When the morning light streaming through the windows finally reached the eyes of the Boy-Who-Lived Harry began to stir. Rolling away from the brightness Harry curled in on himself trying desperately to get a few more minutes of precious sleep before he would have to get up and make breakfast for the Dursleys, a feat that would make any house elf orgasmic at the sheer amount of work needed. After half a minute of failure Harry reluctantly sat up; reaching out for his glasses with one hand while he used the other to rub sleep from his tired eyes.
When he finally opened them after resting his glasses on his nose Harry froze, this was not his room at Durzkaban. As he took in his unfamiliar surroundings the memories of his night time flight and its aftermath came rushing back to him. He noticed that sometime overnight Hedwig had arrived as she sat in the hanging cage asleep on the perch with the door ajar. Feeling a weight near his feet as he shifted Harry looked down to see Twilight lying curled up at the foot of his bed.
With some careful movement and the occasional pause to allow Twilight to adjust herself in her sleep Harry managed to get himself out of bed without waking his new familiar. As he went into the bathroom to brush his teeth Harry realized that the only clothes he had were his pajamas, the clothes he'd worn yesterday, and his school robes which after two years of use, were now several inches too short at his arms and legs.
With a heavy sigh Harry threw on his muggle clothes, a simple t-shirt and jeans; a few more hours in them wouldn't hurt. After brushing his teeth, pocketing his wand, and stuffing what wizarding currency he had left into his pockets Harry exited the bathroom ready to start his day. As soon as he opened the bathroom door a furry missile launched itself at him and it was only his honed Seeker reflexes that made it so Twilight landed on his shoulder rather than his face. While she curled around his neck possessively Harry turned towards Hedwig who let out a hoot of irritation as she glared at her wizard.
As Hedwig spread her wings clearly ready to launch herself at him Harry quickly put up his hands in protest to wave off the dive bombing from his territorial overly possessive owl. "Woooah girl, easy. There's space for the both of you. Twilight," Harry addressed the black cat, meeting her violet gaze out of the corner of his eye with a tilt of his head. "Can you please make space for Hedwig?" Twilight seemed to consider his request for a second before, with exaggerated slowness, she shifted so she lay draped mostly over his left shoulder with her tail encircling his neck. Harry turned to Hedwig who hooted her approval before launching herself to land on his right shoulder, her head held high.
Sighing at the two Harry opened his door, which promptly smacked into the face of a young woman whose hair flashed a multitude of colors before settling on red. "Oy, what's the big idea? Don't you knooo-" her voice trailed off as she realized her finger was pointed at a young man whose eyes hadn't left her hair once it started changing. "Oy, eyes are down here," she said, snapping her fingers to get his attention as her hair settled on turquoise blue. "Whelp, you're Harry Potter all right," the girl muttered, crossing her arms in front of her quite ample chest, which upon glancing at Harry quickly turned away, his face flushed red.
"See something you like?" the girl teased flashing a grin at Harry now that he managed to focus on her face while her hair turned bubblegum pink.
"Yes. I mean, no. I mean, OWWW!" The last part came out as a yelp and Harry quickly flashed a dirty look at each shoulder only to see Twilight and Hedwig each looking off to the side innocently despite their claws even now digging into his skin. The girl snorted Harry's antics allowing him a brief second to compose his thoughts. "You know who I am?" Harry asked after a moment although he really wanted to ask about her hair.
"Yyyeppp," the girl said, drawing it out and popping the p as her hair turned the same violent purple as the Knight Bus. Stretching out her hand she introduced herself, "Nymphadora Tonks, auror in training and seventh year Hufflepuff back when you were just a wee little bittie firstie." Her grin turned serious as she narrowed her eyes at Harry, her hair turning black with red tips that seemed to twitch as she spoke, "But never, under any circumstances, call me Nymphadora. It's Tonks, plain and simple." Harry quickly nodded at the girl, his experience with the Dursleys coming to the forefront in the face of a clear threat.
"So what are you doing here?" He asked, trying to change the subject.
"Here to guard you," Tonks said with a shrug, her hair finally seeming to settle down on knight bus purple. "Mad-Eye told me to come and get ya since you were movin' about. Figured you'd want some breakfast before you went and did, well whatever it was ya wanted to do."
"Mad-Eye?" Harry asked, confused.
"Yeah, Mad-Eye Moody, my mentor. One of the DMLE's top Aurors. Best of the best, especially during the war. He's a grumpy old coot with a magic eye that can see through walls and curses and stuff. Thought he could use it to peek through clothes so I experimented a bit when I was first assigned to him. Seems he can't see through anything made out of something organic although that only applies to animals and stuff woods fair game far as I can tell. His eye is basically a metal detector that detects magic although it doesn't work on the really dark stuff or animagi but since all animagus are registered it's not really needed."
