Harry stepped out of the hearth, almost falling on his face, grabbing the backrest of one of the old wooden chairs. The stuffy pub was pretty empty, just the old barman behind the counter. The bearded old man seemed to do the same thing he was always doing when Harry had ever come here. Cleaning a mug with an old towel. He only raised his eyes for a moment.
"Morning Mister Potter." The grumpy voice echoed through the room while Harry dusted off his robe. He wore long dark robes, quite a good cut, but tightly fitting. He felt a little off, his hand me downs from Dudley were much wider than these and he had the feeling of being tied up a little. On the left side, right above his heart was the Black-Family Crest. Yet the robes stayed open at his hips so his movements weren't hampered at all. Narcissa had rolled her eyes at Sirius back at home, asking him if Dueling-robes were the right thing for a young heir of a noble house. The man had just chuckled and pointed at his own robes of the same cut. His cousin had huffed and made a point to tell Harry she would buy clothes with him later today that weren't so, vulgar.
"Umm Hello." Then a new flash of green light came from the hearth and Narcissa stepped out with total grace and no dust what so ever on her robes. She brushed a flick of imaginary dust from her shoulder before stepping up. Her cold eyes searched the room for a moment before she settled on the barman.
"Good Morning Tom." The man actually placed down the mug and the towel and bowed slightly. He smoothed his grey hair with his hand before he spoke to the woman.
"Good Morning Lady Malfoy." Narcissa raised an eyebrow for a moment, before the third time the hearth burned in green fire and Sirius stepped out, not quite as elegant as Narcissa but yet not as clumsy as Harry. He found his footing almost instantly, but he grumbled at the moment.
"God damn, twelve years is a long time to forget how to do this." With a wave of his wand, he cleared himself from dust and looked over at his godson, smirking. Then he waved again, clearing him too from the dust.
"B-Black!" Tom stammered out, then he caught himself. Still, his eyes were wide and a little nervous.
"Tom, good morning to you too." Sirius smiled without missing a beat at the startled look of the man. The man stood up more straight and shook his head.
"My apologies Mr Black. It was just in the news and I...needed a little time to get used to it." Sirius nodded, stepping closer, while he laughed a little. His robes swayed behind him when he stepped up to the counter.
"Yeah, I myself have still problems getting used to it, so no hard feelings." The bartender sighed in relief easing a little in his stance. While he had read the morning edition of the Daily Prophet, Black looked intimidating in his dark duelling robes, the hair pulled back to a ponytail and his wide fierce eyes, that twitched ever so slightly every few seconds.
"O-Okay, would you like to drink something?" Sirius shook his head, pointing to the back door.
"Maybe later, we have a business to attend." They turned to the back door, which Sirius opened and held open to a satisfied Narcissa and a shuffling Harry. Before he closed it he stuck his head through one more time.
"Keeping that for the good old times?" Sirius asked, pointing at the bounty paper next to Tom on the wall. On it, a crazy screaming Sirius rolled his eyes back at them. The door closed and Lord Black didn't see the bartender turning bright red and making his way quickly over to rip it off the wall.
The three of them made their way down Diagon Alley and they turned quite a lot of heads. People stopped walking, staring at them, from out of windows, across the street and from doorways. Hushed whispering filled the air while people raised their heads starting to talk to each other while their eyes followed the three persons. Not every day walked the boy who lived between the Lady of one of the most important Houses of the British Wizarding World and the most notorious criminal of all time, declared innocent just sixteen hours ago. When they reached the marble stairs leading to Gringotts, Sirius took the lead. He strode up those stairs with assured steps. They all nodded towards the two goblin guards standing at each side of the golden doors. Over them were the big golden Letters of Gringotts. Both guards, as always ignored them completely. Sirius placed his hand on the heavy door, pushing it open and once again held it for the two people who were with him. Cissy smiled at him and Harry whispered a soft thank you. He smiled back at the two and stepped in himself.
Like always the main hall of Gringotts was busy. Goblins walked up and down, carrying parchment and other tokens of their trade. On large desks on each side of the hall sat goblins, stamping, writing, counting, reading, trading and discussing various business low hanging lights gave the whole room a warm and almost golden look. Here their arrival didn't turn as many heads, they goblins merely acknowledged them before turning back to their work. Wizards and Witches did look closer but seemed also be more concerned about their own business. On the side stood a man with a scruffy suit and a scarred face. His brown hair was slightly greyed and he had a small moustache.
