Harry woke slowly, curled in a soft bed with heavy blankets weighing him down with their warmth. The room was lit with soft light, crystals embedded in the walls and ceiling glowing softly. Footsteps echoed on the stone floor as the healer came back in, the light glowing brighter as she approached.
“Good, you’re awake," she said, approaching the bed. “I have several potions for you to take before you get up.”
Harry slowly sat up as he watched the goblin healer bustle around. He felt strangely light and hollow, like someone had emptied him out. His head and chest ached like he was coming out of several days of sickness.
“I would recommend putting your House ring back on. It can assist in your healing," she said, sitting his clothes on the foot of the bed with his ring nestled in a simple wooden ring box on top. She handed him several potion vials.
“I don’t mean any disrespect, but what are these potions?” Harry asked, uncertain of the goblin customs when it came to healers.
“Considering the medical history we retrieved from you yesterday, Mister Potter, I understand your reluctance.” She huffed, eyes flicking to a stack of parchment on a nearby desk.
“So you found evidence of potions being used on me?”
“Several. We ran a lifetime medical scan, which lists all potions, medical spells and procedures, and injuries given to a patient since birth. It is not done lightly since you can only cast the spell once every ten years per patient. Yours is rather damning in the absence of any medical care, vaccinations of the magical or muggle variety, and administration of illegal potions since your arrival at Hogwarts." she said with a snarl, harming a child was one of the greatest crimes a goblin could commit outside of stealing. “The ritual circle would have removed all spells from your body and magical core, but you will need to go through a potions purifying regimen to get any residual trace out.”
“When would you recommend I do that?”
“I will be leaving you with the potions and instructions. You can complete the purge at home. It will make you very tired, however, and I would advise bed rest while you are going through it. Now, the potions you have now are a headache potion, an energy booster, a magical core stabilizing mixture, and a mild calming draught if you feel that you need it.”
Harry quickly downed all the potions except for the calming draught. “I would rather keep my emotions as they are for now. Can I keep the calming draught in case it’s needed later?”
“Of course. I’m simply concerned that you might require it.” The healer said with a frown. “We need to review your medical history with your account manager and decide how to proceed. I know that you are expected to combine two Houses later today as well, and that can be a very stressful process.”
“I understand,” Harry said with a small nod. “Can I get dressed, or do you need to do more scans?”
“No, you may get dressed. I’ll have breakfast brought in once you are ready.”
“Thank you, Healer.”
Harry got dressed slowly, still feeling rather drained and worn out. He could feel the energy his House ring gave him as it slid onto his finger, however, and let that level him out as another goblin came in with a tray of food just as he finished tying his boots. He ate a thick bowl of honey and fruit-filled porridge with a large glass of milk before he was shown back to his account manager’s office.
“Good morning, Mister Potter. I hope you are ready to review your accounts and our findings from yesterday?” Gold Kris said, nodding for Harry to take a chair while the healer brought several stacks of parchment to him.
“Yes, we have a lot to accomplish today.” Harry agreed, “The will reading is in three weeks, and I want everything as complete and secure as we can make it before then.”
“Very well, let us start with the medical scans taken. With these scans, you could petition to have Dumbledore removed as your magical guardian and push to be recognized legally as an adult. Since you are already the head of your house, there is no legal reason to deny your requests.”
“But there are many political reasons to do so. The Ministry has shown several times that they have no love for the ‘Boy who lived.’ I don’t trust them or the public not to turn on me if I attempt to take this public.” Harry pointed out with a sigh.
“What are you presuming to do then?”
