Of Age
Chapter 3: Rally Round the Family
The muggles were going to notice, how could they not. It had not been a full day yet since the reading of Sirius' will, and close to 30 owls had arrived at Harry's temporary outpost, 12 Grimmauld place. It was nearly as bad as when Uncle Vernon had tried to keep Harry from getting his Hogwarts letter. Uncle Vernon, Harry sighed at the thought, suddenly wondering what would become of the remains of his family. Somewhat deflated, he turned back to the original source of his frustration, the owls.
They had come from all over, individuals, charities, businesses, even young witches. If Harry thought it was a bother to be famous, he was totally unprepared to be famous and rich. He had gold before; the vault at Gringott's that paid for his school expenses was in itself a small fortune. But now Harry was more than rich, he was wealthy. And before him now were letters upon letters from people thanking him for all that he's done and asking for money. Harry thought it funny, how so many people seemed against him just a short while ago, but now that he was literally the richest wizard in Europe he was everyone's hero again. There were letters from individuals, with stories of maladies that St. Mungo's could not cure (but somehow money would). There were business propositions, seemingly everyone wanted Harry to be a silent investor. Charities wrote to him, requesting to set up a Sirius memorial fund. But the funniest were from the witches. He had received no less than 4 offers for matrimony in less than a day. Suddenly Lockhart's words echoed in Harry's ears, "Fame is a fickle friend, celebrity is as celebrity does…" He gathered up all the letters and tossed them into the fire. He was disgusted with it all. Once again he was famous and loved for something that he had no control over.
At this point he was glad that he was alone. Professor Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley had promised him some time alone to work through all that had happened. They'd also promised to keep things secret, but the rumor mill is a powerful machine. His first order of business was to determine loyalty. He was sure that (and the recent explosion of owls supported this) now that he was in such a powerful position (as principal shareholder of Gringott's) and with so much wealth, that he would have a lot of "new friends." Before he rejoined the wizarding world he wanted to set his boundaries. He was going to be good to those who had been good to him, and noone else. He made a list, a list of those people who had been there for him in his darkest times; times like when everyone thought he was the heir of Slytherin, or when Rita Skinner portrayed him as a lunatic.
Half an hour later, this is what he'd come up with
Ron
Hermione
Hagrid
Neville
Luna
Professor Lupin
Professor McGonagall
The Weasleys
Professor Dumbledore
Funny, the list seemed dreadfully small. In his whole life, he didn't have very many people he could truly call friends. Well, Harry had never been very good with communicating his feelings, but now that he could literally buy whatever he wanted, he was certainly going to let everyone close to him know how much they meant to him.
Five days later it was done. It had been a long busy five days, but Harry was glad for the progress he'd made. In that time he had received another 75 owls requesting various things, spent considerable time flooing across England from the Grimmauld Place fires, and spent an embarrassing amount of gold. He was still dodging the general public, and with discretion he was able to avoid any mobs. He was ready to be at the Burrow, were his real family, the Weasley's lived. With his newly acquired ability to do magic outside of school, he prepared his cargo, shrunk them to fit into a small portfolio, and stepped once again into the fireplace. A pinch of floo powder and a few green flames later, Harry was once again among those who really cared.
Upon stumbling through the Weasley's living room, Harry was grabbed up into a bone crushing hug by one Molly Weasley. "Harry dear, come hear let me dust you off, you look like you haven't eaten in day, let me get you something to eat…" she immediately scurried off toward the kitchen as Ron came down stairs to greet him.
"Harry, good to see you mate. I thought you'd never get here. Uh, sorry what happened to your house, how are the Dursley's?" Ron immediately looked as if he had broached a topic he had been warned agains, but Harry answered him truthfully, "I don't know, and honestly I don't care." In no time Mrs. Weasley was back with a tray of sandwiches that Harry eagerly took and dug into. Through a mouthful of tuna fish Harry asked Mrs. Weasley, "Umm, when do you think Mr. Weasley will be home?"
"He should be here within the hour I'd say. Is something the matter?"
"No, I just have some stuff to tell you, and I'd like it if everyone were here." It was a pleasant hour, spent mostly by Ron replaying the past few weeks worth of Weasley activity, and the normal fart joke telling that took place anytime two teenaged boys were in the same room together. At last the hand on the Weasley family clock went from Work, to Traveling, and finally to Home. After a brief hello and a knowing glance from Mr. Weasley to Harry, Molly Weasley assembled her horde or redheads and Harry began.