"Sirius!" The man came closer and there in the middle of Gringotts they both hugged, clapping each other back. It was a full-hearted and lovely sight thought Harry. Narcissa tried her best to keep her disgust out of her face. Then the man stepped back, still smiling at Sirius.
"Congratulations on being free." The man smiled. Sirius answered with a somewhat raspy voice.
"Thank you, Moony." Said man smiled once more, then he turned to the other two people.
"Hello, Harry." He stretched out his hand and Harry smiled himself taking it. His hand was scarred and calloused. "Hello, Professor Lupin." This made Sirius chuckled and whisper, 'Professor', quietly.
"I'm not your Professor any more, so please call me Remus." Harry smirked and nodded. It felt weird calling adults by their first names, he never got accustomed to that. Lupin turned once more and he still wore a warm smile on his face but he didn't stretch out the hand to the third person. Instead, he bowed slightly.
"Good Morning, Lady Malfoy." He said with a much more formal approach than he did with Harry and Sirius. The woman had a completely cold gaze and blinked just once.
"Lupin." Was all the acknowledgement he got, but he doesn't seem to be bothered what so ever, making Harry frown a little bit. Sirius also felt his smile fall a little.
"Cissy..." He said with a strained voice but Remus waved it off.
"No Sirius it's okay. Let's just get to business. You want me as your Solicitor, did I understand that correctly?" Sirius nodded simply, tilting his head in a slight manner. "Are you sure?" Sirius nodded again, raising an eyebrow. Remus sighed, then he also nodded.
"All right. We will figure out conditions later I would say. May I already offer a little bit of advice?" He leaned a little closer lowering his voice. His eyes stared deep into Sirius's. The black-haired man once again only nodded, while Harry followed the "conversation", interested. Narcissa made a point not looking at both of them. "I will say this once. You should really get a new Solicitor!" Remus firmly stated. He looked dead serious but Sirius only shook his head at him, making the man sigh.
"All right, fine." He turned, leading the group over to the main counter. An old goblin sat behind it, raising his gaze and correcting his glasses at the small group. A wide smile, showing his pointy teeth rose on his face making him look like a shark. Harry shuddered slightly. Do goblins know how scary they look? Probably and that might be the point, he thought with a slight chuckle.
"Good morning and great fortune to you Sir. What can Gringotts do for you?" Remus stretched out his hand to the back, and without a word, the Head of House Black placed some kind of medallion in his hand, which in return was placed at the desk of the goblin by him. Harry couldn't see it but it was a silver representation of the crest of House Black.
"Good morning and may your enemies bleed by your blade. We are here in House matters for the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black." He firmly stated. The goblin held up the medallion, looking at it closely, before handing it back to Remus. He rose from his desk, speaking a few words of Gobbledegook, before waving his hand at them.
"Follow me." He walked down the stairs of his desk and towards a door, which opened by itself in front of them. They followed behind Sirius and Remus at the front, Harry and Narcissa at the back. They made their way through the door and down a corridor, wide and lined with dark Mahogany doors. In front of one, the goblin stopped, pushing it open and waving them in. A small but well-decorated office awaited them. There was gold lining on the furniture, a big Gringrotts Crest on the floor and two sets of armour on stands in the back. A huge desk was in the middle, a rather high desk with stairs on the backside. There were four chairs, and they sat down on these. Harry noticed while it was a well-done chair, he felt rather uncomfortable in these and squirmed a little. Remus chuckled.
"That is on purpose, you see-" But he stopped himself when a side door opened and Lord Ragnok stepped in, clicking the floor with his walking stick. All four rose to their feet again and waited until Lord Ragnok had climbed the stairs and was in front of his much more comfortable looking leather chair. After he had sat down, the rest of them sat, correcting their clothes and looked up at the goblin. It was strange looking up to him, but Harry thought that might be the point.
The old goblin folded his fingers and blinked at the four people in front of him. Two of these he had seen just yesterday. He didn't like unnecessary meetings, because these cost time and time was gold, but with one of their biggest clients, he would have to play nice. He fixed his glasses looking at the other two humans in front of him.