“I want to do everything I can to limit the legal ways that Dumbledore and the Ministry can use to control myself and my accounts. I want to remove any control they have over my accounts with Gringotts. I want all evidence to be copied multiple times and the originals sealed into one of my vaults. I want to have copies sent to my lawyers, to be held as a final threat should Dumbledore or the Ministry try to revoke my rights or force me into prison through trumped-up charges.” Harry took a breath and stood, starting to pace the length of the room. “I want to look into hiring tutors or changing schools if the harassment and outright attempts to kill me don’t stop. I need training to make up for the lost time and wasted classes where my fellow students and I at Hogwarts received mediocre or downright substandard lessons. I need to learn what I need to know to run my family estates and accounts. I need to know what my family intended for me to be trained in that regard. My Grandfather ordered that all Hogwarts staff and house elves be banned from Potter property. He must have had a reason to do so. I think Dumbledore’s manipulations go farther back than even the Dark Lord’s first reign.” Harry stopped for a moment, taking a few deep breaths and a sip of calming potion before he continued.
“Dumbledore revealed something to me right before I left the school this year after my Godfather’s death that I want Gringotts to research,” Harry said, running a hand through his hair as he turned back to face Gold Kris. “He said that I have a prophecy linking myself and the Dark Lord. I need to know if this is true.”
“The Goblin nation has its own records of prophecies. I will have to approach our Director and see if I would be allowed to review the records. Would you be willing to share the memory of Dumbledore’s explanation?”
“As long as those that view the memory are willing to be bound to silence on the matter. It’s not that I don’t trust the Goblins of Gringotts, it’s simply that I can’t have the Dark Lord getting hold of the full prophecy.”
“The Dark Lord currently does not know the entire contents?”
“No, the globe kept in the Ministry’s Hall of Prophecies was destroyed. He is aware that there is more than he knows but only has heard half of the prophecy. It was supposedly on the words of this prophecy that he targeted my family.”
“I will ask for a meeting with the Director.” Gold Kris said with a firm nod. “I will have to reveal the documentation we have of your abuse at the Headmaster’s hands.”
“That is fine. I don’t want this information out in public, but the Director is welcome to review what we’ve found.”
“I’ll call for a memory repository to be brought. You will need to add the memories that you wish to show the Director and to persuade him to assist in our work.”
The next few hours were exhausting as they reviewed the medical scans, and the healer came back in to outline what they could do to correct the damage. The healers were confident that much of his malnourishment and stunted growth would be corrected now that the blocks were off his magical core. He would be taking potions to ensure that his body had all the nourishment it needed to grow in the next few months, but his body and magic would be doing the hard work.
Harry was forced to relive each memory he added to the repository and was soon having to take small sips of the calming draught to keep going. Gold Kris added his memories of the healing so that the Director could see how powerful the removal had been. The Healers had been horrified to find the horcrux attached to Mister Potter’s scar and had used the power of the circle to destroy the spirit fragment.
Once that was completed, they moved on to the inventory of his vaults. Harry decided to consolidate all the vaults into one large one once the Houses were merged. Since the Potter Vault was larger and older, the Goblins would be moving everything to it while, for a small fee, checking the Black items for curses and dangerous spells.
Harry listed out the things he wanted shipped to Potter Manor, mainly books and a few items that Gold Kris suggested would help with his classes and attempts to correct his education. He also removed several wands that he could use in training and a heavily spelled cloak designed to conceal the wearer’s identity. Several of his family members had been very paranoid, and he would happily use their heavily spelled possessions to protect himself and his House.
The ritual to combine Houses was deceptively simple. The two House rings were soaked in one potion, with Harry drinking another. Each ring was then placed on the same finger while chanting a short spell. Nothing was said of the potion, feeling like he swallowed a block of ice or that the rings would burn as he placed them back on. Once the Black ring was on, he felt the fight for dominance begins. It was like with the Potter House Wards, tugging at his magic and his mind to see where he truly fit into House Black. His magic fluttered and surged within him as the magics of House Black sought to merge with that of House Potter, pushing and pulling at each other.
