JK Rowling owns all the rights to the books and the amazing characters she created. I write only to satisfy my imagination and use my creativity and make no money from my writings.

Chapter 4 – Filthy Rich

Sure enough Harry was filthy rich. He was also emancipated as soon as he had been forced to participate in the Tournament. For some reason nobody had bothered telling him probably because then he could claim all SEVEN Lordships he was heir to as well as having total control over his life. He didn't need a guardian and certain members of the Ministry of Magic knew that just as much as Dumbledore, the Weasleys and several other persons of interest.

Ragnok told Harry that many, many people had been trying to contact him especially Gringotts but Dumbledore had moved heaven and earth to prevent it and due to his many political positions, bribes and loads of blackmail he had on people, no one had been able to help him at all, not even Ragnok - until Dumbledore had died. Then the old %#*%##&& had no political or magical power to call on because – well BECAUSE HE WAS DEAD - and many of the strongest (and darkest, unethical and illegal) magic Dumbles had cast on him had been removed upon Dumbles' death.

Now Ragnok had been able to contact the law firm of the Potter Family which Dumbledore had "fired" when he usurped custody of Harry and they along with Gringotts were going to see to his finances, heal him of the abuse he had suffered and doing any and all things which SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE when the boy became an orphan.

They had to move quickly as the forces of evil (and he didn't mean Voldie) were gathering to seize Harry and it was imperative that he stay at Gringotts until he was healthy enough to assume the Lordships as some of them the potential Lord had to be healthy in body, mind, spirit and not under the vassalage of certain people.

Representatives of the law firm were summoned in greatest secrecy, Harry was given his first thorough physical exam ever and then temper tantrums were thrown not only by Harry but his solicitors and Ragnok when the results were reviewed. While Harry's healing was started, all of his financial statements (the ones he had never received or even heard about) were gone over with a fine tooth comb by the solicitors and Ragnok.

The results were shocking. Unless Ragnok could fix things and make amends for the blatant mishandling of Harry's accounts, he would be obliged by Goblin honor to formally commit suicide after first killing all members of his immediate family. That wasn't going to happen if he had a say in it and HE DID HAVE A SAY.

He started out by calling in the Goblins in charge of the various Lordships and inheritances Harry was heir to. He got their immediate attention by personally beheading all of them. Then their assistants had to explain things to the solicitors and Ragnok while Ragnok made some special arrangements starting with shutting down the bank until further notice. This meant the doors of Gringotts which were open 24/7 were closed. Guards were placed on the doors and all assets and vaults of certain persons of interest were frozen until further notice.

He then called for the assembly of ALL GOBLINS including their families. He singled out the immediate family members of the headless account managers and they were brought forward and placed in the circle of shame. He then addressed all the Goblins and told them what was happening and why.

"Due to greed beyond measure several Goblins of high rank and trust have violated their sacred honor and thus the honor and reputation of Gringotts and the entire Goblin Nation is at risk. Due to the treachery of these %*#$&#&&#& $#$^&##&&" he spat out pointing to the corpses and their separated heads "evil and dishonor have been perpetrated on such a scale that all treaties between Goblins and wizards in Britain have been violated and we risk war."

He then gave a short but meaningful synopsis of what had transpired. It just wasn't the swindling and robbery done against Harry Potter, the last heir of an Ancient and Noble House but other sacred trusts had been shamelessly violated. Granted it had been wizards who were doing such evil against orphans, widows, tradition and honor BUT they had partnered with Goblins in high places, with positions of responsibilities and these Goblins were not content with making an honest profit but instead through bribes and promises of great wealth and power they had sold their souls and the sacred honor of ALL Goblins.

It was a conspiracy starting but not ending with Harry Potter and from what Ragnok had found out so far it could destroy not only Goblins but the wizards of Britain if amends and restitution could not be made. Every Goblin must join in rooting out the treachery and restoring Goblin honor or ALL British Goblins would be forced to die in shame and ignominy.

But first the carcasses of the foohuckmoots (you don't want to know the translation) must be dealt with. Goblins were creatures of the earth and the greatest dishonor, after cowardliness or dissolute living which could befall a Goblin was a bad burial. A Goblin must be returned to the earth, to the caverns and cervices from which their race had sprung or at least be consumed in a special holy fire. These traitors and thus their families would not be allowed that honor and instead would be taken and thrown into the sea to be devoured by creatures and monsters of the unholy deep. However, Ragnok would show some mercy as the families would be first be killed by friends, allies or near kin because the next worse way for a Goblin to die was to be eaten alive.

