I do Not Own Harry Pooter or any Charcters created by J.K. Rowling. This was written for entertainment purposes only. Thank you and have a nice day. Cheers!
When Heroes Rise
Chapter 3
Freedom and Understanding
Man is free at the moment he wishes to be.
Voltaire
Gringotts stood tall and proud, its white marble building and the essence of money well spent. Harry stood just outside the doors of the Gringotts Branch in London in the midst of the morning hub of Diagon Alley. After passing through the Leaky Cauldron and through the door to the only wizarding alley in London he ended up right at this very spot. He walked up the stairs and passed the goblin at the door and walked in. It was the same as the very first time that he had visited Gringotts with Hagrid. Harry walked up to the nearest goblin and waited patiently for him to acknowledge him.
"May I help you sir?" the small Goblin stated.
"Yes I would like to withdraw money from my vault and check my bank statements please."
"Yes sir, name please?" the goblin stated with a bored tone.
"Harry Potter," Harry let a small smirk slip as he notice the Goblin's eyes shoot up to his scar.
"Very well sir, key please."
Harry handed over his key and was ready to get going to his vault when the Goblin stopped him.
"Mr. Potter, if you would please follow me the bank manager would like a few words with you." The goblin looked up at him, Harry nodded and followed the goblin down a well-lit hallway that was furnished with goblin statues of old. Harry was curious as to what the Goblin manager wanted with him.
They stood in front of a large wooden door with the words, Kagnok Badok Gringotts Manager, in gold lettering. The small goblin knocked twice and opened the door.
"Mr. Badok, Mr. Potter is here and I have brought him to you on your request," the small goblin said.
"Come in Mr. Potter and have a seat." Harry walked into the office and noted that it was nicely furnished; it was obvious that Gringotts treated their employees well. As Harry sat down in the chair that was on the other side of the Head Goblin's desk, he got his first good look at him, he was tall for a goblin with pristine clothes and rather large ears. The other thing that Harry noticed was that the goblin was staring at him with an unreadable expression and it put Harry instantly on his guard.
"Mr. Potter my name is Kagnok Badok, Gringotts Manager of the London Branch, there are several reasons why I wanted to meet with you, and only on few of those reasons has anything to do with your bank statements. And the rest have to do with this upcoming war. Now Mr. Potter how much are you aware of you monies and assets here at Gringotts?"
This could prove to be interesting, Harry thought. "I am only aware of the vault that I usually obtain money from."
"That was what I was afraid of. Mr. Potter the vault that you now obtain money from is only your trust fund vault that was put together by your late parents for you schooling and your first eighteen years of your life. You were assigned a guardian in the muggle world as well as the wizarding world when your parents died. Now Mr. Potter I am sure you know that your muggle guardians are the… let me see, yes the Dursleys I presume," at Harry's nod he continued. "Sirius Black who just this past week was declared innocent and had his vault unfrozen was your wizarding guardian. I am sorry about your loss once again Mr. Potter."
Harry just nodded not wanting to dwell on his grief.
"Mr. Black was declared your wizarding guardian in the event of your parents demise, but then Mr. Black was sent to Azkaban and you needed an advocate here in the wizarding world. Mr. Albus Dumbledore became your temporary guardian until the event of your seventeenth birthday. But with Mr. Black's innocence declared he again became your guardian and in the event of his death made a last will and testament. In accordance to wizarding law the will must be read within a month of the event of their death. Now Mr. Potter, Mr. Black has left you with a substantial amount of monies and properties. The official reading of the will would not take place until few weeks, but I see no harm in informing you of some of the things that Mr. Black has left for you. Most notable and I think that you will agree with me, are these papers. Mr. Potter, Mr. Black has done something remarkable and if I may say so this may be in your favor." Badok spread the papers on the desk and motioned for Harry to take a look at them.
"Mr. Black has signed his consent that in the event of his death that you be legally emancipated and freed from the control of himself and one Albus Dumbledore."
Harry grinned, Thank you Sirius, he thought. "This makes me a legal wizard and I can legally use magic outside of school?" Harry asked.
