HP : TRIUMPH

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(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)

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flood back. Well that explained the throbbing ache he felt in his lower regions. Then he caught sight of the time. He squeaked and leapt up, looking for his clothes on the mess that was the floor.

"What izzit?" Dee said groggily.

"It's nine o'clock!" Harry yelped. "Harold is going to be wondering where I am."

He grabbed his shirt and was about to pull it on when an arm wrapped around his waist and pulled him back on the bed. Dee pinned his arms to the bed and languidly kissed his neck.

"This Harold can wait." He smirked. "I have the day off and I want another round."

Harry just squeaked, which turned into a moan soon enough.

.-.

Harry wrung his new braid out and sighed content at the feeling of the steamy bathroom. He opened the door after making sure his shirt was done up right. He stepped into the living room to pause in surprise.

Dee was only wearing a pair of pants and standing by a stove, flipping a pancake. Another man was flopped on the single couch. The man was tall with long black dreadlocks tied back in a ponytail and half covered by a bandana. He had tilted brown eyes and slightly tanned skin. He wore some worn jeans and a red t-shirt.

"Now you're just molesting the kid D." The blonde growled.

"Jealous detective?" D smirked.

The blonde opened his mouth, eyes narrowing. Then he snapped it shut. Soon he was kissing D senseless. Harry decided his curiosity was very sated and it was time to go. He quickly fled the store with a wave to Crook who licked his hand on his way by.

Once back in the street Harry realized he had no partner left and Griphook had told him not to go alone. He could always summon another demon though. He reached into his satchel for the summoning sheets. His hand brushed air.

"Eh?!" Harry jolted, peering into his bag. "Dammit, I forgot them on the counter!"

"Are you lost boy?"

Harry flinched and spun to come face to face with a huge, well built man that towered over him. He had wild black hair and stubble on his chin. He was dressed like an old blacksmith.

"Oh! No, not at all." Harry quickly said.

He eyed Harry again and Harry shuffled nervously, eyes darting to an escape route should he need one.

"Come with me a moment."

Then he picked Harry up around the waist, under one arm. Harry struggled viciously.

It gave another 'maa' sound.

"And don't leave the garden please."

It nodded and skittered away under a bush.

"You're having a problem with some pests?" Harold asked.

"Yes. A raccoon has been tearing up some of my fruit plants and some mice have been burrowing in my garden. The Scrawl will deal with them."

"That thing is creepy." Harold muttered. "It skitters around and stares at you with its huge eyes. Then it smiles at you. The one you summoned in the house the other days stalked me for a good hour, smiling at me every time I glanced at it."

Harry laughed.

Harry sat up and rubbed sleep from his eyes. He blinked at the bright light filtering in his open window and yawned. He stood after a minute and migrated to the bathroom where he had a quick shower. When he got out he pulled on some casual clothes (a pair of black jeans and a red button up shirt that he pushed the sleeves up to his elbows) and braided his hair. He measured said hair in front of the mirror.

"It reaches the middle of my back now, even when in a tight braid." Harry smiled.

He grabbed his wallet from his desk and stuffed it in his back pocket. He glanced at the paper work on his desk before deciding it could wait. He grabbed the I-pod Sirius had sent him and stuffed it in his other pocket. He'd gotten Griphook to arrange for him to get internet access and had downloaded a bunch of songs onto said I-pod.

Harry wandered down to the kitchen to find Harold was either out or still asleep. He grabbed and apple from the table and grabbed a smaller satchel from the counter. This one was army green and had a bunch of buckles on it. Harry pulled it on and stuffed a few snacks and a water bottle in it. He made sure he had some summoning circles tucked in the front pocket and then grabbed his keys and stepped out the front door. He locked the door behind him and started walking, eating his apple.

He had no idea where he was going. He was just going. He headed in the direction of the small shopping area a few blocks down, feet moving at a steady but idle pace. He was soon in front of the greenhouse. He decided not to go in as he'd be tempted to buy something which he had no room for and instead decided to go into the sports shop next door. He entered and was surprised by how neatly everything was set out. He wandered a while, looking at the equipment. He soon found the bike section and a salesperson was soon describing bike features and uses to him.

