Chapter 14

At 11 o'clock Friday morning Sirius Black apparated into the designated spot for such travel on Diagon Alley. He walked with a quick, sure stride straight towards Gringotts Bank, in less than half an hour the reading of the Potters' will was to begin and it would not do to be late. With times as specific as Prongs had given the Goblin would begin the reading on time no matter if all the recipients were present or not.

Entering the bank with a nod of respect to the Goblin Guards, Sirius entered the priority appointments line and waiting for his turn with the Goblin Teller.

"Next?"

"May your gold multiply swiftly Honoured Teller, I am Sirius Black here to attend the Will Reading of the Potters'."

The Goblin shifted through some parchment on his desk before stopping at a list, after scanning the sheet the Goblin confirmed Sirius' eligibility to attend and directed him to Meeting Hall 4. An easily found door in the atrium itself that was clearly labelled.

Entering the room, Sirius saw he was not the first to arrive but he doubted he would be the last. Sirius had not seen Dumbledore yet and he knew the old goat would not give up a chance on finding the 'Potter Child'.

Madam Bones, Head Auror of the DMLE was already seated at the meeting table, Sirius knew she was here in her official role, as a ministry official and member of the DMLE. The Wizengamot had passed a law that gave them right to know what the wills of a Last of Line included for the purpose of Line Continuation, and as to all official knowledge James was the last of his magical line they were using this right to find the so called 'missing Potter Child'.

Sirius had not read a newspaper since the attack but he had heard enough about its reporting on the ministry's search from his grandfather and Andy. The 3 of them found the whole thing endlessly amusing since they were in the know on the actual circumstances of the 'Potter' child.

Remus Lupin was cowering in a corner, Sirius felt no need to approach him. Lupin's entire demeanour scream self-pity and a woe-is-me attitude. Sirius had long since lost contact with Remus since their school days, Sirius found that he could not take the other man's perpetual need to be at a disadvantage.

James, Lily and Sirius had tried to help Remus so many times only to have it rebuffed because he 'doesn't need pity'. They didn't pity him, they were only offering what they could to help a friend make a start in life. Offering to pay a year's rent on a nice flat in London so that he had somewhere to leave while he found a job was not pity, it was having more money than you knew what to do with and a friend in need.

Eventually it became too much to keep battling with Lupin's self-esteem issues with everything that was occurring with James and then Lily's pregnancy and the letters and infrequent visits stopped all together.

Taking a seat next to Madame Bones, Sirius spoke to her softly "I hope there's no ill-will due to my resignation?"

"No Mr Black. The department and I have decided that your month's paid leave will serve as your resignation period. If you could present yourself to the DMLE with your badge within the next month we can have you removed from duty and the spell work dis-abled. You will receive a letter from the Department soon with all the parchment-work you will need to fill."

Nodding at his former superior Sirius settled back into his chair to await the Goblin who would conduct the Will Reading. He had only a few minutes to wait as the Goblin entered the room at 11:20, Sirius was surprised that it did seem like he would be the last to arrive, when the doors closed behind the Goblin there would be no more allowed to enter until the goblin left again. Perhaps Dumbledore had not be allowed to attend.

The Doors closed behind the goblin as two Guards took stations within the room. It was standard procedure as Will Readings did not always go the way benefactors expected and things had been known to escalate to violence in the past. The Goblin sat himself upon at the foot of the table closest to the doors and placed down the folder containing parchment and envelopes in front of the table.

"I am Inheritance Manager Snaptooth. I will be reading the Will of Lily Potter as James Potter's will stated in the event he preceded his wife everything would pass to her, though it was only by a few moments the Magics of Gringotts recognised it."

Here Snaptooth paused and waiting while watching the clock that was in the room, at 11:22:33 exactly Snap tooth started reading.

"I, Lily Potter, being of sound mind, body and Magic, do declare that this is my Last Will and Testament and that all other Wills before this are now Null and Void.

"The Line of Succession of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter and all that entails will pass to the First Born child of Sirius Black. Upon the recognition of the child within Gringotts Bank, Sirius Black, as the father, will be named Regent and will be subject to all rights and responsibilities of that role as written within the Potter Family inheritance laws within the Bank of Gringotts.

"I give Sirius Black the Responsibility of arranging funerals as he is aware of what we would like to happen."

After taking an official dictation of the statement written by Lily Potter, Madam Bones finished with her official business and not having been invited as a benefactor, stood and giving sharp nods of respect to both Sirius and Snaptooth, left the room.

After the momentary interruption Snaptooth continued,

"To Remus Lupin, James and I agree that you should receive the lease for Deerwood Cottage, with the rent set at one Galleon a year for the duration of your life time. It's the cottage you 'camped' in during the summer of 4th year with 'Prongs'. The lease is all drawn up and you only need to sign it. We also leave you 1000 galleons to help you find a job."

