CHAPTER 7 - MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN, 6/19/96, Part C

After a couple of pleasant hours playing in the surf, learning to body surf, and just generally being young and carefree the four returned to the sand. They were surprised to find that Azamus had anticipated their needs and had provided a cooler of juice, water, and butterbeer for them. After quenching their thirst and drying in the sun for a bit they decided it was probably time to start back for England. Hopefully by this time anyone who was looking for him would have found that Harry was not at Hermione's house and gone on looking elsewhere. So everyone gathered their belongings and returned them to the storage cabana. Then they trooped up to the house to change. Azamus took Tonks and Hermione to show them to their rooms, and Aeronna took Harry and Remus. Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage were already in his room. Hedwig was sitting on the window ledge looking out at the ocean. As was his custom when he was alone with Hedwig Harry talked to her.

"How do you like it here? Do you think we would be happy living here for awhile?" Hedwig fluttered over to Harry and landed on his shoulder gently nipping his ear. "I'll take that as a yes. I'm going back to Hermione's for a little while, but I'll be back later. You can just stay here if you like and explore. I'll make sure Azamus knows to leave the window open for you."

They all met in the front lobby again and touched the portkey provided by Griphook and were back at the Granger's home. They had only been back a minute when Dan and Emma walked in.

Although they hadn't really discussed it in open forum it was mutually thought that they would like to start visiting schools or at least making arrangements to visit them next week, so they all needed to get their summer freed up. Tonks prepared to leave, she had several things to take care of in the next couple of days if she was going to be able to leave so soon. Remus was returning to his cottage in Wales to pack up a few things, then he would be returning to the island tomorrow or Friday at the latest. Harry needed to go to Gringotts before he left this evening, but other than that he was free already. Hermione would spend the evening thinking things over and talking with her parents. Harry invited them to come down to the island over the weekend if they were free. "We have patients tomorrow morning, but should be finished by half-twelve, had we decided to have a long weekend with Hermione. We could come then."

"Okay, I'll get you a portkey made while I am at Gringotts and bring it back for you before I return this evening." And with that he and Remus left. Remus was going to side-along aparate him to Gringotts before he returned to his own home.

TO-DO #4) DISCUSSIONS AT GRINGOTTS

Harry and Remus arrived at Gringotts and asked to see Griphook, but before he could arrive Dumbledore was there. It appeared he had the bank staked out waiting for Harry to show up. The look on his face was plainly not the grandfatherly look that Harry was most accustomed to. There was no doubt he was angry.

"Harry, where have you been?"

"The beach."

"The beach! What were you doing at the beach?"

"Working on my tan."

"Harry, I am serious here."

"So, am I sir."

"I left you with instructions to go to the Burrow. Image my surprise when I found out you had not done so."

"Just a minute, sir. Number one, I received no instructions to go to the Burrow. I received what I thought was an invitation, but as I already had plans for the afternoon and evening I did not wish to break so I refused said invitation. Had I known it was 'instructions' I still would have refused. Number two, as school is out for the term you do not have any jurisdiction over what I do or do not do. My holiday time is my own."

"Yes, Harry, that may very well be, but you know that you are a special case. Your safety is of utmost concern to me and to many others."

"Be that as it may, sir. That still does not give you the right to dictate my free time. I am standing here in front of you, so obviously I have been perfectly safe, and will continue to be perfectly safe for the foreseeable future. Now if you will excuse me, I have business to attend to and Griphook is waiting for me, then I have plans for the evening, and I would not want to be late. I will be in contact with you before school starts on September 1." And Harry turned and walked to where Griphook was standing waiting for him leaving a very flabbergasted headmaster behind. Dumbledore looked as if he would follow Harry, but on seeing the number of Goblin guards standing around the lobby of the great bank he decided his best course of action would be to wait outside and talk to Harry when he exited the bank.

Remus watched Dumbledore leave, but he knew the man would not give up. He leaned over and whispered to Harry, "You realize he will just wait for you outside the bank?"

"Yes, I expect so, but I am not planning to go through the front door when I leave. Good afternoon Griphook, I trust you have had a profitable day."

"Aw, Lord Black, as ever. It is good to see you again so soon. What service may I provide for you today?"

"Well, there are several things. First, yesterday I was Harry, could we please go back to that? My friends and I have come to a few decisions that I would like to let you in on. I think perhaps you will be able to help us with some of our plans."

"Always, Lord Black, I mean Harry, anything we at Gringotts can do for you we will. If you would step into my office we can begin."

"Thank you, Griphook. First, before I forget, can you make me a portkey for the Granger family to use to get to and from the island? They will be visiting this weekend."

"Of course, I could make this a reusable portkey if that would be of any help, then if they wish to visit at other times they would be free to do so."

"Yes, thank you. Now that I think of it, perhaps you would know of a way to make the island accessible to them without having to use a portkey? A Floo connection of some type perhaps? Eventually there are a couple of other people who may need the same accommodation, but at the moment I am only concerned with the Grangers."

"I will give it some thought and research. I will get the information to you as soon as I find out anything. Now, Harry, what else can Gringotts do for you today?"

"Answer a few questions for me. First, do I now have access to the Potter Family vault?"

"Of course. As an emancipated minor you do. Along with the Potter titles as well."

"Did you say titles as in pleural? What titles would those be?"

"Head of the Ancient and Nobel House of Potter, Lord Potter, Lord Gryffindor, Lord Myrddin."

"ENOUGH! How many titles does one person need?"

"In your case, six."