"You have me sold for that silver one." Harry said.

The teen gave a cocky grin and ran to fetch one from the back. It was a plain silver bike with a few gears and a flat bracket on the back that a basket could be strapped to or someone could hitch a ride on. He also bought a silver helmet that he didn't put on but instead hung of the handle bars. He paid for the bike helmet, a lock, a wire basket that fit on the back of his bike, and a pump in quick order and wheeled his new bike out the store. When no one was looking he stuffed everything but the bike and basket in his satchel, the bag shrinking it for him as he stuffed it in. Then he snapped the basket on the back and swung onto the bike. He had never rode a bike before, but after riding a broom, a bike was easy just more effort.

He took off down the road, no idea where he was going. Somehow he ran into a small magical sector and got a map containing apparation points all over London. He apparated from one and rode to the next. Somehow he found himself browsing Columbia Road Flower Market, and joining a group of women who had literally dragged him to breakfast with them in a cafe. After hasty goodbyes he found he was in Spitalfeilds market. He stuffed a bag of two of food in his satchel but the market was too packed to do that with everything. Soon his back basket was holding two bags of fresh fruit and vegetables, a small rose plant was tucked precariously between them.

He enjoyed the sunny weather and the bustle of the morning shoppers. He did not enjoy the women who cooed over him every time he bought an apple. He also did not enjoy the lover's spat he'd run into.

A girl and boy had been yelling at each. It was quickly realized the girl had been cheating on him. The guy had yelled something about showing her how it felt and grabbed the person closest to him. Harry had been trying to get around him at the time. He'd been grabbed and kissed senseless. More then a few squeals and shouts of surprise had been heard. Harry had unfortunately, also seen some camera flashes. When the man pulled back he realized Harry was a guy. He'd blinked blankly. The girl had shouted something at him and then strode up to Harry and also kissed him senseless.

When they'd both started yelling again Harry had dazedly stumbled away. Someone had shoved an instant picture of the event in his hand with a laugh. Harry now had a picture of a man in a business suit with wild brown hair kissing him passionately and a picture of a curvy blond with large breasts kissing him wildly.

Harry had fled the market after that and apparated to a different area, stuffing everything in his satchel but the rose plant. He'd cast a notice-me-not charm on it and locked his bike up at a bike lock in the front of a mall. A bobby stood nearby keeping an eye on a pair of teens smoking so Harry felt fine leaving his new bike with the multitude of others. He hadn't been in such a large mall and was soon gazing around in awe and surprise at all the stores and people.

He somehow found an optometrist and got a pair of contacts as a 'sample' pack. The girl at the counter had shown him how to care for them and how to use them and said they'd last two weeks. She'd even given him a case for his glasses as she'd insisted he start wearing them immediately, exclaiming without his glasses his eyes weren't hidden and 'oh how beautiful they were'.

He also explored a clothes store that and the store clerk was all too happy to follow him around showing him every article of clothing she though he'd look good in. Soon he had a bag of new clothes on his arm and a red fedora on. Somehow he ran into a group of girls, whom saw he was shopping alone, and decided it was their duty to accompany him, or rather him accompany them.

Harry found himself enjoying the muggle shopping to a degree. When he finally got the women off his arms he returned to the outside again. He'd taken a quick bathroom break earlier to cast a minor version of a large area shrinking charm so that his one shopping bag could hold much more. He walked out with only one bag on his arm. It was quickly stuffed in the basket next to the groceries and rose plant.

.-.

Harry hummed to himself as he passed house after house, the breeze created by his speed playing with his hair. He held his fedora on as he took a sharp fast corner, his humming not breaking at all. The sun of the morning had vanished behind a thick cover of grey clouds. It was still warm, though rain appeared to be on its way. He smiled at a couple walking on the sidewalk and they waved cheerfully. As he rounded another corner his house came into view.

