Chapter 3: More Than a Little Rich
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"Congratulations Mr Potter. I believe it is now time to discuss your family's accounts? And what you would like to do with them?" I nodded, and reached forward to slip on the ring. It glowed when I put it on and automatically resized itself to my finger.
"Yes Canton, I believe it is. Shall we start with Dumbledore?"
Canton nodded and pulled a large stack of parchment out from under an even larger stack of parchment on his desk.
"According to this document upon your parent's death Dumbledore claimed guardianship of you in the magical world. Now, the Will did not state that Dumbledore was a possible guardian but since all other options were unavailable at the time we had no choice. Dumbledore holds a position of great power in our world, and after the events of the war no one was willing to refuse him. He placed you in the care of the "Dursley" family as they were your only living blood relatives and claimed guardianship of you in the magical world".
I stood and started pacing around the room.
"So you're telling me that a man who had no actual power or connection over either myself or my family was allowed to decide my future? You said that were other guardianship options, why was I not placed with them?" Canton nodded gravely.
"Unfortunately Sir, out of the three other options listed in the will by the time it was acted upon one of them was, and still is, in the long term stay ward at St. Mungos, the other has been deemed a unsuitable guardian by the ministry due to being inflicted with lycanthropy and the final option is still imprisoned in Azkaban for your parent's murder".
"I always knew I had rotten luck but this is unbelievable". I sat back down on my chair heavily and raised my clasped hands to my lips. I paused for a moment, taking the time to absorb all this new information. "Well, what's done is done, there is no changing the past. You say this 'Dumbledore' is my magical guardian, does this give him any control over me or my family's accounts?" Canton shook his head.
"No Sir. He cannot access any of the Potter ancestral vaults due to the blood wards protecting them, and he cannot access the trust fund vault set aside for you until you turn eleven, as that has been set aside by your parents for the express purpose of paying for your education. He does however control your family's seat on the Wizengemot as you are not of age and has a say in where you are educated but beyond that he has no power over your decisions or life choices, bar acting as an advisor". I sighed internally in relief.
"At least he has no control over my family's wealth. Or any say in what I do with my time. Is there any way I can remove him completely from any association with my family name?" Canton smiled.
"Yes Sir, you can. I can make it happen immediately if you so wish".
"Do it".
"Of course". He took another piece of parchment and wrote a short paragraph on it. Canton then rang a small bronze bell on his desk and not a moment later the iron door behind him opened and small goblin walked in. "Take this to Umar, tell him to implement it immediately". The little goblin took the offered note and scuttled back through the iron door from whence he came, shutting it behind him. Canton turned back around with a very self-satisfied smile on his face. I smirked slightly at the look on his face.
"I take you are not fond of Dumbledore". Canton smiled again, if anything even more smugly.
"We dislike his methods. He has always been a bit too controlling for our tastes. Shall we move onto your family accounts?"
"Yes, I want to see everything, including any investments or properties in my name". Canton opened the same drawer where my family ring had come from and pulled out a small red leather bound book. It was a deep maroon in colour, and had the Potter family crest imprinted on the front.
"This Sir is a self-updating leger. It contains details of all the investments, properties and liquid assets your family owns, and automatically updates its self in real time". He handed it to me and I opened it. The first page was an ink drawing of the family crest, with the family words underneath. I turned the page and found what appeared to be a glossary, with the headings 'Properties, Investments, Family Vaults'. Canton leaned over the desk and tapped the book with a long nail. "This is a list of all the different account types you possess. To access one section you must simply say its name. If you wish to return to this page you just have to say 'home'. The book has been charmed to be unreadable to all but members of the Potter family and the goblins". I nodded.
"Properties". The pages of the book fluttered, and stopped randomly about half way through.
English properties:
Potter Manor (under fidelius, master suite, six guest bedrooms, informal + formal dining rooms, kitchen, training room, library + master's study, 7.8 acres of land, swimming pool, gym, living room, elf quarters, stables, quidditch pitch, potions lab, family vaults, billiard room, laundry room)
Potter Cottage (in ruins, currently national heritage sight)
London Penthouse (connected to floo network + fidelius, master suite, guest room, training room, kitchen + dining room, living room, study, laundry room)
International properties: New York Penthouse (currently rented, £2500 per month)
Paris Apartment (rented, £1950 per month)
Greek Villa (beachfront, master suite + 3 guest rooms, kitchen, dining room, infinity pool, living room, two house elves on request)
Mauritius, Island (mansion, 4 full year house elves, master suite, 4 guest rooms, kitchen, living room, dining room, peer, 4.5 acres of land, ownership of surrounding waters up to 3 miles out)
I wolf whistled and leant back in my chair. That was a pretty impressive list. I owned 5 houses, and an island. It was certainly a nice change from living in a broom cupboard and wearing second hand clothes to realising that I was more than a little rich.
"The rented out properties provide an annual income of £53,400, which converts roughly into 10,831 galleons, 1 sickle and 35 knuts". Canton said.
I nodded, and told the book to turn to the investments page.
