Chpt. 2: Friend of his mother & Gringotts

Severus Snape had expected a spoilt, arrogant, little brat. He had expected the boy to look just like James Potter. He had expected to be able to hate him easily. Instead he found a young lad who despite his musculature was far too thin for someone his age. The boy was short and had long straight hair blacker than the feathers of a raven. His eyes were an exquisite emerald green, but they were clouded - he was blind. His clothes were six sizes too big for him. Severus immediately recognized all the symptoms of abuse and neglect. H rounded on the short, walrus of a man that had angrily stomped down the stairs upon the door's falling.

Severus spoke with fury dancing behind his pitch black eyes, "I am Professor Snape. I have come to give Harry Potter his letter of acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I will also escort him to collect his school supplies from Diagon Alley."

Vernon Dursley was a slow man, however, he quickly caught on to what the black-clad man before him was saying and sputtered, "You. You're one of those freaks. The boy will not be going; I won't pay for some crackpot old fools to teach him magic tricks."

Severus chuckled darkly, "How do you think the other 'freaks' will react to how you have treated the boy they consider their savior - their equivalent of Jesus Christ if you like."

Vernon sputtered some more until Harry quietly asked Severus, "Are you saying that not only am I a wizard, I am somehow a savior to other witches and wizards?"

Severus responded, "Yes, to both of your questions child. I can take you away from here and you can go to a school to control your magic, if you wish."

Harry immediately lept up and said excitedly, "Yes, thank you. Thank you so much."

Vernon seized this as an opportunity to attempt to retain control of the situation, "Now see here. The boy will be staying with.."

Severus raised his wand and there was a flash of red. Vernon fell unconscious, shaking the floor as he landed with a resounding 'thud'. Severus then turned to Harry and said, "Take my arm and we shall go collect your school supplies, among other things."

Harry took Severus' outstretched arm and then they were gone. Several moments later they arrived in Diagon Alley. Harry shook himself woozy and nauseous from apparition. He then turned to Severus and asked, "What was that, sir?"

Severus responded in his deep timbre, "That Mr. Potter was apparition. It is a method of transportation used by wizards. I apologize for not warning you ahead of time as the first time can be quite jarring."

Harry quietly replied, "It's ok, sir. I am over the nausea and was merely curious. We are now in Diagon Alley, sir?"

Severus said, "Yes, Mr. Potter we are now in Diagon Alley a shopping center for the wizarding community of Great Britain. We must first stop at the wizarding bank, Gringotts. Let me caution you, Gringotts is run by goblins. Goblins respect four things: gold, power, a fighter, and respect in return."

Harry replied, quietly once again, "Very well, Professor Snape."

Severus led Harry through the alley to the center, where Gringotts was located. He guided him through the huge double doors into the impressive marble building. The pair walked up to a teller goblin, but before Severus could speak Harry said, "Hail, noble goblin. I am Harry Potter and I would like to know what I have inherited from my parents."

The goblin gawked open-mouthed at the polite tone and respectful greeting from the boy. He noted how he carried himself like a swordsman, yet he was blind. The goblin spoke, "Young man I will need some of your blood to confirm your identity and perform the necessary inheritance test."

The goblin placed a Knife on the counter directly in front of Harry and said, "I have placed a ceremonial knife on the counter in front of you. Simply place five drops of blood on this sheet of parchment to the left of the knife." As he spoke the goblin had slid a sheet of parchment exactly to the left of the knife.

Harry picked up the proffered knife gingerly with his right and then held his left hand above the parchment. He drew the knife across his left palm quickly. Five drops of blood dripped from the cut onto the parchment with excruciating slowness. Nothing happened for a moment; then the blood began to sizzle on the parchment. After several moments fine calligraphy appeared in blood-red ink upon the parchment. The goblin lifted the parchment and began to scan it. He stopped after several seconds and stared shocked at Harry.

The goblin stood, then spoke quietly to Severus and Harry, "Gentlemen, if you would follow me this way. We must discuss something in private."

