47 Harry Gaunt - Chapter 47

Bellatrix looked on as Sirius went through the contracts with Bimock, a most cantankerous Goblin. They were in his office. Sirius had been told to pull up a chair and get on with it.

"So it's 200?" Sirius confirmed as he read the get out clause. "For each?"

That was a lot of money. Sirius was surprised Arcturus had agreed to the terms.

"That's correct." Bimock grunted. He had spindly limbs that creaked with age. "Sign here. I will arrange the rest with the affected parties."

Bellatrix leant forwards in her seat. She'd been told not to say anything as Bimock presented Sirius with a quill.

"Right then, here we go I suppose." Sirius signed his name. It didn't look all that fancy. "How's that?"

Bimock looked at it. "Satisfactory."

Bellatrix jumped out of her chair. "Is it done-"

"Be silent!" Bimock jabbed a finger at her. "You should have waited outside with the other one. This is Lord Black's affair."

Bimock had expressly told Bellatrix to wait outside, but no, the new Lord Black insisted she come along.

She glared at him. "Well, is it done?" Bellatrix hadn't felt anything yet.

Bimock ignored her and turned to Sirius. "My lord, it is done. I will transfer the monies today." He took back the contracts and placed them in his drawer. "Please dismiss Ms Black, we have other matters that need your attention."

Bimock sounded different somehow. Urgent.

"I'll wait outside," said Bellatrix as she rose to her feet. Maybe it was just that simple. "Thank you, Sirius, I… w-we'll find a way to pay you back somehow." She turned quickly on her heel and headed for the door.

"You don't have to do that," said Sirius with a shake of his head. "We're family." He got up from beside and walked to her chair.

Bellatrix quickly hurried back and wrapped him in a hug. Sirius had saved her, just like Harry had as he endured it awkwardly. "I might be a while," he said with his arms clamped to his sides. "Meet back here in an hour?"

"Sounds good." Bellatrix stepped back and took a look at him. She was so proud of him, he'd stepped up even if he hadn't wanted to. "We'll be back in an hour."

She turned and left through the door.

"Marvellous," said Bimock happily as the door clicked shut. "Now that she's gone, I can tell you of the attempt made this very morning on your accounts."

Bimock gestured he sit. Sirius gaped. "What? Who?" Sirius suddenly felt very angry. "That cow!" He pictured his mother's face greedily counting galleons. "I should have known she'd try something like this."

"Indeed." Bimock had once heard the previous Lord Black refer to someone that way. He gestured for calm. "She and three others tried to access my office, men in cloaks wearing masks." Bimock steepled his fingers. "One was killed, the rest escaped."

Sirius sat back in shock. Reggie was right, as in exactly right. "So it was definitely Walburga then, my mother?" He couldn't quite see her wearing a mask for anything, particularly for something so noble. "And who was the man you killed?"

"Oh, we didn't kill him." Bimock sniffed in amusement. "He splinched himself, and they had a curious means of apparating out. But it's been dealt with, our Warding Team have already found the issue."

"That's good. Great..." Sirius worried in his seat. Bimock hadn't actually answered him. "So was it Walburga?"

And Sirius thought Arcturus was old. Hopefully Bimock had a replacement lined up.

"Yes, it was her. And I would advise my lord," said Bimock lowly. "That you exercise caution at all times."

Bimock had seen exactly three of the previous Lord Blacks, and unlike them, this one seemed keen to simply leave and never come back. It was a curious thing given the power he now wielded. "One other thing my lord," he added. "Lord Gaunt, the alliance. Your thoughts?"

House Black didn't have many allies. Most were old and irrelevant, they hadn't seen a blood feud in quite some time.

"Leave it as is," said Sirius with an absent dismissal. "Bellatrix trusts him. And so far, he seems alright." Sirius would have to rely on him, James couldn't help, not yet. "Is there a problem?"

Bimock had gone quiet, staring off towards nothing. "No my lord." He refocused with a pleasant air. "Just memories. You see, House Gaunt was once my father's account, but fair is fair, it's Greycup's now." Bimock shifted in his chair to get more comfortable. "Do you see that cabinet over there by the corner?"

He pointed to Sirius's right. Sirius looked at it. "Yes."

"If you'd be so kind," asked Bimock. It would take him a few minutes just to get over there. "Thank you. Bring the files in the top drawer, we'll begin there."

Sirius walked dutifully over and found the handle. It was metal, the whole thing was. "Will we have enough time?" he asked as he pulled it open. "Oh my-"

Rattle rattle, rattle rattle, rattle rattle… clunk.

Sirius looked at the drawer that was like a bridge across the room. "You're joking." He turned back at Bimock. "Tell me you're joking."

