Author's Note: Don't forget to review!
Little Gem
Harry's next stop was Gringotts, again. He had headed to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions but halfway there he'd realized he had no idea how much clothing cost. So Harry turned around and made a beeline for the bank. He really wanted one of those gold cards Griphook had told him about.
The same teller was at his desk counting what looked to be large sapphires. Harry made his was over and waited until the goblin had finished measuring the jewel he had in his hand. "Yes, Mr. Potter? Is there a problem?"
"Um, no sir. I was wondering if I could talk to Longfang?" The Goblin laughed heartily as did several others within earshot.
Seeing Harry affronted expression the Goblin's laughter died. "It is not every day that a wizard calls a goblin sir, my apologies Mr. Potter. I'll send Snarlclaw to find Longfang." As soon as the Goblin named Snarlclaw heard his name he snapped to attention and disappeared behind a heavy wooden door.
The Goblin appeared content to go back to examining sapphires so Harry watched the others. One Goblin was stamping pieces of parchment and one behind him was carting away large black bags over flowing with gold.
"Ah Mr. Potter, it's nice to finally meet you."
Harry turned back around and found a new Goblin beside him. The difference between Longfang and Snarlclaw was pronounced but the difference between Longfang and Griphook was like night and day. Griphook had been dressed in what looked like a uniform for teller assistants by what Harry could gather whereas Longfang was dressed in expensive fabrics and each of his fat fingers had a different ring with a different gem set in different metals.
"Longfang? I was hoping we could go over my inheritance."
"Of course, follow me Mr. Potter," the goblin turned abruptly and went through the door Snarlclaw had gone through earlier. Not knowing what to do, Harry followed his account manager.
"Have you been the Potter Account Manager for a long time?" Harry asked curiously as they walked.
"About five years ago Haggleblade died and I was appointed Potter manager by your magical guardian." Longfang replied.
The hallway he entered was long and wide with doors on either side. Some held names like Abbot, Bones, and Bulstrode. Others held titles like Senior Executive and Weaponry. Harry followed his fat goblin manager to the door with the label Potter. Inside there were huge metal weapons on the walls of all kinds from maces to spears and even swords. There was a large rug on the floor and a huge desk next to a fireplace. Harry sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk.
"My magical guardian?"
"Albus Dumbledore, he is charged with looking after you in the magical world." Harry nearly gaped at the goblin. The man who had left him with magic hating muggles was his guardian? He was not happy about that.
Longfang, oblivious to Harry's turmoil, sat behind his desk and pulled open a drawer. "Before we start I need to confirm you are Harry Potter, if you let three drops of blood fall on this parchment." The goblin slid a piece of parchment forward along with a rather wicked looking knife. Harry – no stranger to pain – hardly flinched as he cut his finger and let the drops of blood fall. Much to his surprise as soon as the third drop was absorbed into the parchment the cut on his finger sealed.
"Wicked," Harry whispered and Longfang smirked as he looked at the parchment.
"Alright," the goblin pulled out a rather thick looking folder. "What do you want to cover first; Investments, Vaults, Property, or Wizengamot seats?"
Harry considered his options; he didn't know much about investing or about the magical world so he should probably leave those alone until later. He was interested in what a Wizengamot was but – like with investments – he should probably hold off on them. "Vaults and Properties for now please."
"Well this sheet here," Longfang pushed a sheet of parchment at Harry, "shows all vaults and their monetary value."
Harry looked down at the parchment. He owned the Potter family vault like Griphook had said and a vault labelled 'Donations & Bequeaths'. Then there was his trust vault which had stipulations written under it. Harry was to receive a hundred galleons a month until he turned eleven upon which a sum of thirty thousand galleons were to be start being deposited from the family vault to pay for Hogwarts' tuition and any expenses he may have. Though what caught Harry's eye was that he was that he was supposed to have been receiving bank statements over his trust vault every month as explicitly stated by both whoever had set up his trust and Gringotts' policy on trusts.
Harry had never once received a statement. He had never known about this fortune of his.
"Why have I never received a bank statement for my trust?" Harry asked Longfang.
"Your guardian requested all statements be directed to him." This time Harry did gape…and then he scowled.
