Chapter XXVI – Family and Finances
Griphook led them into the conference room, and when they were seated he said, "It is very difficult to explain your situation because the interactions of Wizard laws and Goblin laws are complicated.
The wizards' Ministry of Magic has a records department responsible for recording changes in status for witches and wizards with many ledgers for such things as births, deaths, marriages, and other such things.
For tax purposes, Gringotts receives a copy of these changes daily. Your marriage was recorded on," Griphook examined the paper in front of him and went on, "June 20, 1993."
Ginny said, "Harry, that's the day you saved me in the Chamber of Secrets; the day our Soul Bond started."
Griphook said, "Of course, a Soul Bond is recognized as a marriage by the ministry and dually recorded in the proper ledger."
Harry said, "But witches and wizards can't get married until they're seventeen; I was twelve and Ginny eleven when we bonded, so we can't be married."
Griphook said, "Normally Soul Bonds are between older people. Perhaps the wizards who wrote the Soul Bond Law never considered two as young as you could bond; the law states the bonded couple is considered married and that it supersedes all other laws. So you are married according to Wizarding Law."
Ginny asked, "Why didn't somebody tell us?"
Griphook said, "Soul Bonds are so rare, the last one was over two hundred years ago, I doubt anyone at your ministry checks the Soul Bond registry on a regular basis. Most likely nobody at your ministry knows of your marriage; we Goblins check the automated copies as soon as we get them so of course we noticed it."
Secondly, Lady Potter is wearing your ring and that changes you status here at Gringotts."
Harry interrupted with, "That's a promise ring; not a wedding ring."
Griphook said, "I do not wish to insult a client; but this is a difficult concept for humans to understand, so please allow me to explain without interruption."
Harry said, "You're not insulting me; we need an explanation so continue, but we may have to interrupt if we don't understand something, so please go slow so Ginny and I can follow you."
Griphook continued, "Under Wizarding Law, the Soul Bond means you're married as far as wizards are concerned. But Goblins don't recognize Soul Bond marriages, because they don't occur among Goblins so your Soul Bond means nothing financially to Gringotts.
On the other side, a promise ring means nothing to your status in the Wizarding world. Both of you would still considered underage, and subject to all laws that regulate underage witches and wizards if you weren't Soul Bonded.
But to Goblins, the offering and accepting of a Promise Ring is a valid magical contract and as such, is registered only in the Gringotts records office, we do not send copies to the ministry office. To Gringotts, you were married on," again he checked the paper in front of him and continued, "August 11, 1995; the date the ring was given and accepted."
Ginny said, "Sorry to interrupt; but I need an explanation. I know several sixth and seventh year girls that have promise rings and none ever mentioned anything about a magical contract."
Griphook said, "Not any ring is a true promise ring; even if a boy or girl chooses to call it one. Your ring however is Goblin made and was charmed hundreds of years ago when first purchased by a boy in the Potter family. I have seen that ring on Mr. Potter's mother and his Grandmother before that.
It is magically connected to the registry book of magical contracts here at Gringotts.
Perhaps it's because true promise rings are so rare these days, or perhaps because Mr. Potter's parents died before they could explain the meaning of the ring to him; but it seems you and Mr. Potter are unaware of your status change in the financial world.
Finances, by treaty between Goblins and Wizards, follow Goblin Law, not Wizarding Law. Goblins grow and mature faster than humans; so under Goblin Law, the age of majority is eleven.
You were both over the age of eleven when the ring was offered and accepted; therefore, you made a legally binding contract under Goblin Law and so for financial purposes Gringotts considers you married.
Harry said, "Let me get this straight, the ministry considers us married because of our bond, but Goblins don't. And Goblins consider us married because of the promise ring, but the ministry doesn't. So what does it matter if everyone considers us married anyway?"
Griphook said, "The only thing that matters are the dates different groups set for your marriage; the dates control investment power, taxes, proxy votes; a whole series of things. The major difference is according to wizard law you were married two years ago and therefore took you titles then."
