Chapter 6: Welcome to Gringotts

I do not own Harry Potter

Author's Notes:

Sorry to anyone who expected more from this chapter in terms of story.

I am also aware that this has been a rather slow start, but that is something I believe will have to happen because of all the 'explaining what is what', as well as sort of laying down what everyone's character is.

The story will speed up into the summer, have a relatively short third year, before a lengthy fourth year. The fourth year is also the one I am most excited for, and it will my own considerable divergences, like more to the TwT in terms of tasks and inter-school tournaments.

Enjoy!

9:05 |Headmaster's Office |Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry |June 21st 1993

Dumbledore watched Harry Potter exit his office and make his way down to the chamber of secrets, where he would be portkeying along with the basilisk to Gringotts. While Dumbledore disliked the concept of 'favourite' students, but he couldn't help but feel he too had one now. It wasn't just that he was the only student in the castle he addressed by his first name, or that he interacted with him more than any other student – he had done those things with Tom Riddle as well, and he could not say he was anything but weary of him. No, he genuinely liked Harry Potter. Not for his soft-spoken, polite demeanour or natural charisma in the moments the boy overcame his shyness – those were all qualities present in Tom Riddle as well. It was for his beliefs – he believed in love, friendship and righteousness – qualities which were all absent in the man once was known as Tom Riddle. Once again, he marvelled at how similar yet exactly opposite Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort were. parallels, but on opposite sides of the spectrum.

"Either must die at the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives." Dumbledore mumbled to himself. 'What could it mean? Does it mean Harry is the only one who can vanquish the Dark Lord once and for all? Do prophecies even have any significance, except what one makes of them? Should I start giving him training? Do I tell him about the prophecy?'. This set of statements had been looping in Dumbledore's mind for many days. He did not have a definite yes/no answer for any of them. 'No, even for his spectacular feat and the positive changes this year, I cannot burden him such a thing, not until he is at least of age…. I have already ruined his childhood enough, I must let him enjoy some of it…'

Dumbledore's mind then went to the changes he had observed in the boy over the school year. They had definitely been for the better. First up were his enhanced grades. He had always felt a little disappointed that someone with such magnificent magical power at his disposal was wasting his potential by being such a lazy student. One proof of how potent his magic was how long after the basilisk bite he had not only survived, but also remained conscious. Precious few wizards at that age of 13 (approximately) could have done that. That had changed towards the end of the year, as noted in the staff meetings.

'Contrary to popular belief, the staff did discuss students' performances and other related affairs, in form of meetings. Each year was covered on a different day, starting with first year on the 21st and finishing with the seventh on 27th.'

'It was no coincidence that it was after Hermione Granger's petrification that this took place. It seems he had realized his dependence on her, and started becoming self-reliant, and ended up better off. Then it was his meeting with him yesterday. The boy seemed more composed, more mature, more self-assured, the last of which was drastically lacking in the past two years. Dumbledore was also happy the boy had decided to stop ignoring his heritage, and perhaps he would now become more politically aware.

He was looking forward to discussing this second-year student in particular tomorrow.

9:13| Chamber of Secrets| Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry| June 21st 1993

"…..and make sure you remember to claim your ring as well, you have been a fool to have not put it on all this time!"

"Yeah, yeah I'm 'unbelievably dense' to have ignored all these things for so long… I got it the first 500 times you said it!" Harry whined

"Very well…go now, there can't be too much of a gap between you receiving the portkey and getting to Gringotts, your headmaster will feel the activation of the portkey and could get suspicious of what you were doing in the chamber for so long. Good luck, do not lose your composure or confidence."

Getting Harry to build some confidence had been one of the major objectives of their time together. This included getting Harry to understand how by rejecting his fame and wanting to fade away, he is only letting down those who laid their lives down for him. If he despises being known for something that is not his doing, the only way to change that is to build his own legacy…. Which will be made possible only by doing extraordinary things in the present and the future.

"But I don't want to be famous or hailed as some sort of phenomenon. I want to be Harry – just Harry!"