Meanwhile, people were starting to complain to the Ministry that Gringotts had closed and wasn't responding to the angry owls being sent to them. Bottomless bags had been stopped and no one could get any money to buy things. Fudge was forced to send a troop of Aurors to force Gringotts to open but as anybody with a brain (or at least experience with Goblins) knew, you don't force Goblins to do anything.

Eventually the doors of the bank opened and instead of allowing people in, Ragnok personally appeared and announced "Great crimes have just been discovered and Gringotts will remain closed until those responsible can be located. Until then, Gringotts will allow the use of bottomless bags and Muggle credit cards – on a limited basis – with the exception of certain 'persons of interest' so if the bags and cards aren't working it means you are one of the suspects and you better prepare to meet whatever gods you believe in." With that said, he and his guards went back into the bank and the great doors slammed shut once again.

Panic started especially for those people who couldn't afford a bottomless bag or credit card. Those who panicked the most were those who knew they just might be "a person of interest" like Fudge, a few Death Eaters and the Weasleys. At Grimmauld Place where the Order of the Phoenix was using as Headquarters, power grabs and arguments abounded. Due to Dumbledore's funeral and Molly's plans for getting Potter, the Weasleys had still been living at the Burrow and Molly hadn't had the time to use the Black account to automatically order supplies from vendors, which would then be paid for by the House of Black – or at least out of Sirius' personal funds.

Now with the freeze, there was very little food or beverages at the house and since Sirius had lost his bottomless bag and hadn't gotten around to replacing it, money was very tight. Molly demanded a collection be taken but that didn't go over very well and Moody (who was in the lead for being the new Order head) ordered McGonagall to get supplies from Hogwarts.

"I can't as practically all the remaining food was used for the closing feast for the Tournament and then the funeral. Until a new Headmaster/mistress is appointed nothing can be ordered – or at least paid for."

"But you're Deputy Head so can't you do something?"

"Although I did most of Albus' work, only he had the authority to requisition funds to provision Hogwarts. There is enough food for the house elves and a skeleton staff but the farms which supply Hogwarts aren't producing sufficient food yet and what things it did, like eggs, butter, milk, etc. was again used for the funeral. Everything is frozen at the school until the decisions have been made. For all I know I might be out of a job come September as well as Severus and the others."

Naturally Molly informed all present that McGonagall was lying because she didn't want to believe that the largess of Hogwarts was closed to them. No one would volunteer any extra funds because Gringotts was closed and no one was willing to share for fear of being ripped off by others and then left high and dry.

Sirius had a big bag of gold hidden in his room but he wasn't going to share. He was saving it for when they found Harry because now that Dumbledore was gone Sirius was planning on ignoring everything and just going back to the lush, tropical island where he had been "recuperating" taking Remus and Harry with him. To hell with the rest of Britain. He was going to start raising his godson "right" by molding him into a clone of James and then the three wizards would spend their lives "having fun" and doing what they wanted to do. Besides he had never liked Molly Weasley and he wasn't going to volunteer to feed her obnoxious family. The only ones he sorted of liked were the Twins as they were pranksters. Now that he thought about it, maybe he'd take the Twins with him and they'd start a pranking empire.

The Order had only two things on the agenda: (1) find Harry and bring him to Grimmauld Place; and (2) decide who would be the new leader of the Order. There was also a third thing as several people thought that with Dumbledore dead, the Order should be dissolved. Thus the search for Harry was placed on hold while the fights continued.

Voldemort was having great success recruiting and receiving donations. People who had feared Dumbledore's reach and power were flocking to the Dark Lord practically demanding to be allowed to take the dark mark. Lucius Malfoy and Snape had been given only one order – find Harry Potter and bring him to Voldemort – alive and healthy – as Potter was the Dark Lord's possession and woe to any who harmed him in any way.

Voldemort was extremely busy making plans, overseeing operations and doing many other things on the sly which was none of anybody's business but his own.

Fudge was going insane and constantly on the verge of having a nervous breakdown and others at the Ministry were running around like fools (or at least bigger fools than usual) and the news media was going crazy.

Narcissa Malfoy was stewing because she was forced to play hostess to…a Muggle…and one who was related to Harry Potter. Granted the creature was consigned to one of the lesser guest rooms far away from decent people but the fact that the foul thing was in her home, living very nicely and, according to the elf assigned to her, happily in the private room overlooking the garden, reading the "Muggle things" (magazines, newspapers, etc.) which the elf (Flippy) had been obliged to fetch for her.

The room had a private bath and the bitch took a fragrant bubble bath for at least an hour every day. She had the elf give her a manicure and pedicure, spell hair treatments and clothes had to be found which the beast could wear. She was served the same meals in her room as any guest of the Malfoys would have received including an afternoon cream tea and even wine with her dinner.

