Disclaimer: Most of the things in this story belong to other people.
All Hail Lord Azkaban
"I'm what?" Harry stammered out, the shock hitting him like a physical blow.
"The new Lord of Caer Azkaban," the old goblin responded calmly, "would you like me to contact your retainers?"
"All right," the young savior of the wizarding world said events overtaking him, "what ever you feel is necessary."
A short time later, the crowds around Gringotts Bank looked around in confusion as the sound of hoof beats shattered the morning's silence, none knowing the significance save one a few of the older members of the crowd who all bore a looks of shock.
Moments later with a bang a coach appeared in a manner reminiscent of the Knight Bus, drawn by three teams of odd black horses with manes made of fire and hoofs that threw sparks when the struck the ground.
The carriage its self was colored a deep shade of black so dark that it seemed to absorb the surrounding light and its fittings were all of a highly polished silvery metal the contrast making them appear to be stars on an endless black night.
The door to the carriage was unadorned, it bore no crest, no coat of arms trusting the six horses to announce the identity of its owner, for none but the Lord of Azkaban would dare to use Nightmares as his means of transportation.
Perched on the drivers seat was a single man dressed in clothing as dark as the carriage, drawing sharply on the rains to halt the carriage before the front steps he ceased all motion.
The gathered crowd drew its collective breath as one of the carriage doors began to open; stepping out of it was a young woman, almost a child by modern standards.
Her dark brown hair was drawn up in a business like bun and her dark clothing was a close match to the driver's, clutched in her arms was a large tome, and her manner was so cold as to make some in the watching crowd shiver.
Walking up the stairs to the front doors of Gringotts she looked neither right nor left choosing instead to focus on her goal with a single minded intensity.
"You," she said attracting the attention of the nearest employee as she walked into the lobby, "inform Lord Azkaban that his servants have arrived and await his pleasure."
Nodding his head the red headed man left to inform his superiors of the strange woman and her odd request.
Seeing that her order appeared to have been carried out the woman strode to one side and stood with perfect stillness awaiting the summons of her Lord.
Harry's conversation with the old goblin was interrupted by a discrete knock at the door after a moment a young goblin entered, "Sir." He addressed Snaphook, "one of our human employees was told to inform Lord Azkaban that 'his servants have arrived.'"
"How many?" The older Goblin enquired.
"At present just one sir, a woman what do you wish me to tell them sir?"
"Have them await Lord Azkaban outside of this room so that he can more easily summon them when the need arises." Bowing the younger goblin left the room on his appointed task.
Within minutes the young goblin had returned "Lord Azkaban's servant is awaiting his instructions outside Sir." He said addressing the older goblin, after giving the message he bowed and left the room.
"Shall I have her come in?" the old goblin asked, seeing his client not he walked to the door and motioned for someone unseen to enter.
Walking through the door was a beautiful young woman of about Harry's age; walking towards her he extended his hand. "Hello, I'm Harry Potter" and blinked in surprise at her reaction.
Dropping to her knees the girl kissed his hand, "all hail my Lord Azkaban, long may he rule."
"Umm…ok, what is your name?"
"My name is Rebecca my Lord; I am your personal servant and assistant."
"You don't have to call me Lord, just call me Harry."
"It wouldn't be proper to do so in public my Lord," she said glancing at Snaphook, "though if my Lord wishes I shall do so in private."
"Your Lord wishes," Harry said with a grin, his first genuine grin since the day his God Father died. "Please get up, I have to finish things here then I am going to go shopping."
"Is their any way that I can assist you my lord?" The woman asked hopefully.
"Not unless you know something about inheritance laws and banking standards." Harry said with a grin. "I also need to withdraw a sizeable amount of money to pay for my purchases."
"I can help you with that my Lord," the woman replied somewhat hesitantly. "I can take care of any paperwork you might have and I can quite easily arrange payment for any purchases you might wish to make."
"Excellent," the Gringotts Solicitor smiled, handing the large stack of files to Harry's new assistant. "Now that I am no longer needed I shall leave the room to the two of you, I shall have a goblin waiting for you outside the door to show you the way out."
The departure of Snaphook left the two of them alone; "Umm" Harry said breaking the silence after a few moments, "so what exactly are your duties Rebecca?"
