Harry was hesitant to approach the door once more, pain from the ritual still fresh in mind. Harry took unsteady steps. Lucky he didn't have to put his hand in the raven's beak again, he didn't even have to touch the door. As soon as he got within an arm's reach, the door opened on its own.
It started with the raven carving, flapping its wings and flying up the door, where it disappeared. Then the door started to ripple. Soon, the entire door started to slowly split down the middle in waves.
Harry was entranced. He didn't feel any heat from the liquid metal so how did it change state? What else could it be used for? Still thinking about the door, Harry hardly noticed the darkness blocking sight into the vault as he wandered through.
For a moment of walking, Harry couldn't sense anything. It was like walking in space or something, it was extremely disorienting.
It only took another step to get out of it, relieving Harry before he could really worry.
The vault was the same silvery metal the door was made from, it was neatly maintained. Near the entrance were piles of gold, jewels, jewelry and other precious metals, Harry was surprised to see copper there too… odd. Further back, there were numerous bookshelves stacked with artifacts close to the entrance, towards the back though he could see books.
While he was gawking at the sheer quantity. Harry heard a loud buzz sound from his right. Where he noticed a well decorated relief in the wall, holding a parchment and ring atop a pillow…
Harry approached the parchment first.
Dear descendant
If you are reading this, I am dead.
This was written in case the Ravenclaw line was unable to raise another heir in time. We know that the goblins will at least leave the vault sealed after we seal it, so this is our last attempt at keeping our history from dying.
Most of the books here are family history and journals from previous members. There are some grimoires in the back on pedestals. There should be enough wealth to rebuild the Ravenclaw manor. There are some minor artifacts on the shelves. And lastly is the lord ring that was set next to this note.
It is our, the few remaining Ravenclaws, request that one day… whoever reads this please bring our name back into glory. Even now, we don't know who or what has brought us down so low, so beware. The primary book is on a pedestal near the back. And finally, be sure to live a happy life. There were many of us who regretted living lives in pursuit of knowledge in our later years, so be sure to find a proper hobby outside of studying.
PS: I left a note on what I recommend studying in the primary book.
There were many names signed after the letter, all sharing the Ravenclaw last name.
Harry sat the note down, thinking. They were brought down by enemies? Would they still be around after centuries? What's ‘the primary book’? He already planned on hiding his identity as the lord so all he could really think now was “what should i do now”.
Compared to the ritual at the entrance, claiming the lord ring was painless. It pricked his hand for some blood, glowed for a second then… absolutely nothing.
Harry searched for the pedestals, browsing the books along the aisle along the way. Before he could reach the pedestals, his mage sight flared. Drawing his eye to the last two books on the shelf. “Diary: Helena” and “creation of Hogwarts notes”. He didn't know why they triggered his mage sight but this had only happened one other time. Harry took the books into his necklace and left to inspect the pedestals.
The grimoires were hardly glanced at before being stored into the necklace. Harry was looking for the primary book and more importantly, the note that the letter mentioned. Harry was running out of stuff to read and that was annoying, but Harry was afraid that he was researching or progressing in the wrong areas. ESPECIALLY now that he knew that the death of the Ravenclaw line wasn't some minor accident or something. He may have enemies out there that want him dead, that have already wiped out a family.
It took Harry a while to calm himself. Thinking about losing yet another family that could have been there for him hurt a lot more than he was willing to admit.
Along the pedestal wall, Harry found multiple grimoires, a ritual book, a book on elemental manipulation, a book on other magic systems (Asian, African, American etc.), A … umm…. “Tips and tricks to not be bad at casting : Rowena Ravenclaw” and “Magic, for Dummies”, and finally he found a book simply labeled “P”. He assumed this was the primary book mentioned before.
Inside the primary book there were a few pages of notes, sorted by age range. Titled “Old enough to read”. “Before school”, “Almost a lord”, ”Annoying crap you'll want to know as a lord”, and finally “a couple things we all enjoyed” the first and last were the shortest while the middle was nearly multiple pages, the handwriting kept getting smaller and smaller the further down the page.
There was a final note.
“This book is probably the most precious book us Ravenclaw own, please treat it with care and do not show it to anyone, these books were banned near the time the family vault was formed. It can copy any book as soon as it touches them. Be careful, as it ruins the books it copies. It works with the duplication charm. Please leave any and all ‘personal books’ that are in the vault alone. These are meant to help each head of house and the owners have requested they stay here. If you would like your own to be placed into the primary book, then you are free to do so. “
It then explained how to call out a book and revert it back to normal.
Harry looked through the recommendations and found that all of the books were already in the primary book, so he didn't need to do much more browsing.
After gathering all of the pedestal books, at least the ones still there. He browsed the artifacts and books. It took hours but Harry found a couple items he was thrilled reading their descriptions. He was less thrilled later, upon reading the book on laws (recommended by the note) to see that most of the items were banned and would need to be kept well hidden.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The largest item was an expanded trunk. It was basically Newt Scamander's trunk. capable of carrying numerous magical beasts, invisible to muggles, muggle safe mode. But where it differed was its auto care feature, this meant feeding, waste disposal, “play” feature (ex, doggo wants to play, training dummy holding frisbee appears, auto fetch), auto gathering for materials. AND that's literally only half of it.
