TOTK chapter 2

Chapter 02:


After waking up the next morning Remus took the time to really get a good look at the suite of rooms he had been given to stay in; everywhere he looked it was like living in some fairy tale fantasy land, the rooms were a perfect blending of tropical forest glade and palatial palace. Exiting the bedroom after freshening up in the unbelievable bathroom he decided to look behind the door on the other side of the common room that he skipped last night. Walking through the door he looked around at the most elegant study he had ever seen, it put the office of minister of magic to shame. Walking past the bookshelves to sit behind the desk in one of the most comfortable chairs he remembered ever sitting in he looked around the office and felt truly welcomed. Getting up he decided to go on downstairs to breakfast wondering how long it would take before the others joined him.


Sitting at the table drinking his tea, Remus decided to work on a to do list and conjured parchment and quill. He always felt more in control when he listed out his goals, thinking back on it some of the more spectacular pranks the Marauders were involved in came about from extensive check lists he had drawn up, the ones were they were never caught that is. Looking up from his parchment he saw the two young men enter the room.


“Morning Remus, looks like you got up early,” Harry smiled when Remus looked up from whatever he was working on to smile back at him as he sat down at the table and started to fill his plate from the bowls of food in the center of the table, he glanced at all the parchments on the table, “What are you working on?”


“I’m working on making a list of things we need to accomplish today,” Remus grinned at Ar’Ron as he walked in, picking up his tea and taking a sip.


Looking over at Ar’Ron Harry snickered, “One word...Hermione.”


Spitting the mouthful of tea all over the table, “HEY, I am not a bossy control freak,” Remus mopped up the spilled tea to the others laughter, grumbling under his breath the whole time.


“You have to admit that a list would be helpful,” Ar’Ron pointed out, “that way we can divide the list up and get our shopping done faster, thus minimizing the chance that the order of mindless servants stumbles across you.”


“Besides Gringotts I need to go to Eyelops Owl Emporium for some owl treats for Hedwig.” Harry told Remus between bites as he hoped Hedwig escaped, though in his heart he knew she probably didn’t.


“How about school robes Harry? You’ve grown quite a bit and your old ones probably will not fit any more,” Remus asked writing on the parchment oblivious to Harry’s sudden pain.


“From now on Harry will wear Elven dress, Wizarding Robes are just too hampering especially in battle,” Ar’Ron said pushing his now empty plate away as he grabbed Harry’s hand and gave it a squeeze of comfort, “So you can scratch off Madam Malkin’s, though a trip to Ollivanders for supplies to make Harry a battle stave is in order, as his wand will not work now that his true heritage is out and the unblocking of his powers. There is too much of a chance of your current wand exploding if you try to channel magic through it,” He said looking over at Harry to make sure he was alright.


“Remus what do you have on your list so far?” Ar’Ron questioned after seeing ahrry nod he was okay.



“1) Stock kitchen

2) Pack and move Remus – 12 Grimmauld Place

3) Gringotts - Also check on reading Sirius’s will early

4) Ollivanders

5) Eyelops

6) Find new housing


“We also need to find five more Impare’ to help with the upkeep of the grounds and domes.” Ar’Ron tapped Remus’s list so they could be added.


“Impare’… What or who is an Impare’?” asked Harry and Remus in stereo looking at Ar’ron.


“In ages past there were a unique race of beings called the Impare’, they were charged with the task of balancing nature. They made sure that all the plants and animals that were their charges thrived and staved off extinction. Such a carefree people, going out of their way to please everyone they met, those individuals that showed great loyalty and talent were offered a unique opportunity called the binding of Impare’. Those Impare’ who underwent the ritual found their magic increased exponentially. Wizard kind who was in their infancy at the time grew jealous at what they perceived as a race that loved to serve, but shied away from serving any but Elven kind.”


Ar’Ron continued telling the story looking directly at Dobby, “Over time the Impare’ were hunted down by a select population of Wizarding kind and spell after spell was cast trying to bind the Impare’ to the wishes of the wizards. The same fate befell all those victims of the crude spells, death. Then finally one day a wizard tried a unique enchantment spell combination on a newly born Impare’, and to his glee it worked, the newborn was enslaved to the will of the wizard. He then proceeded to round up every free Impare’ he could and cast lust spells on them so that they would be constantly breeding. With each babe that was born he preformed the enslavement ritual on it, soon he had what he considered a thriving farm of enslaved servants. So he hired muggles to hunt down and kill all Impare’ they could find, he labeled them demons and we all know how history wrote the great witch and demon hunts. One of the side effects of the enslavement ritual was that if for any reason the slave was dismissed from service by the act of giving clothes, the said slave would slowly over the course of a couple of years to loose their magic and once it was completely gone they died. Over time the knowledge of the Impare’ was lost, as was the knowledge of the origins of where house elf’s truly came from.” Ar’Ron softly finished to the horrified looks of Harry and Remus and the trembling sobbing of Dobby.


