Harry wasn't sure if that was it or if he should stay seated. Was he to show himself out? Would he have to wait for another five minutes? Sharpfang left the parchment on the table so he read his inheritance.

Inheritance Test – Harrold James Potter

DOB: 31 July 1980

Heir to most noble and most ancient house of Potter

Direct descendant: James Charlus Potter

Heir to most noble and most ancient house of Ravenclaw

Direct descendant: Lily James Potter (nee Evans)

Heir to most noble and most ancient house of Slytherin

By right of conquest. By defeating previous heir: Tom Marvolo Riddle in mortal combat

Heir to most noble and most ancient house of Peverell

By $%&*

Harry was stunned. He knew those names. Potter, Ravenclaw and Slytherin were all famous. Multiple books in his briefcase mentioned those names. He didn't know Peverell but it seemed it had the same titles as the others. Those names however, were in fact, NOT the reason he was stunned. No. That was because of another name. “Son of Lily James Potter (nee Evans)” repeated in his head on loop.

He’d been reading his mothers diary? His mother, even in death, managed to help him away from his personal hell. Her briefcase saved him from all those beatings. Her books helped him learn of a new world of magic, where he could start anew away from his relatives. Her diary explained step by step how to enter this new world. Her inheritance that would surely help him gain a foothold that he would use to thrive.

Her inheritance… did she not get an inheritance test herself? Surely she would have mentioned being the heir to a famous house if she had.

The door opening broke him from his thoughts. Only now feeling the tears and quickly wiping his eyes.

Observing the new occupant of the room. He found a taller goblin with many more wrinkles than any at the tellers desks, astonishingly he didn't look like he was balding but all of his hair was white. The goblin was dressed in a pinstripe suit and carried a sword at his waist. The goblin hit his chest with a fist and did a curt bow, introducing himself as Ragnok. Harry stood and repeated the action. This must have surprised Ragnok since Harry noticed his eyebrows raise.

Ragnok looked at Harry for a moment before getting straight to business. ”This is extremely unusual mister Potter. It's unusual for one so young to be here without their guardian, magical or muggle. It's unusual for one so young to come in and request an inheritance ritual. It's unusual for one to revive so many lines that were assumed to be dead. So mister potter… explain.” Towards the end, almost snarling with a glare that may as well have been directed at a wall.

Harry had dealt with intimidating all his life. At least in a bank they wouldn't beat it out of him. Probably…

Harry simply raised an eyebrow at the goblin.

Ragnok huffed, immediately reverting to normal. “Mister potter. We at Gringotts take our business very seriously. If we find out that you somehow managed to intentionally trick our ritual in any way, we have the full authority to punish you and any others involved however we deem fit.“ Ragnok paused again for a moment. Allowing the threat to loom. “Now! Since we have no proof of anything untoward, allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Director Ragnok, head of this branch of Gringotts. I've been told that you humans liken my position to a king.”

Harry outwardly showed no change to that revelation. Inwardly however, he was yelling about just being threatened by a king! He just wanted to get a bit of money for books and potions!

Outwardly he inclined his head, mirroring Ragnok’s introduction. “I am Lord Harry James Peverell Slytherin Ravenclaw. It's a pleasure meeting you director Ragnok, I am unsure what one would compare my position to.” Harry was again inwardly screaming at his response, was he comparing himself and talking as equals with a bloody king?! At least all of those books on etiquette paid off, he wouldn't have known how to introduce himself with all those titles otherwise.

Ragnok let out a low chuckle that led to full blown laughter. He couldn't have imagined how interesting meeting Mister Potter would have been!

Harry was still freaking out. He was going to be tried for treason or something, talking to a king like that! Now Ragnok's laughing at all of the ways they would torture him. Harry was too young to die! He hadn't even gotten his new robes. Or had his first kiss. Or lost his vir-

“HA! Good one mister Potter, very few talk so straightforward anymore. You would make a fine goblin! Now, I was informed that the formerly dead vaults of Peverell, Ravenclaw and Slytherin now have a new Lord. With your authorization, we can now open them once again.”

“And what would happen once authorization was given?”

