Chapter 24

The next day, Harry found himself timidly knocking on Zorin and Rip's door. He had a proposal for them, and desperately hoped they were on board. After a few minutes Rip opened the door rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"Harry, come in." She said while yawning

"Sorry I didn't know where you guys were on acclimating to diurnal yet." Harry said. She waived it off.

"I was just taking a nap. Zorin should be here soon. How are you?" Rip asked.

"Good, but a little nervous. Where are Schrodinger and Helena?" Harry asked. Rip quirked an eyebrow.

"Schrodinger is taking a break wherever it is he goes, and Helena is with Luna. She's hoping to work with Luna at the ice cream shop. Harry, what's wrong?" Rip asked.

"Nothing's wrong. I just need to ask you guys something." Harry said. The door opened admitting Zorin.

"Oh Hello Harry. Hi Rip." Zorin said, kissing Rip.

"You get a hug, you're not as hot as Rip." Zorin said with a grin hugging Harry who laughed.

"I'd be offended, but you're right." Harry said winking at Rip who blushed.

"So what's going on?" Zorin asked. Harry sat on a chair and Rip and Zorin settled into their favored couch.

"I have a favor I want to ask you both, and it's a big one." Harry said

"Of course, Harry what is it?" Zorin said. Harry hesitated.

"It's about Schrodinger. I've been revising the enrollment procedures and requirements with Minerva, and we discovered a possible hitch. It's stupid, but it's extremely old magic that would have catastrophic consequences if unraveled. The simple problem is that Schrodinger does not have a last name." Harry said. Zorin and Rip stared at him.

"I never even thought about that. What can we do?" Rip asked. Harry hesitated again.

"I have an idea, but all of us need to be on board. I want us all... to adopt Schrodinger." harry said,

"Yes." Rip and Zorin both said at the same time simultaneously.

"Seriously? No explanation?" Harry asked, shocked.

"Of course! We see him as a son, and you as his father already, filing some paperwork to make it official changes nothing. " Zorin reasoned.

"Oh thank god." Harry said, visibly relieved.

"You thought we'd refuse?" Rip asked.

"No, not really, but this is a big big thing, and I didn't want to assume. I'd be willing to do it alone, but I'd never want to interfere with you three." Harry said.

"What does Seras think about this?" Rip asked. Harry smiled.

"Seras told me that Schrodinger would be the luckiest kid at Hogwarts because has three moms and a dad who love him." Harry said, his eyes misting.

"Then it's decided." Zorin said, wiping her eyes.

"I have the paperwork prepared, I'll leave it here for you guys to review Just..." Harry started before Zorin started signing her name, immediately followed by Rip.

"Guys..." Harry said.

"There's no question harry. That boy is precious to us all." Zorin said.

"Harry, why is my name all blurry on the contract?" Rip asked. Harry frowned.

"Magical paperwork requires birth names. The contract states your name as 'Elke Himmler' but I've done a little magic on it so that anyone who reads the paperwork will see Rip VanWinkle. I was kind of hoping you wouldn't notice." Harry said grinning. Rip stood and hugged him.

"You are always so thoughtful, Harry. Thank you." Rip said.

"You're welcome. Now, before I leave, care to explain that?" Harry asked with a grin, pointing at the engagement ring on Rip's finger. She smiled and took Zorin's hand, squeezing it.

"I think you can connect the dots." Rip said. Harry hugged them both.

"I'm so happy for you! Does Schrodinger know?" Harry said. Zorin nodded

"I asked her in front of him. I wanted him to be a part of it." Zorin said.

"You guys are wrecking my tough badass image." Harry said, blowing his nose.

"Ok, call me when Schrodinger gets back, I have some business to attend to." Harry said.

Sirius Black was having a good day. He'd gone clothes shopping in muggle London and managed to get a nice looking woman's phone number, now he just needed to figure out what the hell to do with it. He stepped out of the Leaky Cauldron on the magical side and made it two steps into Diagon alley before his world went black. A cloth bag had been pulled over his head and he was lifted into the air by someone slightly taller than himself. He kicked and yelled, but couldn't wrench himself out of the person's grip and he was starting to panic.

It took a few minutes before he was placed carefully into a wooden chair and tied to it with an incarcerous. He struggled against his bonds but could not loosen the ropes. After a few minutes of valiant struggle he stopped, sitting still in the chair, awaiting his fate. Shortly after he stilled, the bag was wrenched off of his head and he discovered that he was tied to a chair, in the middle of Diagon Alley, right in front of Gringotts.

"What the fuck?" Sirius asked.

