The Tonks had a beautiful very muggle bungalow style looking house on some vast land, and was reminded Ted was a muggle born. Tonks confirmed the house had belonged to her muggle grandparents; her grandfather had died when her dad was in school and his mum moved to London. The house had some incredible wards on the property which have made them quite safe if Harry was actually staying with them. But though he was shown Tonks' old bedroom and saw some of his things would be kept there for show, he would not be staying. Andromeda was busy as a healer and her husband with the ministry where he worked, and they had known Harry would be better with the Malfoys or they would have taken him in. Harry was given a portkey which would transport him here if ever he needed to show up when Albus decided to make a surprise visit which they were sure he would.
Harry was informed he would be staying at least two days to make it look good and Andromeda would take him to London the next day. It had not gone unnoticed Harry's clothes were horrible hand me downs. Lucius was going to be paying for the new wardrobe but Andromeda would be taking Harry to the tailor. Though Harry hated accepting charity and he argued he did not need a new wardrobe, it fell on deaf ears. The promise he would be taken to the hospital to see Remus held his tongue. He wanted to see his godfather who he was so worried about, he knew it had only been a few days but after losing Sirius as he had, he needed this.
In the morning he felt a bit odd for the fact he had never even met the couple hit home. They were really nice though and other then being a bit of a neat freak, Andromeda was quite warm and Harry had no doubt that Tonks had got her amazing sense of humour and big heart from Ted. He knew he would not be staying with the couple other then for show but he found himself happy to have a chance to get to know them. Andromeda could tell him so many stories about his godfather.
Harry was feeling like a doll later that morning in the tailor when Tonks showed up. "I had not thought I would see you today."
Tonks shared a look with her mother. "Harry has been summoned with you to the bank, some business the goblins need Harry to see to."
Though the final decision went to Andromeda, the goblins still wanted to meet with the young future Lord, he could not claim his titles till he was seventeen. The issue of the fact that the headmaster had been taking money from him had been handled already. They were not sure what else could be up but they took Harry when he was done with the tailors to the bank, promising this would not stop their word to take him to see Remus. If it took too long before visiting hours were over, they were sure Lucius or Severus would take him the next day.
Harry was surprised when he found all the Weasleys even Ginny and Ron, except the twins, waiting for him in the room. He wondered what they were doing there and wondered if they had perhaps had been brought by Albus to try and convince him to hand over the money.
The goblin looked at Harry as he sat. "Harrison Potter-Black I understand. I have asked you to come to sort out the issue of a repayment of your money."
Molly looked at Harry. "Honestly Harry we did not know the money came from you. Our house was about to be taken and Albus loaned us the money to keep it."
Harry looked down at the forms and realized the couple were about to lose the Burrow. It seemed the bank had tracked the fact that a good chunk of the money that Harry had stolen from him, had been given to the couple. He remembered hearing them talk, and he had known they had been paid by Albus to take care of him but some how he had never registered the fact that the money they were paid with had been his. He knew Albus stole from him, but he had not put it together. He was reminded he had been told by Severus and Lucius for safety's sake he could not allow them to know the truth just yet.
The goblin handed him the deed to the house. "It has been signed over to you and all their wages will be garnished until you have been paid back all the money."
Ron looked at Harry. "Harry you know we are innocent in this. You have offered us help before. You know dad can't afford to lose even more money."
There had been a time when Ron was right and Harry would have offered them the money they had stolen from him. There was a time he had loved these people and thought that they had loved him. But their betrayal hurt him worse then the headmaster ever could have. And it took everything in him to remember his promise.
Andromeda saw him struggling. "I suggest no garnishing. Harry will keep the deed and the family can pay him a sizable rent, to start paying off the debt."
Molly looked ready to protest but Arthur quieted her and the boys. "That seems fair. Please know Harry we are appalled that the money was taken from you."
He allowed himself to be taken into their arms and he wondered what excuse the headmaster would try to make. He obviously knew when the bank went after the money that Harry would find out. He assumed the headmaster would just claim he had used the money only to help the order, not to pay off the Weasleys and his relatives, and that he had every intention of paying him back every thing he had touched. Or perhaps he would claim Sirius had given him permission.
Molly hugged him. "Thank you for understanding, you know you are our son, we love you. Now we expect a visit from you some time soon."
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Harry was shaking when he left the bank or he could not believe the Weasleys and how thick they had laid it on. He knew what a fool he had been in the past and he could not believe they actually thought he believed their little story. Well he guessed he could, for he believed them for years, and if Severus had not revealed the truth to him in the infirmary, he would have likely believed them still. Harry had always thought that the family was far too honest to ever betray someone. He had noticed that the twins were not with them and he once again found himself wondering if they were a part in this, but held to the hope they were not.
It seemed though Albus was not going to wait long to answer's Harry's question how he would explain what he was doing with the money. He knew it would be even harder then with the Weasleys to pretend he believed the man but he would do his best.
Albus hugged him. "I am glad to see you my boy. I understand you were at the bank with Molly and Arthur. I know this must have been a shock to you my boy."
Harry nodded. "I understand though. I mean if I had known they would lose their house, I would have offered the money myself. I don't want them to be evicted."
Actually part of Harry wanted to kick them out on the street on their asses but for now he couldn't. But Albus of course smiled and assured the boy that he had known that, and had known James and Lily whose money he had used would have approved as well. Lily was such a loving woman and would not have wanted a family to be out on the streets, especially one who had cared for Harry. Of course Harry did not mention he knew the couple's house had been paid of by Albus when Harry was ten, long before the couple had even met Harry.
Albus sighed. "Harry this was a misunderstanding with the bank. Your parents and Sirius were always happy to fund the order. I hope you know I never stole."
Harry put on the most sincere fake smile he could. "Of course sir. I know my parents and godfather were so dedicated to the cause. And I trust you."
The man visibly relaxed and assured Harry that now the war was over and he no longer had to run the order, all the money would be repaid to Harry. He had only Harry and of course the rest of the world's best interests at heart and if he had more money of his own he would have funded the order himself. But being a lowly professor and then headmaster, he lived a far more humble life then he would have if he had gone into politics or something.
When he was gone Andromeda reminded him of his godfather and offered to take Harry if he wanted, to see the twins. She knew he had been thinking about them since they were not at the bank. She had a feeling from her daughter that the twins would not disappoint Harry but she knew she needed to hear it from them himself.
Tonks had joined them and she whispered. "I know it was hard for you to do, but you won't always have to pretend. You will get them back one day I promise."