A/N I have made some changes in this chapter. (especially the end) Don't peak! ") Hopefully that will hold you over to ch. 3. I have a poll that I wrote regarding this story. Before you vote, please read the explanations on those choices on my profile. It is the last paragraph. No matter what choice you make, this will not be a SuperHarry; at the same time, there will not be a weak Harry either. I will need the results for chapter 4. The poll will remain open until I have at least 200 votes or the results are clear with less. Thanks for reading this announcement. Now onto the story.
Harry was a very pleased young man. After losing conscientiousness, FloraFang had revived him with the news that the ritual was a success. After he was shown a mirror, Harry had immediately noticed that he did not have his famous scar anymore. Without the scar or glasses, his most well known characteristics were gone.
The healer had him take his bone potions last night and earlier this morning; he had also taken his other potion as well for malnutrition both times with a small meal. Despite tasting horrid, Harry had been very pleased that his much maligned body had been fixable. He had every intention of drinking each of those potions over the next month.
Currently, Harry is getting dressed in a goblin made tunic and trousers. The Dursley Trial will be taking place soon. Harry will be walking in with Griphook and Florafang.
The aforementioned goblins walked into the infirmary.
"Good morning." Harry greeted the goblins.
"Good Morning Mr. Potter." both goblins returned the greeting.
"What are we going to do about Dumbledore? I can not be the first kid that he has done this to?" Harry asked his account manager.
"You make a great point. Are you suggesting we investigate Dumbledore?" Griphook asked intrigued with the young wizard.
"Yes, I had been thinking of this since last night. I would of course pay for the investigation. If we had found enough damning evidence, we could threaten him to leave me alone. If the evidence were compelling enough, I would like to see him go to prison."
Harry had not felt comfortable blackmailing someone to get his way. However, all he had wanted was a normal life. Well, as normal as young wizard's life could be. The last thing he had wanted was the Dursley version of normal. The thought of such a life was terrifying to say the least.
"I will start on this after the trial. The results from your medical exam will go a long way to achieve your desire to send the man to prison." Griphook told his client before he informed Harry of some surprising news.
"It appears that Dumbledore, as well as the rest of the wizarding community, believes that you are dead." Griphook announced.
"Why would they believe that? We had not changed my name yet." Harry was confused.
"Apparently there had been a prophecy that had concerned the dark lord and yourself. It had exploded at the same time we had removed the soul fragment from your scar. An Unspeakable, who had been secretly working for Gringotts, had informed us of this development as soon as they had the chance." Griphook had informed both Harry and FloraFang.
"That is such good news. Those wizards will not hurt you anymore!" FloraFang stated passionately.
It is common for a goblin to mistrust or even despise wizards. Harry is the lone exception for the passionate healer.
Harry was stunned. The wizards would have little doubt about his alleged demise. This was prefect.
"Do we have evidence of my supposed death?" Harry asked.
"Yes, it had been imperative to act quickly after we had heard the news. We had orchestrated a car accident on a seldom used road that had resulted in the apparent deaths of your relatives and yourself. Both magical and muggle means would confirm it. It would be best to change your name shortly after the trial." Griphook had told him bluntly.
"Thank you, Griphook. This has eased my mind." Harry sighed in relief.
"I am glad to be of service Mr. Potter. The trial is about to inaugurate. Since you are still a child, FloraFang will testify for you." Griphook announced.
"Yes, I have plenty to say about those monsters. Are you ready to go Mr. Potter?" the healer asked her patient.
"Yes, I appreciate what you have both done for me."
"Nonsense, Mr. Potter. We will see to it that you will have a happy life." FloraFang said with suspicious moisture in her eyes. Abuse cases, such as Harry's, got to her.
"Let's be on our way Mr. Potter." Griphook encouraged his client.
It did not need to be said that helping Mr. Potter helps Griphook. While Griphook was pleased to help an abused child with powerful enemies, with his clients accounts active again, he would make a great deal of money. He would be honored by his clan. Honor is everything for a goblin.
