GINNY'S OTHER LIFE
Chapter 11
Ginny was emotionally exhausted when she left the Burrow. She talked about everything that was said there with Hermione and Ron on their way back to their flat. Hermione commented that she thought Ginny had handled it well, and Ron agreed. They also agreed with Ginny's statement that it would be along time before she could just forget about it all. Their support was greatly appreciated.
One thing Ginny said she wanted to do before she went to Gringotts tomorrow was visit Harry's grave site. Ron agreed. Hermione had to work tomorrow, but Ron took the day off and said that they would go to Godric's Hollow in the morning. Ginny knew that it would be another emotional time for her, but she really wanted to say a proper goodbye to Harry. When they arrived at Ron and Hermione's flat, Ginny changed into her night shirt and flopped on the bed, falling asleep in minutes.
Next morning Ginny awoke with a start and jumped off the bed. She forgot where she was, and it took her a few seconds to unscramble her brain. It surprised her that she felt so refreshed and alert. Her mind was clearer than it had been in a long time. Hermione had breakfast waiting, and she ate ravenously while planning her day with her brother.
Hermione left for work and Ginny got ready for her day. Her new clothes were calling to her, she hadn't had new clothes in a long time. She picked out a conservative outfit, and she and Ron headed out for Godric's Hollow.
The ride took almost an hour, and she asked Ron why they just didn't Apparate there.
"Two reasons sis," he answered. First, there is no private and safe place around that grave yard to Apparate to. It is in a Muggle community. And second, we didn't know if you ever got your Appatation licence. There is a new wizard law now that prohibits side-along Apparating with anyone that is not licensed. I don't know why though."
They continued along, talking small talk about nothing in particular. Ron asked her what her plans were now, and she admitted that other than finding an appropriate flat and a job, she really had no plans.
They arrived at the grave yard, and Ron showed Ginny to Harry's grave stone. It was a simple monument that only gave Harry's name and his birth and death dates.
"Gin, I'm going back to the car and wait for you to give you some privacy. Take all the time you want. Were in no hurry."
"Thanks Ron," she replied.
Ginny looked down on the headstone and burst into tears. It was a sight she thought she would never have to see. She collapsed down on her knees and cried and cried. With all the emotional strength she could manage, see looked up at his name. Harry James Potter. Her heart felt like it had been torn from her chest.
"Hello Harry." she managed with much difficulty. "Sorry it has to be this way. If I could swap places with you, I would do so in a minute."
The tears continued unabated.
"Oh Harry, I love you so, and I've missed you so much. If only I could turn back the clock and have more time with you. I would gladly give my life for just a minute to hold you in my arms once more."
She struggled to get her thoughts straight and her words out.
"Harry, first I want to thank you Harry, for saving my life yet again. When you talked to me and convinced me not to take my own life, I didn't know that you were already dead. If I had known, I would probably have killed myself right then, just to be with you in the afterlife, whatever that is."
"But here I am, kneeling in front of your grave, and my whole being is shattered. I love you so much Harry. I don't know how I will ever survive this life without you. But I know now that it is what I must do, for you. And I promise you that I will survive despite it all. I will survive Harry, for you. In your memory."
"I love you Harry, always and forever. I promise that I will visit you whenever I can."
The tears were pouring from her eyes as she struggled to find the strength to leave him.
"I love you Harry. I love you so much. I won't say goodbye now Harry. I'll never say goodbye. I will visit you again soon. Till then my love, till then."
It took all the energy Ginny had in her body to walk back to Ron's car. But she somehow managed. She sat with her head in her hands and cried all the way to London and to the Leakey Cauldron. She knew that she would have to compose herself before she could walk down Diagon Alley. With Ron's help, she managed to get her act together as they walk into the Leeky. She went immediately into the girl's loo and scrubbed the tears off her face. Then she sat with Ron for a bit, and had a Butterbeer. She had yet to utter a word to her brother, but he seemed to understand, and give her time to gather her emotions.
After a while, she raised her head and looked at her concerned sibling.
"Thank you Ron. Thank you for your patients and understanding. I have to go to Gringotts now. Will you go with me?"
"Certainly Gin. We had better go now and get this over with."
Ginny and Ron entered the bank and asked to see Goblin Toforks. They were taken to his office where he greeted them warmly, something the Goblins were not known for.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Weasley, and your brother. We were all saddened to hear of Mr. Potter's death, and I offer you our sincere condolences."
