted to be able to last in a duel with Voldemort. Harry knew all the times he encountered old Voldy he was lucky but that wasn't going to be the case when he saw him again.
Harry headed upstairs and after a shower and a quick breakfast he decided that first it would be best to contact Gringotts. Calling down Hedwig from her perch he quickly penned a note to the bank asking if there was a goblin who handled his family's vaults and if he could meet with him. He also noted on the letter he would need a way to privately get away from number 4 Privet Drive without anyone noticing. Harry was certain Dumbledore had people watching his house and reporting back to him, he wasn't that stupid and unawares to notice the tail he had following him on his run this morning. Tonks tripping 4 times on the run itself spoke volumes of who it was under the disguise of an older lady out jogging.
Sending the letter off with Hedwig, Harry then decided to review all of his books from years 1-5 and re-learn all the knowledge the correct way with the theory behind the spells being the main goal. After some time Hedwig returned with a thick, very expensive piece of parchment with the Gringotts seal on it. Inside was a note from Giphook explaining he was the account manager for the Potter Family vaults and he would meet with him at 1:00pm this afternoon to discuss his inheritance and any other questions Harry might have. Inside was an ornate looking 'pen', for lack of a better word that was described as a portkey to Griphooks office.
At 1:00pm, Harry was deposited on the floor of a very expansive office, rich with crimson red and a soft yellow. Beams of light shone through upper windows that looked to be about 15 feet up. Sitting behind a very large and polished mahogany desk was a sour looking goblin. He came around and greeted Harry with a handshake. "Greetings young Lord Potter, I hope the portkey wasn't, er, too rough on you?"
Harry didn't miss the evil smirk the goblin was showing even though his head was bowed and the expensive suit he was wearing. "I am fine Mr. Griphook, and I thank you for your help in getting me here discreetly?"
"Nobody will be able to know that you are missing, our portkeys do not show up on the magical trace on underage wizards, even though you are no longer underage".
Harry reeled back at that and looked at the gobblin with a dumbfound expression on his face. Griphook merely returned to his seat behind his desk and folded his hands together.
"What do you mean I am no longer underage? I'm not 17 and won't be for quite some time".
"Sit down Lord Potter and I will explain everything to you, I am very busy and this is going to take some time".
Harry sat down in one of the two chairs in front of the desk and peered up at the goblin. Is the desk raised up higher than the chairs? He thought, but then pushed that from his mind, he had way too many other questions that had to be answered first.
"Ok Griphook, I'm listening".
"When you were tried in your fifth year for underage magic, you were tried as an adult. In doing that the minister hoped to have you expelled and possibly even put in Azkaban".
Harry gasped at this. Continuing on ignoring the childish acts of the boy Griphook went on to explain that the consequence of the ministers actions Harry was legally emancipated and therefore by right is now able to take up his headship of his house and become Lord Potter Head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, and any others he may be inherited to.
"Now, Lord Potter we must perform the inheritance ritual to see what else you inherit, so if you would please prick your forefinger on the edge of this dagger and drop some of your blood into the bowl there".
Harry picked up the dagger and noticed it was covered in runes and pricked his finger. The bowl that was in front of him was also covered in runes and preceded to glow vibrantly when his blood dripped into it. Griphook took out a piece of parchment and added it into the bowl. With a flash and a loud bang the paper floated out of the bowl and Griphook grabbed it and looked it over. Frowning he made no movement but merely grunted.
"Excuse me Griphook but is there a problem"? Griphook eyed Harry very closely with narrowed eyes and slid the parchment over to him. Harry picked up but gasped again and raised his eyebrows. But this can't be possible!
Harry James Potter
Head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter
Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black
Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Gryffindor
Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Slytherin
Potter Accounts: 15 million Galleons
Black Accounts: 10 million Galleons
Gryffindor Accounts: 25 million Galleons
Slytherin Accounts: 25 million Galleons
Potter properties: Potter Ancestral Manor (Wales), Godrics Hollow (destroyed), Marauders Den (Diagon Alley)
Black properties: Black House (London), Chalet du Black (France)
Gryffindor properties: Hogwarts (25%)
Slytherin properties: Hogwarts (25%)
Investments:
Daily Prophet 50%
Diagon Alley 60%
Knockturn Alley 100%
Muggle Investments 78%
Harry finished reading the parchment and placed it back down on the desk. Griphook grinned toothily and rang a little bell. Another goblin came in through a side door carrying a chest and set it down on the desk and walked out.