Ginny said, "That's why the lady in the dress shop last Christmas called you Lord Potter."
Griphook said, "Of course, the title was yours at the time and showed on your Gringotts card attached to your trust vault; but you could not inherit anything, or enter the other vaults because according to Goblin law, you were not married until two weeks ago."
Harry said, "None of those things mean anything to me or Ginny, all that matters is that everyone considers us married now, and we don't want the public to find out; The Daily Prophet will turn our lives into a circus."
Griphook said, "Your newspaper will not learn anything about you from Gringotts; I cannot make guarantees for what your ministry may reveal. However, you have enough money to buy all the stock in The Daily Prophet; and as majority stockholder, you could fire the editor if he displeases you.
Now back to financial matters. Gringotts considers married couples, whether Goblin or human, as adults for financial purposes; and all assets are considered common property. Lady Potter is entitled to half of all you own; and you are entitled to half of all she owns.
As a financial adult, you can now take possession of all things left to you in any will designating you as heir while you were a minor; that includes your titles as Duke Potter of Hutton, Earl Black of Norwich, and Barron Gryffindor of Suffolk. Since your title of Duke outranks your other titles, the proper way to address you is as Duke Potter or informally Lord Potter; and of course, your wife is Duchess Potter or informally Lady Potter."
Harry said, "Please Griphook, just call us by our names, Harry and Ginny."
Griphook said, "If that is your wish, I will do so in private; but in public, I must address you by your proper titles.
Now, continuing with your change in status, vault 687 that you have been taking money from for the past four years is your trust vault. It was set up by your parents, the former Duke and Duchess Potter, in the case of their death to provide for you until you reached the age of majority.
Now that you are married and considered an adult, you also take control of the Potter family assets including contents of the family vault number 5, and all Potter lands, houses, and investments. As the only heir of Sirius Black, you also take control of the Black family vault number 8, all the Black family lands, houses, and investments. And as the heir to Godric Gryffindor you take control of vault number 1."
Harry said, "Wait, Sirius isn't dead; how can I be his heir? And what do you mean I'm the heir of Godric Gryffindor?"
Griphook said, "I cannot explain how you are the heir to Gryffindor, our records show that you are, but do not give the history of your lineage that far back.
As to being the heir to the Black family, fifteen years ago, Sirius Black, having no wife or children, designated you as his heir. He was later arrested and sent to prison for life. Under Goblin Law, a prisoner serving a life sentence cannot have access to money or financial assets because they might use the money to hire someone to help them escape. So, though actually still alive in prison, they are considered to be dead for financial purposes and his estate is passed to the heirs."
Harry said, "You're telling me by giving Ginny the promise ring, I became a Duke, and we both became financial adults and now own all those things you mentioned."
Ginny said, "And by accepting Harry's ring I became a Duchess."
Griphook said, "Yes, basically that is correct; however there are many other points such as a change in your tax status from single to married, the right to buy and sell properties, and the right to vote in the meeting of the companies where you own stock."
Harry asked, "Exactly how much money do I have; and how do I manage it? I have no idea of what I have to do; what do you suggest, Griphook?"
Griphook said, "To your first question, I do not know the value of your assets; but I could check an approximate value. It will take half an hour if you wish me to.
To your second question, most humans hire a financial expert to take care of their investments."
Harry asked, "Will you do that for me?"
Griphook said, "I am in client services; you could hire one of our experts from the financial office; or many humans feel more comfortable with an outside human expert."
Ginny said, "Harry, why not hire Bill. He's already works for Gringotts and we know him."
Harry asked, "Griphook, do you know Ginny's brother Bill? Could he be our financial advisor?"
Griphook said, "I have met William Weasley; he transferred from Curse Breaker in Egypt to our London financial office two months ago. Yes, he could be your advisor."
Harry said, "Could you arrange for us to meet with Bill today to go over all these things; and in the mean time take us to my vault. Maybe we can get our shopping done while we wait to meet Bill?"
Griphook said, "I will make the arrangements. Which vault do you wish to visit?"
Harry said, "Does it make a difference?"
