Chapter 29 – The third floor and the philosopher's stone
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I squeezed in time with Hermione is much as possible. The high elf training didn't provide any super curses or spells but mental control and use of the Ley lines without the use of a wand and frying myself to a crisp. The mental control did have some side effects like being able to stop people from reading my mind while it gave me the ability to read other people's auras. The high elves did provide me with a wand to use with my wizard magical core but Caledor was right, I preferred the power of the Ley lines, the power was intoxicating.
The high elves gave me a break as Hermione headed off to Hogwarts and Sirius was demanding some fun time with his godson. By this time the elves only demanded a couple of hours in the month so this let Sirius time to run amok in amusement parks and water worlds as he dragged me around in the colonies. Of course I wasn't complaining about the fun time but I was missing Hermione already.
/Scene Break/
Sirius was mentally a kid at heart. At any given moment he would be off chasing some skirt and the next moment he would be off to an amusement park and their roller coasters. Sirius was also big into pranking. I could wake up in the morning with a bucket of cold water drenching me as I exited my bedroom door or find that my noon tea turned my hair blue. The high elves had insisted that I go and Sirius considered this next action a prank and hilarious, I found it quite informative.
Under glamour charms we entered Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
"Master goblin if you be so kind I would like to speak to the Black account manager." I saw Sirius flash the Black's head of house ring as he requested his account manager.
Shortly we were escorted into the bowels of Gringotts. While I got to sit in a very uncomfortable chair in front of an empty desk Sirius was off whispering in the ear of the goblin. Finally Sirius proclaimed...
"Ripjaw, as this young man's magical guardian and his godfather I would like to make him the heir to the Black title, house and estate. As his magical guardian I wish to have his parents Will read and then for him to be emancipated per said Will." Apparently Sirius was present when the Potter Will was written.
Ripjaw gives a funny look but departed the room; things did not run smoothly when Ripjaw returned…
"Lord Black, Neckstabber the Potter Account Manager, has just stated that the Ministry has frozen the Potter Will. I'm afraid I'm in shock as to what to say."
"Ripjaw are you telling me that the Goblin Nation has allowed 'The' Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter's Will to be obstructed. Does Ragnot know of this interference in an Ancient House and the violation of goblin law?"
"You're correct Lord Black this is the first I have heard of it myself, I have send a message to Bank Manager Ragnot.
I must say that the goblins acted quickly, decisively and brutally. Neckstabber head was on Ripjaw desk within minutes. It seemed that headmaster Dumbledore declared himself my magical guardian and was using my funds to pay Neckstabber to look the other direction on Potter account withdrawals and to bury the Potter Will. An hour later I was emancipated and was now also the heir to House Black. Ripjaw was thrilled with the new Potter account. Dumbledore would shortly be receiving some bad news. I hope this Dumbledore would get out of my life and stay out!
I will probably always wonder if Sirius is insane or just a perennial prankster. Although I guess if I stopped and thought about it could have made sense to request an inheritance test. I'm not sure but I think in the end the joke was on Sirius. A drop of my blood on a goblins parchment showed me to be the end of the line heir to ten magical houses. Luckily only a couple had active vaults but they cause us work for the rest of the afternoon. It seemed that my parents and one of the other houses, who must've been clairvoyant, had monthly income from Muggle companies or owned them out right. We stopped transfer of Muggle money into galleons and opened a bank account in Berkeley's bank for the Muggle money thus saving conversion fees. This causes my account manager to generate passports, credit cards, and a number of the identification cards good in Muggle world.
I did scribble out a letter to the Daily Profit before I went to bed that evening. Substantially the letter stated that if the English Ministry would not allow my legal godfather his rightful position, and people were stealing funds from a child, that I would find a life and education in the colonies.
/Scene Break/
My training with the high elves soon taper off to periodic social visits. Sirius still dragged me across different continents to participate in hang gliding, snow skiing and skeet shooting. During summer vacations I spent a lot of time with Hermione. While I had never attempted to persuade her, Hermione was not thrilled with Dumbledore. When I exposed her to the Black family library and by skills learned from the library she soon became disenchanted with Hogwart's educational curriculum. My Hermione loved books and learning.
