The Adventure of a Lifetime

Chapter 1 – Thinking, Planning and a bid for freedom.

[45 minutes after the History of Magic OWL's been completed. Unused Classroom.]

It wasn't until she had walked out of her History of Magic exam room, that the biggest burst of headache hit her - these hits of migraines always seemed to get worse than the last ones. So, now having finished answering the questions she had to sneak away, sneaking away from her ever-present friends - meaning that she opened one of the many unused classroom doors and closed it again with all of the privacy spells she could do with the headache she had going on.

The test hadn't been hard, but it made harch with the headache blooming behind her eyes. Now she was trying to look around where she was, but it didn't do her any good, so for the rest of her time she walked over to one of the walls farther from the door and slid down laying her head between her knees, trying to block out all of the light. For the record, these headaches were becoming a nuisance - so far, her friends were becoming increasingly annoying with their talks that it was Voldemort. However, she knew better! They had always ignored her talks about the fact that she knew that the Dark Lord was deader than dead. There was definitely something wrong about these headaches, because they weren't normal, at least she thought so...

Friends who didn't believe her when she told them what had happened back at the end of her second year, didn't believe her when she had told them that the man behind her parent's death had been killed. So, she had stopped telling them and just ignored them!

The people around her had always ignored her when it didn't fit in with their expectations of her, all of them either wanted her dead or wanted something from her. Was it any wonder that she kept to herself throughout Hogwarts with people like this around her? They never listened, and she could never talk to them about it because they took her for being attention-seeking or just plain ignored her, so, she had stopped a long time ago when it came down to making friends with other people.

Hadriana had always believed that there had to be some people out there who believed her when she told them that the man was dead, if she had guessed it would have been Professor Snape and her godfather Sirius Black. None of the others said a word when she told them what had happened at the end of her second year, the scream, the burst of light and thereafter the quiet, but she had gotten a quiet nod from the professor and her godfather told her what had happened to the other inmates around him in Azkaban that confirmed what had happened. Then why couldn't Headmaster Dumbledore fathom that the man was dead? Did he have a plan and then what was that plan?

As the headache had slowed down in intensity, she slowly stood up and with a sigh she saw that the clock had passed dinner time. By the quietness of the halls, she knew it was late so she decided to slowly make her way up to the seventh-floor corridor. Here the castle had made her a room, a room she sometimes slept in if things in her life were difficult to manage.

Throughout the five years she had been staying in the castle, it was easy for her to believe that the castle was sentient - that it had a gender, and feelings and cared about its inhabitants. The first time she had stepped into this room was at the end and beginning of her third year, and now it was at the end of her fifth year in these walls, she couldn't believe that had managed to survive until this moment in time. The room she now walked into was incredibly special to her and she loved the simplicity and the elegance of the room, as it was perfect for her.

This room had become more of a home to her than the common room, here no one minded her business and she could style it however she wanted. It was near the room of requirement, where she could train her spells and learn other useful things without anyone noticing.

The walls of her room were in a dark green colour, after all, it was her favourite colour. A colour she loved, even if it was almost black. There was a beautiful fireplace, it was round and stood in the middle of the room, visible no matter where you wanted to sit and read. You know like the old hearths, but just more elegant. It was done with black stones and magic that made it glisten and made it so that there wasn't any poisonous smoke around the room. The fire that was now glowing around the room made everything look mysterious, and it gave off a warm glow that made it homey and livable.

Two black leather couches were standing on each side of the fireplace, the same could be said for the two cosy dark leather chairs standing on each side of the fireplace, just like the couches. Beside the couch and the chairs, there was a round coffee table, it was now filled with books that she had been reading the last time she had been in the room.

At one of the walls, there was a small tea kitchen, with just a cooling box, an oven, a sink and a countertop, it was all she needed because she spent most of the time in the great hall, but at the same time she could go up here if she wanted a snack. Over the sink there was a window, it was enchanted to look like what the outside is like, but she could also ask the castle to change it if she wanted to.

