Disclaimer: I do not anything Harry Potter related. I don't think I even own a single copy of the books...

A big thank you to Kakariki, but wonderful sister, sounding board, and beta.

This story is crossposted on AO3 under the same pen-name.

Enjoy :)

0-0-0

Hagrid and Harry made for the counter.

"Morning," said Hagrid to a free goblin. "We've come ter take some money outta Mr. Harry Potter's safe."

"You have his key, Sir?"

"Got it here somewhere," said Hagrid, and he started emptying his pockets onto the counter, scattering a handful of moldy dog biscuits over the goblin's book of numbers. The goblin wrinkled his nose. Harry watched the goblin on their right weighing a pile of rubies as big as glowing coals.

"Got it," said Hagrid at last, holding up a tiny golden key.

The goblin looked at it closely.

"That seems to be in order. Though you understand of course that you cannot accompany Mr. Potter to his vault."

Hagrid drew himself up. "Professor Dumbledore instructed me to acom-accompany him."

The goblin did not appear to be impressed. "Unless you are Mr. Potter's guardian then you will have to wait here. Gringott's policy."

"Ah, well, uh, I've also got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore," said Hagrid importantly, apparently overcoming his confusion. "It's about the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen."

The goblin read the letter carefully. "Very well," he said, handing it back to Hagrid, "I will have someone take you down to vault seven hundred and thirteen. Griphook!"

Hagrid looked toward the goblin who had begun moving towards them. "Wha' about, Harry?"

"Baknog will escort Mr. Potter. He will need his key." The goblin announced. "Baknog!"

Harry accepted the key from Hagrid and then watched as his large guide followed the goblin named Griphook through one of the doors. Harry looked around nervously, there were so many strange looking people.

"Ah, Baknog." The goblin behind the desk greeted yet another goblin. "This is Mr. Potter."

The newly arrived goblin looked Harry over. "I presume Mr. Potter has his key?"

"Um, yeah." Harry replied holding it up for the goblin to see.

"Follow me." Baknog commanded him and began walking toward one of the doors.

Harry followed the goblin through a different door than Hagrid had gone through and found himself in a hallway.

"This way, Mr. Potter." Baknog called back at him, moving down the hallway.

Baknog lead him into a small office and settled behind the desk.

Harry looked around in amazement, everything was so little.

"Sit." Baknog commanded.

Harry rushed to sit in the only human sized chair in the room, directly in front of Baknog's desk.

"So," Baknog started. "You're Mr. Potter, son and heir of Lord and Lady James and Lily Potter?"

"Um, yeah?" Harry scrunched his face up in confusion. "At least, my mum and dad were Lily and James Potter."

"You'll understand that we need to run some tests." Baknog explained. "After all, we can't be too careful."

Harry shrugged, his confusion was only growing.

"Good." Baknog pulled out a pocket watch. "How long do you have this morning?"

"Um, well, I don't know. Hagrid, uh…"

"And who is Hagrid?"

"Hagrid is, um, the person who brought me here." Harry told him. "He said he worked at Hogwarts?"

Baknog frowned. "You're not here with your guardian?"

"No." Harry shook his head. "I don't think Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia like magic very much. They didn't even tell me I was wizard. I only found out this morning; Hagrid told me."

"I beg your pardon." Baknog stared at him. "Who exactly are Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia?"

"My guardians." Harry answered with a shrug.

Baknog's frown had deepened. "And am I to understand that they are muggles?"

"Yes?" Harry still wasn't entirely clear about what that meant. "At least that's what Hagrid called them."

Harry watched curiously as Baknog began to shift through papers frantically and muttering in a weird harsh language.

After a few minutes Baknog looked up and stared at Harry intensely.

"What do you know of your parents, Mr. Potter?"

"Um," Harry blinked in surprise at the sudden question. "Their names were Lily and James Potter, they were wizards…though I guess mum was probably a witch." Harry looked up and saw that Baknog was obviously expecting more information. "Uh, they went to Hogwarts, they were killed by Voldemort, um, I mean You-Know-Who."

Baknog chuckled darkly. "No need to sensor your language for me, Mr. Potter. What else do you know about your parents?"

Harry searched his brain for more information. "Um, they didn't die in a car crash?"

Baknog stared at him for a long time, obviously searching for something. "I see."

Harry didn't.

