Disclaimer: Harry Potter is NOT MINE! I do not own any part of the Harry Potter series that sprung from the mind of JK Rowling, I am just having some fun in her magnificent universe.
It had been a week since Harry's birthday and the Hogwarts booklist for Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny had finally arrived. In the Trio's OWL letters, there was a third sheet of parchment that listed the classes that the trio could take in their sixth year that had been filled out and returned to Hogwarts. The booklist letter reflected their class selections.
"Are you ready Harry?" Bill asked as Harry entered the kitchen.
Harry nodded, stifling a yawn. "Do we really need to leave so early?" he asked.
"Yes," Bill chuckled. "The lines at Gringotts are very long right now. Everyone is terrified with You-Know-Who being back. They are trying to take their gold out of the bank, thinking it will be safer with them than in the vaults. I managed to get you a meeting with Ironfist just as the bank opens, so we better get moving."
"Bill, I really think you should wait until more people get here," Mrs. Weasley said. "I am sure Harry would feel more comfortable with another person to go with, and so would I."
"Mum, we'll be fine," said Bill. "The earlier we get there, the better chance we'll get in and out unseen. We'll meet you and the others at the Leaky Cauldron at around noon, come on Harry."
Harry grabbed another piece of toast from the table and followed Bill out of the kitchen, waving goodbye to Mrs. Weasley.
"Merlin," Bill sighed as he and Harry walked across the lawn toward the ward line of the Burrow. "I love my mum but she can be so overbearing sometimes."
Harry grinned at the eldest Weasley son, privately agreeing with Bill's assessment of his mother.
"So Harry, have you ever Side-Along Apparated?" Bill asked when the pair reached the ward line.
"Yes, I did with the Headmaster to get to the Burrow," Harry answered.
"So you'll be prepared for the sensation then," Bill said. He grinned at Harry's expression of discomfort. "Yes, I agree with you. It takes some getting used too. Now, I'm going to need your help getting to London. I don't have Professor Dumbledore's power, so you'll be helping. Here's a crash course in Apparition: Destination, Determination and Deliberation. You have to get a good idea of where you want to go, then fill your mind with that location, letting it fill your entire mind's eye and then you have to let your magic fill you up while visualizing being at your destination. If you don't have serious conviction, there is a good chance you'll Splinch."
"Splinch?" Harry asked.
"If you don't Apparate properly, you might leave something behind," Bill explained. "And then you'll be stuck, unable to move, until the Ministry sends someone to fix you."
Harry swallowed as he pictured a pair of eyeballs and a leg on Privet Drive.
"Don't worry Harry, just picture the courtyard behind the Leaky Cauldron," Bill said. "And let your magic guide you."
Harry nodded and closed his eyes. He felt Bill place a hand on his shoulder then a few seconds later, he felt as if he was once again being sucked through a straw.
"Well done Harry," Bill said when the world re-expanded. Harry opened his eyes and saw that they had arrived in the courtyard hidden behind the Leaky Cauldron. Turning to Bill, Harry saw that the eldest Weasley son was sweating and panting.
"Are you all right Bill?" Harry asked.
"I'll be fine," Bill answered. "Just catching my breath." After a moment, he straightened up and pulled out his wand. "Come on Harry," he said, tapping the brick archway with his wand.
The bricks melted away to create the entrance to Diagon Alley. Harry couldn't stop the fleeing of awe from filling him up at the magic before him but that awe was quickly squashed at the wave of despair that flowed through the now open archway. Harry knew it was early, the sun had barely made its way over the buildings of the Alley but the center of the British magical world was nearly deserted. Several shops were boarded up and closed, what few shoppers there were this early were huddled together in clumps as they walked quickly across the cobble-stoned street from shop to shop.
"Not a pretty sight for sure," Bill said. "It's been like this ever since the Ministry announced You-Know-Who was back. Come on Harry, it's better if we don't dawdle here in the open."
The pair quickly walked up the Alley toward the gleaming white marble building that dominated the landscape and towered over everything.
"Curse Breaker Weasley," the goblin guard said gruffly as Bill and Harry approached the bank.
"Good morning Stoutheart," Bill answered. "May we enter, Mr. Potter has a meeting with Manager Ironfist."
The goblin grunted before raising a thin wand-like stick. "You know the protocol Weasley."
"Harry, that is a Dark Detector," Bill explained. "Stoutheart is making sure that we are who we say we are, and that we aren't bringing any Dark objects into the bank."