One was a young boy, maybe...who was he kidding he had no eye for the age of humans. Scrubby black hair and a scar on his forehead. This must be the Potter child. While Ragnok didn't bother with the trends and rumours of the wizarding world, even he had heard of him and the destruction of that Tom Riddle. The old man, Dumbledore, the only one who really understood goblin customs had been surprised that the identity of Tom Riddle had been known to the goblins of Gringotts until reminded that they were the one keeping track of all the genealogy of this world. They just never saw the point in disclosing that information. Information was gold at last, as the 67 rule of acquisition stated. The boy squirmed a bit in his chair making him smirk a little himself. He should squirm, this was just a little reminder that humans weren't on top of the world. Yet he was now the heir of Most Ancient and Noble House of Black.
His gaze turned to the man in the shabby robes and his face turned down a little in disgust. This was Remus Lupin he knew. He wasn't disgusted by the hair or the scars. Scars are deeply respected in the goblin world, showing your willingness to fight. It wasn't his condition either, he couldn't care less what that man did once a month at the full moon like he didn't care what which pureblood lord did with his maid when her lady was gone or which rich boy tormented his house-elf. The reason for his distaste was simple. The man was poor. And worse he showed it in his clothing.
He turned his eyes back to Lord Black, who held his head high and finally, the man had the decency to dress according to his wealth. Being in prison or not, it wasn't appropriate for such a rich man dressing in simple robes. The other two, Lady Malfoy and Heir Black were dressed accordingly to their position as well. It seemed fit.
"Lord Black, I welcome you and your Heir. May your vaults overflow with wealth until the end of days."
Sirius lowered his head in a form of sitting bow, folding his hands over his right knee.
"Lord Ragnok, greetings to you too, may your dagger always find the spine of your enemy." Ragnok grinned slightly and the boy looked away quickly. Ragnok also greeted the other two persons in the room, Lady Malfoy the same way, Mister Lupin less. Not that the man seemed to bother. Then Ragnok took off his glasses, looking over to Lord Black again.
"Lord Black, may I inquire what this meeting is about? We met just yesterday, as you well aware I believe." Sirius nodded, placing his hand on the shoulder of his godson right next to him.
"Lord Ragnok, there are quite a few things I want to get done rather quickly, before anyone makes...unfortunate decisions, well at least those that haven't yet been done." Sirius smiled a thin smile, which was returned by the goblin even thinner. Apparently Lord Black had someone in mind for that and that wouldn't be pleasant for the person. Ragnok nodded, fetching a paper.
"All right then, let us begin. What can I do for your House?"
Sirius rose, folding his hands behind his back before he stepped behind Harry and placed his right hand on his shoulder again, squeezing the nervous boy slightly for comfort.
"First of all I would like my Heir to take the inheritance test, to make sure his status as my Heir can't be challenged and there are no complications." The goblin nodded.
"Quite understandable to protect your fortune, one moment." Ragnok reached out for a small silver bell laced on the right hand of his desk and rung it. Moments later the door opened and a goblin stepped in. A quick dialogue in goblin tongue took place and the goblin left again. They waited for a minute, no one said a word. Sirius still brushed on Harry's shoulder, holding on to it. The boy felt his hands sweat and he didn't know why really. Mostly because he was nervous. This was the moment it could all go down the wrong way. What if anything went wrong and Sirius had to give him up? What if something happened to make him reconsider?
The suited goblin returned after a knock on the door, handing Lord Ragnok a piece of paper before leaving again. The old goblin nodded started scribbling on it with a swift and safe hand. After a while, he raised his head nodding at Harry.
"Heir Black, would you please?" Sirius indicated by slightly pulling on his shoulder for Harry to stand up. The boy followed and shot his godfather a short questioning gaze. When he turned back he almost stumbled back, because the goblin was grinning malignantly and held up a golden footlong dagger. With his other hand, he waved Harry closer. Harry again shot Sirius a look who just nodded at him, smiling. Carefully he stepped closer.
