"Mr Potter, this changes things, doesn't it?" Director Ragnok mused.
"In what way, director?" Harry wondered if Ragnok had changed his mind, if he'd decided that Gringotts wasn't going to help Harry and Hermione.
"Gringotts are impartial in affairs in the Wizarding world. But… The Dark Lord has decided to involve us, without our knowledge or consent, I might add. He has made a grievous mistake. Gringotts are now a part of this war." Ragnok stood and stepped back behind his chair, he reached for a tassel hanging from a wire, pulling it he returned to his seat.
"We will help you, Mr Potter." He said quietly. "In all ways that we can."
Harry slumped in relief, his shoulders falling and his head dropping forward. He stayed like that as Ragnok waved to a guard and let goblin after goblin, into the room. Each goblin entered and stood at attention near the door.
"Goblins of Gringotts… we are at war. The, so called, Dark Lord as involved us in his war, without our consent… so we shall enter this war. Taking into consideration those that lead the opposing forces, it is the Will of Gringotts that we shall support… Mr Potter. This does not mean we will actively support the Light contingent, but rather that we shall do all that we, the goblins of Gringotts, can to aid Mr Potter and the young lady at his side. Spread the word. Do the absolute bare minimum for the Dark Lord and his followers."
Ragnok slammed his fist down on the desk and all the attending goblins slammed theirs to their chests. One by one, the goblins left the room, each bowed to Ragnok, then to Harry and Hermione, but not one of them spoke a word.
When it was just the four of them in left in the room, Healer Metlav spoke.
"Mr Potter? Do you still want me to block the Horcruxe in your scar? Or would you prefer we remove it, completely?"
"Not yet, Healer Metlav. Ragnok said that blocking the Horcruxe would tell us if I will still be a parselmouth, once it is removed. I need to know, as it could change some of our plans." Harry explained.
"Certainly, Mr Potter. Leaving it there for a few more hours, is not likely to cause any more damage than it's already done. But blocking it? That will take only a matter of seconds for the appropriate curse-breaker." The Healer replied.
"On your way to make the Horcruxe identifying potion, would you have one of the goblin curse-breakers assigned, I'd prefer to keep the humans out of this, Metlav. Tell them to come an hour before midday." Ragnok requested.
"Gurnrib is working on a commission from the ICW, he should be finished soon, but he will need some rest, sir, so an hour before midday is ideal. Not that it is important, but the only human curse-breaker we have capable of this level of containment is Weasley and he won't be in until morning. And-"
"Weasley is not to know the Mr Potter was here at all." Ragonk cut the healer off. "As of now, he's on restricted information. He is not to work on the Potter or Black estates, better yet, he is to work only on commercial accounts. Until I say otherwise. If he requests leave, give it to him."
"As say, director. If you'll excuse me, I'll pass that along and get to work." Metlav bowed and left.
"Well, Mr Potter, shall we continue?" Ragnok asked.
"Yes, please. But, if I may? Would you call me Harry? Mr Potter makes me feel like I'm back at school with Dumbledore calling the shots."
"Thank you… Harry. Where were we up to?"
"We were just starting the Potter estate, director." Hermione replied.
"Ah, yes, thank you Miss Granger."
"Hermione, please, director. We're going to be working on this for hours, I would hope that we would be past such formalities." Hermione spoke politely but calmly.
"Very well... Hermione. The Weasley's?"
Harry took a deep breath.
"Starting at the beginning. Arthur and Molly. Pay out their mortgage. ʛ50,000 towards rebuilding the Burrow. And I'll write them a letter."
"Very good, Harry." Ragnok mused. "That's reasonable amount, given that they won't know exactly how lucrative your accounts are. Who's next?"
"Bill and Fleur. Hermione and I have speculated that it's only Ginny and Mrs Weasley that are involved. And well... I would be expected to leave something to everyone, so I will be mentioning each of the Weasley family. So, yeah… Bill and Fleur. Again pay out the mortgage, but only ʛ5,000 and a letter."
"Are you including Charlie, too, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, if I don't, it'll stand out. Charlie gets ʛ10,000 and a letter."
"ʛ10,000?"
"Yeah, if he had a mortgage, that would be paid and he'd only get ʛ5,000."
"Ah, I see. I think that should be noted, it may quell the possibility of dispute." Ragnok suggested.
"That might be a good idea, Harry. Ron… well, you know what he's like." Hermione warned.
"Yeah, add it in, please, Ragnok."
"Done."
"Next is Percy. Same for him. Then there are the twins. Fred and George. Between them, they get ʛ10,000, the title to the shop premises and a letter. If between the Black or Potter estates, I don't own the premises, please buy it. Also they get all the Marauder and prank related items, research and books. Excluding photos, all photos join the copied books waiting for Hermione."
