It's My Life
Several days had passed since Harry learned that he was going to be living with Severus Snape and the man would double as his new guardian/caretaker. Harry was beyond confused, but Narcissa was able to explain to Harry easily that while she'd love to take Harry in; it just wasn't safe with the dark lord sometimes showing up at the manor. Draco had jumped in to inform him that when Voldemort showed up, his parents would banish him to Severus's house for safe keeping until Voldemort left. Narcissa continued with the explanation that Severus had very strong wards around his home and they wouldn't be affected by Voldemort, nor even Dumbledore without invite. Narcissa also promised that Harry would be safe with Severus and that things wouldn't be like they had been over the years at school between them. Narcissa suggested Harry try to see Severus as an uncle, if it helped make things more comfortable. Also in the time Harry had been there; he did sit down and talk to Lucius about his past with the Dursley's, but never going into a large amount of detail surrounding the abuse he took. Lucius marked down everything, and reassured Harry that there was more than enough to get Harry's custody transferred to Severus and the magical guardianship of Dumbledore over Harry suspended pending investigation.
Today was August 7th, 1995, and a Monday at 10:00 am. Harry had showered and gotten dressed, then eaten with the Malfoy family. Right now, he was standing with Lucius and waiting for Severus to come through so the three of them could go to Gringotts together and begin the process or stopping Dumbledore's guardianship and giving it to Severus. There was more too, but that was the big thing. Severus stepped through the floo and stood before Harry and Lucius.
"Are we ready?" Severus asked.
"I have all items marked to cover, but while I'm thinking of it. Harry, do you have your vault key?" Lucius inquired.
"I don't. It's never been in my possession. In first year, Hagrid had it. In second, Molly Weasley did. I don't know where it ended up beyond that." Harry admitted.
Lucius grabbed his list and marked something down. "I've added get you a new key to our list of things to accomplish at the bank." He said. "Unbelievable that you have not been given possession of your key. You should have had it when beginning at Hogwarts, or younger. All pure-blood kids get their key young, to a trust vault so they can learn money management."
Harry only shrugged. "I didn't know, and I'm only a half-blood."
"It doesn't change the principle." Severus informed. "Let's be on our way then," Severus said. "Harry, be informed now that when we arrive; you will have to submit to an inheritance test to prove you are who you say and then you'll tell the goblin handling your account that Mr. Malfoy is representing you and we can both speak on your behalf."
"Alright," Harry nodded.
"Then we're off to the Leaky Cauldron, via floo." Lucius informed.
. . .
The trio of males used the floo network from Malfoy Manor to the Leaky Cauldron, and quickly got into Diagon Alley from there. Lucius and Severus were wearing cloaks with the hoods up while they trekked to Gringotts. Entering the bank, Harry started talking to a goblin about sitting down for a meeting to go over his accounts and handle some business, which he was instructed to say by Lucius. It wasn't much longer until another Goblin approached.
"My name is Griphook, and I will be in charge of your business today, Mr. Potter. But first, identity is everything. May I see your key for proof of yourself?" The goblin said.
"I don't have my key, sir. It's always been in someone else's possession and I don't know where it is now." Harry admitted.
"We will have to run an inheritance test then. Right this way," Griphook led them to a quiet office inside the bank. First Griphook pulled out a parchment, then a dagger of sorts. "You need only prick your finger and let the blood fall here," He pointed to the space. Harry did as told, and waited as Griphook inspected the sheet of paper, then he set it down with a nod. "You are indeed Harry Potter."
"Last time I checked," Harry muttered. It wasn't to be disrespectful, but learning that Dumbledore might be manipulating him was putting him a foul mood. "Sorry, new information leads me to believe I'm being used."
"A valid reason to be upset." Griphook informed. "Now, as we're going over your accounts and business; I must ask if you're permitting your…Guards with you to also be part of things." He asked.
"Yes. Mr. Lucius Malfoy is…Representing me, and both he and Mr. Severus Snape can speak on my behalf." Harry said.
"Very good then." Griphook said. "Your inheritance test has shown me more than just your identity, Mr. Potter. Would you like to go over that first?"
"You two go ahead. I'm just waiting to find out what else I've been kept from or lied to about…" Harry told Severus and Lucius.
"Very well," Severus nodded. "Lucius?"
"The first thing needing addressed is Mr. Potter having a new key made." Lucius informed calmly.
