Here's the next part, I hope you enjoy it, just working up a few things in the story that have been hinted at as we've gone along. Thank you for the reviews and the new people wanting to be alerted when I post. Also I can't believe I managed to write and post the last part in 1st person. (I have done a quick fix on that.). I suppose that's what happens after I wrote the companion piece from Angelina's point of view in 1st person. I forgot to change back.
I don't own any of the characters, I've just borrowed them and made them do my bidding. (Which is quite fun and I hope it entertains you.).
Harry woke early the next morning and made his way down the Kitchen to see if he could help Kreacher with Breakfast. But he found that Kreacher had everything under control with fresh bread and pastries, and the table already laid out. Kreacher was just turning on the oven and frying pan to cook the bacon and eggs.
Harry found all he was allowed to do was toast some bread with his wand. Which he never really got over the fun of doing as it was faster and sure bet tapping your fingers while waiting for the toaster to pop.
"What time did you get up this morning to do all of this?" Harry asked Kreacher. Feeding the amount of people in the house was no small feat.
"I started after returning with Mr George sir." Kreacher answered. "He didn't seem to want to return, but I had promised you and Miss Granger to bring him back, so bring him back I did."
Harry smiled at that. He took it that things had gone well if George had wanted to stay with Angelina. "I hope he didn't give you too much trouble." Harry commented.
"Oh, no sir I didn't mean he gave me trouble. I just had to remind him that you would get into trouble if he didn't return. No one wants master in trouble after all he did for the wizarding world." Kreacher half bowed to Harry.
Harry nodded his head. "Kreacher, what do you want to do after this?" He asked wondering just how the Elf felt about serving him, after all Kreacher certainly hadn't been happy to be left to Harry in Sirius' will.
"What does Master mean? Kreacher is a House Elf sir. We are made to serve for all our lives." Kreacher asked.
Harry thought for a moment about how to phrase what he wanted to know. "I mean….well you remember Dobby. He died saving my life. But he was a free Elf, paid for his work at Hogwarts."
"Dobby was a bad house Elf sir. But he wasn't treated well his masters. Kreacher didn't have a master after his mistress died until Master Sirius came back." Kreacher looked a little wide eyed at Harry and ducked his head. "Kreacher and Master Sirius didn't get on."
Harry nodded his head. "No my Godfather wasn't very nice to you. I am aware of that. I have been left a few other houses from my parents and enough gold to live wherever I want. I'm not sure I will want to live here at the moment. But I want to know what you would like."
Kreacher looked at Harry. "Kreacher has never been asked what he wants before sir."
"Yeah, I understand it's a new concept for most House Elf's but if Hermione has her way you'll all have that choice in few years. I'm just giving you it now." Harry explained. "If you want to stay working for me, you can. You can come to wherever I live. Or you can stay here. But I would like to free you and pay you for your services. Or just plain free you if you want to go and serve a family you might prefer." As Harry knew he would never be the sort of family that Blacks had been. He wanted his future, his family to be full of light and happiness.
Kreacher looked at Harry like he was mad. "I'm not sure I want to be free sir that is what happens to bad Elfs or old Elfs. Can Kreacher think about it?"
Harry nodded and heard someone clearing their throat behind him. Looking up he saw Molly standing at the door way. "I wanted to see if I could help, but you both seem to have everything under control." She bustled into the room now that they knew she was there. Pinching Harry's cheek as she walked past him and patting it afterwards. "You're a good boy Harry Potter. A lovely boy, you deserve everything you have." She smiled knowingly at him. "And never let anybody tell you otherwise."
Harry knew she must have heard him saying he had more than just this house. He certainly didn't feel he deserved it. Not when the family he admired and loved the most had so little compared to him.
Molly picked up one of the pastries off the table and smelt it. "Oh this smells lovely Kreacher do you think I could have the recipe."
Kreacher looked a little shocked then looked to Harry. "It's an old family one, past on from the Elfs who have served the Black family for a hundred years."
Harry just shrugged his shoulders. "It's up to you Kreacher. Sorry Molly. I'm encouraging free thinking. You know just to keep Hermione off my back."
Molly nodded. "I suppose she doesn't have us all wearing SPEW badges to the Memorial today so we should try to keep her on side."
Harry shivered. "Don't even suggest it too her. I'm not standing up to talk in front of people that I'm likely to have to deal with for the rest of my life wearing a badge that sounds like I'm promoting throwing up."
Molly smiled and chuckled away to herself over Harry's comment. "Yes, I think she should rethink the name if she wants to start working towards her goals for Elfs again." As she took a seat and ate the rest of the pastry she had picked up.
Harry placed the large plate of toast he had now prepared on the table. "I might just go tell everyone that Breakfast is ready."
