Officially Beta'ed!
Chapter 2: Shopping with Bella…
The next morning Harry got up pretty early to begin working out. In his mind he no longer wanted to remain scrawny and weak. 'I want to show all of them that they made the worst mistake of their lives for turning on me just for some money. It's about time the Slytherin side take over from now on.'
"Kreacher!"
With a small pop the older house elf had appeared. "You summoned me Master Harry?"
"Do you know if there is some sort of training room inside this house?"
"Oh yes there is a training room inside the basement. Come with Kreacher and he will show you." He said with a smile.
As they walked past her bedroom…Bella woke up from her nightmare trying to see where she was. She finally took in her surroundings when she saw the picture of Sirius and James Potter on her nightstand. "Sirius…I'm so sorry. I never wanted you to fall like that. I only wanted you out of harms way."
She put the picture back, and made her way to the bathroom when she saw Harry and Kreacher walk down the hallway. 'I wonder what they're up to this early in the morning.'
Harry and Kreacher reached the locked basement door. The house elf opened the basement door with his magic, and illuminated the room that hasn't been used in many years. . "This is the training room. Kreacher will clean this up for you Master Harry."
He saw a running track, weights, exercise equipment, mats, and a dueling arena. "If you insist, but I can do this."
"No Master Harry will not do anything! We house elves serve the magical world since long before you were born. When training is done we house elves will teach you our ways." He said as he went to work.
While Kreacher was cleaning up the weights and the other equipment, Harry started to stretch out before running out onto the track. "You forgot to put a silencing charm on your slippers Bella."
"I see that you have learned how to listen. Very good tenderfoot, but what do you plan to do by just running around and lifting weights? Here take your shirt off and show me why you need to do this."
He removed his shirt as he was told. She saw the scars, cuts, and various healing wounds all over his chest and back. "How did all of this happen? Where did you get all of these wounds?"
"Don't act so shocked. Surely you didn't think that the poster boy for the 'light side' of magic would have been a victim of child abuse, starvation, and neglect."
She was appalled as she ran her fingers down one of his wounds that re-opened. "Kreacher, will you bring me some medical supplies?"
"You shouldn't bother. These wounds of mine prove how weak I am."
The house elf returned with what she asked for. Immediately she began to clean his wounds, but she came close to using a full-body bind on him to force him to keep still. "Harry, I don't think you're weak."
"Yeah right, and I'm Tom Riddle's lover."
"Sarcasm is not your strong point. You are not weak because of these wounds, instead it makes you stronger." She spoke the truth from her own experience.
"Uh huh."
Her frustration was finally getting the better of her. "I know you don't trust me and I can't blame you, but do you really hate me because I have been branded as a slave?"
"I don't hate you Bella, but I don't trust you at all. For all I know you could leave here tonight to inform your master about everything."
"I understand, but it's time that you realize that I never wanted a half-blood's mark on my forearm! I was a very intelligent Ravenclaw until my sister and mother decided for me to be forcefully married to that Lestrange bastard. The minute my nightmare began I was brought before that pathetic half-blood. He put me under the imperious curse; he and his loyal male Death Eaters raped me. Even my brother-in-law Lucius pleasured himself without telling his wife that he raped me. From that point on I was placed under that curse until I could break it. Then he had Snape brew the Imperious Potion, and kept putting me under it until I was brought here. So just remember that you finally rescued me, and I'm not following anyone anymore." She informed him as she continued to clean him up.
"I'm sorry for taking my anger out on you. You've suffered just as much as I have, but why shouldn't I build up my body?"
"Think about it. 'They won't know what hit them.' Everyone knows you as scrawny and weak, but let them continue to think that way because you will have the element of surprise. Let's start going over all the spells, tricks, and all the other junk they tried to teach you at that school." Bella said as he tossed her wand to her.
Nearly an hour later they finished dueling. Dobby brought them each a bottle of water and a fresh towel. "You didn't do that bad, but you need more then just those kinds of simple spells. The one thing that you want to do with your spellwork is to focus your emotions."