"I will arrange it, but at the end. As I said, the inheritance test revealed Mr. Potter having a collection of other vaults tied to him as the last Potter heir, until he himself has a child of his own to take up the mantle." Griphook said.
"If I may, do you know who has Mr. Potter's current key?" Severus asked.
"It was placed in Albus Dumbledore's care the night Mr. Potter's parents passed on." Griphook stated after looking through the file on his desk for Harry Potter.
"Somehow…That doesn't surprise me." Lucius muttered.
"That key should have been turned over to Harry's care when he first came here at eleven," Griphook mentioned.
"Hagrid told me that I had to give it back to him, for safe keeping," Harry said.
"That is not how things work. When you came to Gringotts at eleven with the giant, the key into your trust vault, should have been given to you permanently. The manner of which your key is used by another beyond that is only by the child's magical guardian, or a spouse." Griphook explained.
"Then I am to assume that Albus Dumbledore has been appointed Harry's magical guardian?" Severus asked.
Griphook started to look through the file again, then finally, he looked up to the men and nodded. "Self-appointed after Harry Potter's godfather, Sirius Black, was imprisoned. His muggle relatives wouldn't have been able to take that position due to being just that, muggles. There was no other persons listed to take guardianship over Harry's assets, so the bank allowed Albus Dumbledore to become such."
"Can it be changed?" Lucius asked.
"Changing the magical guardianship is more advanced." Griphook informed. "It can be done, but it is a different process than say changing custody of where a minor wizard or witch is residing. However, given Mr. Potter's situation, his accounts and assets, even his custody is under the jurisdiction of his magical guardian."
"So Dumbledore does have all control over me and my everything right now?" Harry asked, anger in his tone. Griphook nodded. "How do we change it?" Harry looked at Severus and Lucius, then back at Griphook.
"The fastest method would be to provide proof that Albus Dumbledore is not fit to be Mr. Potter's guardian any further. It will still need to go through some other channels to be approved, but it would place the current guardianship in temporary suspension while the investigation proceeds. Someone will need to step forward to be the stand-in guardian of you." Griphook informed.
"Right. Noted. We would like to begin those proceedings to permanently remove Albus Dumbledore as Harry Potter's magical guardian," Lucius said firmly.
"And who will be standing in for that place?" Griphook asked.
"I am." Severus announced.
"And it is for the investigation, but what grounds are you petitioning the removal of the current guardian?" Griphook asked.
"For knowingly neglecting, and endangering Mr. Potter by placing him in an abusive home." Lucius claimed.
Griphook paused for a moment, seeming perplexed about the claim, but then he shook it off and pulled out a form. "This is the parchment form to petition for a change in magical guardians. It must be filled out, and I will submit it to the group that manages all that. As I said, it could take some time, but hearing the nature of things; I can assure it will be marked urgent and moved to top priority." Griphook slid the form to Harry. "It must be done by you, Mr. Potter." He gave Harry a quill, and slid forward an inkpot.
"Go on, Harry," Lucius nodded to Harry to go ahead. Harry grabbed the quill, dipping it once or twice, then got started on the form. "Right now then, the guardianship Dumbledore has will be suspended and given to Severus Snape?"
"Once the form is submitted, yes," Griphook replied.
"Good then, a step in the right direction to get Mr. Potter out from under the old fool's control." Lucius commented.
"Mr. Potter may also, with the form, have to submit to providing proof of the abuse." Griphook added.
"Will my memories serve enough?" Harry inquired.
"They will, but a wizard or your age will not possess the required magic level to be removing them to show." Severus said. "I am to assume someone with Legilimency will be going into Harry's mind to see things?"
"That would be how it is done." Griphook nodded.
"And if I offer to retrieve the memories myself as a master in both Legilimency and Occlumency?" Severus asked.
"That would be acceptable," Griphook told him.
"Finish off that form, Harry," Severus said. "We're going to make this easy for those handling the investigation to make it go quickly."
Harry nodded to him and finished the form quickly, then handed it to Griphook. "Okay, what now?"
