After a moment Drecksack returned with three small folders. "Mr. Potter, your vault statements are in order, but your guardian has stipulated that you may only withdraw funds from your first trust vault, and only 1,000 galleons at a time."
It took a moment for the goblin's words to make sense to Harry. Vaults? Plural? And there's a limit on what I can I take out?
He was torn between confusion and anger for a moment, finally settling on a discontented frown. "I don't understand," said Harry. "I thought I had only one vault, and why can't I take out as much I want? It's my money, isn't it?"
The goblin narrowed his eyes at Harry's response, thinking perhaps he was being made a fool of, and responded. "No, Mr. Potter, you have three vaults, as you should well know." He peered at the folders in his hand.
"You have the trust vault created by your parents, currently containing just over 22,000 galleons, the Potter family vault, from which you may not withdraw funds until you reach your majority, and another trust vault created for you by Sirius Black."
Harry nearly forgot to breathe as this new revelation tried to register in his mind. Three vaults? What the hell? And Sirius-Bloody-Black, the man who betrayed my parents? What is going on?
"I…" Harry began in confusion, "I don't understand. Can I see those documents please?"
Drecksack handed them over obligingly, and Harry opened each of them with shaking hands. He examined each thin folder carefully, looking at the dates of creation and the contents of each vault.
He had 22,035 galleons in his trust vault, which had been created by his parents not long after his birth. He apparently also controlled the Potter family vault, which contained just over 1.2 million galleons and unspecified family heirlooms. It had been founded in 1447. Merlin, I'm rich, Harry thought.
The final vault left him totally confused. Sirius Black, his parents' betrayer, had created a trust vault for him, again not long after his birth. It contained 17,000 galleons and other unspecified contents.
Harry's face grew red in frustration at yet another thing Dumbledore had concealed from him. His heart raced, and he had to restrain himself from imitating Madam Bones and drawing his wand to destroy something.
"I want to visit all three of these vaults," he gritted out. "And I want to empty my trust vault. Today. Albus Dumbledore has no right to that money, guardian or no."
The goblin was slightly taken aback at Harry's sudden mood swing. "I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, but your guardian has given specific instructions. You may visit the other vaults, but I'm afraid you can't withdraw more than 1,000 galleons from your trust vault."
Harry sat in silence for almost thirty seconds, his blood boiling and his mind working furiously. Fuck this, he finally thought. Maybe this little bastard is as greedy as Dinesh is.
"2,000 galleons," Harry spoke into the silence.
"Pardon me?"
"2,000 galleons," Harry repeated. "I will give you 2,000 galleons in exchange for allowing me to empty my trust vault and to take whatever heirlooms I want from the other vaults. I'll leave the money."
The goblin studied Harry for a few seconds, and then smirked evilly.
"You do realize that it's illegal to bribe a Gringott's employee, Mr. Potter?" Drecksack said.
"Don't care," Harry replied tersely. "I'm not trying to steal anything. That money belongs to me, and if you don't tell Dumbledore about this I know I won't. So do you want to be 2,000 galleons richer or not?"
Drecksack considered Harry again, and eventually broke into a wide, sharp-toothed smile. "It's unfortunate for Albus Dumbledore, Mr. Potter, that his instructions for your vault were accidentally misplaced by a new employee this morning. In an unrelated coincidence, I earned a 5,000 galleon bonus today."
Harry clenched his jaw at being shaken down yet again. He was relieved that greed was such a universal motivator, but it was getting tiresome to be constantly passing around his inheritance for simple favors. This time he felt he could afford to do a little bargaining.
"3,000," Harry responded curtly.
"4,000 it is, then, Mr. Potter," smiled Drecksack. "I find your terms acceptable, provided you keep to them."
At the small nod of Harry's head, he continued.
"One of our employees will accompany you into your vaults, to ensure that you withdraw no galleons from them. Would you like to visit your trust vault too, or shall I have its contents placed in one of our trunks and have it waiting for you?"
Harry thought for a moment. "Please just empty it for me. It's the others that I need to visit."
"Bumchod!" yelled Drecksack, and a small, surly-looking goblin entered through a hidden door. "You are to accompany Mr. Potter and his companion to his vaults. He may withdraw whatever items he wishes, but no money whatsoever. Do you understand?"
Bumchod nodded and looked stupidly at Harry. Harry supposed the goblins that got stuck riding the vault carts were stuck there for a reason.
"Thank you for your, er, cooperation," Harry said to Drecksack.
"My pleasure, Mr. Potter, my pleasure," Drecksack grinned, and Harry hoped dearly that he was done bribing people for awhile.
Harry followed Bumchod out of the room and they reacquired a Tonks who was very curious and slightly alarmed at the duration of Harry's meeting.
"What took so bloody long?" she asked in a whisper, as they walked to the vault cars.
"I'll explain later," Harry replied. "Right now I just want to visit my vaults and get the hell out of this place."
.....
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