Chapter Four: Treasures
"Good afternoon, and may your vaults always be overflowing with gold," said Albus, approaching a Goblin teller at Gringotts later that afternoon.
"How may I help you, Chief Warlock Dumbledore?" asked the Goblin at the counter.
"We would like to speak with someone regarding the Potter estates, and have inheritance tests performed on all four of these youngsters," replied Albus.
"Griphook, take Chief Warlock Dumbledore and his guests to Sabertooth's office for their inheritance test," said the teller. "If one or more of the parties involved can claim ownership of the Potter estates, you may take them to see, Thornbrush, the Potter accounts manager. When they are finished with Sabertooth and the Potter account manager, you may take them down to access any vaults they may claim ownership of."
"Sabertooth, these four children would like to have inheritance tests performed on them," said Griphook, after knocking once on Sabertooth's door and opening it.
"As soon as I am finished with my current clients, I shall be out to collect them," said Sabertooth.
"Hello," said a good-natured and easy-going sandy colored hair boy with an Irish accent, exiting Sabertooth's office with his mother several minutes later. "By chance, would any of this lot be starting Hogwarts this coming September 1?"
"My name is Ginny Weasley, and these are my best friends, Luna Lovegood, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter," answered Ginny. "We're all going to be first years at Hogwarts this autumn. Would you like to be our friend, too?"
"Me name is Seamus Finnegan, and I would be delighted to be your friend, .most pretty lass," said the boy, bowing to kiss Ginny's hand.
"If you'd like we can save a seat for you on the Hogwarts Express," added Ginny, blushing a color almost as red as her fiery-red hair.
"I shall be there for sure, most pretty lady," replied Seamus, bowing to kiss Ginny's hand a second time.
"I do believe Ginevra has gotten over her crush on Harry," commented Luna, causing Ginny to blush again, as they entered Sabertooth's office.
"Well, for your information, Luna Lovegood, we just found out my brother Ronald is really our cousin, and everyone knows you have eyes for him, so that means you'll have to move on, as well," said Ginny, smirking at her newly discovered twin.
"Oh, dear, you are correct," replied Luna, furrowing her brow. "I do hope Ronald will not be too disappointed when he finds out."
"Oh, I think he'll get over it, so don't worry, Luna," said Ginny.
"Will the ones wishing to take the inheritance tests please step over to my work table," said Sabertooth. "The rest of you may have a seat or observe what I do, but do not get in my way or the ones being tested. Progressing from the lad on the left to the lass on the right, I am going to prick one of your fingers with this silver dagger, after which you will let at least three drops of blood drop into the obsidian basin. If you are entitled to a vault in this bank a key will form for each vault you are entitled to."
"Wow, would you look at all these keys, and we all have at least three of them," said Ginny.
"Why is one of Harry's keys black while the rest are all gold?' asked Luna, who had been standing next to the young wizard.
"The color black indicates a vault was granted to him by way of conquest, while the color gold indicates vault ownership by way of inheritance," answered Sabertooth.
"I would gather the black key would be linked to the Slytherin vault," commented Albus.
"Yes, Chief Warlock Dumbledore, you are correct," said Sabertooth.
"Could you tell us what vaults all these keys go to?" asked Hermione. "I'd really like to know how, I, as a Muggle-born, could be entitled to three keys."
"All four of you have keys for vaults three and four, which are the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw vaults," replied Sabertooth. "As Chief Warlock Dumbledore has correctly guessed, Mr. Potter is entitled to vault number 6, the Slytherin vault. Mr. Potter and his cousins, Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood are joint owners of vault number two, the Pendragon vault, vault number 93, the Peverell vault, and the Potter vaults, numbers 500, 501, and 502. Mr. Potter is entitled to vaults number 687, his educational trust vault, and vault number 876, his mother's personal vault, as well. Miss Lovegood and Miss Weasley are entitled to vault 700, Fabian Prewett's personal vault. Miss Weasley is entitled to vault number 688, her educational trust vault. Miss Lovegood is entitled to vault numbers 686 and 987, her educational trust vaults. Miss Granger is entitled vault number one, the vault of Myrddin Emrys, as well."
"You mean I'm a direct descendant of Merlin," said the awestruck Hermione.
"Yes, dear child, you are, for only the blood of a direct magical descendant would produce a key to one of our vaults," answered Sabertooth.
"Can we have access to our vaults, because I'd really like to see if Merlin or one of the Founders left any books in their vaults?" asked Hermione.
"You and Mr. Potter may have access to your vaults, but Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood must wait until their eleventh birthdays," answered Sabertooth.
"Ginevra and I have been given special permission to start Hogwarts early, is there any way we could access at least our educational trust vaults early, as well?" asked Luna.
"As Chief Warlock Dumbledore is Headmaster at Hogwarts, as well, his word shall grant you early access to your educational trust vaults," said Sabertooth.
"Then, I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, do hereby grant Ginevra Molly Weasley and Luna Selene Lovegood access to their educational trust vaults, so mote it be," said Albus.
