Leaving the Dursleys/The adoption
Gem then said to Harry "there is more I can tell you, but this is enough for now. We will talk more after you have made yourself comfortable at your new home. For now, gather together what you want, and we will modify your guardian`s memories again so that they think you were fetched by distant relatives. Then we will go to Gringotts to get the Goblins` help in performing the blood adoption. Severus, would you give Harry a slightly different appearance, just in case we meet someone who knows him"?
After disguising Harry slightly they went down to the Dursleys, and modified their memories. In addition Gem asked Severus to place a slight curse on Vernon and Petunia so that they would see Dudley more correctly. This curse made it so that the boy would seem extremely overweight in their eyes, until a time when he had lost at least forty pounds. Severus then sent them all to the lounge to watch TV; while Gem made sure Harry had what he needed.
After Harry had packed all he wanted, Gem and Severus then went out in order to let Harry say goodbye to the house alone. He soon joined them outside, having shrunk his luggage they took it and the cage holding Hedwig and walked together to the park from where they apparated to Diagon alley.
The apparition left Harry a bit nauseous, so they sat down at a convenient bench to catch their breath. Gem patted Harry`s back carefully, he looked quite surprised to be cared for like this. Severus after digging in his pockets for a bit drew out a small potion bottle. Giving this to Harry explaining that it would lessen the nausea, after gulping this down Harry grimaced at the taste but admitted that the nausea had lessened.
Gem took this opportunity to caution Harry that he should copy the adults when it came to how to address the Goblins and how to behave with them, she also asked him to read his books and not to speak or ask questions unless he had to. Together they then proceeded down the street, and into Gringotts bank which was open even if it was a Sunday.
Gem contacted a teller, and asked politely in gobbledygook for a meeting with the head of the bank. The Goblin teller sneered at them but they were soon shown in to an office and provided with food and drinks. It took some time for the head Goblin to appear, Harry had after some encouragement begun reading one of his books, while Gem and Severus just sat waiting in companionable silence. As the head Goblin appeared, Gem and Severus stood and bowed deeply to him, Gem saying in Gobbeldegook "greetings to the head Goblin of this great institution. I am Germaine Snape nee Schultz. I come requesting for your help in making a blood adoption of this young man".
By this time Harry was looking like himself, and as Gem gave him a sign he rose quickly and bowed to the Goblin. The Goblin stroked his chin thoughtfully and replied in gruff English "a blood adoption is a great step to take, are you sure you want to take this risk. I recognize this young man, and I know who will be after him and anybody sheltering him"
Gem answered seriously "yes I am willing to take any risk for Harry, I and he will exchange blood in a blood adoption and my husband Severus might choose to participate too". At this Severus just nodded to indicate that he too would be included saying "we should all exchange blood to make the protection as solid as possible", the Goblin rubbed his hands in anticipation saying "tricky, tricky but doable, and it will cost you. I need to take a blood drop now for some testing, and then if you give me a few moments I will get this set up". With this he collected a blood drop from each before vanishing out of the door. Gem and Severus sat down again, and Gem signaled to Harry that he should read on in his book.
After what seemed to be about an hour, the head Goblin came in and signaled for them to come with him and they followed in his wake without speaking. A new Goblin was waiting in the corridor, and after an exchange in Gobbeldegook this new Goblin took over the task of guiding them to their destination. He led them to a darkly lit room holding a new pair of Goblins and on a small table three small bottles of potion. The Goblins bowed to them, and one of them said in a gravelly voice "we understand that you two have made the decision to adopt this young man in a blood adoption ceremony. We are Gornak and Glonac, and it is our duty to guide you through the ceremony while our head Omagh finishes the paperwork. If you would join hands, and come stand before us".
Gem took Harry`s and Severus` hands and they bowed deeply before stepping in front of the small table together. The Goblins then proceeded to bind their hands with thin golden wires, chanting in low tones while they worked. One of the goblins held up a small golden knife, saying "I Gornak will now slice each of your fingers. You adults will leave a drop of blood each in the bottles that are not yours, while you young man will leave one drop of blood in each of the other`s bottles. Is this understood"?
They all nodded indicating that they had understood, and Gornak sliced Gem and Severus`s fingers first. They left one blood drop each in the bottle before Harry, before dropping an additional drop in their own and then exchanging bottles. Gornak then sliced Harry`s finger and he left a drop of blood in the bottles standing before Gem and Severus. The Goblins both now chanted in their gravelly voices before giving the sign that they should drink their potions. As they did so the golden wires glowed brightly and then dissolved, leaving very faint light gold lines round their wrists.
Glonac then beckoned them to follow him, and they all went to the other office where Omagh was working on a sheaf of parchments. He looked up when they entered and he said "if you are wondering the physical changes will take place in the night and now it is only this paperwork left to sign in order to make everything official. I also have some additional papers detailing old legacies that come into effect after your marriage and the adoption". Gem held out her hand and Omagh reluctantly handed her the paperwork. She read through it, laying some to the side. When she was finished she said lightly "Mr Potter`s assets will be held in trust by you until he is fifteen, we may decide to give him access at this point. I would appreciate it if you would appoint a trustworthy Goblin to keep them gathering interest. Any personal objects may be moved to his other vault." Omagh nodded at this and made a note in his book, while Harry looked at her with startled eyes mouthing "two vaults" but she just mouthed "later" back at him.
Gem then continued on "and when it comes to Mr. Snape`s holdings they are entirely his own matter, you will have these papers translated into English so that he may read them at his leisure" at this Omagh nodded and took the relevant papers from her hand. Gem then signaled to the two others, and they followed her in signing the papers that were left.
When this was finished Gem took a small sack out of one of her pockets saying in Gobbeldegook "I thank you Omagh and your associates for helping us today, here is a small token of our appreciation. If this is not enough to cover your fees, you can send a bill to me at Hogwarts". With this she again bowed to Omagh, Severus and Harry followed her example, and soon after they were shown out by another Goblin.