Hedwig was quick to take the letters Harry had penned to his friends, Dahlia helping him pack the muggle way though she convinced him to leave some of the more tattered clothing behind as she fully intended on purchasing him new articles that he wouldn't drown in. Harry was quick to slip his shoes on, only stopping to tie the laces when Dahlia gave him a pointed look.
"Go wait in the back garden, mon chou, I need to speak with Petunia for a moment and then I'll be right there." Dahlia waved him off towards the back door through the kitchen with a flick of her jeweled wrists before heading back into the living room where Petunia was still sitting with her tea set, head firmly turned away from Dahlia to look out the front window.
"Dumbledore won't like that you took the boy. I told him before he could go with you but Dumbledore always said it was best for the boy here." Petunia didn't even turn to speak to her, and the French witch rolled her eyes at the level of immaturity.
"If Dumbledore approaches you then simply say I took the boy myself. You're just a Muggle, there is no way you could have stopped me. He should leave you alone after that." Dahlia's tone was as dry as Petunia's rose bushes, lips pursed as the thin horse-faced woman entirely ignored her words.
"Well. I shall take leave of myself and your nephew then. Goodbye, Petunia." Her eldest cousin remained silent even as Dahlia turned on her heel and left out the kitchen to the backyard. Curious green eyes approached her, and Dahlia swiftly brought her wand out, offering the boy her arm.
"Hold tight then, Harry. Knees slightly bent, and when you feel your feet hit ground take a single step forwards lest you tumble." Harry hesitated before grasping her forearm with a 'what-' before Dahlia was twisting on the spot, arm shifting to grasp the back of Harry's shirt as he stumbled once their feet struck cobblestone.
"What was that?" Harry asked once he caught his footing, looking a little green in the face.
"Side along apparition. Much better than floo or a portkey."
"What are those?" Dahlia stared at Harry for a moment before huffing lightly, guiding him into the dingy bar. Her steady hand at his shoulder allowed her to help him weave through the throngs of people before heading out the other side to stand in a cramped alley, brick wall straight ahead.
"Floo, portkeys, apparation, Merlin forbid the Knight Bus. They're all wizarding ways of transportation. Don't worry, mon chou, I'll do my best to get you caught up in record time to the way things should have been. Come now, let's get to the bank so we can get started on fixing you up." Dahlia brushed past him, bringing forwards her wand and tapping the bricks.
"What's 'Mon chou'?" Dahlia turned with a hum before smirking slightly.
"It's likely you don't want to know the direct translation. Just know that it's a term of endearment. Like 'dearie' or 'sweetheart'." His brow furrowed and he looked borderline offended for a second before shaking his head.
"What is it?" He asked again and Dahlia's lips curled from her smirk to a warm smile.
"My cabbage. Come along now!" She giggled as he sputtered along behind her, but she could hear his footsteps trying to catch up as she fluttered around people to make her way to Gringotts. She had stopped growing in height when she was around 14-maxing out at just under 5'0 though if anyone asked 5'0 was the lowest number she would give them- so she had developed the use of speed and maneuverability to get around people rather than having a large presence. She had been worried about losing Harry in the crowd as she moved, but it seemed he had developed the same way of moving about as she had.
They reached the bank with no issues, Dahlia brushing her hands against the front of her skirt as she halted a few steps from the great doors, armored Goblins eyeing them with suspicion. She turned to face Harry, smiling warmly when he blinked at her.
"I'm already going to assume you know nothing of your heritage."
Harry didn't answer, instead deciding to shake his head at her.
"Very well. We'll ask for the teller to take us to the Potter family head then. As I am not from the Potter side, you'll have to give me permission to speak on your behalf in order to move things along. I know that will take a lot of trust, so before we go in I wanted to ask what you would have from me in return."
"Uh...nothing? If you're going to help me learn more about my family of course I'm going to give you permission." Dahlia 'tsked' at his innocent tone. Dumbledore truly had left Harry with the worst sort of people if he would just trust any random witch or wizard who came to take him away. It was likely that was exactly what he wanted though. She'd have to ask Harry about his introduction into their world over lunch.
"Don't be naive, Harry, that could get you in a lot of trouble these days. Especially with non muggle-born families. Not only would you get in trouble should someone betray you with nothing to hold against them, it's considered just outright rude in wizarding culture to not ask something in return." She eyed him carefully at her next sentence, hoping the seriousness in her tone would keep her words in his mind for a long while.
"In the Wizarding world, Harry, you never want to owe anyone anything." She watched his face carefully as he seemed to take her words to heart, nodding slowly. He still looked a bit unsure, but when it came time for her to actually sit down and teach him their ways she was certain he would start to realize how different their world is than what he had previously thought. So long as Dumbledore didn't get in the way that is.
"That's...a lot." Dahlia nodded and patted Harry on the shoulder sympathetically from where they sat across a heavy oak desk. They had been in Account Manager Bladefang's office for a few hours now. Poor Harry had just received more information at once than he probably ever had before, well, with the exception of the time he had been told he was a Wizard. She still wanted to get that story out of him.
"Harry, if you'd like me to take control over the accounts until you're of age now would be the time to do it. It's time for you to ask for an exchange." Dark eyes peered into a hesitant green gaze and finally Harry nodded.
"Yeah...okay...but I don't know what to ask for." Dahlia hummed. She had a few ideas, but most of them would bring things to light she was certain Harry would run screaming from. Or with anger towards. He was a Gryffindor, afterall.
