A.N. Alright, folks, here is the mandatory bank chapter. I hope you like what I did with it.
Sadly, I couldn't fit ALL of it in, but I got most of it, and the rest will be in the next chapter. We also start to see Harry establishing himself in the magical world, as well as a move that will make the Malfoys very mad.
Other than that, I will rec Harry Potter, Squatter by Enterprise1701-d. It is still young, still beginning, and not even to Hogwarts yet, but it is a nice story, and really rather funny.
And now, your STORY!
Gringotts
The next day
Harry POV:
As much as Harry wanted to sort out Gringotts while he was already in Diagon Ally, he decided that he would wait until the next day in order to shake his tail and have some time to relax from shopping and… Ollivander. While it was true the old man hadn't tried to harm him in any way, coming face-to-face with someone that old and powerful without warning was troublesome. Even on the Dragon Call, he had been looking for trouble!
Still, it did let Harry get himself calmed and centered before going to the bank. He didn't even have to use the Knight Bus or a taxy to get to the Leaky Cauldron, thanks to a doorknob he enchanted to open a door between whatever wall you put it against, and whatever wall you were thinking of, as long as they are at least somewhat similar and you have enough magic to make up the distance. As such, it wasn't much more than half an hour before he made his way into Diagon Ally with Suave Shadow active, his hat down low and his collar flipped up, and with a different face thanks to his Metamorphmagic.
As he made his way into the main hall of Gringotts, he noticed three things right off the bat. First, the wards on the building were of Special level. Not unbreakable, or unavoidable, but still, quite strong. Seconds, this place was WEALTHY. In between various tellers counting out STACKS of precious stones, and the carts being pushed through the hall loaded with hundreds of -gold bars and dozens of gold ingots, the goblins were, quite obviously, a very wealthy people. Finally, goblins did NOT like wizards. Each teller spoke with a sneer, each aid happily interrupted business in between the counter and the customer with no interest in showing the typical deference given to 'Mr. Customer' as the average salesman would, and NO common courtesy. Harry was starting to get angry on behalf of his fellow wizard, when some of the conversations began to reach his keen ears.
"…I like the investment plan you are offering; I just don't see myself being able to afford it. After all, if you add a certain percentage to my money each month, soon there won't be enough for others!"
"…I know that you have the best security around, but what if someone comes in here while you are closed? Don't you turn the wards off when you leave at night? I wouldn't want anyone to take advantage of that…"
"A dragon guarding the vaults, you say? Well, maybe; but who in the world would be able to find my money? After all, I keep it in my sock drawer! Did you hear me? I said it is safe IN MY SOCK DRAWER!!! How in earth would anyone think of looking in there? I'd practically have to TELL them that's where I hid my money! It was just as I was telling the guys at the pub last night; 'If ya aren't sure about the safety of your money, keep it in your sock drawer. No-one would think o' that!' Course the only one there who disagreed was Louie the sneak-thief, and everyone knows he is odd…"
Face-palming, Harry made his way up to the central desk of the main floor. After several more minutes in line, and more than a few more cringe-worthy discussions, he at last made it to the front of the line.
"What do you want, wizard?" the clearly, and righteously, disgruntled teller ground out, while fiddling with a dagger. Fun fact, while wizarding history is filled with dozens of 'goblin rebellions', many of them are caused by tellers having a nervous breakdown from having to deal with the people of the magical world.
"Hopefully, I can give you a few minutes' rest. I find myself in need of an inheritance, and I don't have an appointment. As such, I will require your time until an opening appears, and I may just decide that I only trust you to help me through this process."
At the first sentence of the boy standing in front of him, the goblin just about started beaming; alas, the remaining information from the lad seemed to cause his previous hopes to crash into the abyss. Here was another fine example of wizardry; utterly incompetent, lacking in knowledge of how the system works, expecting goblins to bend over backwards to them, and acting like it was a favor! I mean, sure, the kid was trying to be helpful, but the majority of the claimable inheritances were in debt, so his (Bonesnap's) only hope of a payout from this was if the kid was already loaded, which was unlikely, given the fact he was seeking an inheritance. After all, the main floor of the bank was the goblin's version of debtor's prison, and goblins only payed for full day's labors! With a sigh (at least he was off for today), the desperately in-debt sentient hoped off his box and walked away with the human following him.
