117Harry and the Potter elves
It was an extremely hot summer on Privet Dr. Harry was listening to the news on television as he finished weeding his Aunts Prime roses. He was covered in sweat and dirt when he was called into the house.
Harry removed his trainers at the door. "Yes Uncle Vernon?" He was handed a small bag and a bottle of water.
"Go straight to your room boy, stay there and not a sound out of you!" Vernon Dursley took a wheezing breath. "The Masons will be here any minute. This could very well be the biggest deal of my carrier and you will not mess it up!"
Vernon's eyes followed Harry as he silently went up the stairs to his room.
Harry could smell the elaborate dinner waiting on his uncle's clients. He opened the small bag to find two pieces of burnt Garlic bread a small slice of meat and a piece of dried out cheese. Harry ate his meager meal and lay on his bed, still sweaty and dirty from his long day of working as the Durskaban slave.
About an hour later, he could hear the laughter from the dinner party. Two tennis ball sized green eyes on the weirdest creature had ever seen popped next to him and said a simple. "Hello"
The startled look on Harry's face would have made any one laugh.
"Excuse me….But who are you?" Harry honestly questioned.
"Dobby…Dobby the house elf." The little elf said proudly.
Harry sat just looking at the elf a moment and noticed he had the name Potter tattooed under one ear. "Dobby, why do you have the name Potter on your ear?"
Dobby hung his head. "Great Harry Potter sir, I was a Potter elf until we couldn't finds you. Then old white whiskers came and said youse was dead and sold all 40 of the Potter elves."
Harry was a bit pissed at this revelation. "Was old whiskers by chance Albus Dumbledore?"
Dobby began banging his head off the door. "CAN'T SAY!" he began repeating over and over until Harry stopped him.
"Dobby Stop!" He held the little elf in his arms. "Why were you doing that?"
The little elf looked sheepish. "Dobby can't say."
Harry was getting angrier by the minute. "Dobby how do I reclaim my Elves?"
"You must go and claim your rights as Lord Potter. The Goblins knows how."
Harry went to his desk pulled out a quill and Parchment. "Who do I address this too, Dobby?"
"Gringotts inheritance office."
Harry then wrote a note out to the Goblins asking to be brought to the bank in secret and to tell no one else. Since he was getting no mail, he asked Dobby to deliver it. Then told Dobby to go back to where he came from he would get him back along with the others soon.
The next morning Harry was awakened by a gruff voice he recognized but did not belong in his room.
"Griphook…What are you doing here?"
The Goblin was beyond astonished. "You know my Name Lord Potter?"
Harry laughed. "Of course you're the second person I really met in the Wizarding world. I hope I can call you a friend."
Griphook still was astonished. "You wish me as a friend?" The goblins eyes were different showing an emotion Harry could not recognize in any way.
"Why not, you were kind to me…you came here today special just to get me. That I call a friend." Harry said with out a hint of trepidation, and extended his hand.
Griphook shook hands with Harry, the first friendship between Goblins and wizards in centuries.
Harry quickly changed into his school robes as Griphook pulled out a small length of rope.
"Lord Potter Please hold this rope it is a Goblin Port key it will take us directly to The Office of Ragnok. He is the Director of the bank and wants to over see this personally."
Goblin Port keys were not quite the bumpy ride that wizard Port keys are, so Harry landed on his feet…a bit wobbly but standing.
The office was not opulent but it was large, with a wall of filing cabinets along one wall, with a flowing tapestry depicting a goblin battle long ago being replayed repeatedly. Harry kept watching as heads were lopped off and flew back on only to be lopped off again. An old Goblin sat at an old roll top desk, that seemed to have an endless amount of little cubby holes filed with bits and rolls of parchment sticking out. The grey hair coming out of his ears seemed to sway with an unfelt breeze. He was much larger than Griphook and wore what appeared to be a very expensive muggle dark blue pinstriped suit.
He turned in what seemed to be a very old wooden desk chair. The old Goblins voice was gruff to say the least.
"Lord Potter, you are well met. It seems we have much to discuss."
Harry gulped as he ran his right hand through his hair. "Yes Sir, it would seem so. Could you call me Harry please we are all friends here."
The Old Goblin Grinned a toothy smile. "As you wish Harry. Now on to business. I would understand you wish to take up your place as head of the Most Noble and Most Ancient of Potter. Before we begin you must understand Harry this would make you an adult in our world, subject to all the laws of that world. You would be able to perform magic with in our laws. You would be responsible to name a proxy to your seat on the Wizengamot, currently held by Albus Dumbledore. Are these things you wish to happen?"
Harry did not even need to think for a heartbeat. "Yes!" Came out of his mouth with much more enthusiasm than was called for causing him to raise a bit of a blush.
The Elder Goblin reached in his desk and pulled out Two rings. This Harry is the Heir ring and is a port key to Potter Manor, when we arrive we will go to the family ritual room. There you will enter with the head of house ring. What will happen there I know not for it is family magic. When you have finished we will go to the ward room and reset the wards on your new home.