Chapter 38 - Going to Gringotts

Harry was woken up the next morning with cold water dripping onto his face. Slowly opening one eye, Harry suddenly flung his pillow at Ginny!

"Well come on, get up" she said laughing. "We're going to Diagon Alley!"

"Not right now, Professor Lupin isn't meeting us there until 9!" Harry was going to get up but realized he hadn't the top to his pajamas on.

"Now get out of here so I can get dressed!"

'Spoilsport!'

'I don't have my top on, thank you very much!'

Ginny blushed and hurried out of the door. Harry sent her a mental 'laugh' which she returned. Harry hurried up and got dressed and joined the Weasleys for breakfast.

The twins were extra nice to everyone at breakfast and finally talked their parents into letting them go to Diagon Alley also. They were instructed to help Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Harry carrying supplies as well as just doing the browsing they wanted to do.

After Mr. Weasley left for work and breakfast was cleared up, it was time to floo to Diagon Alley. Mrs. Weasley made sure Harry and Ginny had their shopping list with them. Harry was still nervous about the last time he had used the floo, but Fred told Harry he could travel with him. Mrs. Weasley, with Ginny on her arm, left first, followed by George.

Harry hung on tight to Fred's arm as he threw the floo powder and yelled 'Diagon Alley'. Harry was a little more relaxed this time but unfortunately had the same result at the end. He fell skidding out of the fireplace and bowled over Ginny who was just watching for their arrival!

The rest of the Weasley just shook their heads and helped Ginny and Harry up and brushed them off. Harry heard some clapping in the background and turned and saw Professor Lupin standing nearby laughing. "Well, it must be a family thing Harry. Your father couldn't floo at first either; it took almost 3 years before anybody would stay around at his arrival point."

Harry went and shook Remus' hand and turned back to the rest of the Weasleys. "Remus, this is George and Fred Weasley and their sister, Ginny. Everyone, this is Professor Remus Lupin. He was one of my father's best friends."

Remus shook hands with the twins and told them he had heard the reports of the pranks they did at Hogwarts. The twins stammered their embarrassed thanks as Mrs. Weasley glared at them. Remus bent over to kiss Ginny's hand in greeting, and then turned to Harry to ask him "Why the Potter men always find the most attractive redheads to date?"

Ginny and Harry both blushed beet red and Harry stammered out that they were just 'very good friends'. The twins and Mrs. Weasley were chuckling at their embarrassment. Mrs. Weasley soon sent Fred and George off to Gambol & Japes. She told them not to take too long as there was a lot of shopping they had to do.

Harry and Ginny fell in behind Mrs. Weasley and Professor Lupin as they approached the biggest building on the street. Before going up the marble steps, Remus turned to the two youngsters and gave them a warning. "You are about to go into Gringotts. It's the oldest magical banking institute in the world. And it's run by goblins. Do not insult them by fearing their appearance or intelligence. They are a proud race that is usually looked down upon by most of the magical community. Treat them fairly and they will do the same to you."

Harry and Ginny looked up to the massive doors to see a goblin standing guard in a scarlet and gold uniform. Harry saw the differences from a house elf as a goblin had different coloring and was taller with long fingers and toes and pointed ears. They entered through the main doors and through another set of doors to enter the main room of the bank. There was a long counter with goblins sitting on high stools working on ledgers set before them. Mrs. Weasley nudged Harry from the rear and held out the small gold key that was supposed to open his vault. Harry took it from her, gulped and went to stand before one of the goblins who had just switched ledgers.

"What do you want young wizard?" came the gravelly voice of the goblin.

"Sir, I would like to go to my vault and take some money out" Harry said quietly.

"Do you have your key? And have you been here before?" the goblin further asked.

"Yes and no this is my first visit here." Harry tried to look confident as the goblin looked down upon him.

"Very well, you will need to be authenticated and escorted to your vault. Griphook!"

A slightly smaller and maybe younger goblin opened a flap in the counter and walked over to Harry. "Follow me please." Harry looked back to where Remus was standing and he just nodded his head.

Harry followed the goblin to a smaller office just to one side of the long counter and saw that Ginny, Mrs. Weasley and Professor Lupin were following him and had settled on a small bench just across the way.

The goblin shut the door behind Harry when he entered the office and went to a desk. "My name is Griphook and I need to authenticate your identity. Your name, please?"

"Harry Potter, sir"

The goblins ears perked up a little at Harry's name but his expression did not change. "Wait here while I get your account book. There is no reason to call me sir. I am only a general grade clerk here at Gringotts."

"I apologize if I have offended you Griphook. I have no idea as how to address you."

Griphook stopped on his way out the door. "A wizard who apologizes! Thank you, Mr. Potter." Griphook left through a side door and Harry was left alone.

'Harry, are you ok in there?'

'So far, Ginny, I think this is normal procedure. Just listen ok?'

Griphook was back in a few minutes with a small ledger in his hands. He placed in on the desk but put himself between it and Harry. "Are you being coerced in any way to access your account?"

