Harry blinked owlishly at the goblin on the other side of the desk. Not only had he never heard of it, but as far as he could tell, the question had seemed to come completely out of left field. "I'm sorry Mr. Ragnuk, I have not. What exactly is a heart giver?"
Ragnuk waved his hand dismissively. "It is quite alright Mr. Potter, in fact I'd have been quite surprised if you had heard of it. Relatively few humans have, and far fewer believe it to be anything more than an old fairy tale. However, among many of the other magical species which inhabit our planet, it is probably somewhere between a legend and a prophecy."
Harry gave a soft groan. "Just what I need, another prophecy," he mumbled under his breath. He hadn't intended for Ragnuk to hear, but apparently he had underestimated those sharp goblin ears. Ragnuk raised an eyebrow at his remark but didn't say anything. However Harry was not naïve enough to believe the shrewd businessman before him wasn't filing away his words for future reference.
"I wonder if you might enlighten me regarding your views on how your ministry and the rest of the wizarding interact with other species?"
Harry's eyebrows shot up at the unexpected question, but figuring the goblin wouldn't ask this if it didn't hold some form of significance, he answered. "Uh- Well, I know about the ministry passing ridiculous laws against werewolves and centaurs. I have a little familiarity with wizard/goblin history but I don't know how confident I am in its accuracy. I didn't have an excellent teacher and even if he were perfect I know it's only one side of the story. I've also seen how abysmally some wizards treat house-elves. Other than that, not much."
Ragnuk nodded. "Yes, that makes sense. You see Mr. Potter, there has long been conflict between many of the species on Earth. The one that has the most enemies has consistently been humanity, but due to their numbers and abilities they don't often lose these conflicts. Many years ago, there was a prediction that one day there would be a human who would have a truly wondrous soul. It was said that this person would be kind and respectful towards any living creature he or she would meet, regardless of their race, simply because they were alive, and that he would give all species a chance at living together harmoniously. They would all listen to him because he was devoted to them all until and unless they individually had given some reason for him to change his perspective. And if this would happen, he would not judge the entire race or social group for this, merely the individuals who'd wronged him. This became known as the legend of the heart giver, for he seemingly would give a piece of his heart to everyone he met.
Harry's mind was spinning with this information as he tried to absorb it all. As he considered what Ragnuk had told him, he was reminded of some of his words from earlier. "Why did you call this something between a legend and a prophecy? This sounds to me very much like a plain, straight-up prophecy."
The goblin smiled, impressed at both the youth's memory and his inquisitive nature. "You see Mr. Potter, the prediction was heard and passed down, but there are many parts of it which are debated. You will notice, for example, that much of the talk about events that will supposedly happen was stated as a theoretical. There would be a person, but he wouldn't necessarily unite the Earth. He would merely have a chance to because he would have a very strong capacity for one of the most precious and under regarded traits that exist."
Harry nodded. "Empathy," he stated simply.
Ragnuk's smile widened. "Precisely, Mr. Potter. Because the only things stated with certainty were regarding this capacity of his, there were many questions about how a vision like this could happen. The supposed seer was not seeing an event, or a connection between parties. He was foreseeing a person having an unusually rich soul. This and other historical details from the time period have led to much speculation and debate regarding whether this was a prophecy or something the person in question knew because he had taken steps to make it happen."
Harry nodded slowly, trying to take it in. "Ok. But why are you telling me this?"
"There were few identifying features given for the heart giver. There is no way you can identify someone based solely on their giving respect to others. People do that. However, one thing he specifically went out of his way to identify as a distinguishing feature was that his empathy with creatures of the world would have no preferences. For centuries nobody understood how this could be used as an identifying characterisitic, until approximately 300 years ago when an African wizard known as Showden the shape changer figured out the theory behind the Animagus form. He postulated that a person's Animagus form developed from an animal whose nature their soul empathized most closely with. But because the heart giver empathized with all creatures and multi-animagus transformation was proven as being limited to no more than three or four forms, it seemed clear that the heart giver would be the one human being who did not possess an Animagus form.
Harry recalled his earlier question to Merlin and finished off Ragnuk's train of thought. "And the Animagus revelation that I went through had my world cycling through so many different colors, almost as if it couldn't decide where to settle."
The goblin nodded. "Precisely."
Harry considered the goblin's words. This was quite a bit to take in, yet he could find no fault with the reasoning. But what about Voldemort? That was already quite more than enough to contend with. To have an added responsibility on top of that…
Merlin interjected here. "Don't think like that, Harry. In fact, this may very well be the 'power the dark lord knows not'!"
