A Confession
It hadn't been much of a birthday as parties go, especially for someone' who had come of age in the Wizarding world, but the destruction of Tom's second horcrux was a gift Harry would not soon forget. It meant that they were beginning the processes that would ensure Tom's demise when the final confrontation finally came.
That evening, while eating dinner in the Great Hall with his friends, a single owl flew in through the opening in the roof and began circling the room in search of its quarry. It was a strange owl in that it was not one of the school's owls but Harry could not pick up any particularly malevolent energies as he scanned the parchment tied to its leg so, like everyone else, he watched and waited for it to find the letter's intended recipient.
After three orbits the owl began a long, slow dive and came in for a graceful landing on Harry's shoulder. As most of the students returned to their conversations and meals Harry reached up with his left hand and lifted the owl off of his right shoulder. He noticed, as he lowered the owl to the table's surface, that it was wearing a finely crafted coat of arm on its breast. Upon closer inspection he recognized it as the Gringotts crest. Harry offered the owl a piece of meat, which it greedily devoured while he loosed the string relieving it of its burden.
As the owl flew off Harry glanced up at the head table for some reason and noticed that Remus, Tonks and Albus were all watching him with curious expressions on their faces. Glancing around the table at his friends he noticed that Ron, Hermione, Neville, Luna, Ginny and Mark were all watching him expectantly. Turning his attention to the parchment he broke the simple wax seal, unrolled the tightly wound tube and began to read:
From the desk of Ragnok
Manager and Head Goblin
Gringotts Bank
Diagon Alley
London, England
Dear Mr. Potter,
It has come to our attention that at 00:01:56 this morning you reached the age of seventeen, which, according to Wizarding tradition, means that you have reached the age of majority. Under the circumstances it also means that you are now able to lay claim to your full inheritance. Our records show that this inheritance includes the two Potter Family vaults as well as several Black Family vaults, which have been being managed, on you behalf, by two of our account managers and, as of last year, by one Mr. Remus John Lupin. Since your account is so large, we, my associates and I, respectfully request a meeting at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Ragnok,
Manager and Head Goblin
Gringotts Bank
Diagon Alley
London, England
Beneath this was a more personal note that had clearly been hand written.
Mr. Potter,
Due to your foresight in protecting the few rogue goblins who participated in last December's battle you have earned our respect and support in this war. We are fully aware of what is at stake and support you in your efforts. Our laws prohibit active participation in Wizarding affairs. If, however, there is anything we at Gringotts can do to further your cause please let me know.
Ragnok
As Harry rolled the parchment back up, oblivious to his friends' questioning gazes, he wondered if he could somehow use this information to gain access to the Lestrange and Umbridge vaults. He didn't want to be arrogant in pressing this advantage but at the same time he needed to get the horcruxes out of those vaults so that they could be destroyed.
And then there was the complication Bill had warned him about after their victory in December: No matter how grateful a goblin might be it was unlikely they would be willing to help a human unless they could see some form of profit in it for themselves. Bill had told him that, while he had earned the goblins' respect by protecting the renegades, he should not ask anything of the goblin nation unless he had something of value to offer in return.
Ethrindell had told him that Gryffindor's sword was goblin made and that, as such, was viewed as a priceless antique in the goblin world but he didn't want to use that as a bargaining chip. After the war, yes, he would gladly give it to them if they would help him get his hands on Slytherin's locket and Huffelpuff's goblet but not until Tom had been defeated.
As he put the rolled up parchment in his pocket he knew he would have to prepare an effective presentation, proving beyond all doubt that Tom had used the locket and goblet to create horcruxes, and that he would most likely have to take a blood oath – something frowned upon in the Wizarding world – promising that no matter the outcome of the war Gryffindor's sword would become the exclusive property of the London branch of Gringotts at some point in the future.
Looking up Harry saw Ron's curious expression and faintly smiled. "Gringotts," he said. "Now that I'm seventeen they want to meet with me to discuss my holdings."
That seemed to satisfy his friend because Ron nodded his head and returned to his meal.
Later that evening, after almost everyone else had gone to bed Harry was sitting in Albus' office playing with his Wizarding model of the Hungarian horntail he had purchased in Hogsmeade the previous Halloween, practicing channeling the castle's energies into his spells. He was flying the model gracefully around the office, occasionally spouting small streams of flame and/or diving down to irritate Fawks who was seated on his perch watching the dragon's antics. As magical feats went it was something only a very few could ever hope to achieve but something was bothering Harry and it showed in the model's performance.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Albus asked after the dragon narrowly missed colliding with an open cupboard door for the third time that evening.
For a moment it almost seed as though Harry had not heard him but then the dragon banked its wings and came gliding in from across the room for a perfect five-point landing at Harry's feet. After it had assumed a neutral position Harry opened his eyes and looked over at his mentor. "Where would you like to start?" he asked softly. "A lot of things are bothering me, Albus, and I don't know what to do about any of them."
Albus leaned forward in his chair and studied Harry for several seconds before responding. "Why don't we start with those thoughts that are foremost in your mind," he said gently, giving Harry the opportunity to organize his thoughts in a relatively stress free environment.
