Harry Potter and the Founders Vault
Disclaimer: I own nothing
IMPORTANT Note 1: I want to confirm here that the endgame for this story is Harry/Hermione, BUT I don't want them being an item right away. I want both to have relationships before each other, which will start this year of Hogwarts. Harry in this very chapter; Hermione later on, and even Harper will have a relationship before her endgame. Neville is a bit more complicated, but you'll see, we haven't left him out.
IMPORTANT Note 2: As you may be aware, the wait for year 3 to start has been a lot longer than anticipated – my Beta started a job back in March, meaning his editing of my stories had to be put on the back burner. He's also about to start writing his own 8-part story too, which will put a delay on things. That all said, Founders; Vault still isn't 'officially' back yet; this chapter is more of a teaser of what to come now and to fill the void between the long wait – more explanation at the end of the chapter.
So, without further ado
Year 3: Professor Dumbledore's Visit
Albus Dumbledore called his transfiguration teacher to wait a moment before leaving the office; the staff were coming back to Hogwarts after their summers and the headmaster had just had a meeting with all his Head of Houses. "A moment, Minerva."
Minerva McGonagall paused as Professors Flitwick, Sprout and Snape left the office.
"Will you be visiting America again to deliver Harry and Harper their letters?" Albus asked once everyone was gone.
"Yes," Minerva nodded. "I already made my plans and even contacted several American schools to ask for tours," it wasn't a secret between the pair that Professor McGonagall had been investigating American schooling and pre-schooling to make a pitch for how the United Kingdom could start a similar system. "And, well…. There is a man I plan on visiting." Albus raised an eyebrow at this. "The Transfiguration Master of Harry and Harper's summer school. We've been writing and…"
Albus smiled as he could tell what his Transfiguration teacher was meaning. "It's been far too long," the headmaster said, and Minerva knew she had to say no more. "And I would like to meet him when we go."
"We?" Minerva paused, shocked at the comment.
"Yes, I will be joining you," Albus confirmed. "I need to have a word with Timothy Evans," he offered no further explanation to this, and after all these years Minerva knew better than to ask.
Before either could say or do anything further there was a noise in the fireplace the two turned to see the elderly head sticking out of the flame as if it had always been there.
"Nicolas?" Albus asked as he walked closer to the flames and his old friend.
"Albus, can Perne and I come through. We have something we would like to discuss with you," Nicolas Flamel asked.
"Of course," Albus said as, with a pop, Nicolas's head vanished. It was a moment later that the flames turned green and Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel appeared in the flames to greet Albus with a hug. "I don't think you have ever met Minerva McGonagall?"
"Unfortunately, we've never have had the pleasure," Nicolas said, taking Professor McGonagall's hand and kissing it.
"It's an honor," Minerva said, truthfully feeling honored to meet the legendary Flamels. "I will leave you to your visit…" Minerva moved to walk out, but was stopped by Perenelle .
"Nonsense," Perenelle Flamel dismissed. "What we have come to discuss concerns you too, as Deputy Headmistress," Minerva paused as the two Hogwarts Professors shared a confused look. "We have exactly one year left of the Elixir of Life."
"After it is gone, the two of us will be moving on to the next life," Nicolas added, to a sad sigh from Albus. "But before we go, we want to impart some knowledge to certain students…"
"You want to teach? Here?" Albus asked, honestly surprised by this.
"No. This is more an… apprenticeship program," Perenelle explained. "It's been a while but there are clauses to it: we would stay here and take certain students under our wing."
"Yes, we have done apprenticeships like that before," Albus said with a nod, knowing he would not deny his friends this last request and remembering the time when Nymphadora Tonks, Charlie Weasley and the Curse Breaker, MC, were all students at the school; they had undergone similar apprenticeships in their last year. "It would be an honor of Hogwarts to have the two of you pass down knowledge to any student you find worthy."