Harry and Severus followed the goblin behind the counter and down a dully lit corridor. They soon arrived at a pair of huge double doors made of carved mahogany with finely wrought bronze rings to open the huge doors (huge for a goblin or a small child not so much for a normal sized human or a tall man such as Severus). The goblin rapped upon the door thrice, then entered. Severus and Harry heard a quiet conversation go on inside from behind the closed doors. After several minutes of waiting Severus was beginning to become impatient, despite his outward appearance of nonchalance. Finally, the goblin returned to the pair and addressed them both, "Now sirs, you may enter. Lord Ragnok is waiting for you."

Severus' jaw dropped audibly. They were meeting with the king of the illustrious goblin nation and the director of Gringotts bank. He steeled himself and snatched Harry's hand. The two strode through the double doors. The room was richly decorated with a fine carpet, mahogany walls, and a magnificent desk of superior english oak. There was a tall elegantly dressed older goblin seated at the desk in a tall chair lined with velvet. The goblin king rose to greet them.

"Greetings, gentlemen. I am Ragnok Gringott, director of Gringotts bank and king of the goblin nation. I would like to discuss your inheritance with you personally Mr. Potter," Ragnok said in a richly accented voice.

"May I ask what is so special about my inheritance that attracted your personal attention, Lord Ragnok?" Harry queried respectfully.

"The results of your inheritance test are quite intriguing, young one. Please sit and I will explain everything," Ragnok said.

Severus and Harry seated themselves in two comfortable-looking leather-lined chairs before Ragnok's desk. They looked at him expectantly (well Severus looked at him expectantly, Harry just looked at him blankly with his unseeing eyes). Ragnok set the parchment on the desk and Severus glanced over it. He too was shocked and intrigued.

Ragnok asked Harry with sincerity, "Mr. Potter would you like me to simply read what is on the test to you and then explain anything else you feel compelled to ask about?"

Harry replied quietly, "I do believe that would be for the best, your majesty."

Ragnok took a deep breath and began to speak, "Full name: Harald James Salazar Potter-Black. Father: James Charlus Potter (status:pureblood;inhabited at time of conception by Cernunnos). Father: Sirius Orion Black (status:pureblood;inhabited at time of conception by Arawn). Mother: Liliana Aurora Slytherin (status:pureblood). Heir to (by blood and magic): the ancient and most noble celtic house of Potter, the ancient and most noble celtic house of Black, the ancient and most noble celtic house of Bones, the ancient and most noble celtic house of Peverell, the ancient and most noble celtic house of Gryffindor, the ancient and most noble celtic house of Slytherin, the ancient and most noble celtic house of Le Fay, the ancient and most noble celtic house of Emrys, and the ancient and most noble celtic house of Pendragon. Magical abilities: parseltongue, dragonlord, storm atronach."

"What is the relevance of my status as a pureblood? Why is it significant that I am the heir of all those families?" Harry asked.

Ragnok replied, "The relevance of your pureblood status is minimal, however, many in the wizarding world believed your mother to be muggleborn. The significance of your heirship to those houses in particular is this -they are nine of the twelve ancient and most noble celtic houses. Those houses are the highest ranked houses of nobility in the wizarding world. You basically have the power to do just about anything you wish, because you are virtually the highest authority in this world. The significance to me personally is that this makes you our most influential and wealthy client. It also makes you the de facto ruler of the wizarding world."

Harry asked in a strong voice as he was now much more confident than frightened of the powerful goblin king, "Can I claim lordship of all these houses, Lord Ragnok? Must I wait until I reach a certain age?"

Ragnok responded, "You can claim the lordships of these houses now if you so desired. Be aware, doing so would emancipate you; therefore you would be required to fulfill any obligatory contracts for your houses."

Harry stated calmly, "I would like to claim the lordships of my houses Lord Ragnok."

Ragnok called for a goblin to bring the head of house rings for Harry's families. He then explained to Harry that he must place each ring on his finger to claim the lordships. Harry placed each ring of lordship upon a different finger. After each ring was placed on a finger there was a flash of magical light. This signified the magic of the house accepting Harry as the lord and head of house. After he was done, Ragnok handed him a simple, thin gold chain upon which to hang the pendragon ring.

Ragnok then looked to Harry and said, "Now we must discuss the marriage contracts, alliances, and debts owed your houses."

Sorry for taking so long to update, finals and all. Please read and review.