Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling. Anyone whose name you don't recognize from the books is one of mine. Will be rated 'T' for now. Much later chapters will likely be rated 'M.'
A/N: HeHe, I thought about waiting one more chapter before tackling the will, but…I decided not to torture my loyal readers any more.
I know some of you were hoping I would get this chapter out immediately, but I have not been feeling well the last few days. So, here it is.
Chapter 12: The Reading of the Potter Will
Gringotts Bank, receiving lobby, Gringotts Britain, November 7th,1992; 2:50 P.M.
Albus Dumbledore paced back and forth, a frown furrowed on his brow, and a recent copy of The Daily Prophet crushed in his fist. Why was the will being read now? Was it true that Harry Potter was alive? Was this just some elaborate hoax by the goblins in their attempts to thwart ministry controls? If the boy was alive, why hadn't he been able to find him? Who all was going to be at this meeting? He assumed Remus Lupin would be there, as well as Minerva and Himself, but he wondered if anyone else would be there? Pettigrew was dead and Black was in prison. The boy might be there, he supposed, if he was still alive. He was thrown from his thoughts as the floo flared and Minerva McGonagall stepped out, dusting soot off her school robes. The floo flared again and another person stepped out, one Dumbledore hadn't expected to see.
"Severus, my boy, what are you doing here?" he asked the dour young man.
"The same as you, I presume. It appears I was named as a beneficiary in the Potter will. I cannot fathom why," Snape's face briefly flashed with annoyance before resuming its indifferent mask.
A third flare of the floo distracted them, and Neville Longbottom stepped out with his Grandmother who was preceeded by a rather unsightly green hat adorned with a life-sized stuffed vulture.
"Augusta!" Minerva McGonagall stepped forward and greeted her long-time friend with a robust hug. Augusta's dour face twisted into a wry smile for a moment before returning to a forbidding expression.
"Minerva, it has been a long time," Augusta returned, stepping away from her grandson who was vigorously shaking soot from his robes. A cloud of soot and floo powder hovered in the air around the boy, threatening to contaminate any it touched. "Neville, would you mind brushing it to the floor instead of shaking it everywhere?" she chided him.
Neville blushed crimson and mumbled an apology as he half-heartedly tried to brush the remaining soot from his robes.
A goblin came in, his face bisected with multiple deep scars. "Ah, I see you are all here, all except two," he looked around. "Nevermind, we weren't really expecting those two to turn up anyway. Follow me, please." He turned on his heel and exited the room without a backward glance.
As though by some unseen signal, they fell into line behind the goblin. Albus was first, followed by Minerva, Augusta, Severus, and finally Neville who looked terrified of being so close to the Potions Professor.
They were just starting across the lobby when a loud voice drew their notice.
"What is the meaning of sending this to my son! Scaring the poor boy half to death sending him a letter to a dead man, what were you thinking!" Molly Weasley was ranting at a speechless goblin, and waving a letter in his face. Albus turned, intending to discover what was happening when the sharp voice of the goblin had him turning back.
"Please keep up, leave the other patrons to their business," the goblin admonished. Albus didn't even have the grace to blush. Though he did stop in shock at Molly's next words, causing those walking behind him to crash into one another.
"Peter Pettigrew has been dead for eleven years and he has never lived in my house, so tell me why my son is receiving mail from Gringotts with his name on it!" Her voice was getting more shrill as she realized the goblin before her was either deaf or ignoring her. Only his low response, heard only because they were passing almost directly behind his counter, proved him otherwise. "If I may see the letter, Madam?" Startled, Molly thrust the letter at him. He glanced over it and then handed it back to her. "Everything appears to be correct. If the recipient doesn't live at the given address, you need to take it up with our department of inheritance as they are the ones that issued the letter. You can make an appointment at that desk over there," he pointed one long, bony finger at a small table with a scroll and quill on it. Molly, unsure what to say, just nodded and moved off toward the table.
Another quick "come along," from the goblin guiding them got them moving again and soon they found themselves being ushered into an opulent chamber. The entire room appeared to have been fashioned in marble and onyx, the startling contrast of black and white giving the room an air of elegance. Even the chairs, which, unlike everything else in the room, were not made of stone, were a contrast of blacks and whites. The only splash of color in the room was the goblin sitting in the chair behind the desk. He wore a blinding red uniform decorated with many bars and seals.
"Mighty Alderstroke, I have brought the ones you requested for the reading of the Potter will," the goblin who had led them into the room bowed and exited.
"Perhaps I am mistaken, but isn't Griphook the accounts manager for the Potters?" Dumbledore broke in, wondering what on earth was going on? "I thought the Potter will had been sealed. Is Harry Potter alive then?"
Alderstroke glared down at Dumbledore. "The will was unsealed when we realized that not only was the Potter heir alive, but as the last remaining member of an Ancient and Noble bloodline, the boy had the right to know about his heritage in enough time to train for his responsibilities should he choose to take them up."
