Chapter 5
Drawing his wand, Sullivan tapped on the brick wall separating him and Diagon Ally.
Three across, two up. Tap. He strode through as the bricks folded away. The hustle and bustle of the alley took him by surprise. Who knew wizards enjoyed shopping this much? He had only shopped here once, when he was young; Tom preferred less desirable stores and usually sent his loyal Death Eaters to do any shopping for him.
Severus strode beside him, face blank, robes flying behind him ‘like a swan’s wings,’ Sullivan thought. As they moved up the alley towards the end, Severus glanced towards Sullivan, lip curling in distaste.
Dumbledore had heavily glamoured Sullivan to have pale skin, dark freckles, and bright, bright, red hair. He looked somewhat like a Weasley, similar to the ones that sometimes roamed Grimmauld Place. The plump female one kept trying to mother him. He was too pale, apparently.
As they approached Gringotts, Sullivan couldn’t help but admire the impressive architecture of the massive marble building.
As they entered Gringotts, Sullivan looked towards Severus, who had been abnormally quiet. He was fingering something in his robe pocket and was looking thoughtful. Sullivan decided it was best not to ask.
They approached a goblin, and Sullivan spoke. “Greetings, teller goblin. my friend and I have an appointment with Gornuk, please.” The goblin nodded curtly and shouted for a goblin to escort them.
They were ushered into Gornuk’s office and took their seats in front of a goblin sitting at a nicely polished wooden desk, fingers steepled under their chin. Getting straight to business, Gornuk spoke. “You wish to have a blood adoption done?” Sullivan nodded. “Very well. Who is the one being adopted?”
“I am.” Sullivan said. Gornuk nodded and placed an inheritance test before him. He handed Sullivan a knife, and he pricked his finger, dripping seven drops of blood where showed by the goblin. Immediately, spidery writing spread across the parchment.
Inheritance test of Sullivan Erbus Riddle
Paternal – Tom Marvolo Riddle (Living)
Maternal – Susanne Edith Turton (Deceased)
Godmother – Bellatrix Druella Lestrange Neé Black (Living)
Godfather – Lucius Abraxas Malfoy (Living)
Blood status – Halfblood
Heirships -
Slytherin (claimed)
Gaunt (claimed)
Lordships -
Slytherin (eligible to claim upon current lord’s death and majority)
Gaunt (eligible to claim upon majority)
Sullivan pushed the parchment across for Gornuk to look at after skimming over the results. He already knew all this from inheritance tests in the past. Gornuk nodded after reading. A sharp look that disappeared as fast as it came was his only reaction to show he knew who father was. Goblins did not fight wizarding wars, after all.
“Do you have a blood sample from the ones who are to become the parents?”
Severus nodded and brought out two small vials of dark red liquid. Gornuk reached for them before Severus spoke. “Wait.” Gornuk retracted his hand, Severus reached into his robes again, and withdrew a third vial. He then turned to Sullivan. “Sullivan… I have a choice for you.” Sullivan raised an eyebrow in question. “You can be a nondescript muggleborn, or you can be…” he hesitated, “My half-brother.” Sullivan’s mouth dropped open, then his lips turned up in a grin.
“I’d love that! We’d be actual family!” Severus exhaled, and his lips twitched into a smile. “But how? I thought your parents died years ago? How did you get their blood?”
Severus tapped the third vial with a finger. “There are multiple potions that require a parents’ blood. Even at fifteen, I knew this. I collected a sample from each of mine, kept under preservation charms since then.”
“Alright,” Sullivan said, “So I’ll be your half brother, sharing… which parent?”
“Father,” Severus helpfully informed him.
“Right. Half brothers through your father. We’ll have to come up with a suitable backstory, of course. And what about my ‘mother’?”
Severus nodded towards the two bottles of blood still on the desk, next to Gornuk, who was watching the exchange carefully. “Tabirah Madelyn Twist. A muggleborn. She was known to be highly secretive and did not let many near her. I removed the sample while she was on her deathbed. It is not unlikely that she could have had a child with no one’s knowledge. We can say that they informed neither you nor me we had a half-brother. However, your ‘mother’ listed me as one of your guardians, should she die. We met upon her death, I became your guardian and enrolled you in Hogwarts.”
Sullivan nodded. “Right. Backstory complete, shall we get to the adoption?” They both turned to Gornuk, who nodded, picking up the two indicated vials of blood from Tobias Snape and Tabirah Twist. He emptied them both into another bowl of semi-opaque liquid. Stirring, the liquid became a bright golden shade as he chanted in the goblin language. He then decanted the gold potion into another vial, before passing them to Sullivan.
“Drink one mouthful, wait until the tingling stops, the drink the rest.” Sullivan did so, a strange bubbly sensation spread to the ends of his fingers and toes before fading away. He quickly drank the rest of the vial, and felt the strange feeling he associated with Polyjuice potion spread through his body, changing his features and sending a shock of pain through his limbs. His magical core flared up, and he passed out.