Harry Potter and the Founders' Vault
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Year 1: The Letter from Hogwarts
"Mom!" A young boy called, just after a small explosion was heard. He appeared running down the stairs, his pale face and hands were turning colors while his brown hair seemed to be covered in some unknown substance. He ran into the kitchen where both his parents and another boy, with short messy hair, were sitting at the table having breakfast. "Harper did this to me," the boy added to a cry from Cassidy Evans.
"It would not have happened if he did not go through my stuff!" Harper Evans now added, running down the stairs herself, her long golden hair flowing behind her as she pointed a finger at her brother. "He tried to get my wand."
"Boyd, you know you cannot use a wand until you're 11," Cassidy groaned, "and Harper, stop booby trapping your room. One day your brother may go through worse," Cassidy pulled out her wand, starting to remove the gunk from her son's hair, and returning his skin to the proper color.
"Ah it's harmless fun," Tim Evan dismissed, with a small laugh. "Where did you buy the color changing potion?"
"Me and Harry made it," Harper said, and Harry gave a smirk from the table as he fed his Crup puppy a piece of bacon – the animal was his pet and was named Lucy. Harry had been gifted her as a present on his tenth birthday. There was a Kneazel kitten sitting on a counter, who was Harper's new pet, named Daisy.
"Nice job," Tim said, and Cassidy gave him a look, standing up from cleaning her young son. "But maybe slow down on booby traps? And Boyd, you will get a wand in four years when you turn 11."
"Harry has a wand and he's not 11 yet," Boyd complained, and Harry turned his head to look at his brother – Harry himself, was quite well built, having been into sports for as long as he could remember, and was wearing a team uniform. He did have bad eyesight and needed glasses, and while he had a couple pair of glasses, he preferred wearing magical contacts that were enhanced to make them easy to take in and out. They could also change his eye color to anything he wanted. He kept them on blue most of the time, more to match the rest of the family than anything.
"It was easier to get Harry his wand when we went to go pick Harper's up. But his wand is safely tucked away until he is 11," Cassidy explained.
"I just wanted to see if a Thunderbird wand would respond to me," Boyd mumbled, sitting down on a chair, and crossing his arms. Harper's wand itself had been a gift for her 11th birthday, with a core of a Thunderbird, it was 11 inches long, maple, and, according to the wandmaker, good for transfiguration while seeking an owner that liked adventure.
"You'll get your wand when you're older and it will be what it will be," Harry told his brother. "And I've got to get ready. My baseball game is in a few hours."
"Hold on," Tim said. "Have you two decided on magical schools yet?"
"We're down to two," Harper said, holding up two fingers as she sat down, looking at the plate of food her mother gave her.
"The Grand Canyon Academy of Magics," Harry said, and Tim and Cassidy gave a smirk at that; it was their old school after all, close by, and Mato's tribe ran the place.
"And Keala Magic School," Harper added in. Keala was in Hawaii, on the magical island of Aumakua, hidden from the non-magical world.
"What about Ilvermorny?" Boyd asked.
"We didn't even apply," Harper told her little brother.
"That's stupid. It's the school I want to go," Boyd said.
"Better raise your grades in junior magic school, then," Harper replied. "Ilvermorny is an old and high-class school. You normally don't get in without being from a legacy family of generations that went to the school. You need to be outstanding in junior magic school to even be considered," Harper warned her brother, sharing a look with her parents. It was highly unlikely Boyd would ever get into Ilvermony without a family legacy or someone rich to donate to the school for him. The Evans were a fairly new Wizarding family after all, Tim coming from Muggle lineage and Cassidy from a new wizarding line.
"So, why those two?" Cassidy asked, getting the conversation back on track. "Grand Canyon and Keala? You got accepted into a lot of other schools as well."
"Grand Canyon Academy is close. It's familiar. We could even commute there if we wanted to," Harry said. "Uncle Mato runs the school and it has interesting and unusual topics."
"And Keala?" Tim asked.
