Wow! I really didn't expect so many to follow this tale! (Thank you!)

There's still a lot to go through before Harry can devote his time to... other matters. *wink* and I'm thinking of updating once a week from now on.

Please review! just remember that I've already written ahead but someway so you may not see anything you ask of me. XD

Past meets Future

Harry woke first with a strange weight on his chest. He yawned and copped a mouthful of bushy hair, working to remove the hair from his mouth the memory of last night flooded back. Feeling lighter than when he went to bed the night before he, with immense difficulty, extracted himself from her grip and looked back at her. Looking at the sunrise out the window he felt far more rested then usual, then it hit him. With Hermione in his bed there was no nightmares to speak of. Shivering at the prospect of telling her that the only way to rid his sleep of nightmares was to have her sleep with him he tip toed over to his trunk. Kreacher must have brought my trunk from the Burrow, Bless him. And found his Quidditch top. Which was promptly thrown aside for a ratty oversize T-Shirt, which he donned and rummaged for some Parchment and his Ink and Quill. He found the first two but not the latter so with a sigh he quietly left the room and made his way down to the Common Room hoping to find a Quill there.

The dishevelled wizard arrived downstairs to find a fire burning and the room bathed in a golden glow from the fire and pink light fro the sunrise. Immediately he felt grateful for living for being able to see this. No longer a weight on his shoulders, no longer sleep deprived and hungry, and no longer feeling the anger that simmered in his subconscious. This feels too good to be true. He wrenched his gaze from the Window and it fell upon the Chairs that the three of them used to call theirs. Happily he plopped down on his favourite squishy Armchair, he laid out a roll of Parchment while holding onto the bottle of ink when he realised he had no quill. He went to grab his Wand to conjure one and realised he had left it on his Bedside table. He closed his eyes and sat back groaning, wishing he had his Wand. It was going so well too, I really don't want to accidentally wake Hermione.

He opened his eyes with a start when he felt something fall into his lap. His Holly Wand sat on top of his Parchment, he eyed it suspiciously but then picked it up. He concentrated. "Plectrum" and a large Quill appeared on top of his Parchment. Snatching it up and looking at it. Wow, that was actually easy. He dipped it into his ink and made to write before he paused. Who am I writing to? The answer came to him instantly. Ron. He had just started on his letter when he heard light footsteps on the stairs. Looking up he saw a side of he friend that he hadn't seen before. She was wearing his Quidditch top he had tossed aside. ! She looked sleepy and her hair was even bushier than normal. She was lit up by the pink glow that streamed through the window, entrancing him. Harry was broken from his thoughts when she spoke.

"Your Wand woke me up when it bumped into the glass of water. Why did you summon your Wand?"

He blinked. "I dunno it just came to me when I realised I'd left it upstairs."

"Where's the Elder wand?"

"In my Trunk." His eyes widened in surprised. I wandlessly summoned it?

Hermione echoed his thoughts. "You summoned your Wand, WITHOUT a Wand? How?"

"I don't know I just thought about really needing it because I didn't want to wake you up."

Her face softened then she laughed. "Well thanks for the effort Harry but you still woke me up." She looked at the writing equipment on his lap.

He followed her gaze and answered the unasked question. "I figured I'd write to Ron and see how he's doing."

"Hmmm ok. I'll freshen up while you do that. I'd like to know as well." And she turned and disappeared up the stairs.

Harry, after some thought. Began his letter.

Ron.

Hey mate how are you getting on? We both miss not having you here but we totally understand. I haven't asked her yet but I'm sure she will want to visit everyone soon. Probably after we go to Gringotts and stop in at the Ministry. Apparently Sirius left me something in his will and I need to claim whatever it is before the goblins get angry. (And I'm sure they don't like us anyway as you should remember *wink*) We are going today so we will be round later.

Harry

After reading it over and deemed it satisfactory he rolled it up and was about to exit the common room when he remembered that Hermione was still upstairs. He made a U-turn and scratched out a note on the other piece of parchment on the table, explaining where he was going and asked her to meet him in the Great Hall for breakfast. This time he exited the Portrait Hole and made his was to the Owlery. As he arrived he wondered whether any owls survived the battle. His question was answered as he strode through the door way to find maybe twenty pairs of eyes staring back at him, About half of the usual contingent. With a pang for Hedwig, he stepped over the owl droppings to the closest one. The Barn owl fixed him with an inscrutable stare the entire time he attached the letter to its leg.

