A/N – Ginnylover14, you are right with your last comment. Chapter 4 was a pretty standard "reading of the will(s)" chapter. We'll forgo the shopping spree in Diagon and/or Knockturn Alleys for this story however.
Chapter 5 – My What Big Vaults You Have
The group walked back through the bank to get to the carts and the trip down to see the vaults. Remus, Hermione and Harry agreed to split up, visit their own vaults and meet back there later. Harry asked Jeeves to return to the manor and ask the cooks to have dinner ready for three this evening.
Harry once again found that he loved the roller coaster ride through the bowels of Gringotts. The first stop was the Black vault. As we walked up to the door, Ragnok informed him that only the Black family ring could open the vault. If Harry wanted anyone else to have access to the vault he could give him or her a duplicate of the ring with the limited power to open the door.
He touched his ring to the door and it opened smoothly. What Harry saw first were stacks and stacks of galleons. He knew now that he would never have to work a day in his life regardless of how long he lived.
He also noticed shelves and shelves of jewelery, artifacts, and other nasty looking items. Harry turned to Ragnok and asked, "When was the last time Sirius entered this vault?"
"Sirius never set foot in this vault. He always asked if a goblin could retrieve any gold for him. He always told me there were too many dark artifacts in this vault for him to every be comfortable. It remind him too much of the life he barely escaped."
"Now I understand why this place looks like it does. I didn't see any reminder of Sirius when I came in here. Ragnok, I have an idea. Can I request another vault be opened for me?"
"Of course Harry. There will be a small fee, however."
"That will be no problem. Can I also pay the Bank to remove everything from this vault which is not Galleons, Knut's, or Sickles from this vault and move it to the said new vault."
"But of course!" Ragnok took note with satisfaction that Harry offered to pay for the movement of the items where most wizards expected it would be free.
"Good. I will need a second key for that vault. I will probably be sending a person to sort through the items and have the darker ones melted down. Well I think I am finished here. No, wait there is one other thing I just remembered. Jeeves! Kreacher!"
Two elves appeared almost immediately. Harry knelt down to speak to Kreacher.
"Kreacher, I hold no malice toward you. You were only following instructions when you misled me and I now know who was giving he orders. Kreacher, I will have no more need for Grimmauld Place come the middle of this month. I will have the house emptied of its contents and then cleaned and sold. However I would like to give you a choice. You can choose to become a free elf in which case I will release you on the 14th. Your other option – and the one I hope you choose – is to join me at Potter Manor and you can join the rest of the elves as part of the staff there. This elf here is Jeeves and he is the Potter Head Elf. Before you make your decision I would like you to visit the manor. Jeeves can you please take Kreacher to Potter Manor and have him meet the other elves? Both of you can then join me at the Potter vault and Kreacher you can give me your decision."
With that the two elves popped away.
"Ragnok, when do you think I will have my new vault created and all the moves made?'
"Your new vault is already ready. The move of any non-monetary objects from this vault will be completed tomorrow."
"Ragnok, could I hire goblins to help me deal with number 12 Grimmauld Place? I need all the contents removed and the entire house cleaned and redecorated – something not as, - um - dark. All of the contents would have to me moved to my new vault. Oh, the property is under the fidelius set up by Headmaster Dumbledore how can I get rid of that?"
"Harry I can arrange that for you. As for the fidelius charm, it would have dissolved as soon as Mr. Black died. Shall I draw the fees for the move and renovations from this vault?"
"Yes please and thank you. If possible please schedule the work immediately."
"You are very welcome and good for business Harry. Shall we go to the Potter vault now?"
"Lead the way Ragnok." They got into the cart and continued on for a much shorter time.
"Ragnok, I may be here for an hour or so. You don't have to wait around. You must have more pressing issues to attend to other than accompanying me. I also think I may find some items from my parents here so I would appreciate the privacy."
"I understand Harry. I will return in an hour," with that he left.
Harry turned to the vault door and as he put his ring up to the door he whispered, "Mom, Sirius mentioned that all you guys found out about the prophecy was here. I hope he was right because I need to know for sure."
The door opened to a larger vault than the Black one was. There was gold everywhere. It was intoxicating and humbling at the same time. Harry had never had two knuts or even pence to rub together for most of his life and now he had more money than 50 Harrys could even deal with in a lifetime.
He noticed smaller doors in the other three walls. Opening the one n the left side, he found a room full of clothes most dating back hundreds of years. The door opposite the clothing room was full of armor and weapons such as swords and longbows.
