CHAPTER 3
Harry stood in the hallway, shifting his weight nervously from foot to foot, his bare toes brushing against the smooth wood. Dim candlelight cast shadows all around him as he bolstered his courage. Over the weeks he had been resting here – healing and learning little skills and tricks from the kind-hearted mutant who had picked him up off the streets after his abandonment – he had grown inexplicably fond of Remy. He didn't want to leave. Taking a deep breath, he raised his hand and knocked lightly on the door.
"Remy?"
Harry's soft voice floated through the wood of Remy's bedroom door, waking the dozing Cajun.
"Oui?" he called out, his voice slightly rough from sleep. Harry's head poked through the door, expression.
"Did I wake you?" he asked, "sorry…"
"Non, it be fine, cheri," Remy waved it aside, "what yo' be needin'?" Harry shuffled into the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
"I'm better now, Remy," he mumbled. Remy's heart dropped.
"Yo' wantin' ta leave now, cheri?" he asked, voice quiet. Harry shook his head vigorously.
"No!" he yelped, "no. I…"
"Yes, cheri?"
"Iwanttostayherewithyou," he mumbled quickly. Remy, mutant though he was, couldn't understand a word.
"Again, cheri?" he prompted, "a li'l slower, though." Harry blushed.
"I want to stay here with you, Remy," he mumbled, blush intensifying. Remy eyes grew wide.
Harry wanted to stay.
"I'll leave if you want me to," he continued, rambling, "I don't want to be a burden. I'll just go and pack my things then…" he got up and made to leave, but Remy's hand snaked around his wrist – much like on that first day – and stopped him.
"Non, cheri," he said softly, "I'd be honoured if yo'd like ta stay wit' me."
"R-really?" asked Harry, eyes wide and mouth open.
"Oui, cheri," Remy smiled softly, "I be wantin' yo' ta stay."
"W-would y-ou," Harry's nervousness came back. He had no idea how old Remy actually was, but he wanted to ask anyway. Drawing in a lungful of air, he tried again.
"Would you Blood Adopt me?" he asked, eyes closed. He had been allowed to stay, but he wondered if Remy would revoke that after this question.
"'Blood Adopt', cheri?" he asked, confused. Judging from the worried expression on Harry's face, he figured it was a big deal.
"A Blood Adoption means that it replaces one of my parents DNA with yours," Harry murmured, face turned down, right cheek brushing against the soft t-shirt covering his shoulders.
"Yo' be wantin' me fo' yo'r parent?" asked the Cajun, surprised, "yo' be sure? I ain' very good wit' responsibility, Harry."
Harry looked up sharply.
"You'd be willing?"
"O' course, cheri," Remy asserted, almost snorting at the thought of not wanting Harry, "but would it be what yo' want? Yo' truly sure?"
Harry beamed so brightly it looked as though the sun had relocated itself to Harry's face.
"I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't sure, Remy," he said, truly happy for the first time in a long time. Already planning the trip to Gringotts, a mischievous look lit upon his face.
"Cheri?" Remy asked, worried for whoever that look was aimed at, "what yo' be t'inkin'?"
"I wonder how the Wizarding World will react to the great Harry Potter no longer being a Potter?" Harry mused aloud. Remy scowled at the mention of the Wizards lazy ways.
They had already discussed the prophecy, and what ti meant for Harry's destiny, and decided that they Harry would leave the Wizarding World. Where he would have gone – as that conversation had been held weeks ago – had been conveniently ignored, but he would not be going back to the world that lay the lives of every person on a teenager with no training, and used the same teenager as a scapegoat for their problems.
"Besides," Harry continued, "if we do this, Harry Potter will have technically died and the prophecy fulfilled."
"Smart thinking, cheri," murmured Remy, "but dey won' know dat, will dey?"
Harry smirked.
"Nope!" he said happily, making a popping noise with his lips to emphasise the word, "so they'd still be searching for a non-existent 'Harry Potter'. They're idiots; they won't figure it out."
"Ok, cheri," Gambit agreed, "how does dis Blood Adoption work, den?"
Harry's smirk widened.
"It's a top secret ritual at Gringotts bank," he said, "only the Goblins know how to do it so that no one can tamper with it."
"What about t'ose dat have had it done already, cheri? Dey remember it happening, oui?" he asked, mildly panicked if it meant someone would be shuffling things around in his head. Harry shook his head.
"Sworn to secrecy," he said simply, "goblin magic prevents them from speaking about it to anyone except the person in the ritual with them."
"What if someone be tryin' ta reverse de adoption?" asked Remy darkly, the unspoken 'Dumbledore' loud and clear.
"They can't," said Harry sharply, "that's why I suggested Blood Adoption instead of just a normal one."
Ok, cheri," he said, getting up and putting on his coat, "lead de way."
Harry smirked.
Before leaving the room, Harry muttered a quick Point Me (he'd been practicing his wandless magic when Remy'd been out) to find the entrance to an Alley. The nearest one, surprisingly, was a block away.