"This goes to Ron Weasley, ok?" The owl hooted softly in acquiescence and took off into the clear blue sky.

As he entered the great hall he found the only other teenage occupant in the castle already seated. She greeted him first. "You took a while."

A mock expression of affront took over his face. "I beg your pardon but I just about sprinted back here to beat you to breakfast."

She stuck her tongue out at him. "You're just getting slow in your old age."

Harry chuckled as he arranged two slices of toast, eggs and bacon into a sandwich. Taking a bite he wondered why he didn't have this for breakfast more often when his companion broke the silence. "You know I've been thinking about Gringotts. You're the last of the Potters aren't you?"

He pondered this himself. "I'm not sure really, I assume so as I've never had any contact from anyone claiming they were family..." He trailed off.

"Then it won't just be Sirius's will we will be going for, it will be for your family inheritance as well!"

He stopped chewing as he realised the implications of this. "Why didn't I get anything right after they died?"

"It would have been up to your guardian."

"But Sirius never mentioned anything... Did it go to the Dursley's?

"No Harry, it would have been your magical guardian."

He was truly puzzled now. "Who was my magical guardian?"

She sighed. "No idea, ask at the bank when we get there. That reminds me, how are we getting there?"

"Err, don't really know. I just figured we could apparate?"

Her eyebrow twitched, she obviously thought she had him. "From Scotland?"

He looked at her in confusion but relented. "Why don't we floo?"

"Sure, lets ask Minerva if we can use her fireplace." And she made to get up but stopped when he didn't move. "Harry?"

He looked at her with a sceptical expression that he knew would rankle her. "We don't have to go find her to ask her Hermione."

She huffed. "Ok smartypants, are you going to yell through the castle?"

He rolled his eyes at her and pulled out his Holly wand. Whispering "Expecto Patronum." A bright Stag appeared from the end of his wand and looked at him. Hermione watched on in awe as he now talked to the apparition. "Ask Minerva McGonagall if we can use her floo to get to Diagon Alley today. Wait and ask for her response, then let me know." With a slight nod the Stag dissolved into a ball of light that streaked though the wall and disappeared.

Hermione found her voice again. "When did you learn to do that?"

He looked at her incredulously. "Do you remember how many books we read while in that tent? I hope I learnt something! He added. And recently I just feel like I can do anything, not having Tom inside me makes things easier."

"Like apparating to London?"

"Are you not supposed to?"

"Well its harder the further you try to apparate, I doubt even Du-Minerva could do it."

He ignored her nearly mentioning the ex Headmaster's name and harrumphed. "I'll try it another time then, bet you a Butterbeer that I can?"

She looked at him like he was crazy but with a smirk on her face, stuck out her hand. "Deal Potter, I hope you get splinched."

He went to reply but was cut short by the arrival of his patronus which spoke in the voice of the current headmistress. "You may Harry, come to my office when you're ready."

He pushed his empty place away. "Well that was quick, Let's go." She smiled and joined him as the exited the great hall.

...

The Door to the Office swung open just a Harry made to open it, resulting in him nearly falling forward. Stumbling into the room he caught sight of the occupant behind the desk, Who gestured to the Fireplace. "Floo Powder is next to the grate. And I'm sure Hermione has told you about this Harry but make sure to be blunt and honest when talking to Goblins."

He thought back to Griphook's treachery. "Will do."

She smiled at the pair. "Go on, make sure to let me know what transpires."

They nodded back at her as he grabbed a handful of powder and threw it into the empty fireplace. Making sure not to mess it up this time he spoke clearly. "Diagon Alley." He stumbled out and found himself in the Leaky Cauldron, nobody spared him a glance as he appeared. This changed when Hermione stumbled out, nearly bowling him over as slowly heads turned in their direction and mouths dropped open. He was vividly reminded of the very first time he was here with Hagrid.

