A/N: It's been a while since I've updated and I don't really have an excuse for that to be honest. Anyway, as it has been so long, just over a month I think, there will be a recap of the last chapter and then we will get on with chapter 9. Gringotts, inheritance, and a visit back to McGonagall's mini plot. Enjoy the chapter!

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Last Chapter

Hadrian James Potter

We at Gringotts were sad to see one of our top priority customers get incarcerated and we offer our condolences.

After the mistake with one Lord Black's 'trail' one would believe that such injustices were no longer as commonplace as they still seem to be.

Unfortunately, the opinion of us 'creatures of near-human intelligence', to quote the Ministry, is not worth much in the eyes of wizards, so we were unable to aid you in your case.

The reason for my writing is that we have discovered some discrepancies in your accounts, rather large ones. Add on to this the inheritance that you are yet to claim.

Lord Black himself has been in almost constant contact with your account manager, Griphook, attempting to gather evidence for you.

Since we have recently heard of your escape from Azkaban Prison along with one Bellatrix Black, we sent you this summoning to a meeting with myself, Griphook and Lord Black. You may also bring Miss Black as we are familiar with her situation also, but were unable to do anything due to the same reasons as stated above.

We hope to see you at your earliest convenience

Director Ragnok, Director of Gringotts Bank.

Harry stared at the letter in front of him, his jaw opening and closing like a goldfish.

Bella snatched the paper out of his hand and scanned the page. A short pause later and she burst out laughing.

"That has to be the most sincere letter from a goblin to a wizard in history!"

At Harry's questioning gaze, she explained.

"The Potter family and the Goblins have a strange relationship, probably the closest thing you can get as a friendship. I would think of it as a firm alliance."

He nodded, before something clicked. "Hang on. If that's why they are offering aid, then why are they helping you?"

"I would bet that that it is because they have guessed that we are travelling together, and are therefore offering me help as it will help you. The fact that Black is also a high-priority customer also helps." She said, smiling.

Harry returned the smile.

"Well, I think our earliest convenience is in tomorrow. I fancy lying in bad today, and I'm not eager to put those rags back on." He voiced his opinion on the heap of grey fabric on the floor.

"I can't help but agree." Bella said with a wink and a sultry smile, before walking up to him a planting a kiss full on his lips. As she took control and deepened the kiss, he lifted her up, with her legs wrapped around his waist, and walked blindly towards the bed. As they crashed onto the mattress, they came up for air.

"Yes, I would definitely agree." She clarified, burrowing her head into his chest and wrapping her arms around him.

Harry returned the favour as they both drifted back to sleep.

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Minerva McGonagall was busy woman. It was a common sight for her to be seen around Hogwarts, Hogsmead and Diagon Alley, so no one thought anything of the fact that she was now walking at a quick pace, almost running in fact, towards the front steps of Gringotts Bank.

After reaching the front doors, and thanking the goblins who manned said doors, she made a beeline straight for the Head Teller's desk.

"I wish to speak to Director Ragnok." She spoke in a firm but respectful voice, knowing that goblins will take advantage of any weaknesses shown, and respect those who do knot show any.

The Head Teller's eyes narrowed slightly as he surveyed the prim and proper human in front of him.

"And why, in Gringott's name, would you presume that you deserve the honour of an audience with the esteemed Director Ragnok?" He spoke with a drawling tone that sounded as if it had come straight from one of the purebloods from the Wizengamot.

After checking over her shoulder, looking rather shifty, especially considering her normal control over her emotions, she leaned in and spoke in an undertone.

"I seek an audience with Sirius Black and I know it almost certain that he is hear with the Director."

The goblin's eyes widened slightly from their narrowed position and his sneer lessened before transforming into a sinister, knowing smirk.

"Very well. Wait here." He said before he toddled off towards a large set of double doors.

After almost fifteen minutes of waiting, the teller returned, looking deadly serious.

"Follow me."

Those words made Minerva smile inwardly as he reminded herself of every school year, where she would speak those exact same words to the nervous and soon-to-be-sorted first years.

Doing as she was told, she followed half a pace behind the goblin, who was setting a brisk pace, despite his tiny legs.

Finally, after entering the same double doors and weaving through a network of tunnels and passageways they reached another set of double doors. However, instead of dark plain wood, every inch of these doors was covered in an encrusted jewel of some sort.

The trained mind of the professor reasoned that this must either be a meeting room for special or rare occasions, such as this meeting; in which case the jewels were there to show off the goblin's obvious wealth, or it was the Directors personal office, where the jewels would be there ton show the power of the head of the goblin state, on top of the wealth.

Pushing the door open, the teller led a slightly awestruck McGonagall in to the cosy interior.

