A sneak peak into Journey's End, the third and final story of my SDDJ trilogy…

Come on You Nancy Boy

"Harry?"

"Hmmm…"

"Why do you do that?"

It was early evening during summer break from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Harry Potter was making dinner. The fourteen year old wizard still wasn't entirely welcomed at the Dursley's home - Number 4 Privet Drive - as part of the family. His aunt had begrudgingly become more tolerant of his presence, his uncle ignored his very existence - as best he could - counting down the hours until the freak was out of the house again and his… friendship… interaction… whatever accord that was developing with Dudley was steadily growing more comfortable, less guarded. It was a slow process. While Harry forgave his cousin for the senseless tormenting of their early years, he hadn't forgotten about the incidents. Harry didn't hate the other boy; the young wizard just didn't fully trust Dudley not to resort back to his bullying ways. Dudley still had a short temper, but was learning to curb his natural reaction to simply lash out with either his fists or harsh words.

Harry looked questioningly at his cousin, "Do what, exactly?"

"The carrots. You're cutting them the same size; like you're doing it on purpose. They kinda look like the ones Mum buys frozen." Dudley grunted, "That's weird."

"It's habit really." Harry chuckled when Dudley just raised an eyebrow at him and went back to preparing dinner. "Preparing the vegetables for dinner is like chopping ingredients for potions or salves."

Dudley gave a snort of amusement and went back to the dining table setting out four placemats. "Right, that makes no sense."

"It does, actually." Harry carefully slid the carrots into the pot and began peeling the potatoes. "When you're cooking, uniformly cut vegetables cook more evenly. That makes cooking faster, takes out the guesswork on timing and the food tastes better. It also gives it a more appealing look.

"When you make a potion or salve, you have to cut, chop, mince, grind or crush ingredients to a specific, uniform density or consistency in order for them to blend properly and give the desired effect. If you don't, you end up with sludge... or worse."

"Worse?" Dudley set a glass on the table at each place setting. "What could possibly be worse than sludge?"

"Really? That's easy: poisonous gasses, melting cauldrons and explosions."

Pausing Dudley blinked as the mental imagery took over and he nodded, "Point."

Harry grinned as he began chopping the potatoes into bite sizes, "How is school going?"

Dudley grabbed the silverware and napkins before snorting again - this time in annoyance rather than amusement, "Boring. My grades are better. They have to be or I'm off the team. Boxing is going great though; made the mid-weight team."

"Your father must be rather chuffed." The potatoes soon joined the carrots in the pot.

"Yeah, you'd hear about it if you'd stick around for dinner." Dudley purposely clanked a plate on the table catching his cousin's attention. Harry gave the blonde a half-hearted shrug. Eating dinner in his room had become a form of self-preservation for the wizard. The less time spent in his uncle's presence the better. Dudley continued, both setting the table and speaking with his cousin as if Harry hadn't reacted at all. "He hasn't stopped talking about boxing since I told him. You'd think he was the one in the ring getting his face bashed in."

"Which reminds me," Harry reached along the counter and grabbed a small ceramic jar he had been meaning to give the blonde boy. The young wizard then slid it over the smooth surface towards his cousin who snatched the container clumsily before it could shatter to the tiles.

"What's this then?" Dudley opened the top and gave a small cautious sniff at the thick yellow paste within. "Smells like peppermint."

"It's a bruise removal paste. We made that in class and I saved you some. You dab a bit on a bruise and it clears in an hour instead of days. None of that prolonged discoloration and tenderness. Just be sure not to use that in front of anyone. It is magical after all." Harry stirred the stew as it simmered using precise practiced movements - first clockwise and then anticlockwise followed by a few figure eights - before removing the wooden spoon and covering the pot with its lid. With a small hiss, the Slytherin rubbed his scar tiredly.

"That will come in handy. Thanks." Dudley closed the salve and went to put it on the counter, but missed as the bottom clanked against the edge instead allowing the ceramic pot to slip from his fingers. "Bugger!"

At his cousin's expletive, Harry's head whipped around and he saw the jar falling towards the white kitchen tiles. Both boys reached for the bruise removal paste. The two teens stared in surprise when the ceramic pot flew into Harry's hand instead of crashing to the floor. Harry stared at the jar in his hand, "Huh."

