Chapter Text
“Happy birthday to me.”
It was the merest whisper of sound. The boy was kneeling on the grass by the garden bed weeding under the relentless sun. His cousin had just left him, having tormented him yet again that no one cared it was his thirteenth birthday today. It felt like a repetition of his twelfth birthday but this year there were no house elves hiding in the bushes watching him. Hopefully no exploding puddings either.
Harry was short for his age, yet to hit any real growth spurts, should they be likely to come at any rate. Years of meagre rations and regular starvation fasting, one of his aunt’s favourite forms of punishment, had meant that he was not just thin, but scrawny. The sweat dripping down his forehead made his glasses slip down his nose, again. He pushed them back up, again.
Finally finished with this bed the raven haired teen gathered his tools and picked up the bucket of weeds to deliver to the compost by the shed. He was actually quite proud of his compost structure and took the time to water and turn it as he did every day during the summer he spent in Privet Drive. It was his secret weapon when it came to his aunt winning the ‘Best Garden’ award every year since he turned six in their neighbourhood.
Washing his hands under the garden tap, he put everything away and made his way back the house. The outside tasks were all complete and it was time to either do any inside tasks his aunt had come up with, or go back to his room to hide and pretend that he doesn’t exist. Just like his uncle always wanted.
The hard look he got from the tall horse faced woman in the kitchen told him she didn’t want him anywhere near her already sparkling clean surfaces and he gratefully escaped upstairs to the smallest bedroom of the house.
Harry lay back on his bed with a sigh of relief. He’d actually been feeling a bit off all day and the opportunity to close his eyes, however briefly, was a welcome one. His vision was blurring again, even with his glasses, so he took them off and rubbed carefully, wondering if he got some dirt in them. Blinking, he gazed at his fingers before him in stupefaction. He could see them. Clearly. Without his glasses.
Sitting up quickly he looked around the room. Yes. There was his desk, opened letters of the few birthday wishes received sitting on the surface and he could even read some of the words from where he sat. He blinked and looked at the wardrobe. It was clear. He looked at his feet. Clear. Looked at his glasses where they sat innocently on his bedside table.
They weren’t the right prescription for him. They never had been and his aunt had gotten them when he was six years old and starting in school when the nurse said he needed glasses. But now, for some reason, his vision had finally corrected itself.
Was this accidental magic? Harry didn’t think so, but he didn’t understand what had happened.
Then he grinned. This would have to be the best birthday present he had ever gotten!
He lay back down on the bed. His stomach was churning now, despite his elation. He hadn’t eaten more than half a piece of toast for breakfast and that was hours ago. Dinner, if he did get fed, wouldn’t be until five o’clock and would be minimal, given that his aunt had been busy all afternoon preparing dinner for uncle and his sister who was visiting for the week.
Harry knew that even if he was genuinely ill, his aunt would never take him to a doctor or, Merlin forbid, a hospital! No, they may ask too many questions about the scars. The scars that no one could ever see.
He curled up on his side, staring across the room with his newly focused eyes. Even the pain that steadily increased and worked its way through his body was not enough to reduce his elation at the unexpected boon of clear sight for the first time in his memory.
Soon enough however, his eyes closed and he had to stifle his moans at the pain he was experiencing now. It was a like a nauseating fire spreading from his stomach up his back to his shoulders and arms. Down his legs, his thighs, knees, calves, muscles cramping. Grabbing his pillow, he stuffed it in his mouth to muffle the sound and tried to think himself away, to go to the void in his mind that he went to when the beatings, the punishments, got too bad. At least there he wouldn’t feel, wouldn’t see, wouldn’t know what was being done to him.
Harry floated in his void for a while. It was dark. Not black, just dark. Harry liked the dark and he tried not to think about what that might mean as a wizard. He hoped it didn’t mean anything. After all, he was a Gryffindor, not a Slytherin!
Even in the void he could still get a sense of what was happening around him and once he felt his body still, he worked his way back and opened his eyes once more. The pain was gone but he felt, strange. His body felt stretched and wobbly.
