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Chapter Three: Strike
When Harry woke, it was still dark outside, but the candles flared to life dramatically. Harry hesitated to climb out of bed, but was shocked when he did, finding himself in a room of the Leaky Cauldron, easily distinguishable from the cold white walls of Gringotts, with the dragon hide leather satchel that he had selected from the Slytherin Vault the day before sitting beside the table and several books on the table itself.
He took a few seconds to just get used to his surroundings before he picked up a note left on top of the book pile. It was from one Bill Weasley and explained what had happened and that he had a meeting with Gornuk and Ragnok at the bank in the morning. Perhaps best of all, there was a charm on the paper to show the time.
It was just approaching five in the morning, meaning the sun would be rising soon. Harry couldn't hold back his excited smile as he pulled a chair towards the window, opening the blinds, before picking up one of the books and settling down to read, a small amount of light issuing from the book as many wizarding books would in low light, and watch the sunrise in, he guessed about twenty five minutes.
Harry had never known much about goblin etiquette, he had never found a book on it in the Potter or Black library, at least not in the areas he was allowed in, so he found the book incredibly interesting. It was quite amusing, he supposed, to discover that calling a goblin Esteemed Sir put them above you, which may seem obvious to the unaquainted reader, but might make many purebloods who called Goblins that out of necessity quiver in rage.
Watching the sunrise was lovely, Harry rarely got to do it at Potter Mansion, with how often he was in the cellar. It is not people or purpose but life's simple pleasures; hot coffee, a soft bed, a quiet walk in a forest that save us.
Beau Taplin couldn't have been more right about that, especially when it concerns small children with no purpose or people to save him. Harry remembered first reading that quote from one of his mother's Muggle books and being unable to keep the grin from his face as he thought of his simple pleasures, the sunrise, that painless floating feeling when you're not quite awake yet, a quiet place to read, the quote having become a mantra of all those years ago.
Harry flinched when the door was pushed open, revealing Bill Weasley. The man's eyes widened at the sight of the empty bed, and he appeared to panic, eyes darting about until they found Harry, and the man let out a nervous laugh.
"Harry, you're awake." He stated, sounding surprised. He joined Harry by the window, watching the still rising sun with the smallest of smiles.
"Your appointment has been moved up. Ragnok said the Minister wanted to meet with him but Ragnok insisted he must meet you first. It is at eight o'clock now." Bill said, finally remembering his reason for being there, having been entranced by the sunrise.
"Oh," Harry mumbled, looking down at his book, judging how much of it he might be able to read by then. He might be able to finish by then, but it was a long book with some difficult words in it.
"And your parents know you're here. They, well," He hesitated, unsure how to break this news.
"They don't want me home, do they?" Harry looked up at him with those haunting green eyes glistening slightly with tears he was clearly trying to hold back. Bill sighed, and nodded. He couldn't well lie.
"If the Goblins agree, you can come stay in my apartment until they can contact your godfather." He explained.
Harry nodded quietly, not quite knowing how to respond. Would Sirius even want him?
"Did you pay for the room?" Harry then asked.
"No, Gornuk did. He said it was his duty." Bill said, still confused over that himself.
"Oh. I should pay him back," Harry mumbled.
Bill didn't know how to respond to that, so he just nodded. He didn't know if Gornuk would even accept payment back.
"I should be off. The money you took out is in your satchel if you want to go down for breakfast. Try to be ready by half seven for your meeting." He said, waiting for Harry's nod before he left.
Gornuk was very pleased, very pleased indeed. He had waited for centuries, as his mother had before him, and her father had, and his grandfather had (a generation was skipped during the 18th century Goblin Rebellions, goblins of course having much longer lifespans than humans), and so on and so forth. And the day had come. His clan had found the child, the Prince of Avalon, with the Mark of Morgana on his face and an innocence in him that would be bent so easily.
