The Disappearance of the Boy-Who-Lived \\\\*~{( AN )}~*/ Disclaimer -
They all fully belong to J.K. Rowling and her affiliates.
Update 2016-05-05: Removed some thing, added some things, and fixed some errors.
Update 2016-05-13: Rewrote the tattoo bit a little. While resisting the urge to add additional tattoos to the arms and legs. Felt it might have been to much, what do you think? I can do it you want, was thinking some in the lines of some cool black tribal tattoos. But wasn't sure, and didn't want o overdo it. Plz PM or leave review on your thought on the subject.
Update 2017-05-06: Fixed minor errors.
Update 2018-03-11: Rewritten some part here and there, and removed others.
\\\\*~{( AN )}~*/ Chapter 2 - Consequences
Several hours after Harry had taken off towards London, as the first rays of light crested over the horizon they found themselves falling across the slumbering town of Little Whinging slowly illuminating its suburban streets, as a peg-leg softly hit one of the side-walks with a even tempo. The figure the leg belonged too, was strolling casually down the neighbourhood of Privet Drive, past a number of boring, boxy houses as the first rays of the new day began to reach across them. This figure was Alastor Moody.
Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody was a tough, one-legged, battle-worn and retired master auror. He served with distinction during the first war, gaining a considerable reputation, as well as losing an eye, leg, and part of his nose under that duty. As a result, he became overly-cautious and paranoid about his security. He was said to be responsible for placing half of the inmates in Azkaban there. When Dumbeldore reformed the Order of the Phoenix after Voldemort revival he had been amongst the first to rejoin.
He quickly spotted the order member sent to over Number 4. Moody mutter in anger as he sees that the person in question is sound asleep.
Moody walked up to the sleeping guard and kicked him in the side. "Get up you lump."
"Wha… Moody?" the man said nervously, "What're you doing here?"
"Wondering why you're sleeping while still on duty," Moody replied with a dangerous leer, as his narrowed. "Care to explain yourself?"
"I usually work nights," the man said defensively, "and since there was a long meeting yesterday, I haven't been able to get much sleep… I was only resting my eyes for a minute."
"Where's Potter," Moody glanced up at the second floor. "I don't see him in the house."
"He must have gone for a walk or something," the man said nervously. "He should be back soon."
"I'm going to take a look around the neighbourhood," Moody announced. "You stay here and stay awake in case he gets back while I'm gone."
"But it's the end of my shift," the man protested.
"And you'll stay here till we find Potter or you'll answer to me," Moody growled. "Understand?"
"Y… yes," the man said quickly.
"Good."
\\\\*~{(II)}~*/
Dread.
It's not a feeling that many love, seeing as when it slowly spreads through your body, starting from your heart dropping down into your stomach, with a numb feeling spreading from the wrists, shooting through your arms and into your chest like a flying knife, can sometimes make others lose their appetite, or even their lunch with more delicate people.
But it was all Albus could feel when I when heard that Harry had gone missing during the previous night. Closing his eyes, as he pinched the bridge of his nose, trying clear his mind from panic he could fell trying to well up in him. This was not good, not good at all, something need to be done about the situation, and quickly, but what?
As soon as he heard was had happened he had immediately sent out all available order members to search through the neighbourhood of Privet Drive with fine toothed comb. But all that was found out from that was Harry had escaped under the cover of the night. The only things that were missing from Harry's room (expect for his trunk, wand, broom and cloak) was the album with photos of his parents, the Marauders map, and the mirror Sirius had given him for his birthday this year. Sirius had tried use the mirror to contact him but to no avail.
\\\\*~{(II)}~*/
Auror Nymphadora Tonks was rather confused, not a new feeling to be sure but it was a stranger to her while on duty. Usually there were precedents, procedures and her training to fall back upon but nothing had really prepared her for this situation.
She sat quietly at her desk at the Auror Headquarters contemplating what to do, with what she had found out. She had been the one to gather up the remains after performing the Identification spell, confirming that it was indeed Harry James Potter they were dealing with. With the additional evidence of Potter's broken wand, identified by Mr Ollivander, no one had questioned her findings.
Of course she knew all the tricks when it came to tampering with evidence. Anyone who cast the standard identification spell on that pile of half minced cow would find that it was indeed Harry Potter. And the Dark Mark hanging above the Alley would give them a legitimate reason to investigate and crack down on any former Death Eaters.