Harry, on the other hand, had known that his manager would not have helped him if Griphook did not get anything out of the deal. Managing his family money was enough of a prize to help him. Besides, they both knew that if his enemies won, The Potter Line would have died out. Even though Harry is still wary of others motives, he had known that this was as good a deal that he would get.
As they had walked into the courtroom, many goblins were seated in the large underground, round shaped room.
The Goblin King would be seated in center of the room in front of the accused. The remaining goblins would sit in one of the seats that were available in the courtroom. Those goblins that possessed a higher status received the preferred seats while the opposite is true for those of a lower status.
Harry and his two companions were to sit in front since the case was concerning him.
"Please stand. Our King Ragnarok will be presiding over this trial. It is the Goblin Nation vs. The Dursleys."
While the announcement was going on, the Goblin King had walked in and had taken his seat.
"Be seated. Vernon and Petunia Dursley will now be brought in." The Goblin King announced.
"You freaks! You are even more freaky than my good for nothing freaky nephew!" Vernon Dursley bellowed while he was being manhandled by a burly goblin to his seat.
Petunia was pale due to her fear.
'Dumbledore would have gotten us out of it and that brat knew it. That freak had put us on trial in a monster court!' Petunia had thought of the goblins as monsters.
The Goblin King, Ragnarok, decided to begin.
"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, is it my understanding that you refuse council on your behalf?"
"We don't need freaks to defend us. His own people don't even care about the brat!" Vernon spat out viciously.
The goblins in attendance balked at the disrespect shown to their king. The vitriol that he spoke with concerning Harry Potter was concerning as well.
"Very well, speaking on behalf of Mr. Potter is Healer FloraFang." King Ragnarok announced.
FloraFang had walked over and was seated in the witness chair. The chair was also known as the chair of truth. The goblin's had created it to ensure the integrity of their trials.
FloraFang had then told the court of her findings to an enraptured court.
Then it was time to ask questions. It was decided that Griphook would handle the case for his client.
"Healer FloraFang, do you know how Mr. Potter received those head injuries?
"Yes, after I had spoken with Mr. Potter about his life with those people, I know exactly what had happened. The room that he had in that house had been the cupboard under the stairs for his first ten years there. He was often shoved in there hitting his head hard enough to have serious head trauma. These injuries match what I had healed regarding his head injuries."
The court had broken out in angry shouts that were aimed at the Dursleys. The goblin's were angered that a child had lived this way. Children were seen as precious in the goblin culture. It was not looking good for those two humans.
Harry had put his head down. The young wizard had logically known that the abuse was not his fault. Emotionally, he had felt ashamed of his previous treatment.
The goblin audience had been silenced by their king.
"Dumbledore had told us to keep a firm hand on him!" Vernon yelled. He had thought that was a defense.
Unknown to the Dursleys, the chairs they were sitting in were also chairs of truth.
"Did Dumbledore tell you to have him do an excessive amount of chores, feed him so little that he has severe malnutrition, physically hit Mr. Potter hard enough to break bones, and deny him medical treatment?" the Goblin King roared.
"No, Dumbledore wanted him to be humble and malleable for when he started that freaky school. We were ordered not to let that freak find out about freaky stuff or his freaky parents." Vernon replied.
"Why do you take orders from a wizard? You call them freaks do you not?" The Goblin King pressed.
"We only had taken him in because of the money we had received and deserved for having to put up with a freak. Dumbledore had plans for having that boy to be some kind martyr. We had signed one of your people's contracts. As long as he was humble and malleable, and the boy had done what Dumbledore wanted, we would get a lot of the Potter money." Vernon had looked shocked at what he had revealed.
Chaos had erupted after that explosive statement. The goblins were shouting for their heads.
