The Vow And It's Consequences

Chapter 21

Gringotts

Severus guided Harry into Gringotts; it was plain as day that Harry was terrified. His body was shaking; he'd taken one look at the goblins and nearly peed himself. Once they were out public view he crouched down beside the terrified child, wondering once again if Harry would ever be a happy normal child. His green eyes were larger than Severus had yet to see them, and it made his heart clench in agony, those green eyes were going to be the death of him he was sure of it. He could see what Harry really looked like, but to the public, he had red hair, green eyes, and looked to be three years old not five. He on the other hand looked twenty, blonde hair, his normal eye and as always tall but not so intimidating with that disguise. The goblins of course could see through the disguse so once he was in private he removed them.

"Calm down little one, they won't hurt you," said Severus, "In fact they are here to help you."

Harry stared at Severus as if he'd lost his mind; they looked as though they wanted to eat him. He couldn't believe he felt so afraid, he hated the fact he was showing his fear. At the Dursley's he was able to control it, but his life had turned upside down. He'd gone from a cupboard to a beautiful big bedroom with someone who seems to care. It had torn down all his defences, and as much as he tried he was unable to put them back up.

"Harry I promise you, aren't going to be hurt, nobody will ever hit you again." said Severus honestly. He could see Harry still doubted him; unfortunately Harry would just have to come to trust him on his own. No about of force or words would help the situation, but one day, maybe one day he'd have Harry's full trust.

Harry just nodded, doing what was expected of him, knowing I was better than being hurt for disagreeing. His uncle had drummed that into him since he could remember.

"Let's go," said Severus retaking a hold of Harry's hand and leading him into the office, exactly at the right time they were expected. Placing Harry in the seat, knowing by now he always attempted to sit on the floor. He then took his own seat, staring at the two goblins in the room impassively. One of them was a healer, he had decided against any healer knowing Harry was here, even the one who'd originally healed Harry but he did have his results with him.

"Right on time, Mr. Prince Snape, I assume you'd like to get right to it?" asked Quinti giving the child a curious look; he seemed frankly freaked out by them. Given Snape's information he understood this was probably the first time he'd seen them. It wasn't his first encounter with the Potter heir, his mother had brought him just days after he'd been born, changing her will.

"Here is the results of the first scan, it's when we first detected the…abnormality." said Severus, saying abnormality with the merest whisper. He did not want Harry thinking he was the abnormality, especially with the words Petunia had spewed at him. No doubt Harry wasn't unfamiliar with that word and many others. The Goblins had no problem hearing him.

"I'll take that," said Healer Griek taking the results. He immediately opened it and began reading the contents. Griek stared up at Harry in shock before reading once again; barely able to believe the boy had survived everything that had happened to him. His long brown gangly hand tightened on the paper before he added. "I may need to do a ritual to find out what this is."

"I suspected as much," said Severus admittedly. "I assume any potion would interfere?"

"It would." said Griek. "Fortunately it's painless and Mr. Potter-Snape wouldn't feel a thing."

"That's not the problem, as you can see he's not used to the magical world." said Severus. "He's quite frankly terrified enough without a ritual being performed."

"I can understand that," agreed the goblin healer, "It is down to him."

"Give us a moment," said Severus pinching the bride of his nose, watching the two goblins leave, noticing Harry was watching their every move warily. He'd never met a small child with so much suspicion before, not even he was at his age. Severus turned his chair around, so he was face to face with Harry.

"What's a ritual?" asked Harry quietly.

Severus' lip twitched; unsurprised that Harry had been listening to the conversation. No doubt his hearing was good, being unable to see very well, and needing to know where danger was coming from had enhanced Harry's hearing. "A ritual is where someone uses magic to check something, and maybe even to make it go away." replied Severus, feeling his vocabulary shooting down yet another notch.

"Why do you need to check me?" whispered Harry, what was wrong with him? Were they checking his magic? What if he didn't like what he found? Would they send him back to the Dursley's? The thought left him very worried.

Severus paused briefly, unsure of what to say, "Harry, a man named Albus Dumbledore put a…lock on your magic, and the ritual will unlock it." deciding against telling him about the piece of foreign magic in his body. Not until they found out what it was at any rate, his magic unlocked would help the process along.