Harry figuratively stared at the old man in his head. "How do you work that one out?"
"Do you remember what I told you about the war with Morvere? How Merlin had to take the steps of hiding his children because he couldn't take on all of Morvere's men?" Harry gave a mental affirmative. "Harry, Morvere had about the same power as your Alastor Moody. He was nothing compared to Merlin. The whole issue was that his army was too large for Merlin all on his own, and he was too old to have the time to gather more men. For one man, no matter how powerful, taking on an entire army is completely impractical. And you know Tom Riddle has proven himself capable in the past of gathering a massive army of both wizards and dark creatures. But if this heart giver status of yours allows you to unite more of the wizarding world…
Harry finished Merlin's train of thought. "…Than we'd have an army match against his."
"Exactly."
Harry felt the stirring of a strange feeling in him. Something he could almost call…
"That, young Harry, is hope."
Harry smiled. Hope felt kind of good. Merlin snorted.
"Mr. Potter? Is something wrong?"
Harry started. Ragnuk was sitting there, apparently having noticed Harry's retreat into his mind to speak to Merlin, as well as the smile that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. "I- I'm sorry, Mr. Ragnuk, I must have gone somewhere else for a moment."
"Would this 'somewhere else' have anything to do with the sudden changes, new vaults and such you've displayed?"
Harry cursed in his mind while Merlin laughed uproariously. "Oh, I like this goblin, young Harry. He's a shrewd one. I suggest you tell him the truth. I see no reason to keep it from him, especially since he knows of your sudden possession of Merlin's vault."
Harry nodded slowly. "May I have your word, Mr. Ragnuk, that you will keep the following information confidential?"
Ragnuk nodded. "Of course Mr. Potter. I give you my word on my career, my life, and my honor that I will tell no one without your permission." And so Harry told Ragnuk all about the strain of consciousness Merlin had left for one of his descendants and all it had told him.
"Fascinating," remarked the goblin. "This certainly explains your use of outdated goblin terminology." Harry nodded sheepishly. "Well Mr. Potter, with your permission I would like to communicate with the king of my people. I am quite certain that once he learns of your existence he will want to meet with you."
It took every ounce of self-control Harry had not to gape like an idiot at the idea.
"You are the heart giver, Mr. Potter. My people and others have been looking forward to meeting you for many centuries."
Harry nodded slowly, trying to slow his raging thoughts.
"If I may, Mr. Potter, another question?"
Harry grasped gratefully at the idea of something to focus on, although the formality was starting to bug him. "Only if you call me Harry. Mr. Potter makes me feel like I'm in trouble with one of my teachers."
Ragnuk smiled. "You may call me Ragnuk. I hope you don't take offence to this, but you do not seem to be quite healthy. For one thing you are rather thin."
Annnnnd, just like that the gratitude for the question flew out the window…. Harry looked down sheepishly. "It's nothing, Ragnuk. I'm fine."
A tense moment later, Ragnuk spoke his name softly. Harry looked up uncertainly. "Is there some sort of problem at your relatives' residence?" Harry mentally started employing all of Uncle Vernon's old curses while trying to find some way to get out of the situation. "Um, no. No, Ragnuk, everything is fine at the Dursleys, thank you for asking.
Merlin snorted again. "Harry, you might, might, have convinced a somewhat dim 4 year old with that answer. Ragnuk will never accept it."
"Shut up, old man." Harry cut him off as Ragnuk continued.
"Are you quite certain of that Harry? Then you wouldn't mind submitting to Gringotts medical examination to determine if there is something wrong with your health?"
Harry panicked. "No! That's fine! Really! I'm okay, Ragnuk, really…."
"Harry, you do not look okay even to the naked eye, and your lying could, quite frankly, use some work." Harry went to the curses he'd picked up from the Weasley twins. "Harry, if something is wrong, I assure you, I can help. As your financier, as someone who hopes to know you better, as a goblin, I want to help."
Harry could feel his resolve crumbling against Ragnuk's assault and started making up his own curses.
"Please? Let me help you?" Harry started. "Please do not take this the wrong way, Harry, but it is quite obvious to an experienced eye."
Struggling to get the words past the lump in his throat, Harry told Ragnuk a little of what he'd gone through with the Dursleys, of the maligning, the threats, the chores, the cupboard, the hitting. He only spoke for 5 minutes, unable to talk about it more, but by the end he was wiping tears from his face and Ragnuk was growling softly.
"Thank you, Harry, for trusting me with this. I know it was most difficult for you. I assure you, I will do everything in my power to get you out of that place."