There was much to do, but Gornuk was very pleased with himself as he called for the new key issues for the Vaults Mr Potter was entitled to and the Lordship Rings he ought to be given, to claim his Heir Apparent and Presumptive titles, from the Peverells, Gaunt, and Fleamont. The boy wouldn't have to wear all the rings, of course, he had no doubt in his mind that the rings would combine into one to hold all his titles, perhaps excluding the Royal title of Prince Avalon.
"Weasley!" He called, making sure there was the gutural hiss of irritation in his voice he had made the assistant accustomed to, "Fetch Mr Potter, Ragnok is ready for him." He ordered.
And he himself headed up to see Esteemed Ragnok, descendant of Ragnuk the First, the closest thing the goblins had to a leader, having requested to be allowed to sit in on the meeting.
He greeted his superior in Gobbledegook, nodded to the scribe, and took a seat in a shadowed spot to watch the meeting. Slash interrogation. Slash coronation.
Mr Potter arrived with Weasley right on time, still in clothes too big for him, Gornuk noted with a snarl, and was seated on the bright couch that was usually used by the idiot Dumbledore when he demanded to see parts of the bank he had no reason to see, like the Lestrange Vault...
"Prince Avalon, welcome." Ragnok said calmly.
"Thank you, Esteemed Sir," Harry whispered, only feeding the vengeful fire in the goblin's chest at his clear fear and shyness.
Stupid humans, they had corrupted the poor child, and it would take a lot to get him back, he supposed, but he would get there and Gringotts would flourish again.
Goblins would once more be free.
The conversation was long and dragging, as Ragnok pushed to find out what exactly Mr Potter was aware of concerning his heritage.
"Excuse me, but what is Avalon?" He asked.
A gasp ran through the audience of goblins and Ragnok had to hold up a hand to hush the quiet murmurings of disbelief.
"Avalon, Mr Potter, is a magical island off the British Isles, that has been in the possession of House Le Fay, or Le Fae more accurately, and is a highly protected place. It hasn't been visited for many centuries, without a monarch it was sealed from the outside world for protection of the residents who are mostly magical creatures. It is considered the centrepoint of Majyk in the West, like Babylon in the East." Ragnok explained. "By accepting the Royal Title, you have officially unsealed the community. We have been in contact with them and they have a request to meet you before you go to Hogwarts."
Harry nodded quietly, processing this. It was a lot. It was always a lot when he went to Gringotts. He should really stop going to Gringotts so much...
The conversation continued on that branch, of Ragnok explaining things to Harry until,
"So what do you want in return for that information?"
Ragnok laughed, loud and gruff, startling the child. "You will go far, child, you will be great." The goblin announced, sounding distinctly amused, at least to Gornuk. "We want nothing more than your support in the years to come, and the vaults of Avalon bringing us wealth once more."
The child nodded quietly, looking rather overwhelmed but at least he was paying attention. If he could only speak up now and explain it all to the child, the power he would gain... But he could speak after, and gain the boys trust then, for the betterment of Gringotts and goblins worldwide, he would gain the child's trust and be his guide through the magical world.
Gornuk could barely contain his excitement, and watched the rest of the proceedings, the totalling of Mr Potter's vaults and the listing of his owned properties - over a hundred, by Ragnuk, the wizards did treat even their fourth and fifth heirs incredibly well - and finally the discussion of Harry's meeting with the Avalonians.
It was scheduled for late August to allow the child time to be taught about Avalon and its traditions, and of course learn the necessary magic, the date set at the 20th to allow the young boy to stay with the Avalonian Council before he was shipped off to Hogwarts. Perhaps he could catch the Hogwarts Express at its Avalonian stop, surely that would open now the community was unsealed...
And how interesting, indeed, more magical children ought to be invited for the new year at Hogwarts with Avalon unsealed.
More business for Gringotts!