Molly nodded. "Yes, they are all up now. Fighting over the bathroom I think."
Harry left the kitchen area thinking just how relaxed Molly looked. Or was it just resigned? There wasn't a lot of control in any of their lives at the moment. But Harry knew she had relaxed once she had heard Angelina was going to be alright. He didn't think she could have coped with someone being murdered at her son's memorial.
Harry called up the stairs and the first to come down were Audrey and Percy followed by Bill and Fleur.
"Morning Harry." Bill acknowledged him on the way past.
"Morning." Harry nodded back.
"George seems a bit better this morning." Percy commented.
"I know he's up and coming down for breakfast." Fleur added. "He even told me to hurry up in the bathroom."
"Maybe he just needed some sleep." Audrey commented.
Harry could have sworn Bill shot him a look that seemed to question him. But he was smiling at his wife the next second. "He'll want to attend today so he can check on Angelina tonight. The last thing he needs is Mum fussing over him saying he's too fragile to go."
"I don't think fragile is a word I've ever applied to George before. But yesterday…well it was more what I would expect from Mum if it was Dad on his death bed." Percy added.
"He had just said goodbye to Fred though, the shook of almost losing a good friend was probably too much for him." Audrey seemed to consider her words.
Bill looked Harry questionably again and Harry wondered if Bill had managed to put a little more together after Harry had taken George with him after Tonks and Remus' Memorial and then Katie's comment at the shop. Harry was starting to understand why Bill had such an important Roll with Ginngotts he really didn't miss much. Bill had pretty much been begged to return to work at after the Grinngotts manager had finished with Harry the other day.
Breakfast was a busy affair. Something Harry was used too with the Weasley's but he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable about the upcoming ceremony today. He had to speak and it wasn't like he had had much time to prepare for it. But he wondered if that was a good or bad thing as he hadn't had time to worry about it either.
George had seemed much better until Hermione had kicked him under the table to remind him too be a little more stressed about getting to Angelina later in the day and Harry hopped he would be able to convince Kingsley to allow him to visit as well.
They were just finishing. Audrey and Percy helping Kreacher carry the plates from the table and Ron grabbing the last bits of bacon when Kingsley stepped once again out of the fire place.
"Morning Minister." Hermione addressed him.
"Sorry I think we've finished just about everything if you're here for breakfast." Arthur nodded to his old friend.
Harry looked about him noticing that the large pile of food was pretty much devoured.
Kingsley just scanned the room and spotting where Harry was sitting walked over to him and dropped the 'Daily Prophet' down in front of him.
"I'm sorry Harry. We have no idea at the moment how this got out. But we will." Kingsley commented before taking a seat next to Arthur. "Did you at least leave me some pumpkin juice? Even though I already feel like a firewhiskey and the day has barely started."
Harry picked up the Daily Prophet and looked at the headline. 'HERO AND GENEROUS. The boy who lived picks up the tab for all the funerals and the Memorial today.' Harry heard his loud groan rather than registering the thought process that made it.
Ron who was sitting next to Harry looked at it. "They making up rubbish to make you sound even cooler now?"
Ginny on Harrys other side had clearly read a little more of the article before commenting. "It says here that you donated all the money we received to help bury Fred and everyone else who died in the battle on our side. What the heck?"
Harry felt the eyes of everyone in the room upon him. It was something that hadn't even come up at the bank the other day while George and Bill had been with him. Harry had signed all the papers with Kingsley privately in his office before returning to the burrow while Bill and George had returned to the shop for a few things from George's flat.
Hermione had stood up from where she sat next to Ron and was now reading over Harry's shoulder. "Ha, they reckon that's what you went to Grinngott's for the other day. Wasn't that just stuff to do with your parents will now you're of age?"
Harry looked across and down the table to where Kingsley was sitting, feeling a little sick. Maybe he should have been honest with the Weasley's. But what are you supposed to say especially when your best friend has always been sensitive about money.
It didn't help that Kingsley just looked back at him with a raised eyebrow.
Harry sucked in a deep breath. "It's not exactly how the prophet has put it."
Percy who had been standing by the table since Kingsley had entered exclaimed. "That grant the Ministry was given was over two million Galleons."
"Not helping." Bill coughed into his hand looking at Harry, like he was very impressed with him.
"Where the hell did you get two million Galleons? I knew you were rich, but…" Ron ranted.
"That's a lot of money Harry." Ginny half whispered like she was amazed.
Harry sick of the attention, once again wishing he could be normal whatever normal was blurted out. "I didn't need it. It should have never been mine in the first place." He said standing up and leaving the room.
"Harry." Arthur called after him.