"My duties?" the girl perked up, happy to be back on familiar ground, "my duties are to serve my Lord Azkaban in any way that he desires and to make his life as easy as possible."
"All right." Harry said reasonably, "first things first since we are alone call me Harry, secondly would you mind helping me sort out these files."
"Of course my Lor…Harry I shall look them at once." She said as she began sorting through the stack of files, making the odd notation in her massive book.
Seeing that any aid he could offer would do more to hinder her efforts then help them, Harry turned back to his magazine.
After several minutes he became aware that she had stopped working and was standing silently before him, "yes?" He said turning his attention back to his new assistant.
"I have finished my task Harry, would you like me to do something else?"
"Nothing else to do lets go shopping now, clothing store first I think." He said after looking down at his tattered garments with a grin "after that we shall see."
Leaving the bank, they immediately went to Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions to get Harry some new clothing.
Entering the store they were immediately set upon, "Is their anything I can help you with today Sir?" A pretty young sails girl asked the newest Lord Azkaban.
"Yes, please," replied the boy who was a little out of his depth.
"What do you need today Sir?" Asked the sails girl with a smile, clearly enjoying his cluelessness.
"Everything, I think," he responded.
"Would you like Tailored or Rack?" girl asked clearly in her element.
"Tailored."
"All right then follow me to one of our fitting rooms please."
The room was like nothing he had ever seen, it was a great dome with a golden circle inscribed on the pristine white floor.
"Just stand in the center of the circle Sir, and allow me to do the rest."
Walking to the circle, Harry nearly jumped when a bright red ring of light rose from the circle rising to over his head before sinking back down again.
"All right Sir, now that we have your measurements it's time to make your order."
"First of all I would like several sets of Combat Robes made out of your finest Acromantula Silk, I also want them to have the strongest layered protection charms that can be had, and finally I would like any clothing I buy to have self repairing charms and to adjust for any growth I may experience over the next few years."
"Yes Sir, what colors would you like them to be in and would you be needing anything else, something to wear underneath the robes perhaps?"
"Color?" Harry said blankly before Rebecca whispered something into his ear, "Black, and yes I will be needing several sets of clothing to wear under my robes, several in grey out of Acromantula Silk with similar protection charms as the robes, provided that the spells will not interfere with each other… I suppose that I will also be needing a variety of other clothing including Muggle in a variety of different colors."
They spent several minutes picking out Harry's new wardrobe, "Will that be all sir? I could still have charms added to make your robes to make them self ironing or temperature adjusting perhaps."
"Do so, I'm also going to need a hooded cloak or two spelled to make it difficult to see my face Acromantula Silk and so fourth. And, I don't suppose that you have items made of Dragon Hide here do you?"
"Yes Sir," she said making another notation, "and no Sir, we do not have Items made from Dragon Hide, though there is a shop down the alley that can help you called Ollertan's I think."
"How soon can I get my first set of clothing?" Harry inquired, "I was hoping to be able to wear them out of the store."
"That shouldn't be a problem Sir; the rest will be done by the day after tomorrow at the latest, would you prefer pick up or delivery?"
"I'll have someone pick it up," Harry said as his assistant made a notation in her book.
They presented an odd sight as they left Madame Malkkin's, a dangerous looking cloaked figure trailed by a beautiful young woman clutching a large book.
They walked slowly to their next destination, Ollertan's arms and Armor ignoring the stares of the crowd.
Entering the shop they were immediately met by the proprietor, a slim man with a look that suggested motion barley restrained and that he was ready to spring into motion at the slightest provocation.
"What can I help you with?" The man asked with a smile, "we just got in a new order of Antipodean Opaleye hide."
"I'm going to be needing several items, one belt, two pairs of gloves and two pairs of boots all made from the hide of a Norwegian Ridge back, and two Ukrainian Ironbelly vests."
"Anything else Sir?" The man said with a grin, "a wand holster perhaps?"
"Yes," Harry said after a moment of thought. "Two made from Ukrainian Ironbelly, and Becky."
"Yes my Lord?"
"Do you have any Dragon hide armor?"
"No my Lord I do not."
