Gringotts
After two hours and two bus rides Harry found himself standing outside the leaky Cauldron. The pub was nested between a bookshop and a record store, Harry watched as passers-by looked from the bookshop to the record store their eyes completely passing over the pub as though it was not even there, he supposed a charm or something was on the pub to stop Muggles entering.
Upon entering the pub Harry took a look around and noticed that the place was very dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old barman, who was quite bald and looked like a gummy walnut.
However, Harry failed to notice a young man with very pale skin and light blue eyes; who was hidden in a dark shadowy corner and watching Harry's every move, as he watched Harry move towards the bar and speak to Tom the barkeep, his blue eyes flashed a crimson red and his face was sinister glare as he watched Harry and Tom leave through the backdoor that lead to Diagon Alley.
"Thank you for your help." Harry thanked Tom with a polite bow of the head as he turned and headed through the archway leading into Diagon Alley.
"You're welcome young sir." Tom called with a toothless smile before he turned around and headed back into his pub.
As he looked around, Harry spotted a cauldron shop, next to that was the Apothecary potions store. Further down he saw the Daily Prophet offices, he assumed that was some kind of newspaper printing company or some such, the name sure sounded like that to Harry. Everywhere he looked, there were different shops, from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor to Flourish & Blotts book store, and from Gambol & Japes joke shop to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. He spotted the huge white building McGonagall had described and headed towards it, still looking round at all the various shops and the people bustling from shop to shop.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs leading up to the front doors of the bank he nodded to the creatures that were bowing him inside; completely missing their surprised looks at his show of respect to them. As he walked through the second set of doors, silver this time Harry nodded to two more creatures bowing him inside and he read a sign on the door.
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
"Sounds like you don't want to try and rob this place." Harry muttered to himself as he passed through the silver doors, causing the two goblins who had heard him to snort in amusement at his, in their opinion, huge understatement.
Looking around the vast marble hall, Harry could not help but be impressed with the splendour, black and white marble square tiles on the floor, light marble walls and a huge long counter where about a hundred more of the strange creatures were stood behind, counting strange gold coins, precious gems and other things. Walking up to a free teller, he stood quietly, respectfully waiting to be acknowledged.
"What can I help you with?" The creature asked him a short time later finally acknowledging him. He was surprised at the Human's show of respect but he decided to go with it and show the young child the same respect.
"I'd like to make a withdrawal from my vault please." Harry replied in cool polite tone as he passed his key to the creature, who took it and examined it closely before passing it back.
"Very well Mr Potter." The creature said as he passed the key back to Harry, who placed it back in his pocket. He then called over his shoulder in a language Harry could not understand.
"Pardon the rudeness and I mean no disrespect to yourself, but I was raised by Muggle's and was wondering what type of being you are?" Harry asked in as polite a tone of voice as he could to try and convey that he meant no disrespect.
"I, like my co-workers are from a race known in the Wizarding world as Goblins." Replied the Goblin before another Goblin next to Harry.
"This way sir." The Goblin said to Harry motioning for him to follow.
"Thank you for your help." Harry said to the teller before he followed the other goblin across the hall and through a set of double doors. In contrast to the grand marble of the entryway and the main hall, the passageways to the vaults were stone and dimly lit with flaming torches. The path sloped down to a track upon which little carts sat.
"These carts controlled by us goblins. These carts take visitors deep beneath the surface of the earth, through a "maze of twisting passages," to the vaults." The goblin explained as he and Harry climbed into a cart and took a seat.
Seconds later the cart took off, what the goblin failed to mention was that the carts go very quickly and prevents its occupants from getting a good look at their surroundings, and seemed to run on a vast, complex, interconnected series of tracks that allow them to move to and between any vaults. Minutes later the cart slowed down before coming to a stop outside a vault door.
"Vault 687, the Potter trust vault." Said the goblin as he and Harry got out of the cart and headed towards the vault.
"Trust vault, does that mean there is another vault of my families." Harry asked as he came to a stop in front of the door, above which was the family name in gold lettering, "POTTER"
"Why of course, there is the family vault." Answered the goblin as he looked at Harry with a frown. "Surely you already knew that."
"Sorry but no, I only found out about the Wizarding world a few hours ago." Harry replied quietly.
"Ah right, well how about a bit of history." The goblin motioned Harry over to a bench and took a seat before he began his tale.
"Gringotts Wizarding Bank is the only bank of the Wizarding world, and is owned
and operated by goblins. It was created by a goblin called Gringott, in 1474. The bank was then put in the hands of the Ministry of Magic at an unspecified time, although by the 1500s it already had some degree of Wizarding management — Tertius applied for the job of Curse-Breaker to two wizards who were discussing job vacancies at the door to Gringotts. In 1865, the Ministry decided to put full control of Gringotts back in goblin hands."
"When Gringott first built this bank he got help from two local families, the Potter's and Blacks, and the Blacks had just emigrated from Norway and decided to help by reinforcing every single brick with Protective enchantments. The Potter's on the other hand placed some of the strongest wards over the building once it was built."