Snaptooth passed over a parchment packet over to Lupin and an envelope.

"The envelope contains a certified Gringotts certificate for you to place your Galleons in a Vault of your choosing.

"To Sirius Black we leave 2 letters. You made us promise that we wouldn't leave you anything so we haven't, but to your first born daughter I leave the entire contents of the vault known as the Evans Vault, to be given to her upon her registration within the bank of Gringotts. You know what we want done Siri, and don't be afraid to ask people you can trust to help you.

Thus concludes the Last Will and Testament of Lily Potter."

Snaptooth passed two envelopes over to Sirius, collected his parchment and left the room. Pocketing his letters in an invisible, warded, inner pocket Sirius followed on his heels back into the atrium of the Bank. Approaching the desk for High Priority Account Holders requesting meetings with their managers, Sirius noticed the only other cousin he admitted a relationship to (if only barely) seemingly arguing with the Goblin sat behind the desk. Seeing Narcissa's obviously distressed state Sirius broke with propriety and approached the desk directly.

"…stated before Madame Malfoy. The Malfoy vaults are all under lock down while Gringotts carries out the DMLE sanctioned audit, you cannot access them."

Seeing that the Goblin would not change his response Narcissa turned to walk away and saw Sirius standing close by. Her face transformed into a sneer, "Come to gloat have you Cousin?"

"What reason could I have to gloat? I saw that you were having difficulties with the Goblin and approached to offer my assistant. Just because I cannot stand the Man you married does not make us any less family, Cousin."

Shocked with her cousins behaviour, as Narcissa had believed that Sirius had turned his back on all the Family and its values, she asked in a bewildered voice,

"You've not seen the prophet today have you?"

"I haven't read a copy of the Prophet since October, come we'll head to the tea-house on Vertic Alley that you enjoy and get a private room where you can explain."

Narcissa allowed Sirius to escort her to the Fortune's Leaf. An upscale tea house that provided a relaxing atmosphere and private rooms, that was located in the more upper class magical shopping district of Vertic Alley. A street filled with high rate tailors, antique stores and the best jewellery makers intermingled with 5 wand rated restaurants and cafes. After settling into their private room, they were lucky that the Conservatory was empty and un-booked and where able to use the most popular of private rooms. The Conservatory was a small glass sun-room with comfortable wicker chairs and a coffee table within easy reach. Around the sun room were plants growing from pots causing the sunroom to have a gentle floral fragrance and a garden feel to it, even in the dreary November of the moment.

Sirius and Narcissa exchanged pleasantries while they ordered a tea set and cakes, and waited for it to arrive. As soon as the waiter had retreated from the room again Sirius raised his wand,

"Shall I cast the privacy wards?" at Narcissa agreement, Sirius cast and ensured the security of their conversation. "Now, I've not read the Prophet since before the attack on James and Lily, so I have no idea what you might think I have to gloat about. We are Family and if you need help that I can provide you need to tell me so I can."

"You have to believe that I truly didn't know, I thought he only supported the Purists, I honestly didn't know he had joined…that he'd allowed that mad-man to Mark him!"

"I believe you Cissa, but I still don't understand what's happened."

Taking a deep breath and composing herself Narcissa started again.

"Lucius was arrested yesterday morning. They had enough evidence to take him straight to trial, including evidence that he'd paid to cover up his involvement in Abraxus' death. He had nothing in the way of a defence, the evidence was too damning. The fool had joined that Monster is his so called Cause. The amount of things that Lucius had done that the DMLE had evidence on, the depravity Lucius had sunk to. It's without comprehension. I dread to think what else he may have done that they didn't have evidence for. I swear, Sirius, if I had known about it I would've reported it myself.

"He was sentenced to be Kissed and they had a Dementor in the court room already waiting. The DMLE ordered the accounts to be locked down and a full audit preformed to trace how much of Lucius' funds are ill gotten, they have ordered us to leave the manor as well so that can be searched for Dark Artifacts and any other evidence that may give a lead in a related case. I need to get Draco and leave, I can't take anything from the manor bar the clothes we're wearing and without having access to the accounts I don't know what to do."

"What about your dowry vault, Cissa?"

"He put that straight into the Malfoy main vault as soon as we were married. I have nothing but what he choose to give me to call my own."

"Merlin Cissa, why did you never say anything before?"

"What good would it have done Siri? The contract."

"The marriage contract? Have you ever seen it? Do you know exactly what is in it? There is no way Grandfather would have agreed to a contract that didn't leave you any form of protection. Go collect Draco and head straight to Blackmoore Cottage. I'll have my elves set you up in guest rooms, and I'll contact Grandfather to have him meet you there. He should be able to solve this mess. I would come with you but I have arrangements I need to make with my account Manager that cannot be put off any longer. Go, we will fix this as a Family, I promise."

