Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Gabriel woke up to the glory of Dawn bursting with energy and good mood.
And then he noticed the destruction around him.
For almost thirty feet around him there was nothing but blackened, burned soil. Ashes of the life that had occupied that space the night before still floated in the air, though most had already settled on the ground. Gabriel realized he had been lying down, the wood of the bench probably burned with the rest. But he wasn't alone.
Next to him stood a bigger version of the eagle that had delivered his Hogwarts letter (which was safe in his pocket, thankfully). Yet she looked different. It was her, that much Gabriel knew, but how, no clue.
Actually, that wasn't true. He felt the same familiarity with the bird that he had felt the previous evening, only it was now even stronger. And then something within him snapped, and Gabriel heard a soft, calm, feminine voice thunder in his head, weirdly warm despite its gelid feel.
-'/ Finally, buddy. I was wondering when you were going to let me in! /'
Gabriel was stunned, as much by the unique voice as by its existence. One, a voice most likely belonging to the bird in front of him had echoed in his mind. Two, despite the fact that the voice was incredibly weird, it had felt familiar and comforting. That led him only to one conclusion.
-'/Are you my Familiar? /'- he spoke in his mind.
-'/Obviously! Now how about you close your mouth before something flies in and name me? The sooner you do it, the less messy this will be. /'
Gabriel had to hand it to her, she could compete with Artemis in straightforwardness. But he wasn't about to name her after his ancestor.
Looking at her, trying to discern some unique feature he could work with, he noticed that she looked quite different than before. Where before her shoulders, paws and tail had been white against the black of her head, body and wings, they were now crackling white. Sparks of lightning seemed to run across her white feathers. The black portion of her body had gone dark blue, like dark ice. A tin permanent layer of hoarfrost seemed to cover these feathers. Her golden talon seemed to have the same electricity as the white feathers. Her incredibly large beak seemed sharper than ever, gold as the talons, and her golden eyes had gone lightning blue. They shined like lightning too, which was an amazing sight.
-What happened to you?
Gabriel hadn't been able to avoid voicing the thought, but apparently is Familiar had no problems understanding English.
-'/Oh, this? I actually have you to thank for this. Last night your magic locked down a radius of 33 hundred feet around you, but despite the fact that you had not yet recognized me as your Familiar, it let me stay. I stood watch over you, but your Maturation had an... Explosive outcome. Your magic exploded from its growth, and destroyed everything around you, but because of our incomplete bond, I absorbed much of the excess magic and used to destroy the blocks on my true nature and on my Elemental affinity. As such, instead of the sea eagle you saw yesterday, I now stand before you a proud Lightning-aligned Blizzwing! /'
Gabriel saw the smile (he knew it was a smile, but it seemed like the former sea eagle was twisting her beak in a strange fashion. It resembled a grin... sort of) on is Familiar's face, but wasn't any less confused. Yes, that explained the cracking ant the eyes, but what on bloody Earth was a Blizzwing?
-'/ You realize I can hear your thoughts, right? /'- She sounded incredibly amused.
-'/Right. Well then, what IS a Blizzwing? /'
-'/I thought you'd never ask! You know of Phoenixes, yes? We're the water and ice equivalent to the burned chickens. We're far rarer, far more powerful, and far more beautiful, if I say so myself. /'
Gabriel smirked. The bloody bird was as vain as Hedwig! Who might not appreciate competition, now that he thought about it...
-'/I'm sure she won't have a problem. And f she does, I'll hold her down until she's calmed down and you get a chance to explain yourself. We've been speaking in bird-tongue, I'm sure you'll manage a civil, two-sided discussion with her. /'
Gabriel glanced at the Blizzwing. She could do it. Easily, in fact. She looked like she weighed over twenty pounds, and she was about four feet long, more than half his height! Her talons were almost half as long as Hedwig was large, too. And Gabriel hadn't even seen her wingspan, but her wings looked pretty big to him, even folded as they were.
Then he realized he had been speaking bird-tongue. Bloody Hell, when had that happened?
-'/Well? Shall we go deal with those horrible relatives of yours? /'
Gabriel stood outside his relatives' door. He was trying to gather his wits before walking in. He wasn't quite sure what their reaction to is new looks would be.
On his way back to Privet Drive, he had seen his reflection in a large puddle of water. Gabriel Myrrdin did NOT look like Harry Potter.
Harry Potter had been small, skeletal and had a soft round face with green eyes and short, untamed black hair. Gabriel Myrrdin stood tall at five foot nine inches, almost a foot taller than Harry Potter. His hair, black and dark red like both his father AND mother, fell down to his mid-back and was straight like his mum's had been. His face looked now a more like James' than before, angular and chiseled like it had been cut from stone. He was no longer scrawny either, he looked... fit. Not ripped, but fit. He now filled his hand-me-downs in eight, even if he still wasn't as large as his cousin. He looked... dare he say it... handsome.
His glasses also seemed to have outlived their usefulness, as Gabriel apparently had no need of them to have perfect 20/20 vision. Which was good, because if Harry's eyes had been pretty, Gabriel's were beautiful, even mesmerizing. They shined far brighter than Harry's and showed a presence that Gabriel's mask had never had. And best of all, that accursed scar was gone! A were all of his scars, actually.
Gabriel slowly breathed in and out, willing himself to remain calm and collected. Then he entered the house, announcing he was back to whomever was in the house. Cursing softly, he realized he'd forgotten an important detail: Gabriel's voice was deeper and richer than Harry's, almost melodic. He had to hand it to his ancestors, they really knew what they were doing, because they did GREAT work.
Luckily, though, no one seemed to be home. Which worked out great for Gabriel. He quickly made his way to his room, where he saw that all of his things were gone. Then he saw through the window that there was a fire burning with all his things in it down in e backyard. Thankfully, everything important he kept in his chest, which was locked and only he could open. Also, it was nonflammable.
But there was something in Harry's bedroom (Gabriel didn't want himself directly associated with the room, the house or the inhabitants). And that something was a dying Hedwig.
-NO! HEDWIG!