"What's an ani-mage," Harry asked, stumbling over the term though he was curious to learn something new.
"Animagus, someone who can turn into an animal and back at will. McGonagall's one, she's a cat. You probably saw her transform on your first day, it's kind of what she does." Seeing Harry's nod of confirmation Tonks continued, "Anyway the ingredients became really regulated after the war with You-Know-Who so it's easy to track anyone wanting to undergo the process whether they know it or not. Even the Knockturn sellers have difficulty getting their hands on the stuff." She finished clearly proud of the achievement although Harry didn't understand why.
"However," Tonks said as an idea seemed to hit her, "I will admit, anyone who became one before or during the war will likely not be registered if they didn't make a big deal out of it. They'd have to be pretty smart to hide it that long though and keep someone from finding out." As she ended her lecture a rumble from Harry's stomach caught her attention. Seeing his face flush a bright red she chuckled, "Well come on let's get some of Tom's cookin' in ya. His eggs are cheesy so I'd recommend ya bury them in hot sauce but the bacon's worth killin for."
Following the Auror-in-training downstairs Harry was greeted by the usual moment of silence at his appearance but apart from a few whispers and furtive glances every now and then most people seemed content to leave him be. Tonks led him over to a back corner table where a heavily scarred man with a wooden peg leg sat. Despite all the scars and the missing limb the man's most distinguishing feature was a prosthetic eye in his left socket which whirled in multiple directions including the back of his head, Harry was quite willing to bet a large amount of his parents fortune that this was Mad-Eye Moody. As Harry and Tonks sat down the eye seemed to settle on Harry, particularly his forehead.
"So you're Harry Potter," the man growled. "Not much to look at are ya?" Harry stayed silent as the man appraised him with his good eye; his magical eye stayed on Harry's forehead for another moment before it turned back to scanning the room. "I see why we're here. Ya certainly aren't capable of facing down Death Eaters, particularly the right and left hands of You-Know-Who."
"I think I could hold my own," Harry ventured, slightly perturbed that this man was dismissing him so easily, especially since Harry'd already encountered the Dark Lord twice during his two years of schooling.
"Oh so you know how to fight do ya?" Mad-Eye said, jerking his head up sharply so both of his eyes were staring intensely into Harry's. "Know how ta transfigure a boulder sailing at your head into some weapons you can banish right back, huh? How to throw lightning and fire? Ta cast the cutting or blasting curses? I bet you're willing to kill someone too. That you won't hesitate. Yes, you are ready; guess me and Nymphadora-
"Hey!"
"Can leave and go on our merry way. After all," the man flashed a dark grin revealing worn, yellow teeth, "the Boy-Who-Lived is so great that he can defeat the Dark Lord as a mere babe, what use are us lowly Aurors? You're right" the man said, shifting as if he was preparing to get up, "surely such great heroes can take care of themselves?"
Harry opened his mouth to protest the man's mocking but paused as he thought over everything the scarred Auror had said. He was right, Harry realized as he mentally went over his adventures the past two years. It was luck more than anything that had kept him and his friends alive. In fact as he thought about it some more the only three real spells Harry felt he could use in combat were Expelliarmus, Serpensortia, and Petrificus Totalus two of which he'd only learned thanks to the facade that was Lockhart's Dueling Club. Sure Harry could probably use some other spells like Lumos or Wingardium Leviosa in a fight but they were more for utility than anything else.
The more Harry thought of the examples Mad-Eye had given the more Harry truly realized how royally screwed he was. Voldemort had decades of experience and was considered most powerful than Grindelwald, the wizard responsible for kicking off the magical side of World War II. Worse, he seemed truly dedicated to killing one Harry James Potter who had known he was a wizard for a grand total of two going on three years. Meanwhile what had Harry done so he could fight back against his parents murderer? Nothing. He'd put the least amount of effort into school he could and spent his free time playing either Quidditch or Wizard Chess with Ron. Hell, if Harry'd spent a quarter of the time studying Hermione did he'd probably at least know some bloody fighting spells.
As he considered his options Harry looked at Mad-Eye whose good eye had remained on Harry the entire time. In him, for a brief moment, Harry saw a ghost of himself. This was a man who'd faced death and been forced to kill just like Harry had been with Quirrell. A man who had been an active part of the war against the Dark Lord and came out of it alive, who was ready to get down and dirty again against the hands of Voldemort, whoever they were. As he looked at the man Harry almost felt like he was back at school taking a test but this time his survival might very well rest on the results.
