It was his second night back at Privet Drive after Sirius' death, Harry had only left his room to get a glass of water and a cheese sandwich. He had no interest in seeing the Dursley's and only wanted to be left alone. Luckily, no locks had been used on his door or window so Hedwig was able to fly.

There was knock on his door. "Come in," he said, tired and dispirited.

To his surprise it was Dudley. "Mom and Dad went out to dinner with dad's work friends. I ordered pizza. Come and get some."

Pizza! That was different.

Harry entered the kitchen and the delicious smell knocked his melancholy mood away. His stomach growled. Dudley had two pizzas in boxes and two large salads in plastic tubs, two sodas with straws. "One for you, one for me. They're both peperoni. Um, the soda is diet. Nobody needs all that sugar."

Harry sat down. The salad had olives, Parmesan cheese, peppers, tomatoes and oil and vinegar dressing. "This is nice, Dudley."

"Yeah, no leftovers to pig out on. But still, pizza." Dudley took huge bite.

"You've lost a lot of weight." Harry said after eating a couple slices. Dudley was still huge, but his stomach was flat. Height-wise, he towered over Harry now. Maybe three or four inches over six foot.

"Yeah. The last few are the hardest. Mom and Dad hate my diet, I had to get the school nurse on their case."

"What do you do for exercise?"

"I jog three times a week and lift weights three times."

"Where do you lift weights?"

"Eddie's. In the mini-mall by the grocery store. Not fancy and not expensive. Hardly any girls go there, though."

"Sounds like a place where you can concentrate."

"You should come."

Harry shrugged. "Getting out of the yard will be difficult this summer."

"How come? More trouble with...you know whats?"

"The- uh-other world is at war. The leader for the bad side is a living nightmare. Snake face, red eyes...He wants me. We're safe here, though."

"I won't tell mom and dad. They would freak."

"The guards are invisible, but they will protect your family, too."

"That's good."

Dudley tossed Harry a handful of wrapped peppermint candies that came with the delivery. "Here. I don't eat sweets like that."

Harry caught them in air. "Thanks. Do you need money? For the pizza?"

"Nah, mom left me money." He took a sip of his diet soda. "I already talked to Mom and Dad. Normal family meals for a family of four. I gave mom the menu my nurse made." Dudley reached over and pulled a sheaf of papers from a drawer and handed it to Harry. "Told her if she didn't follow it, and with food for you, too, then I was going to go live at my coach's."

"This looks very...normal." Salads, roasted veggies, baked and grilled meats. Boiled eggs, oatmeal. Homemade soup.

"Yeah, that's what I told Mom and Dad. Dessert only on Sunday. Normal meals so I can be a normal weight. You, too. And Dad and Mom."

"That would be healthier for everyone."

"Yeah. So if they take away food, tell me. I told the counselor at school about our family. She said withholding healthy meals was abusive. Mom turned white when I told her about that. She knew that all a long."

If Dudley was magical he'd be a Slytherin, Harry decided. He knew how to twist the knife.

"She would hide food in my room when I was a kid," Harry said. "I think your dad was the real problem."

"Dad was pretty upset when I said I'd go live with my coach, but I told him it was better than calling child services. He'd lose his job if that happened."

"Wow, Dud."

"After the demento things I started counseling. Turns out I'm a hella mess."

Harry gave a wry smile. "Me, too, Dud."

"You should go to counseling."

Harry shrugged."Doubt wizards have them. But I might look into it."

"Why wouldn't wizards have them?"

"Wizards are kind of stuck in the Victorian Era."

Dudley wagged his head. "Anyway, I have job at the Metroplex. Just part time, from seven until eleven. But I can watch the movies if I'm clocked out. Gotta go."

"Good for you, Dud. I'll clean up."

Harry took the trash out to the garbage container and carried his soda upstairs.

Around nine there was a knock at his window from a large, dark owl. He let it in. It wore a leather harness with the word Gringotts on a medallion over its chest.

Harry gave it an owl treat and unhooked the small package, which grew as soon as it was loose. He opened it and read the letter.

Dear Harry Potter,

Our condolences on the loss of your Guardian, Lord Sirius Black.

Sirius was a Lord?

As his primary heir, we can offer you a private reading of his will and a few hours of explanations of the Black holdings, free of charge. Please come at your earliest convenience and ask for Goreheart, the Black account manager. We are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for your convenience. Between eight pm and six am, please use the door on the north side.