At least he didn’t hurt anymore. Getting to his feet unsteadily, Harry looked to his clock on his bedside. It was after eleven o’clock! He had completely missed his chance at dinner thanks to whatever had happened to him.
Harry groaned and dragged himself over to the door to crack it open. He couldn’t hear any voices and the hallway was dark so he assumed the family had gone to bed. Quietly, he crept out into the hall and down to the kitchen, finding it clean and empty. Opening the fridge, he found no left-overs from the dinner, not surprising really. Instead, he made himself a sandwich, being careful not to take too much and nothing that might cause another stomach upset after being out of it for over seven hours.
Making sure everything was clean and put away, he ate slowly to make it last longer and feel fuller as he made his way back upstairs to the room. He couldn’t call it his room. It was his cousin’s second bedroom after all, he just stayed in it when he was in the house for the summer. Again, not his home, just the house he had to stay in.
Harry stopped in the bathroom to use the loo and wash his face and hands a bit better than just the hose he had used earlier. When he looked in the mirror though, his mouth dropped open in shock. Not only did he no longer need his glasses, but his eyes had changed! They were still green, but seemed lighter, brighter somehow, more a sage green than the emerald of his mother’s. Perhaps that was just the missing glasses but he had a feeling that was not the case.
Running his hands through his mop of hair, he found his ears had changed as well. Exposing them to his sight he found them now slightly pointed at the tops and thinner, less fleshy he would describe them.
What did this all mean? Harry was unsure what was going on but with him, it could be anything. Shaking his head, he turned out the light and went back to bed. Sleep seemed like a good idea right now.
<><><>
Sunrise found Harry waking as usual. He felt, refreshed. That was the only word for it. Not sore as he would have expected after the time he had spent in the garden yesterday, or with the stint of inexplicable pain he had gone through. Loose and rested.
He rose and made his way into the bathroom for the brief shower time he was allowed before the family awoke. Looking in the mirror he smiled to see the changes were still there. He had been worried it might have been a dream. Stripping off his nightwear he entered the shower and used the water sparingly to lather up and wash away all the dirt and sweat of the day before.
Picking up his small towel, he dried off quickly but stilled when he noticed a lack of scars on his arm. The basilisk puncture was gone. He examined his arms more closely and could not find any of the scars that he had accumulated over the years. Startled, he turned his back to the mirror to check.
The lines and marks that had pocked his skin were gone. Smooth unblemished flesh met his gaze. Well, almost unblemished. There were two vertical scar like lines running down his back, either side of his spine from just under his shoulder blades to just above his waist. His skin was smoother and more golden than tanned now as well, now that it was clean.
Glancing at his face, he drew back his hair to see that, unlike his other scars, the only one he truly wished gone was still there. That damn lightning bolt that ‘Mione said reminded her of the Sowelo rune sat proudly defiant on his forehead.
Harry humphed. Well, he couldn’t have everything he supposed but what were those lines on his back?
Left with no other option, he finished drying off and gathered his discarded clothing before heading back to his room to dress for the day. He still had breakfast to make after all for the family.
The other interesting change Harry noticed as he dressed was that he had finally had a growth spurt. Whatever had caused these changes to his body had also had pity on him and he had shot up a few inches, now at what appeared to be a rather respectable five foot six. No wonder it had hurt so much, to grow so fast.
A tapping at the window drew his attention and Harry found a black owl he did not recognise trying to get his attention. He quickly moved to the window and let in the imperious looking bird who held out its leg for him to remove the letter attached. Once relieved of its burden, it hopped back out the window and departed.
Harry looked at the envelope. The seal was an unfamiliar G with an axe crossed with a sword beneath it. It was addressed to H J Potter so, shrugging, he opened it and withdrew the missive.
Heir H J Potter
Gringotts have received notification that you have come into an Inheritance. As such, we require you to attend the London Branch as soon as possible to meet with your Account Manager and register your creature status.
This letter has been enchanted to act as a port key to facilitate said meeting. Speak the pass phrase ‘Inheritance’ whilst holding it and you will be transported the bank.
May your blade never dull.
