AN: edited by Dainemalfoy

This is my first try at a soul mark fic.

Disclaimer: M/M, M/F, F/F, M/M/M, M/M/F, M/F/F, F/F/F and asexual

Also opinions expressed by various characters on non-M/F relationships are not my personal views.

3g is 3 galleons

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Harry first learned of soul mates just before he turned 6. Aunt Petunia was giving Dudley his bath when she let out a shriek. Soon after, she came down with Dudley only in his knickers. There on his left hip was the capital letter A. Aunt Petunia went on and on about her little baby growing up and who the lucky girl was with his D on her body.

Harry knew he was a freak and wasn't supposed to ask questions of his family, as to be less of a burden on them, so he waited quietly and listened hoping she would explain more about this mark. He was in luck because Dudley asked the very question he wanted to know the answer to.

"Mum," he whined. "What's all the fuss? I want to watch the telly."

"Of course honey but this is a big deal." She told the boy. "You have your mate mark, and a day early too." Harry had never seen his aunt so excited. "That means your soul mate's name starts with an A. And within 24 hours of your birthday, every year a new letter will be added until you know your true love's name."

Harry's eyes widened. He looked at his own hip, he wished with all his might that he would get a letter on his birthday. It was just 2 months from now. Then he would have someone to love him. Harry smiled thinking of a person his own age that could be his friend.

For the next month, Petunia paraded Dudley to all the neighbors like he was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Harry couldn't wait till his birthday. It was just hours from midnight and he didn't dare sleep in fear of missing his soul mark. Just as the clock in the hall struck 12, Harry felt a tingle on his right bicep. Ever so carefully, he picked the lock on his cupboard and sneaked into the living room where moonlight poured in. He rolled up his much too big sleeves and had a look.

There, just where his shoulder curved down to his arm, was the mark. A capital F in "Black Family" font. Harry sat for well over an hour tracing the curves of the highly stylized letter. It was nothing like Dudley's, whose 'A' was in standard typewriter font. He wondered what kind of person his soul mate could possibly be. If they were tall or short. Did they have black hair or brown? Were they more interested in reading or running? All the important things to a now six-year-old.

The next morning, just after breakfast he decided to show his aunt his mark, so she would be proud of him. She looked at the fancy mark with a sneer. "F... obviously only one freak could love another." She told the boy.

Tears welled up in Harry's eyes. He ran from the house and her evil words. The more he ran, the more his heart hurt. Tears were pouring from his red eyes and he was breathing heavily by the time he finally stopped. He collapsed right where he was and sobbed. It took him several minutes to pull himself together and figure out where he'd ran to.

Once he wiped his face on the long sleeves of his shirt, Harry noticed he was in front of a library. The school library had quickly become his safe haven from his cousin and his friends. They didn't dare cause trouble in the library because the librarian was a shrewd older woman with hawk eyes that were quick to catch any misbehavior. She wasn't afraid to rap your fingers with her ruler if she caught you misbehaving in her domain.

After the first few weeks of school, she had taken a shine to Harry. He was quiet, he always put his books back and they were always in pristine condition when he was through with them.

Seeing this library made him think of the same safety, so he climbed the stairs and headed inside. He stood in the entrance with his mouth open, staring at the vast number of volumes around him. Harry was broken out of his staring by a woman blocking his view. She wasn't as old as aunt Petunia but she was an adult. She had auburn hair in a long bob and horned glasses over her light brown eyes.

"Hello there." She said bending down to Harry's height. "Is this your first time in our library?" she asked. The name tag on her 3 piece green pencil skirt suit said Tiffany.

"Yes, ma'am." He replied cheeks going a bit pink.

Tiffany smiled at the cute boy. "Would you like a tour?" she asked holding out her hand.

Harry looked at her shocked but smiled hesitantly taking the offered hand. The young woman showed him to each of the different sections of the library, even though she doubted he had any interest in law or religion at this age. Once they were back at the front desk, she looked down at Harry.

"So that's the lot of it." She told the young boy. "Are there any books you are interested in?"

Harry looked up at the single nicest person he had ever met and decided he wanted to be her friend and trust her. "It's my birthday. I just got my mark." Harry said.

"Really?" She asked. Tiffany wondered why he wasn't at his party. But from the look of him, he was either very poor or homeless. She didn't want to scare him off though, so she focused on the other bit he said. "Can I see?" she asked putting her curiosity and wonder into her voice to cover the concern she was feeling.