"Minerva McGonagall to see you Director" He said with reverence, before bowing out.

The Director of Ragnok and the leader of the Goblin Nation was a scary creature. His sharp features made you wonder if it was possible for him to smile, whilst his steel grey eyes examined and searched you.

Minerva went through this process before he nodded to himself and spoke in his gravelly voice.

"I have accepted this meeting today because you wish to speak with Lord Black." At McGonagall's nod, he continued. "Lord Black will be here to attend a meeting with myself in less than five minutes. You are welcome to attend until you have said what you need to say, providing Lord Black has no objections, and that you are here for your own reasons, and not representing someone else." At these words, Ragnok's eyes flashed before hardening until they were comparable to flint. There was no room left in Minerva's mind to doubt who the Director was referring to, since she had, on several occasions done the headmaster's bidding. "Once you have done this, you will leave. Understand?"

It had been a long time since she had been spoken too in such a manner, but Ragnok's tone left nothing for discussion, so she swallowed he pride before nodding her head.

At this moment, the door was opened yet again before the same goblin that escorted Minerva walked in, with Sirius Black in tow.

"Lord Sirius Black to see you Director." He once again bowed out before shutting the doors behind him.

Sirius had long since regained the weight that he had lost in Azkaban, but since the imprisonment of his godson, his eyes had once again gained that haunted look. As well as this, large black bags now hung under his eyes, indicating the lack of sleep that he had been experiencing, presumably due to the same reasons that these meeting were held, which Minerva had a suspicion were about said imprisonment of said godson.

"Director." He murmured, his eyes never leaving the professor's.

"Lord Black. Minerva McGonagall is here as she claims she has some important information for us. I have set the conditions, and providing you have no problem, she is to disclose this information to us now."

"As long as she isn't working for the old man." Sirius almost growled, going some way to confirming what these strange meetings were about.

"I'm not. He… he has things that have caused me to lose my confidence, respect and loyalty to him." Despite the stuttering start, she finished strongly, seeming to appease the younger man in front of her.

"Fine. Now what is this 'information' that you want to tell me, er, us."

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Harry and Bellatrix we wide awake. Today was the day that they were to visit Gringotts.

"Right then! Lets go!" Harry's cheerful voice rang out through the apartment that the two had been staying in for the past two nights. It seemed that his words had no effect though since Bella was still tucking the cloak she was wearing as tight as it would go around her body, insuring it would not come undone.

The reason for such measures was that Bella had refused to put on the filthy rags that they had arrived in from Azkaban and was currently naked under the single cloak. Harry didn't mind this one bit to begin with as, especially with the way that she was tucking the cloak tightly around her body, is only seemed to accentuate her womanly assets. However now, his was beginning to get annoyed. He had been ready for almost ten minutes now whilst Bella played with the cloak, and he was itching to go.

"Right I think I'm ready now. Um… no wait." She continued to adjust.

"Bellatrix, I assure you that no one can see anything and, looking at the way you've cocooned yourself in there, it is not going to fall open. As much as I would like it too." He said this completely seriously, except the last part, at which point he was biting back a smirk. Unsuccessfully.

Bellatrix noticed the poorly concealed smirk and swatted his arm. She looked down at her cloak and sighed.

"Let's go then." She said, finally ready.

Harry grinned before waving his hand and both of their hood suddenly became bathed in shadows, with only their eyes visible in the depths of darkness.

"Let me guess. You inherited your mothers talent at charms as well." Bella said sarcastically.

"Tut-tut Bella," Harry said with a smirk, "sarcasm is the lowest form of wit." She again swatted his arm and Harry laughed, a sound which set her stomach flip-flopping. "Yes I did, amongst other things." He said mysteriously.

"Like what?" Bella asked, inwardly amazed at the ease in which he was performing wandless magic.

He didn't reply, instead opting to just tap the side of his nose with his index finger, lifting the shadow charm temporarily, so she could see it. Before she could question what he meant by this, he grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the room and into the Alley.

They reached the junction between Knockturn and Diagon Alley and they strode purposefully, still holding hands, towards the large white building that stood out against the other shops.

Just as they reached the front doors of the goblin-run bank, they opened revealing a haggard Professor McGonagall, looking every bit her age.

Hardly sparing her a glance, Harry and Bella continued into the lobby of the bank and, copying the professor that they had just passed, headed straight for the largest desk in the room. Before they could reach it however, they were stopped by a reasonably senior looking goblin. He gestured for them to follow him and after glancing at one another they obeyed. The trio took the same route that the professor had earlier. After a full minute of walking the goblin spoke.

