Gringotts, Part 1

Still the morning of 12th August

In the headmaster's office, Hogwarts

Albus was annoyed with Harry Potter. In just one hour, the brat had ruined years of Albus's plans that would serve the Greater Good.

Oh, Albus had felt annoyed with Lucius and Dolores too, but they had acted true to their natures, turning the expected punishment of magical-core binding and expulsion into the Kiss

—but those two had acted only as their hateful and greedy natures dictated, and now were beyond redemption. (Which was another reason why Albus was annoyed with Harry: unforgiving Harry had killed two magicals merely because they had tried to kill him.)

Cornelius and Dolores had been ridiculously obvious that they were trying to railroad Harry into a conviction for the two crimes Harry had been accused of. Convicting Harry was Albus's goal too, but he worked at it more subtly: by making sure that the Wizengamot heard nothing about Dudley Dursley and about Harry's relationship with that Muggle boy.

Once the Wizengamot would vote Harry guilty, Albus's plan was to get Harry thrown in prison—then later, to arrange for Harry to be granted a pardon; the boy would be pathetically grateful to his former headmaster for his "freedom." After several years of scanty prison food, and constant exposure to Dementors, Harry would be easy meat for Tom. Once Harry died, the prophecy would be fulfilled, then Albus could go in and remove Tom, in the process grabbing glory for the Greater Good.

But alas, Lucius and Dolores had outmanoeuvred Albus, and Harry had come within seconds of receiving the Dementor's Kiss. Albus had not been especially worried, even then, because he knew that the prophecy meant that only Harry could kill Tom, and only Tom could kill Harry. So Albus had expected Harry to be rescued by Amelia or Augusta, not for Harry's three magical bindings to break and for Harry to rescue himself.

But Albus could have handled the boy's magical bindings being broken—a little sneaky wandwork with the Elder Wand, and Albus would have reapplied those magical bindings even before the boy left the courtroom.

But no. Harry had used his Merlin-level(?) magical power to do a surprise Summoning of every wand in the courtroom—including the Elder Wand. When Albus eventually had reclaimed the wand, he had discovered that for Albus, the power of the Elder Wand was only ordinary; the Elder Wand had switched its allegiance to Harry.

But then a bad situation had become insufferable. Harry had begun publicly arguing with, and scorning, Albus and his wise guidance. Albus could not guess why; surely the boy must see that Albus had been acting, like always, for the Greater Good.

But Albus had not been the only magical person whom Harry had publicly scorned: he several times had insulted the Purebloods, calling them Inbreds.

But then had come the nadir, then had come the thing that made Albus unhappiest of all: Harry had begun openly, in public and in front of two reporters, casting spells in Parseltongue. In fact, Albus himself had been rendered immobile and silenced by two of Harry's Parseltongue spells.

Just as bad, Harry had killed. Harry had taken eleven lives today, seven of whom had only minimal justification. Nine wizards and two witches now were beyond redemption, because of Harry.

Albus's conclusion: Harry was turning Dark, and needed to be returned to the Light somehow. Albus mulled ways and means to achieve this.

It was possible—so the prophecy implied—that Harry's magical power now maybe outranked both Tom's and Albus's, which certainly would make the task of redirecting the boy much harder.

****

Meanwhile at Number 12, Grimmauld Place

Sirius looked at the woman in front of him, who was grey-haired but youthful-faced, and asked, "Amy, why are you here?"

She replied, "Siri, the first thing I'm here to tell you is that Minister Fudge and Senior Undersecretary Umbridge are dead; so on my own authority as DMLE Director, I cancelled the Kiss-on-Sight order against you."

Sirius stared at her. "Whoa."

"The second thing I'm here to tell you, Siri, is that Harry gave a magical oath in court that said, amongst other things, that you were innocent of the crimes you were accused of, and that you had never received a trial. Before I came here, I checked the relevant parchmentwork. Merlin, Siri, I am so, so sorry I haven't done right by you."

By now, Madam Bones was staring at the floor. Harry was shocked.

Harry looked at the two of them. " 'Amy'? 'Siri'? You two know each other?"

Madam Bones tentatively laid a hand on Sirius's arm, as she looked at Harry. "My seventh year, Siri's sixth, we dated. My hair then was Susan's colour; but by twenty-three, I had the hair of my great-grandmothers."