"Be sure to pick up at least a vest while we're here, I want you to be protected," after a moment of thought he added, "feel free to get anything else that catches your eye today I'll pay for everything."
"Thank you my Lord your wisdom is exceeded only by your generosity," turning to the shop keeper, "I would to like to add another vest to my Lord's purchases made out of the Antipodean Opaleye hide you mentioned earlier if possible."
"Sure thing," replied the shopkeeper a bit curious about the 'my Lords,' "if you'll step this way we can get your measurements."
The measurements were considerably slower and more mundane then they had been at Madame Malkin's but after a few minutes the shop keeper had what he needed.
"They'll be a few hours for the first set Sir as dragon hide is a difficult material to work with, would you be wanting any extras?"
"What do you mean?" asked Harry curiously "I thought that you couldn't enchant dragon hide?"
"You can't," the man said with a laugh "but you can enchant the things attached to it, take the wand holsters" he said pulling out his own, "they are enchanted to stick to any part of the body one would wish to place them and the way that we are able to do this is by enchanting this bit" he said turning it over.
Harry looked curiously "I see you aren't enchanting the dragon hide, you're enchanting that bit of silk sewn onto the back."
"Exactly," the man said with a smile, "also those little bits inside to keep the wand secure and prevent it from being taken by a disarming spell and they also allow a large wand to fit on a small forearm, the boots," he said lifting his foot, "have the soles enchanted for durability and self repair."
"Then could you enchant the soles of the boots to leave no impression and to make no sound?" Harry asked remembering how he had eluded his Order provided keeper.
"Yes Sir, do you have any other needs that we can help you with…weapons perhaps."
"Let me think" said Harry thoughtfully "I suppose that I would like to look at your daggers, something functional I think."
"Right you are sir, happy to have a chance to display something other then those gaudy baubles that most people seem to prefer," he said waiving his hands toward the jewel encrusted specimens on display in other parts of the store.
Going behind the counter he brought out a small case inside the case their were four daggers each a plane blade adorned only by a plain black handle. "Only four of them Sir, but they are four of my best each one of them is enchanted to remain sharp and cause triple the damage it would normally and each handle is enchanted to 'stick' to your hand to keep a good grip."
Harry selected a double edged blade of about seven inches, "do you have a sheath for this?"
"Yes Sir, Ukrainian Ironbelly charmed the same way as the wand holster"
"Excellent" Harry said motioning to Rebecca to pay for their purchases, "we'll be back in a few hours to pick up what you have finished."
Their next stop was a jeweler so that Harry could purchase a new watch, entering they were amazed at the number of time pieces on sail.
Their were watches that showed the phases of the moon, watches that held star charts, watches that told you what you should be doing, watches that held tiny mirrors and makeup to check and correct one's appearance, and watches that picked up the Wizard Wireless network.
What their did not appear to be were watches that told time, "excuse me." Harry addressed the man behind the counter, "do you have any watches that tell time like a muggle watch?"
"Tell time like a muggle watch, how mundane," the man seemed to be insulted by the question, "why ever would you want something so boring when you could have something like this?" he asked, picking up a watch that had a sundial on it.
"To tell the time?" Harry ventured uncertainly.
"I can't work in these conditions," the man said with a sniff. "Paul take this customer while I take my break," the man exclaimed while walking through a doorway into a back room.
Paul seemed much more cooperative then the first man had been, "sure I think we got something like that," he answered Harry's question, "let me check the back."
"Here we go, a watch that tells the time." He said, blowing the dust off of an old case. "Course being a wizarding watch it also does a few other things."
"Like what"
"Like the fact that if you talk into it a person wearing one of these earrings can hear what you are saying." Paul said, holding up a small silver ring of metal.
"So if you had two watches and two earrings you could have two way communications between two people?"
"I suppose," the man said uncertainly, "don't think anyone ever thought about using them that way."
"I'll take two then." Harry said after some thought, "one for my self and one for my companion."
"I understand." The man said, shooting him a sly glance. "I was young once too and I'm not so old that I don't remember how important it was to be able to talk to my girlfriend without anyone knowing."
Moving over to another counter he looked down at the rings, "do you have anything with a snake motif?"
"Sure do," the man said pulling out a tray, "most of these are un enchanted, the only magical ones are those three in the corner."