Meanwhile Harry had handled this bombshell with an air of nonchalance. It had not surprised him that Dumbledore had wanted Voldemort to kill him one day. He in fact had suspected something along those lines after hearing the healers report. The more he had found out about that man, the more grateful he had been for the simple fact that the old man thought he was dead.
Harry would need to be powerful magically and politically before he had any chance to be influential in this world. If there had been any way to ruin Dumbledore before that day, he would do just that. The wizard was determined to prevent other children from growing up like he had.
While Harry was thinking, King Ragnarok had quickly asked Petunia and Vernon the rest of his questions. All of their answers had confirmed the abuses and frauds.
"I have made a decision on this case. I find you both guilty." King Ragnarok announced.
"You can't do that you freak!" Vernon shouted.
"Dumbledore will get us off!" Petunia shrieked.
"Silence, since you abused a magical child, we have jurisdiction. Your precious Dumbledore will be up on charges after we compile all of his misdeeds." The Goblin King used a charm to silence the recent convicts.
"You have been found guilty of 112 counts of child abuse. That is for each month he was in your questionable care. You have been found guilty of fraud since you have not spent any of that money on Mr. Potter. You have also been found guilty with attempted line theft when you, a mere muggle, have plotted with Albus Dumbledore to steal his inheritance."
The goblins were cheering wildly after the verdict was read. Harry was feeling ecstatic.
"Your sentence Mr. and Mrs. Dursley is to work the mines for the rest of your lives. We will give you a substance that will prolong your lives. If you get injured, you will not have the right to a healer. We will feed you enough to keep you alive and that is all. If you do not complete your tasks you will get a beating. Perhaps then you will see the error of your ways. That is the kind of treatment you subjected your nephew to. Your son will not remember you or magic. He is living with a loving family. He has a new name and look." King Ragnarok announced to cheers.
"By the way Mr. Dursley, did your wife ever tell you that she had come from a magical family? Petunia and her parents were squibs. While her sister was a pureblooded witch that Petunia was jealous of." King Ragnarok slyly said.
The Dursleys were still silent from the spell. A look of horror was on Petunia's face while disgust was present on Vernon's face.
Harry had approved of the sentence. Yes, it was harsh. However, that was what they did to him. Prison was a place where people were supposed to atone for their crimes. Harry had not thought that they would ever be sorry for how they had treated him. They would most likely blame him to their dying day.
"There is nothing more to see Mr. Potter. We have some business to take care of." Griphook informed him.
Harry had smiled slightly when he had begun walking behind Griphook. Yes, he had been pleased about the outcome. It was difficult to hear that someone well known in the magical community was actively plotting his death. Those schemes were unlikely to continue since the old goat believed that he was dead.
Harry and Griphook are now back to the account office that led to the positive changes in Harry's life.
"Now Mr. Potter, have you decided on a name?" Griphook asked.
"I noticed that it is tradition for the first male heir to have the name of his father for a middle name." Harry saw the trend when he examined his family tree from the inheritance test.
"Yes, that is true. A Black will definitely stick with tradition. The Romanov tradition is to name the first born son after a legendary Romanov."
"What choices would Alexandra have chosen from. Was she known to prefer any male names?" Harry furrowed his brow.
"Yes, the two names that she had liked were Dmitri and Hadrian."
"I will choose Hadrian. It will be easier to adjust to it. Hadrian Regulus Black." Hadrian said getting used to his new name.
Suddenly, a white flash had come out of nowhere in front of the goblin and wizard, which was too bright to look at, and it had left abruptly.
Noticing that it was gone, Hadrian was concerned. "Are you alright Griphook? What was that?"
"Yes, I am fine Mr. Black. That is a time delayed letter. It is addressed to one Hadrian Regulus Black."
"Are you saying that someone from the past knew that we would do this? How could they know this name? We had not known it until a minute ago." Hadrian asked feeling confused.
The goblin chuckled. "Sometimes I forget that you are new to the magical world. Not to worry, with your intelligence you will be more learned than most wizards in a few years. However, there is a branch of magic called divination. True seers are extremely rare and hard to find. It is my belief that whoever wrote to you met with one of them."