Before anyone could stop them he grabbed her arm and pulled her out the back. "Er, Hermione. Could we do something to hide my identity?"

"Have you looked in the mirror lately? You don't even look like yourself, and those clothes Kreacher got for you um, fit you quite well." She looked away.

"I hope your right." And he started to tap the bricks in sequence. As the bricks started to rearrange themselves he felt some trepidation coming back here. If it was as desolate as the last time he was there then less people would notice him. If it was as packed as usual then it would make him happier that things were getting back to normal but surely someone would notice him. He tried not to think of what would happen in that case, lest he not take a step into that alley altogether. She tugged on his arm, and pull him into the alley before the gate could seal itself.

He ended up being wrong entirely. He had never seen it like this, like the inside of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes but, on the outside. There was barely a one meter wide gap for people to pass through as everyone lined the street, chatting or shopping he couldn't figure out which. Still he kept his gaze towards the cobblestones and let her guide him. He looked up as they reached the heavy golden doors, nodding at the wizard guard by the door he was surprised by a lack of recognition. Shit, I must look terrible for no one to recognise me.

The inside of the bank surprised him once again. He expected there to be construction paraphernalia everywhere, scaffolding lining the walls after what they had done to the place. But no. It looked like it hadn't been touched, feeling somehow even more nervous they walked to the end counter to find the goblin manning it already watching them like a hawk. As they reached him he spoke in a gravelly tone. "Mr. Potter, whatever business you originally had here should be forgotten. Liege Ragnok would like to speak with you." Harry looked Hermione. Maybe we shouldn't have come here. "The girl may come too."

He opened his mouth to demand that she be treated with more respect when she laid a hand on him arm, shushing him. As the Goblin lead them along a corridor behind the counters he whispered to her. "They have no right to dismiss you like that-." She interrupted him. "Harry! We're going to meet Ragnok, the Goblin king! We have to be careful and respectful around them and him especially! He's king of a nation that extends across the world. And we broke into his bank!" The gravelly voice from ahead spoke up.

"Quite correct Miss Granger. At least you, as a Muggleborn have sufficient knowledge of our culture. We forgive Mr. Potter's ignorance because it is our Liege's wish to meet him, and we have business important enough with him that it would be impractical to throw him out for his transgressions." Harry gulped. "Here. Enter, he will be with you shortly." He waved his hand and the door opened for them, They stepped through and looked around. It looked very much to him like a muggle bank managers office would look, save for the ornamental weapons on nearly every surface. Also the room had dark wood panelling on that walls and blood red carpet. He turned to Hermione to ask about the weapons when a voice from the doorway, low and powerful reached them.

"Mr. Potter, it is about time you visited us. We have much to discuss." Hermione squeaked and curtsied. The wizard remained stock still.

"That's why we're here." He coughed. "My liege."

Ragnok eyed him curiously. "Then we should be sitting should we not?" and gestured to the twin Armchairs in front of a rather large ornamental Desk. The teens sat, the Witch obviously more nervous than him as she started playing with her hair. The Goblin King eyed the wizard again who looked defiantly back at him and began. "Mr. Potter we have much to discuss, namely. Reparations for damage to this Bank, the will of the late Sirius Black and the will of James and Lily Potter. If after this you need to discuss something mundane, talk to your accounts manager Talongrey." He looked up at the wizard who nervously nodded.

"In your act of stealing from this bank you incurred damages totalling four hundred and thirty five thousand, six hundred and one galleons, two sickles and thirteen knuts. This here is the full list," he withdrew a scroll nearly two feet long and handed it to the wizard. "We charge this solely to you as you will have to means to pay in full once the wills are read." The wizard frowned at this but nodded.

"If I may, we would like to apologise for the theft, but it was necessary for defeating Voldemort."

The Goblin contemplated this for a few seconds. "I cannot accept your apology but understand the circumstances for why it happened, a great many of our citizens died at the hands of Voldemort after your escape. And before you protest," Harry closed his mouth. "Our race hold war in high esteem, death means less to us than you wizards. One result of those deaths though was the crippling of the efficient means of running this branch. This is why I do not accept your apology Mr. Potter, but it will not hinder us moving forward. There is something you could do for the Goblin Nation but we will discuss this after more pressing matters are dealt with."

