Warning – the following chapter involves Ron bashing, homophobia, and general A$$-hole behavior. If you find these themes triggering or upsetting, feel free to read down to the AN notion above said depictions, and then stop.

Have a wonderful day.

Last time on Inheritance

"Master Rip-fang, you said we were waiting on some document? May I ask what it is?" Draco asked, hoping to draw any attention away from his mother if possible.

"Why Heir Malfoy, that would spoil the fun." He answered, as everyone grabbed their tea.

"And you are all about fun aren't you, Master Rip-fang." A disembodied voice of a woman flowed through the room. The voice was light and filled with mischief.

"AH," Rip-fang smiled "it appears our guest has arrived."

}}}}} Chapter 9 – Lady Hattie, and a confrontation

A hand materialized, grabbing the last teacup. First slowly, then all at once, like fog clearing, the woman became visible.

Her deep red dress fell to the floor, it was loose but cinched around her waste with a golden belt, one that appeared to be made from willow leaves. Her long raven hair flowed down her back; it shimmered an almost midnight blue color when she nodded her head in greeting at the goblin.

Her face was soft, it held no lines of age, but Harry got the idea that she was much older than she appeared, and something felt so oddly familiar about her.

He looked up into her eyes, emerald green, shining with laughter, joy, and most strangely…. affection?

As she sipped her tea, she smiled at the group. "But you are quite right, we shouldn't spoil the fun. Well," she asked. Addressing the group before her. "Have you figured it out yet, my children?"

"Figured what out?" Draco asked. "Who are you, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Draco, you are quite the smart boy, you figured out how to fix that vanishing cabinet all on your own, I'm quite sure if you think on it, you'll figure it out, then again, I'm not sure how kicking it several times fixed it." She said, with a little wink.

"Nobody knows about that…." He almost whispered, so quiet Harry had to strain to hear. The trauma of his 6th and 7th year washing over him. The woman leaned close to Draco, laying a hand on his shoulder.

"I do not blame you, young one, for what you did to survive, and you more than made up for that, you protected who you could. Know that you are forgiven, even if you don't believe it. You should remember, though you are of age now, you're still just a babe. Plenty more mistakes to come lad." she said comfortingly.

"And you Harry, has the boy who argued his way out of Slytherin discovered my identity?" How does she know that? Nobody knows about that.

"Why are we playing this ridiculous game anyway? Besides I am hardly a child." Severus scoffed, glancing at Cissa who sat in silence, still in shock over Harry's gift.

"You, Severus Snape, should learn to enjoy games more, or would you like me to reveal what you wrote in your diary 3rd year, I believe it was about a crush?" she said, glancing at the man, smirking as he blushed a deep red, and vigorously shook his head in denial. "As to your other statement, when you've been around as long as I have, everyone is a child." she smiled.

"Who are you, how do you know about that?!" Severus snapped, standing from his chair.

"Holy shit," Harry exclaimed, causing Severus to drop in surprise, the realization snapped into place. "You're her." His smile grew, it made sense, why she felt so familiar, why this woman he had never met felt like warmth and joy, why she felt like home and knew so much about them.

"You're…... you're Hogwarts!" He stood up, walking over to where she leaned against the desk, sipping her tea.

Her smile grew, she sat her cup down and stood.

"Right you are, young Heir. I knew you would be the one to figure it out." She walked to the young man, "I am indeed the embodiment of the spirit of Hogwarts, but you, little one, may call me Hattie."

She lifted her hands to his face, cupping it, and smiling. She rubbed her thumbs over his cheekbones, like a mother would do with her child, his eyes, so similar to her own, were glistening. She suddenly found herself enveloped in Harrys arms.

"Thank you," he whispered into her shoulder, "You were the first place that ever felt like home. I am so, so very happy to meet you."

She hugged him back. She had watched everyone in this room grow up, apart from Master Rip-fang, but wasn't ashamed to admit that she had her favorites. She was connected to the heirs of the founder's family's; she felt their emotions as keenly as she felt her own.

She held the boy, her arms around his waist. When did he get so tall? She wonders, He used to be so small. Just a little whisp of a thing.

She remembers the pain he had experienced prior to his arrival in her halls, the slaps and punchs from his uncle, the bruises left by his cousin, the gut-wrenching loneliness and fear, fear that he would never be loved. The awe when he had first seen her lights above the black lake, and the trepidation when the sorting hat was placed on his head. She had made sure, when he was in her walls, that he was never cold, nor to hot, she made sure that the stairs took him where he needed to go. She personally reminded the elves to put Trickle tart near his plate. Yes, even among the Heirs, Harry has always been my favorite. He needed a home more than most.

