June 1,1985
Ragnock's POV
I was on my desk dealing with the paperwork that comes with being the head of the Gringotts branch in Britain. Thinking about Britain brings a scowl to my face as I think about how my race is treated by the wizards of the country. Where we are highly respected and highly sought after for help in financial matters and investments or even for healing and rituals, we are scorned in Britain to a point that no goblin wants to work as the tellers for the branch. All the current tellers working one those goblins who have high tolerance and patience otherwise this economy would be doomed to fall. But I do not want to break the oath taken by my ancestors when the petitioned King Arthur to open a branch in his beloved country, Avalon. If it is one thing that you can never doubt when dealing with a goblin is that we are a very proud race who take our oaths seriously. No matter what happens, it is his responsibility to make sure that the economy doesn't fail, even if he has to take drastic measures to ensure that.
I was brought out of my musings by a knock on the door. When called to enter, Rockspear, my guard, enters. "Sharpclaw is asking for an audience with the King to make some dealings related to his accounts. He is accompanied by Goldtooth who also wants to speak to you." Rockspear speaks. While I ask him to tell them to be here in 10 minutes, I think back on what those two goblins have to talk to me. Sharpclaw was the account manger for the Potters and Goldtooth was for the Blacks. 'What business would they have to ask for the permission to speak together?' I wonder.
There is another knock on the door and Sharpclaw and Goldtooth appear from the door. "May your coffers fill with gold and may your enemies die at your feet." They intone. I reply back "So mote it be. So, what business do you have that you need to come to me personally and that too together." They both share a look that does not sit well with me. Instantly I am on high alert and prepare myself for what bad news I am about to hear.
Sharpclaw's POV
I am sitting in front of the goblin King thinking back how it all started. Just thinking about it brings a grimace on my face.
Throwback
Few days earlier
I was sitting in my office preparing for the year's investment returns. I was going through the files when a sudden journal lights up. All the Gringotts branch journals related to the 20 important clients light up when they have something important that needs attention. When I look through it, I see something that had not occurred in the last 2 centuries of Potter family history. I read the words twice through the words to confirm that it is what I am reading,
"If the Head of the Noble and Most Ancient house of Potter feels that the continuation of the line is in jeopardy, he can activate a clause that ensures the safety and well being of the Heir of the family in the case of the death of the Head if the Heir is less than 2 years of age.
The clause says: If the condition of the clause is met then the Heir has to go through a series of tests so as to make sure that the Heir is being treated with love and care is not being taken advantage of. This tests also ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Heir even if the child is a member of the Potter clan. If the child wishes to inherit the title of the Head of the House of Potter, he has to prove himself fit enough for the standards of the oath sworn Goblin Account Manager for the family from the clan of Valerius who is also acts an administrator of the tests so as to ensure that the Heir is in a good position to inherit the legacy. These tests are to be administered when the Heir is of 5 years of age and are to be repeated every five years until such a time that the Heir takes up the mantle of the Head of House. Then these tests are to be done every 10 years until such a time that the continuation of the line is certain that is there in a new Heir for the Family. The lists for the tests can be found on the following page. The journal makes sure that the tests are done when they are supposed to ensure that the legacy for the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter is not lost forever. All the tests have to be performed by the Goblins or the Gringotts employees as the Account Manager finds suitable. In such a situation that the living conditions for the Heir are found unsuitable, the custody for the child goes to the Account Manager and he can find the suitable guardian for the child as he sees fit. Let this also be known that the oath sworn Account Manager cannot be biased in this decision and his only goal will be the welfare of his charge. All the fees related are to be deducted are to deducted from the Potter Family Vault as per conditions set with the clan when the contract saying this clause was made."
On the next page was the list of the tests that were required. These ranged from the health checks to magic tests and everything between. All the test ensured that the heir is in a good mental, financial, spiritual and magical condition.
Throwback ends.
What followed was a week of researching, shocks and surprises that I am so tired and want everything to end already.
A clearing of throat from Goldtooth brings me back to reality and I see the Goblin King waiting for me explain why I wanted this meeting.
"There is something I wanted to bring to your attention my King and it could not wait. A week ago, when I was going through the paperwork, saw one of the journals related to one of the important clients of the branch light up." I go on to explain what was the clause what all I needed to complete my task as it was an honour to complete a task set on my clan as promised to the Founder of the house of Potter, Hadrian Potter.
Third Person POV
Ragnock asks, "So, what problem are you facing, write a letter to the guardians of the Heir and get going with the tasks. If you need permission to use the facilities of Gringotts that could have easily done by you alone. Why is Goldtooth involved?"
Sharpclaw reply, "When I went to gather the sheet of information on the Heir, this is what I found." He passes him the sheet of information. Ragnock accepts with a frown on his face.
Name of the Heir: Harrison James Potter-Black
Date of Birth: July 31, 1980
Sire: James Charles Potter (Lord Potter, deceased)
Bearer: Lillian Marie Potter nee Evans (Lady Potter, deceased)
Father by Blood Adoption: Sirius Orion Black-Potter (Heir Black, illegally imprisoned)
Godparents: Alice Tracey Longbottom nee Smith (Lady Longbottom), Severus Tobias Snape-Prince (Lord Prince)
Sharpclaw continues, "Seeing that the child was supposed to in the custody of Heir Black, I consulted Goldtooth so as to inquire where was Heir Black and whether the child was in the custody of a member of the House of Black as they would be his family through his blood adopted father."
Goldtooth takes over, "I wasn't aware that the child was supposed to under the jurisdiction of one of my clients or even that the imprisonment of the Heir Black was illegal. When asked for the trial transcripts from the Ministry for Magic, all I get is the document is being searched. Which leads us to two conclusions that either the files are missing or there was no trial."
Sharpclaw again continues, "Which leads to the inquiry on the Godparents. It is a well-known fact that the Longbottoms are in the long-term care wards of St. Mungo's so they could not have the child with them. When I contacted Lord Prince, he was surprised that he was named godfather to the child and had no idea where his godson is. This led me to enquire if the Ministry any record for the child as he would be recorded with the Child Welfare Department due his status of an Orphan. I found out that the child is in the custody of his maternal aunt Petunia Dursley who is a muggle. The address was not available which shows that not visits have been made by the Welfare Office which greatly worries me."
Ragnock suddenly understands what Sharpclaw is implying. He says, "If rumors are to be believed then the only person who knows the location for the boy will not give it up easily. Albus Dumbledore. I understand to keep the information to keep the child safe given the current climate revolving that Halloween. He will fight tooth and nail to avoid revealing the location. We will have to take drastic measures to get this out of him."