"The exact opposite reasons. It's far away. It would be new. It's in Hawaii," Harper stated. "And also gives an interesting and wide course load we can choose from."
"Well, you need to decide soon. We need to send an acceptance letter out by the end of this week," Tim said.
Before the two could acknowledge that comment they heard a clatter, and an owl came flying in through the open window, practically crashing onto the table. The family was shocked at this appearance.
"This bird is completely exhausted," Cassidy said, moving over to check on the bird.
"I think I know why," Tim said, having taken the letter from the bird. "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For you Harry," he held out the letter to his son.
"But… I didn't even apply to Hogwarts. I don't know how to apply, come to think of it," Harry said, taking the letter and looked at the words on it:
Mr. Harry Potter
The Downstairs Bedroom
1980 Orenda Street
Phoenix
Arizona
United States of America
"It actually makes sense," Tim spoke as Cassidy got the owl some water and food and put him somewhere to rest – she specialized in magical creatures, after all. "Hogwarts is the only magical school in Britain and both of your parents went there – James' family for generations, in fact. Your name has probably been on their list since birth."
"Well, we'll just have to tell them no," Harry said, putting the letter down, not even opening it.
"Are you sure?" Tim asked, knowing how Harry sometimes wanted stories about his biological parents – more than Tim could tell him, having only really known Lily. "There would be people there who could tell you more about James and Lily."
"I know," Harry said with a nod. "But I'm not going anywhere without Harper." Harry gave Harper a smile and Tim had to smile too. From the moment they had brought Harry home, Harry and Harper had been inseparable. They were brother and sister and best friends. Always having each other's backs. They wouldn't even consider going to different school, even though clearly Harry was leaning towards the Grand Canyon Academy and Harper to Keala.
"Hold on a second," Cassidy said, coming back, having set the owl up to rest. Boyd was already over by the owl, petting the creature. "If Harper could go to Hogwarts with you, would you want to go to Hogwarts?"
"Yes," Harry said with a nod.
"Harper, if you were accepted to Hogwarts, would you want to go there?" Cassidy asked.
"Yes," Harper said without hesitation. "The founders of Hogwarts are amazing! They did things when making that school that still, today, we don't have any idea how they did it. And there is more than one mystery connected to Hogwarts. That new hire that Newt brought into the reserve, Barnaby Lee, he was talking about a friend of his who found and undid all the Cursed Vaults." Harper was always looking for an adventure – she wanted to find long lost magical treasures when she got older – it was why her wand sought adventure too.
"So, how about I contact Hogwarts and see if Harper can go as well? If they say yes, you have a magic school. If they say no, you can decide between your two choices here," Cassidy reasoned.
"Sounds like a plan to me, but I'm sorry Harry as I've got to miss your game," Tim said, truthfully upset. He always tried to make it to his children's events. "I have an important case. Knock them dead this time." Harry gave a smile to his adopted father as Cassidy moved over to the fireplace to use one of the special magical methods of communication.
-Harry Potter-
Minerva McGonagall sat in her office. looking over the paperwork for the incoming First Years. She had been arranging teachers to go out and have a word with those from Muggle families. She had done a couple of these herself, the latest being a young witch named Hermione Granger.
She was, however, worried about the one person she had not heard back from: Harry Potter. Not only had she received no answer but the owl they sent had not returned. She would send another letter shortly, but she was worried about the owl going missing. She was considering sending Hagrid over there, knowing the big hulking man would intimidate those Muggles she and Dumbledore had left Harry with.
That was when she heard a sound in her fireplace and turned to see young woman with blue eyes and blonde hair looking at her in the fireplace. Minerva blinked.
"Hello, are you in charge of admission at Hogwarts?" Minerva recognized an American accent and was confused for a moment.
"I am," McGonagall confirmed, moving over to the fireplace.
"I'm contacting you about an acceptance letter you sent my son," the woman continued.
