Investing in the Future

Chapter One

Harry walked through the Alley, keeping his head down to keep from being recognized. Getting to Diagon Alley had not been easy but he had managed to convince his Aunt that if he had some more books to keep him occupied in his room then it would be better. So, Uncle Vernon had dropped him off on the way to taking Dudley somewhere and would pick him up later in the afternoon. He still had some of the money he had taken out of Gringotts before school, so his first act had been to grab a meal in the Leaky Cauldron. Now he was heading for the bank. The goblins had been very intimidating when he'd come last time, but he'd also been with Hagrid then. This time he was on his own, and it was scary but not scarier than facing Voldemort. Thankfully the bank wasn't overly busy, so he got into line, he just hoped there was a way to access his vault without his key since Hagrid had kept it. He assumed it had been given back to the Headmaster for safe keeping but how was he going to get his school supplies when the lists were sent out?

"Yes?" the goblin asked as it was Harry's turn, leaning forward to scowl down at him.

Harry took a deep breath and refused to be cowed. "I need to access my vault."

"Key," was the gruff answer.

"I've never had my key sir. Hagrid had it last year and he gave it back to Headmaster Dumbledore as far as I know, Harry answered quickly.

"You allowed another to have your key?" the goblin demanded, leaning further over his counter.

"I was raised by muggles, sir. I only found out about being a wizard before the start of school last year," Harry kept his voice down, not wanting anyone else to hear and maybe realize who he was.

"Name?"

Harry glanced around and then leant in, rising up on tiptoes to do so. "Harry Potter, sir."

The goblin frowned and then pointed to a hallway just off the main floor. "Wait on the bench there."

"Yes, sir." Harry went and took a seat in the dim hallway, trying not to fidget from nerves. He sat for maybe ten minutes before he was summoned by another goblin and led into an office.

"Use this quill and sign your full name on the parchment," the goblin seated behind the desk ordered as the door closed. Harry sat down and took the quill, writing out Harry James Potter, jerking slightly at the stinging pain. He saw his name appear on the back of his hand, bleeding very briefly before healing. He stared in awe as his parents' names appeared on the parchment above his. "Welcome to Gringotts Heir Potter. Now, why did you give your key to someone?"

"But I didn't. Hagrid said Dumbledore gave it to him when we were here last year," Harry was quick to explain.

The goblin frowned and began reading over some form of records. "And what of your account statement?"

"My what?" he frowned in confusion, he'd seen Uncle Vernon get those from his bank, but he hadn't realized wizards used them too.

"Gringotts sends out two statements a year for trust funds, to help teach young Heirs about money management," the goblin explained, none too happy about the waste of time.

"What do you mean Heir? And I never get any mail, sir," Harry answered honestly, which led to several hours locked away with the goblin who was actually the Potter account manager, Slipknife. He'd learnt more about his family than he'd imagined and on is right ring finger sat the Heir's ring, hidden from view, but he could still feel it. Finding out he had a hereditary seat on the Wizengamot had been interesting, he needed to learn a lot more about the government before he was of age to take that seat though. He had money, as in he never had to work kind of money. It had just been sitting there for the last decade though, something the goblins didn't like. His parents had made investments, which was normal, but thanks to his Mum they had also invested in the muggle world.