Author: HatefulRodeo

Story: Sirius' Awakening

Notes: More Severus, and plot, this chapter. ENJOY LOVELIES!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I will make no money from the posting of this story.

Previously:

He relaxed as he didn't need to make a list of what he needed tomorrow from the Alley; Severus needed everything. When he left Spinner's End he escaped with the clothes on his back and his wand, everything else was replaceable to him. For now he wore Sirius' old clothes that no longer fit him; they were still a bit big on his frame but then again he was quite skinny.

However, Severus knew even at top condition he'd be considerably less broad than Sirius was. The onyx eyed boy had taken after his mother in his slender build and aristocratic face; only his dark eyes and slightly bigger than normal nose showed his father's contribution to his looks. Leaning back into the soft cushion he closed his eyes and enjoyed the sunlight warming his pale skin; tomorrow he would go to Gringotts and see if he was a eligible to become an heir in his own right.

Morgana, he truly hoped he was. It would be a dream come true to be recognized by his mother's family, even if all of them were dead. Pushing away any sad thoughts of his mother he let himself drift into a doze.

~*~*~*~*~*Chapter 4~*~*~*~*~

Walking through Diagon Alley with the Black men the next day was a new experience for Severus. Normally, he'd be wearing scruffy clothes and scraping through second hand bins to collect his things; he was receiving a stipend from Hogwarts to be able to purchase his necessities.

Now, he wore quality robes, granted they were Sirius' old robes, and had to bite his tongue from speaking out about Orion purchasing all of his needed school supplies, which included a whole new custom fit wardrobe. Nothing bought was secondhand.

It was new sensation to touch the fine material gracing his body; he felt more at home in these clothes than he ever had in his hand-me-downs and thrift shop purchases. His mother would be so proud if she saw him at this moment and he hoped that where ever she was she was smiling.

Yes, Eileen Prince Snape may not have been the best mother but she loved her son enough to shield him from his vicious father. It took him a long time to see past his mother's submission to his father as anything but weakness. Now, that Severus was older, he saw it as it was; his mother was only eighteen when he was born, disowned and afraid. Could he blame her for latching onto the one constant in her life?

That constant being, from what his mother told him, a smooth talking Tobias Snape. Maybe at one time his father was a normal hardworking man and father but by the time Severus could remember anything Tobias was a bully and a drunk. No fond memories existed about the man who spawned him and he doubted there ever would be.

But those dark times were in the past; he had the Blacks now and he was feeling better and better every day under Walburga's care. He reveled in the envious stares he was getting from several classmates as he walked with Orion toward Gringotts; Sirius and Regulus were going to Quality Quidditch Supply while he and the Lord Black went to Gringotts about his possible inheritance.

Entering the large white marble building the two men approached an available teller and explained what they were hoping to accomplish with their visit that day. The goblin at the counter nodded and excused himself for a moment before returning with another goblin. The newly arrived goblin escorted them to a meeting room, bowing them into the room, before departing.

Severus became nervous when they entered the large conference room; two goblins sat at the far side of the table. The one on the right was old and well-dressed with a no nonsense manner while the other looked younger and bit more friendly. When both men sat down the older goblin began the meeting; "Welcome, Lord Black, the goblin at the counter has informed me that Mr. Snape wishes to check if he is eligible for any inheritance. Is this true?"

Orion nodded curtly before turning to Severus; "Severus, this is King Ragnuk the Third. He oversees the English Division of Gringotts and also manages the high level accounts, such as the Black's." The Black Lord indicated the younger goblin, who was scribbling away on a piece of parchment; "That is his scribe, Gornuk, and he will keep an accurate record of our meeting. This is standard in any meeting dealing with inheritance issues."

The onyx eyed boy nodded; "I understand; it's a pleasure to meet you King Ragnuk and you as well Gornuk. If it wouldn't be too forward may I answer your questions instead of Lord Black?"

Ragnuk nodded, and gave a sharp toothed smile, indicating that Severus should continue speaking. "Thank you, to answer your question I am here to check on any inheritance due to me from my mother's family. She was disowned but I don't know what that means for me."

"She never mentioned that they hadn't recognized me as a part of the Prince family and I came here today to check." Orion smiled a small smile at the nervous teen, making Severus relax a bit; he really didn't want to look like an idiot in front of his caretaker or the King of the bloody Goblins.

Never in a million years did he think he'd ever meet the King of the Goblins but then again after living with the Black family he was getting quite used to the unexpected happening as if it was totally normal.

Ragnuk waved his hand and a silver stiletto dagger, outfitted with Runes and Rubies on the hilt, flew into his hand along with a sheet of pure white parchment; "I understand, Mr. Snape. Now, in order to see if you're eligible for the Prince vaults and any other assets we must test your blood and magic."