"I'm sorry, but we don't send acceptance letters to the United States," Minerva said - it had been a long time since they had anyone from over the Pond attend Hogwarts.
"My son is Harry Potter," the woman responded, giving Minerva pause.
"Harry Potter? Harry James Potter? Lily and James's son?" Minerva asked.
"Yes," the American woman answered back.
"We left him with Lily's sister," Minerva remembered that night, those awful Muggles she had watched for an entire day while the world celebrated the downfall of You-Know-Who.
"My husband is Lily's cousin," the woman informed Minerva. "Petunia called us the same day she found him. We adopted him as our own." Minerva had not expected that answer.
"Your husband is Lily's cousin?" Minerva said, not knowing Lily had an American cousin. "You're a witch, obviously. Is he a wizard?"
"My husband, Timothy Evans, is a wizard. I'm Cassidy Evans and I am a witch. We adopted Harry and brought him to America almost ten years ago and raised him and loved him as our own son," Cassidy said. "Any other questions?"
"I wish I knew you were an option before leaving Harry with the worst Muggles imaginable," Minerva groaned, getting over her shock. She was actually very pleased Harry seemed to have found a loving home. It also made sense why the owl had not returned as America was a far flight. "How is our owl?" Minerva had to ask. The owls they used to send acceptance letters were not used to those flight. She was surprised the owl had made it at all.
"Exhausted but getting a lot attention. My children have never met an animal they don't like. They take after me there. I run a magical animal reserve. They have been playing with Phoenixes, Thunderbirds, Griffins, and more animals than I can name since they could walk," Cassidy said with a smile on her face. "But I called you to talk about the possibility of Harry going to your school."
"Possibility?" Minerva blinked at this. "Harry's name has been down for our school since his birth. All seven years are already paid for."
"That being what it is, Harry and my daughter Harper are the same age. The two are very connected and plan on attending school together," Cassidy said. "Harry will not attend your school without Harper, but both are willing to go to the school together. So, if Harper is accepted, Harry and Harper will attend."
"I will have to have a word with our Headmaster," Minerva said. "Could you give me her full name and address?"
"The address is the same as on Harry's letter," Cassidy pointed out.
"Hogwarts magic fills those out. I don't even look at them," Minerva explained.
"Oh right," Cassidy stated, surprised at this. "In that case it's Harper Evans, 1980 Orenda Street, Phoenix, Arizona. If you could please let us know no later than tomorrow," Cassidy said. "If Harper is not accepted, both need to decide and send their acceptance letter to the school they will attend."
"They have choices?" Minerva couldn't help but ask, not knowing about American schooling.
"Several, but as of this morning, before the Hogwarts letter arrived, they had narrowed it down to two," Cassidy said, and Minerva frowned at this.
"Well, I will let you know right away after I have a word with Headmaster Dumbledore," Minerva said, and they both said her goodbyes.
The Deputy Headmistress, once she'd written down the address for Harper Evans, didn't waste a moment more before jumping up from her chair and marching herself up to Dumbledore's office. The office was guarded by a Gargoyle which required a password… normally. Upon seeing the determination in the Deputy's face, however, the statue didn't bother asking for the password as it stepped aside to reveal the moving spiral staircase beyond.
-Harry Potter-
In the Headmaster's office, Professor Albus Dumbledore, a thin man with long white hair, beard and half-moon spectacles, was in conversation with Professor Severus Snape, a tall man with greasy black hair, a pale complexion, and a hooked nose.
"As I've told you before, Severus, I have my reasons for not making you Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Dumbledore sighed.
"But Quirinus knows nothing about those magics," Severus complained. "He was Muggle Studies professor before he took the last academic year off!"
"He asked to take over the position two years ago, Severus," Dumbledore sighed. "It was I who suggested he take leave to brush up on the subject."
"But Professor," Severus started, but the door to the office suddenly burst open and the woman in long green robes and pointed hat barged in.
"Albus Percival Brian Wulfric Dumbledore!" Minerva McGonagall shouted, her face deathly white and her lips so thin that neither men in the room could see them.