Griphook said, "As far as you own all four vaults, no; but I would recommend you use the Potter family vault.
Also, you should restore the trust vault to its full value allowed by law; so, should your heir need it as you did, it will be able to support him or her until they reach the age of majority. William Weasley will be able to give you more advice."
Harry said, "Well, Ginny and I don't plan to have any children for a few years; so we won't have to worry about an heir for some time. We'll talk about it with Bill later."
Griphook got a funny look on his face, funny even for a Goblin, and said, "Again I do not wish to insult a client by prying into your personal business; but are you unaware that Lady Potter is pregnant?"
Ginny and Harry both gasped and Ginny said, "I'm not pregnant, I can't be pregnant."
Harry asked, "What makes you think Ginny is pregnant?"
Griphook held up a paper and said, "This is the report of the full body scan done on you when you entered the building. We do a thorough body scan checking for imposters using Polyjuice potion or transformation spells in an attempt to enter another person's vault.
Lady Potter's scan clearly shows she is pregnant; though only two weeks, so you both may be unaware."
Ginny began to cry and said, "I can't be; Harry you know I can't because we never made love."
Griphook said, "I should let you discuss this in private. Do you still want me to arrange a meeting with William Weasley and to take you to your vault?"
Harry said, "Griphook, make the arrangements with Bill; but can you go to the counter without us and get two hundred Galleons charged to our account. We'll stay here and talk."
Griphook said, "It will be done." He left them alone.
Harry said, "Ginny, don't cry; Griphook could be wrong, maybe their scan is wrong. Tomorrow we'll go to a doctor and have you checked out."
Ginny said, "There are healers at St. Mungos that specialize in pregnancies; but Harry what if it's true? What will we do?"
He said, "Let's worry about one thing at a time. Today we get all this financial stuff straight; then shop. Tomorrow we'll get you checked out and make whatever plans we need to. We love each other, and after, we've been married more than two years; so we'll get through whatever happens."
They held hands without saying much for half an hour until Griphook returned with the two hundred Galleons. He said, "William Weasley has been notified of your wish that he be your financial advisor and is collecting information about your assets. He will be here shortly; is there anything else I can do for you?"
Harry said, "No thank you Griphook."
After the Goblin left, Ginny said, "We've been gone so long, mom and dad will be wondering where we are. Take the money out and ask Hermione to buy all our things except robes. Tell mom and dad we're delayed; but don't tell them about me possibly being pregnant."
Harry said, "Don't worry; I'm not that crazy."
He went to the lobby and found everyone worried about what was keeping them. Harry said, "It's a long story that we don't really understand ourselves; we'll have to tell you about it later. Basically, the Goblins told us our Soul Bond means we're married according to Wizarding law; and the promise ring means we're married according to Goblin law. Bill is coming to explain it all to us."
Mrs. Weasley said, "What do you mean you're married; you can't be married, you're both underage."
Harry said, "That's what we said; and it's why we don't understand what the Goblins told us. I have to get back before Bill arrives."
He handed Hermione the bag with two hundred Galleons and said, "Hermione, Ginny said you know what we need, would you buy our books and other things. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, since we're married, we'll be paying for our own school things now, and for every other things to.
We'll stop to get fitted for robes when we're done here. When you're finished shopping, all of you please wait for us at the Leaky cauldron. According to the Goblins, Ginny and I are really, really, rich; so we're buying dinner for everyone."
Everyone tried to ask what Harry meant by all that; but all he said was, "Later, I have to get back with Ginny."
Hermione said she'd take care of everything when Harry gave her the money. Then he returned to Ginny; but not before he saw Mrs. Weasley begin to cry.
Soon after Bill came in with bundles of parchment and said, "Do you prefer I address you as Duke and Duchess Potter, or will Lord and Lady Potter be sufficient for now?"
Ginny said, "Please Bill, we're upset enough without you teasing us."
Bill said, "I understand; so Harry, you asked for me to be your financial advisor."
Harry said, "For both of us; Ginny thought of you when Griphook said we're considered to be married."