She knew very well that she could lose her job over this, maybe even go to Azkaban, but she really wanted to respect the boys wishes. She couldn't blame him for wanting to disappear, with how the wizarding world in general had treated him, his relatives were even worse. Recalling her meeting with the Dursleys and how Dumbeldore were insistent that this was best place for him, and after talking it over with both Moody and her boss, Amelia Bones, her mind was made up and she made her decision.
"Wherever you are, Harry, I hope you are having the time of your life. I hope it was worth it," she whispered quietly to herself, as she went to file her report and then flooed to Hogwarts to relay the news to the Order.
\\\\*~{(II)}~*/
Albus Dumbeldore reclined back in his comfortable office chair sucking on some lemon drops. Although he seemed to be relaxing, he actually was considering where his his missing student might be. Closing his eyes, he felt the weight of his many years and silently asked himself how things could have come to this.
Today Albus had come as close to panicking as anyone had ever seen him. As soon he had found out young Harry was missing, he immediately had the entire Order out looking for him, checking all the places they could think of. But Harry had still managed to somehow remain hidden. He had been afraid that this might happened some day. While he knew that things weren't exactly perfect at Dursleys, it was still the most safe place he could think of for the boy.
But after the dementor attack in Little Whinging, Albus knew that Harry were no longer safe at the Dursleys, and it seemed Harry agreed on that, and had run away. He still didn't know who had sent the dementors, while he suspected Voldemort or maybe one of his followers, he wasn't quite sure...
Suddenly his fireplace flared up and a face appeared. It was a very distressed Nymphadora Tonks who appeared and asked if she could pass through to the his office. Dumbeldore quickly granted her access and second later the young auror tumbled out the fireplace.
After dusting of her clothes, Tonks eyes looked sadly over the headmaster for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh. "Headmaster, I have some news regarding Harry. We have found him, but we were too late. By time we found him he had been attacked by Death Eaters"
Albus went rigid Tonks' words coming to him as though from a great distance. He had no idea how long he sat there in his office, just starring at the young woman before him, while his mind was trying to figure out what she had just said.
"Excuse me, what did you say?"
"Harry Potter died in an Death Eater ambush as he walked out of Gringotts today..."
For a time his mind simply attempted to digest the words, to understand them. His mind began slowly to piece itself back together one scrap at a time until the whole horrible truth it depicted was placed before his eyes. And then it proceeded to shut down as the old headmaster blacked out.
\\\\*~{(II)}~*/
Tom Marvoloo Riddle a.k.a. Voldemort, self-proclaimed lord, the scourge of magical Britain, and all around evil bastard. Years ago as Tom Riddle he had nothing, no breeding, money or political power, yet he had charmed, coaxed and cajoled his way to the very top. Then as Lord Voldemort had been only a whisker away from having it all, only for the prize to be snatched away that one Halloween. But now he was unsure how to interpret the latest bit of news he had just been given. Supposedly Harry Potter was killed in an ambush staged by his Death Eaters earlier today.
While the Potter was thorn to his side that he would be glad to be rid of, it was not that that was the problem. It was that Potter was killed by Death Eaters, whether this was true or not it would draw undue attention to himself, especially since his plan had been lay low while he gathered his forces once again. He would get to the bottom of this, and if some of his followers where responsible they would pay. Another thing was when Potter was supposedly killed, his body had thrown a fit. He had been thrashing and convulsing. His entire body had ached and been sore like never before. His had been throat hoarse from his constant scream of agony. He had felt very weak, but he had determinedly hanged on.
He knew of only one person that could make him be in this kind of agony. It had to be Potter, but how had Potter incited so much pain upon him was the question?
\\\\*~{(II)}~*/
The following day as the sun was shining in through the narrow window, Ginny awakened slowly, stretching like a cat. She felt content and happy. She'd had the best dream last night, while she couldn't remember it very well at all but she knew it had been fantastic.
Number Twelve Grimmauld Place was in a one word, grim. That had been Ginny's first thought when the entire Weasley family had been relocated there for "safety purposes," and it hadn't changed much, not even with all the cleaning that they had been doing lately.
"Ginny, Hermione." The girl turned to survey the one who had said her name, as well as she looking around the room she was sharing with Hermione. "Are you up?"
"I'm up," Ginny replied sleepily with a yawn, stretching her spine, while Hermione just stirred in her bed.
Sirius crossed his arm and leaned against the threshold, canting his head slightly to the side in a dog-like manner. "Good, then wake up Hermione. You've been requested downstairs."
