A/N: I have no idea where I'm going with this story, except that it will be a Harry/Traci Davis story. The other thing I've done is to simplify the Goblin names. I got tired of trying to think of new names for them (Stares at Squirrels, Eats Belly Button Lint, Scares Small Children), why can't their non Goblin names be something more normal. Anyway, please read and review, you know we live and die at your whim.
HarrPotterismygodhahahaonlyjokingbutmagicisreallyreal
Harry sat on the edge of his bed, in the smallest bedroom at #4 Privet Dr., and stared at the clock on the bed's side table. 11:59.57, .58, .59, 12:00 am, July 31. "Happy 16th Birthday to me", Harry stated only for is own benefit as there was not another soul in the room to overhear him. This was not the first Birthday he'd spent alone, however it had been the first time he'd ever been looking forward too it.
Harry was depressed as Sirius, the reason he'd been looking forward to his Birthday in the first place, had fallen through the "Vail of Death" several months ago at the ill named Battle in the D.O.M. (Department of Mysteries).
He was brought out of his musings by a startling "pop" and the appearance of a glowing letter bearing the Gringotts symbol on his desk against the far wall. Cautiously Harry broke the seal and began reading.
Mr. Potter,
As you have not answered any of our previous owls, we have resorted to a summons keyed to your specific magic. As per the late Sirius Blacks Last Will and Testament, you are being informed of the pre-reading to take place at 11:00 am this morning. Failure to appear is an immediate forfeiture of all rights and bequests.
Inside the envelope, aside from this letter, you will find a blank signet ring, please place this on your left pinkie finger as it is a permanent portkey timed, for the first use only, to bring you to the meeting room at 10:50 am. The ring is charmed to be invisible once worn and will now work as your own personal transport to and from your accountants outer office (activation phrase "Money Managed). I am looking forward to our continued working together as your Accounts Manager,
Dave,
Accounts Manager, Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black
By 10:30 am Harry had showered and was in his dress robes, minus the cape as it seemed a touch pretentious, awaiting the activation of the portkey. At 10:49 am Harry felt the tug behind his navel and braced himself for his arrival at the bank. Harry did not disappoint himself and arrived in the office of Dave in his normal manner, sprawled all over the floor. Harry muttered to himself, "There has GOT to be a better way for Wizards to get from point "A" to point"B". He brushed off what little dirt had gotten on him in his fall, straightened out his robes and looked around for Dave.
Dave had watched the arrival of Harry Potter with an inner amusement and waited for him to straighten up before approaching him and introducing himself. "Mr. Potter, I am Dave, now if you will take a seat I will proceed with the reading of Sirius's Will and how it pertains to you". Harry took a seat across the desk from the Goblin, and watched as he placed a softly glowing orb (about the size of a baseball) on the desk between them. It pulsed several times and an image of Sirius's head appeared floating in front of Harry.
"Harry,
Glad to see that you could make it, though I'm sure my "friend" Dave didn't give you much of a choice". Turning his head slightly, "Thank you Dave". Sirius turned his head back to Harry, "I'll keep this as short as I can, I know I do not have long on this earth, and don't make that face. Whatever happens to me, hopefully a threesome with a pair of circus twins or saving the world once again, know that it was not your fault, it was simply my time to go.
Now on to the good stuff, I have named you as the next Lord Black of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. I can do this as your Great Grandmother was Dorea Black, and do we really want Draco Malfoy to inherit the title if you don't want it?
I was also going to have you declared an adult, but Dumbledore and the Ministry seem to have beaten me to the punch, Dave will explain it to you in a moment.
Finally, Harry, be your own man, I know this sound rather strange but there are things I'm not allowed to say to you. Just think about what has happened in your life and in the end live it the best way you see fit. Know that I love you and will be giving your parents hugs from you.
