Sorry for the long wait for this chapter, I actually got married and went away on honeymoon so was a bit distracted. I hope you enjoy this one as it has a few of my ideas I don't think I have seen in other fanfictions. Thank you so much for all your comments and support it means the world to me-Dayin
Once they had entered the room the door quickly disappeared, and the wall returned back to its solid metal form.
A single meeting desk sat in the centre of the room, with Ironclaw quickly taking a seat at the head of the table and motioning for them to be seated. The chairs sprung to life and to make room for them to sit.
Hermione stumbled forward, still overwhelmed and unsure about what was happening, an unusual occurrence for her, and sank into the soft velveteen cushion of the chair. With Harry following her example moments later.
Once they were all seated the goblin reached below the table and made a strained grunting noise as he hauled out two large folders that fell to the table in front of them with a thunderous "BOOM" causing the teens to jump.
"Alright do I have your consent to conduct these matters with you both in the room at once or would you rather handle each meeting privately?" he questioned almost as an afterthought.
"I am happy for Hermione to hear any of my affairs" Harry quickly assured, knowing Hermione would probably be needing to explain whatever the goblin had to say back to him after the meeting, she had always been better with the more academic and legal jargon.
"The same for me, I don't mind Harry hearing anything to do with me" At these words a thick magic seemed to blanket the room reminding Hermione of old carpeted theatres she had gone to as a child.
"Good, our privacy wards have been placed now so no one outside of us three will be able to overhear." Ironclaw crowed with delight while waving his clawed hand in the air.
"Congratulations to you both on receiving your order of Merlin awards; as you know your respective awards comes with a vault here at Gringotts and a formal title."
"As you received a second-class award, we will start with you Sir Potter" the folder slammed open revealing a pile of paperwork and a few small boxes. Ironclaw shuffled through the papers for a moment before removing a single form.
"This form is your consent to accept one Merlin second class vault containing 50 thousand galleons along with a few artifacts Merlin himself left that have been divided among award winners."
Ironclaw then turned to Hermione as he opened a much larger file
"And now the First-class award that is being bestowed upon Dame Granger." he said as he began to read.
"This Form is your consent to accept one Merlin first class vault containing 100 thousand galleons and your share of the artifacts of Merlin left for award winners."
"You will also both be receiving new identity documents issued in both the wizarding world and British format that reflect your new titles."
"Will my American documents need to be changed as well? I was adopted in America and my family lives there, so I plan to travel back as soon as possible" Hermione interrupted quickly
"Yes we will also issue new American identity documents as required; I must also inform you that you will need to register yourself as a politician with MACUSA when you travel back."
"If all our Documents are being changed in the muggle world as well how will be explain the sudden formal titles?"
"The wizarding world has been explaining Voldemort's attacks in muggle newspapers as attacks from a sophisticated terrorist group. We are able to create fabricated images of the queen bestowing titles upon 2 individuals and the newspaper will run a muggle friendly version of events that are as accurate to the true story as possible, we could give your names or if you would like to remain as anonymous as possible that is alright as well" Ironclaw explained.
"I would like to be kept anonymous please, I have had enough of my name in newspapers to last a lifetime" Harry quickly answered keen to be as far away from any more people reading his name.
"Me as well, I just want to be able to fly as much under the radar as possible" Hermione said, imagining her dad and brothers' confusion if they were to read her name in the paper all of a sudden.
"That's fine we will try to conceal your identities as much as possible, however formal magical titles are different from their muggle counterparts. When you sign these documents, magic will measure your worth and your title and vaults will be bestowed upon you, that is why your legal documentation changes as well as magic would simply not allow an incorrect title to be utilised for her chosen"
"What makes the magical title so different?" Hermione asked in fascination, the details of magical titles were a very closely guarded secret kept among the few lucky enough to have earned them.
"Well for one a muggle title is more symbolic, while a magical title is under magics blessing; so recipients find their magical powers can be amplified, logistically the title would be recognised and respected by any magical community worldwide once people know magic has deemed you worthy in the magical community you are likely to have a great amount of political power, MACUSA may choose to allow you to take part in their own government events when you return to America as long as you have dual citizenship." He paused to take a breath before continuing further.