When they arrived downstairs, they saw that Ginny's brothers were already there along with several members of the Order, who stared at the children with penetrating gazes, the air tense and heavy. As Ginny and Hermione sat down, her twin brothers spoke up.
"Whatever it is we didn't do it."
"Don't worry boys, your are not in any trouble," Mr. Weasley said.
"So, what's this all about?" Ron asked.
"We have bad news to tell you," Remus said carefully, "As you may be aware of Harry ran away from home some time ago..."
Ginny felt her good mood from waking up disperse quickly as she listened to the werewolf, and she got a feeling in her gut that would soon get worse, much worse.
\\\\*~{(II)}~*/
A few days later, beneath Gringotts, it had been decided that Harry would be stay in the infirmary's secure wing until it was time for his will reading. But that didn't mean that Harry took it easy because of it, no on the contrary, after getting over the initial shock and embarrassment of now being a girl. He discovered memories that clearly wasn't his own, after talking to the goblins about them, it was concluded his venture had been quite successful as they had found he had gained most of Voldemort's memories up until that Halloween night. It was through exploring these memories Harry had found out about Voldemort's horcruxes.
What they were, how he had found, where he had hid them, along with what protected them. Then when goblins had confirmed that they had found a horcrux in Lestrange vault, matching the description Harry had given them. Harry gave everything he about the other horcruxes he Voldemort had created. He gave them all knowledge he had about where they where, what kinds of traps they could expect, how they where protected, and any other charms or curses that had been cast over them.
The only conundrum that had been when found was when someone already switched out a locket, that once belonged to Salazar Slytherin, which words saying they would destroy it, only signing the note with R.A.B. That been mildly annoying, since they had need to dedicated some forces to track this R.A.B person to confirm if he or she had managed to destroyed the locket or not. While they had yet found the locket, they now thought they had a concrete idea who this R.A.B. Person was, along with a probable location. Although another thing that Voldemort's memories had showed him was that the self-proclaimed dark lord had planned to make more horcruxes, but if gone he through with this plan he didn't know or not.
Amongst the first things that Harry had done while he was still trapped in the infirmary was getting himself a whole new wardrobe, while throwing his old one away. Since they had already been a bad fit, that were several sizes too large to begin with, now with his much smaller frame new clothes became a necessity. He did this by paying one of the goblin tailor for their services, so that all of his new clothes were specifically tailored and made to measure to his new body, while he still preferred boy clothes over girl clothes, he resigned to that in the underwear department as it really couldn't be help.
Some of the the fabric was used was made of tightly weaved unicorn hair, making it amazingly strong and surprisingly resilient. Along with quite lightweight, luxurious and heavenly soft. It had a shiny sheen and were very smooth, and breathe unlike other fabrics. But the best part of it was, at least in his opinion, was that it was almost completely resistant to most kind of magic.
He knew it mostly used to for cores in wands, as bandages, and as an ingredient to some potions, so he had thought why not use it in clothes as well. But apparently didn't make very good armour, while it were unaffected by most charms or transfiguration, it still had same weaknesses as any cloth. It still could easy be ripped apart, pierced, burned, shredded, etc. etc. Even if it was tougher and more robust than most textiles, it was still far from being useful as any practical armour. One of the 'bad' side-effect of it being resistant to magic was he could outgrow it, as any automatic resizing charm cast on it would not stick, nor would any charms to make more comfortable or fit it better, unless they were quite overcharged of course.
Another thing was that it had to be cleaned without using any of magic, as it would resist any and all attempts of doing so. It also resisted all attempts of being dyed, at least by witches and wizards who grown accustomed to mostly using colour change charms for such things. That along with that it was mostly made out of unicorn hair, made it quite expensive. Which was the main reason why so very few people ever used it in clothes, and why Harry only used it for his new underwear.
But he didn't buy the hair he need from the market in the Alley though, as he had remember seeing a bundles of hair hanging down from the rafters of Hagrid's hut. So he instead had contact Hagrid and struck a deal with him, and then gotten someone else to weave into a cloth for him, that the tailor could use. Not only did he save some money doing it that way, but some other buyers also got interested in what other things Hagrid had found in the forest. He had heard he had gotten a quite nice profit from some of the acromantula thread he brought from Aragog's nest.
Another thing Harry had realised while being confined in the infirmary, was that he would never get far in fight with just his wand. So he had started to research others things that could help him in a pinch. Thus he started a new training regime, he mostly trained in occlumency and martial arts, but also in anything he thought could give him an edge. As he now knew there was a prophecy about him and Voldemort, if it were a real one he didn't know. Even if wasn't a real one, as long as someone as believed in it, and acted on it from that belief, it would become one. As that was the nature of all self-fulfilling prophecys.
