Chapter Five

The portkey left a few people on the floor. Harry was on his feet, for once, but felt a sharp twinge in his left foot from a nerve pinched as he landed with a clatter. Then he wasn't on his feet and the Gringotts marble floor felt less than welcoming.

"Son of a…"

"Harry! Language!"

Hearing it in stereo from both Hermione and Emma, Harry did the smart thing and shut up. It didn't help that Dan was smirking at him and pretending to whistle innocently as he got up. It also didn't help that Sirius was doing the same thing.

It really didn't help that the Goblins waiting for him were both highly amused as well. One turned to the other and everyone could see that there was a clear exchange of coins, but for what was anyone's guess.

"I'm glad you could drop in, Mister Potter," Ironbeard said. Harry narrowed his eyes at the pun.

"Let's get to business," he muttered.

"Of course! Always a pleasure." Harry wondered if the old Goblin was poking fun at his magical travel mishaps when he continued. "Why, Lord Potter – meaning James – had issues landing with a portkey here too. He never knew that Lady Potter asked us to tweak his landings to keep him humble."

Harry thought about that. It sounded like something the Goblin would definitely do.

"And do I have the same 'tweaking' happening in my case?" He looked at Hermione a bit suspiciously as he spoke.

"Oh, no, Mister Potter, far from it. Yours is a perfectly normal portkey. In fact, it has a mild landing assist function embedded in it. Whoever the next Lady Potter happens to be won't have to make a special request like that – we hope. It might be messier than we intended."

Sirius snorted at the Goblin's bright delivery. All eyes turned to Hermione.

"What? I don't need a trick portkey to deflate Harry."

Sirius opened his mouth to reply.

"Zip it, Sirius."

Sirius closed his mouth on his reply.

Harry looked around and noticed that Hedwig was perched on a chair back.

"Hedwig? How did you get here?"

The prek sounded smug to him but he knew better than to make that observation. The other Goblin chuckled.

"She traveled here through the portkey. Why, I don't know but there she is. I'd wonder if she wanted to know what was going on or if she wanted to keep an eye on you."

Harry exchanged glances with his familiar, who wasn't backing off the smugness.

"Both, probably," he said, a bit put out.

Everyone looked at the owl, who didn't seem to disagree. She merely fluffed her feathers and stared at Harry and Ironbeard with a look that clearly ordered, "Get on with it!" Harry kept looking at his owl, while Ironbeard hustled to follow her command. He wasn't a fool.

"I've had a chance to look over the letters and other things that I received that detailed the happenings around the visit Fudge paid to the Granger household. I understand that there is a memory event involved. I would like to examine this memory."

Before anyone could reply to that, there was a knock at the door. It opened and Madam Bones was ushered inside.

"My apologies for the delay, Ironbeard. There was a mugger outside that obviously was new to his profession."

"Oh? With you being the target? I see no blood."

"Of course there's no blood, Ironbeard. I spelled it off before I set foot on the bank's first step."

"Very gracious of you. Is the mugger in any shape to talk?"

"No, he's undergoing surgery. The blade he was carrying has to be removed from his inner thigh, next to the femoral artery. Certain items in that area might or might not be reattachable. I don't have time to waste on a two-bit mugger."

Dan leaned in to whisper in Sirius' ear.

"Did she just allude to cutting off his…"

"Yep, she did. And when Amelia Bones cuts something off, it stays cut off. I toed the line with her in school, unlike others. Brother, you haven't seen silent fury until you get on her bad side, then you won't see it for long before she turns the lights out. Whether the lights come back on depends on if she was in a good mood before she got hacked off. Er… maybe 'hacked off' is the wrong term."

Dan grimaced. Every other male in the room except for the other Goblin also grimaced. Ironbeard shook his head.

"Everyone, this is Steelarse, the dherlec shakhacis for the Potter Account."

Greetings were made all around, except for the Aurors guarding Sirius Black. Madam Bones raised an eyebrow at his presence, as he was supposed to be under house arrest, but he raised a finger to his lips and motioned to the Aurors. He mimed speaking and tapped his wrist where a watch would be. She sighed and nodded at him.

No one made a comment about the name of the dherlec shakhacis, and he seemed a bit surprised. He said nothing and let Ironbeard run the meeting.