“We would begin with charging the vaults for the maintenance fees. Then begin maintenance on each of the vaults. Gringotts would then be able to make more money by loaning a percentage of the money to other clients, percentage decided by yourself and your vault manager of course. You would gain a percentage of the profit. Finally, you would have access to the unsealed vaults and everything inside, allowing you to enter and claim each of the lord rings from the vaults.”

Harry thought about it. This wasn't really any different than normal banks. Both muggle and magical banks and they were basically the same aside from the vaults, where many other items could be placed. “And what would the fees be?”

“The fees for maintaining a vault is anywhere from 1% to 10% of the currency inside, annually. Your sealed vaults currently sit at 4% annually. Whether that be galleons or muggle currency it doesn't matter. Also the percentage we are allowed to use to loan other customers is not included in the fee. We were unable to maintain any of the vaults aside from the potter vault since they've all been sealed. The unsealing of each vault would be a great boon to Gringotts, hence why I was informed.”

Was it worth it to open them all? He really only wanted to gain a bit of currency to buy a few things. He didn't know what opening any of the vaults would do, nor did he know anything about these lord rings Ragnok mentioned. “Director Ragnok'' Harry hesitantly started. “I am unsure of the other ramifications from opening one, let alone three sealed vaults. Nor do I know anything of these lord rings. I don't think it would be wise for me to proceed before learning what may happen once I agree.”

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

“I understand you not knowing about reviving dead vaults but surely your guardians would have explained lord rings, it's one of the first things you would have learned when training to take up the Potter lordship Mister Potter.”

“I don't know what you mean, Director Ragnok. I've not read anything on lordships yet and my guardians are ignorant of the magical world.”

“Then surely your magical guardian has informed you? I find it hard to believe that THE Harry Potter would be left entirely unawares”

“What is a magical guardian?”

….

….

“Mister Potter, any young witch or wizard raised by muggles, by law, is assigned a magical guardian. They are meant to mentor them until the muggle raised are capable of navigating the magical world. Furthermore in the case of the muggle raised being an heir to a noble house, the magical guardian must teach them of their responsibilities to their house, and manage their vaults. They would have access to a trust vault in order to help take care of their charge until magical majority. Are you, Mister Potter, telling me that you don't even know who your magical guardian is?”

….

“Mister Potter?”

Harry sat in silence. He was supposed to be guided into the magical world by a mentor? He could've been out of that hellhole far sooner if someone had just done their job?! All of the beatings, insults, time spent in the cupboard could’ve been avoided. He could’ve eaten more. He could have had someone, ANYONE on his side all this time.

Ragnok watched as the boy fell still. He could literally feel the emotions roiling off of the boy. Then the desk between the two shattered to pieces, as a wave of uncontrolled magical power exploded, with mister potter at its center. The room and Ragnok himself, peppered with stone shrapnel. Ragnok only untouched due to the magical protection he carried as Director.

Harry felt a cold sensation at his neck. Glancing up he saw the cold eyes of Ragnok. Following Ragnok’s arm to the blade that was resting on his neck. Only then did he notice the change in his surroundings.

“Mister Potter, if I hadn’t felt your emotions from your aura, and had not known you had no ill will directed toward myself, I would consider that an attack on my person. Understand that assaulting a Director of Gringotts, one would be sent for execution.” Ragnok sheathed his blade and pulled out a gem from a belt pouch that Harry missed upon initial inspection. Soon a group of goblins gathered the broken table and removed it while conjuring a new one. The goblins then promptly left without a word spoken.

“Now, I would strongly suggest that you request to look at your parents' will. Keep in mind that is just a friendly suggestion, not us goblins meddling in your wizarding affairs.”

Harry just dumbly nodded and requested the will. Still thinking about how close to death he had been

Ragnok pulled out the same gem and spoke to the contingent that entered in a language Harry couldn't understand. The goblins left and returned rather quickly with a scroll. They bowed to Ragnok after setting it on the table and left once more. The scroll was rolled into a tube and had a wax seal on it, unbroken. Ragnok simply nodded at him when Harry glanced up to him.

Harry took it carefully before attempting to remove the wax seal normally. To no avail. Ragnok simply gave him a toothless smile and a ritual knife, identical to the one before. Harry took the hint and cut his thumb before dropping blood upon the seal. The scroll opened itself.