While most wizards and witches did not bother to learn any hand to hand combat preferring to rely completely on their wands and magic. Along with that most purebloods were inherently lazy, as they would rather use their magic or call on a house elf to accomplish most tasks, then doing it for themselves. So in any kind of prolonged fight the person with higher fitness levels would give them a major advantage. That along with that Death eaters were mostly used to their victims either fleeing or freezing through fear. If someone overcome that intimidation and actually fought back it would soon become obvious that the most of them were not that powerful or skilful. As didn't take lots of magical power or skill to torture and murder muggles, especially when your favourite curses are the unforgivables. This was the largest weakness Harry had found in almost all witch and wizards. They relied way too heavily on their magic, most of the time, take away their magic and they would as helpless as children.
Harry also paid the goblins handsomely to make some custom orders. The first were a chainmail choker detailed with a filigree heart locket to the front. Which actually was a fully functional padlock, with the keyhole hidden inside the locket. One need to remove locket to take off the choker. It had the purpose to serve as an suppression seal, making look like his magical core was little below average, as long as he wore the choker. As it now was more then twice as big as it had been before. The goblins had explained this by telling him that the magical core was just like a muscle, and like any other muscles it could be trained. Having Voldemort's soul piece constantly draining his core for almost fourteen years, had really made wonders to for his magical core growth.
Although what he had time doing was crafting himself a whole new identity and along background, and so Sara Saionji had been born. She was a half-blood of mixed descent, daughter of Keith Saionji and Layla Saionji. Keith Saionji was a minor pure blood from outside Britain, that had distant blood ties to the Potter Family through a squib. On the other hand Layla Saionji was muggleborn from a separate country. They were pair of travelling researcher, that meet that had meet each other while in school, were they had become fast friends and years later something much more. Sara had been born abroad as her parents had travelled around the world, but they now had decided to permanently live in UK, and were sending their daughter to Hogwarts, so they'll be free to travel for business and stuff.
Once Harry's new identity and background was solid, he sent an owl to Hogwarts requesting a transfer into their fifth year. He made the excuse that since Sara been home schooled all her life, her parents estimated her education would be that around fifth year. Harry had also decided that as Sara, he would take Ancient Runes and Arithmancy as electives, while he himself had never studied them, before but Tom Riddle had. So Harry was confident that with the knowledge of Tom Riddle in his head he shouldn't have to many troubles with them.
As he was done with that, he looked over the various businesses that Potters owned, as well as looking for somewhere to live. There were place in particular that caught his eye, it was an ancient keep, outside the coast of Ireland, called the Griffin's Nest. According to the papers, the keep was located on a solitary cliff out in the sea. It seemed like no had lived there for over a hundred years. It was perfect for his purposes, all that was left was the cleaning and to have someone look over wards.
Another one Harry projects, had taken much time, and way more effort and money than any of his others had. It had taken him lots of fast talking and debating, and even more money, along with many promises and sworn oaths, on both his name, his blood, his honour, his magic, his life, and his soul, to get goblins to even allow him work on it, much less help him with it, but results was extraordinary.
He managed to get a heavily warded high-security vault deep below Gringotts, it even had a pair of dragons as guards. This would be the family vault for Saionjis, but what would be special with this vault, wouldn't be how heavily protected it was, nor was it how deep down it were, even if it far exceeded most of the vaults at Gringotts on both those points.
No, what was special with it was how accessible it was to the owner of the vault, in other words Harry. After having reading some manga he had procured for some light reading, Harry had gotten a crazy but brilliant idea. It had been the ability 'Gates of Babylon', that one the characters had had, that triggered the idea, if it worked it would be marvellous.
He had wondered if it was possible to much something similar with a Gringotts vault, but since he only had had four years of magical education, he didn't know. After much pondering and rumination he had asked Goldbrick, his account manager, if it was possible accomplish. After having explained his idea and what he wanted, Goldbrick had been left stunned. But he quickly composed himself, and started by he saying was unsure it would work, but it maybe possible.
The next day Harry had been escorted to the office of a goblin named Ragnok, the director of Gringotts bank. There Ragnok had asked him about his idea and how came up about it. After extensive explanation, Ragnok had agreed with Goldbrick that Harry's idea may work, but asked why he should allow it happen. Then after much time and several oaths to not tell, or talk about it to anyone or anything, in any way or form, Ragnok agreed to test if Harry's idea had any value.