"Harry, why can't I just quit Hogwarts and join youlearning all of this fabulous magic thats in the black library."
"You want to become a fugitive? You have to be an OWL graduate if you leave Hogwarts you have to go to another magical school or give up the magical world."
"Harry you got to believe me that most people at Hogwarts are either arrogant snobs or completely lazy ignorant toads to what is going on in the world or their world."
While Hermione was doing her exposé about a three headed dog on the third floor it reminded me what the high elves had stated. That Dumbledore was getting old and is certain what is best for everyone at least in his own mind. While he withholds information that can be extremely critical, his actions are always for what he sees as the greater good of his actions. While one should not discard him totally he has great experience and his advice on many matters can still be invaluable, if only he wasn't going senile. But a monstrous three headed dog in a school full of children?
After I got Hermione calm down I got her memory of the third floor and the three headed dog...
"Caledor I have this memory from a friend and I wish for you to review it and get your opinion." The next thing I know is Caledor and two other high elves have taken me to Hogwarts third floor because of their prophecy. After they dealt with all the traps they had me obtain the stone I mean, give me a break, hiding the stone in a mirror? Well I had this on the forefront of my mind as they left me at Black manor with the stone in my hand and no explanation. And the high elves said Dumbledore was losing it.
Luckily the Black library explained enough so I wrote an unsigned letter explaining, as best I could, and sent the philosopher's stone and the letter off with Sirius's owl. I was sure that the current owner of the stone would not appreciate Dumbledore's use of the stone in that manner as I had over his use of my vaults. The three words, "I will not!" surfaced. Currently I would rather remain in the dark and hidden and not get involved any more than I was forced to in the magical world.
I hunted up Hermione, "Hermione what would you like to do this weekend besides sitting in the library and read books?"
I was beginning to realize that I was interested in Hermione more than just a friend. I really missed her when she is off to school and right now I didn't want her to return to Hogwarts.
Hermione took a break from the library and had me accompany her to a museum. Oh what a thrilling and drastic change from a library.
/Scene break/
I found it highly interesting that the Black library had so many curses and spells between the bindings of all those books. I spent much of my time memorizing all the spells which truthfully is misleading. Oh I spent the time but I did not really memorizing the spells for curses except for my wand core magic. Magic was 90% intent and with my power from the Ley lines all I needed to know was a concept. One example was the exhausting silver shield using my wand core. Nothing could pass through the silver shield except the killing curse but the shield exhausted the caster's magical core within minutes. A different shield was a dome type shield that wrapped its caster in a bubble type shield but only protected you from half the known curses. I had the intent and I had the power so I now had the invisible silver Dome Shield that surrounded me for as long as the Ley lines existed.
/Scene Break/
Sirius and I had escaped the ministry and their law enforcement agencies for years but somehow one day Sirius loused up. One minute he was heading out on a hot date and the next minute he was thrown into Azkaban. That's when the weird got weirder. A snow white owl glided through the open window and offered me a message on her leg as she settled on my extended arm. I would swear she was gloating through her amber eyes. I would find out much later that Fawkes had his hand/claw in this. I ran a couple scans on the message I found it free of spells curses or port keys so I opened the message.
Mr. Potter you godfather is now in Azkaban and will soon be thrown into the veil of death if you do not surrender yourself immediately.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Order of Merlin, first class, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.
Well that's interesting I thought. Honestly my first instinct was to burn down the entire magical community starting with this too many named idiot. Again the three words surfaced, "I will not!". Was this his way of providing me with helpful information? However, a few deep breaths later, I popped over and discussed everything with Caledor.
"Ah yes the mechanisms of the humans. I would warn you, should you go to Azkaban to free your godfather, to refrain from killing any of the human guards. Killing the Dementors could get you applause but killing a human guard is never acceptable."
"So you figure I should surrender myself?"
"There is always the risk of complications so you should always have insurance and have backup plans." Caledor was giving me a headache with such vague sage advice.
