Chapter 5 Justin's Turn

A contrasting couple stood outside the Leaky Cauldron. The older woman, a short dumpy lady, who had crumpled clothes and seemed to be covered in a thin layer of dirt, smiled as she looked at the entrance to Diagon Alley. This was one of her favorite things to do at the end of the summer. It got her out of the greenhouses, and she got to see the amazement on young people's face. It made her heart soar to introduce younglings to the magical world.

She glanced at the boy she was escorting. The boy was average height, very tidy, slicked back light brown hair, and dressed in comfortable casual business mugglewear. He had an aristocratic face and was slightly chubby. She could tell, via the talk with his parents, and his demeanor, that the child was a bit spoiled.

Right now, he had his nose wrinkled up in distaste but wasn't commenting. "Mr. Finch-Fletchley, through that pub is where we will go and get your school supplies," she said brightly. Then she walked forward, knowing he would follow.

Justin was wary, he kept his stiff upper lip, but he really didn't want to go into that dirty place. He might catch something fatal. Still, having been taught manners since his nappies, he followed the nice lady.

Pomona Sprout called gayly to the barman and bustled out the other side of the building. She waited for her charge and then tapped the bricks. A large smile split her face as the boy, who had been stoic up until now, looked around in awe.

"Wow, this is unreal," he said, taking in all the hustling and bustling that was going on. He noted the strange clothes, and the messiness, but it was still a sight to see. Everywhere he looked someone was doing magic.

"Indeed, it is," the Professor said starting down the cobblestone way.

Justin kept to her side, not wanting to get lost. His eyes were moving everywhere, and he was deciding how to spend the mass amount of money his mum had given him. There were things here that looked like they would be great fun, and he wondered if he was going to be able to buy them and use them at his home.

Professor Sprout had told him that he could not do magic at home since it was a muggle house. However, if it wasn't his magic, he wondered, could he get away with purchasing some of this stuff. He'd ask when they were done with the bank.

"Now, Mr. Finch-Fletchley, we are about to arrive at the bank. Gringotts had been around an awfully long time. The goblins in charge, are very business oriented. So, be nice and courteous, and try not to offend them," the professor said, stopping for a moment to make sure he was listening.

"Goblins?" the boy asked a bit fearfully. "They're real?"

"Yes, they are," she said, still smiling. "However, I am led to believe they are nothing like those in the stories muggles read. Like I said, they are businessmen. While we have had many wars with them, right now we are at peace."

Justin swallowed hard. Nobody told him there'd be goblins. He wondered what else was real. However, he decided not to ask right now. Taking a few deep breathes he nodded and said, "Okay. I'm ready."

"Give yourself a second, dear," she replied noting his pale face, and giving him a few more moments to pull himself together.

They were passed by a greasy-haired man, who had a little girl clinging to him.

"Professor," they heard the little girl say, "I thought I was… muggleborn."

"Some believe that all muggleborns have wizarding ancestry," the man explained, walking briskly past the contrasting couple. He nodded to Sprout, who smiled back, and then moved away.

The two watched them a moment, and then Justin looked at Pomona and asked, "Is that true? I might have a wizard in my family?" He seemed excited at that prospect.

"Like Professor Snape said, the man who just passed, that is what some believe," she answered brightly. "Now, not everyone agrees, and there are those that don't want it to be proven, hence they made laws against that knowledge to be given freely. However, since you asked, I can tell you that you can get a test done at the bank to see if it holds true for you," she informed him with great relief.

She, unlike some of her colleagues, never liked that law. A lot of her muggleborns never did the test and had their unclaimed vaults seized by the government. However, her hands were tied by magic, laws and prejudice. All laws in the wizarding world had a bit of magic tied to them to keep the citizens law abiding. It wasn't a great deal of magic, but enough to keep honest people honest. It was only those who really hated the law, that could break them. Though not without repercussions.

There was always a price to pay. Magic was fair that way. If you were true to it, it was true to you. If you thwarted it, you paid the price. If the crime was deep enough, then your family could pay for many generations. The Weasleys were fine examples of that, money will always be tight to them. The Malfoys, on the other hand, paid by having very few children, and tagged with the name that meant Bad Faith. Very few trusted them, and they only got where they were by judicious use of money.