The first had need was vault far away from the other vaults in case of failure or breach. After having setup the vault, several goblin rune masters spent hours carving runes into the celling, the floors and the walls. They then spent several hours infusing the runes with magic and Harry blood. When they were done only Goldbrick, Ragnok and those carried Harry blood, along with special runic key be able to enter the vault safely without harm.
Then day next was spent creating the keys, one attuned to Goldbrick and one attuned to Ragnok. Harry spent the day in agony, as he laid in a bed in the secure wing of the infirmary with rune masters tattooing several hundreds of runes into his skin, using an ink that was a mix of ordinary tattooing ink, few drops of his own blood, some tears of form a phoenix, a sprinkle of fairy dust, and a large dose of a fine crystalline dust, that was made from very finely grind crystals, which would work as amplifiers and foci for the runes.
This was all done because Harry had decided he wanted his runic key hidden as a tattoo, as he thought it would be impossible for him to lose or getting it stolen. He thought it was quite genius idea when came up with it, but as he laid there he had regret his decision. It was long and agonising process, as runes after rune after rune was applied. After each rune was finished it was shrunk down so it didn't look any more than dot, but together they would create quite a beautiful and masterful piece of art when finished.
The tattoo started at his lower back, as a golden heart lock with two golden keys crossed behind it in the middle of green swirled vines with a pink and a red rose on either side of it. The vines would then encircle his hips and reach down the front of his pelvis, where they would become a claddagh (two hands holding a heart, which has a crown on its head). The rune scheme was of necessity quite large and lets not talk about complex as it was Harry's actual key.
The tattoo would start at his lower back, as a golden heart lock with two golden keys crossed behind it in the middle of green swirled vines with a pink and a red rose on either side of it. The vines would then encircle his hips and reach down the front of his pelvis, where they would become a claddagh (two hands holding a heart, which has a crown on its head). The rune scheme was of necessity quite large and lets not talk about complex as it would be Harry's actual key.
But that was nothing compared to rune scheme hidden in the second set tattoos that were on his body. It would serve a different purpose, that was if what he planned worked of course, he still wasn't sure of that. The best case scenario was that it would go without a hitch and according to theory. While the worst case scenario were quite catastrophic, as it entailed the destruction of the Saionji vault and anything in it, along with part of its surrounding, which was why it was located so far away as possible from rest of the vaults and the bank itself.
These tattoos would be of cherry blossom, with thin branches starting from the pelvis, where the vines from the other tattoo turns into hands. From there they would spread out to his sides and travelling up his ribcage, completely covering his sides with branches that held flowers in red and pink colours. The tattoo would then continue on the back of his shoulder blades, and finishing on his upper arms. With a single thin branch sticking out, tracing underneath his clavicle, but ending long before the branches meet each other.
In theory, runes that tattoo was made, would connect a space of reality to the Saionji vault, opening an "invisible door" that would allow for the contents to pass through upon the Harry's command. Allowing him, and only him, easy access to the items of the vault, he would able to pick and utilize them as he pleased, but only if it worked of course, and that had yet to be seen.
It had taken over a day to complete the tattoo, and Harry was quite pleased with the tattoo, even if this whole runic experiment didn't work. But after whole ordeal Harry had been quite sore, and not mention exhausted, and had needed a day just to recuperate, as well as giving the runes time to settle and charge.
\\\\*~{(II)}~*/
Elsewhere, as Harry was resting, the day was clear and bright, the yellow-gold sun hanging high in the sky and illuminating all of creation. The temperature was warm, but not hot, and was perfect for a day outside both recreation or just relaxing. The wind blew, but gently, caressing the faces of all who stood in its way with a brisk, relaxed cool. But someone who currently not outside enjoying the pleasant weather was Sirius Black, as he was knee-deep in investigation reports concerning the attacks on his godson. A godson he now believed was not as dead as everyone else thought. Although he had to yet share this belief with anyone as wanted to find out some more first.
When he had first heard of his godson's demise he quickly fallen to despair. Sirius could clearly remember the first he had held Harry. He been so tiny and fragile. If Sirius hadn't been so determined not to move him in any way for fear of breaking his little body, he could have easily held him in one hand. James black hair sat softly upon his oddly shaped head, and behind his closed little eyelids he knew were Lily's beautiful green irises.
All he could had been able to do was stare in amazement, his arms frozen and eyes wide at the baby that had stolen his heart in mere seconds. Sirius had sworn at that moment that he would always be there to protect him.