On the far end of the room, was her king-sized bed. The quilt lying over it was soft - in soft blue and white colours that made her feel at home. On all of the freewalls, there were bookcases, filled with books she had either read or hadn't gotten to yet. Not to forget the fact that underneath another window there was a chair and a desk, where she sometimes wrote her homework for some extra peace.

At the end of her bed, was her trunk that came and went to where she wanted to be. It was one of the great things about living in a magical castle, because Hogwarts helped her when she needed it, and she loved being here instead of a dormitory where everyone was spying on each other. The bathroom was simple, just a deep swimming pool-like bathtub, a sink and a toilet, nothing more and nothing less.

The castle always helped her by making it so that the inhabitants of the castle thought she was sleeping in her bed, at the Gryffindor tower.

It was curious sometimes as to why she was so loved by the castle, and she wanted to know why it helped her out so much lately especially when no one seemed to be on her side lately.

In the years since her second year, there was one thought that had stayed with her - it was to travel the world, and see everything, but she knew it would never be without taking her OWLs because after it was done there was no one that could stop her from quitting Hogwarts. Now having done all of them, no one could stop her from fulfilling her dreams!

There was also the fact that she now could study everything she wanted, see the sights and just learn everything there was to know about the world without looking over her shoulders. Now, all she had to do was to make an escape plan, to enact at the end of the year, though, she had to find a way to sneak by her overbearing friends at King Cross station.

The best thing to do was find a parchment and begin to write down what she had to do, to make it so. Opening up her trunk, she managed to find a blank parchment and an intact quill, how she managed to have it so disorganised she didn't know, but maybe it was because she had felt like this world of magic had been temporary, and that it would be taken away soon as they were down with her. Making it a moot point to have it neat.

With a small sigh of relief, and with hope coursing through her she began to write:

Hadriana's list of things to do; The Goal of escaping the expectations of Wizarding Britain.

Sneak away to Diagon Alley.

Gringotts: Inheritance Test; Identification Papers; Passport; Credit Cards; Bank Statements.

Shopping/Makeover: See a change in appearance. Books to study. Another wand. Don't limit yourself to just light-oriented spells and places. Get a dark cloak to go exploring Knockturn Alley.

If I have properties around the globe, go and explore them. Take a working vacation.

Explore the world.

Study. Take the NEWT's when I'm ready. Retake the OWLs you aren't happy with when I can.

Take up Arithmancy and Ancient Runes.

Other Ancient Languages. (ancient- Egyptian, Mandarin, Japanese…)

Learn Languages.

[28th June 1996 – King Cross Station.]

The rest of her school year was spent trying to stay clear of her overly curious friends to the astonishment of the teachers. They couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the distance between the tightnit group of friends, though, she could see the intrigue in Professor Snapes' eyes. How she managed to be so observant with everything going on in her life was an art form, because it never would have worked if she had been weighted down by the notion of the dark lord.

Though, she could not ignore them all the time, so, she tried to spend some time with them - but most of the time she decided this they questioned her. They were always trying to ask where she was spending her time, and what she was studying. It was becoming quite bothersome to hear the same question, every day. Making it quite irritating to remind them that she was allowed to have her own life beside them, that she didn't need to spend her life with them on each side of her days in and days out.

We were now sitting in one of the many free compartments on the train to London, so, for twelve long hours she had her eyes closed pretending to sleep. It was easy to fool them all, so, she heard clearly what they were saying to each other and it made her angry. However, she had mastered her emotions a long time ago, so, she managed to keep it cool. They were spilling their secrets, and it was interesting to hear them complain and wonder when they would be paid because they were friends with her. Hermione wanted prestige, and the help of her fame to get a better job after Hogwarts. Ron was in it for the money, he wanted to be her friend because he wanted to be famous. Ginny was the same, money and the chance to become her sister.

Hadriana tried not to sigh in relief when Luna and Neville knocked on the door to their compartment because she knew that they were two of her truest friends in the school. So, she made a mental note to write to them this summer, to get to know them better. Especially Luna seemed like an interesting person to get to know, she looked free and like her own person in the madness that was the magical world.

