Chapter 06
It looked like any muggle courtroom really. Uncomfortable looking wooden benches with a bunch of podiums at the front.
All heads turned to look at the newcomers. Several women – meaning Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, Hermione and Ginny – gasped when they saw Harry amongst goblins. It was unheard of! Hermione's parents merely looked confused, but also apprehensive at the weapons.
"Albus!" Molly admonished. "You said Harry wasn't coming today!"
Albus looked furious. "It would seem that he did," he said between gnashed teeth.
They watched as Harry walked with an almost catlike grace down the aisle with the goblins. He almost seemed comfortable with them!
Harry stopped in front of the gawking Weasleys and an angry Dumbledore.
"Headmaster," he said with a very small hint of respect. "Have you received my reply yet?"
"What reply?" Dumbledore spat out before he could control himself. Mrs. Weasley looked affronted.
A goblin entered the hearing room holding an envelope. "A letter for Albus Dumbledore," he said in a nasally voice. "A white snowy owl just delivered it."
Harry couldn't help but smirk. "Oh," he said dismissively. "There it is."
Dumbledore put on his disappointed grandfather look. "Harry, what are you doing here?" he asked wearily. "Did I not stress the importance of safety to you?"
"Well I kind of wondered why it would be so dangerous for me that I couldn't come, but hell, everyone else could safely so I decided to throw all caution to the winds and put myself in mortal peril you see," Harry quipped as he maneuvered himself around the gawking headmaster and found himself a front row seat near the Malfoys.
"Potter!" Draco Malfoy spat.
"Ferret balls," Harry's mouth said. It seemed that Tashaneri took great pleasure in the ferret incident.
"Draco, behave yourself!" Narcissa snapped. "My apologies… Mr. Potter."
"Don't worry about it, I suspect it'll take a lot more than mothering to make Draco grow out of the whiny brat that he is," Harry said offhandedly. "Er – that is to say-"
"Yes," Narcissa's lips were in a thin line. "Indeed."
"Is everyone in attendance?" Ragnok called out from his podium. "Mr. Dumbledore, please sit down."
Dumbledore, who was halfway to Harry, sat down next to Remus with a grumble.
Ragnok pulled out a thick piece of parchment with a flourish.
"The reading of the will of Sirius Black, son of Orion and Walburga Black, heir to the Black estate has now begun. In attendance are Harry James Potter through guardianship, Arthur Weasley, Molly Weasley, William Weasley, Charles Weasley, Percival Weasley, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Ronald Weasley, Ginevra Weasley through blood, Andromeda Black-Tonks, Ted Tonks, Nymphadora Tonks through blood, Narcissa Black-Malfoy, Draco Malfoy through blood, Remus John Lupin through brotherhood, John Granger, Cassandra Granger, Hermione Granger through acquaintance, and finally Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."
Ragnok paused and peered around. "Are all those stated present in mind and body?" he asked.
A corresponding "Aye" was his answer.
"Very good. This will, written on the seventh day of May this year has been validated and proofed by law by Gringotts Wizarding Bank of England. By law and magic it shall be carried out. I shall now read and bequeath as noted:
This is the last will and testament of I, Sirius Black. By sound mind and body, I hereby bequeath the following, to the following:
To my distant cousins, the Weasley family, I leave 5000 Galleons to each member, except for Percy. If he can smarten up and apologize to his dear mum, then he'll get his share. On top of that, I also leave an extra 10,000 for just being there for Harry.
To my closer cousin, but in blood only, I leave Narcissa Malfoy 2000 Galleons and the hope that she will realize what her husband really is and leave him. I also declare all access to the Black estate null and void so her rat of a husband can't fund his master.
To my disowned cousin Andromeda, I leave her 60,000 Galleons. It may not mean much to you, but hey, if I could, I would have gotten a name change for your daughter.
