Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books, Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros. Inc. Likewise, Prince of Persia The Sands of Time is copyrighted to Ubisoft Entertainment and Jordan Mechner. Copyright or trademark infringement is not intended.
Author's Notes: Once again, thank you for the wonderful reviews. They really boost my confidence and make me want to write more. And I'm surprising myself at how fast I'm actually writing these chapters. Anyways, to reviewer Bonnie Charlie, no, I'm not buddhist, but I definately believe in some of the buddhist ideals and philosophies, some of those being karma and the buddhist belief in having regard for all life. I don't call myself buddhist or christian or jewish or muslim. My beliefs are varied and I'd rather not explain it here, but feel free to email me if you want to have a theological discussion sometime. :) Ok, now, chapter 2 of Harry Potter and the Sands of Time!
I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.
- William Shakespeare
"Harry, do you have your portkey close by?" Remus asked, walking closely to Harry as they both walked into Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Harry rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Yes, Remus, I have my portkey on me," he answered, sighing. Harry and Remus had met with Dumbledore after they arrived at Grimmauld Place, and he had agreed to let Harry visit his new vault, but only if he took an emergency portkey with him, and Remus accompany him. Harry had agreed readily; he was very eager to visit Sirius's old vault to see if anything was in there that could help him in his fight against Voldemort.
Harry, along with Remus, made his way up to the first teller they came upon in Gringotts. The goblin was writing something down when Harry approached him, and did not look up at Harry.
"Er, excuse me," Harry said, getting the goblin's attention. The goblin slowly looked at Harry, an annoyed expression on his ugly face.
"Sir, how may I be of service to you?" the goblin asked, his voice sounding bored. Harry held out the letter he had received from Gringotts earlier in the day to the teller.
"I'm here to visit my new vault," Harry explained, indicating for the goblin to take the letter. The goblin grasped the letter and began skimming through it. He looked from the letter, to Harry, and back to the letter. He straightened up a bit and addressed Harry.
"Ok sir, I assume you will be requiring a key to the vault?" the goblin stated more than asked. Harry nodded. "Very well," the goblins aid and snapped his fingers. A second later, a younger goblin appeared beside Harry and Remus. "Grabnik, please fetch the key to Vault 3303, and then escort these gentlemen to the vault," the teller instructed. The young goblin nodded and disappeared, only to return with a silver key in his hand.
"Please, sirs, right this way," he said, and led Harry and Remus to where the carts were located.
A short ride later, the goblin, Harry, and Remus stood before a massive steel door with an intricate system of locks on it. The goblin inserted the key and turned it. A loud clank resounded through out the corridor and the door slowly creaked open. The goblin bowed, gesturing that Harry and Remus could enter. Harry went in first, followed by Remus, the goblin staying outside the vault.
Torches magically ignited when Harry entered the vault. He gasped as he gazed around him. Stacks of gold, silver and bronze coins covered the vault, along with several chests that contained other treasures. After a few moments of stunned silence, Harry walked around his new vault. He spotted a couple bookcases filled with books and he headed over to inspect them.
As he began skimming the titles of the books, he looked up and grinned at Remus.
"Here I am, surrounded by more wealth than I ever imagined, and I'm looking through old dusty books," Harry commented, laughing to himself. "Is that normal, Remus?" At this Remus chuckled and patted Harry on the back.
"It seems that you have picked up one of Miss Granger's eccentric qualities," Remus commented. Harry blushed, and his thoughts wandered to Hermione and her borderline obsession with books. He smiled, and returned to looking through the books.
"Hey Remus, is there anything I can put some of these books in?" Harry asked as he flipped through a defensive magic book. Remus looked around and picked up a small black, velvet bag.
"Here, put them in this," Remus instructed. Harry glanced at the bag.
"Won't hold much, will it?" Harry said, frowning at the bag.
"This is a Bottomless Bag, Harry," Remus explained and he glanced around the vault again. "It looks like there are several here." Harry also looked around and saw that Remus was right. Shrugging, Harry began piling books and scrolls into the bag. After a minute, he hefted it and found it to be almost weightless.
"Nice," Harry commented and Remus laughed.
