August 14, 1993 11:02 PM
Albus walked around his office at a sedated pace. Learning what had happened the other day at Gringotts had not been easy to deal with.
First of all was the attack on the goblins from Gram Tyrik. The Headmaster remembered him, he had hoped the man would conduct himself better than he had during his Hogwarts years, but alas, he did not.
Tyrik would be in the secure wing of St. Mungo's for quite some time. The injuries themselves quite curious, as none were caused by the goblin weaponry. Save for his arm being removed. Had the goblins been the ones to stop him, it was likely he wouldn't be alive now.
Albus grimaced at that thought, knowing just how brutal the goblins could be against those that had transgressed against them.
Second, was the fact that the Fenrir boy nearly was killed. Albus still didn't know what had transpired due to the goblins being unwilling to talk about the details, and that the only other wizard that had be present at the moment was young Harry.
Which brought Albus to the largest worry of his, Harry's state of incapacity. That was the only place he had been able to make any headway, as Harry's only viable legal guardian, the goblins had to let him see the boy. And even then, his guardian status was only because he was the boy's Headmaster.
The only information he had been able to gain was that Harry's magic was trying to settle within him. What had caused such a dramatic change to Harry's core, he did not know. Albus's scans had not been the most revealing on details. His first thoughts, however, went immediately to the piece of Tom Riddle that resided within Harry's scar.
He still was not completely sure what the soul piece itself could be considered, but the Diary the boy had retrieved from young Ginerva last year was worrying.
Had the soul piece tried to take over Harry? Could it have gathered enough strength to do so, despite the protection Lily Potter had left him?
He couldn't be sure, but he was delving into books that left his stomach turned the wrong way in order to seek answers. It was times like this Albus realized just how much he missed being able to speak to his departed mentor. Nicolas always had an answer, even if it was only able to tell him what something wasn't.
No, Albus was on his own for this matter.
His thoughts, then, drifted then to the prophecy. Harry was destined to face Voldemort one day so surely that meant Harry would not be defeated by this.
Did it?
The train of thought had stopped suddenly when Albus thought on it more.
If the soul piece killed Harry, would that mean he had fallen by the hand of Voldemort?
A chilling thought to be sure, and not one Albus could dismiss lightly. He would have to make sure that Harry was indeed himself once he awoke, which would be easier to prepare for if the goblins had allowed him to bring the boy back to Hogwarts. But the magic devices Harry was attached to could lead to his magic collapsing if removed before he awoke.
All the Headmaster could do is wait, and hope that the boy had been as resilient as always. If he hadn't...
Albus shook his head at that, the thought of a second Voldemort roaming around in young Harry's body was too much. And he worried just what he may have to do in order to prevent the worse from passing.
The Greater Good depended on it after all, he thought with a sigh.
Harry was beginning to wake after the ritual had been complete having spent the duration asleep on the hard dias.
He stretched and groaned before standing, taking a moment to steady his wobbly before he opened his eyes. Everything was blurry at first, but quickly began to clear up. The throbbing in his head was still there, but it too was subsiding.
He felt different, that was for sure. For the first time in his life he felt lighter, like he had always been holding a mountain on his shoulders. Like he had senses he had never been aware of before.
He looked down, his eyes widening at what he saw.
He felt taller and looked a little bigger than he remembered being. Panicking for a moment, Harry looked around for his wand, finding it on a small table nearby. He also realized he had no clothes on, because the ones he remembered wearing were sitting folded next to his wand.
Harry blushed deeply in embarrassment that people had most likely seen him without clothes, but figured he'd better put them on before anyone had a second chance.
After getting dressed, he moved over to the mirror heater to the table so he could look at himself properly. And to ensure he wasn't just imagining his feeling of size difference.
He hadn't been.
He was certainly a little more muscular than he had been, and at least a couple of inches taller to. Harry was sure he hadn't grown to the size of an older student, but he most likely would no longer be the shortest of his year.
Even Dudley's cast offs fit him better. Instead of swallowing him as they had before, they looked like baggy clothes on him. Harry reached down to grab his wand, relishing in the warmth that washed over him in response, although it felt slightly different.
Once he placed it in his pocket, he took the time to look around the large room that he was in.
