The first place Dumbledore led Harry was Gringotts, this was the
wizard bank and it was run by goblins. Harry approached the desk of a free
goblin but before he could utter his vault number Dumbledore spoke.
"We are here for a transfer of accounts."
"State the names and what's to be transferred."
"The recently late Sirius Black has left all he owned to one Harry James Potter who stands beside me here, vault number 183. Here is his key."
"Leathertoes! Take them to vaults 397 and 183. We need to transfer everything from 397 into 183 and mark it on the records."
A goblin, taller than most of the goblins but still far shorter than a human, approached and grunted, "Follow me." He led them to a cart, which they entered. Harry soon got lost with all the spinning and turning as they plummeted miles and miles under London. At last the goblin cried, "Vault 397!"
Harry and Dumbledore stepped out and the goblin, Leathertoes, unlocked the vault. Harry peered inside. For a moment he was stunned at the amount of gold, silver, and bronze in the vault. Then it occurred to him: Sirius spent 12 years in Azkaban, not spending any money, and he hadn't had much of a chance to spend any since he got out. So, must of his funds that he might have had before his imprisonment logically would still be there. Also there with the money was a set of keys and two thick envelopes of parchment.
Dumbledore reached in and pulled out the envelopes. Harry saw that one envelope had the words: LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT written on it. Dumbledore opened this enveloped and read the letter inside. " 'October the 31st, 1980. Having no wife or child I, Sirius Black, in full knowledge of what this statement means, leave all earthly possessions (money, home, motorcycle, et cetra) to Harry James Potter, my godson.' " Dumbledore folded the letter and asked the goblin, "Are you satisfied with this statement?"
"Yes. These things will be moved to Mister Potter's vault at once."
"If you can do that without us, Mister Potter will remove this morning's funds from this vault and we'll be on our way. Though we expect the all things from this vault moved into the other by his next visit."
"Of course." He gave Harry a bag and Harry scooped money into it. He'd have to buy his school things, and undoubtedly he'd spend money at Hogsmeade during the year. As an afterthought he took the keys too.
Dumbledore pocketed the other letter that he'd taken out of the vault.
They went back up the track at a breakneck speed that matched the speed at which they'd come down originally.
When they stepped out into the bright sunlight of Diagon Alley Harry demanded to see the letter.
"Here it is, Harry."
Harry read the letter. It was the deed to 12 Grimmaulde Place.
"So we can keep Headquarters where it was last year?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, Harry."
Harry suddenly became aware of two figures not more than ten yards away. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Dedalus Diggle. He was puzzled as to why they should be there.
"Harry, don't you think we ought to go get your books?"
"You never sent out the booklist."
"Oh, here it is." He handed Harry an envelope.
Inside was the usual notice about going to platform 9 and three quarters on September the first for the start of term and with that was the book list. "Who's teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"I can't tell you that, Harry. But that does bring up an excellent question. What are your plans concerning that club of yours?"
"Oh. That." Dumbledore had finally brought up the D.A.
"I think it's an excellent idea to continue the club. But perhaps under a new name? And mention it only to those students that you can trust. Hmm?"
"Yeah. How about the Defense Association?"
"Excellent. Any plans about where to meet?"
"I'd like to keep it in the same place as before, sir."
"I thought so. Then as Headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry I hearby grant you permission for this club. The bookstore is just ahead there. Now as you probably don't want an old fuddy-duddy like myself shopping with you I'll leave you be after just one question more. I have here Ronald Weasly's start of term letter; you have your letter there. Honestly, which envelope do you believe this letter about being the Quiditch captain should go in?"
Harry desperately wanted to be the Quiditch captain. He'd had years more practice on the team than Ron had had. And Ron had Prefect duties to worry about to. Harry wondered what was stopping him from shouting, "Pick me!" Suddenly he knew what it was. In addition to everything else did he want to have something else to worry about? He knew the answer. "Sir, I think that that letter should find a home with me."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Here. It's already got your name on it." He handed over the letter about being Quiditch captain, as well as envelopes with Ron and Hermione's names on them. "Goodbye, Harry." He vanished.
Harry was still aware of Shacklebolt and Diggle behind him but he decided to ignore him and he went into the IFlourish Iand IBlotts to buy his books. He hadn't been there for more than a few seconds when he saw Ron and Hermione.
"See, mate? I told you we'd see you soon."
"How'd you know to come? You don't even have your booklists yet."
"Lupin showed up this morning at Hermione's and told her parents, 'Okay, I'm taking the children away and you won't seem them 'til next summer.' "
"No he didn't. Ron's exaggerating. But Professor Lupin did come and get us this morning. He told us to come here and wait until we saw you. He also said that once we'd finished our shopping we should go back to the Leaky Cauldron and travel the Floo network back to the Burrow. And from there we'd be given further instructions. What happened with you?"