Ragnok
Director
London Branch
Gringotts Bank
Harry looked at the letter in bemusement. Creature status? Inheritance? What was this all about now? Glancing at the clock, he noted that he still had at least half an hour before he needed to start breakfast so, with a shrug, he spoke the pass phrase and felt a sensation like a hook behind his navel that then yanked him into a spinning vortex before dropping him in a room with a high ceiling and several goblins.
“Greetings young wizard, how may we direct you today?” One of the goblins greeted Harry with a small bow as he pulled himself to his feet. Harry silently handed over the letter, looking around him in bewilderment. He had not been in this room in the bank before and it was massive. With two floo sized fireplaces and several teller type desks to one side, the floor and walls were a polished white marble and there were pillars at intervals holding up what appeared to be a skylight in the ceiling similar to the front hall of the branch.
Looking over the letter, the goblin nodded then signalled a guard to come over and spoke to him in Gobbledegook. Harry was handed back the letter and directed to follow the guard who led him through one of the several archways and down a hall lined with doors interspersed with lanterns. Stopping outside one the doors, Harry noticed a plaque on the wall that read Account Manager – Potter before the guard knocked and then opened the door, ushering him inside.
Entering, he found another goblin sitting behind a large desk, the walls lined with cabinets and shelves. “Greetings Heir Potter. My name is Irongrip,” the seated goblin’s voice was gravelly and Harry jerked his eyes back to him from his perusal of the room. “Please be seated.” The chair in front of the desk was indicated and the door closed behind him as he stepped forward to take it.
“We have been trying to get in contact with you for some time Heir Potter. I am glad to see you have finally decided to respond.”
Harry blinked stupidly at him. “What do you mean? This was the first letter I have ever received from Gringotts?”
Irongrip looked at him gravely. “I see. Well, it would appear that you may have had a mail ward on you to redirect your letters which has been broken by your Inheritance.”
“What Inheritance? What did the letter mean about a Creature Status? What’s going on?” Harry demanded, getting louder with each question. He was frustrated and getting upset.
“Well Heir Potter, on July 31st there was a magical fluctuation registered in your family tree. As the Potter Account Manager, part of my job is to monitor such occurrences and ensure any registrations are legally filed.” Irongrip was eyeing the young wizard curiously. “Did your magical guardian not make you aware of this possibility? Many young witches and wizards come into such inheritances on their thirteenth birthdays.”
“I don’t have a magical guardian. Just my aunt and uncle and they’re muggles,” he mumbled the last.
“Of course you have a magical guardian Heir Potter,” Irongrip replied in shock.
“Well, who? I’ve never met them.” Harry shot back.
Irongrip was disturbed by this. Never met his magical guardian? Unprepared for his Inheritance? Mail wards directing Gringotts mail away from the Heir? Something was very wrong here. “I think you should undertake a Heritage Test Heir Potter. It will list your parentage, your houses, your creature status, your guardians as well as your heirships and vaults. That will give us somewhere to start and we can perhaps clear up any misunderstandings.”
Harry blinked at him, thinking rapidly. It seemed that there was something going on that he didn’t understand and he really didn’t like that feeling. It happened too much around him and whilst he had hoped that entering the Wizarding World would have allowed him to be himself again, no longer hiding who he was, that hadn’t happened. Just more expectations placed on him and another mask to wear. Maybe now he could get some answers. Deciding that he wanted to know the truth, he nodded. “Yes please Irongrip, I think that sounds like a very good idea.”
The account manager pulled out a blank piece of parchment paper and small stone bowl. He placed both on the desk in front of Harry along with a small steel ritual dagger. “Place seven drops of blood in the bowl Heir Potter,” he directed. Harry sliced a small gash into the fleshy part of his left hand then held it over the bowl until the require blood had fallen. He watched in fascination as the cut then healed itself and he raised his eyes in question to the goblin who just smiled at him.
Irongrip then added three drops of a purple potion and seven drops of a green one to the bowl and caused the liquids to mix themselves as Harry watched on in awe at the display of wandless goblin magic. Once combined to his satisfaction Irongrip raised the bowl and poured it over the parchment, the liquid being absorbed into the surface without stain, reminding Harry uncomfortably of Tom Riddle’s diary of the previous year. Then, like the diary, words began to flow across the surface.
