AN: And another story updated this week! Really proud of getting so many things updated recently. Sorry it took so long. Been a little busy. Hope you enjoy this chapter because I enjoyed writing it.
Also, Drudlark is my new favorite Goblin. Hope you like how I did him.
The trio blinked rapidly as they walked through the glow, their eyes widening as they passed the threshold of Diagon Alley. Harry couldn't help but look around in awe, something even more magical about the shops.
"It's…" Harry felt his breath stutter out, the feeling of pure magic practically flowing through the air, unsure of what to think about it. His first visit to Diagon hadn't even felt this magical and based on the way Fred and George gaped beside him, it was clear that they thought the same as him.
"We always called Bill bonkers," The twins said in unison, looking around with wide eyes, a somber look flashing across their faces when Harry gave them a questioning look.
"Bill was born before the height of the war," Fred mumbled, wrapping one arm around Harry's shoulders, while George did the same opposite of him. "And he would swear up and down that when he was a kid, Diagon had an entirely different feel to it. That the magic in the air felt more powerful and clean," George nodded along, finishing where his brother had left off.
"We always thought that it was just his nostalgia talking," George continued. "But being here right now, this magic does feel different. It feels like it's flowing from every corner here, and Bill was constantly telling us that the Diagon from our original time felt more…stifled as the years went on," Harry nodded at the words, feeling the magic all around him, buzzing against him in a way that he had never experienced before.
"There is something vastly different here," Harry agreed, leaning into the arms wrapped around him, and walking the familiar trek to Gringotts. "I like it, though." He confessed with a small smile. "My magic feels more at ease, too. More freeing," He wasn't even sure how to accurately describe it, but all he knew was the change felt good. Harry sighed when they finally reached their destination, staring at the slanted building as his heart thudded in his chest, wondering what would await them on the inside.
The twins gave his shoulder a squeeze in encouragement as the three of them stepped through yet another threshold, the atmosphere also feeling different from their original time. Harry breathed it in, unable to deny that even in Gringotts, the magic felt less stagnant, a freshness to it that reminded him of a steady stream of water.
"Good day, gentlemen," A goblin that Harry had never met before greeted them at the counter, his fingers steepled together as he peered down at them from his platform. "I was informed you would be making an appearance soon, Harry Potter," The goblin hopped off his pedestal, motioning for them to follow with a wave of his hands. The twins mumbled a 'wicked' under their breath, the trio following the goblin as they were led to an official sitting room featuring a marble desk.
"My name is Drudlark and I will be your official accounts manager going forward," His voice was deep, deeper than any goblin Harry had ever met before. "My job will also include getting all of your papers sorted, such as new birth certificates and inheritance tests. When that is complete, you will undergo a ritual so you can acclimate to your new life ahead,"
"And what is this new life we are stepping into?" Harry had to question, earning an eyebrow raise from Drudlark. He was about to say something when the goblin raised his finger, a small smirk on his lips that almost threw Harry off.
"A very astute question, Mr. Potter. I would be concerned had you not asked," Harry relaxed slightly, causing Drudlark to continue his explanation. "When approached about this situation, Gringotts was instructed to set you up for a specific timeline," Harry watched in interest as the Goblin waved his hand, a pile of silver papers appearing on the table. "There was an instruction to give you a new name and life, and then have you start your sixth year at Hogwarts, which will start up next month." As Harry blinked in shock, trying to come to terms with the words, it was Fred and George who openly gaped.
"While we do look good for our age, bar my missing ear-" George began, touching the side of his head.
"-and bar my missing eye," Fred mimicked, touching the eyepatch he worse.
"We are nowhere near sixteen anymore," They finished together, earning a soft snort from Harry, and surprisingly enough, Drudark too. The Goblin nodded at the words, claw tapping on the silver paper.
"And that is where the ritual will come into play, gentlemen," He said with a toothy grin. "Once these birth certificate and inheritance tests are done, you will undergo a ritual that magically alters your age and name," Despite never hearing of such a thing before, Harry vaguely understood. "You can keep your first names if you desire. Your last names will need to change," Harry nodded at that, mind thinking back to the fact his father was alive during this time, and it would be hard to explain where a Harry Potter had come from to the student body of Hogwarts.
