Living up to Family
Harry POV
He remembers their laughs, their smiles, their voices and every night he see's them dying all over again. For everyone else in Magical Britain its been a few months and the scars of the Battle of Hogwarts are starting to slowly fade away. But for the Conquering Hero of Britain, Harry Potter, those wounds will never scar over.
A few months before his 18th birthday, Harry received an owl from Gringotts clacking at his window at Number 12 Grimmauld. The Fidelus and Unplottable charms haven been long gone since the start of the war.
To the Lord Potter,
We the Goblins of Gringotts would like to inform you of the will reading of the Former Lord and Lady Potter, the late Lord Black, and the late Severus Snape. Your meeting is scheduled 3 days from now precisely at 3:00 PM. Letters have been dispatched a Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger as well. They will participate in the will readings of the Late Lord Black and the Late Severus Snape.
We look forward to your arrival.
Blackfist, Senior Account Manager
At some point Harry was surprised to hear about the will readings. He knew his parents had left him a sizeable amount but to be called Lord Potter was something else. He also recalled Sirius had a Will Reading the summer after his death but maybe this was a will reading for someone reaching his 18th birthday?
The next few days passed by at a snail's pace for Harry. Each day anticipation and anxiety built up and Harry thought he would burst. But on that fateful day he put on his robes and apparated to the steps of Gringotts. As he arrived into the lobby he was tackled by a brown blur in a big hug and for the first time in months he had a genuine smile on his face. "Hello Hermione, how did your trip to Australia go?" he said.
"I found my parents, but I couldn't break the oblivation. They don't remember me," whispered Hermione into his chest. At this point Ron was walking behind her and in his eyes was pain for the woman he loved.
"I'm sorry" was all Harry could say to both.
Sensing the tension, Ron spoke up "…. So do you guys know why we are at a will reading?"
"No clue, I must meet with the Potter Accounts Manager first before I meet up with you guys for Sirius and Dumbledore's will."
While they engaged in small talk, obviously avoiding the painful details of the last few months a middle aged goblin, or at least what passes for middle age for a goblin walked up to Harry. "Lord Potter, an absolute delight to meet with you. I understand that you and your associates broke into Gringotts?"
At this point the trio tensed up, knowing that they were facing some sort of punishment. One does not steal from the goblins and not face punishment. "However due to recent events it seems that someone forgot to file the correct paperwork to officially charge any of you with theft, though for the sake of property a fine of 1 galleon will be imposed on each of you and a promise to never steal from the Goblin Nation again."
They stood amazed at what just happened. "Sir, I insist that I pay back whatever damages I may have caused to the bank. We have the utmost respect for the traditions of the Goblin Nation." Said Harry.
"Nonsense! After your escapade we did an inventory check on the LeStrange Vault and found large traces of the most vile of magics. We are glad you have removed it from our holdings, it seemed that once it was removed a lot of the more violent of our kind became more pacified. We only know of a few items that can cause Goblins to react that negatively and we will not be speaking on this subject anymore." Replied the goblin.
Uncertain to what to say the trio stood in silence until Ron spoke up. "Umm thanks? By the way we did not catch your name"
"Ahh yes how rude of me not to introduce myself, I am the senior account manager for the Potter Holdings, Blackfist. I have also been charged with the execution of the wills of the late Lord Black and the Late Albus Dumbledore. Now if you could follow me to one of our suites we will begin."
Blackfist led the trio to a mid-sized room down the corridor of the bank. He then conjured a small table with 4 chairs and each took a seat respectively.
"Now I presume Lord Potter that you are okay with your friends listening to your parent's will?"
Harry nodded and looked to his friends who nodded back.
"Excellent!" exclaimed Blackfist as he pulled out a silvery pool that they recognized as pensive. " I have here my memories of your parents will, it has been goblin certified to be free of tampering and alterations."
Harry and his friends slowly made their way to pensive and put their heads in. It looked like they were in a room similar to the one they were currently in. He watched as his parents appeared before him and his mother spoke and James Potter looked on.
"Hello my darling boy. If you are seeing this then we have passed onto as Dumbledore would say, to our next great adventure. We of sound mind and body do make this our last will and testament, to be heard and executed 3 months prior to the 18th Birthday of our only son Harry James Potter. Harry if you have made this far to your 18th we hope and pray that Voldemort has long since gone and you are living a life you deserve. We ask that you take over the title of Lord Potter and look after the family holdings. You are the last in the legacy of House Potter.