Your Dog-father, Sirius Black"
Dave gave Harry a couple of minutes to compose himself before continuing, "Sirius was correct, with your involvement in the Tri-Wizard Tournament and the Ministries insistence that "of age" wizards and witches be the only competitors, they effectively made you an adult then and there. There is a Time Out Clause, that if the proper paper work is not signed by you within the next six hours you will revert back to needing a Guardian as you will be considered a minor again".
As Dave was speaking he had begun to slide several parchments towards Harry, "These are the parchments that need your signature," he paused briefly as Harry read the parchments and hurriedly sign. Dave took the parchments, rolled them up and stuck them in a hole in the wall. "Well, that's that, your emancipation is now filed with Gringotts, and will be filed with the Ministry by noon today".
"Here is your Head of House ring along with a list of properties that you may now live at. Simply touch the stone in the ring and say the name of the property and it will take you there. Your ring will also act as your key to your vaults (that and a small portion of blood), you will also be provided with a Gringotts/Barclay's debit card and a money pouch linked to your accounts where all you need do is think about how much you need and in what currency and it will appear in the pouch. Now if there's nothing else, our business is concluded for the day.
May your gold flow like a mighty river and your enemies dance merrily at the end of your sword Lord Black".
As Harry stood to leave, there was a knock on the door and another goblin entered and began to speak to Dave in gobbledygook. "Lord Black, if you could be so kind, our Directer has asked for some of your time today". Harry was stunned, he knew he wasn't that old but he had never heard of any witch or wizard (not Fudge, or even Dumbledore) that had been asked to meet with the Directer of Gringotts.
He gulped quickly and replied "Of course Dave if the Directer wishes to speak to me would now be to soon"? Dave smiled (most people only saw a Goblin smile right before the Axe removed their heads from the rest of their bodies), "If you would follow Timothy here, he will take you to the Director's office".
Timothy led him in silence to an ornately carved double door, it seemed to be carved right out of the stone itself and was seamless to the point that if the four fully armed and armored guards were not standing there you would think it only another exquisite Gringotts mural. Speaking quickly to the Head Guard Timothy waved his hand in a complicated gesture and the doors swung open. Harry followed him inside and as they approached the large desk an older goblin rose to meet them.
Harry didn't know if there was an enchantment on the room or if he was simply mirroring Timothy, but as the older goblin got closer both he and Timothy went to one knee and averted their eyes from the Goblin before them. "Arise, both of you and know that you are among friends. Timothy, please return to your work as Lord Black and I have some items to discuss".
Harry rose and spoke, "Harry, sir, please just call me Harry. This Lord Black business is still new to me and until I can understand what it entails I'd be much happier if you would just call me Harry". "Then it's Ralph for me. Harry, it seems you take after your parents after all, they wouldn't let me call them anything but James and Lily".
"Now that you're an official adult, we can bypass the seal put on your parents will".
Harry was flabbergasted, he had known about his Trust Vault and since that seemed to have more gold in it than he'd ever use, and nobody had told him anything different, he'd just assumed that was what had been left to him by his parents. As Ragnok spoke he placed an orb similar to the one for Sirius on the table, as one James and Lily spoke to Harry for the first time in his memory.
"Harry,
If you are listening to this other than in old age, then we have failed you and have been killed". His Father continued from here, "Hopefully you didn't cause to much trouble for the Longbottoms, you and Neville always seemed to get on so well together. Hopefully neither Sirius or Remus have taught the two of you to many Marauder secrets and the manor still stands.
Anyway, we'll be going into hiding soon at the urging of Albus", "something I not happy about, I'm sure there are stronger protections on the Manor than in Albus's family home in the Hollow". Harry heard his Mother interject. "Now Lily, if he says we'll be safe there than we'll be safe, anyway, shouldn't we be talking to Harry now"?
James continued speaking, "Everything we own is now yours, monies, properties, business's, all of it is now yours Lord Harry James Potter of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter".
