Opportunities

When Sal and his mom went to Gringotts, it wasn't through the usual entrance in Diagon Alley.

"Hold on tight, Sal," Lindsey said, pulling out a small, ornate key. In the blink of an eye, they were no longer standing in their living room but in a private chamber within Gringotts. It wasn't the grand marble hall Sal was familiar with but a modest room with a single goblin seated behind a desk.

Sal glanced around, confused. "Portkey?" he asked.

Lindsey smiled. "Portkey."

The goblin looked up from his ledger, squinting slightly. "I was wondering when we would see you. I'm Aglok. Do you have your key?"

Lindsey handed the goblin the key. "Here."

Aglok nodded. "Yes, follow me. But before we proceed, I must conduct an heir test given the… unique circumstances. It's a simple blood test."

Sal exchanged a curious glance with his mother but nodded. "Alright."

Aglok retrieved a parchment and a small, intricately carved knife. "A small cut will do."

Sal pressed the blade to his finger, allowing a drop of blood to fall onto the parchment. As the blood soaked in, elegant script unfurled across the page, forming what looked like a family tree. Sal's eyes widened as he saw the founders' names—Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin—leading directly to his name.

Salazar Slytherin-Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff-Gryffindor
Son of Lindsey Slytherin-Ravenclaw and Gideon Gryffindor-Hufflepuff

Aglok's eyes gleamed with rare excitement. "This is a historic day. For the first time in a thousand years, the founders' vaults will be opened. And rest assured, the vault under the name Cross is also ready, as you requested."

They followed Aglok to the carts, which rumbled deep beneath the bank, the torches flickering as they descended further.

"Excuse me, Mr. Aglok, are all vaults this deep?" Sal asked, gripping the edge of the cart.

"No," Aglok replied. "Only the oldest and most secure vaults are kept this low. The founders' vaults were among the first created, making them the most well-protected in all of Gringotts. Here we are."

They stopped in front of a massive stone door. It had no keyhole, only four house crests that shimmered faintly.

"To proceed, I will need your blood. There is no other way to open this vault," Aglok explained.

Sal stepped forward and pressed his finger to the door, leaving a smear of blood across the stone. The crests glowed brighter, and with a heavy groan, the door slowly swung open.

Inside, a pedestal stood at the center, holding a small, ornate gold box with a silver knife resting beside it. Beyond the pedestal, four vaults stood in each corner of the chamber, each bearing the crest of one of the four founders.

"I assume the keys are in the box," Sal thought aloud.

He used the knife to reopen the small cut on his finger, allowing another drop of blood to fall onto the box. The lid clicked open, revealing four ancient keys. Sal handed the Slytherin key to Aglok.

Aglok fit the key into the Slytherin vault and stepped aside. "This is as far as I go. The rest is for you."

"Thank you," Lindsey said as they stepped through.

The vault was immense—far larger than it should have been. Expansion charms had clearly been used. The entrance hall led into a grand chamber the size of Gringotts' main hall. Tomes lined the walls, artifacts glittered on pedestals, and a literal mountain of gold lay in the far corner.

Sal's mouth dropped open. "If this is just the Slytherin vault, what do the others hold?"

The Slytherin vault contained ancient artifacts of power—cursed objects sealed in glass cases, serpentine jewelry that glowed faintly with hidden enchantments, and dark tomes written in forgotten languages. At the center of the room stood a black marble pedestal with a silver staff resting atop it. The staff pulsed faintly, exuding a cold, commanding aura.

In Gryffindor's vault, armor and weapons gleamed under enchanted lights. Swords, shields, and helms—each bearing Gryffindor's lion crest—were carefully arranged. Alongside them were tomes detailing combat spells, defensive enchantments, and even guides to ancient blacksmithing techniques. A golden chest rested near the back, filled with shimmering red gems that pulsed with warmth when Sal approached.

Hufflepuff's vault was humbling and serene. Rows of preserved plants, rare seeds, and potions glistened in glass containers. A massive cauldron sat in the center of the room, engraved with intricate runes that radiated gentle warmth. Shelves filled with books on healing magic and herbology stretched from floor to ceiling. At the far end of the room stood a statue of Helga Hufflepuff, her hands open as if to welcome visitors.

Ravenclaw's vault was the most awe-inspiring for Sal. The room was filled with scrolls, ancient grimoires, and blueprints for spells Sal had never even heard of. A large star map, enchanted to show the current position of celestial bodies, rotated slowly in the center of the room. A small table held enchanted quills and inkwells that glowed with blue light. Near the back of the vault, Sal found a collection of enchanted diadems and artifacts that hummed with intelligence and power.

By the time they had explored all four vaults, Sal was overwhelmed. Each founder had left behind not only wealth but knowledge and tools that could change the course of wizarding history.

As they returned to the surface, Lindsey placed a hand on Sal's shoulder. "We'll come back later, but tomorrow, we have a meeting with the goblins. There's much to discuss."

Sal nodded, his mind still racing with the secrets they had uncovered. The legacy of the founders was now his to carry forward.

The following day, while Lindsey attended a meeting with the goblins, Sal chose to delve deeper into the Ravenclaw vault. Lindsey believed her son would find more enjoyment exploring the vaults than discussing business matters, so she proceeded to the meeting alone.

"Lady Slytherin, thank you for meeting with me," Kurluk began, inclining his head respectfully.

"Of course," Lindsey replied, taking a seat across from the goblin.

"As you're aware, the truth of your ancestry can no longer remain concealed," Kurluk stated, his sharp eyes observing her reaction.

Lindsey nodded. "I'm aware, and I intend to use it to my advantage."

A hint of a smile played on Kurluk's lips. "Yes, I've heard you're planning to run for Minister of Magic."

"How did you know?" Lindsey inquired, arching an eyebrow.