“How do you know this?” hissed a horrified Remus, the story was horrific.


Going over to hug a trembling Dobby; Harry asked tears in his eyes “Can anything be done to free the house elves?”


“Being King does have its advantages at times, the moment I returned and my powers returned in full I also received knowledge of the major events in history that took place while I was away.” Ar’Ron looked over at Dobby and Harry “There may be a way. Dobby how is it that you still have your magic?”


“Dobby was freed by the greatest wizard Master Harry Potter Sir. And Dobby wanted with all his might to be Master Harry Potter Sir’s house elf, so Dobby creates bond with Master Harry Potter Sir, waiting for the day when master calls Dobby to serve master’s family,” the shamed crying house elf said looking at the floor.


Placing his hand under the chin of his small friend Harry looked him in the eyes, “Dobby you are my friend. I am not angry with you, without the bond you started you would have died. While I do not want to own anyone, if it keeps you alive and you get to keep your magic, I guess I can live with bonding to you.”


Popping and jumping around the room Dobby could be heard saying, “The GREATEST WIZARD wants HIS Dobby!”


Ar’Ron was laughing at the antics of the little house elf, “since you have yet to complete the bond with Dobby we should be able to do the binding of Impare’ ritual instead of the enslavement bound breaking through the enslavement and the Impare’ shall once again walk the world.” Ar’Ron grinned as he took in the happy faces of his companions, “Though Harry you will have to wait until after you turn sixteen and come into your full inheritance before performing the rite, I think, depends on how much power you have available.”


Suddenly Harry’s happiness in being able to help his friend plummeted, “Winky, she was freed a little over two years ago.” Turning to face a all of a sudden to still Dobby, “How is Winky doing? Did Dumbledore bond her to the castle or is she still free?”


Dobby stopped bouncing around the room and looked downcast; ears drooping as the pain hit his face, “Winky not doing so good. She misses her master, Dumbleydork not master of castle. Dumbleydork no bond Winky, says he no wants her. She works in kitchen as long as she able he says, then she dies like disgraced elf should,” the last was said with a growing anger.


Coming up with a plan Ar’Ron stared off to one side before glancing at Remus “Remus will you agree to bond with Winky, to bind her to you and any home you reside in?” Seeing that he was uncomfortable with the idea, “At least until Winky can regain her strength and then we can slowly work on her self esteem till she is ready to accept being an Impare’ instead of a slave. Harry and I being Elves, our magic will not let us enslave another.”


Thinking things through Remus sighed then after a moment he nodded, “Like Harry the thought of owning someone is abhorrent to me. But we need to start somewhere in finding the way to break the enchantments on house elves.”


“Just one more thing before Dobby pops off after Winky” Ar’Ron turned in the chair he was sitting on, sitting sideways so he could face the little elf, he started to glow and his hair started to blow with static electricity and a silver crown glowing with green emeralds appeared on his head. The others felt magic rolling of Ar’Ron in huge waves as his voice reverberated through magic “Dobby bondling of the Elveling Harry Potter kneel before me.”


Dobby froze in shock at the power of the formal words, quickly he rushed over in front of Ar’Ron and dropped to one knee and bowed his head.


Harry and Remus looked back and forth between each other looking a little lost when Ar’Ron extended his hand to Harry, “Harry if you would.”


Not really sure what was going on harry walked over and took the offered hand, allowing himself to be pulled in close, “Dobby look up at the one you will bond with.” Ar’Ron waited until Dobby looked up and then pointed his hand palm open towards the kneeling house elf and a silver swirled with green glow enveloped Dobby hiding him from sight, “A gift to you for your loyalty to Harry.”


As the glow faded and Dobby could be seen again he was clothed in a royal looking red and blue trimmed uniform, “Arise Dobby, you now wear the uniform of the house of Potter, a proud and noble heritage you have joined, do your house-proud.” Where before there was a downtrodden house elf dressed in mismatched socks and hats, now there stood a beaming and proud Dobby with the Potter family crest on the left breast of his new uniform.


“Dobby could you go and talk to Winky and bring her back if she wishes to be a bonded elf again; try not to be caught by any of the professors if possible,” Harry smiled as he looked at his friend dressed in the smart uniform.


Dobby nodded his head still beaming in joy as he popped out.


The three sat there discussing the best way to integrate Winky into the household and the mechanics of the bonding ritual wizards use when Dobby popped back in with a wobbling Winky.


Catching movement Remus stood up and walked over to where the two-house elf’s stood, walking around the Dobby he finally stopped in front of Winky, she was worse than he thought, “Winky do you know why you are here?” he waited for the swaying elf to nod her head before continuing, “You are a free house elf due to circumstances beyond your control.”


Harry leaned over towards Ar’Ron whispering, “I think Dobby understated how bad she is. Is she drunk again or is it something else?”