Domed walls that stretched around fifty meters up. They themselves were decorated with various goblin scenes, Harry wondered if they were from one of the rebellions that Binns droned on about.
The door opened suddenly, startling him from his thoughts, as an elderly looking goblin he hadn't met yet walked in and greeted him.
"Mr. Potter, it is good to see you up and about finally," the goblin told him.
Shaking the clouds from his mind, Harry greeted the goblin, before asking who he was.
"I am Stormfang, of the Elder Council to the King," he introduced himself.
"Uh, hello," Harry finally said.
Well put, Harry thought sarcastically to himself.
The door opened once more to allow Gurgus to walk in holding a couple scrolls under his arm.
"How are you feeling, Mr. Potter?"
"Pretty good in all honesty," Harry told them truthfully. He was still getting used to how light he felt.
"I would imagine you feel better than you have for some time," Stormfang said. Though it sounded almost like a question to Harry.
"I can't remember feeling this well my entire life. I hadn't even realized just how bad I felt."
"So, you have no knowledge of how that... thing got inside your scar?" The way Stormfang said thing with distain made Harry a little more worried about what it was.
Shaking his head, Harry looked at the goblins would provide him an answer.
Receiving none, he asked worriedly, "Sir, what was in my scar?"
Looking at each other, Stormfang looked to him and said, "We will do our best to explain what has happened these past several days."
The last six days seemed to last an eternity to Daeiel, what with everything that had happened.
First, he's introduced to the wizarding world by a boy his age, and a statue of a goblin dropping on him. Daeiel rolled his shoulders, as he was still slightly stiff from healing that particular injury.
"Serves you right for trying to be a hero," snapped Sarah from the chair she was sitting in.
"You can quit saying that shit any day now!" he snapped back. This being what must have been the
hundredth time she's said something along these lines.
"And you can-"
"STOP IT! BOTH OF YOU!" Rose screamed from the other side of the room. "You've done nothing, but fight since we got here, and I'm tired of it!"
The young girl looked ready to cry, her eyes welling with tears, making both of her oldest siblings look down in shame.
"I'm sorry, Rose. I'll make sure you don't have to see it anymore," Daeiel told her, walking over and taking the young blonde in his arms. Giving a pointed look to Sarah, he silently told her that his promise would be kept to their sister. The older girl glared back slightly, but nodded her head all the same.
"Glad you all can stop that mess now, it's downright exhausting," Jack groaned from the top bunk, pulling himself away from the book he was reading.
"Alright, smartass, get a jacket on. We need to lock up so we can go get something to eat," Daeiel said.
Even though the younger boy tried not to show it, he was clearly excited at the prospect of eating out again. His sister's did as well, Sarah's irritation with has actions with the goblins having been seemingly forgotten for the time being.
Shaking his head, it was hard to believe the were where they were up until 5 days ago..
Flashback
August 9, 1993 8:00 A.M.
"Ah, Mr. Fenrir, right on time," said Gurgus as he finished signing the forms in front of him.
"It is what time you asked me to show up," Daeiel stated simply, his irritation at having to make a second trip to Diagon Alley in as many days was trying his patience. He didn't blame the goblins really, especially given what had occured the day before, but that didn't stop him from feeling the irritation of the walk.
"After what happened to Mr. Potter yesterday, there were too many things to distract me from giving you my full attention," Gurgus explained.
"How is he, by the way?" Daeiel inquired. He hadn't heard any details about what happened to Harry after he'd been escorted out of the chamber he helped bring the bleeding boy.
"Improving," stated the goblin. "We think he will recover fully in the coming days, but that is not why I asked you here today."
"I'm assuming you can help me get my tuition money now?" Daeiel asked.
""Yes, I can, but no, that's not why I asked you here." Seeing the boy's anger, he continued unbothered, "But what I have in mind will certainly help with that goal indirectly. This will also help both of us in the long run."
"What are you talking about?" Daeiel huffed irritably.
"I'm talking about settling some debts, my own to you being amongst them."
The goblin held up a hand before he could speak,"Let me speak, and all answer will be revealed, young one."
Daeiel pondered whether or not to humor the goblin. The last few days since the old man had come to their shelter, things had been more chaotic than he'd like. Even so, the goblins had given him no reason to doubt their words. Not yet, at least.