"Depending on when you hear this you can assume the Head of House as early as eleven, all you'd need to do would be to name your proxie for your Wizengomot seats (you have four). If you team up with Sirius (four), the Longbottoms (3) and Bones (3) that would give you a Voting Bloc and give all of you a say in new laws under consideration".
Lily cut in at this point, "Harry, don't get so caught up in politics that you forget to have any fun, I want you to do well in school but still have fun.
I'm sorry Harry if we weren't there to see you off to school on the first day. That we missed your first Quidditch game. I'm really upset I wasn't there to embarrass you when you brought your first girlfriend home to meet us. Remember Harry, your father and I love you very much and will always be looking out for you. Don't wallow in the past, look forward and seize every opportunity as if it's your last, until we're a family again Harry, We Love You Son"!
In a voice weak from crying Harry said, "Ralph, why am I just hearing this now? Why did it take five years for me to hear the Will of my parents, and why was I placed with my Aunt and Uncle. It seems that my parents wanted either Neville's parents or Sirius to raise me".
As Ralph began to explain to Harry that Albus Dumbledore was Harry magical guardian and had sealed the Potter will and had tried to do the same to the Black will. Albus had also been the one to place him within his Aunts house, saying that you would have more protection with your loving, Mundane, relatives than a hero obsessed Magical family.
Right about then was when every alarm went off and the bank went into "Shut Down" mode. All the windows in the lobby were replaced with stone and a fifty ton stone slab covered the entrance as armed Goblins poured into the lobby from every direction.
Ralph touched several runes on his desk and one entire wall acted as a video monitor showing them the lobby and what was happening there. It looked like around thirty Death Eaters had stormed the bank and were throwing spells at staff and patrons. When Harry saw several children get hit with various spells his anger got the better of him and he asked Ralph, "Director, what's the fastest way to the surface, I need to help".
Ralph touched more runes and a door appeared in the middle of the video wall. "Lord Potter-Black, this door opens directly into the lobby". Harry nodded and ran to the door with his wand drawn. Opening the door, Harry was struck with a Reducto to his wand, shattering his wand and throwing him across the room into the far wall.
Harry stared transfixed at his now broken wand before looking for another weapon to join the fray. Spotting a pair of crossed battle axes on the wall above him, he reached for one and as his fingers encircled the shaft a brilliant beam of white light lit up the office.
From Ralph's viewpoint several things happened in a few milliseconds of time. First was a silver glow that enveloped Harry and the Axe, next Harry grew six inches and put on twenty pounds of muscle. He then screamed as his scar burst open and a black mist seemed to attempt to escape only to be encompassed and destroyed by the silver mist. As quickly as it had started it was over and Harry was back on his feet charging the door once again.
A mother and two daughters watched helplessly as the Patriarch of the family was stunned before he was able to cast a shield in defense, now as three Death Eaters approached they heard a battle cry and a figure burst through a nearby door. Witnesses would later claim the figure, that belonged to the battle cry, spun three times in the air before landing and cleaving a DE in half from head to toe. He then spun to the left and buried the ax head in the chest of a second DE, before reversing his action and decapitating the third DE.
Just that quickly the fighting stopped and Healers started Flooing in from St. Mungos to treat the Humans, while Goblin healers looked after the Nation. Thirty minutes later, when the bank came off lock-down, a team of Aurors led by Madame Bones and followed closely by Minister Fudge and Albus Dumbledore entered the carnage that had once been the lobby of Gringotts Bank.
The enemies dead (all 31 marked and masked Death Eaters) were stacked like so much cord wood in the middle of the lobby. Each body had it's forearm revealed showing the "mark" and a mask. On the left the Healers from St; Mungo's were treating witches and wizards, of those there were 17 wounded and 2 dead. On the right, the Goblins were treating their own, which included 3 non-seriously wounded and 0 dead, and this is where a surprised Albus Dumbledore found a blood covered, ax wielding, Dragon Fire Whiskey drinking Harry Potter.