Bill said, "He told me; the interaction of human and Goblin Law is hard for humans to comprehend. I didn't know you gave Ginny a promise ring or I would have told you about the financial end; and I didn't know a Soul Bond was considered a marriage for underage witches and wizards.
Griphook said you want a rough idea of the value of your inheritance."
Harry said, "I think Ginny and I should have some knowledge of what we got into."
Bill said, "Okay, this will not be complete or accurate; it will take me days, maybe weeks to get it all together. So first, your vaults; the trust vault was at the maximum allowed by law with the one hundred thousand Galleons. You took about a thousand out in the past five years in both cash and charges for dress robes, a ball gown, and jewelry. That leaves about ninety-nine thousand Galleons there.
The Potter family vault has approximately three hundred and seventy thousand Galleons; the Black family vault approximately two hundred and ninety thousand Galleons.
In addition, the two family vaults have jewelry, art works, and other valuables listed on these manifests with the last appraised value, which was twenty years ago, at three hundred and seventy five million Galleons. Those things would have to be reappraised to find their current value, which is certainly substantially greater.
Houses include Potter Manor in the Lake District near Hutton-in-the-Forest, Oak Cottage in Godric's Hollow; but Oak Cottage is unlivable because the damage there was never repaired after the attack on you and your parents. Also, you own 12 Grimmauld Place.
Other properties include businesses and rental properties; again appraised twenty years ago, at two hundred and fifty million Galleons. All these would also have to be reappraised for current value.
There are stocks in both magical and Muggle companies valued as of this morning at four hundred and fourteen million galleons.
Your income before taxes last year was twelve million four hundred and twenty thousand Galleons. This year looks to be about the same, maybe a little better.
Do you want me to get current values for the properties, jewelry, and art?"
Harry's mouth was hanging open and he said, "No, don't bother; it doesn't matter. Ginny and I have enough money to provide for us. We trust you to do what you think is best as far as managing things.
Bill, how did we get so much money?"
Bill said, "Your family and the Black family invested well years ago; and for the last twenty years you and your parents spent almost nothing from your income. They were in hiding for years; and after they were killed, you didn't have access to the money. Sirius was in Azkaban and spent none of the Black family money.
You are Gringotts largest individual client; and the bank just kept reinvesting the income every year and it accumulated quickly to the present amount."
Ginny said, "Do you need us to do anything?"
Bill said, "There will be some papers you'll both have to sign. I'll have a Gringotts solicitor get them ready and explain what each means before you sign. Then there may be other things that need signatures on occasion.
Oh, I think it's important that you both draw up wills. I'll arrange a meeting with the solicitor; among other things, he'll want to know whom you want as guardian for your baby. Considering the danger you two are constantly in, you better start thinking about who you trust; if something should happen to you, you don't want your baby to end up with someone like Harry's relatives.
Oh, and thanks for trusting me; by law I have to tell you I get three percent of your income as my fee. You two just gave me a three hundred and fifty thousand Galleon raise every year. Now I'm rich too.
While we're talking, I presume you are both still working on non-verbal spells and doing magic without your wand. Those aren't a problem, but last summer you said you wanted to learn to apparate and to be Animagi.
Ginny, apparation isn't a problem; but you can't transform as an Animagus now that you're pregnant; it will kill the baby, and I'm sure despite the circumstances, you don't want that."
Ginny said, "We gave up on apparating because you can't do it in Hogwarts so we couldn't practice during school, and we didn't know we were considered adults, so we didn't know we couldn't do magic over the summer either.
Harry, that reminds me, since we've been adults for two years according to Wizarding law, why were we tried for doing underage magic?"
Harry said, "Good question, Griphook said the ministry probably doesn't know were married because Soul Bonds are so rare they don't check the registry. But in a way I'm glad, since we were found not guilty anyway, the trial kept the ministry from finding out about our bond.
I'd rather everyone doesn't know, I get too much public attention the way it is and I don't want Voldemort targeting you because of the bond."
