An Old friend and an Inheritance
Harry barely needed any prompting to get ready for the day as he went about his daily routines and dressed. Today was the day he would be able to go to Diagon Alley and collect all of his school supplies! He'd be able to get a familiar and he'd finally get his wand! He just couldn't wait as he rushed down the stairs, though he was already beat by his Mam Ma. She had chosen some sensible yet nice looking robes (though Harry couldn't truly tell you what was truly nice or not. He had been far more interested in Quidditch than he had about fashion).
"Someone's up bright and early. I suppose that pep in your step is excitement to get your school supplies?" Elizabeth had asked, knowing his reply.
"Absolutely! I can get my books, my own cauldron and my wand! I can't think of anything else I'd want to do today!"
With a chuckle, she placed some eggs onto Harry's plate. "Well, you had better get on with breakfast then. I won't have you whinge that you're hungry whilst we're out."
Dutifully he ate, but all the while he couldn't stop himself from imagining what school would be like. Sure, he'd keep in contact with his primary friends as they went to their secondary, but also the possibility of making new friends as well.
It wasn't long before the pair used their personal floo to the Leaky Cauldron, where Elizabeth greeted Tom the Bartender. Harry hadn't been paying any particular attention before running into a big brown wall and rubbing his head. It wasn't until the wall moved that Harry saw that it was a rather large man.
"Blimey! Sorry abou' that, I didn't see ye there! Who might- Elizabeth? Well I'll be, it's been ages since I last saw you! How ye been?"
Harry turned to his Mam Ma, who had just finished talking with Tom the bartender. "Oh! Hagrid! It's been so long. I've been well, actually. Selling potions and other services. Harry, this man is Rubeus Hagrid. He is very kind and a rather good friend."
Harry smiled and held his hand to shake the giant of a man's. The two had shaken, though he wasn't prepared for the waterworks coming from the new person.
"Oh, Eli. I thought... What with er'ry thing happenin that yeh'd been killed. I'm s-so happy yeh arent!" The man said before pulling out a comically large handkerchief before blowing his nose into it.
"Well, you see Hagrid, I had a very important task. One I couldn't tell anyone about until now. This is my grandson, Harrison Riddle. He will be attending Hogwarts this year!"
Hagrid nodded. "If'n he's anything like you or Tom, he'll be top of his class in no time! Ah, but I've taken up enough of yer time. Best I get to what Albus asked me teh do. Gotta go to Gringotts fer something or other."
"We could walk up together!" Harry suggested "After all, I need to withdraw from my vault, right Mam Ma?"
Elizabeth simply shone Harry a proud smile while Hagrid mumbled something about 'Precious' under his breath before finally agreeing to walk with the pair to the bank.
The walk wasn't very long, as Hagrid went on about how magical Hogwarts had been for him. Harry did think he sounded a touch sad, but the man quickly covered it up with all of his adventures with magical creatures. He'd just finished talking about how he'd hoped to one day visit the Romanian dragon reserve as they entered the bank. When he'd noticed they were no longer under open sky, Hagrid shyly grinned and nodded to the pair.
"Ahm glad tay know that ye weren't... I know me'n Tom didn't always see eye to eye, but the two o' ye were good fer each other. If ye can, I'd love to keep in contact. An ah'll be sure ta keep Harry here out of trouble as best I can."
Harry smiled up to Hagrid as Elizabeth nodded. "Of course, Hagrid. And thank you for keeping an eye out for my little spark in school."
With the goodbye, Hagrid was led deeper into Gringotts while Elizabeth and Harry sat together in the waiting area for another teller.
"Now Harry, when conversing with Goblins it is important to maintain a confident aura yet remain respectful. They are a brutal yet fair people who deserve your respect and consideration."
"Yes, Mam Ma. If we could, I would like to request access to my vault for myself if possible."
Elizabeth smiled to her grandson as a new goblin teller appeared. Elizabeth stood and smiled, careful to not bare her teeth, and bowed with a hand over her heart. "Greetings, Master Goblin. I come seeking the knowledge of wealth and blood."
The goblin smirked, before mimicking the bow. "Greetings to you, Lady Witch. I arrive to trade for guile and mysticism. To what shall Gringotts offer this day?"
