Chapter 2
My young poor brain finally shut down of all its thinking in the early morning of the following day. Einstein I'm not, I don't think of myself as being average but even I could see what was sitting in front of me even if I was only an eleven years old freak. Half of what Evelyn had explained to me could've been done in Chinese for all that I understood. What I did understand was that the Dursley's had abused me, Dumbledore had plans on using me, and the wizard world planned on using me. Oh I was mad but that's all I could come up with was anger. I was too young to go anywhere, do anything, so I hoped that Evelyn would return with some answers. I had noticed her skirting around my questions of "why" but then she was probably planning on using me. Then it dawned on me. It was something I saw in that TV cloud that definitely gave me some information. I needed the Leakey Cauldron, Gringotts, my vault and the goblins that Hagrid had shown me. Yes, I now had a plan!
I hope Dudley doesn't miss his stash of quids. After what he and his family have put me through I'm not really worried that he would be upset at loosing his money stash. Not that I had plans of returning to this hellhole. I also snitched one of his ball caps to hide my hair and scar. While I am not an Einstein, that TV cloud gave me a lot of background information that I planned on using. At this point Evelyn appeared to be part of another group that had plans to use me so a little insurance wouldn't hurt if anyone caught me. I chuckled to myself as the word paranoia kept showing up in my mind in the different scenarios. I almost broke out in laughter when I thought about what the Dursley's were going to do with all the magical paraphernalia I was leaving behind.
I grabbed the local bus to Leakey Cauldron where one of patrons performed the correct sequence on the wall to get me into the alley. I left my wand at the Dursley's as I knew no magic and I had no intention of remaining in the magical world. I then hot footed it to the goblin bank. All I can say is I'm glad I arrived early in the morning as things started to get interesting. I got to leave the goblin bank early evening of that same day.
Flashback:
"Mr. Goblin I would like to visit my vault here in your bank."
"You're key!"
"Sorry sir but I've never had a key given to me." Apparently my key to my vault was something else someone was keeping from me. Hagrid seem like a good bloke but not a great brain trust so he was probably only given my key to get my school stuff. He was probably following orders like a good minion.
"Put a drop of blood on this parchment to confirm who you are. There is a fee for replacing your key." I swear the goblin was given me the evil eye but then what do I know?
The cart ride to my vault was fantastic and upon opening my vault. I had a stupid question I should've asked the first time I was here, "Where are my pounds sterling?" That particular question got my brain to crunching. I had been directed to get only so many galleons by Hagrid and he had kept my key. I did make sure this time that I filled my pockets with all the gold coins I could. I had the feeling my pants would hit the floor at any moment. However the rope I used as a belt, kept Dudley's second hand pants from hitting the floor, they held snugly to my bony hips.
For a fee the goblins explained about galleons and exchange rates. For another fee they converted all my remaining vaults gold coins into pounds and opened up a Muggle bank account for me. The Muggle credit card fee was part of opening up the bank account. Another charge got me a National ID card and passport. That evening I grabbed a bus not caring where it was going. After numerous stops I found another bus headed to some other destination. I had trouble with the hotel because of my age but a couple quid to the reception clerk and the presentation of my credit card I got me a room. Of course my tale about my very rich parents showing up in the next week didn't hurt anything. Then again I did seem to get the evil eye over the way I was dressed in Dudley's hand-me-down clothes. Tomorrow I figured I could get new clothes and start hunting for a way to get out of the country.
End flashback:
It wasn't but the next day that Dumbledore strode into the goblin bank with the air of power and importance.
"As Harry Potter's guardian I wish access to his trust vault." Dumbledore was thinking of a few galleons for Potters Muggle relatives and a huge amount for himself. If anyone ever dared ask he would brush it off as Hogwarts' tuition and upkeep of his ward Harry Potter. No one really had to know the Potters parents had already paid for all seven years With the hotel
of his tuition. Dumbledore was sure in his knowledge that Harry Potter was not destined to live to collect his inheritances.
"There's nothing there, go away." The goblin was enjoying sticking it to the arrogant wizard. It was not the first time they had to deal with, "HIM!"
"My good goblin there is 10,000 galleons in that trust vault at least and it refills annually. I demand you take me there immediately."
"There's nothing there, go away or we make you go away."
/Scene Break/
"Good evening Mr. Potter are you ready for dinner?" Evelyn just popped into my hotel room.
I think the grin on my face answered her question after my shock of her finding me wore off. Food with the Dursley's was considered a luxury for me. Besides she found me and I had a sneaking suspicion I wasn't going to slip away from her unless she allowed it to happen. Quite curious I thought, but I did not think there was much that I could do about it this day.
"Take my hand as were going out to eat tonight."
Even though I had a couple of days exposure to magic, a half giant, Diagon alley and the Goblin bank I was surprised when I took her hand. We were suddenly somewhere and I was dressed in a suit and tie with shiny black shoes and the guy that led us to our table wasn't speaking English.
"Harry we will have a leisurely meal here in Italy and discuss your options. We shall then visit the Goblin bank for a couple of transactions."
"Yes ma'am, but may I ask how did you get us here with me dressed in a suit? And where is here?
"It's called magic Harry." That stopped my next question which was, 'How did you find me?' I figured I would get the same answer. Adults never volunteered information and only told you what they wanted you to do.
I thought, yeah right, I'm supposed to be a wizard and I have no idea what's going on as usual. Besides, I thought her smile was a little bit too much. What was she planning on doing for or against me at the bank? As I was in the dark as usual I tried to be as friendly as possible with my questions.