While the Potter magics searched to prove that Harry was going to be respectful of his House, the Black House magic pushed to see that he was quick-witted and willing to protect his House and family, no matter the cost. It lingered on the betrayals he suffered and the anger he felt at what his muggle relatives and Dumbledore put him through, pressing at his determination to improve both himself and to rebuild his house to its former glory. When the magic finally accepted the merge and poured itself into Harry, it felt like he was being filled with both fire and ice, shadows and light.
Harry gave a small smile as the surge of magic filled him with energy. He could almost feel both Houses’ magic working to level out his magic and helping to purge the rest of the potions from his system. The two rings had merged into each other, leaving a single band. The Potter crest sat still displayed on a large ruby, but the gold ring was now threaded with platinum filigree, and small black stones bracketed the ruby.
“Wonderful.” Gold Kris said with a sharp-toothed grin. “Since House Black has accepted you as its head and allowed the merge into House Potter, we can now go over their accounts. The main pressing piece of business is what to do with number 12 Grimmauld Place. Your Godfather listed that Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix be allowed to continue using the residence as part of his will. I take it you will be rescinding this request?”
“Yes, I will be extending the ban on all Potter properties concerning Hogwarts and its employees to include all Black properties as well. The Order of the Phoenix will also be banned from all Potter and Black properties.” Harry said he could feel the wards of House Potter shifting to accommodate his request. “I want to go later today and claim the wards at Grimmauld Place. Is there a way I can ensure that the house is empty before I go?”
“The house was sealed upon your Godfather’s death. Dumbledore has tried to breach the wards several times but has not been successful. As you are now the Head of House, you should be able to enter any time you wish. I will send a curse breaker with you to ensure that you are not bothered while you enter the house.”
“Thank you, Gold Kris,” Harry said with a small sigh. “Dumbledore has done the same with several of the Potter estates since my parent’s death. What else do we need to cover?”
“Here are the payments coming out of the Black accounts. I need to know which ones to cancel.” Gold Kris said, handing over a sheet of parchment.
“Leave the dowries for the Tonks’ family that Sirius requested. Everything else can be canceled. I don’t want money going to Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black. She was the one who killed Sirius. I will be declaring her disowned from the House of Black and calling a blood feud against her. No member or house of Black or Potter will offer her sanctuary or support in any form.”
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“I will have the necessary documents drawn up.” Gold Kris rumbled in approval for his ruthlessness.
“Can I set up a private meeting here to meet with the Tonks’ family? I might need them to agree to be bound to silence about anything they find out in the meeting before I reveal myself. Nymphodora Tonks is a member of the Order of the Phoenix, and nothing discussed can find its way back to Dumbledore if we can help it. Andromeda Tonks is a lawyer and will probably need to see the documentation we’ve been gathering.”
“That can be arranged, say, the day before the will reading?”
“That sounds good. I will also need to do the same for Lady Malfoy and her son.” Harry said with a sigh. “I want her and her son to choose to either uphold the family motto or to be removed from the family. I won’t have a marked supporter of the Dark Lord in my House.”
“I will arrange a meeting with them after the will reading. I can say that the behests that are available to them from your godfathers will require them to prove that they are unmarked before they can collect.”
“Good. If they’re unable to collect, then they’ll be removed from the Black family, and a meeting won’t be needed.” Harry said with a firm nod.
“I’ve arranged a meeting with the Potter House lawyers at the end of the week. I will send a letter with the final details and a portkey. I recommend having any lawyer you hire swear loyalty to your House before proceeding. All wizarding lawyers are bound to silence their customers however, in your case, this binding would not apply to Dumbledore since he is your legal magical guardian.”
“Would it help if the Dursleys signed away their rights as my guardians? I’m sure for a modest fee and an assurance that I will never contact them again, they’ll sign whatever we hand them.”
“It would certainly help with your case should it ever go public.”
“Good, I will add that to the list for my lawyers to complete,” Harry said, missing the glance Gold Kris shot him at his calm acceptance of his relatives writing off his existence for money so easily.
