Disclaimer: Harry Potter is NOT mine! The characters, settings and world of Harry Potter all belongs to JK Rowling, Warner Bros and whoever JK Rowling deemed worthy of owning a piece of her masterwork. I am just rummaging through her amazing world and having some fun with it.
June 16th, 1998
The Burrow
Ottery St. Catchpole, Devon, England
"Harry dear, you have a letter here from Gringotts," Mrs. Weasley said as Harry ambled into the Burrow's kitchen.
Harry frowned as he sat down at the table and took the heavy letter from Molly. He had never gotten anything from Gringotts before, Harry looked up as Bill entered the kitchen, all the Weasleys as well as Harry and Hermione had returned to the Burrow, mostly to placate Molly and draw strength from their loved ones. Ginny and Arthur had been discharged from St. Mungo's, and were living at home.
"Bill, do you know what this is about?" Harry asked. "I've never gotten any post from Gringotts, is it some sort of account statement?"
Bill looked very nervous as he took the envelope from Harry. "I haven't been on very good terms with the goblins since I went into hiding," he said. "The goblins believe that I was taking the coward's way out when I went into hiding."
"Why would they think you were taking the coward's way out?" Harry asked. "The Death Eaters had taken over the Ministry and Gringotts, and you are a known member of the Order. You would have been captured if you had stayed."
"I know that but the goblins hold themselves and their employees to a higher standard," Bill said. "Also, with what you, Hermione and…Ron pulled back in May, being a Weasley isn't a good thing in the goblins' eyes right now."
Harry blushed at the memory of his, Hermione and Ron's frantic escape from Gringotts. "I'm sorry Bill," he said. "We didn't mean to make things so bad for you but there was something we needed in the Lestrange Vault that was vital to defeating Voldemort."
"I understand Harry," Bill said. "Now that letter is probably the goblins demanding an explanation and for you to pay them for the damages that were caused. I would read it and answer back as soon as possible. The goblins do not like being kept waiting. You should be happy that goblins don't use Howlers."
Harry peeled open the envelope and pulled out the letter.
DEAR MR. HARRY JAMES POTTER,
IT HAS BEEN DETRIMINED THAT YOU, ALONG WITH YOUR ACCOMPLICES, A MR. RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY AND MS. HERMIONE JEAN GRANGER, WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INCIDENT ON MAY 1ST, 1998 THAT CAUSED DAMAGES TO A DOZEN HIGH-SECURITY VAULTS, THE MAIN HALL OF GRINGOTTS, THE THEFT OF SEVERAL GOBLIN-WROUGHT ARTIFACTS INCLUDING THE SWORD OF RAGNUK THE FIRST, AND THE DEATHS OF OVER TWO DOZEN GRINGOTTS EMPLOYEES.
YOU, RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY AND HERMIONE JEAN GRANGER HAVE ONE WEEK FROM THE RECEPTION OF THIS NOTICE TO APPEAR BEFORE GRINGOTTS BANK TO ANSWER THESE CHARGES OR YOU WILL BARRED FROM ENTERING ANY GRINGOTTS BRANCH FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES AND ALL OF YOUR FAMILIES' ASSETS WILL BE CONFISCATED EN MASSE AS REPARATIONS.
ROCKHOUND
POTTER FAMILY ACCOUNT MANAGER
"What does the letter say Harry dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked, noticing Harry's pale face. Harry wordlessly pushed the letter across the table to Bill and Mrs. Weasley. The pair quickly read the letter.
"They can't do that!" Mrs. Weasley shouted, sounding for a brief instant like her old self, screaming through a Howler at the twins. "Bill, you must do something about this!"
Bill brushed his long hair out of his face while staring at the letter. "Harry, you need to send a reply to this as soon as possible," he said. "And you need to tell me exactly what happened when you, Ron and Hermione left Shell Cottage."
Harry sighed but agreed and told Bill, and Mrs. Weasley the whole story, from the trio's departure from Shell Cottage to the infiltration of Gringotts, all the way to their daring escape on the back of a Gringotts' guard dragon. Bill and Mrs. Weasley were an exceptional audience, gasping for air or cursing at all the right times.
"I don't know whether to hug you, slap you upside the head or give you the Howler of all Howlers Harry," Mrs. Weasley said. "I cannot believe you would do something so reckless as to rob a Gringotts vault, let alone the vault of Bellatrix Lestrange."
"It was something that needed to be done Mrs. Weasley," Harry said. "That vault had something absolutely vital to Voldemort's defeat, and it needed to be destroyed. We wouldn't have needed to wreck the bank if Griphook hadn't betrayed us."
"I told you not to trust Griphook," Bill said. "You should have told me exactly what you three were planning from the beginning, then I could have helped you."
Harry ducked his head. A small voice was telling him to tell Bill that Dumbledore had said to only include Ron and Hermione but a louder voice was shouting at him that it was Dumbledore and his secrets that had put him in this mess.
