Harry Potter and the Founders Vault
Disclaimer: The same as always.
Year 1: The American Holiday
Ever since inviting Hermione to formally be part of their Founders' Vault quest, they had now officially introduced her to Hagrid, who had been more than willing to share information on Harry's parents, while also sharing their love for magical creatures. It was returning from one of these visits that the trio rushed back into the Entrance Hall.
"Oh, it's cold out there," Harper complained as she and Harry rubbed their hands in earnest.
"It's not that cold yet," Hermione spoke, frowning at the pair in concern.
"Er, yeah, it is," Harry agreed with his sister, causing Hermione to raise an eyebrow.
"Anyway," Hermione said, deciding to change the topic. "I have been thinking about the riddle."
"We've all been thinking about the riddle," Harper added, "for weeks." It had been a couple of weeks now and the riddle was still confusing them all; they had started looking into the known heirs of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw to see if the blood lines had crossed and if there was a portrait of an heir to both of them in the castle, but there was very little on the heirs to the Founders. Almost nothing, in fact.
"I think we're taking Ravenclaw and Gryffindor too seriously. I think they are proxies for other words – they have a double meaning," Hermione said, clearly having been thinking of this for a while.
"I've been thinking that too," Harper mused, feeling they had to reconsider the meaning of the riddle. "Any ideas?"
Before Hermione could say anything, a familiar voice spoke: "Well, if it isn't Harry and Harry's Girls." It was Fred and George Weasley. They had formed a friendship with Fred and George since Harry and Harper had taken revenge against Ron for making Hermione cry during Halloween, the twins finding it all very amusing. It helped that Fred and George didn't share the same bias against Slytherin as Percy and Ron did.
"Where did this name come from?" Harry asked.
"Please don't say Peeves," Harper added, knowing the castle's poltergeist could come up with the strangest names. For some unknown reason, the poltergeist was keeping away from Harry and Harper and the siblings didn't know why, not that they cared – the phantom freaked them out, anyway.
"Not him. Are you three causing any trouble?" One twin asked, the other completed, "because if so, count us in?"
"We're not doing anything," Hermione chuckled. "We were just out helping Hagrid."
Before they could say anything, else though, footsteps could be heard, and Professor McGonagall appeared coming down the Grand Staircase. "Ah, there you two are. I need a word," the Professor spoke.
"We didn't do it," Fred and George said together.
"Didn't do what?" Professor McGonagall paused, her eyes going to the two twins.
"Whatever you want," one started and the other completed "to talk to us about."
"I was talking about needing to talk to Ms. Evans and Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall sighed.
"We didn't do it," Harper and Harry said together, causing Hermione to chuckle.
"Didn't do what?" Professor McGonagall now repeated.
"What they are claiming they didn't do," Harper said, pointing at the twins.
"I should clarify no one is in any trouble," the Professor breathed, "I would normally take you to my office to say this privately but since I am sure you will just come back and tell them anyway, your holiday permission to leave school tomorrow has been approved. You will be allowed out of classes tomorrow and Friday." A large smile came across both Harry and Harper's face. "You will meet me here in the Entrance Hall tomorrow morning. I will escort you to Hogsmeade where you can use your portkey to go home. I will be waiting for you in London at 8am on Monday to bring you back to Hogwarts. Don't be late."
"Just to be clear, 8am this time or our time?" Harper asked making all look to her. "What? There is like a 7-hour time difference, after all."
"She's right," Harry said with a nod.
"8am as by here," Professor McGonagall frowned, before giving the Weasleys a look and then walking away.
"What was," one of the Weasley twins started, "that about?" the other finished for his twin.
"We get to go home for Thanksgiving," Harry explained happily, as he and Harper high fived at that.
"What's Thanksgiving?" Fred and George asked.
"It's an American holiday," Hermione was the one to answer, having heard of it through television shows. "It's about being thankful for what you have."
"We can also go Black Friday shopping the next day," Harper said.