As they reached the station, she swiftly walked out to the muggle side, draping her invisibility cloak around her body and watched as those around her slowly panicked when they couldn't find her. Shaking her head at them, for their idiocy, she walked back through the barrier and walked towards the floo station, and used it to get to the Leaky Cauldron. This was one of the reasons why she had been suspicious of Ron because when she had read about it in one of the books she should have gotten before her first year, she had wondered why the Weasley family hadn't used it when they met her.

In the end, all she could do was blame Dumbledore.

Now, as she walked out of the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron, she was happy that she had shrunk her belongings before placing herself on the train, as she didn't have to drag it alongside her when she stepped through the barrier and into Diagon Alley.

Diagon Alley was just as peaceful as it had been when she was eleven years old, just as magical even. Nothing was wrong, and all she had to do now was walk confidently towards Gringotts because no one stopped someone confident - because it was an art form in itself. It also helped that she still had on her father's invisibility cloak. Before she stepped through the doors of the bank, she took it off and placed it in her pocket knowing that they wouldn't appreciate her coming through the doors with it on. It's about being respectful.

Bowing to the guards at the doors, she stepped through them with confidence just like she had watched Snape do, when he did not want to talk to anyone, which was always. Also, she wanted to perfect the billowing cloak he does, just because she wanted to see the look in her professor's eyes when she perfected it.

Stepping through the doors of the bank she looked around to see if there was somewhere she could go to that was free, and seeing that one of them was, she walked up to him and politely waited until he had looked up from what he had been writing.

"Master Teller, I am here to get an inheritance test done, together with an ability test." Hadriana inquired softly because they could hear her and she didn't need to shout.

As the teller looked at the respectful Witch standing before him, he knew that this one would be one of a kind. It had been a long time since someone like her had stepped through their bank, and he couldn't wait to see where it would go. That is why he decided to do it quickly, and not wait a moment or two. "Follow me!" he barked at her and began to quickly walk deeper into the bank.

Hadriana managed to follow the goblin because she had been used to walking at a quick pace, and she could tell that it impressed him. They didn't talk, but there was a quiet sense of respect between them, that made her incredibly happy.

They soon came to a door that was engraved beautifully, the goblin knocked on the door rapidly. Swiftly they were allowed entry, and were introduced to the manager of Inhertitence, and said goodbye to the teller because he had other stuff to do. Now that it was just them in the office, she walked in and waited to be allowed to sit down. When the goblin nodded to it, she placed herself on it to be more comfortable because she had a feeling that this would take some time.

"As you heard, I am Godrak. The Goblin in charge of the Inheritance and Ability Tests." Godrak greeted her swiftly and placed a couple of things on his desk.

Nodding respectfully towards Godrak, never taking her eyes off him. "Hadriana Rosalyn Potter." she introduced herself, and she wondered what everything she would now know about herself.

Godrak smiled, as it seemed to him that she knew that you never take your eyes off an opponent, meaning that she was a born warrior or at least had self-preservation. "Hmm..." was all he said at first, and it was great to see the curiousness in her eyes, meaning that the backward thinking of the British ministry hadn't reached her yet.

That was good, and as she was now curious over the things on his desk he began to explain what she needed to do. "All you have to do is, take this knife, carefully cut our finger, and drop ten drops of your blood on this parchment. Five drops on each of them." Godrak told her.

Without a pause, she took up the knife and did what the goblin had asked of her. The blood vanished into the parchment, and soon there were words written on them. Making it a wonder, because it made her see that there was a lot more magic to this than anyone seemed to get.

Godrak watched the parchment curious over the whole thing because she hadn't seen one this long in the longest time. Reading it quickly, and looking up at her knowing that she couldn't have known this made it more interesting. The thing is the woman sitting in front of him had a great legacy she seemed to not know, and it was up to them to inform her of it. "While you read it, I will go and get your account managers. There is also someone else, that you will have to meet," he said to her and handed her the parchments.