We, James Charlus Potter, and Lily James Potter nee Evans of able bodies and minds, claim this, our Final Will and Testament. Any and all previously written are hereby null and void.

Harry read through his parents' official talk claiming that if one of them died then the other would gain ownership of everything they owned and vice versa.

In the case neither of us are alive by the time of this reading. We request both an official inheritance test and emancipation rite be available to Harry so he may discover any and all titles to his name, and live freely (Except for the lordly duties, remember son the TRUE enemy is paperwork). [An: Sorry, I had to, you just know James would have slipped something in there]

If we are no longer of this Earth, we name the individuals below, Harry's Official and Magical Guardians.

(In order of preference)

Sirius Black – Godfather by right of 'The Godfather Oath’

Alice Longbottom, and her husband – Godmother by right of 'The Godmother Oath’.

Andromeda and Ted Tonks

Amelia Susan Bones

Pandora Lovegood

By no means, should Harry Potter be raised by Petunia Dursley nee Evans and her husband Vernon.

By signing this Final Will and Testament, we vow that everything said here is true and honest, and under witness are not coerced in any way magical or mundane.

James Charlus Potter and Lily James Potter

Witness: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

Gringotts Official Witness: Karnus Eyepiercer, Current Potter Family Vault Keeper

Upon finishing the last segment, Harry had to reread it thrice more before needing to calm himself so he did not repeat his earlier mishap.

Ragnok watched Harry calm himself and while waiting took a look at the will Harry had set down. He too had to re-read it once more. THE Albus Dumbledore was a witness to this? Ragnok knew the boy hadn't been sent to any of the noble houses on the list. He was also pretty sure that the Tonks didn't have custody of him either. He noticed the boy's small stature and signs of abuse, soon he would have to calm himself much like the boy.

It took about 10 minutes for the boy to open his eyes once more, calm enough to continue. Ragnok wanted, needed to confirm his suspicions.

“Now mister potter, i am sure it's a difficult topic but I'd like to know who you were placed with. Who was supposed to care for you growing up. The goblin nation would like to assist in any way we can.”

Harry thought about it for a minute, ‘would they really help?’, ‘the others he's told about the issues with his relatives all turned their backs on him’, ‘what does he really have to lose?’

Harry took out the will and set it in between them facing director Ragnok then pointed to a line. By no means, should Harry Potter be raised by Petunia Dursley nee Evans and her husband Vernon.

“Them.”

Harry heard the goblin break out into a string of curses, some made him blush. What was that about a goat and a hamster? Ragnok then pulled out another stone from his pouch and his contingent came in once more. He gave them orders and they hurriedly retrieved the items he'd requested. Harry sat perfectly still watching the seething goblin.

Soon the contingent returned with two bags, they set out two mannequins made of wood a bit away from the table. Ragnok had already destroyed one barely a second after it was set up. Harry watched in awe as he dismantled the next mannequin. In less than 30 seconds it was shaved into little more than kindling for a fire.

Ragnok gestured to the table where there was another sword. Harry took it and while he was turned away, the mannequin had repaired itself and prepared to fight. Ragnok showed Harry how to hold the sword and set the mannequin to the lowest difficulty, then let him loose.

After nearly an hour Harry and Ragnok sat back at the table, tired… well… Ragnok was breathing slightly heavier…

“Mister potter, I would like to extend the goblin nation's offer of help. While the wizarding laws may forbid us from interfering with wizarding affairs, we goblins also have a duty as witnesses to the will to carry out said will. I can only assume there were traitors within our ranks who intentionally hid this from us. We will do our best to rectify this mistake in any way we can.” Ragnok stood and bowed to Harry. Harry didn't know it but this was the first time in a century ANY goblin had voluntarily bowed to a human and the first in three centuries for a director to do so.

Harry, uncomfortable with the display, gave a mumbled thanks and tried to get the goblin to stand.

It took the two another hour to finish their meeting and another hour spent under the microscope.

Harry soon had to leave after noticing the time. It would take him another 3 hours to get home and he had already spent four in Gringotts alone. He still wanted to look at all of the shops in Diagon but knew that if he wanted to make it ‘home’ before dark he had less than an hour to get on a bus home.