Harry nodded and allowed himself to be scanned. The goblin waved the detector up and down, back and front, of Harry's body.
"What is this?" the goblin asked gruffly as he scanned Harry's head, most particularly his forehead. "There seems to be a concentration of Dark Magic centered here."
"On my forehead? My scar?" Harry asked, reaching up and brushing the lightning bolt scar.
"Follow me," Stoutheart ordered with a clawed hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword.
"Do as he says Harry," Bill hissed.
Stoutheart led Harry and Bill into the bank and off the main hall and into a small office. Two more goblin guards appeared alongside Stoutheart.
"You two will stay here," Stoutheart ordered. "I shall return in a moment." The goblin growled something at the two others guards that had them coming to attention, hands on their swords tightening.
"Bill, what's going on?" Harry asked after Stoutheart left.
"I'm not sure Harry," Bill answered. "But don't worry, I'm sure we'll be fine."
It was a good fifteen minutes before the stone doors opened. Harry and Bill stood up as Stoutheart with nearly half-dozen other goblins.
"Curse Breaker, step aside," Stoutheart ordered.
"What is going on here?" Bill demanded, not moving from Harry's side.
"Do not worry Curse Breaker, no harm shall come to Heir Potter," a rough voice said from behind Stoutheart. The goblin guard stepped aside and another goblin stepped forward. Bill stiffened.
"Harry, do as the goblins say," Bill said quickly as he stepped away from Harry with a bow.
The new goblin was a good head taller than the other goblins, making him only a few inches shorter than Harry himself. The goblin wore no armor, just some leather looking clothing with a dagger sheathed at his hip.
"Heir Potter, step forward," the goblin said. Harry slowly took a pace forward. "Heir Potter, I am Rockfist, and it seems that you have set off our Dark magic Detectors."
"How?" Harry asked.
"How indeed," Rockfist said. "From Stoutheart's report, the Dark Magic is centered around your forehead, your scar to be more precise."
"My scar?"
Rockfist nodded. "Even among the Goblin Nation, your story is legendary, especially the acts of your parents," he said. "To goblins, there is nothing more precious than a child not even gold or treasure."
"How could my scar set off your detectors then?" Harry asked.
"It is most extraordinary, as one would believe that the Dark Magic that failed to kill you all those years ago, the residue should have vanished," Rockfist said. "And to most human's, it would have. But our detectors are much more attuned to magic, and picked it up. With your permission, I would like to examine this quite unique situation."
"Why do I get the feeling that saying no would be a bad idea?" Harry asked. Rockfist laughed, his laughter echoing all around the room.
"You do your ancestors credit boy," the goblin chuckled. "You are correct that refusing this would not bode you well. You would have to leave the bank until such a time that our sensors could not detect the Dark Magic in you."
Harry narrowed his eyes at the tall goblin that was smiling back at Harry, and Harry was sickeningly reminded of Umbridge smiling at him last year. "What exactly do you plan to do about my scar?" he asked.
"To study it and if possible remove the taint," Rockfist answered immediately.
Harry blinked at the response. No one had thought they could do anything about his scar, let alone say they might be able to heal it. "Ok Rockfist, I will agree, on the condition that I have your word that you will do all you can to remove the Dark Magic. This scar somehow links me to Voldemort, and if you can get rid of that link, I would owe you a great deal."
"It links you to the Dark Lord you say?" Harry nodded. "Very well then Heir Potter, I, Rockfist, do give you my word that I will do all in my power to remove the taint of Dark Magic from your scar."
A white glow surrounded the goblin.
"What just happened?" Harry asked.
"He just took a magical vow," Bill said quickly. "If he doesn't do all he can, then his magic will be stripped from him. And as a goblin, they are much more attuned with magic than humans are, and so without his magic…"
"I will die," Rockfist said, finishing for Bill.
Harry was stunned. "You can't do that!" he exclaimed. "You can't risk your life for mine."
"Do not worry Heir Potter, I am confident in my abilities though I do appreciate your concern," Rockfist said. "It is not everyday that a wizard is so concerned with a goblin's life."
"Well, I'm not most wizards," Harry said.
"Indeed," Rockfist said. "If I may proceed with my examination then?"
"Harry, are you sure about this?" Bill asked.
"Not really but if Rockfist can do as he says, then I will be free of this link to Voldemort," Harry said. "It will be more than anyone else has done about it, including Dumbledore. Let's get this over with. What do I need to do Rockfist?"
