Hagrid walked up to the teller. "I got a letter askin' me to come here."

The teller looked up at the large man. "And?"

Hagrid reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter. He handed this to the goblin. The goblin looked it over. "Very well. Wait here."

The teller soon returned with another goblin behind him. "Mr. Hagrid. Follow me."

Hagrid followed until the two were in a conference room. Another goblin sat there waiting. This goblin had with several papers in front of him, a moke skin bag, and a very severe expression.

"'Lo. I got a letter to come in 'bout my account and somethin' else. I'm Rubeus Hagrid."

"Yes. I am aware as I sent the letter. I am Sharpclaw. We have a few matters to discuss. Please have a seat." The goblin pointed to a large chair in the room, much larger than the other chairs. The chair was much sturdier than most chairs, but he was embarrassed when it creaked a bit when he sat down.

The goblin looked at him and then said, "To the matters at hand then. We were informed several weeks ago that within the Forbidden Forest, there was a colony of Acromantula. We were told that you had information regarding how this colony came to be."

"Yeah. My frien' Aragog an' his children. I raised him m'self."

"Are you aware that this is a violation of a number of Statutes? That such a large colony of carnivores within such a magical forest has created an imbalance? The centaurs are threatened, the unicorns are being pushed out, the bowtruckle population has been hunted almost to extinction within this forest." Sharpclaw then spent a long three minutes explaining in almost minute detail exactly how … inadvisable … such a colony in that location made.

Hagrid, at first defensive, became paler and paler as the goblin explained in painful detail exactly what effect the colony had. When he was done, he stopped and looked at Hagrid waiting for an answer.

Hagrid had his head bowed low. He had never considered what the goblin was telling him. Finally he looked up and said quietly (for a half-giant), "No. I didna know. I nee' to fix tha'. Wha' can I do t' fix this?"

"For you, luckily, steps have been taken. The wizard that reported this is named, in our language, Maarek Ilumian. Your people call him the Lone Traveler. Have you heard of him?"

Hagrid's eyes were wide as he answered. "Yeah. Tha's an ol' story. He tol' ya 'bout Aragog?"

"Yes. Should this have been reported to the Ministry of Magic, every single creature would have been killed, the proceeds filling the coffers of the Ministry and any wizard favored by the Ministry, even those that are of … questionable morals. You would have been sent to the wizard prison. Maarek Ilumian wanted to avoid this. As a result, every Acromantula in the Forest has been relocated, including this Aragog and his mate, Mosag. They have been removed to a suitable habitat which is now converted to an Acromantula farm. Maarek Ilumian bade us to place this in the ownership of Harry Potter. The Acromantulas are properly cared for and well treated. There are several requirements that you must fulfill, however."

Hagrid was very curious.

Sharpclaw pulled a sheet out and read from it. "Rubeus Hagrid must get approval from the Deputy Headmistress to keep any creature or any creature's egg (especially dragon eggs) within the Hogwarts grounds or the Forbidden Forest. Rubeus Hagrid must not engage in experimental breeding in violation of the 1965 Ban on Experimental Breeding." Sharpclaw pulled a packet out and pushed this toward Hagrid. "This is a copy of that Statute. Rubeus Hagrid must make an apology to the leader of the centaur group within the Forbidden Forest, Magorian, for introducing an invasive species within the Forbidden Forest."

Sharpclaw pushed the large mokeskin bag toward Hagrid. "As a part of his apology, Rubeus Hagrid will present these two thousand arrows, fletched using silk from the Acromantula. The wood used was a high quality wood from trees that were no longer protected because the bowtruckles protecting them were killed. These trees were beyond saving" Sharpclaw looked up. "The cost of making these arrows was taken from 20 percent of the profits that the Acromantula farm produces. This 20 percent is in recognition that they exist only because you raised Aragog and brought him Mosag. From your percent of the profits, in addition to these arrows, bowtruckles have been obtained from elsewhere and placed within the forest to replace the decimated population. Additional steps have been and will be taken to repair the ecological effect of the aAromantulas being placed within the Forbidden Forest. The costs for these steps will be paid by half of your 20 percent profit until it is determined that all effects have been reversed inasmuch as is possible. Do you understand?"