Dudley stood up straight and blinked. The blonde teen stared at his cousin as if he wasn't sure what he was looking at and finally asked, "You, erm…"

"Yeah," Harry quickly set the bruise removal paste back on the counter and stepped away from it as if it was the salve's fault that the wizard had summoned it wandlessly and silently. "That's the first time I saw it happen though. Hermione said I did that with a book a time or two while in the library. I didn't want to believe her. I'm not supposed to be able to do that yet."

"But you're not supposed to do magic at home."

"I know."

Dudley looked around nervously, "You're not gonna get in trouble are you?"

"I don't know." Harry rubbed his forehead again, trying to ease the dull ache. "I've never gave it much thought really. I haven't a clue how they keep track of such things. There is accidental magic that we don't get into trouble for; which, if you think on it, that was utterly accidental, but otherwise, how they keep track of such a thing is beyond me."

Harry realized he had been rambling, very much like Hermione tended to do. Just as the young wizard rubbed at his burning scar yet again, a tapping came from the kitchen window. Harry glanced outside and cursed softly, "An owl. I'm guessing that's my reprimand."

"You got one a few years back, but this envelope doesn't look like that one, I don't think." Dudley opened the window and accepted the envelope as his cousin began stirring their dinner. Remembering how to properly treat carrier birds, Dudley asked the owl if it wanted water or something. The bird nipped gently at his finger and flew back out the window. "Harry, this one has a seal on it."

"Does it have the letter M in the center?"

"No, a G with an ugly face in it." Dudley held the envelope up for Harry to see the red wax seal with a G wrapped around a goblin's face placed in its center, around the edge of the seal were the words 'The Bank of Gringotts'.

Momentarily looking away from the stew he was stirring, Harry gave a cursory glance at the envelope before bringing his attention back to the night's dinner. With a small nod, the young-amateur- entrepreneur-wizard commented, "Ah, that's the Goblin bank-"

"Goblins? Are you taking the piss?" Dudley suddenly thrust the envelope towards his cousin as if a Goblin would jump out of it if he held it for much longer.

"What? No, there really are Goblins. Ugly little blighters, short, big noses and beady black eyes, long fingers with sharp claws. Odd fellows really, they dress like businessmen and are said to be very clever when it comes to finances. But their voices," Harry shuddered, "are gravelly and their teeth are sharp. Hard to tell if their snarling or smiling at you." Since Harry wasn't facing Dudley he hadn't noticed his cousin's negative reaction and kept speaking as if Goblins were an everyday part of life… which - for the Wizarding World - they most certainly were. "That's probably my vault statement.

"Mrs. Zabini's newest objective is to teach me to pay more attention to my portfolio. My father may have had money, but I will have to contribute to that in order to keep the Potter name respectable. She said I should know where my money is invested. Blaise owns a fair few companies and is invested in a few others. As far as I know, I'm only invested in one. So I requested a statement of transactions for the last ten years." Harry put the lid back on the pot and finally took the waving envelope from his cousin's hand, "Thanks. Do you remember the Weasley twins?"

"Red headed jokesters from your birthday party. You said something about them opening a store someday."

"Exactly. Blaise and I are investors in their future store. We've already gave them some backing to help with testing, production, research and… whatever it is they're doing." Harry opened the envelope and pulled out thick folded parchment and a letter. He sat at the table and unfolded it. After reading silently for a few moments, Harry was startled out of his own thoughts, "Interesting."

"What?" Dudley leaned against the counter eating a carrot and watched Harry looking through his papers.

"Magical funds, galleon, sickle and knut translates to pound, pence and penny. Exchange rate is something I never understood, but you can exchange Muggle currency to magical and back. For a fee, naturally." Harry dropped his hand to the table - pages still in his grip - with a thud, "I should be so angry with your father."

"Bloody hell, what did the man do this time?"

"He always told me I should be grateful for what he's given me."

Dudley grimaced, "Like my cast offs - clothes that were at least three times too big for you."

"Exactly," Harry waved the statement in his hand, "The git has been getting £2,000 a month of my money since I came to live here and in the summers when I'm not in school."

