18th July 1978

I've been going to the Wizarding bank a couple of times a year for the last several years now. But it's only now that I'm with James that I think I'm starting to understand them. We had to wait in line, as I've had to do many times in the past, however James has never exactly been known for his patience, unless he's working on something. By the time we got to the front he was short with the teller and came close to accusing them of taking their time. At that point I experienced the worst service I have ever had in Gringotts. Every query needed a managers input, he needed to present his key at least 5 different times, and then they needed a signature on a few forms just for what was originally a routine withdrawal.

They are a stoic and subtle people who take great pride in their work no matter what they work as. Their sense of humour is equally understated and were it not for the fact I was waiting with James, I would have found the whole situation absolutely hilarious as the master prankster of Hogwarts was pranked by the very best.

While she was waiting for the train to arrive with Karen, Petunia reflected that the last 3 months had been busy but peaceful. When she wasn't looking after Dudley and Ginny she was learning about financing and investing, magic, or property management in order to fill her duties as Harry's Magical Guardian to the best of her ability. While she couldn't do anything beyond maintenance of the properties, she did have limited control over rent increases and investment of funds in order to maintain the accounts. She and Karen had decided that the extra control that becoming Regent would give here wasn't worth the extra hassle being classed as a witch would bring to her life, such as not just needing to uphold the secrecy of the Magical world, but actively not allowed to talk about it with non-magicals regardless of her relationship to them. Not allowed to work with the goblins was also a large factor, as they had a rich culture and history that had proven useful in several situations they'd come across, and the advice they were willing to give was priceless for strangers to the magical world.

Both she and Karen had been surprised at just how quickly Ginny adapted to the muggle world, though she supposed it was down to the fact that she still had that childish curiosity about things and was not yet afraid to try things to see if they worked. It had also surprised her about how Ginny's presence had had a positive effect on Dudley forcing him to learn to behave and also try harder at his studies. It didn't hurt that she was actually stronger than him.

She grasped Karen's hand as she looked over at Dan and Emma with a concerned expression. Their note hadn't said anything other than they needed to come home and see the goblins about an urgent matter.

As she started to fidget Karen brought her into a hug and whispered into her ears, "Don't worry love, they'll be here. I've heard a couple of the other people saying that sometimes it's a little late coming into London because it has to stop in places to allow a muggle train to pass."

She melted slightly and relaxed, and wasn't that strange, a year ago she'd thought lesbians were weird people that had no business being around right thinking people, and now she was so deeply in love with Karen. She absently kissed Karen as an expression of love and reassurance while she was thinking.

She occasionally missed Vernon when she was dealing with Harry's finances, but it felt like someone else had been living her life until Harry's letter came. Andromeda said that it was a perfectly normal reaction for someone in her situation, and that she would occasionally have flashes where it came back in full force. Eventually she'd be able to integrate her 3 lives, the one from before the abuse, live with Vernon, and her current life, but it would take time. The occlumency she was learning would help with that, but she had to go slow as part of the process was to relive each memory and process the emotions so that she accepted it was part of her past.

That was another thing, while she'd been able to start with Andromeda back in February, the Headmaster was still stonewalling having a dedicated Mind Healer visiting Harry for some reason. This means that if nothing changes they will need to start sessions during the summer and then have some top up sessions during the Christmas Holidays.

Karen pokes her hard in the arm.

"Ow, what was that for?"

"You were off with the fairies and didn't respond when I called your name. The train's coming."

It didn't take long after that for them to meet the kids and get the hugs out of the way. Dan then held Hermione by both shoulders and said "We've got an appointment with Kragnast, if this isn't as urgent as you made it out to be we will be confiscating your wand and books, and you will have to go for the rest of the holiday without seeing Harry."

At the last bit, Harry flashed from being a girl to a boy and stepped up next to Hermione protectively. "That won't be necessary Sir."

Dan glanced at Petunia, who nodded, "Well maybe not the last bit then, and didn't I ask you to call me Dan or Dad?"

Harry's posture relaxed, though he didn't switch back go being a girl, "Yes Dan."

Getting to Gringotts proved easy with 3 adults that could apparate and no luggage. When they arrived, Hermione hugged her Mum and Dad and congratulated them on learning how to do it. After all the goblins they met bowed to her and addressed her as "Revered One", They were then lead to Kragnast's office, and the markings looked the same as the first time Petunia came.

Kragnast looked up as they were led in, "Welcome, there seem to be a lot of you. Do you have your… Of course, you do. Filrig, we need non-conjured chairs for our guests."