"I'll have to check, but I know that there's a number of shops in Diagon alley in both estates." Ragnok made a note to check later.
"Ron, now. Ron get's a vault… How many family properties in the Potter estate?" Harry asked.
"Five. Orchard Cottage, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Clayman's Keep, Ayrshire, Scotland. The rest are in England. Potter Manor, Cumbria. Rose Cottage, Somerset. And of course, Godric's Hollow, West Country."
"Hmm…" Harry shared a look with Hermione. "Ron gets Potter Manor. A vault, like I said. A letter and… three of the mid-range premises in Diagon."
"Sounds fair. Any idea of how much in the vault?" Ragnok made more notes. He took parchment from a file that Ricbert had placed when the goblin entered the room carrying a box and two folders. The young goblin crossed back to the door and sat quietly, waiting for further instructions.
"I think ʛ50,000 should be enough to satisfy him. If it's not…?" Harry grinned.
"Too bad, so sad." Hermione added.
The two shared a vicious grin.
"Ginny." They said together.
"Ginny," Harry said again. "She gets… oh, let me see… Rose Cottage, ʛ10,000, two pieces of jewellery and a letter."
"More than fair, I think." Hermione agreed.
"Yeah, well… it's all she's getting." Harry muttered darkly, before cheering up and adding. "The rest are combined estates. Neville, a letter and ʛ5000. Luna get's the oddest piece of jewellery in the vaults and all the shares in the Daily Prophet. Is there anything else that she could have, something weird, odd?" Harry asked Ragnok.
"Oh, yes. I recall James Potter being completely dumbfounded when his mother, Euphemia Potter gave him two personal journals by Newt Scamander for his 20th birthday, just a few months before she died in July 1979." Ragnok smirked.
"Perfect!" Harry crowed. "Luna would love that."
"There's also manuscripts for two unreleased book by Scamander as well."
"Oh, oh, Hagrid, that would be perfect for Hagrid." Hermione chirped.
"Yes, it would. The manuscripts for Hagrid, ʛ10,000 and a letter. He should be told where Buckbeak is."
"Oh yes, he should. Harry? Do you think McGonagall will let him keep Buckbeak at Hogwarts?"
"I don't know, I hope so."
"Talking of McGonagall? Are you going to leave her anything?"
"May I make a suggestion, Harry?" Ragnok cut in. "James' grandmother, Drizelda, was an avid collector of anything to do with the Founders, not just of Hogwarts, but also of other famous organisations. Perhaps a handwritten Transfiguration book by Gryffindor? And something similar for any other professors?"
"Oh, Harry. Yes. But… can I have copies, please?" Hermione begged.
"Alright."
"Yes!" Hermione cheered.
"Something on potions for Snape, too, please." Harry added.
"Certainly. Anyone else?"
"Only Hermione."
"But… I… I assumed she would be going with you, Harry."
"No. I won't be going all that far, but Hermione is… Well… Hermione is going to take a Blood Adoption potion and become the sister of Harry Potter, after he's dead. She won't be able to take the title, but her children will. As well as Clayman's Keep and a vault."
"Oh, my apologies, Miss Granger, I assumed the two of you were a couple." Ragnok stammered.
"No, Harry and I see each other as siblings and have done for a few years, now. But no offense taken." Hermione began.
"No, no offense taken, at all, Ragnok. But this is part of the reason for Harry Potter to die. I am gay… and Mrs Weasley and Ginny Weasley have decided between them that they will drug me with a love potion and basically force me to marry Ginny. After that? It will either be a divorce, a very public one, portraying her as the victim. Or a tragic accident. At least that's all Hermione and I can think of, unless of course, they intend to continue the drugging for life." Harry added.
Ragnok spluttered for a few minutes, until he realised that Harry and Hermione were doing the only thing they could. With all the different pressures that had been placed on Harry and what was surely coming, the only way to avoid being used like a trophy, was to die.
"Harry… I'm sorry. You should never have been placed in this position." Ragnok said quietly.
"No, I shouldn't have, but I was and now I have to deal with it. This is the only way I can see… the only way that the public get their hero, Hogwarts gets her saviour and I get a life. I don't really care what happens to the public image of Harry Potter, I won't be him, I will be Raven."
"As you say. Well, I'll have Ricbert flesh out the rest of the details for this. The only thing I need for the rest of this Will is what you plan to do with Godric's Hollow, the other properties and the amounts for the vaults."
"Godric's Hollow is to be pulled down and made into a park, a muggle-friendly park. The other properties are to be sold and the money held for me as Raven. As for the vaults? Do we have a final ʛalleon figure, yet?" Harry asked.