"Please lay down on this table Heir Potter," Rockfist said. Harry did as he was asked and laid down on the stone table that Rockfist indicated. The goblin stepped forward and raised a thin wand-like device, another Dark Detector, Harry realized. Rockfist waved the device over Harry's forehead and it vibrated sharply. The goblin hissed, in disgust Harry believed, and peered down closely at the scar.
"The fool," Rockfist snarled.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"The Dark Magic that is centered around your scar is not a residue of the curse that failed to take your life as a babe," Rockfist said. "It is a much fouler and vile piece of magic than most comprehend. And it is the work of a coward who believes that this magic will protect him from death."
"What is it?" Bill asked.
"A Sycophanta Mortis," Rockfist snarled. "A Psychivazo, a Horcrux."
Bill paled so much that if it wasn't for his freckles and red hair that Harry wouldn't have been able to make out the Weasley from the gleaming marble walls.
"What's a Horcrux?" Harry asked, using the only word he could pronounce.
"It is the term used for a soul container," Rockfist said. At Harry's confused look, he continued, "There is a way for a witch or wizard to split their soul and then seal it within an object. It is a crude, despicable and cowardly way for one to cheat death."
"Cheat death?"
"To truly die, one's entire soul must perish," Rockfist explained. "And if a witch or wizard creates a Horcrux, the piece of soul contained does not perish when the witch or wizard dies, and the witch or wizard can be resurrected."
"That's how Voldemort did it!" Harry cried, sitting up. "That's how he survived, he's made these Horcruxes…and you said I am a Horcrux!"
"Yes and no Heir Potter," Rockfist said.
"I have a piece of Voldemort's soul in me?"
"Can you get it out of me? I don't want anything dealing with that bastard," Harry shouted.
"Heir Potter, you must calm down," Rockfist said. "I need to examine the soul fragment more closely if I am to have a chance of removing it. Now lay down and remain clam, or I shall have you restrained."
Harry laid back down on the stone slab and tried to calm his racing heart but that was difficult to say the least. He had just been told that he had a piece of Voldemort's soul in his body. 'How in Merlin's name was he supposed to be calm?' he thought.
Rockfist loomed over Harry, grumbling under his breath in a language that Harry had no knowledge of. It sounded a bit like Uncle Vernon or Dudley trying to clear their throats, very gravely and deep. Harry slowly began to feel his eyes grow heavier and heavier as Rockfist kept speaking or chanting, Harry couldn't tell which.
"Harry? Harry, can you hear me?" a voice called out.
"What happened? Where am I?" Harry asked as he slowly came too.
"You are in Gringotts Heir Potter," the rough and tired voice of Rockfist came from off to Harry's right.
"Oh right," Harry said as his memory slowly caught up with his body. Harry slowly sat up before leaning forward between his knees to stop his head from spinning. "What happened?"
"You fell into a trance," Rockfist said. "I was able to examine the Horcrux much closer because of that."
"And?" Harry and Bill asked.
"Good news and bad news Heir Potter," Rockfist said. "The good news is that you will no longer be affected by the Horcrux within you."
"What about the link I have with Voldemort?" Harry asked. "You managed to remove it?"
"No," Rockfist answered gruffly. "That is the bad news. I am unable to remove the Horcrux from you." Harry felt as if his stomach had just fallen away into a deep, dark hole. "Though Heir Potter, there is good news still to hear. The reason I cannot remove the Horcrux is because the piece of soul attached to you is such a small fragment that it cannot be safely removed. When creating a Horcrux, the witch or wizard splits their soul in half. I can only theorize that the Dark Lord spilt into multiple parts, as the sliver of soul is only a tiny fraction of the size of your own soul."
"My own soul?" Harry asked.
"Yes, your own soul is magnitudes larger than the sliver that the Dark Lord left in your body Heir Potter," Rockfist said. "It seems that your soul will soon overwhelm it and destroy it."
"Destroy it?" Harry and Bill asked.
"Yes," Rockfist said. "Destroy it. A whole and undamaged soul is a very powerful thing, and such a small fraction of a soul would have no chance of surviving against a whole and pure soul."
"There's nothing you can do?" Harry asked.
"I'm afraid so Heir Potter," Rockfist said. "The only possible ritual is not suited for such a thing. In history, a Horcrux has been half of a soul, and we have never attempted the ritual on a living being. It would be too much of a risk to you, Heir Potter, to attempt this."
"But if I have this Horcrux in me, doesn't that mean Voldemort can't be killed?" Harry asked.