If you flipped a switch upon opening the trunk, it would swap to farming mode. Another space entirely would open up. It was basically just a huge greenhouse. Any plant planted would be in the perfect temperature and light, the soil would swap as well, as long as it was in supply. Auto fertilize, auto harvest, auto plant, auto maintain, anti weeds, anti bugs. Both sides interacted well, a large swathe of the greenhouse would be used to keep the herbivores fed. The animals would provide fertilizer. All Harry had to do was to provide seeds and animals. Once things got going, he could find all sorts of animals and beasts to populate the trunk. He could have an entire ecosystem here.
The next item was just a small ring. It was basically just an extended pouch, altered so it could be worn on someone's hand. It could “collect” items from a distance, and its internal space was much larger than any pouch he's seen.
The third item was a raven pendant. According to the note, it would glow different colors if something happened to the caster. Poison nearby would make it glow green, Legilimency blue, compulsions orange.
Finally was the box of communicators. They were basically little black bead earrings, they were small and apparently only the wearer could hear them. With a few key phrases, one could make it so nobody could listen in on the conversation, nor read your lips. They could also turn invisible and set up anti eavesdropping/scrying spells.
That was another surprise, the note for the earrings referenced how the earrings were another example of jewelry turning invisible “just like the lord ring '' Harry had to read through the recommended books once more and found one that explained the lord ring in detail.
Harry left the vault with all his items but to the still waiting goblin, it looked like all he brought out was a trunk.
Harry felt guilty for making his escort wait for so long. He must've been in there for over 5 hours… “My apologies, there were a few matters I needed to attend. Please forgive me for making you wait.”
The goblin only grunted in Harrys general direction before turning on his heel and leading the way back to the cart.
Along the way, Harry was impressed and confused at the worker goblins' progress. For some reason they were chiseling out the ENTIRE floor of the cavern. Not just the area of the ritual. Harry made a mental note to ask either Ragnok or Naglok about that later.
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Harry went home and immediately buried his nose in the primary book. Wanting to finish all of the recommended books from his predecessors before getting there. Not wanting to miss out on anything important.
The next day was the same.
The third day was finally the trip to Hogwarts, the day he would finally enter the school his parents attended.
Harry awoke around 1am. He had trouble sleeping. He eventually started to work out for a second time that day to hopefully burn off all the nervous energy. Harry picked up a book, eventually drifting back to sleep around 3am.
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*SKREE*
“Shit!”
Harry threw open the door to Hedwig's cage and nearly shoved her out the window. “Meet you there!”
It only took a moment for Harry to be seen on the curb, hand out, trunk in hand. Muttering to himself about being stupid and late.
The knight bus arrived far too slowly for his liking. Before the assistant could say a word, Harry thrust 5 galleons at him. “I'm late to the express, please make it fast to the leaky cauldron.” before sitting directly behind the driver.
Harry ran so fast to the floo after arriving, if you asked the knight bus assistant he would have claimed accidental magic, the boy nearly apparated there.
Harry tossed a galleon at Tom the barman before taking a handful of powder off the mantle and calling out “Platform 9 ¾!“
Harry ran out of the fireplace, trunk still in hand. He noticed a family of redheads running just as fast as himself. Most of them made it, but Harry and two redheads had to run to catch up to the train before it sped up.
Barely making it to the last car and hopping on, he quickly turned around and reached a hand for the two redheads. Helping them both on board, Harry then collapsed trying to regain his breath; he was slightly winded.
“That was close”
“Nope”
“Just on time”
Harry just glanced up, not bothering to actually move after running for so long. He noticed the two were twins or at least looked like it. “Does it always run away when you're trying to get on?”
The two looked at him funny for a second before breaking out in laughter. “Nope”
“Just when you're late”
Standing up and straightening himself. Harry reached his hand to shake. “Harry”
“Gred”, “Forge” they said simultaneously and both took his hand… before laughing again.
“Why were you two so late?”
“We dunno”
“Mom took us through the muggle way”
“For some reason.”
“Talking about muggles.”
“And being weird.”
“We were the last ones”
“From the family”
“Through the wall”
“Almost not making it.”
“Isn't that like, against the statute of secrecy or something?” Harry interjected.
“I hope”
“Not.”
“And what's with the weird staggered speech?”
“We’re”
“Twins!”
“Mhmm… and that means you can't finish your own sentences?”
“Nope, but it's loads of fun watching someone try to follow the conversation.”
“Some people try to look at us every time we swap. They look like those bobble heads dad brought home.”
“Fair enough.” Harry thought back to whether he was like that as well.
“Say harry.”
“You're from the muggle world right?”
“Yes..?”
“Are there any good prank shops?”
“What?”
“Like a shop you can buy joke items and stuff.”
Harry had no idea. There had to be right? There was even THAT shop near his house so a joke shop or something must be somewhere. But Harry hadn't been anywhere but the few shops near his house and to Diagon alley.
“I honestly don't know. There are all sorts of shops though, so it wouldn't surprise me.”
“That's too bad.”
There was an uncomfortable silence.
The twins were eyeing him like a mad scientist would his next lab rat.
“Right… well I'm off, people to meet and naps to take.” mimicking some of the cheer the duo used. Before going through the door into the train.