To Remus, I leave 100,000 Galleons on the hopes that you will take Harry in as your own, as I have. You're all he has left, and vice-versa. Moony, never think that you are lesser than anyone because of what you are. You are a hundred fold better than the likes of Lucius.
To Hermione Granger, I leave 5000 Galleons and whatever books you can find from you-know-where. Just please make sure not to touch any of the iffy books. You have been a true friend to Harry time and time again, and your faith in him has inspired him to do the impossible. Continue to nag him about homework, mother him about his feelings and just plain care for him like you've been doing for the past five y ears. You've done a good job, although that would be expected of the brightest witch of your age. So much like Lily…
Ahem. To Albus Dumbledore… Damn, what should I leave you? It would be fitting to give you nothing, seeing as how you ruined my life and whatnot, but that would be cruel of me."
Dumbledore looked worried for a moment, but a smirk returned to his face, unnoticed by all except for Ragnok.
"Then again I was never known for being nice, Snivellus can attest to that so I leave you nothing! Bahahahaha! Take that! And take your damn Fidelius off my damn house!
Now, on to the good stuff. Since I've pretty much exhausted whatever was left of my stash, mind you I was disowned you know, I give to Harry Potter whatever is left that is mine. And also, as Harry's godfather and therefore magical guardian by Goblin Law e.5-0R4, I hereby wish for Harry to be emancipated due to my death and that he be given adult rights.
"I CONTEST THIS!" Dumbledore bellowed.
"Guards please remove the headmaster, he is no longer needed."
Harry's eyes narrowed as he watched the fourteen goblin guards bodily remove Dumbledore from the hearing room. So that's why he contested the will, he thought. What's so bad about being emancipated?
Freedom, Tashaneri simply replied. He doesn't want you to have that for some reason.
"As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted," Ragnok continued.
"Since goblin laws are regarded over the Ministry of Magic's laws concerning magical wills, this wish shall be approved. Harry Potter will be emancipated. Unbeknownst to Mr. Black, his mother died before she could legally disown her son, therefore her disownment of Sirius Black was verbal only, and considered moot by law. Mr. Black's words, I give to Harry Potter whatever is left that is mine now means that Harry Potter stands in inherit the untouched estate of the Black family."
"I contest this," Narcissa Malfoy said snootily. "Mr. Potter is of no relation to the Blacks, therefore next of kin should stand to inherit. Andromeda does not stand to inherit either since she had been legally disowned by my uncle, Orion several years before his death."
Ragnok merely sneered at Narcissa.
"While your contest would normally hold court in the Wizongamot, and even here, you forgot one fact, a fact that I have omitted up until now," he said with a superior tone.
"What is that goblin?" Draco asked waspishly. The goblin guards dashed over to the Malfoy heir, brandishing their weapons but Ragnok waved them off.
"I have here legal documentation that Jonathon Henry Potter and Dorea Marie Potter applied for legal custody of Sirius Black in 1974. They were granted custody in 1975. Therefore, by law, Harry Potter is of direct relation to the Blacks."
His toothy grin either scared everyone or… okay, it scared everyone bar Harry.
Narcissa sat down quietly, the fight having left her. There was nothing she could say about it. Goblins were as finicky as they could come regarding law, and if what the manager said was true – and most definitely was – then Black was indeed related to the Potters, if only by law.
"Now this brings up several interesting points. Mr. Potter stands to inherit the Black estate as soon as this will is over, which in itself is very extensive. Due to no direct access for the past 16 years, barring minor withdrawals -" here he gave Narcissa a look "- the interest it has gained has been substantial. I will personally give Mr. Potter a breakdown afterwards. The second point is that now that Mr. Potter has been emancipated – well, once he signs the papers of course – he becomes an adult in the eyes of the Ministry and Gringotts. That means the wills of James and Lily Potter must now be read due to that fact.