"That explains the new cars and vacations on his salary." Dudley shook his head, "Blimey, I don't know if I should apologize or thank you."

"Are you sure you don't want to go?"

"And see the Goblins?"

"There's more to Diagon Alley than Gringotts. And you shouldn't act like the Goblins are in a zoo to be gawked at. They're rather vicious, if Binns is to be believed with all his lecturing on Goblin wars, the guards at the front of the bank carry spears and the ones inside the lobby have swords." Harry grinned when Dudley shuddered. "We can pick up some treats for Ne'ermore and we'll even stop at the sweets shop. You know how much you love chocolate frogs."

"I haven't had any in forever." Dudley groaned longingly, but patted his receding belly, "Can't have any, but I wouldn't say no if you'd send me a few of those treats for my raven."

"Come on you nancy boy. Don't tell me you're afraid of the ugly Goblins."

"I'm not scared." Dudley glared at Harry and huffed petulantly, "I'm going to see Sally-Anne and don't ever call me a nancy again or I'll beat your arse."

Harry smirked, "You'd have to catch me first."

"If you two are through…" Sirius chuckled at the two cousins' bantering back and forth.

"Yeah, right then." Harry grabbed a hold of his trunk and gave Sirius a nod.

Sirius grinned at Dudley, "Good to finally meet you properly, Dudley."

"Likewise," Dudley gave a small nod as he locked the front door.

"Have a good summer, Dudders. I'll send some treats for Ne'ermore." Harry waved at his cousin and followed Sirius on the short walk to a secluded place to apparate.

"Cheers," Dudley waved at the two wizards and made his way down the street towards his girlfriend's house in the opposite direction.

"Should you let your relatives know you're leaving?" Sirius gazed behind Harry towards the house on Privet drive.

"No, Aunt Petunia is out shopping and Uncle Vernon is at work. Besides Dudley knows and he's the only one who would care." Harry tugged his trunk along behind him as Sirius carried Hedwig's empty bird cage. The teen furrowed his brow and rubbed his scar idly. "Now is the best time to go. Ever since I started going to Hogwarts, I spend more time away from that house than I do in it, even during the holidays."

They reached the apparition point and Harry watched as Sirius silently shrunk his trunk and bird cage. The grin on the boy's face spread when he plucked up his belongings and put them in his pocket, "Now that is a handy spell. I'd love for you to teach me that one."

Sirius grinned knowingly and held out his arm for Harry to grab hold of. "All in good time, Harry. Only now isn't that time. Have you ever side-along apparated before?"

"Yes. Arthur Weasley took me to the Burrow so we could floo to Hogsmeade." Harry wrinkled his nose, "Made me a tad queasy."

"Oh you're going to hate this then. Grab my arm and hold on." When Harry did as he was told, Sirius' grin grew wider. "Here we go."

Harry clamped his eyes shut and gripped Sirius' arm harder. The sudden tightening in his stomach and lungs were disconcerting and uncomfortable. It was as if the air was squeezed out of him, wringing him from the center outwards. Harry's head felt like it would split down the center until he snapped into place.

The grip on Sirius' arm didn't ease, it grew tighter and Harry made an almost whimpering noise. With his free hand, Harry rubbed his forehead, willing the pain and nausea to go away, "I hate apparating."

"It isn't nearly as bad when you're the one in control." Sirius didn't rush his godson, allowing the young man to regain his balance. He simply stood beside him and waited until Harry was ready to continue on to Diagon Alley.

"I'll take your word for it."

"You're almost fifteen, Harry. You'll be learning to apparate in your sixth year."

"Maybe by then I'll be more accustomed to it?" Harry sighed and continued rubbing his forehead, "That's a long time away."

"Very true." Sirius canted his head. "Heachache?"

"Hmm, it's my scar. I told you about that."

"Still bothering you then?"

"Some nights it's worse. Horrible nightmares."

"Have you tried dreamless sleep?"

"Only had a few; I'm almost out. Besides, Madam Pomfrey wasn't keen on me becoming addicted to them."

"Ah, right." Sirius gave his godson a sheepish grin, "Ready?"

Harry released Sirius' arm and straightened. "Ready."