"You will always be famous, there is no way around it. You are misinterpreting things – you do not hate 'fame' as a concept. It is the fact that you went from 'worthless freak' to superstar overnight that made you uncomfortable. Add to the fact that you do not think you deserve it makes you even more repulsed by it. Let me explain you something – this will NEVER go away, no matter how much you want. The only way you can lessen it is by making people associate something else phenomenal with you. You are correct in wanting to be 'just Harry', but your path is extremely wrong. You will always be 'The Boy-Who-Lived' or 'James Potter's son who looks just like him' or 'the boy with the exact same eyes as his mother' unless you do something that will make others associate something else with you. It took me less than two days' worth of talking to place what is wrong with you – You live in the shadow of something or someone else from your past and desperately want this to change. Your time with that filth you call 'relatives' crippled your sense of self-worth, your confidence and your social skill. You were unable to deal with the fame – interestingly, this is exactly what your headmaster wanted you to avoid. You came to Hogwarts will no knowledge of the world around you and no preparation for the school term. Everyone had high expectations from you and you were unable to fully live up to them. The people started to give off a disappointed sort of feeling with you, and you solely put this down to you being famous. You scapegoated attention as the source of your misery, rather than your deficient childhood and your lackadaisical attitude. Over time, you grew to despise attention in general. THIS is what happened to you, and instead of wanting to build your own legacy, you started wanting to fade away."

Harry was stunned. He had never thought about it this way. Looking back now, Salazar had hit the nail on the head with his analysis of him.

"Tell me child, would your parents not want you to become an even bigger legend than the Boy-Who-Lived? If you truly wish to be 'just Harry', grow out of the shadows you are in, do not shrink into them."

"I-You're correct….. Looking back at it now, I guess it's obvious. How do I become my own man?" Harry asked rather flatly.

"I will not tell you everything, some things you need to be able to figure out yourself, you will never learn otherwise. I have told you the images you are associated with, it is up to you to think how to grow past them. Though I will tell you this – 'you could to be great, you know. It's all here in your head. And Slytherin will help you on your path to greatness…'"

Harry smiled at remembering the reference to the sorting hat. When Harry had told Salazar why he was sorted into Gryffindor, the man was…. not pleased to say the least.

Making his way down to Serena, he placed one hand on the pendant portkey, and the other on the snake.

"Beastkiller".

A second after Harry muttered the word, he felt the world beneath his feet start to shift. He felt a tug at his navel, and in a flash, he disappeared.

9:15 |Transfiguration Classroom |Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry |June 21st 1993

"….. and it is imperative you have a good grasp over this technique as we will be extensively exploring animate transfiguration next year. Observe the diagrams on the board" finished McGonagall, and with a flick of her wand, made said diagrams appear. "Observe how the rigidity of the object in question…"

Towards the back of the Slytherin-Gryffindor class sat two girls, Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis. The former had a small, round face, and which one would call 'cute', complimented by medium length blonde hair. The latter had a longer, more square facial structure, and sported relatively shorter brown hair. Both were extremely bored.

"Ugh, how could anyone NOT have gotten such a stupid thing by now.." Tracey muttered in an annoyed tone.

"Look over to Crabbe and Goyle."

"My apologies Daphne, how could anyone with half a brain not have gotten such a stupid thing by now." She replied with a smirk.

"-Could someone tell me the incantation for the spell to undo Transfigurations?" McGonagall asked

At this, Hermione's hand shot into the air, fast and at full extension. "Miss Granger?"

"The incantation is Reparifarge, it will help us to start over in case we mess up on a transfiguration."

"Correct, 2 points to Gryffindor"

"Goodness Granger is annoying. Like seriously, I would have never have thought that that could be a use for Reparifarge, thank you so much Granger! Just answer the question and sit down for god's sake! EVERYONE knows what it's use is – it was the FIRST SPELL we were taught this year! What a know-it-all….." said Tracey

"While I wouldn't like to quote out Head of House, because he is just rude, you are correct. Giving detailed answers is one thing, what she does is express to the teacher how much she has studied, as if doing it now is going to get her points on the exam."

"Insufferable"

"Insecure"

"Huh?"

