Ok, so im going on holiday for a week and a bit so this probably will bne the last update till I get back but I'll see if I can writer some more so there's more to post when I come back, because im running out of pre-written chapters LOL

Words : 1,874

Chapter 11

The Reading of the Will

Minutes later, the group entered the bank; Harry along with both elder Malfoy's walked to the Goblin Griphook, who led the three of them into a separate room to the left. They took their seats, Narcissa and Lucius sat with Bellatrix and other Black family members, while Harry sat at the back by himself.

Griphook looked around and after deciding everyone was there, stood upon a stool and pulled out a roll of parchment.

"Everyone is here, because they are family. We do not know who will get what, only one Goblin does and he is not here. Everyone is here, just in case, that does not mean you will get something, but that you may."

Everyone looked around and started whispering, Harry sat still and quiet as did Lucius. He looked back at Harry and smiled softly; Harry nodded but otherwise ignored him. He stood and made his way between the rows of seats to sit beside Harry.

"You ok? You want to leave?" He added when Harry didn't reply, Harry shook his head that time, "you sure, I can tell you if you own anything."

"No, I need to be here, to say good bye I guess. This makes it real doesn't it?" Lucius smiled sadly, and nodded. They fell silent as Griphook coughed loudly.

Griphook coughed and broke the seal on the roll of parchment. He unrolled it and scanned through it quickly. "As I was saying, you may not get anything, or you may get everything." Griphook stared at Harry for a moment before speaking again. "The will of Sirius Black, as dictated by Sirius Black to the Goblin Hanshank, states that, as the last male Black heir, Sirius owns everything that was not given away to other family members. Sirius has given all of these possessions to one Harry James Potter, his godson.

"That includes his own vault, the Black family vault, and two properties. The rest will remain unmentioned until Harry is 17 years old." He rolled back up the parchment, nodded at Harry and coughed once more. "That is all, you may leave now. Mr. Snape, remain behind if you will."

Harry stared blankly ahead of him. Lucius squeezed his shoulder and stood, he met Narcissa in the aisle and together they walked from the room.

"I could have told everyone he'd get it all." Cissa whispered as the doors closed. Many family members left the room, glaring hatefully at Harry. He didn't notice. When they were gone, he walked towards the front of the room and nodded to Griphook.

"Mr. Snape, glad you could make it. This is Hanshank; he dealt with all of Sirius' belongings. He now works for you if you'll have him."

Harry looked at the shorter goblin, his head bowed low. "Were you paid?" He asked the goblin quietly, Hanshank nodded once. "How much?"

"4 Galleons a week, sir." He said just as quietly, as Griphook frowned.

"Pay him 8 a week from now on. Could you tell me about the other things?" He looked to Griphook this time, while Hanshank stood, mouth open in shock.

"Well, it says here that you need to be of maturity, but after everything you've dealt with, I guess… mmm… well, maybe… yes I will. Mr. Snape the two properties are 12 Grimmauld Place as you know and another property in the German mountains, called Black Hill. That is the address of the property, put that on any letter you owl there."

Harry nodded, "could you show me a map of the area?" Griphook nodded to Hanshank who scurried from the room.

"The other items involve a cathedral that used to belong to Mr. Black's great-great grandfather. It's a place of… devil worship a muggle might call it. He took to murdering nuns you see." Harry grimaced. "I shall show you a map of that area also, it used to be called The Church of Our Lord, but locals renamed it after it closed down; Raven's Church. A raven is usually associated with death, see." Harry just nodded.

Hanshank ran back in with a roll of parchment. He laid them on the stool that Griphook had been standing on for the will reading, and unrolled them. Harry took a look at the first map; it was of Germany that much he could tell. He located the mountain range and ran his finger down it until he spotted 'Black Hill' written over a large castle shape.

"You said it was a house."

"I said it was a property." Griphook amended. Harry nodded, and removed the map to look at the second.

"Whitechapel?" Harry asked as he spotted the name on the map. "Jack the Ripper?" He asked confused.

"Not quite, but I hear they were good friends. Look a little to the left." Harry's eyes darted left, and as said, a few spaces from Whitechapel stood the drawing of another cathedral. This time labeled Raven's Church. "It's quite a new map." Griphook pointed out.

Harry lifted that map, for another behind it. Griphook's hand shot out and grabbed the parchment before Harry could take a look at it. "Nah, ah, ah, for another time." Harry frowned, "that is to do with the Potter fortune, not the Black. It has no place here until you are 17." He gave the parchment back to Hanshank who apologized for including it.

Harry pouted but Griphook stayed firm. "Now, onto other items." Harry's eyes widen.

