Chapter 2 - Diagon Alley
Harry immediately sensed the... sameness of the place. It hadn't changed in the slightest. Same raggedy old barhand, same run-down bar. Harry walked up and sat down at the bar. "Can I help you?" The barman asked.
"Yes, you can. Could we possibly talk somewhere private for a minute?" Tom turned around and set down the glass he'd been cleaning, then made for the back room.
"Follow me," he said.
Harry followed along behind the older gentleman as he took in the sight of the room. It was obviously old, but had a sense of loving cleanliness that only comes with experienced hands. It was obvious that the place was taken care of, even if it'd been a while since it had seen an update. Tom the bartender led him into the back room, where he then turned around, asking him his business. Harry pulled off his glasses, replacing them with his real ones, then removed his hat. "I honestly just need somewhere private to eat some lunch before I sneak my way into the Alley. I can't go walking around publicly, you know." Tom got a look on his face, then smiled, knowing Harry for exactly who he was.
"Sounds fine to me, then. You're welcome to use this room, if you like. I'll roll in a table for you." Tom stepped out, only to return ten minutes later with a table hovering in front of him. On top, a plate with a cold sandwich, crisps, a butterbeer, and a large mug of pumpkin juice.
"Thank you, Tom. I appreciate it." Harry said as the table floated down in front of him. He paid the man in Galleons, along with a sizable tip, then dug in. He finished up his meal in record time, he stepped out of the room, then out the back door of the Cauldron, towards Diagon Alley.
The combination to the brick wall hadn't changed, and Harry easily recalled it. As usual, the oddness of the alley struck him full-force, with the crooked buildings, strange signs, and stranger people. He continued toward the end of the alley, heading for one of the most recognizable buildings in Diagon Alley - Gringotts.
Harry made his way up the massive marble steps of the tall building, skipping reading the inscription on the doors as he stepped through into the lobby. He made his way up to the counter, and looked under his hat brim at the Goblin on the other side. The Goblin Harry recognized as Griphook looked up from his jewel counting, and his eyes lit up slightly. Harry responded quickly with a finger to his mouth in a 'shush' gesture. "Mr. Potter!" Griphook exclaimed in an excited (for a Goblin) whisper, then in a more normal voice, "How nice to see you again."
"Thank you, Griphook," Harry responded, at which Griphook looked surprised, raising one of his massive eyebrows, "how've you been?"
The Goblin smiled slightly - a frightful sight, given the many rows of nasty looking sharp teeth - and replied "Very good. Great, in fact. I'm a banker now, instead of a lowly assistant. How can I be of help today?"
The young wizard fished in his pocket for the key he had only barely remembered to grab, and placed it on the counter. "I'd like to have a trip to my vault, and I'd like for you to take me there, if you're able."
The Goblin lit up slightly, and stepped around the counter after putting away his jewels and scales. "I'd be happy to." He led Harry over to the familiar cart system, "Climb in."
The old minecart went careening down the track, past some giant stone statues, past the upper vaults, waterfalls, pits and traps, and finally came to a stop in front of Harry's vault. "Here we are, sir. The Potter Trust vault."
Harry stepped out of the cart, and walked two steps before he did a double take. "Trust vault?"
Griphook chuckled and nodded. "Yes, sir. Your family is very old, and very very rich. You have access to many vaults. Other families that have married in, pledged houses, and your family vault as well."
Harry looked back at his familiar vault door. "Can we go in here, then to the family vault?" Griphook nodded, and opened the door for him. Harry proceeded to dig through his piles, pulling out a total of a thousand galleons before he came back to the cart. "Right. Take me to the family vault, please." Griphook snapped his fingers, and they sped off, but this time sideways.
Author's Notes:
Here's chapter two of the rewrite of SotA. My writing has improved greatly, I believe, and the difference would have been too great to simply... continue. It was easier to simply start from the beginning. Lemme know what you think?