Gabriel rushed to his first friend, on the verge of tears. Hedwig looked AWFUL. Her eyes were bloodshot and glazed over, her mouth was foaming, and she was lying on her side, barely breathing.
-'/ From what I can understand, she's hooting that she the Dursleys poisoned her... On the orders of what Hedwig calls the evil twinkling elder. /'
-Dumbledore... He's trying to push me into madness. Then he can just push me towards whoever he wants like a rabid dog... I'll bet you his plan was making me think it was Voldemort or his Death Eaters. They'll probably attack soon, Dumbledore will have leaked my location and removed my relatives so I can be attacked here and he can save me.
Gabriel would have gotten up and left, but he couldn't just leave Hedwig... To die alone. He owed it to her to stay by her side to the end. Of course, he wouldn't stop his newfound Familiar if she wanted to leave. She'd never known Hedwig, after all, and it might get dangerous if he was right and an attack was incoming. He didn't want anything to his new friend. It was perhaps the only thing of his mask that wasn't completely fake: he really did care about his friends and tried to protect them. It was just that he considered very few people as members of that category.
The Blizzwing scoffed at him.
-/'As if I'm going to leave in a possible attack site! No, I'll leave when you leave. /'
They stood there for nearly an hour, waiting for Hedwig to die. But right before she did, she revealed one last surprise to the young wizard, as she burst into flames that didn't burn her. She was becoming a Phoenix! For a moment, Gabriel dared hope that maybe he wouldn't lose Hedwig. That hope came crashing down, burnt to ashes, when the newborn Phoenix still looked like she was dying. The poison was still killing her, and Phoenixes couldn't heal themselves. Only be reborn from their ashes, but that didn't seem to help Hedwig.
Hedwig the Phoenix agonized for almost three hours after her birth, her flames keeping Harry warm, but her song only managing to inspire mourning, heartbreak and righteous fury. By twenty past eleven, she seemed about to take her last breath. But then, her song and her fire intensified, before she burst into bloody tears that the other bird drank at her apparent bequest. Then the Blizzwing screeched as her eyes shone with tears and her plumage seemed to burn blue. Then she started to sing, a song of mourning, of heartbreak, sacrifice, vengeance and fury, of blood-lust and freedom. And then the song showed some of the Blizzwing's themes, of cold, and the sea, and diving as lightning bolt on her pray, and of the fjords of her infancy. Hedwig had given her song, her blood and tears and her fire to Gabriel's Familiar.
Right then and there, Gabriel saw his Familiar for the first time, and named her as she was to his eyes.
Her name was Skyfjord.
Hedwig died at 11:29 A.M., one minute before Gabriel's letter activated and brought him to a private meeting in Gringotts, where the Goblins who awaited him saw before them a young man with eyes so haunted and so dead that they wondered if was a ghost or a corpse. Gabriel felt as if he was both. Skyfjord sang to him, bringing his spirits up, if they did make him a little bloodthirsty. But his Familiar thought his targets more than deserving of it, so she didn't let his change of heart bother her much. He was quickly taking after her, anyway, and when his rage truly hit, it would hit cold. And his vengeance would be a true Slytherin vendetta.
-Mr. Potter, I assume.
The middle Goblin has said this. There were three, two male and a female. They were dressed in expensive suits that looked like they were Armani. The suits were completely black. The female wore a business suit of the same coloring.
-My name-he said, his voice as dark and cold as a Norther Blizzard- is Gabriel Myrrdin. You'll find that my name was Harry James Potter, until last night. As of earlier this morning, my name is Gabriel Myrrdin. I'm sure your records will easily confirm this. In the meantime, while your underlings check them, I would like to perform an Inheritance Test. I have reason to believe I am Heir to certain bloodlines that would require said test to reveal themselves.
The Goblins shivered at his tone. He was nothing if not polite, but still managed to assert a very clear sense of his power on the other occupants of the room, which was suited for that type of action, actually, as it was bare except for the white marble table, elliptical in shape, that contrasted with the black floor and ceiling and light grey walls. In short, the Goblins felt as if they were in his territory instead of the other way around.
-What proof would this be, Mr. Myrrdin? - Ragnarök inquired of the sixteen year old, being the least intimidated of the three. He was, after all, an Archduke of the Goblin Nation, and that meant he was by definition not just a very powerful political figure, but also a truly fearsome warrior. Nevertheless, this boy... No, this man unnerved him. He was just glad he seemed to be calm and not even the least bit angry at them. He wasn't sure he would like to see the boy angry. Very few wizards could reach that... Coldness that permeated him. Most of them were fearsome, if difficult to truly anger. They were ruthless, however, which made even annoying them dangerous. Plus his bird was impressive. A Blizzwing! He hadn't seen one... ever. He thought they'd been extinct!
Myrrdin fixed a cold gaze upon the goblin, his green eyes almost appearing iced over.
-Give me my Inheritance Test, Director, and you will know...
He finished his sentence with a cold, amused smirk. It gave all three Goblins the willies.
Five minutes later, the Archives had confirmed that his new name was indeed Gabriel Myrrdin and that he was not only no longer called Harry James Potter, but he had been legally reborn, which meant that while all of his properties, rights and inheritances were transferred to Gabriel, as well as any debts, all contracts and alliances and responsibilities were officially null and void. And as someone without a family, he was solely responsible for himself, having therefore total authority over the Potter bloodline. And the Potter bloodline had been reborn with him, meaning it also had a clear slate.
Gabriel gave the Goblins a cold grin when they explained this. Yes... This would come in handy very soon. Dumbledore was now powerless to directly control him.
The Goblins had also brought Magnejrr Ironside, the Potter Account Manager, to the meeting, and he had brought the materials necessary for an Inheritance Test. The runic carved dagger to draw Gabriel's blood, the black parchment needed to show the results, and the Chalice of the Written Blood. Harry immediately slashed his left hand with the dagger, letting the blood flow until it had filled the chalice. Then he closed the wound and set his magic to healing him. The Goblins were slightly impressed, as this showed a control beyond his age, but it was nothing they'd never seen in greater magnitude beforehand. The blood turned white and started swirling in the cup, before Ragnarök threw it on the parchment, where it assembled itself into the results, the result clearly readable due to the contrast between the pitch black parchment and the snow white blood-ink.