"Black Friday?" One of the twins asked.
"The day after Thanksgiving, start of the Christmas season. All stores do massive deals," Harry said with a smile. The group now walking towards the Great Hall for dinner.
"You don't think it's a little insane that the day after a holiday for being thankful for what you have, you fight with strangers over cheap deals on new things?" Hermione spoke.
"It's the American way," Harry and Harper said together in their most American accent yet and got a laugh from Fred and George from this.
"I wonder if the bookstore will have their sale," Harper now voiced. "We do need to get Christmas presents after all." Hermione tilted her head at that, wondering what was going through her friends' minds.
"Oh, and the prank store," Harry spoke, giving a wink to Harper.
"If you buy anything good," one Weasley twin now spoke, "you better not wait until Christmas to show us," the other completed, causing the group to laugh as they all sat at the Gryffindor table.
"Wait," Hermione said, obviously having been thinking. "There's a 7-hour time difference between here and your home. Where exactly do you live in the States?"
"Arizona," the siblings said together.
"Holy cricket!" Hermione breathed. "No wonder you two are cold. I bet you've never even seen snow!"
"We have not," Harper confirmed with a nod.
"Really, what's with this 'holy cricket' thing?" Harry asked, it being the second time Hermione had used that term.
"My dad uses the term a lot," Hermione dismissed. "But you two better eat and get back to your dormitories to pack for the weekend."
"Yes, ma'am," Harry saluted this as he helped himself to roast potatoes.
-Harry Potter-
The next morning, Harry and Harper met bright and early in the Entrance Hall; both had packed light, given they were going home anyway for the weekend. Harper had her cat carrier with Daisy in, purring sleepily.
"You're bringing Daisy home?" Harry asked.
"Daphne and Tracey offered to take care of her, but I wouldn't feel right being without her," Harper stated. Her roommates had grown fond of Daisy; she was the only one of the three who had a pet with them, and Daisy loved snuggling up next to anyone and begging for treats. Often one of them were throwing cat toys at Daisy, too.
"What about Hedwig?" Harper asked.
"Haven't seen her since I sent that letter to mom a few days ago," Harry said with a shrug as Professor McGonagall came down. The owl was either still on the way home or coming back, he didn't know.
"I see you two are ready. Please, follow me," Professor McGonagall spoke, the two didn't waste time in following the professor out of the school and down the path that led to the village of Hogsmeade. Once safely just outside the little village, the Professor finally spoke again. "You may use your portkey now; we are out of the protections of the castle."
Harry nodded, taking the portkey out of his backpack – it was toy baseball bat that Harry had to smirk at. Now, some portkeys activated at certain times, others when they were touched, but this one activated by a word.
"Want to say the magic word?" Harry asked Harper, the pair having chosen the word themselves several months ago.
"Abracadabra," Harper grinned, and they felt the tug of a portkey around their belly buttons as they were taken away; the castle, Hogsmeade and Professor McGonagall vanishing in a swirl of colors.
"Abracadabra?" Professor McGonagall frowned, worried at the wording, but had nothing else to do but shake her head as she headed back to the school.
-Harry Potter-
Everyone had to enter the country througha legal port of entry. For muggles that meant airports and places at the border. For wizards and witches there were areas in each state set up for portkey arrives in state government buildings. The Portkey took Harry and Harper to their local government building's magical wing, where they had to legally re-enter the country through Customs there. Once through, the pair met Tim Evans outside and embraced.
The next thing either of them knew, everything went black as Tim apparated them home. Harry felt he was being pressed very hard from all directions; he could not breathe as his eyes were being forced back into his head; his ear-drums were being pushed deeper into his skull… and then it was over as the three of them stood outside of their home in Orenda Street, Arizona.
"Man, I never get used to that," Harper breathed as Daisy was hissing in her cage – not liking apparition either.
"You will," Tim chuckled as they headed for the front door, opening it to let his kids in.
