"Lord Peverell, Mr. Potter," Bloodmoon responded calmly.
"Lord Peverell," Harry said aloud, confirming what Bloodmoon had just said. Saying it again in his mind, liking the way the name seemed to ring, before deciding he liked it. It also made him feel important, and powerful, he couldn't help but think of Star Wars, and Lord Vader as his mind started playing the Imperial march sound track.
Seeing Bloodmoon nod in response, confirming he had heard the name correctly, causing him to smile, before his account manager interrupted his thoughts, "I take it you would like to take up the lordship of Peverell Household and the line Mr. Potter?"
Hearing Bloodmoon words brought him back to reality, from having a daydream of wearing a cape and sword on his hip. He was just about to agree, but a rogue thought cross his mind, 'Surely there is a downside, this is too good to be true, nothing in my life is ever this simple.'
Responding to the question, "I would very much like to take up the Peverell Lordship, but it seems too good to be true, too simple. Surely there is a downside to this, or something?" After all the night before he had just found out that he was loaded. But at the same time he was being robbed by the man who was responsible for his care. So why would this be simple? Nothing else had been so far.
"Indeed Mr. Potter, you are correct. There are some downsides to this, but everything has downsides to a point." The goblin said seriously, before continuing on with his explanation.
"I personally believe the potential gains outweigh the possible negative aspects." He said firmly, making it clear that he thought Harry should take up the lordship and the position.
They both stared at each other across the table, waiting for one of them to buckle first, before his account manager finally gave in and asked "Shall I start with the positive or negative parts first?"
"Positive parts first please," Harry replied, internally smirking at winning the short stare down. After all, Bloodmoon had made it clear earlier than he was after maximum profit, to ensure his position and life. That meant he would not necessary be looking out for what was best for Harry outside the financial market place.
"Essentially, taking up the Peverell Lordship will give you an extra layer of protection against the laws. This is due to Heads of Houses having extra rights and privileges over lesser peers and households.
So if someone attempts to cause you harm or individuals under your protection, you would have the ability to block and counter them within the courts." Bloodmoon said carefully, before adding, "It also gives you an increased degree of independence and freedom; this is in part due to you being considered an adult under the laws of magic.
Effectively speaking you won't have to follow the underage laws. I won't go into the specifics of it, but in effect you would be considered an adult to point, and will limit your current magical guardian's ability to control your life," his account manager explained. This caused him to smile at the news of possibly being free of his relatives permanently, making it a great birthday after all.
Besides, it was nothing new really, he had been forced to grow up a long time ago and had been responsible for caring for himself, since his relatives didn't care.
After all, he had been cooking, cleaning, and slaving away around his Aunt and Uncle's house whilst they did nothing but complain about him, saying he was lazy of all things! He had taken care of his own wounds from beatings they had inflected. In many ways he was already an adult, but just had a child's body. Freedom from that hell hole alone was making taking up the Lordship very appealing.
"Bloodmoon, would this lordship mean I would not have to return to my Aunt and Uncle's house?" he asked carefully, privately hoping he wouldn't have to return.
"Indeed Mr. Potter, you would be free to pick your own accommodation," said his account manager, causing him to instantly smile at the news. "However you would have to be regularly checked on by an adult, to ensure you are not endangering yourself until your 14th birthday, of course we can always over look that point," the goblin said with a devious grin, causing him to smile at the rather obvious bribe.
"Of course at your 14th birthday you would have to start taking a more active role in the politics of the magical world. By attending the courts and other key events, unless you chose to appoint someone else as proxy until you are 17.
Your current magical guardian is currently acting as your default proxy for the courts. So you can choose to leave such responsibilities with him, rather than having to burden yourself with them until you're ready." Bloodmoon explained, as he just nodded, confirming he was still following the goblins explanation.
"Also, we here at Gringotts can take the control of your financial assets away from your current magical guardian, and hence indirectly into your hands. At most the headmaster will only be able to look at bank statements, and we can always change these if necessary.
After all, if he is under investigation it would be counterproductive and unprofessional to let him have knowledge of your current financial dealings. And we here at Gringotts take out client's privacy most seriously," Bloodmoon said in a predatorily manner.