INHERITANCE TEST
NAME: GABRIEL ALUCARD MYRRDIN
GENDER: MALE
AGE: SIXTEEN
SPECIES: HYBRID (HALF MAGUS (REPRESSED); HALF LYCANPIRE (DORMANT))
FAMILIAR: SKYFJORD, A LIGHTNING ORIENTED BLIZZWING WITH A BENIGN PHOENIX SOUL-SHARD
CLOSE RELATIVES:
FATHER- JAMES CHARLES POTTER- DECEASED
MOTHER- LILLIAN RACHEL POTTER NEE EVANS- DECEASED
GRANDFATHER- CHARLES MORIA POTTER- DECEASED
GRANDMOTHER- DOREA JULIANA POTTER NEE BLACK
ANCESTORS:
PEVERELL (AKA POTTER)- HEIR OF DIANA PEVERELL
PENANDROS- HEIR OF ANDROS THE INVINCIBLE
EMRYS- HEIR OF MERLIN EMRYS
PENDRAGON- HEIR OF ARTHUR PENDRAGON
LE FAYE- HEIR OF MORGANA LE FAYE
GRIFFINDOR- HEIR OF GODRIC GRIFFINDOR
SLYTHERIN- HEIR OF SALAZAR SLYTHERIN
RAVENCLAW- HEIR OF ROWENA RAVENCLAW
BLACK- HEIR OF ORION BLACK
VAN HELSING DRACULA- HEIR OF ALUCARD VAN HELSING DRACUL
TITLES:
THE DRAGON, LORD PENANDROS
THE THESTRAL, LORD PEVERELL
THE DRUID, LORD EMRYS
THE SWORDSMAN, LORD PENDRAGON
THE DEMENTOR, LORD LE FAYE
THE GRIFFIN, LORD GRIFFINDOR
THE BASILISK, LORD SLYTHERIN
THE MORRIGAN, LORD RAVENCLAW
THE CERBERUS, LORD BLACK
THE LYCANPIRE, LORD VAN HELSING DRACUL
THE STORM, VEELA FRIEND
THE HUNT, CENTAUR FRIEND
THE DEPTHS, MERPEOPLE FRIEND
THE FORGE, GOBLIN FRIEND
PROPERTIES:
PENANDROS:
PROPERTIES- OLYMPUS DRACONIUS (LOCATION HIDDEN WITHIN VAULT)
SHARES-NONE
VAULTS: VAULT 0
PEVERELL:
PROPERTIES- PEVERELL MANOR (LOCATION HIDDEN WITHIN VAULT); POTTER RETREAT (GODRIC'S HOLLOW), DESTROYED
SHARES- DAILY PROPHET (49%); FLOURISH AND BLOTTS (25%)
VAULTS: VAULT 8, POTTER TRUST VAULT (678)
EMRYS:
PROPERTIES- EMRYS GROVE (LOCATION HIDDEN WITHIN VAULT)
SHARES- NONE
VAULTS- VAULT 5
PENDRAGON:
PROPERTIES- PENDRAGON TOWER (LOCATION HIDDEN WITHIN VAULT)
SHARES- NONE
VAULTS- VAULT 6
LE FAYE:
PROPERTIES- LE FAYE BARROW (LOCATION HIDDEN WITHIN VAULT)
SHARES- NONE
VAULTS- VAULT 7
GRIFFINDOR:
PROPERTIES- GRIFFIN'S DEN (LOCATION HIDDEN WITHIN VAULT), HOGWARTS (25%)
SHARES- NONE
VAULTS- VAULT 1
SLYTHERIN:
PROPERTIES- BASILISK'S CHAMBER (LOCATION HIDDEN WITHIN VAULT), HOGWARTS (25%)
SHARES- NONE
VAULTS- VAULT 2
RAVENCLAW:
PROPERTIES- THE ROOKERY (LOCATION HIDDEN WITHIN VAULT), HOGWARTS (25%)
SHARES- NONE
VAULTS- VAULT 3
BLACK:
PROPERTIES- MIDNIGHT TOMB (LOCATION HIDDEN WITHIN VAULT), GRIMMAULD PLACE Nº12
SHARES- BORGIN AND BURKE'S (35%), OLLIVANDER'S (40%)
VAULTS- VAULT 9
VAN HELSING DRACUL:
PROPERTIES- BLOODMOON HALL (LOCATION HIDDEN WITHIN VAULT), TWILIGHT COTTAGE (LOCATION HIDDEN WITHIN VAULT)
SHARES- NONE
VAULTS- VAULT Ω (LOCATION UNKNOWN, NOT AT GRINGOTTS. INFORMATION MAY BE FOUND WITHIN THE BLACK VAULT, BUT THIS IS UNCONFIRMED)
VASSAL HOUSES:
PENANDROS- OURANUS, FRUOSINO, CESARE
PEVERELL- WEASLEY
EMRYS- FLITWICK
PENDRAGON- BONES
LE FAYE- GREENGRASS
GRIFFINDOR- Mac GONNAGALL
SLYTHERIN- SLUGHORN
RAVENCLAW- LOVEGOOD
BLACK- LUPIN
VAN HELSING DRACUL- VALERIOUS, TEPES, NOSFERATUM, SELYCANIS
To say the Goblins were shocked would be like saying the Holocaust was violent. Gabriel had been a little surprised as well. He figured the blood of Alucard was the surprise Orion Black had been referring too. He would have to address many things in his results later. He and the Goblins were going to have a LONG talk, that was for sure. But he doubted he was going to have time to do that AND speak to Sirius' shade before the Will Reading. He only had ten minutes left 'till the damn thing started!
-I would like to speak to my Godfather's shade before the Will, as I wish to discuss certain matters concerning the distribution of his assets with him.
-Certainly, my lord. Come this way, if you please.
-Account Manager Snakebite, there is no need for that. Mr. Myrrdin shall suffice.
