Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, and do not own Harry Potter. I make no money from the writing of this fan fiction.

Chapter Three: A Visit from a Goblin

"Harry, are you sure you want me to do this? It would effectively make me your Proxy on the Wizengamot. And the only Muggleborns on the Wizengamot are there because they won an Order of Merlin. What about one of the Weasleys being your Proxy, or maybe Andromeda Tonks?" Hermione asked, concerned.

"Hermione, I wouldn't trust one of the Weasleys the way I trust you; with the exception of George, they haven't been more than civil since I broke up with Ginny a year ago. I get treated only slightly better than you do since your breakup with Ron."

"But surely Arthur…" she began, only to be cut off.

"You know as well as I do that Arthur is pretty much in Molly's pocket. If he tried to treat me better than she does, he'd never hear the end of it from her. And Molly is still angry at me about the breakup. From what I've been able to observe, despite Ginny finding someone else not long after we broke up, Molly had been counting on having me as a son in law. That also might be why she treats you so shabbily; you broke up with Ron, meaning she still has to basically take care of him instead of a wife doing it. Also our breakups with Ron and Ginny destroyed her dream of having the entire Golden Trio in her family. As for Andromeda, she has Teddy to worry about; being on the Wizengamot would take too much time away from him."

"Fine, you've convinced me. We still need to get these documents validated by Gringotts. And I'm not sure you're recovered enough for a trip to the bank."

"Would my Account Manager come here, do you think? That may work."

"I honestly don't know, Harry. I could ask when I call the bank."

"Go ahead and use the Floo in here. That way I can sit near the fire to be visible, but not close enough to potentially get burned. We still don't know if a vampire can use a Floo."

Nodding, Hermione walked over to the Floo and took a pinch of the powder before kneeling down and tossing the powder in the flames.

"Gringotts Bank," she called, before putting her head in the flames. It only took a moment for the call to connect.

"Gringotts Bank, and how may I help you?" the goblin who answered the call stated by rote.

"If you please, I am calling on behalf of Harry James Potter, Head of the Houses of Potter and Black. I would like to speak to the Account Manager for those accounts, please."

"Please wait and I will see if he is available."

A few moments later, another goblin was in the Floo. He glanced between Harry and Hermione before speaking.

"Mr. Potter, what can I do for you? I was about to go home, you were lucky to catch me."

"Krogund, are you able to come here, rather than Hermione and I traveling to the bank? It's important."

"Gringotts would be able to assure your privacy Mr. Potter, if that is what concerns you."

"I was injured recently and am still recovering. I am unable to go to the bank in person. What I need to discuss is likely to be time sensitive," Harry replied.

"Come to the home of a client? Mr. Potter, it is possible for me to do so, however the cost of my time will be correspondingly higher, as I will need to also transport the ledgers and other paperwork for your account with me."

"That's fine, just please come as soon as you can."

"I can be there in ten minutes. Please leave this Floo connection open so I may come through."

Ten minutes later, Account Manager Krogund stepped through the Floo, a large folio and several ledgers in his hands. After looking at Harry, who was still lying down, he set his burdens on a small table near the window.

"Mr. Potter, it is customary to speak to a client of the bank alone when discussing the matters of an estate," Krogund said, glancing swiftly at Hermione.

"What I need to discuss concerns her Krogund, so I'd like her to stay."

"Very well, Mr. Potter. What is the matter you wished to speak to me about? You said it may be time sensitive."

"Not long ago, I came to the bank and asked for parchments to be drawn up giving Miss Granger the ability and authority to act on my behalf should I ever become ill or incapacitated to an extent I was unable to do so myself. Krogund, what is the bank's policy on accounts being held by someone the Wizengamot might claim is no longer a witch or wizard in an effort to seize control of his or her assets, properties, and funds?"

"Gringotts holds accounts for humans, half humans, and humanoids, Mr. Potter. Could you be more specific in your question?"

