Chapter 2
Harry was pleased that the books he'd asked for came at night. This way, he could read them without the Dursleys finding out about them.
He put How to Wizard for Muggleborns and How to Wizard for Muggle-raised Wizards out of the way first, and they told him about pureblood greetings and his lord- and heirships. Given that 'Potter' wasn't in the Sacred Twenty-Eight (or descended from the Ancient Houses, which were Morgana, Merlin, Peverell, and the Hogwarts Founders), Harry assumed that he wasn't the lord or heir of anything. Except maybe Black, through Sirius.
He did, however, learn that despite not having a lord- or heirship, James Potter had been a pureblood, so Harry was supposed to have more than one vault. He would have to ask the goblins about that. How to get to Gringotts was the question.
"The Knight Bus is available all day and all night," Remus pointed out the next time Harry called the two Marauders. "If you don't want the Dursleys to know, just wait until they're asleep and sneak out."
Sirius mock gasped. "Who are you, and what have you done with Mr. Responsibility?"
Remus swatted him in response.
It was too late that night to go anywhere, so Harry decided to go the following night. He finished his chores early and went back to his room to read Beginners' Guide to Runes. It looked fascinating. And really easy. It was a beginner's guide, though, so Harry decided to get another book about it to make sure he could do it.
Harry looked at Arithmancy for Dummies next, and immediately discarded it. Arithmancy was apparently about the deeper magical meaning of numbers. Harry had astounding difficulty with the deeper meaning of things. Reading Shakespeare, for example, gave him a headache. So, he decided to take Runes as a replacement to Divination.
The house was filled with Dudley's and Uncle Vernon's snores when he came to this decision, and Harry realized that everyone was asleep. He sighed, realizing he hadn't eaten dinner or lunch. There wasn't anything he could do about it now, though.
Harry hid the Arithmancy book under the loose floorboard.
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"Mr. Potter," the goblin teller said dryly. "You're here a bit late."
"Fair eve, sir goblin," Harry said. How to Wizard for Muggle-raised Wizards had taught him goblin greetings. He wondered why How to Wizard for Muggleborns didn't teach that.
The teller was startled, but he responded, "Fair eve, sir wizard."
"I'm sorry I'm here so late," Harry apologized, "but my Muggle relatives don't much like magic, and I had to sneak out."
The goblin nodded. "What can we do for you, sir wizard?"
"I wasn't aware that I had more than one vault," Harry responded.
"You've never received your bank statements?" the goblin frowned. Harry shook his head. He snapped his fingers, and another goblin appeared swiftly. "This runner will take you to an overseer, sir wizard. We will have to investigate Griphook, the Potter accountant...."
"Griphook was my accountant?" Harry asked in surprise. "I didn't know that."
Both goblins looked grim. "Come, sir wizard," the runner said. Harry followed the other goblin through one of the doors.
Instead of an underground railroad system, he found himself in a long, dimly lit hallway with several doors. The runner led him to one of them and knocked. "Mr. Potter to see you, Captain Hackblade."
"Enter."
The goblin opened the door, revealing a small, cozy office with yet another goblin sitting behind a desk. Harry stepped inside, and the door shut behind him.
"Fair eve, sir goblin," Harry said nervously.
"Fair eve, sir wizard," Hackblade replied, smiling toothily. "Please, take a seat." Harry sat down in the chair across from him. "What can I do for you?"
Harry explained that he hadn't known about his father's multiple vaults, and that he'd never received a bank statement.
Hackblade tapped his chin. "How many letters have received in your life, sir wizard?"
"Not a lot," Harry muttered.
"Then you may have a Mail Ward, sir wizard," Hackblade hummed. "All celebrities have problems with fan mail."
"Is there a way to get rid of that, uh, Mail Ward, sir goblin?" Harry asked cautiously. "Or change it so I can get important letters?"
"I will have to see who and what the Mail Ward blocks," Hackblade answered. "You may call me Hackblade."
"Um... okay, as long as you call me Harry."
Hackblade reached into his desk and pulled out a piece of yellow parchment and a needle. "Place three drops of blood on the parchment, Harry."