He couldn't help but smile at the idea of being able to control his family money, and finally being able to buy his own things rather having to go around in rags. His account manager added, "However I would suggest you allow me to manage your investments and financial dealings, until you have a suitable understanding of economics."
"Of course Bloodmoon, As long has you don't mind the extra burden." He replied, already accepting the idea of leaving most of his business decisions in hands of the Goblin, who clearly was more suitable than himself, and would be far more ruthless in the pursuit of profit.
"Of course I am happy to provide the service; there would naturally be additional fee of three percentage due to nature of these services," the account manager replied, with a smile.
"That is acceptable," he said with a firm nod. After all he knew next to nothing about the magical world; let alone how to run a successful business, to say nothing about several of them at the same time. He would be way out of his depth, plus he still had Hogwarts to attend, so 3% was more than acceptable.
"Good, at the same time I can build up your other investments on your behalf, under the Peverell household account. The advantage of this is until it becomes public knowledge that you are both Lord Potter and Lord Peverell, you will be able to buy shares of business under both names, without people being aware of it.
Effectively speaking, you could buy 15% under the Potter Household name, and another 15% under Peverell name. No one would be aware you controlled 30% of the business, potentially allowing you to take control of the business without your rivals being aware of the danger."
"Ok, I understand, so what's the downside?" He asked, since he could gain control over his finances as well gain freedom from his abusive relatives. Whilst leaving the political responsibilities with his magical guardian, until he believed himself capable enough to handle them.
"The main one Mr. Potter is if you ever committed a crime. You could be charged as an adult wizard, rather than a minor, therefore you have to behave yourself." Bloodmoon said sternly, causing him to nod in understanding.
"Also you are more exposed to wizard politics, but you can let your proxy handle that like I stated earlier. It depends whether you want to be involved with politics or not. If you don't let your proxy handle it, otherwise you will have to attend major court cases and hearing as well the as the off chance of a blood feud being declared against you."
"Blood feud? What do you mean by that?" He asked his account manager, slightly alarmed since he heard of something similar when reading about the Medieval Europe for school.
Bloodmoon answered calmly, "Blood feud is essentially declaring a house war between your house and another house, effectively a private war between yourself and your allies, against another household and their allies. This is where having two names can be very useful, especially in investing in a joint own business against rivals," the goblin answered displaying his pointed teeth with a cruel grin.
"Ok, I understand Bloodmoon, is there anything else I should know?" he probed.
"You will have to fulfil any outstanding magically binding contracts. However, fortunately your parents did not leave you any outstanding contracts for you to fulfil," his account manager answered.
Thinking over what Bloodmoon had just said, 'Ok blood feud sounds bad, but I've never gone looking for trouble, so if I keep my head down, there is a good chance I will never have to worry about that. The freedom is worth it,' looking back at Bloodmoon before replying "I accept the Peverell Lordship, how do I claim this title?"
Bloodmoon reached into his desk, and pulled out a small silver box. Opening the box, revealing two rings he pushed them across the desk so Harry could see them.
Both were silver, but one was darker with hints of blue and purple that had a triangle within a circle, the circle itself seem to have flames around it (not the hallow) with engravings under the symbol. It seemed to pulse, like a beating heart, while the other ring was plain silver, but had a sword striking down the middle with a triangle around it, with another inscription underneath.
"Mr. Potter, the plain silver ring with a sword is the Potter heir ring. When you become 17, it will change itself into a new ring. This ring will be unique, just like it is with every Lord Potter.
No one besides you can wear the ring; anyone else will suffer greatly from its protections. Only your heirs and successor will ever be able to wear the ring. To claim your heritage has a Potter, you only have to put the ring on." Bloodmoon explained, pushing the plain silver ring forward.
Reaching forward towards the ring, he couldn't help but feel nervous. His father would have worn this ring at one point, before thinking what hand should he put it on? 'I write with my right hand, so should it be on left, so it doesn't get in away?' he mentally asked himself. Before deciding that left hand would do, after all he could always change hands later.
Taking the ring, and placing it on his left middle finger, he could feel a pulse; it was familiar, warm, comforting and reinsuring. The ring glowed once before fading, accepting him as the Potter family heir as he bonded with his ancestral magic's.
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