Hadrian was curious about who would go through that much trouble to send a letter to him. He had noticed that Griphook was finished placing spells on the letter.
"Is it safe to open Griphook?" Hadrian asked tentatively.
"Yes, it is. The way time magic works is that the magic thinks now is the time to open that letter."
That had seemed reasonable to him. Then Hadrian had gotten the shock of his life. This letter, with another behind it, was written by James and Lily Potter. Wide eyed, Hadrian had read the letter.
Dearest Hadrian,
Before you were born we had met with another young couple named Regulus Black and Alexandra Romanov. What we had found out shocked and appalled us both. I'm so sorry my baby boy who I could not protect you from the life you had with my sister. Any interference would be discovered by the old goat according to a true seer. Your father and I had disinherited your aunt and cousin so your cousin's future children if magical would not be able to cause your heirs problems in the future. I am so proud of my handsome smart boy. Not many could say that they had seen Dumbles for who he was as quickly as you did. The seer had said that you would receive this after your first year. Your dad would like to write now. I love you so much sweetie! Hi son, never doubt how proud I am of you. You had come out of your hardships as a strong young man. I do not care that you were almost in Slytherin. I had learned that not all snakes are evil. Some of the best aurors I had worked with were in that house. Your mother and I would like you to agree to being blood adopted by Regulus and Alexandra. Our method of choice, an illegal one at that, would fool any paternity test. A legal potion would display our names as well. The only side effect would be that you would look like their son completely. You would still be our son as well despite your new appearance. I know this would be difficult for you son as it was for Lily and I. There could be nothing more important to us than your safety and happiness. You would always be our baby boy no matter what Hadrian. If you had chosen this option, all the Potter money and any other monies, possessions, and properties you had inherited would be immediately placed under your new name. We had worked it out with King Ragnarok before you were born. We had insured that Dumbledore could not trace your inheritance.
We love you very much,
James and Lily Potter
P.S. You have a godfather, Sirius Black, that we included in our plans. We have been warned that Dumbles will throw him in Azkaban Prison without a trial. Sirius is blood adopted as Alexandra's older brother Alexei. He used the same potion that you will be taking. Alexei will be meeting with you soon despite your choice. If you have any further questions, your godfather will be able to answer them.
Hadrian had tears running down his face. His parents had loved him very much. It had also been a balm to his wounded soul knowing that his parents had supported his choices.
He had a godfather. Harry could not wait to meet the man.
He would accept the generous offer from a couple he had never met, nor would he get the chance to. Hadrian had decided it was time to read the letter of his soon to be adopted parents.
Dearest Hadrian,
Words can not express my sadness for you that drastic measures of a blood adoption had been necessary. The seer had shown Regulus and I glimpses of your life which we had shared with James and Lily. We had seen the abuse, your first year at Hogwarts, your true friend Hermione, the Dursley Trial, among other future events. One thing I could tell you is that Voldemort would eventually come back. When you had that horcrux extracted, the dark lord had stopped being your responsibility. There had used to be a prophecy between the dark lord and yourself. Since it no longer exists, you would not have to fight in the upcoming war. I would advice you to stay out of it. I strongly suggest that you write Hermione Granger about what had led you here today. Ask Griphook if he would not mind placing a goblin secrecy spell on the letter. No one would be able to force her to give away any information. Onto other matters, the four of us had left you with our journals so that you would have the chance to know us. The Journals would be in Regulus's vault. Your father would like to say something now. If you could read that, that means you would like to be our son. Hadrian, I would be proud to be your mother. I love you my son! A son, I have a son. You do not know how happy you have made me. I know you must feel anger towards your past. Please do not let those experiences ruin your life. My family put a lot of pressure on me to be the perfect son. It drove me to become a deatheater. I have the utmost regrets for joining that monster. I found out that he made horcruxes. One of them is in the Black Ancestral Home with Kreature guarding it. After the blood adoption, call for the elf and order him to bring it there. Do not be polite with that elf. Make sure that you are commanding with the demented elf. Other elves do appreciate kindness. Tell Kreature that your father wanted him to give it to you in my last letter to you. That elf has always been fond of me for some reason. He will do as you ask. A second horcrux used to be in the Lestrange vault. By now the goblins must have destroyed the abomination while confiscating the offending vault. I have made arrangements with The Goblin King to hunt the rest of the horcruxes after I stole one of them. I want you to be happy, study hard, and find someone to love. We have seen who you will end up with Hadrian. The four of us approve. We have not told Alexei since he will have the chance to meet your love. Your uncle will give you advice, but I will advise against taking it. Here I am rambling. I love you and your mother does too.