The street he currently lived on wasn't a very poor street, in fact you had to be well off to own one of the large houses, but in Harry's opinion his house looked the nicest. It was a nice red to all the other greys and whites and yellows. His was also a more unique style with it's turret like tower while all the others resembled each other in some way. And it was clear he was a good gardener just by a glance. His whole yard bloomed brightly. Flowers poked through every space in his gardens and the few strips of grass were lush and green. The tall weeping willow tree, that was almost taller then his house, had bright green leaves and blocked his house just enough from sight to give it privacy and a mysterious air.

Harry pulled into the grey drive way and slipped off his bike. He lifted the garage door enough to slip his bike in, then pulled the stuff from the basket and headed for the front door. He found the door as locked as he had left it and with a quick turn of his keys he was stepping inside the silent house. He took the next hour to put everything away and do a quick clean-up.

During this clean-up Hedwig arrived with a note from Griphook. The note asked him to meet the goblin at a popular restaurant a-ways-away.

.-.

Harry parked his motorbike in an empty space and slid off. A quick charm would make sure no one looked twice at his bike. He hung his helmet off the handle, straightening his braid. Then he quickly smoothed the burgundy button up shirt he had tucked into black slacks. Dress shoes adorned his feet and the small ruby studs were in his ears. Other then that all he wore was a silver watch on his left wrist (covering the blue tattoo band from the demon) and the black band on his right wrist with the cat; his sleeves pushed up to his elbows to show both.

He headed for the door and smiled slightly as a blast of warmth and soft chatter hit him as he stepped into the dimmed lights of the restaurant. A tall regal waiter look down at him.

"Do you have reservations sir?"

"I am meeting someone." He informed the man. "Greeva Griphook."

"Right this way sir."

Harry followed the waiter, glancing about as he did so. The inside was done in earth tones with a splash of red here and there. It was beautifully designed and very appealing to the eye. Couples and groups were spread across dark tables, sipping drinks and enjoying the food. Everyone here looked quite well off at the very least.

Harry was led to a booth off to one side where a man dressed in a black suit with grey hair and sharp black eyes waited. Harry slid in across from him and accepted the menu from the waiter, ordering orange juice and water. The goblin-in-disguise and Harry shared a few moments of silence, each looking over their menus. When the waiter returned with Harry's drinks and what appeared to be wine for Griphook they ordered.

"It is good to see you well." Harry remarked as he sipped his juice.

"I suppose to be polite I would say the same." Griphook grumbled. "I see you are wearing the earrings still."

"I like them." Harry smiled.

"Good. Onto business." Griphook said pulling some papers from beside him. "I've drawn up a contract I've thought will be in your favour. A group of what you would call animal activists have been looking for a place to set up what they call a 'keep'. They wanted an area to contain and look after abused, lost, or threatened magical and muggle creatures. They came to Gringotts and I picked the case up to read over. They don't have much money but offer a good amount. They have even suggested opening the 'keep' or enclose up as a 'zoo'. The place you bought with the snakes would be very ideal as it had a large chunk of property containing fields and a wooded area. The small house can be changed into an enclosed area and a few more would pop up also for shelters."

Harry idly thought of this before shrugging and signing the contract with a flourish of the quill.

"Anything else?"

"Yes. As you have given permission, I have taken the contents of your trust vault and started to invest. While not making a huge profit, there is a profit gained."

"That's great." Harry smiled. "Did my father ever invest?"

"No. Lord James Potter was horrible at finances. Your mother however, Lady Lily Potter was a financial genius. Once she learned just how rich Lord Potter was after they married, she asked what investments he had made. When he shrugged idly she took control. She invested in a bunch of companies, stores, and various people in both the muggle and magical world. While a few gave nothing she didn't quite loose much. The ones that did work out well, worked out very, very well. She is responsible for making your Hogwarts Tuition, your trust vaults, and a small amount of the Potter vault."

Harry stared in shock. No one had ever told him his mother was a financial genius. In fact, now that he thought of it all he was ever told of his mother was what she looked like, that she was stubborn and kind and had been a charms genius. Nothing else. He felt his throat seize a minute but shook the thoughts off. He'd met her though and they'd hugged and she loved him and that's all that mattered.

"Some of her investments are still paying off." Griphook said idly.

They were silent until their food arrived. When it did Harry had a plate of chicken and pasta and Griphook had mushroom soup and fried mushrooms on what looked like rice. They dug in and Harry chewed thoughtfully.

