"Doris Crockford, Mr. Potter," an elderly witch exclaimed, "can't believe I'm meeting you at last."
"So proud, Mr. Potter, I'm just so proud." Another proclaimed, with an immensely satisfied smile on his face.
"Always wanted to shake your hand — I'm all of a flutter."
"Delighted, Mr. Potter," a familiar face announced, "just can't tell you, Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle." Harry smiled at the elderly wizard, remembering the man who had been a member of the Order of the Phoenix.
"I remember you, Mr Diggle," Harry replied, shaking his hand, "you bowed to me in a shop once before." The man cried out in excitement, his top hat falling off from his high spirits.
"He remembers me!" Dedalus exclaimed tearfully, as he was swept away by other well wishers.
At that moment, the tide of patrons deposited a pale, nervous-looking young man in front of Harry, whom he recognised immediately. He fought back the urge to tense up and smiled at the incredibly dangerous individual.
Professor Quirrell!" Hagrid greeted. "Harry, Professor Quirrell will be one of yer teachers at Hogwarts."
"P-P-Potter," stammered Professor Quirrell, grasping Harry's hand, "c-can't t-tell you how p-pleased I am to meet you."
Harry returned the greeting and exchanged pleasantries with the man, all the while ruthlessly suppressing the urge to put distance between them. Quirrell was possessed by Lord Voldemort, the evidence of which was hidden beneath a heavy purple turban.
Harry knew this full well. He also knew, however, that he was unable to do anything about it at present. Not only would it be extremely suspicious if he attempted to reveal the truth, he would be tipping his hand to Riddle. Therefore, he simply pushed those thoughts to one side, finished talking to his professor and moved on to the other patrons.
"Alright you lot," Hagrid chuckled, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder, "must get on – lots ter buy. Come on Harry."
After a final few goodbyes from well wishers, Hagrid steered Harry through the bar and into a small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but a few weeds and a battered rubbish bin. Pulling out his pink umbrella, Hagrid pointed it at the wall and began to count bricks.
"Three up..." Hagrid muttered, "two across. Ah, there!" He announced, finding the right brick. "Right, stand back, Harry."
The half-giant tapped the correct brick three times with the tip of his umbrella. All of a sudden, the brick quivered and wriggled, before beginning to sink back into the wall. Slowly, the bricks began to fold away around the first, creating a wide brick archway that revealed a cobbled street twisting and turning out of sight.
"Welcome," said Hagrid proudly, "to Diagon Alley." As Harry surveyed the street in front of him, ostensibly for the first time, he couldn't help but grin.
Diagon Alley was a hive of activity, with dozens of people working their ways up and down the narrow street, and in and out of shops. As they slowly made their way down the alley, Harry took note of each shop with a wide smile, fondly remembering the many times he had been there before in his previous life.
The first to catch his eye was Potage's Cauldrons, a shop situated very close to the Leaky Cauldron entrance to the Alley. The wide array of shining metal cauldrons stacked up and displayed outside drew the gaze of passersby, a few of whom were looking and studying them interestedly.
"Yeah, you'll be needin' one," Hagrid said, upon seeing Harry looking, "but we gotta get yer money first."
As Hagrid picked up the pace, parting the crowds like a boat cutting through waves, Harry eagerly looked at each shop they passed while following close behind. They quickly walked by Slug and Jiggers Apothecary, Eeylops Owl Emporium (where Harry knew Hedwig to be), Quality Quidditch Supplies, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, and several others.
Soon, however, they reached their goal. Towering above the other buildings in the area, the bright white stone exterior of Gringotts Wizarding Bank awaited them. The bank was easily the largest building in Diagon Alley, and almost certainly one of the best defended. Stood outside of the large bronze doors were two goblin guards, wielding mean-looking halberds and dressed in uniforms of scarlet and gold.
"Yeah, that's a goblin," Hagrid said quietly, seeing Harry looking at the beings.
The goblin guards bowed to them as they climbed the marble steps and walked through the bronze doors. While Hagrid walked straight on with a quick nod, Harry hesitated for a moment before bowing back to the beings, and quickly moving inside. In doing so, he missed the look of shock and surprise on their faces.
Just inside the first set of doors stood another set, smaller than the first, but once again guarded by two goblins. Made from polished silver, they had words engraved on the surface. As before, Hagrid walked straight through the doors, acknowledging the bows of the goblins with a nod. And as before, Harry bowed to the guards in return. As he headed through the doors, though, his eyes flicked to the carving.
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay dearly in their turn,
So if you seek beneath our floors,
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware,
Of finding more than treasure there.
"Yeah," Hagrid murmured, as they passed through the doors, "yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob this place."
