(Two Hours Later)
"I think that will be enough for this evening," Bloodmoon announced, looking over at his clock.
"Ok, I admit, I'm finding it more and more difficult to keep my eyes open, no matter how much I want to continue," Harry said. In the last two hours, Bloodmoon had managed to cover the basic magical history, as well as an introduction of magical Britain, and his parents' own history, or at least what he knew of his mum and dad.
"I have a room already prepared for you," Bloodmoon said, folding up a piece of paper and placing it back in his desk drawer. "We will continue our discussion in the morning, after you've had the chance to process this new information," he said whilst looking at him through his own tired eyes, before walking over to the office door.
"Bloodmoon, why did you collect me just after midnight? It just seems unusual," Harry asked, because banks in the non-magical world were never open at this time of the night.
"Mr. Potter, we here at Gringotts have been trying to reach you for years. Your magical guardian has blocked our attempts through official channels; at the age of eleven you can claim your household rights.
This wouldn't have been a problem due to your age, but we have also found irregular accounting within your household dealings; simply speaking, we believe your vaults are being robbed," his account manager explained, looking at him seriously, with hints of anger rising in his features.
"Robbed?" he questioned, keeping his voice calm and level, but his insides aching at his misfortune, suddenly finding new energy to stay awake.
"Not robbed in the sense of breaking and entering. But profits from your family portfolio are at an all-time low in the last eight years. We here at Gringotts believe your magical guardian is changing the books we receive, and is redirecting profits made from investments and sales into shell businesses across Europe, before redirecting it elsewhere.
Unfortunately, due to laws, as well as our own rivalry with Dwarven clans, who control magical banking in magical France and Germany, we have had limited options without your consent, and that can't happen until you are at least eleven years old," Bloodmoon explained.
Harry just nodded in understanding, since he remembered reading about a similar story over a year ago in one of the financial newspapers his uncle read, where a man had managed to steal over 70 million pounds by using a similar method to what Bloodmoon was suggesting. He thought about it more as they walked, before asking respectfully,
"I understand what you're saying, but why is claiming my household rights so important that you need to meet me a couple hours after midnight? Surely you could have waited until I arrived with a Hogwarts staff member for my banking introduction, as is standard protocol." Remembering Bloodmoon's earlier introduction about magical banking and how Hogwarts staff would often act as an escort for their charges if their guardians or parents were non-magical.
"The laws state that you can claim your lordship on your eleventh birthday if you are the last of your line. But this has to be done within the first 168 hours, otherwise you have to wait until your 14th birthday, 16th, and then finally 17th birthday when you are officially declared an adult," answered Bloodmoon, whilst walking to the suite that had been made ready for Harry to stay in.
"Simply speaking, you only had a week from midnight today to claim your birthright; otherwise you would have to wait for another three years until your 14th birthday. Effectively giving the one responsible for stealing from you longer to steal, or to cover his or her tracks before we could investigate on your behalf," his account manager said, moving toward a pair of large double doors.
Bloodmoon quickly unlocked the door and handed over the gold key to Harry before continuing.
"We believe your magical guardian to be involved, or has at least some knowledge of what has been occurring and the people responsible, mainly due to the fact he has denied the need for investigation into your accounts, which he could have authorized on your behalf.
He also has blocked and denied our requests to have a meeting with you as soon as you reached your 11th birthday on the grounds that you would be too immature to handle such knowledge and responsibility. He has argued that you should have a normal childhood, like your parents would have wanted," Bloodmoon explained with a sneer, as he opened the doors for Harry.
"Due to the scale of this investigation, and the possible individuals involved, it could take several years to get to the bottom of this crime and catch the responsible parties. Hence, the sooner we get started, the better. Plus, with us immediately talking to you, we can get a head start on the investigation before the individuals involved have a chance to further cover their tracks."
Harry tried to project a calm face at this news, but the thoughts of betrayal made that impossible. It was sickening that the person responsible for protecting his family assets was stealing from him, causing his anger to emerge and his voice to be laced with venom as he asked the next obvious question, "Who is my magical Guardian?"
"Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts," replied Bloodmoon, before disappearing down the corridor, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts.
...
Next Morning
Harry was currently being escorted from his room back to Bloodmoon's office. Sadly, he hadn't managed to get much sleep, with all the things Bloodmoon said filling his mind with countless questions he wanted to ask.
Walking through a pair of silver doors, they moved into a vast marble hall. Harry looked around, taking in the amazing sight of a goblin-run bank.
It wasn't very busy since it was still early in the morning, and it had just gone past 9 o'clock. But there were still about a hundred goblins sitting behind desks, signing papers, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in brass scales, and examining precious stones through eyeglasses. It was a hive of activity.
Harry couldn't remember passing through here the previous evening, maybe he hadn't noticed considering all that was on his mind. But the way his escort acted, it was almost like a tour; the only thing that was missing was the commentary.
