People have so many concerns about James. *smh* I've already told people not to stress about it, so let me remind you again: please do not stress about James. He is a large part of this plot so be patient.
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Rush of Power
Harry Potter looked at his reflection with a grin, admiring himself. He did up the last button on his favourite set of robes, which were emerald with a smooth black lining.
He picked up his ring from on top of his set of drawers and slid it on. The gem was a deep black, a white skull was at its centre point with a crow on top. It was the emblem of House Black.
5 years had passed since Harry had fled his home with Sirius and Remus. And what a glorious 5 years they had been. The trio had done everything they could possibly imagine, from climbing Mount Everest to ice skating on the South Pole. It had been incredible to experience the different communities all over the world of wizards, and muggles alike.
The only regret Harry did have was leaving his mother behind. He understood why, and it was selfish to want her all to himself. But Harry just couldn't shake the thought out of his head.
It didn't matter though. Harry was heading back to England for a day, and he hoped that he would be able to see her again. That would be the perfect birthday present.
"Hey Harry," Moony called from downstairs.
"Just finishing up," Harry answered. He quickly ran a hand through his hair to mess it up even further before making his way down. He walked into the living room where Remus was sprawled out over the couch, looking absolutely exhausted.
"Well, you're a mess," Harry commented.
"Of course I am! I had to set the portkey up in this crazy heat all by myself!"
"What was Padfoot doing then?" Harry chuckled.
"Apparently he was close to dying of dehydration so went to have a drink, which he decided to do under the bloody sun! And for 3 hours at that!" Remus yelled.
"Ah, that's not good is it," Harry said, shaking his head.
"No, it isn't!"
"Oh well. We'll be in England soon so I'm sure it'll be nice and rainy."
"It better be." Remus sat up and wiped his sticky face with a cloth. "You might as well go and tell that idiot to get ready. I'll be there in a sec."
Harry nodded before turning around and sprinting out the door, but he immediately stopped as he felt the vicious rays of sunlight dig into his entire body.
"Oh wow. He wasn't lying," Harry muttered as a drop of sweat dripped from his forehead down his nose. "Now where is Padfoot?"
He scanned the area, using his hands as a visor. The small, cosy home they lived in was on a remote island, mostly made up of beaches and exotic trees. Harry enjoyed the tranquillity of the place.
"There he is." Harry spotted Sirius who was watching the ocean, one hand digging into the sand, the other clutching the glass of pineapple juice he was sipping on.
He ran over and called, "Hey Padfoot, get up!"
Sirius looked over and whined, "But I only just sat down."
"Shut up, Moony told me you've been there for three hours."
"Fine, I'll get changed then," Sirius said, standing up. "Ooh, I got pins and needles now. I guess I did sit down for three hours without moving."
"Come on, you slow dog," Harry said running back to the house.
"Hey, it's bloody boiling, and what did I say about calling me a dog?" Sirius shouted back.
Remus, meanwhile, was putting the finishing touches on the portkey. He stepped away from a stripped coconut, having cast the final enchantments.
"Is it finished?" Harry panted, having made it to Remus.
"Yep, all done." He paused, taking in Harry's state. "You're more disgusting than me now. Did you run all this way?"
"Yeah. I wanted to make Sirius feel old. No offence, by the way."
"Not too much taken."
"Hey, give me some time to get changed," Sirius said, having finally made it over.
"You have a minute," Remus replied.
Sirius' eyes widened, then he ran into the house. "Oh shi-"
Both Harry and Remus burst into laughter.
"Is there really a minute left?" Harry chuckled.
"No, it's not even time-activated."
"That's even better," Harry laughed, collapsing onto the sand.
"Careful, you'll get those robes dirty," Remus said, offering Harry his hand.
Harry took it and pulled himself up, still chuckling slightly. He brushed the sand off of his expensive clothing. They had got their outfits tailor-made while in Milan, and it had cost a ton. But it was worth it. Remus was wearing all grey, which he had asked for to suit the wolf inside him.
"I'm done," Sirius said, bolting over to them. He was wearing a sleek black set of robes, wanting to represent his house.