He took the towel and wiped his face. "So I have to use my emotion to fire off the intent of the spell. Interesting."
"That's all you need to do, but go take a shower. You will eat some breakfast when you're done, and then we will start reading in the library on theories on the Dark Arts. Dobby, can you start on some breakfast for us?" She gave her wand back to Harry.
Before he could leave Winky popped in. "Master Harry there is a changeling trying to get past the wards."
"What does this 'changeling' look like?"
"She has spiky pink hair and is wearing an Auror uniform." The former Crouch house elf said.
Bella looked at him after hearing her description. "That sounds like my nice, Nymphadora. I wonder why she is here?"
"Probably to bring me back to dumb-as-a-door. Just so he could have his little weapon back. Winky bring her into the drawing room, and if she isn't alone then tell her to leave."
"Yes Master Harry." She bowed and disappeared with a pop.
Meanwhile in the drawing room…Tonks was bored and pacing around the room. 'I hope that he will be at least somewhat happy to see me. It was a good thing that I wasn't shadowed by the order.'
Harry opened the door and walked in with an angry look on his face. "What are you doing here?"
"That was a nice prank that you pulled on the Order and I came to ask you why I received this post from Gringotts saying that my mother and I have been restored in the Black family. I know that you had something to do with it kiddo."
"And you would be right since I brought the both of you back to your real family. Did Dumbledore send you here?" He asked as his glare lightened.
She hugged him much to his shock. "No, he didn't send me here. I came of my own will, but how did Sirius name you the head of the Black Family if you weren't his son? He 'blood adopted' you didn't he?"
"How do I know that you're really Nymphadora Tonks, and not some polyjuiced person pretending to be her?" He had a full smirk on his face when he said her first name.
"STOP USING MY FIRST NAME!" She growled at him.
He laughed at the look on her face and quickly calmed down when she glared at him. "So if he did not send you here then why did you come alone?"
Tonks sighed heavily as she sat back down in her chair. "The truth is that Remus is becoming worried that you're turning down the dark path. I've been telling him that you haven't but he just isn't easily convinced. And listening to Dumbledore day in and day out is getting really annoying. He's been going on and on saying that you need to go back to your 'family's home' for the blood wards. So I did some research on them, and you need to have actual positive feelings in order to keep the wards active. But since you've been surrounded by such a negative environment they could've been destroyed with a simple spell."
He walked to the door and opened it to see Bella eavesdropping on them. "If you wanted to say hello to your niece then go ahead."
"A…Aunt Bella?" She said as she made a grab for her wand.
"'Dora, please don't. I'm finally back in my own mind once again, but there is much for us to talk about. Before you jump to conclusions I didn't mean to send Sirius behind the veil. I was under a potion version of the Imperious curse for a long time, and Harry rescued me from it. I'm not a Death Eater anymore. Instead I am training him on magic, and how to use it."
"How are you training him when his wand is being tracked heavily by the ministry?" She asked.
Harry smirked at her question. "Mrs. Black's portrait told me that the wards surrounding the house also have a magic dampening addition to it so any form of tracking will be disabled. You are more then welcome to assist your Aunt in training me. I only have another few months before I have to return to that school. What do you say?"
Tonks smiled and pinched his cheeks. "How could I say no to your pretty little face? So did anyone else get a letter from Gringotts?"
He broke into a true smile. "Oh I'm sure that Dumbledore, Granger, and most of the Weasleys will be getting very nasty letters. I can't wait for the looks on their faces when they find out that all their vaults have been emptied of my money."
Ron woke up frustrated when his girlfriend wouldn't let him go near her. She seemed very closed off and isolated ever since she knew that she betrayed her first friend.
FLASHBACK
"How could we betray him like that Ron? Stealing his money, pretending to be loyal to him, and treating him like that after he just lost Sirius. Did you even see how he looked when he came to the headquarters?"
He was getting very upset that she kept talking about him. "Why do you even care? He put us in danger so many times during our time at Hogwarts! If you ask me he doesn't deserve any friends because he'll get them killed in the end!"