"Very well, human. My name is Clayfist, and I will help guide your through the inheritance test process. As many witches and wizards of note are too… cerebral to get along well with others, and quite often die badly at a young age, as soon as said humans pass a certain level and a certain age, they are invited in to set up an inheritance test to allow a distant kin to claim their wealth, someone they deem as worth. Sadly, many of them accept, but are too young, too foolish, and/or too arrogant to actually design a test that is viable. This permits Gringotts to syphon a set amount from the vault in order to keep the test active. Be aware, if you do inherit, you will gain both the positive (a majority of which is in the form of artifacts, business ownerships, and political capital) and the bad (any outstanding fees and such-like). Do note that any required paperwork comes with a fee, and we do NOT guaranty your safety, as we did not design most of the tests, nor were we often the implementors of said. Most like to try their hand at the Emrys vault first, then the Founders'…"
And thus, began Harry's banking. Like most things in his life, it ended up being an adventure like few had ever seen.
Shapeclay, of the Clay clan, was the latest in a long line of goblins that governed the Potter finances. Sadly, he was also VERY crooked, happily aiding in syphoning off Potter funds to line his, and other people's, pockets; and here before him sat the vindication of everything that he believed. Here was Harry Potter, last of the noble Potters, an idiot wizard just like all the rest. Of course, Shapeclay hadn't ever MET a Potter before, but he knew that the praise headed their way was unearned. Since when had a witch or wizard earned anything?! And this brat?!? By FAR dumber than the rest!
Shapeclay almost felt bad as he looked over the list, considering how to break the news to the boy. The floor-goblin scum looked ready to wet himself, and both he and the brat were singed and exhausted-looking, not surprising, given the number of inheritance tests the boy had taken. If he didn't have to wait until Black bit it in Azkaban to get access to the good gold, he'd have the boy kicked out and his account closed just for wasting Gringotts' time!
Inheritance tests taken:
1.) Blackmoor
Debt: 347 Galleons (Fees)
2.) Corbis-King
Debt: 763 Galleons (Fees)
3.) Du Lac
Debt: 1,451 Galleons (Fees)
4.) Emrys
Debt: 22,412 Galleons (Fees and debts)
5.) Giles Ahamme
Debt: 31 Galleons (Fees)
6.) Gryffindor
Debt: 557 Galleons (Fees and debts)
7.) Hufflepuff
Debt: 112 Galleons (Fees)
8.) Le Fay
Debt: 52,115 Galleons (Fees and debts)
9.) MacLir
Debt: None (Feeless vault, lowest level)
10.) Malfoy (seized until inheritance)
Debt: 112 Galleons (Fees, available within holdings)
11.) Pendragon
Debt: 192 Galleons (Fees; legal ramifications, Discuss w/ Queen)
12.) Prewitt (Female claimant, held in probate)
Debt: 1,112 Galleons (Fees and debts; legal ramifications, Discuss w/ Prewitt heir/ess)
13.) Ravenclaw
Debt: 319 Galleons (Fees)
14.) Slytherin
Debt: None
15.) Lycus (International)
Debt: 11,253 Galleons (Government fees)
16.) Tepes (International)
Debt: 67 Galleons (Romania, Government fees)
17.) Zima (International)
Debt: 157 Galleons (Fees for international holdings, Romania)
18.) Zoltarr (International)
Debt: None
Results: Absolute
Blood verification required
Key verification requested
"It is a sad thing that you spent so much time on these tests. And now we need to blood- and key- verify them as well! Ah, well! Let's get started. Please provide me with a sample of your blood, and your key if you have it." Naturally, having dealing with Albus Dumbledore among others, Shapeclay knew he didn't have his key. That, however, was just another way to gouge him. if he could get the debt up another nine thousand galleons, he could seize the boy's trust vault, apply a lien to his funds, and maybe even get him sent to the pits! Then, all his trust vault and all of the Black fortune could be his alone!
