I know this is all very cliche and classic independent, but I just want to stress it isn't going to be a political, powerful, amazing super harry. I wanted to do that now because halfway into this chapter a lot of you will be thinking that this is the same old story. It isn't, it's different.
The weather seemed to match the overall mood of the room, Harry had been woken up by Tonks that morning. With a quick shower and change of clothes he was ready for the portkey with Mad Eye, Remus, The Weasley clan except for Percy and Tonks, and with the familiar tug beyond his navel found himself in Diagon Alley. It had a few people strolling the cobbled street but it was nothing compared to the normal, hustle and bustle that it had been in previous years.
Now Harry sat in a room in Gringotts around a table, waiting for Tightfist, The Executor of the last Will and Testament of Sirius Black. Their were quiet mutterings amongst themselves although Harry was avoiding them as much as possible, he was especially trying to avoid Dumbledore. A mixture of embarrassment and anger swept through him when he had seen him in the room, fortunately he hadn't tried talking to Harry, yet.
Hermione and Ron were bickering about something as usual, Fred and George were looking, for the first time Harry could remember. Sad. Charlie and Bill who didn't know Sirius were looking at the ground somberly, as a mark of respect. Arthur and Molly were muttering to each other quietly, Molly throwing sympathetic looks to Harry every so often. Remus looked particularly worn out, his robes looking shabbier than ever, though maybe it had been a full moon recently. Tonks was looking upset as well, looking like she had cried recently. They had been in the room for little over five minutes, Harry wished it would be over soon.
Although he had made major progress in accepting Sirius's death, especially with the letter he had left to him, he still didn't like being in front of this many people in this situation. It was almost as if he was expected to cry, he didn't like the silent pressure that was being put on him. As though he had to talk to someone about it, he figured Hermione would be the worst, trying to coax everything out of him and try and talk to her about it. But he wasn't that kind of guy, and Sirius knew that, he was interrupted by his own thoughts when the door snapped open. Silence struck immediately.
"Good afternoon, apologies for the wait. Hope it hasn't caused any inconveniences for yourselves, we're here today to execute the Will and Testament of..." but he was interrupted as another door slammed open, Draco Malfoy entered looking as smug as ever, his mother Narcissa walking in after him looking every bit as smug as her son but still with the same disdainful look on her face as she had when Harry had last seen her. Outrage immediately sparked throughout the room, Harry controlled himself from making any kind of remark or action to the arrival of Malfoy. Ron however was not so tactful.
"What's he doing here? " shouted Ron angrily.
"I could say the same to you Weasel!" sneered Malfoy, turning to look at Harry.
"And you Scarhead, what are you doing here?" spat Malfoy. Harry in reply just rolled his eyes, a bored expression on his face. Before anything else could be said Tightfist cut in to the conversation.
"Lady Malfoy, I take it you have received an invite. Otherwise you wouldn't have been able to attend, and I see Mr. Malfoy has been invited as well. Take a seat, we where just getting proceedings on the way." said the goblin curtly, Ron went to say something else but was silenced by a look from his mother.
"As I was saying, we are here to execute the final Will and Testament of Sirius Black, he left a detailed list of who his benefactors are, it shouldn't take long to complete so let's get started...Ah Lady Malfoy, you and your son are the first benefactors on the list..." said the goblin reading the will to himself before saying anything. Draco had an eager look on his face as did Narcissa, Harry wanted to curse them both so badly they would never have that look in their eyes again but restrained himself.
"To Narcissa and her brat I leave a list of all monetary and non-monetary assets and a knut each. Once they take these items they are to leave immediately." said the goblin, a bemused tone in his voice, the expression changed instantly. Draco to fury and Narcissa to bewilderment.
"There must be some mistake, the Black title by rights should go to the eldest remaining male in the Black family. That's Draco." said Narcissa blankly.
"No Mr. Black was very specific who would receive Head of the Black family and it certainly wasn't your son." said the goblin.
"That's not possible, it's Draco's birthright!" hissed Narcissa.
