The Founder's Secret Garden

Chapter 3: A Trip to Gringotts (Part one)

The first full week of school flew by in a flurry of confusion, pain, and happiness for Harry.

The confusion came from a number of places. First he was struggling to find a way to spend time with his newfound family without anyone else knowing, or questioning, or anything. Then his bearer instincts, which Severus had both told him about and given him a book about, had fully kicked in because his magic was full. And now, whenever anyone, but mostly Ron and Hermione since he struggled to get away from them long enough to spend time with anyone else, was mean to anyone in his family, or a younger student, he wanted nothing more than to go full mama dragon on them and protect and coddle the student/family member in question. But he couldn't.

He had also seen Draco and Neville have similar struggles and wondered, briefly, if they were also bearers. But then he had remembered their memories and realised that they were, and that certain biological family members of theirs weren't happy with the news. Didn't that thought send shivers down Harry's spine.

Then there was the fact that he was watching his family spend time with their soulmates. Not that they were doing so incredibly openly, but he had seen a number of them drag their significant other off for private time in unused classrooms a number of times. And Harry couldn't do that. He couldn't spend time with Severus unless it was in the form of a 'detention', and they couldn't do that every night unless they wanted questions to be asked.

And it hurt.

It hurt because he wanted nothing more than to get to know the man who was his soulmate. Yes, he had seen his entire life in memories. But he didn't know all the little things. His thoughts. His opinions. His likes and dislikes. What the man wanted in life. And he wanted time to get to know those things about him. He just didn't have it. Couldn't have it.

He wanted to spend time with the man when he didn't have his glamour on. But they couldn't, because even when Harry did have his 'detention' that night, anyone could have walked in at any time.

But they had planned their trip to Gringotts and that was something, he supposed.

He had also found out the man's favourite colour, blue, and the man had found out his, green.

It was nice, spending what time he could with Severus. He felt safe with the man. More safe than he had ever felt before.

And they had brewed together during the detention. It was just some basic potions for the Hospital Wing, but they did it together. It was relaxing, and it showed him that Severus had paid attention to his memories and now knew that Harry was good at potions, and enjoyed it.

He found it rather a shame though that he couldn't show his true skills in his actual classes still, not whilst he was still openly 'friends' with Ron and Hermione anyhow.

The more he had spent time with them throughout the week, the more he realised how bigoted they themselves were. And that they were hiding things from him, and yet they expected to know everything about him. They always demanded to know where he had been after he had managed to sneak away for a little while to spend some time with someone in his family.

And he noticed how they not so subtly tried to push him towards Ginny.

A shiver ran down his spine again at the thought of being forced to marry her. He was gay. Not straight. He should probably just come out?

Was that a good idea, though?

That was the battle in his mind as he attempted to fall asleep.

…

Harry woke up at 6 o'clock on the dot and got ready for the day ahead, smiling at Neville who was already awake and reading in his bed. Neville smiled back at him, and when Harry was ready and on his way out of the room he whispered a quick, "Good luck," which Harry thanked him for before pulling on his invisibility cloak and making his way to his soulmate.

He made it to the door to Severus' quarter by quarter to seven and knocked gently, his breaths quick and shaky with the nervousness he felt.

Severus opened the door and he relaxed smiling at the man, even though he couldn't see him yet, and he slid through the gap that Severus left for him, tugging on the man's sleeve so he knew he could close the door.

Harry pulled off his cloak and beamed at his soulmate, the rest of his nerves melting away at the small smile he received in return.

Harry took a moment to look at his surroundings and was in awe of the peaceful, homely feel of the quarters.

It was decorated in dark blues, greens and blacks. The furniture all looked rather elegant, and yet, not overly so. There was a large window much like the one in Slytherin common room which shows the inside of the lake and Harry thought he could find himself lost in the view if he sat there long enough. The place was lit by a large fireplace, and various candles. There was a small kitchenette, with an ebony dining table. And there were four dark doors coming off the main room, all of which had various carvings of leaves and plants on them.

There were, of course, several bookshelves along the walls also. All filled with books of various kinds and sizes.

"Do you like it?" Severus asked nervously, and Harry looked at him with wide eyes of wonder and awe.

"I love it. It feels… nice, safe, peaceful, homely," like Severus did.

Severus smiled at him again, and Harry smiled back.

"Good morning, Harry,"

"Good morning, Severus,"

"Would you like some food before we go? We don't have to be there until half seven,"

"Sure," Harry nodded, smiling brighter at the thought of getting to have breakfast alone with his soulmate, rather than in a room full of everyone else in the school.

"What would you like to eat?" Severus asked as he led Harry over to the dining table, pulling out a chair which Harry sat in, blushing as he did so.

"Erm… I don't mind, whatever you fancy," Harry said, trying to dampen the blush on his cheeks, and failing.

"Okay," Severus said, smiling as he made his way to the kitchenette and started pulling things out of the coolbox and cupboards to make breakfast with.

Harry was mesmerised as he watched the man cook, he was as graceful whilst cooking as he was with potions. And he wasn't surprised.

Harry soon had a plate of ham and mushroom omelette in front of him, and a glass of orange juice which was mixed with the nutrient potion Severus had been telling the house elves to mix into his morning juice every morning.

