Be Selfish
Chapter 8
After a sleepless night, on both their parts, Antonin and Harry ate breakfast silently. Harry and Antonin both had horrific nightmares. Usually Harry could keep himself silent, but addled by the potions, he stood no chance of keeping his screams tightly contained between clenched teeth. Antonin spent hours pacing around his own home, everywhere lit up, unable to stand any darkness until the feelings abated. During this time Harry's nightmare had gotten bad enough that Smirnov had come to his aid, so much so that Antonin told him to give Harry half a measure of a Dreamless Sleep Draught. They had a lot to do tomorrow he'd said, and the boy needed to be well rested.
Smirnov's voice echoed down the hallway, as he encouraged Harry to leave the bed (and the bedroom). They wouldn't know how well he was recovering if he didn't make an effort, Smirnov claimed. Harry was unlikely to figure out his fibs, of that, he was sure. There was a reason for everything Smirnov did. It wasn't in a bad way; Smirnov was a good wizard and didn't have a mean bone in his body unless you threatened someone he loved.
Although, he did excuse himself and leave Harry on his own, which the wizard likely didn't appreciate.
Harry blinked at the sight of Antonin, slowing but not stopping, as he sat down. There were dozens of platters available with all sorts of foods. fruits, egg, bacon, sausage, yoghurt, porridge, oatmeal, more than he'd seen anywhere excluding Hogwarts naturally. Not even the Dursley's had this much food out, or the Weasleys' actually.
"Do you wish to return to Gringotts?" Antonin asked, eating a full English breakfast, staring at the teenager, an unopened letter in his hands. He waited on the boy giving him his opinion/answer before he moved on. The boy looked very handsome in form fitting clothes; bit too thin but that was to be expected when you're starved. The light side should be burning in hell, letting that happen to a wizard or witch. If an effort was put in, the boy could be winning all the awards, most handsome smile, richest and most handsome wizard, and all the other awards Witch Weekly offered up. He'd be swimming in galleons, he had the right stature that most wizards and witches performed. The beguiling boy had no idea of his worth Antonin thought to himself.
"What for?" Harry asked.
Antonin cocked his head as he observed the teenager, he'd changed, something had changed. Not just his tone, but the way he was behaving. He was no longer mulish and grudgingly reluctant to converse with him. He had hoped Gringotts would break through to the teen, but this breakthrough wasn't exactly…what he expected.
There were no tears, no dramatics, no feelings of betrayal. It was as if Harry had expected that sort of behaviour from everyone, and Dumbledore wasn't immune. He seemed a little subdued, more accepting but nothing that screamed he felt deceived by someone close. "I assumed you'd like the bindings upon your magic and gifts removed. Am I wrong on that assumption?"
Harry shifted in his seat, "You weren't wrong," he agreed. He hadn't expected any help, he'd just been trying to figure out how to get back to Gringotts when he left after the Parley was up. Although, one of his other options had been to begin a parley of his own.
"But?" Antonin probed, the boy was clearly holding something back, he needed to talk to someone.
"What if I can't control it," Harry quietly confided in Antonin, waiting for the scoffs, the laughs of derision, the disbelief on their faces. Yet nothing of the sort happened at all. Likely for the first time he was taken seriously, and that…meant more to Harry than Antonin would ever know.
"It's possible that it might happen, your body is used to a certain amount of control, certain amount of magic as well." Antonin agreed, "I'm sure between the goblins and myself, we'll ensure you're adequately capable of control over your magic."
"In a day?" Harry asked doubtfully, he could just imagine the reaction the Dursley's would have if he did accidental magic. He shuddered a little at the thought, he didn't have Sirius to use as protection now, he was gone. "I…don't have very good control you know," confessing as if it was something sordid and dirty, when really, it was just a matter of life.
Antonin arched a brow, "How so?"
Harry worried his bottom lip through his teeth, "When I was thirteen, I lost my temper and inflated Marge, my Uncle Vernon's sister. She continued to inflate until ultimately, she um, rolled out the house and into the air." Not even pretending to be apologetic or saddened by what happened.