Hagrid was astounded. "I understan'. Honestly, all the profit can be used for tha'. I don't need much."

Sharpclaw sneered. He disliked dealing with people who didn't understand profit and its value. "I was told that you would likely say that. I can only say that the profits that have been deducted are sufficient to accomplish the goal. You are enjoined from using the remaining portion of the profits for this endeavor. This will be the end of that matter."

Sharpclaw pushed a sheet forward. "This is a copy of the current balance sheet for your Gringotts account." Hagrid read it and was astounded by how much was in the account. "It is perhaps providence that there was such a backlog of orders for Acromantula silk when this project was being implemented. After they were moved, all of the silk within their former nest was collected and most of it sold." That had been another coupe for the Claw Clan. One customer that had been searching for acromantula silk had been Gringotts itself as it was useful for a number of artifacts and professions. His clan had gifted a large bale of it to the head of the Gringotts Council for his own clan's use. "With the two thousand arrows for the centaurs is also a large amount of silk for their future use for arrows. You will inform Magorian that this is a token of esteem from Gringotts and the Claw Clan."

Sharpclaw sat back and considered the half-giant before him. "Maarek Ilumian requested that I advise you as I saw fit in exchange for services he performed for my Clan. I have some advice to give. Will you hear it?"

Hagrid nodded.

"You are the Gamekeeper at Hogwarts as part of your job of Keeper of the Keys and Grounds, correct?"

"Yeah, tha's right."

"Do you hunt within the Forest?"

"Yeah. I feed the hippogriffs, thestrals, an' others by doin' tha'."

"The bale of silk we are asking you to present to the centaur leader is in recognition of his people's forbearance when we entered the Forest to remove the Acromantulas. Regardless of the fact that it was of great benefit to them that we did so, we recognize their preeminent claim to the Forest, even if the Ministry of Magic does not. Thus, our token. Humans have ignored this claim for centuries and we in no manner wish to aid wizards to repair that relationship as the Ministry of Magic is still arrogant in their dealings. Nothing we could do would change this, nor do we wish to intervene. In Hogwarts name, however, you do not need to perpetuate that arrogance. Perhaps you might tithe the centaurs when you hunt. Ten percent of the kills you make could be given over to them for their forbearance in allowing you to hunt within the Forest. When you enter for other reasons or to obtain other resources, once again a ten percent portion should be given over for their use. Do this, and your relationship with the herd shall be much more convivial."

Hagrid was astounded. No one, not even Dumbledore – great man that he was – had ever told him this. The idea was foreign but it sounded like a good idea to him. He decided he would listen to the advice. He nodded in thanks.

Sharpclaw's face took on a satisfied look. He pulled another sheet out along with a card. "Sirius Black spoke to us as regards a motorcycle he lent to you?" Hagrid nodded. "This is a statement gifting title of such over to you. Mr. Black only asked that he be allowed to borrow it on occasion to take his Godson out for rides. Along with this, we have obtained a waiver for you as regards the enchantment of said machine. Should you ever be questioned by the Ministry regarding its existence, show this card to the one questioning you. It is hard to imagine that any broom could hold you. You must only not be seen using the machine in any magical manner when a Muggle could see you. If you violate the Statute of Secrecy, you shall be punished accordingly. Do you understand?"

Hagrid had tears in his eyes as he nodded and read the transfer of title paperwork. He had always loved that bike.

"For the final matter, have you heard of the Magical Education Trust Group?"

Hagrid asked, "Wha's that?"