But Bimock wasn't. He was grinning right at him.

~~~~~~~

Bellatrix tried not to run as she hurried through the Gringotts corridors. She followed the signs as best she could. Left, right, down the stairs and so on. She felt giddy. No more Flint and no more Brown, they were free to marry whomever they chose as she approached the hubbub in the lobby.

It was very busy. Bellatrix slowed before the storm at the mouth of the corridor. There were people everywhere, mostly queueing but also barging, bumping and pushing into each other as they travelled back and forth from the exit.

Harry must be somewhere here, probably hidden away in a secluded corner. Bellatrix expected that he'd find her before she found him as she entered the crowd.

"Excuse me-"

"-sorry."

"Pardon me-"

"-ow."

Bellatrix battled her way towards the exit, making a mental note never to come here at this time again.

She was passing where the benches were when she heard something.

"-he's definitely a Potioneer, see, look at his hair-"

"-wrong. Honestly Harry-"

Bellatrix stopped and looked to her right.

"Him then, he played Quidditch at Hogwarts-"

"Correct!"

The woman laughed. She was sat very close to Harry.

"Ask."

Bellatrix headed over with a dangerous scrutiny. "Harry?" she stepped up to them. "Oh, Lady Potter." Bellatrix quickly inclined her head. Euphemia Potter might be annoying, but she was at least well respected. "A pleasure."

Harry sat up, searching Bellatrix's gaze. Bellatrix nodded, smiling just for him as Harry hopped to his feet.

"Ms Black, it's been too long." Euphemia stood as well. They'd met before at the usual gatherings, even Hogwarts in her capacity as Governor. "I was just keeping Harry company, strange for you both to be out at this time." She titled curiously. "What are here for?"

Euphemia looked at Harry innocently. How else was she to know all she did?

"A small matter," hastened Bellatrix with a step between them.

"I see." Euphemia didn't push for more as she flattened her robes. She'd already given Harry her letter. "Well, I best be off then. Harry, a pleasure as always."

Always?

Bellatrix was missing something.

"Of course," replied Harry dryly. "Safe journey home."

Euphemia turned away with a hidden smile. Harry still didn't like her, or perhaps he was just keeping up appearances as she disappeared through the crowd.

Harry felt Bellatrix hand against his arm. "She found me," he said pre-emptively. "We've met before." He shrugged.

"How much does she know?" asked Bellatrix quietly. "She's a gossip Harry, anything you tell her isn't safe." She glanced around as is she might somehow still be listening.

Harry hadn't told her anything, really, nothing one couldn't already assume about who he was. A Parselmouth, wants a family one day. Hardly unusual for a Lord of House Gaunt. "She knows nothing," he assured as he took Bellatrix's hand. "Come on, let's go outside."

They could explore the alley. There were some spots in Knockturn as he led them out.

Bellatrix stayed close to his side, even the streets was filled with people.

"So how'd it go?" he asked her quietly as they ambled up the street. "I take it Sirius is still in there."

Bellatrix nodded. "We'll head back in an hour. He and Bimock had some things to go through, probably what to do with Walburga and her lot." She held some sympathy for Sirius, it wasn't an enviable task what he was about to do. "The contracts are gone." She touched his fingers, then smiled as Harry wiggled them playfully. "Harry," she giggled. "Stop it."

"Hm? Stop what?" He wiggled some more. Flourish & Blots was just ahead. "That's great news. You're free now."

Harry reached for the handle as they approach the door.

Ding.

"Right?"

Bellatrix said nothing as she stepped inside, still holding his hand as she gently tugged him in. "Yes, I am free now. Free to marry whom I choose." She greeted the friendly lady at the counter, then with a suddenly silent Harry, led him in between the rows.

He knew what she wanted. But not yet.

"I used to come here when I was small," said Bellatrix as they arrived by the children's section. There were little chairs spread about with wooden toys. "I love it here. I don't care if I am too big to sit down anymore."

Harry looked at the many chairs. He couldn't recall ever seeing a place like this, certainly the Dursley's wouldn't have taken him. "Shall I conjure some?" he offered.

Bellatrix looked at him. She slipped a hand around his waist. "No," she said. "But you can read to me." A grin came across her face. "Do you have a favourite?"

She stepped back with a trailing hand towards the little bookshelves. They were in a comfy alcove, safe from the world outside as she searched among the books.

"I've only read one." Harry came behind her and looked as well. He wondered if they'd have it here. "But everyone knows it."

He hummed. These other stories looked a little odd to be frank.

"Which is it?" Bellatrix was still looking as she knelt on the floor. "Babbitty Rabbitty? Cissy always liked that one, even Sirius." She'd never much cared for silly old bunnies herself, but each to their own as she slipped a dusty edition from the shelf. "This is my favourite."

Harry looked over her shoulder. "The Tale of the Three Brothers," he said with a touch of nostalgia. "It's my favourite too. Shall I read it?"

Harry extended his hand. He'd researched it extensively before as Bellatrix peeked up at. "No, I'll read it. I do it best." Harry was always doing things for her. She flopped on the comfortable floor and shuffled to face him. "Get comfy."

Plop.

Harry sat across from her. They must look quite the pair as Bellatrix wiped the dust off.

"Guess it's not so popular here," offered Harry. "You don't tend to find it outside the Beadle and Bard, I've only found one edition that wasn't." He took a closer look at it. The cover looked very old.

"That's because we published this one," explained Bellatrix. "This copy is from 1724. A few dozen copies were donated." She held up the first page so Harry could see. "It's the best version. Lord Black at the time wasn't happy with the changes being made through the Beadle's edition."

"Changes?" Harry flicked his eyes at the book in her lap. "The story changed?"

Bellatrix nodded. She flicked through the page to chapter one. "It was shortened so the Beadle wouldn't be too long, they took out descriptions mostly, small things they thought people wouldn't miss."

Harry looked alarmed. How dare someone do that, you can't just change a story that's been around for centuries. "What's difference?" he hurried. "Which bit? The river bit?" He remembered what Death had said to the Three Brother, every word was important. "Let me see."

He tried to pluck the book from Bellatrix's hands, but she was too quick, she moved it out of the way with a grin. "Uh uh, Harry. You'll just have to wait and see." Bellatrix got ready to read. "There once-!"

He snatched the book away, a fever to his hands as he murmured through the words she had begun. What was different. Where was it.

"Harry?" Bellatrix sat very still as she watched him read. He had that look in his eye, wide and without thought. "Harry. Stop it." She touched his leg, then tugged at his trousers. "It's just a children's story."

"No, it isn't." He flicked to the next page. "It's real. It's always been real." Harry was at the scene where the brothers approached the river, where Death would appear and offer them gifts.

'Cold.'

Harry stared at the word.

'The air was cold as a figure drifted up through the cracks in the bridge. Death stood before them, a man, a mirage, they did not know. There was ice in their veins.'

Harry went rigid above the book. "It can't be…" His magic had always been cold, hadn't it? A consequence of his family and their link to the brothers.

"Harry, relax." Bellatrix took his hands into her own. "Whatever's wrong, I am here."

Harry took a deep breath. Yes, it didn't matter that that his magic was cold: he was here and that was that. "Y-yeah. You're right." He squeezed Bellatrix's hands. "Sorry. It's nothing."

Bellatrix looked at him. It didn't seem like nothing. "Maybe we should go." She ran a hand against his thigh. "Take us home?"

Harry blinked to attention.

She smirked.

Crack.

The book went with them, Harry would think on it later.

