Chapter 25 – Gringotts
FW
After Leah finally freed Minerva from George and Lee, they made their way over to Gringotts, the weird-crocked white building that towered above all the other shops and houses. When they entered the bank, two long tables on either side of them were filled with goblins. Minerva had told her about them and showed pictures so she would know what to expect when they entered. She glanced around the room; the high ceiling let in the light through large round windows. They walked all the way up to the back, where a large desk was sitting in the middle of the room with one single goblin behind it, who was busy writing on an already meter long parchment.
"Good afternoon." Minerva started, trying to grab the goblins attention. "We have an appointment to open a new account."
Leah saw the goblin look up from his papers with a frown. "Name?"
"Leah Derijker."
"Blood test?"
Leah's eyes went wide when the goblin looked at her, but Minerva quickly intervened and pulled out the parchment with her family tree on it and handed it over. The goblin took it, without taking his eyes of her. His eyes fell down and scanned the parchment quickly. "A descendant of Godric Gryffindor?"
"Yes."
"There hasn't been an heir in over two hundred years."
An heir? Her eyebrows gathered on their own accord as she looked down.
"There is still a fault in Gryffindors name?" Minerva too, asked surprised.
"Of course, we never discard a vault of a pureblood line. Miss Derijker, can I see your wand please?"
Even though she had her stick, her wand, for only a few hours, she had a hard time passing it to the goblin in front of her.
"Place your hand on the parchment." He instructed as he placed her wand on it too. She did as she was told, placing her hand next to her wand on the parchment. He waved his hand over hers and the red lines of the paper lit up like a Christmas tree. "Let's head to the office." He said as he picked up her wand and the parchment. Leah looked to Minerva eyebrows high, but she just gave her a small nod and the two of them followed the goblin through the hallways of the bank.
After a few minutes, the goblin opened a door and gestured them in. They sat down on the two large chairs in front of the desk. They waited in silence as the goblin took his place.
"What's going on? I thought we were just going to open an account."
"Since you are the only living magical heir of Godric Gryffindor, you're the head of the House of The Gryffin. So, you inherit his belongings. I'm afraid to say the House of The Gryffin doesn't have any property on its name anymore but there are still the contents of the vault. You don't need to open a new account; you can use the one of the House of Gryffin. You can add or take whatever you want from it, whenever you please. I already registered your wand, your name and your family tree. If you want to visit your vault you just need to give your wand."
"How much is there in the fault?" Minerva asked.
"No one knows. The vault hasn't been opened in over a hundred years." The goblin hopped back of his chair and handed back her wand and the parchment. "Let's have a look, shall we?"
They followed the goblin out and Leah looked surprised as they stopped in front of a small carriage, that looked a lot like one in an amusement park. And felt like one too, the carriage went on high speed over the rails, with sharp turns and bumps. When she stepped out, it was the second time today she had to grasp her stomach. The goblin walked past the two witches and stopped in front of a large old black wooden door, engraved with symbol of Gryffindor, dust covered the door. The goblin traced his finger in a pattern over the wood, you could hear the locks behind the door unbolt. Then the door opened with a loud creak and the three of them peered in as the torches on the wall started to lit. Stacks and stacks of golden coins were spread across the vault.
Leah turned to Minerva. "What am I supposed to do with all this? I already have more than I can spend!"
"Just take some now, so can buy things here and in Hogsmeade and then you'll have time to let it all sink in."
She nodded her head numb as she took out a pouch she got from Minerva and stuffed a handful of coins in it. She stepped back out and nodded at the goblin. "Thank you, Mr... I didn't get your name."
"Veec." The goblin said surprised.
"Thank you, Mr. Veec."
"No problem, miss Derijker. Why don't we head back upstairs." The corners of the serious goblin twitched as they walked back to the carriage. Minerva gave her an approving smile as she stepped in beside her.
FW
Minerva went to pick something up in the bookstore as Leah went back to WWW to get her things. George was waiting for her at the entrance and as soon as she stepped in, he dragged her to the back. Hermione chuckled as George pulled Leah through the busy shop, nearly tripping on all of their products but that didn't stop him. She thought he was going to stop in the backroom where Lee was still working, but no, after a quick wave from Lee, he pulled her up the stairs to the flat.
"Fuck! George!" Leah grumbled as he finally let her go and she rubbed her knee, she bumped against something on the way in. "What is it?"
"Oh, sorry." He grinned sheepishly. "And don't worry." He came closer and whispered. "I'm not going to ask what happened between you and Fred earlier, that he is now giving me the silent treatment."
"He's not here, George." She said looking around.
"Oh, well. In his room probably." He shrugged. "Now, let me see that stick of yours." He grinned as they sat down on the couch. She rolled her eyes before pulling out her wand from her back pocket.
"Wow." George said as he looked at the wand closely. "There's a crescent moon on here."