Gabriel's voice wasn't as cold, though it was certainly just as emotionless. It was still not the Goblin's cup of tea, but he could deal with it. Far better than dealing with a Malfoy in Snakebite's book. He led Harry to the room where the Will Reading would occur. The shade of Sirius already strolled across the room impatiently. Gabriel felt a pang of grief in his heart. He was forcing himself to remain functional until he could break down in morning, but seeing Sirius was both good and bad for him.
Sirius looked up while pacing across the room, waiting for the reading of his Will, when his Account Manager waltzed in with a tall young man, who looked like James even more than Harry. He still had Lily's eyes, though WAIT WHAT?
-HARRY?! Merlin's breaches, pup, what happened to you? You looked like Moody trained you for five years!
Gabriel laughed and said:
-Don't worry, Snuffles, it hurt a hell of a lot less than that. And it's not Harry anymore. It's Gabriel. Gabriel Alucard Myrrdin.
Sirius understood in an instant.
-You went through your choice, didn't you? I thought you would after third year. It was part of my family legends. By your middle name, I assume you know of our more... infamous heritage.
-I figured it was Black blood that gave me that! And i didn't pick my middle name, I only picked Gabriel Myrrdin. Alucard just appeared on my Inheritance Test.
Sirius' jaw fell and stayed down.
-You're kidding? I thought that was impossible...
Gabriel frowned. That could have unforeseen circumstances. That wasn't good. But he decided to temporarily ignore it. Besides, he wasn't ready to face Sirius yet, and just being near him made his walls crumble before the grief.
-...Sirius, I'm sorry.
-For what, pup?
-It's... my fault you're dead. I was lured into a trap...
-At the Department of Mysteries, I know, I remember. It's not your fault, pup. I died protecting you. That was all I was still alive to do, after thirteen years of Azkaban. Believe me, if you had died, I would have probably followed. It's not your fault, it's Bella's fault. So NEVER blame yourself, alright? There was nothing you could do, and no better choice to be made. Gabriel, you need to understand this. It. Is. Not. Your. Fault. Got it memorized?
Gabriel swallowed his grief and his tears and said in a soft voice:
-Yeah Padfoot. I'll remember.
Then remembering what he had gone there to do in the first place, he asked Sirius:
-Sirius, what did you leave Hermione, the Weasleys and Dumbledore?
Sirius sported an enormous grin as he answered:
-Dumbledore? The finger. Molly? A book on how to use one's indoor voice and another dealing with control freak issues. Ginny? A book on the Bat Bogey Hex and a vault with a couple thousand Galleons she can't access until she's seventeen. Ron? A book on etiquette, with an emphasis on table manners. Percy? Nothing. Arthur? A few Muggle books on electronics for dummies. Bill? A book on Gobbledygook and a few thousand galleons. Charles? A book on rare and extinct dragon breeds and a couple thousand galleons. Gred and Forge got the Marauder Journals and twenty thousand galleons. Hermione got two books: "LET'S LEAVE THE LIBRARY!" and "WHY I SHOULD KEEP MY NOSE OUT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S BUSINESS". Don't ask me how I found them, you really don't want to know...
Gabriel stared. That was... PERFECT! He laughed so hard it was hard to breathe. Sirius laughed right alongside him, up until the point they realized that they had about two minutes until the doors opened. Gabriel filled Sirius in to what his day had been so far, letting his grief for Hedwig show. Sirius was pissed that he was dead and could not kill Dumbledore slowly and painfully. Then they made their game plan for the Will Reading.
-Alright, I am your second cousin and Harry's second cousin as well, and because Harry Potter is dead, and he is, since I was legally reborn, I am your Heir... and the Potter Heir. Also, try to leave me for last. I'll be hiding in the shadows.
-Spoken like a Marauder, pup. We'll do it your way.
Gabriel retreated to a shadowed corner of the room and sat down with a book the Goblins had given him that was called "So you just found out you're a Noble Heir?"
And the doors opened.
Dumbledore was pissed. He'd barely made it in time, and all because that bloody brat was gone. He'd found the ashes of his owl in the room, but no Death Eaters (unbeknownst to him, they had come two minute too late to attack Harry and left when they found nothing, two minutes before Dumbledore himself came to Surrey) and no Harry. The ashes were dead Phoenix ashes. Hedwig had been a Phoenix, then? He hadn't even suspected. She must have been unlocked by the poison, but too little too late.
But more importantly, where was the brat?
He tracked back the Death Eaters' Apparition, but they didn't have him either. This did not look good... Besides, it had almost made him lose the Will Reading, and that was unacceptable. After all, he had to contest Sirius' Will so he could make himself Heir and distribute Sirius' estate as he saw fit. Which would be hard enough in ideal circumstances, let alone if he was actually tardy! The Goblins would have a worse predisposition towards him, and his pawns in Gringotts had zero influence in this.
Ron could barely wait for Sirius' Will Reading to start. He might get food! Wait, did that even make any sense? Ron scoffed. Now, he was starting to sound like Hermione!
Hermione wondered why Sirius had never mentioned the Will to her. She would know best how to properly redistribute Sirius' estate! Wasn't she the top student? Why would he keep it a secret? Had he been going Dark?
Remus wandered in with his heart heavy, saddened at the loss of one his oldest friends, and in fact one the few he had left.
Molly wondered she would be able to get the title of Lord Black from Harry once he and Ginny married...
Fred and George made their way into the room, barely functional. They had loved Sirius like a second father. He had been their mentor since their sixth year, and their guide to Hogwarts since their first year through the map. They were second generation Marauders, and to lose their mentor was hard.
Percy wondered what Sirius would give him. After all, it was wise to curry favor with him for his Godson. He was going to be big in the Ministry after all.
Bill walked in feeling a little sad. Sirius had been one of the good ones, one of the men he'd looked up to the most, and now he was gone. Worse, almost a third of his family could care less, after living at his house and fighting by his side. Charlie agreed with him, and the two brother were really disappointed in their mother and brothers. At least Ginny and the twins cared.
Ginny was entering the room with her head down. Sirius had been supportive of her from the very start. He'd taught her the Bat Bogey Hex, her signature move, and encouraged her to come out of the closet. Of course, Hermione hadn't even wanted to think about it. But that didn't matter anymore, because Ginny had broken up with her after the school year was over. She was considering asking Luna out.