"Yes Mr. Potter, if you sign these papers you would be a legal wizard in the wizarding world and granted the freedoms that one has when they come of age." Badok replied.
Harry grinned, "Do you have a quill I can borrow?"
Harry quickly signed the papers after reading them and sat back satisfied. Dumbledore would no longer control him, and this would also be a big step to helping him prepare for war.
"Mr. Black also left this letter in the event of his death." Badok handed the letter to Harry and Harry pocketed it. He would read it later and hopefully find some sort of closure. Because after everything that had happened that was what he was looking for some set of closure on this part of his life so he could step out into the world and remember the good times and not the bad. Maybe in time he could forgive himself and in the process heal.
"Now onto some other business, you wanted to know your bank statements. Mr. Potter you have access to three separate vaults. The first vault is the vault that you have up until now been the only one that you have been taken any money from. That vault has just over 3,890,298 gallons in it." Harry's jaw dropped, he had known he was wealthy, but this wealthy he had no idea. Badok continued, " Mr. Potter you also have access to your parents vault and at the age of fifteen should have been able to visit it as well as take and documents or objects of your choice, as long as you didn't touch the money therein, But that rule no longer applies to you. You now have full access to your family vault, which is named the Potter Vault, number 2. In your family vault the money has been accumulating interest for the past fifteen years and has been unopened since before your parents unfortunate death. The Potter Vault has around 230,780,330 gallons therein." Harry's jaw dropped even further and he blinked. Damn that's a lot of money.
"Mr. Potter the Potter family is one of the oldest pure-blood families around. I advise you to check this vault as soon as possible, it has very many valuable and priceless heirlooms that I am sure you will need in the future. Now Mr. Potter on to the final vault. The Black Family Vault, number 6 is also one of the oldest vaults here at Gringotts as to the fact that they are also one of the oldest pureblood families in the world. You will gain access to this vault as soon as the will is read. The amount that you will receive from the Black families fortune is 120,000,000 gallons I believe, but as I said you won't have access to that money until the will is read. The total amount of monies that you have not including investments and bonds is… 354,670,628 gallons. That makes you one of the richest wizards in the world." Harry smiled and thanked his parents and Sirius mentally for taking such good care of him, even though they couldn't be here with him.
Badok leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Mr. Potter as I am sure you are aware that Voldemort has returned. And as such Gringotts is in a state of limbo. Most goblins do not wish to side with Voldemort contrary to popular belief. If Voldemort gains power it would be bad for business, yes very, very bad. Now you're probably wondering why I am concerning you with this." Harry nodded. "Mr. Potter as you no doubt know that this war will get even worse before it gets any better. The goblin community wishes to know your take on this war Mr. Potter because of various reasons, first and foremost that you are a voice that is heard in the wizarding community and to be frank Mr. Potter the people would follow your banner should it so be raised." Harry blushed and looked down and sighed.
"I know that you may not wish that to be so Mr. Potter, but that is how things are and you must come to accept it if you are going to any chance of winning this war. Yes, Mr. Potter the Goblin community feels that you are the one that is going to ultimately bring about the destruction of Voldemort and bring peace back to the wizarding world, just as you once did. You have power Mr. Potter and it is up to you whether you use that power for good or evil. Because the Goblin community believes in you Mr. Potter we will follow your banner as well if you have need of us we will aid you, because it is truly not only the wizarding people that is being threatened, but also the whole world. You have my promise Mr. Potter that I will do everything in my power to see you succeed."
Harry found his resolve was strengthened. He was heartened to see this Goblin siding with him, but he had to be sure.
"Mr. Badok, I thank you for your promise to help and if I should have need I will not hesitate to call upon you. I know from what I have read over the years in History of Magic that Goblins are fearsome warriors not to be forgotten. But I must ask you, did your people give the same promise to help Albus Dumbledore in the first war with Voldemort?" Badok stared at Harry as if measuring him up. Harry held his breath waiting for the answer to his question, which seemed simple enough, but held a world of promise.