Bill said, "Now that I think about you being adults, I realize there's something wrong. The charm called the trace that notifies the ministry of underage magic breaks automatically when you become an adult and your status in the registry changes.
It doesn't depend on someone in the ministry noticing and making a change for that to happen; it should have broken automatically when you formed the bond. So how did the ministry know you made your Patroni? Someone from the ministry must have been spying on you when you did the magic."
Harry said, "At the trial, Fudge said our underage magic was recorded in the record at the ministry; if it wasn't done automatically, someone had to write it in by hand."
Bill went on, "Everyone in the Order of the Phoenix assumed it was Voldemort that sent the Dementors after you; but if it was written in the record by hand, someone from the ministry was there watching, and they saw the Dementors attacking, why didn't they protect you?
Either a ministry official is the one that sent the Dementors in the first place so they didn't want to help you; or the ministry official watching decided to allow you to be kissed. No matter which, it's a crime.
I'm going to talk to Kingsley about it and he'll want to look into it."
Harry said, "I'd rather you didn't. If Kingsley starts an investigation, our bond might be made public."
Bill said, "Listen Harry, you know how Fudge feels about you, and only Fudge or another high up in the ministry could send Dementors after you. If a ministry official sent the Dementors, they either are with Voldemort, or they want you dead for their own reason; and either way, they'll probably try again, and Ginny will be with you again. You two have the safety of a baby to think about now.
Kingsley will be discrete, you know he is, but someone has to check to see if Voldemort has control over a high ministry official.
Now, back to you becoming Animagi, it's not safe for Ginny and the baby. Ginny would become some animal, but the baby would remain human; and a human baby can't live in the uterus of an animal, they're incompatible."
Ginny said, "We read several books on the theory of Animagi, and took the Vision Quest Potion to learn what form we would become; but with all that happened last year with Harry in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, we never actually got started on trying to transform. Thanks for the warning."
Bill asked, "What animal form will you become?"
Harry said, "According to our Vision Quest, both of us will be Phoenix. We did the Vision Quest at the same time, and saw ourselves as a bonded Phoenix pair. I guess because our bond as humans."
Bill said, "There's another odd thing about you two; I never heard of an Animagus Phoenix. McGonagall covers them in seventh year because of her cat form; she mentioned all types of animals including birds like owls, ravens, and hawks, but never said anyone could become a Phoenix.
They're very powerful magically, and if you get all their powers as an Animagus, it would be a great help to you. I think Harry should start learning to transform now and Ginny, you could after the baby is born. McGonagall could tutor you; it would go a lot faster than trying on your own."
Harry said, "I'll ask Sirius to help; I don't want anyone outside the family to know any of our secrets. McGonagall would tell Dumbledore and I don't trust him anymore, he wants to know everything about us, but won't tell us anything. Ginny and I think he's is manipulating us for some plan he has for our lives and we want to live the way we want."
Ginny said, "If Harry learns to transform, it won't take me long because I'll have seen how he goes about it through our bond. Then I'll just have to practice."
Bill said, "Just remember don't start until the baby is born; Phoenix are birds, they lay eggs so they can't carry a baby inside them.
That's all I have for you right now; can I do anything else for you before you go?"
Ginny said, "You didn't tell us about Harry becoming Gryffindor's heir, and the value of vault number 1."
Bill said, "I have no way of knowing how Harry got recorded as Gryffindor's heir; and I only deal with finances. Our records show there is no money, jewelry, or art works in vault number 1; records show only several thousand books with no value listed."
Ginny said, "Thousands of Gryffindor's books, they have to be priceless; don't tell Hermione, we'll never get her out of there."
Harry asked, "Does your record show when I was registered as Gryffindor's heir? Griphook told us the date that something happened could be important. He told us according to Gringotts we were married August 11, 1995 but according to the ministry we were married June 20, 1993; and that makes a difference for taxes and stock votes.
Knowing the date I became Gryffindor's heir might be important to."
Bill looked over the paperwork and said, "June 20, 1993."
