Chapter 3
Hogwarts Letter
Harry's POV
I opened my eyes and there was darkness. I tried to move my body but felt congested. I tried to feel around and some sparked in my mind. A memory. A memory and feeling of a cupboard. A particular cupboard under the stairs of the Number 4 Privet Drive, Whinging, Surrey. And suddenly there was a shriek that startled me to seven hells and back. That shriek came from my aunt, Petunia Dursley, who was trying to wake me up to do chores.
Wait a minute. Where did the phrase 'seven hells' came from. Never before have I utter such a thing before. Did that came from Jon Snow.
"Wake up! I said wake up." Came once again shriek voice of my aunt followed by banging like nock on the door of the cupboard. And then I stepped out of the cupboard and entered the living room. The place was crowded by lots of wrapped gifts of varying size and a memory surfaced in my mind. Dudley's birthday around the time I received Hogwarts letter. I felt amazed at what has happened and truly grateful toward the higher powers – the Old Gods.
Were the higher powers really the Old Gods of Jon's world. Who knows. I am thankful nonetheless.
"Make breakfast and don't burn anything. Today is a special day and I don't want you to destroy it. Get to work." Said my aunt as she entered the living room. She had giraffe-like neck and bitter face. Choosing not to aggravate her in the morning, I immediately made my way to the kitchen and started making breakfast. Soon enough Dudley came down and entered the living room and started counting his gifts. I peeked from around the kitchen counter to look at him and he was his usual pig like extra-large size. All the usual things happened as it happened the last time. Dudley making fuss about a smaller number of gifts from the last birthday, promises for two more gifts from Dursley parents, absence of Mrs. Figgs to take me under her roof, visit to the zoo and talk with the boa constrictor. Only this time I didn't release the snake from its captivity. The entire day went without any hitch. I didn't receive any punishment and got to ate a piece of cake. The days went by and near the end of the next week I got my first ever letter.
I realised the same day has come when Dudley had gotten himself his new uniform and had a stick. Uncle Vernon and Dudley were sitting at the breakfast table. Uncle Vernon was reading the newspaper and Dudley was playing with the stick and trying to hit me with as well. Aunt and I were in kitchen. I was bringing the breakfast to the table when the bell rang. For appearance's sake I argued with Dudley to get the mails and when ordered by uncle Vernon to get the mails, with patience to hid my excitement, I went to collect the mails. There were seven mails but my eyes were only for the Hogwarts mail. Hust like the previous time, it read:
'To
Mr. Harry Potter
Cupboard under the stairs
4, Privet Drive Whinging Surrey.'
And with a start I asked myself, 'How come this address didn't draw any attention of Professor McGonagle or anyone else that sent the letter. Then I remembered that Mrs. Figgs worked for Dumbledore and thus he certainly knew my domestic situation. And yet chose not to do anything. Filing this knowledge away in my mind, I slid my letter into my cupboard from under the cupboard door and entered the living room as if nothing has happened. Uncle Vernon spoke of his sister Marge who was due to come for visit from her home in five days' time. Today was Wednesday meaning Marge will come on Monday. And I made my decision that I will go to Diagon alley on Saturday. During this time, I made excuse to uncle Vernon that if I worked for the neighbour for some money, then perhaps he won't have to give me pocket allowance and at the same time will keep me out their hairs. After some deliberation with aunt Petunia, he agreed to make some arrangement with the neighbours. From the next day, I started moving lawns for the neighbours, gardening and car washing. These jobs secured me an excuse to be out of the house to make my way to Daigon alley. In this time, I once went to move the lawn of Mrs. Figgs and I observed that there is a fire place and a bowl of floo powder on its mantle. My plans confirmed and waited for Saturday.
On Friday, I secured a job to clean the cattery at Mrs Figgs. Early morning, before breakfast, I made an excuse of getting the job done before breakfast and grabbed the cap of Dudley on the way out and went to Mrs Figgs. There I started cleaning the cattery to escape Mrs. Figgs suspicions and when an opportunity arose, when Mrs Figgs stepped out in the lawn to eyes on her cats, I immediately went to the fire place, grabbed the floo powder and uttered 'Daigon alley' and off I went to Leaky cauldron at Diagon alley.