It is interesting, well in my opinion, the contents of their wills. It appears that the law had been circumvented many times regarding the placement of Mr. Potter and appropriated funds. Alas, this is a private will, to be read to the last Potter and therefore it will be personally held with Mr. Potter later."
Ragnok put the papers away and faced the group. "Please come forward, in order of appearance on the will to come up and sign for and collect your things."
One by one, everyone but Harry went up to gather what they had gotten from Sirius. It was a tearful moment as the people who knew and cared about the ex-convict remembered the young man.
Harry held back since he would be seeing Ragnok later anyways. Soon, Hermione and her parents came up to him. He gave her a small smile as she clutched her new Gringotts key and a few papers.
"How are you Harry?" she asked quietly, searching his eyes. "The headmaster told us not to write you…"
Instead of his usual 'I'm fine'; Hermione was surprised by what Harry said.
"I'm better than I thought I'd be," he admitted. "Actually thinking it through made me realize that no one but Sirius himself could make himself stay put and I'm just glad to know that he loved me enough to die for me."
Hermione's limpid brown pools watered. "Oh Harry," she sighed quietly, giving him a gentle hug. "That's more than you've ever really said."
She felt a little fuller in Harry's opinion. Maybe it was just his imagination, but in the two weeks that they had been away, Hermione certainly felt curvier than before. Maybe it was the lack of robes. Yes, that had to be it.
"You deserve it," Harry said somewhat shyly. "After what Sirius said about you… well no one deserves to know more than you Hermione."
Hermione let him go with a bright smile and Harry was suddenly aware of a large hand in his face.
"John Granger," Hermione's father said gruffly.
Harry shook the man's hand strongly, noticing the man wince for a fraction of a second. What did I do?
"Harry Potter," he replied. The man's stony face didn't change.
"I'm Cassandra, Hermione's mother," the tall, beautiful brunette interjected, giving Harry a motherly pat on the shoulder. "We've heard so much about you!"
"Good things I hope," Harry said with a charming smile, which made Mrs. Granger laugh.
"She talks about you a lot," Mr. Granger said with a glare.
Harry was intrigued by the man's open hostility. "Yes, I suspect friends would do that," he said uneasily.
Fortunately, he was saved from Mr. Granger's ire as the Weasleys came up. The last he saw of Hermione was her furious face pointing her ire at her father.
"Hello Harry!" Mr. Weasley said brightly. "All right there?"
Harry gave him a big smile. "Better than ever actually."
Mrs. Weasley was still upset over Dumbledore it seemed. "I can't believe he tried to do that!" she complained. "Really now! Such a dishonor to the dead!"
She covered her mouth in shock, looking at Harry fearfully.
Harry gave Mrs. Weasley a reassuring one-armed hug. "No worries," he said softly. "He would have wanted us to be happy Mrs. Weasley. Not all glum and boring."
She wiped her eyes and gave Harry a small smile. "You're right dear," she said, regaining her posture. "I can't believe he gave us so much money. I just know Ronald's going to buy some fool broomstick…"
"No I'm not!" Ron said indignantly. "Well maybe I'll give Ginny my Cleansweep and buy the new Nimbus…"
"I knew it!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked.
"Hey I think I'll buy the new Nimbus, you keep your broom!" Ginny argued.
"More joke items!" the twins sang.
"Sirius, what have you unleashed?" Mr. Weasley joked.
A polite cough interrupted their conversation.
"Harry, if you will, we have much to discuss," Ragnok said with a bow.
Harry turned back to his friends. "Sorry you guys, I guess I have to sort this stuff out," he said apologetically. "I'll come visit you, yeah?"
"Of course dear, we wouldn't have it any other way," Mrs. Weasley said warmly for her family. "Shoo now!"
As Harry and Ragnok, flocked by their guard exited the hearing room, Bill turned to his father.
"Never has Ragnok held court with any human," he said in a worried tone. "Neither has he called any wizard by their first name OR allowed a human to walk beside him with guards. Something big is happening."