Ar’Ron performed a quick scan and frowned, “No she’s not drunk, she is dying, she would not last the day unless bonded.”


Listening to Harry and Ar’Ron talk Remus knelt and steadied the swaying elf, “Winky bond to me, redeem yourself by serving me and the royal house.” Reaching into the pocket of his robes Remus pulled out a knife and cut the palm of his left hand blood dripping in front of the shaking elf.


“Winky wants” shaking too much and not having the strength she swatted her left hand at the knife Remus was holding, cutting herself as she fell to her knees almost spent.


Grabbing the elf’s bleeding hand with his own Remus began the chant “Blood binds us, through blood you are bound to me, your magic bound to serve me and mine, your magic your life belong to me.” With that a red pulse of magic emanated from Remus’s chest and surrounded Winky causing her to float out of Remus’s grasp, as she hit the ground the magical energy reformed and flew back to Remus hitting him in his left palm healing the cut.


Ar’Ron and Harry walked over to where Remus was kneeling; Harry placed a hand on his shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. Looking over to where Dobby was watching with a sad smile, “Dobby would you take Winky to the house elf wing and make sure she knows to stay put until you come for her and for her to rest. Tell her she will begin her duties tomorrow not a moment sooner, then come back it’s almost time to go. “


After popping Winky to one of the small bedrooms in the house elf wing Dobby returned eager to get started.


“It is almost 9:00 a.m., time for us to get a move on I think,” Ar’Ron banished the dirty dishes plus any of the remaining food from the table. Seeing the others nod in agreement he started to walk into the hallway towards the steps to the great hall.


As the foursome walked down the steps into the great hall, Ar’Ron placed his hand on the trunk of the fairy oak and whispered something to low for the others to hear and three silver acorns dropped from the branches into his waiting hand. Waving his other hand in a circular motion above the acorns, a thin silver chain appeared, threading itself through the acorns making them into bracelets. Holding them up so that the others could see, “These are similar to a port keys, well same concept I guess, less spinning or nasty side effects. Since these are fairy made they will be able to transport you out of danger no matter what type of wards you are under, most people would never suspect a hidden port key hidden in the ankle area.” Ar’Ron handed each of them a bracelet to put on, “If for any reason you become unconscious for more than 5 minutes the anklet will activate porting you to the infirmary on the second floor inside the wardrobe. And if you need to activate them just say take me home, before I forget the only way they can be taken off is if you are touching this fairy oak.”


“One more thing before we go. Harry, Remus I have a couple of Elven battle belts for you to wear, the numerous pouches carry small glass blocks that are runic spells just waiting for a little bit of power to activate them. They are color coded green for healing, blue for defensive and red for offensive.” Ar’Ron handed each of them a belt like his after picking them up out to thin air.


“I have studied ancient runes all through school, keeping up with it as much as I could after graduating,” Remus looked at one of the blue blocks he had taken out of one of the pouches turning it over and seeing one large rune on the center and numerous runes in scripted around the rest of the block in tiny letters. Looking up at Ar’Ron in surprise, “Do you mean to tell me there is more to runes than using them as permanent wards and to describe spells?”


Ar’Ron smiled hiding his grimace at everything they had lost, “It seems Wizarding kind has lost the knowledge of some of the most powerful magic, Rune casting among others. Rune casting is the ability to create powerful spells and locking them into objects and they just sit there awaiting a little bit of magical energy that completes the spell. Take for instance the shield wall you are holding Remus. Infuse some magic into it and throw it on the ground between you and your adversaries and it will create just what the name implies, a shield wall that is strong enough to even block your unforgivable’s, but the really great thing about the way the rune shields work is the shield is only one way, you can cast through the shield but any spells sent in your direction are stopped. The red ones are stun grenades, throw them on the ground in the middle of your enemies and a ring of stunning energy will explode outwards for five meters. The green ones are healers, all you need to do is to touch the skin of the person you want to heal and blood from their wounds will activate them, they are equivalent to Phoenix tears.”


Harry watched how excited Remus became as he heard the explanation and seeing the look that Hermione would get at the thought of learning something no one else knew, he decided to have a little fun at the Marauders expense. To tell the truth the rune weapons sounded bloody brilliant, “Hey Remus if you are a good boy today and don’t get lost or beg for toys, I’ll let you sit in on classes with me when we get to the part on Runes,” ducking out of the way laughing as Remus growled and lunged at him chasing him out the wardrobes doors into the old bedroom at Privet Drive.


Laughing at their antics as they chased each other in circles, Ar’Ron grinned at Dobby who nodded and grinned back before stepping outside the wardrobes entry doors, joining them outside in the Dursley’s house.


“Help…Help, Ar’Ron save me from the big bad werewolf,” Harry yelled out as he jumped over the fallen chair on another circuit of the room laughing.


Grabbing Harry as he passed Ar’Ron pulled him into a tight embrace causing the two runners to collapse in giggling fits, “All right you two calm down now, we need to get a move on.”


