As he walked he thought, "I can't believe they're going to kill George. That they would do that to their own brother is just sick. I don't feel so bad that all their doing is stealing from me. Although I guess they'd kill me too if they knew I was still alive. That might be what they came to do. I need a plan."
Harry ended up missing the meeting with McGonagall and Kingsley as he continued to just wander around and make his plans. It was quite late when he returned to the tower and found his rucksack on the bed he was using along with a note from McGonagall.
Harry,
You missed the meeting. I can't help but wonder if you were in the entrance hall and saw your visitors. Kingsley didn't know if anything was missing from your sack. I did check for magic and didn't find anything on it. You've been acquitted from both suits and Gringotts is sending you an apology. I would like to eat breakfast with you in my office at eight please. Heather is my favorite.
Minerva
"This might be a good place to start." Harry sighed as he dumped out his rucksack and sorted through his belongings before he grabbed some parchment, a quill and ink. He wrote several notes before he left the room again, this time with the purpose of going to the owlry. When he returned he dropped into bed and quickly fell asleep. He woke early and got ready for the day and was on time for his breakfast with the Headmistress.
"Kingsley was sorry to miss you last evening." She stated as he entered the room.
"Sorry, I was in the entry way when they arrived, but I stayed and listened to what they said after you left." Harry sighed, "That upset me more than anything else."
"Did you leave the castle?" she asked concerned.
"No." he fished the string out of his pocket, "The twins were always geniuses in their field. This is an extendable ear. I feed one end under the door the other goes into my ear and I hear what is being said on the other side."
"What did you hear?"
"Nothing good." He sighed, "But before I go into explanation would you open your floo? I invited a few people over for this morning. I asked them to come by at eight thirty."
"How many are we expecting?" she waved her wand at the floo.
"Four at most." He ran a hand through his hair, "Neville, Luna, Bill and Fleur."
"All good choices." She agreed and called for breakfast. It was just a few minutes later the first of the guests arrived.
"Hello Harry." Luna's airy voice called as she brushed off her clothes.
"Hi Luna, how are you?" he stood and gave her a hug.
"I'm good but I believe the nargels have made a nest in Ronald's hair." She took a seat, "Is Neville coming too?"
"I invited him, Bill and Fleur Weasley." Harry nodded, "I don't think Ron is the only one with a head full of nargles."
Neville arrived before anyone else could comment, "Harry, good to see you. Bad business you've had lately, I just can't believe them."
"It's good to see you too Nev." Harry met him with a hand shake.
"Is this all?" he asked, "Hi Luna."
"Hello Neville." She waved.
The fire flared again and Fleur stepped out and brushed off her robes. Bill followed and brushed off his as Fleur pulled Harry into a hug," Harry, have you seen this morning's Prophet?"
"No we don't usually get them here until a little later." Minerva replied.
"Here." Bill handed his over and Harry read the headlines.
"Not surprising." Harry handed it over to the Headmistress after glancing at the headline.
"How… why do they think you are dead?" she stuttered.
"You said he is no longer with us." Harry grinned, "They didn't take that as I had left Hogwarts."
"Who did you say that to?" Bill asked her, "The paper just said unidentified sources."
"The four traitors." Harry glowered as he lowered himself into a chair.
"Harry when we read the paper about that…" Fleur started.
"We gave them an ear full." Bill finished, "Suing you is the most despicable thing and the four of them may be drummed out of Britain for that."
"Before you chase them away we need to discuss something else." Harry said, "How is George?"
"It's best described as catatonic." Bill sighed, "Percy took him to a healer. They have prescribed a potion regimen to help him."
"I think you better get a second opinion and have someone check those potions." Harry described the conversation he overheard the evening before, "I'll show you the memory if you want."
"No need." Fleur said, "We'll check and the potions will tell the truth."
"I'm worried about him living at the burrow or even your home." Harry said, "I'd like to help him recover someplace away from Britain, your mum too if you think she needs to get away."
"They're all at Aunt Muriel's house and I doubt you can get Mum to leave." Bill sighed, "But if we can't get proof that they are trying to kill George then getting him away will be the only thing we can do."
"I need to go to Gringotts today." Harry said, "I want to change that will and see if I can prove it's not valid."
"It won't matter if it's valid or not." Fleur patted his knee, "A new one will supersede it."
"Do I need any witnesses?" he asked.
"I'll go with you." She nodded, "You don't need anyone but it would be best for me to go too."
"They aren't very happy with me." Harry nodded.
"No they aren't, but they are most unhappy with Griphook." Bill said, "You've done them a bit of a favor showing them that some goblins would sell out the bank if someone has something good enough. They are certainly changing how they run their business."