"What do they do?"
"The first two," he said picking up a pair of twin rings "allow you to give a mild electric charge to people you shake hands with, they will then shock the next person that they come into contact with normally it wouldn't be on display except for the exceptional workmanship shown in their manufacture and the quality of their materials. The last one when worn on the ring finger of one hand will allow that hand to 'borrow' the skill of the other hand, eventually allowing it to learn the skills."
"What do you mean?"
"Well assuming that you are right handed, if you wore it on your left hand you would be able to write or use a wand equally well with both hands."
"I'll take all three of them then," Harry said.
Walking out of the jeweler, Harry noticed a sign proclaiming 'Ocular Enhancement' and curious he decided to investigate.
The shop itself was filled with glasses and other sorts of eye wear, seated to one side hunched over a pair of half finished glasses sat a woman that looked a bit familiar.
"Excuse me," he said causing the woman to jump.
"Oh, I'm sorry dear I didn't mean to get so wrapped up in my work that I wouldn't notice a customer," the woman said with a smile. "My name is Marietta Pomphrey how may I help you?"
"Any relation to Poppy Pomphrey?"
"My older sister."
"Ah, I noticed the sign and I was wondering if their was any way to magically fix my eye sight, if not I was hoping that I could get my self a new pair of glasses "
"I'm afraid that the most I could do for your eyes is give them a couple of enhancements to help you see in more colors or to see better in the dark but currently magic isn't precise enough to do that sort of work" she said almost sadly "however I can help you get a new pair of glasses, just pick any pair you like they are all enchanted to be unbreakable and to adjust to the level of correction you need so that you won't have to come in and get new enchantments every few years."
After a few minutes Harry was able to pick out with help from Becky, a stylish pair of wire frame glasses.
"Excuse me Mrs., I've found the ones I like." He said while walking up to her desk "you mentioned something about enhancements?"
"Yes, I have several potions which will give more properties to your eyes, most of them are just cosmetic but two of them can be quite useful; the first one allows you to see more colors of the spectrum like infra red and ultra violet, this also allows you to see through most methods of making oneself invisible, and the second gives you better night sight by slitting your pupils like a cat's. If you would like both they can be safely used together."
"Will these interfere at all with self transfiguration like an anamagus transformation?"
"They shouldn't," the woman said thoughtfully. "Though your pupils would change to match what ever animal form you had when in that form, the other enhancements would stay the same though."
"All right, I'll take both," he said with a grin.
Packaging everything up the woman gave some final instructions, "make sure to have some time to kill when you drink those potions as it will take your body some time to learn how to control it's new senses, if you able to control your ability to see into other spectrum's after three days come back and I'll see what's wrong."
After getting his glasses Harry decided to return to the armor shop to pick up his latest purchases. "Just go into the changing rooms here if you want to wear your purchases out of the store, best to wear the vest as close to skin as possible" the proprietor said with a grin.
Stepping into the back Harry was shocked when Rebecca joined him in the changing room and began to take off her shirt unbothered by his presence, "why aren't you in your own changing room?"
"I am your servant Harry and my duty is to serve you in any way that you might desire so why should I be bothered by you gazing upon my body, after all it does belong to you?"
Face red, Harry faced the stall trying not to think of what was going on behind him.
"Where to next my Lord?" Becky asked curiously.
"Next I would like to visit Flourish & Blotts after that I would like to pay a short visit to Knockturn Alley after that we can go to Caer Azkaban."
"If I may ask my Lord, why do you wish to go to Knockturn Alley?"
"I need another wand, this time without ministry tracking charms and questions asked, I would also like some dark arts books."
"Why not just have one made at Caer Azkaban my Lord?" She asked a bit puzzled, "then you would be sure of both silence and quality."
"I hadn't realized that I could have one made their, thank you for telling me this Becky," after a bit he added, "be sure to tell me of any other things that I can get at Azkaban please."
"Yes my Lord, you do have quite an extensive if a bit outdated library."
"Could you see about getting it updated?"
"If you desire, I could give the manager at Flourish & Blotts a list of what we have and ask him to gather anything else my Lord."
"Do so, thank you Becky."
"I live to serve my Lord."