Harry said, "That's the date we were bonded and married according to the ministry; but how did that make me Gryffindor's heir, and why didn't Ginny become his heir?"
Ginny said, "Oh, I think I know. Bill, do your records give a time to go with the date?"
Bill looked through the papers and said, "No time, but the record shows the Gryffindor heir was registered first, then the marriage must have been a few minutes later because there are a dozen or so records of other people registered in between."
Ginny said, "That fits, Harry, the sword came to you first, then you fought the Basilisk and destroyed the diary and Tom before we touched and bonded."
Harry said, "Of course, I bet in order for the sword to come to me it had to recognize me as Gryffindor's heir. But the legend says the sword can present itself to any Gryffindor; so why wasn't someone made Gryffindor's heir years ago."
Bill said, "First, the legend may be wrong, it's been passed along orally for a thousand years and could have been distorted many times. Second, maybe someone did get the sword and was recognized a Gryffindor's heir but they never came to Gringotts so they never found out. You are the latest person to get the sword, so you're the heir as of now.
Harry, you hit the jackpot, don't ask why, just enjoy the ride. Besides money, you have access to magical books that may contain who knows what secrets. Find time to check them out, maybe the clue to defeat Voldemort is in one of Gryffindor's books.
Now, are there any other questions?"
Harry said, "Come to dinner at the Leakey Cauldron, your mom and dad will have lots of questions we can't answer."
Bill said, "You mean like about Ginny being pregnant."
Ginny said, "Bill, you can't tell them that. Harry and I are going to St. Mungos tomorrow so I can be checked by a healer."
Harry said, "Please Bill, we'll tell them if it's true."
Bill said, "Of course; that's your business. I will not discuss anything we talked about in here. But Ginny is pregnant, the Goblin's scans are never wrong.
Oh, and Ginny, I want to thank you for getting married and getting pregnant, Charlie probably will to; maybe now mom won't be harassing us so much to get married and give her grandchildren."
Harry and Ginny smiled grimly at Bill's joke, and left holding hands but saying almost nothing. After getting fitted for new robes, they met the others at the Leaky Cauldron.
Everyone seemed to ask the same question at once, "Harry, Ginny, what were you two doing for so long?"
Ginny grinned at her family and said, "If you wish to speak to us, please address us properly as Duke and Duchess Potter; or since we've known you lot for so long, we give you permission to informally address us as Lord and Lady Potter."
Ron snorted and said, "What, did you fall and hit your head?"
Harry said, "Bill is coming to help explain; but what it amounts to is the Goblins consider Ginny and me married because I gave her a promise ring and she accepted and that's a valid magical contract. That makes us adults in their eyes, so I inherited lots of money and the title Duke Potter among other titles.
And the ministry has an old law that states a Soul Bonded couple is considered married, no matter what their ages. So, we are married according to every law, ministerial or Goblin and Ginny is now Duchess Potter.
Actually, we've been married for more than two years without knowing it."
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley seemed to take it well; but Ron whispered that his mother had been crying since Harry first mentioned being married two hours ago at Gringotts. She pulled herself together when she saw them coming but Ron didn't think she could hold back the tears much longer.
Harry told Ginny mentally what Ron said and she decided to get this problem out of the way before they had to tell the family she was pregnant. Ginny said, "Mom, are you upset that Harry and I are married? You knew we were going to get married eventually."
Mrs. Weasley started crying again and said, "I know, but I always thought that you and I would spend time together planning a summer wedding in the garden at the Burrow, and we would go together to pick out your wedding dress, and all the other happy things mothers and daughters do preparing for a wedding."
Ginny said, "Mom, despite already being married, Harry and I still want a ceremony to formalize it for the family. I promise you, we'll do all those things you want to do after we finish Hogwarts. Tell her Harry."
Harry said, "Before we found out today that we are already married, Ginny and I talked several time about when and where we wanted to get married; and we are still going to have that wedding for the family, and you and Ginny will plan it."
Mrs. Weasley wiped her eyes and hugged both of them. Ginny thought to Harry, "I hope she's so easy to calm down when we tell her I'm pregnant."