"She's insecure. I didn't observe it before, but I do see it now. In fact, I only realized a couple of days ago. Look at Granger – what is her selling point except that she gets very good grades? Sure, while obviously not the best in every subject, she is the top student in the year overall. But that is almost all of her personality – being good at reading. She's also a muggleborn, meaning she has no family name behind her, any reputation she has is because of her exam scores. She is a capable witch, but in terms of power, she isn't that much above average. Her practical performance isn't the product of gifted strength, its of extreme hard work. It is no coincidence that she is best at Transfiguration, a subject that just happens to involve reading long complicated theory. When she's explaining something, people don't listen to her because of her charisma or confidence, it is because she knows the material quite well. Once again, notice how its all tied to her being 'smart'? Doing this is her way of keeping her self-worth and her value up, because she doesn't have many other selling points. Look, I don't know her personally, and maybe she is a very good person when you get to know her, but she lacks that natural social skill or charm or charisma. In a way, she's innocent really, since I don't see her as a show-off. If that were the case, she would swank-off her grades everywhere. Basically, if this school is a government, she is a high-level, hard-working bureaucrat, but not in a particularly political office, if you get me?"

"Wow, that was quite a detailed, not to mention bold analysis of someone."

"What can I say, I'm intuitive like that "Daphne then discreetly pretended as if throwing her hair over her shoulder, and made a mock arrogant face. Both girls snickered silently.

"She reminds me, where is Potter?" Tracey asked

"Ah of course, no discussion in Hogwarts would be complete without the mention of the Great Harry Potter." Daphne said with a tinge of annoyance in her voice.

"What's up with you? He hasn't ever talked to you as far as I know?"

"What's up is" she began in a snappish tone, "that everything is about him. Look at the points they got the day everyone returned from the petrification. Snape's been on a warpath against Gryffindors in his classes, and even then, they're guaranteed to win the house cup! This is two years in a row Dumbledore has showered him with points and let them take the house cup!"

"Someone's bitter" Tracey said amusedly

"Yes, I'm bitter!" Daphne then made her voice sound like an old man's "Hello and welcome to Hogwarts, where you'll be treated equally… Ah hello Harry, nice glasses, 50 points to Gryffindor!" Tracey gave a rather loud laugh.

"Miss Davis, something you find funny about my class?"

"My apologies, Professor, won't happen again" she replied to McGonagall, barely keeping a straight face. McGonagall shot her a glare and resumed her lecture.

"I'm upset because we work so hard all year only for Dumbledore to hand over the Cup to his golden boy! I'm upset because of all the special treatment he gets!"

"Ooh, the proud Slytherin Daphne Greengrass is jealous of the 'Gryffindor Golden Boy' is she?"

"Of Potter? Of course not! Why would I?" She said in a rather unconvincing tone

"Well let's see, you're an unbelievably proud person and you are witnessing someone ELSE get the most attention – winning the house cup two years in a row, getting the 'first years can't have brooms of their own' rule bent for himself, being fawned over by his house while you have to put up with Malfoy who gets to what he wants because his daddy has money….. Want me go on?" Tracey said with a triumphant smile.

"Fine, fine you've made your point. While I still won't say I'm jealous – "

"Of coouuuurse you won't"

"- I can't help but feel overshadowed all the time."

"To be fair to him, you've seen how he is on a broom, it'd have been a shame if they DIDN'T bend the rule. He also isn't a prat like Malfoy who shows off all the time, and goes around telling the whole world he is a to be lord of an 'Ancient and Noble House'. Besides, we don't know WHY he got those points did he? For all we know maybe he did something worth that."

"Yes, I know. I don't think it's a coincidence that last year Quirrell just disappeared into thin air and Potter was stuck in the hospital wing for 3 days…... something definitely happened. And then this year, he gets 300 points the same day the teachers start looking visibly relaxed about the whole petrifying thing. And NO, I do not want to play detective and try and figure out what he did – we've wasted enough time doing that already."

Tracey gave a mock pout, before he eyes grew alit again, "Then how about a new case, where did he go today? He left without Granger and the Weasel at breakfast after getting an owl of some sort…. Do you think he went out of the school?"

"Possibly, but if he did, where did he go?..."

9:15| Gringotts Bank| Diagon Alley| June 21st 1993

Harry landed in one of the 'portkey arrivals' chamber of Gringotts – flat on his backside. "What on earth was that!"

"I believe that was a portkey, young wizard." Spoke a deep and gravelly voice. Harry looked over and saw two goblins, both staring at the basilisk with their mouths wide open.

