Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine. I do not own anything affiliated with Harry Potter. J.K Rowling does. Lucky her.
Authors Note: Looking so much better!
Ch.9 The Reading of the WillDumbledore produced a crumpled piece of paper that looked like it belonged in a trash. Dumbledore looked directly at Harry as if to emphasize a point.
"This portkey is going to activate in a minute. So if you all will put a finger on it, we will be ready to go. It will not take us directly to Grimmwauld, but it will take us in the front of it, so I ask you not to dawdle whenever we arrive"
Harry looked at the paper uneasily. Preferring floo travel to port key's any day. Still, he placed his index finger on top of it, and scrunched up against Tonks, to give the Dursleys more room. Tonks placed her finger on top of it, and scrunched up against Harry as well. Dumbledore followed suit. Except for the fact that he didn't need to put his finger on it, as it was he who was holding it. Vernon looked at the three as if they were mad. Timidly however, he placed his finger on top of the paper, expecting it to blow up. Whenever he made contact, he was slightly reassured whenever the paper felt exactly like it should. Like paper. Petunia looked at Vernon, then at the paper and put her finger on it. Dudley however would have none of this. He tried to back away, but Vernon grabbed his collar and shoved him back, (which was rather difficulty due to Dudley's weight).
"Go on son." Vernon said slightly menacing, not fully capable of being angry toward his own son. Dudely gave a timid look to his father and an anguished look at the paper and put his finger on it. Tonks and Harry were trying their hardest not to laugh or smile. In a second the portkey activated. Dudely let out a strangled cry of surprise whenever he felt the curious sensation that portkey's project. In a second they were outside of Grimmwauld. Dudely was whimpering and looking around with wide and fearful eyes. Vernon was looking... quite odd. He looked like he was trying to force down a look of amazement, with a look of grumping. Petunia looked quite... normal. Although she did look slightly shaken. Dumbledore slipped his hand into what looked like a hidden pocket and drew out a piece of paper; he gave it to Vernon and said, "Please read it and give it to your wife. Do not read it aloud, do not say anything of its contents aloud."
Vernon narrowed his eyes at Dumbledore but none-the-less read the paper and gave it to Petunia. Vernon looked up at the houses. Harry saw him look at 11 and then 13, Harry grinned whenever he saw Vernon's eyes grow wide in astonishment and make small unidentifiable noises. Apparently, Number 12 Grimmwauld place just made itself known to Vernon. Petunia had joined Vernon watching Grimmwauld place appear. Dudely hadn't even looked at the paper yet that he held in his hand. He was watching his parents with a look of fright. Dumbledore took a step toward Dudley and muttered as quietly as possible, "please read it". Dudely jumped up at hearing Dumbledore so close and looked at the paper. Giving Dumbledore terrified glances as he read it. When Dudely finished reading it, Dumbledore took the paper away from him, and lit it on fire much as Mad-eye had done.
"Now, if you will please follow me" Dumbledore said, leading the way into Grimmwauld place, with Tonks and Harry right behind him, side-by-side. Dudley was in front of his parents; Vernon had one hand on Dudley's shoulder apparently guiding him. Petunia was walking beside Vernon, though she looked frightened. Dumbledore opened the door, and stepped aside to let the others in. "If you all will stand right there please". Dumbledore closed the door behind them, and the many locks engaged themselves.
Talking in a normal voice Dumbledore told them, "Tonks, if Harry wishes it so, you may join him. If he does not... I will have to ask you to wait here." Tonks looked at Harry, who had gone slightly pale. Harry opened his mouth to speak but his voice got caught in his throat. Failing to get his voice working Harry just nodded. "You want Tonks to join you?" Again Harry nodded. "Very well"
The way Harry had suddenly started looking before she had come to take care of him scared Tonks slightly. She knew it would be hard for him to participate in Sirius's will reading... but she had deluded herself into believing that she could've healed him so entirely much that it wouldn't effect him this badly. 'Definitely going to have to try harder' Tonks thought to herself. She wrapped her arm around Harry's shoulders and automatically he wrapped an arm around her waist. Yet, he wouldn't take his eyes off the kitchen door. With Dumbledore leading the way he led them into the kitchen, and shut the door behind him.
"Please take a seat" Dumbledore gestured toward the chairs around a table. At the far end sat two goblins. One was sitting, and the other was standing, looking like a bodyguard. The one sitting Tonks recognized as Griphook, the one standing however she did not recognize. Vernon had stopped in his tracks whenever he had spotted the goblin. He was staring at in wide-eyed terror; Petunia and Dudely were not far behind him at looking very frightened.
Griphook looked up whenever he heard them enter the kitchen, he smiled his wicked smile, "Ah... Mr. Potter... it has been a long time. As I'm sure you know, I am here to read the will of you late Godfather. We will begin as soon as you all take a seat. Normally the will reading only takes place with you and your... guardians. However, because of certain circumstances that revolve around you, Headmaster Dumbledore is invited as well"
Harry's facial color had gone snow white. Tonks did not think that Harry was able to bring himself to respond to the goblin. Tonks took her hand into his and squeezed it gently, but firm enough to remind him that she was with him. He managed to look at her, and some of his color returned. He gave her a small smile and looked back at the goblin. Everyone sat down.
Griphook took out a frayed scroll, looked up, and unrolled the scroll. He began reading it at once.
"I, Sirius Black, have written this will in my likely but unfortunate death. First I would like to apologize to Harry for not being there for him whenever I should have. James and Lily would have been very proud of Harry, and how he has turned out, as I was. Enclosed in this will I give all of my inheritance to Harry, including all of my belongings. It may not be much, but if I could, I would give him so much more. The house, Number 12 Grimmwauld place is his as well. My account and Harry's will be merged whenever this will is signed.
Signed,
Sirius Black"
Griphook looked up, after reading the will. He looked at Harry for a couple of minutes then spoke, "First I will need Mr. Potter's guardians to sign the will. Then, I will need Mr. Potter's signature after them. Mr. Blacks last will and testament will become official and everything that is Mr. Blacks will be Mr. Potter's. If you will kindly sign your name on the designated area"
Griphook passed the paper over to the Dursleys. The goblin that was next to Griphook pulled out an ink bottle, a quill and placed it right next to the parchment. Vernon had managed to regain some control over himself, to pick up the quill -- though he looked at it oddly for a moment -- dip it in the ink and sign his name (somewhat difficulty). He passed the inkbottle, parchment, and the quill to Petunia. Who followed what Vernon did. She passed it to Harry without really looking at him. His hand shook as he dipped the quill into the ink and got prepared to sign the parchment. His signature was somewhat mangled from how much his hand shook, but it was presentable enough. The goblin standing took the quill, ink bottle, and parchment somewhat forcibly from Harry and put all three in his pocket (closing the bottle before actually pocketing it).
Harry let out a rather big sigh and kept his eyes down. Tonks wanted to do something to cheer him up, but decided this wasn't the best times to do it. Besides, nothing she could do or say would make him get over his loss. There will always be that loneliness in his heart, which she could try but not completely cover with her love toward him. Also, she knew that sometimes you had face things on your on. Contrary to what a lot of people want to believe there are people out there that need to get through things on their own without the help of the one they love or their significant other.
Dumbledore got up and spoke softly but firmly, "The will is signed. This is where Griphook, Tacrean, your aunt, uncle and I take our leave. Molly will be in here shortly Harry. She has not been informed of your... infatuation with Tonks. So... I would recommend you tread lightly and devise a safe way to tell her." Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled as they usually did. With that said and done the five left, letting Harry and Tonks to sit together.
Authors Note: So much more better…