The two wizards exited the London alley and made their way towards the Leaky Cauldron. "What did you need to do here?"

"Not much really. I need to pick up some owl treats. I had hoped to do that after my meeting at Gringotts."

Sirius nodded at Tom and kept moving to the back alley where he tapped the brick with his wand. "What sort of meeting is it?"

"Personal."

"Oh."

Harry chuckled softly, "Mrs. Z has an agenda. She's determined to make us fine upstanding wizards. First she taught proper manners and wizarding etiquette. Once that was done… or more accurately, once we weren't a total and complete embarrassment, Mrs. Z moved on to ballroom dancing and expected, proper and acceptable interaction in pureblood society. Alia and Hermione were included in the ballroom dancing lessons. Now she is on to finances and how to manage a portfolio."

"I'm surprised her son-"

"This isn't for Blaise's benefit. Jason was a half-blood, like me, so many of the pureblood traditions were lost on both of us." Harry dropped his gaze momentarily and tried to hide the sudden rise of melancholy that Jason's memory tended to bring up within him by clearing his throat and blinking back the sting of tears. Every time Harry felt he was okay, a memory or thought would get him choked up again. "I was raised by simple minded, magic hating Muggles; Jason was raised by a Muggle mum and his wizard Dad. We became something of a pet project. Mrs. Z was determined to raise us to be proper gentlemen. Not that I mind, of course, Mrs. Z has been wonderful and she has continued the lessons for me.

"Anyhow," Harry managed to pull his Slytherin persona back together and met Sirius' gaze, "I received a transaction statement from Gringotts for the past ten years, but the letter within said I must request my full portfolio in person. Something about… blood."

The two wizards strolled towards the gleaming white building. Sirius frowned and gave a small nod, "There are some sort of tests they can do in order to prove Head of House and bloodlines."

Sirius was lost in thought when Harry gave him a side glance, "Did you go through that when your mother passed?"

"Hmm?" Sirius looked at Harry and blinked before the question dawned on him. "Oh, no. I'm… erm…" Sirius grinned sheepishly, "I'm disowned, if you remember. Not really sure how the house on Grimmauld came to be mine. I suppose the Head of the House Black didn't want it. Can't say that I blame him."

"Disowned? Right, you had mentioned that to Zabini when your mother died. What does that mean exactly?" Harry's curiosity overrode his manners and the question was blurted before he could stop it. The boy grimaced, "Sorry, you don't have to answer that. It's probably too personal."

"It's okay. It isn't the sort of thing I want to discuss in public, but when we get to Grimmauld Place I'll explain it to you." Sirius gave a half-hearted grin and opened the door to the bank, ushering his godson in before he entered the building behind him.

Harry gave a small nod of understanding and thanks, before making his way towards the Gringotts Head Goblin. The gleaming marble floor housed two rows of counters filled with tellers and customers standing in line. Sitting centered at the back of the room behind a tall podium was the male that Harry needed to speak with. The teen waited until the Goblin looked up from whatever it was he was reading and acknowledged him with a grunt. Harry ensured his posture was read as calm and patient, with his hands folded behind him in a non-threatening fashion.

The Head Goblin looked down at Harry from his perch wearing half-moon glasses, but the beady black eyes didn't sparkle like Dumbledore's did, ending any similarities that popped into the young wizard's mind. Harry pushed away his own amusement and gave a polite nod in return, "Good afternoon, I have an appointment with Soxerm."

With a quirk of a bushy white eyebrow and a hiss, the Gringotts Head Goblin summoned yet another unnamed Goblin to his side. "Take Mr. Potter - and his guest - to room fifteen."

"Yes, sir." The unnamed Goblin waved his hand at Harry and Sirius with a motion to follow him. Without waiting to see if the two wizards were indeed trailing him, the Goblin made his way towards a side door.

Harry gave the Gringotts Head Goblin another nod and a polite 'Thank you' before making his way to the door. Sirius had kept quiet throughout the whole exchange. With his hands folded behind him, he walked beside Harry until the three of them made it to an oak door with gold numbers displaying the number fifteen.

The Goblin rapped on the door twice before opening it and ushered the two wizards inside. No sooner had the two crossed the threshold, the door closed soundly behind them with a distinct click.