Diagon Alley and Gringotts
The fire place burst with the green flames and deposited a young boy in the Leaky cauldron rather crudely. Fortunately, it was early morning and there weren't my patrons in the inn. Urgently the boy took his cap and covered his forehead to and asked the barman Tom for Diagon alley. Tom took him in the backyard, tapped the bricks and opened the gateway to Diagon alley. The alley was not crowded, a few shops were open and path up to the wizarding bank was clear. The boy made way to the bank as soon as his small legs could manage and entered the bank. Inside the bank, there were Goblin tellers and a few witches and wizard in the hall who were wearing the badge of Gringotts, clearly in the employment of the banks. The boy made for the Goblin teller in the centre and said "I wish to access my vaults."
Harry's POV
At Mrs. Figgs place, when he uttered Diagon alley, he felt familiar sensations of spinning on and on until he was unceremoniously deposited at the Leaky Cauldron with a loud crash. Urgently I looked around and found the place to nearly empty. I sighed in relief and placed my cap on my head and asked the barman Tom to show me the way to Leaky Cauldron. Though I knew the way but I didn't have the wand to open the gateway. When the gateway was opened I and I felt the nostalgia of all the times have been in here and how much peaceful it looks from the last I was here. But I chose not to dwell much on it for I knew that things will start changing from now that he will return to the wizarding world. Without wasting any time I hurried over to the bank in order to escape any member of the Order of Phoenix. Inside the bank, there were very few witches and wizards and all of them had a badge of Gringotts on their chest signifying that they work for the Gringotts bank. I made my way to the goblin at the centre. He was Griphook, the Head Teller and said, "I wish to access my vaults."
He answered, "Name and keys."
"Name is Harry Potter and I don't have the key. All I know is that my parent used to keep their money here in this bank. That's all."
"Let me check. A key was issued to one Harry Potter in 1983 and was mailed to his magical guardian."
"I am Harry Potter and I have always lived in the non-magical world. I don't have any magical guardian."
"Harry Potter has magical guardian and his name is Albus Dumbledore."
"I have never met this Dumbledore fellow and I wish to claim my family inheritance. No magical guardian can have any right to my inheritance and is it the policy of the Gringotts bank to hand over inheritance of minor to whomever made the biggest bid. Give me solutions instead of excuses. Harry Potter is here. So get the matter sorted."
By now I had gained the attention of the Gringotts employed witches and wizards who came to my rescue.
"Head Teller, may I ask what is the quandary here."
"This matter does not concern you. You should not interfere."
"Matters of witches and wizards will always be our concern. Only person here that can ask of us to mind our own business right now is this young wizard. Tell me young wizard, what troubles you."
"My name is Harry Potter and I wish to access my inheritance and meet with the manager of the Potter account. But he claims that keys to my account have given to a person called Dumbledore. He claims that he is my magical guardian. But I have never met him before and I have always lived in the non-magical world."
"Albus Dumbledore is the Headmaster of Hogwarts. He is a good wizard. I assure you that he will not swindle you of your inheritance. However, be as it may, Gringotts should not have any issue in this regard. Laws of inheritance and treaty with the Gringotts is very clear. If the Potter account belongs to you, then you will have access to it, guardian or not as well as keys or not. Master Teller, please ask the Office of Inheritance to consider Mr. Potter's request and after the necessary procedure, grant him access to the account manager of Potter accounts and the vaults therein."
"What are the necessary procedures."
"A full Inheritance test."
"Very well. Master Teller, I want full inheritance test."
"It will cost 30G. How will you pay for it. It must be paid before the test."
"I have Great Britain Pound Sterling."
"It is 5GBP to 1G. How much do you have."
"I have 250GBP."
"Give 150GBP which will be equivalent to 5G."
After this conversation, I thanked the wizards and witches asked their names. The man who spoke for me was Joseph Miller. His companions were Andrew Kennet, Elise CarMickle, Derrek McCallister and Richard Every. After greeting them all, I made my way to the Office of Inheritance to undergo the test. After reaching the office, I met with another Goblin whose name was Bloodeyes. He asked me to drop 7 blood drops in a chalice that was filled with black liquid. After adding the blood, he performed magic on the chalice and the content started glowing. And then he poured the glowing content on a piece of Parchment.