Harry nodded and rolled up his sleeve. Tiffany bent close to the mark turning his arm to see the letter better. "It's beautiful. I bet the lucky girl is a classic beauty." She told the boy with a genuine smile.

Harry traced the letter with his finger. "Aunt Petunia said my mate was a freak. That's what the F stands for."

Tiffany looked shocked, 'how could anyone say such a thing to a child?' she wondered. "Your aunt is just a jealous liar." She said with such conviction that Harry actually believed her.

"Then what could it mean?" Harry asked.

Instead of replying, Tiffany took his hand and half drug him to the baby section. She then pulled down a book of baby girl names. "Here." She said showing him the book. "The F could be for Faith, Fatima, Fiona, Felicity, Francesca, Frances, Felicia, Faye, Florence, Farrah, Fanny, Fay, " She read off a dozen names listed under F. "Your mates name could be any of those or any of the next 2 pages worth of girls names."

"You really think so?" Harry asked, eyes wide and hopeful.

"Of course I do."

"Do you have a mate mark?" He asked.

"Yes I do." She pulled up her shirt showing her midriff. Starting right under her belly button and spiraling anti-clockwise was the name WILLIAM, in an almost tribal script. Out from each letter was several nonsense letters that almost seemed to make words but several of the letters were missing.

"What are those for?" Harry asked motioning to the letters which almost looked like sun rays.

Tiffany smiled. "They tell about William. The kind of man he is. But they aren't complete yet. I think I know a few of them." She traced the letters coming from the A. It looked like A ve tu s. "I think this one is adventurous and I believe one of the I's is intelligent." She motioned to the 2 I's. One said In l ig, and the other was In i e.

Harry stared at the letters for a long while. "Have you found him yet?" Harry asked.

Tiffany sighed, dropping her shirt. "No, I haven't, but I'm only 19. I'll find him some day." She said with a smile.

Harry smiled up at her, a bright one that lit his emerald eyes. "When I get bigger, I'll help you."

She giggled. "I'd like that." She took his hand. "Come on let's go find a story to read."

That day sparked a long friendship. Harry spent most of his summer in the library, reading or helping Tiffany and Ms. Masefield, the head librarian. The older woman thought he was cute and did her best to encourage his curiosity. Harry had already learned from their first year that he was not to do better than Dudley in school. So with Tiffany's help, he made copies of all of his assignments. One to barely do and turn in and the other to try his best on and get help from Tiffany if he didn't understand.

In February, Tiffany showed him her mark the day after her birthday. There were more letters added and it was obvious the 'Loy l' was going to be loyal. Which was a good thing, Harry had learned that some of the personality traits were not all good. Ms. Masefield had Harsh as one of the traits for her Mathew. Along with willful and argumentative. That was why she had never put too much effort into finding her mate.

The next May, Dudley showed off the U that sat diagonal from his A. Harry was glad to be sent out of the house so he could laugh about it. Even he realized that the poor mate's name was going to be written across his arse cheek.

Harry was even more excited for his birthday. This time because Tiffany and Ms. Masefield were throwing him a party at the library. The weekend before, she had taken Harry to a clinic to get him some glasses that were his actual prescription instead of the flea market ones Aunt Petunia bought. She even said that when he got older, she would get him contacts so he didn't have to hide his pretty eyes.

Just like last year, at the stroke of 12 his arm itched. Right below the F now sat an R. Harry was so excited. He had written all the names from the baby girl's name book down in his school notebook. He now took it out and on a new page copied over those names with and FR at the beginning.

When he arrived at the library, Tiffany took him to the back office where there was a small cake, a few decorations and party hats for the 3 of them. It wasn't much, but Harry loved it. They gifted him with new notebooks and pens along with a stuffed pig that Tiffany thought was cute. Harry was almost in tears at the gifts because he had never gotten anything from anyone. He hugged both women, thanking them several times.

Harry never let Niblet the pig out of his sight. The little stuffed creature became his friend to replace the ones Dudley drove away. He had nothing and no money, so when Christmas came around, all the little crafts they did in class for their families, Harry instead took to Tiffany and Ms. Masefield. The two women wanted to help the boy, but there was nothing they could do for him. He was legally the Dursley's ward and without his testimony and physical evidence, they would be doing more harm than good. From what they could gather, it was only mental and psychological abuse. Most of which, they were combating anyway.

Dudley's 8th birthday saw a B added to the name. That year, an E was added to Harry's arm. When his family was getting to him, Harry would sometimes rub his arm and wonder if an A would appear next year, confirming that the name was in fact FREAK.

