Chapter Thirteen: Harry Charlus Paxton
The Potter Account Manager was set up in a much larger office than the inheritance goblin, with only a single filing cabinet behind the goblin's desk. Harry took a seat opposite the Account Manager who was watching him with a contemplating gaze. Silently, Harry handed the inheritance test over as proof of his identity.
"Well, this is most unusual, Mr Potter." The goblin hummed.
"I'm aware. The first thing I must ask is if you must report this meeting back to my father?" Harry questioned. If the answer was yes, then he would simply leave and find another way of getting money since he didn't want to bring James Potter's attention onto himself before he had the opportunity to figure out what was going on.
"James Potter receives a monthly statement on movements within the main family vault, he has asked for no other statements. If he comes in and asks for an audit, anything you do will appear on the accounts." The Account Manager explained with a disgusted sneer.
"Are you telling me that my father has absolutely no interaction with the families finances? How much authority do I have over the estates? Can I look at the full account and audit? And how much money do I have access to? Do I have a trust vault, or will I need to access money through the family vault?" Harry asked a series of questions with a frown.
He couldn't understand how his father could be so irresponsible about the family finances as to not keep a close eye on it, or get a full report on everything the family owned. Hopefully, he hadn't burned through the family money. From the memories he had pulled from Tom about the Potter family, they were an old family from old money and yet all Potters have a job and contributed financially, which means there should be a lot of financial wealth to their name. Unless, James Potter had been idiotic with the money.
During his time as the Royal Shadow and Advisor, he'd had some interaction with the castle and people's finances. Although Old Badger was officially the head of the finances, Edmund had taken an interested since he was off the opinion that they needed to keep on top of such information. Because of Edmund's interest, Harry had also ensured that he stayed on top of the finances as well – what was the most effective income and what was the biggest expense. From all his interactions with the Royal finances, he was confident in his ability to both understand and assess the Potter's finances in his father's place.
"As you are the named Potter hair, as the oldest son, you have quite a bit of authority over the family finances. On your birth, a trust vault was set up in your name with 50,000g, 5,000s and 500k. Since your fifth birthday, an additional 10,000g, 5,000s and 500ks was added each year. Which means your trust vault presently holds, 100,000g, 30,000s and 3,000k." the Potter Account Manager pulled a file from his desk and handed it over. It was the statement for his trust vault, going back to the day he was born and it was set up. Since he hadn't been in the wizarding world, no money had been removed.
"Has my tuition fee for Hogwarts already been payed?" Harry questioned.
He knew that going to boarding school was going to be expensive. The money in his vaults would likely cover that cost, but leave him little spending money for his remaining years before he could get a job. If his parents had already paid his tuition, then that meant he had a little more freedom.
"It has. Automatically payed on your first birthday as is tradition in the Potter family." The account manager confirmed.
"Good," Harry hummed thoughtfully.
That was one sauce of money he could tap into. But he was hoping that there was something else he could use, an old loophole that nobility used to write into their marriage clauses. He was hopping that a similar practise had also been employed in the magical world. Suddenly he frowned as something occurred to him.
"I apologise, Account Manager; I've been rather remised in my manners. I didn't ask for your name?"
"Humans never ask for our name." the Account Manager growled, "But I am known as Goldrig."
"Well met, Goldrig. May our ventures bring much gold." Harry wasn't sure if his greeting was correct considering his situation, but he thought that the dwarves greeting would be similar to what the goblins used based of their mannerism and nature.
"Well met, Harry Potter, may your enemies fall upon your blade." Goldirg returned his greeting with a wicked grin. "Now, to business, what is it you want?"
"Do you have records of families that have long married into the Potter's and been wiped out due to this merger? And if so, are there any vaults remaining attached to that family name? I would like to change my name from Potter while I get a foot hold in this world, and by using a family name I won't be giving James cause to disinherited me while also allowing myself freedom of movement." Harry explained what he hoped to do.
Of course, he was going to have to look up the laws about such in the magical world, but from what he had been able to determine of Tom's memories much of the laws on the Old Houses were based on the laws of Nobility formed back when England had land divided between Lords.