"Yes, that is normally true," Rockfist nodded. "But the sliver of soul in you is much too small to return a person of life. And as I said, your whole soul is slowly destroying the other soul and I estimate that it will be completely destroyed in a year or so."
"A year?" Harry whispered. "Is there anything that can be done to speed the process up?"
"No," Rockfist answered. "Unless you wish to undergo another ritual that would combine the two souls."
"What? Never!" Harry cried in shock and horror. "I don't want to merge souls with Voldemort!"
"I did not believe you would," Rockfist said. "That is the only other option available to you Heir Potter."
Harry sighed and put his head in his hands. Bill looked at the teen, his mind blank, not knowing what to say. After a few moments, Harry raised his head. "Bill, I need your word that you won't tell a soul about this, not even Fleur," Harry said.
Bill felt a chill race down his spine at Harry's stare. The teen's green eyes were focused solely on him, and it felt much like Professor Dumbledore's stare. "You have my word Harry," Bill said.
"Thank you," Harry said before turning to Rockfist. "Thank you as well Rockfist," I owe you quite a debt for telling me this. I have my suspicions that certain people have known about this and have been keeping it a secret from me."
"I shall call upon that debt," Rockfist said. "Not now of course but know in the future, I will be calling upon you for a favor."
"I await that time," Harry said, feeling a bit like he had just signed a deal with the devil.
"Now, I believe you have a meeting with my clansman, Ironfist," Rockfist said. "I will take my leave."
"Thank you again Rockfist," Harry said. The goblin nodded and left the room with his attendants and guards.
"Are you sure you are ok Harry?" Bill asked. "We can see if Ironfist will reschedule?"
"No," Harry said firmly. "I am fine, just trying to come to grips with what we've learned. And if I've learned anything from Binns, it's that goblins despise weakness."
Bill nodded, knowing that Harry was right and that if they did cancel their appointment, it would be even more difficult to get Harry another one.
"Curse Break Weasley, Heir Potter, Manager Ironfist is ready to see you." One of the goblin guards had returned. "We shall escort you to his office."
Bill and Harry followed their two guards/escorts through the main hall and a back door that led to hallway lined with more doors. Dozens of torches were hanging from braziers on the walls, casting moving shadows all the way down the long hallway. The four beings came to a stop in front a dark wooden door with a brass nameplate that gleamed in the flickering torchlight. One of the guards raised an armored fist and knocked firmly.
"Enter," a deep voice came from the other side of the door. The guard pushed open the door and Bill and Harry stepped inside. If Harry had to describe the office, he would think it looked much like a banker's office, if that banker didn't mind the roaring fireplace, gleaming weapons hanging from the walls or the other trophies that stood in the marble cabinet behind the goblin's desk.
"Ah Heir Potter, right on time," the large goblin said getting up from his seat. He came around the desk and walked forward.
"Manager Ironfist, thank you for seeing me," Harry said grasping the goblin's outstretched hand in a firm grip.
"Of course, of course," Ironfist said. "Please have a seat and then we shall get down to business." The goblin placed four folders on his desk: two very thick, the other two thin. Ironfist put a hand over the two thin folders. "These two folders are our first order of business, they contain the wills of your godfather, Sirius Orion Black, and your parents, James Charlus Potter and Lily Elizabeth Potter nee Evans."
Harry swallowed thickly. "I wasn't aware that my parents had a Will," he said. "And the Headmaster told me about Sirius' Will but knowing him, he didn't tell me everything."
Ironfist nodded. "We shall begin with your godfather's Will, as it is the tipping point to our conversation," he said. "Aside from some bequeaths to others including a Ms. Hermione Granger, the Weasley family, a Mr. Remus Lupin and several others, Mr. Black left everything to you, including the title of Head of House to the Black Family. Now normally this wouldn't be possible as you are under the age of seventeen, but Mr. Black has found a way around this sticking point."
"Of course he did," Harry muttered. "How?"
"Your very own Ministry provided the way," Ironfist said. "When the Ministry allowed you to compete in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, even after declaring that the competitors must be of-age to do so, they broke their own laws. Now normally it wouldn't matter as magic still wouldn't have recognized you as of-age, but when you were victorious in the Tri-Wizard Tournament and the Ministry attempted to try you as an adult, it set things in motion, and magic then recognized you as of-age."
"Wait, magic recognized me as of-age?" Harry asked. "I thought that once you turned seventeen you became of-age, and how could magic recognize me as of-age?"
