Author's Note: This hasn't been to my beta, sorry about that. I claim all mistakes. You can point them out, if you want, but it's unlikely that I'll have time to go back and change them. I know I might ruffle a few feathers with this chapter and how it ends, I'm sorry for that, however I won't be changing the direction of the story. If you can't deal with it, then this probably isn't the story for you. It won't be all bashing, but it does play into the trust issues that Harry has. The primary focus of the story will be on the healing Sirius and Harry need to go through to be a family. MNF
Chapter 3:
Key, key, who has the key?
Harry awoke the morning after the capture of Peter Pettigrew feeling better about his life than he could ever remember. Sirius was innocent and he WANTED Harry to live with him. Someone was going to pick him up and take him to a house where he was wanted for the summer. Harry wasn't sure how Dumbledore would react to that, but at the moment he didn't care. All his life he had hoped for someone to love him, like a parent should – like Aunt Petunia did with Dudley – and now he might have it. With a spring in his step, Harry quickly went through his morning routine and went to breakfast with Neville. They met Hermione at table and began to fill their plates. Professor McGonagall came over and asked Harry and Hermione to follow them. The pair grabbed their plates, bid Neville goodbye, and went into a small anteroom off the Great Hall. There they found Sirius. They immediately sat down on either side of him.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked excitedly.
"Eating breakfast," Sirius replied, putting half a banger in his mouth. Harry looked at him with a disgusted look, suddenly feeling like he was sitting across from Ron.
"Sorry," Sirius said once his mouth was empty. "Living in Azkaban and then as a dog wasn't the best for the table manners. I'll do better, I promise."
"Good, because our friend Ron has terrible manners and nothing can be done to help him," Hermione said with a huff.
"How is he doing? I really didn't mean to hurt him," Sirius said.
"I don't know," Harry confessed. "I came straight down from the tower with Neville."
"I wasn't sure if they'd let me in," Hermione said. "It's not like when Harry is in the Hospital Wing and Madame Pomfrey knows I'll be by his bedside."
"Is it a common occurrence; you being in the hospital wing?" Sirius asked before putting a forkful of eggs in his mouth. Before Harry could answer, the door opened and Remus walked in, looking far worse for wear.
"Did you take your potions yet?" Sirius asked, getting up to assist him to his chair. The cane was a new addition to the post-full moon recovery tools.
"Just took them all. Madame Pomfrey said I could eat with you, but then I was to do nothing more strenuous than grade papers today. I have the first years' end of the year reports to review, should be just what the medi-witch ordered," Remus answered. Sirius filled his friend's plate with softer foods, poured him some juice and tea and then charmed it to be tepid. Generally, Remus's mouth hurt from the retraction of the wolf's teeth. Sirius put the spoon into his friend's hand and wrapped his fingers around it, then put his napkin into Remus's lap. Both Harry and Hermione were touched by the actions.
"You'll be glad to know Ron will be released after he eats his breakfast. He's all healed up, although sad, as he no longer has a pet."
"Maybe I can get him something," Harry said quietly.
"No, I'll be the one to replace his pet," Sirius said. "You only have your school vault. I have far more wealth available to me and it was my fault, really, that he was in hospital overnight."
"What do you mean my school vault? Do I have other vaults?" The words tumbled in a confused muttering from Harry's mouth.
"Harry, when you're seventeen you will be able to open the Potter vaults – one for coinage and another for heirlooms – as well as your business vault. As you were made the heir to several other bloodlines upon your birth, I'm sure there are others you can take up when you're twenty-one."
"How did I not know this?" he asked.
"I would have, should have, told you," Sirius said with an inward facing anger. "Who was acting as your magical guardian? I know the Longbottoms were incapacitated, but Amelia Bones and Mini were listed as possible people who could have been your magical guardians. I remember Lily and James writing their wills."