Hadrian Jameson Potter
DOB 31 July 1980
Mother Lilian Fae Potter nee Evans nee Derwent (birth mother)
Father James Charlus Potter (birth father)
Father Sirius Orion Black (blood adopted sire)
Guardians
Magical Albus Wulfric Percival Brian Dumbledore
Family Petunia Dursley nee Evans
Godfather Remus Lyall Lupin
Godmother Alice Marie Longbottom nee Fortescue (incapacitated)
Houses
Ancient and Noble House of Potter (Heir – LOL) - Paternal
Ancient and Noble House of Derwent (Heir – LOL) - Maternal
Most Ancient and Noble House of Black (Heir) - Paternal
Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Peverell (Heir – LOL) - Paternal
Most Ancient and Illustrious House of Gryffindor (Heir – LOL) - Paternal
Most Ancient and Illustrious House of Slytherin (Heir – Conquest) - Maternal
Creature
Valkyrie – Chosen of Death – Maternal
Magical Core
Grey – Mage level
Family Magiks
Potter
- Natural Legilimency/Mind magics
Derwent
- Natural Healing
Black
- Metamorphmagus
- Natural Occlumency
Peverell
- Necromancy
- Shadow Magic
Gryffindor
- Eidetic Memory
- Mage Sight
- Elemental magic - Fire
Slytherin
- Parseltongue
- Parselmagic
- Elemental magic - Water
Vaults
Potter
Vault 863 – Heir Vault – current balance 28,000 G
Vault 551 – Primary Currency Vault – current balance 68,426,832 G
Vault 552 – Object Vault
Vault 553 – Document Vault
Vault 554 – Secondary Currency Vault – current balance 100,000,000 G
Derwent
Vault 742 – Heir Vault – current balance 10,000 G
Vault 624 – Currency Vault – current balance 2,348,632 G
Vault 624 – Object Vault
Black
Vault 489 – Heir Vault – current balance 30,000 G
Vault 231 – Primary Currency Vault – current balance 384,268,327 G
Vault 232 – Object Vault
Vault 233 – Document Vault
Vault 234 – Secondary Currency Vault – current balance 1,000,000,000 G
Peverell
Vault 11 – Primary Currency Vault – current balance 740,346,264,389 G
Vault 12 – Object Vault
Vault 13 – Document Vault
Gryffindor
Vault 54 – Heir Vault – current balance 10,000 G
Vault 50 – Primary Currency Vault – current balance 128,585,366 G
Vault 51 – Object Vault
Vault 52 – Document Vault
Vault 53 – Secondary Currency Vault – current balance 100,000,000,000 G
Slytherin
Vault 44 – Heir Vault – current balance 10,000 G
Vault 40 – Primary Currency Vault – current balance 63,647,961 G
Vault 41 – Object Vault
Vault 42 – Document Vault
Vault 43 – Secondary Currency Vault – current balance 100,000,000,000 G
Medical
- Family magiks (90% blocked – applied by APWBD 1 November 1981)
- Glamour charm to mimic James Charlus Potter (applied by APWBD 1 November 1981)
- Loyalty charm to Albus Dumbledore, Order of the Phoenix, Gryffindor house, Hogwarts (applied by APWBD 1 November 1981)
- Distrust charm to Severus Snape, Lord Voldemort, Death Eaters, Slytherin house, Ministry of Magic (applied by APWBD 1 November 1981)
- Magic Core (90% bound – applied by APWBD 1 November 1981)
- Multiple fractures (November 1981 – July 1993)
- Bruising and lacerations (November 1981 – July 1993)
- Malnutrition (November 1981 – July 1993)
- Horcrux hosting soul shard of Tom Marvolo Riddle (created 31 October 1981)
Other
- Mail ward (applied by APWBD 1 November 1981) – invalidated by Inheritance 31 July 1993
- Marriage contract (signed by APWBD and MNW 1 June 1993) – invalidated by Inheritance 31 July 1993
“Well, that certainly explains a few things Heir Potter.” Irongrip noted wryly.