"The dagger, as you can see, is enchanted as is the parchment. When you cut your ring finger on your dominant hand the blade will draw out your magic into the spilled blood. Once the blood, infused with your magic, is drawn you will allow three drops to fall onto the parchment. After that the parchment and you blood will do the rest. Do you have any questions?"

Severus and Orion both stated they did not. Satisfied with their negative answers Ragnuk offered the blade and paper to Severus; upon taking the blade the onyx eyes teen grit his teeth and nicked his ring finger on his right hand. The sensation was a bit odd, he could feel the blade taking his magic and mixing it with his blood, but after a moment it stopped.

Looking up he noticed the King of the Goblins nodding in satisfaction, letting the teen know the process was going as it should, and gestured for Severus to drop the blood onto the waiting parchment. Taking a deep breath, and taking strength from Orion's warm eyes, the young man allowed the life giving liquid to drip onto the paper.

The results were almost instantaneous; the blood began to form words and within two minutes the results were clear. They read as followed;

Severus Tobias Snape

Born: January 9, 1960

Father: Tobias Matthew Snape

Mother: Eileen Alandra Snape, nee Prince - Deceased (formally disowned from the House of Prince on April 18, 1959; disownment does not apply to the child known as Severus Tobias Snape.)

Entitlements:

Prince Vault Number: 418 (trust vault established by paternal grandfather, Severus Michaelis Prince on January 12, 1960) Balance: 5,000 Galleons, 16 Sickles, and 26 Knuts

Prince Vault Number: 684 (cannot be accessed until majority is reached) Balance: 5,000,000 Galleons, 12 Sickles, and 15 Knuts

Prince Vault Number: 669 (Prince Heirloom Vault - cannot be accessed until majority) Vault has not been inventoried

Prince Manor: (cannot be accessed until majority) Unplottable and Blood Warded

Prince Heir Ring

Letter from Severus Michaelis Prince; written at the same time as his will was created and witnessed by Ragnuk the Third on January 12, 1960.

Severus sat in shock when he finished reading; he had a trust vault?! Why had his mother never said anything to him about it and for that matter why hadn't he known? He was scraping by when he had galleons available to him?!

This made no sense at all; "King Ragnuk, why wasn't I informed of my having a trust vault?" The old goblin sneered; "We sent your statements to your parents, as is our policy until you turn seventeen, at Spinner's End; it is not Gringotts' issue that you did not receive them."

Well that explained it. Apparently, Tobias was keeping things from both his deceased mother and him. Or had his mother known and been too afraid to tell Severus? The man was truly an ass but Severus was thankful the man known as his father couldn't access his Prince Vaults, even if he knew about them. He'd be broke if that was the case! Sighing, he shoved the useless thoughts out of his mind.

He would never have to deal with Tobias Snape again, unless he chose to, and now he could become a true, and recognized, part of his mother's family. He was a Prince now; "Excuse me, King Ragnuk, but will I be able to change my middle name to Circinus and last name to Prince?" Orion chuckled at his charge's eagerness but said nothing, leaving Ragnuk to answer; "You may, Mr. Snape."

Severus beamed at them, not caring that he wasn't acting like a proper Slytherin at the moment. All that mattered to him was he was finally getting rid of that awful middle and last name; Tobias Snape, it brought no feelings of familial care or love. It only brought horrible memories of abuse, drunken rants, and his mother's brutal death.

Yes, he would be quite happy to leave those names in the past with the bastard who donated sperm to create him. But he treasured his first name even more; it was unique and belonged to his grandfather, he hadn't known that before. Even though he never met the man he knew he must have been loved by his mother's father to be allowed to inherit the Prince heirship and vaults.

And he was named after the man after all, which brought him to his next question; "May I have the letter my grandfather wrote me?" Ragnuk nodded, tapping the parchment on the line where the letter was listed, and with a flash an envelope made out of fine quality parchment appeared. Severus smiled softly when he saw his name written on the front in perfect cursive.

Gently, he picked up the letter and slipped it into his robes; he'd read it later in private where he would be alone to express himself freely. Taking a deep breath he focused and let his face settle back into a neutral expression; Orion just chuckled again as he watched the teenage Severus change back into the formidable Slytherin.

"Thank you, King Ragnuk. Now, what do I need to do change my name?" The older goblin handed him the parchment where his name and entitlements were written and with another wave an archaic looking quill appeared on the table next to the parchment; "Take the quill; don't be alarmed if you feel a bit of pain using it. It's a Blood quill and like the dagger it will pull your magic, along with your blood, from your veins."

"As I was saying; you'll take the quill and cross out your current name. After you've crossed it out your old name will disappear and you'll have to fill in a new one. You are allowed to change your name due to the fact that you've claimed the inheritance left to you by your grandfather."