Harper let Daisy out of her cat carrier at this, the feline looking around and seeming to realize she was home, so ran right for a cat tree in the living room that they had bought for her. Lucy, Harry's crup, had heard them and jumped on Harry from her dog's bed by the cat tree, licking him all over as the boy laughed.
"I know, I know, I missed you too girl," Harry said, hugging the crup whose both tails were wagging. Tim, meanwhile, excused himself back to bed now his children were home.
"Let's get some food," Harper said once Lucy had calmed down, laughing as she went to the refrigerator and grabbed the carton of milk out. "It's kind of ridiculous Hogwarts doesn't even have milk to drink," she now mused.
"I know. Just water and pumpkin juice," Harry pulled a face at this. "At least mom sends juice boxes," Harry grabbed the orange juice from the fridge and was just pouring himself a glass when there was a spark of fire on the countertop. "Hey, Helia," Harry barely batted an eyelid at the phoenix's appearance. "Are you hanging out here instead of the reserve?" The phoenix gave a chirp out at this as Harry went to pet her but was surprised by Hedwig flying in through the window. "Hey girl," he added to the owl.
"It's turning into an animal menagerie already with two birds, a cat and a crup," Harper laughed, knowing their parents wouldn't care as Harry reached for the letter on the confused owl's leg – it did take Hedwig a few days to fly between England and here after all.
"I told you she was probably flying to or from here," Harry said, now giving Hedwig some water and food. "We're here for a bit, girl. Hang out with Helia?" The owl gave an exhausted hoot as she went to drink and eat.
A moment of silence as everyone ate, then Harry spoke to his sister, a thought having come to him. "Harp, do you feel different out of Hogwarts?"
"You know, I do," Harper said with a nod. Ever since the pair had arrived at Hogwarts that first day, the thing that had called out to them, to their magic, hadn't gone away. They still didn't know what it was, but it was almost like a comforting presence with them now. Here, however, it was gone and far away. The two frowned, not sure what else to say as they went to get some breakfast.
It was a couple of hours before Cassidy and Tim were officially awake. Cassidy hugged both her kids before getting some proper breakfast on, while Boyd was the last one up, who gave a wave as he ate. After breakfast, Harper and Harry were put to work, like every year, in helping Cassidy get the celebratory meal prepared.
"So, who's coming this year?" Harper asked as she sat at the table with Harry peeling potatoes. "Are grandma and grandpa coming from Florida?" Harry looked up at that; Cassidy's parents, Annika and Lewis Janeway had moved to a condo, a sort of apartment building, in Florida after retiring. Both were muggles – Annika having been a science teacher while Lewis had been a doctor – and the two were the best grandparents as far as Harry and Harper were concerned.
In all honestly, the siblings had given some serious thought of going to school at Walt Disney's School of Magical Arts in Orlando, Florida to be closer to their grandparents, but they had ended up dismissing it since in going there, students had work in the amusement parks for their last few years and neither of them really wanted to do that. Plus, their curriculum was directed more to creative magic than more in-depth magic – it was mostly inspiring artists who went there.
"No," Cassidy mused, "they are having Thanksgiving with their friends. But they will be here for Christmas, even before you two get back from school." The siblings gave a nod at this.
"Your Uncle Mato is coming with Catori and Kimi, though," Tim added in, coming from the lounge; Kimi was Mato and Catori five-year-old daughter, who was in love with Harry. It was kind of cute.
"And of course, Newt and Rolf," Cassidy supplied; after marrying Porpentina 'Tina' Goldstein, an American witch, Newt had officially moved to America – it was why he started making his magical creature reserves in America. His son had moved back to Britain though and married a British witch, but during the war both had fought and died, leaving Newt and Tina alone to raise their only grandson, Rolf. Tina had sadly died a few years ago, leaving Newt and Rolf on their own. Tina's sister, Queenie and her muggle husband lived in France, however, having relocated there during the war themselves.