"Dumbledore. He came and got me this morning. Sirius left everything to me. Everything. House." He remembered the keys, and suddenly he remembered a discussion he'd heard years ago, the first time he'd really heard just how close to his parents Sirius was. "His motorcycle."
"Motorcycle?"
"His flying motorcycle. Long story."
"What else did Dumbledore say?"
"We can keep the D.A. But he wants it quiet. And change the name to the Defense Association. And he said somebody was trying to kill my aunt. Or will try to."
"What are you talking about?"
"Why should that matter?"
"It's a little tough to explain but it Idoes matter. Dumbledore's set up all sorts of anti-wizard stuff there."
This was met with silence.
"Anyway, here. Your Hogwarts letters." He gave them each there letter.
"Hey! Aren't they supposed to say who the Quiditch captain is, Harry? Where's your letter? You made it, didn't you? It had to be you."
"Yeah. Me." He felt guilty.
"That's great!" said Ron. He punched a fist in the air. "We're going to Icream those Slytherins. Ha! This'll be so much fun."
"We'd better get our books," pointed out Hermione.
"Right," said the boys.
They found their books and paid for them.
They went to the next store over and bought parchment, ink, and quills. And then went to the apothecary to refill their potions kits.
"We should go stop in on Fred and George," said Harry.
"Yeah. Good idea."
Harry got his first good look at Weaslys' Wizard Wheezes. They went inside.
He found Fred at the counter while George demonstrated one of his Skiving Snackboxes to a customer.
"Impressive," Harry commented.
"Couldn't have done it without you. What'll you have today?"
"Another set of Extendables. A full set of Skiving Snackboxes. And a bottle of Pest Pop."
"Great." George put his things in a bag for him.
Harry handed over the money.
The other customer paid for his purchase and left. The twins put a sign on the door that said TEN MINUTE BREAK.
"So what did Dumbledore say?"
"The D.A. stays. I'm Quiditch captain. And I've inherited the Black house."
"So it gets to stay Headquarters, right?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Good. And you made Captain! Do us proud, huh?"
"Sure thing."
"We've got to go. We're supposed to go back to the Burrow."
"See you guys soon." They went back to the Leaky Cauldron, and through the fireplace to Ron's house.
"We are here for a transfer of accounts."
"State the names and what's to be transferred."
"The recently late Sirius Black has left all he owned to one Harry James Potter who stands beside me here, vault number 183. Here is his key."
"Leathertoes! Take them to vaults 397 and 183. We need to transfer everything from 397 into 183 and mark it on the records."
A goblin, taller than most of the goblins but still far shorter than a human, approached and grunted, "Follow me." He led them to a cart, which they entered. Harry soon got lost with all the spinning and turning as they plummeted miles and miles under London. At last the goblin cried, "Vault 397!"
Harry and Dumbledore stepped out and the goblin, Leathertoes, unlocked the vault. Harry peered inside. For a moment he was stunned at the amount of gold, silver, and bronze in the vault. Then it occurred to him: Sirius spent 12 years in Azkaban, not spending any money, and he hadn't had much of a chance to spend any since he got out. So, must of his funds that he might have had before his imprisonment logically would still be there. Also there with the money was a set of keys and two thick envelopes of parchment.
Dumbledore reached in and pulled out the envelopes. Harry saw that one envelope had the words: LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT written on it. Dumbledore opened this enveloped and read the letter inside. " 'October the 31st, 1980. Having no wife or child I, Sirius Black, in full knowledge of what this statement means, leave all earthly possessions (money, home, motorcycle, et cetra) to Harry James Potter, my godson.' " Dumbledore folded the letter and asked the goblin, "Are you satisfied with this statement?"
"Yes. These things will be moved to Mister Potter's vault at once."
"If you can do that without us, Mister Potter will remove this morning's funds from this vault and we'll be on our way. Though we expect the all things from this vault moved into the other by his next visit."
"Of course." He gave Harry a bag and Harry scooped money into it. He'd have to buy his school things, and undoubtedly he'd spend money at Hogsmeade during the year. As an afterthought he took the keys too.
Dumbledore pocketed the other letter that he'd taken out of the vault.
They went back up the track at a breakneck speed that matched the speed at which they'd come down originally.
When they stepped out into the bright sunlight of Diagon Alley Harry demanded to see the letter.
"Here it is, Harry."
Harry read the letter. It was the deed to 12 Grimmaulde Place.
"So we can keep Headquarters where it was last year?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, Harry."