How wrong he had been.
He had broken that oath only a year later, when he chose to chase after Wormtail, instead of taking care of his best friends child. Sirius still remembered that day. He had just come back from another mission of the order and had decided to take a nap. But somehow he had woken up a couple of hours later with a heavy feeling in his heart. Something was wrong. He could tell. So fearing the worst, he had gone to Peter's place only to find it empty and without any sign of assault or fight which made the feeling much worse as Peter had been specifically told that he was not to go outside.
So he started to James' place in Godric's Hollow, all the while hoping that his gut feeling was wrong. His best friend and his family were safe. Peter really hadn't turned their back on them. What was worse was that Remus was away on an important order business, so he couldn't even call him. Remus was always the logical one in their group. Had he been there, he surely would've known what to do.
The sight that met his eyes could only be described as his worst nightmare. The house was in ruins. The entire portion of the first floor which he knew to be Harry's nursery was blown apart. With shaky legs he walked into the house, only to stop cold to see his best friend, his brother in all but blood, laying spread eagled near the stairs; his lifeless eyes looking at something invisible in horror and fear.
And he now failed once more, by not taking Harry from the Dursleys, and now he was dead, leaving Sirius with no chances to making to him for the many mistakes he had made in regards of his godson and his family.
One thing had started to bug him though, and the more he heard about it, the more it annoyed him, as the more the former aurors in him came to the conclusion that the pieces really didn't mesh together. According his cousin, which was the auror in charge of the case, Harry had been walking down Diagon Alley when he was suddenly ambushed by five Death Eaters, Harry fought back but after some heavy spell fire, which had reduced Harry to just chunks of meat with bones sticking out of it, and a wand broken. The Death Eaters had just left afterwards, after casting the dark mark over the Alley.
Sirius was now a man on a mission, Harry was alive he was convinced of that now.
That kind of hit-and-run tactic that had been used didn't really fit the D.E's M.O. and according to Snape, Voldemort was currently more concerned about laying low and gathering his forces in silence then anything else. Which would really make this attack on Harry counter-productive, especially since happened in the middle of Diagon Alley.
So it hadn't been on Voldemort's orders that Harry was attacked, for if it was one Voldemort was it was smart. Another thing that bothered Sirius was lack of injured bystanders and collateral damage. According to Tonks' reports there had been a lot of people that witnessed this, but there had no collateral damage whatsoever, nor had any of bystanders gotten injured in by any of the crossfire. This was impossible by any means, meaning there was a cover up.
But who were trying to hide what?
He didn't know, nor did could think anyone that benefit from this kind of charade. He had went through everyone he knew of that would both have the motive and the means to pull something like this off, but only came up blank. Then there was that dementor attack a few days earlier, was it connected this or was it something else entirely?
He didn't have any clue there either. All the Order managed to find out was that someone had been trying hard cover it up, and make it seem like it had never happened. Of which, they been quite successful, all they really had were some weak leads leading to someone in Minister's office, but didn't who nor why they had done it in first place.
\\\\*~{(II)}~*/
Far beneath floor of Gringotts Bank, in the early afternoon the following day, a large gathering of different goblins, wizards and witches were in large underground chamber, they were everyone that had been involved in this project at some point, as it was now high time to see if this little venture would bear any fruit, or just fail miserably. After Harry had been cleared by the healers, and everything had been at least double and triple checked.
Harry frowned. His skin, where the tattoo were located, still felt a bit odd. Like there was a muscle he hadn't used in a long time. A small dull pain still lingered and it was annoying as hell, as his skin was still somewhat tingled, but the soreness had at least faded. But still it made him walk a little straighter than normal and avoided bumping into anything.
"What's the matter, Mr. Potter?" Goldbrick asked, as Harry was still not comfortable with his new gender, he had asked that his new identity would not be used until the will reading.
"I'm … I'm worried," Harry confessed. "I'm afraid I'll mess this up and …" He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"What will happen, will happen," Goldbrick said. "All you have to do is give it your all."
Harry just nodded, and swallowed the clump that had started to from in his throat.
After taking a few calming breaths, Harry searched for his center, like had learned in meditation and reached for his magic. He then concentrated hard and reached in front of, as if was trying to grab something the others couldn't see, and lo and behold, his hand had vanished into mid-air
Glowing ripples had formed in the empty air where his hand should have been. Harry then started shove his whole arm in side the strange ripples, and after a while he pulled an object, and as he did so the ripples disappeared. After having given the object to an amazed Ragnok for him to check. Having confirmed that this was one objects they had agreed on to place in the vault earlier, Ragnok handed it back to Harry, who put it back into the ripple, collapsing on the floor in exhaustion as the first of he the tests was done.