"Alive? The Prophet was right then, Harry Potter is alive?" Minerva's voice quavered on the verge of tears.
"Yes, madam, the boy once known as Harry Potter still lives and has made it known that he wishes his parents bequests to be honored, so if you will all have a seat, we may begin," Alderstroke demanded.
Severus sat heavily in one of the black chairs, his mind whirling as he tried to process everything. Lily's son was alive? How was Dumbledore unaware of this? What was all that commotion about Peter Pettigrew? As far as he was aware, Gringotts didn't make mistakes like that. Was Pettigrew still alive? What did he have to do with the Weasleys?
"Mr. Snape? Mr. Snape?" Alderstroke's gravelly voice drew him out of his thoughts.
"If you are ready, we will proceed with the reading of the will belonging to James and Lily Potter," he cleared his throat and unrolled a scroll which he began to read from:
WE, JAMES CHARLUS POTTER, AND LILY MARIE EVANS POTTER, BEING OF SOUND MIND AND HEALTHY BODY DO DECLARE THAT THIS IS OUR LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. NATURALLY WE HOPE THAT WE WILL SURVIVE THIS WAR AND RAISE HARRY OURSELVES, BUT SHOULD THE WORST HAPPEN, WE APPOINT SIRIUS ORION BLACK, GODFATHER TO HARRY JAMES POTTER AS HIS LEGAL GUARDIAN, GUARD HIM WELL, PADFOOT. SHOULD THE WORST HAPPEN AND SIRIUS NOT BE AVAILABLE TO CARE FOR OUR SON, WE ASK THAT REMUS JOHN LUPIN BE GIVEN CUSTODY OF HARRY. IF NEITHER SIRIUS NOR REMUS IS ALIVE TO CARE FOR HIM, HIS CARE SHOULD BE GIVEN OVER TO ALICE ANNE NOTT LONGBOTTOM AND HER HUSBAND FRANK ANDREW LONGBOTTOM. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD PETUNIA ANGELICA EVANS DURSLEY OR HER HUSBAND VERNON WILLIAM DURSLEY BE ALLOWED CUSTODY OR CONTACT WITH HARRY AT ANY TIME.
"I told you they were the worst sort of Muggles, Albus!" Minerva hissed.
TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE, WE BEQUEATH OUR TREASURES:
TO ALBUS DUMBLEDORE WE BEQUEATH 50,000 GALLEONS TO HELP THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX AND THE WAR AGAINST VOLDEMORT.
Greldok gestured with one hand and a sack of galleons floated over to Albus.
TO THE EILEEN PRINCE SCHOLARSHIP FUND WE BEQUEATH 25,000 GALLEONS TO HELP WITH THE SCHOOLING OF NEEDY MAGICAL STUDENTS.
TO SEVERUS TOBIAS SNAPE, LILY BEQUEATHS 20,000 GALLEONS AND ASKS THAT HE FORGIVE HER FOR HER STUBBORNNESS AND PRIDE. I FORGIVE YOU YOUR WORDS, MY FRIEND, AND JAMES OFFERS HIS APOLOGY FOR HIS TREATMENT OF YOU.
The stunned Potions Professor watched as two large bags of galleons floated to him, settling into his lap. The slightly fuller bag was, he knew, for the scholarship fund he and Lily had established in his fifth year when she realized there were many more needy witches and wizards who deserved a quality education. James had apologized? The world must have ended. That was the only reason Severus could think of for why his nemesis had done such a thing.
TO MINERVA MCGONAGALL WE LEAVE A COPY OF THE NATURAL ANIMAGUS, WRITTEN BY JAMES AND SIRIUS AFTER THEY GRADUATED, MAY IT HELP WITH YOUR TRANFIGURATION STUDENTS.
The normally strict professor burst into tears as a thick book gently settled itself in her lap. Through her tears, she could barely make out the words on the cover:
Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs Present:
THE NATURAL ANIMAGUS – A Guide to Finding Your Inner Animal. She ran a shaking hand over the cover upon which was embossed a dog, rat, stag, and, startlingly a very familiar cat.
TO OUR GODSON, NEVILLE FRANKLIN LONGBOTTOM, WE BEQUEATH 50,000 GALLEONS.
Neville took the floating bag of coins with shaky hands, his eyes watery as he tried to control himself in front of his grandmother. She just smiled down at him with a pleased expression.
TO REMUS JOHN LUPIN WE LEAVE 50,000 GALLEONS TO PURCHASE WOLFSBANE POTION. WE WOULD LEAVE YOU PROPERTY BUT THE MINISTRY WOULD CONFISCATE IT. THANK YOU FOR BEING A LOYAL FRIEND.
"Mr. Lupin has already been contacted and received his bequest, and so was not required to be present at this meeting," Alderstroke explained.