After about twenty minutes, Harry had felt he had enough books to last him a while, and he tied the bag closed. He also refilled his money pouch with as many coins as it would hold. He looked to Remus and nodded, and the began to leave the vault. Suddenly, Harry stopped as if frozen by an invisible force. He looked to his right and his eyes fell upon a small obsidian chest with a silver latch. Harry felt drawn to the chest but he couldn't figure out why. He had never seen it before. Harry walked towards the chest and kneeled down in front of it. Remus, having just noticed Harry's absence beside him, turned to see Harry kneeling before the chest.
"Harry?" he asked. Harry didn't respond. Remus stepped towards him. "Harry?" he asked again. Still no response. Harry seemed absorbed by the chest. Remus was now beside him. He gently placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Harry, what is it?" Remus inquired, a worried expression now on his face. Harry didn't look up at Remus.
"It's calling to me, Remus," Harry stated cryptically. Remus's eyes widened.
"What's calling to you?" he asked. Harry shook his head.
"I-I don't know," Harry answered. "But I can feel it," he said. Harry traced a finger across the silver lock. "There's no keyhole, Remus." Remus frowned and looked at the lock.
"Alohamora," Remus said, pointing his wand at the lock. Nothing. His frown deepening, Remus tried several other spells but to no avail. The chest did not open. Harry placed a hand atop the chest.
"Open," he commanded. The lock gave a soft click and the lid raised open. Harry blinked and stared at Remus. Remus's jaw was hanging down.
"How did you do that?" Remus asked, his voice full of wonder. Harry shrugged, a disbelieving look on his face.
"I have no idea," Harry confessed. He turned his gaze back to the chest and looked within. Harry reached his hand inside and his fingers closed around something soft. He withdrew his hand, holding a small cloth-wrapped bundle. He unfolded the blue cloth and out fell a gold, circular medallion. Harry examined the medallion, turning it over in his hand. The middle of it was raised in a sort of half sphere shape with markings around it. The medallion was attached to a thin gold chain which would allow someone to wear it around their neck. Harry hefted the medallion, finding it to be rather light. Harry wrapped the medallion up in its blue cloth, and shoved it in his pocket. Again, his hand went into the chest, searching for anything else in the chest. Again, his wandering fingers found something, and Harry lifted it out of the chest. This time he found a small wooden box with a silver latch on it. Harry lifted the latch and opened the box.
As soon as the lid was open, a brilliant golden light erupted from within. Remus had to shield his eyes from the light it was so bright. After several intense seconds, the light dissipated and Remus looked at Harry. He gasped at the sight of Harry's prone body and quickly kneeled beside him. Remus at once tried to revive Harry. Harry stayed unconscious, and after alerting the goblin, Remus portkeyed himself and Harry to No. 12 Grimmauld Place.
XXXX
Darkness was all that Harry could see. A darkness so heavy, he could feel it weighing down upon him.
"Hello?" Harry called out timidly. No one answered. There was not even a sound, not an echo at all. It was as if he was trapped in a void, walking in oblivion. Harry tried to move but felt weighed down by the darkness. "Is anybody there?" Harry called loudly. Nothing. Beginning to panic, Harry tried to summon his wand, but could not do so. He then tried a wandless Lumos spell, but again, failed. Sighing in defeat, Harry could only wait.
With a blinding flash of pain and light, Harry began seeing something. Something akin to visions. But they were grainy and out of focus, like an old black and white film. The was no sound, just voices murmuring words in an ancient tongue. Harry saw a young man with olive skin and black hair that was cut to the length of his chin. The young man was shirtless and had several cuts and scrapes on him. Strapped to his back was a curved sword and in his hand was a dagger. The young man stood defiantly before an old man holding a large staff with the head of a snake on the end. The young man suddenly leaped between the columns which stood in the room they were in and landed atop a giant hourglass filled with sand. The old man yelled something at the young one, fear in his eyes. The young man screamed and brought the dagger down upon the hourglass.
Flash.
Harry saw once again the young man, but now he was fully clothed and unhurt. He was sitting before a young women with dark skin and black hair, clothed in white. Harry looked closer to her and saw that the women wore the same medallion that he had found inside the chest in Sirius's vault. The young man seemed to be telling the women something and she looked suspicious and disbelieving, yet still enthralled with whatever the young man was telling her.