"I want that to stop, I want all statements sent directly to me as stated in in the stipulations of the vault." Longfang pulled another piece of parchment that, after a cursory read through was a form for requesting statements, Harry signed his name shakily with the odd feather that Longfang called a quill.
"What is the Donations and Bequeaths vault? Who is donating to it?"
Longfang pulled out another long and rolled up parchment and cleared his throat. "That vault was set up by your guardian to house all the donations and bequeaths to the Boy-Who-Lived after the downfall of the Dark Lord Voldemort by the people. No entry restrictions apply."
"What about properties?" It felt odd as the words slipped out of his mouth. Properties…just this morning he didn't even own clothes and now he had properties, as in more than one.
"You have inherited a cottage in Godric's Hollow that was severely damaged in your defeat of Voldemort, Potter manor which is unplottable, a chateau near Sete, France, and a manor in Moscow, Russia." Disbelief shot through Harry like lightning. France? Russia? An unplottable house?
"I-is that considered a lot?" The question slipped out before he could stop it and the goblin laughed heartily.
"Hardly. Potter is an Ancient and Noble house, it has been around for centuries. Compared to other Ancient and Noble houses this is modest." Harry nodded still mystified.
"Are there any – I mean the houses they're abandoned?"
Longfang shook his head, "I'm afraid I don't know if any of the house elves are still alive."
"What's a house elf?" Harry asked.
"They are creatures that do wizards bidding. They bond with wizards and find joy in serving them. You should try calling the Potter elves and see if any are still alive." Harry handed the parchment back to Longfang.
"How do I call them?"
"Just order all Potter elves to present themselves for inspection that generally makes them happy."
Harry sucked in a shallow breath and - feeling completely ridiculous - said, "Er- All Potter house elves are to present themselves for inspection."
Much to Harry and Longfang's surprise two twin cracks resounded throughout the room. The two creatures, house elves, had large eyes the size of tennis balls and large floppy ears. Their skinny bodies were dressed in clean and what looked like ironed pillow cases with a crest on the right breast. The one on the left immediately burst into loud sobs and fell to the floor.
"Oh it's master! Milly has her young master!" The elf sobbed harder and proceeded to hug Harry's legs that were hanging off the chair not quite touching the floor.
"Er – Are you alright?" Harry asked the small elf who had started trembling violently.
"Milly has master! Milly was so upset – being ordered away from her master! Muggles –" the elf shuddered, "Muggles raised master and Milly couldn't help! Milly will never leave master, Milly promises!"
"Jordey be tellin' Milly new master would call." The second elf sounded thoroughly annoyed with Milly and Harry couldn't help but crack a smile. The male elf, Jordey, seemed very formal and his posture was ramrod straight. Jordey didn't move from his spot but he did continue to talk, "Master, Jordey is bein happy to see you. We's is the last two Potter elves but we's be good elves, we have kept the manor ready for you."
Harry could only stare at the two elves while his brain tried to catch up. Finally he asked, "Who ordered you to stay away?"
"Master James made Jordey prepare manor for Mistress Lily." Jordey answered. "Jordey was Master James' personal elf."
Though Milly was still sobbing she had calmed marginally and let go of Harry's legs, "Milly be master's elf." Harry guessed she was talking about him and smiled at her. "Milly was made to leave master because master went to live with muggles."
"Um, well it's nice to meet you guys." Jordey bowed deeply while Milly hiccupped and moved towards Harry as if she couldn't stand to be away.
"Is master pleased?" Jordey asked quieter than before as if he were scared.
"Pleased?"
"Master asked to inspect his elves." Jordey now looked even more nervous.
"Oh, yeah you guys are great." Jordey relaxed at this, his ramrod straight posture became less rigid and he timidly stepped closer.
"Mr. Potter why don't you set the elves some tasks so that we can finish up our business." Lonfang looked highly amused at Harry's floundering.
"Great idea," Harry jumped at the offer. "Um, you guys say you've kept Potter manor clean? Why don't you set me up a room and uh – make some lunch? I'm starved."
Immediately Jordey was gone but Milly stayed behind, "W-what colors does master be liking? Is master not like any food?" It looked like it almost pained her to ask these questions, as if it was horrible for her not to know.
"I like greens, and blues, black, and silvers, oh dark purple is good too." Harry tried to think about colors but didn't really know if he disliked colors. "I don't know if I have a particular favorite food – just anything warm is fine, I guess."