With a nod, she took up the parchment and watched him go as she began to read:

Inheritance Test of one Hadriana Rosalyn Potter-Black

Age: 15 years old

You were emancipated on two separate occasions: 1st of November 1994 & 12th of August 1995

Inheritances and the reason:

The most Ancient and Brave house of Potter (Paternal)

The Most Loyal House of Evans (Maternal)

The Ancient House of Peverell (Paternal)

The Ancient and Noble House of Gryffindor (Paternal, Magic)

The Ancient and Noble House of Slytherin (Maternal, Magic)

The Ancient and Noble House of Hufflepuff (Magic)

The Ancient and Noble House of Ravenclaw (Magic, Maternal)

Heiress of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black (Adopted by Blood. Godfather)

Titles:

Lady Hogwarts. The-Girl-Who-Conquered

Abilities:

Grey Magical Core (90% Blocked by A. Dumbledore)
Parseltongue (50% Blocked A. D)
Natural Occlumency (65% Blocked A. D)
Elemental Magic (100% Blocked)
Ancient Runes (75% Blocked A. D)

Ailments and Potions:

Blood Glamour (By A. D) – To look like James Potter.
Malnourishment
Bad Eyesight
Brittle Bones
Vitamins deficiency
Hate Potions (By A.D) – To hate Slytherins, Professor Snape
Mistrust Potions (By A. D) – Mistrust the Professors of Hogwarts, except Dumbledore and McGonagall.
Loyalty Potions (By A. D) – Loyal to Dumbledore, Hermione Granger, Molly Weasley, Ron Weasley
3-5 repeated Compulsion Charms (By A. D)

Horuxes – A dead piece of Voldemort's soul. (Died June 1992)

Properties:

Potter Manor – 20 years more in quarantine because of Dragon Pox (Wales, England)
Lily's Pad (Vertical Alley, London – England)
Brave and True Cottage (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Adore Chateau (South-West France, Location Unknown)
Chateau Blacked (Milan, Italy)

Hogwarts Grounds (The Scottish Highlands) – Meaning the Grounds Hogwarts Stands on, Forbidden Forest and Hogsmead.

You have a lot of other properties around the world.

Reading through it wasn't hard, but it was unbelievable. How could it be? it was surprising, but it answered why Hogwarts had helped her so much throughout the years. Now she knew how wealthy she was, and it was no wonder that some people in the magical world couldn't believe her when she looked like she was poor. However, if they were her friends they would have done something to help her, but they didn't!

When the doors opened again, and in came three new faces she hadn't seen before. Standing up, and greeted them politely.

In the years underneath her uncle, she had heard his grumbling talks about bank statements and other necessities with investments and banks, to know that this was going to be an important conversation. There was also a lot of backhandedness in these kinds of conversations, so, she had to follow along.

"Let me introduce you to Ragnar III. Then we have the Potter Account manager Rickard, and the manager to the founders Erik." Godrak introduced them to the woman and did it efficiently.

They talked quietly before Ragnar III said goodbye because it was just a formality as she had become the richest witch in the world. It also meant that he had been curious to see how she had behaved, and she thought she passed the test when he nodded back. Soon they were at one of the opulent offices in the bank, where they told her how she could claim her inheritance.

"I, Hadriana Rosalyn Potter-Black hereby accept to become the head of The Most Ancient and Brave House of Potter, The Most Loyal House of Evans, The Ancient House of Peverell, The Most Ancient and Noble House of Gryffindor, The Most Ancient and Noble House of Slytherin, The Most Ancient and Noble House of Ravenclaw, The Most Ancient and Noble House of Hufflepuff and being the Heiress of The Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. So, mote it be!"

The light that came with it was breathtaking, and the same could be said about the magic that was felt through the room. It settled down with a flourish and looked down at the rings on her fingers, her ladyship rings on her right ring finger, while her heiress ring on her right pinky finger. They were all fused together perfectly, and if she concentrated she felt the magic they were infused with - each of them was a portkey to her different houses throughout the world. It was also security because they protected her from the worst poisons and other nasty spells that could be thrown at her.

Erik and Rickard looked through the parchment with her inheritance once more, they were in shock but they were also happy that the woman had come to them now and not later on in her life because then it would have been too late to fix it. "You are one lucky woman!" Rickard told her.

"How so?" Hadriana asked them, wondering what they meant by it.