"You are right Bill," Harry admitted. "We should have told you, all I can say in my defense is that Dumbledore told me to only tell Ron and Hermione about what we were searching for."
"That man and his secrets," Mrs. Weasley muttered.
"And what were you searching for Harry?" Bill asked.
"Voldemort's Horcruxes."
There was a clatter that echoed throughout the kitchen as Bill fell back in his chair.
"He made Horcruxes, as in multiple?" Bill asked.
"Yes, seven."
Bill nearly fainted at Harry's answer.
What are you talking about?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "What are these Horcruxes?"
"The foulest piece of magic ever to exist mum," Bill said weakly. He flicked his wand and a bottle of Firewhiskey flew into his hand.
"Bill!"
"No mum, trust me, we will need this," Bill said. Summoning three mugs and splashing some of the fiery liquid into the mugs, he handed them to his mother and Harry. Bill quickly drained his mug and then refilled it.
"What are these Horcruxes Bill?" Molly asked. "I have never seen you act so frightened."
"Like I said mum, Horcruxes are among the foulest pieces of magic in existence," Bill said. "They are created when a Dark witch or wizard places a piece of their severed soul into an object as a way to not die."
The mug fell from Molly's grasp and shattered on the floor as the Weasley matriarch dropped into a nearby chair.
"How do you know so much about them?" Harry asked Bill.
"During my work in Egypt, I ran into two of them," Bill answered. "The ancient Egyptian pharaohs used them to try and become immortal, they are nasty things."
"You know how to destroy them?" Harry asked, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"Yes," Bill said. "You have to perform two things; you have to destroy the object in such a way that it can't be repaired magically, and you have to destroy the soul fragment. There are only three things that I know of that will destroy the fragment; a corrosive venom or acid so powerful that it is nearly incurable, Fiendfyre or the Killing Curse. I suspect that the goblins have other methods since they don't carry wands but I'll never know."
Harry sighed, he had hoped that Bill would have known more about Horcruxes than he or Dumbledore did, just so Harry could blame Dumbledore for not telling him more about Horcruxes but it seemed that the Headmaster had told Harry all that Dumbledore had known or discovered.
"Are you sure that you destroyed all of them Harry?" Bill asked.
"Yes Bill, I am sure," Harry said. Bill nodded, some color returning to his face.
"Good, now back to this business," Bill said, indicating the letter from Gringotts. "Here is some parchment and a quill, you need to write back to the bank and tell them that you will meet with Rockhound tomorrow if he is available."
Harry nodded and quickly scribbled out the letter, and it was sent off with Errol, the Weasley's family owl.
"Harry, you must tell only the truth when talking with Rockhound," Bill said. "And you will need to be ready for goblin negotiations, they are going to demand a lot from you Harry. Do not be surprised if they demand your entire holdings in recompense for the damages. Also do not hesitate to remind them that because of you, they once again run Gringotts without interference from the Ministry. I know you don't like to use your fame but in this case it will be for the best."
Harry agreed, he would need to use the Boy-Who-Lived/Man-Who-Won card. Harry didn't care about the money, and was willing to pay for the damages that he, Hermione and Ron had caused but he was not going to let the goblins take everything that his parents, Sirius and Dumbledore had left him.
June 17th, 1998
Diagon Alley,
London, England
Harry received a response from Rockhound later that evening and a meeting was set up for the next morning. The problem was that Rockhound was demanding that both Harry and Hermione present themselves to the goblins, however Hermione was still in no condition to meet with anyone, let alone the goblins. Bill had warned Harry that the goblins would not take lightly to Harry not following their instructions to the letter but Harry refused. He didn't want to harm Hermione's chance of recovering, and Harry said that it was his idea to break into Gringotts, and because of that, he would take full responsibility for what happened. Bill didn't like it but in the end, he submitted to Harry's decision to go the bank alone.
Harry looked up at the towering white marble building that was Gringotts as he approached. He was wearing a clean, simple black cloak over his Potter and Black robes, with his hood up. Diagon Alley was packed with people, still celebrating the fall of Voldemort. Harry felt a pit of anger flare in his stomach at the sight of dozens of people celebrating a victory that they took no part in achieving, celebrating the freedom that dozens of others had shed blood for while they huddled in their homes, hiding away from danger.
"Halt wizard!" a gruff voice said as Harry reached the top of the steps of the bank. "No one enters these halls disguised or masked, remove your hood," the goblin demanded.
Harry slowly raised his hands slowly, showing them to the goblin as it was fingering the spear it was holding, and then lowered his hood.
"You!" the goblin snarled, its spear point trembling just inches from Harry's throat. "Potter!"
"Yes, I am Harry Potter," Harry said. "I have an appointment with Rockhound in thirty minutes, may I pass?"
"Why shouldn't I just run you through with my spear for all the lost profit and death you brought upon my people?" the goblin snarled.
"Because if you do, the entire wizarding world will come crashing down on you for murdering the Man-Who-Won," Harry said. "The only reason you all have control over your bank is because of me, and my friends. Now, will you please stand aside and let me attend my meeting?"