"Yes, ʛ1,091,000 approximately for the Black estate and ʛ1,326,000, again approximately, for the Potter estate. I've rounded down to the nearest 1000 and have not included sickles or knuts." Ragnok stated.
"Right. God…" Harry shook his head. "ʛ100,000 for Draco. ʛ10,000 for Teddy. ʛ5,000 for Andromeda. Same for Tonks, ah, Nymphadora. ʛ20,000 for Remus. That's 140,000. Um… the Black family vault… um… ʛ750,000 and all vaults for the Black Family, books, portraits, etc are to be connected to Teddy's title, but held in trust until he claims the title. However, Draco gets first choice of the furniture, whenever he's ready, for Black Manor and a selection of portraits, if he wants them and Remus approves of them. The rest of the money goes into a new vault for me as Raven. Add up the Weasley's and after all the mortgages are paid, ¾ goes into a vault for Hermione. The other ¼ is added to my Raven vault. All the portraits, books, artefacts, wands and furniture etc, are to be placed in vaults connected to the Potter title, but Ron gets to pick furniture for Potter Manor and select 10 portraits, with Hermione's approval."
"Certainly, Harry. Now… what's say we break for the night? It's well after midnight. Ricbert will escort you to accommodation here in the bank and we'll pick this up in the morning." Ragnok didn't really wait for an answer, he just rose to his feet, dipped his head and left.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other.
"I guess, we're staying here then." Harry said.
"This way, please." Ricbert gestured.
Harry's internal clock said it was well after dawn, when he woke. He picked up his glasses and put them on, idly wondering if the Gringotts healers could do anything for his eyesight, as glasses were a pain. He dressed and prodded Hermione as he headed for the connecting bathroom. Ten minutes later, the pair felt awake enough to continue with their plans.
Opening the door, Harry was startled to see Ricbert with his hand raised to knock on the now open door.
"Good morning, Master Raven, Miss Granger. Director Ragnok sent me to invite you to join him for a morning meal. This way, please." Ricbert blurted out, obviously just as startled as Harry.
"Thank you, Ricbert." Harry said.
"Good morning, Ricbert." Hermione added.
More halls, more turns and they were back in Ragnok's office. Harry felt a sense of relief to be in a semi-familiar space.
"Good morning, Harry, Hermione. Do you mind if we talk business as we eat?" Ragnok said without hesitation.
"Good morning, Ragnok." Harry and Hermione spoke together.
"Not at all." Harry continued. "There's so much to do, if we waited to eat, we'd likely never get finished."
"Oh, it's not that bad." Ragnok grinned. "Ricbert finished the Potter Will's details, if you'll just read over it and note any changes needed. If there's no changes, Ricbert can write it up and a little later we'll get you to re-read and sign it, as well as doing the Reading of the Will. Please don't stand on ceremony, serve yourselves whatever you wish."
Ragnok sipped his tea, watching as Harry picked up the piece of parchment and began to read. Hermione poured Harry tea and placed it at his elbow, just as Harry pulled the bowl of scrambled eggs closer and dished out a spoonful, his attention still firmly focused on the parchment in his hand. It was enlightening to watch the pair, Hermione dished for Harry and Harry dished for Hermione, they were so comfortable with each other, that Ragnok wondered how he could have not seen it earlier. They moved like twins, almost extensions of the other.
Harry finished reading and handed the parchment to Hermione, who very quickly scanned it. She laid it on the table and nodded to Harry.
"That fine, Ragnok. I happy with that." Harry commented.
"Good. Ricbert?"
"I'll get on it right away, director." The young goblin assured them, picking up the parchment and moving to the second desk. "Sir? The inheritance tests are complete. Would you like me to bring them over, before I start on the Potter Will?"
"Yes, please, Ricbert." Ragnok replied.
Ricbert placed a scroll and small piece of parchment beside Ragnok's elbow and went back the other desk, to continue his work.
Ragnok studied the scroll, he eyes widening as he read.
"Well." He said, finally. "There's quite a bit to work with, here." He laid out the scroll, pinning it down, so that Harry and Hermione could see it.
"Oh, hell, Harry." Hermione groaned. "That list is huge."
"Uh huh." Harry grunted. "Maybe we can shorten it? All the purely financial inheritances… add them to my Raven vault."
Ragnok did something and perhaps a third of the list vanished.
"Okay. Do what we did with the Black and Potter estates. One vault for Jewellery. One for books, with a copy of all books to go to Hermione. Maybe send them straight to Clayman's Keep? Artefacts and wands in a third, portraits in a fourth and furniture in a fifth. All cursed items removed and if possible the curses broken, if not then destroyed." The list shortened significantly.
