Chapter 3 The Discovery
Once again thanks for all the reviews. I tried to answer some, but ffn isn't even showing them attached to the story. When I click to reply, the site tells me that they don't exist. They show up in number, but not in actuality. However, they do let me know that you guys like the story, which I, in return, let Smargden know. So please, keep it up.
I just reread this chapter and I can't believe I posted with all those mistakes. Thanks, alix33 for pointing quite a few of them out.
Once again give praise to Smargden for the plot and the main story line. If you would like you can find the original Swedish version on his profile (the link is on my profile), doing that you can leave him a pm, or review it. He speaks English well enough to understand, and there's always the translating programs on the web.
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In the early morning hours, in Gringotts Office of Succession and Wills, activities continued as if a group of people weren't running around looking for their only hope against Voldemort. Unaware of all the chaos he had caused, though he had hoped that would be the outcome, Harry calmly sat with and unnamed goblin going over Sirius' will. It had been a long night for him and he was having a hard time paying attention. His eyelids kept drooping, but he would jerk his head up and concentrate on what was being told to him. It was all vital information, that certain people hadn't wanted him to know.
"There are just a few details left to resolve," the goblin behind the desk stated as he shuffled some papers. "Sirius Black encouraged you to accept a blood adoption. All you need to do is take a potion and sign a few documents," the tiny being said, pushing the said items to the young man.
"And no one can question me?" the weary dark-haired wizard asked with a bit of trepidation. He was doing his very best to focus on the matter at hand. His godfather had set up an out for him and he needed the details. He shook his head hard to clear it.
"If you choose to accept then you will be closer in blood to your godfather than any other Black alive. Speaking of the Black Family, Mr. Black also ask that you offset Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy from the family, and reinstitute Andromeda and Nymphadora Tonks," the goblin stated, still looking at the will. When Harry made a sound, he looked at the boy's tired face, and sighed. Hurrying it along, he looked back down and continued, "He did state that it was up to you. He, himself, had intended to do that, but held back, because right then it would have attracted attention. Should you choose the adoption, which I highly recommend, you need to put a drop of your blood the vial, and drink it. There will be a great deal of pain, like you're beingtortured for a while. When that's done, you need to drop more blood on these documents, sign them and then everything will be ready. As I said - it will hurt for a few minutes."
Harry thought about it for a half a second. He then grabbed the bottle, which held his freedom, and did as he had been directed. He waited for the dreaded pain; first it stung, and then it hurt. Badly. Making him thankful that it was temporary. Knowing that it would be over in a few seconds, he gritted his teeth against the agony. When it was mostly over, he relaxed a bit. Now there were just a few muscle twinges, which were uncomfortable, but bearable.
"Do you feel better now?" the still unnamed goblin asked when the teen's shoulders slumped in relief.
"Yes, it has calmed down considerably. "Thanks for asking. There's still a bit of pain, but I do feel better," the boy replied, flexing his neck.
"We will wait until it is completely over before we continue that part of our meeting. In the meantime, when you are declared of legal age, then along with what Black left you, you can also accept your own family's vault."
"What do you mean, my own family's vault!? The one I get my school money from?" the now awake boy asked, shouting the first part.
''Vaults, Mr. Potter. Do not tell me you do not know about it," was the snarled reply.
"No, this is the first time I'm hearing about it," the confused teen stated, thumping back in his chair over something else that had been kept from him.
"Then tell me, what did you think all the numbers and balances on the monthly statements meant?" the goblin asked, pointing an accusing finger at the boy.
"What monthly statements!? I have never received any letters from you," Harry snapped, thinking the guy was pulling his leg. He would have remembered getting any mail, other than from his 'friends'. Especially from Gringotts, and about money. If he had known that he had more than what was in the vault he did know about, he would have escaped ages ago.
"Never?" the being behind the desk inquired in a disbelieving voice, bringing Harry's wandering attention back him.
"No," was the succinct answer.
"I am beginning to think you have been misled more than a little. Tell me something, what do you know about your family's assets, apart from the small vault you have for your school years? Which was separately opened by your grandfather at your birth," the small creature asked, tapping his long thin fingers on the desk.
"Look, I don't know what you're talking about. I came here to empty the vault I know about. I just needed the means to hide for a while. However, you waylaid me with Sirius' will, and this whole adoption and I… and he ... wanted to get me free. That's all I know. I swear," Harry said, very confused as to just what was going on. The whole thing at Privet Drive, Gringotts, and now Family Vaults, it was getting to be too much too soon.
Waving his hand in frustration, the goblin noted the time. "We'll get back to that in a minute," he said, wanting to move along. "The first part of your adoption is complete, now all you must do is sign these papers, and you are ready to begin your new life. You will then be the son of Sirius Orion Black, and no one can tell you different."
Harry all but grabbed the paper and hurriedly applied his signature, and when he was done a whirling of energies surrounded him. It took almost a full minute before everything calmed down.
"Oops."
