A/N - Here's the next install,ent! Sorry about the delay in posting, a few reviews brought to my attention some things I completely ovelooked while originally writing this, so I had to go back and make some edits to this chapter. As a result, it is now twice the length of any already posted! The cost of the Knight Bus has been taken from J. K. Rowling's Prisoner Of Azkaban and doubled, as there are two of them travelling, using the number of sickles in a galleon Hagrid mentions in Philosopher's Stone. (Disclaimer in Chapter 1)

Chapter 6 - A Visit to Gringotts

The next morning, Harry and Ginny woke up to find an owl tapping at their bedroom window. They barely had long enough to process that this was what they were seeing before Uncle Vernon's dulcet tones could be heard booming up the stairs. "LET THAT BLOODY CREATURE IN BEFORE THE NEIGHBOURS SEE IT! I DON'T WANT THEM THINKING SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH US!"

Harry quickly scrambled out of bed and opened the window. The owl shot him an annoyed glare, as if it had been waiting for hours (which it had), ruffled its feathers, and hopped into the room. Harry carried it over to Hedwig's cage, and let it have a drink of water and some owl treats before removing its letter. As soon as this was done, it flew off back out the open window. Hedwig also glared at him, as if it was his fault a different owl had delivered the letter and not her, before tucking her head under her wing and going back to sleep. Harry supposed that this was still preferable to her than having the cage locked for the whole summer.

He carried the letter back to the bed where Ginny was waiting and opened it. He read it aloud.

Dear Mr Potter,

It has come to my attention that you have formed a soul-bond with one Ms Ginevra Molly Weasley. At your earliest convenience, please could both of you attend Gringotts so that we may discuss both this and your current financial situation.

May your gold ever flow,

Ragnok

Senior Manager, Gringotts Bank

They sat there in silence for a moment, then Harry asked: "How did he know about our soul-bond? That information is private!"

"Does it matter? Maybe he'll know about it and tell us more than Dumbledore would let on."

"That is possible. And what does he mean about my financial situation?"

"I have no idea. Maybe something happened with your account? Although it is strange that Ragnok would contact you."

"Why?"

"He's the senior manager of Gringotts. That basically means that he is leader of the Goblin Nation."

"Oh! I really need to read more, find out about the wizarding world. But don't ever let Hermione know I said that."

"Can you imagine what she'd be like? She'd constantly harp over you to study even more than she does already." Ginny replied, laughing. Then she turned more serious. "Actually, speaking of Hermione, what are we going to tell her? The rest of my family know that I'm staying here with you. Should she know too?"

"I guess it's something we'll have to think about. I'm not sure she needs to know right now, so it can wait until we have more time to think about it. Or the new school year for that matter." Harry replied.

After getting out of bed once again, and heading over to the wardrobe, he threw a set of clothes at Ginny and removed one himself. As he returned to the bed to take Ginny's hand again, he continued, "Well, I guess we better find out what this is about. We'll head over later today. But for now, we should really head down for breakfast. The Dursleys may be treating us better, but if we are not there in time for the meals, they'll not leave anything for us."

"Okay, just let me go get changed first."

Albus Dumbledore was worried. He knew now that Lord Voldermort created a horcrux. Knowing Tom like he did, one would never be enough. He would make more than that, and possibly take other precautions as well. The thing was, what would he deem appropriate as containers to hide pieces of his soul, and where would he keep them, not to mention how many were there? It was going to be very difficult ensuring he had all of them.

And then there was the matter of Harry Potter's soul-bond. This wouldn't do. So long as he prevented it from completing it would be okay, but that just needed an act of love. He was pretty sure that Harry didn't understand love, and Ginny was just too young.

Once Harry returned to school, there were many methods he could employ to redirect the student's attention away from Ginny, such as a love potion. However, this could not be started while he was at Privet Drive, as he wasn't sure whether his own wards would prevent him from doing it. He didn't know whether it would be deemed as intending to bring harm to the recipient, and he definitely didn't want to test it out. Albus Dumbledore hated not knowing something, and now two things existed that he didn't know about.

He did briefly debate the idea of not trying to keep Ginny in school, but that could cause all manner of problems. Particularly if Molly found out that he had after she had expressly asked him to try. He did not want to be on the wrong end of her temper.

He also debated the idea of claiming the bond to be completed already in order to move Ginny back to the Burrow and away from Harry before anything could happen, but even that could have unwanted repercussions, as no-one knew what happened if a soul-bond, once started, went uncompleted for more than two-months. It wouldn't be any better if the Boy-Who-Lived were to die before reaching his third year.

All that could be done was await Harry's return to Hogwarts. In the meantime, he would have to keep watch on the instrument on his desk, which would activate when Harry's bond was completed, hoping it wouldn't do so, and find the remaining horcruxes.

