Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Foreword: At first, I didn't want to write this chapter. It felt like I was going to be writing the same old chapter that other authors have written before. However, I realized, why did it have to be that way? I'm the author, I can write whatever I want! So, I did. It actually became a lot of fun writing this chapter and I hope everyone else would have a fun time reading it. My only regret that there wasn't enough Hermione in this chapter, but that is alright! We get to see how devilishly brilliant Harry can be.

Chapter III

Harry versus Gringotts

Gringotts Bank was an intriguing place, especially for a group consisting of a muggle-born, a muggle-raised, and two muggles. On the outside, it appeared as an imposing snow-white, multi-storied, marble building situated between Diagon Alley and a street leading to what was known as Knockturn Alley. Professor Flitwick described Gringotts Wizarding Bank to be the only bank that the good citizens of Magical Britain used to store away their precious valuables. With such an impressive responsibility, Harry and Hermione expected a building far grander than the one they found themselves in front of.

When Hermione voiced this observation, Professor Flitwick only gave her an enigmatic smile.

Once they stepped through the entrance of the bank, Harry, Hermione, and the Grangers were simply blown away by how large the interior truly was. The Entrance Hall alone was as large as the entire building itself! When asked, Professor Flitwick explained that it was magic that enabled many buildings within Diagon Alley to be much larger than the exterior would suggest. Once again, the concept of magic very much amazed all those that were present.

"Incredible!" Hermione muttered breathlessly as she marveled the intricately decorated Entrance Hall. Various pillars were carved with beautiful designs of warrior-like beings battling against larger foes. The floor was polished without a speck of dirt anywhere to suggest that it was ever used.

Professor Flitwick smiled. "Indeed, Miss Granger. The goblins always try their best to impress any and all potential clients."

"Goblins?" Charlotte asked. "You mean like in those fairy tales?"

"That is correct!" Professor Flitwick agreed proudly. "While goblins and wizards have not always had the best of relationships – what with Goblin Rebellions – the goblins provide the grand service of ensuring that the valuables left in their care are to be guarded with the utmost security. Gringotts holds such a grand reputation that many banks in competition have been driven out from the British Isles, leaving Gringotts unopposed here."

"Wait," Nathan interrupted. "Doesn't that mean that Gringotts has the monopoly here? Who is to stop the bank from completely controlling your economy?"

"That is an excellent question and a common one I often hear from the parents of muggle-borns. While it is true that Gringotts has immense power in wizarding economy, there are regulations put into place by the British Ministry of Magic to ensure that no such thing will occur. It is often the cause between tensions between goblins and wizards. You also must understand the nature of goblins, they are a group of people who holds different values from their wizard counterparts."

"Wow, Professor Flitwick! You know a lot about the goblins." Hermione complimented.

"Well, I should! After all, I have some goblin blood in me!" Professor Flitwick proudly proclaimed.

Professor Flitwick led them further into Gringotts, entering the Main Hall of the bank where the business would take place. Upon entrance, Harry immediately understood the connection between Professor Flitwick and the goblins. Like him, the goblins were as short in stature. However, unlike the professor, the goblins had far more menacing and sharp features. Their noses and ears were pointed. They had dark, slanted eyes that created a natural glower. They were mostly bald, but Harry noticed some had facial hair.

Immediately, Harry didn't trust them.

For as long as he could remember, one of Uncle Vernon's most commonplace complaints were about bankers. Harry never understood much, but Uncle Vernon often ranted how banks were designed to ensure that they get as much money from their clients as much as possible. Dinner was often filled with tirades on how bankers wanted nothing more than to take his well-earned money. Uncle Vernon would often tell both he and Dudley never to trust a banker. Though Harry was considered by his peers – especially Hermione – that he was far more clever than the average boy his age, he knew he was ignorant with many things. If Uncle Vernon advised him to not to trust bankers, Harry had to trust he knew what he was talking about. Even if he was ill-tempered and was recently unveiled as a bigot against all things magic, Harry still looked up to the man who had opened up his home.