Sharpclaw pulled a sheaf of parchment out and pushed it over to Hagrid. "A group of Trusts have been established to pay for the books and materials students need when they attend Hogwarts. Each trust covers one such expense. Sirius Black used a portion of his compensation from his illegal incarceration to fund one such Trust in the name of a fallen comrade, a Ms. Marlene McKinnon. As there are no longer any McKinnons, the seat which would normally be held on the Board of Trustees needed another family to hold the position. He named you. As a result, the Hagrid family holds a seat on the Board. When you pass away, if you do not have any children you must name an alternate family to hold that seat or the family that replaces yours will be named by the other members of the Board of Trustees. It is preferable that you should name the family. Read the paperwork fully. Professor Minerva McGonagall is the Secretary of the Trust Group. You may ask her; me, as the Manager; or Mr. Black, as the President of the Trust Group, any question you might need answered as regards this."

Hagrid looked at the top parchment. "I'll look it over an' ask Professor McGonagall."

Sharpclaw nodded and stood. "A solicitor and a barrister have been hired to resolve the matter of the order to snap your wand and for you to be expelled from Hogwarts as a student. The evidence in that matter certainly did not indicate your guilt, neither personally or by means of your pet. The accusing prefect, Tom Marvolo Riddle, became the Dark Lord Voldemort and, as such, his testimony should be considered suspect. The solicitor will contact you as regards that. I wish you good luck on the matter. Should you have any more questions or concerns regarding the items discussed, contact me here by owl or by appointment." Sharpclaw gathered the papers he hadn't given to Hagrid and made his way out. Hagrid was led out by the goblin that had originally led him in. He decided that he would take everything home – and then go get drunk.

Quirinus Quirrell woke up in his chambers. He reached over and opened the drawer of the night table and grabbed a vial and drank it. He shuddered at the taste. He remembered the reason he was taking the potion.

He had visited Gringotts for some reason he decided he wouldn't expend the energy to recall and a cursebreaker had seen him and asked to check his condition. Something had caused him to start stuttering, he just couldn't remember what. The cursebreaker had told him that he had suffered from some sort of calamity when he had visited Albania. The result was he had only a year to live. Exactly what he had suffered he did not know but the cursebreaker and the healer that had been consulted both had confirmed the diagnosis.

He had returned to Hogwarts and asked Madam Pomfrey to check it and she had also confirmed it. He sighed. He should have thought twice about taking the Defense position. He had thought it a great chance to become more powerful, but in the end it looked like the curse that was rumoured to be on the position would win again.

At least he had stopped stuttering.

He didn't have any family or relatives. There was no one that would particularly miss him. When he had talked to the Headmaster about it, he had decided that he WOULD spend the final year of his life teaching. If he couldn't get married, have children, and leave a legacy in that way, he would become famous in history as the BEST Defense Professor ever to have graced Hogwarts. That was how we would overcome the taunts he had endured as a boy. He just wished that he didn't have to take such vile potions to keep himself reasonably operational.

He would never realize that he had been obliviated nor remember what had happened in High Security Vault 713.

Chelsea Stansbury sat with most of the off-duty healers which worked at St. Mungos. A meeting had been called by the Administration regarding a serious matter.

Madam Prunella Rihtlaese had informed them of a former Senior Healer having been found complicit in corruption and guilty of harming patients. She had laid out how exactly he had bypassed his oaths and then informed them of the additional oaths they all would take to avoid such corruption in the future.

When she had explained what steps she had taken to punish Archibald Chedwick, some had shuddered having been unaware of just how their oaths could be used against them, but Chelsea had only grinned viciously in satisfaction.

Madam Rihtlaese had then given regimens for a number of patients and former patients which had been put together to repair the damage that Chedwick had committed or allowed. It would be a busy time at St. Mungo's for a while.

Afterwards, Chelsea had spoken to the ancient healer and told her how it had been uncovered. Madam Rihtlaese had patted her hand in approval as she commended her for a job well done on helping to root out corruption. The viciousness of the old healer's look when she talked of Chedwick would have terrified most experiencing it. Chelsea only mirrored the look.

Prunella decided right there that she had found her new apprentice to take her place when she retired.

