Chapter 10: Returns
"Why are you going back a week early?" Yuri asked
Harry and Neville had been training non stop for a week since Snape's death. Harry's shadow manipulation abilities were coming in leaps and bounds, as were his Demonic magic skills he had discovered that he was proficient in the elements of fire, wind, darkness and light and his Light Arts, consequentially he had discovered that one of the primary representations of Light magic was Lightning, which he was very lethal with, although he limited his use of darkness so that he wouldn't become dependant on it and end up being labeled as a dark wizard.
"I've got some things to take care of in London" Harry said "I have to deal with some stuff involving my parents and my Godfather's wills. I'm apparating in ten minutes"
"It's the middle of the night" Dudley said
"But it's only a few hours after breakfast in London" Harry said "I want to get everything settled before I go back to School"
He had also learned to Apparate from Remus and Mad Eye when they were teaching him and Neville dueling magic.
"Are you sure Dumbledore can be handled?" Shana asked
"Once I've talked to the Goblins yeah" Harry said "The old man will play ball with me or I'll make him regret it"
He had gotten to know Shana in the last two weeks, he knew she was a Harmonixer like him, but she was from America, she told him she was transferring to Hogwarts for her sixth year along with David.
"I'll meet you in Diagon Alley the day after tomorrow" Harry said "We can do our shopping after I find out where Ginny stands and ditch the rest of Dumbledore's goons"
"We'll see you then" David said, Harry liked David, he was…interesting, add to that the fact that he was pretty handy with a Staff and a Spear too.
"I'll contact you in a few days" Yuri said
"Got it" Harry nodded before he looked to Remus and grinned "See you soon"
"Be careful cub" Remus said
"I will" Harry said "All I'm gonna do is take care of business at Gringotts, pay a visit to my family vault and then go get my Drivers License and Apparation License"
"Do it quickly so we can play with the old man" Remus said with a feral grin.
Harry nodded before he closed his eyes and vanished silently.
"I'd like to speak to Curse-Breaker William Weasley"
After crossing through the international Transport hub and Apparating straight to Diagon Alley and headed for Gringotts, Neville had apparated home at the hub after agreeing to meet at the Leaky Cauldron in two days.
"And who may I say wishes to see him" the goblin, Griphook if Harry was right, asked.
"Just tell him Twilight is here to see him please" Harry replied
Griphook nodded as he left the counter.
Harry took a few moments to look around him, there were no Order members in the vicinity but he still kept alert. If there was one thing Jinpachiro and Yuri had taught him it was that attacks could come from anywhere.
"Weasley will see you now" Griphook said when he returned "If you will follow me"
"Thank you Griphook" Harry smiled as he followed the now shell shocked goblin.
As they walked down the halls of the offices off the main floor Griphook looked at Harry and said "We have been expecting you for several weeks Mr. Potter"
"I know" Harry said "Bill apprised me of the situation with my family's finances and my Godfather's will. Most likely Dumbledore had hoped that by keeping me away from Diagon Alley he would be able to continue stealing from me"
"So you were not aware of the seven point five million Galleons that has been taken from your accounts" Griphook sneered.
"Before two weeks ago I was naïve enough to believe that the only money my parents left me was in my trust vault" Harry said "Is there any way that we can charge him?"
"There are many ways in which Dumbledore can be charged" Griphook said "But several of them will need to be discussed in the presence of a high ranking official from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement after your parents and your Godfather's wills have been read"
"That's fine" Harry said "In fact I have no objections to Madame Bones being present for the reading of the wills"
"Then it will be arranged" Griphook said "Stealing is a capital crime by Goblin Law"
"Then we will both enjoy what is to come if I have anything to say" Harry said as they came to the door to Bill's office.
"Good day Mr. Potter" Griphook nodded as he walked away.
Harry watched the Goblin for a few moments before he opened the door and stepped into Bill's office.
The office wasn't what he had been expecting. There was a desk next to the far wall, a fireplace on the left wall with photo's and artifacts from various cultures, the rest of the walls were scattered with shelves packed with books and artifacts, and photos and snapshot's pinned to the wall.
"Hi Harry" Bill said when he saw Harry "You're half an hour early"
"Traffic was thin at the hub" Harry shrugged as he sat down "How did your parents take the report on the Deatheater?"
"Badly" Bill nodded "Ron's not happy"
"Ron is a power hungry honor less cockroach" Harry growled "And if he gets in my way I will squash him"
"He called Hedwig a stupid pigeon" Bill replied
Harry's response was to smash his fist into Bill's desk, creating a fist sized hole.
"OK" Bill said "Can you please not smash my desk?"