Making a decision, he nodded to Gurgus, who quickly began shuffling some paperwork around.
"What I will propose to you will be slightly risky, but the payoff will be more than worth it," Gurgus explained. "Now, as I'm sure you're unaware, goblins repayment of debt is done through repayment of the physical kind. A blade in battle, an account's paperwork/contents corrected, a business made more profitable, etc. These are just how we do things. For while we covet gold, it is only for having the means to accomplish our ends. So we do not believe in simply paying off a life debt directly, we see this as not showing respect to the one we owe our lives to. Do you understand so far?"
"I do," Daeiel said slowly. He was still wondering where Gurgus was going with this.
"Normally, I would offer such services to you. But considering your age, none of these options are truly viable."
"Then what option would you have me take?" the boy said somewhat suspiciously.
With a grin that looked more unsettling than Daeiel thought possible, Gurgus spoke," By claiming what is owed to you by blood."
"I thought that's what you're trying to help me do right now!" Daeiel huffed.
"I owe you my LIFE, young one. Not my BLOOD."
'Forget whatever respect he felt for the creatures, this one was really pissing him off with the riddles,' Daeiel thought.
"I am speaking, of course, about Gram Tyrik," Gurgus explained. "With his actions having directly attacked your being, you have the right to claim compensation for what he's done to you."
"Wouldn't I have claimed his blood after I struck back?" Daeiel asked.
"Only if you had killed him, which you would have been in your full rights to do. It only really works because you are underage, if you had been an adult, this would only be possible as a supposed pureblood. Such is the laws, if you were attacked as an adult considering you're likely a Muggleborn child, you only would have been spared the penalty for attacking a pureblood because you were defending yourself."
"What kind of backwards bullshit logic is that?" Daeiel asked without thinking. He was worried he may have offended the goblin, but the bank attendant only chuckled.
"I agree it is foolish thinking, such is the arrogance of wizarding kind. Do well to make sure it doesn't consume you as well," Gurgus mildly warned. "Back to the matter at hand, as his actions have nearly eliminated the only surviving male of your bloodline, you can claim all that he owned within Gringots."
The goblin finished with a grin, seemingly pleased with himself as Daeiel stood there with a stunned expression on his face.
"Just how much could I claim here," he asked still recovering.
"Exactly 264,846 galleons after the transaction fee of 50 galleons for the service, which will not be charged as I will do it myself. And the further 15 galleons to open your own vault," Gurgus told his, reading carefully of the roll of parchment in front of him.
"WHAT!?" He couldn't help himself, how could so much money be his so easily?
"Such is the way of retaliation. If one is not careful, it is not only themselves that they may throw to the dogs," the goblin finish with a sinister grin.
Daeiel's mind was racing, there was so much that was possible for his siblings now. The biggest thing was still at the forefront of his mind.
They can have a home.
They would no longer have to live in the scrap heap, wondering if it would be safe to gather food. Fearing the Crows would follow them back. They would be unable to reach them, as well as not having to worry constantly about his siblings getting sick from the constant weather that came their way.
"How would I do this?" he asked quickly.
"Normally only a parent or guardian can do such a thing, but after checking our information, you have no legal magical guardian listed as of yet. It seems Dumbledore has not yet sent off your admission papers, which would place you under his care while in the magical world. This works in your favor, but you must be quick. If the admission forms are registered at the Ministry before you can sign the vault over, he may try to prevent it. Allowing the ministry to claim it since Tyrik had no living relatives. His own doing if rumors are to be believed," Gurgus explained.
"So how to I do all of this now?" Daeiel asked, his heart beating quickly with anticipation.
Laying a roll of parchment in front of him, "This contract states that all claimed items or wealth is claimed by you in retaliation for misdeeds done to your family."
Daeiel's eyes follow the claw of the goblin as he pointed to the paragraphs that had been summarized, them saying seemingly the same things with much more words.
"This contract also states that the vault will only be able to be accessed by a relative of blood with your permission. And it cannot be claimed or used by any other than the Head of the Family by blood. This stops any potential guardians from taking the money themselves should you be under their care," he continued.