"Yes, the signing of the papers does add some magic, though not much. I should warn you that when you put on the rings, there should be some things added to your mind."
"What things?"
"Again, let's put that to the side," the goblin stated upon seeing the time. "Right now, I would suggest two things. The first being this, when you first entered my office I noticed that you had a couple of spells on you. One that tells where you are, and one that shows your physical health. No one knows you are here, since nothing can penetrate our wards, but when you go out again, others can easily find you by using them. We can remove them if you want, for a fee," the goblin said, slyly
"Of course," Harry muttered, and then asked, "Can you remove them as fast as possible, please? I don't want anyone to find me."
"Not a problem," the goblin said and with a wave of his hand they were gone. "That will be five galleons, which I will take from your vault when we conclude our business."
"What, that's it?"
"They were not that complicated. They are the same that mothers use to monitor children. Moving on, the second thing I wanted to tell you is a little more practical. You should acquire, what the non-magicals call a wallet or purse. I have here one in our line of luxury wallets, and a coin pouch. They are the best we offer. All for the price of a few galleons," the still unnamed goblin said, in his best salesman impression.
"Can you explain them to me?" the wary teen asked, looking over the items. They might come in handy.
"The wallet first. It gives you non-magical money. All you must do is ask, making sure to state the local currency, and it will provide you with what you need. You are here in England, so you should tell it pounds and that's what you will get. Need American money, you say US dollars, and it will only provide that until you tell it otherwise,"
"That will be very useful," Harry agreed.
"Now, the coin purse provides galleons, up to a thousand at a time. Both are naturally protected against theft. If you lose them, one of two things will happen, either they drop the connection to your vault and become useless junk, or they will be back to you within one hour. You can also choose payment card, connected via the international system, to pay with. However, you should read the entire manual carefully before using them, they are practical to use," explained the goblin as he pointed out examples of each item.
"I never knew the bank carried these things and the card sounds ideal. You guys should display brochures, like muggle banks. You'd get more people buying them. However, I'm not sure if they're worth the price. I mean, I only have so... " he trailed off, when he saw the goblin raise his hand. Harry looked down and noted the nametag on the desk, he now knew the goblin he had been talking to for hours was named Sikkso. He felt dumb for not seeing it earlier but brushed it off as being tired.
"You have a lot more than you think, it will last you a very long time. I have already alerted my coworkers, and no you do not need to know how. Right now, we are investigating why you have not received the data and information in the past. They will be checking into things while we finish up here," Sikkso said with a malicious grin, making Harry feel just a tiny bit sorry for whoever they caught.
"Are you're saying that I have enough for these wallets and cards?" Harry asked, getting back to the matter at hand.
"Yes, the exact figure changes from minute to minute. However, let me say that just the Potter Family Vault gives you more than you could ever need in cash. Your balance is in the eight digits, and that is just the money that is directly accessible. Added to this, are holdings in a variety of companies around the world; real estate too. For example, you own several blocks here in London, including the houses on them. Admittedly, they in turn are leased to another company, but they provide a steady income. If I remember correctly, you have an entire floor reserved for the family in some of the buildings."
"Oh, I had absolutely no idea about it," the dark-haired teen said, thinking of the possibilities.
"In addition, per Black, there are more spread around the world, which are three to four times more valuable," the goblin said as he shuffled more papers. "Now this has almost never been discussed, which is the Hogwarts Founders have vaults. However, since you are heir to Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and somehow, Slytherin. You have access those three vaults as well, and all that they represent, which is a lot. You see the castle was owned by Godric Gryffindor. The other Founders created a company that rented the castle and all the land around. So, each Hogwarts House pays rent to the original vault. Over the years that value has become astronomical. That company also rented to the people of Hogsmeade, who in turn pay rent to the Gryffindor vault. You are the main benefactor to all of that. The only thing you don't get, is what is maintained for the staff and repairs. Overall, I would say that you are at least ten times richer than Malfoy, even though he built his wealth during Voldemort ravages of the past."
Harry was glad he was sitting, or he would've fallen. Now he just looked pale. "Oh, hmm - if I find a wand that I can use in one of the vaults, can I take it? And will the Ministry detect my use of it?" he asked, changing the subject of wealth for now. He'd deal with that later.
"Yes and no. Yes, you can claim anything in the vaults. No, ministry cannot track them. Even if they did, they would be registered to someone who is long dead. Since those spells fade out six to seven years after they are applied. Meaning that they only affect school children, who older people deem necessary to keep an eye on."
Before Harry could reply, there came in yet another goblin. The two talked for a while in the language the human in the room understood was their own.
"No wonder you have not received your information, Mr. Potter. It seems that there is yet another vault in your name, set aside for post. There are scores of letters and packages accumulated in there," Sikkso said, after the other goblin left.
"How is that possible? How is it set up? I mean, I get mail from my friends," Harry asked, thinking of all the birthday mail he received over the last few years.