"Now, I have to ask something I should have started with, young Mister Potter." He looked at Madam Bones for a moment for some reason Harry couldn't identify, who nodded back. "What's this about a Horntail adopting you? If so, we have to fill out a good thirty or forty parchments about changes of custody, schooling, Healer visits, nutrition and exercise plans, living arrangements and suitable regalia that marks you as under Dragon protection. That's 'each.'"

Harry gaped at the Account Manager.

"Not to mention that we have to set up a whole new series of inoculations. Those have a remote side-effect that sometimes pops up. What was that side effect, again?" Ironbeard turned to his fellow Goblin.

"Makes a small set of scales grow in uncomfortable places and grows fingernails into talons. That makes scratching the constant itches from the scales a lot easier, though."

Neither Goblin was smiling. Both look quite grave.

"Wait, what? Where in the world did you hear something like that? That's just…" Harry floundered for a moment. "That sounds like one of the oddest things I've ever heard!"

"So, no?"

"No! Who'd want to be that close to a dragon especially with that? Who told you that… that..."

Harry was lost for words. The Goblins traded glances again, grinning at each other this time.

"Wait. What are you two up to?"

"Old, time-honored ritual."

"What old ritual?" Harry didn't see Sirius nearly choking trying to hold laughter in.

"Why, the Potter family ritual of taking the mickey, of course. You didn't think we believed that silliness about a dragon of all things adopting you, did you? You're the latest in a long line. We go through it every year and whoever cracks first has to pay into the pranks pot."

"...pranks pot?"

"Yes, your six times great-grandfather started it. Blame him. It gets emptied once a year and restarted."

"Uh…"

Hermione giggled and said, "Harry, talk about that later. They got you good, but we have something else to do."

"Uh… good point."

Madam Bones was chuckling along with her Aurors.

"Don't worry about it, Harry. I didn't expect Ironbeard to do it today, but I was the one that helped him spring the last one on James."

The look Harry gave her promised a conversation about it. Ironbeard cleared his throat.

"Anyway, to business. I understand that there's a memory event involved? Whose memory are we viewing?"

Dan sat forward.

"Mine, I believe. I had a mental conversation with Magic, who told me to find the dherlec shakhacis and give the Goblins the memory. How is that possible?"

"With this, Mister Granger." Ironbeard pulled out a pair of thick rings that had tiny probes embedded on one side of the rings. The probes looked a lot like a picture Dan had seen of a lamprey's mouth. He raised an eyebrow at the sight. "I realize that this looks a bit vicious. Indeed, these can be used as a weapon but in the intended purpose there is no pain or blood. These are placed on your temples near what in the human brain is the temporal lobe."

"How does this work?" Dan remembered that the temporal lobe handled memory, but the thought of a pair of lampreys attached to his temples had to be repressed.

"Simply put, you will concentrate on the memory that you need to give us, from beginning to end and the rings will replicate that memory based on the synaptic traces. The replication will persist for about a week unless it is transferred to a longer-term storage."

"And no pain or blood?"

"No pain – well, first time users sometimes get a mild headache but not after that. It has something to do with the nerves in the skin and where they are in relation to the optic nerves. Everyone is a bit different. You don't have to worry about going blind. That's a common question."

Dan traded glances with Emma, then shrugged.

"Well, you have to have the memory and this is the way to go, I suppose."

Harry plucked at his sleeve.

"Dan, we should do the long-term storage of that memory, and of the whole event. Not just the conversation with Magic."

"You mean the visit with that man, Fudge?"

"And the dementors, too."

Dan thought for a moment.

"Would it be too much if I started from when Madam Bones rang our doorbell? All in all, it was maybe an hour and a half, all told."

The Goblins conferred without a silencing charm and agreed that it could be very useful. Ironbeard glanced at Dan as he got up from his chair and said, "I'll arrange for the long-term storage. You'll have it before we conclude our business today."

The actual procedure took less than fifteen minutes. Everyone could see Dan's eyes go blank and his breathing calm as the Account Manager worked. Dan was surprised when he was awakened.

"How was it so quick?"

Ironbeard looked at the rings that he'd just removed from Dan's temples.