Harry glanced up at Albus and then lowered his gaze to study the model of the Hungarian Horntail at his feet. Starting at the head he said, "My biggest concern is the horcruxes. I destroyed the diary in my second year. With a lot of help, Mark and I destroyed the ring this morning. I don't know if you heard it or not but my ears were still ringing after almost five minutes."
Albus nodded. "Yes, I heard it," he confirmed.
Harry smirked slightly at Albus' tone. "I am going to give it a few days before retrieving and destroying the diadem because I don't know how if Tom can sense them anymore or not and I'm afraid that if we destroy too many of them too quickly it might tip our hand and he might figure out that we know about the horcruxes."
Pulling the letter from Gringotts out of his pocket he unrolled it and levitated it over to Albus' desk. "Ragnok has said that they are willing to help but, as Bill said, their help does not come without a price. I am going to need their help to get Slytherin's locket and Huffelupff's goblet but the only thing I have to offer that they might be interested in is Gryffindor's sword." When Albus' eyebrows rose Harry held his hand up to forestall any argument. "According to Ethrindell, Gryffindor's sword is goblin made and, according to goblin tradition, rightfully belongs to the goblin nation. He also said that it would be viewed as a priceless antique in their world. I don't want to just give it to them in exchange for their help in retrieving the locket and goblet because I have a feeling we are going to need it when it comes time to deal with Nagini but I am willing to take a blood oath to ensure that they receive it after the war, no matter the outcome."
Albus looked up and frowned. "You do realize that if we do not win this war, by taking a blood oath you would be condemning yourself to haunt whomever is in possession of the sword until the oath is fulfilled."
Harry nodded. "Yes, I do. But it is a risk I am willing to take if it will give me a chance at destroying those two horcruxes."
Moving down to the dragon's neck Harry said, "I saw Draco Malfoy today. I was viewing Riddle Manor while the others were walking into Little Hangleton and Malfoy was there. I'm worried, Albus. If I thought he was bad before but, he is absolutely deranged now. This modified purgatory charm Ethrindell and I are working on has got to work because if it doesn't the aftermath will be an unthinkable mess."
Albus frowned but nodded his understanding. "What are your thoughts?"
"Harry was silent for almost a minute, thinking over through their options. "I am going to do everything in my power to make sure it works because if it does anyone who has voluntarily taken the dark mark will be subjected to the charm's affects. If it doesn't, we have got to be ready to act and to act fast because who knows how many of them will go on the war path."
Moving down to the dragon's body and back Harry sighed then said, "My next concern, Albus, is my relationship with Ginny." Rubbing his eyes he said, "I have been so focused on the war since our return from the elven realm that I feel like I'm neglecting her. I know she knows that I love her and she has been a real trooper but … I don't know what to do, Albus!"
Albus watched the helpless feeling flit across Harry's face for several seconds before responding. "All I can suggest, Harry," he said gently, "is that you and Ginny take tomorrow afternoon off for some alone time. There is a quiet little clearing on the other side of the lake. I suggest you pack a picnic lunch and make an afternoon of it."
Harry smiled and nodded his head. "Thank you, Albus. I think we will."
Moving down to the dragon's tail Harry said, "My final concern, Albus, is the amount of power that is going to be going into the charm. More than likely Tom will be drawing energy from most, if not all, of his followers when he tries to kill me. I've been watching him over the past few days and remote viewing his reasons behind turning the dark mark into an energy sink. He seems to think that with sufficient power he will be able to overcome the rebounding charm. I'm really not all that worried about that. What does concern me is the amount of power I am going to be channeling from Hogwarts and, by extension, the planet to hold the energy structures of the spell together and make it work." Looking into Albus' eyes he finally voiced his chief concern. "I … I … I don't even know if I will survive it, Albus," he choked out, tears welling up in his eyes. "If … if Ethrindell is correct, I will be channeling more power through my body in one second than … than all of the students at Hogwarts combined use in any given year. I'm going to do everything in my power to make it work but … but I honestly don't know if I will survive."
Albus was silent. What could he say? Harry had just told him that he was willing to take a blood oath to gain access to two of Tom's horcruxes and that he was willing to give his life to put an end to the darkest wizard the world had ever known.
The two men, for in Albus' eyes Harry truly was a man among men, sat in companionable silence for so long that both of them lost track of time. Around midnight Albus put the model dragon back in its cupboard and went up to his rooms, leaving Harry in the company of Fawkes who was probably the best company Harry could ask for at this time.
On his way up the stairs he turned around and started to say something but held his peace. Life was not supposed to get so complicated so soon. Most young men Harry's age were still thinking about girls, homework and socializing with their friends, but the cares and concerns Harry was dealing with were not supposed to be a part of anyone's life. His heart went out to the young man sitting alone in his office with a radiant phoenix perched on his knee. He wanted to help but this was so much more than even he had ever had to deal with that he honestly didn't know what to say.
Turning away, Albus Dumbledore quietly made his way up to his rooms and gently closed the door. As he got himself ready for bed he prayed to whatever god had created this world and asked it to help Harry survive this war so that he could find some true happiness in his life.