"I'm sure you guys have heard about what happened," he said as a cautious opening. Mr Weasley ensured him by saying "Of course Harry, I have kept what happened the day at the ministry just between you an me, but I am afraid The Prophet has been printing things."
"It's okay Mr. Weasley," he began again. "In a nutshell, my child abusing uncle was killed by death eaters, Sirius has been cleared by the Ministry, and now I am the richest wizard in Europe," Harry said that last part very fast and closed his eyes. Disbelief was evident on each freckled face when he opened his eyes and began again. He felt somehow bolder now, and pressed forward with the information he came here to deliver. "Now , the fact of the matter is, practically everyone in the wizarding world has written to me in the last week to ask for money, charity, or what-have-you. The reality of the situation is that I came her today, To say what I should have said many times before. I'm, well, I'm just not good at this type of thing. Look, you guys have been the only family I've ever known, and well, I just wanted to do something nice for you guys so you know how much everything has meant to me." With that he opened the portfolio. He pulled out a small roll of parchment. At the look of discomfort on the face of Molly Weasley Harry stopped.
"Look Mrs. Weasley, my entire time at Hogwarts I have seen Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny being put down because they didn't have the new, fancy stuff that other kids had. For as long as I've known this family, I'd have given you guys every drop of gold I had just to repay the kindness you showed to me. You were literally the first people I've ever known who have loved me, and I am going to do this now, and I won't take no for an answer. Now, I have something for everyone, but seeing as Ron is my best mate, he gets to go first. Come here mate." Ron looked timidly at his mother, who signed in defeat then nodded slightly. Ron hopped up from his spot on the couch and approached Harry.
"Now we all know how much Ron here loves his Chudley Cannons. We've all experienced his orange wall paper and never ending faith that the Cannons might someday win the cup. That brought hoots of ascent from the Weasley children. "Harry, surely you didn't get me tickets to Cannons game, pro games are really expensive," Ron questioned. Harry smiled a very mischievous smile and, handing the roll of parchment to Ron he said (more to the other Weasley's than to Ron) "No Ron, I did not buy you tickets to a Chudley Cannon's game. Slightly deflated Ron unrolled the parchment, and after a quick scan, his mouth promptly fell to the floor. " I don't believe it, I don't believe it, I don't believe it. Ron's legs forgot that they were supposed to be holding him up, and he slid like jello to the floor and continued his mantra of "I don't believe it, I don't believe it."
"What Ron is having difficulty relaying to you all, is that it appears the Chudley Cannons are under new ownership, his ownership." Instantly Molly Weasley was out of her seat fury in her eyes. "Harry Potter, that is entirely too much, what is he supposed to do with the Chudley Cannons!" Harry considered his friend, thought briefly and answered truthfully. "Well, I assume that he'll go to Chudley, meet the entire team, pick out some nice box seats for us all to enjoy, and then make himself keeper of the team when he is finished leading Gryffindor to two more house cups." That brought cheers from the Weasleys again, and by this time Ron was on his feet hugging Harry furiously with tears on his cheeks. "I, I don't know what to say…" Ron began before Harry cut him off.
"You don't have to say anything, don't you see. None of you have to say anything, for any of the goodies I have in this portfolio. This (he pointed at the portfolio) is just a first step in my saying thank you for everything you have given to me. I didn't know love before I met you all. Now, If I don't get to this, its going to take all night."
"Ginny." She immediately blushed as Harry turned his gaze from her to the Weasley parents. Mr. Weasley, when we heard those words that Sirius left in his will...(Harry paused as his emotions were causing his breath to catch in his throat) I realized that we are never guaranteed a tomorrow. Anything can happen, especially now with…well with you know what. So I am going to learn from Sirius, and never let the ones I care about wonder my true feelings any more." After a small smile he turned back to Ginny.
"Ginny, I'm sure you remember that terrible day in the Chamber. We both nearly died (at this tears swelled up in Ginny's eyes). Do you know what saved us that day Ginny? It was loyalty. Dumbledore told me that it was loyalty to Dumbledore that brought Fawkes to our rescue. That day taught me a valuable lesson, about how important loyalty is. You showed me that same loyalty the night we went to the Ministry. You barely knew anything about what was going on, and despite the fact that we were heading into terrible danger facing full grown evil wizards, you climbed onto the back of a creature you couldn't even see, and fought bravely by my side. For that, I am truly grateful. It's funny actually, I've known you for going on six years, but I've only just begun to get to know you. It does help actually, that you are not afraid to talk to me anymore. You are a wonderful person Ginny and I care a lot about you. Which is why I am giving you this." With that Harry dug once again inside his portfolio and withdrew two tiny scrolls. "Ginny, have you ever been in Gladrags in Hogsmeade, or Madam Malkin's in Diagon Alley?"
