Chapter 14:
Gringotts:
Harry was in a shockingly bright room, for being underground, with three goblins circling around him. None spoke, and they had their faces covered and because of that, Harry wasn't sure if they were male or female. He made eye contact with Andi, who motioned to him to be patient and then at Sirius, who had a smirk on his face that caused Harry to nearly start laughing. Andi then turned and glared at her cousin.
"Your scar is most interesting," one of the goblins said. Even after speaking Harry wasn't sure of the sex of the talker. "Dark magic hidden behind the scar. Although, your magic is eating away at it."
"What did you say?" Sirius asked quickly. He moved to stand with his son, as two of the goblins had moved off to consult a book and search through a set of very small drawers – a bit like a card catalogue, Harry thought.
"The power of his magic is eating away at this, smudge," the goblin explained. "We believe it will destroy it very soon. Your magic was just released, correct?"
"Yes, less than a week ago," Harry replied, and Andi came to stand with him.
"There were two blocks on him, the faintest of remnants of one his father put on him as a baby to protect him. Usually, they burn off by eleven or twelve. However, a second, much stronger one, was put on Harry when he was eight or nine, and it caused the infant block to linger. I removed the second block," Andi explained.
"Yes, the thief's magic was all over the block. It has probed this smudge as well, although why he did not remove it, I could not say."
"What did you say?" Sirius repeated, even as he rubbed his goatee in anxiety.
"All things in the world are in balance. When they become out of balance, we all suffer. Magic as dark as what remains behind this scar can only be repelled by light magic. The infusion of a burst, or several bursts, of light magic would have dissipated it completely. Even with the block on the young man's magic, he has been protecting himself from that abomination since he received it. Now that he can access all his magic, it will be gone in a week at the most."
"Brilliant!" Harry said with a slight hop on his toes. "Can I do anything to make it disappear sooner?"
"Why yes, there is. My companions are preparing a gemstone for you. You are to rub it across your scar three times a day. We are hoping we can capture what is left, for academic study," the goblin explained.
"Sounds simple enough," Harry said.
"Why do you want to study it?" Andi asked. She and Sirius had determined it was from Voldemort, most likely a Horcrux, although there were few who knew of the magic outside of the Black family. It was a creation of one of their ancestors. He was also the first Black to show the family madness that plagued at least one person per generation. Bellatrix had the worst case seen in years.
"We know of the magic that Ophiuchus Black used to create these abominations, and what it did to your family, Lord Black," the goblin said. "However, we have never seen one in a human, magical or not. We desire to understand it."
"Would you be willing to share whatever findings you have?" Andi spoke up. "It would be helpful for wizarding healers, such as myself, to know what to do should we ever encounter another."
"Should you ever encounter another, the bearer would most likely not be alive," the goblin stated.
"Why?" Harry asked in alarm.
"Because they would not have the protections on them that you do."
"Lily's protections," Sirius sighed reverently.
"Explain," the goblin growled, and pointed to some chairs on the far side of the room. When they were seated a tea set suddenly materialized and Andi prepared tea for the family, as the goblins had refused.
"Harry's mother, Lily, was exceptional at runes and runic arrays. When she knew that Voldemort was after them, she wanted a way to survive. Harry's bedroom was a trap that she and I and another friend, Remus, carved into the door frame, the floor, the walls, even Harry's crib. It would have worked too, if Voldemort had stepped into the room rather than fire from just outside the room," Sirius explained.
"And the protections on young Harry?" the goblin enquired.
"She did a shielding array on his crib. At the time we hypothesized it might protect Harry, once activated, even outside of the crib but we weren't sure –"
"In my first year a teacher was possessed by Voldemort. When I touched him, he burned up," Harry added.
"Very interesting," the goblin muttered. "These runes sound impressive. Do you have any information about the array? I'm sure our curse-breakers would find it fascinating."
"I can see if our notes still exist, but the house they lived in was partially destroyed and –" Sirius began but was cut off by the goblin's hand.
"We understand," the goblin stated. "Whatever you can tell us would be helpful. We also know about the house. The thief gave the house to the Ministry as a monument. It is yours again to do what you want."
"It's a monument?" Sirius said in disbelief. "My brother and his wife died there!"
"I know, Siri," Andi said, laying her hand on his arm. "But most people don't think about what was lost when we were all saved. It's awful, but true. I know for both of you the loss was immense."
Another goblin came over and handed the one who was speaking a small item with a chain attached. "Here, Harry, wear this and just swipe it across your scar three times a day. One or two gentle rubs per time, and hopefully we will catch even a small bit of what it is."
"I can do that," Harry confirmed. "But what is a Horcrux?" Sirius and Andi looked sick, and both were looking to find the words. "I know it was part of Voldemort."
"A Horcrux is a piece of someone's soul that is put into something to preserve it. Generally, it is an inanimate object, so you're a unique case," the goblin answered plainly. Andi and Sirius were surprised when Harry took the answer and made a typical teenaged face of disgust.
"Gross. No wonder I get headaches right where my scar is."
"Yes, your body has been fighting it. I consider you an exceptional young man, Harry Potter. I want to see you again in a month, and hopefully you will be free of the residue, and we will have trapped something," the goblin said.
