Chapter 6
With a small pop, Harry and Minerva appeared in a small alley, in the middle of London. Harry felt really woozy and a bit ill, but it passed fairly quickly, and then he looked up and saw where they were.
“Are we in London Ms? I didn’t think the alley could be in a big city like this, without being noticed.”
“Yes Harry we are in London, but you have to remember that us witches and wizards, have been able to hide for hundreds of years not being noticed. There is a special warded district here in London, that the muggles can’t see or notice. That is were you and I are going today. First we need to enter the establishment that acts as the gate to the alley.”
Harry looked around him, but all he saw were small cafés, little shops and a dreary looking old pub. He quickly ruled out the pub, because surely the entry had to be grander than a dingy, kind of dirty pub. However he failed to notice that people passing by, didn’t seem to notice that the pub was there at all.
“Ms. I don’t see anywhere we could use to enter the alley, is this really the right place?”
“Oh indeed it is, can you not see the pub over there? It’s called, The Leaky Cauldron. It is warded against being noticed by the muggles, see how they just pass it by, as if it never was there.”
Harry thought that another way in still would have been nicer, but oh well time to enter the dirty, dreary, dingy pub. Hope it’s cleaner on the inside. So Harry and Minerva crossed the street, and entered the pub.
Inside was actually kind of cozy, Harry thought. A huge fireplace at one end, wooden tables and little nooks to eat in. Minerva greeted the owner of The Leaky, Tom, but hurried along to not be noticed, since she didn’t want Harry to get swarmed by the public. It would be an exhausting day as it was.
Walking through the back door, they came to a little area in front of a huge brick wall. Well Harry thought, what now? Wait for a wrecking crew? Tear down this wall Mr. Gorbachev! But he soon found out looks are deceiving, when Minerva started to tap certain bricks in the wall. With a sesame the wall parted to make a portal into the most amazing thing Harry had ever seen.
Everywhere he looked there were colours, people, animals, food! Harry was mesmerized by the displays, so when Minerva nudged him to move out of the way, he blushed and moved to let people pass by.
“This is amazing, I’ve never even dreamt about something like this!”, Harry said.
“Well even for one as, shall we say, experienced as I am, it still has a sense of wonder doesn’t it.”, Minerva chuckled. “Now chop chop, we need to visit the bank first, so we can get all of your things today.”
And with that she started walking toward a large white building at the end of the street. Harry wanted to look at all of the window displays, but he decided he could do that later, after they had visited the bank. Walking up to the stairs, he noticed a peculiar being standing there. Short, with pointy teeth, and pointy ears, they stood there wearing armour, and holding weapons, that looked like they could take you down with one swing.
“Excuse me Ms., but who, or maybe I should say what, are they?”, he asked.
“Those Harry are goblins. They’re another race from us and hasn’t always had the best relations with us wizarding kind. That being said they deserve your respect, and you should always treat them firmly, yet polite. They do handle our financials after all.”
Oh, Harry thought, that was something new, so he went up to the guards and said: “Thank you for guarding our wellbeing sirs, I hope you are having a good day out here, and don’t let yourself get overheated okay?”. You could here a pin drop around them, everyone looked at him like he was crazy, but Minerva had a smile on her face, proudly thinking of Harry’s personality. The guards themselves were in chock, but they found themselves, and greeted him welcome, and to go inside the bank.
Inside the bank Harry thought it was the grandest building he’d ever been in. Marble everywhere, and a chequered floor. When he looked up he even saw an enormous chandelier, which seemed to be made from pure gold, with lights that must have been enchanted to shine. On both sides of the floor, long rows of tellers sat behind a beautiful wooden desk, serving the people in the bank as swiftly as possible.
“Now Harry we need to go see someone about your affairs. It will probably take some time, so while you do that I will take care of an errand the headmaster gave me. Here is your key, and that teller over there seem to be free. I’ll wait for you here at the entrance if I get done first. I want you to promise you will do the same for me.”
Nodding and promising, Harry walked up to the free teller feeling nervous but excited.
“Hello sir I hope you are having a lovely day, I need some help with my account, if you could be so kind.”
The goblin once again seemed to be stunned by Harry’s words, but he soon regained his composure.
“Key please”, he said, holding out his hand to Harry.
“Certainly sir I just got it from the woman following me today”
“Excuse me boy, but do you mean you haven’t had your key up and until today?”
“Well no sir, today was sort of my first day learning about the magical world, I had no idea of all of this.”
