Chapter 6: Getting to Gringotts

Harry woke a few hours later and, after stretching, got up. After looking around to make sure the dorm was empty, he went to his trunk to get a change of clothes. He opened his trunk and went to grab some clothes only to freeze and then have a closer look at the items in his trunk… they had been moved, he was sure of it. Anger started to boil in him, was someone going through his trunk? He had a look through before he realised all the sweets he had gotten from the train were gone and he had a good idea who was the one who had taken them. I can not WAIT to break ties with that stealing bully, he thought to himself angrily.

Harry took a deep breath to calm down, there was nothing he could do abut what was taken, but what he could do was make sure it didn't happen again. For now he had a meeting to prepare for and he needed to get his things ready while the dorm was empty. He grabbed what he needed, closed his trunk and cast the same locking charm on it that he used on his curtains, still unaware how advanced it was. He tried to open it to make sure it was locked and it was, not realising again that a counter charm was needed to unlock it and because he didn't want it unlocked, just wanted to make sure it was locked, he didn't subconsciously open it like he did with his curtains.

He put his clothes under his pillow before ducking into the bathroom for a quick shower and changed into clean pyjamas to wait for the dorm to fall asleep that night. As he came out of the bathroom he found Neville sitting on his bed.

After looking around the dorm to make sure it was just the two of them he explained what he'd done to Neville who agreed it was a good idea and did the same.

Harry sat on his bed with a book, curtains open for now, when Neville spoke up.

"What's wrong Harry?" he asked, then clarified at Harrys confused look, "You look a bit.. uhhh… annoyed."

"Oh." Harry said, before sighing, "Someone, pretty sure Ronald, has gone through my trunk. Everything was moved around and all the sweets I had from the train are gone." Harry explained, before telling Neville about the train ride and Ron wanting all the sweets.

Neville looked shocked for a second before saying in disgust, "Stealing from the Heir of a Most Ancient & Most Noble House. Didn't his parents teach him anything. You could have him as a servant just for that."

Harry looked shocked. "What do you mean?"

"You're the Heir of the Most Ancient & Most Noble House of Potter." Neville reminded him, "There are certain rules that are to be followed. Both legal on the books laws and unwritten rules. This stealing is a legal one. Anyone caught stealing from a Most Ancient & Most Noble House is given to that House as a servant to do with as they please, the perpetrator has no rights after that, they belong to the House as long as they live. All purebloods are supposed to know this. Hell its public domain, the laws, anyone can look it up. Ronald better pull his head in and quick"

Harry nodded with a thoughtful look. Before anything else could be said the door opened and the rest of the guys came in chatting loudly. Harry shot Neville a look that said, "I'll see you later" and prepared to close his curtains.

"Hey mate." Ronald said as he threw himself onto Harry's bed. "What are you doing hiding away. You should be hanging out with me. Let's play chess." Ronald demanded before hopping of the bed to grab his chess set, which gave Harry the opportunity to close his curtains, lock and silence them. He just didn't want to deal with Ronald right now.

Harry missed Ronald's temper tantrum, though Neville would tell him later, about him locking Ronald out.

At 11.45pm when his alarm when off, Harry quickly stuck his head out the curtains to check all were asleep, which they were, before ducking back in to get changed. He then slipped out to see if Neville was ready, he was, so Harry locked Neville's curtains, missing the shocked look on Neville's face, before they both got onto Harry's bed and Harry locked and silenced his own curtains.

"Thanks for coming with me Neville." He said as he pulled the letter from his pocket.

"No problem Harry." Neville replied as he, too, grabbed hold of the letter.

Moments later they were in an office. The walls were stone and there was a lot of gold decorations everywhere. Behind the desk was a goblin who Harry recognised as Griphook.

"Heir Potter, Heir Longbottom, welcome. Thank you for coming." Griphook said as he stood from his seat in greeting.

"Account Manager Griphook, thank you for inviting us." Neville responded with a bow, which Harry quickly followed suit and copied what Neville said.

"Please have a seat." Griphook said, motioning to the two seats in front of the desk. He waited for them to be seated before once again seating himself.

"Now, Heir Potter, just to clarify so that there are no misunderstandings, Heir Longbottom is here as your chosen council." Griphook asked.

"Yes Account Manger Griphook." Harry agreed.

Harry sat there in the chair nervous as anything. He really hoped this meeting went well but that was to be seen.

Griphook nodded and shuffled some papers on his desk before sitting up straight and looking them right in the eye.