"Interesting. There were several names that have been subsumed into the Potter family." Goldrig seemed to let out a thoughtful hum as he moved to the filing cabinet and began searching through it. After a long moment of searching, in which Harry patiently waited, Goldrig returned to his seat with a stack of parchment.
"So, we've got subsumed family names. Most of them had their vaults taken in by the main family. However, there are a couple here that kept the vaults in their family name. There is Ainsley, Arson, Charlton, Gresham, Hallewell and Paxton." Goldrig listed off.
"Can you give me financial stats for each of the families?" Harry questioned with a thoughtful frown.
Technically, he could simple merge all the families into one vault and use their pooled resources under one name since his father hadn't set up an alert on his family finances. If he'd been monitoring his finances properly, Harry would never have been able to do anything without immediately alerting him.
"Ainsley has two vaults to its name, coming to a total of 3,013galleons 4,421sickles and 2,003knuts. Arson has three vaults to its name, with a total wealth of 10,040galleons, 234sickles, 2,195knuts. Charlton has 7,831galleons, 5,000sickles, 153knuts in a single vault. Gresham also only has a single vault with 4,016galleons, 1,000sickle and 3812knuts. Hallewell has two vaults with a total of 17,896galleons, 6,392sickles and 1,921knuts. Finally, the Paxton wealth is all within one vault with a total of 20,080galleons, 12,843sickles and 1395knuts." Goldrig listed off.
"When did the Paxton family join the Potter line?" Harry hummed thoughtfully.
"In 1327, the last daughter of the line married what was the heir of the Potter family at the time." Goldrig reported.
"Right," Harry said decisively. "I'd like to officially take up the name Harry Charlus Paxton. Is it possible for Gringotts to sort out all the paperwork for this name change? I'll contact Hogwarts to ensure that Professor McGonagall's knows."
"We can arrange that." Goldrig confirmed.
"Then I'd also like to claim the Paxton vault under that name, locking out everyone but me. And transfer the contents of my trust vault into the vault. When the money is transferred in on my birthday, automatically send all but ten knuts into the Paxton vault." Harry began thoughtfully. "I'm also going to claim the other vaults. Merge Ainsley and Arson into one vault, using the highest security from the five already in use under the name Ainsley. Combine Charlton, Gresham and Hallewell into another vault, once again using the highest security of the available vaults under the name Charlton. Like the Paxton vault, I want them both to only be accessible to me."
"Interesting choice." Goldrig hummed, likely understanding what it was that Harry was doing by splitting the money under three separate names. "I assume you want another two identities under the names Ainsley and Charlton?"
"Yes. Edmund Ainsely, no middle name. Peter Samuel Charlton. I'd like the identity for Ainsley to be registered at eighteen years old, while Charlton is to be registered under the age of fifteen." Harry wanted to have a set of aliases which were of age or nearly of age to give him some more autonomy. If he planned on actually meeting anyone in these aliases, he was going to have to set up some kind of disguise which was more robust then a glamour.
"That's possible." Goldrig confirmed, once more making notes. He seemed pleased with the work that Harry was giving him. Harry wondered how much work he actually had as the Potter Account Manager if James didn't have any overseeing of it.
"Alright, I want you to take 20% of the Paxton vault, 15% of the Ainsley vault and 15% of the Charlton vault and put it into investments, property, business, inventions etc. use your judgement on what you believe will earn me the most amount of money. If you impress me with the returns, I'll release a larger percentage. You'll be taking 2% of the profit as your own payment, of course." Harry gave his marching orders on the accounts.
Goldrig gave a fierce smile at that, clearly happy at being given both such a large prophet and such freedom with the investing. Once he had seen what the goblin could do, Harry would also ask the goblin to get more properties in his name since he knew that there was money in land and he was also thinking about his future. If he never returned to the Potter family, then he wanted to make sure his future family had a good start financially.
"Do you have a system to contact clients which doesn't require the use of owls?" Harry questioned. He wanted to be updated on his finances as often as possible, but he didn't want to leave it open to the chance of getting intercepted.
"We have two-way boxes. 10galleons for the box." Goldrig explained. "You'll need to get the magic updated every three years for another 5galleons."