“You think?” Harry snarked back, still in shock by some of what he was reading. He was Heir to six noble houses, including Gryffindor and Slytherin of all things, had more money than he could spend in several lifetimes and a stack of blocks and charms on him that made no sense! “Um, Irongrip, can anything be done about these blocks and things?”
“Of course Heir Potter. I would have recommended a cleansing due to your Inheritance regardless, but this just makes it that much more important.” Irongrip noted. He wrote a few notes on a small notebook, then tore off the page and tapping it, Harry watched it disappear. “A healer will be with us shortly for you.”
“Okay, until then, what can you tell me about my Inheritance?” Harry asked curiously. It seemed the most immediate concern for the moment. “I thought Valkyrie were all women?” Harry was thinking back to the mythological studies of his muggle primary schooling.
“Most of them are. Indeed, male Valkyrie are very rare Heir Potter and are known to be Carriers. That means you can carry your own child but not sire one.” Harry blinked at that piece of information. “They are one of Death’s Creatures and over the years many stories have evolved about them, not all of them accurate however. A Valkyrie is always very beautiful, attractive to those around them. They are considered an Angel of Death, they grow wings that are capable of flight and were fearsome to behold in battle. There are very few such creatures known of in today’s society however as they are considered a Dark Creature, much as Werewolves are.”
“Are they Dark?” Harry asked nervously.
“Not at all Heir Potter. Death is not Dark either as Death brings Balance and would actually be considered Grey in the current parlance. As such, the Valkyrie as the Chosen of Death are also Grey. You will note your magical core is listed as Grey which reflects this balance.”
“What does a Grey magical core mean then?”
“It means that you are neither a Light Wizard nor a Dark Wizard. You will find that you can cast Light and Dark spells with equal facility and it is actually a very rare circumstance as most lean one way or the other. A Grey magical core is the epitome of Balance in the magical world Heir Potter.” Irongrip was actually a little in awe of this young mage and the results that were displayed before him. “Furthermore, your magical level is listed as Mage already, which is an indication of an already large core that still has some years left to grow. You will be a very powerful wizard once you come into your maturity Heir Potter.”
Harry considered this information. Really, it was a lot to take in what with a Creature Inheritance, blocks on his magic, Light and Dark magic, talk about his core. And that was before he even started on the Houses and . . . hang on . . . “What does LoL mean Irongrip?”
“Ahh, that would indicate you are the Last of Line for those houses Heir Potter. As such, you can claim the actual Lordships at age thirteen instead of age seventeen and you would become emancipated in the eyes of the law. You would, in effect, be considered an adult.”
Harry became excited at this. Perhaps this was his chance to get away from that family. “So, does that mean if I claim those houses, I can live by myself? I wouldn’t need to have Guardians anymore?”
“That is correct.” Irongrip grinned at him, seeing where his client was going with this question. “I shall prepare a list of your available properties whilst you undergo your cleansing Heir Potter. When you return, you can claim whichever houses you wish and I shall be able to take your further instructions.” Harry beamed at him and then jumped at the knock on the door. “Perfect timing Healer Tholomy. Please take Heir Potter for a full cleansing. He has undergone his Creature Inheritance and has several blocks to be removed.” The new goblin bowed their head and indicated for Harry to follow then left the room. Harry jumped up with a grin and hurried after the new goblin, his mind whirling with the possibilities.
<><><>
Harry blinked his eyes open to a feeling of light. It wasn’t a bright light, no, it was a soft, soothing light although he couldn’t put a colour to it. Staring at the ceiling above him he registered that it was a soft beige or light brown. Letting his eyes travel to the edge and then down the wall as he turned his head to the right, he saw that the wall was a darker shade of that brown. Rock, his mind supplied. The walls were made of rock, cut stone to be precise.
His gaze continued to take stock of the room. He was in a bed. There were no windows. He was alone. Slowly, he sat up and took in the rest of the room around him noting a door on the wall to his left and another in the far corner across from him that was open slightly and from where he was he could see a basin. So, likely a washroom then. There was a table beside his bed and a chair by the wall on the right as well that held what looked like his clothing and a robe.