Arthur looked at all of his family, having trouble finding anything to smile to lift him from his grief over Sirius' death. The Black Lord was one of the few people in the Wizarding World who shared Arthur's passion for the Muggle one. Of course, Sirius was much more knowledgeable about it than the Weasley patriarch. He had built his bike from scratch. And what a piece of art it was... A testament to his friend's brilliance, really.
Fleur walked into the room, hoping to see Harry. She thought her friend might need some comfort. After all, this was his Godfather's Will Reading. Besides, she hadn't heard from him all summer, and she was starting to get worried.
Narcissa entered the room, wondering what her cousin wanted with her. She was married to a convicted Death Eater, after all, as much a she didn't like it. Why he would contemplate her in his Will, she had no idea. She saw her sister Andromeda and her daughter Nymphadora come inside as well. They were probably going to be placed back in the House of Black, which Narcissa thought was great. She never had any problems with Ted Tonks. She had hated her mother's decision to disown Andromeda, but there was nothing she could do. After all, she too was being sent to Hell, but in her case, it was through an arranged marriage to an abusive ponce called Lucius Abraxas Malfoy.
Sirius was ecstatic. Everyone was here! But how would he ask it of her... Idiot, just leave her something written! He was definitely going to tell her anyway. Problems solved themselves if you thought clearly about them. Good thing too, if they didn't things would be difficult. After all, he was dead.
Gabriel hadn't expected Fleur to be there. He suddenly found he was still looking forward to that date... Maybe... No, he should definitely tell her. Narcissa was the real surprise, though. Why had Sirius wanted her here? Oh well, he would find out with everybody else, he supposed.
Black Account Manager and Baron Grok Snakebite was almost sniggering. If he was anywhere near right about the current situation, and he liked to think that was likely, than this would be a pretty amusing Will Reading. But then again, he hoped Myrrdin's anger would not be provoked inside the Bank. He certainly wasn't going to ask him to pay for the hypothetical damage in person... Or in a letter, for that matter.
-Hello! It's nice to see all of you, though I'd wager it's a little depressing for you to see me.
Sirius stopped there, apparently waiting for laughter. He got none.
-Tough crowd... Well, if you want to get down to business, then have it your way. Hermione Jean Granger, to you I leave two books I selected and procured especially for you. The first is called "Let's Leave the Library!" It's an urgent read for you, obviously. The second is even more important: "Why I should keep my nose out of other people's business". Please rad both of them at your earliest convenience. Preferably outside the library.
Hermione huffed, shocked and outraged at this disrespect and mockery of her genius. Most people laughed, however.
-To Ronald Bilious Weasley, I leave a book on etiquette, focusing on table manners. Again, it's an urgent read. For the sake of everyone around you, at least skim through it before your next meal.
Again, most laughed. Ron looked confused.
-To Ginevra Weasley, I leave a book on the Bat Bogey Hex and two thousand Galleons that can only be accessed by her, and that after her seventeenth birthday. Good luck out there, kid, and hex any guy that comes near.
Ginny was almost at the point of balling her eyes out, while Molly was quite offended and worried. That wouldn't let her held herself to those two thousand Galleons and might make Ginny less agreeable to marriage, which simply wouldn't do. Ron and Hermione looked jealous.
-To Fred Gideon and George Fabian Weasley, I leave the Marauders Journals and twenty thousand galleons, hoping that you will make the Marauder name proud and never stop doing what you love, the greatest lesson your family taught me.
The twins laughed and beamed a Sirius' shade, giving him a malicious grin that told him all he needed to know. Molly one again didn't like where this was going. Ron and Hermione looked jealous once more, while Percy puffed out his chest and gave a patronizing smile to those around him, expecting his turn to come next. He was right, not that did him much good.
-To Percival Weasley, I leave the following words: Get your inflated head out of your self-important ass! ...That is all.
Percy's jaw fell, while most of the room burst into laughter. Molly was shocked, outraged, and offended, even. Ron was still confused from his part, he didn't want to think about his git of a brother too. Hermione couldn't believe Sirius had said, it, mostly because she still equated Percy with the position of Prefect and Head Boy, which she equated with authority, respect and success. It was her dream! And Sirius had just dragged her prime example through the mud!
-To Bill and Charlie I leave three thousand Galleons each, plus this piece of advice: don't settle down too early. Enjoy every phase of your life to the fullest before moving on. No one gets a redo. Also, I leave a book on Gobbledygook to Bill and a book on rare and extinct dragon species to Charlie. Good luck, boys. Keep doing what you want to do.
Bill and Charlie were ecstatic and profusely thanked Sirius, promising to follow his advice. Molly was angrier than she'd ever been in this Will Reading. How dare he advise them to remain single! They had to marry nice girls from good families that Molly picked! Ron and Hermione looked jealous once more.
-To Narcissa Black, for I prefer not to call you by Lucius' name, I say this: I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't stop my mother. I'm sorry you had to be subjected to that for so many years. I offer you the chance to divorce him and be welcomed back into the Black family. If you think Draco has more of you than his father, than you can bring him with you. But I ask, and I understand how hard that is to consider, that you do not bring a Malfoy with you. If he is more Lucius than Narcissa, than please, for the family and yourself... Don't. Don't bring him. Let him be with monster that spawned him. He will always be a hold Lucius had on you.
Narcissa was crying by now. She couldn't help it. She wasn't even sure why she was crying, grief for her favorite cousin or happiness at his very last gift to her. But she cried all the same, even after her eldest sister came to hug her, and her niece too. Molly looked judgmental and haughtily disapproving. Dumbledore was pissed, after all this went against his plans! Ron was incapable of understanding what was going on. Hermione was insulted at the barbaric attitude of "welcoming her back to the family". In civilized society that wouldn't even be necessary, and she found it incredibly patronizing. She was of course incapable of appreciating the irony of inner monologue.
-Andromeda and Nymphadora Tonks, I welcome you back into the Black family, along with Theodore Tonks, if that is what all of wish. You should have never been disowned to begin with.
Andromeda and Tonks were now openly crying with Narcissa.