"Nothing transpires without our knowledge," Kurluk replied smoothly. "With that in mind, I believe we can assist each other."

"I'm listening," Lindsey said, leaning forward slightly.

"Cornelius Fudge has not only been accepting bribes from former Death Eaters but also embezzling from the Ministry's coffers. We have proof," Kurluk revealed, sliding a dossier across the table.

Lindsey glanced at the documents, her expression unreadable. "Normally, goblins refrain from involving themselves in wizarding politics."

Kurluk's gaze hardened. "After the last war and the lack of accountability for those responsible, let's just say we can hold a grudge."

"If I, as the upcoming Minister, were to address these issues, it could be mutually beneficial," Lindsey mused.

"Precisely," Kurluk agreed.

"We have an accord," Lindsey said, extending her hand. "However, I have a request concerning my son, Sal."

Kurluk shook her hand firmly. "What about him?"

"When this information becomes public, he'll need political protection," Lindsey explained.

Kurluk pondered for a moment. "Several of the older laws have, unfortunately, changed. However, if an heir of an old house is the last of his line, he can be considered exempt from the age restriction, provided he demonstrates maturity and sound judgment."

"If you facilitate that, you'll find Sal not only sympathetic to non-humans but also astute enough to be of assistance. His only weakness is in legal matters, but he's a quick study. What do you say?" Lindsey proposed.

A slow smile spread across Kurluk's face. "I believe this is the beginning of a fruitful partnership. Rest assured, we know how to protect our allies."

Meanwhile, in the Ravenclaw vault, Sal immersed himself in tomes on ancient magic. Fortunately, Rowena had created a Rosetta Stone to decipher the ancient writings. As he perused the texts, a book on a pedestal in the corner caught his attention. Approaching it, he noticed Rowena's handwriting in the margins, indicating her translations.

The title read: The Book of Prophecy, also known as The Book of Three, but Rowena had annotated it as The Book of If. In her notes, she expressed her belief that the future isn't predetermined and cautioned against the temptation to use prophecy as a definitive guide. She wrote about the dangers of self-fulfilling prophecies and the importance of context when interpreting such predictions.

One particular prophecy stood out to Sal:

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…"

Sal's eyes widened as he realized the prophecy referred to Harry Potter. The weight of the revelation settled heavily upon him, intertwining his newfound heritage with the destiny of the boy who lived.

As he closed the book, Sal couldn't help but feel a profound connection to the past and an even greater responsibility toward the future.

After returning from Gringotts, Sal resolved to keep the Book of Prophecy and its contents a secret, recognizing, like Rowena, the potential dangers of its knowledge.

"Sal, we need to discuss our future," Lindsey said, entering the study with Julius, Sal's mentor, by her side.

"Of course," Sal replied, surprised to see Julius. "What's going on?"

"With my impending role as Minister and our ancestral lineage becoming public, our lives are about to change significantly," Lindsey began.

"It's time to advance your studies in political strategy," Julius added. "You have a natural aptitude for it."

Sal nodded thoughtfully. "I understand. But I'd like to inform my friends first; this might affect them as well."

"That's reasonable," Julius agreed. "Your friend Tonks, if I'm not mistaken, is related to Lord Sirius Black."

"Thank you," Sal said, appreciating their understanding.

Later, Sal penned letters to his friends, Tonks and Tulip:

"Hey, I hope you're doing well. As you know, my mom is running for Minister. It's going to happen; you'll see why in the papers soon. Unfortunately, this also means my secret will be out. I just wanted to let you know and hope you have a great summer. Sal."

He also wrote to Headmaster Dumbledore:

"Headmaster, by the time you receive this letter, you might have heard that Fudge has been taking bribes from Death Eaters and embezzling from the Ministry. Consequently, my mom will become the next Minister, and my secret will be revealed. My mentor, Julius, has been teaching me the importance of political strategy due to my heritage, and I anticipate these studies will intensify. I look forward to returning to Hogwarts. Sal."

With the letters dispatched, Sal returned to his studies, immersing himself in the ancient runes from Rowena's vault, eager to deepen his understanding of magical languages and their applications.

As he delved into the complex symbols and their meanings, he couldn't help but reflect on the convergence of his scholarly pursuits and the impending political responsibilities.

The ancient runes, with their intricate designs and profound significance, seemed to mirror the complexities of the path that lay ahead.

The responses to his letters arrived a few days later.

Tonks' letter came first, scrawled hastily but full of excitement:

Sal! I knew you were special, but this is wild. I don't care if you're the heir of Merlin himself, you're still my friend. Besides, you're stuck with me in Hufflepuff. Let me know if anyone gives you trouble; I'll handle them personally. Congratulations to your mom – she's going to be brilliant. Can't wait to see you at school. – Tonks.

Tulip's letter was more formal, but no less heartfelt:

Sal, I'm not surprised. You've always had that air of mystery. It's about time the rest of the world realized how important you are. I think the joke shop idea will still work, even if you end up being some fancy political figure. I'll start drafting prank ideas for the grand opening. Enjoy the summer, and try not to let the vaults swallow you whole. – Tulip.

Dumbledore's response, as expected, was brief but thoughtful:

My dear Sal,

I have long suspected that your lineage would reveal itself in time. Your mother's ascension to Minister will no doubt bring positive change to the wizarding world. Continue your studies with Julius diligently. Knowledge is the greatest shield against the unknown. I look forward to seeing the heights you will reach.

Yours sincerely, Albus Dumbledore.*

Sal felt a surge of warmth reading the letters. No matter how much things changed, he could count on his friends – and Dumbledore – to stand by him. Determined to master both the arcane and the art of governance, Sal prepared himself for the challenges to come, knowing that knowledge and wisdom would be his greatest allies in navigating the uncharted territories of his future.