Chapter 2 – – Meeting the relatives
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As I sat there in my cupboard in the dark my first impulse was to think that this all was a bad dream. That did not wash as I knew the last time I was here I was dead and right now, even in the dark, I could tell that the cupboard was smaller because I had grown. So! I looked to that little corner of my mind to see what was...
Two things happened simultaneously. I started seeing myself and a huge man entering a white building where he picked up a package and I picked up some, Galleons? BUT! A floodgate of information started flowing wiping that memory from my mind. Information on curses, spells, incantations, how to apply all this came flooding into my brain as if I had known it for my entire life.
"Boy! Get out here the car needs washing."
I opened the cupboard door and stepped out and of course was blinded by the bright light of day. This apparently gave a Vernon an excuse to rap me aside my head. All I saw was a blur of his meaty fist heading toward my face. I of course raised my hand with the impossible mission of stopping his blow while also wishing he was a few feet further back and unable to reach me. As my vision cleared I realize that Vernon had been pushed back and was now sitting on his fat ass.
In my absence Vernon had become a fat slob Vernon and couldn't spring to his feet. He had to roll get to his knees and putting one foot to the floor and then putting both hands on his knee to help leverage himself back to a standing position. He was now charging. "I'm going to beat you until you can't see straight."
This of course gave me time to panic and prepare for a real beating. However! I suddenly realize that my magic had pushed him backwards and the tub of lard had tripped and fallen on his butt. In some insane logic I knew I had no longer any fear of Vernon as I flicked my wrist and thought 'Depulso', I was a wizard wasn't I?
Vernon was again pushed backwards, fell, but this time rolled until he hit a wall. As Vernon was attending to regain his feet I remembered what the Lady with the staff said, "So little man grow up enjoying your life, make your enemy's life miserable, and have fun chasing the girls. Don't let anybody dictate what you do or where you go."
"Boy I'm going to rip your head off and kick your ass from here to Piccadilly. I'm..." I interrupted Vernon's tirade with simple 'Langlock' spell. This however did not stop Vernon charge but my wandless 'Petrificus Totalus' sent him face first to the floor with a squishy splat.
The Lady with the staff said that I could not change the future which probably meant I had to live here but she also stated "HOW" was my road to choose. Some of the ideas that came to mind brought a huge grin to my face.
"What are you doing you little freak?"
Petunia how nice of you to join us. I was just about to tell Vernon how much I appreciated the smallest bedroom upstairs being my new bedroom. I would also appreciate it if you would knock before entering as I'm not sure that I have the counter spells to some of my more serious curses. Knowing Vernon's temper, I might respectfully ask you to advise him, to restrain from any more aggression in my direction. The consequences could be quite severe."
/Scene break/
I spent the next day receiving more information from the special section of my mind. Actually it was more like I looked for the information and sometimes it gave me what it wanted me to have. At other times it just dumped information regardless. Why did I needed to know the contraceptive charm as a ten year old along with the mating rituals of Goblins? Then I had to sort through what I had received and hopefully it made some sort of sense. I definitely needed to see Gringotts tomorrow and also to upgrade this room into a larger and more livable living space. Now if I could just download the expansion charm that the memory said existed I would be in business. Shopping for a new wardrobe could wait for a couple more days as I can always pick up some odds and ends in Diagon Alley. I figured I had a good three days before Petunias letter arrived at Hogwarts via the British Royal post. Somehow I knew Petunia was aware of Hogwarts and its Headmaster and she likely fired off a letter to him the minute I had used magic.
There was two major things that I needed to stop. The first was attempting to pat down the fringe of hair over my forehead to cover my scar, which I no longer had thanks to the Lady with the staff. The second was the habit of pushing my glasses up the bridge of my nose as I no longer required glasses. It seemed that my downloading of information also came with muscle memory. While I would really like to know what had transpired in the last five years my more pressing problems was some of the information that I was presently downloading. Not only was I going to have to see the Goblins but also obtain a good lawyer.
As thoughts about enlarging the smallest bedroom at number 4 Privet Dr. I suddenly realized that it was not just information that I was downloading. I never worried about patting my fringe down over my scar until I went to the Leakey cauldron and then after arriving at Hogwarts. So I was also getting some emotions being downloaded which meant that there was going to be a lot more serious stuff going on in my poor brain.
That evening as I headed downstairs to get a bite to eat out of the refrigerator. I found Vernon lying in wait with a very large butcher knife. Petunias screaming stopped when I stated, "This is his last warning, the severity of my spells will increase if he doesn't stop trying to hurt me. The 'Stupefy' spell he is currently under will wear off all by itself in a little bit. Destiny dictates that I live in this house until I'm seventeen years of age but in what state Vernon lives in during that time will be based on his actions."