"Mr. Black expressed his wishes very clearly, you may leave now Lady Malfoy." said the goblin, the items appeared in front of them both but they didn't make a move.
"This isn't right it is Draco's birthright, you will give him what is rightfully his!" screeched Narcissa. Draco who hadn't made a sound yet had a tinge of red in his cheeks, he picked up the list that had sprang before him and his eyes bulged slightly.
"I'm sorry Lady Malfoy but I must ask you to leave." said the goblin pointedly.
"The Black vaults are mine you filthy creature!" snarled Malfoy who leaped to rip the list from the goblins grasp. Before anyone reacted, the goblin outstretched his arm and sent Malfoy flying backwards wandlessly.
"You will leave now, before the Goblin Nation freezes your remaining vaults." said Tightfist menacingly. Draco staggered to his fee and went to retrieve is wand but Narcissa clasped his arm, stopping him doing so.
"Come Draco." with that, she left with as much dignity as she could. Her head haughtily pointing in the air, Draco took one last glare around the room and stormed out.
"That was brilliant" chorused the Weasley twins, this put a slight smile on every-ones face.
"Now that is over we can continue, Bill Weasley? You are left with a fifty thousand galleons and a small cottage on the coast, Charlie Weasley, you also receive fifty thousand galleons and a chateau in the South of France. You will be given your keys and deeds to the properties when you leave. You can stay for the remainder of the reading or leave now. It's up to you." both of the Weasley men stayed were they were, shocked and touched at the gestures of a man they'd never known.
"Alastor Moody, every single dark artifact and dark detector in the Black Vaults as well as fifty thousand galleons and a retirement home if you ever fancy using it in Wales." said the goblin, Alastor smiled gently at Sirius's remarks.
"Fred and George, the modern day marauders! Fifty thousand galleons each, an apartment in Diagon Alley and the shares the Black family have in Zonkos, split evenly between you." smiled the goblin. Fred and George were shocked at what Sirius had left them and did something not many people had seen, they cried silently for a few seconds, choked up at the title Sirius had bestowed upon them.
"Ginerva, how I know you hate being called that. Fifty thousand galleons to you my dear." quoted the goblin. Ginny smiled at the name Sirius had called her.
"Ron, I leave you fifty thousand galleons and season tickets to the Chudley Cannons." said Tightfist to an astounded Ron.
"Hermione, I give you enough books that you'll be busy for many years to come and fifty thousand galleons also." Hermione began crying as well, at the gesture of Sirius.
"To Nymphadora Tonks, don't make that face Nymphadora is a great name, I leave you half a million galleons and a small place in the countryside. Have fun Nymphadora, I'll never tire saying your name." It was Tonks who broke down now, she had been tearing up since the beginning but to hear what Sirius wanted to say it broke her down, holding on to Remus for support.
"To Albus Dumbledore, you receive Number 12 Grimmauld Place as headquarters and ten thousand galleons to be spent solely on socks." Dumbledore smiled gravely.
"To Moony, you are the last of the true marauders. I leave you a million galleons and an additional fifty thousand to be spent on clothes. And clothes alone." Remus smiled sadly, several tears fell as he shuddered emotionally.
"And to my godson, I leave everything else. The rest of the gold in the Black vaults, the deeds to the remaining properties, a list of books that will hopefully help prepare you, my love and a letter. Also I name you Head of the Black family." said the goblin with a smile on his face. Not really understanding what it meant Harry just fought back the tears, he wouldn't cry here. Not in front of so many people...
"Mr Potter, do you accept the title of Head of the Black family?" asked the goblin, Harry looked up to see everyone looking at him and was about to answer when Dumbledore interrupted.
"Harry, I ask that you do not sign that." he said with an urgent tone in his voice. Momentarily shocked, Harry met the Headmasters gaze.
"And why is that Professor?" Harry said angrily, surprising everyone in the room at his tone of voice.
"I think that you do not understand the circumstances that you will place yourself in if you accept the position as Head of the Black family." said Dumbledore in a concerned tone of voice, Harry eyed the headmaster suspiciously. He wasn't considering not signing the parchment, he just wanted to find out Dumbledore's motives.