That answer seemed to only make the small elf even more upset, "Milly be making master food so master can taste and choose." Before she disappeared Milly looked at Harry with panicked eyes, "Milly is bein a call away master, if master needs anything just call Milly."
"I promise," Harry replied and that seemed to ease Milly as she too disappeared.
"That was," Harry paused and looked to Longfang, "interesting."
Elves, Harry had elf servants, houses, and money. This whole day went from magnificent to bizarre in record time. Though Harry wouldn't complain; this meant Harry never had to return to Private Drive and for that Harry was willing to accept almost anything the magical world threw at him.
Longfang snorted loudly, "Elves can be rambunctious little devils, be sure you have a firm hand with them. And don't ever give them clothes, that's how you get rid of elves – fire them I suppose."
Harry nodded trying to soak it all in, "I suppose my next stop is Flourish and Blotts, too much to learn."
"Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Harry grinned widely, "I want one of those gold cards, I'd very much like to get new clothes and books and a card would be the easiest method of payment."
What Harry had been expecting Longfang to pull out of his desk was a card similar to muggle credit cards, but while the gold card was similar in size, shape, and thickness; the card was solid metal with a large G embossed on the front.
"Now," Longfang looked at Harry seriously and with each syllable shook the card in his hand, "this is a very simple process but Gringotts charges an annual fee of a hundred galleons for it, are you sure?"
There was enough gold in that vault that Harry was quite sure that a hundred galleons – even over a span of several years – wouldn't make a difference. "Yes," Harry said excitedly.
"Good then like you did with the parchment," the goblin pushed the dagger back across the desk, "three drops in the middle of the card."
When Harry had finished the card glowed and flashed a violent purple light. Harry peered at the card and found the same emblem that had been on the elves' breasts – A large black 'P' some kind of animal Harry had never seen before on each side and the words 'Amicti Sapientia' written on a banner across the bottom.
"Do you know what it means?" Harry asked the Goblin.
"Cloaked in wisdom I believe, quite fitting when paired with Sphinxes." Longfang replied. Harry continued to stare at the coat of arms until his eyes roamed to the bottom of the card and he found his name beautifully embossed, Harry James Potter. His middle name was James, he hadn't known that.
"Thank you Longfang," Harry said tearing his eyes away from the card in his hands.
The Goblin stood and opened the door for Harry, "Any time Mr. Potter, may you always prosper."
Harry looked at the goblin and got the distinct impression he was supposed to respond in kind, "Er – may your gold always flow?"
Longfang smiled for the first time, a nasty and cruel smile, and Harry saw why his name was Longfang – the goblins teeth were the size of his fingers and ended in sharp points. With that Harry turned and made his way back into the main floor of Gringotts and out into Diagon Alley.
This time nothing stopped Harry as he made a beeline for Madam Malkin's. There were a few older witches browsing bolts of material along the far wall but there was only one other child that looked to be Harry's age. She was standing on a small round platform as a tape measure took her measurements. The girl had chocolate brown curly hair that fell to her collar bone and large blue eyes that seemed glazed over in boredom.
"Hogwarts robes dearie?" An older witch pulled Harry's attention away and Harry nodded. "Right this way, up on the platform."
Harry was made to stand next to the girl who was now eyeing him in interest and a tape measure began to measure every part of him. "Hello," the girl next to Harry said as her head cocked to the side.
"Hey," Harry replied as he watched the tape measure his fingers.
"Are you a muggleborn?" She asked as she raised an arm for her tape measure.
"Er – my parents were magical," Harry had never heard of a muggleborn but it wasn't hard to guess what the word meant.
"But you were raised in the muggle world?" The girl persisted.
"Yeah, didn't know magic existed before today." The girl looked pleased at her deduction.
"Do you know which house you want to be in at Hogwarts?" The girl asked but immediately rushed into another question before Harry could answer, "Do you think Hufflepuff would be awful? My cousin says that it's a shame to be sorted in Hufflepuff but I met one earlier while I was getting my wand – Cedric Diggory, do you know him? – he was really very kind and patient. It took me almost a half hour before I found my wand."
Harry had no idea what a Hufflepuff was nor could he even begin to guess. "No I don't know him."