Panting trying to catch his breath Harry felt alive again, looking over at the last link to his parents and godfather giggling against the wall trying to catch his breath, “I have not felt like laughing in so long.” Sighing wistfully Harry stared, taking some comfort in the arms wrapped around him, “Remus I miss him so much.”

“I know you do Harry, so do I,” Remus sighed as he straightened up. “Padfoot would not have wanted us to mourn him and be all depressed.” Then with a smile, “He would probably have wanted a huge party with games like pin the tail on Moldybutt.”


Leaning back into the embrace and safety of his soul mate Harry listened to Ar’Ron tell him, “He really is not gone and forgotten, not as long as you can hold his memory,” Placing a hand over Harry’s heart, “the part of him that touched your soul, in your heart, he will still be with you.”


Releasing Harry he walked over to the now closed wardrobe and reached up to the topmost rune in the left corner and quietly told it, “Shrink,” which the wardrobe promptly did, down to the size of an paper book novel, leaning over and picking it up of the floor he slid it in his side pants pocket, “Shall we.”


Taking one last glance around and scanning the wards through the ceiling Ar’Ron turned and sketched the shape of a door with his hand, leaving behind a glowing line in the shape of a door. Tracing some Runes over to the outline of the doorframe Ar’Ron placed his hand between the glowing lines one the last Rune he traced, “Top steps of Gringotts, Diagon Ally.” With a flash of orange light the doorway became active, one the other side of the doorframe could be seen the landing and steps of Gringotts.


“Don’t worry Mel’Anin you soon shall learn how to gate to a destination, you both need to go through first, I need to be last as the gate will close after I walk through.” Waiting for the others to walk through first, Ar’Ron then walked through letting the gate close behind him.


Gringotts had been open for fifteen minutes and the lobby had a few customers, mainly merchants getting their banking out of the way from the previous day, all of a sudden all the goblins stopped what they were doing and frantically started to look around, they sensed a powerful magic at work. Looking at each other they could tell that none of the others had any idea of where it was coming from, with a sense of dread the goblins knew that soon they would know what type of magic this was, and a unified feeling settled over them that they might not want to know who cast it.


As Harry walked through the gate, he quickly looked around to see if the gateway was catching any ones attention, seeing no one paying attention to him or the others as they came through he started to relax, opening the doors to the lobby Harry and the others entered the bank proper. Harry and Ar’Ron walked up to a free goblin, waiting for a moment Ar’Ron sighed and waved his hand in front of the little beings face catching the attention of the goblin Ar’Ron demanded, “You will escort us to a manager and summon the governor to the managers office.”


The goblin started to sneer nastily, “Now see here you filthy wizard, how dare you come and make demands…” He stopped in fright when he noticed the power rolling off the Wizard. Then looking up he noticed the glamour drop and the pointed ears and taking in the elegant features, not a wizard an Elf. Oh shit he thought to himself, Elves left this realm a long time ago, to see one now frightened him to no end. He fell off the stool landing on his back hoping beyond hope that the legends of the powers the elves possessed was not about to be heaped on his own head for the nasty way he treated him. “Gri…Grip…Griphook,” he yelled out for the young goblin to come to his side, “Take these gentlemen to Grindrock and whatever you do, do not piss them off,” he said softly frightened by the beings in front of him.


Griphook looked at the goblin on the ground, shaking his head trying to make sense of the teller quivering on the ground in fear he turned away and motioned with a hand, “Follow me please.”


The little goblin took the party down one of the side corridors stopping in front of a door marked Grindrock branch manager, knocking on the door they heard a voice yell out, “Enter.”


Griphook opened the door and showed the party in and arranged chairs for them all in front of the manager’s desk. Harry took the one in the middle with Remus on one side and Ar’Ron on the other. Dobby stood behind Harry where he felt was the proper place of a house elf waiting to be asked to do anything his master needed at a moments notice.


Grindrock extremely annoyed by being interrupted from his work glanced up disgusted to see several wizards in front of him and two of them had the nerve to dress in clothes no decent wizard would ever wear. Looking up fully he noticed the one in the middle had a lightening bolt shaped scar and deep emerald green eyes, this meant it could only be one person Harry Potter, he got a cold chill down his back, this did not look good.


At the moment he realized who was in his office his door opened and the oldest goblin Harry had ever seen walked in. This goblin was dressed all in gold colored clothing, “What do you need Grindrock? Why have you called me here?”


“Governor Ledgethorn, there must be some mistake I never called for you,” an anxious looking Grindrock bowed to his superior.


Turning and looking at both goblins sharply Ar’Ron decided to get matters moving, to keep the goblins off balance as much as possible, “I called for you Ledgethorn. As I wanted one of the governors here as I laid serious charges against this branch of Gringotts for either ignoring or downright breaking your own laws.”