Narcissa was so relieved that tears gathered in her eyes. She quickly brushed them away and after hugging Sirius goodbye, left to do exactly as Sirius had told her.

Sirius called for Pisces to pass a message to Arcturus, who was spending the day at Blackmoore Cottage after that, Sirius finished his cup of tea and contemplated the way his family was all coming together again. Realising that even though he had lost some family he was re-gaining others and that he was not alone as he had feared in the first few days after Halloween. Placing his empty cup down Sirius cast a cleaning and tidying charm upon his robes and headed back to the bank. Maybe he would get everything finished in one trip this time.

Upon arriving in Ironclaw's office and having completed the traditional greetings Sirius removed the parchment containing the plans and ideas he had made with his Grandfather.

"Heir Black, I have already been made aware of the results of the will reading from this morning and am ready to process the parchment-work that acknowledges Iris's registration with the bank."

"Before you do that Ironclaw I wish to finalise Iris formal registration with the bank."

Pulling a new parchment form from his desk draw and inking his quill Ironclaw talked Sirius through the form and entered the child's details.

Full Birth Name: Ayame Yuri

Blood Status: Pureblood

Father's Name: Sirius Orion Black

Blood Status: Pureblood, English

Mother's Name: Yuri Uzumaki

Blood Status: Half Blood, Japanese

Family Lines: Black, Potter, Uzumaki, Peverel, Slytherin

Public Name: Iris Yuri Black

"If you would just sign at the bottom stating that all information you have provided is correct to the best of your knowledge. You must use a blood-quill to do so for this form to be official and accepted." Sirius did so and as he rubbed the sting out of the back of his hand he addressed the next issue he wanted to face.

"Before we go any further Ironclaw I need to know if you will be able to handle 5 separate Family accounts alone or if you would need to bring in members of your clan, to deal with the day to day running of the accounts, with you as head account manager "

Shocked at a wizards fore-thought and perhaps mildly offended at his clients doubt in him, Ironclaw considered the question. If they were talking about 5 accounts that were in healthy states Ironclaw would have no problem with managing all of them, but when you consider that 2 of the Family lines were thought lost and the vaults put into dormancy, which means they will be in complete disarray and the wizard did have a good point.

"I could perhaps use this opportunity to have two young apprentices within the clan gain some experience."

"Take payment for the apprentices from my personal vault, we can discuss any bonuses they may receive later."

"Thank you Heir Black, I appreciate your forethought in this matter, but you have thought too far ahead at this time. Without young Iris here to perform the full inheritance test I cannot lay claim to the any but the Potter Vaults and the Evan's Vault as outlined in the Potter will. As of this moment Iris is only registered as AN heir not The heir for the families."

"And what does the full inheritance test involve Ironclaw?"

"A small amount of blood taken from the claimant is mixed with a potion, that must be paid for, that allows the banks magics to locate all vaults connected to the claimant. In this case we know the likely outcome, if the child is The heir to the families than the headship vaults will appear and we can then proceed with claiming the Heirship rings."

Slightly aggrieved at knowing he will have to return to the bank as he will not be able to conclude all his business today but in full understand of the Bank's procedures Sirius nodded to Ironclaw.

"That is fine, if you would set an appointment for Iris to take the full test at your earliest convenience and proceed with full audits on all the vaults already under your preview. The Black Heir's vaults that are now in my name and all the vaults that are currently under Iris name."

"For the sake of clarity Heir Black, you are asking me to be Account Manager for all accounts that are under the names of yourself and your daughter Iris Black?"

Sirius understood Ironclaw's question very well. Without the formal recognition of Sirius intention for Ironclaw to manage all accounts under his and Iris' names another goblin, such as the Potter Account Manager, could contest Ironclaw's claim to the vaults.

"I, Sirius Black Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, do state that it is my solemn wish for the Account Manager known as Ironclaw to Head all accounts that are or will in the possession of myself or my daughter, known as Iris Black. So Mote it Be."

Ironclaw felt the magics of the bank accept the wizards claim and he felt the authorisation settle around his shoulders like a cloak.

"I'm sure I can leave things in your capable hands Ironclaw, contact me as soon as you have set the time for Iris' full inheritance ritual. May your gold be everflowing"

"And may your enemies blood run cold, Heir Black."

As the door closed behind the wizard Ironclaw actually danced in glee. 5 families, he was going to be in charge of the accounts of 5 families! Ironclaw could barely believe it, and he could take on 2 apprentices without having to pay them himself. No more doing his own running around. As soon as the parchment work went through Ironclaw would be able to appropriate a larger office for his use, he wanted one with windows. Windows were a sure sign of status within the Goblin's work place.

He was keeping his desk though.