Ironfist laughed. "That is what your Ministry would love to have you believe Heir Potter," the goblin said. "They claim that you must be seventeen to be an adult, however seventeen is only a number. From what Mr. Black wrote of you, you have fought an adult's fight since you were just a babe, and have continued that fight all your life. And magic is something that we still do not truly understand, but what we do know is that magic is more 'alive' than most witches and wizards think."
Harry nodded.
"And because of that recognition, magic, well to be more specific your family's magic has recognized you being of-age," Ironfist said. "Now Mr. Black named you his heir to the House of Black, and as Head of House of Black you are now allowed to take up your own Head of House position for the House of Potter." Two small boxes appeared on the desk; each box had a different crest on its lid. The one on the right had a griffin standing on its back legs with a downturned sword in its paws on a field of crimson. The bow on the left had a coiled silver snake on a sea of forest green. "These are the Head of House rings for the House of Potter, " indicating the one on Harry's right, "and the House of Black," the one of Harry's left, "and they are now yours."
Harry slowly reached out and pulled the Potter box toward him. With an almost reverent gentleness, Harry brushed his fingertips against the Potter crest. He had never seen anything that was part of his family before, in fact the only thing he had from his parents was his father's Invisibility Cloak. Opening the box was a gold ring with the Potter seal on it. He plucked it from the red velvet lining of the box and admitted the ring as it caught the light. He then slid the ring onto his right ring finger and froze as warmth filed his body. Unknown to Harry, a soft white glow surrounded Harry as he put the Potter ring on.
A moment later, Harry reached out and opened the Black box and plucked the Black ring from the emerald velvet lining and slid the ring onto his right ring finger where it sat above the Potter ring. The two rings glowed and then shrank until they were width of just one ring.
"Excellent Lord Potter," Ironfist said. "Now you are considered the Lord of both House of Potter and House of Black."
"What does that actually mean, Lord of a House?" Harry asked.
"Your godfather anticipated this and left you this," Ironfist said, pulling a thick book from a drawer and push it across the desk to Harry. The title was slightly faded with age but it read, 'Appearance and Attitude: How to Look and Act like a Lord'
"Now Lord Potter, we can open your parents' Wills," Ironfist said.
"Wait, why now?" Harry asked. "Why am I only finding out about this now? Why not before?"
"Because your parents' Wills had been sealed," Ironfist explained.
"By who?"
"The Chief Warlock of the Wizengamont," Ironfist answered. "An Oswald McDonald. At the time, with the downfall of the Dark Lord and so many families being decimated, the Chief Warlock decreed that Wills were to be sealed until a descendent became of-age to keep those of unsavory intent from taking from what did not belong to them."
Harry breathed a sigh of relief. For a split second, Harry thought that it was Dumbledore who had sealed the Will. It wouldn't have been the first time the Headmaster had hidden or kept things from him.
Ironfist pushed a small scroll the desk to Harry. The scroll had a red wax seal with the Potter crest holding a golden ribbon around the scroll closed. Harry slowly reached out and picked up the scroll, the seal glowed softly and spilt. With slightly trembling hands, Harry peeled off the golden ribbon and opened the scroll. The top scroll had James' name written in gleaming ink across its top.
The Last Will and Testament of James Charlus Potter
Well, if anyone is reading this then I obviously have gone and died, or moved onto the next great adventure, as my old Headmaster would say. I really hope that the reason someone is reading this is because I passed on nearly a century after I've written this on October 3rd, 1981, surrounded by my wife, son or children and grandchildren. If not, then let's hope I did my Potter name proud and died honorably.
To my lovely wife Lily, should she, Merlin forbid, not precede me, I leave all my worldly possessions to you, including my wand, my journals and my Cloak, once Dumbledore returns it of course. I am sorry Lily, to leave you and Harry like this, you were the guiding light of my life, the one who truly helped shape me into the man I became and blessed me with your love and the greatest gift of all, Harry. I will never be able to repay you for giving me a child; a son that I know will grow to become better than either of us.
To my brothers in all but blood: Sirius Orion Black, Remus John Lupin and Peter Andrew Pettigrew, I leave you each 50,000 Galleons that will be deposited in your vaults at the reading of this Will. Moony, you will accept it, you can't give it back since I'll be dead when you get the money and I'll have left instructions with Ironfist to not accept the money back. Do yourself a favor Moony, get some new clothes. Wormtail, I know that we haven't been as close over the last few years as we were during Hogwarts but you are still my brother. You are a much better wizard than most give you credit for, you just need to believe in yourself, like we all do.