"Will our last names change based on the inheritance tests?" Drudlark gave him an appraising look, nodding at his inquiry. "Well, Fred, George?" Harry turned to look at his loyal friends, a soft sigh escaping. "Are you still okay with doing this?"
"Are you kidding, Harry?" Fred wrapped an arm around the younger like before, with George doing the same. "Think we need to remind him again, Georgie?" Fred asked, smirking as his brother tugged Harry closer, his hand sinking into the black curls.
"Looks like it, Freddie," George mock sighed. "Wherever you go, we go, Harry. That includes going back to Hogwarts," He said, a devious light entering his eyes that was matched by Fred. "Besides, Dumbledore is there. If we want to open up another joke shop at some point, we need to have a target," Harry openly laughed, almost forgetting they were still in Gringotts.
"I take it you're all in agreement, then," Drudlark grinned at the trio, tapping the papers that levitated to the three wizards. "Send a pulse of your magic into it, and we will go from there." The three obeyed, and once they were done, the papers floated back to the desk, glowing brightly. As the papers stopped glowing, three more popped into existence, flying to the wizards.
"Those are your results, gentlemen," Drudlark explained. "Please take a look." Harry was the first to do so, his interest growing.
Original Name: Harry Potter [Redacted]
Available lineage
Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter [Redacted]
Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black [Redacted]
Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Peverell
Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Gryffindor
Harry looked over the words, narrowing in on the bolded one.
"Why is one bolded?" He asked, causing Drudlark to chuckle.
"Magic can be fickle, or it can be direct." The goblin said with ease. "This is its way of being direct. A name in bold indicates that magic selected that one for you in particular," Harry listened, unable to ignore the feeling that he was learning more about magic in one day than he had in his entire life. Beside him, the twins were looking at their papers next, grinning all the while.
Original Name: Fred Weasley [Redacted]
Available lineage
Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Weasley [Redacted]
Mose Ancient and Most Noble House of Macmillan [Redacted]
Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Prewett
Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Yaxley
"Not surprising," Fred commented, glancing at his twin with a small smirk. "What do you think, George?" He asked, trying to stop himself from smirking more when his brother made a small hum as he looked at his own paper.
Original Name: George Weasley [Redacted]
Available lineage
Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Weasley [Redacted]
Mose Ancient and Most Noble House of Macmillan [Redacted]
Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Prewett
Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Yaxley
"Not surprising at all, Fred," George agreed with a small smirk, narrowing in on the name. He looked serious for a moment, a small sigh escaping. "Our redacted mother," He began, grinning when Harry let out a laugh beside him. "-tarnished and bankrupted the name Prewett. At least this time, we can stop that from happening again," Harry touched George's hand, giving it a small squeeze, wanting to show his comfort. The older wizard smiled at him, raising the hand to place a gentle kiss on the back of his hand, his twin smirking when Harry sucked in a breath, flushing a beautiful pink color.
It took Harry a moment to recover after the kiss to his hand, his heart still thudding quickly in his chest as he turned to Drudlark, trying to keep his voice steady as he spoke. On his other side, he can feel Fred lacing their hands together, intertwining their fingers and causing his flush to burn even brighter as he swallows hard.
"What do we do now?" Harry asked, forcing his flush down as the papers floated to the table again, before completely sinking into it, vanishing in a golden glow. The goblin waved a hand, the other papers starting to shimmer as they morphed on the desk, taking shape into runes and sigils. Drudlark passed an enchanted dagger, motioning to the runes on the desk.
"You will need to add three drops of your blood, then channel your magic into the runes," Drudlark explained. "The runes will glow from gold to silver to signal its completion," He said, giving a nod to Harry, indicating it was time for him to start the process. Swallowing hard, the younger wizard sliced his palm, squeezing three drops of blood into the center. After that, he sent a pulse of his magic into the runes, watching in fascination as the runes shimmered brightly before turning silver for thirty seconds.
Fred and George followed behind him, and once they were done, the change in the room was obvious, a powerful magic flowing through the room in waves as it settled around the trio, sinking into them. When it eased, the change was immediate, causing the twins to point at each other at the same time, grinning from ear to ear. Fred's eyepatch was gone, although the wizard hadn't noticed as he was looking at his twin.
"Georgie, you got both ears again," Fred grinned but blinked when he realized he could see more than before, his lips parting in shock.
"You've got both of your eyes, Freddie," George grinned back, watching as his brother touched under his eye, then his eyelids with a snicker. He turned to Harry with a sigh.