"Well he was very patient even though he was only there for wand polish. Father says the world needs more kind people so does he really mean the world needs more Hufflepuffs? Well, I can't afford to be kind like a Hufflepuff. One day I'll take over grandfather's store and I'll need to be shrewd and ruthless." Harry watched in amusement as the girl next to him unloaded on him as if these thoughts had been eating at her while she had been standing there alone.
Then she smiled brightly as her tape measure settled onto a small step stool near her.
"Well I'm all done; I'll see you on the train!" With that the girl rushed to the counter where a blonde witch with a pointed hat and pink robes was talking with Madam Malkin.
After a few more minutes Madam Malkin came over only seconds after his tape measure had settled dormant on the step stool. "You'll be needing one set of robes, one hat, and a nametag pack for Hogwarts will you be wanting anything else?"
Harry nodded, "I don't have anything aside from muggle clothing."
Madam Malkin's eyes lit up and she took Harry's hand, dragging him away from the platform and over to the walls which held all sorts of robes, hats, gloves, boots, and even underwear. "You just pick out what you like and I can tailor them quicker than a snitch." With that she left Harry with a promise that if he needed any help she'd be at the counter.
So Harry browsed, unsure of himself but eager to get out of muggle clothes. There were clothes of all kinds – silk, cotton, Acromantula silk, whopperwear, self-ironing, self-repairing, and even clothes that promised to grow up to two inches. Harry grabbed self-repairing clothes; both long sleeved and short in a myriad of colors, black pants that would grow a couple inches, boxers with curious golden balls with wings flying around and snakes around the waistband.
Harry made several trips to the counter where Madam Malkin was holding all of his selections when they got too heavy to carry and then continued shopping. He picked out sneakers and boots, charmed leather gloves to keep his hands warm, and several cloaks – heavy for winter, light with a deep hood, a travelling cloak, and a cloak that was spelled to be resistant to most potion stains.
By the time Harry was ready to pay Madam Malkin was smiling amusedly as she finished up tailoring the clothes to Harry's measurements. "Well it's a shiny knut," the shop owner warned, "two hundred and thirty-three galleons."
"How am I not surprised?" she mumbled affectionately as Harry pulled out his Gringotts card. Quickly, without even looking at the card, she waved it over the register and when the card flashed green she handed it back.
"Would you like me to shrink these down for you?" Madam Malkin asked as soon as she finished up bagging up the clothes.
"No that's okay I'll have a house elf pick them up," Harry replied as he put his card back in his large pockets. Madam Malkin nodded and made her way to help another witch along the far wall with a quick, "Have a good day and please come back whenever you need."
"Milly," Harry said quietly and only a second later Milly appeared with a large smile.
"Master is callin' Milly!" She exclaimed happily as she awaited orders.
"I need you to take these back to the manor, and I might call on you a few more times for similar trips okay?" Milly nodded excitedly, flopping her big ears, and snapped her fingers. The huge stack of shopping bags disappeared and Harry grinned. Magic was amazing.
"Milly be putting Master's things in masters room," with that Milly disappeared and Harry was left to the rest of his shopping.
Hours seemed to fly by as Harry explored the Alley, picking up various instruments and ingredients. He had collected a three compartment trunk, vials, scales, a telescope, potions ingredients, cauldrons – one pewter size two and one self-stirring – and now all that was left was his books and maybe an animal. Though Harry wasn't sure he wanted a cat, he had no need for an owl, and a toad did not sound like a great pet.
Once Milly had taken his supplies back to the manor Harry found his way to Flourish and Blotts and ducked inside. The book shop was insanely crowded and shop clerks were running every which way. Harry ducked into the background and tuned out the noise. He let his eyes scan over shelves and anything that looked remotely informative for novices he picked up and put in the large basket that had been charmed to weigh nothing. First Harry grabbed his required texts from a large table with a sign that read, 'Hogwarts First Year Bundle.' Then Harry was off picking books that caught his eye. He grabbed books on house elves, Potions, the Ministry of Magic, hexes, history, Gringotts, St. Mungos, and Hogwarts.
By the time Harry made his way to the checkout line his basket was overflowing and a red haired wizard was smiling at him in amusement. "Ravenclaw?" He asked, though Harry had no idea what he was talking about. Luckily the person in front of the wizard finished up and it was his turn to check out.
