Behind the Mask
Sometimes it's not the person who changes, it's the mask that falls off. (Mraj Porras).
Harry lay in the sparse grass in the little park and mourned for Sirius.
Sometimes the pain of his godfather's loss was nearly unbearable. He knew it showed in his face, in his gaunt features and his deadened eyes. Even the Dursleys had taken one long look and decided to pretend he didn't exist.
That suited Harry fine, since sometimes he didn't feel truly alive himself. He wasn't supposed to step foot outside of 4 Privet Drive, but often the confinement became more than he could stand, and his invisibility cloak made it possible to sneak out, especially when, like today, Mundungus was on guard.
Shadows fell over him.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" The high-pitched voice of Piers Polkiss grated on Harry's ears, and he sat up quickly to find he was surrounded by Dudley's gang.
"Been a long time since we went Harry Hunting," grunted Gordon.
Harry got to his feet. Usually this was the moment when he would take off running, but this time it was different. This time he would welcome a confrontation.
"No need to hunt. I'm right here."
Something in his voice, in his stance, gave them pause.
Something warned them that, in his present mood, Harry was dangerous.
"I'm hungry!" Dudley said abruptly. "Forget him…let's go get a pizza."
They hesitated, then fell in behind Dudley and left the park.
Harry watched them go with narrowed eyes. Never again would he run from thugs like Dudley's gang. He'd faced real danger, and made it out alive.
He started to walk in the opposite direction when he heard the sound of an owl.
It was a post owl, and one that Harry didn't recognize. Then he spotted the Gringotts seal and understood. It was a summons, and he'd no sooner opened it than the portkey activated, and he found himself in a private conference room in the bank.
"Ah, Mr. Potter. So pleased you could join us, since you seldom seem to visit Gringotts."
The goblin who faced him was large, for a goblin, and even more formidable than the usual bank employees.
"I don't go out much," Harry said truthfully. "But Bill Weasley, who works for you, brings me my money."
"That may be your means to access your Potter vaults, but I am Clawfoot, the goblin who deals with the Black estate, and I will not tolerate such careless habits."
Harry blinked. "The Black estate?"
Clawfoot eyed him sharply. "Are you not aware that Sirius Black left you everything he owned?"
Mention of Sirius' name caused the usual pang, and Harry nodded. "Professor Dumbledore told me it would add some gold to my vault, along with the house in Grimmauld Square."
'Some gold…" The goblin seemed momentarily speechless. "Do you have any idea of just what you inherited?"
Harry was beginning to feel nonplussed. "Er…no?"
Clawfoot told him.
Two hours later Harry walked out of Gringotts, the House of Black ring on his hand, still trying to process what he had learned.
He'd discovered that, under the terms of his godfather's will, he was both emancipated and blood-adopted, forever freed from both the Dursleys and Albus Dumbledore. He was also wealthier than he could ever have imagined.
It was mind-boggling, and Harry decided he needed ice-cream to help him cope.
He'd just settled in a back booth with his strawberry sundae when he heard a soft voice say "Potter?"
He looked up into the face of Daphne Greengrass, and nearly choked.
Daphne Greengrass was considered one of the prettiest girls in Hogwarts. True, there were some who preferred Susan Bones' lush curvy figure to Daphne's lithe body, and others who admired Ginny Weasley's red mane of hair and fiery temperament.
But, studying the Greengrass heiress carefully, Harry found it hard to discover a flaw. She literally took his breath away.
A bit too literally, for he soon realized she was waiting for a response.
"Er…I need ice cream!"
She raised one perfect eyebrow. "You need it?"
He nodded. "I do. For medicinal purposes!"
Laughter filled her big blue eyes. "Oh well, as long as there's a medical issue involved…"
"There is! I've had a shock!" Harry blurted.
"What kind of shock?" She hesitated, but curiosity won out, and she dropped into the seat opposite.
It was Harry's turn to pause. He reminded himself that he barely knew the girl; on the other hand, he felt the urge to confide in someone. He found himself telling her all about Sirius.
"You mean your godfather never got a trial?" Daphne was horrified. "That's horrible! Surely Dumbledore could have done something?"
That was what had been bothering Harry. "I don't know why he didn't."
She frowned. "I know you almost worship Dumbledore, Potter, but…well, the whole thing sounds off. What will you do now?"
"I really haven't had time to think about it," Harry confessed. "One good thing, I won't have to live with my relatives any more."
"The Muggles?" Daphne looked interested. "It's not pleasant there?"
"Hardly!" Harry snorted. "But Dumbledore forces me back there, every summer. He says it's to keep me safe."
"If you inherited your godfather's house, why not go there?" Daphne suggested.
"Two reasons," Harry admitted. "It's kind of a mess, and…Dumbledore's been using it for meetings of…his supporters. They are called the Order of the Phoenix and they keep a close watch over me."
Her pretty mouth tightened. "He shouldn't be using it! It's your house, after all! Why not go there, take control of the wards, and lock everyone out? That way you'd be perfectly safe. And you can fix it up in your free time!"
The thought of being away from the Dursleys made Harry's heart beat with joy.
"I'll do it!" He declared.
"Wonderful," Daphne applauded. "Let's go!"