The goblin glared up at Harry, who met its gaze evenly. "Fine human," the goblin spat stepping aside to let Harry pass. "You better pray human, that you receive a warmer welcome inside."
Harry ignored the goblin guard and walked into the bank's lobby. Immediately all sound went silent as every head, goblin or human, turned to face and stare at Harry. Harry ignored the stares and quickly approached an open teller.
"Good morning sir, I have a meeting with Manager Rockhound at 9:15am," Harry said. "Could you please inform him that Harry Potter has arrived and I await at his pleasure?"
The goblin teller just stared at Harry in uncomprehending astonishment. "You have some nerve showing your face here Potter," the teller snarled when it regained its composure.
"I have already gone through this with the guard at your door," Harry said. "I have come here to negotiate with my family's account manager, and the directors of Gringotts the payment needed to repair this bank, though obviously you have already completed the repairs."
The goblin teller looked ready to leap across the counter and attack Harry but it kept its seat as a gemstone glowed on the desk. The goblin touched the stone and spoke in a guttural tone, in some language that Harry didn't understand. "You will wait here," the goblin growled. "Rockhound will escort you to the Board of Directors where your fate will be decided."
Harry nodded his thanks to the teller and stepped away from the counter to allow the next customer to step forward.
Five minutes later, a pair of armored goblins appeared from around the counter and approached Harry. The lobby came to another standstill as the goblins stopped at Harry's side. "Potter, we shall escort you to Manager Rockhound, follow us."
Harry nodded without a word, falling into step with the two goblins. He heard mutters and whispers coming from the crowd around him but ignored them, Harry had plenty of experience ignoring rumors and stares. The two goblins led Harry down a back hallway behind the counter. There were gleaming wooden doors every twenty or so feet with a golden plate nailed to it. The goblins stopped in front of a door a little over halfway down the hallway with a plaque that read: ROCKHOUND, ACCOUNT MANAGER, HOUSE OF POTTER.
"Rockhound is waiting for you," the closest goblin guard said.
"Thank you," Harry said to the two guards before knocking on the door, missing the perplexed looks of the two guards behind him.
"Enter," a deep, throaty voice came from inside the office. Harry pushed open the door and stepped inside. In an ornate chair behind the desk sat a stout goblin with gray hair and dark, beady eyes, eyes that were a mix of Hagrid's and Snape's, very sharp and shrewd but not the soulless pits that Snape's had been.
"Mr. Potter," the goblin said, folding his hands together on the dark wooden desk.
"Manager Rockhound," Harry said with a bow of his head. "I am sure you want answers for what happened back in May."
"I do," Rockhound said. "Sit down Mr. Potter and please tell me why I shouldn't call in the guards to remove your head for what you and your accomplices did to this bank."
Harry took the offered chair and paused to gather his thoughts. After a moment, he looked up into the goblin's eyes. "Manager Rockhound, the reason my friends and I infiltrated Gringotts was because we discovered that Voldemort had placed an object vital to his survival within the Lestrange Vault. I had hoped to retrieve the object and destroy it and then leave before anyone found out but that obviously did not happen. We had no desire to cause the damages that we unfortunately caused. In fact, we had hoped that the item would never leave the vault, even after we destroyed it."
Rockhound stared at Harry without blinking, making Harry feel like he was being studied under a microscope. "What was this supposed object?" the goblin asked.
"It was a Horcrux," Harry said.
Almost instantly the office, which had been pleasantly warmed by a roaring fire and several torches in wall brackets, went frigidly cold.
"A Horcrux?" Rockhound growled. The torchlight reflecting in his dark eyes making them look like pools of liquid black. "The Dark Lord put a Horcrux in my people's bank?"
"Yes he did Manager Rockhound," Harry said. "And that was why my friends and I had to get into the Lestrange Vault, to destroy the Horcrux in order to defeat Voldemort. We couldn't come to the bank as ourselves since Voldemort and his Ministry were hunting us, and since the Ministry had taken over the bank, we couldn't trust anyone else for this task. If Voldemort had caught wind of what we were doing, then he could have gone to check on his other Horcruxes and the war would have been lost."
"He made multiple Horcruxes?"
"Yes, he made a total of six," Harry answered. He kept quiet about the seventh Horcrux, himself, as according to Dumbledore, Harry had been an accidental Horcrux.
Rockhound cursed. "How could one human be so stupid?" the goblin asked aloud, though Harry didn't answer. "How can I believe you Potter? You could be making this story up to get out of serving your punishment."
"I am not lying Manager Rockhound," Harry said. "I am willing to take any test you wish to prove my truthfulness."
Rockhound stared at Harry, leaning over his desk. Harry met the goblin's gaze without blinking. After a few moments of silence, Rockhound sat back in his chair. "Very well Mr. Potter, you will get your chance to prove your truthfulness." He touched a stone of his desk and growled something in his native tongue. Looking back up at Harry, Rockhound folded his hands and said, "Our methods to discover the truth are not so gentle as you wizards have, your truth serum for one, blood will be spilt if you are lying to us."