Harry ended up spending almost a hundred galleons on books and he left the shop with a large smile and an exasperated clerk. Once again Milly made quick work of taking the books to the manor with a large smile of her own. Now all that was left was a pet. Harry did want one, the idea appealed to him, but the options did not. After Mrs. Figg, cats were not as cute as they used to be. But Harry did want to see the Menagerie, to see if there were magical pets he had never seen before.
The Magical Menagerie was a filled with the pungent aroma of animals and their noises. The shop clerk was checking out a witch and her son who was holding a large cage that held a brown owl. Harry made his way around the shop slowly, looking at all the animals. There were poisonous orange snails, black rats with glossy coats, giant tortoises with jewels encrusted in their shells, owls of all colors, little balls of fluff called Puffskeins, rabbits that transformed, and rats that used their tails to jump. Then Harry made his way to the Reptile section and his happy smile grew.
Inside glass cages were all sorts of snakes that ranged from small to large, amphibious, and even one with a emerald embedded in his head. Harry listened to their quiet hissing as he roamed the small area. Lizards of all shapes, sizes, and colors were darting around large cages and Harry watched a blue one run up the wall in amusement. Nothing in particular caught his eye until he saw an egg on a pedestal. Harry moved closer and read the little card below it: 'Skye Dragon – 30 galleons, see owner for packaging'.
"That there is a right rare creature," a gruff voice said from behind Harry and he spun around. "Not often you find a wizard dumb enough to collect an egg from that beast. Poor fella is still in St. Mungos."
"You sell dragons?" Harry asked incredulously.
The shop owner laughed heartily and slapped Harry's shoulder, sending him forward a few steps. "Course not; Ministry'd be down my throat 'fore I could blink. This here's a Skye Dragon, the largest monitor lizard in the world. It's like 'em muggle lizards Komodo Dragons, but this one here is from the Isle of Skye up in Scotland."
Harry's interest was immediately piqued, "What's a Skye Dragon like?"
"Well," the shop keeper rubbed his chin, "this one here's female so she'll be a bit smaller than her male counterparts. I reckon with a good owner she'll grow to be at least eight foot and be somewhere around a hundred 'n eighty pounds."
Harry whistled in amazement, "That's huge!"
The shopkeeper laughed again, "Aye, they are vicious and protective and they grow to monsterously big. But they grow slow, a Skye Dragon has a life span of close to a hundred and fifty years easily and they don't grow to full length for at least fifteen years. I reckon if you bought this one – and took good care of it mind you – by the time you graduate Hogwarts she'd be about four and half, maybe five feet."
Harry looked at the cream colored egg that was spotted with flecks of black. A Skye Dragon sounded fascinating and he desperately wanted it. But what about Hogwarts? Would they let a Skye Dragon be his pet? It was certainly no toad. "Will Hogwarts allow a Skye Dragon?" Harry asked the shop keep.
"Difficult to say." The man answered, "Skye Dragons are highly venomous but generally mild tempered. They are a force to be reckoned with – their hide is highly resistant to spells – and in the wild they're known wizard killers. But in captivity they're generally peaceful.
"But Dumbledore's an understanding fella, has himself a beautiful Phoenix and just last year Gemma Farley bought one of my Egyptian Vipers and hasn't had no trouble. In fact she wrote me just the other day sayin' she needed a larger cage."
That made up Harry's mind, "Set me up with what I'll need then."
The shop keeper bustled about. He produced a large cage that was charmed to clean itself, a huge box of dried water buffalo jerky treats, and a water bowl. "This here is the basics but I warn ya now boy, that girl there is meant fer more 'an a cage. Skye Dragons meant to roam free."
Harry nodded and the shop keeper tossed a giant book on the pile. All together it cost Harry a healthy chunk of what was in his money pouch but his smile only grew as the shop keep lead him back towards the egg.
"Alright, 'is one hasn't hatched so yer in luck. Skye Dragon's bond with wizards magic while they're in the shell. So once you touch it keep it close till it hatches." Harry nodded and picked up the egg. It flashed a pale yellow light briefly before the egg grew warm in his hands.
"Thank you sir," Harry said as he held the egg close to him. "I'll take good care of her."