That February, they could almost guarantee that William was both willful and intelligent. Tiffany said that as long as willful wasn't synonymous with pushy or aggressive, she could handle that. Harry looked up the word and found it meant stubborn. Harry thought that may be a good thing if he ever wanted to keep a secret from Tiffany. She was worse than Sherlock Holmes when she was trying to figure something out. Harry felt like she could smell a lie a km away.

His ninth birthday brought a whole new set of issues Harry was not even aware could happen. Instead of another E, or a Y on his arm, Harry was now sporting the name FRED. When he showed the ladies, Tiffany just smiled and told him it was OK. That sometimes soul mates were the same gender. That didn't have to mean they would get together if Harry didn't want. They could just be best friends.

Tiffany's parents later told him the same thing. They were a kind couple that lived not far from the library, Harry had stayed over at their house a few times. He had to take the daybed in her mother's study but it was much nicer then the cupboard he usually slept in.

Harry wasn't so sure. He didn't know what his relatives would do, so he hid the mark, never letting a single line of it show. Petunia was a bit pleased with this, she took it to mean the little freak's arm really did say FREAK. It would serve him right for infecting their lives with his freakishness.

This became a habit for Harry to wear long sleeves, even in the heat of summer. By the time he was 11, seeing any of his arms was odd. He usually wore long sleeves that, having belonged to his much larger cousin, hung down over his hands as well. The only time Harry pushed up his sleeves was to do dishes and on the very hottest days of the summer.

One July day, not long before his 11th birthday, something odd happened. As usual for the summer, Harry was at the library right as it opened. Petunia had learned of his sanctuary long ago and as far as she was concerned, it was the perfect place for him. It got him out of the house and away from her so the six days a week the library was open, she gave him minimal chores preferring to do the work herself rather than be around the little bother. Sundays though, when the library was closed, he was heaped with chores to keep him out of sight and busy.

She had also noticed the boy beginning to take after his freakish father. He was lean and lanky and growing like a weed. Just last summer, they had to move him into Dudley's second bedroom for the simple fact that he was now too tall for her vacuum to fit under the stairs with him. What she didn't know was that all the meals and snacks he ate at the library were working with his magic to counter act his previously stunted growth.

That day, as he was walking toward Tiffany, who was unlocking the library door, an owl swooped down and perched on one of the urns framing the entrance. Tiffany and Harry both looked at the bird, then each other, then back to the bird.

"Tiffany." Harry said. "Look it has a letter tied to its leg." He pointed out in amazement.

The woman stared at the letter and the bird it was attached to in disbelief. "It does?" She said though it sounded more like a question.

"Hello pretty bird." Harry said to the creature. "Is that for Tiffany?" The owl looked directly at him, shook its head and held the leg out to him. "For me? But I never get mail. Especially not from owls."

"Well take it and let's see what it says." Tiffany told him setting her things on the lip of the other urn. The dry soil in the pots wouldn't hurt her papers any so she wasn't worried and it freed her hands to help.

Mr. H Potter

Staff Desk

144 Wisteria Walk

Little Whinging

Surrey

Was what it said on the front in elegant green ink. "There's no stamp." Harry commented.

"Well it was sent by... owl" Tiffany replied still finding that very weird. "I wonder why it came here and not to your home?"

Harry looked down and blushed. "Maybe because this is my home. At least more of one than number 4 has ever been." he replied not knowing the far reaching consequences of that statement.

Tiffany smiled, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and kissing the top of his head. She had to pull him down a bit to do so. Harry had out grown her modest 5'4" during the past school year. He was now about 5'6". "Well go on and open it."

(Identical letter to the one in the books)

"Magic." Was all Harry could say in response after reading the letter.

"Well you have done some rather odd things, unexplainable things, in the past." Tiffany said.

"You don't think it's a trick?" He asked insecurely.

"Well if we look at this logically, then I say no, it is not a trick. Owls are known for being rather hard to train, all raptors are in fact, they are also mostly nocturnal so training one to deliver a letter, especially during the day would take a lot of time and effort. I don't think anyone would put that much effort into a silly prank."

"So what do we do?" Harry asked then with a smile.

"Well...um... Mr. Bird. Can you wait for our reply?" She asked the owl. It looked at her sharply but nodded. "Let's go in and pen a quick reply asking for more information. We can ask the person to come to my house since I have my suspicions the 'freakishness' your aunt talks about is really your magic which means she knows about it and hasn't told you."