He responded, "Her and the rest of the family to."
Mr. Weasley had many questions about Ginny owning half of Harry's inheritance, but Harry and Ginny asked them to wait until Bill arrived. They all ordered food and Ron asked, "Did you get enough money for me to order a big steak?"
Ginny said, "So much Bill couldn't add it all up; he said it will take weeks to figure it out."
Harry said, "Order your steak Ron, order two if you can eat them."
Bill arrived and ordered a steak to; as they waited for the food he answered almost all the questions."
Harry asked Mr. Weasley one question, "Mr. Weasley, can I get the fireplace at Grimmauld Place reconnected to the flue network? What I mean is I know I can, and it will make things easier for everyone to come and go; but will it compromise security? Will strangers be able to get in; or even see in as they pass through the flue network?"
Mr. Weasley said, "It will be perfectly safe. The Fidelius charm isn't like bars over the door and windows; the fireplace, like the rest of the house, will also be invisible to anyone the secret keeper hasn't told about it.
You'll have to write a letter requesting reactivation. I have a friend in the Magical Transportation Department; write the letter tonight and I'll see its reconnected tomorrow morning."
When they returned to Grimmauld Place Harry and Ginny talked to Sirius about Harry now being the owner of the house. Sirius said, "I knew it was going to happen when you turned seventeen; but I didn't know the promise ring would make the Goblins consider you an adult earlier. Don't worry about it; I never wanted the place anyway.
Then he told Sirius about becoming an Animagus and Sirius promised to start Harry on lessons tomorrow. He said, "It took your father and me three years without a tutor, but I'm sure with help you'll be able to do it in a lot less time.
The problem is you're only here three more days and once you're back in school, I can't help. Are you sure you don't want to ask Minerva?"
Harry said, "No, like I told Bill, she'll tell Dumbledore and we don't trust him anymore."
Sirius said, "He does try and run everyone's life, doesn't he."
Next came the difficult conversation. Harry and Ginny went up to Ron and Hermione's room and knocked. Ron said, "Come in."
Harry said, "We have something important to tell you Ron; we will need your help; but we don't want you to get angry at us."
Ron scowled and said, "What kind of trouble is it now?"
Hermione sat next to him and took his hand.
Ginny said, "Besides all that stuff we told you earlier about the titles and the money; the Goblin told us something we don't believe ourselves. Tomorrow we're going to get it checked out; but Griphook told me I'm pregnant.
Ron tried to get up but Hermione pulled him back. He said, "I knew it; you kept telling me you weren't having sex; but you lied."
Harry said, "No, we never lied; and we never had sex. That's why we don't believe Griphook; it can't be."
Ginny said, "Ron, Harry and I fooled around naked in bed; but I swear we never had sex."
Ron said, "Ginny couldn't be pregnant unless you had sex."
Hermione said, "Yes she could Ron. It's rare, but there's a thing called external fertilization. I read about it in the Muggle books my mother gave me when we had my sex talk.
It was a sort of warning to young girls about the danger of accidental pregnancy. If the boy ejaculates on or near the girl's vulva, even if they never had penetration, the sperm can get in and fertilize the egg.
Or, if either the boy or girl has sperm on their hand and touch the vaginal opening she can get pregnant. Odds are a million to one; but it can happen.
Ginny said, "Tomorrow when we go to see a specialist at St. Mungos I'll ask him about that."
Harry said, "Ron, Hermione, we'll need your support; if it's true we'll tell your parents when we get back. We'll need you on our side to get through this."
Hermione asked, "If Ginny is pregnant; what will you do. She'll have to drop out of school. They don't allow pregnant girls like in Muggle schools because there are too many hexes and spells flying about that could hurt or kill a baby."
Ginny said, "That's another reason we need you Ron; please don't be angry."
Ron said, "Well I sort of expected it to happen sooner or later. I hoped later; but I still love you sis, and after all, you've been married for over two years now."
He got up and hugged Ginny; then held a hand out and said, "Congratulations mate; at least with all that money, you two won't have to worry about how you support the baby."