"Thank you er, Mister Toforks."
He laughed. "The proper way to address us Miss Weasley is as 'Goblin Toforks'."
"Sorry then. Thank you Goblin Toforks."
Ginny responded with a tear in her eye, then she handed the Goblin her reimbursement papers from the ministry.
Goblin Toforks looked at the documents. "I am a bit confused miss Weasley. I thought you were here for the reading of Mr. Potter's will. Would you like me to have this setup in a separate account?"
"Er, I don't know what you mean by a separate account," Ginny told him.
"Miss Weasley, didn't you receive our letter about Mr. Potter's will?"
Ginny was a bit confused about this. "No, I guess not," she responded.
"Well then, no matter," Toforks said. "Let's get on with it. Mr. Potter had a will drawn up when he started Hogwarts. Albus Dumbledore was the named as executrix and sole beneficiary of everything Mr. Potter possessed. If Mr. Dumbledore died, we were to give everything to the charities of our choice. But a few days before Mr. Potter killed Tom Riddle, he came here and changed his will, naming you as the sole beneficiary. As such, you are now the legal owner of all of Mr. Potter's holdings, including everything in his vaults, all his financial accounts, and all his properties. The total amount changes daily as the value of his holdings and properties varies with the economy. As of today, this amounts to approximately three hundred million Galleons. The gold in his financial accounts comes to approximately eight million Galleons."
Ginny was simply astounded and quite confused by all this. The numbers had no real meaning for her. She simply could not comprehend that much money. She was totally speechless. Her mind went blank. It wasn't until Toforks gave her a Gringotts money card with her name on it that it started to sink into her befuddled brain. All of a sudden, she was a millionaire.
Ginny was totally astounded at her sudden wealth. She looked over at her brother for help, but he just stared with wide eyes and his mouth open.
Toforks continued. "There is also an account in Mr. Potter's name, or as of now, in your name, at the Royal Bank of London. We handle that account for him, and automatically transfer Galleons converted to Pounds-Sterling into that account keeping the balance at one hundred thousand Pounds-Sterling. Is that acceptable to you?"
"Yes, of course," Ginny answered almost automatically.
"We have notified them of Mr. Potter's death and of your inheritance of the account. They are expecting you to give them a visit so that you can be issued their bank credit card also. I will give you a letter to give to them properly identifying you as the new owner of the account."
"Also miss Weasley, I have been handling Mr. Potter's investments in stocks and money bonds, quite successfully I might add. If it pleases you, I could continue to handle those
accounts for you."
"Yes, of course. I wish you would since you have obviously been doing a good job of it."
"Thank you. Now you understand that for every positive gain we take a standard twenty percent cut of the earnings. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes, that is very acceptable," Ginny answered without knowing what she was actually agreeing to.
"Good then. Now I have here for you a complete accounting of all investments and holdings. You will notice that Mr. Potter had a financial interest in many wizard and muggle business."
She skimmed through the list of her holdings and was astounded. Among her holdings was a thirty percent share in the Quibbler. Interesting, she thought, and wondered why Luna never said anything to her. She made a mental note to sit down with Luna and go over everything. Luna had a much better head for business then she had.
"Yes, I see. But I honestly don't know how he every had time for all this while he was at school. He never mentioned it to anyone."
"That's understandable Miss Weasley. I don't think Mr. Potter even knew about much of it until recently. The Potter fortune, and the Black family fortune which Mr. Potter only recently inherited, were amassed long before Mr. Potter was even born. On the death of his parents, Mr. Dumbledore handled all his financial affairs; badly, if I may say so, and was only able to do so because Mr. Potter was a minor. But that seems to have been sorted out now. You are in complete control of things Miss Weasley."
"Yes, I understand."
"You may contact me at any time if you need financial assistance or help in any way," Goblin Toforks told her. "Do go to the bank in London and register with them at your earliest convenience. Muggle bankers are not known for their patience."
"It has been my pleasure to assist you Miss Weasley," he said with a slight bow to her. "Now there is one more thing that Mr. Potter left for you the day after he disposed of Voldemort," the Goblin said as he handed her an unsealed envelop.
"Mr. Potter left specific instructions about that letter, Miss Weasley. You are to open and read it in my presence for reasons that you will soon understand."
Ginny looked at him with trepidation. She couldn't imagine what Harry had written her that required her to read his letter in the presence of the Goblin. She opened the letter and started to read.
It would change her life forever.
End chapter eleven