Harry looked grave at that news. The thought that his aunt was hiding something that important from him boiled his blood. If his aunt knew, that had to mean his mum was magical too. While he was angry at Petunia, he was glad to have another tiny piece to add to the puzzle that was his parents. He already doubted they really died in a wreck.

Tiffany finished unlocking and the two of them went into her office. She helped Harry write up a quick reply and sent it off with the waiting owl in one of the library's envelopes. They had asked for more information and told whoever was coming to meet them at Tiffany's house, which was at the end of Wisteria Walk, the following Friday.

As soon as Ms. Masefield came in, they told her about the odd occurrence. She agreed that it was likely no joke, and easily gave Tiffany the day off to take care of their boy. Both ladies had all but adopted him. Harry had spent the night at both of their homes before, and he had also celebrated his tenth birthday by staying the night in Ms. Masefield's guest room.

That day, Harry spent his time reading every fiction novel about magic that he could. That night when he returned he very politely asked his aunt if he could stay at Tiffany's next weekend. Petunia agreed that he could go home with the woman on Thursday and return Monday after the library closed. She and Vernon were planning a weekend away anyway. So from her point of view, that was simply killing two birds with one stone. Harry was ecstatic and very genuinely thanked her. This would be the longest he was ever allowed to stay. He quickly called her to make sure the extra night was OK. Harry all but danced up to his room that night. It was hard for him to fall asleep knowing he would get to stay with Tiffany for four whole nights.

Again, Petunia was glad to have him gone. If she could get away with it, she'd pawn the freak off on those two fools and wash her hands of him. She knew the freaks would know, and this time they might do something freakish to make her keep him.

Tiffany, even though she was 25 now, still lived with her parents. She was taking online classes to become a certified librarian herself. She hoped to take over running the library when Ms. Masefield retired while working to become a museum curator. Her dream job was to be an archaeologist but she didn't have the money to go to school that long and was too proud to ask for much from her parents. Her parents were older and in the past 6 years had learned about Harry's situation and come to see him as a grandson. Harry knew their names were Mary and Lou because both had visible soul marks.

Mary was proudly written in elegant cursive along Lou's left cheek bone. Sweeping down toward his ear was the words; Macabre, Artistic, Romantic and Yauld. Harry had to look up the first and last words. Macabre being disturbing or horrifying and Yauld meant active or nimble. Harry thought that was fitting since Mary was an artist and many people had called some of her works macabre. The words of Lou's name wrapped around Mary's neck. They read; Lucky, Opinionated and Understanding. All of which suited the older man as well. He was a bit of a gambler and had won most of the family's savings.

It was Lou and Mary who had finally taken Harry clothes shopping when he was 8 and first stayed over. So while he still wore Dudley's jumpers over his clothes to keep them clean, he had a simple wardrobe of his own. Every year since then, he had spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day with the Thomson family. Mary only having a few cousins who weren't close and Lou's twin brothers having died in WWII. Which was even more proof of Lou's luck because he had been in the same house when a bomb hit nearby during the Blitz. Though he had mentioned it once, he didn't like to talk about it. Harry had researched the Blitz but out of respect hadn't asked.

When he and Tiffany arrived Thursday evening, the two received warm hugs. Both Mary and Lou were very curious about the visitor they would receive in the morning. Mary had been inspired by the letter Tiffany had taken with her to show them.

She had painted four new canvases and made two new sculptures about magic. Harry was very impressed by the large clay dragon when she showed him her new work later that day. Mary even let him help her put the glaze on before firing it in her back garden kiln.

Mary had taught him some things but he much preferred metal work and engraving to pottery and sculpting. When Tiffany had seen the chicken scratch he called handwriting, she had forced him to learn script and calligraphy. He could now write elegantly if he wanted, while his normal handwriting had become loopy it was no more decipherable than before.

They had a nice dinner fixed by Lou since, with all her artistic skill, and all Tiffany's knowledge they could both burn water trying to boil it. Harry thought that was hilarious and he had tried to teach them but each attempt just meant another pot going into the trash.

Harry woke early to fix breakfast for the family. Lou had protested the first time he stayed over but they had come to an agreement. Harry could cook breakfast but Lou handled the other two meals of the day. Harry had made the comment about him not doing too much on his prosthetic leg but that only earned him a scolding for sass. The same bomb that had killed his brothers had taken his leg from the knee down, but it hadn't stopped him. He had gone to university and became an investment banker. He only worked four days a week. Mary just worked out of their home, so Harry had been allowed to walk to their house and spend the day when he didn't feel like going to the library. He had supper with them at least one night a week when on summer holiday.