"The seventh-year students will be dueling for the opportunity," Minerva chuckled.
"No, not seventh years," Nicolas voiced, surprised the woman. "We want to take third years."
"Ah," Albus caught on quick. "Are Harry Potter, Harper Evans, Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom a reason for this request?"
"They are our choices for the apprenticeships," Nicolas acknowledged, giving his friend a smile.
"But to be fair we, will take one more third year from each House; their Head of House may decide," Perenelle added. "After so many years of life, we have plenty of knowledge and specialties in many subjects – a wide variety of topics we can pass on."
"I'll shall let the other Heads of Houses know," Minerva nodded. "And we must ask permission from their parents, since they are all minors as well." Albus gave a nod at this.
"We must ask Filius, Paloma and Severus to choose students. We'll send permission slips with explanations for the parents with the students Hogwarts letters," Albus concluded. "Meanwhile, we'll tell Cassidy and Timothy Evans on our trip to see them." Minerva gave a nod as she finally left the office and Albus turned to his friends.
"Would you like some tea?" The two smiled as Albus called for Dobby, his personal House Elf now, to get them tea and snacks.
-Harry Potter-
"Harry, come on," Harper said putting an arm around Harry; the siblings were at an arcade. Harry was with another girl who Harper gave a frown to – this girl was Enola, a fellow student from their summer defense classes at Grand Canyon Academy. Unlike Harry and Harper, who took it to just get ahead, and fearful Hogwarts teachers would be no good, Enola sucked at defense. Harry had tutored her a bit and then the two went on a couple of dates. Enola and Harper didn't get along, though – something Harry seemed quite oblivious to. "Dad wanted us home early. Remember, we're going out later."
"Oh yeah," Harry said.
"Can't you stay longer, and Harper can go?" Enola asked, giving Harper a dirty look.
"Sorry. Got to go," Harry said, kissing Enola's cheek and the siblings went outside. Harper had called for a cab with the front desk phone and by the time they exited the arcade, cab was waiting for them.
"When are you breaking up with her?" Harper asked once the cab was moving.
"Huh? I figured I would write letters to her while I was at Hogwarts," Harry said and Harper groaned. "What?"
"Harry, she's a user. She only likes you because you're Harry Potter and you're good at defense," Harper said.
"I don't think so," Harry countered, and Harper rolled her eyes; Harry had never seen that some people wanted him just for the idea of the Boy-Who-Lived – even here in America. "What about you? You went to that summer dance with that boy?"
"Dates, not a relationship," Harper said. "I made it clear to all boys I went out with it, they were just fun dates. We're in England most of the year; no relationships with someone from here will be a real relationship. It will be a summer camp boyfriend, or in your case, girlfriend. Enola is your summer camp girlfriend."
"We don't go to camp," Harry said, confused.
"Camp Uncle Mato," Harper joked. "It's the same premise as camp. You spend the summer with her, maybe write a few times over the year, and then next summer see her again. Not a real relationship."
"So, would you date someone at Hogwarts?" Harry asked, truly curious as the cab slowed down and he counted out the money needed to pay the driver as Harper opened the door.
"Depends on the guy, but yeah," Harper said with a nod. "We spend a lot of time there. It would be more real."
"So, why did you go on those dates here?" Harry asked as he exited the cab behind Harper.
"Well, you ditched me, and the dance was fun," Harper said as she went to open the door
"We spent every night working on our model of Hogwarts," Harry countered to ditching Harper as they walked into the house. Harry closing the door behind him as Lucy and Daisy, their respective pets, came to greet their owners.
"Speaking of the model of Hogwarts…" Harper didn't finish her sentence as she heard someone's throat clear and paused to see her parents in the kitchen with a familiar face: Albus Dumbledore sitting there, Cassidy giving the man a cup of tea, it seemed.
"Headmaster," the two Hogwarts students said together, shocked to see him sitting in their kitchen, his flowing purple robes and long white beard at contrast to their rather normal home interior.
