Father's World
A/N: According to HP canon, the cave where Riddle hid the locket was never given; we did check. So in the end, we gave an educated guess. Also, there was a small shop on Baker Street that sold Sherlock Holmes memorabilia. The clerk and GF did have a nice chat about that famed sleuth when she and her husband visited London several years ago. -GF and The Frau
Disclaimer: You know the drill – see chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed; flames aren't.
Chapter 6:
Due to the Goblins tireless efforts, Harry quickly received emancipation in the Muggle world on his return. No more Dursleys!
It was a few weeks after the 'freak' disappeared, and Vernon Dursley still wasn't a happy man. He had been sent an official notice from Gringotts Bank that they were being audited due to irregularities in their financial records.
What really puzzled him was he had never heard of the bank. And to make matters worse, he had to take the day off of work and wait for some barrister bloke to speak to him and his wife at his home! Couldn't make a bloody appointment at a bank office?
He glared at the short man sitting at their kitchen table. He had introduced himself as 'F. Lock, Account Manager, Gringotts Bank.' Vernon watched with a raised brow as his wife went ghastly pale.
"Just what is this all about, Mr. Lock?" Vernon demanded, glaring at the figure sitting across from him. "We don't bank with you!"
"Ver...Vernon?" Petunia stuttered weakly.
Mr. Lock was a short stocky man wearing a very expensive pin stripe business suit. He looked every inch a successful banker. He pulled out a file and laid it on the table. "You received 500 pounds sterling each month for the support of your wife's nephew, one Lord Harry James Potter. We are calling in all the receipts on the expenditure of these monies for Lord Potter's upkeep."
"Vernon! You told me, we received nothing for the freak!" Petunia screamed. "You never told me!"
"Be still woman!" Vernon snarled, raising his hand threateningly. "And what the bloody hell do you mean, 'Lord Potter'?" He growled at the calm man facing him.
Sitting back in his seat, Mr. Lock was quite disgusted with the scene playing out before him. It seemed that Lord Potter was quite correct in his opinion of his relatives.
However, before things got too heated a pasty-faced, severely overweight teen ran into the house. He was shaking like a leaf and looked like he had just seen a ghost. "Pppppiers . . . . Gagagagordonnn…..sssssssooo kkkkkkcold…." He spat out before he collapsed in a quivering heap on the tile floor.
Later, Flintlock reported to the DMLE that two dementors had appeared in Surrey and Kissed two muggle boys. They had almost Kissed Harry Potter's cousin as well.
Flintlock explained he had been visiting Lord Potter's relatives due to some irregularities in the young wizard's vaults. He had finally managed to drive off the foul creatures and now demanded to know who had released them in a very populated muggle area. The only wizard living in the area was Lord Potter and in his opinion this had been a murder attempt on one of Gringotts most influential clients, not to mention the danger to himself as he was acting on bank business.
0o0o0o0o0o0
While Flintlock was dealing with Harry's former relatives, Harry was cruising along the back roads of the English countryside. Padfoot wasn't with him, much as they both might have wanted it. "Besides Padfoot," Harry had assured his godfather, "I was trained for this."
Both Remus and Flintlock had agreed that it would be better, and less suspicious, if Harry went on his quest alone. It was decided Remus would take Sirius back to Grimmauld Place.
When Harry had finished the third task, Sirius had offered his mother's old place to Albus as a headquarters for his secret little bird club.
Over the summer Sirius told Harry that his parents had been a part of that group. "The Order of the Phoenix it was called," he said.
"Sirius, you know you really shouldn't have told Harry this," Remus chided. "He's much too young! Dumbledore said that when we find Harry, he had to be returned to his relatives for his protection. He doesn't want Harry to know these things until he is older."
"Know what?" Sirius asked. "Know how to defend himself? Know about the way the Dark Tosser managed to escape death? Or know that Dumbledore is setting Harry up to be a sacrifice?"
"He would never. . . . !" Remus started to protest.
