Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. Harry Potter et. al. belongs to JKR and Sherman Potter belongs to whoever…

Chapter 9: Claiming Heritage

Saturday September 8

The next morning, Harry, Dean and Seamus woke at their now regular early time and went for their daily run, speculating on where McGonagall would be taking Harry for his field trip. They all had their own ideas, but they all agreed that Gringotts was sure to be one stop. They showered and dressed before heading down to breakfast, all three of them dressing in a t-shirt and jeans, though Harry also threw on a nice set of casual robes. Dean and Seamus burst out laughing when he saw Harry's shirt, which read, 'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are chewy and taste good dipped in chocolate.' They sat down at the Gryffindor table and started loading up their plates.

"Man, what I wouldn't give for some biscuits and gravy right about now," grumbled Harry. "Not that this isn't good, but I kinda miss some things."

"Why would you want to put gravy on biscuits?" asked Hermione from a short way down the table. "That's just disgusting." Dean and Seamus just gave Harry slightly confused looks, remembering that Harry was raised in America and that they just didn't know what he was talking about.

"Have you ever had biscuits and gravy before, Granger?" asked Harry. She just shook her head. "Don't knock it till you've tried it. Every Sunday we'd Floo to Pappy's for brunch. Uncle Walter would bring fresh eggs from his farm in Iowa and we'd have fluffy sausage and cheese omelets and thick sausage gravy over fresh baked buttermilk biscuits." Harry suddenly slapped his forehead with the heel of his hand. "I just remembered, what you Brits call biscuits are cookies to Americans while we have our own thing we call biscuits." Harry shook his head and turned his attention back to his breakfast. He finished eating and after making plans with Dean and Seamus to study and do their homework together when he returned, made his way to the Entrance hall to wait for his Head of House.

McGonagall joined him a few minutes later. She caught a glimpse of Harry's t-shirt and gave him a small smile. "Interesting choice of attire, Mr. Potter," she said, leading him out of the castle. "Contrary to popular belief, goblins do have a sense of humor."

"I know," replied Harry. "That's why I chose it. I figure British goblins and American goblins aren't all that different from each other. I was with Dad a few times when he's acted as a go-between with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. This was actually a birthday present from one of his goblin contacts, Griphook was his name. I'm not quite fluent in Gobbledygook, but I know enough not to insult them. I assume you're taking me to Gringotts?" he asked.

"Among other places, though Gringotts will be our first stop. I have arranged for a Portkey to take us to the bank, but we need to be outside the wards to do so. Only the Headmaster can make a Portkey through the castle wards and I don't want him to know about this and interfering." Once they were outside the gates, McGonagall held out a brass ring. "Have you ever traveled by Portkey before, Mr. Potter?"

"Yes ma'am," replied Harry, grasping the ring. "Don't care for them much, but I can handle them just fine." McGonagall just nodded before tapping the ring with her wand.

"Activate."

They arrived on the main floor of Gringotts London a few moments later in a flash of blue light. Harry let go of the Portkey and dropped to one knee as a wave of dizziness overtook him, fighting to keep from revisiting his breakfast. McGonagall held his arm and steadied him as he won his battle with his stomach.

"Harry, what's the longest Portkey trip you've ever taken?"

"About 300 miles, from Chicago to Hannibal, MO. I felt a bit queasy after that trip, too."

"The trip we just took was nearly twice as long, and you are only eleven years old. You will get used to them as you get older and your magical core stabilizes and matures," said McGonagall, helping Harry to his feet.

Harry grinned up at his head of house as he replied. "Pappy told me the exact same thing when we Portkeyed there on my birthday. Where are we anyway?" he asked, looking around. Seeing a number of goblins he ventured a guess. "Gringotts?"