Flash.
The young man and women stood on balcony, a jungle behind them. The sun seemed to have just risen. The young man once again held the dagger in his hand. The women was talking to the man when he suddenly leaned in and kissed her. After a few seconds the women pulled away with a slightly angry look on her face and began speaking again, most likely reprimanding the man. As she was speaking, the young man looked at the dagger and then did something with it. Harry couldn't believe what he witnessed next. Time seemed to stop for a split second and bend, then began to rewind. Harry saw the man kiss the women in reverse when the images before Harry bended again and time resumed its natural pace. The same scene played out before Harry again, except the man did not kiss the woman again.
Flash.
The young man handed the dagger to the woman and walked towards the edge of the balcony. He climbed the closest palm tree, said something to the woman, then slid to the ground, out of sight. The woman looked very surprised at what the man said and watched him leave.
Flash.
Harry slowly opened his eyes, but quickly shut them again when the bright light blinded him. That was when Harry realized that he could feel again. He was laying down on something soft and comfortable. Harry reached to see if he was still wearing his glasses. Finding out he was not, Harry slowly opened his eyes again, squinting in the bright light. He saw his glasses resting on a table beside the bed on which he lay and reached to put them on.
Now that he could see, he soon recognized that he was in the old room he had stayed in at Grimmauld Place. Harry swung his feet onto the floor and stood, stretching his aching muscles. Suddenly, the door creaked open and Harry smiled as he saw his best friend Hermione Granger easing her way into his room. She stopped when she saw that Harry was awake and standing before her. Then with a small shriek, she leaped at Harry, wrapping him in a bone-crushing hug.
"Oh Harry, I'm so glad to see you're awake!" Hermione exclaimed as Harry tried to pry her hands from cracking his ribs. "I -- we were so worried when we heard that you had fainted at Gringotts."
"I didn't... faint," Harry barely got out as Hermione was still squeezing him. "Hermione, can you please let me breathe?" he asked. Hermione instantly let go and stepped back, her face turning red.
"I'm sorry Harry, I was just worried," she said timidly. Harry grinned.
"It's okay, Hermione," Harry replied. "So when did you get here?" he asked. Hermione, the flush starting to leave her face, looked up at Harry.
"Just a few minutes before Remus brought you back. Are you sure you're all right?" she asked, her brow creasing in worry. Harry nodded.
"Yeah, I feel fine," he answered. "Gotten used to passing out, haven't I?" Harry said, laughing. Hermione gave a small laugh as well. Suddenly, Harry remembered the small box that he had withdrew from the chest. "Hermione, do you know where my chest is? Remus should have brought it back with us," he questioned. Hermione nodded and pointed behind him.
"Remus put it on the desk over there," she told Harry. Harry walked over to the desk and began to open it. Hermione quickly stopped him. "Harry!" she exclaimed. "Do you really plan on opening that again after it knocked you out!" Harry nodded.
"It won't do that again," he said, staring at the box. "It was a one time thing." Hermione's eyebrows furrowed in worry.
"How do you know?" she asked. Harry shrugged.
"I don't really know how I know that," he said, his hand still resting on the box, "but I'm sure of it." With that, Harry slowly opened the box.
No flash of light this time. It was just an ordinary box now. Hermione sighed in relief and Harry reached his hand inside. He grasped something metallic and he withdrew it from the box. He gasped when he saw what it was. It was the same dagger he had seen in his visions.
Extended Author's Notes: Well now, things finally seem to get interesting, eh? Sorry if the visions were confusing, but that was the best way I could relate the Prince to Harry. The medallion will play a role in the coming chapters, but not as much as the dagger, which is major to the plot. Sorry if this chapter ended weird, but I had to end it there or I'd have to write another thousand words as to what happens next, so I think I'll save that for the next chapter.
Next Chapter: Actually, the next chapter isn't a chapter at all. It's more of an informational source to tell the readers about The Sands of Time, The Dagger, and the Hourglass that Harry saw in his vision. But don't worry, I should have the next actual chapter up within the next couple days, if I keep up the same pace as I have been. So keep reading and sending in those reviews! Can't wait to read what you think of this chapter. Later.
Orpheus