"So mote it be," Sabertooth added. "You both now have access to your educational trust vaults. Griphook, you may now take them to see Thornbrush, the Potter account manager."
"If you will all follow me, I shall lead to Thornbrush's office," said Griphook, leading the way out of Sabertooth's office. Arriving at Thornbrush's office, he knockeds once and patiently waited by the door.
"Yes," said a Goblin, opening the door to the office.
"Senior Account Manager Thornbrush, three members of The Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter and Chief Warlock Dumbledore wish to speak with you regarding the Potter estates," replied Griphook.
"Do the members of The Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter have their blood keys to prove their entitlements to their house?" asked Thornbrush.
"Yes, Senior Account Manager they do, and may your vault always be overflowing with galleons," said Albus.
"Do the members of The Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter agree to allow all those with you enter my office and learn of your financial status?" asked Thornbrush.
"I have no problems with everyone here with us knowing about what we have," replied Harry. "I don't know much about money and such, and I think I'll need all the help I can get to know what to do with it."
"We don't know much about taking care of money, either, so we agree with Harry, isn't that right, Ginevra?" added Luna.
"The only thing I know about money is how to spend it, so I agree with Harry and Luna," Ginny admitted.
"Very well," said Thornbrush, ushering them all into his office. "The three members of The Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter may have the seats in front of my desk. The rest of you will have to stand, as I have no more chairs."
"Senior Account Manager Thornbrush, with your permission of course, I can supply enough seating for everyone present," said Albus.
"By all means, Chief Warlock Dumbledore, but only you," said Thornbrush. "Anyone else waving a wand in my presence will find a dagger headed their way."
"Mr. Thronbrush, Professor Dumbledore told me I owned the house my Muggle relatives live in and the business my uncle works for, do the Potters own any other Muggle businesses or houses, too?" asked Harry once everyone was seated.
"The House of Potter owns quite a few Muggle businesses and houses, why do you ask?" inquired Thornbrush.
"I want to sack my uncle from his job at Grunnings the company he works for, and kick him and my aunt out of the house they live in," Harry explained. "They've always complained about laborers and the menial jobs they do, and I'd like to offer them those kinds of jobs, as well as, the smallest or most rundown place to live, as well."
"I do believe I have the jobs and living quarters you have in mind in one place," said Thornbrush. "In the small Muggle country village of Greater Tender, you own a Tudor Manor House that is operated as a country hotel. You could offer your uncle a job as a janitor, and you could offer your aunt a job as a chamber maid in the hotel. The jobs only pay the National Minimum Wage of £3.60 per hour, plus you could allow them occupancy of the grooms' quarters above the horse barn on the farm attached to the hotel as living quarters. The grooms' quarters is a one room flat with a small bathroom containing no shower and a very small kitchenette equipped with appliances purchased during the Muggles' Second World War. Additionally, any hot water used in the grooms' quarters must come from a wood and coal fired boiler."
"What do janitors and chamber maids do?" asked Harry.
"The janitors at my old school were the ones than mopped the floors, cleaned the bathrooms, emptied dust bins, and other things like changing out light bulbs," answered Hermione. "From hotels we've stayed in, chamber maids were the ones that cleaned and maintained rooms people hire out."
"That's perfect for them," such Harry with a grin. "Both Vernon and Petunia hate the country, and living right above a horse barn would drive them barmy. Either, they take my offer, or they'll be on the dole or have to move in with Marge at her dog farm in Essex."
"Very well, Harry," said Albus. "I will inform them of your offer when I see them next this coming Saturday."
"Thank-you, Professor Dumbledore," said Harry.
"Could we see what's in our vaults, because I'd really like to see what kind of books or other such treasures we have in our vaults to read?" asked Hermione.
"Most wizards and witches upon learning of their inheritances do not look upon books and knowledge contained in their vaults as being treasure," commented Thornbrush upon hearing Hermione's request.
"To me, after family and friends, books and the knowledge they contain are the greatest treasures a person can have," stated Hermione.
"Sweetheart, please don't ever change," said Lionel, engulfing his daughter in a loving hug.
"Thank-you, Daddy," said Hermione, returning her father's hug. Seeing Harry weeping as he stared longingly at her and her father, the young witch removed herself from her father's warm embrace, and walked over to the young wizard, and asked tenderly while placing a hand on his shoulder, "What's wrong Harry?"
"I just wish I could know what it felt like to have Dad or Mum hugging me," replied Harry softly as he hung his head in sorrow.
"Oh, Harry," cried the three young witches in unison, as they wrapped their arms lovingly around the distraught young wizard.
"We wish you could know what it's like to have your dad and mum hug you, too," added Hermione, with Ginny and Luna nodding their heads in agreement.
"What just happened?" asked Lionel, as he and the other adults present regained consciousness several minutes later.
"Jus' 'fore the whole lot o yeh were knocked out cold, I saw a brigh' whi'e ligh' comin from these youngsters," answered Hagrid, helping the other adults to their feet. "I tried ta wake up all four o em, but I couldn' even touch em."