"Come on Sirius, we're going to the bank!" Harry said happily, freeing his godfather. There was a crowd of amused witches and wizards snickering at his plight.

"Goddamnit Harry, again? Why do you even need me to be here?" Sirius asked.

"As we practiced!" Harry said to the crowd.

"STOP BEING A PUSSY, SIRIUS!" They shouted in unison. Sirius decided at that moment that if his looks weren't an obvious indicator of his relation to James Potter, this bullshit certainly was. Sirius grumbled and followed him into the bank.

"This time nothing crazy. Just setting up a vault for Schrodinger." Harry said. They walked up to the next available teller who was incredulous at Harry's standing in line like a normal customer, despite his VIP status in both Gringotts and Wizarding Britain.

"What can I do for you today, Emperor Hadrian?" The goblin said with a grin.

"Cute. I'm here to check my balance and set up a vault for my dear friend Schrodinger." Harry said.

"Excellent, well your balance is... 4,001,212,951 galleons, 34 sickles and 22 knuts in liquid assets." the teller said.

"I was looking for my personal vault not the government coffers, also that's a lot lower than I thought it would be." Harry said. The Goblin shuffled through his paperwork.

"No, that's your personal vault total. The government vault holds over 21 billion galleons." The teller said

"But... How is that possible? I was down to like 3 million the last time?" Harry said.

"The audit you ordered showed that the Ministry had 'borrowed' hundreds of millions of galleons multiple times over the last two centuries from the Potter vaults, and compounded with interest and late fees when the audit was complete, the total was paid in full." the Goblin said.

"I don't recall authorizing any such loans." Harry said.

"Well most of them were authorized by your ancestors, bailing out the government. However it looks like a sum of five hundred million was withdrawn in 1995. Did you not authorize that?" the teller asked.

"I was a fifth year at Hogwarts, I wasn't legally capable of authorizing shit!" Harry said. The goblin cycled through the paperwork and paled.

"Oh dear... Please wait here." the teller said, running to the back and returning moments later with Talnok, who looked furious.

"See this?" The teller said. Talnok read through the paper and growled.

"Harry, it looks like Ragnok got off easy when he was eviscerated. This document shows that the withdrawal was authorized by Cornelius Fudge, and stamped by Ragnok himself. There is no way whatsoever that Fudge should have been able to access any vault but the government coffers and his own." Talnok said. He nodded to the teller, who stepped out of the way.

"I cannot begin to apologize enough.." Harry stopped him.

"Save it Talnok. You don't blame me for the Ministry's atrocious treatment of your people I'm not gonna blame you for Ragnok's fuckery. Besides, the money's back, no harm no foul." Harry said, sighing.

"You are very gracious, Harry. At the very least please let us waive any fees associated with the new vault you are setting up today, it's the least we can do." Talnok said.

"I appreciate it, Thank you." Harry said.

"How much are you looking to put in the new vault?" Talnok asked.

"We'll start with a hundred thousand, that'll get him though hogwarts with plenty to spare." Harry said. Talnok nodded and made the appropriate requests.

"You are all set. Here is the key, it will key itself to whomever touches it first, so do not open the package, let the vault owner open it first." Talnok said.

"Thanks! Oh, can I also get a few thousand pounds? I have some shopping to do." Harry said. Talnok nodded and handed him 5000 pounds. Harry reluctantly let Sirius go about his business and picked up Seras before returning to Rip and Zorin's just in time for Schrodinger to arrive. Zorin smiled nervously at Harry as he walked in and they all sat at their kitchen counter, Schrodinger was enjoying a blood pop.

"Schrodinger, we have a very important question to ask you." Harry said.

"Oh, ok... What is it?" Schrodinger asked. Harry looked at Rip, Zorin, and Seras one last time and they nodded.

"Hogwarts has rules, built into the magic of the castle, that require students to have first and last names. We're not sure but we think perhaps it was Salazar Slytherin's scheming to keep goblins out of Hogwarts..." Harry said. Schrodinger's expression fell.

"Oh, I see. Ok then." Schrodinger said, looking heartbroken. He was about to get up and walk away, but Harry stopped him.

"Potter-Victoria, or Blitz?" Harry asked.

"What?" Schrodinger asked, Harry grinned and showed him the paperwork.

"Is this... is this real?!" Schrodinger asked. Harry nodded.

"The four of us would very much like to adopt you, Schrodinger." Seras said with a smile. Schrodinger let out a sob while staring at the document.

"Why?" Schrodinger finally asked.

"To quote my dear friend Rip, because we love you, silly boy." Harry said.