/Scene break/
The next morning I had a nice shower in my personal bathroom which was attached to my new expanded bedroom, the expansion charms had arrived late last night. Magic was just plain super if you knew the correct spells or use the correct intentions. My mood deteriorated as I left the house, leaving me a bit mad at myself. I had no money for the Knight bus nor the normal bus and I was sure I would get nowhere by asking Vernon for a loan. I had forgotten to visit my vault to pick up some Galleons and the knight bus didn't take credit cards. That forced me to walk a couple miles down the road. Once I thought that I was passed anyone's monitoring devices, I thought, "May the Ministry suck Runespoor eggs", I 'apperated' to Diagon Alley and entered into Gringotts.
My memories did not provided me with a day by day recount of my future life nor did it go very far into the future. Also my memories did not show which road I took to get to my future the last time. What I did know was that there was a trust fault that I had access to as well as many other Potter vaults that I would gain access to when I turned seventeen years of age. What I wasn't expecting was for a Goblin to get into my face as soon as I entered the bank.
"What are you doing here alone, were your parents?" The surly Goblin growled.
I remember that wand magic was not to be done in Gringotts as I stared eye to eye with him. The Goblin was about the same size as I was as I replied, "I was here to see my account Manager but since you're so nice I think I'll see your bank manager instead. You are?"
There's one thing about knowing part of your future as it gives the little gremlin called fear a boot in the rear. While I could get hurt or thrown out of the bank the sword that the goblin was drawing didn't worry me that much as I could feel my death was not scheduled for today.
"You will leave this bank immediately or you will become food for the dragons down below."
With a smile on my face showing as many teeth as possible I yelled, "To me sword!" The memory flash was of my second year at Hogwarts when the sword of Gryffindor had shown up but I knew it was many years later when I found out that I was actually a descendent of Gryffindor and could actually call his sword. Why I needed to call the sword in my second year was not provided. Since I could call the sword I suddenly knew I had taken a number of classes after I left Hogwarts. So I really wasn't that big a klutz when it came to swinging this particular sword. I just hoped I had the physical ability to handle the sword.
The main floor of the bank and gotten extremely quiet as wizards and goblins both were watching the action. Both were expecting the kid to be sliced, diced and made a shish kebab. When the sword of Gryffindor showed up number of gasps could be heard and the grouchy Goblin took a step backwards. Yep, he recognize the sword... You think?
I knew it wasn't my intimidating self but the Goblins recognized a Goblin made sword. With the lull in the action I was trying to think of a witty remark so I could get on with why I came to the bank. All of this came to a halt as one of the doors of the bank was flung open and a Goblin dressed in full armor, which was covered in gems and gold, stormed onto the main floor.
Apparently he was not one for words, he stated, "Follow me!" and headed back through the doors that he had exited from. I followed him down a couple of long halls and into a very plush office.
"I am called Ragnot and you are called?"
"Just call me Harry as in Harry Potter."
"Harry might I see that sword?"
After I handed over the sword Ragnot inspected the blade, then inspected all the gems. He then laid the sword on the desk and pulled on a small lever on the side of his desk.
"I assume you are here to claim your Lordship and all the vaults associated therewith?"
That threw me for a bit of a confusion followed by another download of information, "I thought one could not obtain one's vaults until the age of maturity?"
"Normally that is correct but that law is a recent law by a few hundred years. Gryffindor was long deceased before that law was ever enacted. The only stipulation Gryffindor had was that only a true Gryffindor descendent and heir could call the sword. Thus you are awarded the title of Lord Gryffindor and access to all vaults and estates under his name. The sword has been in the Gryffindor vaults for many years prior to the Ministry's enacting majority laws."
So becoming Lord Gryffindor allows me access to the Potter estate?
"No, not until you reach the age of majority. But it does do away with the required for you to have guardians and thus be able to become Lord Potter but you are still considered not at the age of majority under ministerial law as Lord Potter."
"Well please do me a favor and keep me straight as this is giving me a headache. I am a Lord but not an adult but also as a minor I don't need guardians. Yes, quite confusing this is."
"I have called for your Potter estate manager. I assume you wish your access lists to remain the same but do you wish the same people access to your Gryffindor vaults?"
"Well first I best find out who has access to my Potter vaults." I stated as another Goblin entered the room.
"Harry this is Bladethruster the Potter's account manager, Bladethruster this is Harry Potter heir to the Potter estate.
"He would like to know who is on the access list for his vaults."
I got the impression that Ragnot picked up on what I saw, it appeared that Bladethruster, seemed for half second, was reluctant to provide that information. Bladethruster covered up well and started, "for the trust fault access has been granted to Molly Weasley. For the Potter main vault access has been granted to one Albus Dumbledore. Would you like access to the Gryffindor vaults be allowed to these people?"