"Are they going to allow me into the bank?" Harry asked with some trepidation.
"Yes but don't expect them to be friendly." Fleur said, "I will be there to make sure you don't offend them any more than you already have."
"Harry what do you need from Luna and me?" Neville was trying to understand.
"I need friends." Harry sighed, "I thought I had some of those but it turns out I have fewer than I thought. Second do you two know that I have a Godson?" both of them shook their heads, "Professor Lupin named me Godfather to his son a few weeks ago. If I don't get back to England for a while I need someone to check on Teddy and his Grandmother Andromeda to see if they need anything."
"That's lovely Harry, I'd love to help." Luna smiled serenely, "It may take you sometime to help George come back to us. Losing Fred has left a hole that needs to be filled by you even if you don't exactly fit."
"Thanks Luna, I knew I could count on you." Harry grinned.
"I don't know anything about babies but I can help around the house and things." Neville said, "I can also keep you apprised of the situation."
"We will help too." Fleur smiled, "I could use some practice with babies. We are hoping to have one of our own in the next few years."
"Thanks and good luck." Harry grasped her hand, "Now I need to see where I am financially and then make plans to help George and Molly. I want to make sure I can set up Teddy to be my heir. Can I change it later if I have kids?"
"Yes, we can just make it conditional so you don't have to keep going back and changing it." Bill agreed.
A few owls chose that moment to enter the office. One flew to Harry and held out its leg. He pulled off the letter and opened it, "I have an appointment at Gringotts with an estate specialist at two." it was a reply to the letter he had sent the previous evening.
"Do you want me to meet you there?" Fleur asked and Harry agreed but then she had another thought, "Does it say who it's with?"
Harry handed her the letter then turned to talk to Neville so he didn't see her reaction. Nor did he see her hand the letter to Bill or his reaction. While he missed it all Minerva didn't. When she looked at the two of them with a question on her face Bill shook his head and mouthed the word later. She nodded at him and turned back to the other conversation. Soon enough breakfast was over and Luna hugged Harry before she left.
"Thank you for being my friend." Harry whispered.
"I will always be your friend." She responded, "I'm sorry the others can't see what they are throwing away."
"Thanks." He breathed a sigh of relief, "Are you and your father going on any safaris this summer?"
"No, we have too much recovery to do. The house was destroyed so we had to have it repaired."
"Do you need some help with that?" he asked.
"No Harry and if we did I wouldn't ask you to help." She said, "I'm rather ashamed of Daddy, he should have known I would be fine."
"I don't blame him." Harry told her, "Just let me know if there is anything I can do."
"I will." She waved as she headed off.
"Harry I don't have to be anywhere for a while do you want some company this morning?" Neville offered.
"That would be great." Harry grinned before turning to Minerva, "Are we done?"
"Yes, go have fun." She waved him off.
Bill and Fleur also said goodbye as the two teens headed out, but they stayed in the office. They waited for several moments before Minerva broached the subject, "What has you reacting that way about that letter?"
"It's not with what I would call an estate specialist." Fleur stated, "It's with the head of the division."
"Division heads don't meet with customers… ever." Bill stated, "This could mean either something very bad or very good."
Harry and Neville spent the rest of the morning walking around the castle and talking. Harry wasn't willing to go outside in case any reporters showed up. He even carried his cloak instead of putting it in his pocket. He didn't want the traitors to know he wasn't dead yet. Bill and Fleur had to save George and he needed to deal with his own finances. Once that was all done he didn't care who knew he was alive and well.
At lunch time Harry and Neville chose to eat in the kitchen. They were joined a few minutes later by Minerva and Poppy.
"Poppy wants to do another checkup before you leave this afternoon. I hold no illusions that you'll be returning here after your meeting." Minerva frowned at the two young men.
"I may need to come back to stay here if I need to wait for George." Harry tried, "Besides an exam is not necessary, I feel fine."
"Of course you do." Poppy agreed, "However, we have discussed your idea of what fine is. I will check you over."
Neville laughed as he watched the two ladies gang up on his friend, it was hilarious. Harry let out a weary sigh that clearly said "I will suffer through this because you won't let me skip it." Snickering Neville sat back and watched as they poked and prodded his friend. He left after lunch and Harry went to get ready for his meeting. Fleur was waiting when Harry arrived half an hour before his appointment, as she had advised him to do. He was disguised up until he reached the doors but he dropped it before entering the bank, another bit of advice from Fleur. The room went silent when the two of them entered. Everyone turned to watch them walk up to the goblin.