"If I don't sign this, it will go to the Malfoy's. Specifically Draco Malfoy, what makes you think I want that to happen? It would be an insult to Sirius!" said Harry in a raised and dangerous voice. Although Dumbledore's expression didn't change, his eyes did for a split second. He was shocked, he didn't expect Harry to know anything about that.
"I know that it's a delicate situation, but it will put you in danger." said Dumbledore, he sounded slightly desperate, mused Harry. He took a second to reply.
"How will I be in any more danger than I have been in the past?" Dumbledore was about to reply when Tightfist interrupted.
"Actually Headmaster Dumbledore, several of the properties that Mr. Black bequeathed to young Mr. Potter here have the Fidelius charm, one is actually Unplottable. Protection wouldn't be a problem" said the goblin curtly.
"The Fidelius charm can be broken, you know this Harry." said Dumbledore softly. Harry's anger flared at the remark towards his parent's demise.
"With respect sir, it was good enough for Grimmauld Place last summer and I bet it's where you'll want to send me after the Dursley's" said Harry testily.
"The situation is different now Harry, Fudge has acknowledged Voldemort's return so he won't be as inactive this year." said Dumbledore warningly.
"I'm not letting Malfoy have anything, Sirius left it to me." said Harry in another dangerous tone.
"Harry, you can't do that..." but Harry silenced him as he roughly took the parchment from Tightfists waiting hand and signed the parchment in a scrawl.
"Thankyou, that concludes the will reading. Mr. Potter you will have to stay to so a goblin can assist you with the Fidelius charms on your new properties." Nobody moved, everyones eyes turned to Dumbledore who was looking aghast at what Harry had just done.
"I said the meeting was over, Gringotts has a very busy day ahead of themselves following the acquisition of the Black vaults by Mr. Potter." glared the goblin, people began trickling out although some of the Weasley's and Dumbledore didn't move. Mrs Weasley broke the silence.
"Harry dear, your can stay with us at the Headquarters...if Remus permits it that is, until Hogwarts starts." Instead of replying, Harry sent her a very hesitant smile.
"Mr. Potter if you would come with me please." said Tightfist, who was arranging various papers. Dumbledore seemed to have come to his senses.
"Harry, I would like to offer my services as the secret keeper." blurted the headmaster. Harry looked at the man before him and gave him a sympathetic smile and nothing more before turning around and exiting the room. Following the goblin, he was taken to an office which seemed to be Tightfists.
A/N I just want to remind you all what I said at the beginning, this is all very cliche and classic independent, but I just want to stress it isn't going to be a political, powerful, amazing super harry. I wanted to do that now because halfway into this chapter a lot of you will be thinking that this is the same old story. It isn't, it's different.
"Now that is over with Mr. Potter, with your emancipation as it were. You now doubt have questions about your Family vault." said the goblin quickly as he began hurriedly sorting papers.
"My family vault?" said Harry.
"Yes the Potter Family vault. As the last Potter you were supposed to receive it on your seventeenth birthday but now you are emancipated you are automatically entitled to the vault."
"Oh...great." said Harry forcing a smile, but inside he was seething that he hadn't been informed about this.
"I took care not to mention it in front of Headmaster Dumbledore because it would be against the secrecy we pride ourselves on at Gringotts." sneered the goblin. After a few seconds of sorting yet more papers the goblin sat up at met Harry's eyes.
"Alright, now everything is sorted out. All Gringotts needs to know is who you want to be as secret keeper for the establishments."
"I would like to be the secret keeper for them." said Harry without a moments thought, the goblin seemed to frown for a second.
"Will it be a problem?" said Harry curiously.
"With the charms already in place it shouldn't be a problem, all we need is a drop of blood on each of these parchments" said the goblin, holding seven slips. Each with unintelligible writing on them.
"Do you have a knife I could borrow?" said Harry, not hesitating. The goblin grinned snidely.
"That shouldn't be a problem, would you like all your vaults to be joined into one?" asked the goblin.