She remembered every triumph and loss, every love, and laugh. All the pain and sorrow, so much sorrow.

She remembers the rage she felt, at Albus, for using HER children to fight HIS stupid bloody war. She was neutral, always had been, war did not come to her doors. Not until then, when that man had taken reign over the school. He left the children in horrible conditions, allowed them to be abused, she had felt what that had done to Tom. Albus, fool that he was, had created the monster Tom had become. She would never forgive him for that, never forgive the pain he had a direct hand in creating.

She pulled back from the hug, the warmth of her double heir clung to her, his magic calling to hers, soothing her anger. The founders will love him, and I am not afraid to admit that I can't wait for Godric and Salazar to find out that their lines had intertwined. That will be a show for the ages.

"Now I can't stay long, I've only come to invite you to dinner." She said, rubbing her hands up and down Harrys arms. "It'll just be you and the other two heirs, as well as their guests. You may bring someone as well, Draco perhaps. I believe he has something to say to one of the other heirs anyway."

"Of course. We will be there." Harry said, before looking at Draco, realizing that he hadn't actually asked if he wanted to go. "You want to go with me?" he asked.

"Yes, how often does one get to have dinner with Hogwarts herself?! Of course, I'm going."

These two are so adorable. They've been in love since their 4th year, I do hope they figure it out soon. Hattie thought.

"Excellent, now here is your invitation," she said, handing Harry an envelope. "I shall see you on August 3rd. Please dress casually. I'm afraid that I must be off, McGonagall seems intent on sending off the school letters today, and she can't do that with out me." She scoffed, after all she is the who address's all the letters.

"Oh, one more thing before I go." She leaned down and grabbed the small package that materialized at her feet. "I know it is not for another few days, but happy early birthday Harry." She said with a large grin, handing the package to him. "Open it when you get home, I hope you enjoy it, I'm quite sure the house will."

With a final hug, she began do disappear. Fading into nothing before the group's eyes.

"Well…." Severus began, "That was fun."

"Indeed," Rip-fang agreed. "I'm afraid she cannot maintain her corporeal form outside of her walls for very long, but it is always a treat to visit with the Lady Hattie."

"Now, I believe, Master Potter, that Renny oversaw all business related to the Potter/Gryffindor accounts, I have watched over them in her absence. However, the Slytherin and Black accounts have been dormant for some time. Will she be taking over those as well?"

"Well, there has been a small hiccup in that, before we Floo'd back after lunch Renny said she wasn't comfortable looking after so many accounts. I believe I have a solution, if you're willing Master Rip-fang." Harry said.

"I would like to place Renny over the Household accounts, she would only have the accounts that coincide with the upkeep of the various properties' maintenance, as well as my personal spending accounts. I would like to entrust the business and foundation accounts to you, Master Rip-fang." He finished.

Severus and Narcissa looked at the boy, stunned.

"OK," Harry asked. "What have I done now?"

Rip-fang cleared his throat, touched that the young man had asked this of him.

"Harry, to give a goblin control of your accounts, is a very large show of trust." Severus explained. "Goblins trust none with their treasure, to ask one to watch over yours is their highest badge of honor."

"Well, Master Rip-fang had managed the accounts for the last 17 years, and from what I can tell has done an excellent job. Besides he been with the family account for like 200 years according to his wife. Doesn't that basically make him family?" Harry asked innocently.

Draco intervened, sensing another lesson on creature politics and culture brewing,

"Rip-fang, I think its best if you just accept, he won't change his mind and his quite set on this."

Nodding at the young heir, he gratefully accepted the roll of caretaker for the accounts.

"I shall care for them as if they're my own." He promised.

} AN: the following scene had depictions of Homophobia, Please do not read any further if you find such behavior to be triggering. Please feel free to skip past this part. Thank you for your time. I will try to make it quick. {

}

An hour later all the forms had been signed for Rip-fang to take control of all the accounts, and the group walked out of Gringotts.

The small group stood on the steps of arguing over where to have dinner.

"I'm telling you, that little muggle restaurant near Baker Street, the Italian one? It has the best fettuccine." Draco was saying. "We simply have to go."

"I maintain that we should just go back to number 12 and ask Pippy to prepare a meal, I haven't had her cooking in years, once was simply not enough!" Severus practically whined.

