Another chapter here. This one is dedicated to Articwolf4123 because I didn't really plan to continue this for a while until he commented. Anyway leave a comment about what you think when you finish reading.
Harry thought that this year would be the greatest ever, he had found out he was a wizard and then he had made his first friend and gotten a pet that very same day. His friend Hagrid had told him that there was a big chance that he could make many more. The only downside was that he found out that he was apparently famous in the exciting new world he had just joined. He wanted real friends not people who befriended him because he was famous.
Then Hagrid came back almost two weeks later with his lookalike in tow. The boy, Percy, had scared off Vernon with a stick. Then he'd heard Percy's story and found that it wasn't too much different from his, they'd both grown up without fathers and the men they had around them wanted nothing more than to knock their teeth in and they both couldn't make friends in all the years they went to school the only difference was that Percy had his mother to fall back to.
So the fact that Percy still carried himself with a confidence that he wished he had had given him hope that maybe he could be the same, it helped that they looked so similar so it was much easier to picture himself in the same fashion. He'd silently vowed to himself that he would go into the wizard world the same way even if he had to feign his confidence; Percy told him it helped him when he asked.
He'd woken up early the next day excited to go shopping with his friend. He only problem was his friend didn't share his enthusiasm.
"Come on Percy don't you want to get your very own wand? To use it for the first time?" He asked.
"I've seen yours and besides we don't even know any spells." Percy rebutted.
"Then we could find some in the books. Don't make me pour water all over you!" He threatened.
"Five more minutes." Percy said after Harry waited ten minutes.
"That's it!" Harry said rushing to the washroom.
He filled a bucket he found with water, he purposefully made sure he did everything really loudly so that Percy heard. As he stomped back into his room he saw Percy hadn't moved an inch. Angry at having his threat ignored he poured water all over Percy or at least he tried to.
"Oi, I thought you said you didn't know magic!" He accused.
"What are you on about now?" Percy perked up.
"The water, it's not getting you blanket wet." Harry said.
The water he'd poured all over the blanket just stayed on top and if he hadn't witnessed it moving freely he might have guessed the blanket to be made out of a hard substance with the way the water was being cupped on top of the blanket.
"Weird, isn't it?" Percy said after finally peeking from under the covers.
"You think its accidental magic?" Harry asked.
"Not quite, um, let's just say I'm very good with water magic, it has something to do with my father." Percy said. Harry suspected there was more to it, but he didn't want to pry since it sounded personal.
"Like how you think you might be able to communicate with horses? Hey, I bet we could find a place that sells animals around they might not have horses or snakes, but we could ask Hagrid if he knows of any around here. I'll buy you a pet, you said your birthday was a few days ago right?" Harry said changing the subject.
"You don't have to get me anything." Percy said.
"It's no problem really. Last time I came here we went to Gringotts, that's the wizard bank run by goblins and I found out my family left me a vault full of gold with more than I could ever spend in my entire life." Harry said excitedly.
"Oh Hagrid told me I was supposed to go there to check if my family left me anything." Percy remembered.
"Then hurry up and get ready we'll go to the bank first." Harry said.
He then promptly shoved Percy off the bed only he'd forgotten about the fact that there was water all over it.
"Ah!" Harry yelped shocked. He was all soaked while Percy was laughing madly on the ground.
"Here, let me try something." Percy said getting off the floor and reaching toward him.
As soon as he made contact with his clothes Harry was immediately dried. When he saw his idea worked Percy nodded and finally walked toward the bathroom to get ready leaving a gaping Harry alone in the room.
"How did you do that?" Harry asked Percy as soon as he saw him leave the bathroom.
"I don't know, I just thought about it and made it happen. Isn't that how magic works?" Percy asked.
Harry thought about it and realized he couldn't refute that. All the magic he'd done when he was younger usually happened when he was stressed, but now that he thought about it, it usually did something he wanted to do if only on a subconscious level.
"So I could do something like that?" he asked curiously.
"Well my magic is partial to water magic so it was easier for me, but I don't see why not." Percy started, but Harry was ignoring him with his eyes closed. After a moment he opened his eyes and raised his hand in Percy's direction.
Splash!
Water burst out of nowhere and splashed on top of Percy's head. Harry looked on proudly at his work with a smile playing at his lips only to see Percy staring back at him smugly… and dry. Then Percy waived his hands and water gathered around him and with another wave he sent it all rushing toward Harry.
"Ah!" Harry said jumping out of the way after he realized the water wouldn't listen to his commands.
"I told you my magic was good with water control." Percy said smugly.
"Hn." Harry ignored him a competitive spirit sinking into him. He shut his eyes in concentration.
'So you're good with water huh?' he thought.
Suddenly a weak fire burst from his finger tips and with some effort he made it grow before launching it at Percy who already had a ball of water rotating around him in preparation. As the two attacks there was a minor explosion. When the explosion cleared up he saw a slightly singed Percy grinning toward him.
"Let's go find Hagrid before we blow up my room." He said grinning back.
"Sure." Percy easily relented he was probably as tired as he was.