"I don't have a key," Harry said as he picked up the blood quill he was offered and signed the paper he was handed. "as to where it is… well, it isn't with me. Once my identity is cleared using my blood, I will need the old one revoked, and a new one made."
The account manager shook his head as he received the sheet from the boy. "I see. Well, your identity is in order, but your key is a very important matter. I will have to charge you three hundred galleons for the new one, one hundred and fifty to close out the old, and all current debts of House Potter must be paid in full. I hope you have the money with you!" If the brat agreed or stated he didn't have the money, Shapeclay would have him! After all, who could say how many years he had gone without his 'stipulated allowance to manage the Potter accounts'?!
At this, both Harry and the goblin who lead him here looked up in shock. The Potters may have never been all that wealthy, but they should still have a small fortune in the vaults. At the end of the war, they still had 1,200 galleons, for goodness sake! With that thought in mind, Harry slowly began to speak. "It was my… impression, that I had a somewhat… healthy… sum left to me by my parents?"
The clerk snorted. "They left you a trust fund. That, however, can only be used for school. Sadly, they failed to leave an executable will behind, so I and my clan, as well as the Ministry, were required to seize most of it, primarily for fees on our side, and fines on the other. An unentailed inheritance causes quite the ruckus! Between the paperwork fees, the hours spent trying to clear it up, consultation cost, lawyer bills, and what have you… well, Potter House is broke!"
"I see…" said the heir slowly, pondering the trap he was in. "I seem to have forgotten an… issue I should have handled as far as my inheritances are concerned. Would you please excuse me to see to it before we continue? I won't be long."
"But of course, my dear boy! This must come as quite a shock. Be sure to come back here before the day is out, however; else Gringotts might have to take some truly unfortunate steps."
"I'll be back shortly." the meal-ticket promised him. After a brief, but very stern interjection in Gobbledygook to the floor-rat, explaining exactly how he and his family would be treated if he failed to bring the boy back, Shapeclay let them go. Soon enough, he would be the riches goblin alive!
Outside the door of Shapeclay's office, 'confused-boy' Harry vanished, replaced with 'I'm-hungry-for-goblin-heart' Harry. Turning to the now-intimidated aid, he said one sentence that promised bad things for Shapeclay's future.
"Take me to the Director."
Ragnok, goblin chief, was having a paperwork-filled day, same as always. Thankfully, an intervention occurred when a wizarding boy, at MOST thirteen, came storming into his office with power rolling off him, a floor-teller tagging along behind him and looking terrified.
"Most honorable Director of Gringotts," the human began in a slightly accented, somewhat archaic form of Gobbledygook, "a thousand pardons for my interrupting of your day. I was merely wondering what cost I would have to pay if I slaughtered the clan that is currently handling my family's finances. It would appear they have been robbing me."
The director finished the paper he was working on while the boy waited, fidgeting slightly in anger, though that anger was not directed at the Director, that much was clear. After he finished it, he set his pen down, removed his glasses, and looked up at the boy while massaging his temples. "Explain."
At this command, Harry Potter, for so it was (and why the HECK was Harry Potter being cheated by Gringotts?!? The Potters had been long-standing allies of Gringotts, and were some of the only humans held in any kind of esteem by the Nation! If news of this got out, Gringotts would be ruined!) launched into the summation of his meeting, the aide with him nodding along (which greatly supported his story. After all, the goblin in question was a Clay, and that meant Harry was asking for his head as well!).
When he finished, Ragnok looked up at said goblin. "Shapeclay, you are a member of the Clay tribe, a tribe that so-named themselves because 'As Clay is shaped by the Potter, so our future is shaped by their house.' This accusation is against you as well. How do you plead?"
"My lord," began the VERY overwhelmed creature, "while it is true I am a Clay, I am on the outside of my clan, from a poor family. As such, I cannot speak for the rest of the clan. I can say however, that no hints of this has come down through the ranks, except one. Our clan, due to the special clan tax you imposed upon us and the inactivity of our client's vaults, is suffering of late, financially speaking. That is why so many of us are on the floor, even now. That being said, Shapeclay, our leader, has been increasing subtly in wealth. This may be something only involving him."
