Harry Potter and the Founders' Vault
Disclaimer: As usual, I am not JK Rowling.
Facebook: Fanfiction Millma Verse
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Note 2: The last chapter, due to Molly's attitude toward Harper and Harry, we got a lot of hate toward this character. I would like to iterate that this story is not to make fun of, or hate on, Molly Weasley or really to hate on any character. I like Molly, even though she was a little suffocating as a mother and I wasn't personally raised with a mom like this (although my beta kind of was), so I don't understand her attitude in the book and she does rub me the wrong way sometimes. But I never intended to come into this story making it seem like she was a horrible person and mother, because she isn't – look at her in year 1 and how lovely she was there. The only reason she is negatively portrayed in this, and the last chapter, is because she doesn't allow Harper and Harry to do what they need to do which is in character for her. Her character just doesn't melt with the more independent Harper and Harry. It's nothing against the character, it's just how she is and how JK wrote her, too. Now, on with the chapter.
The Never-Ending Summer
Arriving at their portkey destination, Harry and Harper fell on the dirt.
"That was a rough portkey," Harper groaned, kicking off the dirt and looking up. "Whoa…" The manor was a large brick house; there was a fountain in the middle that was working, and the house was surrounded by fields. It seemed to be in the middle of nowhere with a wooded area nearby.
"The field is full of Nifflers," Harry pointed out, seeing a flock of Nifflers nearby, around a small tree. "MC's Niffler would feel at home here. Hey, look, a Hippogriff…" he noticed one flying nearby.
"Many magical animals use the fields and forest around Potter Manor as a home," a voice spoke and Harper and Harry, who had turned their attention away from the house and to the fields and the sky, looked to the source of the voice: a well-groomed House Elf, wearing a little uniform of shorts and a shirt, with a crest on the shirt supporting the letter 'P'. "Harry Potter?"
"That would be me," Harry said, raising his hands.
The House Elf paused and then bowed so low its nose touched the ground.
"Tanby is very happy to see Master Harry again," the House Elf, whom Harry assumed was named Tanby, now gave Harry's leg a hug. "Last time Tanby saw Master Potter was when he was but a baby, when Master James and Mistress Lily brought him for his grandparents to see. Before Master Fleamont and Mistress Euphemia died..." as he spoke, two more house elves had appeared near Tanby. "Master Harry, this is Lomly and Pippy, my husband and daughter – all Potter elves," the two other House Elves were similarly dressed to Tanby, with the shorts and shirt with the P symbol. It was unusual for British House Elves to wear clothes, given their servitude, but Harry guessed there must have been some loophole involved with this process.
"Hi," Harry said seeing Harper smirk. "This is Harper, my sister."
"Master Harry has a sister?" Tanby said.
"My mom's cousin adopted me. She's their daughter and therefore my sister," Harry explained.
"Then we welcome, Mistress Harper as well, to Potter Manor. We have been caring for the house since your parents' and grandparents' deaths," Lomly said. "Now you are here, it is time for you to take control of the charms protecting this place."
Lomly led Harry to a large stone statue outside the house that Harry knew was a ward stone; there were different ways to ward a property and a ward stone was one of the most ancient ways and still popular to use – it connected the magic of the place to the stone and allowed families to put protections so only other family members could gain control of the wards. This was why the manor was locked down until Harry was here.
Harry took out his wand and touched it to the stone. He could feel the magic flood into him and could feel the ward's protection… He had gained control.
"Harper, touch your wand to the stone," Harry said, knowing that was how he would register her as family and give her some controls over the magical wards herself.
Harper nodded and touched her wand to the stone and Harry to hers.
"You are both registered as family," Tanby said. "Should Tanby prepare rooms? Master Harry can have the Master room and Mistress Harper; we can make a permanent room for you as well here. There are ten bedrooms in total."
"We're not staying the summer," Harry said at this, although given Molly's attitude to them being at hers, her overprotectiveness, he was tempted. "Our parents still prefer us to stay at a place with adults present. But I would like Harper to have her own room here."
"We will set it up," Lomly said.
"And maybe set up two more rooms for our friends, Hermione and Neville," Harper added, planning for the future.
"That will be arranged," Tanby bowed to Harper now.
"Before that, I'd like to talk to all three of you," Harry said. "Shall we walk?" He indicated the house itself, which all three House Elves nodded; obliged to follow Harry regardless.
Harry wanted to talk to the House Elves about the fact he was an American and we didn't believe in House Elf slavery. He was going to give them a choice on being freed.
Walking into the house, through the large doors and into a grand hallway, it reminded Harry and Harper of Hogwarts, with the entrance hall leading up to the Great Hall, although on a smaller scale. To the left was a door into a large living area, which Harper led the way into.
"Is this fireplace connected to the floo network?" Harry asked, noting the lit fire.
"It used to be, but it has been disconnected with no wizards or witches living here. We can arrange to have it reconnected," Lomly said.
