Disclaimer:

British? Yes

Female? No

Mind Bogglingly Rich? I wish!

Probability of being JK Rowling? 1%

I don't own anything but the plot

Chapter 2: Of Breaking Bindings and Feral Grins

Harry awoke early the next morning, eager to set off to Gringotts as soon as possible. Silently, he stole downstairs, avoiding the step that creaked; not wishing to wake the Dursleys just yet, and began to cook the meal he was forced to.

Twenty minutes of sizzling fat and cracked eggshells later, he lay the three finished dishes on the table, covering them with extra plates to stop them getting cold. Slowly, he opened the back door into the garden and began attacking the weeds that surrounded the plants Petunia seemed to cherish so much. Probably since she makes me look after them and do all the hard work, Harry thought silently.

Harry wandered back inside, quickly setting a piece of toast in the toaster, and eating it on his way back to his room. Absentmindedly, he walked up the stairs, before realizing what he was about to step on. The step creaked loudly and Harry snapped his head up, looking and listening for any sign of any Dursley. Thankfully there was none. He stalked back to his room and decided he could do with a little more sleep.

Harry awoke again at 9AM, despite only having slept for two hours he felt invigorated. He fumbled slightly with the envelope and slowly pulled out the golden band. A ring? Harry thought to himself. He slipped it on and immediately saw the world spin around him. Shifting colours and a multitude of voices seemed to bank around his ears and eyes. Until the world came to a blissful stop.

Harry looked up cautiously, surveying his surroundings, until he realized he was in a very homely office. He quietly sat down on the sofa and waited patiently. His eyes snapped to the doors as they were pulled open, Harry stood and looked at the small creature that stalked through the door and into the office.

"Ah, Mr. Potter. Just who I'd been waiting to see, glad you could make it. Now shall we get down to business?" he said curtly. "Please, call me Harry-" he looked up abruptly, looking at the boy again. "Err… Is there a problem?" Harry politely enquired. "Oh, No not at all M- Harry." The goblin smiled at Harry, or at least that's what Harry thought he was doing.

"Down to Business I assume Harry?" Griphook said passing Harry a large sheaf of documents. "This is the Inheritance you will receive from your parents. This," he said handing Harry another, larger sheaf, "is from your godfather"

Harry opened the documents and exclaimed on shock "What!" After a cursory glance at the first one. The ancient and noble house of Potter was indeed... Eccentric. His eyes only widened as he look as Sirius' will. Any reminder of his godfather was still raw and painful, he may never get used to that fact... He was gone.

Harry continued to look through his various properties, Jewels, and investments. From the previous years, it looked like the investments would allow him to simply live off his interest for the rest of his life, and thereafter as well! Harry scratched his chest absentmindedly, while engrossed by the documents in front of him.

"Harry-" Griphook said tentatively, very stange for a Goblin. Harry's head snapped up to look at the Goblin. "Yes?" he replied, just as quietly. "Have you been experiencing any pain in your chest? Recently or otherwise?"

"Errm… Yes actually now I think about it. Why? Is it important? What's going on? What does it me-" Harry rambled, becoming worried.

"Harry please stop! All we have to do is take a sample of your blood and we shall determine what is happening. Is that acceptable?" Griphook said calmly. Harry nodded, not trusting his voice to answer for him. He watched as Griphook drew his short blade a dragged it across his hand drawing a thin line of blood from his palm. After corking a phial of his blood Griphook pulled his finger across the boy's hand and watched as small amounts of steam rose from the freshly healed cut. He politely asked Harry to wait here while he tested the blood.

Harry couldn't tell if minutes or hours passed while he anxiously waited for Griphook's return. His eyes slowly wandered around the exquisite office, looking at the masterfully crafted table, filled with carvings and saw the deep mahogany inlaid with gold that spiraled and swirled. Just then the mahogany doors flew open, as Griphook returned from the test chambers, in the wake of another, more important looking Goblin. Harry immediately rose from his seat on the sofa and looked the powerful goblin in the eye, not daring to blink. "Well met Mr. Potter," he said in a raspy voice that sounded like gravel. What's going on here? Harry asked himself as he felt the atmosphere relax as the goblin spoke his first words. "I am Director Ragnok, the Head Goblin at Gringotts. It truly is a pleasure to meet you at last. Griphook has told me you were experiencing a recent pain in your chest as well a long term one in your scar, the results of the blood test have proven two of our most feared theories correct, and have also brought up a new slightly less pressing dilemma. Of course, it is in the best interest of the bank to help our largest customer, so we are willing to help you with all three problems for the sum of 50 Galleons."

"Errm… could you tell me what the problems are, I still don't really know what you're talking about,"

"Ah, my apologies Mr. Potter, the first problem you have is your scar. It seems there is a soul fragments wedged in your scar, this is what has been causing the pain, as well as headaches or other head related issues, such as lack of concentration or sloth. Second, and I realize this may come as a shock, but it appears that your magic has been bound-"

"WHAT!" Harry exclaimed "BOUND? BY WHO?"