"I wish you could, Ragnuk, I really do."
Ragnuk seemed confused by this, so Harry told him what Dumbledore had said at the end of the previous term regarding the blood wards. He expected Ragnuk's reaction to be one of the utmost regret, sympathy, perhaps even anger. The one thing he didn't expect was what he got (he supposed he should be used to that by now.)
"That makes no sense."
Harry was startled by Ragnuk's words. "What do you mean?"
"A blood ward created based off an emotional sacrifice should require both blood and emotion to operate. From what you've told me, it does not sound like your aunt's feelings towards you are in any way a reflection or continuation of your mother's."
Harry gaped. "But- Dumbledore-"
"Is either a fool or is lying. This is one of the most basic elements of this type of ward."
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But- But- then why would I keep having to go back there? Why would I have gone there in the first place?"
"I do not know why you ended up there, but I do know that it would be a likely outcome after your parents' will was sealed."
Harry came dangerously close to swallowing his own tongue. "Sealed!? How can that be? How does that even happen? And why would that have sent to the Dursleys?"
"If your aunt truly felt this way about your mother I find it highly unlikely your mother would have wanted you to go there. But your parents' will was sealed at the time of their deaths, something which requires the agreement of the head of the DMLE, Bartemius Crouch Senior at the time, the Minister of Magic Milicent Bagnold and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot Albus Dumbledore."
Harry's mind was reeling. Dumbledore!? Dumbledore had the will sealed? First the blood ward, now this! "Could Dumbledore have not known what it said?" Harry grasped in desperation.
"Possible for the other two, but not for him. You see, Albus Dumbledore was named as the executor of your parents' will, which by law means he had to have read it before it was signed."
"So he sealed the will so he could send me to the Dursleys for the protection of a blood ward that he had to have known wouldn't work?" Harry summed up.
"Yes."
Harry's senses were in freefall. Dumbledore. The man he'd looked up to. The man whom he thought was protecting him. The man whom he thought loved him. How could he do this?
There was a total and complete silence in the room for several minutes as Ragnuk allowed Harry to absorb his revelations. Under any other circumstances Ragnuk would've considered the shock Harry was going through, at least being done in front of another, to be a weakness. But he knew this was a betrayal of the worst kind, of the kind that any goblin would've died rather than commit. A betrayal of honor. So Ragnuk sat patiently and let Harry digest the revelation. After a few minutes, Harry spoke, and Ragnuk was both startled and impressed by the strength in his voice for someone so young in this situation.
"Can I see it? The will, I mean? My parents' will?"
Ragnuk nodded. "As the last remaining descendent under no suspicion of culpability in their deaths you are entitled to see it, however it cannot be used legally until and unless it is unsealed," he replied as he started shuffling through the papers on his desk. Harry couldn't quite explain exactly why he wanted to see the will. All he knew was that this document which had been kept from him was the last record of his parents' wishes. The closest thing he could possibly have to hearing what they wanted for him. He didn't quite know how to feel about seeing it, he just knew he needed to.
"Here it is, Harry," Ragnuk said after a few moments, passing him a document marked confidential. Harry took the document with shaking hands, trying to steady himself enough to open up the folder and take a look.
After a few moments and a couple of deep breaths, Harry dove in and began scrutinizing the will. He set aside the legal mumbo jumbo to run by Ragnuk later and focused on examining everything in there that was in any way personal. His eyes glistened as he regarded the priceless treasures that were the little glimpses into his parents' feelings as they set things aside for particular people. Harry was out and out crying when he saw the section where they left everything not specifically named otherwise to him should he survive them and left custody to Sirius, Remus, or several others, none of which were the Dursleys. But there was one paragraph which evoked a very different, but just as powerful, just as terrible emotion in Harry. He'd almost missed the significance in his current state, but he'd learned over the years to listen to those nagging feelings in the back of his head which told him he'd missed something, and he went back and looked it over again.
We bequeath the mouse-hand grandfather clock in the living room to James' uncle Gerard Corson. Uncle Gerry, if you're reading this and wondering about Wormy, don't. He does love that clock, but the sad truth is with his position as secret keeper, if you're reading this particular version of the will, he must have passed on as well.
Harry's hands trembled beneath the onslaught of his terrible fury. Dumbledore hadn't just denied his parents' last sacred wishes when he sealed this document. He hadn't just made it possible for Harry to be placed with people who detested the idea of his existence. This document that Dumbledore knew contained legally admissible evidence that Sirius wasn't the secret keeper. Harry held proof in his hands that Dumbledore had purposely sent Sirius to Azkaban for twelve years.