Harry screamed in joy as the roller coaster started speeding down the track toward the ground. Behind him, he could hear Sirius, Remus, and the Mr. Granger doing the same. Hermione, sitting beside him, and Mrs. Granger, two rows back from him, didn't have quite so much joy in their screams. Roller coasters were not something Hermione normally rode, and she was here only because her first ever friend had convinced her to try it. She would berate him later – when she was safely on the ground.

It was the Wednesday before the two went to Hogwarts. Harry had called her family the day before and asked if she could join him and his uncles at the amusement park. He had never been and wanted to share the experience with someone else who understood amusement parks and could guide the three. Hermione had asked her parents. Her mum and dad had been leery of handing over their daughter to two virtual strangers – regardless of the enthusiasm Hermione had for spending time with a friend for a change – and so had arranged to have this one last weekday off before Hermione went off to boarding school.

Hermione wasn't used to being invited to things most children did with their friends. She had a lot of experience in museums, on tours, on sightseeing buses, and other such things. Even country clubs where her dad played the occasional round of golf she was familiar with. Amusement parks, ice-skating rinks, and other amusements children did together – not so much. When she HAD come to such parks with her parents, they didn't ride roller coasters due to Hermione's dislike for heights. She decided, however, that she was enjoying herself. Even if she wanted to kill Harry for making her ride this deathtrap.

She decided she would get her revenge on the bumper cars. She was quite good on those. Normally it was her and one parent ganging up on the other. She was going to convince the both of them to help her gang up on Harry. Harry's uncles would have to fend for themselves.

Early Thursday morning saw Sirius, Harry, Tonks, and her parents meeting with Steelclaw, Sirius' accounts manager. Griphook had also been present as the Tonks' accounts would be moved under his Clan's purview. When reinstating them had been accomplished, Sharpclaw and Ironclaw had been called in.

Ted Tonks had jumped at the chance of being hired as the manager of such a business. Harry's suggestion as to how to find parents of Muggleborns who needed good employment meant that it should be much easier to find employees than most businesses which spent a large amount of time sorting through COUNTLESS resumes to fill positions. Most positions didn't require much business savvy, but only a desire to work and the willingness to learn.

There were some positions that would require business savvy and experience. Ted talked about setting up auctions for the best-valued items. He had asked his daughter to, while the meeting was taking place, go to any Muggle bookstore and buy a few books on recent prices for antique coins and a book or two on numismatics. Ted had had his own coin collection since he was a young child and understood the subject better than most. The goblins all grinned when they found that out.

When the meeting was finished and Tonks, Sharpclaw, Ironclaw, and Griphook had all left, Sirius asked Steelclaw to help him with another matter from the Black Family.

Sirius turned to Harry. "You say you met the Weasleys, right?"

"Yeah."

"And they seem a good family to you, right?"

Harry smiled. "Yeah. Ron's a bit hot under the collar and they're a bit proud, but a nicer group of people you'd be hard to find."

Sirius nodded. "They've been classed as Blood Traitors for a number of years because they never followed the Pureblood dogma. They don't particularly care for money and they marry for love. Unfortunately, Semptimus Weasley made a few mistakes which destroyed their financial position two generations back."

Harry sighed. "It's a shame."

Sirius grinned. "Yes, but I'm going to thumb my nose at Purebloods again." He turned to Steelclaw. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but as the current Head of the Black Family, I have some authority on expelling family members or bringing them back, right?"

Steelclaw nodded. "They must be within the 5th degree in relation to the Black Family. Fourth Cousins, Third-Cousins Once Removed, Second Cousins Twice-Removed. Once the relationship hits the fifth degree, they fall outside of your authority if they are not registered members of the Black Family. If they are within the fifth degree but are members of other families, you are limited in control in that you may only banish them or reclaim them."

Sirius grinned. "I need paperwork to banish Bellatrix Lestrange. Her beliefs are anathema to me. As she and her husband were convicted of capital level crimes, I find her continued presence on the Family Tree insupportable. What punishments can I inflict?"