Sirius said, "Once I graduated from the Auror Academy, we resumed dating. A week before the shit hit the bubbling cauldron, I'd decided that on Yule of 1981, I'd offer Amy a betrothal ring and an easy betrothal contract."

Then Sirius looked at Madam Bones and said, "You left me to rot, Amy."

She looked ashamed, but she replied, "All the evidence suggested that the Secret Keeper revealed the Secret to Voldemort, who then killed James and Lily. It was a no-brainer to me

that the Secret-Keeper had to be you. I didn't look at the evidence, because I didn't want to know the details of why and how you had betrayed your best friend."

Tough Madam Bones was crying now. "I won't ask you to forgive me; I'll just repeat that I am so, so sorry for being a gullible fool."

Then Madam Bones's voice got hard: "Siri, I will do everything in my power to get you a trial, then to get you acquitted. If this means that next Friday"—during the weekly Wizengamot session—"I have to Accio the gavel into my hand, and take over presiding over the session, I will get you a trial."

"Thank you, Amy," Sirius said. He kissed her on the cheek.

****

By now, Arthur, Molly and four other Weasleys, as well as Remus and Hermione, were standing silently just inside the Floo Room.

Hermione said to Harry, "Mr Weasley said your trial took a long time, but they acquitted you." Hermione's raised eyebrow asked Why did your trial take a long time?

Harry said, "A lot happened today, which I need to think about. I'd prefer not talking about the trial till you read about it in tomorrow's Prophet."

Hermione huffed, but did not otherwise argue.

Madam Bones looked at Sirius and Harry, and said, "Harry really needs to go to Gringotts today, along with an adult he trusts. Siri, why don't you be that adult, and you and I talk more."

Harry was nodding. "Yeah, I really need to go to Gringotts soon." Sirius grinned. "Let's go. I've forgotten what sunshine feels like."

"NO!" said Molly Weasley, with Howler-level quietness. "Don't you remember what the headmaster said? He ordered you both to stay here, where it's safe."

Sirius said, "But that was before the Kiss-on-Sight order was binned. Amy, Harry, let's go."

Madam Bones said archly, "Mrs Weasley, I think Harry will be safe with two adult magicals with him, one of whom is the Director of the DMLE."

Harry said, "I'm going. Deal with it, Mrs Weasley."

"Then I'll go with you, dear. Let me go get your vault key." Mrs Weasley took two steps towards the doorway—

"Marion Guinevere Prewett Weasley," Madam Bones called out, "why do you have Harry Potter's vault key? And Harry, why have you not demanded your key back before now?"

Molly said, "I have the boy's key because the headmaster trusts me with it. Headmaster Dumbledore told me not to give the key to Harry because the boy is too immature for the responsibility—an opinion that Harry is proving true this very minute."

Harry said—whilst blushing at what a trusting fool he had been—"I've never had my vault key. Dumbledore or Hagrid or Mrs Weasley always has had it."

Madam Bones sighed. "Harry, you never let someone else possess your Gringotts key, for the same reason you never let someone else possess your wand. Molly, go get his key. Now. Hurry."

"No," Molly said, her chin outthrust. "If he doesn't have his key, he can't go to Gringotts; and the headmaster ordered Harry to stay here."

Harry thrust his hand out. "You know what, Molly? I've had a quite intense morning, and I'm not in the mood for power plays, disrespect or other bullshit. Hand me the key, or I'll have you arrested." Harry glanced meaningfully at Madam Bones.

The redheaded teenagers and Hermione all gasped.

Harry glared at Molly and added, "If Madam Bones won't arrest you, maybe because she thinks that because you're a Pureblood"—the word was said scornfully—"you won't be punished, I will inform the goblins that you admitted in the presence of four adults that you have my key but you refuse to hand it over."

Arthur said, "Molly, go get Harry's key." "Arthur! Don't—"

"Do you want the goblins to seize our vault? Fetch the key! Now."

****

Five minutes later

Molly took her sweet time before she returned to the Floo Room with Harry's key. As she handed Harry the key, she was glaring at him.

Harry, meanwhile, was glaring at her.

