Hadrian Peverell: High Lord of Skagos

Chapter 5: The Weight of Legacy

After the whirlwind tour of the various estates and Harrys realization, he found himself back at Gringotts. The goblins were efficient, as always, and Harry had been summoned once more to meet with Sharpclaw, his account manager. The weight of his inheritance was becoming more real with each passing step, and although the estates were in varying states of disrepair, the sheer volume of assets he controlled was staggering. He knew he had to make sense of it all, and that meant another meeting in the bowels of Gringotts.

As he entered the imposing stone building, he was greeted by Sharpclaw, who offered a slight nod of acknowledgment. The goblin looked as sharp as ever, his long, claw-like fingers glistening as he gestured for Harry to follow.

"Mr. Potter," Sharpclaw began, leading Harry through the familiar labyrinth of tunnels. "I trust your tour of the estates was... illuminating?"

"Illuminating is one word for it," Harry said with a faint smile. "Overwhelming might be a better one."

"Understandable," Sharpclaw replied with a hint of amusement. "It is not every day one inherits the combined legacies of several ancient families."

They arrived in a private meeting room, lined with intricate carvings that told the story of Gringotts' history. Sharpclaw motioned for Harry to sit as he unfurled a parchment on the table.

"I've had time to assess the worth of the assets you visited. While the Potter estates in Scotland and Godric's Hollow is in ruins, its land value is considerable due to its historical significance. The townhouse in London is in relatively good condition and could easily be restored to full functionality."

Harry nodded, trying to keep up as Sharpclaw listed off various figures and values. The numbers were astounding.

"As for the Gryffindor estate," Sharpclaw continued, "Castle Gryffindor itself is priceless. The artifacts you discovered there—goblin-made, I believe—could fetch extraordinary sums, though I recommend keeping them as part of the family's collection. Ownership of Hogwarts' grounds is split, as you noted. Your control over that particular property is limited by the balance of the Slytherin shares, but it's still a significant asset, should any disputes arise over Hogwarts' future."

Sharpclaw paused to look at Harry, his beady eyes glinting in the dim light. "The cottage in Spain, while secluded, holds minimal financial value compared to your other properties. The same can be said for the Peverell manor in South Wales. However, the libraries in both estates contain rare volumes that could be of substantial interest to collectors or scholars. The Black properties, on the other hand, are... more complex. The Scottish hunting ground has lucrative potential if developed, and the northern Welsh manor's library is one of, if not the largest private collections in Britain. It's worth a small fortune in and of itself."

Harry was struggling to grasp just how vast his holdings had become. It was hard to fathom that only a few years ago, he had been living in a cupboard under the stairs, and now he owned estates, castles, libraries, and unimaginable wealth.

"And what about businesses?" Harry asked, remembering the other aspect of his inheritance. "My families—do they own shares in any businesses?"

"Yes," Sharpclaw replied, sliding another parchment across the table. "The Potter family holds shares in several key enterprises, including Ollivanders, which has expanded internationally, and Flourish & Blotts. You also have shares in a few broomstick manufacturing companies—Nimbus, to be specific. The Black family, on the other hand, was more focused on investments in the magical shipping industry and potion ingredient suppliers. Both portfolios are well-diversified, yielding impressive returns."

Harry's head spun. He never imagined the Potters, or the Blacks, would be involved in so many different ventures.

Sharpclaw continued, clearly enjoying the moment. "To put it simply, Mr. Potter, your combined assets—Potter, Gryffindor, Peverell, Slytherin, and Black—are immense. Between the properties, businesses, and various holdings, you are now the wealthiest individual in the wizarding world."