Harry was completely bewildered; he couldn't understand what he meant. Why would this Dumbledore put a lock on his magic? How did anyone know he was magical if that was the case? Did it have something to do with what happened to his mum and dad? It didn't really matter he supposed, either way this wasn't really his choice. He would have to go along with it or the man would get angry at him and hurt him. Or worse possibility of being sent back to the Dursley's. To keep the warm fitting comfortable pyjamas, the bed, and the delicious food he'd do anything - even this ritual whatever it was. He still didn't believe he had magic, even if it would explain his family's behaviour towards him. The times had turned, he'd been a freak in the eyes of the Dursley's, did that mean here if he didn't have magic he was a freak? The new thought caused his mind to whirl.

"Harry? If you do not want to do this just yet, I understand we can come back another time." said Severus solely to comfort Harry, he didn't want to come back and forth to Gringotts for the next few months for nothing. Unfortunately he couldn't force Harry into this either; he had to remain still until the ritual was over.

"I'll do it." said Harry hastily; the thought of going back to the Dursley's prompted him to respond as quickly as possible.

"Are you sure?" asked Severus staring intently at the child, he had an overwhelming desire to peek in and get the gist of what Harry was thinking. Unfortunately to do such a thing would render a child insane. The art of Legilimency was clear on that, and Severus would never do anything to endanger Lily's son, who he'd gone to great lengths to keep safe and out of Dumbledore's hands.

"Yes," whispered Harry his mouth extremely dry.

"Alright," said Severus firmly, turning his chair back around and waiting on the Goblins coming back in. As if they had been listening in, they made their reappearance a few seconds afterwards.

"Everything sorted?" asked Healer Griek standing in front of them.

"We are," said Severus immediately.

"To get this done, we are best unlocking his magic first then the ritual to find out what the foreign entity is." said Griek.

"I figured as much," said Severus nodding in agreement.

"Thankfully this part is simple, but I do need your permission to help Mr. Potter-Snape if it comes to it." said Griek.

"You do," said Severus, although he hoped it didn't come to that, it would mean Harry would have trouble controlling his magic, at least until he got the hang of it.

"Come over here Mr. Potter-Snape," said Griek watching as the child once again flinch. He seemed to do so every time they called him by his last name. How very curious, but even as a goblin it didn't take a genius to figure out why. He also couldn't break protocol, they didn't use first name basis without permission.

"Go on Harry," said Severus reassuringly, following them over to the small camp bed the healer goblin had just created for him. He took two steps back so he wouldn't interfere with the spells the goblin was going to cast. Although it was more important for the ritual not the spell he was going to use right now.

Harry swallowed thickly, his heart was pounding like a drum, he felt like that day he'd ran around the hotel and outside it when the man had scared Dudley away. For a fat boy Dudley sure could run when he felt like it. He closed his eyes, imagined himself back at the Dursley's and successfully closed of his erratic emotions. It made coping with this unknown situation so much easier. Regardless he watched the goblins every move with wariness.

Griek spoke in gobblygook as he touched Harry's forehead, closing his eyes and feeling the block he meticulously began undoing it strand by strand. It was easy enough, wizard's magic was weak compared to theirs, and it's why they won so many battles. He did it slowly hoping not to overwhelm the small wizard and his magic.

Griek twitched forcefully stopping himself from backing away. The magic was much more advanced than he'd anticipated. Putting more of his magic into it keeping it at a steady and level. The boy was going to be one powerful little wizard, he was anything but mediocre lets just put it that way. Piece by piece Dumbledore's bond on Harry's magic unravelled until it was completely tamper free. Griek remained behind to steady he core, allowing it to expand to fit his sudden influx of magic. Opening his eyes he saw both Severus and Quinti had raised shields and the room was rather…charred in places. He hadn't felt any magic leaking, he did feel pity for Snape, and he was going to have to deal with it himself. Thankfully in a place like Prince hall he wouldn't be detected by the Ministry. There was a focus stone, that would work but nobody used them anymore. It wouldn't hurt to mention it to the wizard at any rate.

"How are you feeling little one?" asked Severus staring intently at Harry, making sure the dizziness didn't overwhelm him.

Harry woozily sat up, that experience had been decidedly odd, not painful but weird. It was like someone had been messing around inside his body, one minute he'd felt hot the next cold, it continued on for what felt like forever then it started, like fireworks exploding. For some reason it felt familiar, like he'd experienced it before. "I'm fine," murmured Harry, surprised when Severus checked his forehead and made sure. It's the sort of thing Petunia had done for Dudley when he was sick.

"No, stay down." said Severus when Harry tried to get up, "We still have one more thing to do before we go home."