"No, Griphook."

"No physical or mental force working against your own wishes? We are aware of the contact you maintain with the young witch outside."

"Certainly not," Harry replied. "I am here of my own free will and that contact is a shared trust with a friend."

"Very well, Mr. Potter, but we must make sure that nothing dishonorable disrupts your business with the bank."

"I thank you for your scrutiny, Griphook. What is the procedure now?"

"There must be some blood shed to link your account and your vault to you. Only a drop or two." Griphook held up a small silver dagger in his hand. "Your hand, please."

Harry held his hand out for the goblin. Griphook turned it and just pricked Harry's thumb pad and then held the ledger under the dripping wound. Two drops fell on the ledger and Harry saw a glow surround the book and fade away. Griphook waved his hand and the cut on Harry's thumb healed. Harry remembered what he had been told by Patchum about magical beings having their own types of magic.

Griphook then handed the ledger to Harry. "If you had not been who you claimed, then the cut would have widened and you would have bled to death."

"Thank you for that information." 'Ginny, a little privacy please.'

'OK, Harry we're still out here waiting for you.'

Harry felt Ginny withdraw her observation and opened up the ledger. There were 3 lines of entries. The first the original trust account figure set up by his parents. The second line was the survivor award from the Ministry and the third was that 'special law' that Dumbledore had talked about. Harry saw that the third figure was magically changing even as he watched it. Harry wondered humorlessly if some young witch had bought another Harry Potter book somewhere in Diagon Alley.

When he looked at the final tally at the bottom of the page, Harry was a little confused. "Could you tell me what the exchange rate is between galleons and British pounds please Griphook?"

When Griphook named the figure, Harry sat back in the chair with a gasp. He was rich! Not that he cared about it any, it was just a figure, but the Dursleys must never find out about this ledger!

Harry closed the ledger and placed it back on the desk in front of Griphook. "Who manages my account on a day to day basis?"

"There is no one goblin in charge of your account as it is a junior trust fund. You may ask to have the bank select a goblin to manage your account and any changes that you wish made."

"May I select you to manage my account, Griphook?"

"You do me great honor sir. I am only one of many goblins in my section and I would not become eligible for an account of my own to manage for many years."

"You have been patient in explaining terms to someone who is a novice in banking. I would like to make you my manager if you would like the position."

"A wizard also asking? This is a good day for Gringotts. It would be my privilege to manage the honorable wizards account. Thank you Mr. Potter."

"Please just call me Harry, Griphook. I'd like to go to my vault now but can I make one change first."

"Yes, Mr. Harry?"

"Could everything from the last nine months that came from into my account and all the future additions to my account from that special law be forwarded to the general fund at St. Mungo's hospital? I have more than I need now and might as well put some of it to good use."

"Yes, Mr. Harry, but there shouldn't be a lot more coming into that account as you're about to enter Hogwarts."

"I understand that but for now, that is my wish. I'll seek some advice later on what else to do with my account."

"Very well. Let me put your account ledger away and I will join you out in the corridor. Oh, Mr. Harry if you are not aware, there are two other accounts you may claim when you have reached your age of majority. You will not have access to them until then."

Harry, thinking it was just his parents' separate accounts, nodded his agreement as he and Griphook left the little office by separate doors. Harry rejoined the small group outside.

"Any problems, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Just had to prove who I was with a couple of drops of blood." Harry held up his thumb for Ginny to look at. "Griphook healed my thumb just like new."

Griphook then came up to Harry. "Are you ready to access your vault, Mr. Harry?" Remus smiled at the title the goblin gave his small friend. He knew they stood on formality most of the time and did not go to shortened names without having formed a favorable impression of that person.

"May these people come with me, Griphook?" Harry asked with some trepidation.

"There is room but it may be tight for all of you in one cart", Griphook replied.

"I will stay and wait for you outside Harry." Mrs. Weasley said. "I've had more than enough rides in that conveyance. Ginny, if you wish to go, you will obey Mr. Lupin. And please keep your hands in!"

Mrs. Weasley hugged her daughter and then turned to make her way out of the bank. Harry, Ginny, and Professor Lupin went through a series of doors and stairs that led downwards. They came at last to a torch-lit passageway with a set of rails with a small cart on it.

Griphook and Remus climbed into the front set of seats while Ginny and Harry seated themselves in the back. The cart took off without a word and Harry quickly had to hold on to the edge of the cart and Ginny besides him. It was a wild ride with lots of turn and twists and a variety of sudden ups and downs through caverns and passageways dimly lit by torchlight. Harry had few chances to take a good look at anything because of the speed they were traveling at but he thought he saw the shadow of a dragon once, but he wasn't sure. The ride didn't take but a couple of minutes but when the cart slowed down and stopped in front of a particular vault, it took Harry a full minute to settle his stomach down. Griphook was waiting patiently by the door as Ginny and Harry shakingly climbed from the cart.