Just after lunch, Harry and Ginny were walking down Whisteria Walk, making sure they were a long distance from Privet Drive. Harry had informed Aunt Petunia that they were going out, and wouldn't be back till dinner, but there was no point tempting the devil by calling for the Knight Bus in Privet Drive.

It was Ginny who had come up with this method of transport. There was no floo nearby, and Harry hated it anyway, and they couldn't apparate without keeping the trip a secret, even if one of them did know how to. Mr Weasley had told them he wouldn't be visiting until the day after, so they just needed to be discreet in their journey. This was the solution. Ginny had heard her parents mention it, and while never having used it herself, knew the basics for calling it.

When they were what they deemed a reasonable distance away, Harry stuck out his wand hand. Immediately, the Knight Bus rolled up. The conductor started speaking, reading a little card held in his hand.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, essential transport for the stranded witch or wizard. My name's Stan Shunpike and I will be your conductor for this journey. Where is it yer goin'?" He asked as he looked up

Harry spoke. "Diagon Alley."

"One Galleon and five Sickles then please."

Harry handed the money over, and they climbed on board. "You're the on'y passengers at the moment, so it'll be ten minutes." The only reason he hadn't seen who they were and commented on it was because they had worn clothing that disguised their appearance, including hoods.

Stan returned to the front of the bus to talk to the driver, who it sounded like was called Ernie, while Harry and Ginny headed to the top of the three floors, and took seats at the front. As the bus was empty, they had their choice of seats, and these were the best for discussing things in private. Harry started, "I was thinking some more last night..."

"Oh, what about?"

"Sirius Black. And I had a thought." He said questioningly, almost hoping that Ginny would agree.

"A thought? That's dangerous. Should you really be doing all that thinking on your own?"

"Haha, very funny." Harry replied, lightly bumping her shoulder, but she could tell he didn't really mean it, as he was glad she was regaining her playful nature now they were back at 'home'.

"I thought it was." She replied cheekily with a grin. "So what was your thought?"

"I just feel that if Black betrayed my parents, shouldn't there be some record of it. And how did he betray them. It wasn't like only he knew their location was it? I don't really know what a 'secret keeper' is."

"Neither do I. It has something to do with a charm I think. Maybe we can ask Ragnok."

"That's a good idea!" Harry exclaimed.

"I know, I came up with it!"

Fifteen minutes later, they had arrived at the Leaky Cauldron and changed into some robes, pulled up over their heads. Quickly making their way to Gringotts, they entered and lined up to wait for one of the tellers. When they reached him, they asked to meet Ragnok.

"Slitok, please takes Mr Potter and his companion to waiting room 3."

"How did you know it was me?"

"It is our business to know. Next!"

They followed Slitok to the waiting room. After sitting on the sofa for several minutes, once more holding hands, although the urge was oddly no longer present, an important looking goblin entered.

"Good afternoon Mr Potter, Ms Weasley, I am Ragnok. If you follow me to my office, we can discuss things in private."

In Ragnok's office, Harry started.

"How did you know about our bond? It is a closely kept secret."

Wordlessly, Ragnok passed a sheet of parchment.

1992

Harry James Potter and Ginevra Molly Weasley

Soul Bond

Started: 27th June 1992

Completed: 1st July 1992

"The Ministry of Magic is not the only place that keeps such a record. They only check it once a century, and it was last checked in 1985, so no-one should know for a while. This one is personally for me, and I am the only one who can see it. I keep more up to date with it than the Ministry." He said with a wry grin in response to the unanswered question.

"Do you know anything about our bond?" Harry asked next. "All Dumbledore really knew was the need to stay in contact until it completed, but we suspect he knew more than that."

"We at Gringotts are more adept at retrieving information when we need it, even from the Department of Mysteries. As you see here, the bond has now completed. This usually happens through an act of love. Any idea how this happened?"

Ginny spoke up, blushing wildly. "Well, we kissed yesterday afternoon."

"Excellent! You may not immediately notice, but your love for each other is the strongest I have ever encountered. That is the only way the bond could have formed in the first place. This next part may worry you, but with what I have just said should make sense. In effect, and in all magical records, you are now married."

"Married?" Ginny squeaked.

Harry was worried. What if Ginny didn't want to be married to him? "Gin, are you okay?"

"Oh, yes Harry. I didn't mean to worry you. I quite like the idea. You are mine and I am yours. We now have a permanent reminder of that fact. It was just a shock."

"Okay. I like it too."

"What more do I know? Yes, because of this recent change in both of your status's, you now afford full majority rights. The trace has been removed, so you can do magic whenever you want. You could even learn to apparate legally, but if the bond is to be kept secret that isn't a good idea. It is probably important to note that although you are married on magical records, any at Hogwarts can't be updated once the student has attended their first year. This means they won't update. Also, you now have full access to your finances. We will get to that in a minute."

Harry was shocked to say the least. It was a lot to take in. "Anything else?"

