Chapter 2: The Alley Part 1

If You Seek Beneath Our Floors…

Harry woke slowly with the feel of parchment underneath his face. Confused Harry sat up and put on his glasses to look at what he had been lying on. It seemed to have been written by a child just learning write. 'Or a house elf with a message' Harry thought as he began to read the note.

Dobby is needing to go somewhere else for now so he is not getting Master in trouble. The man with the swivel eye is watching yous from the bush across the street under a cloak of hiding. Dobby is returning when he is going away.

'Ah,' Harry thought to himself, 'it's time to pay our dear friend Mad-Eye a visit.'

With that Harry changed out of his cloths from yesterday and glanced over to the clock on his rickety old nightstand. It was currently half past nine meaning he had been asleep for almost eighteen hours. No wonder he felt so good, he hadn't been able to get more than five hours of sleep since Sirius had died.

Harry dressed quickly and walked down the stairs and out the front door as if making his way to the park. As he walked he listened for the telltale 'thunk' of Mad-Eye's fake leg hitting the pavement. Harry turned the corner at the end of Privet drive and bent down, grabbed a fist sized rock, and straightened.

He continued walking down the street until he heard Mad-Eye come around the corner behind him. The moment Harry was sure Mad-Eye was behind him the turned as fast as he could bring his arm around throwing the rock towards the sound.

He was rewarded a moment later with a loud 'thwack' as the rock connected with Moody's fake leg, sending it clattering to the ground.

Moody fell forward with a yell, invisibility cloak sliding off. Harry ran over to the grizzled ex-auror scooped up the invisibility cloak and stuffed it into his pocket. He then retrieved the false leg and carried it over to the now cursing older wizard.

Harry quickly helped Moody reattach his leg as he growled, "Boy, you've got some nerve attacking me, but I must admit it was effective. How did you know I was there?"

Harry smiled at that and decided to tell at least part of the truth. "I heard you walking behind me and as I couldn't see who was making all the noise I decided it was best to attack now and ask questions later. It's not paranoia if they actually are out to get you. And now that I know you're here you might as well stay, but could you do something about your eye?"

Moody grunted and grabbed the rock that Harry had used to knock his leg off and transfigured it into a large bowler hat. He then positioned it so the brim was just covering his eye and said, "I wouldn't need this here hat if you gave me back my cloak, but then going around talking to one's self never looks good. We might as well talk, but not until we make it to that park up ahead. No one but you ever goes there anymore."

Confused as to why that would be Harry was about to ask when another more important question popped into his head. "Moody, why were you able to do that transfiguration without repercussions from the Ministry?"

Moody laughed, "Kid the Ministry tracks magic two ways; large accidental magic in muggle areas, and tracking wand use for minors. The area charm is mostly used to help find muggle born witches and wizards so they can be registered with both Hogwarts and the Ministry, although it can also pick up on things like your little mishap with your aunt before your third year. It doesn't work in highly magical areas though because the ambient magic's give out constant readings. Places like Hogwarts, St. Mungo's, and Diagon Alley are all impossible to get readings on. The other way is by tracking wands. Places like Ollivander's are required by law to put the Ministry tracking charms in their creations. It puts out a pulse every time a spell is cast with that wand, but the spell is made to break when the person buying it turns seventeen. Only a few shady places in the back of Knockturn Alley might make wands without the charms, but even then it's unlikely because doing so is a heavy fine and a ticket on the next ferry trip to Azkaban."

Harry thought over this new information as they neared the park and then asked, "So a pure-blood or half-blood using their parents' wand inside a highly magical home wouldn't be expelled for underage magic?"

Moody chuckled, "Right in one, Lad. It's another of the bigoted laws passed to keep muggle-borns a lower class. On the other hand there are some like the Weasley's who obey the law and ignore the loopholes, but they are an overwhelming minority."

Now reaching the park they made their way over to a bench near a small copse of trees.

"So Harry," Moody began, "what is it that you wanted to talk about badly enough that you decided to start throwing stones around?"

Harry drew in a deep breath and said,"Voldemort. What is he doing? What is the Order doing? Why is Fudge still in office? And Moody what were you doing lurking in the bushes across the street from my house?"

Blinking in surprise Moody began, "We'll start at the top of the list you got there as the answers get longer as they the list goes on. As far as anyone knows Voldemort is currently lying low. From what Snape is reporting, you dealt him one hell of a blow at the Ministry because he's been taking several strong restorative potions a day. As for the Order, that's none of your business and for now it's going to stay that way. Fudge is managing to keep his job for now only because of the money he began tossing around once forced to admit Voldemort was back. If you ask me though, he won't last much longer even with his money."

"Now," Moody fixed Harry with a cold glare out of his normal eye and shifted the hat so his magical eye could be seen pointing directly at him, "how did you know I was hiding in the bushes?"

Not about to back down now Harry responded, "After a while you learn to know when someone is watching you, and where they are watching from."

Moody nodded, "Good. Constant Vigilance. Always know your surroundings, that skill may very save your life one day. As for why I was there, that should be obvious. You've got at least one Order member watching you around the clock, just in case something goes wrong."