"Now Lord Potter you are heir to three Noble and Most Ancient houses and therefore we must perform the ritual so you may claim your headship over those as well. I need you to prick your finger again and drop some of your blood on these three rings, 1 at a time and pronounce that you are the sole and true heir and will be taking up the headship and all the responsibility that comes with it".
"I'm sorry but I don't see how I am heir to the House of Black?"
"Lord Black adopted you last year before he finished his revision of his will. In that he claimed you as his heir and heir to the Black fortunes.
Harry felt his eyes water and had to look down a bit before he was able to compose himself.
With that Griphook opened the chest and inside were 4 very large rings all very ornate with carvings and shapes on them. One was red, another was black, another gold and the final green. Griphook took out the black diamond ring first, "this is the black Head ring, drop your blood on it and proclaim what I have told you".
Harry did as was told and the ring flashed white for a split second and then subsided. Harry then put the ring on his right ring finger and the ring resized to fit his finger. After completing the ritual with the Gryffindor and Slytherin rings Griphook then handed Harry the Potter Head ring. Taking it from him Harry studied the ring more closely. On one side was a phoenix clutching a wand with lightning bolts on both sides. The other side of the ring was a triangle with a circle in the middle and then in the center what looked like a wand standing straight up.
"With this ring Lord Potter you will have taken up the Head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter and all four of your rings will combine into 1 ring with symbols from each house. You will also obtain a large amount of information from each house stored within the family magic that resides in the rings. It is bound to be abundant with knowledge of history and magic no one has seen for years with the Hogwarts Founders and most likely lots of dark magic from the Black ring".
Harry slid the ring on his finger next to the others with more than one question on what he meant by that and after another bright flash of light there was one large ring more beautiful than the other four separately. There were the House symbols from each house and an expansive diamond on top that was a shade of a very dark green almost black, but if you looked closely you could see a deep amber red and a shaded gold as well.
"Now you are the Lord of four Noble and Most Ancient Houses and four of the wealthiest houses in wizarding history. Your father and I made several investments into muggle firms and have done very well while the Blacks have invested heavily in Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. The vaults of Slytherin and Gryffindor are that way because a percentage of tuition goes to the founders and their heirs. Since no one has claimed to be a heir of those houses for a very long time the gold has sat and accrued interest. I will now take over the finances of the other three houses on your behalf. What is it you would like me to do with them?"
Harry sat there a moment still stunned at what all has transpired over the last hour. "Griphook you know much more about making money then I do. So in the absence of my knowledge I want you to take a higher percentage fee out for yourself for managing four houses now of course", Griphook grinned widely at this. "I also give you permission to, how do I put this eloquently, go make money however and wherever you see fit. The more you make for my vaults the higher the percentage you receive for yourself".
At this Griphook lost it and tossed his head back and let out a very bark-like laugh that was very deep and unnerving, yet slightly jolly. "You are quite the enigma Lord Potter. I shall do as you so exquisitely stated, 'go make money' for us. Are there any other questions you have for myself?"
Harry grinned at that and thought a moment before responding. "Yes, you say that I am now legally an adult, does that mean I can perform magic without getting into trouble?"
"Indeed Lord Potter you are fully emancipated and have been for a year. The Trace is no longer active on you although I doubt the wizards know this".
Harry raised his eyebrows at this, "Does that mean they still believe I can't perform magic?"
"It would seem so yes. Why do you ask?"
"Griphook I will be honest with you, I do not trust the ministry and I do not trust Dumbledore. I also am prophesized to be the only one that can destroy the Dark Lord Voldemort. I need to be able to train without anyone knowing what I am up to and without Dumbledore interfering. I also understand that to win this war I cannot do so without allies. Do you have any advice or suggestions that may be able to help me further in my studies and physical aspects of my body to advance further in magic faster? And do you know of others that I can turn to for advice and legal counsel that are powerful but not necessarily evil but not exactly good either?"
Griphook stared at Harry for a very very long time. Almost to the point where Harry was about to tell him he was sorry for asking and would leave. "You are quite the enigma Lord Potter."
"You've said that before", Harry said with a grin.