Rolf Scamander was a few years older than Harry and Harper too and was one of their best friends – practically like a big brother or cousin. His family on his grandmother's side had gone to Ilvermorny for generations, so he had too. It helped that his grandfather was a famous author and the world's greatest Magizoologist. Harper and Harry teased him sometimes for going to that school, though.
"You know, I invited Barnaby Lee, too," Cassidy stated now, thoughtfully. "He's working the morning shift in the reserve and will come here afterward."
"You've never invited an employee before," Harry frowned at this.
"I like Barnaby. He might not be the brightest star in the night sky, but he's sweet and he knows how to care for animals. He never had that much of a family before going to Hogwarts – his parents were supporters of well…" Cassidy paused as she looked at Harry, "Voldemort." Harry gave a nod. "His grandmother was not the nicest and his uncle sounds like a fool. He met some good friends at Hogwarts from what he says but he came all the way here to work for Newt, leaving everyone and everything behind. He's never celebrated Thanksgiving before."
"Obviously," Harper said, knowing Britain didn't celebrate Thanksgiving.
"Sounds like he'll fit right in," Harry smiled at this as Cassidy took out her wand.
"How about a little music?" Cassidy asked, and pointed her wand. "Memento Musica." A light came out of Cassidy's wand and then music started to play.
"You do know we have a CD player," Harper pointed out, but she had to smile at the music. It was one her mom always went to when using this spell; she'd missed it while at Hogwarts.
"Can you teach us that?" Harry, however, asked.
"Finish peeling the potatoes and I will," Cassidy pointed out and Harry and Harper shared a look before peeling with earnest. Cassidy chuckled at this.
It was only a minute or two later when both called out "done!" almost at the same time making, both Cassidy and Tim laugh.
"Okay, take out your wands," Cassidy instructed, wiping her hands on a cloth.
"Do you have to?" Boyd had come out of the living room at that moment, having been watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the television with Tim floating between that and the kitchen. Boyd had a glass in his hand and was obviously coming in to get more water.
"You don't have to listen," Cassidy stated, and Boyd mumbled in annoyance and went back into the living room.
"What's his problem?" Harper frowned, not used to her little brother being in that kind of mood.
"He's a little jealous you two have your wands and are off learning spells," Cassidy sighed, and Harry and Harper looked at each other. Boyd always wanted to rush, to catch up to them, that he never enjoyed the life he lived currently. "But anyway, to do this spell you have to have a clear song in your head. One you know well. The spell recalls a song from your memory and plays it exactly as you remember it. Then just say the spell memento musica with this flourish," she waved her wand in an almost musical note at this.
Harry and Harper spent a while trying to get the spell to work, but Harry was the first one of them to get a song to play all the way through, he gave Harper a smirk as she got it not long after him. By the time they both mastered it, Mato had showed up with Catori and Kimi, the latter of whom ran straight to Harry, who hugged her appreciatively.
"How are you two doing?" Mato asked with a smile as he then hugged both of them hello. "I miss you. Hogwarts teaching you well?"
"So far so good," Harry said.
"Only class that's a disappointment is Defense," Harper completed for her brother.
"Ah, Defense Against the Dark Arts has been a disappointment for a while. I am sure there is a curse on the position. They can't keep a teacher over a year," it was a new voice as Tim came in with Newt and Rolf Scamander. "And look who I found," the older teenager, Barnaby Lee was behind Newt, holding a pie in his hand.
"I bought this for today," Barnaby said, smiling
"Thank you, Barnaby," Cassidy with a smile taking the pie.
"You know, one of our Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers killed a student while I was there," Barnaby pointed out as Cassidy took the pie.
"Really?" Harry and Harper shared a look at this.
"Not now, Barnaby," Rolf dismissed Barnaby, who frowned at the other teenager.
"So, what houses are you two in?" Newt asked, moving the conversation along.
"Gryffindor," Harry said.
"Slytherin," Harper said.
"I was a Slytherin," Barnaby grinned, raising his hand.