Harry picked up the needle and pricked his finger, then squeezed three drops onto the parchment. The cut immediately healed, but Harry was paying more attention to the words appearing on the paper:
Mail Ward (created 10/31/1981):
Allow:
Molly Weasley Nee Prewett (added 9/1/1992)
Ronald Billius Weasley (added 9/1/1991)
Hermione Jean Granger (added 10/31/1991)
Ginevra Molly Weasley (added 5/1/1992)
Sirius Orion Black (added 5/1/1993)
Albus Percival Wolfric Brian Dumbledore (added 10/31/1981)
Petunia Dursley Nee Evans (added 10/31/1981)
Do Not Allow:
Omnis
"It appears that the Headmaster is the one who cast the Mail Ward," Hackblade said sourly, after both of them had read the paper.
"Why was it cast the exact day that my parents died?" Harry frowned. "Why wasn't it cast a few days later?"
Hackblade's eyes widened. "That would mean that the Headmaster knew you would become famous. Or perhaps he wanted to keep dangerous mail from you? Both?"
"The goblins don't trust Dumbledore, do they?" Harry asked quietly.
"No, we do not," Hackblade growled. "It would not be a good idea to remove the Ward entirely, as it is keeping you safe from dangerous mail sent by Death Eaters and pedophilic fans-" Harry felt himself pale "-but I can edit this one so that you can get the harmless mail and missives from Gringotts, while keeping the changes from Dumbledore."
"How much will that cost?" Harry asked.
"Nothing," Hackblade said dryly. "This action has very little to do with your vaults, Harry."
"Oh. Um. Thank you."
"Is there anyone you would like me to add to this list?" Hackblade added.
Harry thought for a moment. "Remus Lupin, Neville Longbottom, and Fred and George Weasley."
Hackblade smirked and waved a hand over him. As he did so, the writing changed:
Mail Ward (created 10/31/1981):
Allow:
*Molly Weasley Nee Prewett (added 9/1/1992)
*Ronald Billius Weasley (added 9/1/1991)
*Hermione Jean Granger (added 10/31/1991)
*Ginevra Molly Weasley (added 5/1/1992)
*Sirius Orion Black (added 5/1/1993)
*Albus Percival Wolfric Brian Dumbledore (added 10/31/1981)
*Petunia Dursley Nee Evans (added 10/31/1981)
*Gringotts (added 8/2/1994)
*Remus John Lupin (added 8/2/1994)
*Fred Gideon Weasley (added 8/2/1994)
*George Fabian Weasley (added 8/2/1994)
*Neville Franklin Longbottom (added 8/2/1994)
*Laudatores (added 8/2/1994)
*Ministry (added 8/2/1994)
Do Not Allow:
Omnis
Block:
Curses
Love Potions
Compulsions
Blocks
*Subject will now receive a list of harmful magics on packages and missives.
"Why didn't it block harmful magic before?" Harry asked.
"Either the Headmaster forgot, which I doubt," Hackblade said darkly, "or, far more likely, he or other people on this list have sent you items containing harmful magics."
"Is there a way to find out what that magic was?"
"You would need to have access to the letters," Hackblade told him, "but the nature of the Ward made it so the letters would have been the destroyed."
"But I'll know the next time someone sends me letters," Harry concluded.
"Yes," Hackblade agreed. "Now, you wanted to see what vaults you own?"
Harry nodded.
Hackblade placed another parchment in front of him, this time silver. "You can keep the Mail Ward parchment," he added. "It will tell you if the Headmaster, or someone else, edits it."
Harry pocketed the Mail Ward parchment. "Three more drops of blood?" he guessed. Hackblade nodded, and Harry pricked his finger again.
Potter Vaults:
#9,991: Adultus
Contains 9,000 G, 5,000 S, 1,000 K; library; furniture; protective jewelry; journals; wills for James Fleamont Potter and Lily Potter Nee Evans
Deposits: 100 G, 100 S, 100 K semi-annually (see Potter - Gringotts agreement)
Donations to Order of the Phoenix: 100 G, 100 S, 100 K annually
Monthly Transferal to Dursley Account (99 pounds, 70 pence)
Monthly Transferal to Weasley Adultus Vault (10 G, 10 S, 10 K)
#9,992: Pueri
Contains 1,000 G, 500 S, 500 K; letters from 'Prongs' and 'Mummy'
Deposits: 10 G, 10 S, 10 K monthly (see Potter - Gringotts agreement)
Yearly Withdrawals (approximately 100 G, 100 S, 100 K)
#9,993: Secessus
Contains 1,000 G, 500 S, 500 K
Deposits: 100 G, 100 S, 100 K annually (see Potter - Gringotts agreement)