"It that all you needed to see me for? I could have met you at Gringotts."

"I was bored." The goblin shrugged.

Harry snorted and ate another bite of pasta.

.-.

August 15th

Monday

.-.

"Excuse me?" Harry blinked in surprise.

Katrina was dressed in tan Capri's, a white t-shirt, and white sandals, her hair pulled into a short brown ponytail, a back pack around her shoulders. Jake was sucking on a soother, wearing a small blue outfit, and contentedly strapped into the navy blue stroller. Cathy was holding George's hand wearing a cute pink sundress and matching hat with a kids pink purse around her shoulders. She beamed up at him, her blonde curly pigtails bouncing. George was wearing a pair of what looked like green cargo pants and a tan t-shirt.

"We want to see this magical shopping place Harold mentioned." Katrina repeated. "We also wanted to see the bank and see if we can start an account for their schooling now. I spoke with Harold earlier and he said you were free today."

Harry shot a glare at Harold over his shoulder, the man hiding a smirk behind his book.

"Let me get my thing then." Harry sighed.

He hurried to his room and changed into a pair of black loose shorts and a green t-shirt with the words 'That which doesn't kill you...will probably try again'. Harry thought it was quite a nice shirt and the saying was just so true for him. Then he braided his hair and grabbed his red fedora, pulling it on. Next he grabbed a red satchel from his shelf and stuffed a few things into it.

He met the Hendersons outside and led them just outside his wards onto the street. A quick notice me not made sure no curious neighbours were watching. He decided apparating would be the best. He knew of an apparation spot just outside the Leaky Cauldron in an alley. He had yet to side-apparate people along but it didn't sound that hard.

"Take my hand." Harry sighed.

Katrina and George did so while Cathy kept a hand on George's hand and took Harry's pant leg in the other. Jake gurgled.

"Keep a tight hold on Jake's stroller." Harry warned.

Katrina nodded and shifted her hand.

"Now, hold your breath."

And with a sharp crack they were gone.

They reappeared in an empty alley. George and Katrina both stumbled, Katrina using the stroller to steady herself and George grabbing the near-by wall. Cathy just giggled and Jake didn't do anything.

"What was that?" Katrina gasped, looking to be trying to keep her breakfast down.

"It's called Apparating. I haven't side-along-apparated before so give me a moment."

He felt a brief second of exhaustion and nausea as he swayed in place. After a moment the world righted and he led the family out of the muggle alley to the Leaky Cauldron. He helped Katrina levitate the stroller into the place where a few people idled for a late breakfast or early lunch.

Harry led the family out the back door and to the small stone courtyard. His wand was pulled from his holster in a calm manner and he tapped the bricks. As they started to move he smiled at the thunder-struck faces.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley."

.-.

"These are goblins?" Katrina asked breathlessly, staring at the creatures in awe.

"Yes." Harry said as they moved up a space in the teller line.

"They're so cute." Cathy squealed, staring at one with starry eyes.

Said goblin twitched at her words and hurried off.

"They prefer to be called horrible." Harry smiled.

"Well they're cute." She said stubbornly.

"Next!"

Harry looked up at the teller and offered a smile.

"I'm here to see-."

"Yes, yes, Griphook, I know." The goblin muttered, obviously remembering him from his forays into the bank/

The goblin yelled something at a goblin behind the counters in a guttural language and the goblin gave a curt nod before striding off.

"Wait to the side. Next!"

Harry pulled the family off to a clear space and they only had to wait brief seconds.

"Filth."

Harry turned at the familiar voice.

"Griphook! The beauty of you voice has sent my heart singing in joy!" Harry said, clasping a hand to his heart as he swooned.

Griphook just sneered as the Henderson's stared in both

Loving the story so far? There's a whole world of magic and mystery waiting for you with over 85+ chapters still to come! By supporting my Patreon.

You not only get early access to new chapters but also exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and special perks just for fans like you.

Join us on this enchanted journey and help shape the future of the tale. Your support makes all the difference—discover more and become part of the adventure today!

http//patreon.com/BLAKE025

(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~