Trying not to fidget, Harry glanced around the room. The walls were a light oak paneling, with a few portraits depicting what could only be famous Goblins that Harry hadn't recognized. The floor was a gleaming onyx marble that shone like black glass. Center in the room was a rectangular table with matching chairs. The head chair was different, almost a highchair for toddlers with a step stool beside it.

Harry looked at Sirius and noted the amusement glinting in the man's eyes. He thought to remind the man not to make a tasteless Gryffindor-like comment when a side door opened.

The door closed seamlessly and blended back in with the paneling. Harry watched the Goblin expectantly and waited until spoken to. He didn't have to wait for very long. The Goblin spoke before he made it to the table, "My name is Soxerm."

Soxerm climbed up the step stool and took a seat. As he motioned for the two wizards to sit, he put a simple folder on the table and leveled a look at Harry. "Your… case is an interesting one, Mr. Potter."

Harry blinked in surprise and sat down at the table. "How so?"

Flipping the folder over, Soxerm tapped a gnarled finger on the cover. Harry stared at the plain folder from where he sat and started in surprise when the gravelly voice spoke up again, "Before we begin I will require your blood."

With a glint of metal and a speed Harry hadn't expected, Soxerm gripped the wizard's right wrist and had a dagger poised over his hand. "Open your hand, if you please."

Stunned into silence, Harry struggled internally not to fight against the Goblin's grip. Soxerm had said please, but the question on the teen's mind was just how much blood did they need for this… test. The wizard took a calming breath, flattened his hand and watched as Soxerm sliced the skin of his palm with such precision that blood beaded immediately. Harry gritted his teeth in order to keep from flinching or attempting to pull away from the Goblin's firm grip.

Soxerm had been watching the boy's internal battle and waited until Harry calmed again. The Goblin moved the folder under Harry's hand before turning it to press the wizard's palm upon the plain cover. The blood began to work immediately and - with a small flash of blue light - the cover was no longer plain nor was it drenched in blood. The portfolio was leather bound with the name Potter engraved on its cover. The Goblin released Harry's hand and flipped the cover open and sorted through the pages, "Excellent. Now…

"While you are not the current Head of House Potter, you are the next in line - the scion - and have been granted the rights to Potter Manor as well as any properties, monies, and belongings that are your right as the son of one James Potter and Lily Potter née Evans upon your majority."

While the Goblin spoke, Harry pulled out his handkerchief and wrapped it around his palm. He had neither noticed where the dagger had come from nor where it was currently stowed, but the sharp weapon was no longer in sight much to Harry's relief.

Sirius peered at the Goblin, "Wouldn't he have gotten that any way?"

"The ancestral Potter Manor has always gone to the Head of House Potter." Soxerm snarled at Sirius' interruption, "Much like the Black Manor has gone to the Head of House Black upon your father's death."

"But that was years ago!"

"So it was. Now-"

"Are you implying that there was a male of the Black bloodline that managed to fulfill the criteria at the time of my father's death?"

Soxerm's beady eyes glinted when he leveled his gaze at Sirius, "I'm sure I wouldn't know, Mr. Black. After all, I am not the Goblin in charge of the Black estate."

"Yes, but-"

"And even if I was, I couldn't tell you anything that wasn't already public knowledge or deemed acceptable for a non-Black family member to be informed of by said Head of House Black." The Goblin then ignored Sirius and turned his full attention back to Harry, "We are here to discuss your portfolio, Mr. Potter. Upon your seventeenth birthday you will become an adult within the eyes of wizarding law, at which time you will receive access to all properties and your family vault. Until then you can access your personal vault which was provided to you by your grandparents upon your birth."

Soxerm peered at Harry, "You have been gifted with three properties: Potter Manor in Wiltshire, the summer house on Bolonia Beach in Andalusia, Spain and a cottage in Godric's Hollow."