Harry swung his legs off the bed and stood up, wobbling a bit. Tottering across to the washroom door he pushed it open. Yep, perfect. Harry relieved himself and washed his hands then walked more confidently back into the main room. There was a full length mirror on the wall where the bed was he saw now, opposite the door he had just come from. Harry stopped and stared at the reflection that he saw there.
Was that him?
He walked towards the mirror and the reflection did the same.
It was him!
Harry’s jaw dropped as he took in his reflection. Now he understood the bit about a glamour on his Heritage Test. He no longer had the bird’s nest of curls that made him look like his dad. His cheekbones were not as broad, having narrowed and become sharper, his chin more pointed. Almost like Malfoy, he though with a wry grin.
His once unruly mop of curls was now longer and fell to just past his shoulders in soft black curls. His golden skin tingled a little as he ran his hands over his body and took in the lean litheness of his frame, not minding in his solitude that he was naked. He was still skinny, but before, whilst small, he had been broad of shoulder and thick of muscle. Now, he was lean and almost delicate looking, but still felt strong, just lighter.
Even better in his mind was that the scar on his forehead was faded to a thin white line and practically non-existent. What had happened there?
Harry hummed at these small changes. His height was still the biggest one from his Inheritance, but the change in hair and facial structure with the cleansing just meant that his whole look was more, androgynous perhaps. Not feminine, attractive, but more on the side of beautiful than handsome. Tilting his head, he decided he liked it.
Pulling his clothing back on, he wrinkled his nose at the oversized hand me downs of his cousin. Admittedly it was probably a good thing there were on the big size, considering his growth spurt, but Harry decided that after he left the bank he was going shopping. Once dressed, he picked up the robe and threw it over the top. It was an open robe but it covered up the more noticeable muggle attire so he wouldn’t stand out so much in Diagon Alley.
Opening the door to what he expected to be a hall, Harry found himself in circular room with desks in the centre and various doors like his around the perimeter. One of the goblins working at the desks looked up when he appeared. “Ah! Greetings Heir Potter! I trust you are feeling better?” Harry just nodded, eyes wary. “Very well, follow me then young sir and I will return you to Account Manager Irongrip.”
Harry followed the goblin bemusedly through an archway and down one hall then up another before finding himself back outside the door to Irongrip’s office. A swift knock and the door was opening once more.
“Welcome back Heir Potter, I trust you are feeling lighter after your cleansing?” Irongrip greeted him cordially.
“Thank you Irongrip, I am definitely feeling lighter,” Harry grinned.
“Well then, let us proceed with your Lord and Heir rings and see where we stand.”
“My what now?”
“Each house has a Lordship ring and an Heirship ring. They have their own spellwork and protections on them and, of course, are imbued with the Family Magiks to ensure no one unworthy should hold them or gain control.” Harry formed an ‘O’ with his mouth, suddenly understanding as he sat once more in the chair before the desk.
Irongrip had six boxes lined up in front of him and Harry reached for the first. Opening it, he found a yellow gold band with a baguette cut garnet and stag horns bracketing it. This was the Potter ring and he placed it on his right ring finger, as directed by his magic. He felt a warmth through his body, like a comforting hug that carried a scent of home and earth as the Potter family magic accepted him.
Then he took up the Derwent lordship ring. It was rose gold ring with a radiant cut yellow topaz. Sliding it onto his right index finger, a sense of growing things rose around him, like vines climbing his limbs reminding him of his experience with devils snare in his previous life. Unlike that experience however, this held a feeling of gentle familiarity, of earth similar to the Potter magic, but more so as the tangled vines of magic entwined about his core and settled.
Then he took up the Black heir ring. It was titanium with a trillion cut black diamond, simply set in the band. This went on his right pinkie finger. This time the family magic was like pins and needles, sparks dancing up his body and diving down into his core. He felt light and almost like dancing. He felt alive!
He skipped over the fourth box and moved to the fifth in line, opening it to reveal Gryffindor’s yellow gold ring with a large flanders cut ruby, nearly twice the size of the Potter stone, set as a solitaire piece. He placed this on his left ring finger and felt a heat travel up his arm as if a fiery breath had him in its grasp. He gasped as he saw a phoenix in his mind, its eyes boring into him and then a lion that seemed to take up residence in his core. He felt protected and loved.