Shocked the two goblins turned towards Ar’Ron and seeing no one of any real importance Grindrock sneered, “And just whom do you think you are to be telling ….”


Dropping the glamour as his crown appeared and magic caused his hair to break free of his pony tail and fly all around Ar’Ron tried to reign in his anger as he stood up towering over the shaking goblins, “WHO AM I…I WILL TELL YOU WHO I AM, I am King Ar’Ron of the Astarii, I am the soul mate of Harry James Potter.” As he sat down he glared hatefully at them, “You will explain why Harry was never informed of his holdings here and why you have done everything to continue to hide his holdings and heritage, doing so breaks your own laws.”


Not sure what was going on Ledgethorn turned to Grindrock and growled, “Get who ever is in charge of the Potter accounts and get them in here now.”


Remus looked at the two and spoke up, “You might as well get the manager of the Black family accounts also, as I know that besides myself Harry is the sole beneficiary.”


The two aged goblins sat there talking in Gobbledygook trying to figure out just what the hell was going on; at this point all they knew was that two of the most powerful beings ever were sitting across from them pissed off.


Ledgethorn wondered if this was the day that the goblin people were wiped out of existence, the door to the office opened up he noted two goblins holding ledgers walk into the office, “Which of you is the Potter family manager?”

The goblin on the left stepped forward and bowed slightly, “I am Sir. “


Grindrock took in the appearance of the flighty looking goblin and tried to remember his name, not remembering it he snarled out, “Come here and answer all of Mr. Potters questions.”


Walking over and seeing the tell tale scar, He turned to the branch manager, “I am sorry sir I have been forbidden from talking to Mr. Potter at any time, and seeing as he is here I shall have to report this to Dumbledore also, he is breaching the rules Dumbledore set up for Mr. Potters account.”


All the goblins in the room cringed when Ar’Ron stood up pointed his hand at the goblin, “Show Me,” he hissed, a mist drifted out of the goblins forehead and a image took shape, showing the first meeting with Dumbledore sealing an envelope and telling the goblin to send the will to the family vault for safe keeping, that there was no need to read the will. The day that Dumbledore ordered all Potter family residences to be sealed, shut without any by your leave to any occupants in them. Then the day Dumbledore came into the office and tried to take the family ring, saying he would give it to Harry at school later that week, only to have him touch it and become enraged when it disappeared. And all the other times Dumbledore tried to get his hands on Harry’s money or investments. The whole fifteen years of plotting and scheming of getting around bank safeguards, trying but most of the time not succeeding.


Harry looked over at the shocked goblin and the rage he felt at the betrayal of Dumbledore reached the breaking point and he hissed in anger, “Look at me you worthless thief,” seeing he had the attention of all the goblins he continued, “I am the last Potter NOT you. Not Dumbledore so what right do you have to control my money and hide it from me? What gives you the right to follow his orders to give people access to my vault? Who chose you anyway?”


Shaking like a leaf in a storm the goblin replied, “Dumbledore appointed me.”


Harry shook his head in disgust revealing his pointed ears and spat out, “YOU are herby FIRED.”


Ledgethorn walked over to the disgraced goblin and grabbed the ledger out of his hands, knocking the frightened goblin to the floor, “Mr. Potter I would like to assure you we had no idea of what was happening with your accounts. We thought all was in order and Dumbledore to be the legal guardian of yourself, I can see that was not the case; I can assure you he will be punished quite severely. Would you like to make a suggestion for this one’s replacement?”


As Harry started to calm down with the help of Remus’s calming words, he looked over at the other goblin with a ledger standing by the wall.


Seeing Harry was concentrating on him he decided to be as forthcoming as possible, “Sir my name is Glathrock, I am the Black Family manager. I can’t tell you how much it delights me that I am able to get a hold of you. All owls I have sent you have gone unanswered; in fact the last couple of owls were spelled to alert me if they were intercepted. Which I can tell you they were, by none other than Albus Dumbledore, that man has been to my office at least twice a day for the past week trying to get information about the Black Family holdings.” Seeing the green eyed youth start to anger again he held up his hand as if motioning to stop with a grin he said “Please Mr. Potter, NO information was given to him, the last few times he was here I was not all that polite and had him forcibly escorted out of the bank. And an estate as large as what yours is to become will need two goblins to oversee it.”


While Harry was taking in the new information, Ar’Ron walked over to the goblin on the floor that had betrayed his soul mate, “Your crimes anger me greatly. That you could conspire with others to defraud my mate, as the soul mate of Harry Potter and King of the Astarii, I judge you now.” Curling his hand up like he was holding a ball, he aimed his hand at the goblin and made a grabbing motion, “What ever punishment your people dispense to you, you will have to suffer it without your magic.” With that he began to chant in Elvish and a green glow surrounded the goblin who started to scream in unearthly pain as a mist could be seen to escape the goblins body, the more the mist left him the larger and more brutish looking the goblin grew, finally the chant was done and he sat down ignoring the shocked looks or silence of the Goblin’s in the office.