"You have almost two hours of 'footage,' for want of a better word. It triggers a dream state of sorts and allows for quick transfer. You'll probably feel a bit more rested tonight before you go to bed than you normally would at that time."

"Huh. How about that."

"Now, we need to review this and make some arrangements, but we have to do it in realtime. There will be questions we'll have to ask, so please do not leave the bank. Might I recommend viewing our gift shop and bowling alley while you wait?"

"Gift shop?"

"Bowling alley?" This was Harry, who sounded skeptical.

"Something new," Ironbeard smirked. "They've been very popular."

"And lucrative," Steelarse chuckled.

Harry wondered if they were pulling his leg again, but shrugged. He'd never been to a bowling alley. He thought it might be fun, then he looked at Dan's face and groaned. With the confusion on Sirius' face and the resignation on Hermione's and Emma's faces, it was probably going to leave him lighter in the coin purse. He sighed and rose to bow to his Account Manager, then lead everyone out to see what this was all about.

=-{}-=

Harry was right. He did leave the bowling alley lighter in the coin purse. The only consolation was that Sirius was much lighter in his coin purse than he was, thanks to some rash decisions, strong Goblin beer and poor playing.

It also didn't help that Hermione suggested a father/daughter versus godfather/godson match, then proceeded to wipe the floor with them and split the winnings. Madam Bones and the Aurors wisely stayed out of it.

=-{}-=

When they returned to Ironbeard's office, the Aurors had more to be amused about. They had compared notes about the bowlers and Amelia and Emma had watched with amusement as Harry had picked out a wall plaque with a sappy quote for Hermione before the match and later looked like he was debating asking for it back. It did look a bit atrocious, since the Goblins' sense of sight had more sensitivity to a greater range of light and some of the electromagnetic band as well. This led to the use of materials that looked fine to a Goblin but fluoresced under certain conditions.

Dan and Emma wondered if the Goblins knew about velvet paintings and resolved to show Ironbeard one of those, if they could still find them.

Hedwig had remained on her chair back the whole time, not interested in gift shops or bowling alleys. The Goblins had been amused but let her stay while they reviewed the memory.

Sirius was still moping a bit. Amelia poked him and he jumped.

"What was that for?"

"Quit looking so hangdog. That's for Padfoot to do, not Sirius."

"But…"

"But what?"

"I can't believe I got hustled so easily!"

"You're out of shape, Sirius. It's understandable, considering where you've been. Don't try to do so much so quickly."

"Well…" He sounded like he was considering that.

"Also, I wouldn't be surprised if they've been doing that for a long time and Hermione was taught that at her Daddy's knee, so to speak."

"Well…"

"And what happened to that house arrest order I gave you?"

"Well…" he brightened as he thought of something. "House Granger is represented by Dan Granger, then his family, then any servants. Where Dan goes, the House goes with him! I'm just staying to the terms."

The look on his face made Amelia want to slap him. The fact that he made more sense than he should have made her irritated with him. She speared him with a monocled glance.

"From now on, you stay within the physical confines of the building he resides in. Any business with Gringotts should be done by correspondence, so if you have anything physical to do it needs doing today."

He grinned at her in acquiescence, but she could see that he didn't want to risk making her mad at him. Sirius knew that he wasn't in shape enough to dodge her and the physical workout of the game had really taken it out of him. Everyone present knew that he was going to be very achy, very soon.

"Now shut up Sirius, and let Ironbeard speak."

This was a little louder than she intended and everyone looked at them.

Ironbeard nodded to himself and cleared his throat politely. Everyone turned from seeing if Sirius was about to be knocked out to look at him. He could see that some looked a bit disappointed at the interruption. The old Goblin decided to get Steelarse to keep him updated on whether this happened when the group left the bank. With luck, he could make memory recordings and the Goblins could play them at the weekend lodge meetings after the bank closed. It would be something different than watching the Toad get shot down over and over in the pubs. That never got old but sometimes it helped to watch else.

"Far be it for me to keep Lord Black from any due beat downs," he grinned at the man, "but we have business. To that, then."

Everyone nodded, although Sirius looked a bit more ready to agree to the change than others as he cast a wary glance at the Director of the DMLE. She smiled sweetly at him and winked at him, but he didn't miss the hand at just below belt level that clenched into a fist and then twisted sharply.