"No, my people did not." And that was that.
"Then I again thank you for your help. You are right Mr. Badok, this war will get even worse before it gets better. The world is threatened and people are scared. Terrified even. If we take the offensive in this war and not just react to what Voldemort does, I think that we can win. NO I know we will win. Because in truth Voldemort cannot truly take over the world, he is beyond doubt delusional in thinking that. I believe that we can do this, but obviously wizards cannot do it alone and they are arrogant in thinking that they can. People need to realize what we are fighting for." Harry's eyes were burning with an intensity never seen before. "Were not just fighting murderer, were fighting a sadist dictator bent on ruling the world. His followers follow him on blind faith and empty promises. We can beat him and we will, but we need everyone's help, The Ministry, the Goblin Community, The support of the people, hell even the Centaurs. My banner will be raised Mr. Badok. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but in the future, yes Voldemort and I will come to blows and only one of us is walking away."
Badok said nothing for a while just stared into Harry's eyes. Then he spoke, "Thank you Mr. Potter, yes you are definitely worthy. The Goblins will come to your aid if you so wish it." Harry nodded his thanks.
"If you wish Mr. Potter I can have a Goblin come down and escort you to your parents vault now?"
"Thank you Mr. Badok. I would appreciate that and I also wanted to thank you for bringing this to my attention."
"Its no problem Mr. Potter and it was my pleasure." Badok stood and motioned Harry towards the door of his office. As they walked back towards the main part of Gringotts Badok motioned towards a small goblin to come to him.
"Nam please show Mr. Potter to the Potter Family Vault, which is number two please. And also help him in any way he may ask. He is one of our top clients." Harry inwardly smirked, it seemed that having money got you great service.
"I will see you in a few weeks for the reading of Mr. Black's will Mr. Potter and please don't hesitate to owl me if you have any questions I will be more than happy to help you with anything that you may need now or in the future."
Harry nodded and followed Nam towards the Gringotts carts that led to the vaults. The cart ride down to the Potter Vault was as fast as usually and to Harry it seemed that they were going deep into the Vaults as they got deeper and deeper Harry noticed what seemed to be yellow pinpricks of light, but as he look closer they were eyes! Dragon eyes to be exact. Before he could get a closer look that cart came to a halt and Harry looked up onto the platform. There before him stood golden doors at least fifteen feet tall and ten feet wide. On the doors was a phoenix that stood proud and erect holding a gleaming sword within its talons. On the sword were words in Latin. 'Corage Sans Puer'
Harry turned to Nam, " How do I get in?"
"Just walk up on to the platform and stand in front of the doors and put you hand inside the circle below the sword and say your full name and the Vault will permit you and only you. This Vault is one of the oldest vaults here at Gringotts and it is what we call a blood vault. Only those of the families blood may enter. If and when you marry your spouse will not have access to your vault, but your children would." Harry just nodded. It was a lot of information to be taken in today.
Harry took a deep breath and stepped out of the cart and onto the platform. He approached the doors will visible apprehension as he stood before the Phoenix with the sword in its talons he realized that this was a big step for him, a step that hopefully would define his future. He put his right hand on the circle and said in a clear and commanding voice that he didn't realize he had. "Harry James Potter." He felt a sort of electric current flow from the doors through his hand and through his body and back out again.
A deep booming voice spoke out of the darkness. "Welcome Heir, to the Noble House of Potter, may your life always bear good fortune." There was a deep groaning and the doors started to open. The room was dark, but for a pedestal about ten feet into the room. The Pedestal had a spotlight beaming down upon it and on that Pedestal was an envelope. Harry walked cautiously into the room and up to the pedestal and picked up the envelope and tears started forming in his eyes.
On the envelope in masculine handwriting was, Harry James Potter.
It was a letter, a letter from his father. His hands trembled as he held the letter and so many thoughts we racing through his mind. All his life he just wanted some reassurance that his parents had loved him, maybe left him something of theirs. When Harry received his invisibility cloak Christmas of first year he finally got part of his wish, that cloak meant a lot to him because it was his fathers, but in reality that cloak wasn't left to him by his father but left in the hands of Dumbledore and then given to Harry. But this letter, his father had left him, just for him.