"Sorry" Harry said "Just so you know, if your brother messes with me I will break every bone in his body…without magic, I know how"
"I'm not doubting you" Bill said "But right now we have things to do"
Harry nodded as he swiped the glass of fire whiskey that was sitting on the desk and downed it in one shot. Over the last two weeks Li had insisted that Harry and Neville get used to hard booze, his exact words were "When things get nasty booze'll be your only comfort"
"That was the last of that bottle you know" Bill muttered as they left the office.
"I'll give you a bottle when I buy a couple of cases" Harry said.
As they walked down a few halls to the offices of the Family Accounts Department Harry looked at Bill and asked "How'd Ginny and the Twins take it?"
"In a lot of words the three of them said the bastard got what he deserved" Bill answered "Ginny wants to see you by the way"
Ginny. She was something and Neville had talked about over recent days. Neville seemed interested in her.
"Are you interested in her?" Bill asked
"I was a while ago" Harry said "But now…I'm not sure if it would work between us. Not just because of Riddle and your family, but because…I don't know, I think I see her more as a little sister now than anything else" then a thought occurred to him "Neville's expressed in interest though"
"I think she mentioned finding him cute at one point or another" Bill said "But I don't remember"
"I'll tell him to give it a shot" Harry said
"Ronny boy won't be happy with that"
"Ron can go rot in hell" Harry said "If Neville wants to ask Ginny out, I won't let your idiot brother stop him"
"He hurts her, I hurt you" Bill threatened
"I'm more worried about Ginny hurting him" Harry laughed "She's a deadly hybrid of the twins and your mother, with the Slytherin nastiness to make it work"
"Me and Charlie have been saying that for years" Bill laughed as he opened the office door.
Waiting inside were a goblin, an unfamiliar wizard in robes, Madame Bones, Remus and Tonks.
"Good morning Madame Bones" Harry smiled as he took a seat.
"Morning Mr. Potter" Madame Bones said "How've you been?"
"Considering that I'll never have to see the huge nose of Snape ever again I'm fantastic" Harry grinned.
Bones chuckled slightly as Griphook sat down behind the desk "To save time I will go over the details of your inheritance through Mr. Black's will before we examine the will of James and Lily Potter"
"Understood" Harry said.
"Mr. Black left you a substantial sum of money" Griphook began "He requested that a Mr. Ruberus Hagrid return an enchanted motor cycle to you"
"He already did that" Harry said "I've recently removed the twelve layers of tracking charms that were placed on it"
"Very well" Griphook said "He also left you several properties to you along with the house contents. And finally, Mr. Black decided to make you his sole heir to the Lordship of the Black Family"
"What exactly will that mean?" Harry asked
"It will mean Mr. Potter" Madame Bones said "That once you put on the Signet ring of the Black family, that you will be a legal adult and hold the full name of Lord Harrison James Potter-Black. It will also entitle you to take full control of the assets left to you by your parents"
Harry smiled as he asked Griphook for a quill and began to sign the papers the goblin placed in front of him while asking Madame Bones "Has Griphook apprised you of the situation regarding my parents account?"
"Yes" Madame Bones replied "After Griphook informed me of the existence of the Potter will several says ago I began a discreet investigation into the proceedings after your parents murder"
"What've you found out?" Harry asked
"When your parents were murdered you were placed with your mother's sister" Madame Bones said "Illegally"
"What?" Remus asked
"Yes" Madame Bones replied "On the night of November first at the same time Peter Pettigrew disappeared in London, Dumbledore placed you on the Dursley's doorstep; afterward Alice Longbottom came forward making a claim for guardianship, which by law she was entitled to as your Godmother"
"What?" Harry asked
"Yes" Madame Bones replied "But unfortunately several weeks after the case began Frank and Alice were tortured to insanity by the Lestrange's and the case was simply swept under the rug"
"So he exactly did Dumbledore manage to get his claws into my family account?" Harry asked
"After Halloween that year Dumbledore apparently used his influence to make himself your magical guardian" Madame Bones said "And with your parents will sealed until you turned eleven and asked for it, he could control the liquid assets"
"Fortunately he was unable to touch the properties and investments" Griphook sneered "We at Gringotts have been maintaining your family's investments for fifteen years. At our estimates, the seven and a half million Galleons Dumbledore stole have been reimbursed twenty times over on compound interest over the years"
"Just how much do I have?" Harry asked
"I cannot give you an exact number Mr. Potter" Griphook replied "Only Breakstone, the financial advisor Dumbledore hired can do that, but at a rough guess I would put your liquid assets somewhere in the thirty billion Galleon area. That is before Mr. Black's assets are added to yours"
"OK" Harry said "What about my parents will?"
