Chapter Eight
Heritage Learned
It did not take long after returning from dealing with Voldemort for the two Snapes to pick up Draco and vacate Hogwarts in favor of Snape Manor. When they got there Osias noted it held all the character of Grimauld place without the grime.
He did notice a significant difference. There all he had ever felt was revulsion here he was nearly overwhelmed with curiosity. This house exuded old magics and Osias was feeling drawn to it. He actually felt comfort from the darkness in the magic surrounding the house. He had a major breakthrough in his thinking the first time he realized there was a distinct difference between dark and evil.
Severus led the boys up to the floor with the bedrooms. He told them to pick the one they wanted. He left them at it to go check in with his house elves.
The boys wondered around the floor for a bit, but it didn't take them long to pick the bedroom that best suited them. Draco picked the one decorated in rich blue and sparkling silver. Osias found one with hunter green and bronze decorations. The attached bathroom had green and black mosaic tiles arranged in geometric patterns. The sunken tub made of black granite was the size of a child's wading pool.
Looking around at all the empty drawers and closets Osias was reminded of his pressing need for clothing. The clothes he was wearing were actually Severus's that had been spelled to fit him. He had been wearing transfigured clothing since his rescue. All of his clothing was in shreds locked in the cupboard under the stairs in Surrey. Osias was finally willing to dip into his Gringotts vault to get himself new clothing. After all he no longer had to worry about cluing the Dursleys into his fortune.
The only possesions still left to him was his wand, photo album, invisibilty cloak, and the marauders map he had shoved into his photo album. He had been lucky that Severus had thought to get them from the Dursleys. It saved him from having to go back, Osias wasn't sure he would ever be able to face them again without cowering in fear, or a much more likely scenario killing them.
He knew himself enough now to know it was the second option he had to worry about. He was far angrier at them than afraid. They followed the orders of a stranger over taking care of their own flesh and Blood. Nothing would make Osias forgive them for that.
His anger was steadily rising as he sat on his enormous four poster bed. It might have grown to dangerous proportions if Severus hadn't walked in at the moment. "Osias, would you like to take a trip into Diagon Alley tomorrow? I know you need to stop and get yourself some new clothes, I don't think a trip to Gringotts would be out of place. I wouldn't put it past Dumbledore to have hidden other things from you with all he has done." He asked explaining his plans.
"Sounds alright, I was just thinking I needed to splurge a little on a new wardrobe. I can't do that until I stop at the bank anyway." Osias answered.
"Than it is settled, I will leave you for the night. My room is three doors down on the right if you need anything." Severus told him then he left him to sleep.
Osias stretched out further on his bed after Severus left. He was left with so much to think about sleep refused to come easy. He knew all this thinking and worrying couldn't be good for him but he was left with no choice. No one had ever left him with a choice. No one had ever let him believe he could stop worrying and let others take care of the problem.
At least on this night he had some slightly happy events to think about. He would finally be rid of his cousin's hand me down image. He also got to spend the day with his father. This would be their first completely public outing together. He was also slightly curious what surprises Gringotts would have in store for him.
Osias did finally drift off to sleep. When Severus looked in on him again he found him fully clothed on top of the covers. A few swift spells transfigured the clothes into pajamas and got the covers on top of Osias. Severus left his son sleeping peacefully.
The next morning Osias, Draco, and Severus were off to Diagon Alley. Osias was once again in resized robes of Severus's, for this trip he had greased his hair back, and had practiced the overly proud stance of a pureblood. He blended in perfectly with the other two wizards. The group earned a few double takes from onlookers who spotted the mirror image features of Severus and Osias.
Their first stop was Gringotts where they got their first surprise. The goblin behind the counter took one look at Osias's altered features and hustled them into a private office. They were left to wonder what was happening until a new goblin came into the office through a side door.
"I am Ragnok Chief of the goblins here at Gringotts bank. Please do not consider us rude do to the secrecy measures we had to take. We have been entrusted with a task that must be carried out with a certain delicacy." The goblin, Ragnok, explained.
"What is this task, if I may ask?" Severus asked the goblin.
"This task is not for you Lord Snape, but for your son." Ragnok answered gesturing to Osias. "Inside the will of Lily Rose Evans Potter, was a sealed letter, the will stated that in the event her son Harry James Potter came into the bank, in the company of Lord Snape, with altered features we were to give her son the letter. We always carry out our clients wishes." He explained.
"I understand, but why did my mother's will get executed here and not at the ministry?" Osias asked.
"Your mother as you probably already know was not human. The ministry only deals with human clients. If a magical creature wants to leave a will they go through Gringotts bank. We pride ourselves on impartiality we deal on even terms creature blood or not." Ragnok said with pride in his voice.
"You speak as if you knew my mother as more than a client." Osias said questioningly.