"You performed an Auror grade spell on someone?" Antonin's brows had both risen up in incredulity. "Without knowing the spell? Without meaning to?" it wasn't a surprise Harry had such bad control, for Merlin's sake a lot of his magic was bound.
"Oh, I meant it, sort of, I wanted to punish her," Harry said bluntly, before plucking the piece of fruit into his mouth. "Everyone just assumed it was accidental magic, that I hadn't meant it."
Antonin stared, "Did you?" he finally asked.
"I wanted to punish her, yes, but I didn't have my wand," Harry said, shrugging indifferently. "I didn't know the spell, didn't know such a thing was possible to do. Too bad she was Obliviated though, it would have been nice for her to remember." Then she wouldn't have dared bother him again. Not that Uncle Vernon had risked it of course, they'd went to hers instead. Then again Uncle Vernon knew what he was capable of, yet still beat him up. If he could perform it and not risk the Wizarding world finding out about the abuse and getting away with it? He'd cast magic in a nanosecond and make sure Vernon understood how wrong it had been to lift his hand to him.
Some day though, some day.
Antonin eyes gleamed wickedly, a smirk slowly stealing over his features, "Oh, they truly underestimated you, didn't they?" he said slowly, "They believed it was an accident without even discussing it with you. Tell me, how does it feel to have the entire world think you're the beacon of light…knowing if you did something they'd find a way to turn it in your favour?"
Harry shifted uncomfortable with the admiration coming from the wizard.
Antonin chuckled, "You could be found with two dead bodies at your feet and they would claim self defence before you could open your mouth."
Harry remained mostly impassive but his green eyes gleamed with merriment at the thought but he deflated quickly. "It's not true you know," Harry said quietly, after a few moments, and clearing off his breakfast plate. He'd pick fruit over all else, it wasn't something the Dursley's had or would even consider giving him. They gave him the bare minimum to survive and that was it. "The whole gets away with anything…it's not nice, the fame."
Antonin observed the teenager, listening to what he was saying and also what he wasn't. "Oh?" after everything he'd read last night he deeply, deeply admired the teenager despite the bitter confusion over his defence of Muggles. Now though, now he was wondering if anyone actually new the teenager at all. He was beginning to realize there was more to him than met the eye.
Anyone else that had learned what Dumbledore had done? They would be throwing things, having a massive temper tantrum. There was nothing but a quiet resignation, he wasn't even remotely surprised by what he heard. It might have something to do with the fever.
Harry's nostrils flared, eyes flashing angrily, "Every year they find a reason to get angry at me, going back and forth between hatred and reverence. Lose points? I'm hated, win them back because Dumbledore wants Gryffindor to win? Revered. Speak to snakes? I'm the next Dark Lord in the making, I'm the one that opened the chamber of secrets. I go down there and defeat a sixty-foot Basilisk and stop Voldemort then I'm suddenly in everyone's good books, although…" wrinkling his brow, "They only know I stopped Ginny being possessed nothing about the snake."
Antonin frowned surprised by the bitterness in the boy's tone, a Basilisk? And Dumbledore didn't shut the school down? Nothing new there. Honestly, he reckoned Dumbledore would rather the students all died than close the school down and explain why to the School Governors.
"Fourth year was the worst, apparently, I was a fame seeking traitor who denied Cedric his chance at fame. Hufflepuff it's chance of fame. Everyone including Ron, my best friend, thought I'd actually entered the tournament. He should have known better. Then by the end of the tournament they were all egging me on. I hate it, I hate Hogwarts and I hate my fame." Harry said bitterly. "Don't get me started on last year." Giving Antonin a gimlet glare, before letting up and staring at the empty bowl, he could no more blame Antonin than he could himself, lest he turn into a hypocrite. Although he was fighting them during the battle of the Department of Mysteries. Apparently with no intentions of harming or killing them.
Antonin nodded his understanding, "I see," he replied, he wondered if he'd grown up amidst the fame, he'd be less angry over it, or if he'd be wanting nothing more than to fade into the anonymity. Was it really that different from what they all had to put up with? They were the heirs, they were well known, just by their looks. "Are you finished?" gesturing towards the cleaned-out bowls in front of Harry.
"I'm done," Harry nodded his agreement, standing up, waiting.