"Yes. The bond prevents anything from coming in the way of your love for each other. This means, for example, that love potions won't work on you. Also, I believe you currently sleep in the same bed to maintain contact?"

Receiving a pair of nods he continued. "Professor Dumbledore currently has an instrument monitoring your bond to inform him when it is completed. This is so he can move you, Mrs Potter, back to the Burrow. Presumably you don't want that separation?"

Vicious shaking of the head. "Then the instrument will not activate, as it would come between your love. I suggest you keep the completion of the bond secret. Eventually Dumbledore will go to check it at the Ministry, but probably only on the first of September, when you return to school. He will not understand why the instrument did not go off. Also, I believe he was tracing your location. I have taken the liberty of removing this from you, and protected you both from any future traces."

"Thank you Ragnok. Why would he do that?"

"There is a prophecy about you. I don't know what it contains, but your parents did, and also Dumbledore. I believe he wants to mould you to a specific image."

"You mentioned my finances?"

"Yes. Due to your recent marriage, both of you have access to the following vaults. Your trust vault, which you pay for school from, the Potter Family Vault, which I guess Dumbledore failed to inform you of?"

"He did." Harry confirmed.

"Then he is no longer account manager for you. Also, as the Potters are descended from him, the Gryffindor Vault. Only a true heir can open it."

"I'm the heir of Gryffindor?"

"Yes. If you wish we can visit the vaults now?"

"Just a few questions. If I were to want to find out anything about the vaults, who would I go to?"

"I have taken the liberty of becoming your account manager."

"Thank you. Also, would it be possible for you to look into some things for us. We would pay you for your time of course."

"I would like to help my customers in any way possible. What can I do for you?"

"I would like to know more about Sirius Black. I heard he was a friend of my father's and can't see how he could betray him like that. I believe it is possible for him to be innocent. I know he was my parent's secret keeper but I don't really know what that is."

"This is a serious suggestion. I can explain the secret keeper concept to you next time we meet, but we don't have the time currently. Anything else?"

"I would like to know if my parents left a will. I want to hear it and ensure it was carried out properly."

"I presume specifically anything entailing Dumbledore?"

"Correct."

"I will look into it."

"Also, I would like for you to find information about horcruxes."

"May I ask why you want to know about dark magic?"

"We believe Voldemort may have made some."

"So he never really died?"

"I don"t believe so."

"I will look into it."

"Can we see the vaults now, my family one first?"

"Certainly"

After a long cart ride to the bowels of Gringotts which left Harry and Ginny very shaken, although Ginny enjoyed it immensely, Ragnok headed to and opened vault 021. As Harry stepped in, he stopped with shock. A huge cavern was piled high with Galleons, Sickles and Knuts as far as the eye could see. Near the door, a pedastal holding a letter stood. Harry picked it up.

"I'll have to return another day to look through all this, as I'm on a deadline. Can we see Gryffindor's vault now."

"Certainly. However, I warn you that the last person to enter was Godric Gryffindor himself. Not even a goblin has been in since."

"We can try."

An extremely short cart ride later, and they had reached vault 003. "Put your hand on the door. It will only open for a true heir." Ragnok said.

Harry stepped forward, and placed his hand on the door, not expecting anything to happen. Suddenly, the door creaked inwards, sounding as if it needed a good oil. The cavern behind it was full to bursting, and at least ten times the size of his family vault. Ginny gasped at what she saw. Once again, pedestal holding a letter stood near the door. Picking it up, Harry turned to Ragnok and said, "We need to leave now. Is there a way we can get here quickly when we need to? This morning we used the Knight Bus, but it is expensive and we run this risk of being recognized."

Ragnok moved to the back of the vault. "I may have never been in here before, but I am sure of what these items are. Ah yes, these necklaces. Instant portkeys. If you see the discs hanging from them, and the runes? Each rune can be tuned to a different location. Currently this one," he pointed at the rune in the 12o'clock position, "is set to 'home', or Potter Manor, this one," he now started working clockwise, "is set to take you to the other necklace, and this third one takes you to a location in Hogwarts. It is possible this letter tells you. I have now set the fourth to the Leaky Cauldron and the fifth to my office. You are welcome anytime. Also, any message sent by owl to me will not be possible to intercept. It will be guarded by Goblin magic."

"Thank you Ragnok, you are most kind. If you don't mind, could you set the next rune to Number 4 Privet Drive?"

"It is done."

"You mentioned Potter Manor. Is it possible to return sometime in the near future to talk about my inheritance?"

"When I find the will of your parents would be best."

"Then we will test these portkeys out and go home now. May your gold ever flow, Ragnok."

"May your gold ever flow, Mr and Mrs Potter."

Using the portkeys, they popped out of existence and into their bedroom at Privet Drive, just as Aunt Petunia called for dinner.

"We'll discuss everything in the morning", Harry told Ginny, as they headed downstairs.