Chapter 7: James & Lily's Will
As the image of Sirius faded, the torches relit and everyone looked around. There were many teary ears and a number of blank faces.
"This concludes the reading of Mr. Black's will; if there is anything I can do, please feel free to contact me." With that Mr. Douglas lowered his wards and walked out of the room. Griphook then stood and moved to the head of the table where Mr. Douglas had been standing
"As per Mr. Black's will we have moved the proper galleons and possessions to the proper vaults. Anyone who did not have a vault must sign some paperwork; these people will be Mr. Ronald Weasley, Miss Ginevra Weasley, Miss Hermione Granger, and Mr. Remus Lupin for your Wolfsbane account and your home maintenance account." Griphook passed out the proper documentation to the correct parties who quickly reviewed them and signed them. Gringotts considered 15 years old to be the legal age for a witch or wizard to own their account.
After receiving and verifying all the paperwork was in order Griphook then passed out the new keys. "Mrs. Tonks and Miss Tonks, I have here your paperwork for your vaults. I just need your signatures on these documents as well as three drops of blood from of you. This bonds you to your personal vaults, dowry vaults, and access to all Black Holdings except for the main family vaults.
As per Black Family decree when the account was created, any female child who is born to a member of the Black Family shall be given a dowry vault and a personal vault. Each account shall start with 100,000 galleons and grow by 10,000 galleons a year until they marry. Mrs. Tonks, your dowry and personal vaults now contain 5,600,000 galleons each. As per Black Family decree, Mr. Tonks is to receive the dowry vault upon your marriage. Since you are already married, would you both like to add contents of these two vaults your existing vault?"
"Yes please Master Griphook and thank you for you efforts."
"Miss Tonks, your dowry and personal vaults now contain 2,700,000 galleons. If you wish, I can have this balance transferred to your existing vault." Dora merely nodded "As per Black Family decree, your dowry vault will remain off limits until your marriage."
After the paperwork was signed Griphook handed Andi and Dora a current balance of their vaults.
"Mr. Potter, we need to discuss the Black Family Estate along with a few more…sensitive matters. I would to conclude all our business to day if that is alright?"
Harry thought for a moment, I would like to get everything settled, and maybe I can get the Hogwarts' matters taken care of.
"Maser Griphook now would be a great time." Harry then turned to remaining people in the room,
"Sorry everyone, there are few things I need to discuss with Griphook here. Professor Snape, could you please escort everyone back to Hogwarts except for the Headmaster, Remus, and Professor McGonagall please?" Snape rose and nodded his head and moved towards the door.
Griphook spoke up quickly "Excuse me, but I do need Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Weasley and Miss Ginevra Weasley to remain as well. Miss Weasley is listed in some of the paperwork I have to discuss with Mr. Potter and I believe that her parents should remain here." Harry looked shocked at this development but nodded, "I have no problems with them remaining, if they have no problems with staying."
The three Weasleys, Harry, Albus, Minerva, Remus, and Griphook remained seated as everyone else left the room "Excellent, now to business; Mr. Potter, or would you like to referred as Lord Gryffindor, or High Lord of Hogwarts?"
"Mr. Potter is fine."
"Excellent, Mr. Potter, we currently have on file the will of a Mr. James and Lily Potter. It was made in September of 1981 and was never heard because of the main beneficiary, yourself, was not available. When we contacted the Ministry of Magic, we were told that all Magical contact to you was restricted until you turned 11 years old. Unfortunately this information was buried under enormous paperwork until recently." Harry was livid; someone else was trying to run his life. If it had been Dumbledore… well Hogwarts would need a new Headmaster then.
"Who placed the restriction? If it is anyone in this room, I recommend that you let them leave before I do permanent damage to them." Albus understood the threat quite clearly and was afraid of what Harry might do. Just as Albus was about reassure Harry that he had nothing to do with it, Griphook beat him to the punch.
"Mr. Potter, the only thing the Headmaster did was place the wards around the house that you have lived in to keep you safe. This order was placed by Junior Undersecretary Cornelius Oswald Fudge, when he became Minister he reposted these orders." Everyone in the room was pissed off. Fudge has isolated Harry from his rightful inheritance, which was a low blow even for him.
"Master Griphook," Dumbledore spoke, with a deathly quiet voice, "Are you telling me that Lily and James Potter's will has never been heard?" Griphook looked somewhat afraid. The magic pouring off of him was a site to see.