"I have it here" Griphook said "Would you like to hear it privately?"
"No" Harry said "I've got no problem with them being here"
Griphook nodded as he opened a file in front of him and began to read the papers.
"It seems that there is a stipulation for the reading of this will" Griphook said
"What kind of stipulation?" Harry asked
Griphook's response was to place a red gemstone in front of Harry "The first instruction seems to be that you take that stone. And smash it"
"Huh?" Harry asked
"That looks like a protection stone" Bill said
"A what?" Harry asked
"A protection stone" Madame Bones replied "They're used in some cases as the key to a ward"
"So I just have to smash this?" Harry asked
"Yes" Griphook said "This parchment seems to be linked to the stone in some form. The writing indicates that once the stone is smashed, Mr. Potter and a Mr. Michael Evans are to add a drop of blood to the parchment before we can continue"
"How exactly do we find this Mr. Evans?" Madame Bones asked
"The parchment has said…Mike will know when the stone smashes and he'll come in fifteen to twenty minutes" Griphook said
Harry nodded simply as he took the stone in his hand, stood up and then raised his right arm above his head and smashed the stone on the ground at his feet, scattering shards of the stone all over the floor.
Griphook looked down at the parchment and said "The will says that now we must wait. And that I am instructed to remove a goblin memory charm that was placed on Mr. Lupin by the previous account manager for the Potter's, Crackthorn"
"I've got no problems with it" Remus said.
"Very well then" Griphook said as he moved around towards Remus and put his clawed hands to Remus' temples and began to chant in Gobbledygook.
After a few moments a silver glow formed in Griphook's hands before it rushed into Remus' temples, throwing Remus back into his seat.
Remus sat with his eyes closed for a few moments before he opened his eyes and said "Holy shit…I remember"
"What is it?" Harry asked
"You…you have another Uncle Harry" Remus replied
"What?" Harry asked
Another Uncle? Why hadn't he known? What had nobody ever told him?
"After your mother was born" Remus said "Your grandmother was in a car accident that prevented her from having anymore children. Lily's parents wanted a son. It was the one child they wanted more than anything. So they adopted Michael from an orphanage in London. He was fifteen when Lily's parents were murdered and the Ministry intended to send him back to the orphanage since Lily was a month from being an adult herself"
"How were they able to stop it?" Harry asked
"Lily performed a blood adoption ritual. Making Mike her brother in blood and magic" Remus said
"Then why haven't I ever been told?" Harry asked
"James paid a large amount of Galleons to have all records of the ritual destroyed and the records altered so that Mike didn't show up in the ministry archives" Remus replied "Last I remember Mike's girlfriend was pregnant and they were planning on getting married. But that was around the time you were born. Lily had me and Sirius oblivated of his existence before they moved to Godric's Hollow. His son would be about your age now"
"Could it be?" Harry asked himself, David did have his mother's eyes, so it was possible they were related. And the last he saw of Mark Evans he had green eyes too "I guess I can ask David when we meet up the day after tomorrow"
"You alright cub?" Remus asked
"Yeah" Harry said as he broke out of his thoughts "Just thinking"
A moment later there was a knock on the door and Griphook looked up and snapped "Enter"
The door opened and in walked a man, six feet in height, with dark brown hair trimmed short and emerald green eyes flecked with blue.
"Am I in the right office?" the man asked
"You are Mike" Remus said with a smile "Take a seat"
"It's been a long time Moony" Michael Evans said as he looked towards Harry "I don't need to be a genius to see Lily and James' boy sitting before me"
Harry smiled as he looked the man over, he was in fact Mark Evans' dad, just like Harry thought "It's been a long time Mr. Evans, how's Mark?"
"Mark's fine" Mike replied "He got his Hogwarts letter a few weeks ago, he starts his first year and my other son David starts his sixth"
"David wouldn't happen to be about six feet and look like you would he?" Harry asked with a smile "Spent a few years in Japan"
"You've met him?" Mike asked
"I'm meeting him again at the Leaky Cauldron in two days" Harry smiled "We met over the summer"
"Well then you'll be meeting us as well" Mike said "I'm taking the boys to get their supplies then"
"Good" Harry smiled before he looked at Griphook and said "Whenever you're ready"
Griphook nodded as he read the parchment and said "The final requirement is that a drop of blood from Mr.'s Potter and Evans be added to the parchment and then we can begin"
Harry nodded as he flicked his left wrist and a slim throwing knife shot out of the sleeve and he pricked his right forefinger with it, allowing a drop of blood to drip onto the parchment and be absorbed, then he wiped the knife on his shirt and handed it to Mike who repeated the process.