The goblin chief leaned back in his seat. After several minutes pondering, he nodded firmly. "Magic against the goblins is forbidden."
At this, Harry Potter gained a shark's grin. "Not an issue for me!"
The chief glanced up sharply, then shook his head. Damned cocky brat would get himself killed! "You would also need to convince me it is worth our while. As you only have your trust vault…"
Here, the boy went so far as to interrupt him! "I have other means of income. Money is not an object."
The goblin leaned back in his chair, then made one more attempt to save the boy's life. "Be that as it may, I cannot accept money from you, as it would look like bribery. You would have to give up an object of phenomenal interest to me, but next to no actual value, in order to interest me, but not be seen as bribing."
At this, Clayfist interjected. "Sir, this man has managed to complete eighteen inheritance tests, all the Old Ones. I am sure that, in between those vaults, it is of value to us to see to it that these can be started again."
With that, the Chief knew he couldn't resist any longer. With a sigh, he waved over his guard. "Prepare the Pit."
The Pit
Ten minutes later
Shapeclay POV
It wasn't supposed to be like this. Only after the boy left had he realized that the 'Results: Absolute' section on the inheritance test indicated that the boy had PASSED all those tests. By that point, it had been too late. He had tried to chase after him, to explain that it was all a misunderstanding, but he hadn't made it twenty feet before guards bearing the Director's insignia had showed up to drag him to the Pit!
It was a good thing the brat himself would be facing him, having waved the right of champion. Sure, he was going to lose his job and his money, but he wouldn't die today, and he could at least make the brat pay for this. Looking across the Pit to his opponent, he almost started frothing at the mouth. The brat had stripped himself down to his pants, and wrapped his belt around his eyes! Did he think he could take on a goblin warrior with a handicap? He might be losing everything, but this brat was going to scream for it!
As soon as the Director yelled for them to begin, Shapeclay raced across the Pit, aiming to impale the boy in the stomach. Somehow, he missed! Confused, he looked up for a second at the impassive face of his foe. Then, the world went black.
Seconds later
Harry POV
PING!
You have slain a goblin warrior (LVL 35)!
+2,200 EXP
Harry calmly made his way over to his things and started getting re-dressed. One punch, really? Some enemy that was. In the silence that had descended on the previously cheering crowd, he made his way back to the office of his Account Manager, the dumbfounded aide that had been helping him so far today trailing behind him in a daze. Eventually, he found himself sitting in much the same seat as he had been at the start of the day's troubles; the only differences, of course, were the lack of a goblin sitting across from him, and the lack of any of his personal effects in the office. After almost fifteen minutes of waiting, a messenger showed up and dragged Clayfist out into the hall. Another quarter-hour of hollering and thumping, and thirty more minutes of quiet, Clayfist came back in wearing a much better suit (slightly rumpled) and carrying a banker's box, from which he started to pull his personal possessions. After getting himself situated and pulling out some files, he began, albeit with a slight tremor to his voice.
"Alright, sir. Now that the… troubles… are over, we can begin on your actual banking. To begin with, any money that was stolen from you, and has left the bank or been moved into a vault not containing ONLY that money, cannot be reclaimed. Sadly, my predecessor failed to keep enough records of the stealing to satisfy us, though we should soon be able to provide you with enough records of it to begin legal processes outside the bank. If, at that time, they are found guilty, the money will be refunded. The money that Shapeclay stole personally, of course, is yours to claim."
"That seems fair."
The goblin acknowledged this with a grateful nod. "Sadly, however, you owe reparations for his death to Gringotts and the male's family. This, alas, will end up adding up to six thousand Galleons. Even after the money is returned, this only recoups you one thousand, two hundred Galleons and some change."
At this, Clayfist looked up with a cringe, praying to every god and goddess he knew of that this guy wouldn't kill him for this.