"Well this food here is really delicious but I would like to hear my options you mentioned. I'm always told what to do and from what you showed me it isn't going to be changing, so I would like the options and who are you really?" I was concerned that she was the least of my bad options; at least I hoped that was the case.
"Your first option is to live the life I showed you but I must tell you that after you have successfully disposed of the Dark Lord Voldemort and settled down, and think you're happy, you'll have two more Dark Lord's to fight and a marriage contract you cannot get out of, you will die early. Option number two is for you to run but that ends up with you and your family murdered in the end. Option number three is highly complicated. But simply, live the life I showed you but you win over the Dark Lord Voldemort in a huge battle. However, the wizard world, fearing you are the new Dark Lord, tosses you into Azkaban prison for life. I am here to sell you option number four."
I know she had intentionally paused; she was dangling the bait in front of me and hoping I would bite. But crikey I'm an eleven year old kid! My decision-making and experience is cutting the grass and cleaning the house. "So who are you representing and what is their offer?"
"The Order of the Night is not willing to expose themselves at this time however they are highly respected people from many cultures. They're offering you an almost normal life however there will be rough spots especially in the beginning. Until your Dark Lords are defeated you will not be able to permanently leave Hogwarts. In the very near future you will be required to follow our instructions explicitly in your training but after that your life will be your own. The Order of the Night was established to get rid of all these future Dark Lords in any way possible. The order members all have families and wish everyone to live a peaceful life. You Mr. Potter are currently your world's best hope."
Through desert I got answers to question I had from the TV cloud like who the hell is Albus Dumbledore, what is Azkaban or what is a Horcrux. In my questioning of what was considered the very near future I had not missed her use of the plural while referring to Dark Lords. I may just be a kid with no experience but taking on a basilisk with a sword or fighting two to three Dark Lords in my lifetime was definitely not the way I wanted to go, so I took the bait and option number four. I felt she was not telling me everything but at least Evelyn let me finish the ice cream before things started happening.
/Scene Break/
Evelyn and I were now in Gringotts bank England…
Evelyn dragged me up to the goblin counter and states, "Mr. Harry James Potter wishes to see Neckstabber the Black family accountant."
"Very well, please follow me."
After wandering around in a number of hallways before we were deposited in front of a golden door that had engraved on it, 'Neckstabber, Black family accountant'.
As we entered we received a friendly greeting, "What the hell do you want?"
Evelyn was not fazed but just stated, "Mr. Harry James Potter wishes to establish a date for the reading of the Black Will."
"Well you are to damn late; you were notified and by not responding you have thus forfeited the entire estate."
Evelyn took her finger and tapped a bracelet on her wrist and something materialized. It looked like a cold black smoke and something materialized from it next to Neckstabber. It then boomed in a loud voice, "You lie! The Wills read date was to be set by Mr. Potter who is now here to do so. Activate the Will or you and your entire family will join me in a little bout of blood letting.
Neckstabber then let something slip, besides a squeal that even I caught, "but Dumbledore said..."
"Wait here Harry I'll be right back." Evelyn disappeared.
If anything the Dursleys taught me, by painful hits and punches, to keep my mouth shut. The human looking creature, with large fangs, kept Neckstabber terrified for what seemed like a very long time. It wasn't like I was not fearful of the creature, I sure was, but the wait was finally broken by Evelyn entering and followed by a elderly goblin.
"Neckstabber you are no longer the Black family account, get out of here before I feed you to the dragons." The elderly goblin turned to me, "My sincere apologies Mr. Potter. I've just been enlightened on some of the discrepancies within my bank and we shall rectify them immediately. Your family accountant will be bringing the Black and Potter Wills momentarily."
I felt this was a fine time to continue to keep my mouth shut so I gave a half bow to the older goblin. I figured it couldn't hurt.
I have no idea what power Evelyn or her group had over the goblins but they complied with her every wish. In the end I was emancipated through my parents and Blacks Wills which made me an adult and Lord Potter. Apparently Sirius Black was my godfather and left a prank for his family. He called in all debts and monies owed the Black estate and left everything in his vaults to me. He left the title of Lord Black to somebody called Draco Malfoy leaving him with the title and all debts to the estate. Evelyn then had the Potter accountant transfer half of the Potters estate to France. While this still left the galleons under the goblin nation but the laws were changed so England's ministry couldn't confiscate that which was in France. The Black monies was converted into dollars and transferred to a bank in the colonies, another goblin subsidiary. I had a credit card to the American bank in my hands before we left the bank in England.
As we left the bank I commented to Evelyn…
"I hope the Dursleys are still up I don't feel like sleeping in the garden tool shed. That happens when I get home after Dudley." It was my only current fear but I figured that's where I was headed for the evening.
"Don't worry Harry you're already there so just give me your hand, your bed is waiting."
The thought did cross my mind that Evelyn was going to take me home to my Dursley bed in Privet Drive. When we arrived I realized, this was not my room!
You could say Dudley's spare room was plush compared to my broom cupboard under the stairs but this room made the Dursley's house look like a rundown shack. Evelyn gave me a mind numbing tour of my walk-in closet full of clothing ending with a tour of my private bathroom.
"Get a good night sleep Harry, we will discuss all this in the morning. You're just entered the phase where you will be required to follow our instructions explicitly." At that point she just disappeared. I chuckled to myself as she seemed to do a lot of that disappearing.