Moody pulled an odd looking battered pocket watch out clicked it open and studied the tiny revolving planets for a moment. "Sorry kid, but I've got to go. Guard changes soon and I have to get back to headquarters. Oh and Potter I'll be needing my cloak back. Those things don't exactly grow on trees and demiguise are not easy to come by these days."

Smiling sheepishly Harry took Moody's cloak out of his pock to hand it back. As he did so he looked closer and noticed that it seemed slightly opaque in places and not nearly as effective as his own. Passing it back to Mad-Eye Harry asked, "What is this invisibility cloak made of?"

Moody took it with a grunted, "Demiguise hair, roughly twenty years of use I'd guess. The hair loses some of its power with age."

"Alright, well then I'll see you around, Mad-Eye. Take care of yourself." Hairy said with a wink, "You can't really afford to lose any more of your limbs now can you?"

Moody responded with a bark of laughter, "Too true, Potter, I'll see you later." And then he disappeared with a crack.

With all he had learned from Moody still in his mind, Harry set off back to Privet Drive.

Only when he got back to his room and saw Dobby waiting there with a large tray of food did Harry remember what his original plan for today had been. Harry thanked Dobby for the food and quickly dug in. He hadn't realized it before but he was ravenously hungry and within a matter of minutes had cleared the tray brought to him by the elf.

Now done with his meal he turned to Dobby and asked, "Are you ready to go?"

"Dobby is being ready Master Harry, but he is warning you again that for an elf to transport a wizard is very painful for the wizard." Dobby replied looking quite anxious.

"I'll be fine, Dobby, I just need to make it to Gringotts." Harry said as he once more glanced towards one of Dudley's old clocks. It was a quarter after ten in the morning. 'I need to get a watch…and some cloths. Scratch that I need all new cloths.

"Then Dobby is taking you." The elf said with true zeal in his voice as Harry reached over and scooped up one of his cousin's old hats and dropped the brim down to cover his scar as he decided it would not help if he was seen by either the Order or Death Eaters while out shopping.

With that done, Harry took Dobby's outstretched hand and they vanished with a 'pop'.

The first thing about elf transport that Harry became aware of was the pain. It felt like he was once again a punching bag for his cousin and his gang, just as he had been all those years ago. Next came the feeling akin to that of a portkey, but pulling in every direction all at once.

And then, it stopped.

Harry blearily glanced around and noticed that they had appeared in a small gap between two buildings almost right in front of Gringotts.

Dobby looked at Harry in concern. "Dobby is hurting Master Harry! Dobby is a bad elf!"

Before anything could happen, Harry reached down and grabbed the elf's arm and said, "No, Dobby, you did exactly what I asked of you. You told me it would hurt and I agreed to it anyways, so it is not your fault at all Dobby. Why don't you go back to my room and wait for me there. I will call you when I am ready to return but it will certainly be a while."

The elf nodded and popped away without saying anything further, so Harry straightened, checked that his hat was in place, and set off towards the bank.

As he passed through the first set of doors he looked up at the inscription that had so captured his attention all those years ago when he had first entered the bank with Hagrid.

Enter stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of Greed

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

The saying still filled Harry with a sense of anticipation and nervousness. Hagrid had been right, you'd have to be mad to try and steal from the goblins.

Harry walked up to the first available goblin and started, "I was told to come to handle some business regarding the Will of Sirius Black."

The goblin stared at Harry for a long moment before nodding its head and saying, "Yes Mr. Potter, we have been expecting you. Follow me."

The goblin got up from his chair behind the elevated desk and headed towards a long hallway leading out of the lobby. Harry stayed close to the little creature, not wanting to get lost as they made several sharp turns and descended three flights of stairs into more hallways that seemed to be made from bedrock rather than the white marble up above.

"This way please, Mr. Potter." The goblin said, direction him to a door with a golden plaque next to it inscribed with runes above the word inheritance.

Stepping through the doorway, Harry looked around at the runes carved into almost every square inch of the rock walls. In the middle of the room was a dark wooden desk, clear of everything except a large piece of parchment and what appeared to be a black stone pensive.

There were two black stone chairs on either side of the desk, one which was clearly meant for him. The other was already occupied.

The goblin sitting on the other side of the desk was clearly both older and higher ranking than the one that had lead Harry through the warren hallways. With a gesture from the elder goblin the younger one bowed and left the room as quickly as he could without running.

Slowly at first and with a deep, gravelly voice the elder goblin spoke, "Greetings, Harry Potter. I am Rocksplitter, manager of inheritance. Our first order of business today involves the Last Will and Testament of one Sirius Orion Black. After that, things get more complicated. We shall start with the basics; confirming identity. You will need to place seven drops of your blood into the basin to begin."

Slightly bewildered Harry asked, "Why do you need my blood?"

Rocksplitter murmured something in a language Harry assumed was Gobbledygook before returning to English, "Because blood never lies. It cannot hide who you are, nor would it want to. This basin shows your ancestry by means of blood."