“You intend to hire more than one lawyer?” Gold Kris asked, forcing his mind back to business.
“I want one lawyer working solely on House business while another manages the ‘Boy Who Lived’ mania. I plan to sue all the idiots who have been writing fictional works about my life and passing them off as facts. I never permitted anyone to use my image or my name and will be suing any company that has done so since the Dark Lord’s supposed death.”
“An oversight that could prove most costly.” Gold Kris said with a feral grin.
“Exactly, I want to put those funds into repairing the warehouses and dockyards that were destroyed in the last war. I‘ve already had the Potter house elves start production on the farms and lands that have been left fallow. I want everything to be back at pre-war production levels within the next five years.”
“Let us complete the paperwork for the House of Black and Potter. You may wish to activate some of the portraits of your past relatives to assist in reviewing any standing contracts held between yourself and other families. I have compiled all the documents for you and included copies of the property deeds and such for you to review.” Gold Kris said, gesturing to a trunk set to one side. Harry merely nodded, he knew that rebuilding the family businesses would take a lot of work.
“Is there a way to send mail without using owls? I don’t trust the Headmaster or elves at Hogwarts not to tamper with or try to read any correspondence I receive while I’m in school.”
“Bank letter boxes, I will arrange for several to be built. They are blood-warded to the user and can be carried through wards, allowing any item placed inside to be delivered to the second connected box. You will have one box, and it will be linked to a box that will be held at the post office here in town. They will screen your mail for curses and such before sending it on to you. In the medical report, there were several mail redirection spells on your person, so you may start receiving more mail.”
“Could they tell where it was directed?”
“It appears most of it was simply refused delivery unless you knew the sender. Bank notices and such were redirected to Headmaster Dumbledore.”
“Then why have I received mail from the Ministry?”
“Ministry owls cannot be redirected. The only reason the Headmaster was able to receive your bank statements was because he is your listed guardian. Now that you are considered an adult by Gringotts, all such items will be sent directly to you.”
“Will that alert Dumbledore to my change in status?”
“It is possible, but I doubt it, after all, Gringotts does not control where our mail goes once it is sent out. If he asks, we can assure him that it is being sent out once a month as usual. It is not our problem what happens to the mail once it has left Gringotts.” Gold Kris said with a toothy grin. “I have added a notation that all requested changes and withdrawals to your accounts must go through me unless they come from you. We will need a reason for refusing his requests, however.”
“Could a review of the accounts of those orphaned by the war be underway? Part of some obscure law from the Ministry to ensure that no child is swindled out of his inheritance?”
“That actually would be a good law to propose our allies in the Wizarding Courts. I will present the idea to the Director as well.” Gold Kris said, writing out quick notes with a quill. “I will have the letterbox delivered to you later today by post. You may wish to have a house elf monitor it for the first few days in case there is a backlog of mail that has been held at the post offices.”
“I have a few questions about the services offered through Gringotts and around the wizarding world. I know most wizards probably grew up knowing such things, but I’m more like a muggle-born, given the years of forced ignorance I’m trying to correct. Does the bank give out a list of services, or is there a good book that lists such things?”
“There is a list of recommended literature that is given to Muggle Born wizard parents when they first arrive at the bank. I will have it and our standard brochures sent to you. What was the service you were wondering about?”
“How do house elves make purchases? Are they even allowed to?”
“House-elves are allowed to make purchases on behalf of their owners. They must either have an account they are allowed to access at Gringotts or a written note of permission with an impression of the owner’s key to be used for a single purchase or withdrawal from the bank. Generally, however, they are simply given galleons for the specific task. The Potter house elves have a small account that they pull from for their needs. However, large purchases or withdrawals require authorization from the head of House.”
“Thank you. Are there catalogs for shops in the wizarding world?”
“There are, they are considered expensive to purchase since they are heavily spelled and updated automatically. You should have some in the Potter household.”