He snapped his fingers and another goblin entered the room. "This is Talongrey, he will inform you of the contents of said wills." The Goblin in question, bowed towards Ragnok and spoke to Harry, his voice somewhat higher pitched. He must be younger than the rest.

"Now Mr. Potter, is there any questions before we start?" He shook his head but Hermione spoke up timidly.

"Why is there no will reading?"

Talongrey considered her before answering. "You are correct in the usual sense, but In this case. Both wills leave Harry as sole beneficiary, with clauses." He turned to Harry. "If you are agreeable I can leave the wills to be read by you and mearly state the nature of your holdings." Overwhelmed the teen nodded. "Good. We will start in order of activation. The will of the Potters entrust you with direct Lordship of the Noble Family of Potter, Roughly 7.6 Million Galleons, Roughly 5.2 Million Galleons in investments, Three properties, Two in Briton, One in France. And all of their personal effects which currently reside in the Potter Vaults. We can discuss about merging Vaults later." Harry just sat in shock. I have three houses!?

"Now, The will of Sirius Orion Black entrusts you with direct Lordship of the Ancient House of Black, Roughly 6 Million Galleons. Five properties, Two in Briton and one in each France, Latvia and Russia. The latter on loan, used currently as Durmstrang Institute. Now please sign at the bottom of each will." After a nudge from the witch, Harry, running on autopilot signed each of the wills which both shone white, them melted away. Noticing the look on the wizard's face Talongrey added, "We have another copy that you can read when you meet with myself after my liege is finished with you." He then nodded at Ragnok who then gestured him to wait outside.

Talongrey turned to Harry. "I shall wait for you outside Lord Potter-Black." When the door closed behind him Ragnok spoke again.

"I have permitted Miss Granger to stay for the meeting so far." His voice turned cold and authoritative. "But she must now wait outside as we have one more item to discuss." Harry remained silent, trying to make a decision when the witch made it for him.

"Don't worry Harry, I'll be fine." And she followed Talongrey out the door.

"Now, Lord Potter-Black. I have been in contact with your interim Minster for Magic since the demise of Voldemort. He wishes to freeze the accounts of suspected Deatheaters to stop them from moving money out of the country to circumvent your justice system. We are reluctant to do this for two reasons. We are best known for our impartiality in wizard affairs, making us the safest place for the storage of fortunes. If we do as he asks of us, it puts us under the influence of the Ministry. Of course we do not want to be under any influence of any external forces as Gringotts is essentially. The Goblin Nation." Ragnok looked pointedly at Harry, who actually understood the concept of not wanting to be controlled. The wizard replied, "I understand completely my liege."

Sizing up the wizard again, Ragnok continued. "The second reason is that while he asked for these actions to be taken. He offered little in the way of payment. Give and take being a concept you can understand my lord?" Harry nodded quickly. "As you are powerful in the Wizarding World both politically and magically, yet remain ignorant of the animosity that has existed between our kinds for centuries. You are ideally suited to push an agenda of ours in the Wizarding Community. Namely, equal standings for our kind to perform magics and further integration into a combined magical society. If we are to cooperate with the wizarding world, it must be on equal terms." Ragnok finished and leant back in his chair, surveying the teen as he grasped the implications.

Harry sat, sorting through what was asked of him. The requests of Kingsley and Ragnok both made sense, it just confused him as to why he was being asked to... How would he push the agenda? Even if he didn't know how to do it, he wanted to, and told Ragnok so. "I would love to help my liege. Do you really think I could even help?"

At this Ragnok let loose the first laugh Harry had ever heard from a goblin. "Yes my lord. I won't influence how to use your apparently unrealised political clout so I'll let you handle that." He added, a smirk on his face. He then stood suddenly. "Our discussion is at an end Lord Potter-Black, until next time."