Harry suddenly became aware of two figures not more than ten yards away. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Dedalus Diggle. He was puzzled as to why they should be there.
"Harry, don't you think we ought to go get your books?"
"You never sent out the booklist."
"Oh, here it is." He handed Harry an envelope.
Inside was the usual notice about going to platform 9 and three quarters on September the first for the start of term and with that was the book list. "Who's teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"I can't tell you that, Harry. But that does bring up an excellent question. What are your plans concerning that club of yours?"
"Oh. That." Dumbledore had finally brought up the D.A.
"I think it's an excellent idea to continue the club. But perhaps under a new name? And mention it only to those students that you can trust. Hmm?"
"Yeah. How about the Defense Association?"
"Excellent. Any plans about where to meet?"
"I'd like to keep it in the same place as before, sir."
"I thought so. Then as Headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry I hearby grant you permission for this club. The bookstore is just ahead there. Now as you probably don't want an old fuddy-duddy like myself shopping with you I'll leave you be after just one question more. I have here Ronald Weasly's start of term letter; you have your letter there. Honestly, which envelope do you believe this letter about being the Quiditch captain should go in?"
Harry desperately wanted to be the Quiditch captain. He'd had years more practice on the team than Ron had had. And Ron had Prefect duties to worry about to. Harry wondered what was stopping him from shouting, "Pick me!" Suddenly he knew what it was. In addition to everything else did he want to have something else to worry about? He knew the answer. "Sir, I think that that letter should find a home with me."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Here. It's already got your name on it." He handed over the letter about being Quiditch captain, as well as envelopes with Ron and Hermione's names on them. "Goodbye, Harry." He vanished.
Harry was still aware of Shacklebolt and Diggle behind him but he decided to ignore him and he went into the IFlourish Iand IBlotts to buy his books. He hadn't been there for more than a few seconds when he saw Ron and Hermione.
"See, mate? I told you we'd see you soon."
"How'd you know to come? You don't even have your booklists yet."
"Lupin showed up this morning at Hermione's and told her parents, 'Okay, I'm taking the children away and you won't seem them 'til next summer.' "
"No he didn't. Ron's exaggerating. But Professor Lupin did come and get us this morning. He told us to come here and wait until we saw you. He also said that once we'd finished our shopping we should go back to the Leaky Cauldron and travel the Floo network back to the Burrow. And from there we'd be given further instructions. What happened with you?"
"Dumbledore. He came and got me this morning. Sirius left everything to me. Everything. House." He remembered the keys, and suddenly he remembered a discussion he'd heard years ago, the first time he'd really heard just how close to his parents Sirius was. "His motorcycle."
"Motorcycle?"
"His flying motorcycle. Long story."
"What else did Dumbledore say?"
"We can keep the D.A. But he wants it quiet. And change the name to the Defense Association. And he said somebody was trying to kill my aunt. Or will try to."
"What are you talking about?"
"Why should that matter?"
"It's a little tough to explain but it Idoes matter. Dumbledore's set up all sorts of anti-wizard stuff there."
This was met with silence.
"Anyway, here. Your Hogwarts letters." He gave them each there letter.
"Hey! Aren't they supposed to say who the Quiditch captain is, Harry? Where's your letter? You made it, didn't you? It had to be you."
"Yeah. Me." He felt guilty.
"That's great!" said Ron. He punched a fist in the air. "We're going to Icream those Slytherins. Ha! This'll be so much fun."
"We'd better get our books," pointed out Hermione.
"Right," said the boys.
They found their books and paid for them.
They went to the next store over and bought parchment, ink, and quills. And then went to the apothecary to refill their potions kits.
"We should go stop in on Fred and George," said Harry.
"Yeah. Good idea."
Harry got his first good look at Weaslys' Wizard Wheezes. They went inside.
He found Fred at the counter while George demonstrated one of his Skiving Snackboxes to a customer.
"Impressive," Harry commented.
"Couldn't have done it without you. What'll you have today?"
"Another set of Extendables. A full set of Skiving Snackboxes. And a bottle of Pest Pop."
"Great." George put his things in a bag for him.
Harry handed over the money.
The other customer paid for his purchase and left. The twins put a sign on the door that said TEN MINUTE BREAK.
"So what did Dumbledore say?"
"The D.A. stays. I'm Quiditch captain. And I've inherited the Black house."
"So it gets to stay Headquarters, right?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Good. And you made Captain! Do us proud, huh?"
"Sure thing."
"We've got to go. We're supposed to go back to the Burrow."
"See you guys soon." They went back to the Leaky Cauldron, and through the fireplace to Ron's house.