"Mr. Potter please, this is a place of work, shouting is not necessary." Harry hung his head and mumbled a sincere apology, "Now, this type of magic is forbidden, especially on the use of a minor. The traces in the blood show the bindings have been in place since, approximately 14 years.-"

"But that's when Dumbledore sent me to the Dursleys! You can't seriously mean… Dumbledore… place those bonds…Made me weak…" he finished lamely. "Mr. Potter, we find it very likely that the headmaster has placed these bindings upon you, since this is a very complex magical art, very few are capable of such power and even fewer still have the required skill to perform it to the extent at which it has been performed upon you."

"Let me guess, Dumbledore is one such person?"

"Actually, that is not the only evidence we have of his hand in this, Mr. Potter. The Goblin Arithmancy we performed on the blood showed us that the caster was Professor Dumbledore. The magical signatures matched with the one he registered to his account at that time, so we are certain that Dumbledore was the one who left you at the Dursleys, and restricted you to your lowest potential. Moving on, the third problem we encountered, was an illegal potion that has entered your blood stream. A Love Potion, Mr. Potter." He saw Harry's mouth begin to open in protest but quickly continued, "We know not who this potion is keyed to, since this particular potion draws attention to the features of the girl or boy in question. The ingredients showed up as: Mytuble Root- Bright Brown Eyes, Fantial Fungus – Large contrast between hair and skin, Novetus leaf – Nice skin and finally Gargainion petals – Crimson Hair. Mr. Potter, do you know anyone that matches this description?" Harry paled, he knew since the word crimson had been uttered. Surely not. Not Ginny? He asked himself, She did lose interest rather quickly his newly emerged logical side reasoned. Harry nodded and said "But I don't want to do anything too rash. Can you let me figure this out, and contact you; should any measured need to be taken?" Both goblins looked at him, impressed by the young man's tenacity and endeavor and swiftly nodded. "The problem Harry, is that the potion can act while dormant as well as active. It stays in the bloodstream until the person dies, or the antidote is taken." Griphook said, while snapping his fingers as another goblin entered with a single phial with a clear liquid inside it. "This is the antidote Harry; I suggest you take it here and now, so the potion does not have a chance to activate." Harry downed the glass and immediately felt his eyes droop. He caught himself as he almost fell forward onto the floor, his eyelids beginning to close.

Harry woke almost an hour after he had taken the potion and his mind felt incredibly free. No, seemingly unnoticed, burden on his mind. He quickly heard the door open as Griphook entered the room again. "Harry, I think it would be best of you were to carry out the other two rituals today as well, just so that you can return to what should have been normal. I also have one more thing to discuss with you before you leave, but it must be done just before you leave, otherwise it will become null and void." His face broke into a feral grin, as he looked off into the distance.

Harry agreed to the other two rituals, so get rid of the soul fragment, which apparently did not have as strong a hold on its container. So, the extraction and destruction of the fragment was significantly easier. Harry sat as the goblins wrote through the air around him, weaving complex patterns, which eventually lead onto this face, past his eyebrows, and then surrounded his scar. Suddenly, from the back of the chamber, chanting began. Harry screamed as the soul was lifted forcibly from his scar and piled into a white ash on the floor next to him. It stopped just as abruptly as it started, and Harry found himself panting as he climbed off his back and walked out of the chamber, to cool off.

The bond release ritual only required a Goblin and another willing participant of another race. Harry immediately called "Dobby,"

"What can Dobby do for Mr. Harry Potter Sir today?" he asked eagerly, bouncing on the balls of his feet with excitement. "Hello Dobby," Harry said kindly "Could you just follow the instructions Griphook gives you and that'll be all?"

"Yes. Yes of course Mr. Harry Potter Sir. Dobby will do so, and if he does it wrong he will feed himself to the dragon that protects the vaults!" Dobby squealed in delight. "No!" Harry said, "You will not punish yourself because of me again Dobby! Is that clear?" Dobby nodded slowly. Bloody Hell; Dragons, you must be crazy to try and rob this place. He thought to himself absently. This ritual was far less painful than the other, considering he hadn't been screaming out in pain, but winced at the high tension strings that seemed to surround his chest were removed. Once the Ritual was complete Dobby popped away and Griphook escorted Harry back to his office.

He turned to Harry once more. "Now, I'd assume you want to know about the last thing I want to talk to you about." When Harry nodded eagerly, his feral grin once again ruled his, usually carefully schooled features. "What do you know about Wizarding Law Mr- Harry? But most specifically… Emancipation." He said as he cackled lightly.

Harry returned to the Dursleys at around 2PM. Wondering how the Goblins managed to be so efficient and so lazy at the same time, before he came up with his answer. Magic he said to himself with a slight chuckle. He sat down and began to read once more, finishing both Charms and Herbology, before turning in for the night. The Goblins really have done a number on me he groused. Ah well nothing to do about it now he said as he lay back to sleep. It truly would be a wonderful Holiday to come, as well as a nice few years of relative peace.

A/N: Thanks to all those who have shown their support, as a reward this chapter came up early! This Chapter will have answered a few questions that you may have had, from the last chapter. Next up will be the OWLS ( and school surprises), Ron, Hermione, Last of the Goblins help and we get away scot free chapters. Wondering about Emancipation? Did he go through with it? Did he decide he wasn't responsible enough? Why is he so happy right now? Stay tuned to find out! Anyways Reviews and PMs are helpful. I'm open to Ideas so…yeah, if I like it I'll try and include it (if it's plausible). It's 2AM right now so I'm really dead oh well. I guess that's life **shrugs shoulders** ;)

Me out!