When the blood had absorbed into the parchment and Harry had re-sheathed his knife Griphook nodded and said "We can begin now"
Harry smiled as he took a seat while Griphook began to read.
We, James William Potter, and Lily Marie Evans Potter, of the most Noble Family of Potter, being of sound mind (Shut it Padfoot) and body hereby declare this to be our last will and testament.
In this document we hereby declare two things.
First, that Sirius Orion Black was NOT our Secret Keeper. Before we went under the charm at the start of October we switched to Peter Pettigrew before Dumbledore cast the charm.
Second, in the event of our death, our son Harrison James Potter is NOT to be placed in the care of Vernon and Petunia Dursley. We will not permit our son to be raised by people which such prejudice against magic, he is to be placed in the care of his Godfather Sirius Black. In the event that Sirius is unable to care for him the rank of guardianship is to proceed in the following order
Alice Longbottom
Remus Lupin
Michael Evans
Yuri Inyugami
Li Inyugami
Minerva McGonagall
Dumbledore is aware of our wishes and has agreed to have them carried out.
If this document is being read on our son, Harry's eleventh birthday as we instructed, then happy birthday son, we're only sorry we can't be there.
Now, instead of getting all mushy in a will we'll just get down to business.
If this will is being read then the Fidelus has been ineffective and Peter has betrayed us. Moony, Padfoot, if you two are here, deal with the rodent in any way you choose.
Now, down to business.
First, to our son Harrison James Potter. As the sole heir to the Potter bloodline, I hereby bequeath the Potter estate to you son.
This includes The Potter Family storage Vault at Gringotts is over one thousand years old, and dates back to our ancestors among the Founders and even further back. It's filled with family heirlooms, weapons, magical artifacts and a ton of other goodies that the family has found handy over the years. I'd suggest you take a look.
As the only Potter remaining you also inherit the pile of investments and money, I think the total value now is somewhere in the region of 20,000,000,000 Galleons. But I'd suggest you just let the Account Manager Crackthorn handle that for you. I did.
You also inherit several properties in different parts of the world.
My parent's the land of the Potter Ancestral home in Ireland, although that's all it is, land. After our parents were murdered I emptied the house and burned it to the ground, but I've never had the heart to sell it because of the dozen or so species of magical creatures that live on the hundred acres, I ask that you leave the land as it is.
I also leave you my parents summer estate in Godric's Hollow, Whales, a penthouse apartment in New York, a manor in the hills on the edge of the Forest of the Wind outside Katsuragi, Japan, it was a wedding gift from your Great Uncle, there are a few other properties but I don't have a full list. It's mostly places my parents and Grandparents bought over the years.
Finally, there is a common practice among old families to allow the contents of a home to be transported to a storage vault in the family account, everything from Godric's Hollow and my parents home is stored there, if there ever comes a time for you to restore the family home, then use what you wish from the vault.
To one of the only men I ever called brother, Sirius Orion Black; I leave the flat we shared when we were at the Auror's academy. You always loved to get up your mum's nose, so now you can.
I also leave you my set of leathers for your motor cycle. Have fun Paddy.
To our old buddy Moony, despite the fact that you hate it my furry friend, I'm leaving you 15,000,000 Galleons, and I leave you the cabin on the shore of the loch where we spent our summers after we were fifteen. It's isolated, and hard to find, it's also got a basement as you remember, so you can lock yourself down there with the full moon if Padfoot can't make it.
Well, that's it boys. All the goodies have been passed around. I just hope this will is never read. But if it is, I want you guys to promise to look after our cub. A pack is never truly complete without a cub for the boys to look out for.
This is Lily now, to my little brother Michael David Evans, I leave the house Mum and Dad left to me on the shores of Loch Sheel in Scotland, a full Quidditch set and a twenty thousand Galleon voucher for Quality Quidditch Supplies, teach your boy David the game and maybe him and Harry can play for Gryffindor.
See you all some time.
James William Potter and Lily Marie Evans Potter.
Mischief Managed.
Witnessed by Albus Dumbledore
Harry sat in silence, listening to the words, imagining it had been his parents speaking, his parents had thought of almost everything in the event of their deaths, except Dumbledore's betrayal.
"I don't mean to sound cold blooded Mr. Potter" Madame Bones said "But I am really going to enjoy screwing Dumbledore over"
"No" Harry said "No leave the old man for now. We'll hold this over him. Unless I'm mistaken Dumbledore has broken several dozen laws, is that correct?"