At Hagrid's remark, Harry couldn't hide a small smile. It had not been that long ago (relatively speaking), that he and Hermione had broken into the Gringotts tunnels to retrieve Helga Hufflepuff's Cup from the vault of Bellatrix Lestrange.
While getting in had been smooth, getting out had been...problematic.
In the chaos, they had needed to release one of the dragons used to guard the vaults, and ride it to safety. The damage that had been done to the bank in the process of their daring escape had been catastrophic. Had he survived the final battle, Harry was certain that the goblins would have been after his blood.
'It's a good thing they will never find out,' Harry mused to himself, shivering as he thought of the retribution the goblins would take.
The silver doors led into a vast marble hall, ornately decorated, with hundreds of goblins working at long wooden counters. The chamber was quiet for the most part, with only the sounds of jingling coins, the occasional thump of a stamp, and some hushed conversations cutting through the calm.
As the half-giant led him over to a nearby counter, Harry took a deep breath and let out a sigh. This was the place where Harry would begin making the critical adjustments necessary to change their future. He needed to do this right. Having the goblins on side would be crucial, and it would all start in this moment.
Upon reaching the counter, they began to wait patiently for the goblin to acknowledge them. The teller, however, ignored the pair, continuing to make notes in a ledger. After a few seconds had past, Hagrid let out a pointed cough. The teller sighed and looked up at him with annoyance.
"Yes?" The goblin asked. "May I help you?" Though they had not yet spoken, his tone suggested that the teller was already bored with the pair of them.
"Mornin'," Hagrid said to the goblin, "we've come ter take some money outta Mr Harry Potter's safe."
The goblin glanced over at Harry with mild interest, before looking back to Hagrid. Before the teller could speak, however, Harry took the opportunity to chime in and make a request of his own.
"Good morning, as well," Harry greeted politely, bowing to the teller as he had the guards at the doors, "while I do, indeed, wish to retrieve some money, I would also like to enquire as to the existence of the will of my parents, Lily and James Potter."
Hagrid looked at Harry with undisguised surprise, before looking back to the goblin to see what he would say. The teller, meanwhile, stared at Harry in disbelief for a moment, before bowing in return.
"Certainly, Mr Potter," the teller began, tapping his finger on the counter, "first, however, we must confirm your identity." Harry nodded in understanding. "Do you have your vault key?"
Harry looked up at his companion hopefully, knowing full well that the key was in one of Hagrid's many pockets. Snapping out of his confusion, Hagrid nodded and began to ferret around in his coat.
Very quickly, he located the small, gold key and placed it on the counter in front of the teller. The goblin studied the key briefly, before waving his hand over it. It glowed with a bright, white light, and he nodded in satisfaction.
"Everything appears to be in order." The teller announced. "Please wait here for a moment, I will return shortly." With that, he hopped off his stool and disappeared through one of the many doors out of the chamber. As soon as the goblin was out of sight, Hagrid scratched his beard and glanced at his companion.
"Harry," Hagrid asked confusedly, "why are yer askin' about yer mum and dad's will?" Harry frowned at the question.
"Well, you said that my mum and dad had left me money, right?" Harry asked, and Hagrid nodded in reply. "Well, I remember hearing my uncle talk to my aunt about making a will, and wondered whether my parents had done the same." He shrugged. "Banks are usually a good place to find records of such things, particularly if my parents used this bank exclusively." Hagrid nodded once more.
"Yeah, yer parents used Gringotts." He agreed, looking thoughtful at Harry's words. "It's the only bank in wizarding Britain." Hagrid paused for a moment. "Alright, fair enough...was just a bit outta the blue, is all." Harry nodded in understanding.
The young wizard suppressed a relieved sigh as the half-giant accepted the explanation for his extra request. His uncle and aunt discussing the making of a will was a plausible enough justification for Harry asking whether his parents had one. If it had been anyone else escorting him to Diagon Alley that day, however, Harry imagined that they would have more questions for him. Dumbledore would certainly be suspicious.
After a short wait, the teller re-emerged from the door he had left and quickly took up his desk once more.
"Thank you for waiting, Mr Potter," the goblin said, settling himself on his stool, "you are correct in your query that your parents made a will and stored a copy with us." Harry smiled and nodded.
"That's brilliant, thank you." Harry replied. "Am I able to view the document today?" The goblin nodded.
"Yes, indeed," the teller said, "I have been directed to invite you to a meeting with Director Ragnok."
"The head of Gringotts?!" Hagrid exclaimed, in wide eyed astonishment. The teller glared at the half-giant for his outburst, but nodded his agreement.
"Of the British branch of Gringotts, yes." The teller replied, before turning back to Harry.