Harry nodded his understanding; he didn't think he'd be able to stand yet.

"I think perhaps you should retrieve a focus stone for Mr. Potter-Snape, it may help his magic settle." said Griek.

"Good idea, with your permission I can go and retrieve one from the Potter vaults?" enquired Quinti.

"Worth a shot," said Severus, anything to help Harry control his magic, he didn't want Prince hall going up in flames every other week. It had admittedly been an awesome sight to see. The magic leeching from Harry had been magnificent and powerful. Then again it didn't surprise him, he'd sensed Harry's magic the first day he saw him, before he even knew whom he was.

"I will be back momentarily." said Quinti moving out of the room as quickly as his little legs could carry him.

"Lie back down Mr. Potter-Snape, try not to move too much," said Griek.

"Can you call me Harry?" whispered Harry looking at Griek's hands, just waiting for the backlash at speaking or wanting something. Yet neither of those things happened, no something more frightening did…the thing smiled at him showing its razor sharp teeth.

"It would be my honour Harry," said Griek smiling at the nervous boy.

"Thank you," said Harry surprised at the lack of reprisals.

Twenty minutes later the ritual was done, and an exhausted Griek took a seat. Severus was alarmed by how sick and pale he looked, whatever the entity had been…it was bad. Harry himself looked exhausted, he decided to tend to Harry and let Griek catch his breath. Feeling Harry's forehead, he was slightly hot; grabbing his potions kit he opened it and fed Harry a fever reducer.

"Here," said Quinti handing over a glass of water, the ice cubes were all but melted already.

"Thank you," said Severus accepting the glass and helped Harry drink it. He then uncorked a sleeping potion and fed it to him. This was one conversation he didn't want Harry overhearing.

"Alright what was it?" asked Severus facing the goblin from where he was crouched beside his adopted son.

"That was a piece of Lord Voldemort's soul fragment." said Griek.

"Excuse me?" choked Severus falling to the floor, gaping at the goblin unable to comprehend what he said.

"I have to assume it was a backlash of the killing curse that caused it," said Griek not repeating himself.

"How the hell does a killing curse cause fragments of a soul to come away?" snarled Severus, it didn't, it wasn't logically possible, he'd cast his fair share of the killing curses not that it was something to proudly boast at least not now.

Quinti began speaking, adding his own thoughts to the conversation, "There is only one possibility."

"Which is?" demanded Severus standing up trying to pick up the pieces of his reputation.

"That his soul was already fragmented, the term for such things occurrences is a Horcrux. For his soul to split accidentally I'd say he's split his soul at least three times." said Griek.

"Horcrux?" enquired Severus, "How does one go about creating one?"

"A Horcrux is a powerful object in which a Dark Wizard or Witch has hidden a fragment of his soul for the purpose of attaining immortality." said Quinti.

"You see, creating a Horcrux gives one the ability to anchor ones own soul to earth if their body is somehow destroyed. The more times one person splits their soul the closer they get to achieving immortality. You wizards do not know the value of true knowledge."

"Blame the stupid Ministers we have to endure," said Severus in defence. "The information obviously isn't lost just nearly forgotten."

"Not the Minister in this case, its Dumbledore he has banned more books from the Hogwarts library than we care to admit." said Griek.

"Unfortunately, the more one splits his soul," said Quinti, getting back to the original topic at hand. "It is costly to the creator; it causes an imbalance, drives one insane, and basically diminishes their humanity. It also causes permanent disfigurement."

"As for how they are created, a spell is cast then a Dark wizard or witch would commit a heinous act - murder to be specific. The soul is then placed in a chosen container whether significant or insignificant item and kept safe." said Griek.

"How would it be destroyed?" asked Severus looking shaken.

"The same means one would kill a person, Basilisk venom, Fiendfyre, unfortunately with it being a container spells such as the killing curse wouldn't work." said Quinti.

"How do you know so much about it?" asked Severus bewildered.

"Unlike wizards, our forefathers wrote everything down, and it's passed from generation to generation." said Griek. "We kept our information safe, we are only as powerful as our knowledge, a truth that's yet to dawn on the magical world."

"Such as the Horcrux information, the book would tell you that only one such wizard had attempted it, it would be wrong. They just want to give the impression that it's too evil to attempt, and that death would be preferable. Not everything you read is true unfortunately, most of its manipulated or written from a biased point of view." said Quinti.

"Is there away to find out how many?" asked Severus pinching the bridge of his nose feeling a migraine coming on.