After having rested for awhile, Harry once again concentrated and reached forward. And once again strange ripples appeared in the air where his hand should have been. This time several of the goblins assembled tried to see if they could reach into the ripples as well, but to no avail. After put back the object, he once again collapsed exhausted to the floor.
He had rested some more, it was time for the third test, which was to see if he could choose what wanted to draw out. For this they had placed several small pebbles in the vault. The pebbles were coloured red, green and blue, there was seven of each colour And would be as success if he could draw out different combination of pebbles at will.
As he did this, Harry found it was getting easier, to open the portal to the vault and he was also getting quicker at it. After having done it a couple of times, he also noticed that he didn't need to concentrate as much as before, nor was it as draining as it had been at the start.
\\\\*~{(II)}~*/
Next morning elsewhere in London, Remus woke up to the sunlight managing to find its way to his closed eyes. The old werewolf rubbed his eyes and slowly got out of bed. He mad his way to the bathroom where he proceeded to splash his face with cold water to effectively wake him up. He then went back into the bedroom he was using at Grimmuald Place 12, after changing into a some other clothes, he went downstairs to the kitchen for some breakfast.
The death of the son of his best friends had struck him, and had feel much older then he really was. He felt like he had failed Harry, just like he had his parents, Lily and James. Remus was drawn from his thoughts when he saw Sirius, the last one remaining of his best friends from school, sitting at the table.
Sirius had been completely inconsolable in the days following the announcement of Harry's death. But then one day, he was suddenly as right as rain as if the previous days had never even existed. At first glance it had seemed like he was just suddenly handling Harry's death so much better. But Remus knew Sirius better then that, his old friend was up to something, what he didn't know. Although Remus had his suspicions, and would bet anything it something to do with Harry and his death. Sirius had then spent all his time after getting out of his funk investigating everything related to Harry's death and the the attack in Diagon Alley, so what was the old dog up to.
As Remus was currently pondering over this, Sirius himself heard sudden tapping at the kitchen window. He walked forward and opened the window to allow several owls to enter and before then relieved them of their burden. They were all Gringotts owls, each carrying similar letters address to different inhabitants at old manor house. Sirius opened the one bearing his name.
Mister Black, We at Gringotts offer our deepest condolences on the loss of your godson, the late Harry James Potter. Mr Potter has left explicit instructions to us that he would like his will read one week from his passing if all parties are capable and, as on of the primary beneficiary, your presence is required if you wish to claim the inheritance. As such, Mr Potter's will reading shall take place this coming Saturday and ten in the morning. We at Gringotts are well aware of your current situation, but know this, as you have committed no crimes on goblin soil, nor been charged for any, at least according to our records. So you can rest assured as long you are on goblin soil, we will ensure your safety and security. We have therefore taken the liberty of turning this letter into a portkey, it will activate ten minutes before the reading and will take straight to Gringotts. Gutwrencher,
Gringotts Inheritance Department
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At same time Sirius was reading the letter about his godsons will reading, said godson, now goddaugther, was thinking of what she should next. She had arranged for the Griffin's Nest to made inhabitable again, while the cleaning would by the Potter house-elves, which Harry just recently discovered existed. That for some reason could tell if she was a Potter or not, but since they really hadn't bought bought the backstory she had created for herself. So Sara had decided to tell them the truth. Sara also had been careful with telling them that this was a secret, a secret that she rather preferred to not be spread around, if it could be avoided.
With her runic tattoo experiment being quite a success, along with having filed last of the paperwork concerning her new identity, all Sara now needed to do was get used to this new identity, along with getting a new wand, as her old wand had been used in the staging the death of the Boy-Who-Lived. So Sara asked Goldbrick if he knew anyone who would be willing to sell her a wand without a trace or asking too many question.
Goldbrick just nodded, and after a bit of thought he had replied that he did know of a wandmaker who might fit that description. Only that she kind of quirky, and bit more expensive then Ollivander's, not mention her shop laid at the entrance to Knockturn Alley. But as long not any of that didn't bother her, Sara should go there, as he knew she sold high-quality wands.