"He just arrived a few minutes ago," Tim said. It being obvious it was a surprise to the two parents as well.
"We thought Professor McGonagall would return to give us our letters," Harry voiced, truthfully – the two having wondered if their Transfiguration teacher would be coming again.
"Ah, yes, she is here. She went to go see a… Tahatan," Professor Dumbledore said, and Harry and Harper shared a look. "But I came as well for other reasons. Ones of which I will share in a moment, but first," Professor Dumbledore took out two letters from his pocket. "Your OWL scores."
Harry and Harper took the letter each and opened it, both silent as they took in the results of the OWL classes they had been allowed to sit.
"Well?" Cassidy asked after she let the pair look at their papers for a while; she knew enough about Hogwarts education to know the OWLs were a big deal.
"I got an E in both," Harry said.
"E?" Cassidy asked, the grading system of Hogwarts still confusing her some.
"Our second highest score. It stands for Exceeds Expectations," Professor Dumbledore announced with a wry smile.
"Congrats Harry," Tim said giving his son a pat. "Harper?"
"I got an A in Herbology and an O in Astronomy," Harper said with a smile.
"I'm guessing good?" Cassidy asked.
"A is Acceptable, a passing grade," Professor Dumbledore explained. "O is for Outstanding – the highest score." Tim grinned at his daughter and gave her a pat as well. "And now, before I hand over your Hogwarts letters, will you be continuing with those subjects?"
"I will," Harry said with a nod.
"I want to drop Herbology," Harper said quickly, honestly surprising Harry who faced his sister. "All I need is a passing OWL score to become a Curse Breaker and I am taking three electives, which, while possible with keeping Herbology, would be a lot easier getting rid of the one course."
"You plan on becoming a Curse Breaker?" Professor Dumbledore asked, a small smile coming to his lips once more.
"I always wanted to track down lost magical objects. Curse Breaking is the closest job to that description," Harper said, honestly. She had always known what she wanted to do in life, but since taking her two OWLs she had spent the summer looking into jobs that would give her that ability; Curse Breaking didn't just give her that ability, but it was a fascinating job.
"And yourself, Harry?" Professor Dumbledore asked
"Me?" Harry asked, confused for a moment.
"Do you plan on continuing your subjects?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"Oh. Yeah, I don't see why not. I don't know what I want to do as a career yet, but I'm happy to continue my subjects," Harry admitted with a shrug.
"Well then," Professor Dumbledore said, taking out two more letters and pointing his wand to one. "I've just taken off the Herbology books from your supply list, Harper; Professor Sprout will be sorry to lose you." He handed the letters to both students.
"Now inside the letters are the normal Third Year permission slips to visit Hogsmead that will need to be signed should you wish to visit the town, but an opportunity has come up for you two that is very unusual that also needs your parents' permission," Professor Dumbledore glanced at Tim and Cassidy at this.
"What…?" Harry asked having opened the letter and finding the two slips. "Nicolas Flamel!"
"An apprenticeship?" Harper asked taking it out as well.
"Nicolas and Perenelle want to take several students under their wings to pass on many years of knowledge before they pass on. You two and your two closest friends were chosen by them specifically," Professor Dumbledore explained. "Four other students have also been chosen by the Heads of Houses to take on this very limited and never-to-come-again opportunity."
"Mom, dad you've got to let us!" Harry said after a moment, turning to Tim and Cassidy.
"I don't think we could say no to that," Tim admitted, shocked, as Cassidy nodded her agreement. Nicolas Flamel was possibly the most famous wizard in the world, and he wanted to teach their children – it wasn't something the two even wanted to say no to, anyway. Tim took out a pen and signed both permission slips, Professor Dumbledore taking the ones for Flamel with a smile
"Turn in the Hogsmead one at school to Professor McGonagall," Professor Dumbledore added. "But now I have another matter to discuss with you, this being about Sirius Black." Harry's face lost its smile at this. They had become aware that Sirius had escaped Azkaban recently. "I am sure you are aware he escaped."