Sincerely,

Swiftblade

Will and Inheritances Division, Gringotts

Harry knew he was being watched, so getting away would be tricky. Maybe Dudley could help?

He left a note on Dudley's bed. Any way you could park in the garage, so I can sneak into the backseat when you go to work? I will be stopped from leaving the house by my watchers if they see me, but I have some business to do. I only need a ride to your workplace.

Shortly after that Vernon and Petunia came home, a bit tipsy from what Harry could hear. He ignored them and drifted off to sleep.

There was a soft knock on his door around one am. It was Dudley.

"Hey, Harry, no problem with the ride. Want my popcorn? I get one free with a drink every shift. I just keep the diet soda, but I figure you could eat the popcorn," he whispered. He thrust a bag of buttery popcorn at him.

"Wow, thanks, Dudley. For everything."

Harry was a bit in shock as he ate the popcorn. Hedwig flew in and accepted some popcorn and petting. How could someone change as much as Dudley? For the good, too? He wondered about that until he fell to sleep.

The next evening after he cleaned up the kitchen after a nice, ordinary supper of baked pork chops, salad and roasted potatoes, Harry slipped up the stairs. He changed into clothes that fit, put on school robes and grabbed his invisibility cloak.

Dudley's door was partly open. "I'm going to walk down behind you. Don't freak out," he whispered and put on his cloak,

"Fu—"

"Sh. I'll tell you all about it when… no one can hear." He crept down the stairs quietly after Dudley, but Uncle Vernon had some crime show on, quite loud. Petunia was in the living room also, drinking wine. Her cheeks were flushed, so probably not her first glass. He slipped into the garage behind Dudley and climbed into the backseat from Dudley's open door. When they were two blocks away he took off the cloak and sat up.

"That is seriously cool," Dudley said. "But won't you get in trouble for using magic?"

Harry grinned. "Nope, didn't use my wand. The magic is in the cloak. It would work for you, too. Family heirloom. Could be a thousand years old, according to Hermione. She's my smart friend who researches everything. There's even a fairy tale written about it."

"Huh. I'd like to read that."

"I have copy, drop by tomorrow, and you can get it. My family, the Potters married into a magical family called the Peverells. The story is about the Peverell brothers."

"Wow."

They left for the Megaplex and Harry thought about getting the Knights Bus. Or maybe Dobby?

Dobby would be safer.

He hid behind the dumpster against a stone wall and called Dobby.

"Oh, the Great Harry Potter called Dobby!" Harry found himself in a tight hug.

"Hey Dobby, how have you been?"

"Much better nows that Harry Potter calls him!" With a flash Harry realized that between Dudley and Dobby he could have some freedom this summer.

"Dobby, could you pop me to Diagon Alley? I have to go to Gringotts."

"Gringotts has special popping place for elvses and their peoples."

"Did not know that. That is probably much safer than walking through Diagon Alley."

"Dobby will make sure no Snakeyface peoples are around The Great Harry Potter." He puffed out his little chest.

"Let me put away my cloak." He put it in his book bag.

Dobby pinched Harry's robe and made a rude noise."Dobby fix."

Suddenly Harry was wearing a lightweight silk robe in dark green, and his shoes were shiny black leather.

"It will last for three days," Dobby said. "Dobby will measure the Great Harry Potter for some good clothes tomorrow."

"But, uh, money!"

Dobby giggled. "Dobby found piles of galleons! Not to worry, Harry Potter."

"You found piles of money? You'll have to tell me about it. As long as we're quiet."

"Dobby will bring lunch." He grabbed Harry's hand and popped him into a stone-walled room with padded benches.

A goblin sat at a small desk. A little plaque said his name was Scarblade. "Your business?"

"Harry Potter to see Goreheart about a will reading and the Black Accounts." He was glad he was the only one in the room. The goblin nodded, He wrote something down and tapped a crystal embedded on the desk.

A small goblin came in to`the room. "Escort Mr. Potter to Goreheart," he told the small goblin.

"Dobby comes with me, is that all right?"

The goblin held up a magnifying glass, but it was green glass, not clear.

"Yes, he is your bonded elf. He is allowed."

Harry raised his eyebrows at Dobby who grinned. They followed the goblin through corridors filled with closed doors and did not see the regular lobby. The goblin led him into a room with stone walls but beautifully upholstered chairs in black velvet. "Goreheart will be here shortly. Tea?"

Harry accepted a cup of tea. It was brought on a tiny table with a plate of small sandwiches and cakes, which he enjoyed, "Bonded?" he asked.