"I have an appointment." Harry pulled the letter from his pocket and slid it onto the counter in front of the goblin.
"Follow me." The goblin nodded after looking at the paper. He met them at a gate and opened it, leading them away from the main room.
When the goblin stopped at a door and indicated for them to enter Harry bowed slightly, "Thank you for your help, I appreciate it. May your gold flow."
"And yours as well." Harry was sure it was a male goblin but one could not always be sure.
Fleur smiled as he turned to make sure he had her approval. He then took a deep breath before entering. The room was richly furnished in dark woods and tapestries. Harry gave the appropriate greeting that Fleur had told him to use and waited until he was instructed to sit.
"You sought out instruction for dealing with us?" the goblin asked instead of greeting him, the letter told Harry his meeting was with a goblin named Ragnok so Harry assumed that was who he was talking to.
"I believe I have made more than enough mistakes in my dealings up to this point." Harry replied self-deprecatingly, "I didn't want to make any more or waste any of your time."
"Sit, what do you want from us?" Ragnok asked.
"I wish to know my financial status and to see a will that I've learn is filed here with my signature on it." He replied, "I would very much like to see it as I do not remember ever signing one."
Ragnok spoke to another goblin that quickly left; Harry had not seen him standing in the corner when he arrived. Nothing was said during the time the second goblin was gone. Harry was feeling very uncomfortable but looked to Fleur for how to act during the silence. She sat primly on chair and stared straight ahead. He maintained the correct sitting posture but wasn't sure where to look so he settled on a tapestry behind Ragnok's head. Harry wasn't sure how much time passed before the second goblin returned with two books in his arms and a third goblin following him with several parchments under his arm. Ragnok nodded as the parchments were dropped on his desk, followed by the books. The two goblins stepped back against the wall as Ragnok pulled the books to the front.
"This is the financial history of the Potter estate and this belongs to the Black estate." Ragnok patted the books, "But I would think you would know your state of finance."
"I'm sorry but I don't know. I guess most children have parents that explain it to them but mine died too early for them tell me anything." Harry really didn't know how he was supposed to just know his finances.
Ragnok glared at him, "Don't you remember Albus Dumbledore sitting you down and explaining it all?"
"No, Hagrid is the only one who told me anything about my money and he said my parents left me enough to pay for Hogwarts." Harry had no idea one simple phrase could cause such a ruckus.
The three goblins were talking rather loudly in gobbledygook as Harry watched. He chanced a glance at Fleur who seemed to be struggling to maintain her unemotional state. It took several minutes before the goblins calmed enough to speak English again.
"Mr. Potter is there a reason you had cursebreaker Weasley get your school funds for the last several years?" Ragnok asked.
"I didn't ask him to." Harry said, "He just brought it to me."
"Headmaster Dumbledore asked him to pick it up so that Harry wouldn't need to spend so much time out in the open." Fleur offered, "He felt it was too dangerous."
"I fear Gringotts has been misled by your Headmaster Dumbledore." Ragnok steepled his fingers and then looked over them at Harry, "Would you tell me honestly what you think of goblins?"
"I think most wizards don't understand you." Harry offered, "I know I don't so that leaves me a bit afraid of crossing you on accident. But I don't have any problem with any of you."
"What of your views of house elves, centaurs and other magical creatures?" he continued to prod.
"I have… rather I had an elf that I considered a friend, but he died saving us from Malfoy manor. Voldemort was being called and I wasn't ready to face him yet. It was before the incident here." Harry didn't want to talk about that though, "I really liked talking with Professor Firenze, he's a centaur, and we spent several hours talking over the last few weeks. It was nice to have a visitor in the hospital. I've not really met many other magical creatures outside of class, but those I have are fine. I do wonder why some, like goblins, house elves and centaurs are classified as creatures though. Creature to me means animal. I would call you a magical race rather than a creature."
"Would it interest you to know that Goblins can spot a wizard lie before it leaves your lips?" Ragnok's mouth twitched.
"That is interesting but not surprising. So many people try to cheat to get someone else's wealth. I would think it would help you run your business and protect your clients better." Harry shrugged.
"You understand that from experience." Ragnok nodded, "Dumbledore rarely came to the bank. Most of our dealings with him have been my mail. It's much harder to detect lies that way."
Ragnok spent several hours explaining to Harry what his financial status was. The goblin was also very helpful when Harry wrote his will. Since Teddy was the last of the good side of the Black family Harry decided to make him the heir to the Black fortune. He would also be the heir to the Potter fortune until Harry produced an heir of his own. Once Harry signed the document and sat back, a glow on the old will caused another upset for the Goblins.