"Oh, spilt up by houses? Well, I think it's good. Maybe some of your unity can help bring those houses closer," Newt said. "I myself was a Hufflepuff."
"So, are you two finally going to stop teasing me about my school?" Rolf asked.
"Heck no," Harry and Harper chuckled together.
"Hogwarts is a lot more famous than Ilvornmory," Rolf pointed out.
"Not as exclusive," Harry pointed out.
"Everyone in Britain goes there," Harper added.
"Okay, it's getting crowded in here," Tim said; they were all in the kitchen, apart from Boyd. "Kids, why don't you go play your annual poker game?" Harper gave a smirk at this – it was tradition for them to play poker when they got together. "Barnaby, join them." Tim added as Harper, Harry, and Rolf went to get Boyd.
"Okay," Barnaby said following. Kimi followed obediently behind them.
"Newt, help me get the table ready?" Tim asked, and Newt went to follow Tim into the dining room, leaving Cassidy to talk to Mato and Catori. "Can the kids hear?" Tim asked and Newt looked back at this. The kids were in the living room and they had turned on the CD player as they got the cards out.
"We're good," Newt said.
"So?" Tim asked.
"I went to all my contacts in Britain," Newt stated. "But it's been so long. The war changed a lot. I don't have many strings left to pull there – and even the strings I do have, the minute I mention Sirius Black, they shut down. I'm going to continue to try though."
"I'm having about the same luck as you," Tim said with a nod as they set the table. "The USA and the UK magical governments have practically no communication these days, and even our government think Sirius Black is guilty of murder – although the no-trial-thing is worrying."
"I just don't understand one thing. He didn't betray Lily and James and that's good, but he is also accused of killing Peter Pettigrew and several muggle," Newt pointed out. "Isn't he guilty for that?"
"The fact he was not the secret keeper puts doubt on him committing any of the crimes," Tim pointed out. "I went back and looked over witness testimony. Peter yelled at Sirius for betraying James. Why would be do that when Sirius wasn't the secret keeper?"
"I think you have an answer," Newt said knowing Tim well by now.
"The goblins showed me the will. James and Lily stated who was their secret keeper and it was Peter Pettigrew. Peter was trying to cover for himself," Tim said and Newt gave a nod. "If Sirius killed him I don't blame him, but over all there is something fishy here. The crimes need to be investigated. Something Britain does not want to do so it falls to me."
"Then may I suggest there is one person who has the answers you seek. Have you tried getting an audience with Sirius himself?" Newt asked.
"He's in Azkaban, that place is run by Dementors – those creatures would have drained a lot of his sanity already," Tim sighed at this. "But you're right, it's worth a shot."
It was almost dinner time, and while there had been some appetizers brought out to the living room as the kids played, now deep into their game.
"Wrap up the game soon," Cassidy called, as only Harper and Barnaby were left playing. Everyone else had folded.
"Okay, let's see what you have. I call," Harper sighed, putting a chip in the middle.
"Read it and weep. Gin!" Barnaby called, putting his cards down. The group looked at Barnaby for a moment at this "We're playing Gin Rummy, right?"
"How on Earth did you get so far thinking this was another game altogether?" Harry muttered to Barnaby at this.
"You're lucky you're cute," Harper chuckled to the former Slytherin, putting her cards down to show she had four of a kind and took the prize.
After dinner and dessert later, Harry and Harper were yawning. It was still early in the evening, but with Britain 7 hours ahead, the pair were exhausted. "Get to bed you two," Cassidy ordered them, seeing the two were barely awake now. "This way you're up for shopping tomorrow too."
"Yeah, good idea" the pair agreed, saying goodnight to their guests and both heading for their rooms. They would see everyone the next morning anyway as all made use of the Black Friday sales in both the muggle and magical stores – Newt himself got great deals on various animal feed on this day, and Barnaby was looking forward to the madness.