"We see that you have blocks on your magic and abilities. It is a wonder that you are even able to get through your OWLs without collapsing. As you are only able to use 10% of your magical core." Erik began to explain.

"Then you have the other blocks on your core and a blood glamour on top of everything," Rickard murmured angrily, that someone could do this.

Hadriana sighed, knowing now what they meant. After all, what could she say to it, it was now a reality she had to get used to and because she couldn't feel anything different about herself.

"This is easy to fix now, as you are emancipated and an adult therefore we can do something about it. Do you want to break, and fix what's wrong?" Erik asked her, knowing that she would allow it, but it was a formality to ask.

"Of course!" Hadriana answered them convincingly because she wanted to become her own person which is why she came here in the first place. It was also clearly hindering her growth, and it needed to be done.

"Then follow, Healer Meera," Erik told her when another goblin came through the doors.

With that said, she followed the goblin healer to the ritual room. Swiftly she was told to lay down in a circle, to take off her clothes and lay there naked - it was embarrassing because she wasn't happy about her body, but she did it.

The ritual wasn't quickly done it took its time, and she had to have passed out some time through it, but when she opened up her eyes again after it was done, she was sleeping in a bed. The one thing she noticed at once was that her headaches were completely gone and that she felt ten times better than ever. Feeling a lot freer, and it was a weird feeling.

Meera smiled happily to herself, it wasn't often that she would help someone who needed it. The woman sitting there would be someone great to herself in the future and to the future generations of Britain. "You won't have any more headaches, dear. It was caused by the dead piece of the soul of Tom Marvolo Riddle, and your other ailments. We have also taken care of your other ailments." she explained to her kindly. "Do you want to see yourself in a mirror?"

Hearing that she wouldn't have any more headaches, or feel all the other old pains again was a relief. It was greatly appreciated, and maybe now she could manage to focus on her projects and her studies. "Yes, please!"

Hearing that she wouldn't have any more headaches or at all feel the old pains was greatly appreciated, maybe now she could have the focus everyone seemed to have when it came to remembering their studies. "Yes, please." Hadriana nodded sweetly, elated because she could feel that there had been changes done to her body.

With her permission, a mirror popped up in front of her.

Hadriana could at once see the difference the changes made on her body. It was now a wonder that no one else could see that something had been wrong with her the whole time, because as she looked at herself she looked completely different. Now she didn't look like a copy of her father, she looked healthy!

She had grown a couple of inches in height, and she finally had some curves. One of the reasons she hated being with the other girls in her year group and older was that she hadn't looked like a girl. Now she could be proud of her body, and she looked like she was fifteen with a body to match. Being this healthy was wonderful, and now she didn't need her glasses at all and she could see her eyes. They were the brightest green, and her skin tone was healthy, with rosy cheeks and full lips. Even the scar on her forehead was almost gone, and the same with her headaches.

The thing she loved the most was her hair, it had changed. It was now longer, fuller and went down to her bum. It was shiny, and though it was black, it had red highlights in it. It also didn't feel choppy or irritated.

The only thing she was missing now was better clothes that showed off her body correctly.

"If I may give you one piece of advice, Lady Potter-Black," Meera said, quietly as she watched the woman look at herself in awe.

Hadriana nodded, knowing that the advice would help her be a better person.

"In the Wizarding World, at least here in Britain - there are customs and etiquette that are relevant to you. You will have to read up on them yourself, but one of them is, when you meet someone new you say Merry Met, and you nod when you leave. In this day and age, there aren't many who do it, but you will gain respect. A woman is also never seen with their hair down, they either put it up in elaborate styles or just pull a glamour over it. Your hair is also the longest I've ever seen in centuries. This one is out of practice since the muggleborns and those that are raised in the muggle world, and changed it by cutting their hair." Meera told her as they were walking back to the office.

This was interesting to hear, and it made her a little bit embarrassed because she had never heard of it before - though, she should have noticed something because she could have thought that the wizarding world was another country and had its own culture. It would be corrected, and that she knew would be her top priority after finishing up here at the bank.

It made the pureblood's anger at the muggleborn seem justified, as their culture was fading away.

It would be interesting to see the difference, as she learned more about it!