"No, I am sorry there isn't." said Griek.

"How do I go about getting it out of Harry?" asked Severus his stomach churning at the consequences of Harry surviving that night.

"It's out," said Griek.

"I thought…" started Severus.

"We know, but goblin magic is different from wizarding magic, the cleaning ritual got rid of the Horcrux. It's why Harry was so magically and physically exhausted." said Quinti.

"I see," said Severus, sighing in relief at least that was one less thing to worry about.

"The focus stone is weightless so it should be fine for Harry to carry around." said Griek.

"Thank you, both of you for your help, I have one last thing to enquire about." said Severus changing the subject.

"Of course," said Quinti.

"If I am not needed I will take my break," said Griek standing up.

"Of course," said Quinti, nodding to the goblin for his help.

"What can I help you with?" asked Quinti once the healer had left.

"Lily and James' wills, were they executed?" asked Severus.

"No, the executor of the will hasn't stepped forward," said Quinti.

"Which is?" asked Severus having a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach - yet again.

"Albus Dumbledore," said Quinti looking over the paperwork.

"Can I execute it?" asked Severus irritated beyond belief.

"You can as Mr. Harry Potter's adopted father," said Quinti.

"Then I want it to be done," said Severus, "Can I look it over?" he wanted to see why Dumbledore was so desperate to prevent it being read.

"Of course," said Quinti handing over the paperwork.

Severus gripped it tightly, it was Lily's handwriting, Merlin even after all these years she still affected him. Breathing deeply, he centred himself, getting rid of his emotions and erecting his Occlumency barriers. Then he began reading it, he swallowed thickly, she'd written this just before they'd gone under the Fidelus Charm.

The he read it, his breathing hitched; Black wasn't the secret keeper, closing his eyes swearing inwardly, it couldn't be true. According to this information they had gone with Peter Pettigrew instead.

"Does Dumbledore have a copy of this?" asked Severus his voice raspy.

"According to these documents yes, he signed them." said Quinti.

Then he had his motive, if Black had been free he would have taken Harry in as his own. As much as he hated Black…even he wouldn't want his worst enemy in prison…who was he kidding? He revelled in it; comeuppance Black had nearly killed him. Yet his conscience wouldn't allow him to let it continue, with a bit of luck Black would already be insane anyway, and he'd have nothing to regret by letting him out. Oh boy, he was almost tempted to tell him to forget about it and bury it for the next decade or two.

He had to think about the fact Harry would be revealed a lot sooner if this was the case. Maybe there was enough time between him leaving and noticing Harry 'missing', this was what he had feared; he'd wanted Harry at least eleven before it got out that he wasn't at the Dursley's. He'd had enough for one day, he just wanted to get back to Prince Hall and think things through.

"Will I set a date for the will reading?" asked Quinti.

"Yes," said Severus standing up, "May the gods grant you more gold Quinti, thank you for your help."

"You also Lord Prince-Snape." said Quinti using his formal title.

Severus scooped up the sleeping bundle, once again feeling how light he was compared to his godson. Staring down at his sleeping face, he felt fondness seeping through him much to his surprise. Merlin he was getting so attached to Harry and quickly too.

"You can use the Floo network if you wish," said Quinti.

"Thank you," said Severus, stepping into the fireplace, and accepted the Floo powder the goblin gave him and disappeared in a flourish of green flames. He stepped out in what was becoming a familiar home - Prince Hall.

He noticed a Hogwarts owl, arching an eyebrow wondering what Minerva wanted from him now. Placing Harry on the sofa, throwing a cover over him to keep him warm, he sat down and unfurled the note curiously. His heart sank; well he guessed he will didn't matter now.

Severus,

Albus has become aware of Harry's disappearance. It seems as through he had Doge shadow Harry and the Dursley's. I'm afraid your plans for Harry will have to change. The Order has been called, he still cannot get in touch with you, but I've told him once again I've spoken to you. You may have to come back before Dumbledore realizes you've lied.

Minerva.

P.S - I hope Harry is feeling better.

"Can this day get any worse?" growled Severus, gritting his teeth painfully.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! so things arent going Severus' way will Sirius be freed or will they keep him in prison for supposedly killing pettigrew and thirteen muggles? will sirius get to see harry or will severus ensure he doesnt? will severus remain seadfast that black will never come near harry no matter what? or will we see a matured black after getting proper help in St. Mungo's? and formally apologizing to severus for everything he did? R&R PLEASE! HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR GUYS!