"Well of course I've BEEN in there Harry, but I've never been able to…" Ginny's voice trailed off as questions formed in her mind. "Why Harry, what have you done?"
"Well," he began, "I see giggling girls running all over Hogwarts with fancy gowns and new robes, and I just thought you should get to have that too."
"You bought me clothes, Harry?"
"Well, no, not clothes as such, although now you can pick out whatever clothes you want, you are now the owner of both Gladrags and Madam Malkins," he finished by handing the rolls of parchment to Ginny for inspection. "Of course you don't have to actually work there or anything. I kept all the original staff on, all you have to do is shop whenever you want, and collect the profits of the stores. Which reminds me," Harry dug around for several moments in his pocket before extracting a small gold key. This is the key to your vault. The profits from both stores will go there, and I took the liberty of adding a few galleons just to get you started."
Ginny's eyes were completely filled with tears now, and she jumped up quickly and caught Harry in a very intimate hug. Seconds later they reluctantly pulled apart, both blushing for some reason. "But Harry, what are these numbers?" Ginny was looking at her parchments and chewing on her bottom lip. Leaning over Harry smiled brightly, "Those, are the profits from each store last year, just so you have an idea of what you are looking at. And this is the contribution I made to open your account. Are you going to rename the stores, by the way. Something like Weasley Wears or some such?"
Ginny visibly faultered. "B..B..But Harry, this is soooooo much, and this, (she pointed at the parchment) this is no small contribution, 250,000 galleons, I don't thing that amount of money even exists."
Harry smiled and put his hand on Ginny's cheek. "I assure you it does, and it's your, no objections." He spoke softly and when he realized the intimacy of their situation he jumped back, looking guiltily at the elder Weasleys. Ginny blushed even pinker and sat back down next to Ron. Clearing his throat, Harry went on.
"Fred, George I'm afraid I don't have anything in the way of a gift for you two. More of an investment really. I also have to confess." With this, Harry turned again to Mrs. Weasley. "You see Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, the three of us are partners. I gave Fred and George the money to start their joke shop. I'm sorry, but with all that was, and still is going on, I just thought the wizarding world could use as many laughs as these two could think up." At this Harry turned back to his partners. "With this in mind, I would like to present the two of you with the ownership papers of what was formerly your biggest competition, Hogsmeade's own, Zonko's Joke Shop, soon to be the Hogsmeade location of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Along with that I have also added a small sum, to be used for research and development, or whatever else."
Fred and George roughly shook Harry's hand, patted his back, and roughed his hair for a good five minutes. George, who had finally taken a good look at the parchment howled. "Harry, with this 'small sum,' we could make a career out of research and development, this is a fortune."
"It is," Harry admitted, "but noone deserves it more, except perhaps. . ." Harry had again turned to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Immediately Mrs. Weasley, tears in her eys, shook her head. No Harry, you've done enough, for them (she gestured to the Weasley children) and its all just too much. Her voice was mearly a whisper. Harry slowly made his way and knelt on his knees at the foot of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. He patted her leg with his hand and looked her squarely in the eye. "Mrs. Weasley, I never knew my parents, but I'm sure that even they could not have loved me more than you have. You all have been the only family I have ever known, and I'd give everything I have to let you know how much that has meant to me, so please, let me do at least this much. All this, really, is barely scratching the surface, and it's the least I can do." He reached in his parchment one more time, and pulled out the last of the parchments. It was smaller than the rest had been, no more than a scrap really. While the others were official legal documents, this had been handwritten, and contained only one thing, a number.
"There's no way to put a price tag on love," Harry by this time had tears streaming down his face as well. "Love is in a moment. In a hug, a smile, strips of bacon, hand knitted sweaters for Christmas. Moments like before the third task of the Triwizard Tournament, when you were there with me during the family time. You will never know how much that meant to me. All in all I figure there has been millions of those small moments, that have added up to making me feel like a real part of this family. Five million moments, I'd say was a good estimate." With that Harry handed her the parchment, where clearly written in Harry's distinct scribble was the number 5,000,000. "You know," Harry was lumbering to his feet and addressing the Weasley children now. "It is illegal, and next to impossible to take money from someone's vault without their knowledge or permission. It is strikingly easy to put money in. It's already done Mrs. Weasley, you can't say no, because it's already done."