The shop was much less crowded then the last time Harry had been their, probably because their were no hordes of students and their parents picking up their school books.
Going straight to the defense section he quickly chose a small selection of books, walking next to the cash register he found Rebecca already waiting for him next to a small mountain of boxes.
"Is that how many books I'm missing from my library?"
"Yes my Lord and I took the liberty of giving a standing order for any new books that may come out."
"All right lets have them shrunk before we go," seeing her hesitant look, "what?"
"I did have them shrunk my lord."
"Then how are we going to take them with us?"
"I would suggest that you call your carriage my Lord."
"How do we do that?" he asked somewhat confused.
"When we go outside you raise one of your arms above your head and snap your fingers, it will appear shortly after that my Lord."
Moments after he snapped his fingers, Diagon Alley once again bore witness to the arrival of Lord Azkaban's coach.
Rushing past him, Rebecca opened the carriage door and knelt to the ground "My Lord Azkaban, please allow me to take care of the details of loading your purchases while you rest in the carriage."
Nodding his head, Harry stepped into the carriage.
The interior of the carriage was lush, two benches decked in satin pillows faced each other and in the center between them sat a table and small mini bar.
Harry had only a few minutes to contemplate it alone before the door to the carriage opened to admit his assistant.
"I have overseen the loading of your property and I have instructed the driver to make a stop at Knockturn Alley on his way back to Caer Azkaban" she said as they began to move.
"Thank you Becky." Harry replied as the carriage came to a stop in front of Borgin & Burkes.
Once again his assistant leapt to open the door of his carriage, kneeling on the ground outside.
"You know that you don't have to do that don't you Becky?" he asked, voice colored with amusement.
"I do in front of the crowds my Lord, to do otherwise would not give them the right impression."
For the second time in his life Harry entered the dark arts shop. "You," he addressed the proprietor with a tone of disdain. "Gather up all of the books you have on dark arts, including any you might be saving for 'special' customers"
"And why should I do such a thing for a child?" Borgin replied in a similar tone.
Before Harry could respond Becky erupted. "How dare you speak to my Lord Azkaban in such a manner, show more respect or with my Lord's permission I will tear out the tongue which you have used to show such disrespect."
The change in Borgin's manner was like night to day, paling he immediately took a more conciliatory tone. "I apologies Lord Azkaban, I had not realized who you were and no disrespect was meant towards your station, I will get the items you requested post haste."
Within minutes he returned with several boxes of books trailing behind him, "this is all I currently have in the store Lord Azkaban but I will be sure to inform your servants when I receive more stock."
With a curt nod Harry left the store and returned to his carriage.
On the ride back Harry had a sudden thought, turning to Becky he held up three envelopes, "would you mind posting these for me when we get to Azkaban? If possible I would also like their to be no way of tracing them back to their point of origin."
"I would be happy to do so Harry."
Elsewhere in Surrey, the Order of The Phoenix was beginning to get frantic as their efforts over the last few hours had failed to turn up any trace of the boy who lived.
Dumbledore himself had been looking for Harry since shortly after the end of the movie, sighing in exasperation he turned toward two of his subordinates motioning for them to speak.
Moody went first, "no sign of him in the surrounding area so he must have either found a hiding place so good as to foil our tracking spells or he left."
"No sign of apparation, portkeys, floo, or any other means of transportation." Shackelbolt said obviously torn between pride and annoyance. "Boy must have found a way to confound the charms, and if he's done that without alerting the ministry he must have also found a way to remove the tracking charm on his wand."
Dumbledore was prevented from responding when he felt a disturbance in his office wards, apparating to the edge of the school wards he rushed to his office.
Upon assuring himself that his office was empty, he set about the task of checking his possessions to see if anything had been taken or damaged by the intruder until he noticed a plain white envelope sitting on the center of his desk atop a stack of paperwork.
Dear Albus,
I am afraid that I had to ignore your instructions to retrieve my inheritance but before you get angry I would like to direct your attention to the last line in my previous letter, the line about trust. To explain, I have decided to show you the same amount of trust and respect that you have shown me, none. I would also like to remind you that you are the Headmaster of the school that I am presently attending and should I chose to continue my studies at Hogwarts the school that I will be attending in the future. You are not; my legal guardian, in a position to give me any instructions, a person that has my trust or respect, or in my opinion a person that has my best interests at heart. I hope that you remember these things before attempting to chastise me and that you keep these items in mind in any future interactions. At the present time I expect that I will be seeing you at the beginning of the school year, if my plans change and I chose not to continue at Hogwarts for one reason or another I will notify you by owl or some other means as a courtesy.