"Stay still, Mr. Potter. I'm going to perform a spell that lets me enter your mind. I need you to not resist such. Right now, you need to bring everything regarding the abuse forward. And the times you've gone to Dumbledore to request he place you elsewhere, but the man refused." Severus said. Harry took a deep breath and closed his eyes to bring all the horrid memories forward, and try to keep himself calm. "Legilimens," Severus cast with his wand pointed at Harry. Instantly, Severus saw everything at warp speed of what Harry went through. Severus got everything he needed, then pulled back as Harry was left gripping the chair and panting. "I know it's a bit much to take in, but it was the most effective way to get the proof we need to ensure that fool doesn't hurt you anymore."
"It's…Fine," Harry panted.
Severus set the tip of his wand to his temple and pulled out a blue, wispy strand from his head, then he put it in a clear vial, and capped it. Severus repeated the action again, and put that one in another vial before giving both to Griphook, who rolled them up into the form Harry filled out, and levitated it up, then snapped his fingers as it vanished from sight. "As of right now, as stated in the form signed by Mr. Harry James Potter, the minor wizard of fifteen-years-old, will be under the temporary guardianship of Severus Snape, which is pending permanent placement after the decision is made about removal of Albus Dumbledore. Mr. Snape, if you will sign here as the physical representation of what I just said. Signing this makes you Harry Potter's magical guardian and gives you full custody of him. As a mentioned, temporary, until the decision is reached."
Severus took the quill and signed where he was meant to, then stepped back next to Lucius. "One thing off the list," Lucius mentioned. "Next, were the wills of Lily and James Potter read after their unfortunate passing?"
"Yes, Albus Dumbledore was the one to be present for such since Mr. Potter was far too young." Griphook said.
"We would like to see those. Mr. Potter has a right to know what he was left," Lucius informed.
"I can only do that at Mr. Potter's request." Griphook stated.
"I would like to see my parents' wills, please?" Harry asked. He assumed it had to be another rule, so why fight it?
Griphook nodded as he filed through a few things and pulled out two things. "It would seem one of the wills is magically sealed, likely by Dumbledore. I'm afraid I will not be able to access Mrs. Lily Potter's will until the seal has been broken." Griphook informed.
"We will wait for that one to be unsealed then, but for now, Mr. James Potter's will?" Lucius questioned.
"The will states this; I, James Fleamont Potter, leave everything to my beloved wife, Lily Potter, nee Evans, and my only son, Harry James Potter. In the event of both myself and my wife's untimely deaths, I request that my son is left in the care of one of his godparents, Sirius Black, the godfather, or Alice Longbottom, the godmother." Griphook read aloud. "If my wife should also perish before me, everything is left to my son, Harry James Potter."
"I knew Sirius was my godfather, but not that Neville's mother was my godmother…" Harry blinked.
"And neither of those requests can be met because Sirius Black is a convicted felon and regretfully, Alice Longbottom is committed for life to St. Mungo's." Griphook stated. "Insanity from being tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange under the Cruciatus Curse." He added for clarification. Harry knew Sirius was out of Azkaban, but he wouldn't reveal anything right now. It was to protect his godfather, who he desperately wanted to talk to with all that was going on. "We will work on unsealing Lily Potter's will, but until such; everything of your father's has been left to you, Mr. Potter, including the Lordship for House of Potter."
"The what?" Harry asked.
"You are the last of the Potter line, so you take up the position of Lord Potter, head of your family. Much like I am Lord Malfoy, and Draco, is my heir." Lucius explained. "When I die, or retire, the title will go to Draco."
"So…I've inherited becoming a lord to the Potter family?" Harry inquired.
"Yes, and with that, Potter Manor and all the house elves within it. Also the Potter family fortune." Griphook informed.
"M-Manor?" Harry stared. "And fortune, so…More than what my parents left me in my vault of six-eighty-seven?"
"Vault six-hundred and eighty-seven is that of your trust. A set amount of money your parents left for you to attend your seven years of Hogwarts with." Griphook explained. "The Potter Fortune resides in vault two-hundred and forty-five. It has been around for a very long time, dating back to the twelfth century where Linfred of Stinchcombe began the fortune with his inventions of popular used potions today; Skele-Gro, and Pepper Up. The fortune expanded again in 1926 with the invention of Fleamont Potter's creation of Sleekeazy Hair Potion, who, Mr. Potter, is your grandfather on your father's side."
"Wow," Harry blinked.
"I didn't know Potter's relatives created those potions." Severus stated calmly.
"Oh, yes. The Potter's were exceptional potion-makers," Griphook said. "I will get you the key to that vault when I make a new one for your trust vault."