"Take the money from the Paxton vault. I'd like reports on the finances every week, but if you need my input for any reason contact me outside of the weekly report. Can you manage all three vaults by yourself?" Harry checked, getting a look from Goldrig which said he questioned his intelligence. "Okay, stupid question. If it makes it easier, stagger each family report over different days."
"Anything else?" Goldrig questioned.
"Do you have money pouches or something that allows me to link to the vaults without having to go down every time I need to make a payment." Harry questioned.
"We have money pouches, which we can secure for blood." Goldrig pulled said pouch – which looked more like a wallet from his draw. "And there is also key payments. Stamp your key in order to do larger payments and it will be taken from your vault directly."
"How long will it take to sort out the vault merging and security in order to get the keys?" Harry questioned.
"I can have your Paxton vault sorted and a new key issued in thirty minutes." Goldrig tapped his desk with the tip off his finger, the action thoughtful not purposeful. "The rest I will have sorted by the next day. I will send the keys in the lockboxes."
While Goldrig was sorting through the paperwork and sending out goblin runners, Harry was following the written directions on blood-tying the communication box to himself, as well as the money pouch.
In the remaining time, while waiting, he read through the copy of the Potter finances. Although he couldn't do anything with the business, properties or main vaults without catching his father's attention he wanted to be aware of everything. While reading through the spending logs, Harry frowned at his father's stupidity. He had been spending large amounts of money over the years – a lot of it on stupid things. If he continued as he was, the 'out' would soon overtake the 'in'. Especially with some of the businesses he was putting money into which looked like they were on the brink of failure and the large charity donations. If James didn't pull his head out of his arse, he ran the risk of slowly running the family into debt.
With his vault key in his pocket, and his communication box and financial report in his bag, Harry headed out into the Alley. Instead of heading shopping, he decided to find somewhere to live. Before he'd left, Goldrig had given him the location of several different places he could look for an apartment. He'd decided to look for somewhere cheep since he didn't want to put a drain on his vaults until he had a plan. So, he headed for the corner of Knockturn Alley and Paleo Alley, where an apartment was owned by Sanguini.
It came recommended by the goblin nation because Sanguini took in anyone who wasn't a confirmed and convicted convict who had escaped, which included magical beings such as vampires, werewolves, the occasional elf or goblin in need. Because the people who lived there were mostly beings who seemed to be disadvantaged from society, the price of the rent was quite cheap. Harry didn't plan on staying their long, taking up a room that someone else might need, it was just until he found his feet in this world and worked out what was real and wasn't anymore.
It took wondering the alley a little bit to find where the apartments where located, but he finally located the building when he saw the sign for 'Sanctuary'. The majority of the windows were covered by shutters, and even the doors where presently covered. Harry assumed that this was because of the vampires that were in residence. He didn't know a lot about the species, but he was planning on learning about them, just as he had learnt about all the Being's of Narnia.
Pushing gentle on the door revealed that it was unlocked and led to a small entry way and another door which he had to pass through in order to get to a lounge/reception room. Not long after he stepped into the reception a man appeared. He was tall and thin, had pale skin and long black hair. His eyes were a striking shade of red, ringed in black and he was quite thin.
"How can I help you?" he asked, in a soft and polite voice, offering a closed mouth smile.
"I was hoping that you might have a room I could rent?" Harry questioned softly, offering him a smile to show that he wasn't scared.
"You are aware of what type of people live here?" he questioned, his eyes taking in the visible scars on my face – marks that Harry had no doubt his experience eyes could tell were from claws.
"I am. And I don't mind." He reassured him. "I know that the majority of your clients are vampires and werewolves and other Beings, but the majority of my friends are Beings."
"Alright then. I've got several rooms available; do you have a preference?" he offered Harry a true smile this time.
"Not at all. Could you show me the different types of rooms you have?" Harry questioned.
"I'm Sanguini, the owner of this establishment. Of course, I've got a few rooms that are free on the top three rooms. Most of them are of similar sizes. I've got a two bedroom, three one bedrooms and five studios available. I wont release anything more than a two bedroom to you if you live on your own." Sanguini explained the rooms as he led Harry up the staircase.