"No, that isn't what happened at all," Harry said, his ire rising. "Dumbledore said he was my magical guardians and that there was no one else who could take care of me, which is why I was with the Dursleys."
"Do you know who has the key to your vault, Harry?" Remus asked.
"No," Harry said. "Hagrid had it before my first year, so I could get my supplies. Last year, I went with the Weasleys to get my books and things, but I had a bit of a problem with the Floo. I ended up in Knockturn Alley and when I did find the Weasleys, Mrs Weasley already had gold for me. This past year, I ran away and stayed at the Leaky Cauldron and the Weasleys took me shopping again."
"You're missing classes today," Sirius said. "I'm taking you to Gringotts. I already had an appointment with my account manager, we will see yours as well."
"You can't leave, Harry," Hermione said. "Students aren't allowed to leave until end of term and the Express isn't for a week. Students must take the train home."
"That isn't exactly true, Hermione," Remus said. "Most students who have Apparition licenses get themselves home. Some ride the train for nostalgia, but once those NEWTs are finished, they just want to go home. It's tradition that students ride the trains, but I know plenty of parents who would come and either Floo home from their Head's office or the hospital wing. I don't see why Harry couldn't leave," Remus said. "He's finished his exams, and it's his legal guardian who wants to take him out of the castle. If Sirius wanted to take him home today, he'd be allowed. Do you have the paperwork yet?"
"Amelia stopped by Mini's this morning with copies of my legal guardian documents, adoption papers – which we will talk about this summer – and my wand. She did suggest I put a glamour on when I'm out among the public, but the official orders are rescinded, and the paper will be announcing it tonight in a special edition."
"Then it's to Gringotts!" Harry cheered. "Should we get my trunk together too?" he asked.
"Not just yet," Sirius said. "I don't want to worry about your belongings while we're out. You're going to garner attention as it is. Why don't you pack it and put it in Remus's office. We can Floo over later, grab it and then I'll take you both to our temporary lodgings. Remus, you should sleep in a decent bed tonight."
"The one here is fine," Remus answered.
"The one here is older than Dumbledore and the charms on it aren't working. Anyway, I want to give the office and classroom a good going over to see if I can find the curse and counter it or at least hire a curse breaker to do it," Sirius said definitively.
"Whatever you say, Sirius." Remus relented. He knew not to go against his friend when he was in a mood like his current one. Anyway, happy Sirius was a change for the good.
"Excellent. I also need to see about finding a permanent home for the three of us. I know my parents old place is available, but I consider it the first circle of hell and refuse to step foot in it. What do you think, Muggle or magical neighbourhood?" he asked Harry.
"Could you pass in a Muggle neighbourhood?" Harry countered.
"I will let you know that the first flat James and I shared was in a Muggle high rise in London. We chose it because it was close to the Ministry. We did fine living there," Sirius answered.
"They Obliviated several of their neighbours," Remus said. "And the DMLE had a terrible time when you chose to ride your flying motorcycle out the window one night."
"My deranged cousin had found me," Sirius said. "Flying out the window was the only way to save James and me. We did set off smoke bombs as we left, so the building cleared out and the police were soon there, as were the Aurors, to protect the other residents."
"Well," Harry started, "since I don't want our neighbours hating us, I vote for magical."
"Actually Harry, Muggle might be safer. Magicals are still going to question Sirius's innocence and it will keep him from having to defend himself if they can't find him. I might have a solution. Mum wrote me that the house next door is on the market. It has very high hedgerows, three bedrooms and three baths, like our house, and a pool."
"Ooh, a pool," Sirius said. "Give me the details. Whatever the price, I'll pay it. Oh, where do you live anyway?"
"We're at eight Heathgate in Hampstead, North London. The house for sale is six," Hermione answered.
"Perfect. Are you done, Harry?" Sirius asked.
"I am," he said, downing the last of his tea. "Let me just brush my teeth."