Two weeks later, Harry had his friends over. Hermione and Neville had been regular visitors to the house, and after much deliberation and avoidance, the Orangery was tackled.
"Well, Harry, the plants are healthy enough but overgrown. I think just some judicious pruning will help. That orange tree is just too big. How about I take it to my greenhouse, and I'll bring you a small orange and lemon tree," Neville suggested as he, Harry and Hermione were walking around the orangery.
"I don't see why that could be a problem," Harry said. "However, I do need to run it by Sirius, it's his house."
"Wrong, Harry," Sirius said entering the room. "This is OUR house, we share it. What did you think you needed my permission for?"
"Neville said the orange tree is too big for this room. He wants to take it back to his greenhouses and swap it for smaller orange and lemon trees," Harry explained.
"Sounds like a fair trade, although I'd be willing to pay for the smaller trees," Sirius said.
"No, this one will produce better fruit, and my gran loves malt loaf with candied peel," Neville said with near disgust.
"I take it you don't like malt loaf, Neville?" Hermione asked with a knowing smile.
"It's so gross, and she has it for tea at least three times a week," he moaned as he drew his wand.
"Neville, where did you get that wand?' Sirius asked.
"It was my father's, My gran decided I should use it to memorialize him. I'm not much more than a Squib, so it doesn't matter anyway. Thankfully, Herbology isn't a wanded class."
"I know it's your dad's," Sirius said. "See that gouge, right above the handle? I did that in training. Your father was brilliant at duelling, and he worked with Remus, James, and me just after we left Hogwarts. I ran into him, and my belt buckle took that chunk of his wand out. Thankfully, it wasn't his work wand. I'm surprised it worked; I could see the core when I first ruined it. Ollivander repaired it the best he could, that's what you see there." Neville looked at the wand intently. "I'm impressed you get it to work at all."
"Really?"
"Really. Tell you what, after lunch we can go to Diagon Alley and I will buy you a new wand, as I should have done all those years ago with your dad. If you can fire a shield with that wand, then I'd keep it as a second wand. Never know when you might need a bit of a surprise," Sirius explained.
"But Gran –"
"Your grandmother will not refuse a gift, especially since I would have been at every birthday party you had as a child, because you and Harry would have celebrated together. This makes up for a year or two. If she still objects, I will speak with Augusta," Sirius said with a wink.
"You can't flirt your way out of every situation," Hermione said with a wry smile.
"Oh, he will try," another voice said before Amelia and Susan appeared. "Thank you for attempting to reign him in, Miss Granger. I thought we were having lunch; please tell me you don't plan on eating in here, Siri?"
"No, Neville was just assessing what needed to be done to make the space usable. Come, let me show you our newly outfitted dining room," Sirius said as he took Amelia's arm and looped it through his and walked toward the other side of the house.
"I guess we'd better get used to seeing each other," Susan said tentatively.
"Everyone is welcome to our home," Harry said happily. "I know Sirius is happy to be with your aunt. It must be important too since Remus doesn't tease him about it."
"Do you think they'll get married?" Susan asked.
"I know that was the plan before my parents were killed," Harry answered. "If Sirius hadn't gone off after Wormtail then we would have grown up together."
"You and I would have been sister and brother?"
"After a fashion," Hermione said. "However, it would be more likely that you'd both be half-siblings to any children Madame Bones and Sirius would have had."
"Do you think they'll have babies now?" Susan asked, aghast.
"They aren't that old," Harry said. "My grandmother was in her late seventies when she had my dad." Susan didn't look impressed. "What's your problem with them having kids?"
"I don't know," Susan said. "I do know what my issue is. Auntie has always been a career woman – there were loads of times when she went off for her job and left me with the nanny elf or Hannah's family. I don't want to see her do that to another child."
"I understand what you're saying," Neville said. "Gran left me with her elf, or Uncle Algie who tried to shock the magic out of me. It was lonely growing up that way. You're forgetting she isn't doing it alone. Sirius will be with her."
"I guess," Susan said hesitantly.
"Neville, what did you say about your uncle attempting to shock your magic out of you?" Harry asked.
"I told you, I'm closer to a Squib than I am a wizard. He tried to drown me, threw me out of a window to see if I'd bounce – I did, thank goodness. Thing is, my parents talked about my accidental magic in my baby journal."
"I wonder," Harry said, looking contemplative. A voice from the other side of the house beckoned them. "Come on, I need to talk with my dad."
"I haven't heard you call him dad before," Neville said.
"I'm still trying to get used to it."
Upon entering the dining room, Harry went to Sirius who was standing arm in arm with Amelia. "You know the block my father put on my magic when I was a baby?" Sirius nodded. "Could Neville's parents have done the same to him?"
"I don't know, but Dumbledore might have…"
"What are you talking about?" Amy asked.
"I'll explain in a minute. Neville, this won't hurt," Sirius said before he waved his wand over Neville's body. "Shite, there is at least one binding on your magic, if not two. I can't do a fine enough scan. Harry, call cousin Andi and see if she can come over?"
"Sure," Harry said, disappearing to use the fireplace in the reception room.
"Neville, we have a lot to talk about, but after lunch." Neville's stomach rumbled in response.
