Harry Potter and the Will of Magic
A/N: Sorry for the long wait, everyone. I had a rather bad case of writer's block. I had the first half done months ago, but I just couldn't figure out how to move forward. Obviously that is no longer the case. I hope you enjoy.
A/N2: For those of you who asked for a Morgause/Snape pairing, I have no plans for it at the moment, although that could change in the future.
"For all that the Boy-Who- Lived might be back, for all that Dumbledore was sure, and for all that the boy in question looked nothing like a Potter, this upcoming school year would surely prove to be the most trying of his career. As Snape had no doubt that these two would do all they could to return home and destroy what little sanity the Headmaster had left. He only hoped that he would survive the year intact. For when dark wizards roam, nightmares are sure to follow."
The duo talked (read: interrogated) with Snape about the current state of affairs in the Wizarding World, and were thoroughly disgusted at how far their counterparts had fallen. Morgana would be furious when she learned what had happened, and they intended for her to.
The modernization of the Wizarding World was pitiful compared to that of the non-magical one. It mattered not who made what advancement as long as it was useful, but it seemed the magicals disagreed. The disgust on their faces as Snape told them about the lack of progress was telling, and he wondered what Dumbledore would do when they finally made their move.
Geoffrey looked around with disdain as he beheld Diagon Alley for the first time. Sure it was impressive... to a 10-year-old with no previous knowledge of magic. But to one who had lived much of his live surrounded by it, the Alley was lackluster. The brooms were new, but hardly something to gawk over, seeing as non-magicals had already figured out how to fly higher than any wooden contraption could go, no matter how many enchantments it had (they had looked up at a strange sound and asked Snape about it, revealing the existence of airplanes).
The trio quickly made their way to Gringotts, where upon entering the Goblins snapped to attention as they felt the presence of a Priestess of the Old Religion, which was the religion that all Goblins followed. Morgause and Geoffrey were herded into a private room quicker then a Weasley on food and the clients in the foyer were left wondering what just happened. Snape on the other hand was left gaping as his charges were taken from him with he being forgotten in the rush to cater to one of the old order.
They were taken before Ragnok, chief of the Goblin clan that ran Gringotts, something that (while unexpected) was not something they found strange, seeingas they had interacted with a number of Goblins in the past and even helped organize them beyond the uncivilized mishmash of clans that they were before.
Naturally, Ragnok was shocked to see a priestess of the Old Religion here in Gringotts, especially seeing as the practice had died out among the humans centuries before. That the young man with her was an acolyte in the Ways was likewise shocking, if just because there were two practicing members in the current age.
Clearing his throat, Ragnok bowed and asked, "What brings two members of the Old Religion to our humble bank this day?"
Morgause looked at him dispassionately, waving a hand dismissively to indicate he should rise. "I was informed that my nephew had some monies left for him, although I find the idea that he is from this time period to be suspect. Although adopted, he is the spitting image of his mother, my sister, and I will not have some old fool tell me who is and is not the parent of her child." She ended with a fierce glare.
Going over what she just said, and taking a longer look at the boychild, Ragnok's eyes widened comically as they darted to a portrait hanging on the wall and back again. Seeing the similarities, he hesitantly asked, "And may I ask what the name of the boy is?"
Morgause's eyes narrowed slightly, "For what purpose?"
Gulping, the Goblin Chief looked up at the esteemed (to them) Enchantress and hurriedly explained, "J-just as a point of r-reference. After a-all, the lady Morgana d-does have a vault here, and if he is who I think he is, th-then it should be no trouble at all to get the contents put into your care."
Rolling her eyes, Morgause answered, "His name is Geoffrey Pendragon. I trust this information will not meet unsanctioned ears." Though it came off as a question, everyone present knew it was anything but.
Nodding furiously, Ragnok moved over to the portrait of Morgana that seemed to be a life-size depiction as it stretched from the floor to the 5'6" in height that she bore at the time they last saw her. Geoff's eyes teared up slightly at the sight of his mother, knowing that she was long dead.
Morgause, having a fair idea of what was going through her nephew's head, wrapped her arm around his shoulder, hugging him close to her side.
The goblin chief cut his palm with a silver dagger and ran it down the side of the frame. When he removed his hand, the wound had closed and blood was absorbed into the gold-work, whereupon the entire frame began to glow brightly before the painting became ethereal, and, with a wave of his long-nailed hand, motioned for them to enter. Steeling herself, Morgause, keeping a tight grip on Geoffrey, walked up to and through the once-solid piece of art, Ragnok following close behind after making sure that that no one else came in after them.
The corridor behind the portrait was dimly lit, the only light coming from a flickering torch that seemed to be on its last legs. Removing it from the sconce, Ragnok led the way down into the depths of the goblin bank.
The deeper the went, the more Morgause and Geoff realized that they were going to the bowels of Gringotts, far more than what any other wizard had ever seen, as evidenced when, while walking across a bridge, they could look down and see the tops of buildings seemingly made of granite, if the texture was anything to go by (not that Geoff knew that, Morgause herself only knew the fundamentals).
Surprise at the honor faded as they finally came upon what they came for: two large doors of a make similar to those that could be found at Camelot before its remodeling. A large bronze knocker could be seen on the right door, but the distinct feeling of enchantments made the two wary of touching it.
Ragnok, sensing their apprehension, hastened to reassure them, "No harm shall come to you by touching it, or should I say, no permanent harm. It will test your blood and magic to see if you are worthy of entering, which should be an easy affair being who you two are, and then you can proceed inside."
Geoffrey raised an eyebrow, "'You'? Don't you mean us?"
The Goblin Chief shook his head, "No, the wards surrounding this vault allow none other than those of close magical ties (i.e. You two) to enter. I would surely die if I attempted to enter it."
Morgause and Geoffrey locked eyes briefly, having a silent conversation before nodding and walking up to the door, both placing their hands on the knocker. The effect was instantaneous.
They felt their magic being drawn through their outstretched hands and into the door, where intricate designs began to light up that they hadn't noticed before, taking on a blueish-white hue as the twisted across the door, stemming out from their hands.
It was when they both felt that their magic was almost gone that the draining stopped, and the door that was once plain (or as plain as any door in Camelot could be, at any rate) was now covered in markings that Morgause was quick to recognize as coming from the Old Religion, something that no modern magical would be capable of reproducing, as their conversation with Snape proved when he gave a blank look when asked about it.
The door creaked as hinges that had gone unused for over a millennium were forced into action, swinging open slowly, torches inside the vault springing to life as the two ancient spellcasters stepped inside, revealing another long corridor, where a second, solitary door stood at the end. As they moved further inside, the doors behind them swung shut with a deafening bang.
Slightly anxious about discovering what his adopted mother left behind, Geoffrey strode quickly toward the end of the corridor, and would have ended up leaving his aunt behind had she not gently grabbed his shoulder, bringing him to a halt as she smiled down at him gently. They walked at a more normal pace therest of the way, stopping in front of the door.
Taking a deep breath, Geoff reached out, grabbed the handle and opened it, revealing...
A/N: Don't hate me! I couldn't just put it all down in this chapter, and besides, you have been waiting long enough for an update as it is. I wish I could have done more, but a month ago I was just about done and my browser refreshed, and I lost all my progress, so I had to figure out what I did write and that takes a while. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I will endeavor to get the next one done as soon as possible, although I did start college so don't expect any miracles.
As always, Read and review. Constructive criticism appreciated, flames will be ignored.