"Don't," Harper said making eyes turn to her. "If we reconnect it, everyone will know we claimed the house. As of now, everyone will think it's still abandoned. A good hiding place should we need it." Harry gave a nod, agreeing to that.
"Yes, leave it alone," Harry said sitting down on the old couch with the three House Elves coming around him.
Harper, not wanting to be privy to the conversation her brother was about to have with the Elves, started to explore the rest of the house. There were many portraits of former Potters hanging on the walls, and she had some small conversations with them as she explored.
She found a large kitchen and a game room as well – with a pool table, a table set up with chess – that seemed to be playing itself – and a silent pack of cards. Harper then walked into the library.
"Oh wow," Harper said of the room. Of course, it was smaller than Hogwarts' Library, but it was still impressive – the House Elves had definitely kept this house in order as there wasn't a spec of dust, even though the house hadn't been lived in for at least fourteen years.
Walking past the books, Harper's hand went across the books until one caught her attention and she grabbed it.
Before she could open the cover, a voice startled her.
"Only a Potter should be able to take that book down," Harper turned to find the voice came from a portrait – there were two people in it. An older man with glasses and kindly looking female, "and the only Potter remaining is my grandson, Harry. Who are you?"
"Wait, you're Harry's grandfather?" Harper asked.
"Who are you?" The male in the portrait asked again.
"Harper Evans," Harper said.
"Any relation to Lily Evans?" The female in the portrait asked, putting a hand on the male to calm him.
"She was my dad's cousin. Harry was adopted by my father, making him my brother," Harper explains.
"Then that makes you a Potter," the grandfather of Harry said with a smile. "No wonder you can take that book. I'm Fleamont, and this is my wife Euphemia. Is Harry here?" The two must have been painted long before they died since they looked in their 50s and as far as Harper knew they had been elderly when they had died of Dragon Pox.
"He's… talking to the House Elves. So, what is so important about this book?" Harper asked, lifting the book again. It was large, but surprisingly not heavy. Harper figured the reaction to her taking it down meant there was a charm on it so only Potter family could take it down.
Before the portraits could answer the door to the library opened.
"There you are," it was Harry himself, obviously having been looking for her. "The House Elves are very happy here and do not want freedom," Harry said entering. "And you know, there are some strange portraits in this house. I met an ancestor of mine who said he was beheaded over a hundred years ago."
"That was James," Feamont spoke from his portrait, causing Harry to look to the pair.
"My dad…" Harry began, knowing his dad was also called James.
"Not him," Eupemia dismissed. "Your father was named after him."
"Harry, meet your grandparents," Harper sighed, pointing at the portraits and Harry walked up, smiling.
"Harry," Eupemia now added. "So much like James – your father, not James the Great. I thought you had green eyes though?"
"Oh, color changing eye contacts," Harry said, and mumbled the magic words needed to bring back his natural color eyes.
"There he is," Fleamont smirked now at seeing Harry in his green-eyed glory.
"Wow, well, I… it's wonderful to meet you two. Do my parents…?" Harry trailed off. He never thought what if his parents had a portrait.
"No, unfortunately Lily and James never sat for their portrait. It was on the books but with the war…" Fleamont said looking down sadly.
"Portraits are magically imbued with the memories from their real-life counterparts, making them as close to whom they were based on," Eupemia explained. "Many of the portraits here knew your parents, not to mention the House Elves too. If you were to commission a portrait of the pair, we could all contribute to their personalities to make them close to the real James and Lily…" with this suggestion, Harry frowned, looking to Harper at this, who shrugged.
"We could get Moony and Padfoot to help as well," Harper suggested seeing her brother seemed unsure.
"Oh you know Remus and Sirius," Fleamont said to a nod to the two. "That would definitely help enhance the portrait should you decide to make it."
"I'll… think about it," Harry decided. Even if they weren't exactly the same as James and Lily, getting to know a version of the pair would be interesting – eventually.
"Are you two staying here? We have so much we can tell you," Fleamont now asked.
"Unfortunately, no. We're just visiting," Harry said. "But we can spend a few hours here today. I am in no rush to get back to the Weasleys."
"Molly and Arthur Weasley?" Eupemia asked at this, surprising both Harry and Harper that they were known.
"Urm, yeah," Harper was the one to say.
"A good pure family. We knew Matilda and her nephew, Garreth, back in the day – Matilda was Headmistress of Hogwarts after Phineas Nigellas Black retired. Garreth went on to work for, and contribute closely, to the current products at Zonkos," Fleamont explained, causing Harry and Harper to pause – it seemed that jokers were in the Weasley family for a long time.
"Well… maybe we can revisit Diagon Alley today," Harry now spoke, moving the conversation on – it seemed his grandparents did like to chat and reminisce.
"Yeah, we didn't exactly get to shop before Molly Weasley freaked out when we were having ice cream with my boyfriend," Harper added, and Harry had to nod at that.
"Wonderful idea," Eupemia smiled at the pair.