"Good," said Remus. "I think we're ready to go." He turned to Harry. "I know this is your first time, so pretend you're riding the portkey like a broom. It should help you land on your feet. Sirius, well I've tried giving you advice a million times. Just try not to get the robes too dirty. They're expensive."
"Hey, I know how to ride a broom too, you know," Sirius protested. "I might try that. I'll just be one with the wind."
Remus just smiled. "We'll see," he said.
"Are we gonna go now or what?" Harry asked, starting to get impatient.
Remus nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Everybody stand around the coconut."
They all did as told.
"Okay, now on the count of three, we'll all touch it. One, two, three, now!"
Everybody placed a hand on the shell and it started to shake. The coconut floated up, taking the three with it. A huge, tornado-like wind surrounded them, enveloping them from their surroundings. The portkey disappeared and the winds became harsher.
Harry looked over to see Remus completely calm, pedalling his feet as if he were on a bicycle. He looked back ahead of him, picturing he was riding a broom. As the winds pushed into his backside, instead of toppling forwards like a normal person would, he used them to propel himself so he moved cleanly.
Soon, the winds started to calm down and Harry could start to see their surroundings. He steadily lowered to the ground and landed on his feet, a bit tired.
To his left, Sirius came flying down, just slowing slightly before landing on his back. "Ow!" he yelled. Remus landed beside him, helping him back up.
"What happened to being one with the wind?" Harry laughed. Sirius just shook his head.
Harry stifled his giggles and looked around carefully; it was the first time he had been in England since he was six. The first time since that painful night. The night he still had scars from, both mentally and physically.
"You ok?" Remus asked, looking at Harry with concern.
"Yeah," Harry said, forcing a smile on his face. "Just wondering where we are?"
They were in a car park, with no cars in it. In fact, not a single person could be seen. The only thing that was recognisable was the sky, which was a gloomy grey.
"This is London," Remus said. "It's on the outskirts, though. I had to pick somewhere no one would see us."
"Why didn't we just apparate?" Sirius asked, rubbing his back.
"I've already told you. The Ministry is tracking long-distance apparition. This is just safer."
"Well, I'm never using a portkey again. I don't care what you say."
Remus shook his head. "Alright you two, hold my hands. We're going to Diagon Alley."
The two gripped one of the wolf's hands each and they turned on the spot, disappearing into nothing. They reappeared at Diagon Alley, which was more magical than ever.
There were shops selling bubbling potions, and custom robes, and armour made of what Harry thought was dragon skin, barrels with filthy beer, books with endless chapters, animals that could talk, bubbles that never popped, ice that never melted. The list was endless. And Harry had just been looking around for a couple seconds.
"Never gets old," Sirius said before walking down the alley. Remus and Harry followed, agreeing wholeheartedly.
They passed a lot of shops that Harry wanted to visit, but he had to admit where they were going was very interesting too.
They stopped at their destination. The white marble building was tall, and a bit wonky. It had aged pillars running down the front in support of the structure and a statue of a dragon stood proudly on top of the roof.
"Let's go mess around with some goblins," Sirius said.
They entered to a polished floor, intricately patterned. To the sides were two long rows of goblins, which were completely busy. They walked right down to the end for the only free accountant available.
"What may I do for you?" the goblin asked, raising its eyes at their expensive clothing.
"We have an appointment," Remus said, looking towards Sirius who was holding up his Ring of Lords.
"Everything seems to be in order," the goblin said, pointing behind him. "If you head down that corridor, it is the room at the very end."
"Thank you," Remus said. They walked past many rooms full of goblins until they reached the end of the corridor, where the room with the largest door was.
Remus knocked.
"Come in," a voice called.
They opened the door to find, unsurprisingly, another goblin, but this one wasn't like the others. This one wore a silky velvet suit and a large gold chain dangled from his neck. He turned away from his messy desk and looked as if he were about to smile, but his face changed back to a stoic impression.
"Lord Black, Heir Black, Mr Lupin, please sit down," the goblin said.
"Mr Ragnok, it would be my pleasure," Harry replied. They took their seats, not so fondly remembering the last time they were here. It was very late and Harry was very injured.
"Did I not say to just call me Ragnok?" the goblin asked.
"And did I not say to just call me Harry?" the boy replied. "Because until you do that, you'll always be Mr Ragnok to me."