Just after they had eaten breakfast there was a knock on the door. Tiffany straightened her top and went to answer the door. "Professor McGonagall?" She asked the person at the door.

"Yes. And you are Miss. Thomson?" A stern voice replied.

"Yes ma'am, please do come in. We are just in the kitchen." Tiffany told her, leading the lady to them.

Harry looked the woman over. She was tall, well taller than Tiffany, with her hair pulled back into a severe bun. She was wearing a business pantsuit the same shade of green as the ink on his letter. She looked like just the kind of lady you didn't want to mess with.

Her eyes fell on Harry. His hair had been trimmed so that his scar was covered but wasn't as much of a birds nest. His bright emerald eyes behind simple wire glasses that almost faded into his face. With proper nutrition his face a filled out a bit, accentuating his high cheek bones and heart shaped face, and, unbeknown to him, reducing his resemblance to his father.

"Professor. This is my mother Mary, my father Lou and Harry Potter the one you sent the letter to." Tiffany introduced.

They all stood and shook her hand before Lou asked what she would like to drink.

Minerva hadn't been too surprised when she had been asked to come talk to Harry. She had been surprised though when the letter asked her to go to another house and that she would be meeting someone other than the Dursley's. Taking in the family and Harry himself, she was pleased with what she saw. He looked like a healthy boy, and a healthy mix of both parents.

"Mr. Potter may I ask when you began staying here? I was under the impression you lived with your aunt." She asked once they were seated and she had been served tea.

"What do you know of the Dursleys?" Mary asked in an uncharacteristically venomous tone.

McGonagall looked taken a back. "I was there when he was placed with them." She replied.

"Tell me, he wasn't really left on the stoop like a pile of rubbish, right?" Lou asked with a raised brow.

"Well... Um..." She replied ears turning pink.

"And you are here to convince us you can be trusted with Harry's safety?" Tiffany asked crossing her arms. "How is abandoning a child in the middle of a November night the responsible thing to do. Or were you trying to play out some sick fairy tale where the hero is raised by wolves in the woods?"

"I... Th... The headmaster didn't want to bother..."

"More like he had just enough marbles to know that harpy would rather gnaw off her own arms than take him in." Mary said descriptively. "She claimed his soul mark would read Freak, and emotionally abuses him. She withholds food as punishment. For goodness sake, the boy hadn't had a birthday party until he was 7 and only then because Tiffany and the other librarian threw him one." She all but shouted standing and pacing the kitchen in her anger.

Minerva bowed her head in shame. "I told him they were the worst kind of muggles. I told him not to leave Mr. Potter there. But he made good points as well."

"What good points?" Harry asked softly. He was red in the face from Mary sharing his home life. He didn't talk much about it but all three of them were very clever and had put two and two together.

"Mr. Potter what do you know about how your parents died?" She asked.

"Aunt Petunia says my father was a drunken bum that crashed their car killing them both and giving me this scar." Harry said lifting his bangs.

McGonagall closed her eyes and breathed out through her nose to hold back her anger. "I dare say your father was likely never in a muggle car, much less ever drove one. Your father was an Auror, a magical police officer, your mother was getting her mastery in charms. James, your father, was also from a very wealthy and politically powerful family, he and your grandfather allied against a terrorist group called the Death Eaters. They burned your grandparents home to the ground with them trapped inside a few years before you were born. James was responsible for catching many of them and sending them to prison, making him an even bigger target. It was the leader of these terrorists, a man named V...V... Voldemort," She said with some difficulty, but she thought Harry deserved to hear the name. "Who attacked their... your home. He battled and killed both James and Lily. When he tried to kill you something happened, the magic backfired and he was destroyed instead. His reign of terror was so bad that you were, ARE, considered a hero. Your hero status and the fact that many of the Death Eaters were able to buy their way out of prison are the reasons why you were placed here in the muggle... non-magical, world. Dumbledore thought you would be safe here. The Death Eaters believe Muggles are beneath them and have no idea how to even dress when in the muggle world, making it impossible to find you. The thought was for you to grow up free of the burden of fame for something you likely don't remember." She explained.

They all sat in silence, taking in what she told them.

"So there are people out there that think that those without magic are less than them?" Lou said in a strangely calm voice. "I assume those with great magical pedigree are thought to be our betters. Meaning the politically powerful James Potter marrying the muggle mutt was quite the upset."

"That... is … correct." She said slowly. "Most don't share that opinion."

