Chapter Text
Pepper paused as she walked through the office. A pigeon was flapping against the window, a letter tied to it’s ankle. She looked around quickly before slipping her wand from up her sleeve and vanished the window letting the bird fly in, it settled on her arm and she took the letter. She watched the bird fly away before she replaced the window.
Dear Miss Potter,
Our condolences for the loss of your brother and sister-in-law. Please report to the Gringotts branch in London to attend to their will at your earliest convenience.
As it stands you are Potter Regent until the Heir comes of age or someone with a more legitimate claim presents themselves. The family crest will be made available to you on your arrival.
Our deepest sympathies.
Potter Account Manager
Garax of Jewelsmith
She collapsed into the wall and slid down it, she felt tears form as she read over the letter. At least she’d have an excuse to skip Tony’s ridiculous Halloween party. She chuckled wetly and wiped at her face. She was glad the hallway was empty, she didn’t want anyone reporting to Tony about his assistant having a breakdown on the floor. She blinked away tears as she folded up the letter, she put her wand back up her sleeve before pushing herself to her feet.
She used a window as a mirror and wiped under her eyes, clearing the mascara that had smudged when she cried. She gave herself one last once over before making her way to Tony’s lab. She rolled her eyes as she heard the halloween party mix through the speakers.
“You want to dress as a bunny?” Tony called as he spun around. She sighed as she noticed the red robe he was wearing, clearly he was Hugh Hefner tonight. She supposed someone had to be since Hugh was at his own party tonight. “I think I’ve got a light blue bunny corset lying around somewhere.” He said with a smirk.
“I’ve got a family emergency.”
“Anything I can help with?” He asked as he stood and looked at her with concern. “You can borrow the jet. Put them on your health insurance, I’ll approve it right now. What’s up?”
She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out, just a desperate sob.
“Hey no.” Tony whispered weakly as he moved towards her and took her shoulders in his hands. “I’m bad with crying women. Please don’t cry. Tell me what's wrong and I’ll fix it and you can stop crying.”
She laughed wetly and looked at him. “It’s not something you can fix Tony.” She whispered softly as she looked at him through her tears. “My brother and sister-in-law were killed.”
“I’ll get my lawyers on it and a PI. Whoever killed them won’t ever see the light of day again.” He said determinedly.
She shook her head. “There’s nothing your lawyers or a PI can do. I don’t even know what happened yet.”
He sighed and brushed her hair back behind her ear. “You’ll tell me as soon as you know?”
“If I can.” She said softly. “I need a few days though.”
“Take as much time as you need. Full pay of course.” He said with a gentle smile.
She smiled softly back at him. “You’re a good boss, you know.”
“Oh I know.” He said with a cheeky grin. “Now go. Do what you need to do and don’t come back till you're ready. I’ll have a spa day booked for you for when you get back.”
She smiled and rolled her eyes as she pulled away from him.
*
Pepper sighed as she stepped into the London Gringotts branch. It was such a different culture from the US wizarding world. After the Incident with Newt Scamader and the Obscurus in the 1920’s the Wizarding world became a kind of open secret among the population, there was far less separation between the two worlds than in Europe. The fashion in Europe was practically ancient and still stuck in the late 19th century while American Wizarding fashion barely had any separation from the No-mags.
She walked with purpose to the head teller, she was glad she’d arrived early in the day. She’d portakeyed from the US ministry to the British one not long after she got the letter meaning she arrived at nearly midnight British time. She stayed in a townhouse her family owned. The Potter Families head elf, Clay, had clung to her skirt when she arrived, she’d missed the little guy. She kept him busy with household tasks, she wouldn’t ask him to collect Lily and James’ things on his own. She’d do that after she attended the bank.
“Name.” The head teller asked.
“Virgina Elizabeth Potter.” It had been too long since she used her actual family name and not the shortened version she used when she left for University in the US.
The teller paused with their papers. “Miss Potter, Garax is awaiting you. Follow the guard.”
She nodded in thanks and followed the guard the teller gestured to. They led her down the corridors to the Goblin offices where the Goblins who handled the Sacred 26 accounts worked. The Goblin knocked on the door with their staff.
“Enter.” Garax called. The guard opened the door for her and she stepped through. “Lady Potter, our condolences for the loss of your brother and sister-in-law.”
“Thank you.” She said softly.
“Tea?” They offered.
“Thank you but I’d rather get down to business. I plan to retrieve their things from the house.”
Garax nodded. “Very well. I would like to offer our services in retrieving all items and placing them in a temporary vault so you can sort through them. For a small fee.”
She debated for a second before nodding. “I’d appreciate that. I was not looking forward to visiting the manor.”
The Goblin frowned. “They were residing in Godric’s Hollow cottage.”
“What?” She asked, confused. “Why weren’t they at the manor? With you know who so active I’d have expected them to stay behind the family wards.”
“I do not know their minds. They refused our warding services for the cottage as well.”
Pepper frowned. “We’ll address this later but I have concerns.”
“Understandable.” Garax nodded, they waved a hand and a wooden box appeared on the deck. “Would you care to claim the crest now?”