"...You're right," Harry started as he gathered his thoughts, his eyes still on Mad-Eye though to the old Auror they seemed to contain a new determination that wasn't there a few moments ago. "I'm not ready. Not ready for Death Eaters, not ready for a Dark Lord, I'm not even ready to face a fifth year in a duel. My entire life the only reason I've survived the things I've faced is because I got lucky. I did the right things at the right time or somebody else did. Never once if I had only myself to rely on would I have survived."
"You two are my guards, correct?" He paused as the two nodded. "And you are to accompany me while I do whatever it is that I do?" Once again he received two nods of confirmation. Harry paused once again as he gathered his thoughts. The Sorting Hat had at first wanted to put him in Slytherin so it was time to use some of that Slytherin cunning the snakes were always crowing about though Harry rarely saw any of them actually practicing it.
The rest of their breakfast was silent as Harry thought about all that he needed to do. He barely touched his food, only eating the bare minimum feeding the rest to Hedwig and Twilight while he organized his thoughts. His first order of business was definitely Gringotts to make a withdrawal. Next he needed to get his supplies for the year, he'd already received his school list by the time he left the Dursley's due to the Marge Incident and he desperately needed some new robes from Madame Malkins. Lastly but most importantly Harry needed to be stronger. If the last two years had been any indication the peaceful school life that Harry desired was not going to come any time soon as proven by the fact he needed trained Aurors protecting him before he even went to Hogwarts this year. However as he looked over the scars decorating Mad-Eye's face Harry realized he had everything he needed right here as if it was being offered to him on a silver platter.
"Okay here's what we're going to do today." Harry said as soon as Tom took their plates away speaking with a confidence he wasn't experiencing. "First thing we're doing is going to Gringotts so I can make a withdrawal from my account. Next we're going to take care of my school supplies, I've got the list so once that's taken care of all we'll have left is free time."
Tonks interrupted with a snort which carried a new meaning as she'd changed her nose to a pig snout. "Yay, whoop-de-doo. Watching over a teenager for two weeks; that won't be boring at all." A stinging jinx from Moody silenced the young Auror who rubbed her elbow as she shot alternating glares between her two companions.
"As I was saying," Harry continued pointedly looking at Tonks who returned his look by maturely sticking out her tongue. "We'll have just under two weeks before I need to go back to Hogwarts, during that time you two are going to teach me how to fight."
His declaration surprised Tonks whose shock quickly turned from Harry to Moody as the man broke out into large guffaws of laughter. After a few moments he quieted down although his good eye seemed to blaze with an insane glee as he grinned. "Well done, lad, well done. Utilizing what resources you have at hand, knowing we can't leave you and that we'd rather do anything at all than watch ya jerk your wand everyday. HA! You coulda been a Slytherin with that cunning."
Harry gave the man a smirk, "What can I say, I'm just full of surprises." earning him another laugh from the seasoned Auror.
"Wait, slow down." Tonks said, causing the two to turn to her. "As much as I'd rather train the Boy-Who-Lived than watch him jerk his wand in bed, what would we teach him? A lot of the spells we use are for Auror use only and besides I'm still in training, this could get me fired."
"Nymphadora-"
"I've told you to stop calling me that!"
"-Tonks the voice of reason, I never thought I'd see the day." Moody said although his smile didn't falter, if anything it grew. "Don't worry if ol' Bonesy hears about this I'll take the blame, this is my last year anyway." Tonks' eyes widened in shock and she opened her mouth to protest but Moody held up a hand to silence her as a resigned look appeared on his face.
"I'm getting old Tonks. I've been fighting wannabe Dark Lords ever since Grindelwald fell. You-Know-Who was the worst by a long shot and as much as I want him to be dead we've seen the signs. His followers that aren't locked up in Azkaban have been worming their way into society gaining more power and influence every day. Fudge doesn't wipe his ass without Lucius's approval, Karkaroff may have turned traitor but he has a nice spot as headmaster of a school churning out little wannabe Death Eaters and he'll switch his loyalties just as quickly as he did after the war. Avery and Nott, they have their hands in almost every business legal or otherwise in Knockturn Alley while Severus is Dumbledore's closest confidant and a teacher. A known, marked Death Eater is a TEACHER at the greatest school in Britain teaching the very child who brought about his master's downfall.