-Harry Potter-
It was Monday morning when Hermione was waiting in the Entrance Hall and smiled as Professor McGonagall came in with Harry and Harper. There was meowing from Daisy in her cat carrier, clearly not being happy being put it in twice in such a short period of time – not to mention both the apparition and then Portkey travel back.
"Mione," Harry said with a smile.
"How was your holiday?" Hermione asked.
"Good," Harper said. "A nice Thanksgiving."
"Different having to wake and leave so early though," Harry added with a yawn.
"Besides, we got all our Christmas shopping done and got to hang out with some friends," Harper added, also yawning.
"Sorry, but with the traveling back and forth I am not sure what time zone we're in," Harry stated. "What are you doing waiting for us, anyway?"
"I've got good news," Hermione said, looking around – there were some students heading to late breakfast, and other leaving back to their common rooms to collect their day school supplies. Professor McGonagall had long since left to the Great Hall herself. "We need to find a place we can talk freely," Hermione decided, and Harry and Harper realized that this had to do with their Quest and nodded as they started to walk away from the Entrance Hall and into the Castle itself. "I figured out the riddle."
"Go, Hermione," Harry nodded, impressed.
"Let's see what she has before we congratulate," Harper added.
"Harper…" Harry warned, but Hermione gave a laugh at this. "What do you have, Mione?"
"Gryffindor and Ravenclaw were not meaning Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Gryffindor's symbol is a lion and Ravenclaw an eagle. There is a creature known as a…" Hermione started but Harry stopped her.
"A Griffin!" Harry completed. "It's half-lion and half-eagle."
"Yes," Hermione said, pausing at this. "You know how long I spent reading Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them to get that answer?"
"I know of several griffins, plus one of the cores of my wand is a Griffin feather," Harry pointed out.
"Well, I did some asking around, talked to some ghosts and portraits and there is one statue…" Hermione began.
"Of a griffin that protects Dumbledore's office!" Harper now completed.
"Okay, how did you know that?" Hermione asked.
"I got sent to his office," Harper reminded Hermione who gave a little frown at this.
"Wait, but Dumbledore's office cannot be the answer to the riddle," Harry mused, and that made the two girls pause.
"Different passwords leads to different places," Harper quoted. "That's what Dumbledore told me. It confused me then, but it was for this moment. Mione, the book," Hermione took out the Quest Book and gave it to Harper, who turned it to the page with the riddle, reading it again:
I guard much more than anyone knows.
As Gryffindor's secrets lies hidden within,
Be prepared before you impose,
As the task demands only the bravest kin.
Come find me when you're ready, fore,
I am half-Gryffindor and half-Ravenclaw.
Glancing back to Harry and then Hermione, Harper took a deep breath as Harry gave her sister a nod. "The answer to the riddle is the griffin statue that guards the headmaster's office."
She took another breath as words appeared on the page: "Very good," she read out loud. "You found the where but now you need the correct password. To figure out this one you will need help from the tenth version of a mother's friend."
"What?" Hermione asked as Harper paused.
"It's now a bunch of numbers," Harper said, reading aloud "10-4-7, 16-12-4… this doesn't make sense," she turned the book around for Harry and Hermione to see.
"Groups into sets of three, it seems," Hermione frowned, looking at the new clue. "I'll have to do some research, but we're one step closer." Daisy let out a loud meow from her carrier. Harper gave a yawn, as if in reply to her cat's meow. "You better get to your common rooms and drop your stuff off before class."
"Yeah, she's right," Harry said and then yawned himself. "Once again good job Mione." Harper this time agreeing with her brother and telling Hermione she did well.
"You two don't have potions, today right?" Hermione asked.
"No why?" Harper questioned as she yawned as well.
"I just don't think you're on the ball to be working with explosives," Hermione chuckled as the three separated, heading to their own common rooms, and then, class.
Post chapter note: So, the first clue is solved, but who can figure out what the clue to the password means? I hope you all enjoyed!
Karry Master OUT!