"I think we'll go work on that model of Hogwarts…" Harper muttered, going to take her brother.
"No," Tim called, stopping his children. "It will be easier to explain this just once." Harry and Harper looked at each other confused. "I am sure I know what Dumbledore wants to ask me."
"Yes, this was found in his cell," Professor Dumbledore sighed, taking out the picture and passing it over to Tim, knowing the picture well; he had given it to Sirius after all. "And apparently, you have visited him."
"Before I explain," Tim said, giving his kids a nod letting the two know he would explain everything. "I need to hear something from your own words," Albus Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and waited. "Why did you leave Harry at the Dursley's like he was a package?"
"I'm sorry?" Albus Dumbledore asked, not getting the metaphor.
"You just left him on the front step with a letter," Tim expanded his question.
"Ah," Albus Dumbledore said and for once a flicker of sadness crossed his face. "Well, with yourselves being American, the war didn't touch this country; but in England there were great dark times – even Europe and Iceland felt it; so, when Voldemort was… shall we say, defeated," his eyes met Harry's for a moment, Harry instantly remembering that nightmare face on the back of Professor Quirrell's head; Voldemort was defeated, but not beaten. "Harry survived," the headmaster continued, "it was a celebration across the country, but for myself, I had to think quickly. We had this little boy and he needed to be protected. I knew Lily gave him a protection more powerful than anything else and knew it depended on Harry being placed with the blood of Lily."
Harry was curious now. He knew vaguely about this protective ward, but Professor Dumbledore had never directly mentioned it in his presence. "I didn't know of you – either of you," Albus continued. "All I knew of was Lily's sister: Petunia. I have a certain history not worth getting into here, and I knew of her feelings towards the magical world. However, I thought seeing her sister's son with a note explaining what had happened, the protection, and requesting they treat Harry as a son, would be better than seeing myself. I made the best choice I thought I had. If I had known of you two, I would have made the arrangement to send him somewhere I knew he would be loved instead. Here."
Cassidy and Tim looked at each other and Cassidy gave Tim a small nod. The explanation made sense, and they could hear in the older man's voice the truth of his words.
"I gave Sirius Black this picture on a visit to him because the man is innocent and I have been working to free him from his wrongful jail," Tim admitted, and could see the shocked looks in Harry and Harper's face. Albus Dumbledore didn't react though. Tim stood up and went to his desk, taking out a copy of Lily and James's Will he had there. "The Will… it stated clearly that Sirius Black wasn't the Secret Keeper to their home. Peter Pettigrew was," Tim handed the paperwork to the now-stoic headmaster.
"What?!" Harry, however, asked, waiting for his headmaster to look over the Will as it was then it was passed to Harry. Harper looked over Harry's shoulder as they read the part of the Will talking about Sirius's innocence.
"From that, I investigated the murder of Pettigrew and those muggles and found the stories didn't add up," Tim continued. "I went to Sirius, to hear his story and, well, what you don't know is Peter, Sirius, and James were Animagi. Peter's form is a rat. Peter was the one to kill all those muggles and then cut off his own finger to escape as his rat self," Tim told them. "I have been trying to find Peter ever since – to free Sirius."
"But why didn't you tell me?" Harry asked, confused at this revelation.
"Because I know you Harry. Telling you your godfather is wrongly imprisoned wouldn't do anything but make you mad and possibly do something stupid since you can't do anything to free him," Tim stated. "I need to play this the legal way – but it seems Sirius is a bit like you and couldn't wait."
"How did this even happen? Truth potion at his trial should have relieved the truth," Harper said
"He never got a trial," Tim said and eyes turned to Albus Dumbledore who seemed to be taking everything in.