The trip went down without a hitch; no one recognised Harry now that he was taller and had longer hair.
"Let me speak, Remy," he whispered to his companion when they neared the entrance to the NYC Gringotts, "Goblins are fickle."
"'Kay, cheri," he whispered back as they entered the bank.
The goblins eyed them with distrust as they entered the bank; Remy exuded an aura that screamed 'not magic'. Harry glared at on when he sneered at them.
Making his way to the goblin that was in the centre of the bank, Harry strode up to him confidently.
"I'd like to inquire as to the contents of my vaults, and to perform a ritual," he stated. It was quick and to the point, but not in the snobby voice that most wizards used when speaking to other creatures.
"Key?" asked the goblin boredly.
"I was never given my vault key," Harry stated, scowling. The goblin looked up sharply.
"Do you know who has it?" it – he, Harry supposed –asked sharply.
"Last I knew, Molly Weasley had received it from Albus Dumbledore," Harry answered darkly. The goblin growled.
"Right this way Mr?"
"Potter," he muttered under his breath. The goblin raised a single eyebrow, but said nothing as he led them away.
"Which ritual did you wish to perform, Mr Potter, so that we may set up accordingly whilst this issue with your key is sorted?" asked the goblin.
"I would like to be Blood Adopted by my companion," Harry answered. The goblin again raised an eyebrow.
"Mother or father?"
"Father," harry answered immediately. He would rather lose any semblance to James Potter he had.
"Of course, sir," the goblin answered, "we shall prepare the ritual chamber for the event to occur in one hour. Is that acceptable, sir?"
"Of course, Master Goblin," Harry answered politely, noting that – after mentioning the removal of harry from the Potter lineage – the goblin had refrained from calling him by the name Potter again, "that would be wonderful."
The goblin's stunned expression at being referred to in such a polite manor by a human lasted for a single second before it was replaced with a toothy grin.
"Right this way, sir," he directed them to a door labelled 'Head Goblin' and opened it, "Master Ragnok is waiting for you."
Harry thanked the goblin and Remy nodded to him before they turned and entered the office.
The room was well furnished, with oaken furniture and several intricate tapestries draped over walls. Sets of shining armour were displayed around the room. The carpet had an alluring pattern, green and gold woven together by a set of skilful hands.
Harry bowed low to the Head Goblin as he observed the room, nudging Remy into doing the same.
"Greetings, Head Goblin Ragnok," Harry started respectfully, "we came here today to inspect the state of my vaults and to perform a Blood Adoption ritual, but I am without my key because Albus Dumbledore and the Weasley family are in possession of it currently. We would like to request the assistance of the American Gringotts in these matters."
It was formal, and most of it went over Remy's head, but he could tell that it was carefully worded to sway the goblin in their favour.
"Why did Dumbledore have your key in the first place, Mr Potter?" sneered the goblin. Harry resisted the strong urge to sneer at the snobby attitude.
"He sealed my parents wills, imprisoned my godfather and sent me to live with abusive muggles. I saw my key once in first year, and then never again."
"Why are you here if Dumbledore has gone to such lengths to keep you under him?"
The goblin was sharp and to the point. To Remy, it seemed almost as though he was testing Harry.
"My relatives came here for a 'holiday' this summer, Master Ragnok, and brought me along with them. Three weeks ago yesterday, my uncle, Mr Vernon Dursley, drove me to the heart of the city, dragged me into a darkened alley and beat me within an inch of my life. My companion found me and has cared for me like no other has."
"Very well, Mr Potter," the goblin said, smirking, "you have passed my tests. We will recall all wealth and keys stolen from you and re-key your vaults in Britain. Anything else?"
"Yes, actually, Master Goblin," said Harry, "I would like to liquefy all my assets – excluding shares – and transfer my vaults to this branch of Gringotts, as I can clearly see that you are far more competent when it comes to the security of customers."
The goblin smirked.
"Of course, Mr Potter. If you will wait one moment."
The goblin disappeared behind his desk, leaving Harry and Remy alone in the room. Ten minutes later, he remerged.
"Your request has been completed, Mr Potter. Would you like to use a card to access you money, or a purse?"
"Like a credit card?" Harry asked incredulously. The goblin smirked again and nodded.
"Yes, although keyed into your blood so that only you may use it."
"That would be brilliant, Master Goblin," answered Harry, "but might it be better to wait until after the Blood Adoption to set this up?"
"Yes, Mr Potter," said the goblin, grin vicious, "and you just passed another test. Congratulations; you may now move into the ritual chamber."
"Thank you, Head Goblin Ragnok," Harry answered, bowing deeply once again before motioning to Remy to follow him.
Making their way to the room where they would perform the ceremony, Harry stopped him just outside the door.
"Once you go in, you can't come out until it's complete," he warned, eyes serious, "are you sure you want to do this?"
Remy smiled gently.
"Oui," he said, "I be doin' it fo' me as well as yo', cheri."
"Ok," Harry responded simply before he stepped through the door. Steeling his suddenly jumpy nerves, Remy followed.