"Harper, you wanted to know about the book?" Fleamont spoke now; Harper had almost forgotten the book she was still holding. "That is our family book of magic – every Potter has created their own spells, potions, charms – and even some curses. Some have been released to the public by their creators, and others are Potter secrets. James, your father, Harry, added some joke spells to it last."
Harper chuckled at that as she put the book down on a nearby table and flipped it open to the last page with writing on it. Harry followed her.
"Where was this last year when I was in my prank war?" Harper asked as Harry looked down at his biological father's writing.
"A Book of Shadows," Harry mumbled as he looked down.
"Harry and Harper, you are both free to add to the book," Fleamont said. "The book is not allowed out of the Manor, but if there are any spells you want, you can use some notebooks over there to write them down for yourself." Harry and Harper smiled at that, at they started going over the book with both of Harry's grandparents talking to them and telling them stories.
-Harry Potter-
Back in America, Tim was in a panic while Cassidy finished breakfast.
"Files… files…" Tim said looking through his briefcase. "I've got to get to court."
"And I need to get to the reserve," Cassidy said, putting breakfast down on the table; Boyd was already sitting and eating, and Sirius came in as the fireplace crackled.
"Cassidy, Tim?" The voice of Molly Weasley spoke, making the couple pause. "We need to talk about your children," Molly's head was in the fireplace, using the floo network to talk to the couple.
"One day and already in trouble. That's a record, even for me," Sirius spoke up.
"Boyd, eat in the living room," Cassidy said.
"Ah, I want to hear Harry and Harper get in trouble," Boyd said.
"Boyd – living room," Cassidy said, and Boyd moaned but took his plate and left the kitchen. "What seems to be the problem? Have the twins and them started pranking each other again?"
"I could take care of that. No," Molly said. "Your children don't listen; they don't listen to me and completely disregard us."
Cassidy and Tim looked at each other.
"That doesn't sound like our kids – unless they feel the adult is being unreasonable," Tim said. "Can you give us an example?"
"Yesterday after I said we wouldn't go to Diagon Alley this year, they managed to rally my children against me to get them there," Molly explained.
"Why wouldn't you go to the Alley? Don't you need school supplies?" Cassidy asked.
"Did you not hear about the Quidditch World Cup?" Molly asked.
"We did, but from what we heard it was an isolated event and there was no danger," Tim said. "Besides, Harry and Harper can defend themselves if they get into danger – especially Harry with that sword of his."
"Well, once we got to Diagon Alley and into Gringotts, they requested a private meeting with a goblin and refused to let me in," Molly said.
"Why would you be in on a Potter family account meeting?" Tim paused. "They had personal things to discuss with the goblin who takes care of the Potter family archives."
"They were also representing me as official members of the House of Black," Sirius added in. "The Weasley matriarch had no business in that meeting."
Molly seemed surprised by this response. "Well, afterward I left instructions for them to come find us in Diagon Alley but instead I find them eating ice cream – with apparently Harper's boyfriend," Molly continued.
"And?" Cassidy asked. "Cedric's a nice boy from everything we heard."
"The fact is they didn't listen to me," Molly said. "And this morning I made it very clear last night I would be making a list of things for the children to do around the house this summer and instead I find them leaving via Portkey."
"A list of things?" Tim asked. "Why does it sound like you plan on keeping them prisoner in your house all summer? That is not why they are in Britain. They have things to do."
"Are you saying you would really allow them to run around on their own," Molly said. "They are children."
"They're fourteen and young adults," Cassidy corrected.
"We've come to realize they are not with us most of the year. They are on their own, clearly doing whatever they really want to do and doing it well. The first school year with the that immortality stone, the Basilisk in their second year, last year with the protests and Sirius here... They need to be home by a certain time and we need to know a general idea of where they are going so we can find them if we need them, but overall, yes, they are free to do what they want," Tim said.
Molly seemed lost for words at this reveal, clearly confused on the different ways parents raised children.
…
Harry and Harper walked in through the backdoor of the Burrow – the portkey able to do a reverse trip from where it was activated from.
Before they could walk into the kitchen they were dragged into the living area.
"You two have been gone all day!" Hermione said, Neville was there as well as the other Weasley kids and Neville.
"We said we would be," Harry defended.
"Mom on the floo network with your parents," Ron said. "You two might be in big trouble."
The two looked at each other and then laughed.
"Come on, I think we should go have a word with mom and dad," Harper said, and Harry gave a nod, following his sister into the kitchen where the fire was located; Molly Weasley was on her knees, her head in the fireplace, talking to Cassidy and Tim on the other side.
"Ms. Weasley?" Harrys, stopping her. Molly pulled her head out of the first, turning to look at the two. "I think we should talk to our parents alone."
"I think that's a good idea," Cassidy voice was heard from the fireplace – the connection to the Evans fire still in place, as the fire was still green.
"Fine, but we will be having words," Molly said to the two and left the room to give the kids a moment alone. Harry and Harper sighed before getting on their knees now and sticking their heads into the fireplace – it was an unusual experience, with the fire licking at their necks as the familiar kitchen in Arizona appeared before them.