Elizabeth looked to Harry who bowed to the goblin. "Master Goblin, I seek to prove my heritage in blood and claim only what was the Potters."
The Goblins eyes narrowed, a frown upon his face as he turned to Elizabeth. "A bold claim indeed. I trust that the Guardian allows for the ancient magics to be performed?"
Elizabeth nodded, no smile upon her face. "I beseech the Goblin Nation to judge my grandson worthy of his inheritances, and should a toll be needed to be collected from the Riddle family vault."
Thoroughly appeased, the goblin nodded and gestured for the pair to follow.
"It indeed has been long, Lady Riddle. Guardian Flintcatcher was quite worried for your accounts, large as they be. Of course, if the young lord is indeed the inheritor of the Potter Vaults, we must contact tender Griphook as well."
Harry listened avidly to the goblin. It wasn't that he didn't know of his family, his grandmother had been sure to tell him about his parents as best as she could. When they finally entered a room, another goblin sat at an ornate desk. He simply nodded before pulling forth a gleaming silver blade and a near black sheet of parchment.
"Five drops." The gruff voice of the goblin rumbled as he slid both before Harry.
Harry took the knife, familiar with blood magic, and cut into his palm. He winced at the pain but was thankful for the razor edge of the blade for the quick and clean cut. The blade drank up the blood, turning a silvery crimson hue before dropping the blood upon the parchment. The parchment followed the example of the blade and greedily drank the blood before silver script flashed into existence, as if an invisible quill were writing in molten silver.
Both goblins watched the paper, their eyes raising slightly to the inheritances listed.
"Everything appears to be in order, Lady Riddle. Heir Potter, would you like an accounting of all your holdings?"
Elizabeth pondered the question before turning to Harry then back to the Goblin. "How long will it take for the Goblin Nation to comfortably account the various accounts?"
The goblins turned to each other and pondered the question before answering. "The audit as a whole may take some time, however the accounts of the Potter vaults should be rather expedient, within the next two hours. If you wish to reconvene later, simply ask for Guardian Poisonflick and she will guide you at the appointed time."
With the inheritance test completed, the pair left to complete their shopping for the day. Once they had left, the pair began their excursion into Diagon Alley proper.
"Do you think Mum and Dad would be proud?" Harry asked, looking to the ground while he held the pouch with his withdrawal.
Elizabeth paused and knelt down before Harry and held his shoulders. "Of course they would, Harry. If they could have been here with you today, they most certainly would have. Remember that they love you no matter what. Now, none of this moping about thinking you're not worthy of their love. We've school robes to pick out now, don't we?"
Harry cheered up, though his smile faltered slightly as he nodded.
"What seems the matter, Advisor Silverwind?"
The elder goblin sat in his thronelike chair, slouched as if the weight of the world lay upon his shoulders. He had once served beneath the Rogue King Ranrok in his youth, had held the honor of a Hallowed Vault Guardian and survived two wizardkind wars. Despite all he had lived through, never had he felt more excitement in his bones than this day.
Silverwind turned to the young clerk, Rockbiter, and chuckled wearily. "We have witnessed Death's Herald, young one. Pray that he is benevolent and kind."
He said as he looked back to the black parchment before him.
Harrison James Potter
Son of James Fleamont Potter and Lily Maria Potter nee. Evans
Godson of Lord Sirius Orion Black III by order of Lord James Potter
Godson of Lady Alice Sylvia Longbottom nee. Fortescue by order of Lady Lily Potter
Ward of Lady Elizabeth Myrtle Riddle nee. Warren and Lord Tom Marvolo Riddle
Rockbiter just stared at the parchment, reading and rereading the text of the names and all the inheritances before turning to his mentor. "So it's true... 'Three into one, the being of two bloods, a Master will arise and the desperate shall find salvation.'"
"'One into three shall Death's Mercy reach, the ashes of fear may quench.'" Silverwind finished solemnly. His grin was one of reverence and a primal hunger. "Thus said the Oracle and the King. Upon our blades we fall. Yet it is not yet time. Go inform King Ragnok whilst we continue the audits of the Potter, Black, and Peverell vaults. He will wish to learn of Death's return."