"Yes" Madame Bones said "Fraud, falsifying records, theft, breach of trust, disregarding a Lords final wishes, allowing an innocent wizard to go to Azkaban, several counts of Child Endangerment (No offence meant) and a whole lot more"
"Put together a file of the charges" Harry said "And wait, if Dumbledore fucks with me I'll make him regret it" then Harry looked at Griphook and asked "What do I have to sign?"
"Just a few papers" Griphook said "Then once you put on the Potter and Black Signet rings you will have accepted leadership of both families and the rings will merge, it will be as if an heir of the Potter and Black Families had married"
"Excellent" Harry said in an evil tone as he steepled his fingers together.
(A\N think Mr. Burns)
Once the papers were signed Griphook opened the drawer on his left and removed a metal box and slid the box across the desk, as soon as the box was a foot from Harry it clicked open.
Inside were two rings, both made of white gold, there were also several vault keys, some cards with his name and picture on them and documents pertaining to his ownership of properties around the world, investments in the Muggle and Magical World, his birth certificate and his parents death certificates.
"So I just put the rings on my right hand ring finger" Harry said
"Yes" Griphook said "Once those rings are on your finger these documents are legally binding and no wizard on this earth will be able to stop your plans"
"Good" Harry said with a feral grin as he picked the rings and the ID cards up and slid the two rings onto his right ring finer, first the Potter ring, then the Black ring.
The result was a nimbus of gold and silver light emanating from Harry's right hand.
After a few moments the light faded and the two rings were replaced by a single ring, the ring was a simple design, made of white gold, with ruby griffin inlayed into it opposite a black diamond dog, it appeared as if the two animals were circling or chasing each other.
"Congratulations Mr. Potter-Black" Madame Bones said with a grin "Enjoy adulthood"
"Thanks" Harry said "I don't suppose I could ask you to arrange for me to take my Apparation license this evening could I?"
"I'll take care of it" Madame Bones said "How does five PM sound?"
"Sounds fine" Harry said "I just have to go take my drivers test in Muggle London and make some arrangements here and I can head to the Ministry"
"I'd recommend you do so discreetly" Madame Bones said "Scrimgeour will most likely try to get into your good books to aid his career"
"And if he tries" Harry growled "I'll snap his spine"
"Either way be careful of him" Madame Bones said "He's as slippery as Dumbledore"
"I can handle slippery" Harry said "As he stood up" and said "Griphook, is it possible for you to transfer the contents of the storage vault my parents mentioned to an area on ground level where the two house elves I've hired, Dobby and Winky can come in and out as needed to transfer the furniture to one of my properties?"
He had hired Dobby and Winky several days ago when Remus told him about the storage vault his father had mentioned in the will.
"We have a storage area in another part of the building where the things can be brought" Griphook said "Would you like just furniture?"
"No" Harry said "Empty the vault. Dobby and Winky should be here around seven, maybe seven thirty"
"Very well Mr. Potter" Griphook said "I will inform Crackthorn"
"That's something else I'd like to discuss with you" Harry said "I'm not sure what would be entailed in dealing with the finances of a multi billion Galleon account, so I would rather not force more work on Crackthorn. If you're willing, to take the position of Account manager of the Black Account and I'd like you and Crackthorn to work together to control my interests to the best of your ability"
"Are you certain sir?" Griphook asked
"Yes" Harry said "I've only met a few goblins in my years in the Wizarding world, but you are one of the most devious I have met"
"Very well Mr. Potter-Black" Griphook said "I accept the position"
"Good" Harry said as he shook the Goblin's hand "Have Crackthorn inform Dumblefuck's account manager Breakstone that his services to my family are no longer desired"
"Yes sir" Griphook said with a feral grin.
Then Harry slid the box back across the desk and said "Return that to wherever it's supposed to be stored and make arrangements for the funds in my trust vault to be transferred to a new vault, make the same arrangement as with the previous vault, although I highly doubt I would ever spend half a million Galleons on one year"
"Your parents probably wanted you to live the good life" Remus said
"Probably" Harry said, cursing Dumbledore and swearing payback in his mind.
"Harry" Madame Bones said "When you're finished with your test today could you drop by my office? There are some things in my possession that should have been returned to you a long time ago"
"I'll drop by after the tests" Harry said.
"Fine" Madame Bones said as she rose to her feet "Good morning gentlemen, Auror Tonks"
Harry, Remus, Mike, Tonks and Griphook nodded as Madame Bones left and Harry looked at Remus "I still want that dog Moony"
Remus' response was to howl with laughter again.
Done.
Ohhh mamma Dumblydore's gonna get it.
Next time Harry goes back to headquarters.