"Who may I ask granted access to these people for those particular vaults?"
"Access was granted under the Will of James and Lily Potter." Bladethruster answered. For a second I thought he was going to smile, well maybe show some teeth.
"I like to be able to see that Will from my parents. When will I get access to that particular Will?"
"I'm afraid that that Will has been frozen by the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot." Bladethruster replied.
"And who is the Chief Warlock?"
"Albus Dumbledore." Ragnot answered.
"Bladethruster might I ask who hired you to be the Account Manager of the Potter estate?"
"I can answer that one Harry." Ragnot stated, "that would be one Albus Dumbledore."
"Ragnot I want everybody removed from access to my accounts. The only person with access to any of these accounts is to be me. Now that brings us to Bladethruster and who will be my account manager"
Apparently Ragnot had beaten me to this with his little levers and switches on his desk as two armed guards entered the room and escorted Bladethruster from the room.
"Harry I will be taking over your accounts personally with my trusted assistant while Gringotts has an investigation into Bladethruster and Albus Dumbledore." I just nodded my head.
"Now what about the Black estate?" Ragnot asked and I felt a headache coming on. It seemed that I was in Sirius Black's Will and next in line to be Lord Black and since he never claimed the title I got everything and a house as well. Sirius Black was still a prisoner of Azkaban. Now all I needed to know is who he was, although his name did seem familiar.
"Is there anything else Gringotts can do for you today?
"Indeed Ragnot, if my memory serves me correct Gringotts is noted for their wards. Is it possible to put a set of wards on a Muggle house only allowing me and Muggles to enter unless I'm holding the other magical person's hand?"
"Very simple ward we can put up in less than an hour."
"Yes I would like one of those wards put on number 4 Privet Dr. in Surrey. Also one of those credit cards that's good in both the magical and Muggle world that's tied to my trust vault. Also an accounting of what the Gryffindor estate consists of, at your convenience of course."
Ragnot started a couple of Goblins running back and forth and before I left for the day I had the Gryffindor, Potter and Black House Rings, a marvelous credit card and an accounting of the very large Gryffindor estate. The wards on Privet drive would be up next day.
By the end of the day I was ready to give a super big hug to the Lady with the staff. The first potion she gave me was for power which I felt let me do things now that my future 11-year-old memory had no recollection or capabilities. Not only was I able to wandlessly shrink down my multi compartment trunk into matchbox size but also be able to 'apperate'. The downside was I was still ten years old and a physical wreck. I recognized the need for exercise so I had just run the last couple miles to my so-called home. I would've 'apperated' right into my room but something in the back of my mind told me that the Ministry monitored certain types of magic and I didn't want to take any unnecessary chances.
/Scene break/
The next morning Vernon stopped with the physical attacks and was now trying a different tactic. He had emptied every scrap of food from the entire house and apparently the entire family was going to be gone for the weekend. Sitting down with Vernon to have a logical discussion as to what he is trying to accomplish was ridiculous even to think about. While he and his family drove somewhere for breakfast I decided it was a good day to start my exercise program and jog down to local mall. Of course I had not forgotten the different places at the mall that served food that I could only drool over before I met the Lady with the staff. As I enjoyed breakfast I realized that I would need to do something if this turned into a foodless marathon. Jogging down here in the rain would be uncomfortable, but in the snow? As I was exiting the mall I saw a shop that had an answer to my dilemma and got to use my new credit card once again.
I was pretty tired on my return jog even if it was a beautiful day as I was still a physical wreck. People were on their front porches enjoying the weather or some of the men were out cutting their front lawns or trimming their hedges. I definitely was not in shape. I slowed to a walk a good ways from the house as I tried to catch my breath. I was pooped and looking forward to a hot shower before I fell into my bed. As I approached Vernon's castle I saw an old man, with a long white beard, in an outrageous purple velvet suit. My memories dumped some more information in my tired brain that one Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was standing in front of number 4 Privet Dr.
I slowed down my walk as my breath was catching up with me which I would need in case I needed to make a quick escape. But as I arrived at the house Dumbledore made a huge error.
"I have received your relative's letter and you will come with me right now." He then reached out and grabbed my arm. Well not a huge error but a whopping mistake!
It was too public to use any magic so I did what they say to do on the Telly, I yelled, " NO!' And started yelling as loud as I could, "stranger, child molester, help, stranger." They say that kids should run away but he had my arm so I kicked him hard in the shins and squirmed away from his grasp and of course fell to the ground. It worked better than I thought it would as I was scrambling to get to my feet to get away from him, I must've looked like a terrified kid to anyone who was watching. I had also broken his hold on me before he could 'apperate' both of us away. Several of the adult men from the neighborhood were racing over and yelling at Dumbledore.