I decided to send another letter to the Daily Profit basically stating that I was going to surrender myself to stop Sirius Black for being thrown into the veil of death. I again repeated myself and asking how Sirius Black my legal guardian and godfather could be charged with kidnapping to start with. I also added that I was thoroughly disgusted with Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Order of Merlin, first class, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and included his message he had sent me. I used the white owl that seemed to make her self at home in my room and appeared to have no interest in leaving. The next problem was finding where Hogwarts was located.
I popped over to Hermione's house," Hermione where is the school of Hogwarts located?"
"Sorry Harry I don't really know exactly where Hogwarts is other than it's in Scotland. There is a magical community close and it's called Hogsmeade village. Right, so all I have to do is open the local telephone directory or map of Scotland?
I was suddenly in the opinion that I was never going to have a normal life. Maybe if I started blowing up a few things I might get some attention. There was suddenly a flash of brilliant light when something grabbing my shoulder and I found myself in a strange office. Behind the opulent desk sat an old man with a white beard and long white hair under a pointed hat. Upon my arrival he looked up from some papers on his desk. Hermione's description of Dumbledore ran through my head and this turkey in front of me fit that description. I also realize I had a white owl on my shoulder with some very recognizable amber eyes. Yep, normal was not working today.
"And who might you be young man?"
"I'm Harry Potter and I'm here to get my godfather out Azkaban."
To my surprise the old idiots pulled out a wand and start waving it around mumbling assorted spells around the room. I figured as long as he didn't pointed at me he could do his thing. He then started to explain some really insane thoughts as if I was an incompetent child.
"I'm afraid that Sirius Black will remain in Azkaban for abducting you young Harry. Therefore as your new magical guardian I must insist that you attend me and attend Hogwarts among your peers. I must insist upon a magical oath that you will remain here and attend Hogwarts. You will remain locked in this office until the oath is given since your petulance is not acceptable."
"I will not Old man! When did you lose your common sense or don't you have any brains? My parting remark to you is, kiss my ass! I then popped to just outside the Leakey Cauldron and after putting on my glamour charms I headed in for some information and to disseminate some disinformation. This magical world needed to be destroyed.
Meanwhile Dumbledore was overcoming his shocked as somebody had just performed the act of 'disapparition' within the grounds of Hogwarts. This was not to mention all of the wards he erected just moments ago sealing the room. Dumbledore turned to his Phoenix, "Fawkes take me to Harry Potter!" The Phoenix gave the impression of serious thought before giving a shrug and shaking its head, no.
Meanwhile Harry Potter was laughing his ass off, Dumbledore tried to match wizard magic with Elfin magic and Ley lines?
I nestle up to the bar. "Tom I'll take one of those cold butter beers and a bowl of crisps." The owl seemed to be thrilled with the bacon crisps.
I initiated some conversations with the drunks at the bar and slowly mixed in my question, "Hey you're all smart guys, I bet you know where Azkaban is located". I lucked out and got enough information so I could head towards Azkaban.
Before I left I slipped in that a number of Hogwarts students, which I was one of, have been sexually assaulted by the headmaster Albus Dumbledore. I told the drunks that I want to know where he would be living when I press charges. A good rumor is always hard to squelch.
After I had popped home… "Okay Missy! When were you going to tell me that you aren't a real owl or are you?" The owl shimmered and instantly there was a snow white Phoenix. Somebody get me some smelling salts I think I'm going to faint!
If that wasn't enough the bird flies off down the hall, and of course with me in hot pursuit and we end up in the library. Bird pulls down a book and using her claws and thumbs/claws through the book until she finds a picture and a description an ice Phoenix. Now while I'm reading this book she obtains another book and thumbs/claws through it and points her claw at a name, Hedwig. I turned to Hedwig and asked, "Are you sure you can't talk?" I could've sworn she just shrugged her wings but I didn't get a yes or no answer. I was sure the high elves had sent her so everything was cool.
The next morning I found myself on the beach overlooking an ocean and no sign of Azkaban. Apparently the coordinates the drunks gave me were not all that accurate. Hedwig refused to cooperate and take me to Azkaban. I was going to have to look elsewhere to find Azkaban.