"I am Head Teller Quickslice. Director Ragnok told me personally that if two heavily cloaked people were to enter the bank to escort them to him immediately." He didn't elaborate on this point.

A few minutes later they reached the jewel incrusted doors, neither guest outwardly fazed by them.

The goblin again introduced the two 'strangers' to the Director before retreating.

Entering the room, the first thing Harry noticed was Sirius staring wide eyed at the door, his eyes once again becoming warm at what he believed was in front of him.

"Harry?" He asked in a weak voice.

Harry responded by walking straight up to his godfather and enveloping him in a strong, manly hug, which Sirius gladly returned.

Dropping the charm on his hood, Harry and Sirius began to chat like old friends, before cough from the smirking director interrupted them.

"It is a pleasure to see you Mr. Potter. Now," he said turning to Bellatrix, "Ms. Black, if you could lower the charm on your hood as well we can begin this meeting."

Sirius, connecting the dots, pulled out his wand as soon as the charm was dropped and had it pointing at Bellatrix's head. Harry was just a quick though at before Sirius was able to let of a curse of any kind, Bella was completely enveloped in his arms, shielded from an angry Sirius.

"Sirius." Harry started. "Until you know the full story, put your wand away."

Sirius grudgingly obeyed and proceeded to listen to Harry's explanation of Bella's story going from how she was enslaved under Rodolphus to how they had struck up a budding relationship in Azkaban, which was now growing into something more.

After Harry finished, Sirius apologised.

"I'm sorry for my actions Bellatrix, but it will take some getting used to that you are now on our side."

"Don't worry Sirius, it would be expected of you." She said with a smile.

"Now, let's get to business." Ragnok interrupted. "I will get straight to the point. Mr. Potter is the heir to the Potter, Peverall and Slytherin lines." He held up a hand to stop the inevitable questions. "Both the Potter and Peverall lines are yours due to blood, but the Slytherin line is due to conquest. Your vanquishing of one Thomas Riddle at the age of one, again at the age of eleven, and again at twelve has given more than enough reason to offer you the title of Slytherin. Despite not being a Lordship, like Potter and Peverall, Slytherin is a very old and influential line. Moving on, the main vaults of all three families, although we do not have an exact amount, is thought to be in the region of 500,000,000 Galleons for both the Slytherin and Peverall vaults, and then slightly more than that at an approximate total of 600,000,000 Galleons for the Potter family vault." Ragnok said all of this in a completely business like manner, ignoring the gob smacked looked on both Harry and Bellatrix.

"Now, on top of this, these families own stocks in many major businesses in both Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. We have…" He started shuffling papers around, "… Quality Quidditch Supplies, Borgin and Burkes and Ollivander's Wands, to name a few.

"As I mentioned before, you are the heir to these three families, but you are unable to become the head of the family with being emancipated. However in your parents will, the wished for you to be emancipated at fifteen, since you were the heir to at least two Ancient and Noble houses, they were unaware of the conquest over the heir of Slytherin obviously. We are unable to access the will at the moment as it has been sealed, but we are in the process of unsealing it."

"Who sealed it?" Harry asked, fighting to keep his emotions in check behind his Occlumency barriers

"We are also working this out as we speak. Carrying on, the will of your parents emancipated you at fifteen so you are legally able to claim your full inheritance now. However, although you are emancipated in the eyes of the law, you are not in the eyes of magic. If you were to try and put on the head of house rings now, you would probably lose your magic. At the best." All three humans paled at this. "To rectify this, I would ask that you return to Gringotts tomorrow so that you can under-go the ritual that is needed to magically emancipate you."

"Hang on, why didn't I have to do this ritual when I became of age?" Sirius couldn't help but jump in.

"That would be because you were emancipated at seventeen, where magic recognises your ascent into adulthood. With Harry, since he is not yet seventeen, it is different. Now I suggest both you and Ms. Black return back to where ever you are staying and we shall continue this discussion tomorrow, after the ritual. Also, some new robes would be good, Ms. Black looks as if she is about to freeze."

Harry burst out into a fit of giggles whilst Bellatrix changed to deep red in colour, shooting death glares at him.

After hugging Sirius goodbye and thanking Ragnok, Harry again put a wandless charm around their hoods, ignoring Sirius' muffled gasp. He then swept Bella off her feet, and carried her out of Gringotts, with her squealing all the way.

When they reached Diagon Alley, he put her down, much to her displeasure, and continued towards their temporary lodgings. His hand never left her waist though, and neither did hers.

A/N2: So that's chapter nine. Chapter ten should be out soon, before the end of this week at the most. I hope you liked it. Again, I apologise for the long wait, but I can't do much about that now. Leave a review please, I would appreciate it. Thanks for reading.