The sixth box held the white gold Slytherin ring with a cushion cut large emerald similar in size to the Gryffindor one. Placing this on his left pointer, Harry felt the cool rush of water flow through him, the counter balance to Gryffindor’s heat. The image of a great basilisk rose up before him, hissing just out of reach of comprehension but leaving behind the sense of welcome and safety. Then it curled up inside him around his core, twining with the lion already there.
Finally, he turned back to the fourth box. It was time for the Peverell ring. Again reaching forward, Harry opened the lid to reveal gunmetal steel forged with an obsidian stone cut as a kite, dark and dangerous. Taking a deep breath, he picked it up and slid the ring onto his left middle finger between the Gryffindor and Slytherin ones.
This time, a dark smoke like presence rose around him and his sight faded to black. A voice in his mind filled him with certainty. “You are the Child of Death, Valkyrie. You are of the Family Peverell. The Master. You are Magic, you are Balance, you are Harmony, you are Life Everlasting. Magicae Statera Concordia – Vita aeterna”
With that, the magic settled into him as the Peverell Magik became fully one with his core, a feeling of dark wings holding him close and sheltering him from all harm.
Harry opened his eyes, taking a deep breath and retook his seat, not realising he had risen, and looked calmly across at the somewhat stunned Irongrip.
“Well, congratulations Lord Potter-Derwent-Gryffindor-Slytherin-Peverell, Heir Black.” Irongrip coughed. “That’s a mouthful. What would you prefer to be called my Lord?”
Harry laughed outright. “That it is! Let’s just stick with Potter for now I think.” Irongrip nodded.
“Very well Lord Potter.” He slid a portfolio across the desk to him, moving the ring boxes to one side with a wave of his hand. “This contains a list of all properties currently held by your houses. Obviously you do not currently have access to the Black properties as you are only Heir for now, but you may choose to take up residence in any of the others. They are all currently being maintained either by resident staff or are under stasis charms.”
Harry nodded, taking the portfolio. “Thank you Irongrip. I was wanting to do some shopping today as well. Do you think you could arrange for a withdrawal for me?”
“Of course Lord Potter. However, may I suggest that we provide you with a GringCard? It’s a new innovation that looks a bit like a mundane credit card and can be used in magical and mundane shops, providing a direct link to your vaults and automatic currency exchange.”
Harry’s eyes widened. “That would be perfect! That way I won’t be limited to shopping only in Diagon Alley!”
“Indeed Lord Potter.” Irongrip wrote a note and flicked it away as before whilst Harry opened the property portfolio and started going through the list of buildings. There were quite a few across the six houses, located all around the world. Disregarding the Black properties, he soon spotted one he thought he might like to use until school went back. There was a small townhouse in London, not too far from Diagon by the looks of the address, that belonged to the Derwent family. It was four stories plus the attic, three bedrooms and three bath. More than he needed but it was one of the smaller properties and the location was ideal for what he wanted.
A knock on the door heralded the delivery of the GringCard and a black dragonhide satchel bag which IronGrip presented to Harry. “To hold your portfolio and the most current statements of your vaults Lord Potter,” he noted opening the bag to show the young wizard the paperwork already within. Harry nodded and then pointed to the Derwent townhouse.
“Can you have this property made ready for use Irongrip?” Harry asked quietly. “And, would it be possible to engage Gringotts to retrieve my trunk and personal items from the house I’ve been staying at?”
Irongrip, who had been nodding looked up sharply at that, his old eyes narrowing as he took in the subdued demeanour of the new lord. “Of course Lord Potter. For a fee.”
Harry met the eyes of his Account Manager and then returned the shark like grin of Irongrip. He decided he liked the goblins and their view of the world. “Of course,” he agreed. They haggled the price of both services and the transfer of one of his house elves to the town house as it had been one of those under stasis. After giving instructions on where to find all his things at Privatt Drive, Harry was bowed out of the office and out into Diagon Alley, his bag over his shoulder, his GringCard in his pocket and a port key necklace to take him to his new home around his neck.
Today was a very good day!