Harry spotted a chair that had popped in existence right after he had picked up the letter; he walked over to it and sat down. He turned the envelope over and broke the seal and pulled the letter out of it. He got a little more comfortable in the chair, took a deep breath and began to read.
Dear Harry,
Life rarely affords one the luxury of good-bye, so indulge me for a moment. As I write this letter your mother is upstairs singing you to sleep. I listen to your mother's voice as it floats down the stairs and here into my study and I realize that I truly and fervently wish that you will never ever have to read this letter and that the day you turn fifteen and I bring you to the vault you and I can laugh at how utterly sappy and sentimental I was. I love you. Harry very much. So does your mother. That is one of the many reasons that we are now going into hiding. I hope that by the time you read this that Sirius has told you all about your mother and me and everything that we did at Hogwarts and after. But most of all I hope he tells you that we love you and I want you to remember that we are always with you.
Okay, Harry time for a history lesson. The Potter Family is very old and influential I don't know if anyone has told you yet Harry, but you my son are the Heir of Gryffindor. Yes, a bit of a shock when I found out, I believe I was gapping like a fish and called my father mad. He wasn't happy about that part but oh well, such is life. Anyways, as the Heir you have certain responsibilities to the wizarding world, to your family but most of all to yourself.
There is a prophecy that states that you must defeat Voldemort my son, as the Heir it is your duty to destroy the darkness in the generation you are born. Your grandfather helped Albus Dumbledore defeat Grindelwald, and now my son I am sorry that you now must face Voldemort without me there to guide you. You must now be strong Harry, as Voldemort would do anything to see you gone from this world. Inside this Vault are several things that will help you on your way to greatness, because Harry I know that you will someday be great and just. I see it when I look at you, I see it when you laugh and I see it when you're sleeping. You have a quiet strength and a volatile temper even now at only a year old. But Harry you must never let your emotions rule you, yes they must be there to guide you but never let them rule you. If you are anything like me and I dearly hope that you are, you must temper your anger and your grief and channel it into something productive and lasting.
Never blindly trust someone Harry even the seemingly infallible Albus Dumbledore. I believe he will look out for you Harry and yes he will seek to gain your trust, but you are not just some special weapon to be used then locked away. Live Harry, if nothing else live. Remember my son, trust is only freely given once, then if that trust is destroyed it will be harder to gain then every before. Be careful whom you freely give your trust because even your closest friends may turn on you. Look inside each individual and follow your heart it will never lead you astray.
Harry now I must tell of a man that I know that will help you on your quest to defeat Voldemort. His name is Nicholas Aden and he will approach when he feels that it is time. If you let him Harry, Nicholas can teach you the ways of the world and of war. He knows better then most. He taught me everything I know, well him and my father. Dumbledore does not now of Nicholas and it would be wise of you not to mention Nicholas to anyone unless you have his permission. Harry I trust Nicholas with my life, but more importantly I trust him with your life my son. He is gifted beyond your wildest dreams, most men fear his power and presence do not fear him son, embrace his seemingly strict regime and be proud of what you accomplish, because I know that no matter what happens in the war or in the future Harry know that I am very proud to be your father and I know that Nicholas will be proud to teach you what he knows.
If Nicholas approaches you, he will say these words, 'Prongs, to thine own self be true'.
That would be Nicholas and just shake his hand and do what he says because then its time for you to train Harry. I believe in you my son. You can and will kick Tommy's arse.
With all of the pain, misery and death that Tom has created, I guess I should be fighting to save the world. I suppose that if this were like the muggle movies, the hero would have a startling revelation that his fight, was on behalf of all of the innocent victims in the entire world and with this new resolve he would stomp off towards the danger with grim determination. But, I guess real life doesn't work like that. In reality, all that I am trying to save, all that matters to me… is you and your mother.