"It is actually very easy, your guardian just has to ask for it, then most of your post will go to that vault. Except, some personal, because you have your own owl, or the post owls get special orders to leave the letters private. Likewise, if a close acquaintance sends his own owl, then they can also get through," the goblin explained.
"Right, I'll leave that for you to deal with, we'll go over the details later," Harry said, waving it aside, but making a mental note to strike a bargain with the greedy banker. "What do you suggest now? I've told you my plan, and now I want your opinion?".
"First, I suggest that you put on the heir signet rings in this order; Potter, Black, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Then you should think of a new family name that you will be magically declaring as yours. With that, everything you do will come under that particular name. Anyone looking for Harry Potter will find nothing. You may in the future take any name you like, such as a different family name, or you can continue with your new one. Your child, or children, can also pick from the previously mentioned names, or take your new one. It is completely up to you."
"Okay, let me think about this a bit. When I came to Hogwarts the hat wanted place me in Slytherin, so I think I'll build on that. Sal as an abbreviation of Salazar Slytherin and from it should go to Stern. While it doesn't scream in people's faces, it still carries the tradition. Yes, Sal Stern it is to be," Harry said firmly. In his opinion that was a good name. No one would think that the Boy-Who-Lived would name himself after Salazar Slytherin.
The soon to be Sal put on rings, each causing a faint aura, which brightened the office before fading out. Each ring gave him a new insight. Though, everything went too fast for him to be able to understand all that knowledge, it was still a realization that the information was there.
"I, Harry James Potter-Black, also known as Lord Potter, Black, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, gather everything under one name, and I shall henceforth be known as Sal Stern." A blue-violet aura coiled around him, and tentacles went out from him in different directions. This went on for several minutes before it slowly ceased completely.
After that the human teen and the goblin manager continued with financial business. In the end, Gringotts would continue to care for the Potter investments, in addition to Black. They held off on the Founder Vaults for now, there just wasn't enough time. Harry, or Sal, needed to leave soon. He had already spent far too much time in the bank.
The boy wizard had also been told that it was Albus Dumbledore who had ordered the post vault. In all the years it had been open, the old man never bothered to examine what was there. He didn't even let the letters be sent to Harry after he came back to the Wizarding World. All that post had begun to gather there in November 1981; birthday wishes, Christmas presents, and simple thank you cards, all neglected. It was no wonder people were quick to turn on him. They must think like Snape, that he was a spoiled pampered prince.
Gringotts would send future post to Harry, after they were examined for danger and when he was able to receive them. For a fee, they would go through all the old letters, and put aside the cleared ones for the teen to pick up. Letters that were dangerous would be kept, and a list would be formed. On that list would be; when the letter was delivered, what curse or potion was on it, and, if the person was foolish enough to address it, who sent it. This would be kept in case charges were ever pressed.
Sal's visit to the vaults, showed him just how little he planned in his flight for freedom. Well, after he left the bank anyway. He was astounded that there was a plethora of useful things. After he finished with the vaults, he had two shrunken seven compartment trunks, three wands that responded quite well to his commands. A full-body protection lightweight armor, which could pass as daily wear. Two wand holsters, one for each arm, that could accommodate three wands each and a half dozen throwing stars. He made sure to stuff as many books from all the vaults into his trunks. From the Black Vault, he found a magical backpack, which he put a wizarding tent in. That normal looking tent had four rooms, a large kitchen and bathroom.
Finally, before he left Gringotts, he made a few declarations. Standing in the lobby, he lifted one of his new wands and stated:
"I, Sal Stern, heir to Lord Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, request that Hogwarts not let those who wear Voldemort's mark, or those who sympathize with him, enter the school's grounds. These person's first attempts will result in pain; further efforts will see the violator rendered a squib with their magic added to the castle. So be it."
He then made a second vow.
I, Sal Stern, heir to the noble house Black, request by magic, that any of Voldemort's marked, or those who sympathize with him, may not enter any of the properties that are under my ownership. Furthermore, Albus Dumbledore, and all that follow him, are also banned from all the houses under the banner of Black, bar Remus Lupin. Only he may use the house he already knows and invite his personal friends. - So be it."
There, that took care of Grimmuald Place, and any other house that the stupid Order might sneak into," Sal thought smugly. Now he just had to carry out Sirius' last wish for the Black family. So, he lifted his wand once more.
"I, Sal Stern, heir to the noble house Black, request that both Bellatrix Lestrange, nee Black, and Narcissa Malfoy, nee Black, be cast from the Black family. Furthermore, I bring back the previous offset Andromeda Tonks, nee Black, to the family Black, along with her daughter Nymphadora, who henceforth will be assigned the name Nadja Black. - So be it."
The amount of energy released from Harry was awe-inspiring. He also saw Sikkso with a smile on his face, something that was unusual for a goblin in their human contacts.
"Good luck, Sal. Know that you are welcome to Gringotts at time," the smiling goblin said as the newly freed teen made his way out the door.