Both wizards stiffened upon hearing about the cottage. Harry floundered, trying to speak a few times and failed. Sirius cleared his throat and answered the boy's unasked question, "Godric's Hollow is the home you lived in with your parents. Before…"

Harry simply nodded and tore his gaze from his godfather. He wouldn't need more money than what was in his personal vault, at least not any time in the near future that he was aware of anyhow. As for the properties, there wasn't much he could do with any of them until his seventeenth birthday, even if the thought of owning a house on a beach was as foreign to him as being a wizard had been when he first heard that bit of news. A house in Spain: would he need a passport, would he have to fly or was there magical means of travel and did anyone around that area speak English? Harry mentally shook off the questions floating in his head and focused on what he could control at the time, "The family vault, are there investments that I should be made aware of?"

There was a glint of approval in Soxerm's eyes when he looked up from the portfolio, "Indeed. It is outlined in your ledger: investments, businesses owned, lands owned, etc. If you have questions-"

"There is one thing that I want taken care of today, if possible."

"Oh?"

"Every month since I went to live with them, my relatives have received £2,000 of my money. According to the statement I received they are still getting paid during the summer months when I'm not at school. I want it stopped. First, I don't spend the whole summer break with them. I'm barely there for a fortnight. Second is personal, but suffice it to say I refuse to allow those unworthy layabouts another knut." Harry's gaze hardened, "How soon can this business be conducted?"

"It will be done immediately." The Goblin flashed a snarl of white sharp teeth, "Will reparations be required?"

Harry paused and thought about the ramifications that would follow if he agreed. Uncle Vernon would be angry beyond reason, Aunt Petunia would be horrified and Dudley would… well truth be told his cousin was a wild card. They were friendly, but those were still his parents. Demanding reparations would be a petty act of revenge and while it might give him a moment of satisfaction; the consequences wasn't worth the effort. Much as he hated to admit it, Harry still needed the Dursley family for a place of residence. "That won't be necessary. I will see to my… relatives.

"On another note, I've recently made an investment into an upcoming business. I will need a way to have my portion of the proceeds deposited. The business is in its infancy stage, so there isn't any income to speak of yet, but-"

"It is wise to be prepared." Soxerm was nodding in agreement and tapped his gnarled finger twice on the wooden table. Parchment, ink and quill appeared. "Name of the business?"

"Preliminary name is Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. I'm not sure if they'll change it once they find a store location. The Weasley twins have already started an owl service." Soxerm's eyebrows furrowed as he wrote a few notes and Harry added, "The deposits would be made on my behalf by either Fred or George Weasley."

The Goblin nodded and the quill scratched across the page again. Soxerm spoke while he wrote, "This copy of your ledger is yours to take with you. You will be required to come in personally in order for it to be updated. Once you have reached your majority it will be spelled to automatically update monthly."

"Thank you. I appreciate all of your help. Will you continue to be my financial advisor?"

Soxerm looked up from the leather bound ledger and gave either a snarl or smile, Harry wasn't sure which, but the Goblin seemed pleased if the gleam in his beady eyes meant anything. "If that is your wish, Mr. Potter."

"It is. I would appreciate your continued guidance with the Potter finances." Harry was relieved when Soxerm gave a sharp nod of accord.

"There is one last item to discuss, Mr. Potter." Soxerm waited until Harry had given him his full attention, "There is the matter of the Wills. Your father has a stipulation within bequeathing a gift to a friend and all other residuary was to go to Lily Potter. Since your mother outlived your father, be it only for a short period of time, it is her will that is to be fully executed as well as the gift deemed fit by James Potter."

"I didn't realize my parents had Wills." Harry rubbed his chin, "Why weren't they read fourteen years ago?"

"At the time of their deaths, the Wills were sealed by the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot." Soxerm explained with his usual no nonsense tone.

Harry huffed, "Dumbledore."

"Hmm, yes." Soxerm tapped the table as he spoke, "before execution of the Wills can be completed, your guardian will be notified as well as any recipients mentioned within. You will receive an owl with a time and date for the official reading."

AN: Yup, that's right. I'm actually writing again. That's pretty exciting news. At least for me… That's not to say I won't beat my head against walls from time to time, but things are moving forward and to me that's progress.

Anyhow, this chapter is a preview of life during the summer for my Slytherin!Harry and friends of the SDDJ world. The final installment of the SDDJ trilogy has begun.

2nd Edit 01/10/2020