-Fleur, I leave you with five thousand Galleons and a letter my Account Manager has just finished reading. I want you to read it after my Godson is first mentioned in this Will Reading.
-Remus Lupin, you old bag of fleas! I leave you the Black Hollow, an ancestral wilderness home of House Black. There, you will find everything necessary to use my family's ancestry to get control of your furry little problem. I'm sorry, but my oaths as Lord Black prevented me from helping you until I was dead. This was my way of circumventing that. Good luck, my friend, and remember not to shy away from life like I've been trying to stop you from doing for the last three years. Goodbye, old friend. Mischief managed.
Remus broke down in tears, getting a hug from Tonks almost immediately... Which got him thinking about his late friend's request. Dumbledore was worried, and Molly offended that he had left such a thing to a werewolf! A beast! He wasn't worthy of that!
-And now, just before the grand finale, I leave Albus Dumbledore... with a big old GO TO HELL, YOU MANIPULATIVE GOAT-LOVING BASTARD!
Everyone was shocked speechless, but Sirius wasn't done.
-For keeping me locked up for over a year, and preventing me from contacting my Godson, even though I could ensure private and safe communication... Go to Hell. From making it impossible for me to get a trial, even though Veritaserum would have easily proven my innocence... Go to Hell. And finally, for performing an Obliviate on me (they fade when people die, by the way) to make me forget that you KNEW I wasn't the Secret Keeper and that it was you who got me locked up in Azkaban without a trial for thirteen years for a crime I didn't commit... GO TO HELL. You're lucky I'm not alive to kill you, but believe me. You'll get yours. You'll get what's coming to you, you son of a Bitch.
No one could even utter a word, though most were quickly losing control of an urge to kill Albus Dumbledore.
-And now, on behalf of Harry James Potter's departed spirit and myself, I leave everything of mine and of my Godson to Gabriel Myrrdin. I also leave him with the following request. Gabriel, if anyone is to blame for both Harry, me and Hedwig, and for James and Lily, Dumbledore is. If anyone is to blame for your family, it's Voldemort. So as my last will and my Godson dying wish... destroy them. Both of them.
Dumbledore panicked. Harry dead? That was the end of his plans. How lucky Myrrdin wasn't here. He'd never even heard of him... He had to nip this at the bud.
-I contest this Will! I declare everything here property of the Chief Warlock in the name of the Wizengamot as per the latest legal decree! I also demand the immediate destruction of that deranged and delusional shade! This entire Will is hereby illegal!
Snakebite scoffed.
-Pipe down, old fool. You're embarrassing yourself. You have no authority to demand anything here, let alone declare a Will sanctioned by Gringotts illegal. You're the one who's delusional if you think you have that power in Goblin territory and legal domain. Besides, that decree is only applicable if the deceased has no Heir. He has an Heir. Therefore, all you get are the deceased "Fuck you". I suggest you leave before you provoke my people into attacking you, which your Ministry would allow, because they don't want another rebellion they know they can't bring down by force, but only by submitting to our demands. Which they don't want to do. So go on, now. Go. Aren't you listening? Leave, you fool!
Dumbledore was stupefied. How... What... He could not allow such disrespect from a creature so inferior!
-Die you filthy creature! Reduc...
-Expelliarmus!
Dumbledore was disarmed by Gabriel, whose wand burned to cinders after one use. Which was quite surprising form him, but went unnoticed by everyone else. He just used Dumbledore's wand to stun him while no one was looking. He received a certain feeling from the wand. She was his, but he wasn't hers. It was quite a weird feeling, but it told him enough. He needed to go to Ollivander's, a.s.a.p. As a matter of fact, actually, he needed to do a lot of shopping.
Busy day.
While he mused upon this, everyone in the room observed him, or what they could see of him. He was wearing Muggle clothes that didn't quite suit him, and showed extremely poor taste even to those who knew anything about Muggle clothing, or perhaps especially to them.Since he was seated, they couldn't quite get a read on his height, though he was clearly not small. His hair was long and straight, mostly black with several streaks of dark red hair that reminded the adults of Lily. His face was hidden, though his eyes were also Lily's, only brighter and bigger, almost like a panther's. His voice was similar to James' and Harry's, only deeper and richer.
-Hi, Gabriel. If you would be so kind as to finish this, please?
Sirius had pointedly ignored the entire situation and just gone ahead and addressed this person they didn't even know was in the room. He nodded and got up, before walking up to Sirius' shade and proclaiming:
-Sirius Black is dead; his wand is no more; his ashes are spread; he's gone through Death's door.
His voice was melodic, almost hypnotizing. After he finished speaking, a soft glow involved him, but he wasn't finished.
-Harry Potter is dead; his wand is torn; his ashes are spread, his soul is reborn.
A massive light engulfed him, lifting his hair and showing his face for all to see. He looked like a more handsome version of James, but with a slightly more angular and rough face, as well as well as Lily's facial expressions. He still looked more like James than Harry did, though.
And just like that, the Reading was over. Grok Snakebite spoke:
-My Lord, would you follow me? It is time for you to claim your birthright.
-Do lead the way, Mr. Snakebite. And once more, it's Mr. Myrrdin. Actually, you know what? Just for that little speech you gave the goat-fucker, you may call me Myrrdin.
-Then please call me Snakebite, Myrrdin. Mr. Black, would you follow me as well, please? After I drop off Mr. Potter we can finish Gringotts duties towards you by taking care of your portrait.
-Certainly, Grok, old chap, I'm right behind you. Ah, Miss Delacour, might I ask something before you leave? Please read the letter before exiting Gringotts. Also, Narcissa, Nymphadora (AH! Now I can call you that and there's nothing you can do to stop me!) and Andromeda, you can meet with Gabriel later to discuss your return to the Black family, if you do wish to return to it.
-Come on, Snuffles, don't waste our time.
And just like that all three left through one door, leaving the rest of the attendees to another Goblin who would guide them out of the bank.