"It may be more beneficial to combine the vaults," Lucius informed. "If you would like, Mr. Potter."
"Probably easier to manage if it's all in one place, but can we keep the trust money separate from the fortune?" Harry hoped.
"It will be done," Griphook nodded. "Would you like to take the fortune into the trust, or the other way around?"
"Dumbledore knows about the trust, so it would be wiser to put the trust into the fortune. Unless Dumbledore knows of it all?" Lucius looked at the Goblin.
"Albus Dumbledore does know of the fortune, but never been able to access it. The bank prohibits a magical guardian to tamper with a family line's fortune, it has been sitting in stasis since James Potter went in to set aside the trust for Harry's schooling when he was born in 1980." Griphook said.
"You said never been able to access, has he attempted to?" Severus asked.
"Just after the will readings he tried to get access to everything, claiming to want to watch over it until young Mr. Potter had joined the wizarding world. Of course, we stopped him and explained that he couldn't touch any of that without Harry's explicit, in person, permission." Griphook explained. "There have been other attempts, but we silenced him after he brings it up. He does not know about the manor, or the lordship."
"I don't know the first thing about being a lord." Harry said.
"I can assist you with that, Mr. Potter. I am, again, lord of my own house. If you would like?" Lucius offered. "With your age, you do not have to do much just now. But it would benefit you to take possession of the lordship ring now, just to ensure Dumbledore doesn't try anything else regarding you or your house. I don't know what, but it's Dumbledore and it would be wise to cover all the bases. Being lord of your house gives you all the power over the decisions made about it. Say for example…A marriage contract. Dumbledore could push for one if he manages to override being your magical guardian. That would be something he could do as your guardian, arrange you to marry someone of his choosing, so someone who has been manipulated by him too."
"Meaning that if Dumbledore used…Let's say, the Imperious Curse on someone to make them agree to marry you, that spouse would have access to the Potter fortune and if they're orders were to siphon money to Dumbledore since he can't touch without you or someone who is a Potter…" Severus explained.
"I understand what you're saying," Harry muttered. "Really sucks that it's something I have to worry about."
"You don't have to worry if you take the lordship. It means you cannot be open to an arranged marriage as head of the house. Right now, you can because no one is there to make the rules. But if you step up, that person becomes you." Lucius said.
"As you said, I have to cover my bases with Dumbledore…I'll take the Potter Lordship," Harry nodded.
"We'll retrieve the ring from the vault before you leave. When the current head dies, it automatically returns to the vault magically. Since you were too young to take it before and given this is your first time back here since first year since the money had been taken out by another." Griphook informed.
"Why hasn't he received letters?" Lucius asked.
"I believe all of Harry Potter's mail is being rerouted to Dumbledore. Something about not wanting to trouble the muggle family he was living with?" Griphook recalled.
"We'll be remedying that as well." Severus remarked.
"No, leave it be." Harry folded his arms.
"Harry, that's not wise," Lucius said.
"And you have no idea why I said what I did. I had a reason behind it…" Harry sighed.
"Explain why you would want Dumbledore getting your notices?" Severus asked.
"So he doesn't think we're onto him." Harry replied. Lucius and Severus stared at him. "Let him continue to think he's pulling the strings, that he has me under his control. He doesn't have to know the reality of what we're doing now." He continued. "When the time is right…I'm going to enjoy shoving it in his face that he has nothing over me as payback for all the years of abuse I dealt with at the Dursley's because of him wanting power. At this moment, he is only my headmaster at Hogwarts. He doesn't mean anything else to me because what he's doing is no different than Voldemort is. Looking for power to control those around him." Harry looked at Griphook. "Keep sending the letters you have to Dumbledore; let him think he's still my guardian. Don't reveal any of what is being changed or said today. Don't even mention the investigation. Keep it all as it has been. Send the real things to Severus Snape," Harry told Griphook.
"I will personally see to it, Mr. Potter. If you like, I can remain your account manager and handle everything with you from now on?" Griphook offered.
"That would be fine with me," Harry nodded.
"Never thought I'd say this…But you've managed to impress me, Mr. Potter," Severus informed. "I think I just saw why you absolutely belong in my house."
"While we're on that subject, there is one more lordship Mr. Potter can claim…The title of Lord Slytherin." Griphook said as the eyes of Harry, Lucius, and Severus all widened at the information.