Unfortunately, as Harry silently attended to his musings, he had failed to notice that the Grangers and Professor Flitwick was gone. He quickly looked about his surroundings, trying to catch a glimpse of them. However, there was too many people mulling about in the busy bank that it was hard to see where anyone was at. It didn't help that there were several people wearing various cloaks that obscured much of his vision. Given the circumstances, it would have been natural to panic, but Harry kept his calm. Though his heart raced nervously at being alone in an unfamiliar place, he reminded himself to remain focused.

Silently, Harry began inspecting the area again. He caught sight of an elevated desk at the far end of the hall. Harry surmised that whoever was behind that desk was important. He quickly set off in that direction. As he left his previous position, a group cloak-wearing people dispersed, revealing the Grangers and Professor Flitwick standing in line as they talked animatedly with one another. The Grangers' questions were more than enough to keep Professor Flitwick's attention.

As Harry neared the tall desk, he noticed the golden nameplate bolted on the front. It read: Head Goblin. Harry gazed upward and spotted a goblin that looked considerably older than the others he had seen. His long fingers were wrapped around a quill of some sort and he was busily scratching onto something Harry couldn't see. Harry nonchalantly raised his arms and waved up at him.

"Excuse me. Head Goblin, sir?" Harry politely called out to him.

The scratching stopped. The Head Goblin peered its head downward, casting a glance at Harry. His lips were set in a perpetual frown, making it hard to read his expression. The Head Goblin sighed and asked, "Yes?"

"I'm lost." Harry stated simply. "I got separated from the people I was with."

The Head Goblin glowered and laid his quill down. He reached forward and gripped the edges of his desk, giving Harry more of a glimpse of his long, pointed fingers.

"Your name?"

"Harry." He replied calmly. "Harry James Potter."

The change was instantaneous. Harry watched the Head Goblin's eyes widened and his nostrils flaring. Suddenly, the Head Goblin smiled, baring his large fang-like teeth. Interestingly, Harry was not at all intimidated, but he did grow suspicious at the sudden mood shift.

"Why, of course I would help!" The Head Goblin pleasantly stated. "GRIPHOOK!"

A goblin seated at a lower desk not too far away from the Head Goblin's desk immediately stood up at attention. He faced Harry and the Head Goblin, his body rigged with alert.

"Yes, Head Goblin, sir?" Griphook respectfully asked.

"Please take this young man to Conference Room #4."

"Of course!" Griphook eagerly agreed. He moved from his workstation, walking past Harry. "Follow me."

Harry was conflicted. He often remembered the little rule the teachers always told them, 'Don't follow strangers.' However, was it even applicable in this situation? After all, he had asked the Head Goblin for help. Despite his misgivings with bankers in general, it was a common enough method of retrieval. Employees would often take a lost child to somewhere safe – like the break room or some announcement booth – where the parents or guardians could pick up the child. So, against his better judgment, Harry followed after Griphook.

In contrast to the Head Goblin, Griphook looked far more feeble than his superior. His hair, while silver, still had traces of dark brown amongst its strands, leaving Harry to assume that he was much younger than the goblin he had spoken to. He walked in a self-important gait, with his back slightly hunched as he hobbled forward. Earlier, when he had past by him, Harry briefly observed a glance of contempt in the goblin's eyes. From the moment he had laid eyes on Griphook, Harry knew he couldn't trust him.

Luckily, their time together would only be short-lived. After walking down a hallway away from the the Main Hall, they had arrived in front of a pair of ornately-designed double doors. The goblin reached for the door handle and pulled it, opening the door for Harry. Gruffly, Griphook commanded him, "Wait in here."

With nary having time to reply, Harry was pushed into the conference room rudely. Frowning, Harry turned to glare at the goblin but found the door already closed. Having missed his chance to complain, Harry turned his attention away from the rude Griphook and into the new room he was in.

Conference Room #4 was very spacious to the point that it felt practically empty. The walls were made of marble, the same material as the building, but there were various murals carved into the stone. It reminded Harry of the Entrance Hall earlier. In the center of the room was a long, wooden table completely bolted to the floor. Like the walls, there were intricate designs of goblins and wizards. There was two chairs seated across from one another at the table, both of which were made completely out of stone. Harry sat on the one facing the door and found, to his surprise, that it was quite comfortable than it had appeared to be.