Harry just ignored it and quickly made his way back up to the room he was sharing with Ron once again. Throwing himself on the bed he pulled a pillow over his face before screaming into it.
"Being the hero not all it's cracked up to be then?" Harry heard the deep voice coming from what was normally the empty portrait on the wall.
Harry lifted the pillow and glared at the picture frame which now contained Phineas Black. "I didn't think you would visit here anymore, no one to talk to and all that."
"McGonagall sent me after reading the prophet this morning. She's a little worried about you. Of course I'm tempted to ask if it was all the Black money. I could see you giving that up thinking of it as gained by dark magic or something." Phineas questioned a little spitefully at the end.
Harry shook his head. "No it wasn't any of the Black money. That's all still sitting in the Black vault. Not enough room in the main Potter one apparently. Which is completely huge compared to the one I hardly dipped into for my upbringing."
Phineas nodded his head. "Yes, I have to admit I used to wonder what happened to all the Potter money. That big manor just being on permanent loan to muggles as a hospital for the injured during the two world wars. Good to know it didn't disappear."
Harry shook his head. "Apparently my Grandparents didn't want to live there after the wars so they took a large house in London and then well my parents went into hiding with me very soon after my Grandparents died. It stopped being a hospital for soldiers not long after I was orphaned so the Goblins have been looking after the up keep. But no I still own it and a large holiday house on the Scotland lakes, a large property near Hogsmeade, the flat in Paris, oh and my grandparents town house here in London. The place where my parents died and I of course can't forget this place especially as it's one of only two of them I've been too." Harry ranted away.
"Harry?" Hermione asked gently from the door way. Harry hadn't even heard the door opening.
Harry just looked from the portrait to her. "Hey." He muttered.
Hermione came and sat beside him. "You're really rich aren't you?" She asked.
Harry nodded his head. "Apparently. I mean I knew there was a lot of money in my vault. I just didn't know it was only a small vault until I came of age. But, well the Goblins couldn't find me to let me know after my birthday last year could they?"
Hermione didn't answer straight away. Harry was pleased she had come after him. After all if there was one thing with Hermione you could pretty much guarantee she would normally think before she spoke. "I suppose you were a little scared of us all finding out, I mean Ron does tend to have a little hang up about being poor."
Harry smirked. "Just a little one?" He asked thinking about some of the things Ron had said over the years. "It's not like I didn't want to let you all know I'm not a poor orphan. But it hasn't really been the time. Bill knows it's a little hard to work for Grinngotts and not know what vaults are the most protected. I let George know the other day as well. He was worried I needed some money from the shop."
Hermione frowned. "Why would George feel you need some money?"
"I gave him and Fred my Tri-wizard winnings to start it. I just thought we all needed some laughs in or lives I'm apparently a silent partner. It's not like I wanted, or needed the galleons even then. Like this grant, trust fund thing I gave to the Ministry. It was set up by someone after my parents died. Witches and Wizards have been depositing money into it all my life for my future. My family weren't ones to flash their wealth like some so it's not widely known we are still as rich as they come." Harry explained. "I never wanted anyone to know about me giving it to the Ministry."
"I think it's wonderful. That's what I came up here to say. Even if you had spent every cent you had to do it, there is nothing stupid about helping someone at a time of great need. Also you wouldn't be you if you didn't feel you had to do something to help all those people who gave their lives to protect us so we could finish what Dumbledore gave us to do." Hermione said placing a hand on his knee.
"Thanks." Harry answered. Thinking sometimes he wished everyone could think like Hermione. But then that would be scary at the same time.
"Have you ever thought about being a teacher Miss Granger. They don't get paid well and spend their lives giving to others as well. You're wisdom and insight would hold you in good stead for replacing Headmistress McGonagall one day." Phineas Blacks voice rung out into the room again reminding Harry he was there. Phineas paused to think. "Have you thought about phrasing this grant as a gift given to you from the wizarding community which you have given back? Mr Potter."
"That's a wonderful idea. Harry where's your speech for the memorial today?" Hermione almost jumped up.
Harry felt his cheeks turn slightly red. "I haven't written one. I think you were meant to help me."
"Really Harry, you are going to have to get used to this, really I can't believe you left it this late. Where is some parchment and a quill?" Hermione took off out the door towards the room she was sharing with Ginny.
"Are you going to let her write it for you?" Phineas asked in a tone that disapproved.
"Yeah, there has to be perks to having the brightest young witch of our time as one of your best friends." Harry shot back feeling a little better. He stood up and exiting the room added. "But I suppose I should make sure she doesn't make it sound too much like her and not at all like me."
Let me know what you think please (Ha, now I'm begging.). Also if there is anything your hanging out to see happen.
Thanks for reading.
Hopefulled