"Yes, I don't have my key on me at the moment, I think Mrs. Weasley has it." said Harry worriedly.
"It will be a new vault, a word of warning though. Don't hand your key to anyone now, it may have...unpleasant results." the goblin said slowly, as if considering how to word his sentence. Not wanting to question what that meant he made a mental note of it.
"Here's the knife, I shall get the key to you by the time you've finished here." the goblin then hurried frantically out of the room leaving Harry alone. He picked up the knife, eyeing the sharpness. Holding his breath he dug it into his thumb, grimacing slightly he held his hand and dropped the blood onto the slips of parchment one at a time. The goblin was back as he was doing the fifth slip.
"Those slips are your Mr. Potter, they show the address of the home. Once you read them, you will have the knowledge of the house and can destroy these slips so other people cannot see them unless you want them to of course. I've also brought you a moneybag. This is charmed so that you can withdraw money from your vault without having to endure the arduous cart rides, you won't have to come to Gringotts at all, you can take your gold out wherever you are. It's also charmed to only accept those with Potter blood." explained the goblin to a confused looking Harry.
"How can I get to my properties?" asked Harry, slightly worried.
"Ah of course, you can learn to apparate, floo or portkey to them." said the goblin quickly.
"Is their a way to transfer galleons for muggle money?" asked Harry.
"It will require another key being made Mr. Potter, we link it similarly in the way of your moneybag except it's fashioned as a muggle wallet instead of a bag." said the goblin quickly.
"Could I request one?" asked Harry kindly.
"Certainly, just give me five minutes to sort everything out." said the goblin kindly, he returned in four. With a simple looking black leather wallet.
"Here you are Mr. Potter, charmed like we said. Again this can only be opened by those with Potter blood." said the goblin quickly.
"Thanks, is that everything?" inquired Harry.
"I think it is Mr. Potter, thank you for your patience and again we at Gringotts are sorry for your loss." the goblin bowed graciously, Harry hesitantly copying the moves.
"I'll walk you out Mr. Potter, I have a feeling Headmaster Dumbledore will be waiting for you." smirked the goblin. True to his word, Dumbledore wa waiting in the main foyer, bothering a goblin. Undoubtedly about where Harry was. Harry saw the Weasley's and Hermione behind him chattering amongst themselves.
"Ah Harry my boy, finally. Are you ready to return to Privet Drive?" Dumbledore said tentatively, ignoring the hiss from Mrs. Weasley. Harry's eyes narrowed slightly at the suggestion.
"Actually sir I was counting on shopping a little." said Harry, trying to hide his anger.
"Of course Harry I understand that now you're 'emancipated' you might want to take advantage of your stature, but I must insist that you return to your Aunts as soon as you can." said Dumbledore urgently.
"I don't have to return there." shot Harry.
"You...you have to Harry, for your own protection..." started Dumbledore.
"I don't have to at all, now if you excuse me I have an busy day ahead of me." said Harry you moved past Dumbledore and turned to the Weasley's and Hermione.
"Would any of you like to come along?" said Harry. They turned to Mrs Weasley all looking expectedly, she seemed frantic about the decision but Mr. Weasley made it before she could reply.
"The children are welcome to join you Harry, but I'd like someone to accompany you."
"I'll do it." said Charlie. Harry smiled at him in thanks.
"We've got to get back to the shop." said the twins in unison before leaving.
"I want to know where you got the money for that!" shouted after them.
"I'd like to come, Hermione?" said Ginny.
"Yes I'd love to, Ron are you coming." asked Hermione, Ron grunted in reply.
"Well, I've got to get back to work." said Bill bidding them all a good day.
"Can we take some money out?" Ron asked his mother. Mrs. Weasley gave him a disapproving look.
"Just because you've got money, I don't want you to be spending it all at once." she scolded him, Ron pouted.
"I suppose you can Ronald." said Mrs. Weasley.
"Harry, I'll talk to you at Headquarters." said Dumbledore, who walked away without another word. Harry bit back a reply.