"I understand Manager Rockhound," Harry said.
Ten minutes later, there came a knock at the door and Rockhound bade the visitors' entrance. Five goblins entered, two were carrying an ornate box while two others were leading a familiar goblin, Griphook, between them. Harry and Griphook locked gazes and Harry could see the rage he felt mirrored in the goblin's eyes.
"I see you recognize our witness Mr. Potter," Rockhound said with a thin smile.
"I do," Harry said. "The goblin who helped us sneak past your bank's defenses."
The goblins turned their attention instantly on Griphook, whose face turned an Uncle Vernon-shade of puce.
"Is this true Griphook?" Rockhound asked.
"Lies!" Griphook shouted. "I only went along with these human's orders because they were holding me captive."
"We saved your life," Harry argued. "We rescued you from Malfoy Manor, nursed your back to health and you agreed to help us recover the item and destroy it, in exchange for payment."
Griphook opened his mouth to argue back but a hand slamming on the desk by Rockhound silenced the room. "Enough bickering," he snarled. "We shall have our answers. You two, place the orb on my desk."
The two guards carrying the ornate case stepped forward and placed the box on the desk before stepping back. Rockhound opened the case and drew out a black rock and placed it on the desk. Harry knew immediately that there was something different about the rock: for one, it seemed to absorb the light of the room, and secondly, Griphook had ceased struggling in the grips of his guards, his gaze fixed on the black stone.
"This is the Stone of Absolute Truth," Rockhound said. "You will place your hand on the stone while giving you story, if you are lying we will know. So Mr. Potter, place you hand on the stone."
Harry rose from his chair and walked up to the desk. He placed his hand down on the stone, staring directly at Rockhound. The black stone was ice cold and very smooth to the touch. Harry felt a slight pull on his magic when he touched the stone; it was coming from the stone.
"Now then Mr. Potter, you will tell me the real reason you broke into Gringotts," Rockhound ordered.
"Manager Rockhound, my friends and I broke into Gringotts in order to find and destroy one of Voldemort's Horcruxes which had been hidden in the Lestrange Vault," Harry said tonelessly. He could feel the magic of the stone compelling him to speak and speak truthfully.
"Were you attempting to steal anything from the Lestrange Vault or any other vault in Gringotts?" Rockhound asked.
"No," Harry said. "We were only there to find and destroy the Horcrux."
Dimly, Harry could tell that this answer was something of a shock to the goblins.
"Did you risk your life for the goblin called Griphook?"
"Yes," Harry said. "He had been captured by Death Eaters, I don't know how, and was being held at Malfoy Manor. My friends and I were captured later on, and were rescued thanks to the efforts of a House Elf named Dobby. He took Griphook, Luna Lovegood, Mr. Ollivander and Dean Thomas to a safe house before returning to help Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and myself escape. We nursed Griphook back to health, and spoke to him about the possibility of Voldemort having hidden one of his Horcruxes in one of his followers' vault here at Gringotts. Griphook gave us the basic layout of Gringotts's security in order to find and destroy the Horcrux."
"What did Griphook want in exchange for his help?" Rockhound asked, glaring at the cringing Griphook.
"Griphook demanded that we hand over the Sword of Gryffindor as payment," Harry answered. Rockhound and the other goblins froze when Harry mentioned the Sword.
"The Sword of Ragnuk the First," Rockhound said. "You have the Sword of Ragnuk the First?"
"No," Harry said. "The Sword is where it belongs, at Hogwarts, ready to be called by a worthy Gryffindor to defend the school."
"Lies!" Griphook shouted, speaking for the first time since entering the office. "Your people's witchcraft stole the blade from its rightful owner, us, the Goblin Nation!"
"Silence Griphook," Rockhound snarled. He turned to Harry. "Thank you Mr. Potter; one final question: What are you will to do to restore your name in the eyes of the Goblin Nation and Gringotts?"
"Whatever it takes," Harry answered. "I understand that our escape caused a lot of damage, and I am willing to pay for the repairs that we caused. I will point out however, that if it weren't for Griphook's betrayal, we wouldn't have needed to escape in such and dangerous and destructive manner."
"You claim that Griphook stole the Sword but you said you would give it to him as payment," Rockhound said. "Explain!"
"The Sword was the only item that we had that could destroy a Horcrux," Harry stated. "We were planning on keeping the Sword, at least until all the Horcruxes had been destroyed."
Rockhound stepped right up to Harry, pulling the teenage down to eye level by the front of Harry's shirt. "You would go back on your word human? To a goblin?"