Ledgethorn was shaken to the core. This was not the typical Elf of history; they were dealing with the true ones of legend. Opening the door he called the guards in to remove the unconscious goblin on the floor, ordering the guards to take him to a strong holding cell until punishment was delivered by the ruling council. He was startled when Harry spoke up “Could Griphook be brought in? I have a few questions for him.”

Walking over to the door once again Ledgethorn brought Griphook into the room, “Mr. Potter has a few questions for you Griphook, It would be in your best interest to answer them.”


Harry looked over at the young goblin that looked confused and a little frightened; though he was doing a good job hiding the fact. Thinking back on all the encounters he had with the goblin he nodded his head and began, “Griphook it seems I’m in need of a new account manager to manage the day to day affairs of my holdings and estates. I have only one question for you, loyalty to your race is a given, but I need an account manager who is loyal to me and me alone. One who will not be influenced by outside sources, one who will keep and guard my accounts and secrets, and above all one who will fight to the last breath before breaking the trust I have given to that individual, Do you think you are that goblin?”


Griphook at first was slightly frightened seeing what had been dragged out of the office a few minutes earlier, then being called into the office, but as Mr. Potter talked on what he wanted and he realized that his status and wealth would be tied into the wealth of one of the richest men in all of Britain, he felt surprised then honored, “Yes Mr. Potter I feel that I can do an exceptional job managing your finances. If you should chose to hire me you should know that my status as a goblin and wealth shall be directly tied to how well I do in increasing your wealth.”


As Harry looked over towards Glathrock he was trying to decide on how much he should trust him. On the one hand he did defeat Dumbledore’s attempts at manipulation, but on the other hand Mrs. Black hired him.


Sensing the scrutiny by the green eyed youth Glathrock stepped forward and bowed low, “Mr. Potter First and for most my loyalty is to Lord Black, which in this case would happen to be you. No matter who hired me I will only answer to you, plus even though Griphook is young, he is very sharp and we would work well together I think.”


Looking over to Ar’Ron for support he saw the slight nod, “Alright Glathrock you are hired or get to keep your old position or however you want to call it.” He sighed then a sad smile broke out on his face, “Can we handle Sirius’s will right now, both Remus and I are present, the less outside interference in this the better.”


Smiling Glathrock opened a file folder that was on top of the ledger, he had come prepared hearing the rumor Mr. Potter was in the bank, “Of course Mr. Potter, actually I can stream line this for you, Mr. Black left ten million galleons and the residence of twelve Grimmauld place to Remus Lupin, everything else including the Lordship he left to you. Mr. Black tried to emancipate you Sir, but due to the blindness of the ministry to his innocence he was unable to do so, though he was able to work around it by stating in his will that you have full access to all moneys and holdings as if you were of legal age.”


Harry mumbled angrily as he looked away, “Fudge the incompetent fool…someone aught to …”


Remus leaned over and patted Harry on the shoulder with a grin on his face, “Now, now Harry don’t hold it in, it’s not good for your health you know, tell us how you really feel about the bastard.”


The goblins started to snicker and Harry and the rest started to laugh. With the tension broken Ar’Ron leaned over to Griphook, “Make sure that you draw up all the documents needed to turn over control of the Potter estate to Harry for my signature, I want him in full control of all his finances. I think if you check you will notice that magic has named him an adult”


Nodding Griphook snapped his fingers and a small stack of forms appeared on the desk in front of Ar’Ron.


Glathrock also snapped his fingers and a stack of forms appeared on the desk in front of Remus and Harry, these all the documents needed to finalize the disbursement of the Black estate per the will instructions.


“One last thing,” Grindrock said opening a desk drawer and pulling out a small marble pillar; placing the pillar in the middle of the desk, smiling at the inquisitive look from the Harry and Remus, “Mr. Potter tap your wand on the pillar three times and it will summon your family rings.”


Harry took his wand out of the belt holder and leaned forward and tapped the end of his wand three times in the center of the pillar, A shimmering mist appeared on the top and when it cleared there lay two ornate rings. One was gold with an ornate ruby in the shape of a dragon and the other was silver with a wolf shaped black onyx.


“Mr. Potter by placing the rings the same finger, the rings would merge into one and it would be as if the bloodlines combined in marriage, the drawback would be instead of two votes in the council you would only have one. If I may be so bold as to suggest that you wear them on separate fingers,” suggested the goblin with a smirk.


Harry reached over and picked up the golden Potter family ring and placed it on his index finger of his right hand, the ring grew warm and glowed briefly as the magic in the ring accepted Harry’s magic as its rightful ruler. Harry’s eyes glowed briefly as the knowledge in the ring was imparted unto him, “I know why Dumbledore has been hiding so much of my heritage from me,” with a shocked expression on his face he looked over at the shocked look on Remus’s face “Godric Gryffindor married Rowena Ravenclaw and had one child, a daughter who married into the Potter line. As Rowena and Godric paid for building Hogwarts, they owned it outright, which means I am the rightful master of the castle.”