"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT! I WOULD STILL FOLLOW HIM AROUND IF I WEREN'T ORDERED BY DUMBLEDORE TO SPY ON HIM! YOU DISGUST ME! LET ME GUESS YOU WERE GIVEN SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE YOU SPIED ON HIM!"
His ears turned red, but he tried to calm her down by putting his arm around her. However, she pushed him away from her. "What's your problem Herm? Why are you being like this?"
"Don't you dare call me that again! I am not your girlfriend anymore and don't even try to sway me into going out with you again." She took off the ring he gave her, threw it at him, and stormed out of his room.
END FLASHBACK
He sat down to breakfast, and began shoveling food into his mouth as four letters came flying in by four falcons. He opened the letter that was addressed to him.
"Mr. Ronald Weasley,
This is a monthly statement regarding your vault. According to our records you're vault has been closed. The reason why this has happened was because of Albus Dumbledore's transgression of paying you money from Harry Potter's family vault.
Your money has been given back to the rightful owner. But your presence is required for the will reading of Sirius Orion Black on August 4.
H.G. Bloodrune
Gringotts Wizarding Bank."
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL!" He roared. "POTTER CLOSED MY VAULT!"
"He closed mine too!" Ginny burst into tears.
Mr. Weasley was furious that Dumbledore let this happen. His pride was hurt knowing where the money was coming from. He grabbed his hat and cloak and apparated away without touching his breakfast.
"Oh dear…I hope Albus can fix this…"
Hermione received her letter, and understood that Harry had every right to close her vault. But she felt incredibly alone since Harry stopped writing to her. She tried sending him posts, but everytime they were returned back to her with the owl looking lost and confused.
Her mother was getting very worried about her. "David, I don't understand it but I think our daughter is depressed. Everytime I try to talk to her she remains quiet. It's scaring me."
"I'm sure she'll come around Emma. Let me talk to her to find out what's going on with her. I'll be right back." He said giving her a kiss on her forehead, and headed for his daughter's bedroom.
With a tiny knock he opened her bedroom door to see his daughter crying at her desk. "Is everything alright?"
"No everything is so messed up. I broke up with that bigoted, prejudiced, and so many other foul things idiot because he and my headmaster manipulated me into betraying my best friend Harry who's cut himself off from the Wizarding world. He won't even return any of my posts, and closed my Gringotts account. Why did I listen to them? For more knowledge of magic? For books? Training? I would give up anything just to be able to talk to him again."
He walked over and hugged his daughter. "I'm sure that he will come around when he cools off. But what do you mean he closed your Gringotts account?"
"When I joined the Order of the Phoenix my headmaster gave me a vault key, and said it was for me to use as I saw fit. But every bit of gold, sickle, and knut was stolen from Harry's family vault. I never used any of it, and to tell you the truth I'm glad he closed it! I would never stoop so low to use money that belonged to somebody else."
"Well I'm glad to see we taught you good values and moral fiber. I'm very proud of you, and to tell you the truth I'm very happy that you broke it off with that red head idiot. He didn't deserve to be in your presence, but next time choose someone who doesn't look so dumb." He joked as he hugged her again, and wiped away her tears.
She broke into a toothy smile and returned his hug. "Thank you dad."
"You're welcome sweetie, but don't let them get you down. Show them that you're made of stronger material, and continue to do things that you enjoy. I want you to be happy, and live your life the way you want to. Now let's head down to breakfast. I think your mother is actually allowing us to have some sugar today."
Dumbledore was sitting in his office fuming. Fawkes hadn't returned, and Harry ruined his plans once again. Not only did he remove his magical guardianship, but he also had charges filed against him. "How was he able to do this? In all my life I've always been in control and one little teenager throws a monkey wrench into my plans for the greater good! Now I must find a new way of getting funding for the Order or else it will fall."