Steelclaw consulted a slim book on the Black Family. "You may reclaim her dowry. You may not affect her current marriage but any actions taken by the family she married into shall no longer be defended against by the Blacks. So, if the Lestrange Family were to decide that a divorce was advisable, she would be left with nothing. Also, the dowry is set as the percentage of the couple's value when they were married. Any increase in value is considered to be created by those percentages. When she was married, the dowry made up 40 percent of the couple's value. That her husband inherited a considerable fortune later is not a matter for consideration. You may claim 40 percent of the value of the Lestrange Family in reclaiming the dowry."

Sirius grinned, "Let's do that then. I'd like that amount reclaimed. I would also like to reclaim my First Cousin, Twice Removed Cedrella Weasley nee Black. I would also like to reclaim my uncle, Alphard Black. That's just a token thing, because he left me everything. Also, my Great-Great-Uncle, Marius Black, who was a squib. I will pay a necessary fee to find out if he is still alive or has any family. I want to take all of the money reclaimed from the Lestranges and split it three ways: Cedrella, split between her inheritors; Andromeda and her husband with an amount designated for a standard Black Family dowry for Nymphadora; and Marius, or his inheritors. I would like Narcissa Malfoy nee' Black informed of these actions, with a note that she was spared because neither she nor her husband was found guilty of any crime. I want to make certain Lucius will be a good boy."

Harry grinned. He had met both Lucius and his son, Draco, and was not impressed in either case.

Steelclaw finished making a few notes and then looked at Sirius. "We must discuss a Black Family property, 12 Grimmauld Place." Sirius groaned. He hated that house.

It was Saturday. Harry, Sirius, and Remus were all spending the day at the Burrow. They had visited a number of places the day before and Harry was actually looking forward to not traveling around. Ron and Ginny had invited them via Ron's new owl after Harry had sent his owl with a letter telling them what he was doing that week.

Ron expressed his happiness that his sister was too busy to name his owl because she was distracted by her new kitten. When it came up later, Ginny suggested that Pigwidgeon would be a great name. Luckily, in Ron's opinion, the owl was already named and answered to Chudley. Harry thought both of them could use advice in naming owls.

Harry learned to ride a broom. Sirius bought himself and Harry some madly expensive brooms. Sirius loved brooms and quiddich. That Harry couldn't take it to Hogwarts didn't matter. Sirius just told him that it would be available for next year. Remus teased Sirius claiming that the next year Sirius would most likely buy a newer and even more expensive broom for Harry. Sirius just grinned and shrugged at that.

The Weasleys and Sirius had fun showing Harry how to fly. Harry had insisted on Ginny being allowed to try his broom when he saw her watching her brothers forlornly. Ron objected, the twins made a few jokes at the idea, and Mrs. Weasley was nervous. (Percy was inside studying.) However, Mr. Weasley had approved. The boys shut up and watched in awe when Ginny shot around the Weasley's made-up pitch as though she was a pro. Harry, Remus, Sirius, and even Mr. Weasley cheered for her. Mrs. Weasley just stood there, hand in front of her mouth.

Harry quietly asked Mr. Weasley later if he could leave the broom for Ginny to use for the year because he couldn't bring it to Hogwarts and he didn't want to take it back to his relatives' house.

Harry also had fun chucking gnomes from the garden. All of the Weasley children, including Percy, made that a competition. Ginny cheated in finding them by using Blackie, who loved to chase the creatures even if he was easily distracted due to his age.

Weasley dinners were fun. Harry ate so much he was reminded of a Monty Python scene he had once snuck out of his cupboard to see where a fat man was so full that one more mint would make him explode.

After dinner, Ron challenged and beat Harry, Sirius, AND Remus to games of chess. Ginny played with Blackie and talked to whoever wasn't busy. The twins were doing something in their room. Percy was studying again. Mrs. Weasley was knitting. Mr. Weasley even spent time with Sirius out in the shed. Something about his car, an old Ford Anglia.

Harry stayed with Ron and Sirius and Remus were put up in Bill's old room which was kept in case one son or the other would come to visit.

Harry had a hard time going to sleep, looking forward to going to Hogwarts the next day.