They walked through the old door on the street into a marble floored waiting room. They both walked hand in hand up to the big white bier of a marble desk.
"Can I help you?" an efficient goblin said to them
"Mr Potter, I'm here to see about.."
"Ah Mr Potter, Director Grindbag is at your disposal. Through there please."
The goblin pointed to the main door at the back of the reception. Hermione looked at Harry and raised an eyebrow "A Director? You said we were here to talk about Sirius's will?"
"We are." Harry shrugged his shoulders with a look that said, I'm as shocked about this as you.
They both walked close together into a massive study with Grindbag sitting behind a huge desk flanked by five clerks.
"Please Mr Potter, have a seat," Grindbag said expansively, waving them down to the two red leather chesterfield's in front of the desk.
"You are here for the will." Harry nodded, and Hermione held his hand feeling it tremble a little.
"Sirius Black has made his wishes clear in that you are now under no legal guardianship after his death and your age of majority has passed. These two facts are indisputable, therefore we will now discuss what is now your estate. Mr Potter, you may not be aware that your estate is our main client here at Gringotts."
Hermione's eyes bulged and looked at Harry who was just staring at Grindbag like he had floated down from Mars.
"The Potter Estate has been invested wisely over the years here at Gringotts, I think you will agree, that the sum of 45 million galleons is a good return on this investment."
Harry's voice just squeaked, "Return?"
"Yes sir, we have managed to return above 10 on your estate even through its diversified holdings, properties, cash, non-cash and equity assets makes it harder to give you a good return."
"10?" his voice was a bit lower now, though still strained.
"Mr Potter, most of Hogsmeade town rents property off your estate. You own the town of Godric's Hollow with the Hall and its surrounding land, 12 Grimmauld Place in London, a few cottages up and down the country including Lake Wizenmere and all things associated with it. Now for your other investments like the equities, the Weasley Brothers Joke Emporium Limited has seen some of the best return any goblin at Gringotts has seen for a long while in the region of about 800 which puts your standing at about.."
"That's fine." Harry said still shell shocked.
"Do you wish me to continue sir?" Harry shook his head for a no.
"If you would just sign these documents, we shall escort you down to the Family Vault which has subsumed your personal vault into it now that you are of the age of majority. Will you be taking any of your titles, sir?"
"Title?" Hermione said breathlessly
"Mr Potter here is the Lord of Godric's Hollow, Miss Granger, Knight Commander of the Wizengamot, the Laird of Wizenmere, the.."
"Okay.. here you go," Harry said pushing the quill down out of his shaking hands, "Just the vault please Grindbag."
"Yes your Lordshi.."
"Grindbag. My name is Harry."
Grindbag smile was so big that his five clerks were looking quite scared at this point. Part of the normal Wizarding nobility this young man was not. He was starting to like Harry Potter.
"It will be a pleasure doing business with you Harry. Follow me if you would."
"Harry?" Hermione started, but was pulled along by his hand in hers
"I can't think at the moment Herm.. just come with me please."
They traveled with Grindbag in a click of his fingers to the massive doors of the Potter family vault which had no key.
"Only you will be able to open this Harry." Grindbag looked at him like it was a test. Harry pushed out with his mind and commanded the doors to open, and the couple walked forward. More accurately, Harry walked forward and pulled a gawping Hermione forward. As soon as they crossed the threshold a booming voice greeted them
"Welcome to the Vault of House Potter," Hermione hugged Harry's arm.
The alcoves on either side had every major denomination of currency in neat stacks, share bonds meticulously laid out on multiple desks, and chests holding who knews what stuffed into the rest of the alcoves and forming neat piles at the end of the cavernous vault when there were no more alcoves left.
Maps of places that Harry hadn't even heard of were on the walls, but it was the banner that hung down from the rafters one hundred feet up in the year that had his eyes. Gryffindor colours, red and gold, shone around the edge of the crest, lion rampant battled with a magnificent stag over three sets of books. Lux Vita Caritas was the motto.
"Light, Life and Love.." Hermione breathed.
Hemione looked like she was going to pass out while trying to let the enormity of it all sink in. Harry moved like he was drawn to three black chests at the back of the vault. One had his mother's initials on it. He sank to his knees as he passed his hand over it and it creaked open.
Photo albums, jewellry boxes, some old jasmine, worn school books and a painting. All so caringly laid out, just like his mother to do this. A big lump stuck in his throat as he sealed it, not able to go there. Hermione had come over to him and put one consoling hand on his shoulder, his neck bowed.
"Harry?" she kneeled next to him gently pulling his chin up and round to face her, "Harry, it's okay. It will take time. You don't have to do this all at once. We can come back." He wiped his silent tears on his sleeve and nodded, just glad for her company here.