"I don't give a shit what most think!" Lou shouted turning red in the face. "That arse hole is a mother fucking Hitler trying to make an Arian race only with magic. He and all his little followers should be taken out and shot. The original bastard cost me my brothers and my leg! Why the fuck should I let this one have MY boy!?" He shouted the last question nearly in her face.

Harry was beaming at being called his boy, his son. While this news was awful, the professor was right. He couldn't even remember his parents, so it had even less of an effect on him than talking about WWII in history. In that class at least he could relate the bombing of London and the suffering children to Lou and it made it personal. Here, all he had was a flash of green and a laugh, one that sounded rather like Freddy Kruger.

McGonagall had no answer for that. "The magical people will lynch the Headmaster if Mr. Potter doesn't come back."

"Good." Tiffany said. "He deserves it for the abuses Harry has had to endure. For the mistreatment, the too many chores and the verbal lashings. I'd put your Headmaster right there on the gallows with those Death Eaters." She said with absolute conviction. "Harry can go to a different school. I'm sure there's at least one on the continent and if not we can head to America or Australia. You said yourself, wizards don't think we have any brains. What's the chances of you finding us if we get on a plane across the pond?"

Head still bowed, she was cursing Albus in her mind. "There are a number of schools around the world. And you are correct. While I can blend in in the muggle world, I would have almost no chance of finding where you had gone should you leave the country. But I will tell you I don't think V...Voldemort is dead. I believe he will come back. And he will come after Harry again. If for no other reason than his pride. Albus may have made a grave mistake by placing Harry with the Dursleys, but he is a very powerful wizard and the only man Voldemort fears." Thankfully not tripping over the name this time. "Being at Hogwarts could offer him protection. I also hate to say it but you would be considered kidnappers as well. Since while Mrs. Dursley is his muggle guardian he also has a magical guardian as well. They would have the last say over what school he can attend." she told them.

"And who is this guardian?" Harry asked, anger now coloring his voice. He didn't like secrets any more than he liked bullies and it was sounding like she was going to try and bully him into going to this school.

Minerva blinked. "I... I don't know. I assume it would be Albus, the headmaster. We could ask at the bank if you'll allow me to escort you to Diagon Alley. That is the name of the magical shopping area in London. We could go there, find your guardian and see what they have to say about this matter, and why they have never contacted you."

"I think that sounds like an excellent plan." Tiffany said. "Father and I will go with you. Now what should we wear to blend in in your world?" She asked.

With three transfigured robes donned, Minerva summoned the Knight Bus. She hated riding the thing, but it was the only way to transport so many people on short notice and she didn't want to be stuck on a long train ride with these people angry at her.

While they were riding, she made more mental notes to throttle Albus. How dare he put her in such a predicament? He should have been looking after the boy. In fact, he had lied to her face on more than one occasion. Telling her he was fine, that Harry was a happy and healthy young man with a strong resemblance to his father. While he was healthy, he was neither happy nor did he strongly resemble James. Harry looked like a strong mix of Lily and Dorea, James' mother, with little of his father in him. He didn't have the Potter flyaway hair, their sable eyes, or anything other than a need for glasses.

By the time they arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, McGonagall was ready to pull every hair from the old codgers head. On the outside though, she was calm and collected. She may be the head of the lions, but she had a Slytherin mask that few could compete with.

While her charges were looking around the pub in wonder, very few magicals even made note of them. It was common this time of year for both McGonagall and Sprout to escort muggleborns to the alley for their school supplies. Pomona was covering for her today since Minerva had a closer relationship with James and Lily.

They made their way to the bank without a single person even guessing Harry was who he was. As they entered, the goblin guards gave a slight nod to them. Harry and the Thomsons returned it with a slightly deeper one. The guards made a small face in thanks. Harry giggled lightly. The face, while not what you would call a smile on a human, had the same softening effect and made them look much friendlier. Tiffany and Lou had realized they were WAY out of their depth the moment Harry had to take their hands to even see the dingy little pub.

Not even noticing what had occurred behind her, Minerva headed straight to the first open teller. "I need to see the Potter account manager right away." She said placing Harry's key on the desk.

The goblin gave her a sour look before turning and speaking in his own tongue to another goblin. Turning back to her he said, "Griphook will take you there."

As she began following said goblin, the others held back. "We're sorry for her rudeness. She is helping us but we aren't close." Tiffany said.

"Yeah, she tried to bully me into going to her school earlier. Sorry from me too." Harry added.