"Hi Harper, Harry," Cassidy smirked at the pair; she was sitting on the floor with Tim now.
"Do you two want to give your version of events?" Tim asked.
"Molly Weasley is very… protective," Harry explained.
"Harry's being nice, but let's call a spade a spade. Molly Weasley is very controlling," Harper explained. "She wants to have the final say on everything we do. We have only managed to complete the things we planned, the things we talked about with all three of you," Harper noticed Sirius in the background, "by forcing it – convincing her to allow us to Diagon Alley; using Gringotts own guards to get a private meeting; sneaking out this morning to get to Potter Manor, which you know Molly Weasley would not have been allowed to go with us, anyway."
"The magical charms would have deflected her," Sirius agreed. "Depending on the severity of the wards, maybe seriously injure or even kill her."
"And we have more things we need to do this summer. We still need to go to the Black ancestorial home," Harry added. "We were talking, and we just don't think staying here for the rest of summer is a good solution."
"We were just saying the same thing to Molly," Cassidy said. "Now, you should know, you two did disrespect Molly while you were in her care, so I want you two to apologize to her for that, but then I think it would be better if you go to the Grangers for the rest of the summer. Hermione has already contacted them apparently, but if they can't take you for some reason…" Cassidy stopped, not seeming to know what else to say.
"We can stay at Potter Manor," Harry stated. "I have control of the wards now. It's beautiful and there are three House Elves there taking care of the place who would be thrilled if we were to stay. Plus, portraits of my grandparents and other relatives."
Cassidy turned to Tim at this, who nodded.
"If the Grangers cannot house you for whatever reason, then yes, you can stay at the Manor. It's clear you would be safe there, but we would prefer trying to keep you with some adult supervision for whatever it is worth," Tim said, and Cassidy gave a sigh, agreeing. "Now I need to get to work. Actually, I better use the floo network so…."
"We get it," Harper stated, pulling her head out of the fireplace.
"Bye, dad," Harry added as he now pulled his head out of the fireplace, the flames now going from green to orange to indicate the connection was broken this time. "You want to do the talking or should I?" Harry turned to Harper, getting up and flexing his legs – being on his knees on the cold stone of the Weasley kitchen floor had been hard on him. He much preferred phone calls.
"Maybe the Slytherin style should be used," Harper agreed, looking around to see the others have vacated to the other side of the house, with the living area. The pair nodded to each other as they found Molly Weasley with the rest of the group.
"Ms. Weasley…" Harper began, "we didn't mean to make you worry and we are sorry for that and for disrespecting you."
"Yes, we never meant to disregard your adult authority," Harry added, to a smug look from the redheaded woman.
"But we have things we need to do here in Britain, and we clearly cannot do what needs to be done while we are staying here," Harper continued, to see Mrs. Weasley's expression fall. "As of such, and with permission from our parents, we will be leaving."
"And staying where?" Molly asked.
"Mione?" Harry said, looking to Hermione now.
"I sent my parents a letter this morning," Hermione said, clearly surprising the Weasleys in the room – although how she had told Tim and Cassidy, was anyone's guess. Maybe Monica and Wendell had called Cassidy and Tim when they got the letter. "They wrote back they are looking forward to us arriving – all four of us." Hermione turned to Neville at this.
"I'm invited?" Neville asked.
"Of course, you are. It's the four of us – through everything," Hermione said putting an arm around Neville.
"I'll write to my gran and let her know," Neville said, jumping up in excitement.
"I'm going to pack up the tent," Harry said.
"I'm going to find Daisy and Lucy," Harper added.
"I'll help Harry," Hermione said, the Fab Four obviously wanting to get away from Mrs. Weasley before she could really react to this news.
At this moment, Arthur Weasley came into the house, back from work.
"Molly, I got back early because –" Arthur began, but Molly stormed up to him, obviously angry now that the Fab Four were on the move.
"Arthur," Molly said. "They're leaving."
"Who are?" Arthur blinked to his wife.
"Harry, Harper, Hermione, and Neville. They're going to Hermione's parents," Molly explained, clearly upset by this.
"Oh. Okay," Arthur paused, a little lost as he was out of the conversation.
"Arthur! They are…" Molly began now.
"Not our children," Arthur finished the sentence for his wife. "Molly… Hermione is going home to her parents and Harry, Harper, and Neville have the permission from their parents or legal guardian to go with her," he guessed the last part. "Forcing them to stay here would be kidnapping."
Molly gave a frown but knew her husband was right. In the end the four teenagers were not hers and the responsibility for their care had been taken away from her by their parents.
"Do you four need us to help you find your way?" Arthur asked as Harper and Harry came back into the room.
"No, we're just going to call the Knight Bus," Harper said, turning to the other Weasley children now. "Ron, Ginny, Fred, George, we'll see you on the Hogwarts Express."
"Charlie, I'm sorry we didn't get to talk more about dragons," Harry said.
