The Cupboard Series 2: Hermione's Book Nook

Chapter 4

Harry stared at the letter in his hand. It had him transfixed. Half of him wanted nothing more than to rip it open and read it over and over and over again. The other half was still too dazed to think that he had something that his dad had actually touched, something with his very handwriting sitting in his hand. Whatever way he looked at it, the letter was momentous.

Around him, the few birds that chirped in the small park that he'd stumbled across down one of the side streets of Diagon Alley continued their merry tune. The numerous trees and shrubs swayed gently in the soft breeze. The grass under him felt soft. But none of it registered.

A soft hoot in the nearest tree brought unseeing eyes up. What could have been the second or even the twentieth hoot finally brought him out of his stupor.

"You're right, Hedwig," Harry said softly. "I'll never know if I don't open it."

Turning the envelope over, he carefully slipped a finger under the flap and began to ease it open. He winced slightly as one corner tore. Finally, with trembling hands, Harry pulled out a couple of sheets of parchment.

The writing, like that on the envelope, was somewhat messy, not unlike Harry's own, he reflected.

My dearest Harry,

I guess that this is one letter that you never have to read, but I'm writing it anyway, son, just in case. We live in uncertain times and the future, for the most part, looks bleak.

That bleakness is, of course, out there. Not in here where your Mother is making us her famous shepherd's pie or in here where you're currently sitting at my feet, begging me to let you ride your new toy broom that your Uncle Sirius gave you for your birthday.

No, in here in this little cottage, the world is perfect. Everything that your Mother and I ever wanted is here. Our little family. Together we're so very, very happy.

But unfortunately, beyond these four walls, the world is at war. Which is why I'm writing this letter. Just in case.

If something has happened to both your Mother and I, I know that your godparents and your Uncle Moony and even your Uncle Peter will make sure that you're loved and cared for, just the way that we would.

But I'd like to do more for you.

By the time that you read this (a time that I really, really hope never comes to pass), you'll have started at Hogwarts. You'll already know about your trust vault that we've set up for you for your schooling.

Eventually when you come of age, you'll inherit the Potter title and gain access to the Potter vault. That'll be a lot of money and a lot of responsibility, even for a seventeen year old. So, I'm going to do for you what my father did for me.

I've set up for you an Investment Vault at Gringotts. Just like your Education Vault, it has a hundred thousand galleons deposited in it. But unlike your Education Vault which will get topped up each year on September 1, the hundred thousand in your Investment Vault is it. No extra money at all. I've also included the deeds to a building in Diagon Alley.

With this money and building, your job is to learn how to invest wisely. Learn all of the ins and outs of business that you can. Find everyone who you trust implicitly to advise you, but overall, these decisions will be yours. Your Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus, as well as the goblins, will all be able to steer you well. Your Uncle Peter never did have a head for money, so you probably want to shy away from his advice.

I'd like to think that you'll invest well and wisely, but, if you happen to make some mistakes, learn from them. I know that I made my fair share, so you'll be in excellent company. And if everything goes pear shaped, then the goblins will use the Potter Vault to settle any debts and make sure that the building doesn't need to be sold off, however you won't get a second chance at this until you come of age.