Dear Mummy chapter 7
They always belong to someone else…but this is my play time and I can do whatever I want. So there!
In this story 1G = 7 pounds.
The King only appears as a cameo, not as a regular character.
The car trip only took a short time but to the anxious family it seemed like an eternity.
When they finally arrived they were led to a small pub that the Granger adults didn't notice at first.
"Do you really think it's appropriate to take the kids into a pub?" asked Stan.
"Unfortunately it is the only entrance available from the non-magical, or, as they call it, Muggle, world. We need to ask the publican to let us through though, because you need a wand to enter." Replied Father Gibbons. "Let's go, and Harry? Keep your hat on please."
Entering they found themselves in a small, dark and grimy pub. One that usually would have had the Grangers turning around and walking away as fast as good manners would let them.
Father Gibbons called to the man behind the bar.
"Tom!"
"Horatio! Good to see you lad! Want to go through? Oh, and you brought some friends today. Allow me to introduce myself, Tom Deadman at your service. Can I get any of you a drink?"
"No thanks. This family is lucky enough to live in my parish and this young lady is a muggle born witch. I thought I would show then what magic is about."
"Ah, you will be eager to get through then. Allow me." Tom said leading the way out the back. He pulled out his wand and tapped some of the bricks on the wall. The bricks wriggled and then moved to form an arch way leading to a busy shopping street. "Welcome to Diagon Alley! I hope I will see you all again before you go home today. Enjoy yourselves." Tome called as he went back to his bar.
All Harry and the Grangers could do is stare in wonder. This was AMAZING.
"We better hurry. The arch only stays for a minute. Come along. We need to go to the bank first. This way." Called Father Gibbons as he walked onto the street. "Oh, just to let you know, the bank is run by Goblins."
'Goblins?' was the common thought.
Everyone thought that they needed another 6 or 8 sets of eyes so they could see everything. It was all so new and different to them.
They arrived at the bank and were greeted by a pair of goblins standing guard at the door. Father Gibbons led them through the lobby to a door marked 'Inheritances' and knocked respectfully.
"Enter and don't waste time." Was called through the door.
Father Gibbons opened the door and led the family in, closing the door behind them.
"Greetings, Honoured Goblin. I have come to seek information for these children." He said, bowing.
"Step forward, children." Barked the goblin.
Harry and Hermione stepped up to the desk and bowed awkwardly.
"Hmm, hold out your wand hand."
"Our what?" said Harry, confused.
"Your dominant hand." Whispered Father Gibbons.
"Oh, sorry." Said Harry.
Both children immediately held out their right hands as the goblin produced 2 dark purple parchments and a ceremonial dagger. He quickly sliced across their palms and then instructed them to turn their hands over at the right time.
Dot moved to examine their hands but found them to be unmarked.
"There is a healing charm on the blade, Madam." The goblin told her. "Have you not seen a blood test done before?"
"No, sir. Not like this." She said.
"Muggle?" He queried.
Dot just nodded, too nervous to say anything else.
The parchments suddenly turned gold and gave a soft chime. Several files appeared on the desk next to the parchments. The goblin picked the first file up.
"Hmm… let me see… both children have vaults here. Miss Granger is it? … Yes, you have a trust vault from your 3 times great grandmother. She left instruction that only a magical female could inherit. There have only been males until now. I believe, paternally, your grandfather is a wizard. You have the vault to get you through school and once you are 17 and finished at Hogwarts you will get the other vaults. I cannot tell you what else there is but I can say that you will not want for much in life."
The goblin picked up the second file and a look of shock crossed his face. He turned to Harry and said "Mr Potter, I need to call in another goblin for your accounting." And ran from the room.
"What is that about?" Harry asked.
No-one knew so they just waited.
The goblin came back after a few minutes followed by an older goblin.
"Mr Potter, may I introduce Director Ragnok, Clan leader and Manager of Gringotts London."
"Director Ragnok, nice to meet you." Said Harry politely.
"And you Mr Potter. To business then. Before we go into detail regarding your inheritances we need to clarify a few matters.
"We have a full accounting of your estates and had flagged some irregularities there. Every year on July 30 all money in your account and all interest paid for the year was withdrawn. The account refills to its original amount each year on your birthdate. This has been happening since 1982. So far as we knew the money was being taken to pay for your support and upkeep. Did you know anything about it?"
"No sir. I didn't even know about an account until just now!" Said Harry.