"THEN WHY DID HE LEAVE ME TO ROT IN AZKABAN WHEN HE HAD THE POWER AND EVIDENCE TO SET ME FREE!?" Sirius shouted at his friend. "He knew! He knew, Moony! And yet he kept his pet Death Eater out of that hellhole, but he refused to lift a finger for me!"
Remus didn't have an answer for that one. The last time they'd spoken Albus Dumbledore was still maintaining there was nothing he could have done.
With the help of Flintlock, memories of that night in Harry's third year when they confronted Peter, and memories of the Third Task were being sent to Madam Bones. Harry had included sworn statements from himself and Sirius, signed with a blood quill. Lastly, a copy of the original Potter Will, that Dumbledore himself had sealed, also made its way into the hands of the head of the DMLE.
0o0o0o0o0
The local paper in Surrey reported: "Two youths found in a comatose state on a village playground. It is unknown at this time whether or not they will recover. The investigation is currently at a stand still. No witnesses have come forward. One teen, Dudley Dursley, was seen running from the playground. Drugs are suspected."
0o0o0o0o0
Harry had set up camp outside of Greater Hangleton. He knew he was close to another horcrux, maybe two. The compass was pointing towards Little Hangleton. So he had to be careful. He found a small copse of trees off one of the side roads near the small village. As far as he could tell, there was no obviously magical residence in the area. He would explore the area more, tomorrow.
With a shiver, he recognized this place. He was close to the cemetery where Riddle had used his blood to regain a body. The compass was pointing in two different directions: one at the rundown manor on the hill, and over on the other side of village.
He pitched his wizard tent in the copse. It was like the one he slept in during the World Cup with the Weasleys. This one, however, was smaller, for one person or maybe a couple. It had a kitchen area, a common area, a loo with a bath and shower and a small bedroom with a king size bed. Just right for his purposes.
Harry enjoyed the experience. It reminded him of Camp Half Blood. Supper was stew, bread from a local bakery and a butter beer. He hoped his father and grandfather liked butter beer. He also contemplated while he ate on whether or not he should ask Dobby to join him. He could make this spot his home base while he did the scouting, but it would be better if he had someone keeping an eye on things in the tent. Why not?
"Dobby?" His call was followed by a quiet pop.
"Master Harry Potter, sir called for his Dobby?" the oddly clad house elf asked when he popped into the tent.
"Yes I did," Harry said as he finished his stew. "I need your help."
"I wills do anything for you, Master Harry Potter, sir," Dobby agreed, bobbing his head while he bounced madly at Harry's feet.
Harry chuckled as he pushed the empty bowl away. "Listen to what I need you for. . ."
"You'se is the Great Harry Potter. You'se is finally come into you'se powers! Dobby is honored to work for you." Dobby snapped his fingers and the empty bowl was clean and returned to the kitchen.
Harry sighed. "I could use your help with this tent. I know that the Dark Tosser has hidden one of his soul leech containers near here. I have to find it but I need someone to watch over this tent for me. Make sure no one finds it. My needs are pretty simple."
"Dobby cans dos that for Master Harry Potter, sir while he's is on his business!" Dobby bounced happily as tears ran down his cheeks.
So the deal was struck. Harry went to bed knowing that Dobby would tidy things up and make sure he was undisturbed.
0o0o0o0
Finally, two days later Harry removed a ring from the run down shack his compass led him to. Snakes were everywhere! Having retained his Parseltongue, thanks to his Sire's blessing, it wasn't much of a problem getting in or out.
The problem cropped up when he first discovered the compulsion spell demanding he put the ring on. It was tempting, but his demigod status, plus the fact he really didn't want to get that close to the ring, saw him levitating it into a silk bag.
That night, he offered up the bag with the ring inside to his grandfather. Hades, pleased with the offering, returned the cleansed ring.
That night, Harry was informed in his dreams that it was the Resurrection Stone. Now Harry had two of the Deathly Hallows. All that was left was the wand.
The other location in Little Hangleton, Harry was sure, was the dilapidated old manor on the hill. The compass was telling him there were two soul pieces there. 'Probably Riddle and his snake.' Harry knew he couldn't go after them both at this time.