"And me," Sirius added. Remus just looked disappointed.
"Very well, Harry, Sirius, Remus, I do believe you remember the last time we were together in this office."
The three nodded.
"It was late, exactly five years ago today," Remus recounted. "There had been a bad series of events at Potter Manor, and we needed to go into hiding. But we wanted to sort out some legal stuff and heal Harry very quickly at the same time. That was pretty impossible. But then we decided to come to Gringotts because we know they are not connected with the Ministry."
"That is true," Ragnok said.
"So we came here and we found you. We were thankful when you healed Harry and then got him his ring. And then you told us to come back, on this very day for something very important. So… we're here now."
Ragnok gave a round of applause. "Very good, Remus. You're memory and storytelling are of the highest quality. I am impressed."
Remus blushed a little and said, "But why are we here?"
"Good question. I think we should find out. Just an hour ago, Lord Potter and Heiress Potter came to visit me."
"They did?" Sirius asked.
"Yes, and they came with a very interesting desire." Ragnok stopped to fiddle with his chain.
"Which was?" Sirius blurted out impatiently.
"I'm getting there," Ragnok replied.
"Yeah, he's getting there," Harry said, punching Sirius on the arm. He eyed the boy back menacingly.
Ragnok continued. "As you know, the Potters are the only remaining descendants of the Peverells, and the Peverells are very closely related to the Gryffindors."
All three nodded again.
"Well, Lord Potter knew of this information, as he was once taken to attempt the Trial of the Founders as soon as he turned the age of 11."
"What's the Trial of the Founders?" Harry asked.
"It's where a descendant of the four Founders of Hogwarts is assessed on whether they are worthy to become the heir of one of the lines."
"Well, I'm in then," Harry said, looking a little shocked.
"How have I not heard about this before?" Remus asked.
Ragnok just chuckled. "As you know, Gringotts is a private organisation so we get full control of everything that occurs within our walls. That means if we want to keep something from the view of the public, we shall do just that."
"Wait, let's not get excited here," Sirius said warningly.
"Oh, don't be a spoilsport," Harry moaned.
"No, I just want to know something." He turned to Ragnok and asked, "How many people have attempted this trial?"
"Off the top of my head, roughly 100."
"And how many accepted?"
"None."
Harry opened his mouth to say something but closed it straight after. That was a fair point.
Sirius put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Look pup, I'm not saying you don't have a chance. It's just that I don't want to see you upset, that's all."
"But it's not going to stop me trying," Harry replied, a determined look on his face.
"That's the spirit."
"If the trial is going to be attempted today, I will need a drop of Harry's blood," Ragnok said.
"Of course," Harry said, stretching out his arm.
Ragnok waved his hand, causing a form to appear in front of him. He quickly pricked Harry's thumb and collected the blood on the parchment. The name 'Harry Sirius Potter' appeared on the form.
Ragnok handed the form to Sirius. "The regulations are on that paper. If you are happy, sign at the bottom."
Sirius skimmed through it and scribbled his name on the parchment. "There you go," he said, handing the form back to the goblin, who nodded.
Ragnok stood up and said, "Follow me." He walked off out of the room, the three right behind him.
"Where are we going?" Sirius asked.
"Well the trial isn't going to take place in my office, is it?" Ragnok said.
He led them back to the entrance hall where they took a different corridor that seemed a little more obscure. The walls and floor were made of cold stone, and the only lighting was from torches.
"Are you taking us to a dungeon?" Sirius asked.
"Don't be ridiculous. The trial has been described to me as dark and cold, but it is far too grand to be a dungeon."
Harry didn't know what to think at the moment. He could become the heir of one of the four most prestigious houses in English history. On one hand, the glory of it all was desirable, but on the other, it was also a bit scary. He would just have to wait and see what happens.
They kept on walking for about 5 minutes until they reached a wooden door with no handle.
"It's your turn now." Ragnok said. "I just pray you aren't as obnoxious as that twin of yours. She came out in tears."
"Thanks for the reassurance," Harry replied sarcastically.
"Just go in and if it doesn't work out, don't worry about it," Remus said.
"You got this pup," Sirius said smiling.
Harry took a deep breath. "I'm going in." He turned around and pushed the door, stepping inside.