"Ah, maybe we will get a chance later in the year," Charlie said, smirking mysteriously as the four said their goodbyes to the Weasley family, leaving the Burrow and heading down the drive so to call the Knight Bus.
"I can't imagine parents who would just let their children do what they want," Molly sighed, watching the four teenagers walk down the driveway; Harry raised his wand arm and a second later, a triple-decker bus appeared out of nowhere for the four to board.
"Harry's a fine young man, and Harper is a very mature young woman who have both saved our children several times. Cassidy and Tim are doing something, right even if it isn't exactly how you would personally do it," Arthur said to his wife, the couple heading back indoors as the bus vanished with a bang.
-Harry Potter-
The Knight Bus dropped the Fab Four off just down the road from Hermione's home, with Harry and Harper familiar with the area already, although Neville was fascinated by the Muggle street as they walked.
"Where is your trunk?" Hermione asked Harper; Hermione, Harry, and Neville were lugging their trunks. All three now had multiple compartment trunks, although Harry's was still the biggest, probably having the most room within. Harper had her backpack over her shoulder and both Daisy and Lucy on a leash – the kneasel and crup knew this area well now and automatically went the right direction without Harper needing to direct them.
"Inside Harry's trunk," Harper explained; she alone did not have a multiple compartment trunk, so hers fit nicely inside Harry's trunk.
"Come on, I can see the house," Harper said. Neville was following them, never having been to Hermione's house and rarely having been in a Muggle town, he was staring at the cars and other muggle technology on the street.
"Oh look, hi Uncle Vernon," Harry had just noticed the large man outside the neighbor's house, tending to his car.
The large man didn't make a move as he saw the four of them.
"You!" Vernon Dursley snarled, seeing the group.
"We'll be here until school starts. I hope we can all remain civil again?" Harper was the one to ask that as they reached Hermione's house, now speaking to Vernon over the fence.
"Yes," Vernon mumbled his mouth barely opening as he slammed the car door shut and quickly moved back into the house.
"Uncle…?" Neville asked, turning to Harry.
"Mione, by chance, lives next door to my mom's sister and her family," Harry said. "We make sure they stay nice."
"Harry, Harper," Monica opened the door with a smile and came to hug her daughter and her two friends. "I would say sorry it didn't work staying at the Weasleys, but I was missing your yearly visits – and Neville, so glad you can join this time. Wendel, come help the boys bring in the trunks!"
Hermione's father came out at the call and took his daughter's trunk from her as the two led the teenagers inside. Wendell, Harry, and Neville dropped the trunks at the foot off the stairs while Harper let Lucy and Daisy off her leashes and took off the glamour on Lucy's second tail.
"So, Monica, Wendell," Harry started. "You two won't have any problem with us doing our own things during the day?" The last summer, the two had been younger and stayed close to the house, but the elder Grangers had allowed them to Diagon Alley on their own.
"You're all 14," Monica said. "Just let us know where you are going and be home in time for dinner."
"Now, we have Chinese Food waiting," Wendell added.
"Chinese Food?" Neville asked.
"Oh, you're in for a treat," Harper said as they went to the dining room where the food was waiting on the table. After everyone had got a plate and started eating, Harper turned to Wendell and Monica.
"Mr. and Mrs. Grainger, you would have no problem with my boyfriend picking me up and taking me on a date, right?" Harper asked, casually.
"You have a boyfriend?" Wendell asked.
"Yes," Harper said. "My dad has sent a lot of people to check him out and no one can find anything wrong with him," she chuckled at this. After all, the Diggory family were an old Wizarding British family, but Tim had to be sure Cedric checked out.
"He's welcome to come and pick you up and meet us before you leave," Monica said.
"Yay. Harry or Mione, I need to borrow your owl," Harper said, a smile on her face now. Molly Weasley would never have allowed this.
"I swear I am buying you your own owl," Harry said with a laugh.
"Hey, I'll contact Dean and maybe we can do a double date," Hermione voiced, and Wendell coughed on his food.
"Sounds fun," Harper said, as Neville gave Harper a smirk. Harper stuck out her tongue at him quickly.
"This is good," Neville said of the food, smiling, as they continued to eat.
After dinner was over, the four helped the Grainger's clean up.
"Okay, so Harper and Hermione can share Hermione's room like they normally do, and Neville and Harry can share the spare room. Sorry we don't have more beds," Monica said. "It's a four-bed house."
"We still have our tent," Harry pointed out. "We can set it up in the backyard…. Or in the spare room."
"You don't need to sleep in a tent," Wendell frowned at this.
Harry and Harper looked at each other and laughed.
"We got to show them," Harper said, and Harry went into his trunk getting the tent out. At that, they went upstairs to the spare room setting up the tent while Monica and Wendell shared a glance and followed them upstairs.
"Is it scary or impressive on how fast they did that?" Wendell asked when they reached the bedroom to see the tent already set up.
"Impressive," Monica answered.
"Dad, you're going to love this," Hermione had followed her parents' upstairs, with Neville in the rear, going into the tent followed by Neville.