"Although I do not recall the event myself, Miss Granger witnessed the event and told me about it tonight. According to her, I stopped an apparently rogue vampire from attacking a young woman last night; that rogue vampire then turned the attack on me. I have just woken a short time ago, and according to Miss Granger, the phials my house elf brought me when I said I was parched and hungry contained blood. The Wizengamot may try to claim control of the Potter and Black estates and Wizengamot seats if it is discovered that the attack even occurred, much less that I might have been changed as a result. Does Gringotts policy allow a vampire to hold an account? The Wizengamot see vampires as creatures, as I'm sure you're aware."

"Although there are not many, Gringotts policy does allow a vampire to hold an account within the Bank. Am I right to assume Mr. Potter, that you now wish to call the directives you set regarding your estates into force?" Krogund asked, shrewdly.

"Miss Granger would be my chosen representative in the Wizengamot, as well as handling the details of the estates that I can't. She's already seen the copy of the documents that were in my desk, and she brought up the necessity of having the documents verified and validated by Gringotts before anyone realizes what has happened and attempts to stop it as a way to gain control of what I have through my parents and Sirius Black."

"A wise precaution, Mr. Potter. And you agree to fill this role, accepting this obligation Miss Granger?"

"I will help Harry in whatever way I can, Krogund. If that means helping to manage his estates and being his Proxy on the Wizengamot, that's what I'll do."

Krogund brought over the Gringotts copy of the directives, and pointing to a small area at the bottom.

"Mr. Potter, please press both your Head of House rings into the document, as well as your own copy."

Harry did as requested, and soon the documents had the impressions of both the Potter and Black seals. Krogund then turned to Hermione, and removed a small dagger from his belt.

"Miss Granger, to validate Mr. Potter's decision to name you his Proxy, please prick the ring finger of your wand hand and allow three drops of blood to fall on each of the seals Mr. Potter has just placed on the documents."

Hermione took the knife and made a small cut on her finger. After it was bleeding, she allowed the required number of drops to fall onto the seals as instructed, and watched as the seals flashed golden. Quickly glancing at Harry, she healed her finger and moved over to the settee to sit.

"Mr. Potter, have you given any thought as to how you will acquire the blood you will need?"

"No, I hadn't actually," Harry replied after casting a quick glance toward Hermione.

"As I said before, while there are not many, some vampires do hold accounts at Gringotts. As such, those of us who work for Gringotts are aware of places where blood may be obtained for those who need it. For a small additional fee, I can provide you with a list of such places, as well as a possible contact with a vampire Clan should you feel it necessary."

"That would be helpful, Krogund, thank you."

"I shall see to it on my return to Gringotts. The documentation has been validated and only needs filed with the Ministry before Miss Granger is your full chosen representative. Gringotts will of course, already treat Miss Granger as such, however the Ministry for reasons unknown to us, love their red tape and complicate things to a higher degree than necessary."

"I can make sure it's filed in the morning while Harry is sleeping," Hermione assured him.

"Then I will return to Gringotts and take care of those items we discussed. Expect an owl detailing the sources for a blood supply at least in the next hour."

"May the gold in your vault overflow, and your enemies retreat in fear, Krogund," Harry said in parting.

"And may the enemies that still trouble you find a swift end. Good evening, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger,"Krogund replied, before stepping into the Floo to return to the bank.

"I'll leave for the Ministry at sunrise, Harry. I can make sure the documents are filed, and come back after that. I can also let some of our friends know about this if you want."

"I would rather tell them myself Hermione, thanks. Maybe invite a few of them here for dinner or something tomorrow night. We also need to find out if anything is in the Daily Prophet about the attack; Merlin knows this is just the kind of thing Rita Skeeter would make the next huge scandal."

"And a scandal would hurt not only you, but me as your Wizengamot Proxy, I know. Sunset tomorrow is at seven, I think. Invite people for half seven?"

"That works for me, yes. Thank you, Hermione."

"I'll always help you when you need it Harry. Even when you don't realize you need the help."

"And you always have. It's one of the things I love about you, Hermione."