When their eyes met, Harry suddenly could hear Molly's voice, but her pursed lips weren't moving: I need to strengthen the potions. Harry should be more controllable than this. And Hermione is showing no love for Ron at all, so I need to boost her potions too.

It took all of Harry's self-control, not to banish Molly across the room and into the far wall.

As Harry pocketed the key, he turned to Madam Bones and asked, "Can we take one more? If I'm going to Gringotts with people I trust, I definitely want Hermione with me."

Molly didn't argue, she just threw up her hands and announced, "I'm going into the kitchen to make tea."

****

Minutes later, on the steps of Gringotts

Harry said to the other three, "In Courtroom Ten, I read Umbridge's mind and Fudge's mind. I didn't try to do it, it just happened. A few minutes ago, I read Molly's mind. She's been potioning Hermione and me since we arrived at Sirius's house."

Hermione said, "What? That's illegal!"

Madam Bones sighed. "Right now, it isn't illegal, for both of you. For Harry, it'll become illegal, once he claims his Heir Potter ring. For you, Miss Granger, potioning you is legal, because you're Muggle-born."

Hermione muttered, "Molly Weasley can love-potion me and it's legal?"

Harry said, "I was planning on claiming my Heir ring today anyway. What would it take to protect Hermione?"

Sirius replied quickly, "Betroth her or marry her. You're the Heir to an Ancient and Noble House, so even if the girl were a Muggle, even a betrothal ring on her finger means that anyone who would potion her, goes to Azkaban for Line Theft."

Madam Bones said, "Do that, or Miss Granger, take a heritage test. Maybe you're the Head of a dormant House. Once you become a Head of House, even if underage, anyone who potions you commits a crime."

The foursome had been walking up the steps of Gringotts. Now Harry stopped walking, and looked at Hermione. "I'll pay for your heritage test, Hermione, and hope it works out. I won't force you into a betrothal you don't want, because I know you see me as only a good friend."

Hermione said lowly, "Not so, Harry, I'd welcome your betrothal. After all, whom would I want to marry more than you? But is that how you feel, Harry? That you see me as only a good friend?"

"Jesus Christ, Hermione," said Harry, slipping into Muggle profanity, "in the entire bloody school, you are the only witch who sees me as me, just Harry, not HARRY-harry-harry-harry POTTER-potter-potter-potter. It's just like you said: Whom would I want to marry more than you?"

Madam Bones asked, "What about Susan? Why not betroth her?"

Harry rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "Second year, Susan scorned me when everyone was calling me 'the Heir of Slytherin.' Last year, she was wearing a 'Potter Stinks' badge. Susan looks udderly amazing; but even so, she's not high on my list."

Madam Bones sighed.

Sirius asked, "So where does this put you two, in terms of a betrothal? The betrothal contract doesn't need to be more than two sentences: 'The two of us are together, unless one of us tells the other that we're not together. If we're still betrothed on such-and-such date, we'll get married then.' "

"Sounds easy," Harry said. Hermione nodded.

Sirius added, "Be aware that cheating on your betrothed will cost you only 5 percent of your magic, but it will completely destroy your reputation—nobody will marry you, and people will hesitate to make business dealings with you."

Harry grinned. "That part isn't even slightly a worry for me."

Madam Bones smirked. "Ah, now we find out why Sirius delayed becoming betrothed to me. Witches liked Sirius, and he liked them, and an Auror with 5 percent less magic would be noticed. As for ruining his reputation, you can't ruin what already is at rock bottom."

Sirius said, with complete seriousness, "I've changed, Amy."

Harry dropped to one knee on a Gringotts step, took both of Hermione's hands in both of his, and asked, "Hermione, will you be my betrothed, if we somehow can write a betrothal contract that doesn't need Dumbledore's signature?"

Madam Bones gasped.

Hermione rushed forwards and hugged Harry, in front of grinning Sirius, surprised Madam Bones, curious onlookers and two expressionless goblin guards. "Yes, Harry James Potter, I love you, I'll be betrothed to you, I'll marry you, and I'll have your babies!"

Sirius said, "But please, don't name any of your sons Albus or Severus."

Harry said, "Hermione, I don't know what love is. I don't know whether I love you or not. But if I love anyone, I love you. Being married to you will be brilliant."

Hermione put her hands on either side of Harry's face and kissed him.