After a minute of silence, his client responded. "Go ahead and donate all but a thousand of that to the family, as a sing of goodwill. I will only hold the man himself responsible for his actions, not you, not the clan, and not his family. Unless, of course, they had a hand in it?" At this, he peered at his banker, who shook his violently. When he saw that, he nodded firmly "Good. Provide them with that, and employ a few of them here, for my accounts. If you need money for it, take it off the top."
The banker took note of it with a firmer nod, and moved on. "This means, in order to open the Houses, you want to inherit from, you still owe us an even ninety thousand galleons. Cash or trade is available, but this must be payed before they are open. This also leaves most of them empty, with just the debts payed off. You must also add to that the Houses of Peverell, broke but not in debt; Potter, all debts cleared; and Black, which has some money, but you cannot access it, as you are only heir secondary, apparent."
What followed was about three hours of discussing investing schemes, plans for going through the vaults, and ideas for dealing with the various Houses. This ended up with them being in a good position (all of them having 7.3 million in them), but left Harry short by almost three million Galleons. A few more hours of haggling, and little headway, Harry came to a decision. "Alright, I am still 2.5 million shy, and I don't want to dip into my vaults anymore. I have given away enough heirlooms for one day! That being said, I might yet be able to make a trade with Gringotts. Something of this level, however, will need to be discussed with the chief."
The banker sat thinking for a few minutes, then gave a decisive nod. Gathering up a portfolio he got up and lead Harry back to the Hall of the Mountain King of the goblins. Upon seeing them, the look on his face went from focused, to concerned. After all, the last time the two of them were in his office, he lost a clan chief.
"Mr. Potter, Accounts Manager Clayfist. How can I help you this time?"
"Greetings once again, chief! You look younger every time I see you!" At this joke from the human, the room relaxed, and a wave of titters ran the circuit. After all, if he was joking, he probably wasn't going to kill anyone. Probably…
The boy… man… wizard continued "Clayfist and I managed to get most of the accounting done, I think. He has a summery for you."
At a gesture from the chief, said file was handed over. As the king read it, his eyebrows started to go up more by each line.
Potter House
Harry Potter's Houses and Investments
1.) Black
Debt: Cleared
Credits: Black Townhouse
Borgen and Burkes
Funds: Investments: three million (House loan, Potter family)
Fluid: one million (273,432 galleon House loan, Potter family)
Reserve: three million (House loan, Potter family)
2.) Blackmoor
Debt: Cleared
Credits: Blackmoor Keep
Camber Farms (Food and potions ingredients)
Blackmoor Distillery (Alcohol and potions)
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
3.) Corbis-King
Debt: Cleared
Credits: Yorkshire Farms (Food and potions ingredients)
The Crow and Tower (tavern)
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
4.) Du Lac
Debt: Cleared
Credits: Blackstone Quarry
1/3 Avalon (Missing)
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
5.) Emrys
Debt: Cleared
Credits: Wizenkeep (Ruin)
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
6.) Giles Ahamme
Debt: Cleared
Credits: Magical Ireland
Hearthstone Wardstone Producers/Distributer (Gringotts Wards)
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
7.) Gryffindor
Debt: Cleared
Credits: ¼ Hogwarts
Magical Godric's Hollow
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
8.) Hufflepuff
Debt: Cleared
Credits: ¼ Hogwarts
Hogsmeade
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
9.) Le Fay
Debt: Cleared
Credits: Spellus Books and Scrolls
1/3 Avalon (Missing)
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
10.) MacLir
Debt: Cleared
Credits: Magical Scotland (Mostly Empty)
Atlantis (Contested: Magical Greece, missing)
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
11.) Malfoy (held in-trust)
Debt: Cleared
Credits: Malfoy Manner
Assorted investments (estimated value, 125,000 galleons)
Funds: Investments: three million (House loan, Potter family)
Fluid: one million (542,916 galleon House loan, Potter family)
Reserve: three million (House loan, Potter family)
12.) Pendragon
Debt: Cleared
Credits: English Magical Throne
Camelot (Missing)
1/3 Avalon (Missing)
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
13.) Peverell
Debt: Cleared
Credits: Magical Artificery Co.