GRINGOTTS INHERTANCE TEST
HARRY JAMES POTTER
Father : James Fleamont Potter
Mother : Lily Marie Potter nee Evans
Godfather(magic sworn) : Sirius Orion Black
Heir of the Most Old and Most Traditional family of Potter
Heir of the Most Old and Most Traditional family of Lefey
Heir of the Most Old and Most Traditional family of Peverell
Potter account : Main Vault – No. 45 - 1.2 Million G
Trust vault – No.687 - 49000 G 19000 S 3400K
No. 487 – 35000 G 10000 S
No. 488 – 15000G 5000 S
Magical Skills :-
Magical Linguist – partially blocked – Parseltongue active
Natural Occlumency – completely blocked
Animagus – Magical
Magical Affinity :-
Battlemagic2) Runicmagic3) Alchemy4) Magical Smithing and Metallurgy
After going through the test report, I asked about the Potter and Lefey account but their existence with the Gringotts was denied. Afterwards, I was escorted to the account manager of the Potter accounts. Sharpaxe, the manager of the Potter accounts explained that vault no. 487 and 488 belonged to my parents and that I can access all 3 trust vaults. In my father's vault there was a multi compartment in addition to the moneys. When I reached out to the trunk, there was a bright flash and the trunk opened to reveal a letter. I opened the letter and read:
Dear Harry,
If you are reading this letter then that means we are dead, your mother and I. We hoped it would not come to this but now that has happened, then we give you our best hopes and wishes against the struggle you certainly are going to face. Son, you have been marked for death and as long as dark lord Voldemorte is alive, he will come for you. But don't worry, we have arranged for your success. To begin with, you will have full access to our trust vault. The money and the contents of the trunk will assist you in your journey. In there is our best works of magic we could muster. Your mother and I have created a spell which give extra time inside the trunk than outside it. The trunk itself is an apartment trunk we purchased from the Diagon alley before its production was outlawed by the corrupt ministry of magic and self-centred wizengamot. Now we have enchanted the trunk from within and outside. It will allow access to only you and no one else. At the top of the trunk there is a medallion which is fused with the wood of the trunk. Upon it you must drop seven blood drops and after that try to cast magic. Think of all the times you did accidental magic and try to remember the feeling and push the tingling sensation toward the medallion. Once it has been done, no one other than you will be able to enter, of course your house elves will be exception. Make sure to get yourself atleast one house elf and bond with him by drawing the blood in your palm and put it upon its head and offer him place in your family and household.
Anyway, once you have keyed yourself to the trunk using the aforementioned method, enter the trunk and you will find there to be 8 compartment rooms. 1 compartment room will be your bedroom and the rest have been arranged for you in accordance to your years at Hogwarts. Be mindful, you can access only your current year and the lower years compartment. This is for your own safety. You will be able to open them after your birthdays. In these compartment rooms, there is a study table, assortment of books and a cabinet fully stocked with the writing materials. There are also muggle academic books and writing material. Your mother wishes for you to continue you non magical education. Respect her wishes and that's an order. Now in your bedroom, there is a cupboard. In there is the Potter family Journal and Grimoire. Those books as well cannot leave the bedroom until you turn 17. Remember, these books are more important than what are there in the rest of the compartment rooms. In these books are the true history of the Potters and collection of magical knowledge of the family. You must not share the history of the family or the magical knowledge. The history often contains the secrets of the other family that our ancestors witnessed which if revealed now will be considered veritable record on the family which can make and break the same family. Often, feuds gets declared which always result in the bloodshed. And after us, you will be the sole living Potter. The magical knowledge gives you extra protection and edge against a powerful and experienced adversary. Do not you these spells unless in life and death situation and certainly not in schoolyard fights. It takes time and magical maturity to be able to cast magic non verbally. Never cast the family spells verbally nor share them with anyone for then they could be used against you. Sharing with friends might appear to be a good thing but friendships can evaporate. You would be lucky to have neutral relations with your former friends and their descendants. Be mindful, do not share the family history and magical knowledge with anyone who is not Potter by birth and marriage and that's an order.
Now talking about marriage, make sure that you marry a half-blooded witch, preferably one born of two muggleborn witch and wizard. Your children will be magically powerful for they will have fresh infusion of magic through their parents. But still do try to marry for love. Anyways, take this trunk with you and do not show it to anyone. Use it discreetly.
Your father,
James.
After reading this letter, I gave a teary smile, took the trunk and stepped out of the vault. Thereafter, I made my way to my vault, withdrew 1000G and stepped out of the bank.