"We be bonded as friendsies, so Dobby be strong."

"Huh." Yet another wizarding thing he knew nothing about. A few moments later a goblin in a fine wool suit came into the room. Harry stood.

"I'm Goreheart," the goblin said, sitting at the desk. "Please be seated, Mr Potter. Swiftblade will be here shortly with the will."

Sirius left him everything other than a few bequests for friends, and set up a blood adoption ritual so all the Black Family Magic would work for him. Harry really wasn't sure what Family Magic was and figured it was one of the many things he was ignorant about in the Wizarding World.

"Um, will this make me look like Sirius? Because that could be a problem with my muggle relatives," He said while waiting for the healer. Apparently they had to make sure he had no blocks, whatever they were.

"Hmm," said Goreheart. "We can sell you a glamour. You would wear it and look as you do now."

"Uh, how much?"

Goreheart grinned. "Mr. Potter, you did hear the will? Seven hundred and fifty million galleons means you have no monetary worries. And that's just the Black fortune. You will soon become Lord Potter. The Potters invested more in land and businesses, but there is still forty-five million in their vault. Plus the Potter land you own all around the world."

Harry thought about it. "Can any of that be changed to muggle money? Since I spend the summers in the muggle world."

"We can provide you with a credit card to an account that is already active with a muggle bank. I will also provide ID."

"Super!"

The small goblin came in. "Follow me to the healer."

"While you are with the healer we will get all the paperwork together, the adoption ritual, and the glamour. I already have your current magical signature for the glamour," Goreheart said.

Harry and Dobby followed the small goblin through many corridors of smooth stone. "I had no idea Gringotts was so huge."

The small goblin replied. "Gringotts is a nation. The bank is only a small part of it."

"I did not know that."

"I can supply you with a book, introducing you to Gringotts. Two galleons."

"That would be great. Any other books you sell to wizards would be nice to have also. Since I was raised as a muggle I find I lack knowledge that other's know by growing up with wizards. Um, my summer plans are pretty boring, so I hope to improve."

"I will see what I can find."

The room they entered looked exactly like a medical room, with a cot covered in white.

Harry had to put on a hospital gown and stretch out on the cot. The healer, a tiny wizened female with jeweled clips in her white hair, placed crystals and stones on different parts of his body and tapped them with an oblong crystal. Colors danced above him.

"Why, you're trussed up like a festive roast pig, aren't you?" The Healer Slitsnout asked. She took some type of tablet and ran it through the lights. "I made a recording for your records," she said.

"Huh?" Harry asked. He stayed still though because he was covered with a mass of crystals and rocks.

"You, Mr Potter, have three blocks on your magic. They should have been removed before you started Hogwarts". She waved a large crystal over Harry again. "Hmm. One was put on you when you were thirteen. Do you know why?"

"No. I don't know anything about any blocks."

"Hmm," the goblin said. She opened cabinet and brought out a necklace of oval crystals. "I'm going to see what we have happening in there," she said as she slid it over Harry's hair.

"Great Glurg's rocky balls!" She frowned at Harry. "Excuse my cursing. I need to contact Ragnuk." The healer left the room.

"Dobby, who is Ragnuk?" Harry whispered.

"The Goblin King."

"Holy shit."

A Goblin entered the room, dressed in shining red dragonhide. On his head was a silver circlet with a blood-red stone in the center. All the red reminded Harry of actual blood. He took a shaky breath.

"Do not rise. Healer Slitsnout will be mad at me if she has to redo the matrix." He peered at the crystals, lights and tablet.

"Well, this is valuable knowledge for the Goblin Nation, Mr Potter. We are certainly pleased you chose to see a goblin healer. You have just saved not only your life, but the lives of many goblins. And wizards, no doubt. We don't expect Voldemort to ignore goblins this time around."

"Wha—?" He jerked and the healer held him down.

"Your scar, what can you tell me about it?"

"Uh, I got it the night Voldemort killed my parents. I was told he threw a killing curse at me that rebounded, and killed him instead."

All the goblins in the room laughed. "What an idiotic fairy tale to entertain the masses. Dumbledore's work for sure." Slitsnout snorted. "He should retire and write novels. I would read them. He'd make fortune."

"You are the only one alive from that night other than Voldemort, and I suspect you have no memories of that night," King Ragnuk said.

Harry shook his head."No, I do remember. Dementors at Hogwarst got on the train and got too close. Now I remember my mother pleading for my life, a high cold laugh, and green light."

