Everything is J.K. Rowlings. I only claim the plot. Everything else is hers, all the characters and the magic, all of it. Please let me know what you think though, I encourage feedback of all kinds, just be nice about it!

Chapter Three

Numbly, Harry shook his head. "The Right of Conquest in layman's terms means that the winner of a conquest inherits all the territorial possessions of the one conquered. It is my understanding that when you defeated Lord Voldemort, you inherited all of the wizards territorial possessions through Right of Conquest."

Harry blinked. "So you mean to tell me, all that stuff in that book….that is all Voldemort's?" Harry felt like he was going to be sick, violently sick.

"In a manner of speaking, yes. Some of it is actually yours through your personal heritage down the line of Potter and Peverell, though and then the Black fortune that Sirius Black left for you. That was all already yours."

"But how? If Voldemort had that whole book of...of property and money….then…"

"It is my belief that the wizard was not aware of his recent influxes. See for yourself and I think you will understand."

Grabbing the hefty tome and placing it on his lap, Harry flipped open the first few pages. There was a table of contents that was separated by Vaults, Properties and then Life Ownership. Under each section there was a list of the further breaking down, listing the names of the vaults. Harry gasped as he read the names: Riddle, Gaunt, Malfoy, Lestrange, Rowle, Nott, Goyle, Crabbe, Greengrass, Parkinson, Dolohov, Carrow, Crouch, Karkaroff, Thickness, Pettigrew. The list continued onto another two pages.

"These names, these people...they...they were all Death Eaters."

"Correct, Mr. Potter. It seems that when those people became Death Eaters, followers of Lord Voldemort, they unknowingly signed over not just their lives but all of their influences, such as Wizengamot seats, vaults and properties. It is my belief that Lord Voldemort either did not realize what all he was gaining from his followers or he did not care to bother himself with it."

Staring blankly at the goblin, Harry tried processing everything. "Are you serious?"

Nadrig frowned at him. "Of course, Mr. Potter. Why would I jest about such things?"

"So everything in this book belongs to me?"

"Yes, Mr. Potter."

"Are the people whose properties and vaults are listed in this...are they aware that I now own everything?"

"It is doubtful, Mr. Potter."

"Should probably do something about that at some point…"

"If it pleases you, I can send out an owl to each of the families today. Though, most of the families are dead or imprisoned with only a few remaining free."

"I think it is best for us to wait a bit until we notify these families, at least until I decide how to deal with all this."

"As you wish, Mr. Potter. Now, the properties, you can do with as you wish. You may live in them or demolish them as you see fit. To visit the properties you can simply apparate there, as you are now owner of them and Head of House legally, any wards will let you in without harm. The vaults and accounts all have a detailed list in this book of what is within them and it updates magically with the new balances in accordance to any deposits and withdrawals."

"Wow…" Harry whispered. "What about the life ownership?" he asked hesitantly. He didn't like the way that sounded.

"Ah, that…." Nadrig said, shifting in her seat. "It appears that some Death Eaters had children that they wished to...donate to the cause. However, the children must have been too young to join the ranks at the time of the...donation...and so were simply put under Voldemorts...ownership until he deemed them fit enough to join his ranks."

Now Harry knew he was going to be sick. He could feel the bile rise in his throat. Flipping to the last section of the book, he was secretly glad that it was only a page long of a section. It was a slight comfort but as Harry read the names he felt his dread growing.

Life Ownership of Tom Riddle Jr. (Lord Voldemort)

Millicent Bulstrode - Deceased

Hestia Carrow

Flora Carrow - Deceased

Vincent Crabbe - Deceased

Fergus Cowley

Lukah Davis - Death Eater/Deceased

Tracey Davis

Gemma Farley - Deceased

Marcus Flint - Death Eater

Gregory Goyle

Astoria Greengrass

Daphne Greengrass

Draco Malfoy - Death Eater

Theodore Nott

Pansy Parkinson

Mildred Peebles - Deceased

Adrian Pucey - Death Eater

Blaise Zabini

"So what happens to these people now?" he asked hoarsely. His voice barely above a whisper.

"That is up to you to decide. You can send them to Azkaban, you can kill them, or you can have them work out their ownership of servitude and eventually free them."

"That's it? Those are my only options? I can't just set them free now?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, but no you can't. They are essentially owned by you and the only way free them is for these people is through service to their owner. Essentially they are similar to the indentured servants that muggles seemed so fond of using decades ago."