Baknog gathered all the papers on his desk into a neat stack and then stood up. "What exactly did you come to Gringotts for, Mr. Potter?"

"Hagrid said my parents left me some, um, money." Harry answered nervously. "He said I could use it to get supplies for Hogwarts."

Baknog snarled and began muttering in the weird language again. Harry shrank back into his chair.

"Follow me, Mr. Potter." Baknog came out from behind the desk and led Harry through the door, back down the hall, through a different door and then down a narrow stone passageway.

Baknog whistled and Harry watched in amazement as a little cart came hurtling towards them. Once the cart had stopped in front of them, they climbed in and the cart began to move again.

It was awesome! Everything Harry had imagined a rollercoaster might be and more. The cart went further and further down into the caves and eventually stopped beside a small door in the wall.

"Woah!" Harry knew he was grinning from ear to ear. "That was brilliant!"

Baknog climbed out of the cart and held out a hand. "You have your key?"

"Uh, yeah," Harry retrieved the key from his pocket and then placed it on Baknog's hand.

Baknog unlocked the door. A lot of green smoke came billowing out, and as it cleared, Harry gasped. Inside were mounds of gold coins. Columns of silver. Heaps of little bronze Knuts.

"Is this…" Harry trailed off, surely not. "Is this mine?"

"Yes." Baknog was looking impatient.

Harry looked at the piles of coins in shock. "What are the silver and gold ones?"

Baknog was frowning again. "The gold ones are Galleons; the silver ones are Sickles. There are seventeen sickles to a galleon and twenty nine Knuts to a sickle. A Galleon is worth four pounds and ninety seven pence."

"But that means there must be hundreds of pounds here. Thousands even!" Harry looked over at Baknog. "Do you know how much there is in here?"

"There is approximately one hundred and fifty seven thousand, nine hundred and forty Galleons in this vault." Baknog replied, and then obviously seeing Harry confusion added. "The approximate equivalent of seven hundred and eighty four thousand nine hundred and sixty five pounds, Mr. Potter."

Harry felt weak. "What? So my parents were rich?"

"Yes." Baknog answered shortly. "Are you going to take any money with you?"

"Right, yeah." Harry stared at the piles of money. "How much do you reckon I'll need?"

"Do you have a bag?" Baknog asked briskly.

"No." Harry hadn't even considered needing a bag. "Uh, maybe I could just put it in my pockets?"

Baknog sneered at him. "I think not, Mr. Potter. Here."

Harry stared at the bag that Baknog had apparently procured by snapping his fingers. "Woah. Will I learn to do that?"

"Unlikely." Baknog passed Harry the bag. "Wizards are not as proficient at wandless magic as goblins."

"Oh." Harry filed that away to consider later. "So how much do you think I'll need?"

"Twenty of each coin should be adequate." Baknog replied.

It didn't take Harry too long to count sixty coins into the bag Baknog had given him and once he was done he stared at the bag in further amazement.

"It's so light!" He exclaimed.

"Feather-light charm." Baknog grunted as he closed the vault door behind them. "They'll teach you that in a few years."

"Cool." Harry grinned down at the bag and climbed back into the cart.

"I will return you to your Mr. Hagrid now, Mr. Potter." Baknog announced as the cart began to move back the way they had come. "But it is imperative that you return to Gringotts before departing for Hogwarts."

Harry looked at the goblin in confusion. "Huh?"

"There are things I must discuss with you." Baknog told him.

"About my parents?" Harry asked with interest.

"Among other things." Baknog confirmed. "And it is private. Don't tell your Mr. Hagrid."

Harry looked at the goblin in suspicion. "Why not? Hagrid's my friend."

Baknog seemed to sigh. "Because it is Gringotts' business." He answered finally.

"Oh, okay." Harry shrugged and they fell into silence.

After a few minutes Baknog cleared his throat. "Do you read, Mr. Potter?"

"Um, yeah?" Harry thought maybe he did, not that he had read much. The Dursleys didn't like it when he sat around doing nothing.

"I imagine you have a lot of questions." Baknog commented. "I could give you a list of books that you might find informative."

Harry grinned gratefully as the cart came to a halt near a stone passageway. "That would be brilliant!"

Baknog climbed out of the cart and led Harry up the passageway and back to his office. Harry sat back in his chair and watched as the goblin sat behind his desk and began scratching at some paper with a feather. After a few minutes Baknog stood up and handed Harry the piece of paper.