"You would think a woman of her age and position would have a few manners." Lou added before all three turned and jogged to catch up to Minerva and Griphook.

The teller and all the goblins in hearing distance were surprised by the apologies and the hinted hostility in the Potter Heir's words. Out of all the Hogwarts staff, only Flitwick and Sprout were polite to the goblins. But only Sprout was on good terms with them, Flitwick having burned that bridge long before he became a teacher. Snoutlout would know of what occurred before the party arrived at his office so that he could respond accordingly.

The four of them were led to a hallway with rather plain office doors the like of which you could find in any bank or office all over the world. They came to a stop before one that read:

Snoutlout

Senior Account Manager

Potter, Black, Bones and Macnair

Below the English words were ones none of the humans could read. They were correctly assumed to be goblin writing. Griphook knocked and there was a gruff "Enter" heard from the other side as the door swung open on its own.

As they entered, there were three chairs in front of the desk and one in the center behind those. On the other side of the desk sat an average looking goblin, though he appeared older than the tellers or guards. He also had Goblin writing on his right cheek just under his eye, higher than Lou's, it looked almost like eyeliner.

Harry walked up to him and held out his hand, like he'd seen the Thomson's do the few times they had taken him to a meeting with them. "Hello sir. I'm Harry Potter. It's a pleasure to meet you." He greeted with a smile.

The goblin took his hand and shook it. "Snoutlout. And the pleasure is all mine." He replied with the same softening expression the guards had earlier.

"Lou Thomson." He said offering his hand next as Harry took the seat across from Snoutlout. "I hope you can answer some of our questions."

"I will do my best."

Lou took the seat on Harry's left as Tiffany took their place in offering her hand. "Tiffany Thomson and I do apologize for us just barging in on such short notice."

Snoutlout took a calculated risk by taking the lady's hand and touching his forehead to the back of it before releasing her. "Thank you for the apology." He replied.

She took the final seat on Harry's right. Minerva felt very uncomfortable having already sat before Harry began his introduction.

"What is it you need today?" He asked realizing something was very wrong.

"We would like to know who Harry's magical guardian is and why they have never contacted him." Tiffany said a fire in her eyes.

Snoutlout was very shocked. "Gringotts was under the impression Mr. Potter was living with his guardian."

"I've been living with Petunia and Vernon Dursley." Harry replied.

"WHAT!" He shouted standing from his seat. "You were never to go anywhere near that woman. Your dame specifically forbid it. Why is he not with Sirius Black, his godfather and rightful magical guardian? That is what their will stated was to happen." He said addressing the question to McGonagall.

"Sirius Black is in Azkaban for betraying the Potter's to the Dark Lord." Minerva replied.

"There is no possible way he can be there legally, since Lord Malfoy has not brought the trial results to us to claim control of the Black assets." He replied.

"So my godfather is being held in prison illegally?" Harry said in shock. "And the bank thought I was living with him. That's why no one ever investigated. They assumed I was in good hands."

"Yes Mr. Potter. And for that I apologize. We have been sending your account statements with his to Mr. Black this whole time. I had wondered why he never came in to claim the ring when his Grand-sire past three years ago. We assumed he had taken you out of the country for your own protection from the remaining dark forces. We... I never thought anything was wrong because your Grand-dame, Dorea Potter nee Black, made sure the Potter investments and businesses were all self-sustaining."

Harry nodded. "It's not your fault. I can see that you didn't know. The wizards should have told you. Maybe then you could have gotten him out and Sirius could have been raising me. I think I need a lawyer."

"Yes. A good one." Lou added. "We want to sue the pants off whoever imprisoned Mr. Black and whoever put Harry with those people. I want them penniless by the time we're through. To throw a man in jail without a trial is shameful and from the sound of it, they kidnapped Harry and placed him with his relatives against his parents' wishes, which is another crime. One that you can be charged of as well Madame." He said glaring at her over his shoulder the word Madame said with contempt.

"I... I had no idea." McGonagall replied in shock.

"And didn't care enough to check." Tiffany said. "Since Mr. Black in still in prison and may or may not be innocent who then takes guardianship of Harry?"

Snoutlout pulled a piece of parchment from his desk and looked it over. "Sirius Black and Alice Longbottom nee Lynch are listed first as his godparents. Since Mr. Black is incarcerated and Mrs. Longbottom is in St. Mungo's. Mr. Potter goes to... me?" He said in shock.

