Story Arc 6, Chapter 8
Friday morning found both Harry and Neville back at Aunt Andi's house working on potions again. She had them brew two potions that were suited to their skill levels, but weren't ones they'd brewed before. Both boys took their time and made sure their preparations were done before placing their cauldrons on the fire. The end result was two perfect potions for both of them.
"I'm proud of you both, Harry and Neville. You've come a long way in just a week. I think you both will find Potions more enjoyable this year."
Neville said, "Thank you for taking the time to teach me, Healer Tonks. I've learned so much and it all makes sense now."
"You are welcome, Neville. And it's Aunt Andi when we're just family. You are Harry's godbrother, so that makes you part of our family too."
"Yeah, Nev, our family just keeps getting bigger and better!" said Harry.
"I hate to cut this short, but we have to be at the Ministry before one this afternoon. Neville, if you ever have a question about potions, you can always owl me. Now, you two scamps head on out. I'll see you again shortly, Harry."
- Scene Break -
Harry looked at his dress robes and sighed. He'd tried to fight Sirius over them and just have the Slytherin and Potter crests on them, but no, Sirius insisted that all four house crests had to be on there. It was just the way things were done. He didn't have to like it; he just had to do it.
The ceremony was going to be held in the Wizengamot chambers. There were only three cadets graduating today, so it should be a short ceremony. Andi and Ted were also more formally dressed. Andi looked much more comfortable in hers than Ted did in his.
The ceremony was brief. Mad-Eye Moody introduced the three cadets and said a very brief amount about each one. Rufus Scrimgeour administered the Oath and assisted Madam Bones as she presented their shields of office. Each cadet was already in their red Auror robes. Each cadet then got up and said a short speech thanking those who helped them get this far. All-in-all, it was a short and simple ceremony.
The reception afterwards was a bit longer, but nobody wanted to stick around in their formal robes. Everyone went home to change and then congregated over at the Tonks' home for a party. Tonks had invited a couple of friends over for dinner, then they all went out to celebrate with the other cadets, leaving the rest to their own devices.
It wasn't too long before Harry began to yawn and they called it a night.
- Scene Break -
Saturday morning, they met up with the Grangers at the Leaky Cauldron. The weather was nice and the trip to Gringotts was short. Harry had set up the appointment in advance, so Griphook had moved it to one of the conference rooms nearby. Harry introduced everyone to Griphook and then turned it over to him.
"Miss Granger, I will need you to prick your thumb and place three drops of blood in this vial. This test will use up all of the blood you provided or render it inert so that it can't be used for nefarious purposes."
Hermione did that and they all watched as Griphook shook the vial seven times, then dipped a new goose quill in it, drawing up all the liquid. He set it to write on the special parchment. It didn't take long for it to complete its work.
Griphook looked at it first, then handed it to Hermione.
Harry asked, "Well?"
She handed it to him to read:
Hermione Jane Granger
Father: Ian Michael Granger
Mother: Michelle Jeanine Granger nee Puckle
Heir: Noble House of Dagworth-Granger
"Congratulations! I thought you had to have some magical background!" Harry said.
"Miss Granger, or should I say, Heiress Dagworth-Granger, I took the liberty of notifying the Account Manager for the Dagworth-Granger account of the possibility of an heir being discovered today. I'll have a runner let him know it is true."
"So, who is this Dagworth-Granger guy I'm supposed to be related to?" asked Ian.
"All I really know about him is that he started the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers. I've never had much time to look into it further since I thought there was no chance I could actually be related to him," Hermione said.
The door then opened and another goblin stepped in. Griphook introduced him as Barclaw.
"Greetings, Heiress Dagworth-Granger. I will be your account manager. I've managed the account for the past eighty years. The line went dormant after Hector Dagworth-Granger's death in 1825. The account manager prior to me suspected there was a squib birthed in the late 1700s that might present an heir if the circumstances were favorable and I see that he was correct."