"Correct, Mr. Potter. Gringotts London, to be precise. This is where Lily and James did their personal banking and the Potter family is one of Gringotts oldest customers as well. That is why we were given a Portkey directly into the bank…" She broke off as Harry gave a yelp of surprise and shouted, "Griphook!" She turned around to see four goblins approaching. Two were obviously warriors, or bodyguards rather, as she recognized one of the others as Ragnok, Director of Gringotts London and leader of the British goblin clans. It was the fourth goblin, the one McGonagall didn't recognize, who responded to Harry's outburst.

"Hello again, Harry. I see you like your birthday present, I am sorry I was unable to be there to give it to you in person." He continued in Gobbledygook, "May I introduce Lord Ragnok, Director of Gringotts London and Leader of the United Goblin Clans of Britain and Ireland."

Harry bowed to the older, well dressed goblin. "Greetings Lord Ragnok, may our business benefit us both," he said in slightly stilted Gobbledygook. "My Head of House at Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall," he added, gesturing towards Minerva.

"You speak our tongue well for one so young, Mr. Potter," said Ragnok. "Griphook has taught you well. If you would both follow me?" Ragnok gestured for them to follow and lead them through a maze of corridors and into Ragnok's office. The guards took up positions on either side of the door while Ragnok took a seat at his desk, with Griphook taking a seat on the end and motioning for Harry and McGonagall to seats in front of the desk. He tapped the desk in a complex pattern, and a stone basin and a silver dagger appeared. "Have you been told exactly what you will be doing today, Mr. Potter?" Harry shook his head. "We will be performing a Heritage test to verify your status as the Heir of Gryffindor…" He broke off as Fawkes appeared in a burst of flame and coming to rest on Harry's shoulder. "However, this is merely a bureaucratic formality, as it appears that Lord Godric's familiar has chosen to bond with you. We will also be able to verify your inheritances from your parents as well. If you would just prick your finger with the dagger and place a drop of blood in the basin?" Harry took the dagger and pricked his finger. A drop of blood welled up and he shook it off into the basin. Griphook healed his finger as the basin glowed gold and the drop of blood disappeared in a puff of smoke, replaced by a piece of parchment. Ragnok looked over the parchment briefly, nodding in satisfaction before handing it to Harry.

Harry took the parchment and saw that it was a partial family tree, with his own name at the top and two columns of names below. He noticed that one of his birth parents were at the top of each column, though most of the names below his mother were black while all of the names below his father were in red, ending in the name Godric Gryffindor. The last few names in his mother's column were written in blue, ending with Rowena Ravenclaw. He also noticed that all the names below James Potter were male and those below Lily Evans were female. "Does this mean I'm the heir of two of Hogwarts' Founders?"

"Not quite, Mr. Potter," replied Ragnok. "The Ravenclaw line is of matriarchal descent, so the title of Heir would go to your first born daughter. Both the Ancient and Noble House of Gryffindor and the Ancient and Noble house of Potter are of patriarchal descent and all three hold seats on the Wizengamot, currently held in proxy by the Chief Warlock, Albus Dumbledore. As the heir of House Gryffindor you also hold a seat in the House of Lords in the Muggle Parliament, though it has sat vacant since the death of your grandfather, Sir Charles Emerson Potter. You will be able to claim the Gryffindor and Potter seats on the Wizengamot outright when you come of age at 17, as well as the Ravenclaw proxy which will pass to your eldest daughter when she comes of age." Ragnok smiled as he pulled a folder from a drawer in his desk. "When Griphook was transferred here and assigned as the account manager in charge of the Potter and Gryffindor vaults, he told me many stories about your adopted family in America, particularly one Sherman Terrance Potter."

"Pappy? What about him?" asked Harry.

"Harry, you asked Sherman once if you were related to him, since you were both Potters," said Griphook. "He said that he didn't think so since you were British and he was American. The question intrigued me, so when I was transferred here I checked your family's genealogical records and found that you are in fact distantly related. Sherman's great grandfather Nicholas was a wizard who had a falling out with his older brother, your great-great-great-great grandfather Lord Henry Potter who felt that wizards should not get involved in Muggle affairs."