Ginny said, "No, we don't have to worry about money; but Bill said we need to make wills naming a guardian for the baby in case something happen to us like it did to Harry's parents."
Hermione asked, "Who did you pick?"
Ginny said, "Nobody yet; we talked about it when we were getting fitted for our robes, but we didn't have a lot of time and it's a big decision. Harry has nobody so it would have to someone in our family, or our close friends."
Harry said, "You two are our closest friends and we considered asking both of you; but, like all our friends, you're in school and not in a position to take care of a baby. Even after we finish school it wouldn't be fair, with your own plans, and your lives just getting started, to ask you to change your life plans to raise our baby. Besides, we want the baby to have both a mother and father, and we don't have any friends that are married.""
Ginny said, "We agreed it has to be someone magical, our baby won't grow up with Muggles like Harry did."
Ron asked, "What about mom and dad?"
Harry answered, "They were our first thought and we may have to ask them; but they're getting up in age. We know they would agree to do it, but it's a lot of work and by the time the baby reaches seventeen, they'll be in their late sixties."
Ginny said, "We don't think anything is going to happen to us, and all this may not be necessary; but we're already finding out that when you have to think about a baby's safety, you have to consider all possibilities."
Harry said, "Bill wants an answer for the solicitor in the next week."
Hermione asked, "Why so soon, you'll be safe at Hogwarts; can't it wait a few weeks. Besides, I hate to say it, but the baby won't be born for nine months, and if something happens to Ginny, there won't be a baby to take care of."
Harry said, "We thought of that; but the will is about more that the baby. We also have to name alternate heirs in case something happens to the baby. Ginny and I are major stockholders in a dozen of magical and Muggle companies involving not just our money, but billions of Galleons of other people's money.
If something happens to us and there's no clear heir, Bill said it could cause all sorts of financial problems in our world and the Muggle world. If the baby is our heir, whoever is the guardian will control all that money until the baby is seventeen."
Ginny said, "The Goblins had control while Harry was young because Sirius was his legal guardian and he was in Azkaban; Bill said they would love to get control again if something happens to us, and the only way to prevent it is for the wills to name a legal guardian and alternate heirs."
That's why the Goblins are pressing Bill and us to get the wills done; they plan financial ten or twenty years ahead and want an answer. We want to keep them happy because they can be a big help if we need it."
Hermione said, "You two know that whoever you pick as guardian, Auntie Hermione is going to check on the baby every week and make sure he or she is okay."
Ron said, "Yeah, Uncle Ron to; and I'll bet Uncles Fred, George, Bill, and Charlie will be checking to."
Ginny said, "Thanks, we knew that, but like we said before, we couldn't ask you to be guardians at you age; but we did want to ask if you Hermione would be godmother."
Harry said, "And you godfather Ron."
Both were thrilled and accepted the honor.
The next morning the four went out to run and lift as usual. Ron questioned if it was safe for Ginny, and Hermione answered, "Ginny is only a few weeks pregnant, and…"
Ginny interrupted and said, "Get it right Hermione; Ginny may be a few weeks pregnant; maybe it's all a big mistake and she's not pregnant."
Hermione said, "Whether Ginny is pregnant or not; the exercise is good for her. If she is, in the coming months as she gets bigger, she'll have to cut back."
On the way back, Ron asked, "I thought you were going to St. Mungos to find out for sure; when?"
Harry said, "When your dad gets the flue reconnected; Ginny and I don't know how else to get there."
Ron said, Oh yeah, neither do I. We always talk about the place; but none of us have ever been there."
After they all showered, they went to wait in the kitchen near the fireplace. Ginny was sipping her pumpkin juice when Mr. Weasley came out of the fireplace. He said, "Can't stay; just wanted to test it out. Here's some flue powder in case someone has to go somewhere."
He threw a pinch in the fireplace and vanished again in a burst of green flame.
Mrs. Weasley was upstairs, so one at a time they four teens threw flue powder in the fireplace and said, "St. Mungos."