The meeting adjourned after a brief discussion of Harry's accommodation, and it was decided he would stay with the human William Weasley until his godfather could be contacted, as the man had suggested earlier to the child, at which point his accommodation would be reviewed by Gornuk and Griphook, the teller for House Black and Family Potter. Griphook would get in touch with Lord Black that night, he was sure.
Mr Potter - or Le Fae, perhaps, he would have to discuss that too - was ushered out by Weasley, and Gornuk followed eagerly.
"Weasley, we will be taking Mr Potter to my office. There is more to discuss." He ordered, gripping the heir boxes in one clawed hand.
Weasley smiled gently down at his charge and led him gently on, ignoring the violent flinch when he put his hand on the boy's back. Gornuk once more swore revenge on the Family Potter.
Once they had relocated to his office, Gornuk had Mr Potter sit down across from him with William beside the child as his acting guardian.
"Mr Potter, I shall not keep you too long, have no fear, there is merely a few things we need discuss." The goblin said comfortingly as he assessed the still confused and overwhelmed expression the boy held. "So, firstly, your address. Would you still like to be known as Harry Potter, with your titles you are able and rather expected to change it to one of the more meaningful titles, perhaps Slytherin or Le Fae?"
Harry blinked. He could, change his name? Not to Slytherin, he didn't dare, James would kill him, but to Le Fae... Perhaps. He'd finally be free from James and Lily...
But he'd also not have Charlie.
They would always be brothers, even if not by name, right?
But he couldn't be sure, Charlus was quite particular about the whole light and dark thing after all, but maybe if he could talk to him, explain it all...
He had to have faith, in Charlie and his new titles, faith in Avalon, even, he supposed, that it would all work out.
"Can I change it to Le Fae?" He asked hesitantly, glancing up at Bill for reassurance. Judging Bill's reaction would be as close as he could get to judging Charlie's without him being there.
Bill looked somewhat surprised but smiled encouragingly at Harry. "Harry Le Fae, it has a nice ring to it." He said.
Harry nodded in agreement, a barely contained grin lighting up his face.
Gornuk watched then in amusement and nodded. "Perfect, Mr Le Fae, if you would just sign here," He requested, pushing a parchment declaring the name change towards Harry with a blood quill by its side. "The quill will cause some pain, it is a blood quill after all, but it will cement the change in magic and prevent meddling fools from reversing the process." Gornuk explained, thinking once more of Dumbledore and Lord Potter.
How positively delicious this all was.
Once the boy had signed and the parchment disappeared with a satisfying pop, Gornuk spoke once more. "Next I have three more Lordship rings for you, those of Houses Gaunt, Peverell, and Fleamont." He said cheerfully, putting the boxes before Harry. "I imagine once you put all the rings on, they will combine into a single ring, perhaps excluding your Royal Title."
Harry's eyes had bugged further with each word the goblin had said, before he was nudged by Weasley, and he opened the boxes to put on each ring, a small burst of magic announcing his acceptance of each ring. A smaller burst of magic combined the five silver heir and lordship rings into one single ring with a jewel for each of the houses he represented and the crest of the house visible when a single jewel was focused on.
Gornuk couldn't keep the grin off his face.
"Perfection! Finally, Mr Le Fae, if you have any questions, feel free to ask them now or return to the bank when you are in need of help." He said with a bright grin. "Do you have any questions?"
Mr Le Fae shook his head.
"Alright then. Your money pouch shall refill from the Slytherin Trust Vault if you run out of money for equipment so for now, Mr Le Fae, you're free to go. I suggest you collect your school supplies with Mr Weasley. Would you like a list of what you need?" Gornuk asked.
Harry nodded, accepting the parchment from the goblin when he had retrieved it.
He stood up with Weasley, who took his hand comfortingly.
"Have a good day, Mr Le Fae. Weasley, you are dismissed for today. May your gold flow freely and your enemies cower at your feet."
With the polite dismissal, the two exited Gornuk's office and the entirety of the Gringotts building together.