With that Rocksplitter drew a curved silver dagger with an ornate obsidian handle and passed it over to Harry. Feeling only slightly concerned now that he had an explanation, Harry held his left hand over the basin with the knife in his right. He made a slender cut across the middle of his palm, letting seven drops fall from his hand.

As soon as the last drop hit, the cut across his hand healed and all the excess blood on the knife vanished.

"Good." Rocksplitter said, "Now we shall see who you are."

The parchment next to the basin glowed in swirling patterns blue, silver, and gold before clearing with one name at the bottom. Harry James Potter.

Before Harry could read any more, it was snatched away as Rocksplitter said, "You are who you claim to be. Very well, we have work to do about Mr. Potter, and it is best not to delay."

With that Rocksplitter turned and walked out of the office with Harry, shoving down a longing to know his ancestry, trailing behind.

They reached what seemed to be the appropriate door, because Rocksplitter stopped and entered a much smaller but infinity more welcoming office.

Only once he was seated in a comfortable looking armchair did Rocksplitter resume his monolog. "We prevent all who come here from stopping to study the family trees by necessity as if we did allow it, they would never leave. Now, for reading of the Will of Sirius Black."

I, Sirius Orion Black, being of sound mind and body and of my own free will do ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament.

To my dear friend and last of the true Marauders, Remus John Lupin, I leave 100,000 galleons, as well as my family home in London. He will know the one. Take care Moony and be ready for a romp like the good old days when we meet again.

To my beloved godson, Harry James Potter, I leave all of my remaining worldly possessions. This includes all Black estates and holdings. I also pass on to you, as is my right, the title of Lord Black, Head of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, in the hopes that you will be a better lord than I was. I am sorry that I'm not there for you, pup, but I'll rest easy knowing that I've done what I could to help you while not being there.

Harry let his tears role down his face as it really hit him. Sirius was gone and was not going to be there for him anymore. The one adult that he could be absolutely sure was looking out for his best interest and that would do everything in his power to help him, no matter what. Harry's resolve hardened. No more tears. He would become strong and win this fight, no matter what.

Rocksplitter coughed and began, "Mr. Potter before you accept the position of Lord Black there are a few things you should be aware of. The total estimated value of the Black holdings is equivalent to 1.3 billion galleons, not including any magical artifacts held within the family vault. All of the old marriage contracts with the Black family were declared null when Sirius was imprisoned so that removes one of the concerns. The other matter to clear up is that once a rightly named Lord Black takes up the ring of office the magic of the Black Flame must accept a new master before taking the mantle of Lord. I must warn you though, that should it reject you the consequences could be quite dire."

Harry wiped his eyes as he thought about it and then came to a decision. If Sirius wanted him to have it, he would accept. "I will take it, Rocksplitter."

The elder goblin nodded and from a drawer in the desk pulled out an ornately carved box with a Grim on the cover, proudly displaying the Black motto. He slid the box over to Harry who carefully lifted the lid and took in the heavy silver and obsidian ring within. It had a large black diamond that seemed to burn with an inner fire set into silver fittings that lined the sides of the obsidian band.

Harry took a deep breath and slid the ring onto his right middle finger. The first sensation Harry became aware of was a slight twitch in his mind, like when Snape had been performing legilimency during his occlumency lessons. The feeling grew until it felt like his head was going to explode as the foreign magic rifled through Harry's mind.

Then another feeling came into Harry's awareness, one of grudging acceptance. Then the pain moved to three separate, yet connected points. The center of his chest being the main point, feeling of liquid fire, the other two were in his eyes. All three pints flared once then settled back to a semblance of normalcy.

All of these sensations flew through him in less than a second, not giving Harry a chance to cry out, but as it finished Harry gasped in a breath and slumped back in his chair.

"Yes," Rocksplitter began, "I had a feeling that it would accept you, Lord Black. Although, I will tell you that in the century and a half I've been doing this, never has there been a Lord Black that evoked such a magnificent reaction from the fire as you have. Usually it is a simple spark, but you… you should probably get a look for yourself."

Rocksplitter pulled a mirror out of another of the desk drawers. Still reeling from what the ring had done, Harry slowly took the mirror from the goblin and stared, wide-eyed. His eyes were on fire. Not all of his eyes, just the pupils, but they seemed to be burning with intense silver-black flames.

While Harry was carefully examining his changed appearance, Rocksplitter said, "The Black Flames are first and foremost, cursed fire, so be careful as anything burnt by it will prove impossible to restore. They are an ancient thing that gave the line its name as it appears now. By all accounts any flame based spell you cast will now be of the Black Flame, but it is also a part of you and does not require a spell to bring it forth. It is controlled solely by the will of the Lord Black. Now it is time to head down to the Black family vaults before we continue with our other business.

Shaken from his contemplation Harry rose quickly and said, "Alright, Rocksplitter, lead the way."

Rocksplitter chuckled, "Lord Black, do I look like a clerk to you? No? Gutripper will be taking you down while I prepare our next piece of business."

With that Rocksplitter turned to a filing cabinet in the corner as a younger looking goblin stepped into the office and said' "Follow me Lord Black, I am to take you to your vault."