Love,
Alexandra Romanov and Regulus Black
P.S. We had just received a legal marriage certificate in Russia. We had also told some important people in pureblood society about you my son. That would make things easier. Your father would be leaving you his memories of when he was learning how to be a proper pureblood gentleman, and later heir. Alexei would not be much help in those lessons. He would rather you play pranks. It would be important for your future to learn all you could. Do not go into the Black Ancestral Home until you had mastered these lessons. The painting of Regulus's mother could make things difficult in front of future company if she knew that you were muggle raised. That would blow the cover of you being raised by my brother.
Hadrian was in awe of these four spectacular people. He was honored to call Regulus and Alexandra his parents. They had done so much for him. Even though he could not call James and Lily his parents openly, they would still also be his parents in blood even if it were hidden.
"When can we do the adoption ritual Griphook?"
"We could do it now. I had the adoption potion ready if you had chosen that option. Regulus Black and Alexandra Romanov had their blood in stasis in the late Mr. Black's vault. I had taken the liberty to retrieve it while you were reading your letters."
Hadrian admired the goblin for his forethought. Wasting time is something that goblins abhor.
"Thank you Griphook. What will happen after this ritual? How long will it take?"
"It will take twenty-four hours before the process is complete. You will be sleeping for the majority of it." Griphook informed his client.
"I would like to complete the ritual after I am finished writing my friend Hermione. My mother had mentioned that I would need a goblin secrecy charm on the letter. Would you please perform the charm?" Hadrian asked.
"Of course Mr. Black." Griphook charmed a piece of parchment and handed it to him.
"Thanks Griphook. I would like to pay for tutors in various subjects since school is out of the question for the moment." Hadrian mused. It would not do to make anyone suspicious of him.
"Write your letter to your friend. Your parents have already paid for all the tutors you will need."
"Even tutors for non magical subjects?" Hadrian asked.
"Yes, they arranged an impressive list on muggle studies. Since you will be learning both magical and muggle subjects, a wit sharpening potion will be provided. It will be hard work though." the goblin warned.
Hadrian gave him a nod of understanding.
"Thank you, Griphook. I am going to write my friend. Will you send it for me?"
"Of course Mr. Black, your beautiful bird is in the owlery. It will not be wise to send your owl before we complete the adoption. I will be happy to send it with my mail."
"Thank you, Griphook."
Hadrian had sat down to compose a letter to his second friend. The one who had the honor of first friend was Hedwig, Hadrian's beautiful snowy owl.