Padfoot, Sirius, in addition to the money I left you even though I know that you won't need it, I leave you the most important thing of all. You are Harry's godfather, and I know that were anything to happen to Lily and I, you will take care of Harry as your own.
To my son Harry, I am so sorry if you are reading this alone. It is your mother's and mine greatest fear that we wouldn't survive this War and leave you all alone. It is my greatest hope that you will be reading only after I have seen you grow, graduate Hogwarts, fall in love and have a family of your own. But if that doesn't happen, and I've left you and your mother much earlier than planned, never doubt that I loved you from the very moment that the Healers put you in my arms that first time at St. Mungo's and will never stop loving you long after I have gone. The prophecy that the Headmaster heard before you were born only made me believe even more strongly that you will truly be special. Dumbledore thinks that you will be the one who defeats Voldemort once and for all but never think you have to accomplish this alone. Find friends who are true and like you for you, not our family's title or wealth. Find someone to love, that you would do anything for to see them happy, for that is what love is. Love is not something you take; it is something you give, give wholly and without reservation. I will see you again Harry my son, so do not mourn me being gone. I love you Harry.
Oh yeah, before I forgot, Sirius Black is NOT our Secret Keeper, Peter Pettigrew is. We've switched because everyone knows that Sirius is my best friend, and would be the obvious choice for being Secret Keeper.
Harry hastily wiped his eyes as he put his father's letter aside a warm feeling had flooded his entire body at reading his father's words. He had never read anything that James had written, or that Lily had written either. Steeling himself, Harry reached over and picked up the second scroll, this one with Lily's name on it.
The Last Will and Testament of Lily Elizabeth Potter nee Evans
Hello all, if you are reading this, then I suppose I've passed on and so I declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. I only pray that this is being read years and years in the future and not because that monster Tom Riddle has won. I hope that this is being read only after I passed on surrounded by my grandchildren that Harry has given me to spoil. (Harry blushed when he read this.)
To my funny, lovable, handsome husband James, should he not precede me to that next stage of life, I leave all my possessions to you including my wand, my diary and my notes and journals. James, it might have taken me years to realize the amazing man you would become but I don't regret a single second of our time together and I pray that we will have all the time in the world in the future.
To Petunia Anne Dursley nee Evans: Tuney, all I can do is apologize. We were so close growing up, you were my big sister, the person I looked up too and even though I promised I wouldn't let magic change me, but I failed. I did let it change me. I know sisters grow apart as they get older but I thought we would be different, I was wrong. I shouldn't have flaunted by having magic in front of you, I should have tried harder to stay closer to you, Mum and Dad while at Hogwarts and after graduating. I only pray that someday soon we can reconnect and be like we were and not how we are now. And so I leave 1/3 of my earnings from the Ministry to you, converted into pounds of course, to hopefully ease your life.
To Alice Jane Longbottom nee Franklin: Alice, you quickly became my best female friend when we arrived at Hogwarts. You saw that I was a floundering Muggleborn and helped show me the wizarding world in a much deeper way than Severus ever could. When you named me Neville's godmother, I knew that I couldn't do anything less, and James agreed. So we've named you Harry's godmother, Sirius will need your calming influence to balance him out. Harry and Neville will also love being god-brothers.
To Sirius Orion Black, Remus John Lupin and Peter Andrew Pettigrew; you three quickly became the brothers I never had. Sure I might have hated strongly disliked you three and James when we were younger but you all slowly grew on me as we grew up. You taught me to live outside of books and my own little world, and enjoy the great wide world, and that is something that I can never repay you three for. I know that you will make sure that both James and Harry are looked after if I am gone. Remus, you'll need to help Alice in making sure that Harry is raised right by Sirius, make sure my baby doesn't become some self-proclaimed ladies man.
And finally, to my sweet baby Harry. I am so sorry if you are reading this and its not some years like 2075, I pray to God, or Merlin, that your father is there beside you while you read this but knowing James, he will do all in his power to protect us both. Sometimes I get so angry with that man but I love him so much more. Harry, baby, I want you to know that your father and I love you so much, never believe anything different. With all that is going on, and the prophecy that Professor Dumbledore has told us, I am terrified that I won't get to see you grow up, fall in love, get married and start a family. People are dying nearly every day, and while I trust Peter, a mother always fears for her child's life. Dumbledore believes wholly in this prophecy, and I want to believe in him too, believe that you will defeat Voldemort but as a mother, I don't want you anywhere near that monster. But you are also a Potter, and a Potter never backs down from a fight, neither does an Evans.
