Thank you to those readers who have left reviews, followed, or favorited this story! As a reminder, I do not own Harry Potter and am not profiting off of this work.
Chapter 2: The Vaults
After breakfast on the morning of July 19, Harry carefully packed a rucksack with his wand and a bag of galleons. Into his front pocket went a folded wallet with muggle money. It wasn't much, but it would get him to Diagon Alley and back. Then, he waited silently in his bedroom as Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia got ready for the day.
When Vernon had gone and Aunt Petunia had gone into the garden, Harry quietly snuck down the stairs. He stepped outside and walked to the side of the house, then threw on his Invisibility Cloak where no one could see him do it. Quickly, he started down the sidewalk on Privet Drive. His heart pounded, sounding thunderous to his ears, as he reached the corner of Privet and Langford Drive. What if the Order was watching the house? What if there were spells that let Dumbledore know if he left the house?
When Harry crossed the street and no one apparated into the middle of the street to escort him back, his shoulders loosened and he breathed slightly easier. In fact, except for a few children playing in the front yard of Number Eight Langford Drive, Harry didn't see anyone at all. And while polyjuice potion could have been used to disguise Tonks and Remus as small children, he didn't think the Order would be that clever.
When he reached the turn that would take him to Langley Road, Harry relaxed entirely. Whatever protections Dumbledore had on the house on Privet Drive, they didn't appear to extend to monitoring his comings and goings. He had been to Langley Station before, and so he knew it would be about a half-hour walk from Langley Road. Still, he'd given himself nearly an hour until the next train to Paddington – just in case the schedules had changed since 1991. Despite the good weather and the time of day, there were few people on the road.
Once he reached Langley, Harry snuck into a hidden corner of the station and, checking for Muggles, removed his invisibility cloak. He stuffed it back into his rucksack and then walked into the station proper. With a minimum of fuss he purchased a rail ticket to Paddington Station and sat down on a bench to wait for his train to arrive.
He'd missed the morning rush, and so when Harry boarded the train to Paddington just before 11am, it was nearly empty. He settled onto a padded seat toward the back of one train car and stared out the window until a conductor took his ticket.
At Paddington Station, Harry dodged late-morning travellers and businessmen on their way to important meetings, and found a ticket booth. He purchased a round-trip Travelcard at the recommendation of the attendant, and took the Bakerloo line to the Leicester Square station. When he emerged from the tube, he examined a map framed on the wall of the station near the entrance before heading out to the street. A clock in the station had read 12:15 – he had plenty of time to find his way to the Leaky Cauldron.
When Harry arrived at the Leaky Cauldron a few minutes later, he hurried through, his hair brushed over his scar and head ducked down, to avoid being stopped by Tom or anyone else. Once at the brick wall, Harry threw his cloak back on before tapping the bricks. From there, he made his way toward the north side of the Alley, his speed hampered by the need to avoid bumping into anyone. The Alley was less crowded than he recalled, but that only meant that he needed to be more careful not to bump into another witch or wizard.
Harry walked up the gleaming white steps of Gringotts shortly thereafter, with time to spare. He stepped behind a pillar and removed his cloak, stuffing it inside his rucksack before walking through the bank's golden doors. Silently he walked to the nearest available teller, and leaned toward the golden bars to introduce himself.
"Er – hullo," he started. "I'm Harry Potter – I have an appointment with Ripnok, Head of Trusts and Estates."
"Of course, Mr. Potter. Please come with me. Ripnok is expecting you," the goblin teller replied. He jumped down from his chair behind the gold bars and opened them – they turned out to be a door large enough for Harry to walk through. The teller led Harry further into Gringotts and past several offices until they reached the one labelled "Ripnok: Trusts and Estates." The goblin teller bowed Harry into the office and then shut the door behind him.
Harry sat, hesitantly, at a gesture from the goblin behind the enormous oak desk. Unlike the tellers, this goblin wore a three piece grey suit. The buttons on his vest and the cufflinks at his wrists gleamed golden in the light from the globes hanging above their heads. The office itself was small and the desk filled half the space; the wood panelling on the walls was darker than the desk, and made the office look dignified. Harry sat up in his chair and tried to look attentive.
"Mr. Potter," the goblin began in a low yet slightly nasal voice, "Thank you for coming. As I shared with you in my initial letter, we will be discussing the matter of Sirius Black's estate, as well as the Ancient and Noble House of Black." The goblin unfolded the arms of a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles and slid them on, where they perched on his nose and wrapped around the backs of his ears. With sharp-clawed, short-fingered hands he opened a large, old-looking brown leather folio.
"Now then, before his death, Sirius Black met with me to set his affairs in order. He officially named you, Mr. Potter, as his sole heir and the heir to the Black family fortune. As a result, you will be given access to Mr. Black's personal vault, Vault 711, and to the Black family vaults – Vaults 734 and 836. The Black family trust vaults, of which there are three, will be accessible to you as a trustee for the purposes of monitoring expenditures and making financial arrangements on the behalf of any minor beneficiaries."