Dear Hermione,
You will have a difficult time believing what I am about to tell you. No, I am not dead. It will be safer for me if it is believed that I am dead. Don't tell Dumbledore since he has tried to kill me more than anyone else, including Voldemort. Please do not tell anyone of this letter. It will place you in danger. For that I apologize Hermione. First, Dumbledore put me with people he knew abused me. Yes, abused as in beatings, starvation, a cupboard was my room until I was 11, and chores that took all day. The healer said my strong magic is the only thing that kept me alive. Half of my magic is doing nothing but that. Fortunately my health problems are fixable with magic. I'm sorry that I played down my intelligence last year. In my defense, I felt that if I did not act how everyone expected me to, I'd have a controlling potion shoved down my throat. Dumbledore admitted that he expected me to go after the stone. He does not care for my health or happiness. There has been a trial for the Dursleys at the Goblin nation since my magical guardian is negligent and politically powerful. You guessed it, Albus too many names Dumbledore is my guardian. That guardianship will be null and void by the time you get this letter. So rejoice! Under a truth spell Vernon admitted that Dumbledore ordered them to have a heavy hand on me as well as to make sure that I will be weak and ready to be molded into Dumbles pawn. Dumbles planned to convince me to commit suicide by having Voldemort kill me. Then Dumbles could take the credit for killing another dark lord. Sick isn't? The reason why I may have considered dying is that I contained a horcrux or a piece of the dark lords soul in my scar. The goblins completed a ritual that removed it. Dumbledore must have known about such a ritual. He just wants me dead. I hate to tell you more bad news. Voldemort will eventually come back. It is not our fight Hermione. I do not believe Ron is our friend either. Hagrid forgot to tell me how to get on the platform. He is a nice guy and all, but why send the groundskeeper to show the wizarding world to a muggle raised kid. With Molly Weasley shouting about muggles, it is clear to me then that they are Dumbledore's agents. When I sat in a compartment, Ron told me all of the other ones were full. You are a brilliant girl, you can see the set up as well I can. This parchment has been charmed with a goblin secrecy spell. No one will be able to force you to tell them the contents in this letter. You are the only one I can trust. I will be homeschooling myself with tutors in magical and muggle subjects. You are welcome to join me.
Your friend,
Hadrian formerly known as Harry
"I have finished writing my letter Griphook. Where would the adoption ritual take place?" Harry asked.
"FloraFang would like it if you stayed in the infirmary the whole day. She told me that she wanted to monitor you for any changes." Griphook informed him.
Hadrian nodded unconcerned. Whatever the results, he would be happy with it. The young wizard planned on embracing the future as he walked toward the infirmary.
Hadrian had arranged himself on a bed that was designated for him. Besides FloraFang, there were other goblins that were involved in the adoption ritual. Hadrian's healer would not take part in the ritual. It was FloraFang's responsibility that Hadrian swallows the adoption potion to the last drop.
The Goblins have been chanting for nearly an hour. Hadrian had already felt his adoptive families magic accepting him. Once the ritual was finished, Hadrian was immersed in the Black and Romanov family magics. All that was left was the potion.
Despite the impressive power surrounding Hadrian, Florafang was capable of reaching her patient since she had the blood of both families in her possession.
"Mr. Black, you must drink all of this.
"I will, thank you." Hadrian quickly drank the potion. The young wizard is extremely careful to drink it all like the healer told him.
'That was awful.' Hadrian thought with a slight wince. 'It is definitely worth it. I finally will be free enough to be myself!'
Unknown to Harry, tears were running down his face as he had quickly fallen in an enchanted asleep.
It will be a full day before he will wake a new person. On the outside he will be at least. Whether his name is Harry James Potter, or Hadrian Regulus Black, he will remain unchanged. For the moment at least.
A/N: I changed three things that will not alter the story in any way. A reviewer from another site felt that Harry befriending the goblins would inspire trust that Harry does not have. The goblins can't stand wizards. Especially the ones in power. While helping Harry, they were able to get one over on the headmaster. Even Harry's name change was due to their dislike of Dumbles. The inactive Potter money earned Griphook nothing. With Hadrian there, he can take a percentage of profits. Where Hadrian is grateful to the goblins for helping him, he does not see them as friends. More like pleasant business partners. The goblins, Griphook and FloraFang, think highly of Hadrian. Hadrian thinks highly of them as well.
The third change was the end. I added the adoption ritual. One thing I will say, even though he has two different families magic, does not mean that he will lose his parents magic. He WILL NOT become more powerful magically as a result.