“I see…”, the goblin said, having clearly recognised Harry by the scar on his forehead and the key.
“Is it not normal sir to not have the access to your key?”
“No Mr. Potter it is not, you should have been in possession of it by now.”
“Oh… umm it seem like the headmaster of Hogwarts was in possession of it”
Dumbledore, oh what a meddler he is, the goblin thought. He clearly want the boy to be less than informed about everything. Well he didn’t account for us goblins not being his pawns, ridiculous it all is.
As the goblin had his internal monologue, Harry stood there wondering if he had done anything wrong.
“Pardon me sir but do I need to do something else? I only need money to get my supplies please. Ms. McGonagall said I should have enough to buy them.”
Snapped out of his thoughts, the goblin replied: “There is nothing wrong Mr. Potter, although we want to make sure everything is as it should be with a quick test. After all you could be an imposter and we goblins take security seriously.”. Happy with his own explanation, the goblin watched Harry squirm in front of him.
“Well sir I think I’m the real me, but I understand your concern. Will it take long? Because my guardian for today asked me to meet her here after her business was done.”
“Someone will be there to explain it to her don’t you worry Mr. Potter. If you would follow me to an empty room, we can have the privacy to discuss your affairs.”
He stood up from his stool behind the counter, put up a little sign saying closed, and walked around the counter, to lead Harry toward a room through the back. Harry feeling a little lost, but trusting, followed the goblin through large corridors, that seemed to be made out of pure rock, and littered with many doors on either side.
Finally stopping by a pair of doors, the goblin opened them and walked in, with Harry following closely by. The room they entered had a very grand, wooden desk, and comfortable looking chairs to sit on. The goblin went straight to the desk, so Harry went for one of the chairs and waited for the goblin to sit down, before he himself sat.
“Well Mr. Potter I must say you have impeccable manners. A rare sight these days, especially towards us goblins. Now I brought you here for a test that will confirm to us who you are, and it may show if you are entitled to any titles in our word, other than for the heirship of the Potter family of course.”
“Heirship? I’m an heir of something? Gee this day keeps on getting stranger. Could you please explain to me what an heirship means sir?”
“Certainly Mr. Potter, and may I say it’s a travesty you haven’t learned anything about this until now.”
“I’m sorry sir, I live with my aunt and uncle who hates everything not normal in their eyes. I grew up with the notion that magic doesn’t exist.”
“Not your fault Mr. Potter, us goblins don’t blame you in the slightest. Your magical guardian though, who was supposed to educate you in these matters is another thing. We need to see who that is but I have a suspicion.”
“I see, oh I’m so sorry sir I have not asked for your name yet. Mine is Harry Potter and I am happy to make your acquaintance.”
“My name is Griphook Mr. Potter and once again you prove yourself to be a fascinating young wizard. Now let me see your hand, we need to prick your finger and let some drops of blood out on this parchment. Be warned not to give blood to anyone, because blood magic is very real and could harm you if it gets into the wrong hands. But you needn’t worry about us goblins, we have taken an oath upon our lives, and it does not leave this parchment.”
Reassured Harry gave his consent, and Griphook poked his finger with a sharp dagger, letting some blood flow onto the parchment, before sealing the wound and making it disappear completely. After the drops hit the parchment, text started appearing, slowly making rows of words, and soon it filled the whole thing.
“Let’s see here then Mr. Potter, it seems to be in order, and your identity is confirmed. You may now read it for yourself, and ask any questions you may have.
Harry reached out and took the parchment and started to read.
Identity and heirship test, standard Gringott’s edition
Parents
James Fleamont Potter (deceased) 1960-1981
Lily Violette Potter (deceased) 1960-1981
Godparents
Sirius Orion Black (incarcerated) 1959-
Alice Prudence Longbottom (incapacitated infinitely) 1960-
Heirships
Potter
Peverell
Gaunt
Slytherin
Lordships
None due to age, able to be claimed at 17
Properties
Need different documentation
Vaults
Need different documentation
Magical affinity
Dark
Magical guardian
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Harry felt his world had been turned upside down, he had four whole heirships and was going to be a lord at 17. A lord!
“Well Mr. Potter, do you have any questions?”
“Oh you bet I do Mr. Griphook. First of all how am I heir to four lines, then why didn’t my godparents take care of me, what does it mean you need different documents for properties and vaults, what does magical affinity mean, and why is Mr. Dumbledore my magical guardian?”