"If I may," Both heads turned to look at the gravely voice that spoke, Bladefang clearing his throat.
"For an equal exchange of control over control when it is a woman in question of overseeing an Ancient Household, control over her family is often a way to go." Dahlia hummed, placing a painted nail to her lips while she pondered, keeping steady eye contact with Bladefang. Harry's gaze moved slowly between the two of them.
"That should be fine. I'd certainly have no objections over it." Well,she likely would if Harry stayed the way he was, manipulated by that Tête de noeud but she already had plans in motion for Harry's independence. Besides, it was doubtful that he would find a suitor for her and demand she marry before he came of age was slim.
"What are you talking about?" Harry finally asked, and Dahlia smiled warmly at him.
"In exchange for myself taking control of the Potter accounts until you come of age, you shall be in control of who I am to marry lest my time as Acting Head of House Potter come to a stop before you find a suitor." Harry recoiled, looking absolutely shocked at the idea of choosing a husband for someone.
"Bu-what if you find someone you love!? I can't make you marry some random person!" Dahlia laughed softly, reaching over to brush his hair away from his face.
"Harry, mon chou, I am in my early 30's-" She was caught off by his entirely shocked expression and had to cover her mouth with her hand from laughing too loudly.
"I thought you were only like 20!" Dahlia cleared her throat to help her gather her composure, face a touch flushed and lips still upturned.
"Thank you, Harry. That's very kind. At any rate, I am too old to fool around and try to find love, and have too many plans in motion to concentrate on finding a man to bind myself to. So if you find someone for me, you've saved me the trouble. If not, then I'll still be here to advise you after you've come of age should you desire me to."
"Yeah...okay."
"Will that be the deal then?" Bladefang spoke up, sliding forwards a piece of parchment.
"Yes."
"I guess."
"Sign here, and here then." Bladefang directed, a quill floating overhead to brush against Harry's hand until he took it. His signature was a terrible scrawl but it was legible. The quill came to Dahlia's hand next, and she signed with a flourish. Their signature's glowed a soft golden light momentarily before fading away, and Bladefang took the contract, rolling and wax sealing it without another word.
"Very well then." With a snap of his finger's another Goblin approached from a side door, a small red & gold box betwixt clawed hands. Bladefang took the box and passed along the scroll in exchange. He set the box directly in front of Harry, gesturing for him to take it. Dahlia watched with curiosity as he did. Harry hesitated before taking a wide banded golden ring from the box, eyes locked on the Potter crest
"The Heir's ring. Slide it onto the index finger of your left hand. The other ring is for Miss Beausoliel to wear upon the smallest finger of her right hand until you come of age to retrieve it." Harry slid his ring on before taking the much thinner band and holding it out to Dahlia. She hooked her pinkie inside and Harry slid it on the rest of the way. It settled on her finger with another soft glow.
"It is done." Bladefang pulled a stack of papers from his drawer, sliding it over to Dahlia. Recognizing them for what they were, she tapped the papers with the tip of her wand. A gust of wind and they flew up her hand to the ring, shrinking as they went until they seemed to have vanished.
"What were those?" Dahlia smiled approvingly at Harry as he finally asked a question with no hesitation.
"Information about your accounts, your properties, family secrets and traditions." She smiled warmly, patting Harry's arm.
"All in all, it's information I can teach you as the time comes."
"Oh, okay."
"Would you like us to bring the property files forward?" Bladefang asked and Dahlia thought for a second before shaking her head.
"No, thank you, Bladefang. I already know where I would like to bring Harry."
"Very well. Will you be requiring anything else of us today?"
"That's all for today I'm afraid. I'll be sending an owl in another few months to make an appointment."
Bladefang nodded and rose from his desk, Dahlia standing and pulling Harry up with her. She gave the proper goodbye's before pulling Harry from the office and back out to the main lobby of the bank. She started headed for the front doors before Harry stopped her.
"Um...don't we still need to get money?"
"Oh, no need, with the heir and Acting Head rings we can make withdrawals without the tellers. Now, what do you say to some lunch and shopping?"
"Lunch would be great. Shopping not so much."
"Oh, it won't be too bad."
Harry looked absolutely exhausted by the time they were back at the Leaky Cauldron. She had taken him to a French restaurant after he had admitted he'd never had anything other than classic British food, and they had spent the rest of the day purchasing things Dahlia thought Harry needed. Which turned out to be at least five times what Harry himself thought he needed. He had a full new wardrobe, with both muggle and wizarding apparel, a fresh hair cut just to keep the hair out of his eyes until he decided what to do with it, new slim rectangular framed glasses, a new trunk with expanded space, a new set of quill, ink and parchment along with a few writing exercise books that pure-blood children normally were given from a very young age. He hadn't been very excited about it, but after Dahlia had pointed out he was likely to get better grades if the Professor's could actually read what he had written.
"Now don't inhale until the powder has settled, and speak very very clearly. Once the spinning stops, take a single step forwards so you don't trip. Then once the dizziness has gone, step to the side so I don't knock you over."
Harry nodded slowly as he stepped warily into the fire, Dahlia smiling as he shifted, being very clearly hesitant about stepping into a fire. He threw down the handful of floo powder and the flames burst green causing him to jump. He waited until the dust settled before near-shouting and vanishing in another flash of green. Once the fire settled Dahlia waited a few seconds before she stepped into the fireplace and throwing the powder to her feet.
"Potter Manor!"