"It's Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, actually," Dumbledore waved this off, curious as to Minerva's sudden mood.
"Does it really matter?" Minerva snapped.
"Well, if you want to be –" Dumbledore started.
"Did you know?" Minerva snapped.
"I am sorry Minerva, but I am going to need a little more information there," Dumbledore raised a finger. "Did I know what?"
"Harry Potter!" Minerva shouted.
"What about Harry?" Dumbledore asked, siting up while both ignored Severus's mumbles.
"He never lived with the Dursleys," Minerva confirmed – and it was the first time she had ever seen Dumbledore shocked in her life. "We left him with the worst Muggles ever and you never once checked on the boy."
"I sent Arabella Figg to live on the street to watch over him, but by the time she had moved in, the Dursleys had moved out. She didn't want to move again, and my instruments showed there were blood wards still surrounding him. I thought he would be okay," Dumbledore said, nodding to the many instruments scattered throughout the office. "Where is he, then?"
"Lily had an American cousin who's a wizard," Minerva explained, and she was once again surprised to see Dumbledore's shock. It looked like he did not know about Lily's cousin either. "They adopted him. Harry has not been in Britain for 10 years."
"What's the big deal?" Snape spoke up. "Tim is a nice bloke." The two looked to Snape.
"You knew about Tim?" Minerva asked.
"I use to be friends with Lily. Tim visited a few times a year. Lily went to America to see him, too. Honestly, Tim was more a brother to Lily than Petunia was a sister at times," Snape dismissed.
"I agree, Harry seemed to have found a great life. Two loving parents. At least one sibling… and several choices on magical schools," Minerva said.
"He didn't reject us, did he?" Dumbledore asked, worried now. He had many plans on how to help Harry become what was needed, but if Harry stayed in America and refused to come to Britain, not only were all those plans destroyed but it could mean real trouble for the future of the entire Wizarding World.
"Not yet," Minerva said. "Harry is willing to come here," Dumbledore let out a relieved sigh, "as long as his sister, who is the same age, can attend also," Minerva handed over the piece of parchment she had written Harper's name and address down to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore took it and examined it for a moment. He then took a large book out of his draw, turning to the page for this year's students, he started writing in Harper's name. Once he had the name down, Hogwarts magic filled in the rest, along with the address. "Well, it seems Hogwarts accepts her," Dumbledore said, surprised at how fast the magic of Hogwarts seemed willing to take in a foreigner. From the book appeared an acceptance letter with Harper's name and address on it.
"I'll call Mrs. Evans," Minerva said, relieved.
"You may use my fireplace," Dumbledore added, waving to the fireplace, and Minerva gave a nod as she went over to the fireplace to speak with Cassidy Evans.
"That was fast," Cassidy Evans said, as Minerva, her head now thousands of miles from her body, and yet still connected, observed the clean kitchen of the Evans household. "Hold on a second," Cassidy turned her head at this. "Harry, did you try the closet?" Cassidy paused, clearly talking to Harry who was too far away from the fireplace for Minerva to hear. "Harper, Boyd, help your brother find his mitt and his bat." Cassidy turned back to Minerva. "Sorry about that, Harry has a game, and he can't find his equipment."
"He plays Quidditch?" McGonagall asked, having flashbacks to Harry's own father, who was a prodigy in the Wizarding sport, and wondered if Harry were sorted in Gryffindor, if they could get him onto the team early.
"No, baseball," Cassidy said, and Minerva frowned, not knowing the sport. "Do you have an answer?"
"Harper has been accepted into Hogwarts. You know, as an American citizen she doesn't have access to any Ministry scholarships though," Minerva said, hoping price was not going to be a problem. "She would need to afford to attend."
"Don't worry about it," Cassidy said, dismissing the money.
"I will send you the letter once I find an owl capable to make the flight," Minerva said.