Harry hesitated, fighting the compulsion to tell the truth coming from the stone he was touching. But the compulsion was too strong. "Yes and no," Harry said. "We were going to give the Sword to Griphook but only after the Horcruxes had been destroyed. When Griphook took the Sword before we could destroy the Horcrux, we had to make our escape in a hasty way and a way to ensure that we couldn't be followed and captured. I am deeply sorry at the damages, injuries and deaths we caused but if we had been caught, then our mission would have failed and Voldemort would have won the war. And if he had won, do you really think that he would have allowed the goblins to keep control of Gringotts?"
The goblins looked at one another, Harry could tell that this was something that they knew as well. Voldemort would never share power with anyone, but especially with someone who he felt was inferior to the Dark Lord, and goblins certainly were that.
"I have no issue with the Goblin Nation controlling Gringotts," Harry said. "I saved Griphook's life because no one, no witch or wizard, muggle or goblin deserves to be treated like Voldemort would treat those who he deemed unworthy or inferior to him. I have come here to repay mine and my friends' debts due to our actions back in May, that is all."
"Very well Mr. Potter, you may sit down," Rockhound said. Harry peeled his hand from the stone and sank back into his chair, wiping the sweat he felt from his forehead. "Griphook! Approach and speak."
Griphook looked like he wanted to run but the two guards stepped to his side and in an instant all the fight drained out of the goblin. He walked up to the desk and put his hand on the stone. Instantly Griphook flinched and moan, Rockhound and the other goblins took notice, and Rockhound immediately began questioning Griphook. The goblin quickly confirmed what Harry had said, that he had been rescued by Harry from Malfoy Manor, and had helped the group get into Gringotts in exchange for the Sword of Gryffindor. Of course Griphook also admitted that he had intended to betray Harry and his friends as soon as he could. Harry bit his lip in an effort to keep from attacking Griphook when he heard how much joy Griphook took in planning his betrayal.
"I see," Rockhound said walking away from Griphook. "Take this scum away, the Council will decide his fate." The two guards walked up to Griphook and carried him from the room. Griphook didn't struggle as he was essentially dragged away. Rockhound sat down behind his desk and looked over his clasped hands at Harry who was sitting quietly.
"Well Mr. Potter, we have quite a dilemma," Rockhound said. "On one hand, you and your friends broke into my people's bank, causing much damage, injury and death but on the other, you did not break into Gringotts for personal gain, you sought to destroy something key to the Dark Lord's survival and ending his subjugation of my people."
"Manager Rockhound, my friends and I did not mean to cause all the damage that we unfortunately did," Harry said. "But we did cause it, I am offering to repay Gringotts from my vaults for the damage cause and to the families of the goblins who were hurt or died due to our actions."
"What is stopping us from taking all of your gold in recompense?" Rockhound asked.
"Nothing I suppose aside from your personal honor and the honor of your people," Harry said. "You know that we were not trying to steal anything from the bank, and that if we hadn't completed our mission, you and your people would still be under the control of Voldemort and his Death Eaters."
Rockhound nodded, conceding Harry's point. "Then we are in a bit of a conundrum Mr. Potter," the goblin said. "My superiors are looking for someone to blame for what happened, and you have admitted to being the cause. However, you make a strong point in saying without the destroying the Dark Lord's Horcrux, my people would still be under the heel of the Dark Lord. So then, how about we make a deal?"
"Of course Manager Rockhound, what do you have in mind?" Harry asked.
"The contents of the Lestrange Vault will cover the cost of replacing the dragon you freed, as well as training it," Rockhound said.
""Wait, why are you asking me about the Lestrange Vault?" Harry asked. "I am not a member of that family."
"According to our records, you were named the Heir of Sirius Black, the last Head of House of Black, and the House of Lestrange owed much of their wealth to the House of Black," Rockhound said. "And since you control the House of Black, you also control the House of Lestrange."
Harry blinked in surprise. "Brilliant then," he said. "You can have that vault. I can't think of anything better than for the most devout followers of Voldemort for their money to be taken by…goblins." Harry felt a bead of sweat trickle down the back of his neck; he had nearly said that the goblins were a species beneath witches and wizards.
"For the injuries and deaths that your escape caused, the Goblin Nation claims 85% of the Black family vault," Rockhound said.
Harry fell back into his chair at the amount that the goblins were asking for. 'That is outrageous!" he though but kept quiet. Then Harry remembered a distant memory from his time at Privet Drive, recalling one of the many rants that his Uncle Vernon had made about banks, 'flithy, money grubbing no-good bastards' he called them. So Harry decided to play one of the two remaining cards that he had.
"Manager Rockhound, you insult me," Harry said. "I came to you in good faith, in hopes of making amends for the damages I caused but now I see you are trying to steal from me."
"Steal from you human!" Rockhound growled. "You claim much!"
"So do you," Harry countered. "Remember I killed Voldemort, freeing your people just as much as my own. If Voldemort still lived, Gringotts would be still under his control not the Goblin Nation's."
Rockhound frowned. The human had scored a major point, as loath as he was to admit such a thing. "Indeed, you have made that point quite clear," Rockhound said. "Very well, we shall only take 60% of the Black family vault for reparations. That is in addition to confiscating Griphook's own vault for his betrayal of the Nation and of you."
