Chapter Thirty-One

A/N; I'm really sorry about the length of the last chapter. I am visually impaired and accidentally misread my word coumter. I thought it said more than it did so I figured that was a good place to end the chapter. Thanks to all mt reviewers, you guys always make me smile.

The Healers led Harry to a large runic circle and asked him to lie down.

"What will happen?" asked Sirius.

"Before we do anything about the blocks and spells, we need to remove that thing." Said Healer Fauna.

"He will have to lie in the circle and can not be disturbed." Said Healer Cloud.

"Now," said Healer Breeze to Harry, "I know this will probably be very painful, but it is necessary to remove the piece from your scar."

Harry grimaced, "I understand," he looked at his family and the goblins with eyes that seemed much too old for a child so young, "I want it out of me. It's worth the pain."

Sirius and Remus nodded and hugged him, then left the circle to stand with Sharpclaw.

Healer Breeze smiled, "you are very brave. Now when you lie down we will all stand around you and chant. Tell us when you start to feel anything from your scar."

Harry nodded, "OK," and laid down where they showed him.

Sharpclaw stood with Sirius and Remus, "he will most likely feel a great deal of pain. But as much as it hurts you to hear him, you can not go to him. It could disturb the ritual in a very bad way. Do you want a sticking charm on your feet?"

Remus gripped Sirus' arm, "thank you Sharpclaw. That….might be necessary for both of us."

Sharpclaw nodded and waved his hand.

The Healers had surrounded Harry and were beginning the chant. Their voices were beginning to rise when Harry called out "OW!"

Healer Breeze nodded at him, but did not stop the chanting.

As the Healers' voices got louder, Harry began to scream.

At the first scream from Harry, both Marauders jumped and started for him, but Sharpclaw's charm held.

The chanting continued to increase in volume until it reached a crescendo. Harry continued to scream in pain, and each second that he screamed felt like an eternity to the worried Marauders. Both were struggling against the charm, anxious to get to their cub.

After several minutes, Harry's scar opened up and bled a slimy black ooze. Healer Cloud placed a stone by his head, and the disgusting looking ooze was drawn into it.

After all the ooze was gone, the Healers stop their chant, and then cast a small healing spell at Harry's scar which had begun to bleed freely.

As soon as the chanting stopped, Sharpclaw ended his spell and Sirius and Remus almost seemed to Apparate to Harry's side.

"How do you feel pup?" asked Sirius.

"My throat hurts, " said Harry croakily.

Healer Breeze handed him a small vial, "drink this it will help." She said.

Harry drank the potion and smiled, "thank you," he said, "it feels loads better."

"How does your scar feel cub?" asked Remus.

Harry scrunched his face in concentration, "it doesn't feel like anything. But my head feels kind of different."

"Different how?" asked Sirius as he helped Harry sit up.

"I don't know," said Harry, "it's hard to explain. It's like…well I didn't know there was anything in my scar, but now that it's gone….it just feels different. But in a good way, you know?"

"I get what you're trying to say pup," said Sirius.

Healer Cloud smiled, "would you mind if I cast a diagnostic spell on you? It won't hurt I promise."

Harry nodded as Remus and Sirius backed up a few inches to give her room. She waved her hand over Harry's scar and then touched a piece of parchment held by Healer Breeze. The three healers huddled around the parchment for a moment before looking up.

"Your scar looks excellent. The soul piece is completely gone. We will wait an hour before we can completely deal with the rest." Said Healer Fauna, "that will give you time to rest and let your core settle. The piece was leeching from it."

"We can provide a small room where you can wait and allow young Harry to rest a bit." said Sharpclaw, "if you'll follow me."

"Thank you," said Sirius as he and Remus helped Harry stand up.

They followed Sharpclaw down the hall a short way to a door leading to a small but comfortable room. There was a couch and a few chairs along with a coffee table that had a few drinks and som small finger foods on it.

"Wow thank you!" said Harry, "I'm starved!"

Sharpclaw chuckled at the child's words, "you're welcome Harry," he said.

He claosed the door as Harry went to the table and picked a sandwich and some fruit. Remus chuckled and elbowed Sirius lightly in the ribs.

Like godfather, like godson he signed with a smile.

Sirius did the mature thing and stuck his tongue out at him before choosing his own sandwich.

Remus chuckled as he chose a sandwich for himself, then they all settled on the chairs and couch.

After an hour, (and several more sandwiches) Sharpclaw returned and brought them back to the ritual room. This time the three healers asked Harry to lie down on a small table.

This ritual was not painful at all, though when Harry's core was unbound, there was a huge backlash of magic that tossed everyone and everything in the room around like a mini tornado. Harry sat up, and on seeing the damage, immediately began apologizing and asking if everyone was alright.

Sharpclaw chuckled lightly as he stood up and brushed himself off. Surveying the damage, he looked at Harry.

"Everyone is fine Harry," he said consolingly, "we expected that there would be a large backlash, so we had the room cushioned."

"Yeah pup we're OK," said Sirius as he stood and gave Remus a hand.

"You are a very polite young man," said Healer Breeze as Harry walked over and offered her and the others a hand.

Harry smiled shyly, "thank you."

Sirius ruffled his hair as he also walked over to give the Healers a hand.

They all thanked the healers for their help and Sharpclaw led them back to his office.

"Now," he said, sliding smoothly behind his desk, "we can begin to talk about the Potter estate."

Harry sat up straighter and looked at the goblin with interest.

Sharpclaw smiled, "now since you never received your statements, I had some copies made for you to look over and begin learning the basics." He said, holing out a thick folder, "and here we have the annual overview of the Potter accounts for Lord Black." He said, gesturing toward a much thicker folder laying on his desk.

"Thank you," said Sirius and Harry together as they took their respective folders

"Ordinarily, I would go over the statements with you and attempt to help young Harry here understand them," said Sharpclaw with a smile, "but, I understand that this is a trip for Harry's birthday-" he smiled and pulled a small package from a drawer, "and you have spent so much time here already. I believe we can save that meeting for another time." He smiled and handed the package to Harry, who smiled as he took it.

"Thank you," he said, and unwrapped the package to find three books. Harry smiled as he looked at the titles, there was the latest edition of Hogwarts; A History, a book entitled A Beginner's Guide to Etiquette which surprised Harry, but when he looked at the chapter list, he saw that it had listings of several different names of magical races like elves, goblins, and centaurs, as well as things like dining etiquette. And last but not least, A book about his family. The Potter Family Through History.

"Thank you Sharpclaw," said Sirius as he and Remus bowed.

Harry bowed to the goblin when Sirius and Remus did, "yes thank you! I love the books."

"You are very welcome Harry," said Sharpclaw, "I've known your family for a long time. Your great grandfather gave me my start as an account manager."

Harry smiled, "wow. So you knew my Dad?"

"Yes I did," said Sharpclaw with a smile, "and the next time you come, I will tell you some stories."

Harry's grin got even wider, "really?! Thank you!"

"You're welcome," said Sharpclaw, "now I'll let you get going. You may perform your glamour, Lord Black." He nodded at Sirius.

"Thank you," said Sirius, drawing his wand. He quickly performed the glamour charm on all three of them, giving himself and Harry brown hair and blue eyes, while Remus got strawberry blonde hair with brown eyes.

With one more good-bye to Sharpclaw, they left the office and made their way to the front doors. They stopped just inside the entrance. As the security guards opened the last doors, Harry's eyes grew wide with wonder, "wow!" he whispered.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley," said Sirius with a dramatic flair that made Harry giggle and Remus smile and roll his eyes.

"Let's go!" he said as they linked hands and started down the steps of Gringotts.