"I had nothing to do with the lack of trial," Albus Dumbledore stated simply. "Barty Crouch Senior was the one who decided to put Sirius in Azkaban. We all believed Sirius was guilty."
"How did James and Lily's Will get suppressed?" Cassidy asked Albus, knowing if the Will had been read than Sirius would have, at least, gotten a trial.
"I must take the blame for that," Professor Dumbledore admitted with a sad sigh. "I couldn't have the Will become known, because I needed to keep Harry with Petunia and I knew she would not be listed as a possible guardian. But I see you were; if I had only read the will…" Albus Dumbledore let that sentence hanging; indeed, had he read the Will, he would have known Sirius was innocent and he would have known about Tim. "I am an old man. I have to make choices that are not easy and back then I made the ones I thought were the best at the time. In hindsight, I made some terrible mistakes I am now willing to fix. While Sirius is on the run, though, I can't do anything, but should he be captured I will use all my powers to get him the trial he should have had."
"And while he's not captured…" Tim said an idea coming to him. "I need to go into the office!" he didn't wait for anyone else to say anything as he ran out of the house at this.
"Dad's got an idea," Harper said, a little amused as Harry remained in silence.
-Harry Potter-
Cassidy, Harry, Harper, and Boyd had gone out to dinner with Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Tahatan – both Professors had given Harry a belated birthday present, since it was passed his birthday already.
That night though, Harry and Harper were in Harry's room working on the model of Hogwarts. They had shown it to Professor Dumbledore earlier and their headmaster had been impressed. "You know we could leak the Will," Harper said to Harry. "Turn public opinion towards Sirius."
"England has made him the Boogie Man," Harry said, "a Poster Boy for Voldemort's followers. I'm not sure my parents saying he's not evil would convince too many people. I'll ask Godric, Merlin, and Arthur if they have any ideas later. They will probably say they can't help but worth a shot," he mused of his nightly lessons with the trio in his dreams.
"When we get back to Hogwarts, maybe Mione can help?" Harper said, and Harry nodded his agreement. "Why, after all these years with someone on the outside working to free you, would you escape?"
"Got to be some…" Harry mused but didn't finish.
"I found it!" Tim appeared in the room; the two hadn't seen him since he'd ran out earlier. "Well, myself and several interns did… This is good."
"Dad, your making no sense," Harry said.
"Back when the United States of America and England were making their extradition deals, MACUSA was concerned over England's use of Dementors to guard prisoners. We hated Azkaban even then, so there was a clause put in the magical extradition deal," Tim explained, holding up some paper. "Magical Britain has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person they are requesting has committed said crime."
Harry and Harper looked at each other. "Dad, neither of us are lawyers nor want to be a lawyer so laymen terms, please," Harper said.
"If Sirius comes to America and requests asylum, I can prove to the court system that Britain doesn't have enough evidence to lock him up," Tim explained. "Chances are, you will see Sirius this year. When you do tell, him to run to America. I can get him free."
"Wow," Harper grinned at this.
"Sounds like a plan," Harry said, now determined.
"We might need some help though," Harper added.
"You will have Remus remember," Tim said and saw the confusion. "We forgot to tell you he's you Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts this year, didn't we?"
"No, you didn't," Harry stated, grinning widely at this new information.
"Finally, Defense won't suck," Harper said, high-fiving Harry.
"And we might also need Hermione," Harry said, and Harper gave her brother a smile – they were going to be going to Hermione's house soon for the last week of summer. It was the perfect time to recruit their friend into the save Sirius mission.
Post Chapter Note: As mentioned before the chapter started, this opening chapter is more of a teaser of what's to come. With my Beta's new job, and he soon starting an 8-chapter story of our joint Arrowverse stories, the likeliness of the next chapter of Founders' Vault coming up within the next month is very unlikely. I won't give dates as to when to expect a true return, but at least you have something for the moment – and some information too. When it does come back properly though, we should be back to our regular updates.
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