"I see. Your mother was killed by the killing curse. But some other spell was sent at you." He waved to another goblin and a woman, a witch, both wearing dark green slack and shirts with tan vests and thick books.

"Mr Potter, this is Sliceflesh, a Goblin Nation curse breaker, and Miss Amelia Portent, one of our wizarding curse breakers. They are head of the Gringotts Bank Cursebreakers Division. They will deal with your scar."

The two checked his scar for several minutes. "Your scar was not made by a killing curse. It is a protective rune, cut into your forehead by a magic spell. I suspect it was activated by the death of both your parents. Powerful magic," Miss Portent said. "That idiot Tom Riddle tried to turn your death into horcrux. Instead the soul shard slid into your cut and was neutralized."

Harry raised his eyebrows, about to ask what a horcrux was but Sliceflesh took over speaking. "A horcrux is soul piece vessel, used by a dark wizard to return to the living plane if he has been killed. Very dark magic, as is all death magic. But ins this case, the soul piece went into your scar, where the protective magic contained it. In the backlash of such powerful magic, Tom Riddle was destroyed."

"So there a part of Voldemort inside my scar?" Harry squeaked.

"No, Mr Potter. Much better. There is Riddle's magical signature and the residue of a soul piece. It was neutralized by the rune carved into your forehead." Cursebreaker Portent said.

"I think your mother expected Sirius Black to raise you," said King Ragnuk. "He had a thorough grounding in the Dark Arts from his family, and his grandfather, a formidable wizard, was still alive. They would have recognized the problem and cleaned it out. Sirius, no doubt, would have rained down vengeance on Tom Riddle, who left the perfect tool in your scar."

"But Dumbledore interfered and sent me to my aunt's."

"Yes. A pity, for even now Tom Riddle is killing innocents."

"There was an attack? I'm being kept with no information," Harry said. "I had to sneak away to get here."

"Three attacks in three days. About thirty muggles and muggleborns killed."

The King Ragnuk moved next to the bed. "I, for one, want to investigate the Evans lineage. This intuitive understanding of Dark Magic...well, there might be quite surprise in your mother's bloodline. You do have Black Blood, but not that much, and no Family Magic training. Steelclaws, see to it."

"Yes, my lord," said a small goblin with a stone tablet and stylus.

"Will this take long? I'll get in trouble if I am missing."

Cursebreaker Portent spoke. "We will move you to a time chamber. You've had this most of your life, it might be a bit time-consuming to remove."

Harry nodded, relieved. "Dobby, if this takes a while I'll just call you when I'm done. So you don't have to wait around."

"Dobby can work in the goblins wizard kitchen. Or clean for Missy Healer if she has work for Dobby."

"I always have work in my garden," the healer said. Dobby grinned and bounced.

A few minutes later Harry was taken down to a lower level to a cave. This was a large room, with doors off it leading to other rooms. The ceiling was high, maybe twenty feet. The whole room, including shelves and the platform his cot was placed on were carved right into the stone, so smoothly the walls were shiny, almost like black glass. He could see markings and carvings etched into the surface, to small to see clearly.

"This is the Obsidian Time Chamber. In this room a week is one hour in the outer world. I expect you will need two weeks in here."

"What time is it now? In the real world?"

The old healer grinned. "Almost ten."

Harry relaxed. The room was surprisingly warm. So he would be back at the Dursley by morning.

The healer and cursebreakers consulted for a bit in the hall. They finally returned. "This is what we are going to do, Mr Potter. Healer Slitsnout said. "We are going to give you a sleeping potion, because we will need you to be still during unsettling moments. We will removed the bindings, perform the blood adoption— you don't need to do anything for that, it is usually done on babies. Then the cursebreakers will cleanse your scar and save the dark residue. It will make it easy to track Tom Riddle and any other horcruxes he has made."

"I only have to sleep? I don't have to be in all kinds of pain and stuff?"

"Indeed not!" said the healer. "We are the Goblin Nation, not barbarians!" she huffed.

Harry couldn't help but grin. He liked her.

The Goblin King caught his eye and grinned, too. "Well, very fine then. We will leave you to your noble worker. Cursebreakers, Lady Mother," he nodded his head at the cursebreakers and the healer. "I will see you again, Harry Potter."

"Yes sir, Anytime, sir!" He felt like he should bow but was still covered in crystals.

"Here you go." Healer Slitsnout handed him a potion that tasted like oranges. My healer is the mom of the Goblin King was his last thought before all went black.