Chapter 21

Back at Gringotts, Severus had rejoined Harry in Briggal's office. His fingers fiddled with the ring on his left ring finger, and he couldn't keep down the slight dusting on his cheeks after Potter's rather bold declaration. The young man had been right about one thing in particular. Severus hadn't been so swayed by just Potter's words. His actions following that and his formal declaration were what made Severus truly think Harry wasn't joking around, that he wanted the other as a romantic partner. No one would go so far as to pick family jewelry from their vault if they had just wanted a one-off.

"Suffet has probably already explained the details to Master Snape, but I will reiterate just so that we are on the same page," Briggal announced as he held the parchment containing Severus's results.

"Master Snape is indeed a direct descendant of the Pendragon line; however, no such title as Lord Pendragon exists in the Magical world, as they were primarily a Muggle family. However, historically, the name still has a lot of impact in the Wizarding communities as it is widely believed that the Pendragons were made of Magic."

"You're talking about Arthur's birth circumstances," Harry stated. "That I do remember from History of Magic," he proudly declared.

"Indeed, there are several theories of how Arthur's conception occurred. Either Uther Pendragon seduced Igraine, the wife of Duke Cornwall, and used Merlin's magic to conceive a child, or another version states that Igraine was barren and Uther pleaded with the sorceress Nimueh to help conceive a child. However Magic of that level had consequences. A life for a life, and thus Uther lost his wife and became resentful of magical folk, which ultimately led to the great magical purge of Camelot."

"While Arthur himself was still a Muggle," Briggal continued, "It is believed that any of his descendants became witches and wizards with extraordinary talents. The most famous one would have been none other than Mordred, who would have held the blood of a man made of Magic and a woman who mastered it."

"But as I mentioned before, there is no Lord Pendragon title in the Wizarding world. The closest title you would have been eligible for would have been Lord Prince; however, that has already been claimed."

"I am in no need of titles," Severus stated with a frown.

"As Master Snape wishes. However, you being related to the Pendragon family triggered the Lord Ambrosius title in Lord Potter's line. It is a contingent Lordship, though purely ornamental, upon your marriage to Master Snape. If ever the bond were to break, the title would disappear."

"I understand," Harry said before asking, "You mentioned the Lordship being purely ornamental. What does that mean?"

"It means that the House of Ambrosius is recognized as a part of the wizarding aristocracy; however, the title itself holds no political power anymore. The House was stripped of its political power sometime between the 1850s and 1900s when the Lords, active in the Wizengamot at that time, voted that no House, even if related to Merlin himself, should have that much political power just laying there while dormant for centuries. A law was crafted that any Ancient and Noble House, dormant for more than three centuries, would lose its political seat in the Wizengamot."

"So the title is basically just a paperweight," Severus stated, to which Briggal nodded.

"To be fair, we Goblins never expected the Ambrosius Lordship to reactivate. Our records show that Merlin was particularly picky about who would inherit his vault. As he was quite close with both Uther and Arthur, he made it so that his heir would join the families together to inherit his legacy."

"And thus the Ambrosius vault is now part of your estate, Lord Potter. An estate that has seen quite some turmoil in the last two decades. Though while curiosity is poking me with a well-sharpened spear, it is not my place to enquire why you have the same visage as when I saw you twenty years ago."

"Trust me, Briggal, you would think I was mad."

"Lord Potter, I have thought you mad since the day you tried to introduce me to a non-profit." Briggal deadpanned.

"Either way, we must go over the history of your accounts now." The goblin stated. "Upon your disappearance, Gringotts locked down your main vaults immediately until confirmation of your status could be verified. This includes everything from the Potter to Peverel main vaults. Subsidiary vaults, however, remain active. These include your Weasley Wizarding Weezes vault, which supports the shop chain as a silent investor. Your Spousal Support vault, which now dispenses a fixed allowance to your now ex-wife which will be terminated upon your order or her remarriage. The current allowance allotted to her by the Potter family charter is 30 percent of what she was receiving initially while married to you. The other active sub vaults include the trust vaults for one James Sirius Potter and one Lily Luna Potter."

"What about Albus's trust vault?" Harry now asked.

Briggal looked at his paperwork for a minute before answering. "Albus Severus Potter's trust vault was emptied and terminated June 24th, 2038, by order of Ginverva Molly Weasley."

"She emptied my son's trust vault before he graduated?!" Harry exclaimed, shocked.

"As a grantor on the revocable trust, she had every right to," Briggal stated. "As you know, unlike the Muggles, we do not offer irrevocable trusts, especially considering how picky Wizarding Lords can be. The then-spouse is automatically made a grantor of any trust her husband sets up for their children according to the Potter charter. This was an amendment made to the existing charter during Charlus Potter's time as Lord. However, a trust can be revoked by one partner only if one spouse is considered in absentia for more than 5 years."

"According to sources, my divorce from Ginny was seven years ago," Harry sucked in a breath, realizing the implications.

"Yes. Lady Potter, now Miss Weasley once more, had been managing the trusts for those years. She gained unilateral control of the trusts in 2031 due to your absence." Briggal stated. "However, now that your identity has been confirmed, the power shifts back to you. How would you like to handle this?"

"Can you tell me where Al's funds got transferred to?" Harry asked.

"Albus Potter's funds," Briggal checked his notes, "60 percent was transferred to Ginerva Weasley's personal vault she had set up when she was 12. 40 percent was transferred to James Sirius' trust vault that same day."

"James took Al's money?!" Harry was shocked, angry, and betrayed.

"Yes, Briggal confirmed. There also seem to be consistent transactions over the past few years from James Potter's accounts to Ginerva Weasleys. I can tell you this because James never unlinked his personal accounts from his trust vault. So in essence, they are your accounts too, as Lord and Head of the family."

"Leave those accounts be," Harry ordered. "While I can't fathom James stealing from his own brother, those accounts were made with his hard work. I want Albus's trust restored and the money deducted from Ginny and James's accounts, with reflecting interest over the years. Furthermore, I will be stopping spousal support for Miss Weasley effective immediately. All spousal support shall be redirected to a vault made for Severus."

"You don't have to!" Severus started to object, but Harry held up his hand. His decision final.

"Severus, I guaranteed you financial aid when you chose to support me, and considering we are now married in the eyes of Magic, I think it is very fitting that I fulfill that promise. You will want for naught. Whatever you request or need, it will be in arm's reach. The rarest and freshest ingredients, the best Potions equipment, and a lab. You never asked for anything from me, never once tried to use my fame for your own gain. So I will give this freely. After everything you have endured, a life of luxury, I guarantee. No matter what happens between us."

"You don't have to," Severus said again as a whisper as he felt Potter's hands on his shoulder. Never had he imagined anyone offering him this.

"You are right. I don't have to, but I want to." Harry declared. "You aren't the easiest person to get along with, I admit, but that doesn't mean your contribution has to be overlooked. I fought the Ministry to have your portrait included at Hogwarts for this very reason." Harry then confessed. "You literally rose from the dead to be my nursemaid. Yes, Death had a hand in that, but you could have said no. You could have denied me care. Death might have manipulated you in the beginning, but everything else at the cottage. He had no control over. I realized that when we talked after he healed you."

"I just want to be there to support you this time," Harry confessed.