Harry and Dobby left Little Hangleton soon after that. Harry did send Sirius a note saying that he had found one and it been destroyed.
"Padfoot,
Found one. Grandfather was most pleased. One very demented house elf has attached himself to me.
Found where two more are. They must wait.
On the move again. Will write later.
-Mop Head"
0o0o0o0
The compass led him to Hogsmeade next. It was pointing towards the castle. 'Damn,' he thought. 'That one will have to wait until term starts. If I go in there now, I'll tip my hand. Besides now that I've claimed my demigod status, I'm sure those oversized spider monsters would like a piece of me. Nope. This one will have to wait as well.'
He turned his back on that one and reset his compass.
0o0o0o0o0
The next lead was on the coast. According to the compass, it gave off a very faint signal, like it was there, but wasn't.
The cave opened to the ocean. The water was unusually calm. It barely rippled with the tide. After hanging around Percy and Tyson, both sons of the Sea God, Harry knew this wasn't natural.
He pulled out a drachna. In a nearby rainbow formed by the spray of the waves hitting the rocks, he dropped it in.
A female voice spoke: "Whom do you wish to Iris Message, please?"
"Percy Jackson, Camp Half Blood please."
In the rainbow and mist a picture formed. Harry, forgetting the time difference, realized it was late evening there. Percy was sitting with Annabeth by the campfire.
"Hey Seaweed Brain!" Harry called out.
Percy startled and looked around. Spying Harry, Percy called back: "Hey Mop Head. What's up?"
"I hit a snag in my quest. I need help from someone that knows his way around water. Interested? I'll pay for your visit?"
"You know Zeus would zap me out of the sky if I board a plane, right?" Percy asked as a bit of thunder rumbled in the distance.
Harry spying Annabeth beside Percy, continued, "I know a way you can get here without being spotted. You and Annabeth are both welcome to come over. I know Annabeth wanted to see the Tower of London and Stonehenge. My treat."
After dropping two more drachmas into the rainbow, Harry and Percy firmed up a plan. All he and Annabeth had to do was get to a certain bank in Salem. Harry would do the rest.
o0o0o0o
Harry waited in Flintlock's office for Percy and Annabeth's arrival by port-key. He was going over the reports and statements that Flintlock had prepared for him.
"You mean this Under Secretary wanted to please her boss, Fudge, by getting rid of me? So she sent two Dementors to my relatives to have me Kissed? And no one was aware they went missing? Merlin, sounds just like the bloody idiots!"
"That is correct, Lord Potter. It was only by chance I was visiting your Aunt and Uncle that day. I recognized the aura of the Dementors and called for the DMLE. They had to take immediate action, or face criminal charges by the Director of Gringotts. I was there in the performance of my duties as your account manager. If I had been attacked by those foul things, it would've incited another Goblin War."
Harry scowled as he went over the report. "So what happened to this Under Secretary?"
"Well, she was slated to be your next Defense instructor at Hogwarts." Flintlock snorted in disdain. "However, she is now facing a term in Azkaban for unleashing them in the Muggle World. They added 'violation of the Statute of Secrecy' to the list of laws she broke."
Harry thought back to Second Year when Dobby tried to keep him from going to Hogwarts and shuddered.
"So she sent them because she wanted to please the Minister? Why?"
"You know that the Ministry does not want to acknowledge that the 'Dark Tosser' has returned? This Umbridge creature thought she could silence you, and make the Minister happy."
"So was she a Death Eater?"
"Hardly. Although, she likes to spout their propaganda. She has a strong hatred for anything not pure blood. She's the one who rammed all those werewolf laws through the Wizengamot."
Harry snorted and put the report to the side. "If she isn't going to be the next DADA instructor, who is?"
That moment, Percy Jackson and a very beautiful blonde haired teenage girl were ushered into the office.
"Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase. Just arrived by port-key," said the goblin aide.