He figured he should bow so he did. A quick half bow In the Goblin King's direction. "Until next time." Upon exiting he found Hermione and Talongrey in deep discussion. For a moment he admired her commitment to collecting information before he interrupted with a cough which startled the Goblin. "My apologies Lord Potter-Black, please follow me." Turning off the corridor into a smaller one with a door either side, he then opened the left one and motioned for the two to enter. Inside was a roaring fire and on either side of it, two ornate red leather couches. A voice at a table on the right-hand wall spoke. "Please sit my lord." Harry sat on the couch facing the goblin who was rummaging around in a draw. Hermione chose to sit next to him, rather close to him if truth be told. But he figured that she just need comfort in such an unknown place, not that he had much comfort to give himself as he was feeling just a nervous.

The goblin stood opposite the fireplace and cleared his throat. "Now my lord-."

"Please call me Harry."

The goblins eyes widened slightly and he smiled. "Only in this room, Harry. We just have a few matters to deal with before you can continue with your day. Now, currently you possess three vaults, your own vault 687, and the Potter and Black family vaults. Do you wish to combine the vaults?"

It made sense to combine the vaults, But adding the Black Family Vault to his just seemed too much. Then he thought of the Black family tree, with Sirius's and Andromeda's name burnt off. This made him think instantly of... "Teddy," Turning to Hermione he asked. "What if I gave the vault to Teddy? His mother was Tonks after all, it's more his than mine."

"Sirius gave you that vault Harry."

"I know, but I don't need it." He looked at the goblin. "I'd like to transfer one million Galleons to the account of Andromeda Tonks. Then hold the Black Family Vault for Edward Lupin until he turns seventeen."

"Of course, would you like to retain ownership of the vault until Edward Lupin claims it? Just in case?"

"Sure."

"It will be done, and your other vaults?"

"Lets combine them both."

"So the contents of vault six hundred and eighty-seven will be moved to the Potter Family vault. Now. Would you like to hear about your properties?"

"Err, sure. I'm more interested in ones inherited from the Potter Family."

"As you wish. Now. The properties you now own include a chalet in northern France, which I believe was used as a holiday home on the continent. The Potter Manor, which sits in Kielder Mires, Northumberland, where generations of Potters lived, and the cottage in Godrics Hollow which is..." The Goblin shuffled some papers. "Currently on loan per the Ministry of Magic as a memorial site.

Hermione spoke up. "How can we find these places? We know about Godrics Hollow but the Chalet and the Manor we've never heard of."

The Goblin ruffled through his papers once again. "Apologies for not being able to memorize such important information but I have only recently taken over the Potter account from Griphook."

While Harry's mind started throwing up images of his interactions with Griphook, he barely noticed her asking a question that he himself had forgotten to ask. "Who was Harry's magical guardian?"

The Goblin again checked his papers. "Albus Dumbledore." Harry expected to be as angry as he was in the old man's office. But to be honest with himself, he kind of expected this after hearing his tale the first time. Talongrey had his mind on other matters and ignored the spluttering of Hermione. "To access the Potter Manor you will need to wear the Ring of the Potters. As it would have sealed itself since your parents died the ring will be needed the first time you visit. Visitors will be allowed at the owners discretion."

Harry smiled as the old Hermione seemed to appear before his eyes. She had that look on her face that instantly made him feel sorry for the Goblin as he would now be fairly assaulted with questions. "What do you mean at the owners discretion? Is there a magical element behind such discretion?"

The Goblin looked to the wizard first before answering the eager witch. "Ancient buildings that house magicals usually either carry Enchantments or have absorbed enough magic to become partially sentient. Old magics slave this latent magical power to the wishes of the owner of the building, usually the Head of the Family."

Her eyes narrowed, a sure sign that she was beginning to understand the concept. "So if Harry asked the house to remove someone then that person would be evicted?"

"A basic example, but yes, you're correct."

Harry meanwhile had is mind elsewhere. "So I'll need to wear both house rings to enter all of these properties?"

"Yes. They are in your vaults. Would you like to view them?"

He nodded, the rings only half the reason he wanted to go down there. There could be more stuff in them that could connect him with his family. The Mirror of Erised flashed in his mind again, he needed to connect with his family. Maybe gain some semblance of normalcy, just to know where he came from, even if he will never meet them. Maybe try to figure out how to have his own family, something he desperately craved. A feminine voice broke into his thoughts. "Harry? You coming?"

He nodded quickly and joined the female and the Goblin at the door.

...