He closed that door and went to the final one. As he opened it he blinked. He had just walked into a well-decorated flat. It looked like it belonged in the centre of London, not well under the centre of London. He explored and found a living room, a nice kitchen, full bath, a larger master bedroom with King sized bed and a den. The den had the most interesting items to Harry. There was a desk with another large envelope on it and what appeared to be a pensieve in the corner. There was also a whole wall of bookshelves.
He looked at the envelope and was shocked. It was addressed to him. No one had been in this vault for almost 15 years. And here was an envelope address to someone who was not even two years old when it was written and sealed.
He opened the envelope carefully and emptied the contents. There was a smaller envelope inside as well as 8 crystal vials with a silvery liquid inside. Harry knew exactly why the pensieve was there – these were memories. The last item appeared to be an old copy of Hogwarts – A History.
Harry opened the smaller envelope and sat down in the desk chair as he began to read the letter.
October 27, 1981
Dear Harry,
If you are reading this letter then your father and I are probably already dead. I just hope that we got a few more years with you, but the darkness is closing around us. Dumbledore ordered us to move out of the Manor and into the house in Godric's hollow. He wanted us to keep watch there and since no one knows we moved other than Albus, Peter and Sirius we should be safe there. It breaks my heart that we didn't include Remus but Albus and Peter think he may be the person leaking information to Voldemort about our location.
Harry I fear that we are being set up. Sirius and I have gathered information about a large conspiracy in the wizarding world. Sirius has all the documents we collected and I have these vials and the book.
Harry, there was a prophecy made 500 years ago which seems will come to fruition in your lifetime. Harry, you are very important to that prophecy.
Harry read through the rest of the letter. It contained the prophecy and Lily's interpretation of it. She had done her homework thoroughly through her position at the DoM and her role as an Unspeakable.
The letter even identified the people he needed to work with. "Oh Merlin, not his name again. How the hell did she expect me to work with him? The other two are fine but …, Crap! I have to just bite the bullet and do it. It's not like I have a lot of choice here."
The letter finished:
Harry, please be careful. I'm sorry I'm not in your life anymore. You brought Joy and happiness to both your father and myself this past year and a bit. We would not have traded this time for anything. Never doubt that we love you more than anything else in the world.
I have better get back now. I had Jeeves bring me to Gringotts without Albus and Peter knowing. I need to get back before they find out I'm gone.
Love, Mom
Harry had tears in his eyes. He thought, "Imagine sitting down and writing a letter to your toddler son knowing that if he ever reads it you'll be dead. She was incredibly brave."
Harry gathered himself together. He looked at his watch and figured we still had about half an hour before Ragnok returned. He put the letter and the vials back into the envelope. He'd get Jeeves to take the pensieve to Potter Manor. He picked up the old copy of Hogwarts – A History and said to himself, "I wonder why this old book is so important."
He sat down and opened it. The first thing he noticed was this particular edition was published in 1800. He started reading about the origins of Hogwarts and the Founders. As he read through the chapters he realized something was wrong. "Hang on a second," he thought, "this is quite different than the book Hermione has read a hundred times. But why… oh, now I see … that clever bastard!"
Harry put the book back in the envelope. More pieces of the puzzle had just fallen into place.
At this moment he heard a pop and the two elves had returned. Harry went over and knelt down to speak with Kreacher. "Well Kreacher, how was your visit."
"Master, Kreacher would very much like to serve at the Manor with the other elves."
"OK Kreacher. You may move to the manor on the fourteenth, however there are three things you must agree to."
"Will you be loyal to the combined houses of Potter and Black and their new Head?"
"Yes, Master."
"Will you be friendly to any one I may invite to the Manor regardless of their blood status?
"Of course, Master"
"And will you stop calling me 'Master' and call me Harry like I've instructed Jeeves?"
"As you wish, M… Harry."
"Thank you Kreacher. Please go back to Grimmauld Place now and prepare the house. All of the contents will be moved by the goblins here to a vault in Gringotts until I decide what to do with them. Kreacher, I know there are several trinkets you are fond of. You may keep them and bring them with you to the manor on the fourteenth on the condition that I can inspect them. I do not want dark artifacts in my house and if any of them are tainted with dark magic, I will either have the spells removed or I will have to have them destroyed. Do you agree to this?"
Kreacher was overjoyed, "Oh yes, Harry. Kreacher will go now and gather his belongings."
"Very well. Jeeves can you please also arrange for an elf from the manor to help Kreacher pack up Grimmauld Place? Oh, and Jeeves, can you take this pensieve back to the Manor for me as well?"
Jeeves nodded. Inside he was happy that his new master was just as kind to elves as his mother, their former mistress.