"I did, your mother was unusual she treated the goblin nation as equals thus gaining our protection and alliance. In my case I gained a good friend." He answered.
"Now on to business, to activate the message you need to add a drop of blood to this parchment. This identifies you and lets the words appear for your eyes alone. We will not be able to read the letter unless you permit it." Ragnok explained to Osias handing him a piece of old parchment and a small silver dagger.
Osias wasted no time. He picked up the dagger and made a small slice across his finger. The blood spilled onto the yellowed parchment and words wrote themselves out on it. While Osias watched the words appear Severus took the opportunity to heal the still open wound. Osias was too busy to notice.
To my beloved son,
I am sorry I had to leave you so soon. I obviously do not know the circumstances of my death, but if you are reading this it means I had to have died before you were old enough to be told the truth.
In order for you to be reading this letter you have to be with your true father. I will tell you now I love James Potter, but your father is a kind, honest man. I know he will take wonderful care of you family means everything to him. He has to have seen a lot in his position as spy, don't let his gruff exterior get to you. Please give him a chance.
I hope you are at least beginning to understand your heritage. You have the blood of two powerful breeds within you. I have checked through all the old records I could get my hands on from both sides. I haven't yet managed to find another hybrid like you.
You need to know something my son that no one else knows. I only learned this truth myself not long before you were born. I am not exactly what people think I am. Yes I am an angel, but I belong to a special race called archangel. We are the warriors among the angels. You will be stronger and faster than most other angels and definitely the other hybrids. Your father's demon blood will only enhance these trait not detract.
The only downside I have discovered about your heritage is you have not inherited my species' ability to heal. You will have to do all your recovering the slow way. This will be hard on you, I already know your future will not be easy whether I survive or not.
Now at Gringotts ask Ragnok about the key. You will need to use a codeword to get it from him. He insisted I do this, he can be so fussy sometimes, but he is a good soul and will treat you right. The word is hybrid, this is for you of course.
The key he will give you will open all of my personal vaults. You have access to those immediately, you will still have access to the Potter vaults when you turn seventeen, James declared you his heir formally and blood will not change that. He loved you like a son and he never knew otherwise.
Be careful my son learn about your own abilities. You are a completely unique creature. In all honestly I can't even come close to finding out what you will be capable of. Train your strengths and fight with your heart. Never forget the best warriors are the ones who know when to fight and when to forgive.
With all my love
Lily Evans Potter
P.S. be careful with your power. You are not even a year and a half old yet and you are already strong. Just this morning you managed to dye Peter bright red from head to toe!
When Osias finished reading the letter he was very close to tears. He was too stubborn to let them fall in front of everyone else. He cleared his throat and spoke to Ragnok.
"She told me to ask about a key, she said to use the word hybrid." He said to the goblin.
That sentence made Ragnok take a thin golden chain from around his neck. On the chain was a few small keys. He inspected them, chose the right one, then used it to unlock one of the drawers in his desk. Out of the drawer he withdrew a small black box. He then passed the box to Osias.
Osias took the box with a steady hand but inside he was shaking all over. Inside was another key, but unlike the normal gold this key was a different substance altogether. It was a silvery color, the metal glistened and shifted like mercury. Osias had never seen anything like it.
"That is made from Methril, a metal so rare it is never used casually. Only the very oldest of our vaults have keys of Methril. This key fits a vault set down generations ago by a creature the same as your mother. It is only used by a special sect of angels, which was rumored extinct. The fact you can touch this key without pain proves those rumors to be untrue." Ragnok explained about the key catching the look of awe on Osias's face.
"I think for now I would just like to make a withdrawal from my old vault. I want to be able to spend a large period of time exploring this vault." Osias said after regaining his composure. "We have things planned for today."
"Very well, although you should know there is an easier way to pay for your purchases. We have cards engraved with the vault numbers. They work like muggle debit cards. They take the money directly from the vaults." Ragnok offered. Then from an unlocked drawer in his desk he pulled out a plain plastic card. A few spells later he had a fully functioning vault card tied to Osias's original vault.
The three wizards concluded their business with Ragnok and saying their goodbyes walked out of the bank. The only one not dazed by the meeting was Draco and that was mainly because he had sat in the background for most of it never directly interacting with the goblins.
It didn't take long for them to completely restore Osias's wardrobe considering the scale of the job. He ended up choosing clothing in similar styles to both Severus and Draco. He found he looked good in the clothes and the colors suited him well. He decided to forgo muggle clothing. From this point on he hoped his excursion into the muggle world would be brief enough transfiguration could deal with it.
They ate in a dark corner of the Leaky Cauldron. When they finished their meals they headed back to Snape manor. Severus had informed Osias the next day would begin his lessons in controlling his new abilities.
