Harry Potter and the Order of Mercaba
by SeraphimBlue
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all the characters of his universe are owned by J.K. Rowling. I hold no claim over anyone here, except for my original characters and the Order of Mercaba, which is my own creation.
Chapter Four
The large white building loomed before them as they stared at the words mounted above the entrance, Alex read them one by one and a sense of familiarity washed through him, giving him the feeling he'd seen that rhyme before. It brought back a faint memory that was both comforting and at the same time terrifying.
It wasn't just this building, it was everything about Diagon Alley. Everything he'd seen just had after images in his memory… as if he'd seen it all once before.
"You okay baby?"
Alex looked over at his new wife and nodded. "Yeah… just this feeling like I've seen all of this before. It'll pass… let's get inside and get this over with. The faster we get Harry out of here, the safer we'll be."
Walking inside, they were surprised by the atmosphere they encountered. Goblins at the tellers and numerous witches and wizards who were staring and in some cases glaring at him. Alex frowned and headed toward the booth he had been advised to take. As he approached with his family and Director Miles, he heard the mutterings around him.
"Filthy muggles…"
"Mudblood scum…"
Alex glared right back and let his power fill his eyes. He knew this type. Only one way to beat a bully… scare them. Focusing his power he brought it to the surface and radiated a skill he liked to call Power Aura.
Those watching suddenly looked away, feeling the power coming from the small group. A mix of awe and fear made them cow themselves away from someone who was clearly more powerful than them. They might be dressed like mundanes, but clearly Alex had power.
"Next."
Alex looked at the goblin before him and stepped up to the window.
"I request access to my grandmother's vault. I was told I needed to do a Rite of Inheritancy and I'm willing to do that. I also need to discuss a matter with the account manager of another family that I would rather discus in private."
The goblin sneered at him and looked past him at Alisa, Harry and Director Miles. "What family is your grandmother."
Alex smiled, carefully, without showing teeth. "The Morrigan Vault."
The look of fear that passed across the goblin's face was priceless. He paled and motioned to another goblin to step forward and take his place after speaking to him in their native language, then turned back to the group. "Follow me."
Leading them deeper inside the building, the goblin hurried to one of the private rooms and motioned to the chairs available before hurrying off. Alex paced slowly while the others took a seat. He looked in the direction the goblin ran and waited patiently. "Just what did you do, grandmother, that has them so spooked?" Alex wondered as he remembered his conversation with her…
Flashback… a few days earlier
Setting the final gemstone in place, the runic mirror glowed then slowly began to shift to show the view of Alex's grandmother's study.
"Grandmother… are you there?"
A shadow moved in front of the mirror and Alex saw one of her ravens. "Hello young one. Your Grandmother is outside teaching the children their lessons. Is this an emergency or a social call?"
Alex looked at the raven and tried to read its markings. "Marcus?"
The raven bobbed its head and let out a laughing caw. "Yes… I'm surprised you could tell the difference."
Alex smiled. "I got lucky I guess. Um.. it's not an emergency but it is important. Can you ask her if she can spare a few minutes? It's about the vault she opened after she dated Merlin."
Marcus rolled his eyes. "The idiot… yeah, I'll go talk to her. Wait here." With that he hopped a few times and flew out the open window, leaving the room empty and quiet for a few minutes… until a beautiful woman with long raven black hair entered and took a seat in front of the mirror.
It was The Morrigan, part elven warrior/part elven deity… depending on who you asked. She was gorgeous and radiated power that was dark, mysterious and seductive. Her regal bearing gave her every bit the image of a queen… or a goddess. She was feared by many… but not the one she had come to speak to. For him… she would give up the world, such was her love for her grandson.
"Alex… my little love… how are you?"
Alex smiled and blushed a little. It always touched him how loving she was… compared to her reputation. "I'm fine, Grandmother. How are you? You look even lovelier than you did the last time we talked."
The Morrigan laughed and shook her head. "I'm good, you flatterer. How your girlfriend… Alisa I believe?"
Alex nodded. "She's well. We're getting married soon. There is much I need to tell you…"
Alex explained everything that had been happening and gave her as much detail as he could about Harry and his experiences with the Wizarding World.
"… and so I need to know if I can be granted access to your vault and if doing so will grant me any association with Harry's world. We don't want to lose him to those backwards bastards."
The Morrigan nodded slowly, her expression dark and thoughtful. "You do know that I haven't had much association with that world for hundreds of years. They haven't changed much and sadly any word I receive of them shows they are steadily declining. It's not a safe place for you… or your son. It's best to avoid them if at all possible, but I can see that you might not have that option."
A sigh escaped her lips and she ran her delicate fingers through her long flowing hair. "Yes… my vault will grant you access, but you will lose your name to do so. There are so many laws set up by the goblins that only those of my bloodline will be allowed access… and those of the family line. You share my blood, enough at least to count… but your name is still that of your father's…"
Alex nodded. He knew that his last name was Collins… a name he had grown up with, even if it wasn't his birth name… and he was willing to go by any name if it meant helping his son. "I am a Collins… but it is not my name by birth. I don't know what name I was born with and even though I have treasured my last name for more than 25 years… I would be just as happy and proud to bear yours."
The Morrigan smiled as a single teardrop formed in the corner of her eye. "Then with my blessing you are granted access to my vault. You are given my name with love and honor, to you and your family, and I know you will do the name proud."
Happy tears dripped down her cheeks as she took a deep breath. "I will want to meet this new grandson of mine. When is the wedding? I can't come to the human realm easily, but I can send one of my ravens to watch… and I want to meet the boy so I can test him and join our blood."