But Harry, don't let this prophecy control you life. If you let the prophecy control your life, then Voldemort will have already won. You will be Voldemort by living your life. To help you, I leave you, my son, my journals on spellcrafting, Charms and Potions, as well as my diary when I was a girl and kept all through Hogwarts. I'm sure that you might be embarrassed to read your mother's diary but perhaps, should the worst happen, this will give you some comfort.
Harry, my beautiful baby boy, if I have gone well before you read this, never forget that I love you with all that I am. You are the shining light that gives me hope that we will win this war, if only to make sure that you do not have to ever worry about fighting against a deranged Dark Lord. I know in my heart that you will become something special, and become the best wizard and man you can be, and if this prophecy is true, you will kick Voldemort's arse not just you were prophesized to do so but because you are my son and your father and I love you, and nothing will ever change that.
Harry hastily wiped his eyes as tears were streaming down his cheeks; several had fallen onto the letter, leaving splotch marks on the parchment. Neither Bill nor Ironfist spoke, letting Harry compose himself. After a few moments of silence only punctured by Harry's sniffling and clearing his throat and nose, Harry wiped his eyes dry and almost reverently placed Lily's letter next to the one from James.
"Thank you Ironfist," Harry said thickly, his eyes red and puffy.
"You are welcome Lord Potter-Black," Ironfist said. "Now that both Lord Black's and the Lord and Lady Potter's Wills have been read, our business is nearly concluded."
"What else do we need to discuss Ironfist?" Harry asked.
"Your families votes in the Wizengamont," Ironfist said. "You are not old enough to sit in those seats, you must be at least 25 years old. Until you reach that age, you will need to name a proxy."
"Who has been voting with my families' votes?" Harry asked.
"The proxy for the Potter vote has been Chief Warlock Dumbledore since your parents passing fifteen years ago," Ironfist said. "The Black family vote is currently being used by the Malfoy family, as Narcissa Malfoy nee Black is the only eligible member of the Black family." The goblin paused when he saw the thunderous expression on Harry's face. "Lord Black thought you might take issue with that case, and left you this journal, along with your father's."
"Did my mother leave me a journal?" Harry asked, his hands gently running over the leather covers of the two journals.
"She did," Ironfist answered. "However, we at Gringotts never received it. Your parents placed a charm on most of their effects that, when they passed, would send them to a vault here at Gringotts. For some reason, the charm was broken or failed in regards to your mother's journal. As the charm was a Gringotts creation, it is very disheartening to find out that it did not perform as expected."
"Where is it?" Harry asked.
"I do not know," Ironfist said. "This is an unprecedented event for Gringotts. I can only say what I believe to be true, it is more likely that the charm was broken than it failed."
Harry nodded, trying to keep his face straight and void of the crushing disappointment that was weighing upon him. Harry had always been told of his physical closeness to his father while only having his mother's eyes. He would have loved to have gotten something from his mother; the only memories he had of Lily was her screaming whenever Dementors were near and Snape's memory when the Potions Master called her a Mudblood.
"Lord Potter-Black, if you would like, I can escort you down to your vaults," Ironfist said. "There might be some effects there that you might find interesting."
"Thank you Ironfist," Harry said. "I would like that."
The goblin nodded and led Harry and Bill from his office through a back door to the carts that would take them down to the vault.
"Here we are, Vault 27," Ironfist said as the cart screeched to a half a few moments later.
"Vault 27, but my vault was 687," Harry said.
"That was before you became Lord Potter-Black," Bill said. "Your previous vault was your trust vault, and once you became the Heads of the Potter and Black families, the contents of that vault transferred to the Potter family vault."
"Curse Break Weasley is correct," Ironfist said. "Now Lord Potter-Black you must place your hand upon the vault door to open it."
Harry approached the massive vault door. He saw a large griffin's head in the middle of the door. Harry placed his hand on the griffin's head and winced. "What the?" Harry asked.
"That is just the vault guardian testing your blood Lord Potter-Black," Ironfist informed Harry. "Only Lord Potter, or Lady Potter can open the vault. If one were to try and force their way into the vault, lets just say that the consequences would be quite severe."