Most were in shock, or in deep thought. Remus and Arthur knew exactly what was going on. They'd recognized the ritualistic incantations. Fleur was looking for an alcove so she could read the letter Sirius had left her. She soon found one and sat down to open it. She then recognized the wards on the wall of the alcove that would ensure her privacy. She rubbed her thumb on the runes, willing her magic to activate them. Before she could open it, she had to swallow her grief for Harry's death. Why had she waited so long to go on a date with him? Now she never would... Finally, she got under control, or at least managed enough to open the letter, only to find a single paragraph.
FLEUR, HARRY ISN'T DEAD. WELL, HE IS, BUT HE'S NOT. ARGH... IT'S COMPLICATED, OK? HARRY POTTER WAS A MASK, YOU SEE, A MASK HE ONLY TOOK OFF FOR YOU AND ME. AND NOW HE'S REBORN WITHOUT THAT MASK. GABRIEL MYRRDIN IS HARRY POTTER. HE'S THE REAL PERSON BEHIND THE MASK. SO DO ME A FAVOUR. DEMAND TO GO ON THAT DATE WITH HIM AND GIVE HIM A GOOD SNOGGING, ALRIGHT. HE JUST LOST HEDWIG, HE NEEDS YOU.
SIRIUS
Fleur was shell shocked. She sat here, in the alcove, trying to wrap her head around the events of the last half hour. Eventually, she got up and move to the door of Gringotts. Harry.. No, Gabriel would have to leave the bank eventually, and she would be at the door, waiting to slap him... ant probably snogg him right then and there.
Meanwhile, Gabriel was in a room with Grok Snakebite deep in the bowels of Gringotts, waiting for him to be ready for their conversation. The Goblin had told him he still needed somethings before they could discuss what Myrrdin wanted to discuss. He suspected he was waiting for Gabriel's House rings. Frankly, Gabriel was feeling a little overwhelmed. But still, he made an effort to get it together. "Okay, let's think this through. What do we need to speak about? Species. Definitely species first. Top priority, easy. Then, Van Helsing Dracula. Finally, Vassal Houses. Ok, see that wasn't so hard.". "What a pity we/you don't do it more often..." a part of him drawled. "... Shut up." was the only answer that part of him got.
-Ah, Myrrdin, I think we can begin, the things I requested are here.
Gabriel looked to the door and, sure enough, there was a Goblin with ten boxes... and ten goblins with a great big crate each. "OK, admittedly, that part I did not see coming." "You should have, I mean, duh! You're at a bank, you idjit! Did you expect BANK STATEMENTS not to be involved?" "...Shut up."
-Yes, Grrbek, put the boxes here... And you lot, just drop those and I'll get what I'll need from them, not like they can't handle the floor the way we build them. Now, off you go, I'm sure you've more work to get to.
The eleven other Goblins left the room, leaving Snakebite and Harry alone. The former was grinning in a shark-like fashion.
-Apologies, Myrrdin, but I love teasing the interns. Best fun I have during business hours. With the exception of insulting the ancient Dodo back there, but that's like comparing pyrite to gold. Now, to business, I assume? What do you wish to discuss with me at this time, apart from taking up your heritage?
-Four things, Snakebite.
Gabriel had thought of a very annoying possibility that he wanted to be able to fully dismiss before ignoring.
-Oh? And what would those things be?
-Well, first off, I find myself suspecting how much access Dumbledore and crew had to my birthright. Did they have the ability to remove anything from my parents' estate?
The Goblin frowned and dryly spat:
-Do you mean apart from destroying their Will?
Gabriel didn't speak for all of ten seconds before shouting with barely contained murderous fury:
-HE DID WHAT?!
-He used the chaos of Voldemort's defeat to attack a Gringotts Goblin and destroy the Will, which consisted of your parents' shades, much like your Godfather's. However, due to the mayhem that the nation was experiencing, the Minister was able to keep us from declaring war or banning Dumbledore from Gringotts... for now. If he messes up again, he'll be done for. He didn't know, however, that their portrait had already been done and has been kept safe from him by us. The Will had also been saved as the shades' requests on paper, as is standard procedure to avoid just this. However, we could not apply it to you because you were in Dumbledore's power. But we couldn't prove it, and that's how he avoided it, until he managed to become your magical guardian because you were Muggle-raised. Sirius Black would also not benefit from it, because your people were incompetent, corrupt and dishonest and Dumbledore took full advantage of this. Heartbroken by the supposed betrayal of one of his best friends, the death of the other three and your disappearance, Lupin fled the country, but returned fully Dumbledore's man. I hope you'll try to get him out of that predicament, the poor man doesn't deserve it.
Gabriel was stunned. He knew Dumbledore was evil in his way, but this... this was machiavellic!
Snakebite's voice changed from the angry rant to a softer tone.
-Your parents never meant for you to go to the Dursleys, in fact they specifically forbade it. They meant for you to go to Sirius or Frank and Alice or Amelia Bones. But that never happened because of Dumbledore. Who by the way leaked the Longbottoms location to the Lestranges, because he wanted to eliminate the other prophecy candidate. Instead, he got him to be raised by his grandmother and put huge blocks on the boy's physical coordination, magic and intelligence... as well as bravery. The man should have been tortured to death slowly years ago, so numerous and horrible are his crimes.
Gabriel couldn't help but agree. But this hadn't answered his original question.
-What about afterwards? Did he lay a hand on my birthright?
His Account Manager laughed a sad laugh, and asked:
-Did he leave anything untouched? He couldn't even touch the main Vault, but he siphoned all the money (because it's all he could take) he could from your Trust Vault. He wasn't alone either, Molly Weasley did it too. She claimed she was removing money from "her future son-in-law's vault". Oh, did I forget to tell you? They signed a betrothal contract for you and Ginevra Weasley. Of course, that's dead, since so is Harry James Potter. But, because neither can actually prove that they had Harry's approval, as the owner of the vault, if you command an audit they'll be unable to justify what they did under the wizard or Goblin law. And because you can wish for them to be published by Goblin law, the Ministry will have no choice but allow us to collect everything back with interest and ban them from Gringotts.
The young Heir and the Goblin shared a ferocious, evil smile that would have given their targets the willies.
-Alright, next, my "species" classification in the Inheritance Test. Explain.
The Goblin swallowed at his cold tone, reminiscent of his attitude when arriving at Hogwarts slightly over an hour before.