"Seriously?" Griphook nodded curtly.

He pulled out a large chest that seemed to have appeared from nowhere and open the lid. "You own everything inside those properties, including the house-elves. The Cathedral of course won't have elves, but it may have ghosts." Harry grimaced as the thought of owning Kreature. "These are some of the family's darker items. They have been kept locked away in Sirius Black's vault for safe keeping, I trust they will be put back there?"

Harry took a look inside the chest. It was like something out of a 'witch hunt' movie. Jars of eyes and brains and blood, and other ingredients were lined in the lid of the chest, held there by straps of leather. Inside the chest, texts and book and bits of parchment, all with titles like 'how to skin your enemy alive', 'ways to cause pain and destruction', 'a guide to magical energy' and 'a guide to the nexus'. With a frown Harry picked the last book up and flipped it open.

"The nexus," he began to read, "A portal of energy centered over Stonehenge. Once opened it allows dark beings to enter our level of existence, wiping out all that's good and pure." Harry shuddered, and dropped the book back into the chest. "Not my idea of fun," he told Griphook. "Was it ever opened?"

"You heard about the Dark Ages?" Harry nodded, "the reason it was 'dark' was that the Nexus had been opened. No muggle knows what really happened, and few wizards do, but if you read some of the entries in the back of the guide, Aurilius Black will tell you exactly what happened." Harry bit his lip; he considered asking Griphook to tell him, but didn't want to be rude. He picked the book back up, and flipped to the back.

"Damn he's old." Harry muttered as he read the date.

'It's Black Mass today, the most powerful day of a witch's calendar. With the help of some friends, Evanna Malfoy and my own Wife Calla, we have gathered the needed ingredients. We had the night, we had the power, and now we had the blood of a child. A very special child, her name is Regina Potter.

At six years old, we bled her as she floated inside the circle at Stonehenge, outside the circle, burned red candles. Their flames blood red as the ground shook. We begin to chant…'

The writing trailed off, drops of blood stained the pages, along with bits of dirt and wax. A section of the page was burnt away.

'It's done, we have opened the Nexus. Evanna lost her life, leaving her husband a widower and her son without a mother. Calla and I survived. The Potter brat was unfortunate however. When the darkness woke, she was consumed by it, and died in utter agony.

It's done; the world will never be the same again.'

Harry snapped the book shut, feeling sick. "Of course, it was undone years later. A group of Light Wizards did the incantation backwards on the anniversary and unfortunately killed another child, a child of darkness this time, and it closed Stonehenge, the Nexus and banished the darkness back to its own plane."

Harry looked at Griphook and nodded. "Take it all back, lock it all up again." Hanshank smiled and did as he was told.

"Don't you want to know who the child was?" Harry looked up and shrugged. "Abel Potter. Not a fortunate family, are they?" Griphook laughed evilly, "that is all Mr. Snape, see you next year."

With a nod, Harry rolled up the map of Black Hill and Raven's Church and took them with him as he left the room, he stopped and turned back. "Griphook? Could I have the keys for the Black vault?"

Griphook walked over and held out one key. "Thought you'd forget then. Here is Sirius Black's key. The Black family vault only opens for blood I'm afraid. So if you'd hold you're hand out." Harry did as he was asked with a frown. Griphook drove the tip of his sharp nail into the fleshy end of Harry's middle finger. He then pulled out a small vial and let the blood run from Harry's finger into the glass container. When he had enough he corked the bottle and Harry sucked the end of his finger into his mouth.

"I shall re-work the locks, when I am done, only you will be permitted inside." Griphook nodded and left the room. Harry sighed and left using another exit. Outside, Voldemort, the Malfoy's and his father were waiting.

"What happened? What took so long?" Draco asked with worry, Harry kissed him quickly and smiled.

"I'd tell you, but I'm pretty sure Tom will want to have a go at it, and I don't fell like being sacrificed today." Harry frowned for a moment. "You know, I forgive you all for calling me a 'Potter brat', I mean, it was happening in the Dark Ages too." He shuddered at the memory of the Nexus and walked through the group towards the exit. "Come on, I want to go to Germany."

Draco looked at his father, and then to the door Harry walked out of, "did they give him crazy pills while he was in there?" the blond asked seriously.

With a shrug everyone went after Harry. When they got outside, Harry held the map of Black Hill out for them. He then grinned, and pointed to the castle. "Apparate to there please?" Voldemort went first, followed by Narcissa and Lucius, then Draco. Severus looked at him for a moment and sighed.

"Harry?"

"I own it; it should be safe, but just in case…" Harry smiled and apparated away, with a sigh Severus went after his son.

XXX

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