"Draco, Severus, for the last time, we decided on that little French place by 3rd Avenue. You were out voted darlings." Narcissa said a bit primly, before laughing at her son and friend's defeated faces.

Harry was about to join in, to remind them that he had never had French food and would very much like to try it, when someone grabbed his arm and forcefully pulled him around.

"What the hell do you think you're doing with a bunch of Deatheaters Harry?" Ron practically screamed in his face.

Harry glared at his former best friend. "How is that any of your business, and they were pardoned, or don't you know how to read?" he snarked, never one to take an insult laying down.

He took in the group behind Ron. Hermione was fretfully waving her hands, looking torn between pulling her boyfriend away, and protecting Harry from the same, Ginny just looked on in confusion over the situation. Finally, there was George who seemed beyond tired of his younger brother and simply held the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb, shaking his head.

"Ron, leave it alone." Hermione said, pulling the young man away, only to be shaken off as Ron decided to double down.

"Wow, I always figured you would go dark, just didn't think it would be this dark, or is the ferret your new boyfriend?" Ron snarled. "Bad enough you broke my sisters' heart, now you're out showing the whole world your perversion. Poor little Harry, all the money in the world and still hanging out with Death Eater and faggots. It's a good think your parents are dead, otherwise they'd die of shame."

Harry stared at the man he'd once called friend, the sweet and kind boy he'd met on the train was gone, in his place was a bitter, hateful, and hypocritical ass.

Ginny still looking confused broke in.

"Broken heart? Ron we mutually decided not to be together anymore, I am not broken hearted." She insisted, looking to Hermione for help, unfortunately she was too worried about the scene Ron was causing to be of any actual assistance.

George on the other hand, clenched his jaw. Anger filled his eyes and Harry knew the man was about to blow, his temper skated on thin ice these days, Fred was still in a coma from being hit with debris at the Battle, and as a result George felt like part of himself was missing.

Harry caught his eye, and gave George a small shake of his head, he didn't want to cause problems between the brothers, but he knew what Ron said had gotten to him, the twin was identical to his brother in everyway except one. Whereas Fred was strait, George was gay, it was a single difference that only Harry was privy to. George nodded at Harry agreeing to let him handle this battle, but his eyes promised retribution.

He looked back at Ron, the Slytherin in him working out all the things he could say to hurt the man, going quickly through the options and discarding any that included his family, Hermione, before settling on what he knew would bother him the most. Having been friends for almost 8 years helped, he knew all the buttons.

"What bothers you more Ron? That I broke Ginny's heart? Can't be that she said she is not heart broken. Hanging out with Death Eaters? I don't associate with them, but everyone I'm with today was either a spy or pardoned, and therefore not Death Eaters, so it's not that one." He said, hands in his pockets, a fake pensive look on his face, before he grinned.

"Ah, I know what it is. You're mad that all these years I never made a move on you, that's it right? Poor Ron. Well, I'm afraid you'll just have to get used to it, you're just not my type." Harry said, the faux innocents on his face had Draco almost doubled over in laughter.

"As for my parents, I really don't think they would care, I have it on good authority that my Dad and Padfoot had more than a…lets say friendly relationship." He finished, winking at Ron.

"You are disgusting!" Ron sputtered, turning and practically ran into the bank, Hermione not far behind.

Ginny looked over at him. "Sorry about him Harry, I've no idea what had gotten into him." She said patting him on the shoulder, before glancing at Draco, "Thanks again for the help last term Draco, we wouldn't have made it without that elf of yours. See you boys back at school."

With that she followed the other two into the bank.

George started to follow, before he stopped and glanced at Harry.

"Be sure you visit Fred Harry; I know he misses you."

"I will go see him soon, let me know if you need assistance with the store, just found out that I own a small army of house elves, I'm sure I can send a few to help." Harry offered.

"Might take you up on that little brother. See you soon." George said as he too entered the bank.

Harry waited for him to disappear into the bank before turning back to his little group. "SO…..lunch?"

"OH NO," Draco said, "You are telling me what went on just now. What bee did Weasel get up his bonnet?"

Harry sighed, "Come on you drama queen, I'll tell you over French food."

Well, not how I wanted to come out, but I guess its better to get it over now. Harry thought. At least it won't hurt as much if they abandon me as it did with Ron. Somehow, Harry knew that it was a lie, it would hurt just as much to lose his "Rival" maybe more. Best not to look to closely at that for now.

Narcissa nodded along, "Off to lunch then."

TBC