Meanwhile, what have the DMLE done? Raids? Nothing but trinkets if that. Arrests? If we do, they're out in a day. Now the right and left hands of Voldemort," he shuddered, "have escaped Azkaban itself, the so-called most secure prison in the world. The signs are there but have we done anything to prepare? No!" Moody slammed a fist into the table while he took a drag from a flask he pulled from his coat. A few heads turned their way but a glare from the one eyed Auror sent them back to their drinks quick enough.
Moody continued his voice quieter, "Every year our budget is slashed more and more, less Aurors enter the force while those leaving grow in leaps and bounds. The ones that do make it are underprepared, they're glorified police men not soldiers and it wouldn't surprise me if half of them were in one pocket or another, other than you of course." he said to his disgruntled looking trainee as he flashed her a proud grin. "You're my protégé and I'll be damned if I don't make ya worthy of that title."
Moody took a second swig from his flask before he stuffed it back into the folds of his coat while he wiped his mouth on the back of his other hand. "The powder keg is there, the same one that You-Know-Who ignited years ago. Muggleborn vs Pureblood the old traditions against those entering our world. For over a decade the kegs waited for the right person to come along and ignite it, growing in size as more people choose their side, knowingly or not. I don't know if it'll be You-Know-Who, a servant of his, or somebody new but I'd bet my very soul that sometime in the very near future, that keg'll ignite." Moody's eyes turned distant, Harry and Tonks weren't sure if the wizened man was talking to them or himself at this point.
"I've fought for decades, and I'll be damned if I don't fight in this one but I'll admit, as much as it pains me to do so, that I'm not what I once was. I've never been a leader, I'm a soldier and this'll be my last war but I'll do everything in my bloody power to make it so we sure as hell win. However this time something tells me the ones fighting will be your lot," he said pointing to both Harry and Tonks as he turned his attention to them. "My generation fought the last war but this one, it'll be all yours and by Merlin I'm gonna prepare you two for it.
Tonks, you say that Harry's not ready to learn, that he shouldn't have to. I don't think he has a choice. He's the one who brought down You-Know-Who and whether ya like it or not that makes him somebody people look up to. He'll be the one people'll turn to for leadership. Albus is nothing more than a temporary solution and he's getting old just like me. He's a good man, always has been but the problem is he's been playing games for so long he can forget that we're people not pieces. He gets so caught up in manipulating things for his 'Greater Good' that he lets people get hurt saying the ends justify the means. I've seen it time and time again, people can't be predicted no matter what anyone says otherwise. So yes, Harry, I will teach you to fight even if Tonks goes to Dumbledore, Bones, or the ICW itself. I'll do it because I say it's my damn duty to."
As Moody finished his rant Harry and Tonks could do nothing but look at the old man in shock. Moody wasn't predicting a skirmish or a fight he was predicting a second war; one that sounded like it would make the first one akin to a schoolyard duel, while this one dragged in a whole new generation as its combatants. Harry couldn't help but gulp as he tried to imagine it. He might not have grown up in the Wizarding World but he'd heard the stories. He'd seen the scorch marks in Diagon Alley that hadn't faded despite decades passing. The faint scars that peeked out of the robes of wizards and witches he passed in the street hinting at dark curses once thrown their way. Harry was growing up in the fallout of a war that'd almost toppled the country and now, if Moody was right, a second one was on its way.
"Those lessons you were talking about," Harry said licking his lips, breaking the foreboding silence which had settled over the trio, "can we begin tonight instead of tomorrow?" His question was met by a demonic smile from the gruff Auror and a resigned sigh from Tonks as she buried her head in her arms.
"Not again," the girl complained.
"Hey Tonks," Harry asked as the boy and his violet haired guard strode towards the Gringotts, Moody having excused himself saying he needed to get some 'materials' before their lessons could begin, while Hedwig had left to go hunting leaving only Twilight upon Harry's shoulders, "how do you do that thing with your hair and nose?"
"You mean this?" Tonks asked cheekily as her hair turned the various colors of the rainbow while her nose turned into a pig snout and she put on the pounds reminding Harry faintly of a more colorful female version of Dudley.
"I'm what you call a metamorphmagus, someone who can freely change their body however they want. Bloody useful I'll tell you in undercover work, only downside-" She tripped over a display cauldron in front of a store letting out a string of colorful curses which had various nearby mothers covering their children's ears as they shot the Auror disapproving glares. "Only downside," Tonks continued as she picked herself up glaring at the offending cauldron. She gave it a swift kick which sent it rolling down the street where it knocked over a wizard buried beneath his wife's shopping bags sending the man, and the bags, tumbling to the ground. "Is that you can be remarkably clumsy with how often your body changes. The various weights, and fixins mean you're almost never the same and as a result ya struggle to keep up with your body. You walk one way when you are 5'5 and 100 lbs and another when you're 6'6 goin on 450. Don't even ask how I passed the subtlety part of Auror training, cause I don't rightly know myself. I half suspect they might have passed me cause my skill was just too damn useful for them to pass up."