"I think you'll find those books most informative."

Harry grinned at him and shoved the paper into his pocket. "That's brilliant! Thanks!"

"You're welcome." Baknog inclined his head regally and then led Harry back into the hallway. When they reached the end of the hallway, Baknog held the door open for Harry to walk through.

"Remember, Mr. Potter," He intoned. "You must visit us again."

"Yes, sir. Thank you for all your help." Harry grinned at the goblin and then ran over to where Hagrid was standing looking worried. "Hagrid!"

"There yer are!" Hagrid sighed in obvious relief. "What took yer so long? C'mon, we need t'go. Lots of things to do."

0-0-0

Harry sat on the train in shock. He couldn't believe the day he'd had! Was it only last night that he had met Hagrid? Now he was a wizard with a wand and money and an owl and, well, everything!

The worst part of the day was that Hagrid was sending him back to the Dursleys. Uncle Vernon was going to be furious! What if Dudley still had a pig's tail? Harry wasn't looking forward to the bruises Uncle Vernon would give him. Harry pried open his trunk and pulled out one of the books that Baknog had suggested he buy, it would be at least an hour before the train stopped in Surrey. The book was called, 'History and Customs of the British Wizarding Community'. Harry opened the book to the first page and began to read.

It was fascinating!

Apparently the Wizarding World used to have a royal family too, just like the muggle world, but they had been overthrown over two hundred years ago. The book didn't really explain why there wasn't a monarchy anymore though. Harry decided that he would ask someone later, or look it up in another book.

By the time the train stopped in Surrey, Harry had finished three chapters and was itching to read more. He wanted to know everything! This was his new world.

Harry got off the train, ignoring the strange looks that people were giving his new owl and looked around the platform. How had Hagrid expected him to get back to the Dursleys from here? Harry exchanged a glance with Hedwig and shrugged with a sigh. It wasn't too far to walk, only about fifteen minutes, though that was without a heavy trunk and owl to carry.

He picked up one end of his trunk and began to trek towards Privet Drive, Hedwig's cage in his other hand. On the bright side this meant he had more time before he had to face Uncle Vernon, time he could spend thinking about his new world. He wasn't sure how he was going to go back to the bank. It wasn't as though Uncle Vernon would drive him into London so he could visit with some goblins.

Harry chuckled, he almost wanted to ask, just to see his uncle's expression. He could always run away for a day and train in to London, he could afford to now. Hagrid had helped him convert some of his leftover Galleons into pounds. The problem with running away for a day was that Uncle Vernon would be furious and would probably beat Harry black and blue, but it was the only way Harry could think to get back to Gringotts.

By the time Harry dragged his trunk up the Dursleys' driveway he was exhausted. He felt as though his arm was going to fall off, both arms, and he just wanted to lie down and go to sleep. The Dursleys' lights were on and Harry knocked on the door.

Aunt Petunia answered it with a smile that turned into a frightened scowl when she saw Harry. "What are you doing here?"

Harry lifting a shoulder in a shrug. "I'm supposed to stay here until I go away to school."

"No!" Aunt Petunia almost screeched the word. "I won't have you in the house. Not after what that monster did to my Dudleykinds!"

"Pet?" Uncle Vernon called from behind her. "Who's at the door?"

"The boy is back!" Aunt Petunia snarled.

"What?!"

Harry flinched at the sound of his Uncle's fury.

Uncle Vernon came to the door and glared at Harry. "What are you doing here, boy?"

Aunt Petunia answered for Harry. "Apparently he's supposed to stay here until his school starts."

Uncle Vernon began to turn purple. "You think that you can cause all that trouble; that you can make that monster give Dudley a-a-a tail, and then come back like nothing happened?"

Harry took a step backwards. "Hagrid said…"

"I don't care what that monster said!" Uncle Vernon exploded.

"Vernon!" Aunt Petunia hissed. "The neighbours!"

Harry looked behind him and winced when he saw that Mrs. Figg had stopped in the street and was watching them.

Uncle Vernon seemed conflicted but he eventually stepped back and let Harry in. His face had an increasingly purple complexion.

"Just you wait, boy!"

Harry ducked his head and yanked his trunk inside as quickly as possible. He really wished that Hagrid hadn't sent him back.