"Right, so what have we got left? Do any of these leave the Head of House title? Start a second column for those with Head titles." All but four moved to the second column. "What are these four, Ragnok?"
"These are leaving a combination of homes, their contents and vaults. So lots of things, but no titles."
"Right. Move everything, all the contents, to the itemized vaults."
"That leaves just the properties and the titles." Ragnok confirmed.
"The properties? Are there any close to Clayman's Keep? Within a few miles?" Harry asked.
"Two. Cider Orchard and Reaper's Run. But I have to say that the tenant for Cider Orchard has been running the place as a business for the last five years and is hoping that the new owner would be prepared to sell."
"Sell. I'd prefer Reaper's Run, anyway. Given Sirius was a Grimm and I've been nearly killed so many times, the name doesn't worry me, but it may need some work and that's not something I have any idea how to deal with."
"And the rest?"
"Quietly, sell them. Maybe not at the same time, but sell them. Even the vacant land, commercial premises and businesses, see if the tenant is interested first, but sell, anyway." Harry ordered.
"And the titles?"
"Split them, again. Light, Grey and Dark. What happens if I don't claim the titles, but do claim the rest of each inheritance?"
"Lady magic will disperse the magic where she chooses and the title becomes extinct."
As Ragnok spoke the list shifted. The first section, that of just the four, moved to a second piece of parchment, with notes for each property, one of them being Reaper's Run. The remains split into three separate lists, each with a heading. One read Light, one read Grey and the third read Dark.
"Three Dark family titles, seven Grey and twenty-eight Light. Good heavens, Harry." Hermione was stunned.
"Of the Light titles? Are there any that the Bloodline is completely dead, no extended family for three generations?" Harry asked.
The list moved again and a fourth column was created.
"Good. Now… did any of these have children that started at Hogwarts between 1980 and 1989, but were withdrawn, for whatever reason?"
Five titles moved into a new column. There was a sudden twist and the scroll changed orientation, lines running down rather than across. Ragnok blinked and turned the scroll, so that it lay along the length of the desk.
"Of these five… list them in order of who died last. Sorry, I don'tmean to be harsh, but I need to know." Harry added, as he saw the expression on Ragnok's face.
"No, no. I'm not judging… well, I am, but merely that I wasn't sure of how you planned to do this. I hold no animosity for the method of elimination, just that I am surprise that it's not a more… random selection." Ragnok assured Harry.
"Ah, in that case… I need a family that is completely dead by Bloodline, one that I, after claiming Head of House title, can adopt myself into the Bloodline with a familia sanguine potion. But it really needs to be a Light family, we decided that me being a parselmouth is part of why I would have been home-schooled. Hermione agreed with me, when I said I needed to get out of the country and… well… Charlie Weasley always treated me like I was just another kid hanging around and if I'm still a parselmouth, dragons can understand me."
"Charlie knows?" Ragnok spluttered.
"No. Not yet, he doesn't, but we planned on telling him, later." Hermione informed Ragnok.
"Right. Just a moment." Ragnok tapped the parchment and the names moved.
"Thanks. Number them one to five as they are and them list them by how isolated they are from Wizarding society." The names jumped again, the top two staying as they were.
"Lastly. Have any of their homes been destroyed in the war?"
The top three were marked.
"Thanks. Ragnok? Neither Hermione or myself are all that knowledgeable about Wizarding families. Of these two, which would most people hear the name and be certain is was a Light family?"
"We need a family that it would be assumed to be so Light, that they were afraid to let anyone know that there was a parselmouth in the family." Hermione clarified.
"Ah. That would be the Rowan-ash's. A traditionally Light family, descended from the Peverells, muggle tolerant, but not so tolerant within the family. And not long after Dumbledore' battle with Grindelwald there was rumour of a parselmouth in the family, that died inexplicably. As I said, they are descended from the Peverell's, as was Salazar Slytherin, that's where the ability was first documented to come from… Canatos Peverell, the father of Antioch, Cadmus and Ignotus."
"So... If I adopt myself into a bloodline that's documented to carry the possibility of parseltongue… that's good, really good. Alright, then. I'll take Rowan-ash title."
"Very good. So, you're going to claim all the other inheritances, but discard the actual titles? Am I understanding that correctly?"
"Yes, that's about it." Harry confirmed.
"Good. I'll get Ricbert to see to the details, when he's finished the Potter Will. Healer Metlav and Curse-breaker Gurnrib are waiting for us, in the healer's wing. Shall we go there and discuss your scar?" Ragnok stood and gestured to the door.
familia sanguine= family bloodline (rough trans)