"I know. Crazy, right?" She watched as George inspected the wand carefully.
"Did you try a spell already?"
"I just got it two hours ago." She saw George raise his eyebrows in a way that says like So? "So, no. I'll wait until I get back at Hogwarts."
"Fine, fine. I have something for you." He reached for something on the lower tablet of his coffee table and pulled out a rectangular package. "I didn't get a chance to give it on your birthday."
"You didn't have to. This is a birthday I want to forget."
"Pff, no. Open up." He grinned as he shoved the package in her hands. She smiled at his antics as she pulled of the orange ribbon. When she opened the lid, she saw some kind of leather holster in it. She raised one eyebrow at George.
"It's a wand holster. It's safer than putting it in your back pocket and great for duelling."
"Thank you, George!" Leah pulled him in a tight hug. "But-" She said pulling away. "You bought this before you knew I was a witch."
George shrugged, smiling. "I told you from the beginning you were one. What else did you get for your birthday?"
"Not much. Whit threw me that disastrous birthday party, my parents were on holiday and my work friends just chip in for a voucher for a dinner. Why?"
"Uhm." He looked over his shoulder for a split second. "No reason, just curious."
"Right." She said, not believing a word. "George..."
"Yeah?" George came out of his own stupor.
"You know I went to Gringotts to open my own bank account, right?" When he nodded, she continued. "And you know I'm a descendant of Godric Gryffindor. Apparently, I'm the only living magical descendant. So that makes me the head of the House of The Gryffin, making me the heir."
"The heir? You mean?"
"Yeah, there was still a vault from the House of The Gryffin, and – and it had more coins than I could ever count."
"Wow."
"I know." Silence fell in the room; you could just hear the sounds of the street coming through the open window. "There is something else."
"What?"
"I told you I had money, right?"
"Yes." He said slowly.
"That too, is more than you could imagine. My grandparents had an own real estate business and after Nan died, I inherited half of the business."
"You own a million-pound business?" George squeaked; he cleared his throat as something clicked in his brain. "Why do you live in that crappy flat?"
"I'm not one to flaunt my money, my grandparent's money, I might add. But the building is mine. I'm the last resident and now that I'm gone, I'm going to renovate it."
"That's a lot to take in." George said, his eyes still wide.
"Uhu, I know." Silence fell to the room again. Both leaned back against to couch as they rest their shoulders against each other, staring in front of them. Neither of them noticed Fred peering out of his room as he watched the two of them stare into nothing. Fred just heard George say the last sentence before they grew quiet, so he didn't know what they were talking about as he sulked in his room.
"Keep your schedule free this Sunday." She suddenly said, making George jump and Fred hide his head in his room.
"What? Why?"
"Then we're going to get your twin back."
"What?" He asked with a shaking voice, she nodded, grinning. "You sure you're up for it?"
"I feel better already, but Minerva wants to wait until the end of the week, to be sure."
"I agree with Minnie. Although I want Fred fully back more than anything. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I'm fine." She huffed and stood up. "Minerva should be waiting for me. Oh right, here." She pulled out her pouch and handed a confused George some coins. "You lent me some money, remember?"
"I didn't lend you; I gave it to you."
"Like I told you, I have more than enough."
"Fine, but you don't pay for anything in the shop, the others know about it." She stuck out her tongue and wanted to turn to the stairs when George spoke again. "Uhm, Leah."
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask why you are so mad at Fred?"
Leah sighed as a hand rubbed her face. "My love life hasn't been easy, let's leave it at that. Brought back some old and bad memories." George nodded slowly and she turned to walk down the stairs, George on her heels. She picked up the box and waved the two boys goodbye, as George stopped next to Lee's cauldron, looking at the progress for whatever they were making.
The shop was empty except for Hermione, who sat at the register going over the books of the shop.
"Hey, Hermione."
"Hi, Leah. I saw you with Professor McGonagall earlier."
"Oh right." She said putting the box on the ground for a moment. "There is a new muggle studies professor at Hogwarts, and she asked me to show him my work. My computer, PS, such things."
"Really? I didn't know someone new was coming in."
"Yeah, Minerva was the one teaching it, but she finally found a replacement. He's coming over from New York." She looked over her shoulder and grabbed a couple of Daydream charms and a box of Do-You-Dare-chocolates and placed them on the counter. "Can you ring them up?"
"George told me not to charge you." She pointed out.
"George isn't here, is he?" She winked as she glanced at the curtain. She quickly pulled out her pouch again and placed the coins on the counter.
"OH, NO YOU DON'T!" George came charging out the backroom, pointing his finger at her. She grinned and winked to Hermione, who started to laugh. She picked up her box and shoved the daydream charms and chocolates in it and ran out the shop laughing, her voice echoing in the almost empty store.
And we're halfway through! Not long before they try to bring Fred back!