"A studio's fine. I don't need that much space." Harry reassured the man. He didn't really need a separate room to sleep in, and he definitely didn't need a spare bedroom. "I'm on my own, so I don't need a second room."
"We have a studio on the top floor with a sky light, or on the fourth floor with windows along one wall." Sanguini offered.
"Can I look over both rooms? I'm not sure about windows." Harry shrugged.
He'd lived in a cupboard at the Dursleys, and in the castle he'd selected a room which put him at an equal distance from his Kings and Queens, which had a bay window which only provided light to a small section of his room. Most of the light had been provided by either candles or his magic. He had no idea how he would like a room with lots of window. Would he hate the implied lake of privacy? Or would he love the sense of freedoms? He'd slept easily outside under the stairs when he knew he was safe in Aslan's camp, but that was different to sleeping in the building. This was something that he would have to wait and see.
"Of course. I can show you both studio options." Sanguini smiled. "Will this be a short-term rent or a long-term rent?"
"I'm going to Hogwarts, so it may be better for me to get a short-term contract. I don't want to take up a room unnecessarily. I'm hoping to have a permanent home sorted out during my time at the school. But if not, I'll see about arranging another short-term lease. If you don't have room, I'll find somewhere else." Harry explained his plan, hopeful that Sanguini would give him the room even with that information.
"I'm used to short term leases who come and go. If I have the room when summer starts, I'll accept you back." Sanguini said reassuring, stepping onto the fourth floor and walking along the corridor until he stopped in front of a door on the left. "This is the studio with windows." He opened the door.
The room was a decent size, around the size of Harry's room in the castle and that was classed as a 'royal's room' which meant it was quite large. This room had space for a small kitchen with a breakfast bar which divided it from a living area, which had a two-person couch and arm chair around a coffee table. Then, there was a bed to the far left of the room with a storage trunk at the bottom. There was also a dresser in the 'bedroom', and a bookcase in the 'living room' section. He didn't get the opportunity to see the light through the windows, since shutters had automatically come down in order to protect Sanguini.
"It's nice, you have good decoration. I assume the shutters are automatic?" Harry hummed.
"Safety measure. Anytime a vampire enters a room, the windows shutter. We've got runes wired into the whole place." Sanguini explained. "The kitchen has all the supplies you'll need to cook with, and there is a bathroom which only has a shower."
"There is plenty of space," Harry stepped briefly into the bathroom so he could see how much room he had in there. Being clean was something he didn't like compromising on. He'd long since convinced Petunia he needed to shower once a day, even if he only had cold water for three minutes. "Is the other room similar?"
"Let's go and see." Sanguini led the way up another two flights of stairs and to the first room on that floor.
Like before, the shutters closed to cover the windows and a portion of the ceiling that the windows were connected to. The windows didn't cover the entire ceiling, perhaps only a metre, but it was enough that he would be able to see the stars. Within the room, nothing was different, there was a small kitchen, a sofa and armchair, and a bed. What was different, beyond the windows was the fact that there was a door leading to a balcony.
"Is the balcony accessible?" Harry questioned.
"It is. But if the shutters close, you'll be stuck outside until the vampire in question leaves." Sanguini answered with a smile on his face. He knew what room Harry was going to choose. "The first studio is 11g and 21k a week. This one is 12g even, because of the bath and the patio. You only have to pay by the week, and as long as you inform me up to three days before the payment day, I'll cancel your contract. Otherwise, you'll have to pay the extra week."
"I'll take this room. Is it possible for me to pay the first month in advance? And then set up weekly instalments." Harry questioned. Since it was the end of June and school started in September, he knew that he was going to be here for two months but he would pay the remaining month in weekly instalments.
"That's fine. You want to pay the first instalment in cash or with key?" Sanguini questioned.
"Key, please." Harry requested.
"Follow me, I've got the paperwork and payment slip at reception."
Filing out the paperwork was simple, only requiring his name and the specific time that he was predicted to be there. Then he just imprinted his key on the payment slip and he had an apartment.
Edited 11/04/2022