For Harry James Potter, nothing made sense. Voldemort, the monster that murdered his parents had somehow used him to return to a mortal body. He killed the Hogwarts Champion. And now this.
"What do you mean I am no longer a Hogwarts Student?" The conversation was dense but calm.
"You are no longer within the Book of Admittance. Therefore, we can no longer keep you as a student. We both know your Magic has done nothing but grow these last few days, however, I believe that the Magic of the Goblet has worked against the Magic of the book. You see, when the Quill of Acceptance feels Magic in a child it attempts to write their name in our Book. If, let's assume, the child was only mildly magical, the book would close, refusing until the child shows enough magical merit. No one knows what that point is, only that it exists. If the child chooses to go to an alternative school, their name is stricken from our book. In your case, it has simply vanished. Almost as though you were never meant to attend Hogwarts at all."
"That doesn't even make sense." Harry was beginning to tremble. He was losing the only place he had ever called home. "What am I supposed to do now then?"
"There are options, though no magical school will allow you in, or could if they wanted. There are a few places… Though, none as… pleasant as here."
Harry simply stared at his Headmaster, waiting for his options.
The old man sighed loudly. "The first option is one I advise heavily against, though you may like the thought of it. You can move in with Sirius and get training from him. Homeschooling, while not common, is also not unheard of in the Wizarding World. While Sirius was a good prankster and Auror, he was not the best student. Another option is the Veela Enclave in France. While Miss Delacour trains at the Beauxbatons, there is a small school for those that do not have quarter blood or less.
"The third option is one I recommend most as it would keep the Ministry from having anything to do with you, keeping you out of the spot light and keeping news of Voldemort far from the limelight. However, this school runs nearly non-stop until they believe you are ready. You will also not be allowed your Wand until they have approved of its use. Worse yet, I can nearly assure you that unless you prove yourself no others will be allowed to join you. I for one think you can learn far more from this group than any other as it is the furthest thing from the Ministries control and they teach far more classes than are taught here."
"And that option is?"
"The Goblins of Gringotts."
Harry stared at the Headmaster, his head swimming slightly at the notion of other schools and places to learn new and unusual Magic. "Why those choices?"
"Those are the only places not magically tied to the Quill. If your name is not chosen by the Quill, you cannot be admitted. As your name is no longer in the Book… I am sorry Harry, these are the best choices I can give you."
Slowly, Harry stood from his chair in Dumbledore's office, literally with a plaque with his name on it from all the time he didn't spend here. Harry ran his fingers over the plaque. "This chair… it's actually the bed from the Hospital Wing, yes?" Dumbledore nodded, curious to the boy's thoughts. "This school has been my only home in my entire memory." Harry pulled his Wand from his pocket and used it to carve a small set of Runes on the plaque. Something he had learned over the course of the year, learning for the Tournament. "No offense Professor, but I am taking this bed with me." He turned back to the Headmaster.
"It was a special purchase of the school for the most hospitalized student to walk these halls. It is yours to take." The elder Wizard chuckled as the boy put on a slightly lopsided smile, just like his father.
"With that decided… I have a real apology to make to you Professor, and to you Fawkes. This Wand has been my partner since I was eleven… and it has been a most faithful companion. However, I can feel its Darkness. I didn't know it before the Third Task, but seeing Voldemort come back… It changed things. Confirmed something I was suspicious of earlier in the year. You created a Horcrux. The same Magic that brought Voldemort back. You used Fawkes to do it. That is why my Wand had the presence of Darkness in it." Dumbledore sat in a mildly troubled silence. "It's okay Professor. I understand pain, and how it can be used. However, I have made my decision on where to go, which is why I must apologize to you both." Harry took his Wand in both hands and unceremoniously snapped it in half, killing the Magic of the Wand.
Dumbledore cried out softly in pain, while Fawkes did the same. A tear slowly travelled down Dumbledore's cheek. "Thank you, Harry. That needed to be done. What is it you have decided?"
"Goblins. As much as I love Sirius, I agree he probably isn't the best teacher. And France is to intertwined with the Ministries for me to want to go there, besides, I have a small immunity to the Allure of Veela but that many all in one place, even I doubt I could handle that. What is next?"
"I write a letter. Get on the Express, say your goodbyes to your friends. From there, if I can get my way, you may have a friend joining you at the Leaky by the end of the week to join you as the first humans to attend the Gringotts Academy." The Headmaster stood up, fearful of Harry's knowledge of the Horcruxes but trusting his student to do the right thing. He shook the boy's hand. "I will be seeing you Harry. Just not as much as I would like."
The two said their good nights, the Professor off to write a few letters and Harry to bed. He had a lot of explaining to do on the Express tomorrow.
"What do you mean Goblins? Why are you going there?"
"I don't really have a choice Ron. I cannot come back to Hogwarts; the Wards wouldn't accept me. Dumbledore was clear, I have but few options. I have to go there or not learn Magic."
"You could learn from Sirius." Ron nearly yelled, his hand flailing.
"Yes, Sirius, the man who nearly failed out of Hogwarts more than once."
The group went relatively silent. Neville sat in the corner, joining them as most of the train was full. Hermione talked next. "Well, if what Dumbledore said was true, you'll learn some impressive things while you are there. That should help against Voldemort."
The rest of the train ride was silent among the group. Even Draco had the decency to leave them alone for once. Harry got off the train, hugging Hermione, and surprisingly Ginny, goodbye while waving off a ride from Mr. Weasley.
As the boy walked out of the Platform, he nearly ran into Vernon, alone from the looks of it. "Ah, boy, good. Let's be off."
"Actually, Uncle Vernon, I have the opportunity for us both. Follow me." Harry led the now even more angry Vernon into a small sitting Chamber off to the side for slight privacy. He sat on one side, slightly gesturing Vernon to the other. "Uncle Vernon, we both know you don't want me back in your house, but you continue to let me enter, no matter what I have or have not done to you and your family. Why?"
Vernon got confused. "Petunia would kill me if I didn't." His words seemed sincere, but something was missing.
"You are being paid, aren't you?"
Vernon blubbered slightly.
"I know. It was something set up when I was dropped on your doorstep. You were paid to care for me but used it all for Dudley. I am not mad Vernon. After I got my letter it was easy to deduce. I am simply telling you that you will get paid half of that, and I will never step foot in YOUR house again. But, I will be buying Number Four from you. Cash. That is your payment, more than triple the house's worth. Oh, and you will give me a ride to the Leaky Cauldron. Deal?"
Vernon was salivating at the thought of the money. Sure, he would lose the income, but he was getting a promotion soon anyway, that would more than make up for it. "Deal." The two shook hands and left the Station.
Harry was dropped off to the Leaky Cauldron in late evening, a room had apparently been set up for him until Friday. He, with the guidance of Tom, found his room and went to settle in. On his pillow he found a note from Dumbledore, just as Hedwig landed on the windowsill.
Dear Harry,
Good news. You and a few other students, who have agreed to the transfer, were accepted by the Goblins. They, despite being apprehensive about this many, accepted you all with a bit of a payoff.
This is a big step to building an alliance with them in the War, though I do not know how any of their processes work. I wish for you to be careful. Plans changed slightly, instead of meeting your classmates at the Leaky, I have instructed everyone to meet at the Bank itself.
Be careful and stay in touch,
Albus