Professor Snape had returned from a Death Eater meeting, and entered the headmaster's office. "Albus! The Dursley's have been murdered, and the home was destroyed. It seems that the head of the Black family has dissolved Bellatrix's marriage to Lestrange. The Dark Lord was furious to know that his most loyal death eater is now bound by pureblood law to remain a charge of her new head of house, but her sister Narcissa and her son have been disowned. So now his funds have been cut in half since the other known Death Eater's accounts have been frozen."
"This could be a slight advantage for our cause, but we still need Mr. Potter to defeat Voldemort."
Severus wasn't that easily convinced. "Potter is not going to be able to defeat the Dark Lord over some prophecy and you know it. You've kept him in the dark for far too long, and he's rebelled against you. Frankly I cannot blame him. If you hadn't ordered me into bullying him all the time then he would show promise as a wizard."
"I did this for the greater good. By having you angry with him will force another hatred that will give him a magical boost according to theory. When the time is right he will swell with magic and will take Voldemort down with him."
"I don't see how that could happen until his magical inheritance unless he becomes involved in the dark arts." He blurted out.
The headmaster's eyes grew wide. "He cannot divulge himself into the Dark Arts or else we'll have someone worse then Riddle. I won't allow it to happen."
"Forgive me for being blunt but who are you to stop him? You do not know where he has gone, nor do you know whom he is with. I definitely know that he is not involved in Voldemort's ranks. But I must go down to my lab to restore various potions for Madame Pomfrey." He walked out of the office, and had a sudden thought when Bellatrix came to mind, and how angry Voldemort was when she didn't come back.
Harry was busy training with his two instructors when they decided to give him a break. "Not to shabby kiddo, but Aunt Bella is right. You need to work on your focus, but don't worry I'm sure with some weapons training you'll be fine."
"Weapons training? I thought you said that I needed spell work."
Bella smirked at him because she knew where this was going. "Actually knowing spells and using them are two different things. Weapons training and self-defense are essential when your wand has been knocked out of your hand, and unless you are a master of wandless magic you are pretty much powerless. But we will work on your other subjects as well. Unfortunately 'Dora you might have to go out and get a few books, and potion ingredients."
"That's fine, but it might be tricky if I have to get anything from Knockturn alley. I'm sorry but those people freak me out."
Harry started laughing at this. "If it's anything that I need I'll go get it myself. I would say that Diagon Alley wouldn't be worth my time. Besides I have to get rid of this stupid piece of wood since it doesn't work against Voldemort since we have brother wands."
"Yeah perhaps we should go out shopping to get supplies. I can make myself look like his girlfriend." Tonks teased him.
"But that is a good idea if you really think about it. However, the two of you don't know where to go for the good supplies. So the two of us will go, and you should go to work. I don't want you to get in trouble 'Dora."
She pouted. "Alrighty then I'll come back over when I get off tonight. Oh can you tie me into the wards so I don't have to be brought in by Winky?"
"Consider it done, but I must say welcome back to the family Nymphadora." Mrs. Black's spoke with a smile.
"Thank you and it's great to be back. I'll see you guys later." She hugged her aunt, and kissed Harry on the cheek. "Oh come on, you're like my little brother so get used to it."
"You didn't have to spit on my cheek." He complained as she left. "Ok Bella what are we going shopping for?"
"I would say that we need some updated potion brewing books, potion ingredients, a new wardrobe, battle robes, a new wand or staff, a weapon, a multi-compartment trunk, and perhaps a new animal." She turned his school robe into a black hooded robe, and conjured one for herself. "What are you looking at me like that for? I'm not a Ravenclaw for nothing you know."
He sighed when he thought about how they would travel there. "So what do you suggest? Flooing or side-along apparation?"
She put his and her hood on. "We'll try apparation, but you're going to have to hold on tight." He didn't feel comfortable doing this, but he put his arms around her. "Don't worry I won't take it personal, and I won't tell anyone."
"You know I liked you better when I thought you were a nut case."
"I love you too Harry." She said as they apparated away.