"Secondly it gives you authority to an extent over some magic, magic has blessed you so magical creatures, plants and even spells will react to you differently, not to say you will be able to control them or force them to bend to your will, but they will be open to your suggestion and will not easily bring themselves to do you harm."
Hermione was shocked at what she was hearing, the titles carried far more weight than she had first realised.
"This is insane, it's too much. How can this power just be given to someone!"
"This power is not just simply given to everyone Hermione, only those who have greatly protected the wizarding community that magic herself chooses to bless."
"And be that as it may it is the award that you have accepted and more so it is magic that has accepted you." he grinned reassuringly as he said it.
The teens sat there in astonished silence. Hermione could not believe what she was hearing, the amount of power the goblin was speaking of was unprecedented, this must be why the order of Merlins rewards were such a closely guarded secret.
Iron Claw led them through the signing of all of the documents and their new vault set up. Hermione opted in to pay the additional fees to have all of her documents completed immediately as well as having a Gringotts card created that only she could use that would work like any regular bank card in any currency, Harry decided to follow her lead and had the same made for himself.
Iron Claw stopped for a moment and held one hand to his ear as if listening to an earpiece before he let out some words in the ancient goblin tongue. Shortly after he turned to look at the teens once more.
"I will lead you down to your vaults in just a moment but before I do so, Dame Granger, your presence has been requested in a private chamber by your new accounts manager Griphook, he has matters to discuss regarding your account that no third party is authorised to hear." He said with a quick look over to Harry.
"I'll wait right here for you Mione its okay, Griphook is the Potter accounts holder and has never been anything besides honourable to me." Harry reassured.
Hermione got up and headed to the door that Ironclaw had pointed her towards.
There she was met by a kindly looking Goblin who bowed deeply before leading her to a room just beside the one her and Harry had just occupied.
"Dame Granger, thank you for coming to this separate meeting room. I was hoping I could talk to you about a few private matters now that your Merlin's Vault has been established as well as simply introducing myself as your account manager" Griphook thanked as he gave a small bow to her before taking a seat at the rooms meeting table
"Of course Griphook, may I ask what you need to discuss?"
"Well Miss Granger firstly let me introduce myself, I am the account manager for multiple high standing accounts within Gringotts. You now form part of our top 3% of account holders for largest accounts and assets which is why I have taken on your account. My role as your account manager includes helping you to manage, grow and protect those assets in your best interests." He explained
"I am honoured to have such an experienced manager in charge of my accounts" Hermione reassured kindly.
"However, introducing myself is not my only reason for requesting to talk to you multiple individuals who are account holders at our bank wish to settle the life debt they owe you and the matter of your inheritance by conquest as a result of you vanquishing, He Who Must Not Be Named must also be addressed" Griphook took out a folder bigger than those Ironclaw had wielded as Hermione's jaw dropped open in surprise.
"But, but no one owes me any life debts that I know of, and Harry should be the recipient of any conquest inheritances for Voldemort?" she questioned in shock.
"Miss Granger, your victory over the dark lord saved countless lives that would have been lost. Both directly and indirectly. Those whose lives you saved directly now owe you a life debt." Hermione fell speechless for the second time that day, if what Griphook was saying was true that would mean hundreds of wizards now owed her a life debt.
"There is a spell we are able to use to investigate who owes you a life debt that we will perform in a few moments with your consent and if you are willing to consider payment from some who already know of their debt to you in order to settle their debts multiple family's have their account managers waiting outside the door to discuss your terms.
"But that can't be right, I never heard of anyone owing Harry a life debt except Snape and that was because of Harrys Father?" She questioned not understanding why no one had come forward to Harry about life debts.
"Life debts are mysterious things Miss Granger, in order for one to incur a life debt they must be saved by someone who is fully intending to save their life even if they themselves would die in return, when Mr Potter vanquished, he who must not be named he was a child and couldn't do anything knowingly as a result no life debts were incurred."
Hermione thought back to the moment she had sent the spell that killed Voldemort and realised that indeed in that moment she had accepted her death in exchange for the safety of the wizarding world.
And now they owed her life debts.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter please let me know what you think and any suggestions you may have! Reviews and feedback always inspire me to keep writing and developing and are very appreciated!-Dayout