"Huh," Harry grunted as they finally reached Gringotts. Walking up the steps past the armored goblin guards Harry entered the bank pausing just like always to take in the sight. He made to go to the same counter Hagrid had first brought him to just two long years ago and that he'd used ever since but a sudden pain in his left shoulder had him turning to Twilight questioningly. The black cat gave him a meaningful glance before it jumped to the floor and began to walk away, weaving in and out of the legs of the other patrons.
"I think she wants me to follow her," Harry said disbelievingly.
Tonks only snorted, "Smart cat ya got there, then. She's going to the inheritance line."
"Inheritance?" Harry asked, turning to his guard as the two began to make their way in the direction Twilight had gone.
"Yeah, some muggleborns are actually descendants of a wizarding line that went squib long ago. Other times a wizard or witch might have been raised in an orphanage and never known their parents. The Inheritance line basically tests your blood to see what your heritage is, lets you find out about any heirships, betrothals, vaults, conquests, or debts ya may have." Tonks snorted, "Of course most of the people who need it don't know about it, established families don't want muggleborns popping up out of the woodwork trying to claim some of their hard earned galleons through a family connection older than the two of us combined and goblins are, well, goblins."
"Yeah, goblins," Harry responded, only half paying attention. His mind was elsewhere as he thought back to the first time he'd entered the bank. Now that he thought about it Hagrid hadn't done more than go with him to his vault and the one where the Philosopher's Stone was kept. He'd then left to get a drink leaving Harry to get the rest of the items on his list himself and only returned with Hedwig as a surprise gift for the boy. In fact, why had Hagrid come and gotten Harry at all? Hermione had told him that McGonagall had come to visit her and the heads of houses were the ones responsible for visiting muggleborns or muggle-raised students and educating them and their families about the wizarding world. No offense to Hagrid, he was a good man but he was forgetful, and didn't think things through half the time. He certainly wasn't a head of house and should he really have picked up something as important as the stone when a student was present if secrecy was needed?
Deciding to put it off until he could think more on the matter later Harry turned and focused on the line which had just emptied. Dressed in a patchwork cloak the only wizard in front of them was in the process of being dragged away by goblin guards as he yelled at the teller about how he was the rightful heir to House Nantucket through his father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate. "What would that make them then?" Harry asked Tonks, confused.
"Absolutely nothing." Tonks replied with a shake of her head.
Shrugging it off Harry stepped up to the bench where he waited for the goblin to finish writing down whatever it was he was doing. A minute and a half later the goblin raised his head to look at Harry, his expression one of absolute disinterest. "Name?"
"Harry Potter."
The goblin blinked a moment before a dark smile crossed his face, "Well we'll certainly see about that now won't we?"
"What's he mean?" Harry asked, turning to Tonks in confusion.
"It means Mr. Potter," the goblin spoke before the metamorphmagus could answer, "that it is in your best interest to be who you say you are otherwise things will become quite," the goblin paused to flash the boy an evil looking fang filled grin, "painful for you."
Harry gulped. "Now, now," the goblin mocked, "there's nothing to be worried about so long as you are who you claim to be."
"Oy, leave him alone." Tonks commanded slamming her hand down onto the desk. The goblin tensed and looking around Harry could have sworn that the noise in the place became just a bit quieter, the guard's grip on their weapons just a bit tighter. The teller's mouth meanwhile parted at the corner's an audible growl leaking out. "Careful goblin," Tonks spoke, her voice low, "we wouldn't want there to be a misunderstanding now would we?" Looking towards his companion Harry wasn't surprised to see Tonks fingering her wand holster although it certainly did nothing to calm his nerves. The goblin's eyes darted to the nearest guard, "Try me," Tonks practically hissed, "do you really think they can stop me before I get a spell off when I'm so close I'll practically be shoving my wand down that cavern you call a throat."
For a moment Harry thought the goblin would do it and he mentally prepared himself to draw his wand to help his guard when the teller's shoulders slumped in obvious defeat. "Fine." At some unspoken signal another goblin approached, "Follow Sharptooth, he'll administer the test."
Harry nodded and began to follow said goblin, Tonks at his side and Hedwig at his feet. "Uh, uh, uh," the teller interrupted just as the three prepared to pass under the arch Sharptooth had just gone through. "You stay here," the goblin spoke, raising a gnarled finger to point at the Auror in training while a satisfied smile split his face. "The results of an inheritance test are only for the one undergoing it to know." Harry turned to Tonks silently asking her what he should do and after a moment she gave him a nod.