Harry sighed, regretting losing sight of the Grangers and Professor Flitwick. While it was not a common occurrence, Harry had to admit that he had a penchant for wandering off at the most inopportune moments. He remembered plenty of times while on field trips that he went off on his own because something else had caught his eye. Granted, it was to satiate his intellectual curiosity, but nevertheless, he garnered that reputation as a wanderer. Hopefully, Hermione wouldn't be too harsh on him once she found him again. Her punches could hurt.

Suddenly, the double doors opened in a raucous bang. Harry jumped in his seat, surprised by the abrupt entrance. Striding into the room, followed by the Head Goblin and two others that were covered from head to toe in the red uniform of the guards he had seen protecting the bank's entrance, was a goblin garbed in what looked like a very expensive business outfit. Harry had once seen his Uncle Vernon come home in a freshly bought suit that he bragged having cost him a quarter of his monthly salary. It was very nice and sharp, and Harry couldn't help but compare and contrast that and the goblin's outfit.

"Greetings, Lord Black. Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice." The sharp-dressed goblin said as he took a seat on the chair across from him. He smirked. "Well, you're not quite a lord just yet, but that's why I'm here."

Harry stared at the goblin. Lord? He was definitely no lord. As far as he knew, he was simply Harry James Potter, abandoned son of James Potter and the late Lily Potter. With this in mind, Harry said, "I think you have me mistaken for someone else. I'm not Lord Black or... well... anyone really."

The sharply-dressed goblin raised one of his brows. "Are you not Harry James Potter? Son of James Potter and the late Lily Potter?"

Harry briefly wondered if the sharply-dressed goblin could read minds. "Um, yes I am. Why?"

"Then you are exactly the person I wanted to meet!" The sharply-dressed goblin answered. "You are an important guest to Gringotts and it is about time that you finally step into our grand halls to claim your inheritance!"

"Wait, inheritance?" Harry sputtered, more shocked than anything. "Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"Gringotts never make mistakes when it comes to gold." The sharply-dressed goblin vehemently responded. "Your late godfather, Sirius Black, has left you, his godson, a great deal of wealth, deeds, and titles."

Sirius Black? Harry didn't even know he had a godfather, let alone a person named Sirius Black! However, this entire situation was further supporting his suspicions that his parents were magical. Thinking over it, Harry could not say that it wasn't impossible. There were several blanks about his past and God forbid his aunt and uncle would be willing to release any information. In fact, he hardly cared at all. He never felt the need or want to learn more about his parents and history. Harry was quite content with just being Harry.

"I'm sorry. I have no idea what you're talking about. Who is Sirius Black and what exactly did I inherit?" Harry asked with a roll of his eyes. "Besides, how can you be so sure that I'm the Harry James Potter you're looking for? What if I was just another bloke who just happened to have parents of the same name?"

"Records from the Ministry of Magic states that Sirius Black is your godfather. Also, years ago, he had filed a will with our bank to hand off everything he had to his name." A feral grin appeared on the sharply-dressed goblin's face. "To answer your second question, we goblins have the best security scans available. Just by simply walking past our doors would we be able to correctly guess what you had for breakfast... two weeks ago. Confirming who you are is simply child's play."

Harry had to admit, he was impressed. The thought that magic could even do something like that played on his pursuit of knowledge. Unfortunately, he had to shake away those thoughts for now. He refocused his attention on the sharply-dressed goblin and what he was saying. Frowning, Harry realized that there was no disputing with the goblins. He had to submit that he really was who they were looking for. However, Harry couldn't help but feel that this was something more than simply claiming an inheritance.

"Okay, I'll believe you that this Sirius Black fellow was my godfather and that he left me something. So, what exactly did he leave behind for me?"

"Everything that he hadn't listed to specific people. My boy, you were left behind the entire Black Family fortune and all the benefits that it comes with it!"

"Benefits?"

"Yes. If you were to claim your inheritance, all of the wealth and properties that the Black Family owns becomes yours. However, the Black Family are considered – by your government – to be a Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. Your godfather, Sirius, was the head of the house and by making you his heir, you effectively inherit this position, thus becoming Lord Black."

That answered that question. Lord Black, Harry mused, that has an excellent ring to it.