It took the two of them nearly an hour to get most of the shopping out of the way, but he was feeling quite down because Hedwig was no longer with him. She brought him into 'Viper's animal sanctum'. Both of them saw various birds, rats, cats, dogs, and regular animals. "Can I help you find a pet?" The clerk asked.
"Show us your imports." Bella hissed in a dangerous tone.
"Very well, but how do I know you're not an Auror?"
She raised her left sleeve to show her the Dark Mark, and whispered an apology to Harry. The store clerk was very satisfied, and brought them into the back. "We have various poisonous creatures here, and a lot of those that the Ministry of Magic has declared dark. Most of these creatures are very selective about their handlers."
Harry wasn't listening when he overheard a few serpents bashing humans. "Perhaps it would be wise not to poke fun at us humans especially those who can speak your language."
"You ssspeak?! The lasssst human to ssspeak wass the great Sssalazar Sssslytherin."
"If you are able to understand me then yes I can speak." He spoke in the familiar serpent language.
"Sssmartass human."
He started laughing at the ashwinder's comment. But he didn't notice that a very rare albino Basilisk that was blindfolded and about six feet long slithered up his leg. "Do not fear me for I will not harm you. Instead I want to bond with you."
"Why do you want to bond yourself to me?"
She rested her head onto his shoulder. "Because of your scent Harry Potter. You have the same scent as your great grandfather who hatched me. He had a love for all animal species even mine, but the Ministry caught wind of what animals were in his sanctum at Potter Manor. So I will become your bonded, but do not worry my poison will not harm you."
The serpent gently bit down on Harry's shoulder until it bled slightly, and then bit herself. Their blood mixed when they touched. Both of them felt a warming sensation around their bodies, and then they could feel each other in their minds. "That was weird."
"That is what happens when you bond with a familiar. Could you remove this damned blindfold? These stupid people can't understand that we Basilisks have a third eyelid that would prevent us from petrifying and using our killing stare. By the way my name is Basil."
He untied the blindfold, and the store clerk started freaking out. "DON'T TAKE THAT OFF! IT WILL KILL EVERYTHING IT LOOKS AT!"
"Evidently you did not pass Care of Magical Creatures during your education. If you did then you would know that Basilisks have a third eyelid that can stop them from killing and petrifying. Also you will not charge me a price for my bonded."
"Y…you bonded with a BASILISK! Are you crazy!" The clerk yelled.
Harry petted Basil on her scaly head, and pointed his wand at the clerk. "You have a problem?"
"N…no sir."
"Good. Tell me where these other rare animals came from. Or my friend standing next to you will make sure that you will regret capturing them." He spoke darkly at him.
"Ok I captured most of them from other countries. I am a greedy person and if I could sell any one of these animals at top galleon then I could close down this dump. I've been here in this alley for nearly fifteen years, and I want out."
Harry took out his multi-compartment trunk, and opened the largest room. "I feel generous. I will buy those two shadow wolf cubs, and the phoenix egg.
"That will be 700 galleons."
"Sorry but you will only get 250 and I will go no higher." He stated in a 'that's final' tone of voice, and put the money on the counter. The clerk took the money and gave him his purchases.
Harry put the phoenix egg into his trunk, and they walked out of the shop with the two pups following at his feet. "Alright now all we need to do is get you a new wand or staff. Because if I am right your magical inheritance should surface and since you're part of two families who knows how powerful you will be."
"So where is this place?"
"Let me handle things inside. This man only trusts certain people because he's a wand crafter not a wand maker like Ollivander." She informed him as they walked inside the store.
From the outside it looked like a dump, but inside it looked incredibly clean. "It's just a ward outside the door to make it look that way. Ahh Miss Black how lovely to see you again I trust that your wand is in great condition when I made it for you?"
"Of course it is Mr. Christian. I brought a new customer here for you, but I'm not sure if his ministry wand will be able to handle his power when his magical inheritance comes up." She said as she pulled down his hood.
"Ahh so you've gotten yourself a wand pre-made by my brother in Diagon Alley. Well I assure you Mr. Potter that I only make custom wands. That is why my shop is so clean, but may I first take a look at your wand?" Christian Ollivander asked.