Harry's head was spinning with the flood of information. He was Wizarding nobility here in Britain with seats in both the Muggle Parliament and the magical equivalent. He felt a happy warmth in his heart as he realized that his family was truly family. He groaned inwardly at the realization that he was going to have to study a lot of law, Wizarding and Muggle, British and American. 'Suck it up, Potter,' he thought to himself. 'A little extra studying has never bothered you before, why should this be any different?' He sighed and looked at Ragnok. "So what do we do now?"

Ragnok just smiled and tapped his desk and the basin and dagger disappeared, replaced by two small boxes. "These are the Potter and Gryffindor House signet rings." He pushed one of the boxes towards Harry. "Place the Gryffindor ring on your right index finger." Harry opened the box and looked dubiously at the large signet ring. "Don't worry, Mr. Potter, the ring will automatically resize itself to fit your finger." Harry slid the ring onto his finger and it immediately shrank to fit perfectly before disappearing. "It's still there; it is charmed to be invisible unless you wish to display it. To do so, simply concentrate on the ring for a moment and it will appear." Harry easily concentrated on the ring as he could still feel it even if he couldn't see it. He focused for a moment and the ring appeared. He focused on hiding the ring and smiled as it disappeared from sight. Ragnok passed Harry the other box. "Place the Potter ring on your right ring finger. Harry slid the ring on his finger and watched as it shrank to fit and disappeared, just like the Gryffindor ring had.

A small crystal on the desk began chiming softly. Ragnok tapped it with a finger and a piece of parchment appeared. He picked it up and read it quickly. "It appears that we will be having another visitor joining us shortly, one who has a vested interest in what we are discussing here."

"Who?" Harry asked. He jumped from his chair as he heard a very familiar voice behind him.

"That would be me, Harry."

"Pappy Sherm!" Harry gave his grandfather a hug before introducing him to his head of house. "Pappy, this is Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, Transfiguration teacher and Head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts. Professor, this is my great-great grandpa Sherman Potter, surgeon and retired US Army Colonel."

McGonagall stood and shook Sherman's offered hand. "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Potter."

"Likewise, Professor. Please call me Sherman."

"Minerva," replied McGonagall. "We weren't expecting to see you here today."

The three of them sat down as Sherman began explaining. "Secretary Paulson informed me that Harry here is heir to a seat on your Wizengamot and that Albus Dumbledore currently holds the proxy by means of dubious legality. As I am Harry's only living Potter relative he asked me to come to Britain to claim the proxy."

"Actually, Col. Potter," said Ragnok, "Harry is heir to two seats of his own and proxy to a third. He is descended from two of Hogwarts' Founders, Godric Gryffindor through his father and Rowena Ravenclaw through his mother. He will also be eligible for a seat in the House of Lords in the Muggle Parliament when he comes of age."

Sherman whistled softly. "So I need to claim three proxies then? I assume that Dumbledore currently holds all three?" Ragnok nodded. "It's sure going to put a burr in his saddle when I claim them out from under his nose. He only holds them because he claims to be Harry's magical guardian, even though he never officially registered his claim. I need to undergo the heritage ritual for proof that Harry and I are related for when I meet with the Minister later. He's going to call a session of the Wizengamot to have me confirmed as the Potter proxy. Since Harry is here, I think it might give my claim a bit more weight if he was with me when I do." He looked at McGonagall. "An added witness would probably help as well."

McGonagall smiled and said, "I'll also be able to run interference with Albus if he tries to stick his crooked nose in once we return to Hogwarts."

Ragnok performed the ritual for Sherman and provided the documentation he would need for their meeting while Griphook took Harry and McGonagall to his family vault to retrieve his parents wills. They returned to Ragnok's where McGonagall began reading it for Harry.

"That whiskered old goat!"

A/N: So we finally see Harry and Sherm together, and together they will give Dumbledore a nice kick in the stones.