"Right then, we'll see you back at headquarters. We've talked to Remus, we're welcome to stay there for the rest of the summer." Mrs. Weasley beamed.
"Come on Harry! I want to go shopping!" Ron half-shouted, dragging a reluctant Harry, who had a slight frown on his face that nobody noticed. they were swiftly followed by Hermione and Ginny.
The rest of the Weasley's bid each other a good day and left.
"Whoa look at all this gold!" shouted Ron. Who began scooping galleons into his pockets.
"Ronald! You won't have any left!" shouted Hermione as he walked back, pockets bulging. It was only a quick cart ride to Ginny's who reacted similar to Ron but was less obvious about it, at Hermione's vault she only took a handful of coins. The cart zoomed upwards to the foyer.
"Harry, why aren't we going to you vault." shouted Ron, although he was barely audible.
"Don't worry!" Harry shouted back. They reached the foyer and exited Gringotts, Ron and Ginny eager to spend what gold they had on them almost ran into Fred and George's store which was already packed. Harry eyed the twins who were looking swamped but had grins on their faces at the attention their shop was receiving from all the business that they were generating. Charlie stood at the door, Ron had raced of, scanning the shelves and grabbing everything that interested him. Hermione rolled her eyes and went to stop him spending everything he had. Harry turned to Ginny but saw that she had gone, looking over the crowds he saw her head bobbing up and down in a very pink looking section.
"Hi Harry!" said the twins in unison.
"Gred, Forge!" greeted Harry with a smile.
"Hey look mate, we just to tell you how sorry we are about Sirius." said Fred seriously.
"Yeh, we know you and Sirius were close and if you want to talk about it then we want you to know you can talk to us." said George, Harry went to reply but Fred was already talking again.
"I mean Ron's an idiot and Hermione will press you to talk about it so if you ever get sick of those two you've got us to talk with."
"Or prank with." muttered George with a smile.
"Or drink." suggested Fred with a cheeky grin. Harry smiled at the pair of them.
"Cheers guys, it means a lot. So what's this about Zonkos?" asked Harry seriously.
"Well combined we own 20% of Zonkos, their will probably be a few owls heading are way soon." said Fred.
"They'll want to talk about merging or buying us out probably." said George a bit sadly.
"I take it you don't want that?" said Harry.
"We'd rather be the main joke and prank shop in wizarding Britain." said Fred simply.
"But at our age it's hard to be taken seriously, especially without N.E.." remarked George.
"Mum keeps trying to get us to go back to Hogwarts, but after all the trouble we've taken to open the shop..." started Fred.
"We don't want to just close it down." finished George.
"Couldn't you hire people to look after the store while you were at Hogwarts?" suggested Harry.
"We were thinking about that, but in these times I don't think we could find that many trustworthy people." explained Fred.
"I guess so, tough break." said Harry sympathetically.
"So what are you looking for today?" asked George, turning the conversation back to brighter topics.
"I'll pick a few things up here for Hogwarts but I want to get a few things from some other places, come on. We better help Hermione stop Ron for spending all his money...even if it is in your store." grinned Harry.
"...Ronald you don't need all of those Skiving Snackboxes!" scolded Hermione, Harry and the twins interrupted the conversation before it turned into a full scale argument.
"There's no Umbridge this year Ron, you don't need a years supply." chuckled Harry.
"I guess so." said Ron rather dejectedly, who put a few back. The five of them went around the store, with Fred and George giving them a brief description of every product they came across. They nearly had to physically tear Ron away from some of the products, some of which Harry had superstitiously added to his bag. It took them an hour to go around all the shop, Ginny had joined them for the last half hour tour of the shop.
"So, what's this stuff?" said Ron irritably, angry about not being allowed to buy the 'Wizards Guide To Witches', which was something Harry had added to his bag
"That's a spot remover, 10 second guarantee to remove anything from blackheads to zits." said George, "And the little tubs next to them is an ointment for sores and bruises." Harry grabbed a tub of the first and four of the latter.
"Peruvian Darkness Powder, handy for a quick escape and we're just about finished." smiled Fred, seeing Harry picking up two packets and placing them on top of his bag.