"That is correct sir, now at this time I would like to display their last will." With a simple nod from Harry and Albus, Griphook placed the crystal in the center of the table and it began to play. Two forms, a man who looked almost identical to Harry and woman who looked like Ginny, rose from the crystal and began to speak:
We, Lily Marie Evans-Potter and James Harold Potter, being of sound mind and judgment hereby make this, our last will and testament. All previous wills are null in void.
Lily started the will first:
First off, we name Sirius Orion Black, Harry's godfather, his guardian. If Sirius is incapacitated we wish for the following people to care for him in this order: Remus Lupin, Frank and Alice Longbottom, Arthur and Molly Weasley, Madam Amelia Susan Bones, Minerva McGonagall, or Albus Dumbledore.
If we are dead, then Peter betrayed us. We had Peter be our secret keeper when we cast the Fidelius Charm on our home in Godric's Hollow, Sirius was a decoy; if he has done something rash, please send a copy of this will to the Ministry of Magic, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, attention Alastor Moody or Amelia Bones.
Albus, we are sorry we did not trust you to be secret keeper for us. I hoped that we could find the leak and save Harry.
At this point James wrapped his arms around his wife's body and spoke:
To our son Harry James Potter, we leave you everything we have. This includes Lionfire Hall, Godric's Hollow, shares in the Nimbus Broom Company and a lot of other things. Griphook, who is our estate manager, has a complete list of assets.
Harry you are the last remaining Potter. Because of this I name you Head of the House of Potter. I also name your magical guardian as steward until your turn age 15. This means that they will handle all of your affairs until you turn 15.
So what does it mean to be the Head of the House of Potter? Well it's a lot of work and responsibility. You are now considered an adult. Yes that means no more underage restrictions on magic. Next, all marriages involving members of the family must be approved by you. This isn't a problem since you are the only Potter left. You must also approve the bonding of any house elves to the house of Potter. They are free to wear clothes and you are to treat them with dignity and respect or else I'll haunt you till your dying day.
Where was I? oh yes, you also have the power to disband marriages, declare contracts null in void, make someone a member and disown a member of the House of Potter. You also have a seat on the Wizengamot. Finally as the head of family, you control all wards and properties owned by the House of Potter.
Harry reached out and pulled Ginny into his lap. He breathed in the scent of her hair and visibly relaxed. He then thought about what Fudge had robbed him of and how he was going to make him pay for his actions.
To Minerva and Albus Dumbledore; I just want to say that I love you both very much. I as so happy when my parents named you my godparents; please do me a favor and keep an eye on Harry, with Lily's brains and my Quidditch skills he should be a hand full.
To Sirius and Remus we leave you custody of Harry. Please remember our son and make sure he never forgets us.
At this point Lily spoke up again and looked directly at her son.
Harry, I know about the prophecy concerning you and Voldemort. Albus told us soon after it was made. Don't let it get you down. I want you to train hard but enjoy life.
Shortly before we went into hiding I had a vision. It was about your soulmate Harry. She would be the seventh child born to a family of men and she would be the first female in seven generations. After talking with Alice Longbottom, who has a son your age, I believe that this girl is Arthur and Molly's daughter Ginevra. Take time to get to know her. There is a book in the family library that explains about magical bonds, read it and do what it says.
To Molly and Arthur, you should have received the letter I sent to you, if not see our estate manager, he has a copy. You are some of the best wizards we have ever met and I hope your family remains happy and healthy for many years to come.
James then took over the will again at this point, even though everyone could see and hear Lily sobbing quietly.
So Lily leaves me divide up the estate, typical. She does the emotional stuff and I have to do the manual labor. Ok here it goes: to Albus Dumbledore, we leave you copies of the books that are in the Potter Family Library. Albus, please feel free to copy any of the books your want for your other professors since they include many different fields.
To Minerva McGonagall, our Head of House and inspiration for becoming Animagi, we also leave you copies of the books that are in the Potter Family Library. Please note that while Albus' are magical duplicates, yours are real copies. Lily and I also leave you The Marauder's Guide to Becoming An Animagus and The Marauder's Guide to Hogwarts: Everything You Need to Know-From the Astronomy Tower to the Dungeons. Ask Sirius or Remus about them I promise you you'll love the,
Lily then stepped back to the forefront and looked at Ginny.
Ginevra, if Harry is anything like his father then you need to hit him up side the head at least 10 times a day. And this is before you start dating, let alone marriage. If something has happened and Harry has turned 15 before you started dating, the bond will activate all by itself. When it does…well read the book James told Harry about quickly then.