"Heir Black, please I would need your right hand for a moment." Harry hesitantly raised his hand. He had learned all kinds of thing over the years but trust in a strange situation in the wizarding world wasn't one of them. Mostly because half the time a situation felt weird it was Voldemort as a ghost or something like it. Only the fact that all the other wizards in the room were completely at ease made him do it. The goblins hand snaked up, clutching around his own like a bear trap. Harry was surprised, for such a small and old creature, the goblin had murderously strong fingers. He turned his hand around stretching out his thumb. With a quick slash, he cut Harry, making the boy flinch before he pressed the blood thumb on a circle on the parchment. Letters and text formed on the document in an elaborate way. The letters were Blood-red. The goblin read the paper, copied it and handed the copy to Sirius.
Harry James Potter-Black
Male
Born: 31. July 1980
Father: James Potter
Mother: Lily Potter nee Evans
Guardian: Sirius Orion Black
Titles: Heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black by declaration, Heir of the Noble House of Peverell by the law of conquest.
Marriage Contracts: -
Acknowledged Life debts: -
The Lord of Black read and he lowered it, looking confused.
"What's this with House Peverell?" He asked pointing at the section in the document. The goblin raised his eyebrow and then he nodded.
"Ah yes. Heir Black, well or should I say Heir Peverell-Black, has earned by the law of conquest." Sirius nodded and then shook his head.
"But what does that mean?" The goblin smiled turning his head to Narcissa.
"Lady Malfoy, I take you are familiar with the means of inheritance am I right?" The lady graciously nodded.
"Would you perhaps educate Lord Black about the law of conquest?" Like he would waste his time to teach some wizard his own laws, instead, he pulled out a family tree starting his little research. Narcissa nodded again turning to the other three.
"The law of conquest is an obscure little detail in inheritance law. Basically, if you defeat a Lord and you are not yourself a Lord then you take his place as the Lord of that line." Sirius frowned.
"But if that's so why doesn't it happen all the time?" Narcissa smirked, pointing at the family tree of the goblin. But Remus chimed in, himself quite familiar with the law.
"Well, that's because you have to be in the succession of a member of that house. More clearly, you have to be the successor of a possible successor of at the moment the House is founded. This law was made firstly made so that if one branch of the family problems another could take over. Also, you can't be related to the main branch. Basically, your only common ancestor must be the father of the family founder. The way most of the wizarding world is related to one and the other in Britain this happens only very rarely. I think the last time was-"
"1456 by the family of Rockwood." Narcissa chimed in, shooting Remus an annoyed look. The man sighed and nodded. Harry looked at the goblin.
"But why does this apply to me Lord Ragnok?" The goblin held up his index finger looking up and down a family tree. Then he nodded.
"Ah yes, so now I see. The Potters are descendants of the House of Peverell through the branch of their second son, Ignotus Peverell, youngest brother of Lord Antioch Peverell. His line held the title of Lord Peverell, while not being part of the Wizengamot for over three hundred years. Heir Peverell-Black took the title as is his right at the night of 31. October 1981 from Tom Marvolo Riddle by defeating him."
The goblin looked up at the baffled people. Sirius came to his senses first.
"Tom Marvolo Riddle?" He asked, confused beyond measure. Harry nodded, remembering the rather unpleasant episode down in the Chamber of Secrets.
"That's Voldemorts real name."
Narcissa and Remus shrieked in a combined effort and Sirius dropped his jaw. All stared at Harry. Ragnok meanwhile put on his glasses again.
"Oh yes, that is quite correct, young man. Does that explain this?" Sirius blinked, still trying to get a hang of it.
"No,...not really but...never mind, we will move on I would say. Harry, we will have a long conversation about this when we get home I suppose." Harry smirked nodded at him. Narcissa glared over at the boy.
"And please don't say that name again." Harry shrugged, looking over.
"Professor Dumbledore told me, the fear of his name only gives him power over us. We made him this larger than man monster, while in the end, he is just a man with the name Tom." Harry got a thoughtful look on his face, thinking for a moment. "I think I will call him that from now on. Not by the name HE wanted the world to give him. One more way to defy him." Narcissa raised her eyebrow at the boy, surprised.
"You are not afraid to anger him?" At that Harry just smiled at her, sad and tired at once.