The others wondered why he shuddered but didn't have time to ask.

"We – meaning the Goblin Board of Directors – have reviewed the memory and have agreed that Lord Granger had a true visitation from the ineffable Venire of Magic and have put Steelarse at your service for protection as requested by Magic. We say 'Venire' instead of 'Spirit' of Magic in this case, as the actions of your daughter and son-in-law…"

He was interrupted by several choked gasps in the room and the sight of Hermione blushing red and Harry going pale. They had forgotten that part that Dan had related to them. Ironbeard glanced at them for a moment and there was a small grin on his face before continuing.

"That's another thing, but I'll go into that at a later point. As I was saying, the actions of these two called forth different manifestations of Magic to join with the latent manifestation that Mister Granger himself had. He cannot wield it, that is true, but the magic that courses in his blood and bone underlies that which contributed to his daughter and her magic. The Venire recognized that and 'upgraded' Mister Granger, to coin a phrase."

"Huh." Dan sounded bemused at that but said nothing else. As he hadn't said it loudly, Ironbeard ignored it.

"As you are now considered a part of House Potter, Steelarse can be posted in your household. Do you have any questions?"

"Several! First, 'Lord Granger?' What's that about?"

"In the Magical world, we operate with the presence of Magic as a given. As Magic has favored you for whatever reason – and we think it has to do with your actions and intent as a warrior, based on what was shown in the memory and what we are aware of your military service – you have been accorded that title by the providence of the actions of Magic. It doesn't come with a seat on the Wizengamot as it would Lord Potter or Lord Black, but aside from that you have all the benefits."

"Providence, is it? I think I'll have to do some studying on this."

"Of course. We'll be happy to help. This mentioning of the Lordship in the presence of Madam Bones will serve as notification to the Ministry," she nodded with a puckish gleam in her eye that matched his own, "plus lower rates for services that Gringotts can provide you. Things like, say, warding of your home or what you would call bank accounts such as savings, checking, retirement, things like that."

Dan felt his daughter grip his forearm and turned to see the wide eyes she gazed at him with. When he turned back to the Goblin, he had an idea on what to do.

"Of course, Ironbeard. I don't know if you fill the role of Account Manager for House Granger, but I would be pleased to accept those services you've just mentioned. Should there be a list somewhere of the things Gringotts can provide, I would be pleased to see that as well."

Ironbeard made a note after seeing the nod from Harry. He would send that information out before the close of business today.

"And next, Ironbeard, 'upgrades?' I'm not going have the accidental magic discharges that plagued Hermione when she was younger or anything like that, am I?"

"No, Lord Granger, we are in agreement that you will not, however as magic is intent you will find that your luck may improve for various things."

Harry groaned and resolved to stock up on Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and every trick deck of cards he could find. Dan grinned at him.

"So no need to buy myself a wand, then. I can deal with that."

"We think that within the bounds of your home, or grounds rather, you will have a greater sensitivity to events and the wards that you have requested will interact with you as the wards around Black properties would interact with Lord Black."

"I have to worry about rolled up newspapers swatting me?" Dan's face was the picture of innocence.

"Oi!"

There were several chuckles.

"No, Lord Granger, no rolled up newspapers although the Black Account Manager would possibly be pleased to hear of that idea. I'll have to relay that to him. It shouldn't be hard to set up."

"Oi!"

More chuckles.

"Okay, more sensitivity to anything relating to Granger things. I can deal with that, as well. Anything else?"

"We think not, aside from there may be physical changes as your body adjusts to the undercurrents of magic. Nothing harmful, so don't worry about that. We don't know what those would be, however, but it would be wise to be watchful of that possibility. Also, as you are bound to Lady Granger," everyone heard the squeak from Emma, who hadn't thought about that part yet, "through the sacred marriage rite that you underwent, many of these changes will also apply to her."

"So watch out for her in that regard as well. Always. Now back up a moment, what about the 'part of House Potter' bit?"

Ironbeard nodded.

"Normally, it wouldn't be an issue since you wouldn't be a part of House Potter without a magical bonding ceremony where Magic is invoked as a part of the ceremony – such as the phrase in some places that read 'by the power invested in me, I pronounce you man and wife,' or something similar."

Dan nodded. He and Emma had done just that.