Wendell and Monica shared a look but followed the children into the tent. A smile came across Wendell's face.
"It's bigger on the inside!" Wendell said, excitedly, and Monica gave a laugh. "Just like the Doctor's TARDIS."
"Doctor who?" Neville asked.
"Exactly," Wendell nodded, and Harry, Hermione, and Harper laughed at Neville's frown at the response. "Oh, he doesn't know? But you're British."
"He's a pure blood dad. They don't do TV," Hermione explained.
"What's TV?" Neville asked, making both Monica and Wendell pause and look at him.
"I'll get the VHS's," Wendell said, turning to the opening and going out to head downstairs to set up their videotapes of Doctor Who for Neville.
"I'll make popcorn," Monica laughed, leaving the tent as well.
-Harry Potter-
Since their wedding, Mallory and Bill had had a wonderful honeymoon but all good things come to an end as they arrived back a few days after the Fab Four had left the Burrow. They were surprised when they were called into Ragnar's office, however.
"Hello Mr. and Ms. Weasley," Ragnar said as he entered his office.
"Mrs. Weasley? Oh right, I'm still getting used to that," MC blushed at this, to a laugh from Bill.
"I hope your honeymoon went well," Ragnar added, not responding to MC's comment.
"It did," Bill said.
"Good, good," Ragnar said. "Now onto business. My personal most wealthy clients have recently claimed several unclaimed vaults here at the bank – Vaults that have been unclaimed for a long time. They want a curse breaker to go over the vaults for them and they personally requested the two of you."
The two newlyweds looked at each other in shock. They had no idea who would request them.
"Who are they?" Mallory asked.
"Harry Potter and his sister, Harper Evans," Ragnar said.
"I knew the Potters were well off, but they are your most wealthy clients?" Bill said shocked.
"There are many goblins at Gringotts with many clients, but yes, they are my most wealthy clints, especially since they are also a part of the House of Black," Ragnar explained. "Now, you will be doing this before you get to the Vault, we transfered you here to take care of. They shouldn't take you longer than a few days – and Harry and Harper have asked to give you a generous tip," Ragnar put a piece of paper in front of them, the couple impressed by the amount offered.
"We'll get right on it," Bill said.
"Good, a list of the vaults... You can ask Griphook to take you and he has the appropriate keys to open the vaults," Ragnar said, giving the two the list. "Oh, and I also hear you two are in the market for your own place? I took the liberty of collecting current listings through Gringotts for you. You can ask our goblin in the estate agent branch to show you anything you might like. Of course, as employees we can make sure to work out a good deal for you that benefits all of us."
"This is unexpected," Mallory said, taking the folder.
"Well, any friends of the future Lord Potter and Black have an ally in me," Ragnar said.
…
It was much later in the evening when Bill and MC arrived at the Burrow, having gone through a few of the vaults assigned to them, already.
"You two are later than I thought you would be," Molly said, her eye on the Weasley clock that now had the added hand of MC along with the rest of the family.
"We went house hunting after work," Bill said. "Through Gringotts listings. We found one we love. Perfect small place for us to grow and start a family. We put an offer on it so we'll be out of your hair soon."
"Oh, you two are always welcome here," Molly said, affectionately.
"Where are Harry and Harper?" Mallory asked; the two had come home late the night before and left early for work, so had not been informed of what happened while they were away. "We'd like to thank them, directly."
"Thank them for what?" Arthur, who had been reading his paper, asked, putting the paper down.
"They claimed some vaults and asked for us to personally go through them and uncurse them if needed," Bill said. "Being directly requested by very wealthy client of Gringotts looks good for us and gives us some powerful friends."
"Well, that's great for you, but if you want to thank them you will need to write to them. The Fab Four decided they didn't want to stay here – they went to Hermione house for the rest of the summer," Arthur said, a lingering eye on his wife, now.
"Why?" Bill asked, knowing how excited Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny had been, knowing that Harry, Hermione, Harper, and Neville were staying the summer.
"Those kids are wild with parental permission," Molly said. "They run wide, doing whatever they want, when they want – they didn't listen to me when I asked them to meet us in Diagon Alley after we visited Gringotts, then they flounced off to who-knows-where without telling me, and then, when I spoke to their parents –"
"Whoa, whoa, okay mom," Bill cut off his mother at that.
"We get the picture," Mallory added, sharing a look with her husband "I think we will head to bed."
"Don't you want dinner?" Molly asked now, calming herself.
"We ate out," Bill stated simply, Mallory giving Molly a small smile now as they headed upstairs, leaving Molly and Arthur alone.
"Molly…" Arthur said, having noticed the looks on Bill and Mallory's face, "have you ever considered that maybe those children were not the problem?" Molly turned to her husband. "They are 14. We gave Bill and Charlie more independence when they were that age than we currently give Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny."
"And those two went about getting involved in Cursed Vaults and fighting dark wizards," Molly pointed out.