Once the elves went on their way, Harry took the large envelope and went back to the tunnel outside the vault. He got there just as Ragnok returned.
"I hope your visit was profitable Harry."
"Yes it was Ragnok, thank you. I think I'm just about finished my business for today. Have Mr. Lupin and Miss Granger returned to the bank yet?"
"Mr. Lupin has returned. Miss Granger is still in her vault surrounded by books."
Harry chuckled, "Can we go by there on the way back up? I'll see if I can get her to come out."
They boarded the cart and after a few minutes were several levels higher and outside Hermione's new vault. The door to the vault was still open and Harry could see her inside reading. He knocked. She didn't look up. He coughed. She didn't look up. Finally he said in the best imitation of McGonagall he could "Miss Granger, your transfiguration essay was below standard. I am very disappointed."
Hermione jumped up as if hit by an electric shock and looked around, "P-p-p-professor… HARRY!"
"Hey, it was the only way I could get your attention. May I come in to your vault?"
"Yes, of course."
Harry walked in. "Hermione, you can't expect to read all these books at once."
"But Harry, I've learned so much. I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts so we can start practicing some of these spells."
"I know Hermione, but you can come back again. I want to invite you and Remus to come check out the Manor with me and have dinner there. Come on." He reached out his hand to her. She took it and both reveled in the warmth of the other. He pulled her up and they were standing face-to-face. He looked into her eyes and knew then exactly what he wanted to do. Remembering Sirius' words, he leaned forward and kissed her.
When he pulled her up Hermione found herself looking into his eyes and tried to draw up the courage to follow Sirius' advice from the will. She was just about to say something when Harry kissed her. She was startled, shocked, and thrilled to bits.
The kiss seemed to last an eternity when in reality is was about 20 seconds. As they broke apart they both looked at each other and said, "I have something to tell you." They smiled. Harry once again reached for the courage and blurted out, "Ireallylikeyoualotandwouldliketobeyourboyfriend."
"Oh yeah very smooth Romeo," a little voice said inside his head, "good thing you kissed first."
Hermione took a moment to parse what he said. She looked at him and smiled. "Harry, Sirius in his will advised me to express my feelings to the person I love. He's right I really need to do that. Harry James Potter, I'm really like you and I'm pretty sure that I love you. I would love to be your girlfriend." They both smiled. This time Hermione leaned forward and kissed him. It was much better than the first.
They broke apart. Harry just had a big grin on his face. She smiled and said, "I'm looking forward to practicing that a lot more. You are right though we should be going. However I'm coming back tomorrow for some books."
They clasped hands and walked out of the vault that closed behind them. They got into the cart with Ragnok and rode back to the surface smiling.
When they got back to the bank, Remus was waiting for them. He saw their hands and smiled. "Well, it's about time."
Harry rolled his eyes, "Moony was it that obvious?"
"Yes it was pup. We could all see you had it bad for each other. A few of us even had a pool going. I think Tonks is several galleons richer."
Harry glared at him.
"Hey don't get mad at me. Sirius set it up."
Harry shook his head and sighed. He looked back at Moony, "Would you like to join us at the Manor for a tour and some dinner?"
"I would love to. Thanks, Harry"
Harry turned to Ragnok, "Ragnok, thank you for your services today to both the Black and Potter families. May I contact you in the next week? I want to prepare for the reading of the rest of Sirius' will on the fourteenth and I may also have need of some other services."
"Of course Harry, I am always willing to help such old and esteemed clients. I would like to suggest that we appoint an account manager to handle your day to day affairs."
"That is an excellent idea Ragnok. May I request Griphook? He was the first goblin I ever met and he treated me with respect even though I was only 11."
"I was going to suggest him. Griphook!"
The other goblin appeared. "Yes Director."
"Harry has asked that you be assigned as his account Manager for the Black and Potter accounts"
Griphook was floored. This was a huge promotion to handle not just one but two old family accounts. He turned to Harry, "Mr. Potter, I am honoured by your request and will make it my goal to maximize the profitability of your investments."
"Griphook, it is my pleasure. I will be contacting you in the next week to go over my finances and investments."
They said goodbye to the Goblins and Harry summoned Jeeves. "Jeeves, how do I get to the Manor?"
"Harry, the power is in your ring. It is like a portkey. Touch the stone with your finger and say 'Take me home' anyone touching you at the time will be transported as well."
"Thank you Jeeves." He held out his arm to Hermione, "Milady?" She put her hand on his shoulder.
Remus said, "Harry I can apparate there now that I know where it is again. I'll see you there shortly.
Harry touched his ring and with a happy voice said "Take me home."
With a soft pop they were gone.