He allowed her to walk him out with Grindbag putting a letter in her hands for him. They went back up and were just about to walk out when a goblin gave Hermione a set of old black keys.
"These are his Lordships keys, miss." she pocketed them without a glance and they went out, back into Hogsmeade together in silence.
The others arrived for lunch and sat down at a booth out of the way in the 3 Broomsticks noticing that Harry looked a little preoccupied. Hermione had been doing her best to try and cheer him up but it was clear a lot more weight had been added to his shoulders today.
She had opted for the subtle approach and was tending to that before the others arrived, making significant progress in kissing Harry into insensitivity.
"Go-o-d, get a room!" Ron moaned at them pushing Harry and Hermione over so the gang could all sit around the table.
Harry peeked around from Hermione's kissing embrace to the others almost like he had just woken up. The girls smiled at seeing him like this, and shook their heads in mock disgust at Hermione who was doing a fair rendition of the cheshire cat.
"Harry, yoo-hoo!" drawled Timmins, sniggering, "Man, he's got it bad! Po-o-otty! Yoohooooo!" Harry's eyes focused and he had the good grace to blush looking at all his friends now sitting in the booth.
"We're not going to every shop this afternoon are we?" Ron whined, Luna promptly slapping him upside his head. Timmins' usual laughter was cut short with a sharp smack upside his own head from Ginny which made most of the people laugh at that and not at Ron's comment. Seeing the big Gryffindor beater wound around Ginny's thumb was amusing to say the least.
"We're shopping for Harry," Hermione promptly informed them, "How about Harvey Knickerbockers?"
"Ooohhh yes, they have everything we wouldn't have to go anywhere else!" Timmins said before receiving his second, but definitely not his last, clip in the ear from Ginny Weasley.
"What!" he growled, a bit fed up with her. She just huffed and stood up to leave.
"Come on then." Harry said a bit wearily as he got up to leave.
They had not stepped out of the 3 Broomsticks when they were stopped in the doorway by a phalanx of reporters. Flashes were everywhere, clicks and retorts of cameras were filling the air
"Lord Potter?" "Harry?" "A comment Lord Potter?" "Are you really out for Fudge's job?" "Do you now own Gringotts, Lord Potter?" "What are your plans now?"
The group couldn't even believe their ears, while Hermione just looked upset. Harry's face was thunderous in the space of seconds.
"Harry! Peaches Roon here from Witches Weekly, what do you say to being the number one bachelor in the Wizarding world now? Is it true you're dating Miss Cho Chang?"
"Lord Potter, do you intend to take your place on the Wizengamot?" "Comment, Lord Potter?"
"ENOUGH!" Harry boomed, his arms flung out and cloak whirling around him. All the reporters were silent with camera's still clicking away
"A comment will be made in due time. Please leave us alone for the time being."
That caused chaos,
"US?" "Lord Potter, are you married?" "US? WHOSE US?" "Whose the lucky witch Harry?" "Comment!"
Timmins and Ron acted immediately as soon as they saw the limousine pull up and Neville franticly wave them from across the street. Timmins used his size to good effect tossing reporters out of the way and ushering Harry and Hermione and the girls quickly and efficiently to the car, amidst the flashes, with Ron bringing up the rear and elbowing some of the more merciless cameramen out the way.
"Drive!" said Neville loudly. They were all spread out in the huge black limousine looking at each other and at Harry.
"Mother of Merlin!" Ron exclaimed breaking the silence, "What the hell was all that? Lord Potter! They're all bonkers, aren't they?... Harry?" Ron laughed expecting Harry to laugh with him. Harry gave him a tortured look and buried his face in his hands. Hermione put her arms around him and gave Ron a look that could have withered him where he sat.
Ron had confusion written over his face, Luna just put a firm hand on his thigh and gave him a pleading look while shaking her head. Ron knew he had said something out of turn badly when she hadn't whacked him. He didn't know what. No one spoke.
Neville broke the torturous silence, asking the goblin driving the enchanted limousine to go back to Hogwarts.
A rather dispirited bunch left the Gringotts limousine as a few startled first and second years gawped near to the entrance of Hogwarts. Harry was the last to leave with Hermione and they made their way into the lobby. Nearly everyone had copies of special editions of either The Prophet, Witches Weekly, The Cobbler, The Wizarding Times, you name it and Harry was the only attraction.
They tried to go up the stairs a few of them casting sympathetic glances round to Harry but he stood rooted to the spot. He glared around not quite believing that his fame could have got any worse. His tortured eyes were heavy as he closed them and whispered fiercely, "I can't take this.."
With a crack of apparition he was gone, and Hermione stood there for a few seconds looking around desperately wondering why he hadn't taken her with him, but then flew past Luna and Ginny on the stairs in a hail of tears. All was not well at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.