"So you see, you are gaining a lot by claiming your inheritance." The sharply-dressed goblin smiled. With a wave of his hand, he gestured the Head Goblin that had been standing next to him silently the entire time to move forward. The Head Goblin placed an important-looking document and quill on the table. The sharply-dressed goblin pushed the paper forward towards Harry. "Just sign this and all that could be yours."

For a close-to-eleven-years-old boy, this was a dream come true. It was not every day that an opportunity such as this was dropped on your lap. Harry was being given wealth, prestige in a new world, and the means to carry out any ambition he wanted to pursue. Still, a voice in the back of his mind that sounded eerily similar to Hermione's voice told him to stop and think for a moment. Instead of reaching for the quill and signing the document, Harry looked up and gazed pointedly at the sharply-dressed goblin. It was just too good to be true.

"No." Harry said.

The sharply-dressed goblin's eyes widened. "No?"

Harry nodded. "No."

The sharply-dressed goblin and the Head Goblin turned to one another, talking to each other in a language Harry could not comprehend. After a few seconds, the pair stopped talking to one another and the sharply-dressed goblin turned back to Harry. He asked, "But why? You realize that you're giving up quite a hefty sum of gold do you not? Not to mention the influence you gain by being head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black."

Harry smirked. "Simple. This doesn't sit right with me. This is almost too good to be true. After all, I just learned that I was a wizard a few days ago and when I finally arrive at the wizarding world, I somehow managed to become rich and a master of a prestigious house?" Harry shook his head. "But what I don't understand is your motivation. This all seems to be a bit grander for a simple inheritance claiming."

"We at Gringotts treat our clients very kindly." The sharply-dressed goblin said airily. "We are merely doing you a service so that you may continue to trust us with your gold in the future."

Harry frowned at that valid reason. Still, there had to be something more than business integrity. "Until when will it be too late to claim my inheritance if I decided to change my mind and not refuse this?"

The sharply-dressed goblin grimaced. "July thirty-first."

"And where will the inheritance go to if I'm too late?"

The room fell silent. Harry studied the sharply-dressed goblin, observing the battle that was raging in his mind. The tension in the room increased, and Harry wondered if he was getting closer to the truth. The sharply-dressed goblin turned from him again, speaking to the Head Goblin in their foreign language. As they talked, Harry patiently waited by piecing together with the knowledge that he had gathered. For some reason, the goblins were eager for him to sign the document and claim his inheritance. On top of that, the deadline to claim it was on his birthday. Considering this, something that would hurt Gringotts would occur if he didn't claim the inheritance by the end of the month.

Recalling what he had learned about goblins from Professor Flitwick, Harry supposed that the only thing that would a bank like Gringotts would to lose a significant amount of money. He reasoned that if he didn't claim his inheritance by the thirty-first, then they may lose the gold and assets that his godfather had given him. However, who would the goblins lose all of that to?

The Ministry! Harry concluded. It was so simple! The relationship between the British magical government and the goblins was not the best. Considering it was the government that ordained the Black Family to be the Noble and Most Ancient House that it is, they are within legal rights to absorb the assets that the Black Family has if there is no heir. However, there was a flaw in that theory. Harry had no idea about the laws that governed the magical realm. This was all based on supposition. Still, it was clear. The goblins wanted him to inherit so that they may continue to use the gold that the Black Family holds.

Thank goodness I listen to my uncle. Harry thought. The advice and rants garnered from Uncle Vernon was certainly paying off. Thinking over it, Harry realized he held a significant advantage over the goblins. He was the one in control and he was the one that could make the demands. Truthfully, Harry didn't care about being Lord Black or obtaining the family's fortune. His aunt and uncle already promised to support him through his schooling at Hogwarts and while the influence would be nice, Harry was confident he would be able to rise through this new and wonderful world all on his own.

"Okay." Harry loudly said, catching the goblins' attention. "I'll claim the inheritance."

"Excellent!" The sharply-dressed goblin gleefully exclaimed. "I am pleased you have come to your senses."

Harry gazed at the sharply-dressed goblin with a hint of mischief in his brilliant, green eyes of his as smiled slyly. It was time to put his bluff to the test and see if it would work. "Of course, before I do, I want to make some demands for my compliance."

The sharply-dressed goblin glared at him as he shouted, "Demands? What makes you think you can make a demand from us, wizard?"