"In this case, Magic itself did a judging of all parts involved. That would be you as Lord Granger, the mutt here as Lord Black…"

"Oi!"

Everyone looked at him.

"Wait. He's got a point. Carry on."

Hermione was closest and whapped him on the back of his head.

"Shut up, Sirius."

He did.

"As I was saying, Lord Granger and Lord Black was held in judgment for the Sanctuary process and found to be perfectly valid, but the actions taken of the young ones here in linking with Lord Granger to help him had brought them to the attention of Magic. The judgment rendered from that action allowed the link between them that is so common with young ones that care deeply about each other to simply get stronger."

"Oh?" Dan wondered but could see that the old Goblin had more to say.

"Yes, indeed. As both have done some frankly amazing magical feats in one way or another, Magic simply made note of the fact that many of those came from being in the spheres of influence of each other. Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if Magic saw what each privately thinks or had thought of each other and hadn't mentioned to the other."

Everyone could see the moment that comment sank in. Harry and Hermione blushed Gryffindor red. There were a few snickers and a guffaw from Steelarse. Sirius opened his mouth.

"Shut up, Sirius," Emma said.

Sirius closed his mouth with a resounding click. He looked at Dan.

"Don't look at me. I know better than to say anything right now. I can't get away from both of them at the same time."

There was general amusement and a sigh of commiseration from Ironbeard. When Dan shot him a look of confusion, he explained.

"My wife and I have seven daughters."

Dan decided to count his blessings. No wonder the old Goblin was distinctly bereft of hair on his head. From the look on the other Goblin's face, he was quite amused.

"Back to business. Lord Granger, Magic saw the way that your daughter and Lord Potter – and yes, he is Lord Potter even if he doesn't have the ring on his finger yet – as bound to each other through the triple bonds of friendship, battle, and love. Both are warriors in a way. Whether for peace or for protection, no less of warriors are they both."

There was a rumble in the hallways at the pronouncement which had the visitors wondering what was going on, and both Ironbeard and Steelarse thumped their fists into their chests. Dan decided to ask about that later.

"Last question, so Emma and I have a son-in-law now?"

Harry squeaked this time. Hermione was still casting him little glances and blushing, but he didn't notice these.

"No, not yet, Lord Granger. Magic was correct that we can see the bond they share. It's there, bright and solid." He leveled a firm glance at the both of them. "And as long as they don't do anything stupid, insane, bone-headed, daft, or… well, you get the idea. As long as they don't any of those things and continue on their path together, they will be wed someday. Magic just takes the view of dropping to the bottom line since there are some things that we cannot perceive that It can. It's up to them to plan a wedding when they're ready."

Emma reached over and hugged Harry. He jumped a bit in surprise but relaxed and relished the love in the embrace.

"I'm not going to lie, Harry. I love you, son," she said to him with much tenderness. Tears filled his eyes as a sob was heard.

Everyone looked at Sirius, who was trying to wipe all the tears from his eyes.

"Shut up, everyone. I just wish James and Lily was here right now."

Several hands clapped him on the shoulders and Hermione hugged him as he cried shamelessly. Ironbeard conjured a large handkerchief for Sirius. He felt the same way and missed the elder Potters himself.

Dan waited for Emma to release Harry and hugged him as well.

"Son, as long as you take care of my girl, I've got no problems. I'm aware that you have a lot going on, but remember that she comes first."

"Always."

Dan let him go and returned his attention to the old Goblin behind the desk.

"I have no further questions right now, but if I should later…"

"Send them to me through owl-post."

"Owl-post?"

A loud hooooot interrupted them and Dan looked to see Hedwig staring at him. He'd forgotten her presence. Ironbeard just waved his hand in her direction to indicate what he meant.

"Oh… yeah… Sorry, Hedwig, I forgot."

She ruffled her feathers at him. Harry whispered in Dan's ear, "I think you owe her some bacon when you get back. Lightly-cooked, drained, with a touch of brown sugar."

The older man looked at the younger man, who shrugged.

"Don't ask me how I found out."

Dan resolved to ask Hermione later. She'd tell him. A thought occurred to him.

"I do have another question, Ironbeard but it's more to Steelarse."

They saw the warrior goblin lean forward in his seat.