Harry, too, was surprised by this turn of events. When his father had suggested he investigate their will in Gringotts, he had not thought it would be dealt with at such a high level. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he spoke once more.
"May I ask why my request is being handled by such a senior member of the bank?" Harry asked curiously, trying not to let his shock show. The goblin shook his head.
"Director Ragnok will explain everything to you in due course." The teller replied. "Are you agreeable to meet with him?" Harry nodded.
"Yes, of course, that would be wonderful."
With a curt nod, the teller called over a nearby clerk and spoke to him quickly in the goblin tongue. With that said the teller turned back to Harry and spoke again in English.
"Very well, Mr Potter," the teller announced, "my colleague will take you to the Director's office." Harry nodded.
"Wonderful, thank you, Mr..." he hesitated, not knowing the goblin's name. The teller sighed slightly, before answering.
"Teller Locke, Mr Potter." The goblin replied, tapping his finger on his desk.
"Thank you, Teller Locke," Harry continued, bowing to the goblin, "you have been most helpful and I thank you for your time."
Teller Locke stopped tapping on the counter when Harry bowed and thanked him, staring at the young wizard for a moment. After a moment, and with a smudge of disbelief, he carefully bowed in return.
"You are most welcome, Mr Potter," Teller Locke replied, "I hope your meeting with the Director is productive and profitable. Good day."
With that said, Harry moved to follow the goblin clerk to his meeting, with Hagrid moving close behind. However, before the half-giant could get far, two armed guards crossed their halberds in his path.
"What the..." he exclaimed, before the clerk addressed him.
"I am afraid this is a private meeting, Mr Hagrid," the goblin explained, "Mr Potter must speak with Director Ragnok alone. You are welcome to remain here, however, until the meeting is concluded." As Hagrid opened his mouth to complain, Harry spoke up.
"It's alright, Hagrid," Harry reassured his escort, "I'll be ok. I can't imagine this will take long, anyway. I imagine the Director is rather busy." The half-giant hesitated for a moment, before acquiescing.
"Alright, Harry," Hagrid replied, "see yer in a bit."
With that said, Hagrid allowed himself to be led over to a waiting area, while Harry set off for his meeting with the Director. The clerk led Harry down a long, ornate marble corridor, lined with wooden haberdasheries. As they walked, he observed random drawers in the units slide open, only for a piece of parchment to flutter back in, or to fly out and shoot off down the corridor.
Very soon, the clerk stopped moving abruptly and knocked on an exquisitely carved wooden door. Following a terse "Enter" from inside, the goblin opened the door and led Harry inside the room.
The office was large and extremely well decorated. Like most of the bank, it had marble floors and wood panelled walls. Said walls were lined with bookshelves, containing what must have been thousands of books. At the far end of the room stood a large wooden desk, behind which sat an elderly but formidable looking goblin, making notes with a quill. After finishing the notation he was making, the goblin looked up at the intrusion.
"Yes? What is it?" He demanded tersely. The clerk bowed to the goblin, and gestured to Harry.
"I have brought Mr Potter, Director, as requested." The clerk replied. A flash of realisation came over his face, and Ragnok nodded, and the clerk beat a hasty retreat.
"Oh, yes," Ragnok murmured, before standing and bowing slightly to Harry, "greetings, Mr Potter. May your life be filled to the brim with riches, and may your enemies feel your wrath." Harry quickly bowed in return, but hesitated in replying.
From what he remembered from history of magic classes, that was one of several formal goblin greetings, which had a specific formal response. That, however, was as far as Harry's memory could help. Not wishing to be rude, he replied as best he could.
"Greetings Director Ragnok," Harry responded, "it's a pleasure to meet you." He smiled tremulously. "I-I'm afraid I don't know the correct response to your greeting." The elderly goblin cracked a smile and chuckled at his response.
"No, I suppose you wouldn't know," Ragnok remarked, "you haven't even started Hogwarts yet, after all." Taking a seat, he gestured to the chair in front of his desk. "Please, have a seat Mr Potter." Relieved that he had not made a bad impression on the most important goblin in the British branch of Gringotts, Harry took the invited seat.
"Thank you, Director."
"Teller Locke has informed me that you wished to view the Last Will and Testament of your parents, the late Lord and Lady Potter. Is that correct?" Taken aback slightly at the prefixes Ragnok attached to his parent's names, he nodded in agreement.
"Yes, Director," Harry began. "Due to unfortunate circumstances in my life, I have been unable to enquire as to my parent's legacy, nor any holdings I may or may not have. Until recently, I was not aware of the magical world..." Ragnok stared at him silently for a moment, before replying.