"How much does the Black vault hold?" Harry asked. "And the Potter vault too."
Rockhound blinked. "You do not know your wealth?" he asked.
"Honestly no," Harry said. "I can't remember ever getting any mail from Gringotts. The last time I even set foot in Gringotts, aside from the day in question, was before my third year at Hogwarts."
"This is very bad," Rockhound said, looking up from a stack of parchment on his desk. "Our records show that you received statements once every month since your first visit here in July of 1991."
"Manager Rockhound, I swear to you, I have never gotten any mail from Gringotts," Harry said. The goblin stared directly into Harry's eyes for a few moments.
"You are telling the truth," Rockhound said. "This presents a problem, and some answers." He ruffled through some papers before pulling a pair from the stack. "Here are the most recent account statements for the Potter and Black vaults."
Harry took the papers and looked them over, noticing that the Potter vaults had very little movement in it while quite a bit of money had been moved from the Black vaults in recent years, though it still contained nearly twice as much as the Potter vault. "Wow, I never knew how much money the Blacks had, or my parents had," he said.
"The Potter and Blacks have always been two of Gringotts' biggest depositors since Gringotts came into being," Rockhound explained. "So then Mr. Potter, do we have a deal?"
"Yes Manager Rockhound," Harry said. "We have a deal, the Lestrange vault will cover the cost of the dragon, and 60% of the Black vault will cover the rest, along with Griphook's vault."
"Agreed," Rockhound said. He pulled a piece of parchment from his desk drawer and quickly scribbled out a contract. The goblin opened a small box on his desk and withdrew a thin black quill. Harry instantly recognized the quill and the scars on his left hand flared with phantom pain. Rockhound noticed Harry's reaction and paused. "Mr. Potter, what is wrong?"
"That is a blood quill, isn't it?" Harry asked.
"Yes it is, quite astute of you," Rockhound said. "Not many humans can recognize this, how?"
"I have intimate experience with one of those things," Harry said, nearly spitting his words.
"How? The only uses these quills have are for the signing official documents from Gringotts or your Ministry."
"Or torture," Harry said placing his scarred left hand on Rockhound's desk. The goblin stood up and bent over to examine Harry's hand.
"How did this happen Mr. Potter?" Rockhound asked, his voice full of surprise.
"Dolores Umbridge made me write lines with a blood quill in detention during my fifth year at Hogwarts," Harry explained. "I don't know how long or how many times I was forced to use it but you can see the results."
"I now see why you had such a reaction Mr. Potter," Rockhound said. "But you will have to use this quill to sign your name or our contact will not be valid."
Harry sighed and then nodded. "Very well, let's get this over with," he said. Rockhound signed is name at the bottom of the parchment and pushed it across to Harry. Harry read the contract closely, having learned from his time under the control of the Goblet of Fire. After reading it, Harry picked up the quill and quickly signed the parchment, not flinching as the quill cut into his skin and drew his blood to use as ink. Once he had set the quill down, the parchment glowed a bright blue before vanishing in a burst of light.
"What was that?" Harry asked.
"The contract has been sent to my superiors," Rockhound said. "To be recorded and kept safe."
Harry nodded.
"Now then Mr. Potter, do you have any other business that you require of Gringotts?" Rockhound asked.
Harry opened his mouth to say no but a stray thought gave him pause. "Actually there is something I would ask of Gringotts, oh actually there are two things," he said.
"And they are?" Rockhound asked.
"I have been named as the godfather to Edward John Lupin, the son of Remus and Dora Lupin," Harry said. "Is there a way to create a vault for Teddy, like the one my parents set up for me?"
"I can do that Lord Potter-Black," Rockhound said. "Something wrong?" the goblin asked noticing Harry's expression.
"Please just call me Harry, or Mr. Potter if you have to be formal," Harry said. "I don't think I deserve to be called Lord, and it reminds me too much of Voldemort.
The goblin blinked slowly at Harry but nodded. "Very well Mr. Potter," Rockhound said. "Back to your request, yes I can create a vault for your godson. How much would you like to place in the vault?"
"The same amount that was in my vault," Harry said.
The goblin marked down something on a piece of parchment. "That can be easily completed," Rockhound said. "Will there be anything else Mr. Potter?"
"I would like to visit the Potter vault, if that is possible?" Harry asked.
"I shall escort you down myself," Rockhound said. "Word has surely spread through Gringotts about your presence here, and there might be some who wish to take their pound of flesh, as you humans say."
"Thank you Manager Rockhound," Harry said with a smile.
The walk out of Gringotts was much less harrowing than the walk into the bank. The fact that Harry still had his head, and all his limbs attached must have shown the goblins he passed that Harry had come to some sort of agreement with Rockhound. But Harry kept his hand gripped around his wand all the same, and it wasn't until he had left the bank and was nearing the Diagon Alley Appariation point that Harry finally relaxed.
