Hogwarts: I Obtained the Paternal System

"Young Master is so kind!"

Peeves let out a shriek.

Darren sighed and quickened his pace toward Gringotts.

He only hoped Peeves would return to how she had been at the start as soon as possible.

Please, please.

Gringotts was said to be the safest place besides Hogwarts.

It was a bank run by goblins.

All the staff coming and going inside were goblins.

They looked proud and spoke with disdain.

Some even raised their voices at customers.

The service here was terrible.

And depositing money here was not safe, either.

In the original story, Gringotts had been broken into at least twice.

"Hello, sir. What business can I assist you with?"

When an elderly-looking goblin saw Darren enter with a House-elf, he hurried over.

Families with House-elves were generally ancient families, and people like them held very prestigious status.

"Our young master wishes to visit the vaults of Harry Potter and Darren Potter. Here are the keys!"

Peeves placed a small key before the goblin.

Dumbledore had given it to her. After Lily and James passed away, Dumbledore had temporarily kept the keys to their vaults. He had originally planned to give them to Harry after he started school.

But now that the Potter family's House-elf had come for them, he naturally handed the keys over to Peeves.

"Harry Potter and Darren Potter? The Potter family has two heirs. What a flourishing family."

The elderly goblin examined the keys and slowly offered a compliment.

Peeves proudly lifted her head.

That was all thanks to the previous Mrs. Potter.

She had given birth to two young masters, especially Young Master Darren. He was simply adorable!

Fortunately, Peeves did not say that aloud. Otherwise, Darren might have died here today.

Social death!

After confirming that the keys were genuine, the elderly goblin called over a younger goblin.

"Griphook will take you to the vault."

The goblin named Griphook gave Darren an appraising glance, curiosity flashing in his eyes.

A few days ago, a student named Harry Potter had come to withdraw money. Was he this Darren Potter's older brother or younger brother?

And Harry Potter had been dressed extremely shabbily, while this Darren Potter had even brought a House-elf. Was there some hidden reason behind it?

But that had nothing to do with him.

He, Griphook, would never bow his head to these wizards!

As he watched the proud Griphook lead the way ahead, Darren studied him carefully for quite some time.

This was also a rather famous goblin from the original story.

He first appeared in the first book. When Harry went to Gringotts to withdraw money, it was Griphook who led the way.

He appeared for the second time in the Deathly Hallows.

Griphook had asked Harry for the Sword of Gryffindor and even promised to take them into Gringotts and bring them safely back out.

Yet the moment he got the sword, the bastard alerted Gringotts and ran off with it himself.

He was quite a devious fellow.

Darren had not expected that the first time he came to Gringotts to withdraw money, this guy would be his guide as well.

Could it be that he would have to break into Gringotts someday, too?

ps: Slytherin House currently has 20 votes, Ravenclaw 12, Hufflepuff 4, Gryffindor 0. Voting ends before 12 noon today.

Chapter 19: Poor Darren

The thought merely passed through Darren's mind before he cast it aside.

That was far too uncouth!

How could someone who aspired to let his paternal radiance shine over all of Hogwarts do something so uncouth?

But if he ran out of money, perhaps he could steal the Sword of Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat and trade it to Griphook for some cash?

As Darren considered the possibility, his "kind" gaze kept sweeping over Griphook.

The still-young goblin Griphook suddenly felt chills run down his spine.

Was it getting cold?

Griphook rubbed his hands.

He looked around.

Darren silently shifted his gaze away.

He suddenly realized that if he could steal the Sword of Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat, why not just steal Galleons from Malfoy and those Slytherin nobles instead?

Perhaps he could steal his way to becoming the richest man?

This...

As Darren pondered the feasibility of that idea, Griphook finally stopped the cart.

"Here we are!"

Griphook stepped off the cart and opened the vault door.

A cloud of green smoke billowed out. Once it dispersed, Darren's mouth fell open in astonishment.

Steal money?

He, Darren, was a man of integrity!

There was simply too much money inside.

He had heard descriptions of Harry's parents' wealth in the original story, but seeing how frugal Harry had been, even reluctant to buy a Firebolt, he had thought it was not actually much.

Who would have thought that when he came to see it for himself—

There were heaps of Galleons, silver bars, and mountains of bronze coins.

That added up to at least...

"Three hundred thousand Galleons, two million Silver Sickles, and Bronze Knuts... Peeves did not count them.

"Too poor, truly too poor. The two young masters actually had to spend seven years living on so little money.

"Peeves is such a bad elf. I should have come out sooner to help the two young masters manage the family estate!"

Peeves pulled out a handkerchief and wept sorrowfully.

Her huge eyes looked at Darren with heartache. Her poor young master could only live on this little Galleons?

When Young Master James had been little, a single set of wizarding robes had cost several thousand Galleons to make. There were also everyday clothes, formal attire, shoes, daily necessities...

A mere three hundred thousand Galleons would not even last a year.

Yet her two poor young masters had to make it last seven years!

Seven years—how frugally would the two young masters have to live?

What kind of concept was that?

It would break the old master's heart!

Peeves slapped her thigh in regret.

Darren stared at Peeves in astonishment.

Three hundred thousand Galleons was little?

Harry had used one Galleon on the train to buy out all the snacks on it.

According to the exchange rate Rowling mentioned in 2001, one Galleon equaled five pounds, or a little over seven dollars.

The purchasing power back then had been enormous. Compared to 2020, it might have to be multiplied tenfold.

And yet Peeves called that many Galleons poor?

Even if he and Harry spent it together, he felt they could live in the Wizarding World for the rest of their lives without earning another penny.