Sincerely
Harry James Potter
Elsewhere in the den of the Weasleys, Ron noticed a plain white envelope sitting on his bed.
Dear Ron
I'm just writing to let you know that I will be out of touch for a little while until I am able to find a safe way of writing to you, unfortunately this also means that I won't be seeing you at Headquarters or the Burrow. Unless things change I'll see you on the Hogwart's express or at the feast.
Your Friend
Harry
PS
If you see Remus tell him I'm safe at home.
At the same time Hermione noticed a cream colored envelope stuck in her copy of 'Hogwarts a History' with her bookmark.
My Dear Hermione
I hope you are doing well, I haven't received my OWL results and I am a bit worried about them, you shouldn't be though I'm sure that you will be at the top of this year and possibly the top of the century even if you aren't I already know that my best friend is the smartest witch ever to have attended Hogwarts. I hope that your summer has been enjoyable so far, mine has been less then stellar but I suppose that that's no surprise. I am sorry for the mess that I dragged you into with the department of mysteries, I am sorry that I didn't listen to you if I had everything would have been ok and Sirius would still be alive, most of all I am sorry that you got hurt I could never forgive myself if anything serious had happened to you and I don't know I would do if I could never see you again. Back to the letter, my summer has been mostly dull until today, today I did something that you may be annoyed by but at least this time I didn't endanger anyone else. Shortly you will be hearing that I have left number four and I am writing to tell you that I have no intention of ever going back. It all started when I received a letter from Gringotts telling me that I had to present myself or forfeit my inheritance, I wasn't sure what to do and I was going to write to Dumbledore and you to ask for advice but before I had a chance another letter arrived. The letter was from Dumbledore and he forbid me from going, telling me that I would have plenty of time when it was safe and that I should stay at the Dursleys. He lied to me about being able to go to the bank then he told me not to betray his trust. I must admit that this made me more then a little angry, it also helped me to make my decision. Later that day I ducked my watchers and collected my inheritance, I also learned some shocking things that I will tell you at a later date. I have no intention of going back to my 'loving family' nor do I have any intention of allowing Dumbledore to control my life. I don't know what to do Hermione, I don't even know if I want to go back to Hogwarts, it's certainly not safe and I don't feel that I am learning what I need to know to survive. I've taken the first steps to gain the knowledge that I need and I think that I have found a safe place to stay but I'm still feeling lost. I wish you were here because you always seem to know the right thing to do, even if I don't always listen to you. I'll be writing you later to keep you updated on what is happening with my life and I would like to request that you keep this confidential, please don't tell Dumbledore that I am even writing anything to you I don't trust him and if he had even an inkling of what you might know I don't know what he would do to find it out.
Love Always
Harry James Potter
PS
Thank you for being their for me, I am not in a place that I can receiving mail but I will try to find a secure way of getting it soon.
AN: The Nightmares I got from several sources, I think the description is based on one from a book I read a few years ago can't remember the title. You may be wondering why I made Harry's Personal Assistant the way that I did, she has been raised since birth to care for and serve the next Lord Azkaban and to do otherwise is unthinkable to her. I based the fitting room on something the US Army is experimenting with to take measurements quickly, though they are using LASERs not Magic and if I remember correctly one cannot be wearing any clothing when they are being scanned. The reason that I used Acromantula Silk as the material for Harry's Combat Robes is because Spider Silk is one of the strongest materials around and clothing made from it would very strong, and I figured that giant magical Spider Silk would be even stronger. As to why Combat Robes rather then Dueling Robes, I think that a duel would be considered a test of skill so armor would be considered 'bad form.' As for why the order was unable to find him, it's because the people searching the area are pure bloods they look for traces of all the complicated magical means of transportation and don't even conceder the muggle means this means that when a pure blood like Shackelbolt said that he checked everything. To my reviewers, thanks.
As always comments are good flames are bad.