“If I do not have enough gold for a purchase, how can it be made? Do the shops offer options?”
“They would have you sign for the purchase and leave an impression of your key on a special purchase request that we would then later exchange for the gold from your account.”
“Thank you, Gold Kris. Is there anything else I need to review? Should we have a meeting before I meet with my lawyers?”
“I will arrange my day so we may meet in the morning before your meetings. That should allow us plenty of time to review what our investigators have uncovered. I will send a letter with the details. It is rare for me to say, but it has been a pleasure doing business with you, Mister Potter. The curse breaker will be waiting outside for you.”
“You as well, Account Manager Gold Kris. I hope you have a profitable rest of your day.”
Harry pulled one of the old wands from his trunk before shrinking everything he needed to take with him and tucking it away. Tugging on his cloak, heading to the door. He was instructed to follow the waiting curse breaker, and one quick floo trip later, they were walking down a familiar street.
He watched Grimmauld Place pop into existence, sighing tiredly, making his way up the steps and casting several privacy wards around the doorstep, which the curse breaker added to once he saw what Harry was up to. Once they were well warded, Harry approached the door, placing his hand on the aged wood. The curse breaker stopped him from continuing with a raised hand.
“There is a watcher on the corner wearing an invisibility cloak. They can see us but not hear anything.”
“Thanks, I suspected there would be. Leave them be unless they try and interfere.”
“As you wish, sir.”
“I am Harry Potter Black, Head of House Potter and House Black. I request entrance." he felt the wards sweep across his skin before pulling back enough to allow him to open the door.
“Thank you. I can take it from here.”
“If you are sure, sir. The Blacks are known for their impenetrable wards and dark spells. I could help if you came across anything nasty.”
“A light family was living here for a time and helped clean the house. It should be fine.”
“Very well, sir. Luck be with you.” The curse breaker said with a grin before dismantling his spells and heading out. Harry ducked through the door, locking it behind him.
“Tibby, I need you.”
“Master Harry, this is a Dark house.” The elf said with a shiver, appearing with a quiet pop.
“This house is now part of the Potter properties, Tibby,” Harry said firmly, trying to keep up a composed, competent air. “There is a house elf here who has maybe gone mad. I need to know how to handle him.”
“House-elves want to work, Master Harry. House elves need orders, or we fall apart over time. We are proud of our Houses and our Masters.”
“Thank you, Tilly. Can you stay until I finish binding the wards here? I may need your help.”
“Of course, Master Harry. Tilly will stay and make sure the Master is safe," she said, eying the decaying surroundings with wide eyes.
“Kreacher, as Master of House Black, I call you.” The ragged and miserable-looking creature popped in with a dark look.
“You is not Kreacher’s Master. The dog is dead, so Master Draco inherits.”
“Wrong. I am Lord Sirius Black’s heir in name and blood. I have combined House Black with House Potter. I am your Master, and I will not have such slovenly creatures in my service. You have disgraced the House of Black with your neglect.”
“You’s not a pure blood, nor your nasty friends.” The elf sneered, pointing at Harry with a knobby finger.
“Those nasty friends have betrayed House Potter Black and won’t be returning. They are to be banned from setting foot in any Potter or Black property. All Hogwarts staff and house elves are to be banned from all Black properties. I will see this House remade into its rightful image, and I won’t have the pureblood families who House Black does business with seated in a dirty room with moth-eaten tapestries. Would you have me host them at Potter Manor, Kreacher?”
“No, the pureblood families would never touch such a light Manor, never!” the elf said with a shudder at the mere thought.
“Then you must decide. Join your brethren on the wall in memorial to your former masters or work to restore Black Manor to its true glory. Which will it be, Kreacher? Will you work or die?”
“What would you order, Kreacher?”
