DISCLAIMER! I OWN NOTHING! DISCLAIMER!
Harry was still sitting at the small wooden table over an hour later. Nothing could be decided upon. Dumbledore was adamant about sending Harry back to his aunt and uncles, Harry point blank refused. Fudge wanted to have a wizarding family take him, he was less objective but still didn't like the idea. Robarbs was very quiet on the subject, he had acted like Harry's mediator early on, but soon stopped when he found out the boy was quite able at saying 'no'.
'He must go to his aunts', Dumbledore repeated for the umpteenth time. Harry simply rolled his eyes at the statement, it was like he wasn't even in the room.
'The boy doesn't want to go! We can't force him', Fudge argued on Harry's behalf.
'It's for the his own protection,'
'He's not a baby anymore, you can't just decide for him,' Fudge blustered growing more and more dithering as the arguing continued. Harry was quite enjoying the show, but why where they arguing anyway? Surely as the Minister of magic, Fudge had the final say?
'As his magical guardian I can in fact decide for him,'
'What makes you that?' Robarbs spoke for the first time in what seemed like forever. Harry had to agree with that question, what on earth gave this stranger that right?
'As the headmaster of his school, I represent the magical guardianship of all orphaned and muggle born children that attend,' Harry didn't like the glint in the old mans eyes when he said that. But at least he knew who the man was now, a teacher; which made his presence at this meeting even more confusing.
Robarbs didn't seem as worried by that as Harry though. 'That may be true while they attend your school, but as you can see, he's not there yet.' Harry didn't like the sound of that 'yet'.
'Didn't my parents have friends that I could go to?' Harry asked, he didn't really like Fudge's proposal, but it was better than Dumbledore's. All attention finally returned to Harry, it had been a while since anyone had bothered noticing his presence (other than to gesture in his general direction).
Minister Fudge looked slightly startled at the abrupt question, but his eyes softened when he glanced at the two pictures still sitting on the table. 'Yes, they had many many friends. Your father was quite the popular man you see, and your mother was the sweetest woman you'd ever meet.' He smiled happily at the boy. 'There are many people who would gladly take in the-boy-who-lived'.
Noting Harry's uncomfortableness Robarbs decided to step in.'We can discuss this later, I've made an appointment with Gringotts for after lunch, for now let the boy eat, he's far too scrawny', Harry felt like he could kiss the Auror. All the arguing had gotten extremely boring a very long while back, and the pitying looks from Fudge were all but torture.
'Of course, of course, my dear boy you must be starving!' The minister exclaimed, 'Can't have you attending Hogwarts as skinny as a toothpick, come along Dumbledore we can discuss the issue further, in my office'. Fudge and Dumbledore quickly shuffled out of the room casting one last glance at Harry before disappearing from sight.
'Thank Merlin' Harry groaned, banging his head against the table. How he wished he was back in his shabby little room, curled up under his cloak, this Harry Potter stuff had gotten old fast.
'You'll get used to that,' Harry could practically hear the smirk in the Auror's voice. Harry casually rose one hand and flipped the amused man off. Robarbs snorted, 'Your dad would be proud'.
Internally Harry fought gallantly against his mouth, but in the end he just couldn't hold it in any longer. 'You knew him?' His eyes locked with the mans.
'Yeah', Robarbs hesitated as if weighing weather he should continue or not. 'I trained him, along with some other recruits. He was a good man.' The answer was a bit gruff, but it would do for now. 'Maurice grab some food for Potter. I'll meet you back in here, in half an hour to take him to Gringotts.' Maurice left almost immediantly, not giving Harry a chance to place an order.
Just as Robarb's was about to depart Harry spoke up, 'Who is Dumbledore?' The Auror's hand clenched around the room's doorknob, his knuckles turning white.
Without turning around he answered, as if reading from a book. 'Albus Dumbledore is the Headmaster of Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardy, he is a noted alchemist and helped discover the twelve uses of dragons blood. He is the chief warlock of the Wizengmont and Supreme Mugwump of the International confederation of wizards. He holds the Order of Merlin, First Class, for grand Sorcery.' At the end of his speech, Robarbs sweeped out of the door letting it crash closed.
Harry returned to his relaxed position in his chair, 'Well that went well' he mused out loud, completely ignoring the singular Auror standing in the corner; standing guard. So this Dumbledore was powerful. No wonder he was at the meeting, he was obviously held in high regard amongst the wizarding community. Auror Robarbs didn't seem to like him, and that was putting it lightly. There was just something off about the old man.
Maurice soon returned with food for Harry, roughly thrusting the plate towards him when Harry greeted him as Millicent. The food on the table was gone in minutes, he couldn't remember the last time he had eaten so well. Hot food, different flavours, he was in heaven. Harry scoffed it down without really noting what the meal was, all he cared about was the bloated feeling filling him up. Exactly half an hour later Auror Robarbs returned to the room.
'Potter, you hold my arm. You do not let go'
Harry instincts flared up at the abrupt entrance, what crawled up his arse and died? 'Sure, i'll get right on that', Harry rose an eyebrow in response to the man's orders.
'We're going to Gringotts, you have an appointment.'
Harry stood up, pretending to flick off a piece of dirt from his clothes.'Well, why didn't you say?'
'Move it Potter.' Robarbs grabbed Harry by the shoulder and held him in place beside him.
He tried to knock the man's grip off of his shoulder, 'Touchy touchy'. Again Harry felt the odd feeling of being squeezed through an incredibly thin tube, why did people travel this way? Once they arrived, he could feel the nausea creeping up on him again. 'Ugh, warn a guy next time you do that,' he groaned, lifting his hand to his head.
Once Harry's head cleared he peered up, noticing the familiar sight of the imposing building in front of him. The snow-white, multi story structure was none other then Gringotts the wizarding bank. This wasn't the first time he had been standing on its front steps, although it would be the first time he had ever contemplated entering it.
Auror Robarbs led their way to a set of burnished bronze doors, flanked by two Goblins in uniforms of scarlet and gold. Harry had never actually spoken to a Goblin, his exploits usually kept him away from the 'upper' end of Diagon Alley.
Once Harry passed the serious looking goblins, they stepped into a small hallway where a pair of silver doors adorned the far wall. Words were etched into the design.
Enter, stranger, but take heed,
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly, in their turn,
So if you seek beneath our floors,
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware,
Of finding more then treasure there.
Harry re-read the poem twice before crossing the threshold into the bank. 'Has anyone tried?'
Robarbs smiled slightly before answering,'You'd be mad to rob Gringotts'
'Thats not what I asked'