"Have you been staying up on the news?" Stephen asked.
They were currently stopped at a red light. The trip to London was taking longer than usual. It was the middle of the day on a work week, so it wasn't unexpected. Hugh didn't drive like a half-blind maniac, so the trip took longer than ten minutes. By car, a muggle one, it was about two hours to London. The Day Shift of the Night Bus did it in thirty minutes, usually.
Harry shook his head. "I live with Muggles. Trying to explain everything that happens in the magical world is a headache."
Stephen nodded. "You haven't seen this then?"
The young man held out a copy of the Daily Prophet. A mugshot of Sirius Black stared back out from the front page.
"They say he's the first person to ever escape Azkaban." Stephen said. "Are you worried about him?"
"No." Harry shook his head.
"He was you-know-who's top man." Stephen continued. "They say he's the one who told him where you lived."
"Bullshit." Harry snorted. "Sirius Black is my godfather by magically binding contract. He'd be dead before he could touch his wand if he wanted to hurt me."
Stephen's mouth dropped. Rook slipped over to sit beside Harry.
"But…" Stephen held up the paper. "They say he killed a dozen muggles and his best friend."
"They also say I live in a castle and have three veela wives." Harry shook his head. "Listen. I've seen the contract. It's ironclad. He couldn't kill me or conspire against my parents without paying with his life."
"He was their secret keeper." Stephen pointed to the part of the article.
"The magic that sealed the contract would have killed him before he could get the words out." Harry shrugged. "I don't know if he killed those muggles, or his friend, but I know he didn't betray my family."
Harry fell silent for a moment. He petted Rook as the scenery passed. A couple of people had gotten on, which had caused a slight detour and pulled Stephen away. Hugh checked his watch, then put some speed on. The bus pulled to a stop outside of Gringotts.
"Sorry about him." Hugh spoke softly.
Harry nodded. He took a step down, then turned around. Two galleons appeared in his hand.
"Nope." Hugh looked away. "Not this time."
"This isn't a tip. It's payment for services." Harry placed the coins on the dash. "Anyone who talks about Sirius Black, you tell them what I told you. Tell them Harry Potter himself gave you this information."
"You're serious?" Hugh looked from the coins to the young man.
"No." Harry chuckled. "Like I said, that's my godfather. I'm Harry."
Hugh shook his head. "I'm going to have to watch my words around you, aren't I?"
Harry winked at him.
"Keep paying me like this and I'll have my own car service." Hugh muttered as Harry stepped off the bus.
"Did you hear that?" Harry looked down at Rook as they walked. "His own car service. That would be kind of cool. Think I could hire him?" He sighed. "Actually, it would probably be too dangerous for him if I hired him as my private driver."
Rook woofed.
"I like cars." Harry replied. "They are by far the best form of transportation. Sure, it's slower, but I don't mind. Just imagine me strapping you to my broom for a trip into town."
Rook groaned.
"Exactly."
"Lord Potter." Ragnok stepped up as he entered. He spared a small look to Rook.
"Goblin Ragnok." Harry gave a small bow.
"Follow me." The goblin turned and walked away without a look back.
Ragnok led him to the same room as before. There was a low couch that looked to be the perfect size for a certain dog. Rook gave a woof in thanks and settled in.
"You are welcome." Ragnok took his seat. "Your companion is an interesting one."
"I will take that as a compliment." Harry smiled. "We are here to discuss the results of the inheritance?"
"Indeed."
Ragnok waved a hand, summoning the golden orb. He tapped the orb twice. It levitated in the air between them before unrolling and spreading out wide. A family tree stretched out incredibly wide.
"These are all your relations." Ragnok explained. "Even by the slightest bit, going back to the beginning of your family line."
Harry's name glowed, a line reached up along the pathway, guiding his gaze to the very top. Two names pulsed.
"Chwyfleian Llyn and Myrddin Wyllt." Harry looked to Ragnok. "Apologies, Master Ragnok, those names mean nothing to me."
Ragnok smiled. "Roughly translated, Wandering Woman of the Lake and the man legend has come to call Merlin." With a wave of a hand the tree spread out from there. "It's quite a distant relation. Eventually the line crossed with Pendragon which went on to intersect with Gryffindor then eventually Peverell, as you know became Potter."
"I hit all the big ones." Harry chuckled. "Does this mean I really am the next coming of Merlin?"
Ragnok cackled. "No. Merlin had quite a few children with plenty of women along his lifetime. He is nowhere near as prolific as Genghis Khan, but he is the progenitor of at least two dozen family lines."
"It does look like I am related to Arthur." Harry muttered.
"Again." Ragnok clarified. "Not as rare as you expect. Legends rarely include the children of scullery maids and camp women."
Ragnok tapped the edge of the golden sheet. It curled up into an orb again. The goblin handed it to Harry.
"The sword may have recognized your bloodline." Ragnok returned to his seat. "More importantly, it recognized the quality of person you are."
Harry blinked. He looked from the golden orb to Ragnok.
"Thank you, Ragnok." Harry cleared his throat. "That means more than you know."
Ragnok inclined his head. "Is there any other business we have to discuss today?"
Harry thought for a moment. "Is there a way to get a copy of the contract my parents made with Sirius Black?"
"Their will is sealed." Ragnok shook his head.
"Not their will." Harry slipped the orb into his pocket. "The contract making him my godfather."
Ragnok smiled. "That, I can do."