"If neither godparent is available or able we leave the care of our son and heir in the capable hands of our friend and account manager Snoutlout. We understand the poor relationship between wizards and goblins so we authorize him to choose a competent human Gringotts employee to act as regent until Harry is 15 and has passed his OWLs. At such time, he is to be emancipated and given the title Lord Potter and all that goes along with it. If Snoutlout precedes us in death, Harry is to be placed with Andromeda Tonks and her husband as magical guardians, but they are not to become regents of the Potter fortune."

He read out for them.

"Tha... that's unheard of." Minerva exclaimed. "How could James be so foolish?"

"You think it's foolish to trust your banker?" Lou asked. "I don't know much about this magical world. But in our world, the person controlling your money needs to have your absolute trust. They can screw you over easily, and since they have your money you can't do shit about it. If you don't trust someone, you don't put them in charge of your livelihood."

"That being said." Tiffany spoke once McGonagall was shocked into silence. "My parents and I have been all but raising Harry since he was six. I'd like to see the credentials for the person you pick and be allowed to approve them."

Snoutlout looked at her for a long moment before his lips pulled back in the imitation of a grin. Unlike the softening expression, this one appeared almost feral. "You, Miss Thomson, are a very clever woman. May I ask you a personal question?"

"You may. But I may not answer." She replied.

"What is the name of your soul mate?"

In lieu of answering, she stood and lifted her shirt enough for him to see. Once she lowered it and sat again, she asked, "Why did you want to know?"

"Miss Thomson, there are very few humans we trust to work for or with us closely enough to be considered for Mr. Potter's guardianship. Of those few dozen, less than ten are mated... married. I thought if there is a chance you, who has taken in Mr. Potter like a son, were the mate of one of them then they would make the best guardian and regent. Allow me to review our employees that are available for this type of job and see who the best is. I'll bring the top five and let you and your father choose from those. While I am gone, can I offer you any refreshments?"

"If it's all the same to you," Lou said "If it's going to be a bit, we'd rather take a bit of Harry's trust and explore this alley."

Snoutlout nodded. "Alright. Let's meet back here in..." he looked at his calendar. "Two hours. That will give me time to make the selection and time to get started on Mr. Black's case. I'll have the Potter's retainer here as well. I'm more than sure he'll what to know what has been going on with his client."

"Thank you sir." Harry said. "How do I get money from my trust?"

"Prick your finger and place a drop here. This will create a new key and cause all others to vanish. Since Madame McGonagall was in possession of your old one, there is a chance it has been copied and your vault compromised. I will also begin an audit of all the Potter accounts to insure that hasn't happened.

"Never let anyone use your key Mr. Potter. If you lose it come to us and we will make a new one just like this, only from now on there is a 3g fee for each."

After it was done and the key appeared, Snoutlout spoke again. "Take the key to any teller and tell them how much you want. This can be done for amounts up to 50g. Anything over that will require taking a trip to your vault in person."

Harry nodded and pocketed the key. They left the office and headed back to the teller. Harry only took out 20g then they left the bank.

"We can handle it from here Madame." Tiffany told McGonagall. "If we decide to let Harry come to your school, we will contact you before the 31st deadline."

"Frankly, we don't want you knowing our business." Lou added.

Harry nodded, "I don't like bullies and you tried to bully me into going to your school."

Minerva only nodded before apparating out. She hung her head in shame. Everything that was said was the truth. She had tried to browbeat him into attending, tried scare tactics and everything. Looking back on this morning, she was horrified by her attitude. She'd been behaving like Severus. Minerva headed up to Poppy to have her head examined. She hoped there was something wrong because she didn't want to think she was capable of such actions on her own. She just hoped the person chosen was someone with British sympathies that could convince Harry to attend Hogwarts.

They headed into the robe shop and bought some plain black robes for themselves since McGonagall had warned them the transfiguration would ware off in just over an hour. So now safely dress incognito, they window shopped. Harry was fascinated by all of the weird and gross things in the apothecary. The Quidditch shop caught all their imaginations, they all wondered what it would be like to fly on a broom. The only other two shops they stopped in were the book store, where they asked for all the books available to teach muggleborns about the wizarding world, and the ice cream parlor, where they had a snack, before heading back to the bank with 15 minutes left of their break.

This time, they stopped and gave the guards a bow, which was easily returned. They then headed to the nearest open teller and Lou asked him to tell Snoutlout they were here whenever he was ready for them. The politeness and willingness to wait, pleased the other goblins even more. These people were going to have better service in the future.

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AN: Cutting it here due to this chapter becoming a beast!