"The Potters and the Blacks were the first customers of the bank and so received the first vaults, the Potters got Vault number one and the Blacks vault two."
"Peverell was the surname of a medieval pure-blood Wizarding family, the record of anyone with that name comes from William Peverell who was a commander in the king's security force in 412, over a thousand years before Gringotts bank was built."
"500 years before Gringotts bank was built Ignotus Peverell's granddaughter Beatrix Peverell married Lord Hadrian James Potter who had shortened his father's last name of Pottersmen when he moved from Greece to Britannia."
"Wow I'm named after the first Potter in England." Harry smiled slightly, he thought it was cool that he was named after the Original Potter.
"Yes, only the third Hadrian James Potter in your families long history. And if you take after your two ancestors then you will be extremely powerful." The Goblin said as he stood from his seat, his tale over.
"Is there a way to find out how powerful I am?" Harry asked as he passed his key to the Goblin, who inserted it into the keyhole and unlocked his vault. As the door swung open, a large amount of green mist came billowing out.
"Gringotts offer a simple test that you can take at any time so long as you pay the fee." Replied the Goblin as Harry entered the vault.
Harry nearly gasped aloud at the sight of all the gold within, however he managed to keep his emotions in check. From floor to ceiling, the vault was piled with gold coins. Picking up a piece of yellowing parchment, Harry read.
Potter family trust vault
100'000 galleons
To be capped off yearly
Transactions
5/08/1980 25,800 Hogwarts (7 years tuition) paid by Lord James Alexander Potter
"Why would my father pay for my tuition to Hogwarts only a few days after I was born?" Harry asked as he picked up a bag from a pile that claimed them to be bottomless and feather light.
"Ah yes, I remember that well, Lord Potter had come to Gringotts to make his will and pay your school fee due to the fact that you had showed strong magic just days after your birth by summoning your father's Golden Snitch out of the air." Explained the Goblin as he watched Harry begin to pile gold into his pouch.
Harry smiled to himself at the thought of using magic just days after his birth, he must be powerful to be able to do that, surely it wasn't common place for magical babies to use magic days after their births.
"Can I visit my family vault and afterwards take the test to see how powerful I am?" Harry asked the goblin as he exited the trust vault.
"Of course but I must warn you that you cannot take money from your family vault until you reach the age of 15 when you take over as head of your family and your parents will is read." The Goblin replied as he locked the door and handed Harry the key.
"Very well, who is the head of my family at the moment?" Harry asked as they walked over to the cart.
"Nobody, for all intents and purposes your family is dormant, nobody can do anything in the name of your family until you come of age, no money can be removed from your vault only added, and nobody can use your vote on the Wizengamot until you take over your family." Explained the Goblin as he and Harry got into the cart.
"How come money can be added?" Harry asked as the cart took off, though not nearly as fast as the ride down.
"Because before your father died, he had invested money into various companies and at the end of the business year any profit from the investments is placed into your family vault." The Goblin explained patiently.
"I see." Nodded Harry who was quiet pleased his father had invested money to make sure money was always coming into the family vault should he die, which of course he had.
"How much is the test to find out how powerful I am." Harry asked as they came to stop outside of another vault, which also had the Potter name over the door which instead of brass like the trust vault was gold in colour and if Harry were to guess was made from real gold. On the wall next to the door was a very faded number one.
"The test costs just 40 galleons." The Goblin replied as he got out of the cart followed by Harry and walked over to the vault door. "Place your hand here, do not be alarmed by the small sting you feel, Potter blood and Goblin magic is required to open this vault."
"That's a reasonable price." Harry nodded as he placed his hand in the exact centre of the door. Seconds later he felt a sharp sting in the palm of his hand and at the same time the Goblin ran his finger from the bottom of Harry's hand to the bottom of the door, seconds later there was a flash of light before the door melted away.
"If anyone but a Gringotts goblin and a blood relation of the Potter family tried that, the person would be sucked into the vault, which is checked for trapped thieves about once per decade." The Goblin commented offhandedly as Harry entered the Vault, who was now half expecting someone to be trapped inside the vault, there wasn't thankfully.
Harry gasped in shock unable to reframe himself from doing so as he saw the enormous pile of gold coins. "H-how much…?"
"Let's see." Muttered the Goblin as he picked up a yellowing scroll of parchment and a leather black folder. "At last count, this was yesterday; your vault contains just over two hundred million galleons."
"You must remember that your family has been using this vault since the very first day the bank was opened to the public this is a very long time for them to build up a lot of wealth and interest." Harry nodded numbly as he walked slowly into the vault and began looking around.
As he reached the back of the vault he found a letter with his name on it, he picked it up thinking and hoping that it was a letter to him from his parents. After opening the letter he was very, surprised as he read the contents.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies ..."
"Hi Harry, it your mum here. I'm sorry to have to inform you, but you are destined to kill or be killed by the Dark Lord Voldemort. But don't let this Prophecy rule your life, Harry. You must enjoy your life, make friends, date girls and most importantly, have fun."