However, she could understand the muggle-born's frustration with the wizarding world here in Britain. This country was so far behind the modern world outside of Diagon Alley, that it was difficult for them to assimilate into this world. After all, this world didn't have electricity.

Walking back in the office, she did the usual greeting and sat down in the chair with a small smile, as they began to talk.

"You are by the way our wealthiest client," smirked Rickard, with his teeth. It would be interesting to see her grow into a confident woman and make her wealth grow bigger as the years pass. "We will now tell you some about what it means to be the Lady of Hogwarts."

She nodded along, because she wanted to know and because she was curious about what it would mean to her in the future.

"Being a Lady of Hogwarts means what it means. You can now decide everything that goes on in that school - decide teachers, fix it however you want, decide classes and other necessary things. You can even close it while you fix it up if you want to." Erik told her, with a serious glint in his eyes.

That right there was useful to know, and it was a wonderful thought because she knew clearly as everyone that the school needed to be revamped and given new life. Hogwarts will always be a school, and it will always come back again to be that for thousands of children in the future. The school needed to be fixed up and cleaned and all kinds of classrooms needed to be explored for dangerous elements. Even the library needed an update.

"The acres of land the school sits on is yours, and that includes the dark forest the lake and Hogsmead. It has been yours since the day it was built. There are even books written about it, and they should be in the vaults of the founders. The land was given to you by the King of Scotland, but back then it was named Alba. It was a deal your ancestors made with the king, and it is a deal still valued by the crown." Rickard began to explain some of it to her.

"Because you are valued by us, and as you are an adult. We will give you a post box, where we can send post to you, and others can too, the same can be said for you. So, that you don't have to use an owl. We will use it to communicate, and approve investments. Then we will give you a wizarding card, you can use in both worlds, you can use your rings in wizarding shops too. You will also get papers, like identification papers, and passports, and you will get your ledgers later on today or tomorrow with everything you need to know about your current finances." Erik continued to tell her.

It was good to be told this because that meant that she didn't have to ask and it was great hearing that things would be easier for her going on. Hadriana couldn't wait to see how much she was worth, and shop and change her style to become more grown up. It was also interesting to hear about the history of the land Hogwarts was sitting on, and she can't wait to read more about it. "Is it possible to take up my studies in the muggle world again? In that case, what will I have to do?" she asked them with gratitude for everything they had done for her that day.

They couldn't help but look at her proudly for it, and that in itself was weird.

"You are the first one in years who has asked us for it, and we will therefore help you with it," Rickard said to her proudly.

"We will enrol you in school, you don't need to meet up. You will get your assignments in your post box, and maybe meet up to take your exams. Every June and December you will go and take them." Erik said to her.

"You are definitively different from other goblins, I've met." Hadriana laughed quietly because that was the stark truth.

"Why do you think your parents wanted me to be their account manager?" Rickard asked while shrugging.

"It's always made so that the account manager for the Founders is different." This was what Erik said.

The talk after this wasn't long, she was handed a post box that shrunk as she laid it in one of her pockets, she said her goodbyes and followed one of the tellers, as he knew would take her down into the vaults she wanted to visit.

Nevertheless, she didn't spend a lot of time going through the stuff she owned, because she had all her life to do it in. Taking her money pouch, she took some coins though she had her card. The only thing she took from her vault was her parent's trunks and a letter which was clear for her to read. It was surprising to see it since she hadn't seen it there before, but she knew that she had been incredibly overwhelmed back then.

After her vault, she spent some time in her other vaults, and in each founder vault she picked up the grimoirs and nothing else.

It was weird because seeing the wealth in each of the founder vaults, she wondered why it wasn't being used to better the school or used to help the teachers get better equipment. Mentally noting it to get back to it later, and to see what the standard teaching contract is - to see if she could change it or upgrade it. To see the contract for a normal teacher, the head of house and the headmasters - maybe everything needed to be changed.

It was great to finally step back out of the bank, and get some fresh air, knowing that she could do it again without trouble. With that in mind, she walked over to one of the points, where she could use a portkey. With a small smile, she felt along her fingers for one of her rings and whispered: 'Brave and True.'