The swirl of emotions inside his stomach at these words made him sigh. Disgust, pity, guilt, uncertainty, hopelessness, vengeance….He wanted justice for the lives lost but he knew justice from this group would not bring it. They were property in the eyes of Voldemort and weren't given many choices. What was he supposed to do with these lives? He didn't want control over them. Was there a way to make all parties win in the end? He doubted it.

"Is there anything else?"

"No, Mr. Potter, that is everything. How would you like to proceed?"

"Um...give me a couple days. Well how about this...can you send out owls to all of these people and request their presence here in three days. I don't know what you need to tell them, but don't lie and don't mention my name. Say something about their life ownership being called forth and dealt with or something. Either way, make sure they are all there. I will give my decision on how to deal with them then. If they decide not to come to the meeting then they can go straight to Azkaban." Harry stood as he concluded his statement and Nadrig nodded, pulling out parchment as she did so. "And just owl me when each responds and if you could set up a meeting location. No offense, but this office won't be big enough for everyone."

Nadrig looked away and nodded sadly.

"Before I leave, can I ask why you have such a small office? And earlier when I asked for you, the Head Goblin said you were a disgrace. Why? You've been nothing but helpful."

Nadrig sighed and gave a dignified sniff. "Under normal circumstances I would not bother myself to even answer such personal questions from a wizard. However, this isn't normal circumstances." The goblin took in a deep breath before continuing. "The goblin community that runs Gringotts isn't favorable towards female goblins taking on clients and working on accounts. It is the males that deal with the money and clients while the females work on the construction of the tunnels, vaults and crafting weapons. But I've always felt a certain proclivity towards towards money and numbers and I fought hard to work on the surface. The other goblins don't look kindly at it and so only give me the pitiful accounts. In all honesty, Mr. Potter, your account isn't even mine. But when your account goblin passed away last month in the attack...well I might have snuck some of his clients into my pile before the others could divvy them up. So how about we make a deal?" Harry hesitated, he remembered what felt like ages ago Bill Weasley warning him against making deals with goblins, they were tricky creatures. So tense and on high alert, Harry listened to the proposition. "I help you with your accounts, I advise you on your investments and whatever it is you need. I will be your personal accountant. And in exchange you help elevate me in the status of Gringotts."

That was the deal? Harry blinked.

"How am I supposed to elevate your status?"

"Because of who you are. Just the fact that you allow me to be your personal accountant will help me a great deal. The goblins might dislike you given what you did last month, but they will not argue with the fact that given these newly acquired accounts you are politically powerful, nigh almost untouchable. You are vastly wealthy and that speaks to goblins. When they get wind of what has happened you will be their most favored client and for me to be in charge of your accounts, it would help me as well."

"Alright...sounds easy enough. Sure, you can be my personal accountant. Is there any forms that I need to sign?"

"Just this one," Nadrig said pulling forth a piece of parchment that seemed readily at hand. "Right on the dotted line. It simply states that you are entrusting your finances to me and that should I be deemed unworthy or unfit, with evidence in support of this, you may have me dismissed."

Picking up a quill, Harry leaned forward to sign the parchment. "I trust that you won't do anything unsavory with my money? I trust that you will have my best interests at heart?" Harry asked, the quill poised and hovering above the line.

"Your trust is well placed. I will not lead you astray, Mr. Potter."

Signing his name quickly, Harry grabbed the large book and shrunk it to fit in his robe pocket. "Well, Nadrig, this has been an interesting meeting. I look forward to seeing you in three days time." With a slight bow of his head, the raven-haired man exited the small office.

Lost in thought, Harry allowed his feet to lead him to the joke shop to pick up his friends. His mind was swirling with the new information he had just gathered. What was he supposed to do with all this money and property? What was he supposed to do with these people he was now in charge of?

Silently, he walked to the orange joke shop and gave a brief nod to George who simply lay on the flats couch above the shop with a bottle in his hand and at least a weeks' worth of hair on his face from lack of shaving. "Hey there George."

"Harry," the older man said with an imperceptible nod. "Made a deal with some goblins have you?" George croaked, an attempt of a joke that came out strangled and halfhearted.

"How did the meeting go Harry? You were gone for a while, we were getting worried," Ron interjected.

"A lot happened...I don't even know where to begin. But I've got to show you something, let's go," Harry simply replied. The other two didn't question his cryptic reply and merely followed him out of the shop.