"So someone has been stealing from Harry. Do you know who it was? And how much was stolen?" asked Stan.
"Albus Dumbledore made the withdrawals personaly. He claimed that Mr Potter was in his care. The vault contains 10,000G a year with an interest rate of 4.25%, so the total over the last 9 years would be 93,825G or 656,775 pounds."
"Um…sir? I don't know anyone called Dumbledore." Harry offered nervously.
"He has the parchment work to say that he is your magical guardian. You never met him?" Ragnok said incredulously.
"No sir."
"Who do you live with?"
"Since last Sunday I have been with the Grangers and before that with my aunt and uncle Petunia and Vernon Dursley."
"If I may, sir?" interrupted Father Gibbons "I personally removed Harry from the Dursley's care as it was an abusive environment for Harry."
"And my husband and I now have legal guardianship and custody of Harry in the non-magic world." offered Dot.
"I see. Bloodnuts! Track the money and put it back in young Potters trust account. Fine Dumbledore the full amount for fraudulent withdrawals and reclaim all items belonging to the Potter estate."
"At once Director!" Bloodnuts said as he hurried from the room.
"Now then, Mr Potter. You are the heir to several families and, like Miss Granger, most of it you cannot touch until you have either finished school or turn 17. Even with the amount stolen from you there is enough for you to comfortably live on for the remainder of your, life should you chose to do so. All keys to your vaults have been recalled and new locks are being installed as we speak. In the future only you will be able to access your money to prevent thefts happening again. Do you have any questions so far?"
"No sir" a bewildered Harry said. He was having trouble believing that this was happening to him.
"There are some other inheritances, but you may not have them until you matriculate from Hogwarts or have taken your NEWT examinations elsewhere."
The door was flung open and a regal man with miss-matched eyes strode through the door. Ragnok fell to his knees and signalled the humans to do the same. All the humans knelt, wondering who this person was.
Hermione looked at him and gasped. "The Goblin King! He's REAL!"
"Rise!" The king ordered. "A smart child, rare to see one these days. I suppose you saw that dratted movie?" He asked with a smile.
"Yes, your Majesty." Hermione whispered.
"Hmm…I am still not sure if I love that movie or hate it. And before you ask, Sarah is still living in America with her husband and family and Toby has no memory of his time with me or the Labyrinth. Now, Rugnocker, what is so urgent that you sent to the Underground for me?"
"Sire, you asked to be informed when Scion Potter came to us." Said Ragnok, handing Harry's file to the King.
"Ah yes, the rubbish Dumbledore set him up for. Time to change a few things around. I, Jareth, King of the Goblins, Lord of the Labyrinth and Overlord of the Underground do make Harry James Potter and, what is your name, child?"
"Hermione Jane Granger"
"And Hermione Jane Granger my legal magical wards throughout the Magical worlds, wherever they may be. So I have said, so mote it be, on pain of Bogging!" and with that a flash of magic came from the King and enveloped Harry and Hermione. 2 new pieces of parchment lay on the desk. When the glow faded Jareth then explained to the stunned adults.
"This was the only way to make them safe from that meddling coot! I am now their magical guardian. This is the parchment work that will be filed with the ministry. All this means is that I will deal with any magical issues that you, as muggles, cannot. Dumbledore normally fills that role for muggle born and orphaned children. If he tries to interfere with either child, deliberately or through another person or being, he will be sent to My realm and thrown into the Bog of Eternal Stench. I will not interfere in the children's lives unless you wish me to. Just contact any goblin here and they will pass the message to me if you need me. Oh, and children? Do NOT try to wish someone away unless your life is in danger! I would not be pleased. Good day." And with that Jareth disappeared in a flurry of glitter.
"I think he does that because he knows I hate glitter." Ragnok grumbled.
"Well now that the children's magical guardianship is settled we can finish up here. Do you want to go to the vaults today?" asked Ragnok.
Seeing the eager looks on the children's faces the adults agreed.
"Griphook will take you down. He will give you your keys. If you ever need anything else please ask to see me. With the King's protection, we will do everything we can to help. A pleasure doing business with you." Ragnok said and ushered them from the room.
"This way please." Said Griphook and they were led to the carts.
The ride down was different depending on who you asked. Harry wanted to ride the carts forever, Hermione was having fun, but glad when it was over and the adults all wondered where they had left their stomachs.
All were amazed at the large piles of coins stacked in each vault. The piles were taller than the children who owned them!
Taking a small amount for spending money they were ready to face the shopping street.
TBC