-Well, to do that, I'll need to explain the Van Helsing Dracula House.
-Good, that was my third point, so this will save us some time.
His voice wasn't glacial anymore, but it was still somewhat colder than before, which Snakebite interpreted as a result of his regaining a measure of emotional control after their shocking conversation about Dumbledore and his parents' Will.
-Gabriel Van Helsing was an exceeding powerful mage before the Founders' time. He was also a vampire hunter. The Van Helsings were an off-shot of the powerful Belmont clan that had once reigned all over Europe, and Gabriel was their leader. But they were few, and one horrible night, an exceedingly powerful vampire killed all of the Van Helsings bar Gabriel himself. It was an attack that destroyed the Van Helsing Manor. But the monsters made a mistake. They used werewolves to help. And both the vampire and the werewolf leaders bit him at the same time. His magic fused the curses, which allowed him to kill all of the attackers. But his family was still dead.
-What does this have to do with Alucard, my ancestor?
-Gabriel was Alucard. Much like you, he too took a new name upon his rebirth. Alucard for his name, and Dracul for his House, to distinguish form those who came before him, and had none of his blood. He perfected his new powers and lived for decades, becoming widely feared by both humans and monsters, Dark and Light. But of course, he was always called a Dark creature. The Light, in their short-sighted idiocy and bigotry, and yes, even evil in some cases, will never accept the greys. He accumulated wealth and power among the neutrals and the more open-minded despite this. And his blood (dormant in all his descendants) made its way to the House of Black. And then onto you.
-So, my species...?
-You're half Lycanpire, the name of Alucard's species. But he had a full conversion, because he wasn't born into it. You're dormant, which is another difference. And finally, he wasn't a half Magus.
-What is a Magus?
-A Magus is hard to define. You know that magic is somewhat self-aware, yes?
-Yes, it's why we can swear Unbreakable Oaths. Our magic can bind us to honor them, or punish us for breaking them.
-Well, Magi are... Well, vessels of this magic. They have immense magical power, but they have very little free will. Their power isn't as powerful as it would be if they truly wanted to do what they do, but they don't. In a way, they're a blessing, but politicians and rulers don't like them, because they have far more legitimacy, are incorruptible, and will do what is right, or what magic believes is right, regardless of what anyone wants. It's a literal greater good that they obey, and therefore politicians can't openly be against them, because that would put the public against them. Fortunately for those people (and unfortunately for the rest of the world) those Magi come around once per generation. I think you were meant to be this one's, like Merlin was his generation's, but then you were born half Lycanpire, making you a half-Magus. I think you could feel magic's will, but ignore it if you wanted to. Making you even more dangerous. So I think Dumbledore repressed you. I shudder to think what he did that forced magic to go against itself. It must have only been possible due to your hybrid status, and it's still the greatest abomination I've ever even hear of. I don't know how to reverse it.
Gabriel's mind was far past blown. It was nuked. This was too much for him to handle, he couldn't deal with this right now. He had to think about something else.
-OK, one last thing. Vassal Houses?
-Ah, that. Vassal Houses are Houses that have sworn loyalty to another House in return for protection. Of course, the bond is also one of mutual support. Think of it as the relation between a noble and a king. Usually, there's only one Vassal House per High House (a House with a Vassal House). I wasn't even aware of any exceptions until now. All of your Houses are High Houses, but eight are regular High Houses... Never thought I'd be saying that, "regular High Houses". Anyway, House Penandros has three. And House Van Helsing Dracul has four. But I happen to know none of the Penandros Vassals. Fortunately, you know all of the other bar Van Helsing Dracul's, and those I know. Tepes were the other descendants of the Belmonts, Valerious were hunters, Nosferatus were Vampires and Selycanis were werewolves. Weird combination, I know, but your ancestor defied logic for most of his long life. Anything else before you take your House Rings?
-Two. Will I be Lord or Heir?
-Heir. You'll be Lord next year on your seventeenth birthday. You went through legal rebirth, not a legal emancipation. But don't worry, Dumbledore will have no power over you until then. Though I'd wager he'll try... Next year may prove entertaining.
-And my second question. Do I have to wear ten rings? Because I don't want to look like a Muggle pimp...
The Goblin laughed hard.
-No, you don't have to! Your rings will merge in the same finger, and become invisible unless you want them to be seen. They become a part of you, meaning when you want someone to see one of the rings you just call it to your finger. You can shower with it and all, because it's technically not there, it's within you.
-Oh, great.
Afterwards, Gabriel slid ten of his rings on his right hand ring finger, before looking at all of the crates and nervously asking:
-One more thing... Do I have to go through every single thing in those crates with you?
Snakebite gave him an evil smile and asked
-What do you think?
A/N: Well, one more chapter. I'm sorry this one took so long, but hey, it was larger and I have stuff to do. What am I, a professional writer? Do I look like I have AIDS?
Just kidding. I hope you enjoy this one, I had to split the two parts of this chapter because as you can see, the combined thing is huge. I'd like some feedback on his legacy, and his monologues. Did you like it, or was it only funny in my head?
Also, for those who find his mood swings slightly strange, remember he just lost Hedwig and saw Sirius' shade. It's a difficult day for him. Also, he was drawing upon his Familiar for stability, and that makes him... Well, cold, understandably. It's the reason he even made it so far, which is why he's cold when he's in control of his emotions. That control comes from Skyfjord.
While we're on the subject of that damn bird, what did you think of Gabriel's Familiar? I'll try not to make her too overpowered.
Next chapter we'll get more Fleur, some interaction between Gabriel and Fleur, more Skyfjord, and a SHOPPING SPREE! A MERLIN-BE-DAMNED SHOPPING SPREE!
So you know, clothes, general stuff, BOOKS... And who know, maybe you won't get a cliffy with his wand... or will there BE a wand at all? That's for me to know and you to wait to find out, MUAHAHAHA.
Thank you for reading and please review. It's one of the things that motivates fanfiction writers not to stop writing these stories.
Anyway, see you next chapter, THE HEIR'S SHOPPING SPREE! Idovelicus over and out.