I want you to laugh freely everyday and I want you to live for today and hope and pray for a good future one where you can live without fear. Find love Harry, I know your probably thinking that love should be the last thing on your mind at the moment, but Harry its also the one thing that Voldemort doesn't understand and that can be used to your advantage. You will probably fear for the girls safety and rightfully so, but Harry if you don't let yourself love then Voldemort has already won. Letting yourself love someone could be your greatest act of bravery. I know it was mine.
My final words to you, is that I want you all to live and to take care of yourself. I will always be in your heart and I will always be apart of you. I love you.
With all my love from this world to the next,
James Godric Potter
P.S. To activate the vault just say, 'corage sans puer' it's the family motto. It means Courage without fear. Good Luck Harry and remember that Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important then fear.
Harry didn't know how long he wept. He cried for the past that he didn't get to have, he cried for the parents he never got a chance to know, but most of all he cried for himself and finally fifteen years of suppressed grief and despair finally came out and he was relieved. He would make his father proud and he would do his family mane justice. He would kick Tom Riddles arse and live a nice happy life. He wiped away his tears and folded the letter carefully and put it back into the envelope. He stood and with new determination to see Tom Riddle dead Harry walked over to the Pedestal and said, "Corage sans peur."
Suddenly the lamps surrounding the vault came alive and illuminated the insides of the vault and for the seemingly infinite time that day Harry's jaw dropped. All around him were his families' possessions, from art to books to china. Along the walls were cabinets and shelves and other heirlooms. Along the far wall that faced the entrance to the Vault hung a tapestry not unlike the one that hung in Sirius' house. Probably his family tree. Once Harry got his bearings he walked towards the cabinets on the wall, he opened the first one he came across and found that they were filled with gallons and by the look of it a lot of gallons. What was it that Badok said…oh yeah 230,000,000 and some odd gallons in this vault? Amazing.
Harry turned from the cabinets and there in the middle of the room sat a trunk. Harry walked towards the trunk and stood before it. It was black with silver with the word, POTTER on the front. There were no latches but a small circle not unlike the one on the vault doors. Harry kneeled down and put his index finger on the circle.
"Harry James Potter," Harry said and he heard a click and the trunk popped open. There were several things in the trunk but another letter caught his eye, this one only said Harry on the front of it. Harry picked up the letter and opened it.
Harry,
This trunk has been in our family for generations. Everything has a label and is pretty much self explanatory if you are not sure what something is I am sure that when Nicholas comes for you he will explain them. There are five compartments the first one has everything I have kept for you to use. The rest are empty and are for you to use as you see fit. You can shrink the trunk by saying the family motto. And bring it back to size again by saying your full name. Good luck Harry and I trust that you will use these items well.
JamesHarry smiled. His dad really was looking out for him.
"Thanks Dad."
On the left side of the trunk was a small box, about the size of a normal textbook. He picked it up carefully and opened it. Harry gasped. Inside were potion vials several in fact. He picked up a blue one and read the label.
Magical Signature Mask – To insure user masking of their magical signature from any and all Ministries around the world.
Harry smirked. "Perfect." Harry uncorked the stopper and drank it down. It tasted of sweet honey and a bit of stale bread, but overall more pleasing then the normal potions that he had to take over the years.
He picked up the next vial. It was white with silver swirls mixed in.
Corrective Potion- To correct all physical aliments. Such as eyesight, bad hearing, or a limp in ones leg. Cannot give you the perfect body shape or make you extensively strong or smarter.
Harry drank this one down as well and it didn't seem to taste like anything at all. Then out of nowhere his eyes started to burn, it was a good thing that he was already on his knees because he was pretty sure he would have fell. He shut his eyes against the pain. Not as bad as the Cruciatus Curse, but a close second. Then all of a sudden the pain stopped, leaving Harry gasping for breath on the vault floor. His vision was blurry and he blinked and it was still blurry. Then he remembered that he still had his glasses on and he laughed to himself. He took his glasses off and blinked again. He could see. Perfectly.
"Brilliant."