"Narcissa, he tried to kill me when I was an infant, when I was eleven and when I was twelve. I think I am past the angering him state, don't you think?" Lady Malfoy widened her eyes by the statement that the Dark Lord had attacked him in his first and second year at Hogwarts. Before she could ask another question, Harry turned to Sirius.
"Can we move on please?"
Lord Ragnok nodded at the suggestion of moving on, after an agreeing nod of Lord Black himself. Sirius turned back to the goblin, taking a deep breath.
"All right. The main reason I came here. I want to make sure no one can fight my guardianship of my godson. Do I turn over the Will of Lily and James to the Wizengamot or will Gringotts do that?" Sirius felt a big lump in his stomach, twisting and turning his insides. The goblin nodded, consulting his papers.
"Well, we will take care of the but first off, Heir Peverell-Black, would you like Lord Black to take up your guardianship?" Harry turned his head to his godfather, smiling brightly at him. This was what he had dreamed about his whole life, someone came and took him away from the Dursleys giving him a loving home.
"Yes." This three letter word meant more to Sirius than any other sentence in his whole life, passing that evening fourteen years ago, when James, a little drunk and in one of his moods had pulled him into a sid-way hug, telling him he wanted to ask Lily to marry him the next day and if Sirius wanted to be his best man.
Lord Ragnok nodded at the suggestion of moving on, after an agreeing nod of Lord Black himself. Sirius turned back to the goblin, taking a deep breath.
"All right. The main reason I came here. I want to make sure no one can fight my guardianship of my godson. Do I turn over the Will of Lily and James to the Wizengamot or will Gringotts do that?" Sirius felt a big lump in his stomach, twisting and turning his insides. The goblin nodded, consulting his papers.
"Well, we will take care of the but first of. Heir Peverell-Black, would you like Lord Black to take up your guardianship?" Harry turned his head to his godfather, smiling brightly at him. This was what he had dreamed about his whole life, someone came and took him away from the Dursleys giving him a loving home.
"Yes." This three letter word meant more to Sirius than any other sentence in his whole life, passing that evening fourteen years ago, when James, a little drunk and in one of his moods had pulled him into a side-way hug, telling him he wanted to ask Lily to marry him the next day and if Sirius wanted to be his best man. It was utterly warming, to the bottom of his scarred heart. He felt his smile rise in his face.
Lord Ragnok just nodded, scribbling something down.
"Your wish is noted. Combined with the will, this will be rather safe. I will go over the details with your Solicitor. It would be good to send an owl to the Department of Childcare, an under-section of the DMLE, to make it official."
Sirius nodded, not relieved but at least less worried. He felt young fingers sneak into the hand on his armrest and smiled over to Harry who for a moment turned to him, also smiling and squeezing his hand.
"Very well, I think that won't be a problem. Bugger, Amelia will yell at me for this being the third day in a row. Better something to appease her..." Sirius got a contemplated look while Remus chuckled.
"You are very good at making Madam Bones annoyed don't you Sirius?"
The black-haired man himself chuckled a little.
"Well yeah, kind of. You see Harry when we were at the school for two years I wanted to get Amelia to-"
"Excuse me." Narcissa cut in with a cold and annoyed tone herself. Sirius turned to his cousin who herself pointed over to Lord Ragnok. The goblin was drumming his fingers on the top of his desk, glaring at Sirius. The man ducked his head and waved his hands.
"Never mind I tell you another time. Anyway, thank you for your help Lord Ragnok. If you could give my Solicitor a transcript of all financial details about House Peverell, Black as well as family Potter, I would be rather grateful. Also the Black's copy of the marriage contract of Lord Malfoy and Lady Malfoy nee Black." The old goblin nodded, making a note. Sirius rose to his feet, Narcissa and Remus right behind him, Harry taking a moment.
"That would be everything. Remus, would you stay behind and take care of the rest?" The werewolf nodded, bowing before the three. Ragnok also rose to his feet.
"Like always, a pleasure Lord Black, Lady Malfoy, Heir Peverell-Black."
The nodded to the goblin, Sirius taking the charge.
"Thank you Lord Ragnok, for our time. May your wealth be rising to unheard heights."
The goblin grinned, showing again his sharp teeth, like the smile of a shark.
"And may your enemies died in horrible suffering." With that the three of them turned, leaving Remus and the goblin to work out details.