Making his way directly to Harry, Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Harry, my boy, I have no idea why you are here, but this is the reason you are not allowed to leave your Aunts house this summer".
Harry almost looked amused as he took the Headmasters hand in his and quickly flipped him through the air to land on his back at Harry's feet. In perfect Gobbledygook Harry responded, "Wizard, I don't know you and my name is Frank", all the other goblins cheered at hearing this, "I do not answer to your kind, and certainly do not follow you". To punctuate this statement Frank buried his ax four inches deep next to the aged wizards head.
Before things could escalate further, Director Ragnok stepped in and assisting Dumbledore up said he might be of some help. Director Ragnok stepped up to Frank and placing a hand on each shoulder looked into Harry's eyes. "My Brother, you fought well today, you honor your Clan, you honor your Brothers, but most of all you honor the Nation. Let me take your battle ax and put it in a place of honor for your skill and courage in battle today".
Frank/Harry dropped to one knee and bowed his head, "My King, I did nothing my Brothers did not also do, however if that is your wish than I can do nothing but comply". With that he handed the ax to Ragnok and promptly passed out bringing more cheers and laughter from the assembled goblins.
July 31st was a day that Tracie Davis would never forget, they had gone to Gringotts to get some money for school supplies. Her family had just entered the bank when the Death Eaters started throwing curses around. Before her father could put up a shield he had been grazed in the side of the head by a Reducto, knocking him out.
As three Death Eaters approached her family, she heard a yell and saw a figure she assumed was a goblin warrior sail through the air and in a matter of moments kill the three men threatening her and her family (they were later identified as Thomas Avery, Theodore Knott Sr. and Paul Parkinson). It was only when he turned and she was about to thank him that she noticed their savor was none other than The Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived.
When Harry finally awoke, he found himself in the goblin hospital deep under Gringotts. He heard (from an attendant) that there had been an argument between Director Ragnok and Dumbledore about who would care for Harry, Director Ragnok had won saying that Harry had fought like a Goblin and thus should be cared for like a Goblin, also they were on Goblin soil and what The Director said was law.
He had been out for four days and awake for two now when he finally had a visitor he knew. Timothy came into his ward and asked if he felt strong enough to speak about what happened with the Director. Of course Harry would see the Director and followed Timothy to Ralph's office. Upon entering he waited until the Director sat before taking the seat opposite him. After exchanging pleasantries, Ralph explained what, they believe, happened to Harry and the end result of the attack of Gringotts.
"It appears that when your wand was destroyed and you grabbed the ax it activated Ancient Goblin Magics that purged your body of any damage and fixed what was wrong. You are now taller and stronger than when you first entered the bank. You have been imbued with the tiniest of Goblin spirits (if nothing else you now speak and understand the Goblin language, I've been speaking it since you entered) and are now the owner of War Blade. I had it transfigured into a duplicate of your old wand, minus the core, because the blade is Mithral, that is your new core material. To turn it back into War Blade you have only to think about it becoming the ax. What all you'll be able to do with it only you can discover".
"It also seems to have purged a bit of Voldemort's soul that had attached itself to you through your scar. One of our curse breakers would have been able to remove it from your scar much sooner had anyone bothered to inform or ask us about it. It appears that Dumbledore has done you a great disservice by withholding valuable information from you".
"Every time I would ask him why I had to do something, return to my Aunts, or why Voldemort wanted me dead, he would just say that the time wasn't right or that it was for my protection and the "Greater Good". It wasn't until Sirius died that he told me of the prophecy, and that I had to kill Voldemort or he had to kill me". Harry said with disgust in his voice.
"We know about the prophecy Harry, in fact most Sentient Races feel that it was fulfilled the night of your second Halloween when you destroyed the Dark Lord as an infant. Once again, Albus interpreted it his own way and has been trying to make it play to his end game, why we will probably never know". Harry knew that going forward he would have to be very leery of anything the Headmaster wanted of him.