Madam Bones said, "Erm, Sirius, is this normal for them? Glowing whilst they kiss?"

Awestruck Sirius replied, "I don't know, Amy. I've never seen Harry and Hermione kiss before."

Harry broke the kiss to say to the adults, "This probably has something to do with Molly complaining that love-potions almost don't work on us."

Just then, a frog-shaped Patronus appeared in front of Madam Bones. The Patronus said in a man's voice, "Amelia, this is Saul Croaker. When next you speak with Harry Potter, please ask him to visit the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry. I think we have a prophecy that Mr Potter should hear, and it would be best for him if the old meddler was not aware till later."

Harry looked at Hermione and said, "When I hear this prophecy, I want my betrothed there with me."

Hermione replied, "As if you could keep me away."

****

In Gringotts

When Harry & Co. walked into the office of Axefrenzy, who was the Potter account manager, Axefrenzy's first words shocked everyone in the group—

"Mr Potter, you were discussed today in the office of Director Ragnok. After you finish your business with me, I will escort you and your group to Director Ragnok's office."

Harry, Hermione and Sirius all looked at Madam Bones. She shook her head. "I can't begin to guess what is going on. Normally, to see Director Ragnok, you must make an appointment three weeks in advance."

Axefrenzy wrote a note, folded it double, and laid the note in a red-and-blue-diagonally- striped tray on his desk. The note vanished from the tray. A second folded-double note soon was placed in the tray; this note likewise vanished.

Axefrenzy explained, "I just sent a note to Director Ragnok, informing him that you've made a surprise visit to Gringotts, Mr Potter. I've also sent a note to Slicesword, the Malfoy account manager. I told him that you are here at Gringotts, for Slicesword to expect to be summoned to Director Ragnok's office soon, and that Slicesword should bring the Lord Malfoy ring to the meeting."

"Okaaay," said Sirius. He and Hermione looked puzzled about what business the Malfoy account manager possibly could have with Harry Potter.

Harry shrugged. "This probably has something to do with Lucy trying to kill me in Courtroom Ten, then I killed him instead."

Sirius stared.

Hermione calmly said, "Yes, probably," as if it was normal for Harry to get into these sorts of situations.

Axefrenzy clasped his hands together on the desk and asked, "What can Gringotts do for you today, Mr Potter?"

Harry replied, "First, I want you to give my friend Hermione a heritage test. Charge the fee to my trust vault."

Hermione took the heritage test. She found out that she was the great-great-granddaughter of Ramses Malfoy, through his Squib son, Stefanus Malfoy (who changed his name to Stephen Moffitt). Hermione also was the underage Head of House for previously-dormant House Dagworth-Granger. Hermione quickly claimed the Heiress Dagworth-Granger ring.

Luckily for Hermione, the Heiress Dagworth-Granger ring could detect poisons and mind- whammy potions.

Since Hermione was underage, she would be allowed to take out only a thousand galleons a year from her newly discovered vault, but could remove any and all heirlooms from the Dagworth-Granger vault. Hector Dagworth-Granger had been a famous potioneer; Hermione was overjoyed enough to do cartwheels, when she found out she now owned books that Hector Dagworth-Granger had written.

From Axefrenzy, Harry learnt that, even though he was only fifteen, he was a full adult in the magical world. Why so? Take your pick: Harry being ordered by Ministry officials (which included Dumbledore) to participate in a Tournament for "of age" wizards made Harry an adult; and being put on trial before the full Wizengamot made Harry an adult.

As an adult, Harry now could claim the Lord Potter ring, by blood; but Harry also was Lord Malfoy and Lord Nott, by Right of Conquest. It turned out that when the previous Lord Malfoy and Lord Nott each had attacked Harry and had tried to kill him, but Harry instead had killed them, Magic had awarded Harry their titles, their coins, their properties, and their Head of House statuses. The Heir Nott title no longer belonged to Theodore Nott, and Heir Malfoy no longer was Draco Malfoy's title; those heirships would go to whomever Harry chose, and he was not bound by previous family law.

Harry smiled mischievously, and murmured to Hermione, "Draco would freak out if I named you to be Heiress Malfoy."

Luckily for Harry, both the Lord Potter ring and the Lord Malfoy ring could detect poisons and mind-whammy potions.