Once everyone was seated Kragnast opened the conversation, "How may Gringotts help you this evening?"

Harry looked at Hermione reassuringly who spoke up, "We accidentally came across some property of one of your customers, and we would be grateful if you would be able to return it."

Kragnast assumed a carefully blank expression before he responded by rote memorisation, "We at Gringotts must apologise, however according to the treaty of 1817, we are unable to facilitate any communication between two witches or wizards. This includes but is not limited to exchange of goods or funds, introductions, and personal letters. We are allowed to send out invites to an arranged meeting between two or more parties that already have a relationship but that is the extent that the law will allow."

When he saw Harry and Hermione visibly deflate he hoped that the adults would be able to read between the lines, as he had come to respect Petunia.

Hermione spoke up in a small voice, "Thank you, I'm sorry for wasting your time."

"Now hold on there sweetheart, why don't you tell us what this is about and let us see if there's anything that can be done to help."

"But he just said that he can't help us."

"No, he just said that he can't help you or Harry. You are both legally witches, and sometimes Harry's a wizard."

A glimmer of home appeared in her eyes, "What do you mean Daddy?"

"It was explained, very carefully I will add, that there is a very clear legal definition of what constitutes a witch or wizard. That being any magical child under the age of 17 that has not yet passed their wanded OWL exams, and any adult over the age of 17 that has. It then goes on to state that any human witch or wizard that fails to complete their wanded OWL's by the age of 17 will have their wand snapped and their magic bound. Are you following me?"

"I think so, but doesn't that mean that you're not a wizard?"

"It does indeed."

She then pulls out a blood red stone, "So that means that if I give this to you, you can get it back to Nicolas Flamel and explain just how we found it, and that we're sorry for not handing it back to a teacher at the time, but we forgot. He could then get his mirror back."

"I will need to check with Kragnast, but it's entirely possible. How about it Kragnast? Would Petunia or I be able to return this stone to Mr Flamel along with a letter explaining how it came into our possession, using Gringotts as an intermediary?"

A sly smile crossed Kragnast's face, "I think we might be able to arrange that. My apologies Hermione, however the wording of the treaties are very clear, and while we are sovereign in Gringotts, we are severely limited in our ability to work with you, and others like you."

"How does that work then, as Ron said that one of his brothers works for you?" Harry asked.

"We are allowed" Kragnast bites out, "to advertise jobs through the goblin liaison office in the ministry. They then take a 10% cut on the wages offered. We are then allowed to contact similar offices in other governments and tender for work. The only reason we are able to do any business apart from banking is due to how much higher our standards are compared to our competition, as blood status means nothing to us."

"That doesn't sound very nice, Mum, I don't think I want to be a witch anymore." Hermione stated with conviction.

"I don't think you can just stop being a witch."

"Well, you can, there's a form for witches and wizards who decide to forsake the magical world where they give up their wands. But unless you can prove that you would die without your magic, they will bind it, and you would no longer be able to do business in the magical world."

Hermione starts to cry, "I thought house-elves were bad enough, but at least there's a reason for their bonds even if the practice of selling them is slavery, but now I'm going to be forced to choose between being part of an oppressive society, or not having magic. Daddy, you have to fix this."

"I'm not sure I can sweetie, but I'll try, I really will." Dan picks her up gently and hands her to Emma, who hugs her while he finishes the letter.

Harry fidgets caught between staying put and going to comfort Hermione until Karen pushes him out of his seat, and he launches himself at Hermione and Emma changing to a girl mid step. Kragnast raises an ear at that.

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There was only one wrinkle in the lives of the adults for the next two weeks, and that was when Harry and Hermione found out that Petunia was making regular trips into the dream at night. It was completely accidental, as Karen just mentioned how she got lonely in bed when Petunia was travelling. Harry overheard and immediately jumped to the right conclusion. The fact that Karen was sharing a bed with Petunia either not bothering him or the implication of it not registering. This lead to Hermione finding out, and then they demanded that they be allowed to do so too as they'd been meditating longer than Petunia. Finally, the adults caved when it became clear that it was a case of either do it with supervision or they'll do it on their own.

And so, Harry and Hermione became the newest magicals to be referred to as Revered Ones by the goblins. They also found that it was much much harder to only open their magic slowly than meditating would have suggested. All too soon they were heading back to Hogwarts with the promise that they would only practice this on Fridays or Saturdays.