"And both are very successful. Plus, those adventures gave Bill an amazing wife," Arthur pointed out. "I just think maybe we can consider letting go a bit? All four are growing up and growing up fast. Maybe we can let them go to Diagon Alley by themselves."
"I'll think about it," Molly said, a little too quickly as she got up to do some cleaning, and Arthur picked his paper back up, knowing better than to continue trying to convince his wife more than he had.
-Harry Potter-
Being with the Grangers was much more relaxing than being with the Weasley; Harper and Hermione had their double date with Cedric and Dean, the two taking them to a movie and dinner – the former having fascinated Cedric, who's never seen a movie before.
Later on, they'd brought Hermione and Neville to Potter Manor, and put them into the wards as friends so the charms would not deflect them or hurt them.
The four had even managed to get back to Diagon Alley and get all the supplies they had missed out on getting when Molly had cut their visit short. They had also managed to get back to their Flamel Vaults and collect several of the items they had wanted to take out but couldn't last time, even bumping into Mallory and Bill so the two had thanked Harry and Harper for requesting them personally.
Now Harry and Harper were walking down a muggle street in London, having gone back to Gringotts.
"You know this summer feels like the longest yet," Harper mused, enjoying the weather. Harry had arranged for he and Harper to meet Tonks in the muggle world, so to find the Black family home.
"A never-ending summer," Harry remarked, making Harper laugh.
"If we'd have stayed with Mrs. Weasley…" Harper mused. Hermione and Neville were back at Diagon Alley, but Harry had asked to take Harper out into the Muggle world without their other two friends anyway. Only actual members of the House of Black should go where they are going right now.
"You know, you really should consider getting your own owl," Harry said, changing the subject.
"Why?" Harper asked. "Cedric and I will both be at Hogwarts soon, I don't need it to contact mom and dad because we have Hedwig to send letters together… but I'll consider it next summer," she added the last bit from the look Harry gave her.
"Thank you. Now, where are Tonks and her mother?" Harry asked; they had arranged to meet with the two to head to the ancestorial home of the Black Family, after all.
"I'm just shocked the Black family have a home on a very Muggle Street. I kind of expected it to be more secluded," Harper said.
"The square it's located on used to be a secluded wizarding area, but over the years, Muggles took it over," Harry explained, learning this from Tonks. "There are other Black family properties a little more hidden away, now, but this one has always been the major one," the two smiled as Tonks and her mother Andromeda approached them. Andromeda Tonks was a handsome woman, looking like an older, more mature version of Tonks – with long brown hair instead of Tonks' own bubblegum pink, short, hair.
"Hi Harry," Tonks moved forward to hug the teenager.
"Hi," Harry stated, as Tonks pulled him out of the hug.
"This is my mom, Andromeda," she introduced her mom. "Mom, this is Harry Potter and Harper Evans."
"Pleasure to meet you," Andromeda shook both siblings' hands at this. "I was honored you picked me to represent the Black family last year."
"Well you are doing a gret job,' Harper said to a smile from the woman.
"So, where is it?" Harry asked of the Black home.
"It's under a similar spell to the Leaky Cauldron; can't be seen by anyone but members of the Black family and welcomed guests," Andromeda said.
"I'm shocked the Malfoys haven't emptied the house," Harper said.
"They couldn't; even though he was in Azkaban for over ten years, Sirius was still Lord Black. The house charms would prevent them from taking anything. As such the house has been abandoned since my aunt – since, Sirius's mother died," Andromeda explained.
"I have never been here before," Tonks mused.
"I understand Sirius wants to put the Fidelius Charm on the house," Andromeda asked now.
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore has agreed to place the charm and be the secret keeper. He can't come until the Christmas Holidays, though," Harry said. "We were hoping you could let him in?"
"Once you take control of the current charms as heir, I can," Andromeda explained. "Come."
They looked around at the houses they were now in front of; the grimy fronts of the surrounding houses were not welcoming and some of them had broken windows, glimmering dully in the light from the afternoon sun, with paint was peeling from many of the doors, and heaps of trash lay outside several sets of front steps.
"If you were to hide a magical house, this is the place to hide it," Harry muttered as Andromeda took the lead toward the houses numbered 11 and 13; he paused at realizing that number 12, which was the Black House, should have been between the two.
However, as they got closer, a battered door emerged out of nowhere between numbers 11 and 13, followed swiftly by dirty walls and grimy windows. It was as though an extra house had inflated, pushing those on either side out of its way. The Muggles inside the neighboring houses hadn't even felt anything, as the charm meant the house was always there, just unseen by the Muggles.
Harry, Harper, Tonks, and Andromeda walked up the worn stone steps to the newly materialized door – its black paint was shabby and scratched. The silver door knocker was in the form of a twisted serpent and there was no keyhole or letterbox.
Andromeda pulled out her wand and tapped the door once. Harry and Harper heard many loud, metallic clicks and what sounded like the clatter of a chain and the door creaked open.