Finally, they reached a corridor that he recognized from the previous night. It was lined with doors on both sides with names engraved on plaques. Stopping at the door with a gold nameplate on it, with 'Bloodmoon' clearly inscribed in the centre with a clear blue sapphire at the end. His escort opened the door for him and led him through into the office he had been in the previous evening.
He hadn't managed to take in much of the details the previous evening. The office was large and had various weapons mounted on the walls, from small plain daggers to gem-encrusted swords. The other wall was lined with two cabinets, one with files and another with several items that Harry didn't recognize.
"Please sit down, Mr. Potter, and we will get started," Bloodmoon said, looking up from his papers before looking at his escort. "You may leave us, I'll summon you if you are required," gesturing for the armoured goblins to leave.
The armoured goblins bowed once to Bloodmoon before leaving the office.
"Mr. Potter, I take it you are well rested?" his account manager asked from across the desk, wearing the same armour as the night before.
"Yes, thank you. Account Manager Bloodmoon, I have a quick question before we begin," he said seriously, seeing his manager sitting straighter at his words. "I hope it does not cause you any offense, but I need to ask for my own peace of mind."
"You may ask, I'll try not to be offended," replied his account manager.
Harry looked at Bloodmoon in the eyes before continuing, trying to project an image of calm and seriousness, like Bloodmoon was, "After everything you told me, and how my magical guardian may be stealing from me, the most logical question would be, how can I trust you not to betray me as well?" Making sure eye contact was maintained whilst delivering the question.
A smile appeared, showing several sharp pointed teeth; it was a bit unnerving. "Good question, Mr. Potter, especially considering what has happened to you, but effectively, me and my family are under a magical blood contract. If I were to betray you willingly, my life and my family's would be forfeited by the magic in our blood, due to breaking our agreement," Bloodmoon explained.
All he could do was nod at the statement, since he had no way of confirming it, so he would just have to take Bloodmoon at his word. However, he made a mental note to look up what blood contracts meant, as well as any other types of magical agreements. Before saying, "Thank you for your support and advice then, Bloodmoon, it is most valued."
"You're most welcome. Also, take into account: I get paid based on how much money you earn. So the more money I make you, the more I get paid. You could say I get paid based on commission," Bloodmoon said with a smile on his face. "So I think you can understand why it is in my best interest to ensure that you are successful."
Nodding in understanding, it also confirmed a theory he had been working on after seeing how the bank worked during his short tour earlier. Goblins were a group driven by wealth and were a race of merchants, as it were, haggling for prices on services and whatnot.
"Also, Mr. Potter," causing him to refocus his attention back on his account manager, "An additional reason why you can trust me is that if you are successful, I move up in status here at the bank.
I am one of the oldest; the decline of your fortune under the guardianship of Albus Dumbledore has threatened my own position, and my own chances of being promoted to a higher office. Also, the fact is if I get demoted, my life is forfeited and my son will replace me."
"Ok, I understand. It's in your own mutual interest to ensure that my wealth grows. Now shall we move on?" he asked, feeling better in the knowledge that as long as there was profit in it, Bloodmoon wouldn't betray him. Of course, he still had no way of confirming it.
"Indeed we shall. Now, your mother and father's wills have been blocked by the Ministry and can't be unblocked until your 17th birthday," he said while raising a hand to stop Harry from questioning him.
Bloodmoon continued on, "We expect this was in part done by your magical guardian; we can only guess at his motives. Now, the Potter Household is an ancient house, dating back over two thousand years.
During this time, the Potter Household has been in similar situations due to wars and conflicts, so a number of safeguards are in place to help protect its members and increase the chances of the house's survival," pausing to allow the news to sink in.
"Your parents, Mr. Potter, were concerned for your upbringing and made preparations in case of their deaths or unforeseen events that would prevent them from fulfilling their duties. One of these preparations was declaring you an heir to one of the bloodline's titles, which was previously thought to have died out several centuries ago."
'Ok, my parents put in safeguards, that's good. What does he mean by bloodline?' he thought, whilst taking some calming breaths to help him focus, before replying, "Ok, so you are effectively activating a safeguard, but how does this bloodline work, and how does this help me?" he questioned rapidly.
"Mr. Potter, your family has two titles, but they have only used one because this second title has a colourful history within the magical world. The Potter name has been used first because this was their original title, and is considered grander.
The other was required through marriage. Due to your lordship being blocked through the Potter line, the safeguard activates this second lordship, effectively giving you the same rights and privileges as you would have with the Potter name. Then, you can claim your Potter lordship at your 17th birthday at the latest," the goblin explained with a predatory grin.
Smiling at the news, he rather liked the idea, and the more he thought about it, the more he liked it. It would be a fresh start, a new life, a means to forget his connection with his mother's sister's family. Looking back at Bloodmoon with his own predatory smile, "Ok, what is this second title called?"