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
14.) Potter
Debt: 2,470,312 galleons
Credits: 5% Quality Quidditch Supplies
10% Ollivander's
12.5% Slugg and Jigger's
25% Flourish and Blott's
33% The Daily Prophet
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
15.) Prewitt (Female claimant, held in trust)
Debt: Cleared
Credits: None
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
16.) Ravenclaw
Debt: Cleared
Credits: ¼ Hogwarts
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
17.) Slytherin
Debt: Cleared
Credits: ¼ Hogwarts
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
18.) Lycus (International)
Debt: Cleared
Credits: 1/3 Durmstrang (Syren, Tepes)
Blue Moon Beer
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
19.) Tepes (International)
Debt: Cleared
Credits: 1/3 Durmstrang (Syren, Lycus)
Assorted investments (estimated value, 2,700,000,000 galleons)
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
20.) Zima (International)
Debt: Cleared
Credits: None
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
21.) Zoltarr (International)
Debt: Cleared
Credits: None
Funds: Investments: three million
Fluid: one million
Reserve: three million
Results: Gaining money
Blood verification received
Key verification received
Wand verification received
"As you can see, I am doing rather well. The problem before us, is the House Potter debts. Now, obviously, I can pay them off; however, I had an idea that would benefit you, and make it so I didn't have to."
The king sat thinking for a moment, then looked at Harry. "First, let us deal with the old business between us, we have three subjects unfinished. First, the matter of the theft. I believe you have already discussed that with your manager?"
Harry nodded.
"Anything else needed on that subject?"
Head shake.
"Good. Now, the fight. I know you didn't cheat. The question before us is, did you use any magic during the fight?"
"Eh, not exactly." The king gave him a look. "No, I mean it. You see, I didn't do any magical enhancement rituals, and I didn't use any actual magic during the fight. That doesn't mean I was just fighting with my physical abilities, however."
"Explain, and in detail. The answer to this question will be the difference between us being friends of enemies!"
Harry shifted in his seat. "the idea of magic is that you use external energy to produce a desired result; whether by manipulating natural energy through rituals, or using your magical core's accumulated energy from your core. I did manipulate energy, but it was my own body's energy, not my magical core's. My ki, not my dan, as it were."
"I thought that was a myth." the goblin chief said in awe.
Harry made a so-so gesture with his hand. "It kind of is. In movies and tv-shows, you can train to get it, train to use it, train to expel it from your body, stuff like that. That is a myth. However, the better you apply your will to an attack, the better it gets, like how a punching instructor teaches you to aim your punch through your target, instead of at it. Then you just combine that technique with the feeling of wandless magic, only draying from your whole body, as opposed to the core in your chest. Most of it is nothing more than focusing your attack appropriately. The rest, is you focusing your body to a single goal, you attack. After that, you have to learn to contain the amount of energy, focus the energy in the correct area (not too small, or you break something. Not to large, or it doesn't work right.), then learning not to overcommit. That is a big one. If you overdo it, you die."
The goblin chief looked like he had just been given the Elixir of Life, and his guards were dumbstruck. No-one had been able to figure out this technique in centuries, and here this kid is explaining it like it is boring! Wait until the Chinese kobolds and the Japanese kappas and Youkai here about this!
With a shake, Ragnok brought himself back to the present. "Good. Magic is an insult to the Pit. Finally, I need to be… reimbursed for my efforts in helping you."
Harry got a smug smirk as he looked around the office with its mountains of documents. "I think I can help you. It was part of what I wanted to discuss with you as my method of payment for my family's debt."
So saying, he reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a pocket watch. With a glow and a faint 'woosh', three little creatures appeared out of it like it was a portal. They were about eight inches long with five to six legs and two arms apiece, had a vaguely skeletal, or possible carapace-like look to them, and were as grey as rotting skin. As soon as they appeared, they started crawling around and chittering, acting like insects, but entirely unafraid of the people in the office.
The kid gave a smirk as the guards drew their weapons and stated moving them between the Little Beasties and himself. "So, Ragnok; wanna buy some golems?"