We have left everything to you. But we make requests of you. The wizarding world is not a kind community, do not live your life solely in magic. Find a cause you believe in and fight for it. At this point you have probably seen enough pain, perhaps it is time for you look for ways that will heal the pain caused. Your father and I had plans to leave for the states, specifically Seattle, Washington, a whole world away, after the Christmas holidays. We have a few properties throughout the States that we had planned on hiding. Unlike the British Government, MACUSA would have destroyed Voldemort and our protection there was almost guaranteed. However obviously things have changed if you are hearing this Will. Your father had planned on taking his A and O levels and pursue a muggle education to eventually go to Medical School and beyond. If that is what you wish we have set aside an allotment for you to attend any medical school in the world provided you ace your muggle education. We also understand if you wish to remain in Britain. However, the Potter family has a history of producing some of the finest magical healers in the world, your grandmother Dorea Potter-Black was one of those Potters. She created the procedure that allowed for usage of Skelegrow from a 7-day period to nearly over night. Perhaps it's time for a Potter to bring in muggle advancements to the magical world?
Again Harry, we support whatever you wish to do. We have enough money in the Potter Vaults that our family will never grow poor. We love you son, so so much and we will see you again when your time is right, but not before."
The trio pulled out of the pensive and looked at each other. Tears forming on each before Hermione got up and hugged Harry from the back as he stared blankly at the wall. Blackfist gave them a moment before speaking up "Now we must view the will of Sirius Black".
And once again the trio dived into the pensive and this time they were back in Grimmauld place to what looked like the summer before their 5th year.
"Hello everyone. My name is Sirius Orion Black, I am of sound mind and body and do make this my final will and testament…. Alright now that the stuffy things are out of the way. Onto the fun stuff of divvying up my worldly possessions. To Miss Hermione Jane Granger, I leave behind 100,000 Galleons and hope that she never needs to use it. Miss Granger, you are a brilliant witch being strangled by the Victorian era thoughts of the magical community of Britain. If you ever find a way to leave peacefully do it.
To Mr. Ronald Billius Weasley, you are Harry's first and best friend. I leave you with 100,000 Galleons as well in hopes that you will continue to be at his side in the coming years. I also leave you with these words…take care of Hermione, I know that look on your face whenever you look at her. James once told me that I had the same look when I saw Marlene McKinnon. Unfortunately, I was never able to tell her how much I loved her and that has always left a hole in my heart.
And now to my godson and should have been blood-adopted son. I leave the title of Lord Black and all its associated holdings to you Harry. It is my final request of you that you take the Black family and repair the damages it has done to the world. The Black Library in Blackmoore Estate has books on ways to deal pain and death but in it's shelves you will also find books that will heal body and mind. Do good with these books Harry. You have greatness in you no matter how much you want to shy away from your fame and fortune.
If you are seeing this I have finally met up with Padfoot and Lils and we are watching over you. I will see you again when it is time.
PS – Congratulations on being the new stuffy Lord Potter-Black! MISCHIEF MANAGED!
Unlike the will of the Potters, the 3 of them exited the pensive laughing at Harry's expense. Even Blackfist couldn't stifle a chuckle at the Potter Luck. For once Ron's envy didn't show and all he could think of was that the responsibilities pushed onto Harry was not worth the mountains of gold and fame that came with it. At his time Blackfist announced "And finally we have the late professors will for you."
For the final time that day they dived right into the bowl and was greeted by their respected professor. With his gnarled and blackened hand, they realized that this was during their 6th year.
"I am Albus "Too Many Names" Dumbledore and this is my final will and testament." The 3 of them chuckled as Dumbledore looked on with that twinkle in his eye. "Harry, Ron and Hermione, the best students I have had since Newt Scamander. You have faced so much over these last few years and will face much more as you grow old. I cannot begin to apologize for my lack of foresight and hope in the century to come you find it in your hearts to forgive me for not being able to shoulder the burden that lies on your shoulders. That being said I leave the entirety of my vault to be divided evenly between the 3 of you. If my predictions are correct you will be behind in school. I leave you a collection of tomes that shall strengthen your mind to the point of having photographic memory. I leave behind a Restoration stone that shall repair any damages, dark curses and physical ailments you all have suffered and it will being you to the point of prime health as if you grew up in optimal conditions. I ask that this secret stay with you and never to be used until you find your successors. I believe in you three, that you will change the world for the better. Take care and I will see you all in the next great adventure."
They stepped out of the memory will and just sat in silence. They continued to leave in silence as plans began to formulate in their minds.