"Simple." Harry met his glare with an aloof stare. "I don't have much to lose here, only to gain. If I refuse to claim and wait until the deadline, my life continues as normal. However, as for Gringotts, the bank will no doubt lose a great deal of money. Everything that is supposed to be for me would be in the hands of a certain other organization that you goblins strongly dislikes. Am I right so far?"

Harry smiled innocently.

If looks could kill, the frightening glower of the sharply-dressed goblin would have killed him already. The two stared at one another as silence reigned Conference Hall #4. Harry pondered if it was unwise to have made enemies already in this fascinating new world he was introduced to, but then again, the goblins deserved it for trying to trick him. Granted, Harry knew they weren't trying to trick him, but he knew that they were simply giving him the minimum of what they could give.

"Fine." The sharply-dressed goblin finally said, breaking the tense silence. "We can work out a... deal... so to speak. What do you want?"

Now that was something he hadn't thought through. What did he want? He was already obtaining wealth and a title, what more could he need? His thoughts drifted to his father and his relatives. Though Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon would be bragging to the neighbors he would be attending a prestigious private school in Scotland, they had largely disowned him. Nevertheless, they were still legally his guardians. He didn't want that. He didn't want to be confined by the law. As for his father...

"Independence." Harry stated, looking directly into the yellow eyes of the sharply-dressed goblin. "I don't care how you do it, but I want to be emancipated. Both in the magical world and in the non-magical."

The sharply-dressed goblin nodded. "Very well, anything else?"

"I want you to change my last name to Black. I want every record and file that I has my last name as Potter to be changed into my new name." Harry grinned cheekily. "I'm not a Potter anymore."

Harry never felt any pride for being a Potter. It had always evoked the feelings of loneliness and betrayal that Harry believed was caused by the abandonment of his father. If his father didn't want him, why would he even want his name? He had always planned to change his name, but he hadn't expected he would be given the chance to do so before he was eighteen. Taking on the mantle as a Black would definitely work. However, be that as it may, he would not change his middle name. Though it was his father's name, it would serve as a symbol to remind him of his motivations to be determined to make something of himself.

"That can be arranged. Is that all?"

"Nope." The sharply-dressed goblin groaned. "I want three favors."

"Three favors?"

Harry chuckled. "Yes, three favors. In the future, if there is ever a time I need the goblins to help me with something that I either don't want to pay for or is not a service that Gringotts provides, I want to have three instances to do so."

"That is too much!" He growled. "While we are powerful and firmly believe that wealth is power, there are some lines we goblins simply cannot cross!"

"Alright." Harry conceded. It was never his intention to have three to begin with. "How about just one then?"

The sharply-dressed goblin once again stared ferociously at Harry but soon nodded his head. "That is acceptable."

"Then we have a deal?"

"You are correct."

The sharply-dressed goblin took back the document and quill, handing it over to the Head Goblin. Harry then witnessed another display of magic as the document was suddenly basked in a ray of white light. The Head Goblin placed the document back on the table, sliding it over to Harry for him to sign. He looked over it, attempting to understand some of the legal jargon that the document contained.

Harry looked up from his reading and asked, "You're not tricking me are you?"

The two goblins sighed. The sharply-dressed goblin raised his right arm and declared, "I swear on my honor that I am not tricking you." As soon as he said those words, his arm shined briefly erupted in an explosion of bright light.

Harry gaped. "What was that?"

"That was a Goblin's Oath. By swearing on our honor, we are magically-contracted to do as we said. If I am truly tricking you, then I will die here on the spot once you sign it."

Though Harry was still rightly suspicious, there was something in his eyes that told him that he was telling the truth. Realizing he was just being overly cautious, Harry raised the quill and signed his name on the dotted line. He felt a slight irritation on the back of his hand and watched as a trickle of blood dripped from a small wound. Harry frowned at the goblins. "Why am I bleeding?"

"That is because you are using a blood quill. It is rarely used and only when dealing with very important contracts." The sharply-dressed goblin took back the document and quill. He signed the document and Harry noticed that the back of his hand bled a little bit as well.

The document was handed over to the Head Goblin and was promptly stamped with a seal that had the Gringotts insignia. The Head Goblin then rolled up the document and, to Harry's amazement, promptly disappeared. The sharply-dressed goblin stood up from his seat, his gaze never leaving Harry.

