Author's Notes: As always, I've only borrowed from the original writers and producers. They still retain full copyright privileges over their works.
Got another "guest" review. Really stupid - no real review, just trolling. Dust Binned! If you are going to post a review, log in with your account and post it, and expect a dialog.
_oooooo_
Great Hall, Friday, November 3rd, approximately 1:00PM
Professor McGonagall looked over the crowd seated at the Gryffindor table, waiting to head out to Griggott's Banks to register the property deed. She did a quick head-check: Harry, Myrtle, Hermione, Minazuki, Ginny, Luna, Dudley and Fate. Her vision snapped to Luna Lovegood and she cocked an eyebrow in Luna's direction.
Luna looked directly back and said, "Fifth Estate. You'd do a lot better to have me along rather than someone of the caliber of, say, Rita Skinner. Honest, reporting the news without comment or exaggeration …."
Ginny leaned over and stage-whispered, "What about spottings of nargles, crumple-horned snorkacks and wrackspurts?"
"I won't be adding anything that I didn't see for myself. After all, I do have professional ethics as a reporter for the Quibbler," Luna replied in a haughty, possibly snooty, manner.
MInerva sighed and fixed Luna with a slight glare. "You can report on any creatures that you see only when you can get three others to agree on the sighting. Other than that, you are welcome to come along and to also create an article for the Quibbler, possibly even the Daily Prophet but only if you can get a full by-line and get paid in advance in galleons. In other words, stick it to them and milk it for all its worth."
Luna smiled a combination of her usual disingenuous smile and a predator's smirk.
"Alright," Minerva said, raising her voice slightly to gather everyone's attention. "The Floo has been set up and all you have to do is toss your pinch and clearly say "Griggott's Bank, Main Banking Hall. I'll be taking Dudley with me. Anyone need help?"
Minazuki and Fate put their hands up, followed by Myrtle, looking nervous. "Okay, then Minazuki goes with Ginny, Fate with Hermione and Myrtle with Harry. Our return trip will have people shuffling around for fairness."
She lead the way to the large fireplace in the Entrance Hall and took the lid off of a small pot of Floo Powder and placed it on the side table. Harry took a double-pinch of the powder in one hand, raeched out to Myrtle with the other and then proceeded with a quick flick and clear and distinct pronunciation of the destination and the two stepped into the green flames and disappeared. Dudley looked gob-smacked and Minerva smiled down at him as he stood beside her. The others proceeded through the same sequence, with only Luna doing an over-the-shoulder toss and stepping into the fireplace backwards.
Minerva muttered "show-off" and she and Dudley went though the same exercise and stepped into the fireplace.
She saved Dudley from a nasty stumble and fall and pulled him upright, then nodded over to where Harry was propped up against the far wall, feet up the wall and resting on his neck with Myrtle standing up from winding up sitting on Harry's face. Myrtle brushed herself off and adjusted her robe and skirt. "Really, why can't you practice floo travel more often so you don't wind up embarrassing yourself all the time?"
Harry shrugged and smirked at her. "I have and this is the best that I can do. The more I practice, the faster I come out of the floo. The Uncertainty Principle has it in for me."
Ginny walked over and finished brushing off Myrtle's robe and skirt, then snickered. "Looks like you lost your knickers somewhere along the way, Myr. Or were you anticipating getting Harry as your partner and giving him a freebie?"
Three red faces exploded: Myrtle, Harry and Dudley. Ginny snickered some more. "Looks like I totally nailed that one. Don't worry, Duds. We all do that to embarass Harry at random. Harry and floos is something that just happens. "
A cough came from just up the hallway.
Bill Weasley was standing there, a large folio case tucked under his arm, and shaking his head. "Well, that's a new record for you, Harry. What? Thirty feet?"
Harry twisted himself around and stood upright, and started dusting himself off. "I think that whoever polishes the floor heard that I was coming and made an extra-special effort. At least that's the story that I'm sticking to, as opposed to the nasty bit of gossip that your sister is implying."
Bill smiled. "Anyway, please come this way. Lady Minerva Potter said that were bringing your cousin Dudley to register his inheritance." He turned and walked down the main banking hall to a blank doorway and opened it, with everyone else following him.
Once they were settled around the table, Bill opened the folio case and started taking notes in his ledger. Dudley produced his identification cards and Bill noted the contents. This was followed by his producing the watercolour. Bill closely examined the outside and noted a description down in the folio, then quirked an eyebrow at Dudley. "Can you open it or do you need assistance?" he asked.
Dudley shook his head. "Not sure. I'm supposed to be a muggle but this is a magical document."
With that, he grasped the frame , found the orientation that Professor Flitwick had used , intoned "patesco!" and the deed expanded into its full form. Bill looked slightly amazed. He quietly said, "Has anyone ever tested you for a magic core, or having magic abilities?"
Dudley shook his head. Bill nodded and then took notes of the signatures on the deed, then pulled out an ink pad and a large stamp. Blowing any possible dust off of the stamp, he carefully inked it on the pad and then carefully pressed it on the page of his ledger where he'd been taking his notes, then repeated the sequence unto the deed beside the signatures. He then pulled out a blood quill and signed the imprints, wincing at the draw on his blood.
Tapping the deed with his wand, Bill intoned "Finito!" and the deed burst into a bright glow, then restored itself to its collapsed form in the frame, with a small copy of the imprint in the bottom left-hand corner.
He smiled up at Dudley. "Well, that's it, Mister Dursley, everyone. Your deed has been duly noted and registered at Gringott's. You now are lord and master of Hogwarts and its environs, including Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest. And I'll get in a pre-emptive strike before The Twins tell you about your rights as Lord of the Manor with regards to any virgins running around."
Dudley snickered. "Let me guess, that particular right went out four hundred years ago."
Bill shook his head. "More like two hundred…. Actually, once word of this does get out as we have to publish the inheritance in the newspapers, you probably will be swimming in virgins or reputed virgins, all trying to get you to accept marriage contracts."
Dudley blanched while Harry and the Ladies Potter snickered. Harry clapped Dudley on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Dudley. We'll run interference for you while you're at Hogwarts and ease you into the Wizarding World."
There was a click of a camera shutter and everyone looked over at Luna lowering a camera. "Have to record the moment. The instant Mister Dursley realized that owning Hogwarts was not going to be all smiles and chuckles."
Bill coughed into his fist and then dug into his portfolio case and pulled out an envelope. "Bit of pre-emptive banking here, Dudley. As holder of the deed, you now have access to thhe Hogwarts vault and the funds stored there. We'll be going down for a preliminary inspection in a couple minutes, but first, I'd like you to sign the registration card with your official signature, and then sign for your banking card. Based upon what has been working for Harry and his Ladies, I've set up a drawing account for an annual income of eighty thousand pounds as well as a hundred pounds cash and fifty galleons for use in the Magical World."
He then slid the signature card and a quill over to Dudley. "Don't worry, this is a regular ever-ready quill so handle it like a regular ball-point." Dudley took the quill and, while concentrating to the point that he stuck his tongue out of his mouth a bit, put his signature in the spots indicated. Bill then handed Dudley the bank card, cash and coins, and retrieved the signature card which he put in his ledger, closed the book and placed everything back into his folio case.
Standing up,Bill said, "now. Time for you to take a look at your vault. Who's up for a trip to the bottom-most level of Gringott's?"