"Actually," Dumbledore said, getting out of his chair and to the fireplace, putting his own head next to Minerva's. "Hello Mrs. Evans, I'm Albus Dumbledore. I have in my possession a key to Harry's Gringotts' vault."
"And why would you have this?" Cassidy asked, surprised.
"Keeping it safe," Dumbledore said. "No money has been taken from it; I assure you – the goblins would have heart attacks if someone not Harry would even try. You can check with them if you don't believe me. I wouldn't want to send the key by owl though. I can have someone meet you on Harry's birthday outside of Gringotts and give Harper her letter in person."
"That would be fine," Cassidy said. "Oh, I'll have their junior school send you their school records."
"Junior school?" Dumbledore asked, but Cassidy didn't take it as a question.
"Harry and Harper attended Our Hallows School of Junior Magic," Cassidy explained. "It's not the fanciest school but better than public magic school. It gave them a really good foundation," Cassidy turned again. "You found it? Where was it…? Under the couch… Harry keep better track of your things," Cassidy turned back to the two heads in her fireplace. "I've got to get going. Goodbye."
"Goodbye," Minerva and Dumbledore chorused as they both removed their heads from the fireplace.
"They take classes before they turn 11?" Dumbledore mused, now moving back over to his desk while Minerva wiped herself down. He was looking to Snape.
"Don't look at me. I never talked with Tim about his education," Severus raised his hands at this.
"I guess we will find out when I get these records," Minerva stated, curious herself.
-Harry Potter-
Later that night, Harper was in her bedroom. It was late and she was supposed to be in bed, but she had been looking for a book she had received a few years ago.
To make sure she didn't wake her up her brothers or parents, she had her wand out and had used the Lumos spell. Her mom had showed her how to use this spell when she had first got her wand.
"Here we are," Harper said to herself, finding the book at the bottom of her bookcase – when she had expressed an interest in long lost magical objects, myths, and legends, she had received many books about it for Christmas and birthdays. This one was British Magical Objects and Legends by Hildegard Spellman.
"Merlin's Staff, Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem… no… come on…." Harper mumbled, flicking through the pages. "Ah, yes, The Founders' Vault!" Harper held her wand to the page to shine the light on it, reading quietly to herself. "It is said that one of the last things all four Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry did together was create a secret vault inside Hogwarts and hid a treasure within. No one knows what this treasure is, but many have tried to find it. The school has been searched many times, but it has never been discovered. Legend says only Hogwarts students may find the treasure and whatever is within is theirs to do with what they must…" the rest of the section was theories on what could be inside and how to find it. Nothing that gave too much information and more likely speculation.
Harper sat on the bed and leaned back.
"I'm about to be a Hogwarts students. I think it's time to find this Vault," Harper smirked to herself as she put the light on her wand out and put it on her nightstand before going to bed.
Post Chapter Note: Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Footnotes on American Schooling: This will be explained a bit more next chapter, but I decided to have this here. The schooling JK made for America just doesn't work so my beta and I made a new one for this story…
Junior Magic School: There are two different types. Public schools, run by the state's magical government, that are free for all; and private, which has to be paid for (Harry and Harper attended a private one). At the first sign of accidental magic for Muggle-borns, the state government finds the witch or wizards explains to the parents and get them enrolled in a junior magic school. There will be more about what they can learn in junior school in the next chapter.
When wizards and witches turn 11 and get their wands, they then have to decide on what magic school to go to. Now in JK world Ilvermorny seemed to be the only school in all of the United States (and I read somewhere Canada and Mexico, not sure how true that is). That is like Hogwarts being the only magic school in all of Europe! It just doesn't work (doing the math, that like 1-2 students from every State, each year. Ridiculous.) As stated in this chapter though, Ilvermorny is still there, but is a high-class school. Think the Harvard of magic.
Each state has at least one magic school and if you live close enough to the magic school, you don't have to dorm there if you don't want to. You can also commute to school each day like we mere Muggles do.
Hope that all makes sense.
Please review.
Karry Master OUT!