“The question about the lines you are heir to is a surprise to us as well. The Peverell and Potters have always been rumoured to have mixed in the past, and this confirms it. The Gaunt and Slytherin lines we can only guess comes from the night when you got that scar. The dark lord had bragged about his genealogy and connection to the Slytherin line, so a fair guess would be that it transferred to you through conquest, meaning when you supposedly defeated him.”
“The next question was about your godparents. After the fall of the dark lord, his closest followers tried to find clues about his disappearance. This led to the attack of the Lestrange family on the Longbottom’s, which led to Frank and Alice Longbottom’s tragic fate. They were held under the torture curse, the cruciatus, until their minds just shut down. Now they live in the hospital with no chance of recovery. Sirius Black, your godfather, was arrested and sent to Azkaban, the prison, for betraying your parents, and the death of their friend Peter Pettigrew and twelve muggles.”
“Your third question is the easiest to explain, it just means that we can make an audit, and show everything using another set of documents, that doesn’t need blood to work. Of course there is a fee for the service, as well as this test, but as you have been polite, and honest, we will take care of those fees this time, and start working on the audit as soon as possible. But let me assure you, you are one of the richest wizard’s existing at the moment, so no need to worry about the money.”
“Magical affinities refers to what magic you have the greatest inclination toward. In this case yours is dark, which lets you use dark magic to the fullest. You will have no problem with other types of magic, but dark magic and curses will be your strength. Do remember that dark doesn’t mean evil or bad. It is just magic that is classed as dark. Light spells can do evil as well as dark spells being used for good.”
“Lastly about your magical guardian, it seems Mr. Dumbledore appointed himself, without going through the proper channels. This will be terminated, since you are now aware of your status and don’t need a guardian other than your aunt. When at school your head of house will become your magical guardian and work toward your best interest.”
Harry’s head swirled from all the explanations, but he felt he had understood everything.
“Sir thank you for explaining all this to me, and for your time, but I must be going. I have things I need to do and Ms. McGonagall must be worried about me.”
“Yes I apologise for the interruption of your day, but it was necessary. We only need a few more things done first. These rings that has been provided will go on your finger, and mark you as an heir of that line. You may also feel your magic increase, often there are hidden gifts that awaken after accepting an heirship, so you will need to explore them. Please put them all on your right ring finger.”
Harry did as told and felt the surge of magic that came with each one. The Peverell felt dark but inviting, the Potter felt warm and comforting, the Gaunt felt horrible and vile, but still it fit him, and lastly the Slytherin felt like water, calming, yet stormy. After fitting all four, they melted into another, to make one single ring.
“Very good Mr. Potter, they have all accepted you. This means you now have extra protections, and I advise you to not take them off at anytime because of this. You can will them invisible, which will make anyone but you be unable to see them. You can also make a certain one appear just by wanting it, this will be useful as it can be used for larger purchases, taking it directly from that vault. Until the audit we can unfortunately not use any of them, so your Potter heirship vault will have to do, which is why I’ll give you this money pouch today. Think of the amount you need and it will appear inside. Our currency uses Galleons, Sickles and Knuts. The Galleons are the most valuable, and Knuts the least. That should be all for today Mr. Potter and we will owl you the result of your audit. I hope our service today was satisfactory.”
“Yes certainly sir, you have helped me so much, I just feel a bit overwhelmed and would like to leave now, but in the future could I owl you if I have any questions or concerns?”
“Absolutely Mr. Potter, we at Gringott’s are here for you. In fact as a last piece of advice, search out another wand maker than Ollivander, he and Dumbledore are close allies. I don’t want you to be manipulated to choose any wand they want. Get yourself one made just for you. I know there’s a place near the opening of Knockturn alley. Don’t be afraid of the reputation and be firm toward your guardian.”
“Okay sir I will take your advice.”, Harry said, really feeling impatient now to get back to Minerva.
“Good, then I’ll lead you back outside.”, Griphook replied.
Walking back through the corridors, they finally got back to the entrance hall. Minerva came rushing towards them, worry written all over her face.
“What is the meaning of this Mr. Goblin? I have been worried sick about the boy, and waited for a long time out here.”, she said harshly.
“My apologies madam, but there were things that needed to be taken care of, but everything is finished for now. I wish you well for the rest of the day.”, Griphook said and walked back to his place behind the counter.
“Oh Harry I was so worried, well come along now, we really need to get the shopping done today!”.
With that she and Harry hurried along to the doors and went outside ready to start their supply run.