The only saving grace was Narcissa didn't have to see her and Lucius didn't know about ITS presence. Draco had been very curious especially when told by a house elf that the "Almighty Dark Lord Master has a secret guest which no one can see or contact under pain of whatever pleases Him to do to any who disregards a direct order." Draco "had a feeling" that it was Potter in that room. The Dark Lord had Harry Potter in his possession and with Dumbledore dead it meant they had won without a spell being cast.

He KNEW he shouldn't disobey orders but…well he'd probably wouldn't ever have a chance to taunt Potter ever again and the Dark Lord "wouldn't share" the honors of torturing Potter. He would probably torture Potter before dragging him before the assembled Death Eaters and executing him. And Draco would miss it because he wasn't marked and wouldn't be until he was of age. Therefore he would also miss witnessing Potter's death.

It just wasn't fair! It was Draco's house (or at least it was Malfoy Manor and he was the heir and lived there) yet he would be denied witnessing the fun. He might be able to obtain someone's pensive memories of the death but that just wasn't the same as being present to see it. He wouldn't get a chance to gloat to Potter and taunt him and – IT JUST WASN'T FAIR! Draco would have "WON" and Potter would have "LOST" but Draco wouldn't get to see Potter's agony or despair and IT JUST WASN'T FAIR!

Draco spent several hours brooding. Although Voldemort was using the Manor as Headquarters Draco hadn't been given the honor of meeting the Dark Lord so again IT WASN'T FAIR (whine, whine). He wanted to brag to his friends that he alone of all of them had met the Dark Lord and they had not. Despite Draco's pleading, his Father refused to introduce him and ordered him to keep away from the areas where the meetings were being held. Draco had no doubt whatsoever that if he met the Dark Lord the wizard would be so very impressed by Draco that he would immediately give him the mark.

Of course Draco was an idiot, spoiled beyond belief and had been very badly brought up. The only reason he was in Slytherin was because he wasn't smart enough for Ravenclaw, he was only loyal to himself and his Father and was lazy so that left Hufflepuff out and although he was a shameful bully, reckless and never really thought things out he was too cowardly for Gryffindor. That only left Slytherin and the fact that since most of the Malfoys and Blacks (his Mother's family) had been in the House of Salazar he, much like Crabbe and Goyle, it was the only House the three could be sorted to.

In this situation Draco was contemplating doing something so stupid that even Crabbe and Goyle wouldn't do it. Draco had brooded for hours before deciding that he had "a right" (since it was his house) to pay a visit to Potter and do a bit of taunting and possibly torture and as long as he didn't damage Potter too much (or at least left injuries which would show) he could probably have his fun, his revenge and get away with it. It was just too tempting not to do it.

So Draco snuck to the forbidden corridor and unlocked the door. His timing couldn't have been worse as he entered the room looking for Potter just as Petunia was walking out of the bathroom starkers after having her daily beauty bath. She would then be lying on the day bed and the funny little creature assigned to her would be rubbing aromatic oils onto her scrawny body (covered with the hideous C-section scars due to Dudley's difficult birth). Boy looked at woman who looked back at boy for about, oh a few tense seconds before the screaming started. Both of them screamed and Draco was too horrified to cover or avert his eyes and just stared like one does when seeing a horrible accident. You don't want to look at it but you can't stop yourself from looking and he was transfixed in horror at the sight.

It was at this time that Flippy the elf popped in with the oils and now she added her screams to the noise. It got the attention of the guards and even Voldie as he had decided to pay an unannounced visit to Petunia to ask her some questions. He and two Death Eaters arrived just in time to see poor Flippy trying to stop a Malfoy Master from cursing and hexing the "filthy beast" in her care while Petunia was desperately trying to cover her nakedness. The screaming was still going on.

So Draco Malfoy finally got to meet the dread Dark Lord as well as Harry Potter's aunt. Thankfully (and mercifully for the others) Petunia had just managed to grab one of the draperies to hide behind so Voldie and the Death Eaters didn't lose their lunch. Draco was on a roll – for committing a few grievous faux pas – when he calm down enough to take one look at Voldemort and yell "Merlin's saggy balls what the bloody hell is that hideous creature. Elf – kill it!"

You really don't want to know exactly what happened next – unless you are a sadist or a Gryffindor – but, well let's just say that Draco would not be receiving the Dark Mark which he so craved. Other marks – some quite HORRIBLE yes - but the coveted Dark Mark of Lord Voldemort –uh uh.

It was just another fun day at Malfoy Manor and which would not be soon forgotten.