TO SIRIUS ORION BLACK, AS PER YOUR REQUEST, WE BEQUEATH TO YOU A SINGLE KNUT, AND OUR GREATEST TREASURE, OUR SON, HARRY JAMES POTTER. WE KNOW YOU WILL RAISE HIM WELL.
TO PETER GEORGE PETTIGREW, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR FRIEND AND OUR SECRET KEEPER, WE LEAVE 75,000 GALLEONS IN HOPES THAT YOU WILL USE IT TO CURE YOUR MOTHER.
"Secret keeper? Albus, I thought you said Black was the secret keeper?" Severus' voice was harsh from shock.
"I thought he was. Lily and James must have changed it at the last minute. I will have to look into matters further."
"Albus, does this mean that S-Sirius Black is innocent?" Minerva stammered in a broken whisper.
"I don't know, but it certainly sheds light on that possibility," Albus replied, cursing silently to himself.
"You mean we may have sent an innocent man to Azkaban for eleven years, and without a trial?" Augusta's words were shocked, shocked and angry. "I trusted your word, Albus –" she trailed off, overcome with horror.
Dumbledore cursed silently again, wondering how he was ever going to fix this mess. First he lost Harry Potter and had him declared dead only to turn up alive somewhere, and then his determination to punish James and Lily's betrayal may have sentenced an innocent man to hell on earth.
Alderstroke cleared his throat, "if I may continue?" At their nods, he resumed reading:
FINALLY, TO OUR SON, HARRY JAMES POTTER, WE LEAVE THE REMAINDER OF OUR MONEY AND ALL OF OUR POSSESSIONS. WE WILL MISS YOU SON AND WILL ALWAYS WATCH OVER YOU. WE LOVE YOU.
SIGNED THIS 20TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 1981
JAMES CHARLUS POTTER
LILY MARIE EVANS POTTER
WITNESSES: FRANKLIN GEORGE LONGBOTTOM
ALICE ANNE NOTT LONGBOTTOM
GRELDOK GRIPHOOK – SENIOR ACCOUNTS MANAGER, POTTER ACCOUNT MANAGER, GRINGOTTS BRITAIN.
Alderstroke rolled the scroll and with a snap of his fingers, banished it. He smirked at the thunderstruck expressions on the faces of the humans before him. "Does anyone have any questions I can answer for you before you leave?"
Dumbledore's sharp mind recovered swiftly, "I need to know the location and current name of the boy who was called Harry Potter," he demanded.
"I am afraid we at Gringotts are unable to divulge that information per the request of both the client and his mother," Alderstroke replied, hiding a grin. He loved this game.
"Mother? Lily Potter is dead, I presided over the funeral for both her and James myself, who is this mother you speak of?" Dumbledore demanded. Behind him, Augusta and Neville exited the room, one uninterested in Dumbledore's machinations, the other wondering how she was going to salvage her standing with the Wizengamot.
"His adopted mother has requested this, and as his legal guardian, we cannot deny her," Alderstroke replied.
"Is she a witch or a muggle? If she is a muggle, she cannot be his magical guardian, and therefore has no say over his affairs in the wizarding world," Albus demanded to know, praying she was muggle and he could yet salvage this situation.
"She is muggle, but as they have citizenship in a country whose laws do not fall under the jurisdiction of the British Ministry of Magic, and which allows non-wizard parents of muggleborns and half-bloods control over the child's magical life, I cannot divulge any information without permission of his mother and his magical liaison." Alderstroke was struggling to hold back his laughter. It wasn't often someone could pull the rug from under Albus Dumbledore.
"And who, pray tell is his magical liaison?" Severus Snape asked. He hoped to find out how the boy was doing at the very least. He had a life-debt and a promise to keep.
"Remus John Lupin, if you wish to get in contact with him, we can forward a letter on your behalf," Alderstroke suggested.
"Thank you, may your coffers always be filled with gold and all of your enemies fall at your feet," Severus said, offering a bow before sweeping out of the room, black cloak billowing behind him.
Alderstroke looked at Dumbledore and Minerva who were the last to remain. "As much as I would love to answer further questions, I am afraid I have another appointment arriving in ten minutes, but if you would like to send an owl at a later date, I'd be more than happy to exchange more words with you then," he dismissed them.
Shocked beyond words, Minerva could only offer a bow before following in Dumbledore's angry wake.
-A/N)-oOo-(A/N-
A/N: Well, I was going to add some other scenes about other things happening at the same time, but I decided that this chapter was long enough as it is. Hope you are satisfied with how things turned out in this chapter. ;)
By the way, I want to give an especial thank you to all of my loyal readers. 160 reviews and 334 followers, yay! I promise I won't abandon you, even if sometimes I end up going a while without updating.
This means I can officially ignore all those flamers who hate this story due to the pairings. If you don't like my story, that's okay, there are so many others who do!
-Cosmyk