Sharing a look with Harper, Harry and his sister stepped over the threshold into the almost total darkness of the hall followed by Tonk and her mom. They could smell damp, dust, and a sweetish, rotting smell; the place had the feeling of a derelict building.
"Well, this is… bad," Harper said, and then she sneezed. "Dust… dirty."
"No House Elf here?" Harry asked, not believing the Black family Elf would let the place get this bad. Andromeda flicked her wand and the nearby lamps lit up, highlighting the derelict of the home more as they walked down the long corridor entrance hall.
"There should be. Kreacher?" Andromeda called, loudly, knowing of the Elf from when she was younger.
The moth-eaten velvet curtains right next to them suddenly flew apart – but there was no door behind them. Harry instantly recognized that a painting was behind these curtains; an old woman in a black cap was instantly drooling at them, her eyes were rolling, the yellowing skin of her face stretched taut as she began to scream.
Harry, Harper, and Tonks actually screwed up their eyes at the noise and clapped their hands over their ears.
"Filth! Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness!" the painting screamed. "Blood traitors, begone from this place! How dare you befoul the house of my father–" but Andromeda screamed a spell at the painting, and the curtains shot back over the woman, shutting her up.
"Who is that?" Tonks asked, a little loud as her ears were ringing.
"Sirius's mother. My Aunt Walburga," Andromeda sighed as an old House Elf appeared.
"Get out…" a new voice spoke; the House Elf Harry assumed was Kreacher said. Except for the filthy rag tied like a loincloth around his middle, he was completely naked and looked very old. His skin seemed to be several times too big for him and though he was bald, there was a quantity of white hair growing out of his large, batlike ears. His eyes were a bloodshot and watery gray, and his fleshy nose was large and rather snout-like.
"Stop," Harry said before the Elf could say more, and the House Elf stopped, clearly surprised he had obeyed the order; but they both knew this was because the House Elf was bonded to the Black family, and given Harry was now part of that family, Kreacher had to obey.
Sirius has told Harry not to offer Kreacher freedom like he had planned for the Potter elves, though, as apparently letting him go could give the Malfoys several Black family secrets he was forbidden to tell any but the Lord and Heir right now.
"I am Harry Potter, the heir of the House of Black," Harry explained. Kreacher made a face.
"Then… you are… my… Master," Kreacher said, in a hoarse, deep voice like a bullfrog's, clearly forcing these words out.
"Why is this place in such disrepair?" Harry asked.
"Kreacher tries to keep it clean, but Kreacher is old," Kreacher snapped.
Harry gave a nod, knowing what to do.
"Tanby!" Harry called out, and a pop indicated another House Elf showing up. All the noise, though, meant the curtains over Walberga's painting flew open again, but Andromeda was quick in casting her spell once more, to close the curtains before the painting could scream once more.
"Master," Tanby said, looking up at Harry.
"Welcome to the ancestorial home of the House of Black," Harry said to his Potter family House Elf. "I am heir to House Black."
"This house is not worthy of you," Tanby said, looking around giving a frown. Kreacher gave the other House Elf a glare.
"Could you and the other Potter house elves clean this place up? Make a pile of anything you find for us to see if it is junk or not," Harry said.
"Junk?" Tanby asked.
"Rubbish. It's an American term," Tonks spoke up, liking the House Elf instantly.
"We will get on it," Tanby said.
"Oh this is Kreacher, the Black Family Elf," Harry said of the other glaring House Elf. "Make sure he gets properly dressed." Harry referred to the uniform Tanby was wearing, "and give him simple tasks to do due to his age."
"Kreacher will not wear clothes!" Kreacher protested.
"I'm not freeing you," Harry countered.
"These are not Wizarding clothes, Kreacher," Tanby explained. "As part of the Noble wizarding families, we are allowed to fashion ourselves a uniform out of the fabrics our master's provide – along with the wearing the Crests of our House. I'm sure Kreacher would like to wear the crest of the House of Black?"
Harry couldn't help but smirk at this, seeing Kreacher's head tilt at being told he could wear something of the Black family. He turned to look at Harry at this.
"The House of Black crest would be appropriate. Kreacher, you will listen to everything Tanby tells you to do," Harry said. "The Potter family and Black family are one now."
"Yes… Master," Kreacher said, again clearly forcing the words out again as he and Tanby vanished in a pop. Again, Andromeda quickly closed the curtains on the painting before she started screaming at the noise.
"Well, should we look around," Tonks pointed out.
"And get away from this portrait," Andromeda pointed out.
"Might want to take out our wands," Harper added. "I am betting there are boggarts in here and at least several cursed items."
"I wouldn't take that bet," Andromeda said, but the four moved, heading forward and cautiously.
Post Chapter Note: Wow, what a long chapter. If you couldn't tell, the title of this chapter is a little joke because summer was originally meant to only be two chapters and it got expanded a lot and took a long time to write – plus the added first chapter of the other schools. I hope you enjoyed it, especially the early introduction of 12 Grimmauld Place and the newly made Potter Manor.
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Karry Master OUT!