June 23rd, 1998
The Burrow
Ottery St. Catchpole, Devon, England
"Harry, are you sure about this?" Mrs. Weasley asked, two weeks after Harry had met with the goblins of Gringotts. She had barely let Harry or Hermione, or any of her children out of her sight since. "You don't have to…"
"Yes I do Mrs. Weasley," Harry said. "Remus named me Teddy's godfather, and I haven't yet seen him. I am not going to be an absent godfather like Sirius was, even if it wasn't truly Sirius' fault."
Mrs. Weasley huffed but she could see that Harry was determined to go. She turned to Hermione who was sitting next to Harry at the table. "Fine then. Hermione dear, could you at least go with him? Make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble."
Hermione nodded before returning to her reading of the Daily Prophet. The front-page story was all about the Ministry's constant search for the Death Eaters that had escaped the Battle of Hogwarts. With the Ministry still in shambles, the search was not going very well.
After breakfast, Harry and Hermione made their way out of the house and Disapparated. They reappeared in the backyard of Arabella Figg's home on Privet Drive.
"What are we doing here Harry?" Hermione asked. "I thought we were going to the Tonks'?"
"We are but I don't know exactly where in Greater Whinging the Tonks live," Harry said. "So I thought we could Apparate here and then find a cab or take the bus."
Hermione nodded at the pragmatic approach Harry was taking, it was quite the difference from his plans would take in previous years. "OK Harry, following your lead here," she said. Hermione wrapped her arm around Harry's as the pair walked around Ms. Figg's house and down Privet Drive. They both noticed the currently under-construction Number Four Privet Drive as they passed. Harry had learned that Death Eaters had destroyed the original house the very same night that the Order had left. The Dursleys had also not returned to Privet Drive, remaining at the safe house in Bristol that the Order had set up for them.
"Harry, are you all right?" Hermione asked as they passed the former home of the Dursleys.
"I am fine Hermione," Harry said. She didn't look convinced so Harry continued, "Hermione, that house holds no happy memories for me. For the longest time, my one wish was to get away from that place. Now I am free of it, so don't worry about me Hermione."
The pair reached the bus station at the end of Privet Drive and within a few moments they were on their way into the bustling suburb of Greater Whinging. After fifteen minutes, the pair got off in the middle of town.
"Where do we go from here Harry?" Hermione asked. Harry reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a scrap of parchment.
"Now we catch a cab," Harry said. "I had the goblins find Mrs. Tonks' address and write it down."
Hermione blinked but gave Harry a small smile and nodded. Harry hailed a cab and gave the Tonks' address to the driver.
They arrived at a handsome two-story brownstone fifteen minutes later. Harry paid the cabbie, and he and Hermione walked up the stone steps. Harry had to clench his hands into fists to keep them from shaking. He had no clue how Andromeda was going to react when she saw Harry and Hermione.
"Are you all right Harry?" Hermione asked as the pair reached the top step.
"I don't know if I can do this Hermione," Harry said. "I am only seventeen years old, how am I supposed to raise a baby?"
"Harry, you won't have to do this alone, you know that," Hermione said. "I'll be there, Mrs. Weasley will be there and I am sure that Mrs. Tonks will be there as well."
Harry gave his best friend a small but grateful smile. "Thank you Hermione," he said. He knocked on the door sharply and stepped back. Less than a minute later the front door opened and a House Elf appeared.
"My mistress awaits you in the sitting room," the elf said. "Please follow me."
Harry glanced at Hermione but she just shrugged. The pair followed the female elf into the house.
"What is your name?" Hermione asked the elf.
"I am called Mipsy, Ms. Granger," the elf said. She pushed open a dark wooden door and stepped inside. "Mistress Andromeda, Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger are here."
"Thank you Mipsy," the voice of Andromeda Tonks said. "Please come in Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger."
Harry slowly walked into the sitting room, Hermione following behind. Andromeda Tonks was sitting in a dark green armchair by the fire, with a crib next to her. Harry's eyes were drawn to the small baby that was laying on his back, reaching up for the slowly spinning mobile that hung above the crib.
"Oh he's adorable," Hermione gushed as she walked over to the crib and looked down at Teddy.
"Yes he is," Andromeda said with a smile. "Please take a seat you two, and Mipsy will bring us some tea."
Hermione quickly took the empty chair that was right next to the crib, cooing and smiling down at Teddy. Harry sat down opposite Andromeda, his hands clasped between his knees.
"Mr. Potter," Andromeda said. Harry looked up and swallowed as he took in Tonks' mother's appearance, which was a lighter version of the dead Bellatrix Lestrange.
"Mrs. Tonks," Harry began.
"Harry, you can call me Andromeda or Andy," Andromeda said, "if I can call you Harry. We are family after all."
Harry felt an immense weight fall away from his shoulders. "Ok Andy," Harry said. "I am sorry that I haven't come by before now, I…"
"Harry, I understand," Andy said with a raised hand. "You had other responsibilities as well as the pressures that have been heaped upon you since the Battle. And what was put upon you by my daughter and son-in-law."