She stared at the box before pulling it towards her, she pulled it into her lap and slowly opened it revealing the family crest. It was a simple shield shape like most crests, a triangle filled the middle of the crest with vines twisting around the lines of it. A wolf's head rest in the centre of the triangle, its mouth hung open and teeth sharp. She watched as the wolf panted, it’s eyes flashing gold as she ran her finger over its muzzle. She pulled the silver chain from the box before putting it over her head, the crest resting in line with her heart. She sighed as she felt the family magic wash over her, her eyes fluttered shut as she was reminded of the warmth of her Father’s hugs.
“Invigorating is it not?” Garax said.
Pepper nodded. “The will?”
“Ah yes. Relatively straightforward with some interesting information.” They said as they slid a sheet of parchment towards her. She took the parchment, noting the official Potter crest in wax in the corner as she started to read.
We, James Charlus Potter & Lily June Potter nee Evans, being of sound mind, body and magic hereby revoke all former Will and Testament and declare this our Last Will and Testament.
The executor of our Will is Virginia Elizabeth Potter (Potts), sister by blood to James and sister by magic to Lily. Should Virgina Elizabeth Potter (Potts) be unavailable, the secondary executor is Sirius Orion Black, 2nd cousin and bother by magic to James.
Our Bequeathments are:
The Cornwall cottage and attached lands are bequeathed to Remus John Lupin along with the sum of 100,000G. J: No you can’t return it to the estate. L: Just accept it Remus, we love you let us take care of you.
To Marlene McKinnon we leave James’ entire Quidditch collection bar a few sentimental pieces; Brooms, collectable shirts and trading cards.
The new central London muggle apartment and its contents is bequeathed to Sirius Orion Black. L: We know you have your own resources but we wanted you to have something that your parents wouldn’t dare touch. J: Don’t throw too many wild parties without me.
To Peter Pettigrew we leave a trust for the care of your mother in her illness as well as funds to purchase her and you a new house. However this is a conditional bequeathment. Peter Pettigrew is the secret keeper for Godric's Hollow, Sirius being a red herring. Should our deaths be caused by our location being sold out by Peter nothing will go to the Pettigrews. If our deaths were caused by some other manner the bequeathment stands.
Pepper kept reading over the bequeathment to Peter. “How did they die?” She whispered as she stared at the parchment.
Garax gripped their hands together as they looked at her. “Information is yet to be confirmed but our human staff have already brought rumours to the bank. It appears that Voledmort attacked the Potter’s in their home, killing James then Lily.”
“Harry?” She whispered desperately.
“The child lives thankfully. Magic bless him.” Garax said and kissed their finger before raising it to the sky in blessing. “Reportedly he defeated Voldemort though I struggle to understand how a child could defeat a grown man.”
She nodded to herself. “Pettigrew sold them out.”
“We believe so.”
She chewed on her lip before looking back to the goblin. “Who has Harry now? Sirius? Remus?”
Garax shook his head. “Sirius is said to have taken Harry from the nursery.” She nodded and took a deep breath, she was glad he was with his godfather. “However.” She tensed. “On Dumbledore’s orders the Hogwarts groundskeeper took Harry from his godfather and took him to Dumbledore.”
She clenched her hands into fists and nodded. “May we continue this meeting later? I need to find Sirius and retrieve Harry.”
Garax nodded. “As you wish Lady Potter. Everything will of course be kept discrete till you wish for it to be made public. Send a message with your elf when you are ready to meet again.”
“Thank you.” She said with a nod as she stood. Leaving the wooden box and will on the desk with the accounts manager.
*
Finding Sirius took little to no effort. She sent Clay, the head Potter family elf, to retrieve him from wherever he’d been. Sirius tumbled to the floor as he arrived vis elf, he scrambled to his feet as he looked around the town house.
“Why did you let Harry go to Dumbledore?” Pepper demanded of him.
“I needed to find Pettigrew.” He shouted.
“That’s not an excuse to leave your godson when his parents have just been killed.” She shouted back as she shoved his shoulders. “Did you find him?”
“No.” He growled as he breathed heavily through his nose. “The rat is slippery.”
She huffed. “Should’ve known by his animagus.”
“James was always very proud.” He whispered quietly.
“And you’re loyal to a fault.” She said softly with a smirk.
“I’ve missed you Gin.” He said softly as he wrapped his arms around her. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m sorry it has to be this way.”
“Me too.” She whispered against his chest. “I go by Pepper now.”
“Pepper? Why?” He asked, confused.
“In joke with the boss.” She whispered with a girn as she pulled back to look at him. “Because of the freckles.”
He wrinkled his nose. “Pepper? Really? I’d have gone with something star related. It’s like a reverse night sky.”
She snorted. “That’s because you’re a Black. You’re all obsessed with Stars.”
He huffed and rolled his eyes as he let go of her. She smiled and wiped under her eyes.
“I’ve already read the will.” She said softly as she stepped back. “There’s proof that Pettigrew was the secretkeeper. We publish it and the Arours will bring him in.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think that would work.”
She frowned. “In that case we get Harry back and take him to America. Britain can go fuck itself.”
Sirius snorted and rolled his eyes. “America has made you brutal.”
She laughed and shook her head. “No, that's what working for a fortune 500 CEO does to you.”