"Only you are capable of making this change, no one else. However, be careful as this change is permanent and cannot be changed once it is filed, not until you become bonded, or married, to another."

"Once you've written your new name the parchment will disappear, filing itself here at the bank, at Hogwarts, and at the Ministry of Magic." Severus digested the goblins words, listening carefully, and picked up the Blood quill; his decision made.

With a sigh he slashed out his former name, wincing when the pen cut into the back of his hand to draw the needed blood and magic. The onyx eyed teen knew he wanted to use the names he'd mentioned to Ragnuk earlier and without any further hesitation Severus wrote his new name proudly; Severus, for his grandfather, Circinus, for the Black's since it was a constellation, and lastly Prince.

When he placed the quill down the paper flashed bright white and disappeared to wherever it would be filed with Gringotts, Hogwarts, and the Ministry. Orion placed a strong hand on the teen's shoulder and squeezed it; Severus could feel the pride radiating off the older man and smiled a small smile towards his caretaker in gratitude for all that the man, and his family, had done for him.

The Black Lord removed his hand and faced Ragnuk; "Now, I believe Mr. Prince is entitled to his heir's ring, yes?" The King of the Goblins smirked; "Indeed, Mr. Prince is entitled to it." Ragnuk tapped his claw against the table in a series of taps; Severus watched in interest wondering what the goblin was doing. Orion, on the other hand seemed to think it was totally normal.

Once the tapping stopped they remained silent for a few minutes; Severus was about to ask what was going on when the door opened and another goblin entered holding a ring box in its hand. Ragnuk introduced the newly arrived goblin; "Mr. Prince, this is Karnak. He manages the Prince vaults and has for many years."

"If you have any questions regarding your vaults he will be whom you speak, or write, to. Also, all your statements will now be forwarded to your attention, not your father's."

The newly anointed Prince nodded, showing he understood what Ragnuk said and also to greet his Account Manager, but his eyed were watching the box avidly, knowing exactly what Ragnuk's tapping must have done, and precisely what was in the ring box.

Karnak stepped up to the table and bowed to his King before placing the box on the table and left the conference room but not before bidding them all goodbye with another bow. When the door closed behind Karnak Ragnuk opened it and examined the enclosed ring closely.

After a moment of observing the ring Ragnuk pushed the container toward Severus, letting the raven haired teen see the ring that was his birthright. It was beautiful! The ring was made of shining white gold with a large opal in the center, which was surrounded in each side by the Prince's Coat of Arms.

The Ancient and Noble House of Prince's Coat of Arms was a cauldron with wisps of vapor rising from the top, a wand leaning against the cauldron, and a snake coiled at the bottom; it was gorgeous and it suited Severus to a tee. He wondered if the House of Prince was a line renowned for its ability to brew potions. And if they were always sorted into Slytherin?

It was something he would like to know; maybe Orion knew? He'd make sure to ask when they returned to Number Twelve and he finished reading the letter from his grandfather. Shaking himself out of his daze, Severus reached for the ring, sliding it out of the box and onto his right ring finger; the ring resized itself immediately, accepting him as heir.

Ragnuk cleared his throat; "Now, is there any other business you have today, Lord Black? Mr. Prince?" Severus shook his head in the negative while Orion answered verbally; "Yes, actually, I'd like Severus to get a Gringotts' Charge Card so he doesn't have to come here to withdraw money the next time he's in Diagon Alley or wishes to go shopping."

The King of the Goblins nodded; "Of course, the tellers in the atrium will be able to accommodate you. Now, if you'll excuse us I have other matters to attend to." Both men rose and bowed to the exiting goblins. When the creatures left the room Severus and Orion followed them and visited an available goblin teller.

After they'd received Severus' Gringotts card, along with the key to his trust vault, the two raven haired men exited the bank and into the afternoon sun. The onyx eyed teen was excited; he had money and he was a true Prince now. He'd been accepted by his magical family and it felt glorious!

Lily would never believe any of this! He'd have to write her when he returned home. Home; he had a real home now! It was funny how he already thought of Grimmauld Place as his home when he'd lived at Spinner's End his whole life and considered it more of a prison.

Orion grasped Severus' bicep and turned them toward Quality Quidditch Supplies so they could collect Sirius and Regulus. Both Black sons would be eager to know what happened at Gringotts and Severus found himself equally excited to tell them about his experience.

This must be what having a real family, and friends, feels like. Severus liked it very much and couldn't see himself giving this up for the world.

Alright, I've covered much of what I wanted to cover summer wise; only one more summer chapter to go and then it's back to school.

I know this is a bit dry but it is necessary to building my plot. I refuse to skim on the substance just to skip to more exciting/slashy scenes. Also, the next few chapters will be in Sirius' POV. Be patient with me; we're getting there. Please and thank you!

All Mistakes Are My Own!