Harry frowned at Andromeda's comment. "What does that mean?" he asked.
Andromeda sighed and glanced down at her grandson who was reaching up with pudgy arms, trying to garb Hermione. "Harry, you are only seventeen, a child still in the eyes of many," she said. "Naming you godfather to Edward was a touching gesture I am sure but have you ever cared for a child, of any age let alone a baby?"
Harry shook his head. "No I haven't Andy," he said. "But that doesn't matter. I will care for Teddy like he is my own. Remus and Tonks named me Teddy's godfather, and I will make sure that Teddy is well taken care of, happy and loved."
Hermione looked up at Harry as he spoke with Andy, a surprised expression on her face at the tone Harry was using. She fought down the urge to berate Harry for nearly shouting when she saw the small smile that Andromeda wore.
"I see why Remus and Dora spoke so highly of you," Andromeda said, sitting back in her chair and sipping a cup of tea. "You have a fierce heart don't you Harry?"
"Yes," Harry said without any hesitation. "I have lost too many people close to me, and because of that, I will do whatever it takes to protect those I care about."
Andromeda nodded. "Yes, you and I have lost quite a lot," she said. "While I have begun to reach the age where life takes things away from me, you have had much too much taken from you at such a young age, and you have borne that burden so well." Harry nodded. "Harry, the reason I told you about your age is because I am afraid."
"Afraid?" Harry asked. Hermione looked confused at Andy's comment.
"Afraid that you would take away my grandson," Andromeda said much to the shock of Harry and Hermione. "You see Harry, Edward is my last remaining blood relative, my grandson, the last link to my daughter and my husband. With you named godfather, and your recent fame as the defeater of the Dark Lord, the Ministry would do anything to stay in your good graces, including taking away my grandson from me."
"What!" Harry and Hermione shouted. Their combined shout caused Teddy to jump and begin wailing. Harry froze and turned very pale. Andromeda shot both teens a stern look, one that was very similar to a look that Professor would give them when they did any rule breaking. Andromeda rose from her seat and scooped Teddy up from his crib.
Harry and Hermione watched as Andromeda quickly soothed the screaming Teddy before handing the babe off to Mipsy, who was take him off for a nap.
"Mrs. Tonks, what did you mean by the Ministry would take Teddy away from you if Harry asked it?" Hermione asked. "You are his grandmother, they can't do that!"
"The Ministry has a history of doing what it wants, regardless of who it hurts along the way," Andromeda said. "I am sure you have dealt with the Ministry's heavy-handedness, haven't you Harry?"
Harry nodded, he had dealt with the Ministry running rough-shod over whoever they wanted; himself, Sirius and Remus just to name a few. "Yes Andromeda, I have," Harry said. "But the Ministry is changing, the ICW is going to change everything."
Harry and Hermione were shocked to hear Andromeda suddenly begin to laugh. It was stunning to see the stately and composed Andromeda suddenly lose all composure and laugh so hard that tears were starting to flow from her eyes.
"Oh my, I haven't laughed so hard in years," Andromeda said, wiping her eyes clear. "Harry, Miss Granger, the ICW is just as bad as the Ministry but on a much larger scale. While we suffered under the heel of a corrupt Ministry and a Dark Lord for years, the ICW did nothing. They let us suffer and die all because they are cowards, afraid of doing what was right. They let my husband and daughter be killed because they were afraid, afraid of their precious Secrecy and afraid for their lives."
Hermione leapt from her chair and gathered the older woman in a hug. Andromeda dissolved into tears as she clutched at Hermione like a life raft. Harry didn't know what to do as he watched the two women held each other, he was surprised to see tears coming from Hermione's eyes as well.
"Andromeda, I promise you, we will not let anyone take Teddy from you or us," Hermione said. "Harry has been talking with the ICW representatives and he will make sure they know that Teddy is off limits." She looked back at Harry and finished, "Isn't that right Harry?"
"Of course," Harry said. "I promised Remus that I would look after Teddy and I am not going to go back on my word."
Andromeda looked up at Harry, her tear streaked face causing a painful lurch in Harry's chest. He slid off his chair and knelt in front of Andromeda and Hermione. "Andromeda, I swear to you that nothing will happen to Teddy as long as I have the strength and ability to prevent it," he vowed, a soft white glow surrounding Harry as he spoke.
A/N: Well there you have it, the next installment of A Chance, A Hope?, I hope you all enjoyed it. Please let me know what you all thought of the chapter, your constuctive criticism is always helpful. I do wish that would allow for some more formatting options when uploading and editing chapters, everything is very basic which is ok but it would be nice to add some more flair to the story. Anyway, until next time,
SlyNinjaKnight
PS: Please check out my newest story 'The Name's Potter, Harry Potter', it's as you can guess, a Harry Potter/James Bond crossover, focusing on Post-Hogwarts era. I think it is a nice balance to this story.