“I want the portrait hall restored and your Mistress returned to her place of honor there. At times, I may have to lower myself to dealing with those unworthy of her association, and I do not want to offend such a revered woman. Once that is completed to my satisfaction, the rest of the House needs to be cleaned and inventoried. I want to find out what was removed or destroyed in the light’s purge.” Harry said, watching as the elf twisted his dirty pillow case with both hands, “I will go and claim the wards now. You are to stay here until I return. You must decide by then.”
“What will happen if Kreacher says yes?”
“You will give me your oath as Head of the Black family and start work. I expect this house to be presentable to guests by the end of the month, whether by your hand or by my other house elves.”
“Kreacher does not need to wait. Kreacher wants to work.”
“Then give me your oath. Tilly, you will act as a witness.”
“Yes, Master Harry.”
Harry took the grimy elf’s hand and pressed the House ring into his skin as he swore to uphold the House name and honor, acknowledging Harry as his Lord and Master until one of their deaths. He was glad when the house rings took over and pushed him to cement the vows with a short Latin chant that bound the elf to the newly merged Houses, marking him as a Potter house elf. Magic washed over the elf, cleaning him and transforming his tattered rag of a covering into the clean white toga that the Potter elves wore.
“Get to work, Kreacher, House elf of House Potter Black. I expect you to rest as needed, but I want to see the changes I requested to be started before I return.”
“Yes, Master,” Kreacher said, bobbing his head, fingers snapping to remove the portrait, ignoring its muffled protests. Harry ignored the small elf and made his way to a hidden door inside the living room, the ring guiding him as he demanded entry from the wards.
The hidden door led him to the dust-covered cellars and a small dungeon before he requested entrance at yet another blank wall. This ground to the side, revealing a chamber full of carved runes and deep shadows. Tilly followed behind her Master, shivering, this room was full of dark magic. Against a central pillar called to Harry, urging him to place his ringed hand upon a large black gemstone.
The wards of House Black were more animalistic than those of House Potter. While the Potter wards were a simple welcoming presence in the back of his mind, the Black wards were massive, shadowy black dogs who wrapped themselves around the properties with teeth ready to shred those who would try and breach the edges of his domain. They pushed and pressed at Harry with deep growls and snarls echoing in his ears, but all Harry could think of was the large Grim that his Godfather had transformed into so often. He could never fear something so familiar. Eventually, the wards settled into the back of his mind with a soft grumble of sound, seeming upset that he was not more afraid.
“Tilly, I want one of the house elves watching Kreacher at all times. Until he proves he’s willing to work for House Potter, he will be supervised. Schedule a rotation of elves with Mathis. I’ll return at the end of the week to see how much he has managed to accomplish, but I don’t want him overworking himself either.”
“Tilly will see to it, Master Harry.” The elf said eagerly, following Harry back up into the main house.
“Thank you, Tilly. Can you bring a trunk to the library upstairs as well? I want to take some books back with me.”
“Of course, Master,” Tilly said, popping away.
Harry gave a small, tired sigh but let the wards guide him to the places that needed his blood or verbal command to put the wards up to full protection. Soon, the only ones allowed to enter were his house elves and Harry himself. He left the floo open for now but locked so that only someone with a password and his express permission could enter.
Once he reached the library, he again let the wards guide his choices. What would a member of the proud House of Black be studying and learning? The books that entered the trunk were varied. Biographies of Dark Wizards and Witches vied for space with Dark Spell books and tomes on warding, spells using blood and body fluids, animal bonds and familiars, books on ancient Greek and Roman magic, pagan rituals and seasonal magic, magical tattoos and their uses in spell casting. There were also books on Pureblood etiquette and manners, sword fighting and dueling, and books of genealogies of the most prominent families in the wizarding world.
He looked over the lot with a sigh, mentally trying to group everything into categories and trying to come up with a basic schedule for working on paperwork for the Houses and studying the top materials. He only had until the end of the summer to be completely prepared to face Hogwarts and his so-called “friends,” seven short weeks left. He would need a miracle to pull everything off in that time.