Harry next asked for Axefrenzy to bring out his parents' wills, so that those wills could be read and probated.

Harry being fully an adult now, meant that the guardianship part of Harry's parents' wills no longer mattered, but Harry, Hermione Sirius and Amelia still closely read this part of James' and Lily's wills anyway. According to the wills, the first choice of both Potter parents to be Harry's guardian was Sirius Black; Alice Longbottom was second choice; Amelia Bones was third choice; and Severus Snape was fourth choice. Nowhere was Albus Dumbledore listed in either will, except as a witness; and each will basically said, "No bloody way is Petunia and Vernon to be allowed anywhere near my son."

Next item on the to-do list: In Axefrenzy's office, Harry wrote up the two-sentence betrothal contract that Sirius had suggested; Harry wrote "31st July 1998" as the proposed marriage date. Harry then signed the contract. (Hermione signed too, as "Hermione Jean Dagworth- Granger.") With Axefrenzy's permission—and more importantly, with Hermione's permission—Harry called Dobby, and asked Dobby to deliver the betrothal contract to a Granger parent when one of the Grangers was alone.

Pop. Dobby and the betrothal contract vanished.

Harry said to Axefrenzy, "I want an audit of my three vaults. I've taken money out of my trust vault exactly once: on 31st July 1991. Molly Weasley has borrowed my key three times 'to buy school supplies'; if she's honest, there will be three reasonable withdrawals, dated August of 1992, '93 and '94. There should be no activity at all in the Potter family coinage vault or the Potter family heirlooms vault."

Axefrenzy nodded. "If we find no problems, a hundred gallons will be charged to your trust vault; if there has been theft, the thief will be charged the hundred galleons, plus 110 percent of the stolen money will be transferred to your vault."

Madam Bones said, "If money or heirlooms indeed have been taken from your vaults, please let the DMLE know."

"Trust me, I will," Harry said with a bloodthirsty smile.

Ten minutes later, Dobby returned with the betrothal contract, which was signed by both Granger parents.

Attached to the betrothal contract was a sticky-note in Dan Granger's handwriting: "This needs explaining, Pumpkin."

Axefrenzy waved his hand, and the betrothal contract (and sticky-note) disappeared. Axefrenzy waved his hand again, and two Potter betrothal rings appeared on his desk, in a man's and woman's size.

Harry put the woman's betrothal ring on the middle finger of Hermione's left hand. But the ring did not shrink to fit Hermione's finger until after Amelia had coached Hermione to speak a vow: "Whilst I wear this ring, I will consider no other."

Hermione spoke the vow, the ring flashed bright for a second, then the ring shrank to fit.

Hermione put the man's Potter betrothal ring on the middle finger of Harry's left hand, Harry spoke the vow, the ring flashed, and Harry became betrothed too.

Harry was glad to be told that each of the Potter betrothal rings warned their wearer about poisons and mind-whammy potions. Not that Harry was paranoid, you understand.

In Axefrenzy's office, Harry and Hermione did not celebrate their betrothal with a kiss, but they did hug fiercely.

Harry said to Axefrenzy, "That's all my business with you. I still need to talk with the Malfoy account manager, the Nott account manager, and to be seen by goblin healers."

Sirius said, "I also have some business with Gringotts today, considering that the last time I was in here was 1981."

****

When the foursome and Axefrenzy left Axefrenzy's office, Harry discovered that, according to a Goblintext sign that was hanging down from the ceiling, Ragnok's office was off of the

same corridor as Axefrenzy's, to the left. But once Axefrenzy stepped into the corridor, he did not turn left; instead, he turned right. Axefrenzy walked three doors down the corridor, then pounded on the door. That door opened and a second goblin stepped out into the corridor.

The new goblin introduced himself as Slicesword; then, with no ceremony, handed an ornate ring to Harry and said, "This is the Lord Malfoy ring. Put it on."

Thus it happened that, in a corridor of Gringotts, whilst four humans and two goblins walked towards Director Ragnok's office, Harry became Lord Malfoy.

"Poor Draco," Harry said to Hermione. "What's he going to say now?"

Hermione slapped her right fist in her left hand; she did not like Draco. She grinned at Harry and said, "How about 'Just wait till my nemesis hears about this'?"