"Hey Mop Head!" Percy said as he greeted his friend. "That was some ride you whipped up. Thought me and Wise Girl were in a food processor for a moment."
"Evan," Annabeth said as she peered around the stone walled office.
"Actually, it's Harry Potter," Harry said, looking a bit sheepish. "I had to go by another name over in the States. Too many people were looking for me and so I used an alias."
"Chiron knew about this?" Percy asked, a bit peeved at the deception.
"Not exactly. He knew I was hiding something. Since I was under my grandfather's protection there wasn't much he could do about it," Harry assured them. "And if Mr. D knew, he wouldn't've used my real name anyways. You know how he is."
Flintlock sat back in his chair and watched as the three demigods got caught up on the latest gossip. Then Harry explained the quest he was on. The goblin was amazed at how the trio switched from air-headed teenagers to veteran warriors in the blink of an eye. And that was what these teens were, veteran warriors who had seen battle. He felt fortunate being in the same room as them.
"So you found something with a water trap and that's why you called me?" Percy asked.
"Yep. I know Annabeth wanted to visit and have me show her around London. So how about it? You in?"
"Sure, Mop Head," Percy said. "Anyone that's split his soul is just too creepy and needs to be taken down."
"Says someone that has a Cyclops for a half-brother and kills monsters! Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said.
Harry took Percy and Annabeth to the Leaky Cauldron. There was no fear of him being recognized. Without his signature glasses, taller and healthier, Harry looked nothing like he did when he left Hogwarts two months ago. It also helped that his hair was spiked and gelled. He knew he looked good and no one would connect him with the old Harry Potter.
After a quick bite of lunch and hashing out a plan, the trio walked out into the streets of London.
Harry held out his wand. BANG! A purple triple-decker bus appeared out of no where.
"Oi! Them 'r' muggles!" a pimply-faced conductor grumbled. "Well, one o' yous mus' be a wizard or ya cou'ent summoned The Knight Bus. I'm Stan Shunpike yur conductor. Thirteen sickles will git yous hot choc'lat, wif fifteen a toof brush, new, 'n' a 'ot water botl."
"Hello, three to the Mewstone caves, Devon, please." Harry pulled out three galleons. "Keep the change. We just ate at the Leaky so don't need the hot chocolate, thanks all the same."
"So who'r you free?" Stan Shunpike queried. "Ernie, you fergot ta change from night ta day agin!"
"Evan, Percy and Annabeth," Harry introduced them. "We need to get to Devon as fast as possible."
Percy and Annabeth watched a bit stunned as the made up beds changed to easy chairs. Harry led them to the back of the bus and placed sticking charms on the three of them. "Hang on. You're in the ride of your life!"
For the next hour, the trio experienced a ride straight out of an insane amusement park. Harry was glad he remembered the last time he rode the bus and thought about applying the sticking charms to the three of them.
The shrunken head 'Dre Head' shouted out warnings to Ernie much to the amusement of Percy.
Annabeth and Percy compared the Knight Bus to the taxi service of the grey sisters as they were thrown around. In their opinions, the two modes of transport were a dead heat. They explained the sisters only had one eye between them and wondered what Ernie's excuse was?
They finally made it to Devon without an accident. A lot of near misses and a few extra bruises, but no parts missing.
Harry led them down to the mouth of the cave and on inside. Dark magic still radiated from the glassy water.
"There's something in the water, I just don't know what," Harry said as they stepped into the main room of the cave.
"There are bodies in the water!" Annabeth screamed after a closer look.
"Inferi!" Harry gasped.
"Inferi?" Annabeth questioned with a puzzled frown.
"They're animated corpses," Harry explained. "Percy, slowly remove the water from the cave. Try not to disturb it too much. Fire is the only way to destroy the bodies of Inferi. Don't let them bite you!" Harry quickly threw up some shields to protect them.
Percy raised a hand, and with a gentle wave the seawater slowly flowed out of the cave without causing a ripple, exposing the bodies. Harry promptly set the cave on fire. The Inferi started to rise, only to burst into flames as Annabeth threw in some Greek Fire grenades to help.