"Oh, uh good morning, Misters! I'm Harry, Harry Potter"

"Welcome to Gringotts Bank" absently replied one of them, still not having torn their gaze from the extraordinary specimen in front of them.

A few seconds passed before Harry broke the silence again "Uhhh, shouldn't be going somewhere?"

That seemed to have snapped the goblins out of their reverie. The older of the two muttered some undecipherable instructions to the younger.

"Aye, sir". With that the subordinate goblin took his leave, almost sprinting towards the exit.

"My apologies for the unprofessionalism young wizard, your race would address me as 'Sharpfang' and may your vaults remain full and enemies be vanquished."

What on earth was all this about? Was this some sort of code or greeting? Seems even Salazar Slytherin does not know everything about the wizarding world after all…. "Uh, nice to meet you and um, may you…. knock out your enemies with…. a…. beater's bat…." He finished awkwardly and instantly face-palmed on the inside.

For a moment he thought the goblin would pounce on him for some sort of disrespect to their culture. But instead, he simply burst out in laughter. "I believe that is the first time I have ever heard that one! I am happy you at least tried to follow goblin tradition, though you may want to read up on them."

"I-uh I wasn't aware that were was some sort of protocol…. No offense…."

"None taken, very few wizards do, and even fewer decide to lower themselves to the standards of us 'creatures'. But that is a discussion for another time. Like I said, your kind would address me as Sharpfang – and yes, it is different to how goblins address me. You may be aware that I am your family's account manager, please follow me to my office. We have much to discuss…."

Harry followed Sharfang down the halls, up multiple mechanical elevators and across various offices and chambers. This was the first time he had been in this part of the bank. Eventually, they came to a stop at a section of the bank which clearly housed the most important employees, and in front of a door that said 'Potter'. "After you, Mr Potter."

Harry went into the office room and immediately started to take in the interior. While the office was definitely one that said 'high-quality', it didn't seem snobbish and had a warm feeling to it. "Take a seat."

"So, Mr Potter, our mutual correspondent mentioned you wanting to take a more active role in your family's affairs, is that correct?"

"Yes, sir, I think I've delayed that for too long."

"Sharpfang is fine, we will be working quite closely if you intend to be involved."

"Then please address me as Harry."

"Very well then, Harry. Now before we move on to the state of affairs, I must ask you to confirm that you in fact are Harry Potter, Heir to the 'Ancient and Noble House' of Potter." He then pulled out a rather sharp-looking knife from his coat, and a blank parchment from inside a drawer. "Please prick your thumb on this knife and let a drop of blood fall onto the parchment."

On Harry's confused expression, he elaborated "This Mr Potter, is an identification paper. It requires a single drop of blood to fall onto the parchment, upon which it will reveal the name, class and any special title the entity that gave that drop carries. It is a rather expensive technique, and I will withdraw the necessary funds from your vault."

Reading Harry's look again he said "Not to worry Mr Potter, while your family vault may not be at the peak at which it once was, it still contains more than enough for you to be able to buy this several times over and not have to think twice. Besides, every heir must go through this procedure before getting their ring."

Harry nodded and lightly sliced his thumb on the knife, and let a single drop of blood trickle onto the parchment, before passing it back to Sharpfang. The goblin started to read the now apparently not empty parchment. As his eyes moved down the page, his mouth dropped open, and he dropped the paper down on the floor. He wore a similar expression to when Harry had first arrived, only this one conveyed he was somehow even more baffled.

"This…. This is truly unexpected…. Give me a moment Mr Potter, I believe one more will be joining this private meeting….."

He walked on over to the fireplace, which Harry surmised was connected to the floo-network. Sharpfang took a handful of powder, and spoke out something in an unknown language – 'Gobbledygook', Harry realized. He then dropped the powder into the fire.

A few moments later, a face emerged from the fire, and started a discussion that seemed to involve some outraged screaming from Sharpfang and what seemed like nonchalance by the new goblin. Curious to see what had triggered such a reaction from Sharpfang, Harry picked up the parchment, only to almost fall out of his feet from he read.

At the same moment, a goblin emerged from the flames. Wiping ash off of his suit, the second goblin made his way over to where Harry was seated. He gave the dumbstruck Harry a wide grin that exposed his fang like teeth.

"Greetings Heir Black, may your coffers overflow and your enemies cower at your feet."