"You understand that it will be painful to have the bindings removed?" Antonin asked seriously, as he too stood up. "Quite possibly the most painful thing you've come up against before."
"I don't know about that, I'm not sure anything could possibly come close to the feeling of Basilisk venom coursing through your veins, killing you." Harry said bluntly, he was used to pain, "Pain is an old friend now."
Antonin inhaled sharply, truly caught of guard by what the teenager had said. "Very well," ceding that Harry might know exactly what he was in for. He didn't ask how he'd survived the Basilisk Venom, there were only a few things that could halt the venom in its tracks. He did wonder if the boy realized just how lucky he was. Surviving Basilisk Venom? Very rare thing indeed. You were far more likely to survive being petrified. "Let's go."
Antonin left the living area, grabbing two thick winter cloaks and handed one to Harry. Who put one on without a word of protest. If anything, he seemed to relish in the warmth of the cloak, the cloak was imbued with a warming charm that activated when needed. In fact, he looked like he was delighting in it.
It didn't take long for them to reach Gringotts, the silence wasn't as strained as it was the day before. The goblins, intelligent beings that they were, knew exactly why they were coming. For they were directed in the direction of the ritual room and goblin healers.
"Good morning, Heir Potter, I am healer goblin Grunx," the goblin healer said, staring up at the teenager, a speculative look upon their faces. "I see that you've recovered since yesterday."
"They're digging for answers, to find out what was wrong with you," Antonin commented idly, stretching out, not noticing Harry's gaze following his moves.
"I'll have you know; we need to know before we begin the process, some potions are forbidden to be taken before we begin." The healer goblin gave Antonin a pointed look, "And of course, we must negotiate price."
"No negotiating, nobody's magic is up for haggling." Antonin stated firmly, his lip curling in sheer disgust at the thought of it.
The goblin sobered at that, before continuing relentlessly, "And the potions Heir Potter is on?"
"Here," Antonin thrust the piece of paper in front of the goblin, even he wouldn't have remembered their names and amounts. Healer Smirnov having foreseen the need the goblins would have, had written them in neat block letters so that the goblins knew.
Grunx accepted the piece of paper, and its' eyes flew over the page, its shoulders relaxing as it nodded in affirmation. "It looks like you're good to go if you want to go through with it."
"Don't I need my 'magical guardian's' permission for the ritual to be performed?" Harry asked bluntly, bitterness suffusing his voice.
"Ah, perhaps you should speak to Behr before we begin?" the Healer goblin looked smug, knowing something neither Antonin or Harry did.
"Fine," Harry sighed, "Where do I go?"
"The door across from this one, Heir Potter," Grunx bowed before beginning to prepare the room for the ritual that was about to happen.
Antonin glanced at the goblin briefly, before moving off the wall, and both Antonin and Harry left the room. Crossing over to the other room, and was met with immediate admittance. The goblin was almost bursting at the seams, and the fact Harry could tell meant it was very, very obvious. Goblins weren't quite so easily read.
"Good morning, Heir Potter, I am Behr, I understand you have some questions?" Behr asked, peering at the wizard.
"Don't I need my magical guardian's consent for the ritual?" Harry asked bluntly.
"Purification ritual," Antonin explained, "To remove blocks that have been placed upon the boys' magic for the past fourteen years."
Behr nodded his understanding, "I understand your concern, but after you left, we did a lot of digging in hopes you'd return here. Our British brethren were worried about your finances with you ignoring their letters."
"I've never received a letter from Gringotts," Harry curtly interrupted, "Not even once."
Antonin shifted in his seat, eyes boring holes into the goblin's head as if he was to blame personally for what happened. This sort of thing shouldn't be happening, there were laws and regulations to prevent it too. It sickened him, it really did. It worried him more that he might not be the only one either.
"Redirection on your mail?" the goblin sighed, "We shall have it removed free of charge."
Antonin's lips pulled back into a shark like smirk, oh, they were sucking up big time. Either they had acknowledged they were in the wrong, or they wanted to be on good terms. It was very rare for the goblins to suck up to wizards, they detested it. Their subservience did pique his curiosity though. Or the goblin version of it at any rate.