"The line about the Head of the Family normally only constitutes the Head of a Pureblood family, but not always. And seeing as you are the oldest living male, so access to the vault falls solely to you, Mr. Fenrir," the goblin finished with a grin. Seemingly pleased with himself.
Thinking back, Daeiel would smack his younger self for signing the contract so quickly, even if it does move to his own benefit. That mattered little though, as he signed the contract, and it flashed with magic. Making all that was to happen a certainty.
"Excellent! In preparation, I've already seen to it that a vault is ready for the transfer, here is the key, do not lose it as there is a fine for a new one to be made," Gurgus told him, handing over a duplication of the contract plus his key.
"You can also use that key to have bank drafts made for purchases, as of 12 A.M. tonight. By then the vault transfer will be complete, and ready for use. Do come by at some points in the future for my assistance in managing your wealth, young man. I will then ensure that both of us a profitable future," Gurgus told him as he loaded his briefcase with more parchment roles, ready to leave.
"Gurgus," Daeiel said, "there's one question I still have."
"Be quick with it. After all, time is gold," the goblin said.
"How does doing this help settle the debt? Not that I'm ungrateful, I'm just curious," Daeiel asked as they walked to the lobby.
Rather that answering, Gurgus merely laughed to himself.
"Read paragraph 5 in that contract more carefully. May your strikes find your enemies before they can strike back, Mr. Fenrir."
With that the goblin walked back towards the depths of the bank, leaving a thoroughly confused thirteen year old in his wake.
Unrolling the contract again, he found paragraph 5, and his eyes widened as he learned that the money Tyrik had was originally Gurgus's for prior business dealings, and that he was giving it to Daeiel without contest, as well as signing his services over to Daeiel for as long as he is needed.
End Flashback
"Hey! Are you still there?" Sarah asked, waving her palm infront of his face.
Shaking himself from his memories, he nodded. As he guided them out of the flat they had rented. With 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom, it could have been a mansion to the children for the 12 galleons a month it would cost them.
After they had eaten, Daeiel guided them into they alley towards a clothing store he had seen the day before. It was high time they got a proper wardrobe.
"Alright, grab two weeks worth of clothes, two sets for sleeping, some exercise clothing, and whatever underwear you need. I'll get my own clothes, as well as some work clothes for us. And while I don't want you buying things that are falling apart, don't go overboard. We have some money now, but we don't know when we might get more yet," Daeiel instructed them carefully.
His siblings nodded in understanding as Rose pulled Sarah along with her, while Jack went off on his own. Having been guiding them for some time now, he was used to giving careful instructions, and now understood why his parents had done the same for him.
The thoughts of his parents brought a heavy weight to his heart, but he pushed it aside as he looked at the racks around him. Grabbing multiple pairs of jeans, t shirts, long sleeves, underwear, and even some shorts and tank tops before placing them on the side of the counter.
"I have more to collect," Daeiel explained as he looked up at the woman. "The other three I came in with will also be bringing clothes that all will be on this purchase."
She looked at him like she wanted to say something, the shopkeeper merely nodded however.
Daeiel then went to grab several pairs of work pants and shirts. He'd need his siblings to help him when collecting boots, but it was not an issue as they had already taken the initiative to do so.
Walking to the counter where the woman's eyes were narrowed at them.
"Will you be able to pay for all of this without your parents?" she asked suspiciously.
"Yes," Daeiel said simply.
The woman shrugged before waving her wand around all their clothes before tapping the register, causing the final price to appear on the front.
"That'll be 32 galleons," she told him.
Daeiel took out his vault key, placing it in front of her. She tapped it with her wand, as the register spit out a piece of paper that said, 'Paid in Full' on the front.
The woman looked happy that it wasn't just a waste of her time,"Please come again if you need anything else."
"Thank you," they told her before walking out with their arms full.
As they were about to walk towards their apartment, he noticed someone walking near them with a very agitated look on their face. It took him a moment, but when the realization hit him he couldn't help, call out.
"Harry?"
Before y'all say it, yes, I know it's been far to long. I had a sudden move the last few months, lots of events, work, and other issues that demanded my attention. Hopefully I can upload more often as I have not intention of discontinuing this story.
Reviews are appreciated.
Thank you to all that have followed and favorited so far, it shocks me beyond measure that so many actually like this.