"Hey, lads looking for Hagrid?" The man Harry remembered to be Tom said. Harry was just glad he didn't loudly rush to shake his hands like last time they met, he wasn't ready for a part two, but upon seeing him confusion upon Tom's face it may have been that he didn't realize which of the two Harry was.
"He won't be getting up today, told me to tell Harry to lead Percy to Gringotts for him. He also told me to tell you that the goblins were told beforehand so they should know what to do." Tom said relaying the message looking toward both their forehead, but finding them both covered by their hair.
Harry was already appreciating Percy's presence. He gave Percy a nod before they both headed out the door.
"Weird guy isn't he? Kept look at our forehead. Are all normal wizards like that?" Percy whispered when they left.
"I think he was look for my scar." Harry laughed at the idea.
"What the hell for? He should know that's rude." Percy said looking quite offended on his behalf. Harry felt moved at his friend's defense of him.
"Well you know how I said I was apparently famous here? Well apparently on the night I lost my parents and when I apparently defeated the big bad wizard I got a scar as a token." He finished pointing at his forehead.
"Still, it's pretty rude." Percy muttered miffed.
"It's fine." Harry said.
"Whoa is that a broom!" Percy suddenly said after a while his mood shifting rather abruptly.
"I know right cool right? Do you mind taking a look; I didn't have time last time with Hagrid." Harry asked hesitantly.
"Of course we will besides don't we have like a week and a half to have fun around here? It'd be a waste if we didn't." Percy said. Harry remembered Hagrid telling him that the trip was for them to learn about the wizard world not have fun, but he didn't think it would make a difference to Percy.
They then proceeded to go looking at the different brooms from the windows drawing amused glances from the crowd of people. They stood outside the store for a while before finally mustering up he courage to enter.
"Hey boy's! Welcome to Quality Quidditch Suplies. What can I do for ya?" they were cheerfully greeted by a blonde girl as they walked in.
"We want to know more about racing brooms."Percy answered for them.
"Oh righty, I have a few info magazines about the latest brooms if you'd like o buy that?" she asked.
"How much is it?" Harry asked reaching into his pockets Percy shot him a grateful look.
"Two sickles." She said.
Harry handed her the required amount with a little bit of difficulty. He was still trying to get used to wizarding money.
"Thanks, I didn't think we had to buy something when we entered. I'll pay you back, I promise" Percy whispered.
"Its fine, I'll just take two sickles from your present." Harry replied with a smile.
"Now where's this Greengoats place?" Percy said.
"It's Gringotts, Perce. Do try to remember because the last time I came here Hagrid said to be respectful to goblins because they were dangerous and knowing Hagrid better now I can probably count things he considers dangerous on my hands." Harry said with a shiver. He hadn't really taken Hagrid's warning seriously last time, but it had been fine since he didn't do anything disrespectful. He imagined it could have gone a lot worse.
"Let's get going then." Percy said after a sober moment.
They walked quite easily to the bank. It wasn't too hard to find with it being a bright white in a place full of so much color. They soon found themselves staring to the top from the foot of the bank with people passing them by without more than a glance.
"You know, I don't think it was such a good idea for Hagrid to send us here alone." Percy said as he read the sign.
"It probably slipped his mind. You saw how out of it he looked yesterday." Harry pointed out defending his friend.
"Yeah I know. Well, this'll be fun." Percy said mustering up his courage to ascend the stairs.
Harry easily followed. Maybe it was because he'd already been here before, but he didn't find the place too scary. He also knew that the reason his friend was so scared was because he had a thing for saying the worst thing possible at the most terrible of times. Harry could relate, but he hadn't said anything last time so he probably wouldn't today. Then again the last time he'd been distracted by seeing something left from his family that he hadn't paid much attention to the goblins.
'Stop thinking stupid stuff.' He thought to himself trying to clear his mind.
They entered through the huge double doors holding the poems. After a while of waiting in line they finally made it to the teller.
"What can I do for you." The Goblin muttered gruffly.
"I was told to find out if I had any accounts here and Harry's here to do the same." Percy said quickly fumbling with his words.
Harry nodded even though he did not come here for that reason.
"Names." The goblin said not looking up.
"Percy Jackson."
"Harry Potter."
"Well we have an account testing meeting scheduled for a Perseus Jackson. If Mr. Potter would like to do the same he may, but I must remind you that you should schedule it next time as we may not always have the tools ready so conveniently." He said.
Harry nodded. He didn't feel like blaming his friend when he was already so frightened.
"Bogrod, take these two to the vault testing room." He said as another goblin appeared from around the corner.
They were lead in the same direction as Harry had gone last time and he briefly wondered if they were going to ride the mine carts like they had before. That hope was quickly crushed when they took a left turn into a room he hadn't noticed when he had come before.
They entered a dimly lit room and harry silently wondered if wizards had no lights. He hadn't seen them around anywhere he'd been only candles and strange glowing objects. Maybe there was no need for them?
The room was relatively small compared to every other room he'd seen in the bank, but considering he'd only seen the lobby and his vault along with the vault Hagrid had gone into that wasn't much. It had a small alter in the center of the room with a basin on top. There were two knives to the side of the basin.