He was shocked that someone finally cared enough about him to realise he was probably deficient in a number of nutrients. It made him feel good, though, that someone cared and was trying to help. Severus had told him it was just a basic one at the moment, but that the goblins would be doing a very thorough health check on him so Severus could make a more personalised one to suit Harry's proper needs when they get back.

The omelette was delicious. Harry had never eaten an omelette before, but he loved it. And he didn't know if it was because of how Severus made it, or if all omelettes tasted the same. He guessed it probably depended on how you seasoned it, though.

"Do you like it?" Severus asked from his seat across from Harry, though instead of nerves there was a smirk on his face as he looked at Harry, who was clearly very much enjoying his food.

"Mhm," Harry nodded as he finished his bite, "It's delicious. Thank you,"

They ate in a mostly comfortable silence, occasionally talking about their week or other small things, but mostly it was just peaceful.

Harry rather thought he could get used to having peaceful breakfasts with his soulmate, not that he could enjoy them very often, not yet anyway. But he loved it. And he wanted more of them.

Maybe he and Severus could cook together at some point?

Like they did with potions in their detention?

Harry hoped so anyway.

…

They floo'd to the bank at precisely seven thirty, and experience which still made Harry feel rather sick, he was grateful for Severus' hand rubbing his back as he was folded over, trying to breathe through the nausea.

They were greeted by Griphook, who looked rather shocked, along with Severus, when Harry asked how he was, calling him by name.

"What?" Harry asked, confused as they looked at him.

"Nothing, Heir Potter, it's just that wizards don't usually make a point to call us, or even remember us, by our names," Griphook explained, "Let alone ask us how we are,"

"Erm, why not? I mean, you are looking after our money and everything, which is a very important job. You should be treated with respect. And, what is with the Heir Potter? What does that mean?"

Griphook grumbled something under his breath, and he didn't particularly look pleased, nor did Severus. Though, he noted, that they didn't look angry at him, but at someone else.

They followed Griphook to an office where they were greeted by two other goblins, both of whom looked rather nervous, though they tried, almost desperately, to hide it.

"Heir Potter, Lord Prince, these are your account managers, Snagrod and Gladnook," Griphook said.

"Lord Prince?" Severus asked, confused.

Harry looked at the two nervous goblins who were now practically twitching in their seats behind the desk.

"What is going on? Why does Severus not know he's Lord Prince? And how am I Heir Potter?" Harry asked, thoroughly confused, and needing answers for himself and Severus.

Griphook looked at the two goblins angrily, "How does Lord Prince not know that he is Lord Prince, Gladnook? He would have had to be here to claim his rings, and sign the papers,"

"He was here," Gladnook said quietly.

"I have no recollection of signing any papers, and I have no rings," Severus said, he was confused but Harry could sense a hint of anger in his voice and magic also.

"Answers, now," Griphook growled at the two goblins.

"Well, erm…" Gladnook stuttered, clearly not sure what to say.

"I can call King Ragnok here, and you can tell him how two of our clients have no clue as to their positions in the world," Griphook said, a toothy grin on his face as they paled drastically in fear, "Though I suppose that whether you tell me or not, you will still have to tell him, considering you are meant to keep our clients, whether they are heirs or Lords, if they are the last of the family, apprised of their affairs. And you haven't done that, and I suppose there is probably a bit more that you have both done also, because the first fault in your conduct often leads to other misdeeds with our client's accounts. And if there are misdeeds with our client's accounts, even if it is just not informing them of things, then he is always to be involved in the sorting out of the situation. Not that this situation arises a lot,"

"Please don't call him, Griphook," Snagrod practically begged, a sheen of sweat forming on his brow.

"So there are misdeeds you want to cover up. Okay, I shall call him," Griphook sneered happily and smashed his hand down on the button on the desk, which the other two goblins were too slow to stop him from doing.

Harry and Severus just sat there watching the spectacle in confusion, though it was rather entertaining to Harry to see a couple of the goblin warrior race look so terrified as they tried to move from their chairs but couldn't.

It wasn't long before the door was opened and who Harry assumed was King Ragnok regally strode into the room with a warrior goblin at his side.

"What is going on here, Griphook?" King Ragnok said.

"I believe there may be some misdeeds done with the accounts of Lord Prince and Heir Potter, King Ragnok, sir," Griphook said politely, although he didn't remove the smirk from his face.

"And what makes you think so?"

"Both Lord Prince and Heir Potter don't know about their positions in the world, or about their accounts. Both Snagrod and Gladnook are acting as if they have things to hide, and they were desperate for me not to call you," Griphook said.

"Then thank you for bringing this to my attention, Griphook. I will very much look forward to sorting out this situation for our clients, alongside yourself of course," King Ragnok said, grinning sadistically at the two goblins who couldn't move and yet looked like they were about to pass out from fear.

Harry just wished he knew what the hell was going on.

Hiya, how are you all?

I hope you all enjoyed it, sorry it isn't much. I would have written the whole meeting, but, well, I feel very shitty, mentally and physically, at the moment so I really just wanted to get out what I could, ya know? Next chapter will be the rest of the meeting, and perhaps a little more. We'll see though.

I have a Facebook group called Maraudering_Paige which you are all welcome to join if you want to and are able to. It is where we can talk about Harry Potter, fanfics, life, share memes and more. It is also where I have an update schedule and will be keeping you up to date on what I am working on, both original works and fanfics. So if you are interested in joining then I am more than happy to accept any of you.

I hope you are all having an amazing day!

Kind regards,

Paige xx