"I can't believe no one taught you the spell," Sirius said with a scoff. "Get your wand out and point it at your mouth. The incantation isdentes lava." Harry did as asked and instantly his teeth were shiny and gums felt clean.
"That is so cool."
"My mum and dad will not be happy about such a spell," Hermione said. Harry laughed but neither of the men did. "They're dentists." Still nothing from Remus or Sirius. "Tooth Doctors. By the way, how did you get your teeth fixed. Last night they were rather rotten."
"Madame Bones fixed them when she came by this morning. I'm still going to a healer, have them look me over before I consider myself good to go," Sirius answered.
The quartet left the antechamber by the hallway door, Sirius helping Remus back to his quarters and Hermione and Harry headed back to Gryffindor Tower.
Sirius sat with Remus until Harry arrived. The two men were almost afraid to investigate Harry's trunk, because they were certain he'd simply summoned everything he owned and had it fly into the trunk. Sirius was unhappy to see the condition of the old trunk and knew it didn't have nearly enough charms to protect his precious things – including the Invisibility Cloak that had saved James and him more than a few times in their school days.
"Where in the world did that trunk come from?" Sirius asked.
"It was in the Dursleys attic," Harry replied. "I wasn't able to buy one while I was shopping with Hagrid, and then I wasn't back to Diagon Alley for another year."
"After the bank, we're getting you some proper wizarding day robes and formal robes and then we're getting a good trunk, a magical trunk. That one can hold whatever you don't need to take back to school in the fall," Sirius stated.
"Can I also stop by Eyelops to buy some owl treats? I'm almost out and Hedwig is such a good girl," Harry asked.
"Of course," Sirius said more jovially than the trunk discussion had gone. "Plus, no trip to Diagon Alley is complete without some ice cream."
"Absolutely true!" Harry happily said. It was eight in the morning, and the boy could eat ice cream now. Sirius put a glamour on himself, turning his dark hair a sandy brown colour and his eyes a non-descript brown. He resembled Remus's brother, if he'd had one.
The pair said their goodbyes to Defence Professor and his grading, used his Floo to head to the Leaky Cauldron, which was thankfully deserted at this hour. The Alley was equally empty, and they reached the bank in no time. Sirius knew the moment he walked through the door his glamour would be gone, but he wasn't concerned.
Sirius walked up to the teller and handed him three keys. "I am Sirius Black, Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. I need to see my account manager and visit my vaults. I also have with me Harry Potter, heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter. He needs to have his current key summoned to the bank, have an heir bloodline test done and visit his vault."
"Certainly, Lord Black," the goblin teller replied.
"Thank you, and may your day be prosperous," Sirius replied.
"And may your vault be overflowing," the goblin replied before slipping off his stool and going into a back area.
"What was that you said to the goblin?" Harry asked.
"It is the proper way to end a conversation with a goblin. Believe me, it does wonders if you compliment them regarding the way they handle your affairs. Gold is everything to the goblin nation. Most pureblood witches and wizards look down on the goblins, but they shouldn't. Never alienate the person who is dealing with your financial affairs. We are going to go over all of this during the summer." Harry nodded, happy to finally be learning about wizarding culture. Maybe there was a book he could buy that he could use as reference?
"Lord Black," a goblin in an immaculate suit said from a small side door, "if you'll please follow me." Harry and Sirius followed the goblin into a large and well-appointed office where another goblin was seated behind the desk.
"Strongblade," Sirius said cheerfully. "I'm so glad you've been handling the family funds."
"It is good to see you too, Lord Black. You were a young man the last time I saw you," Strongblade replied.
"It's Sirius, Lord Black was my grandfather."
"Who sadly has passed, that man knew how to make money better than some goblins. With his passing, you are now Lord Black, and deserve your title. It's unfortunate what happened to you."
"Yes, well I had an unexpected and very long trip to an island in the North Sea," Sirius answered wryly.
"I do hope you'll let us deal with the Ministry for you," Strongblade said with an evil glint.