"Uh-huh," Harry said, staring intently at Behr as if waiting for the other shoe to fall.
"You're legally an adult," was how the goblin chose to start the conversation. "You have been since you turned fourteen-years-old. Or rather a few months after you turned fourteen."
Harry huffed out an incredulous laugh, "The Triwizard tournament?"
The goblin's teeth were shown in a facsimile of a smile. "Correct."
"Does Dumbledore know?" Harry asked leaning forward, green eyes toxic with rage.
"He does," Behr informed him, "Tell me, Heir Potter, is this your signature?" removing a piece of parchment out of the folder and sliding it over the table towards the wizard.
Harry took one look at it, before he became noticeably frostier, clenching his fists as he tried to stop himself reacting. "This isn't my signature, nor is this my design." Shoving the paper away from him, sitting back with a frustrated look on his face.
Antonin who read it quickly over the boy's head shook his head silently.
"Let me guess, there's nothing I can do about it?" Harry asked bitterly.
"Incorrect, he fraudulently signed documents in your name, messed with the Potter estate." The goblin told him, speaking quickly, quick enough that there was an overlap. Harry could hear the original language on top of hearing the English translations. "With you being an adult, all funds removed will also be considered theft. The theft of your seats will cause far more damage to him."
"Bloody hell, not even goblins abroad can stand him," Harry said wryly.
Antonin chuffed, "You're not wrong there, you know he's known internationally." He held no power over Russia, many countries but not there nor Asia and the likes. Most of the world couldn't stand him, there were only a few countries were more people liked him than hated him.
"He's already regained all the power he lost?" Harry shook his head, unable to contemplate that.
"Correct, he's already reinstated in the ICW and Wizengamot chambers," Antonin agreed, "He is currently in America right now according to the newspaper." The Daily Prophet was mostly nonsense but did offer up some gems of information. That and he had confirmation from the Dark Lord who was keeping him notified.
"Do you wish to press charges?" the goblin asked slyly.
"Bear in mind that the wizarding world wouldn't be able to interfere, the Goblin Nation is a nation of its own. The wizarding world wouldn't risk all the treaties and peace they managed at great cost. To both wizardkind and goblin-kin." Antonin explained not even bothering to hide his glee. The goblins took theft very seriously, honestly, they'd put murder further down the list.
Harry straightened up, "Even the goblins in Britain?"
"All goblins adhere to a strict code of honour, theft is not tolerated, by any goblin in it's nation." Antonin answered, "A goblin found to be stealing is either sent to the pits or killed." His index finger making a slicing motion across his neck almost laughing at the wide-eyed look that came across Harry's face. He was going to miss him; he'd never admit it though.
"Correct," the goblin declared smugly, they were a very proud warrior race. "So, Heir Potter?"
"I.." before Harry could reply, Antonin spoke again.
"Your word will have far more weight behind it, if you accept your position as Lord." Antonin told him.
"Isn't hereditary?" Harry asked, wrinkling his nose.
"Yes, but it comes with specific obligations you must oversee, it's nothing something to be accepted on whim." Behr explained, "Your father did not take on the title and for good reason, war is no place for titles and the obligations that come with it."
"I'll take the title," Harry declared, as always one to do what he wanted then think later. Unfortunately, he hadn't learnt his lesson from Sirius' death. "And I want to press charges."
After that announcement the room was silent, even Antonin was silent for once.
Harry's chin jutted out, showcasing his determination despite a goblin and Antonin staring at him.
A/N – sorry not had as much free time as I would like the past few days! Trying to make changes so that we can make do with the rising cost of living same almost everyone else but I'll get there (you just have to believe, don't you?) 😊 hopefully we all will manage add the fact I feel like I'm coming down with something ugh sucks! 😊enough about me... soooo will we see a more detailed Goblin Nation in this? Will them arresting Dumbledore and bringing him to court? What will happen to him? working in the tunnels? Will they kill him? Or just imprison him? It was theft after all! This wasn't originally where I wanted to go at all BUT now that I am I actually feel quite excited, it's something I haven't done before 😉 and I love writing stories differently ahhh! Lol 😊 R&R please