"Okay, okay. We can discuss those titles later. Can we get back to my questions now? Does anyone else have access to the Potter vault?"

Griphook taps the desk and a piece of parchment appears. "Yes. Your magical guardian."

"Magical guardian? Who would that be?"

"Albus Dumbledore."

"I see." Harry looks at Remus. "Did you know he was my magical guardian?"

"No, actually I assumed it was Sirius."

"It was Sirius Black. When he went to Azkaban Dumbledore had himself made your guardian."

"What transactions have been made in the last 15 years?" Griphook passes the piece of parchment to Harry. "Looks like my school tuition has been deducted for my full seven years at Hogwarts. But what is this withdrawal? It appears to have been made on a quarterly basis every year."

"That is the fee that was paid to your Aunt and Uncle for your upkeep, to get your clothes, and other expenses."

"My relatives received £2000 every three months for the last 15 years?"

"Yes, Lord…Harry they have."

"Well, that stops now! I no longer live with them and according to this they received a payment on June 1st for June, July, and August. Can that be withdrawn from them?"

"Not easily. But I am sure it can be done."

"Now I understand how they were able to buy Dudley everything he wanted. My next question is why were they paid for the months I was in school? As I paid tuition to Hogwarts they didn't have to pay it so why pay them?"

"This money didn't go to your relatives, see it has a different transaction number. It was paid to Albus Dumbledore as your guardian."

"So for the last five years Dumbledore has pocketed £6000 a year from me?"

"It would appear so, yes."

"Did no one here at Gringotts find that a little irregular?"

"I can't say. I am not the account manager on the Potter accounts."

"Why not?"

"I am not sufficiently senior to have such a large account."

"You handle the Black account do you not?"

"Yes, but that is not as large an account as the Potter accounts."

"You keep saying accounts. How many accounts are we talking about?"

"To the best of my knowledge, three."

"Who makes the decisions regarding account managers?"

"Director Ragnok."

"I wish to speak with him, please."

"Of course, Harry, one moment." Harry didn't see Griphook signal in anyway, but in less than a minute Director Ragnok came into Griphook's office.

"Lord Black, how may I serve you today?"

"Director Ragnok, I understand that Griphook is the Black account manager, but not the Potter account manager. Do I understand correctly?"

"That is correct."

"It is allowed for an account holder to request an account manager? I would like all my accounts being handled by the same manager."

"Of course, Lord Black, I will have you escorted to Account Manager Slaphook immediately."

"Thank you Director, but that won't be necessary. I would like to request that Account Manager Griphook handle all my accounts and business if that would be acceptable."

"Lord Black, this is highly irregular. Normally your accounts would come under the manager of the higher priority account."

"I can understand that, but in this case I would stand by my request. I have known Griphook since I came to Gringotts for the first time when I was 11 years old. We have a good working relationship."

"Of course, it will be as you request."

"Thank you Director. May all your endeavors be profitable today." Director Ragnok grinned the feral goblin grin and left Griphook's office.

"I hope I haven't made any problems for you with the other account manager."

"No, it will not be a problem. Director Ragnok will handle all the transfers of authority." As Griphook finished speaking several folders and two boxes appeared on his desk.

"That was quick."

"Yes, things can be handled very quickly." The folders contained deeds and documents that pertained to the Potter family holdings, along with lists of the vault contents.

Griphook handed the first box to Harry. When he opened it he found a ring, very similar to the Black family ring he had put on the previous day. "That is the Potter family ring. When you put it on you will be Lord Potter, with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that go along with it."

"Like, I said before, how many titles does one person need." Suddenly a thought occurred to Harry. "Griphook, is it possible to pass a title to another person in anyway besides death?"

"I would have to research that, but I believe it may be possible. May I enquire what you have in mind?"

"Well, actually - No! I think I will wait until you find out if it is possible first."

"As you wish." During all this Remus was sitting quietly in the background. He too was curious about what Harry was planning, but knew he would have to wait until they were in private to find out.

Harry removed the ring from the box and placed it on his right hand. The ring sized itself to Harry's hand and then was engulfed in a gold glow for a few seconds. But unlike the Black family ring it did not disappear. It remained visible on his hand. As Harry reached to close the box he noticed a ribbon on one side. Griphook told him to lift the ribbon. When he did what appeared to be the bottom of the box lifted out to reveal another compartment. In this compartment were four rings. Harry looked at Griphook.

"Those are the Potter family betrothal and wedding rings."

"Oh."

Griphook slid the other box over to Harry, it was longer and less deep than the box that contained the rings. When Harry opened it there were four keys, three of the keys were Gringott's keys from the looks of them. "These three are the keys to your vaults, Sir. Do you wish to visit them now?"

"No, actually I think I will wait. I need to get this portkey to the Grangers and go home and I will go through these papers. If you will let me know when you find out about transferring a title and the Floo connection then we can meet again and continue our discussions. I still have several things we need to discuss, but it is getting late so they can wait until we next meet."

By the time Harry and Griphook had finished their business and he and Remus were leaving it had started to rain. It almost made Harry feel sorry for Dumbledore knowing that he was probably standing outside waiting on him to exit the building. Almost, but not quite.

Harry took the two portkeys from Griphook put the one for the Grangers in his pocket Remus decided that he did not want to experience the weather or deal with Dumbledore, so he would go with Harry back to the Grangers and then apparate home from there. Harry tapped the second portkey with his wand. Immediately they were standing in the Granger's living room. After Remus left Harry gave the portkey to Hermione and told her the password was "Paradise."