"Fine, but I'm staying here."
"As is your right." the teller replied clearly feeling like he'd come out the better in their verbal spat.
Tonks scowled but said nothing as she made her way to a nearby marble pillar that she leaned against with a huff. She turned to Harry, "If you need me I'll be right here, and I can have the department here in minutes if anything happens." Harry nodded and Tonks nodded back before turning her head to scan the lobby.
Harry turned to the waiting Sharpfang when a meow from his feet caught his attention. "Oh sorry," Harry apologized to his familiar who looked at him with a clear desire to leave, "is it fine if she comes?" The last part was addressed to his guide who was currently casting a strange unreadable look at the black cat.
"Is she with you?" Sharptooth asked after a moment.
"Yes."
"Then she can come." Turning the goblin began to walk away, not checking if Harry was following, leaving the Boy-Who-Lived scrambling to catch up.
They walked for several minutes through twists and turns and marble hallways each of which looked the exact same as the one that'd gone before leaving Harry ready to swear that Sharptooth was trying to lose him on purpose. However, just as he was ready to ask the goblin if he even knew where they were, the two arrived at a pair of large oaken doors which opened as the duo approached.
Inside was a simple stone pedestal that rose up to the level of Harry's chest atop of which, carved out of the stone itself was a small bowl. In the bowl rested a knife, the blade was made out of some kind of black stone and was dotted with dark red, rust colored spots that Harry instantly knew to be dried blood. The handle of dark wood was wrapped in some kind of material that Harry felt it better not to ask about. Both the interior of the bowl, the blade of the knife and the stone floor around the pedestal were covered in various runes and arcane symbols.
The voice of Sharptooth shook Harry from his morose thoughts as the goblin picked up the knife and handed it to the young man smiling ferally. "A few drops of blood in the bowl is all that is needed." Once again feeling like this was a test Harry stared the goblin down, his face carefully blank, as he drew the knife across the palm of his left hand pausing only momentarily as the blade bit into his skin.
The knife cut through his flesh like butter and the wound burned as his blood began to flow. To Harry however, who'd experienced both Vernon's belt and broken bones from Dudley's Gang's sessions of Harry Hunting, the pain was nothing more than a reminder of how desensitized he'd become to his own suffering. Harry didn't flinch as he held his hand over the stone bowl and as he looked at Sharptooth Harry felt that for the second time that day he'd passed whatever test he'd unknowingly taken.
The goblin returned Harry's gaze and the two stared one another down as they waited. After a half a dozen seconds the blood in the bowl erupted into blue flames causing Harry to recoil in shock breaking his emotionless façade. Sharptooth gave him another dark grin as the goblin reached into the bowl, the flames dying just moments before they would have burned him, to retrieve a rolled up piece of parchment tied by a bright crimson ribbon that Harry instinctively knew was made out of what was once his blood. The goblin undid the ribbon tossing it aside uncaringly, the red fabric bursting into blue flames once more just as it hit the floor dissolving into ash. Sharptooth scanned over the parchment quickly, his eyes darting from side to side as he read. "Interesting. Very interesting indeed." the goblin muttered softly reminding Harry faintly of Olivander.
As Sharptooth finished reading he gave Harry an unreadable look before he handed the parchment over. Before he could begin reading however Harry noticed that Sharptooth was walking briskly to the door they'd entered through. "Where are you going?" Harry asked, causing the goblin to turn and give him a flat look.
"I am going to retrieve the relevant managers related to the accounts mentioned in the results of your Inheritance test." Sharptooth responded although Harry noticed that he hadn't called him Mr. Potter. "They are the ones who will be responsible for answering your questions and providing you with the necessary information to the accounts you are now connected to." Before Harry could respond the goblin had left the doors closing behind him with an audible, 'THUD!'
Unrolling the parchment Harry began to read over the results himself.