Ar’Ron looked thoughtful, “May I suggest that you have the goblins do a complete and thorough audit of Hogwarts finances from the day Dumbledore took over as headmaster. I would also suggest that you approve all disbursements made from the Hogwarts vaults before the transaction takes place.” Staring at the Goblins he smirked, “just in case of course, we of course would never impugn the manipulative old fart’s honor without proof.”


Seeing the nod of approval from Harry, Grindrock took some parchment out of the drawer and wrote the order to audit Hogwarts accounts out, placing it in the out box it was transported to the appropriate goblin for action, “It has been done as you suggested.”


Harry then reached over and picked up the Black Family Ring and placed it on the right ring finger, while the magic in the ring grudgingly accepted him as the rightful ruler it was not as welcoming as the Potter ring.


Grindrock started to reach forward to retrieve the pillar when the top was once again shrouded in a glowing mist, when it dispersed there were three more ornate rings lying there, with the rings a parchment appeared on the desk in front of Grindrock. Picking it up and reading it out load he was shocked to the core, “I Lord Ridgestone, being the last living heir of my bloodline due to Voldemort name Harry James Potter the next lord of Ridgestone. I bequeath all titles, lands and monies plus my vote in the council of twelve. Use my vote wisely young one and may you continue to stamp out evil as it crosses your path,” stopping for a moment and looking at Harry’s stunned face, “The Ridgestone ring would be the gold one with the emerald phoenix on top.” Continuing reading on, “I Lord Rothland herby state that none of my bloodline is fit to rule, as an ally to the house Potter I leave all my titles and estates and Lordship to the first Lord Potter that realizes that all things are not black and white, that there is a middle ground overlooked by most, with magic all things are possible use my vote wisely.” Stopping once again to point at the middle gold ring with the sapphire raven, Grindrock smiled at the very impressive impression of a fish gasping for air Remus was doing. Chuckling he continued, “And lastly, I lord Donaldson last of my blood, Lord of the clans hereby transfer my titles and lands and Lordship of the clans to the first Lord Black that does not serve the dark.”


Harry in shock turned to Ar’Ron mouth moving but no sound coming out, laughing at Harry’s expression Ar’Ron told him, “Don’t worry Mel’Anin you will have plenty of help; we will not throw you in the deep end to sink or swim.”


There was a knock at the door and when it was opened three more goblins walked in holding ledgers. Seeing the new goblins distracted Harry slightly, “But I’m just Harry, no one special.” Then so softly it was unheard by everyone but Remus and Ar’Ron, “I don’t want anything else to make me more not normal.”


Reaching over and Pulling Harry’s chair closer to him, Ar’Ron pulled Harry into an embrace, “Listen Mel’Anin, Dumbledore and those creatures he housed you with did a great disservice to you. You should have been prepared to lead from the day you could talk, instead of teaching you what you needed to know, he left you ignorant so when the time came you would be so overwhelmed you would have no choice but to turn to him.” Whispering in Harry’s ear he asked, “you do not hold it against me that I was born to be King do you?”

Snuggling into Ar’Ron’s chest Harry replied immediately, “No, it’s just that …” trailing off he looked at Ar’Ron sheepishly.


“You’re embarrassed, uncomfortable with the idea of holding such power over people, feel like you have no idea what to do next, your afraid that you will make the wrong choice and someone will die because of your choice or any and all of the above,” Ar’Ron hit the nail on the head with what Harry was feeling.


Harry had never had anyone describe what he was feeling with such accuracy looking back up slightly he whispered in shock, “Yes.”

“Remember Mel’Anin you are not alone, I am going to help you become the best lord possible. I might have been born a king, but with the guidance of my fathers I truly learned to become king,” Ar’Ron said as he placed a kiss on top of Harry’s head hugging him tight.


Straightening up with a new resolve with the knowledge that finally he was not alone; he reached over and one at a time placed the new rings on separate fingers of his left hand. Settling down after the magic of the rings accepted him; Harry looked over at the three new goblins standing there, “I expect loyalty from the managers who work on my accounts to me and me alone. One who will not be influenced by outside sources, one who will keep and guard my accounts and secrets, and above all, one who will fight to the last breath before breaking the trust I have given to that individual. If any of you three feel that you are unable to do this let me know now so I can find replacements.”


One at a time the three newcomers came up to Harry and agreed to the terms of employment and went over and joined Griphook standing over by the wall.


“How am I going to keep track of all this,” Harry wondered aloud as he looked at the Goblin account managers standing waiting for him to give them their orders, “It’s not like I can afford to spend a couple of hours at Gringotts each day.”