Alex smiled. "It's in two days from now. There is an old arch Cosgrove Wilds. I don't know how much power it maintains but it still stands… hidden safe from the humans. You could send one through there and then any of them should be able to sense me from there."
"I'll do it."
The Morrigan turned to her left and nodded. "Marcus has volunteered. He will leave now and make his way to your location. Time runs strange in the gates, so don't be surprised if he shows up in a few minutes."
Alex nodded. "I understand. Thank you for everything. I love you grandmother and I promise to bring the family to see you soon."
The Morrigan beamed with joy at her family. "I love you too, my darling. I will be waiting for you. Give my love to the others… and be safe."
She started to close the link from her end, then paused. "Alex… you will need to declare your want the Rite of Inheritancy. The goblins will understand. It's a ritual that involves blood… all of their rituals do… so don't be worried. It will also check your bloodline against any other family in their records… so be prepared, just in case."
With that said, she reached out and shut the link… leaving Alex staring at his own reflection wondering what she was talking about…
Back in Gringots…
Alex blinked as three goblins entered the room, carrying a bowl and a knife as well as a few rolls of parchment. They brought everything to the table then motioned Alex over.
"We shall test your blood. If you are who you claim to be, nothing will go wrong. However, if you are lying… the magic of the rite will take your life. Do you still wish to continue."
Alex nodded. The goblin picked up the knife and handed it to Alex. "Cut your palm and allow enough blood to drain into the bowl to cover the bottom. Our magic will handle the rest. If you are a part of the Morrigan bloodline, the parchment will tell us so."
Alex nodded and moved his hand over the bowl. "My grandmother told me this would happen. She also said the blood would tell me of any other family I might be related to. Is this correct?"
As Alex cut his palm… the blood flowing into the bowl… the goblin nodded. "Correct. Every Wizarding family has a record of their bloodlines… living or dead… all the way back to the first families that opened vaults with us the day we opened years ago. If you share ties with any other family, it will show up on the parchment as well."
Alex nodded as the blood covered the bottom of the bowl, then when the goblin nodded, he stepped back and healed his hand… wandlessly, bringing a rise of eyebrows from the goblins present.
The bowl began to glow…
The blood was absorbed into the ceramic of the bowl…
The parchment began to glow with a soft golden light and writing began to appear. One of the other goblins, the one holding the parchment, began to read aloud.
"Alexander Morrigan… magic proclaims his name correctly. He is a part of the Morrigan bloodline."
His eyes scanned down the parchment as it continued to write.
"Strange… it shows other names. He is…"
With a gasp, he dropped the parchment and backed away in surprise. The other two rushed forward to read the writing.
"You are the sole remaining living member of the Gorbain family, a family thought completely destroyed many years ago. Who are your parents? It should tell us here… but something is blocking the magic."
Alex shrugged. "I was adopted by Daniel and Samantha Collins when I was four, maybe five, we're not sure. I was brought to an orphanage when I was found nearly frozen to death back in January or February of 1950."
The goblins muttered to each other and one of them rushed off. Alex watched in confusion as the other two discussed something and then the third returned with a book.
"Here Feldspar."
Feldspar, one of the goblins who was controlling the ritual, opened the book and flipped to the back.
"Reginald Gorbain and Emiline Gorbain nee Douglas died at the hand of Sedgwick Yaxley, January 18, 1950. Their son… Alexander was never found… until now."
Alex looked at his wife and child and smiled. "Gorbain… I never knew." He turned back to the goblins. "What happens now?"
Feldspar looked at the book and frowned. "The Gorbain vault was left open but put in stasis since you were not found and could not be declared dead. There are still some funds within as well as some family personal items. Your father's and mother's wedding rings and wands were placed inside as well as the lordship ring."
He looked up at Alex and smiled. "Just request the ring and magic should bring it to your open palm."
Alex nodded and held out his hand. "I request the Gorbain family ring."
A glow filled the space over his palm and a thick silver ring with a smokey quartz gemstone appeared. "Put on the ring. If it accepts you, it will glow. If not, it will fall off and the ring will have to wait to go to your son."
Alex nodded and slid the ring onto his finger. A warm glow enveloped the ring and it shrank a bit to fit his finger. "It fits."
Feldspar nodded and moved to another book. "This is the grimoire of the Morrigan vault. There is quite a great deal of money inside as well as personal items left by your ancestor. There is no lordship ring, as your ancestor is still living, but there is an heir ring that can be used as a Head of House ring. Summon it as before."
Alex nodded and extended his hand again. "I request the ring left for me by my grandmother… whichever she approves of me wearing."
The glow returned and a smaller golden ring with a blood red stone appeared. Moving the ring to his other hand, he slid it on and felt the ring tap into his power. A strong golden glow enveloped it as Alex's eyes began to glow as well.
Alex trembled as a message was transferred into his mind from the ring… and then the glow faded and Alex let out a shuddering breath.
"Wow… that was intense."
Feldspar nodded. "You have been accepted by both. Do you wish to keep both family vaults separate or consolidate them into one vault?"
Alex looked at the goblin and nodded. "I wish to bring Gorbain into the Morrigan vault… and possibly one other." He turned to look at his wife and child and motioned them over. "This is my wife Alisa and my adopted son… Harry."
He paused and looked Feldspar in the eyes. "You know of him as Harry Potter."
The shock that ran through the three goblins was intense as they stared at the family before him. "How?"
Alex grabbed a chair and sat down. "It all started like this..."