"Ron, Hermione, Ginny we've got something special for you." said Fred hastily, leading them away. Harry was confused for a moment when George patted him on the shoulder.
"Relax Harry, he was distracting them so we could add up the mountain of items you've got." winked George.
"Oh, you guys noticed?" mocked Harry with a smile. George began adding everything up.
"Alright with the part-owner discount that comes to a hundred and three galleons and five sickles." said George after about five minutes.
"Wait...owner discount? No George, I gave you that money. I don't want anything back." said Harry.
"Well it's tough your part owner and both me and Fred agreed that you would get a discount on products. It's the least we could do, I mean we'd offer you a portion of the profits but I'm guessing you wouldn't accept that at all." grinned George.
"No...I wouldn't, well if it's alright with the both of you. Thanks." said Harry appreciatively.
"No problem, Harry." replied George. Harry took out the galleons from his charmed moneybag and was counting it for George when he thought of a way to repay everything Fred and George had said and done for him today.
"George, I'll lease the shop for you so you won't have to close it down. You can finish your schooling at Hogwarts without worrying about loosing your shop." said Harry.
"Harry, we couldn't do that. You've already given us start up money, we couldn't ask you to do that." replied George.
"Well it's tough, I'm doing it." said Harry stubbornly.
"i'll talk to Fred, we'll think about it." said George seriously. Harry smiled in gratitude.
"...Don't know why you bothered showing us that Fred, we've already seen it." Ron's voice came from beyond the crowd of people.
"Let me charm your bags." whispered George hurriedly, shrinking them and casting a feather lightweight charm on them. Harry nodded in gratitude.
"...Fred you showed them us five minutes after I joined the tour." Harry heard Ginny's angry voice before seeing the red hair and flushed face come into his eyesight.
"Sorry, must have forgotten. George, everything taken care of here?" asked Fred innocently.
"Why? What was happening here George? Harry?" questioned Hermione.
"Just about Sirius and things..." said George offhandedly, blushing slightly.
"Oh...sorry." said Hermione meekly.
"Let us just add your bag up Ron." said Fred.
"I'm your brother! I have to pay for this stuff!" said Ron angrily.
"It's not a charity." Fred replied simply, Ron stalked off throwing various products back, returning with a less full bag. After paying the twins turned to them.
"No problem, now we've got the shop to take care of. See you four later." said Fred. Leaving the four of them in the middle of a bustling shop. Charlie came walking over from where he was stood and joined them.
"Where to next?" asked Harry, open to anywhere. He would come back to get everything else the next time. If he bought them today, it would no doubt raise questions.
"Flourish and Blotts!" responded Hermione, almost instantly. Ron and Ginny sighed and Harry grinned at the predictability of Hermione.
"Well lets go!" said Charlie, before Ron could make a comment, making Harry laugh.
In the bookstore, Charlie took his place at the door while the four of them split up, Ron and Ginny to the Sports section, Hermione to the History section and Harry...Harry was looking around not really knowing what to do. He'd already bought the books he wanted and was happy with what he had left to read for the time being so went and stood next to Charlie.
"Not interested in books?" said Charlie to him as he leaned against the wall.
"No...I got mine delivered before we came here." said Harry simply.
"Right...Mad-Eye told us at the Order meeting." replied Charlie, a note of realisation in his voice. They got into an interesting conversation about dragons and how Norbert was doing and the Hungarian Horntail that had tried it's hardest to kill him. It was at least half-and hour before Hermione came back with one book, with Ron and Ginny not far behind them with a book each.
"Quidditch Manoeuvres for Chasers." said Ginny.
"Mines for Keepers." said Ron.
They went on to walk around Diagon Alley, buying little things every nope and again before it was time to go back to Grimmauld Place. One by one, flooing. With a sigh Harry climbed into the grate. He was going to return to Grimmauld Place, it was part of his plan of what to do next, but he still had Sirius's letter to read.
"Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place!" shouted Harry.
Next Chapter, The Letter and other things.....Maybe even shopping...
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