"I'm sorry, Harrykins, but I can't be a pirate anymore," Harry snorted at the words, looking at the two with a soft expression, looking over their features slowly, realizing that they also looked much younger. Gone were all their dark circles from the war, and the betrayals of their so-called friends and families.
They looked like themselves before the shit hit the fan; before hunting for Horcruxes, before being on the run, before the final battle. He pressed his free hand to his chest, feeling a newfound sensation of freedom, a smile spreading across his face.
"Now that the ritual is complete," Drudlark used his magic to summon a few boxes for them, diving out their lordship rings," Harry shivered as the ring settled around his finger, watching in fascination as another ring formed from thin air. It was followed by a familiar cloak and a familiar wand.
He immediately recognized everything, especially the cursed ring.
"I thought…" He hesitated, touching the resurrection stone in fascination. There was a pinprick of unease, wondering if the Horcrux would be in there. "This is supposed to be a Horcrux," Harry said uncertainly, looking at the goblin for an answer. To his amusement, Drudlark looked shocked.
"I was informed you were the true Master of Death," Drudlark confessed, shaking his head in bewilderment, a toothy grin in place. "I was skeptical of the claim, personally, but knowing who the message came from, perhaps I should have been," The Goblin observed the hollows, then observed Harry. "As a master of the hollows, they are bound to you in any time, no matter who they previously held an attachment to. Since you are the True Master of Death, they will reject anything or anyone that is not you," Harry listened, looking back to the ring.
"So…the soul shard that was in here?" Harry watched a cruel smile stretch across the face.
"Died the moment the ring transported here," Green eyes widened at that, a laugh bubbling out of him. Then, he paused, wondering if he could kill two birds with one stone.
"There is a Horcrux residing in Gringotts bank," Harry said, watching the anger that formed on the Goblin's face. "In the Lestrange vault, actually. It's been put into Helga Hufflepuff's cup,"
"Thank you for that information, Harry," Drudlark said, quickly writing the words down on a paper. "We will have that object destroyed once we check ourselves," Harry swallowed hard, more relief flowing through his chest.
"You would be willing to do that? I know that Goblins don't usually worry about the affairs of wizards," Drudlark chuckled.
"With all due respect, you are not most wizards, Lord Peverell. As the Master of Death, your words, and theirs," He pointed to the twins. "Will always have more worth here." He said with ease. "Gringotts also has a policy regarding a Horcrux. Unless they register it in their vault and possessions, it is not permitted in their vaults. If one is found without being registered, it is set to be destroyed," Harry grinned at the words, watching as the paper flew away from the desk, heading to another Goblin.
"We will keep you updated on the destruction of the Horcrux. Until then," There was one last paper on the desk, and Drudlark tapped on it. "As you have no homes in this world, these are the available manors you have,"
Available homes:
Gryffindor Manor in Godrics Hollow
Peverell Manor in Berkshire
Before Harry could question, two sets of keys appeared on the table for him to take. He looked at Drudlark in question, to which the goblin grinned.
"Legally, those two locations are your homes. You can do whatever you want with them, but they belong to you. The keys will transport you there anytime you wish to venture there."
Drudlark did the same to Fred and George, the two of them also taking the two sets of keys that appeared on the desk. Harry, still looking at the keys, managed to look at Drudlark with a look of pure appreciation.
"I've never had a home before. Thank you," Harry breathed out, stroking the keys in awe. "Thank you for everything, Drudlark. May your gold and riches forever overflow," He said, remembering one of the few things Bill had taught him. He received a warm smile.
"If you ever need anything else, I will gladly offer my assistance. Good luck with your acclimation to this timeline, gentlemen. I will contact Hogwarts for you and have them send you three letters by mail."
When the trio left, Harry touched the key to Peverell manor, smiling as Fred and George kept close.
"You won't mind living with me, right?" Harry asked, flushing as Fred leaned down to speak close to his ear.
"Of course not, Harry. It's the three of us against the world now, isn't it?" Harry withheld a shiver at the warm breath against his ear, nodding at the words.
"It's always been us three against the rest. I wouldn't have it any other way," Harry said, flushing more when George pressed against him, his warm body felt through all of his layers of clothes.
"You got that right, our darling Harry. Let's head to our new home,"
Harry didn't have to wonder why those words felt so right and perfect.