Hermione asked, "Is there a way to trace my family tree so that we can figure out where the relationship is?"
"For a small fee of twenty galleons we can have a family tree constructed going back ten generations. For a fee of thirty-five galleons, we can go back twenty generations. If we go back that far, you could probably find a relationship to both Lord Black and Vipermok."
Harry interjected, "Twenty galleons is a lot of money, Barclaw. I think that ten galleons is more reasonable for just ten generations."
"Ah, I see the young one wants to bargain. I was warned about you. I'm afraid I can't go any lower than eighteen galleons, young mage."
"How about eighteen and you throw in an abilities test as well?" Harry was grinning widely.
I believe we have a bargain, if it is acceptable to Heiress Dagworth-Granger."
Hermione quickly nodded her head that she was just fine. Barclaw removed another vial of potion from his coat pocket and another stiletto for her to prick her finger. This time he asked for seven drops of blood to construct the family tree. Once the quill started drawing, he pulled a ring box from another pocket.
"I took the liberty of bringing the heir's ring up from the vault as well as prepared an account summary. We should meet before you return to Hogwarts and review your investment strategies. As the Dagworth-Granger family was strong in Potioneers, you own shares in Slug and Jiggers as well as several ingredient providers."
Ian said, "We are leaving on holiday beginning Monday and don't return until the fourteenth. Perhaps the afternoon of the nineteenth or twentieth?"
"Either of those dates will be fine. Just owl me with the date and time."
"Can I visit the vault?" asked Hermione.
"You may not visit the main vault, however, the instructions for the account stipulates a trust vault be established for any heir in the amount of five thousand galleons at birth with an additional one thousand galleons added each birthday. Your trust vault currently contains nineteen thousand galleons," Barclaw said, then handed her her own bronze key.
Harry said in a stage whisper, "I bet that will buy a lot of books!"
Hermione popped him on the arm, "Oh you!"
The quill had finished its work. First Barclaw asked if she wanted to review her abilities or have them read aloud. She told him he could read it.
Heiress Hermione Jane Dagworth-Granger:
Water Elemental Affinity
Eidetic Memory (partially blocked)
"What does it mean that my memory is partially blocked?" asked Hermione.
"Just that. To learn more and how to remove it, you would need to see one of our healers."
They all headed towards the goblin infirmary where Hermione had the block removed. According to the 'age' of the block, it was put on during her first year at Hogwarts. Three guesses who did it. Once the block was removed, Hermione was hit with an overflow of information all at once. It gave her a splitting headache. The healer gave her a headache potion to help.
"I would suggest you learn occlumency as soon as possible. A mind like yours has a propensity to overload itself quite frequently. Occlumency will help you deal with this," said the goblin healer.
"Harry gave me a book on it earlier in the summer and I have read it. I'll look at it again and see if I can make more sense out of it now. Thank you for your time, Healer Stonefist."
They finally made it up to the carts. Hermione wanted to know if Harry wanted to join them. She'd never been to the vaults. Harry was trying to hide a smirk. Hermione liked both feet on the ground and at a sedate pace. This was going to blow that away.
Harry was whooping it up and enjoying the ride. Hermione had a death grip on his arm as well as Michelle holding on to Ian. Finally, the cart stopped.
"Vault 627. Key please," said the cart goblin.
Hermione handed him her key and he opened the vault. He then moved out of the way. The others gave a gasp at the piles of galleons, sickles, and knuts stacked high in the vault. She had that momentary urge to imitate Daffy Duck and toss them in the air, yelling, "Mine! Mine! All Mine!" but refrained. She did see a bag on the wall by the door and put a modest number of coins in it. She didn't have to worry about her book allowance now.
The Grangers didn't have time for a full lunch, but a stop at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor was. Despite being dentists, the Grangers did allow a modest amount of sweets in their house – as long as you brushed your teeth thoroughly afterward. They split up in the Leaky Cauldron. They'd all see each other tomorrow for Harry's birthday party.