~~~~~~~

"You're decided then," confirmed Bimock from beside Sirius. "Just these two?" They were stood within the vault of House Black, an enormous hole at the bottom of Gringotts. "There's no going back, they'll never again bear the name."

Sirius looked resolutely at the enormous tapestry. It had names and faces connecting all across it, there entire history, truly vast. "Yes, Walburga and Cygnus are henceforth removed from the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black."

The tapestry begun to change, the branches that had connected both Walburga and Cygnus withering to a dying twig.

Bimock looked on satisfactorily. Sirius had been the one to suggest this. "It's is done my lord. Walburga will return to her maiden name, while Cygnus will adopt his middle."

"What was it again?" asked Sirius about Cygnus. "Ipum?"

"Ipumby. It was a family the Black's absorbed, oh, centuries ago." Bimock had long since forgotten them. "Come, we're almost done." He returned with careful steps between the various objects in the vault, treasures and gold from across the ages.

Sirius looked at it idly as he followed behind. It was of little interest to him, even the brooms stacked neatly by the door. He just hoped he'd done the right thing, and he felt he had as he climbed inside the cart beside Bimock.

His mother deserved it, Cygnus too for all he'd done. And as for Druella, well, Bellatrix had made it clear before that she should be left alone. She was still unconscious at Grimmauld Place. "Oh, that reminds me," he called to Bimock above the rushing air as shot along the tracks. "I need a House Elf, a nice one."

The cart turned around a steep bend. Bimock nodded, he enjoyed driving the carts. "I'll let you know."

Fwooosh!

Bimock rocketed the cart up a vertical climb. "It'll take a few days."

Sirius tried to nod but couldn't, he hung on for dear life instead.

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