Name:
Hadrian James Potter
Parents:
James Charlus Potter (father, deceased)
Lily Marian Potter née Evans (mother, deceased)
Grandparents (paternal):
Fleamnnot Sleeke Potter (grandfather, deceased)
Euphemia Effie Potter née Fawley (grandmother, deceased)
Grandparents (maternal):
Birch Pinus Evans (grandfather, deceased)
Tulia Carnation Evans née Gardenia (grandmother, deceased)
Godparents:
Sirius Orion Black (Godfather, indisposed)
Alice Elizabeth Longbottom (Godmother, indisposed)
Heir Apparent to:
Potter - Sole child of the previous Head of House Potter, James Charlus Potter
Black - As decreed by the current Head of House Black, Sirius Orion Black
Gaunt - By right of conquest on May 29, 1993
Lestrange - Through vassalization
Life Debts:
Owed:
None
Possess:
Hermione Jean Granger - October 31, 1991
Ginerva Molly Weasley - May 29, 1993
Betrothals:
Susan Bones through House Potter
Daphne Greengrass through House Black
Nymphadora Tonks through House Black
The sound of the oak doors behind Harry opening caused Harry to turn and look over his shoulder. As he watched five goblins entered, all of them conversing in low voices while they shot alternating glares between Harry and Sharptooth who was leading the other four.
"Is this him?" One asked as the corner of his lip curled upwards in disgust.
"Impossible, none have had such an inheritance since the war ended," another growled.
"And how would he have come across a member of my house?" A third goblin spat, "And one who would vassalize the house at that. This had better be true Sharptooth or so help me I'll make sure that Ragnarok bleeds you dry so fast that not even your great-great-grandchildren can touch a knut without having it ripped from their grasp."
"We all will," the others agreed, and Harry could almost swear that he saw faint beads of sweat on Sharptooth's forehead but then the goblins turned towards him, or rather the paper in his hands.
"Give that here," the third goblin who'd spoken hissed as he tore the scroll from Harry's hands. Running his finger along as he read the goblin growled before he handed it to his companions who struggled to read it over the shoulder of the goblin he handed it to. "So it's true," he growled as the others began to once again scowl and mutter amongst themselves although much quieter than before.
"What's true?" Harry asked, confused.
"That you are now of a great importance to a great many people," a different goblin replied, his name tag reading Boldclaw. "I am Boldclaw Mr. Potter, the Potter accounts manager. My...colleagues represent the various houses that you have a claim to; their presence was required to confirm that the inheritance test was indeed valid. If you wish we can discuss what all of this means in a private room; would that be satisfactory to you?"
"Um, yes?" Harry hesitantly agreed. Boldclaw only nodded and once again Harry was guided through a series of hallways to another room although this one only contained a long table surrounded by a dozen seats with another at the end of the table facing the door they'd entered through. During the trip Twilight (whose disappearance Harry, distracted by the goings on around him, had failed to notice) rejoined the two although Harry could sense a hesitance in her that hadn't been there before.
"This is one of Gringotts private rooms for family affairs." Boldclaw explained as he reached out to touch another large set of oaken doors that opened silently for them. "The seat at the head of the table is for the family head or the heir apparent if the head of the family is indisposed or dead. The other seats are for the various members of the family, allies, vassals, or slaves. Now," he said as Harry took the seat at the head of the table the goblin had gestured him towards, "we can begin. First do you know what may have occurred on May 29, 1993 that may have caused you to become the heir of House Gaunt?"
"No," Harry said as his eyebrows knitted together in thought. "All that happened that day was that I killed a Basilisk...what?" He asked as he looked at the disbelieving faces of the numerous goblins and Twilight.
"Mr. Potter," Boldclaw cleared his throat as he gave Harry an unreadable look. "Perhaps it would be best if you started from the beginning."
As Harry began the story of his second year at Hogwarts Twilight zoned out. Not completely of course, rather thanks to her training in occlumency Bellatrix Lestrange was able to divide her focus allowing her to pursue multiple lines of thought at once, something only a rare few who excelled in the practice could do. So as one part of her mind paid attention to the story of how Harry accidentally ended up in Knockturn Alley another part of her mind focused on her conversation with the goblin head of security.
Bellatrix had made to follow her master as Sharptooth led him away but as soon as she'd crossed through the threshold of one of the identical hallways they'd gone through she'd frozen. She instantly recognized the feel of the magic as a paralysis ward having both tripped and laid multiple throughout her years as a Death Eater and as a student in Slytherin. As she tried to reach out through the magic to find the location of the ward stone a sharp poke to her side caused her to halt her efforts and instead focus all of her attention on the armored goblin that glared down at her with a sadistic grin not unlike the ones Bellatrix had worn when she'd been given a task by her former master.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here? An animagus trying to sneak into Gringotts; a thief perhaps?" It took all of the limited freedom the ward allowed her for Bellatrix to shake her head no. "Not a thief then," the goblin thought aloud though his eyes and spear stayed unwaveringly on her. "An imposter perhaps? One who wants access to something," his eyes turned down the hall catching sight of Harry's back before he turned a corner and disappeared. The goblin's grin grew even wider, "Or rather someone." The goblin seemed to consider for a moment before he reached out and picked her up by her tail, strolling off as if she, Bellatrix Black, the greatest dark witch since Le Fay herself, were no more important than a bag of groceries. "Either way your fate is not mine to decide, witch." the goblin spat at the word as though it offended him personally. "Rather your fate shall be Lord Ragnarok's to decide. After all," he grinned at the black cat, "how long has it been since Bellatrix Lestrange graced our humble halls." She wasn't sure how long it'd been but for the first time in more than a dozen years Bellatrix Lestrange née Black was afraid of something other than a dementor.