He gave him his wand and the wand crafter shook his head in disgust. "A brother wand. Every single wand he made has a brother or sister wand. Now I am going to need a few drops of your blood to find out if you need a wand or staff. Please don't look disappointed if you require a staff, because the only other person to use one was Rowena Ravenclaw and of course Merlin. Come over here and we shall see what types of wood you are most familiar with."
Christian put nearly 100 samples of wood out on a table. Harry put his hand out over the wood, and two very rare types flew into his hand. "Hmm interesting…very interesting petrified oak, and ravenwood. So we know what types of wood to use, but now for the stabilizer we will need to use some of your blood. Now that is taken care of let's also perform some tests with that sample."
"What kind of tests?"
"Well I have to add a few drops of your blood to this potion to let me know if I shall craft a wand or a staff. It should be a few moments before we move on. Are these your bonded pets? Perhaps we can use something of them to use in a power core."
"I have a loose fang that he can use, but I want you to remove it." Basil opened her mouth for him to take out her fang. The two pups wanted to play, but they remained quiet for their master. He looked down at them with a smile, and scratched them behind their ears.
They bit their paws until it bled, and then they bit his hand. The two of them mixed their blood with Harry's to bond with both of them. "Master please don't be upset that we bonded with you. But we will give our blood for your staff or wand thingy. Oh and we're speaking into your mind until you've developed our 'wolf speech'."
"Geez not that I'm not complaining, but how many more animals are going to bond with me? However this fang can be used as a core with her venom, and my two bonded shadow wolf cubs said that they would give some of their blood."
"Shadow wolves? An Albino Basilisk? Oh my dear Merlin how did you get these rare animals? I'm sorry I'm just a little surprised that you've bonded with them as well. You see the fang and venom has twice the amount of poison that would kill anyone in less then 30 seconds. Also shadow wolves haven't been seen in nearly 75 years due to being hunted down because the Ministry declared them as dark creatures. But using these ingredients as well as a simple hair from their fur would make a very powerful wand. Ahh I shall return in a moment to see the results of the potion." He said before walking out to catch his breath.
Bella had to hold in her chuckles when she saw him make a face at Christian Ollivander being giddy as a schoolboy. "He may seem off his rocker, but he is the best wand crafter alive."
"If you say so." He remarked as he petted his cubs again.
The wand crafter was beaming when he returned. "Well Mr. Potter I must say that in less then two weeks your magical inheritance will surface. Normally it won't happen until you're seventeen, but since you've been emancipated and head of two of the oldest pureblood families you will be very powerful. So I will craft you a staff using these ingredients, however I feel that you could also use a wand as well. Now come over here to choose the wood for the wand, the core ingredients, and the focal stone."
He walked over to the table once again and the required items flew into his hand. "Interesting. Ravenwood and Petrified oak once again. Heartstrings and blood of the chimera, and an emerald as your focal stone. I must say that every person who has come to me for a wand has never been able to use any part of a chimera before. Now that everything is in order I shall get to work on them right away, and when I am done your old wand will be snapped. I'll send you a post when it is ready."
Harry went inside his money sack and left him 800 galleons. "Thank you Mr. Christian and if you require more let me know."
"That is more then enough Mr. Potter, and I thank you for making this day very exciting."
They left the shop and made their way to an apparation point. Basil wrapped herself around him tightly so she wouldn't get splinched. "Don't worry Master we will meet you at the Black Manor."
"How did you know that I was going to say that?" He looked down at them in confusion.
Both of the cubs laughed at him in their wolvish way. "We're bonded and we know where you live because of that."
'Great...I'm an idiot.' He berated himself as they disappeared into the shadows. 'That would be cool if I can do that.'
Bellatrix raised her eyebrow at him before slapping the back of his head to get his attention. "We have work to do and we better get started on it." She opened her arms to him and she mentally grinned when she saw him roll his eyes at her before they apparated away together.