"Our business is over. Your... demands..." The sharply-dressed goblin snarled. "...will be finished in the next few days." He gestured at the Head Goblin. "Please give him a cheque book for his current account and the key to his vault. Also, escort him to his group. I will be resting in my office. This has been an... ordeal."

As the sharply-dressed goblin began to leave, Harry removed himself from his seat and called out to him, "Wait! I haven't caught your name, sir."

The goblin stopped and craned his neck facing Harry. "You're right, how rude of me. I am Gringott, Director of Gringotts Wizarding Bank and current successor of its founder and my ancestor, Gringott. Now, good day to you."

With that said, Gringott left Conference Room #4 with his guards in tow. The Head Goblin pulled out a cheque book from out of nowhere, once again generating awe in Harry with a display of magic, and handed it to him. As Harry pocketed the cheque book, the Head Goblin already began his stride to exit the room. Harry hurriedly follow, more than relieved that he was finally leaving. He couldn't wait to return to Hermione and tell her what transpired!

Harry was led back towards the Head Goblins where he found Hermione, the Grangers, and Professor Flitwick waiting with worried expressions on their faces. As he finally came into view, Hermione bolted from her parents and wrapped her arms around Harry. Her grip was still strong as ever and Harry strained to breathe.

"Harry, you incorrigible git!" Hermione exasperatedly began. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? Honestly, getting lost here of all places? It's not exactly like we can walk around freely like we do at home! We don't know anything about the -"

"Hermione, love." Hermione's father gently called. "I think Harry needs to breathe."

Embarrassed, Hermione blushed and released her hold on Harry. Harry shot a grateful look over at Nathan who responded with a knowing smile. Charlotte rushed over as soon as her daughter and gave Harry a fierce hug that could rival Hermione's.

"Oh, Harry, don't walk off like that!" She chastised him softly.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Granger." Harry apologized. At the corner of his eye, he spotted Professor Flitwick conversing with the Head Goblin. From the little tidbits he strained to hear, the Head Goblin didn't divulge any information about what transpired while he was gone. The two finished talking and the Head Goblins returned to his desk.

As Charlotte removed herself from Harry, Professor Flitwick approached him with a warm smile but a disapproving gaze. "My boy, it was extremely unwise of you to wander off like that. Just like in the world you came from, children like you can easily be abducted if you aren't careful!"

Harry bowed his head in understanding. "I'm sorry, Professor. I just wanted to use the loo."

"I plead you inquire me the next time that you need to." Professor Flitwick sighed. "I am your guide and it is my responsibility."

"Okay."

"Good, I'm glad you understand."

With the reprimanding over, Professor Flitwick proposed that it was time to start shopping for school supplies. Harry was thankful that he left the money the Dursleys had given him for supplies with the Grangers, they probably had already converted his money into the wizarding world's currency. As he walked behind the adults, he felt his hand grasped behind him. Turning his neck, Harry saw Hermione watching him peculiarly.

"I know you didn't go to the loo, Harry." Hermione whispered, quiet enough so that the Grangers and Professor Flitwick couldn't hear. "What really happened?"

Harry knew he couldn't get anything by Hermione. It had been a struggle to hide his feelings of jealousy when he had believed he wasn't magical, but somehow, he knew that Hermione had been aware of his emotions and that she simply didn't comment on it. However, Harry could trust Hermione with anything. Leaning in closer to her, Harry said into her ear, "Something amazing! I'll tell you later."

Though Hermione was not happy about it, she understood and acquiesced his request. She never would have imagined that her cunning best friend had somehow managed to outsmart the Director of Gringotts!

Afterword: Sometimes, children are the most perceptive and most cunning of all enemies. I hope you liked Harry's little duel with the Director of Gringotts. Instead of being given the title of Lord Black and all the influence and wealth it entails, I made Harry earn it and then some! Honestly speaking, I'm starting to fall in love with this Harry. He is clearly on his way to becoming one of the best magnificent bastards ever to exist in literature of some form. Well, hopefully. Anyway, please tell me if you liked it or disliked it! I can never be too sure if the readers would enjoy something like this, ha ha.