Author's Note:
*Bangs head wearily against wall. Looks up to see audience staring at him. Flashes them a weary grin as blood runs down his face before collapsing onto his throne where he sips a cup of hot chocolate.*
Before we begin I just want to say that I'm not going to include Bellatrix's meeting with Ragnarok *ducks down to avoid rotten fruit* SINCE I PLAN TO INCLUDE IT LATER AS A FLASHBACK! Geez Louise ya'll are wound tighter than the girlfriend I don't have but enjoy referencing. Hah, I'm so lonely. Anyway Moody and Tonks will teach Harry some advanced fighting spells but during the school year Bellatrix will be in charge of the Dark Arts, Muah Ha Ha. Now for the harem, *sips hot chocolate* I'll explain it later. *flashes fanged grin* but there are five possibly six names Harry needs to keep going (still debating whether to separate Potter/ Peverell) and there are only three possibly four girls confirmed with Nym possibly being a concubine instead of a proper wife which opens another slot. However for your entertainment *drum roll please* next chapter I will have Harry meet another one of his girls. Also he's not going to reveal to Nymphadora that he's bethrothed to her until after he's back at Hogwarts cause writing her anger later will be so much better. Right now I'm leaning Howler in the Great Hall but who knows what I'll do. I LOVE BEING A DEMON LORD!
Now for Albus-too-many-names-Dumbledore. Oh, Albus what to do with you. Let me start off with this, I don't hate Ol' Alby. I think he's a good man that is trying to do what's right but has just been playing the game too long. Was what he did to Harry right? Hell no. Was it understandable, yes. *ducks down to again avoid rotten produce* Let me explain, Dumbledore was faced with a problem here's Harry a boy who is destined to bring down Tom, only problem is Tom can't die while Harry lives. For all the fanfics where Harry's Horcrux is destroyed by basilisk venom or removed in a goblin ritual in the books the only way that you could remove it was by killing Harry and nothing else could do it but Tom (at least after rereading the stories that was the conclusion I got) so what did Dumbledore do, he sacrificed Harry for the lives of millions. He literally was faced with the Trolley Dilemma (look it up) and chose one for many. I'm not excusing Dumby Boy for the Dursley's or the Sorcerer's Stone incident (it's a pretty obviously test since FIRST YEARS got through) but I can understand the sacrifice. As for playing the game too long think of it this way Voldemort's supporters are all blood purist. Voldemort is not of pure blood. Publicly reveal Voldy is a half blood and do the fire letter anagram trick, bada bing bada boom dark lord with no supporters or rather supporters who are now fighting half heartedly. I have more thoughts but this paragraph is hella thick already.
Anyway love the comments and reading them always helps me write so keep it up. As for the question of Bella looking like she's in her twenties while she's in her forties. Simple magic slows aging in this alternate dimension that I lord over as a supreme deity and she underwent dark art rituals that made her look younger (look at her appearance in DHP2 she's 46-47 but looks like she's in her early thirties I just kicked it up a notch) so she now looks like she's in her 20s. Keep commenting and I love how you all say that I'm writing a pretty accurate Bellatrix, that was one of the goals of my story as I felt that a lot of fanfics sacrificed who she was as a character in exchange for redeeming her. Bella's crazy and darkness to me is one of her core character traits and she's just not the same without it. Anyway I love you all thanks for your support and keep those comments coming in with a goal of 75 by the time I post the next chapter.
Until next time this is your King of Halloweentown, Lord of Eternal Darkness, and Prince of the Nine Circles of Hell wishing you a thrilling, creepy, Halloween. MUAH HAH HAH HAH!
-D'yavol Lucifer 3:)
*IMPORTANT NOTICE*
All the coverart for my stories are ones I found online. I am really interested in using fanart provided by you the readers to replace them. If you're interested draw something up and pm me so I can send you the details on where to send it or pm me and I'll give you some details so you can draw one. As I say in my bio if I use it I may add you as an oc in one of my stories! Isn't that exciting!
Next Chapter: Back to Hogwarts