Ar’Ron cleared his throat gaining everyone’s attention, “I think I have the perfect solution.” Standing up and walking to a spot behind the chairs where there was more room, taking the shrunken wardrobe out of his pants pocket he held it as he touched one of the runes causing the wardrobe to return to full size. The astonished looks of the goblins that were used to Wizarding trunks was amusing, they had never seen anything like this before. Placing his hand over the emerald jewel it glowed briefly, then the doors opened up. “I’ll be right back,” Ar’Ron grinned at Harry before walking through the doorway into the great hall leaving the doors open behind him.


All the goblins stopped what they were doing as if frozen in time, Ledgethorn could be heard saying, “Nature’s Palace…It’s a myth….” Turning and looking at all the other goblins he almost missed the return of Mr. Potter’s soul mate, as the other Goblins noticed Ar’Ron walking back towards them he quickly turned around. Exiting and shrinking the wardrobe back down Ar’Ron turned around after picking up the wardrobe with two wand size boxes in his hand, staring in amusement when all the goblins dropped to one knee and bowed, “Majesty.”


Sitting back down next to Harry who was smirking at him, Ar’Ron elbowed him in the ribs lightly, “Hey, see if I can take everyone dropping to the floor at the slightest sight of me, chanting majesty, surely you can handle being a lord five times over.” Chuckling to himself at the goblins looking at the floor and Harry’s grimace at being a lord five times mentioned, “Unless there really is something very interesting down on the floor where you are staring so intently I would prefer you stand back up and face me. I find it very difficult to hold a conversation unless I can see your faces,” seeing the goblins look sideways at each other but hesitant to be the first to stand back up he added, “that means stand up people, I am up here so you should be too.”


Slowly the goblins got back up and went back to their places by the wall or behind the desk.


Ar’Ron placed one of the boxes on the desk in front of him and opened it up, “Any parchment or small object placed in the one box will be transported to the other box allowing instant communication and the best feature is that if you pull up on the lid it will expand to a larger size mirror that you can then use for two way verbal communication.” He demonstrated the features of the box, “Since you can only tune two boxes to each other I would suggest that all of Harry’s managers share one large spacious office with the desks circling a conference area with a large table that this box can be placed on so all can access it.” He watched the goblin account managers nodding in agreement, and the branch manager and bank governor looking at the box hungrily. “One last thing before we head down to the vaults, well two actually,” placing a small crystal box on the table with twenty or so blue blocks in it that he took off his belt, “These are Shield Walls, to activate them all you need to do is channel some of your magic into them until they glow blue, then break them on the ground in front of you which will cause the spell to activate. The shield will withstand everything except Elven Battle Magic, in other words, anything wizards can throw at it.” Seeing the reverent way Ledgethorn pulled the box to him he continued, “Last thing,” Looking over at the group of goblins that would be managing Harry’s estate, “A new uniform that befits your new station in life is in order.”


Throwing his left arm out towards the group of goblins five purple beams flashed out one from each finger and hit each of the goblins in the left breast. The goblins drab brown attire transformed into deep royal purple with the Potter crest on the left breast, “Now that’s appropriate attire that befits the station of my soul mate’s employee’s.”


Harry stood up and motioning the others to follow suite, glancing over at Grindrock he asked, “Can you arrange to have someone take us to the Potter and Black Family vaults?” Then looking over to the managers of his estates, “After we visit the vaults, we are going to come back to the new office, or if it is not ready yet be escorted to a conference room where I can go over what residences I now have at my disposal. So if you can go through all of them and find the best warded of all of them it would be appreciated.”


“Of course Mr. Potter, Your Majesty this way if you please,” Ledgethorn said as he escorted them out of the office and yelled out, “Grindlebush come here.” After the small goblin arrived he stared at him, “Take Mr. Potter and his party down to his and the Black’s family vaults and when they are finished bring them up to the Potter manager’s office.” Bowing to the foursome Ledgethorn smiled, “Mr. Potter if you have need of anything do not hesitate to call on us, have a good day Sir’s,” waiting until they left he turned and re-entered the office.


Looking at Grindrock and the other goblins he told them as he sank into the empty chair, “The king of the true ones has returned and his consort is none other than Harry Potter the most powerful person in the Wizarding world. I’m going to call an emergency meeting of the governors.” Ledgethorn Pointed his finger at the group dressed in purple, “You five find the best defended property Mr. Potter owns, then call in our best ward masters to go help with warding the place.” Moving his head so he was facing Grindrock, “Get a team of our best spell casting weapons masters together for escort duty, I don’t care if they have to say they are there for fetch and carry duty, but they will be escorted until they are safely to their destination. The King has the power to destroy all magic in the world so it is of utmost importance that Mr. Potter and Mr. Lupin are protected at all costs.” Seeing the others accept his orders he hissed out, “GO QUICKLY” as he watched the goblins race out of the office in order to perform their instructions, he dropped his head into his hands and let out the moan of fear he had been holding.