"I wanted to know what I needed to provide for you during your stay. As I've never hosted a Goblin warrior or any magical beings other than my daughter and her friends, I'm at a loss. What do you require? Housing, food, laundry, bedding?"

"Think of me as a security advisor. I will not require laundry as my clothing and such have permanent cleaning charms on them. I do not use bedding as you would, due to our physiological differences. That can be worked out. Aside from that, I can use the same as the Auror detail you have."

Madam Bones nodded.

"I will have a quiet word with those in the rotation. They will not give you any problems and there will be every cooperation. In fact, if you want to do any cross-training, I'm sure we can think of something."

The smirk on her face made the Aurors in the room grimace. Steelarse looked at them and laughed.

"Of course, Madam Bones. I would be pleased, after my duties of course."

This made the Aurors grimace worse. Dan thought it was funny, but didn't say anything.

"We'll sort it all out later, Steelarse. Thank you."

"Of course, Lord Granger."

Dan stopped for a moment on hearing that.

"I have to get used to that," he mumbled to himself.

Ironbeard sat back in his chair.

"If there's nothing else, I have some business with Madam Bones about that unwelcome visitor that I have to discuss with her privately."

Dan shook his head.

"Nothing else. Thank you for your time. Harry? Hermione? Sirius?"

No one had anything else. As they got up to leave, Ironbeard handed Dan a large marble cube with runes inscribed on it. He also passed over a tiny leather-bound booklet.

"This is the permanent memory. Keep it secure. The booklet is the 'instruction manual.' Read it first before you do anything else with the cube."

"I will."

Harry made the ritual leave taking gestures as Dan didn't know them, but watched anyway. Hedwig flew over to Harry's shoulder as everyone but Madam Bones grabbed the portkey. She and Ironbeard watched the group disappear with Steelarse tagging along before speaking.

"What have you got for me, Ironbeard?"

"Remember that bit about 'part of House Potter?'"

"Yes. What about it?"

"That allowed me to act in Lord Granger's interests in something you might find useful."

Madam Bones raised an eyebrow as he passed her a bulging folder. She opened it carefully and saw pages of financial information related to Cornelius Fudge and some of the things he'd done to try to hide indiscretions. Her jaw dropped.

"I can understand acting in Lord Granger's interests under Harry's House Aegis, but I don't understand how you can access Fudge's private financial information without his Account Manager pitching a fit. Don't you Goblins fight battles to the death over things like this?"

"We do. As it happens, the discovery of highly improper irregularities on the part of that Account Manager meant that the rules could be interpreted to mean that the Potter dherlec shakhacis could… rectify, shall we say… those same irregularities with sharp attention to detail."

Madam Bones could just imagine how sharp, too.

"And so, we claimed every bit of information and made the executive decision to pass a copy of it on to you under the Treaty of 1892."

"The Hashish Treaty? Really?"

"The very same. The only one where everyone involved was too stoned to fight and too stoned to bother with what was in the riders attached to the Treaty."

"Amazing that no one actually started a so-called Goblin Rebellion that time."

"Isn't it though? A wizard confused a Goblin's loaf of rye bread for hashish and started all kinds of rumors. Started all kinds of sales of Goblin-made bongs, too. By the time everything was straightened out, there was a new Treaty for Hogwarts students to have to learn."

"I wonder about people sometimes."

"You and me, both." He motioned to the folder Madam Bones held in her hands. "Let me know when you spring the trap."

"Oh, I will. Good day to you, Ironbeard. May your blades be sharp and your vaults full."

"Good day to you as well and good hunting, Madam Bones. May your wand mete out justice and your vaults never drain."

As the door closed behind the Director, Ironbeard sighed and got up to look at the golden collage picture frame Lily Potter had made for him when she became Lady Potter. It rested on a small side table with a pair of ever-burning candles on either side. In the upper corner was a small picture of James and Lily Potter posing with a younger Ironbeard, who had a thick bunch of hair on his head. Lily could be seen kissing the Goblin's forehead and a blush could be seen in his pointed ears.

"I'd trade this frame in if I could have you and James back for your boy, Lily. I can't, but I can take heart in knowing that the next Lady Potter will take good care of him. You'd love her."

There was no answer for him, but he felt a bit lighter. Ironbeard returned to his desk and resumed his work.