Harry leaned back in his chair with a slow breath and tried not to stare too closely at Ripnok. "I'm sorry," he finally said, "But…what does that mean, exactly?"
Ripnok slid a sheaf of parchment across the desk, and Harry picked it up gingerly. "It means that you have inherited several million galleons across vaults 711, 734, and 836, Mr Potter. I do suggest that you combine them, along with the Potter vaults, into one of our maximum security vaults. Gringotts would be happy to assist you in conducting an inventory as well. I understand that there are a number of family heirlooms spread across the vaults."
"Call me Harry," he mumbled offhand, but the plural Potter vaults made him sit up higher in his chair. "Did – did you say Potter vaults?" Harry asked. "As in, there is more than one?"
Ripnok squinted at Harry. "Indeed. Were you not aware of the Potter family vault to which your trust vault is tied, Harry? His voice grew more suspicious when Harry shook his head and he asked, "Are you not aware of the family's property?" Another headshake met these words. "The title?"
Harry shook his head again, which had already started to ache. "No – none of this has ever been mentioned to me." He jerked back in his chair, startled, when Ripnok began to hiss something.
"Forgive me, Harry. I will be just a moment." The goblin rose from his chair and opened the door to his office. He stepped out and shut the door behind him.
Harry took a deep breath and looked down at the parchment in his hands. At the top was the official Gringotts seal, followed by the words, "Statement of Accounts: Ancient and Noble House of Black". He began to read the first page, which contained a set of figures and monthly account balances, when the door swung open again.
Ripnok had returned, and following him was a second goblin, taller than Ripnok and twice as intimidating. "Mr Potter, allow me to introduce you to Ragnok, the President of Gringotts and Chieftain of the Goblin Horde," he said. Like Ripnok, Ragnok wore a three-piece suit, this one of black wool; unlike Ripnok, however, he also wore a belt around his waist from which a wicked-looking axe hung. The goblin's ears were short, for a goblin, and angled almost straight up from his head. His nose looked as if it had been broken and set poorly more than once; despite that, Harry thought that the goblin looked rather distinguished and even a little lordly.
Harry stood and gave an awkward half-bow, which Ragnok gravely returned before both goblins sat down behind the large desk.
"Mr Potter, Ripnok tells me that you were unaware of the accounts held in your family's name here at Gringotts – is that correct?" Ragnok's voice was significantly less nasal than the other goblins Harry had met; perhaps whatever had been done to his nose had caused that.
Harry offered a nod as he returned to his seat. "Yes, Chieftain Ragnok. I had thought that my vault, 687, was the only vault in my name here at the bank." He paused. "It seemed like the vault had a lot in it – when Hagrid told me that it was my family's vault, I thought my parents must have been well-off."
Ripnok and Ragnok exchanged glances, and conferred quietly in Gobbledegook. Finally, Ragnok replied, "Mr Potter, I am embarrassed that you were not aware of your family's resources and legacy. Your magical guardian should have shared this information shortly after you received your Hogwarts letter. At the very least, he should have told you about the manor."
Harry looked between the two goblins, his expression puzzled once again. "But Chieftain – I don't have a magical guardian."
The two goblins exchanged several more words; this time they sounded angry. "Of course you have a magical guardian," Ripnok spat. "As your legal guardian is a muggle, Albus Dumbledore was named your magical guardian in 1981."
Harry leaned back in his chair, mind racing. Dumbledore had never told him that he was Harry's guardian. He hadn't told him that the Potters had money other than what was in his vault – or whatever title Ripnok was talking about. Why? Did he think that the Dursleys would get the funds? Had it, somehow, slipped his mind? Dumbledore had been keeping secrets for years now, and Harry found himself breathing deeply to calm the anger suddenly roaring in his head and chest.
"No one has spoken to me about any of this, Chieftain," he repeated, and this time his voice roughened with suppressed anger. "Does Dumbledore have access to all of this information? Does he have access to the vaults?" He didn't want to think that Dumbledore might have deliberately hidden this from him, but felt that he had to ask. The older wizard was so very good at keeping secrets – had he hidden this from him as well? And if he had, why?
"No, Mr Potter, Dumbledore does not have access to the Potter ancestral vault, nor will he have access to the Black vaults," Ripnok assured. "He has limited access to your trust vault, for the purposes of paying the fees associated with your education."
There was a knock at the door, and a goblin teller poked his head in. "Narcissa and Draco Malfoy have arrived, sirs," the teller reported. Harry began to rise from his chair, assuming that he had stayed past his appointment, but Ragnok waved him back down.
"This concerns you as well, Mr Potter."
Narcissa Malfoy swept in, her fine black silk summer robes swirling around her. She sniffed openly at Harry as she took a seat in the chair furthest from him. Draco followed her, pale and peaky – he looked sicker than usual in his own black suit and crisp white shirt.
"Ragnok, why is…he here?" Narcissa asked, her nose wrinkled and gaze directed at the two goblins. Her pale blonde hair was swept up into a chignon, but it did nothing to soften the sharp angles of her face. With efficient movements, she removed a black pill box hat from the top of her head and placed it in her lap.