Sara was currently strolling down Diagon Alley, the weather was quite pleasant, as the sun beamed down on the cobble stone streets in Diagon Alley. Sara stretched her limbs in warm sunlight, it had been a while since she had been outside. She had coped up inside Gringotts ever since she had arrived, and it was starting to get a bit dreary. After quite a bit of searching, she had stopped when he found the store Goldbrick had told her about. She had never noticed this store before, but to be honest she had seldom been in this part of the Alley before.
The sign in front of the store claimed to be selling books, wands and other magical items, everything one would to be a great witch or wizard. It was slightly odd and quite boastful to put on a sale sign, compared to the rest of the stores in the Alley, but Sara liked it, as captivated her imagination. The shop seemed to have no customers, but loads of books on shelves and wands of the likes she had never seen before, along with wand holsters, and glass cases with what seemed be both odd and cool things. A young blonde woman with large bust wearing golden silk robes was the only other occupant in the shop. She looked like she could have been around 25 years old, and the store clerk, so Sara approached her, while smiling nervously.
"Hello," she greeted with a beautiful smile. "I know what you're here for Miss. Saionji," she said taking her hand and leading her towards the wands. "Goldbrick informed me yesterday about your arrival."
"Hmm," the woman ran her hand along the shelves until she reached a weird looking wand. It seemed to be a fusion of two different thin strips of woods intertwined, with a third ensnaring them both, all fused perfectly into a straight wand with beautifully crafted handle bound in black leather.
"Redheart," the woman began, which must have been the red wood. "Purpleheart," she continued smiling, which was obviously purple coloured wood. "With inlays of Lignum Vitae heartwood," she finished, which was no doubt the thin veneer dark greenish brown, near black wood, that had runes scribed into it. "It contains two cores; the first, a feather taken from wing of Furie resides within the redheart wood, while a braid made of hair given by a Quilin is within the Purpleheart wood. The runes inscribed on the lignum vitae are for protection and to help the wielder with focus and clarity. Sturdy and slightly springy, 9", a wand good for defence and protection."
Sara just stared in awe as the young woman placed the wand handle between her small fingers. She lit up startled as the wands energy buzzed and exploded around her and through her fingers like electricity before it died down. She could still feel the energy flow through her. It was far more than her original wand could have hoped to be.
Sara gasped and took half a step back, as fireworks ended, which caused the woman to straighten up but she was still smiling before turning back to the shelves and pulling down a black thigh wand holster.
The blonde woman didn't wait or offer the holster over, but just opened the left side of Sara's skirt, causing her to blush brightly as the young woman could see her plain white panties. However, she strapped the holster onto her left thigh, took the wand and safely secured it in place before letting her skirt drop back into place.
The woman stood up smiling before she returned to the wands for only a second before pulling off a black coloured wand and holster before returning with a wide smile.
"Maple with dragon heartstrings core, seven inches," she spoke as she handed it over, and Sara was gobsmacked that this wand chose her as well. "Moderately strong, somewhat malleable. A steady and dependant all-purpose wand, suited better for defensive spells, then offensive ones."
"W-why a-are you knitting me with an other wand?" Sara asked a little worried. "Don't you just need one?"
"It is always good to have a spare wand, and I believe it best to use this as your primary wand beautiful as it is weaker and not unique like your main focus. That way your enemies will underestimate you," she answered as she slid it in the holster and placed it around Sara's left forearm, under her arm and under her sleeve. "That will be 27 galleons, 11 sickles, and 2 knuts in total. Do you want to pay now or shall I draw up bank draft?"
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At Gringotts bank, in the director office, as Harry was out getting himself a new wand, Ragnok was reading the final report on the experiment the former Potter boy had somehow convinced him to endorse. From the healers reports on the runes that had been applied on him seemed had shown no adverse affects on his body or core so far, except for a large amounts of strain, along with some exhaustion and stress, that had followed the first few stages of the experiment. But after that his body and core seemed to have adapted and the levels now was negligible.
From the reports of Goldbrick and the rune masters, he could discern that neither the vault nor its surroundings had affected by the experiment. And the items stored inside had not been effected adversely either. So all in all, he concluded the experiment to be a success but it was still to risky try on any other vaults, Ragnok thought.
When he read an another report from Goldbrick about the Potter child, he couldn't help himself from chuckling. It seemed like child had used the dark ones knowledge to empty all the vault of his followers in to his own. Leaving only a bronze knut and note that said, 'For the ferryman' and was signed with the name Tom Riddle. Ragnok knew that Tom Riddle was the dark ones birth name which made this all the better, but real cheery on top was that the notes was all written in the dark ones own handwriting.
\\\\*~{(II)}~*/ TBC \\\\*~{(II)}~*/