Hi all! Yes yes, I know - I'm back from the dead! You all can thank Five Finger Death Punch for that - currently rocking their new album Got Your Six and loving it :)
Anyway, enjoy this latest chapter! Inspiration song for this chapter was Question Everything by 5FDP.
Harry stumbled a bit as the words uttered by Griphook firmly sunk into his mind, his face reflecting his shock before it cooled into a mask of impassiveness. Griphook nodded to himself as the mask slid into place, noting that it wasn't as smooth or blank as it could be, but not a bad attempt for an 11 year old boy.
He waited until they were safely ensconced in his office, the wards raising themselves automatically as the door sealed, then leaned forward over his desk to look at Harry properly. He noted the second-hand clothing, the dirt under his nails and the cobwebs in his hair. But most of all he noticed that his client seemed afraid of touching anything. As if the mere act of touching something would cause that object to come alive and attack him.
"We knew, Mister Potter," he started, Harry's attention firmly fixed upon him as he spoke, "because your death was automatically recorded by Gringotts as the last of the line of Potters who have ownership of your family vaults." He stated, watching as Harry absorbed this then opened his mouth to speak. "Your magical signature was tied to your vault when you first entered it before starting at Hogwarts this year." He continued, Harry's mouth shutting with a snap.
"So...what do I do?" Harry began, sounding like the lost child he was. Griphook smiled, showing far more teeth than Harry was comfortable with before he opened his mouth and began to speak.
oOoOo
A tall woman gracefully stepped into the Gringotts foyer, standing to the side as if waiting for someone to greet her. A few moments later Griphook and Harry stepped out through the door beside her, the latter looking pale and shaky, but a lot more sure of his plans than he was when he entered. Griphook had his back to the woman, but every nearby goblin and being that could hear her froze in their tracks when she spoke - whether by fear or a deep, primal instinct demanding them to listen.
"I shall take him from here, Record-lodger Griphook." She cut across him as he spoke to Harry, smirking slightly to herself when she saw him instantly freeze, the thick hair on the back of his neck and arms standing on end. Harry could only stare at her with wide eyes, the same eyes that she recalled seeing as they pleaded with her to spare her son.
"M-m-my Lady-!" Griphook almost flattened himself against the floor as he spun to face her, causing Harry to frown at the goblin, unsure of what was going on and if he should do the same. A deep part of him was telling him to run for the hills and never look back, but another...it felt strangely attracted to her, like she was a magnet to his soul. She held up a pale hand, stopping him from continuing as she looked at Harry.
"He will be safest with me. I presume you have got him up to speed on what has been happening?" She asked, causing another shiver to race through all beings present. Not a soul dared to breathe too loudly, lest they catch her attention.
"Y-yes, My Lady." He breathed as he slowly moved to a standing position, not daring to look upon her face. She nodded in approval before she smiled at Harry, holding out a hand toward him. Harry glanced at Griphook, who nodded feverishly at him to take her hand, his eyes letting him know that it was safe to do so. Gingerly he placed his hand in hers, surprised at the warmth she was emitting as she gently closed her fingers over his smaller hand.
"Then, we are done, I think you for taking care of him." She smiled at Griphook, who let out a breath that he didn't realize that he had been holding. Turning, she gently ushered Harry towards the door leading to Diagon Alley, not looking back. Harry glanced back in time to see an older goblin rush up to Griphook, almost catching him as he sagged to the floor, the elder's normally greenish skin pale.
As they stepped into the Alley Harry turned to look up at the woman guiding him. She was ethereally beautiful with high cheekbones, long black hair framing her delicate features and pale skin. She was wearing a fur-trimmed winter cloak over a dark dress, which brushed the ground as she walked. She noticed him looking up at her and her features softened into a smile as she stopped, turning to face him properly.
"And now, my child - to Home." She murmured to him before his body felt like it was shifting to the right, being pulled along in a slipstream as everything went dark.
oOoOo
Some time in July...
Harry woke up to the now-familiar sound of a bell chiming softly downstairs. Slipping into the waiting dressing gown he stepped out of the bedroom, smiling at the lump that remained in the bed he had just vacated. He closed the door gently, stepping into the warm hall and heading right. The bell chimed again and he nodded as he rounded the corner and descended the stairs.
"Yes, I'm almost there." He murmured as he stepped into the large room on his left. The chiming stopped, leaving a vacuum of silence as he inspected the being before him. He smiled sadly, stepping forward to brush his fingers against the cheek before him. The spirit smiled softly back, tear tracks on their cheeks as they looked up at him.
"Harry?"
"Hello, my love." He sniffed, raising a hand to cup Harry's on his cheek. "I-"
"Harry!" Letting out a gasp the young boy bolted upright, his hands immediately covering his heart as he struggled for breath.
"Remember what I taught you - in through the nose, out through the mouth. Do this and let your mind sort itself out." The voice was warm and calm, giving something to Harry to focus on. Slowly he became aware of his surroundings, and lifted his head to look at the woman there. She had shifted forward and placed a hand upon his shoulder, helping him ground himself as his mind processed what he had seen. He looked up into another pair of green eyes - far darker than his own yet filled with the light of joy and love. She smiled again, reaching forward to brush his cheek with her fingers before gently kissing his forehead.
"Come, let us talk while you eat." She mussed his hair, laughing slightly as he let out a complaint, trying vainly to rearrange it as she swept out of the room and downstairs.
Harry appeared a few moments later, his hair still messy as he flopped into a chair at the kitchen table, digging into the plate of food that was waiting there for him. He glanced up at his companion as she sipped at a cup of black coffee, her eyes on the Daily Prophet that had just been delivered. She hummed absently as she placed it down on the table, finishing the coffee as she sat back to look at Harry.
"Was it a vision?" She asked bluntly, causing Harry to choke on his mouthful of food at the unexpected question. He swallowed then nodded, taking another bite of his breakfast.
"It was about a spirit, and a bell." He replied after swallowing again, his companion nodding as if it was what she expected to hear.
"The Third Precinct's bell - I was wondering if you had heard it." She mused as Harry stood, placing the empty plate in the sink before sitting beside her. "There was a summoning early this morning, Astarael was used." Her voice fell to a near whisper as she spoke the name of the bell used, as if afraid that speaking it aloud would awaken it from it's slumber. "You were put to sleep with Ranna, to protect your spirit."
"Thank you for that." Harry smiled and the woman smiled as she looped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him in tight to her.
"Not a problem. Now - off to training. 5 laps around the yard, off you go!" She barked with a laugh as Harry bolted out the door as if the hounds of hell were after him.
But then again, who knew if they were or not?
Hehe...so guessed who she is, and what the bells are? (They're really obvious, I even used the names from the series I found them in lol!). They will be different for this story, but have the same effects.
Review and let me know what you think! :D