Harry picked himself off the floor and looked back into the same box there were several vials left, but he decided that he would try them later maybe when he was ready to look at all of them. He closed the lid to the box and put it back inside. He had enough of Gringotts for the day and resolved to came back and look through the vault when he had another free day. He closed the trunk and shrunk it using the family motto and pocketed it.
He walked outside and Nam was still in the cart. He had a question. "Nam is there any way that I can get money out of my vault without having to carry around gallons?
Harry raised an eyebrow when Nam smiled. "Yes, Mr. Potter for a fee of 150 gallons a month you can obtain a device we call the GGC, it stands for Gringotts Gallon Converter. It like a muggle credit card which only you can use if you are done here at the Potter Vault I can assist you in my office if that is what you wish to obtain?"
Harry smiled it was exactly what he needed. It gave him unlimited funds and he didn't have to carry around thousands of gallons. "Yes I'm finished." Harry walked out onto the platform and into the cart. The doors groaned and closed themselves. The cart ride back to the lobby of Gringotts was uneventful and soon they were back in the well light lobby full of witches, wizards and goblins all going about their daily business. Harry followed Nam down another hallway different then the one leading to Badoks office.
"This way Mr. Potter." Harry followed Nam into a small office and sat in the chair in front of the desk.
"Now Mr. Potter you wish to obtain a GGC, yes?"
Harry nodded, "Yes, that would be brilliant. Also I was wondering if you have something similar in the muggle world as well?"
"Yes, as a matter a fact we do. The Goblins have control over a lot of banks around the world not all of them mind you, but a lot. We have a relationship with the Bank of London. Now lets see we have a wallet that is charmed only to take out money by your own hand and also a muggle credit card and muggle driver's license. It comes in a set for the cost of 200 gallons a month. But Mr. Potter if you get both the muggle set and the GGC I can give them to you for 300 Gallons even a month and throw in muggle medical insurance as well."
Harry was amazed. Goblins are truly businessmen and he was grateful. "That would be great. How long will it take to set up?"
With a snap of his fingers Nam had all the items on top of his desk. Harry raised an eyebrow at the service, but said nothing.
Nam raised the wallet and opened it. "Here Mr. Potter is the wallet, inside contains your drivers license that states that you are eighteen." Harry raised an eyebrow in question, and Nam laughed slightly. "Yes, Mr. Potter eighteen, for several reasons, in muggle London a person comes of age legally. This gives you the privilege to buy an automobile or motorcycle if you so wish. It also is the legal drinking age in London; it mainly gives you more privileges. Also contained within the license is a charm that a person will look at it and accept it you will have no problems whatsoever. Additionally in the wallet is a muggle credit card which when you charge some thing the money will automatically come from your vault and then converted to muggle money through the Bank of London. In addition contained is your muggle insurance card, that if brought to a muggle hospital St. Mungos would be notified and you would be brought there to be treated."
Nam then closed the wallet and lifted it slightly. There on the front of the wallet was a small circle about the size of the pad of his thumb. "Mr. Potter to retrieve muggle cash that does not exceed 1000 pounds simply place the pad of your thumb the on the pad and say how much you wish to appear within the wallet and it will appear, the most fascinating thing is that you don't have to say it out loud, just think of how much money you want and it will materialize. That is so you don't frighten the muggles. Also only your hand can retrieve money out of the wallet. Now onto the GGC it's like a muggle credit card except with a thumb pad, place your thumb on the pad say the amount out loud and it will say approved or insufficient funds. Very simple Mr. Potter do you have any questions?"
Harry shook his head.
"Good, then if you will would you sign these parchments then and you can be on your way." Harry signed the parchments in front of him and then looked up at Nam.
"You have been so helpful thank you very much Nam." Harry stood and grabbed the wallet and GGC and put them in his pocket. Harry shook Nam's hand and walked out of Gringotts and into the bright morning. First stop Muggle London.
Thank you for the reviews they mean a lot. Sorry for such a late update. Promise the new chapter up in a a week or so. Thanks and don't forget to review.
Crimsonlight