Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling
Chapter 6: Order of the Phoenix: Part 1
"speech"
(thoughts)
Parseltongue
As Harry rode the train back from Hogwarts, Hermione spent the whole trip crying on his shoulder. Ron was less than sympathetic to her grief. As he comforted his friend he realized that his childhood was over. He now had a mission: kill or be killed by Voldemort. All of the spells he had learned in the Chamber of Secrets would help, as would the extra lessons from Lupin and Moody. But now he had to get serious about Defense. Playtime was over! If only he could do magic over the summer so he could hone his skills!
The next day Harry went over the Dailey Prophet in minute detail to look for an announcement from the Ministry about Voldemort's return. He found nothing about it. But he did find, in an article about the Tri-Wizard Tournament, a quote from a Ministry official who implied that Harry was a glory hound of questionable sanity. And another article suggested the Dumbledore was going senile. Harry was out raged!
He put on his invisibility cloak, snuck out of the house and walked several blocks away to a deserted alley. From there he caught the Knight Bus to the Leaky Cauldron. He wasted no time with pleasantries but walked straight through, into Diagon Alley and over to the Gringott's Wizarding Bank.
After waiting in line for what seemed like an eternity, Harry finally made it to the counter.
"May I help you?" said the goblin behind the counter.
"Griphook?" inquired Harry, who thought he recognized this goblin.
"You recognize me?" asked a shocked Griphook.
"Yes. You're the goblin who took me down to my vault the first time I came here," said Harry. "Why shouldn't I recognize you?"
"It's just that it is very unusual for wizards to remember the names of individual goblins. I'm told that we all look alike to you," replied Griphook. "How may I help you, Master Potter?"
"I was wondering if there was someone here that I could talk to about getting emancipated," said Harry.
"Of course. Key please?" said Griphook.
Harry handed the key to the goblin who pressed it on a pad on the counter and handed it back to Harry.
"The key is correct. Follow me please," said Griphook, as he led Harry down a hallway and into an office.
Within the office, a goblin dressed in a nicer suit than Griphook's sat behind an ornate desk.
"Master Harry Potter wishes to speak with you about getting emancipated," explained Griphook before he left Harry alone with the goblin.
"Harry Potter," said Harry as he strode up to the desk and offered his hand. "And you are?"
The goblin looked at Harry as if he'd grown another head. Then, slowly, he broke into a smile, grasped Harry's hand firmly, shook it and said: "Grindbar. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Master Potter. Please be seated and tell me why you want to be emancipated?"
"Voldemort's back," said Harry.
Grindbar jumped with startlement!
"Voldemort's back and I need to do magic over the summer so that I can prepare to fight him," said Harry.
"I see. Well there are several emancipation options depending upon how old you are," explained Grindbar.
"I'll be fifteen at the end of July," replied Harry.
"Oh dear. Oh dear. At your age I'm afraid there is only one way to get emancipated," explained Grindbar. "You would have to get married."
"Married!" exclaimed Harry.
"Yes. If you were married you would be considered and adult by default," said Grindbar. "You would be able to do magic with out restriction and you would have full access to your accounts."
"Don't I already have access to my vault?" asked Harry.
'That is just your trust fund," said Grindbar. "The other vaults you won't have access to until you come of age. If you were married, you would be of age."
"Okay, what do I need to do?" inquired Harry.
"This form needs to be filled out and signed the parents or guardians of both yourself and the bride. Then bring it back to me and we'll proceed from there," replied Grindbar.
As Harry wandered out of the bank, he wondered: (Who am I going to get to marry me?)