Harry, it's your father; my piece of advice is different from your mothers, while I want you to have fun, prank people and woo the girls, I also want you to take care and train for your eventual battle with Voldemort.
Remember Voldemort is the most powerful dark wizard of the modern age, not even Dumbledore can match him in power and skill so unless you can beat Dumbledore in a duel then you are NOT ready to try and beat Voldemort. I am however, confident that you CAN and WILL one day beat the bastard. But until then train as hard as you can but remember to LIVE your life but NEVER trust anyone completely as even the last person you would ever expect to, CAN betray you, trust me on this. "Constant vigilance!" as my Auror trainer Moody would roar after firing a spell at me.
Live your life but NEVER let your guard down for even a second.
Love always,
James and Lily Potter (Mum and Dad)
For half an hour, Harry sat in a dustsheet covered chair, digesting the fact that he had only just put one foot into the Wizarding world and yet he was destined to battle some Dark Lord Voldemort. After a while he came to accept that that was just another part of his life and that if he was to battle this Dark Lord, who was very powerful and skilled, according to his father, then he, Harry Potter, would have to become very powerful and skilled also. He stood up and began searching the vault for anything that might help him with that.
He found a full trunks worth of books on magic that he decided he was going to begin learning from, such as. A beginners guide to Ancient Runes, Charms for beginners, an introduction into Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, how they work and guide to becoming a beginner. There were ten books on potions from the guide to becoming a beginner to becoming a master. There were also all the books to becoming a master in DADA, Charms and Ancient Runes; there was also a series of books on Transfiguration and the mind arts and finding your magical centre. For over an hour, Harry searched the vault for books to help become skilled in magic, he also searched for wands but no such luck.
"Sorry for taking so long in there." Harry said to the goblin who had taken a seat on the bench outside the vault.
"No problem Mr Potter, I've quiet enjoyed a good rest from the hustle and bustle of the bank." Replied the goblin with a grin. "Would you like me to shrink your trunk?" he asked Harry who was pulling a trunk behind him that looked heavy just to pull let alone carry.
"Yes please." Harry nodded as he fully exited the vault and the door reappeared behind him.
With a wave of his hand the Goblin shrank Harrys trunk and made it feather light. "When you get your wand and want to access you things, just tap the trunk once, the feather light charm will remain." He explained as he stood from his seat and walked over to harry who had placed the trunk in his overlarge pants pocket.
"Thank you." Nodded Harry in gratitude. "Now how about that power test."
"No problem, first you must know the different levels of power." Began the Goblin as he and Harry got back into the cart which set off back to the surface. "The classes of power start from Muggle who has no magic whatsoever, then there is the squib who has a sliver of magic but cannot use magic like your everyday magic user."
"Then you have a Wizard whose power ranges from 30 – 100, next we have the Warlock whose power ranges from 100 – 150, next we have the Sorcerer whose power ranges from 150 – 200, next there is the Grand-Sorcerer whose power ranges from 200 – 250, next is Mage whose power ranges from 250 – 300, next is the Grand-Mage whose power ranges from 300 – 350, next we have the Battle-mage whose power ranges from 350 – 400, next we have the Grand Battle-Mage whose power ranges from 400 – 500.
"Wow, so how do you determine how powerful somebody is?" Harry asked as he and the goblin exited the cart back at the start of the track and began walking back towards the main bank hallway.
"We have a special wand that was crafted by Merlin himself and you fire a predetermined spell at a board which will then give your score." Explained the goblin.
"What score did Merlin get do you know?" Harry asked as they crossed the lobby of the bank and entered a door that lead to a bare room with nothing but a white board and a long thin wand sat upon a raised podium.
For an answer the goblin pointed to the very top of the scoreboard.
Merlin, year 993, score 589
"Wow that's an impressive score, what class did Merlin fall into." Harry asked as he stared up at the score of the most famous, powerful wizard of all time, even Muggle's knew of Merlin.
"Merlin got a class all his own, ArchMage." Replied the goblin with a grin at Harry who was still staring up at the score as most wizards did when they saw Merlin's score. "Nobody since Merlin has scored more than 500."
"What score did Dumbledore and Voldemort get? Harry asked as he finally tore his gaze from Merlin's score.
"Dumbledore scored 351 and the Dark Lord has never taken the test so we don't know just how powerful he may be." Replied the Goblin as he picked up the wand and passed it to Harry.
Quickly, Harry pointed the wand at the white scoreboard and as he did so a bright white light flew from the tip of the wand and impacted upon the board which flashed black before a number was displayed along with his name and the year.
Harry Potter, year 1991, score 481
"WOW I'm a grand battle-Mage, I'm more powerful than Dumbledore." Harry grinned in delight as his ego grew just a little, but he held no delusions, even though he was more powerful than Dumbledore, Harry had no doubt that the Headmaster would soundly defeat him in a fight at this point in time but in time when he had trained his magic and skill, Harry had no doubt that he would be able to soundly beat the Headmaster.
End of chapter 2
So what do you all think of this 2nd chapter of my rewrite? Please review!