"We shall see. Strongblade, are you still the Potter Family goblin as well?" The banker nodded his head. "Allow me to introduce you to Heir Potter, Harry James Potter."
"You look like your father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Heir Potter. I don't know what it is about Potter men and their hair," Strongblade said with a shake of his head. "I suppose that's why Fleamont created Sleekeazy's."
"Who is Fleamont?" Harry asked.
"Your grandfather, Fleamont Potter. Best man in the world. More of a father to me than my own ever was," Sirius ended darkly. "Your grandmother's name was Euphemia. They went by Fee and Monty."
"Huh. I didn't know the stuff Hermione uses when she wants to look nice was invented by my grandfather. I had no idea."
"There's so much you don't know, Harry, but Remus and I will teach it to you, I promise," Sirius said, gently laying a hand on his back.
"I understand you'd like to find out about your accounts as well as Heir Potter's?" the goblin asked.
"Yes, let's start with Harry's as we need a new key issued to him. He doesn't know who has his," Sirius explained.
"I can have it recalled immediately, for a small fee."
"Do it, I want my key back," Harry said. The goblin took a metal small box out of his desk and a sharp looking small golden knife.
"I need you to put three drops of your blood into the box. When I seal the box, it will glow green when the key has returned," Strongblade explained. Harry did as he was supposed to and then Sirius healed his finger. Almost immediately the box glowed green, and the banker opened the box and removed the key.
"Interesting, it's been with a witch," Strongblade said almost immediately. "Did you give it to a witch?"
"The last I knew Dumbledore had it, well Hagrid had it and was going to give it back to Dumbledore. Maybe Professor McGonagall had it?" Harry answered.
"No, Mini loved your parents far too much to have kept someone as personal as your vault key. She would have given it to you straight away," Sirius said.
"Why do you call her Mini?"
"That is a story for another time," Sirius told Harry. "Is there a way to find out who had it?"
"Of course," Strongblade said. "For a small fee."
"Do it," Harry directed, wondering who had his key.
"Would you also like an accounting of the last twenty transactions?"
"Yes, and whatever the fee is fine."
"Excellent," Strongblade said. He pulled a blank sheet of parchment from his drawer and laid the key at the top of it. He then sprinkled a fine powder over the key. Quickly lines of goblin script formed beneath it. A wave of the goblin's hand turned the gobbledygook into English.
"Do you know a Molly Weasley?"
"Yes, she's my best mate's mother. Blimey, why does she have my vault key?" Harry said.
"Well, I'm not sure why she'd had your key, but she'd been taking regular withdrawals from your account for the last three years," Strongblade explained.
"What?" Harry said enraged.
"Can you explain that, please?" Sirius asked.
"Certainly," the goblin said. "Your education account was set up by your parents for the specific use of your schooling. It began with ten thousand galleons. Twice yearly, on November twentieth and May twentieth, an additional five thousand galleons were added. Once it reached fifty thousand galleons, it was only topped off to return to the fifty thousand mark. It seems that just shortly before your account was topped off, Molly Weasley would come and withdraw varying amounts of gold. Did you not know?"
"I mean, she had a money bag for me at shopping time last year and this, although my books were given to me by the Minister for Magic this year. Has she been stealing from me?" Harry asked, feeling horrified and a bit sick to his stomach.
"I don't know, Harry, but I think we'd better pay a visit to the Weasleys when we're done here," Sirius said gently.
"I can't believe she'd do something like this," Harry muttered dejectedly. Strongblade continued to review the accounting.
"Do you know a Petunia Dursley?" Strongblade said. "There has been a yearly payment sent to her Barclays account in the amount of twelve thousand galleons or sixty thousand pounds."
"The Dursleys were being paid to keep me!" Harry said, his magic flaring about him. Sirius tried to calm him down, but Harry was lost in his anger. Without another choice available to him, Sirius stunned his godson.