It was pitch black. The creak of the door as it closed echoed around the room. There were no people, no torches, no sound. It put Harry on edge.
He tentatively took a step forward. Nothing. He took another. Still nothing. He took another step. And then a voice spoke.
"Harry Sirius Potter," it said. It was a man, with a croaky, almost slimy voice. "We were just awoken by your sister, and she disappointed us just like the rest. Tell me, what makes you different from her."
Harry was just about to reply but was beaten to it.
"Oh but can't you see, Salazar," a woman's voice said, sounding stern and sure. "The boy isn't blinded by the lies of others. He may not have the sharpest memory, but there is a calculation hidden in his brain, a formula so very unique, so very special. He is certainly different from Miss Potter."
"Correct you are, Rowena, as always," another woman's voice said, this one slightly higher pitched. "I like this boy's heart. It lies in the right places, his thoughts never waver into the path of wrong. Maybe a little mischief here and there, but devotion to the people he loves will always be present."
"I am very pleased," another man said. This voice was deep and grand. "I believe this young man will grow to be a hero. He has every quality already within him; the heart, the soul, the courage, the wisdom, the power, the skill… I could go on for days. He is a Gryffindor I tell you, my blood runs strongly within his."
The slimy voice spoke again. "Hmm… Now that I truly look at this boy, I have to agree with your assessments. The boy is different. He has a troubled childhood, paired with incredible experiences. He is smart, but he uses his knowledge in the most cunning of ways. And his tongue, it may not be of his own doing, but he has the tongue of a snake. The boy is just as much a Slytherin as he is a Gryffindor. Yes, yes, if you all agree with me, I think this boy is the one true Heir we have been looking for."
"Yes," the stern woman said. "The one we said would change the future."
"The one to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders," the deep voice added.
"Shall we call him from his slumber?" the other, high-pitched woman asked.
Harry thought it was time to get his voice in before he found himself even more lost in everything that was going on. "Erm, sorry to interrupt, but who are you calling?"
Silence.
Harry then realized how young and naïve he sounded. Nevertheless, he was answered by Salazar Slytherin.
"Mr Potter, I guess I should give you a backstory. We did skip formalities, after all. You see, us four, we are projections of the Founders of Hogwarts. Our thoughts and minds are the same as theirs, though we are simply dormant consciences, awoken only by this trial.
We have been specifically enchanted by the Founders, allowing us to see into the minds of others and always know the situations of the world. Every occurrence in every second of every day does not slip our minds as we sleep. So we use this information to pick out what the world is in need of. If an incredibly talented young witch or wizard takes part in the trial, but the world is simply not in need of a hero, we send them away. That is just part of our purpose.
You see Mr Potter, what this trial is, it does not work for the benefit of you or anyone else that enters this room. We are servants of the world, so we chose only if we have to. Now, we find ourselves in this position, so we have chosen you."
Harry stared into the darkness, not at all sure of how to process that large amount of information. What the Founders had told him, the pressure they had put on him… It made Harry feel scared.
"Do not worry, young one," Rowena said. "You have so much time to grow, but there is just one more conscience you need to meet before we can proceed."
Harry took a deep breath. What did that mean?
His question was answered when a booming voice, deeper than Godric's, announced itself. "So, I have finally been called upon. This is the first time, it seems, the world is in need of a hero with the blessing of Merlin."
Harry's eyes widened. Was this Merlin?
"Harry Sirius Potter, descendant of the line of Gryffindor, great things are to come for you. The Founders have done an excellent job of explaining the situation, so let me elaborate on what's to come.
I am going to give you gifts, power a normal person wouldn't have. You will have to work, but in time you will grow to become a great wizard, one the wizarding world will be able to look to with admiration. The future is dark if you do not do what is needed, young man. Just remember that we are with you every step of the way."
The room fell back into silence. Harry gulped. He had just been spoken to by Merlin himself, the greatest wizard in all of history. And now, as the quiet lingered, he didn't know what to do.
While he was pondering, he suddenly felt a wave of energy flow throughout him. His senses flared as his blood rushed through his body.
Harry put a hand to his head, wondering what was going on. Then, he felt his head become lighter and promptly dropped to the floor, unconscious.
The trial was over.
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