Magical Stock Ownership:
Nimbus Racing Broom (17%)
Flourish and Blotts (22%)
Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour (33%)
Quality Quidditch Supplies (24%)
Honeydukes Sweetshop (14%)
"These stocks were all purchased by your grandfather Charlus Potter. He had a keen eye for business, and made sure to provide good investments for all of these shops as they were starting up. In total, you receive approximately 37,689 galleons a year from all of these combined investments". I nodded, but then an idea occurred to me. I had been cleaning up the kitchen one evening when my Uncle mentioned buying stocks in some new companies. my Aunt had vetoed the idea, saying it was too risky and so the matter was dropped. But, if I had as much money as Canton said I did then it probably couldn't do me any harm to try and invest some. Since I knew nothing about magical stocks, my best bet would probably be to try and buy some muggle ones.
"Canton, can you purchase any muggle stocks for me? There are several companies out there that could provide some very impressive income". Canton nodded in thought.
"I don't see how that would be a problem Sir. Could you provide me with a list?"
I racked my brain, trying to remember the ones my Uncle had mentioned."Umm, is there any chance you could purchase mucggle stocks in Apple, Sony and Microsoft for me? I shall leave the exact amount to you, you're the expert on stocks here". Canton smiled after writing all these down.
"I will do my research Sir".
"Thank you". I turned to the final section, family accounts:
Vault 698 (Potter Vault): 70,942,609 galleons, 750,463 sickles and 290,184 knuts.
Vault 687: 30,000 galleons
I could only stare at the page in shock. Screw being 'more than a little rich'. It was obvious I was mind blowingly rich. The sort of 'never gonna have to work again' rich. I looked up at Canton. He grinned as he leant back in his chair.
"The Potter Family is rich Sir. Very rich, and is one of our oldest clients. The money has been collecting interest for years, but since your father was too busy with the war effort to invest any of it has been sitting in the vault in liquid form. With your permission I would like to start investing it again. There are numerous business opportunities out there that can be immensely profitable if taken advantage off". I thought for a moment. I had no idea of how good a businessman Canton was, but I knew that goblins were clever. The smartest when it came to money in fact, and Canton had been with my family for years.
"You can use 500,000 galleons for whatever investments you deem best. Move it in a new vault in my name that are for investments only. Will that be sufficient?" Canton nodded quickly.
"That should be more than sufficient Sir. I will keep you updated on any investments I make. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
This was my opportunity to sort out some do the things that had been bugging me. "Yes. First, is there anything I can do about my living situation? I don't want to stay with the Dursleys if I can help it. Second, I need a tutor. Someone who can teach me the ways of the Wizarding World, things like etiquette and finances. All the stuff I would have been taught if I had been raised as the Heir to an Ancient and Noble House like I should have. I need to know this before I re-enter the public eye. If I could also be tutored in the basics of the subjects I will be studying at Hogwarts too that would be great. It doesn't hurt to be prepared. Third, I want to see a healer. The Dursley's have given me next to no medical care and there are probably numerous vaccines I am missing. I would also like some way to withdraw money from my account directly, there are some big purchases I will need to be making when I return 'home'. Finally, is there any way we can keep all information of my return to the Wizarding World under wraps for now? I'm not ready to step back into the limelight, and need time to prepare first". Canton had been nodding as I was saying all this, and was making notes on his sheet of parchment.
"I can help you with all of these issues Sir. The tutor can be easily arranged, I know someone who will be perfect for such a situation and can get you in contact with him immediately. When would you like your lessons to start?"
"Two weeks should be sufficient time to set up".
"That will be easy to arrange Sir. In regard to your Healer I think that will be a good idea, and can arrange for you to see a private Healer this weekend. I will ensure full discretion is maintained. It will be a private affair".
"Thank you Canton."
"Of course Sir. The direct access to your account can be set up too. We came up with a system that mimics the muggle 'debit card' a few years back. It links directly to your family vault, and can be used instantaneously in both muggle and Wizarding stores. I can sign you up for one now, and you can pick it up on your way out". I nodded that this was agreeable, and Canton filled out another slip of paper and passed it to me that I could use on my way out to claim my card. "Finally, the Dursleys. As you are underage there will technically be your muggle guardians until you turn eleven providing you have claimed head of house. They have no right of your magical funds however, and have no say in the Potter family affairs. You will have to remain living with them until your eleventh birthday, but I'm sure with the help of a little magic you can make your living conditions more… agreeable". I nodded as I listened to what he said, and almost immediately several ideas sprang to mind.
"Well Canton, this has been a most pleasing meeting and I look forward to working together in the future. You have my address, and I shall be purchasing owl shortly so please ensure to keep me updated on my affairs. Thank you for all your help".
"Not at all Sir. It has been a privilege to work with the Potter Family once again". I leant across the desk and shook his hand, an action which seemed to surprise him somewhat but he went along with it readily. I turned and walked to the door of his office, thoughts swirling around my head as all that I had learnt on this most informative afternoon sank in. Life was about to get a lot more enjoyable.