I do not own any part of the Harry Potter franchise, nor the marketing empire that it spawned.
Harry Potter and the Spell of Nietzsche
Harry had spent the last fortnight of the Summer break cloistered in Dudley's second bedroom.
Oh, sure, he had replied to mail, and sent off missives to the Order of the fried Turkey; but the bulk of his time had been spent alone in his room with the door barred against entry.
It had been this way ever since the trip to Diagon Alley for school supplies for his Sixth year. He had met up with the Weasleys and Hermione, and escorted by half the flaming Order, had completed most of his shopping before needing to visit Gringotts.
Two Weeks Before...
"Hang on guys, I still need to stop at Madame Malkin's," Harry was fingering his quite depleted coin pouch.
Ron rolled his eyes, "Why would you want to go there? And anyway, it's back that way."
"Yeah, but Gringotts is this way, and I'm down to a handful of sickles," Harry pocketed his pouch and led his entourage to the Bank. "Do you think I could get some privacy here?" He glared at his minders.
"Go ahead Harry. Tonks and Remus will wait for you in the foyer, the rest of us will be out here," Kingsley Shacklebolt shooed the three into the bank before sending half his people down the way a bit to Florean Fortescues.
As soon as he crossed the threshold into the bank itself, Harry staggered.
"You alright there Harry?" Tonks grabbed his arm to steady him.
Blinking to clear his suddenly blurry vision, Harry suddenly found himself face to face with a large monument. A huge golden monolith squatting dead centre in the middle of the open foyer, halfway up it there was a tattered flag draped around it. A faded red flag, in the centre of which sat a stained white circle. In the circle was a symbol whose presence made Harry gasp in shock.
A swastika.
Both Tonks and Lupin had by this time noticed Harry's shock, but neither could discern a source for it.
"Harry? You're blocking the doorway. Remus, help me move him." Tonks had seen several goblins looking in their direction and muttering to each other.
The two of them started to move him, when a goblin stepped in front of them. "What is the meaning of this disturbance?"
Harry was still staring at the flag, "I didn't see that last time I was here."
The goblins eyes narrowed, it's voice growing harsh, "See what, wizard?"
Harry pinned the goblin with his gaze, his own eyes narrowing, "Since when has Gringotts been associated with the Naz..."
The goblins eyes flew open, and with uncharacteristic speed slapped a hand over Harry's mouth, "Forgive the intrusion into your personal space, but you have an immediate meeting with Manager Ragnok to attend. Please save your questions for him and follow me with all haste."
Harry nodded, and was released by the goblin. "Lead on."
Tonks and Remus shared a nervous look as they watched Harry disappear into the Bank.
Harry followed the goblin into an opulently appointed office.
The goblin behind the desk, garbed in gilded armour, was reviewing a file before being interrupted by the unannounced arrival of one of his underlings and a young human. "What is the meaning of this, do-koglt'n?"
The goblin accompanying Harry knelt down, pressing its forehead to the floor, "Forgive my disruption of the flow, but this wizard has seen the Monolith of Portent."
"Is this true, wizard? Tell me what you saw." Ragnok's eyes appeared to fade into the shadows of his prodigious brow, faintly twinkling lights could be seen deep within if one were to get close enough to perceive them.
Harry stared in surprise, gathering his wits about him he replied, "I saw a great obelisk of gold, halfway up it was a flag. A Nazi flag. Red with a black swastika inside a white circle."
Ragnok slumped back in his chair, "After all these years." He shook his head, "Who are you? I would know the name of the hero that stands before me."
Harry blinked a couple of times, "I am Harry James Potter." He frowned. "But I am no hero."
"Have a seat, it is time for a brief history lesson." A comfortable chair rose out of the floor.
Harry raised an eyebrow, but seated himself.
"In the early 1880's two men met in the Italian city of Genoa and began a series of dialogs. The first man was a muggle by the name of Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche. The second man was Heinrich Luitpold Himmler, or as he was known in the wizarding world, Grindewaldt." He paused to gauge Harry's reaction before continuing. "Their discussions led Grindewaldt to develop a whole new view of reality, and to delve into the blackest of the dark arts. It was Grindewaldt who created the Cruciatus curse."
Harry's eyes widened at this.
"Grindwaldt gathered about him the largest collection of powerful wizards that has ever walked the Earth. Where he found so many wizards of such power is unknown. Although rumour had it that he empowered them as part of his great plan." Ragnok leant forward, "During the final days of the war, not long before his death at the hands of the brothers Dumbledore, Grindewaldt came here. He placed that monolith, and wrapped that flag around it. And he gave into our care, this box." The old goblin caressed the rich mahogany box that had just been brought to him by a pair of heavily armed goblins.
"What does this have to do with me?"
"His instructions were to deliver this box into the hands of the one who would complete his work." The goblin's piercing gaze fixed on Harry for a long moment, "That one is you. That you could perceive the monolith is proof of that."
Harry almost fell out of his chair, "Wh-what? I'm not a Dark Lord. I'm not a Nazi. I don't want anything to do with this."
"Then take it and destroy it. But take it you must, lest my people face total ruin." He pushed the box towards the young wizard.
"But. But." Harry's thoughts caught up to him, "Ruin?"
"Yes. Ruin. Grindewaldt laid a mighty doom upon our race, should we fail in our duty. The monolith's gold has already been broken down and transferred to your vaults." He nodded to himself. "He spoke to me at length about his plans. I weary of this world, and am glad to finally meet the one who will bring an end to the darkness that it has sunk into. Now take the box, and leave."
The goblin who had brought Harry to the room helped him to his feet, pushed the box into his hands, and hustled him out of the room.
On his way back across the bank, a goblin stopped them, handing Harry a small sack of galleons, "Ragnok wants your removal from our premises expedited. This was withdrawn from your vault at no charge to yourself."
The two goblins escorted Harry to the entrance foyer, where Tonks and Remus were waiting for him.
"Harry, what?" Remus began.
"No time, Moony. We're leaving." Harry was staying a step ahead of the goblins, but only by moving with some haste.
It was with no small amount of concern that the remaining members of the Order of the Phoenix witnessed the three who had entered the bank, leaving it at a rapid rate followed by a small phalanx of goblin guards who moved to secure the door against return entry.
Sitting under the awning of Florean Fortescue's parlour, Hermione Granger muttered the thought passing through many of their minds, "Oh Harry, what have you gotten us into this time?"
Harry brushed off any comment about the box, saying it was an inheritance, and that the goblins had been excited about something happening down in the vaults.
Which all led him to the present day. Two days until the new school year began.
He had initially ignored the box until, out of boredom, he had opened it.
Inside were a small stack of diaries.
The research diaries of Grindewaldt himself.
Harry had been horrified, but in the same way one cannot help but stare at a car crash, he found himself fascinated.
So he had read them.
Harry was horrified. The implications of Grindwaldt's research. If there is any truth to this. What it means for me. I need Hermione.
This will have more added to it later. Perhaps in the future, it will get it's own posting. Who can know.