Harry felt a spike of dread rush through him at Ironfist's wicked smile. A faint hiss came from the vault door as a seam appeared in it. The door swung open soundlessly and Harry's breath caught in his chest. The interior of the vault looked to be half the size of the Great Hall at Hogwarts; one side contained towering mountains of Galleons, Sickles and Knuts, and the other side was filled with gleaming suits of armor, overflowing bookcases and other odds and ends. But what Harry focused on was a small lectern about fifteen feet to his left; on the lectern was a thick leather-covered book that seemed to be radiating power. Stamped on the cover was the Potter crest with the Latin words 'Familia, Honorem, Superbia, et Virtus' stitched below it.
Harry ran his hand over the cover, shivering at the tingling feeling that raced up his arm. "What is this?" he asked.
"That is the Potter family grimoire," Ironfist said. "It is a compilation of all the magic that the Potter family has created throughout its history. Only the Lord of House Potter can remove it from that pedestal and allow others to read its pages."
Next to the lectern was a wooden case that had a glass lid. Inside the case were several pillows, all crimson with golden trim, and on those pillows were around a dozen wands.
"What are those?" Harry asked.
"Those are the wands of the previous Lord and Lady Potter," Ironfist explained. "Much like the journals, the wands are charmed to come here when the Lord or Lady passes."
"So my parents' wands are in here?"
"Yes," Ironfist said. "I believe they are the wands at the far right of the case."
Harry's eyes locked onto the wands of his parents, and he slowly opened the case. Reaching in, Harry gently picked up the two wands, feeling a faint of warmth shoot through his arm.
"Can I take these?" Harry asked.
"They are your family's property Lord Potter-Black," Ironfist said. "You can do whatever you wish with them."
"Bill, is there a way to combine two wands into one?" Harry asked, turning to the red haired Curse Breaker.
"I don't know," Bill admitted. "I don't know a lot about wands, you would ask Ollivander about it. Or I believe there is a wandsmith in Knockturn Alley too."
Harry nodded and pocketed his parents' wands. "Let's go," he said. "I can look around another time."
Bill nodded and the group made their way back to the cart and the surface.
"Thank you Ironfist," Harry said. "You have provided a great service to House Potter and I hope to be able to repay you somehow."
Ironfist's eyes widened at Harry's thank, and behind Harry, Bill gasped in surprise.
"You are quite an intriguing wizard Lord Potter-Black," Ironfist said. "You make promises that you might not be able to keep, yet I do not sense any fear in you."
"I am not most wizards Ironfist," Harry answered. "I do all that I can to keep my word, and if I am not able to keep my word it will not because I didn't try hard enough."
"So I can see," Ironfist said. "I shall call upon that favor in the future Lord Potter-Black, we goblins have long memories."
Harry nodded. "Until next time, may your gold always flow," he said remembering one of the few farewells that Binns had taught them in History of Magic.
"Harry, do you realize what you've done?" Bill hissed as he and Harry left the bank. "You now a favor to two goblins, either Ironfist and Rockfist can now ask of you for pretty much anything."
"And I would trade almost anything to feel closer to my family," Harry argued. "And that's what Ironfist has given me. You've always known your family Bill, so you have no clue how much it means to me to just have a small piece of my family's legacy and history. So I have no problem in promising a favor to Ironfist in return for what he has done."
Bill frowned at Harry's answer but stayed silent when he realized that he truly had no answer for Harry. The eldest Weasley child had always been taught that family came first, and to find out that Harry was willing to risk an open favor to a goblin just to learn a bit about his own family.
"Where to now Harry?" Bill asked. "We have about two hours before the others are supposed to arrive at the Leaky Cauldron."
"Perhaps since you have some free time, you would be willing to speak with me?" a deep and gravely voice came from behind Harry and Bill. Harry turned and saw a man whose face he had only seen in the black and white photographs of the Daily Prophet.
A/N: Well there you have it, the newest installment of Harry Potter and the Impending Storm. Hope you all enjoyed it. Normally when someone writes a sixth year Harry Potter story, they'll have the usual scenes (Will reading, Gringotts visit, etc) well, here was the Gringotts visit and next chapter there will be a new twist on the Diagon Alley shopping spree that so many of these stories have. One always has to wonder why Harry never used money from Gringotts to get some new Muggle clothes (Hermione says that she is able to convert muggle money into Galleons, so it stands to reason that the conversion could go the other way). But these questions will be answered in the coming chapters, til next time,
SlyNinjaKnight
PS: Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, which holiday you celebrate and have a great New Year's.