"What we will be doing is a ritual, the ritual helps you find any vaults you are entitled to it's very simple you just cut your palm and let the blood fall onto the basin right there. I will be the first to do so to activate the Gringotts ritual." The goblin- Bogrod- drawled seeming not caring if they were listening or not.
"After I start the ritual we will then wait a half hour then Mr. Potter will be first to do the ritual. Mr. Potter will be first because the bank has his father's info to easily draw from and will only look into his mother's line for any other vaults he may possibly be allowed own." Bogrod said explaining Percy's unasked question of why Harry went first when he opened his mouth.
"Now, any questions?" Bogrod asked and after getting two head shakes he started what seemed to be his part of the test.
The two boys stared at the goblin while he- was Bogrod a guy? - was doing his ritual. Harry in fascination of the ritual while Percy of the goblin himself. Fifteen minutes later after the two had finally exhausted their interest in both fronts they glanced at each other and somehow turned that to a staring contest.
"I'm finished my portion of the ritual and if you two are finished with your narcissist endeavors we can start your part." Bogrod said interrupting the contest.
Percy looked affronted since he seemed to catch the fact that the goblin was insulting them, but didn't know how. Harry blushed reaching the same conclusion as Percy, but looked more embarrassed then angry.
"We were having a staring contest. You'd know about it if you guys had fun." Percy retorted with a glare shamelessly ignoring the fact that he didn't even know what the goblin said.
The goblin looked surprised that Percy had even said anything before shaking his head ignoring the comment.
"I've got everything done already, so all you need to do is cut your hand and bleed into the basin, Mr. Potter. You will need to bleed quite a bit into it so don't just prick your finger and expect that to be enough." Bogrod continued rather gleefully.
Putting on his bravest face with hopes that it was as convincing as his friends he walked to the center of the room. He paused when he was in front the basin. He found himself hesitating when he reached for the dagger, it looked awfully sharp.
'Why don't they have needles? I would take those any day instead of these.' Harry thought thinking back to all those times he'd seen Dudley cry from needles while he didn't and wondered how he'd fare if he ever had to do this.
He looked back and received a reassuring nod from Percy that assured him a little and with he turned around picked up the dagger and quickly with his eyes shut tight cut open his palm. He heard what sounded like Percy gasping so took a peek as the blood gushed out from his palm. It wasn't as bad as he thought it was and there seemed to be a pain suppressor or something on the weapon because he didn't feel that bad. That or his pain tolerance was a lot higher than he imagined it to be.
After what he felt to be a sufficient amount of blood he withdrew his hand from the top of the basin and looked around for something to wrap his hands with, but found that to be a useless effort because his palm had already closed up. With that he walked back staring at his hand in wonder.
"Now, we wait." The goblin told Harry when he came back apparently the pair-Bogrod and Percy- seemed to be having a glaring contest and in Harry's opinion the goblin outdid Percy by a long shot. Percy's didn't seem to be having the affect he expected and rather made the goblin more amused than scared.
"What do you guys do for fun around here?" Percy asked finally gave up glaring silently giving up, but not willing to admit defeat.
"Mr. Jackson this is our place for work not to have fun or did you actually believe that we lived in our place of work?" Bogrod jeered.
"How was I supposed to know? This is the first time I've met a freaking goblin." Percy weakly defended.
"Why didn't you read your little Hogwarts books then? Even that might know that much." The goblin said the word books with distaste.
"History of Magic? I've seen Harry's and all I've got to say is no thanks. All they've got to say is goblin war this goblin that and a load of other boring stuff and I know if the books are this boring the teachers probably an old coot with a stick up his ass. Why don't they do something fun? I mean if they're gonna talk all day about goblins do they even let us meet a goblin historian? Actually never mind maybe they'd be just as boring." Percy said seeming to let out all his frustrations about education in general.
"Actually you may find that goblin education is much more engaging, even in history. A lot of it is wars so we set up *%* ." He said something incomprehensible to the boys.
"It's like those muggles vision of holograms. We have a historian envision how they think the battle would look and then the young ones can see the battle for themselves in a sense." The goblin seemed to enjoy speaking of goblin education and enjoyed watching the boys' wonder.
"Also at the end of it the young ones can sometimes create their own reenactment, but that usually turns into a battle. Of course you wizards wouldn't be interested in goblin education would you?" the goblin finished seeming to enjoy the duos disappointed looks.
"What! Why?" Percy said forgetting the fact that he and the goblin were just glaring daggers at each other a moment before.
"Well I'll think about telling you more later. Now though we have a ritual to finish." Bogrod said turning toward the center of the room where the basin had gone unnoticed.
The inside of the basin seemed to be giving off a faint glow. Harry stepped closer feeling something being pulled toward the basin and saw from the corner of his eye that Percy was looking towards him worried. He slowly walked to the basin and peered inside of it to see that his blood had shrunken and created numbers.
"What is it?" Percy asked somehow appearing with Bogrod on either side of him.
"Those are the numbers for ownerless vaults you can lay claim to."