Still, Pomona believed in the karma of magic and she knew everyone would get their just desserts, good or bad, in the end.

She was hoping that this year, the rumor would start again, which it had been decades since the last time, and that was quashed almost immediately. Those that found out they had vaults were threatened with death if they passed on the information by unsurely purebloods. Karma would pay those people back, one way or the other. Meanwhile, those that left the magical world were thriving in the muggle world. Completely uncaring about the world that shunned them.

Dumbledore, for all his toting about equal rights, just let it all slide. For a fighter of Dark Lords, the man hated violence, and said that everyone deserved a second, sometimes fifth, chance. He didn't want to upset the delicate balance the wizarding world was in. If too many muggleborns took their place in society, then the whole structure could come tumbling down.

Sprout was of another opinion. She felt that her world could use a kick in the pants.

Justin was pondering on the fact that his family might have just become richer. He had been put down for Eton, and he had given up years of hard work to come to this new world. When the letter had arrived, he sat with his parents and discuss if it were true or not. They decided that if it were, that he would go and see if a profit could be made. Professor Sprout showed up two days later and verified it was all legit.

If what the professor said was true, about long-lost relatives, then it might have been the right decision. He would have to ask his mum to send him some non-magical schoolwork. He wanted to make sure that he didn't fall too far behind. He was expected to take up the family business, which, believe it or not, was banking. Maybe, he'd ask these goblins how they did business and compare the two. If he was dedicated enough, then he could improve both, or they could work out a business arrangement.

By silent agreement, the two finally went to the bank. Justin, taking her word for it, didn't jump or shout when he spotted the goblins, he merely nodded to them as he passed.

They nodded in return and opened the doors.

Justin noted the poem above the door, and smirked. Yes, these were the type of people his father would do business with. He couldn't wait to see it all played out.

The first thing they did, was change the money his parents have given him into wizarding currency. The bottomless bag held over 500 galleons, more then enough to get his stuff and perhaps some toys and books.

They went through the steps of heritage, and he did find he was indeed richer and that his wizarding family name was still the same. It appeared that his ancestors were very low key and had squibbed out only a few decades back. Before they disappeared into the muggle world, they had set up some investments, that had paid off.

Swifttooth offered to send a ledger, but Justin wanted to go to the vault, so they were guided to Sharpclaw.

"Can I go to the vault?" Justin asked Sharpclaw. "I'd like to see if they left anything behind."

Sharpclaw looked to Sprout, she nodded, so he said, "It's your vault. Do with it what you please. However, if you want to take money out, you must bring your parents to validate the vault. You can, however, remove documents, books and such," he added, making sure the boy knew the loophole in those binding laws. It was pureblood ignorance that made it so 'family magic' couldn't be hindered.

"Great," the boy said, nodding his head to the teller.

"Griphook!" Sharpclaw bellowed.

The cart goblin appeared and was told to take the two to the vault.

The whole ride down, Justin asked question after question about how the bank was run. Since Griphook was only a cart runner, he really couldn't answer them all. However, Justin got enough to get the general idea. Plans on what to tell his father were percolating in his head. This was going to be great.

It was a shame that galleons were spelled so they couldn't be melted down. Plus, they were also spelled against being used by muggles. If someone tried, the galleon would be classified as stolen, and disappear. It was worked into the metal that only magicals could handle it.

There went his plans on becoming disgustingly rich. Oh well, he'd just have to make more money.

They got to the vault, and Griphook opened it. There was a vast amount of money, and a good deal of documents. Justin quickly flitted through them and picked out the newest. He then grabbed some of the books and scrolls. There were papers on the investments made, and he could see that he had a good amount invested in the local newspaper.

That was perfect.

Using the press was one of the things he learned on his father's knee. If he could get a lawyer and learn the laws. He could become one of the elites here, like his family was in the non-magical world. If there was one thing he knew, it was work as hard as you can to be on top. He'd have to become friends with other elites and network his way there. Which was okay because he was not afraid of a little hard work.

Look out wizarding world, Justin Finch-Fletchley was here.