Ragnok seemed to barely contain a smirk. "Mr Potter is also here concerning the Ancient and Noble House of Black, Mrs Malfoy. Ripnok, if you would?" he asked.
Ripnok adjusted the gold spectacles on his face before turning back to his folio. "Indeed, thank you, Chieftain. As I was just explaining to Mr Potter, the late Sirius Black left a will prior to his death. The will of Sirius Black was duly witnessed, signed, and registered here at Gringotts on April 3, 1996.
"As Mr Black was the Head of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black, he designated Harry James Potter, known to be his godson, as the Head of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black. Mr Potter will receive access to all of the Black family vaults. He will, further, receive title and deed to all properties owned by the Black family." Ripnok paused and eyed the three wizards in his office. "This includes all properties owned by Sirius Black, of course."
Harry knew that Ripnok was referring to Number 12 Grimmauld Place, but could not say so as it was still under a Fidelis. He snuck a glance at Mrs Malfoy and at Draco, both of whom looked increasingly ill.
"Finally, Mr Potter shall receive the contents of Sirius Black's personal vault," Ripnok finished.
"Impossible!" Narcissa snapped. "Regulus Black was the heir! When he died, the family legacy should have gone to Draco. Sirius was thrown out."
Ripnok removed his spectacles slowly and stared at Narcissa. "Mrs Malfoy, Sirius Black was Regulus Black's brother. Regulus and Mr Malfoy were merely second cousins." He paused, and glanced at Harry. "Per ministry law you may contest the will, of course, however, Mrs Malfoy, you will almost certainly lose."
Narcissa sniffed. "Well, I don't see how. Harry Potter is not even related to the Black family by blood."
"I was Sirius' godson," Harry interjected. He didn't really want the money – but the idea of Lucius Malfoy getting his hands on it was disgusting. He knew that the Death Eater would use every last knut to fund Voldemort's operations and bribe whoever he had to in the ministry.
"Indeed, Mr Potter," Ragnok replied, with a quelling look. "In fact, Dorea Black-Potter's marriage to Charlus Potter means that you are related by blood." He turned to Narcissa. "When Regulus Black the second died, the legal ownership of the Black properties and legacy passed to his brother, as he did not leave a will. It would be odd, indeed, for the properties to pass automatically to a second cousin."
"So Potter gets everything, then?" Draco asked with a sneer. "Why are you wasting our time?" Mrs Malfoy shot him a look, and the boy leaned back in his chair but glowered at the goblins silently.
Ragnok drew himself up to his full height. "Mr Malfoy, Gringotts is not wasting your time. Ripnok has not yet covered the matter of the Black family trusts." He consulted the parchment that Ripnok passed to him. "Sirius Black has created a vault in trust for you, and has also bequeathed a selection of family heirlooms. Vault 230."
Narcissa sniffed once more. "And the other Black family trusts?" she asked.
Ripnok glanced down at his paperwork. "The other trusts are for members of the Black family not currently in this room," he shared.
Narcissa rose in a flurry of silk. "Well then, we'd like to see the vault now if there is nothing else." She looked at Harry, her eyes narrowed and her eyebrows drawn down in an expression of disgust. "We will be considering our legal options, I assure you."
Ragnok stood and, with a brief nod to Harry, stepped to the office door. "I would be pleased to escort you to the vault myself, Mrs Malfoy, Mr Malfoy. Follow me, please."
When Narcissa and Draco had left, Harry turned to Ripnok. "Can they actually contest the will?" he asked.
Ripnok nodded, a touch grimly. "They can, although the likelihood of success is low. Narcissa Malfoy is the only person with any standing, and she can't contest the title. Nevertheless, I do suggest that you retain a solicitor. I can provide you with several names."
Harry nodded quickly. "Please. I don't know any, myself."
Ripnok stood. "I will owl you a list by tomorrow evening. In the meantime, allow me to prepare keys for you to the three Black vaults. We can discuss the combination of the various vaults at a later date." Ripnok paused. "You should claim the Potter and Black titles as soon as you can, Mr Potter. It will provide you with a number of…options."
Harry, overwhelmed, just nodded and allowed the goblin to lead him to a second office. There, he was asked for a sample of his blood. "I'd – I'd like to make an appointment for later in the summer," he requested. "To discuss the vaults and the properties, as you suggested."
Ripnok offered an agreeable nod as he placed three ornate gold keys into a black velvet bag and handed it to Harry. "Send an owl with your preferred appointment time, Mr Potter. I am at your disposal."
When Harry left the bank a few minutes later, he stopped at Slug & Jiggers. Brushing his hair over his scar, he stepped in and purchased two bottles of Dreamless Sleep Potion. With a warning from the shop's owner ringing in his ears about becoming addicted, Harry left the shop with a heavier rucksack and exited the alley through the back of the Leaky Cauldron. He needed to get back to Privet Drive.