They waited until the fire died down before going farther within. They found a small island at the back with a stone and crystal basin on a pillar.
"That's not water," Percy said peering into the basin.
Harry shattered it with a quick Reducto. At the bottom of the ruined basin was a silver locket.
"This is a fake!" Harry snarled, holding up the locket. "The horcrux was here but it was taken away. I can still sense the dark magic residue."
"That is correct, Grandson," Lord Hades said, stepping out of shadows created by the flickering flames with him was a shade. "Thank you for giving those souls peace. I can now finally judge them and send them on."
"Harry Potter, thank you," whispered the shade. "I asked Lord Hades for a chance to speak with you."
"Harry, this is Regulus Black, your 'dogfather's' brother," Lord Hades explained. "You need to listen to what he has to say."
Percy turned to Annabeth and mouthed, 'Dogfather?' She hissed and waved him off so she could hear the conversation.
"I died here but couldn't move on as my body became part of the trap," Regulus sighed. "I retrieved the original locket when I discovered what the Dark Lord was doing. I stole it back, but the Inferi attacked me and couldn't finish the task. On my final order Kreacher took it with him and still has the real one. Tell my brother, he was right and I am sorry. Help Kreacher destroy that abomination, and kick the Dark Lord's arse."
"I will, sir," Harry promised, before turning to Hades and gave a slight bow. "Thank you Grandfather, for your help."
"I am proud of you Harry. Percy, Annabeth. I will ignore your presence here since you aided my grandson."
0o0o0o0o0
Harry escorted Percy and Annabeth around England, as promised. Since the Dursleys never took him anywhere on their vacations, the trip was a treat for him as well. It was too bad, they only had a week before their return port-key went off.
He took them to Stonehedge. As they were leaving for the day, they saw a troll coming out of a tunnel under the road. Percy and Annabeth sighed. Of course, you get three demigods out in the open, and a monster was bound to show up!
Thankfully, they were among the last visitors to leave the historical site for the day so there weren't many people around. Percy and Harry made quick work of the troll and thankfully, the fight didn't go near the monolithic stones so there was no lasting damage to the sight.
Once the troll was dusted, Harry quickly obliviated all those who saw the fight.
They had a nice time seeing the Roman Baths in Bath, Loch Ness and Edinburgh.
Dobby and his hyper enthusiasm took some getting used to. They slept in Harry's tent, after Dobby expanded the bedroom and added bunk beds. Percy and Annabeth marveled at the wonders of magic.
"I wonder, maybe we can convince Chiron to get a couple of house elves for Camp?" Percy mused. Annabeth glowered at him.
They did battle a few of the smaller demons and monsters that inhabit Great Britain, but nothing too challenging. Celtic monsters were very different from their Greek counterparts, but they died just the same.
The trio went by train, bus and even walked. Annabeth refused to ride the Knight Bus ever again.
In London they saw the 'Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace,' Big Ben and Piccadilly Circus, to name a few stops.
The last day, Harry took Annabeth to 221B Baker Street. They went by the Tube and when they got to the station, the tile work was the silhouette of the great fictional detective. The guide at the small tourist shop under the famous apartment was very friendly and knowledgeable.
0o0o0o0o0
Back in Flintlock's office, three tired demigods stepped in. With good-byes said, Percy and Annabeth returned via portkey back to Camp Half Blood.
"All done," Harry said, tiredly to his Account Manager. "Four soul leeches left. One's here in London, one at Hogwarts and Riddle and the one with him. I have a feeling its that pet snake of his that I remember seeing." Harry gave a weary sigh. "These, I can't get to secretly, I have no choice but to come out of hiding. And with the opening of school so close..."
He wasn't looking forward to the Spanish Inquisition he knew was waiting for him when he returned.
0o0o0o0o0o0
Thanks for the wonderful reviews and comments. We do try to answer those that leave a way for us to.
Question: Did any one find the LotR reference we couldn't resist putting in?
Until next time. -GF and the Frau