Gringotts
By the time the man finished his sentence Harriet was more confused than a lion catching fish from the Antarctic. She got up and walked to the window silencing Alden from anything he wished to say, she studied the carpet first, seeing the material in detail gave her comfort from the chaos in her head. Or so she acted to build an illusion of, the truth was she didn't know what to think or say to this. Who would? Being or not a Targaryen didn't seem like such a change to her life at all, it seemed like a joke even. Both men were watching her reaction carefully, so invested in this and for what tho? Harriet was so foolish to even come, thinking about it made her lift her gaze at the garden outside and giving a slight snort, ''Can you possibly say this with a straight face, sir?'', looking back to his stunned expression at her reaction. Harold seemed surprised as well but tried to remain even on the place he was sat at.
He expected her to cheer and yell in joy, didn't he? Alden quickly managed his calm self again and said, ''do you think I might lie?", his eyes gleaming at her. ''lie? It just seems like a joke rather than a lie..." Harriet had no reason to hide her confusion, after all it's not everyday a man tells you may be part of an ancient family who might not even be real. Alden shared a look with Harold for a moment in a silent request she didn't understand. Harold left the room to get something and Alden returned to explaining ''it may seems so, I might have believed the same if I was in your shoes. You see Harriet, I wanted as much as you believe to be a joke '', this was a statement. His stare was serious and Harriet once again trusted the words for some reason. ''When times comes you will understand more and might seek to know more, it is only natural '', his back straightened in the armchair and pointed elegantly at the couch beside him. Harriet didn't protest and sat again.
''Right now, you have to understand none of this is my desire. My kin has gathered information on this family for centuries and never stopped to this day'', Harold returned again with a bunch of papers in his arms and placed them on the table, in front of her. ''Your kin?'', she asked while starring at the 'bunch of papers' whom were actually something like journals and data. Old paper, very old and parchments with similar information. ''My kin was and is a gathering of sorts called 'Maester order', winch Harold here is a member of'', Harold bowed his head in agreement and handed Harriet a parchment, she took the piece and unfolded the fragile material who seemed ancient. Harold sat not far away and watched her hands with worry, still not muttering a word. His hostile atitude gone now.
''never heard of it, it is made of wizards only?'' she asked politely for the first time, trying to understand. Maybe she could find some truths. ''Indeed it is, the Maesters always kept track of important families of noblebirth. It is too much to explain so I will sum it a little, you have to return to your house for the wards''. Harriet would rather stay to hear lies than go back tho, that was the truth. She decided to stay and believe exactly for the possibilty of getting away from the Dursleys. As soon as possible. The parchment was written in odd letters but Harriet understood most of it, it was written about some noble people and their bloodlines from the 16th century and how they got extinct also, also about their ties to Pentos, and even Westeros. She read in her mind more of it as Alden went on, ''Some of the members were magical butt some weren't, this matters less. The thing is they kept this information safe and fallowed every trace from the days of Old Valyria to this one. Most never interfere for the sake of security between people and decendants of these families''. He made a pause and drank some tea, Harriet tasted hers too and continued her study of the parchments.
One of them was from 1938 and spoke of the Black Family, members, deaths and births as well as facts from each. ''This remain important for the sake of magical power and simply history. The order has lots of members all over the world, less numbers of course but they do their job well. Some people have no idea who they are, like you Harriet. What the world doesn't know can't hurt'', Harriet passed from paper to another and even found photos and evidence of many people. She failed to see Harold was keeping another stash. ''I myself, am one of the leaders of this order and was assigned by my father and his father before for the Targaryen lineage and decendants. Magic played a significant role in this. Without it, nor me nor others could have ever found anything about them ''. ''The Targaryen more than wise hid their lineage for safety, when they were kings many , many people died at their hands. This was never forgotten by the people. Never, not even centuries after. After the dragons died they were vulnerable as we all know and their enemies hunted them down till the end of days. It's much more than this and not even us know the truth of it all, dear girl, they hid and hid until not so long ago when my grandfather lived found traces from the Targaryens at last . From then our family's job was to keep the track and every information possible at hand, no one knows of them but the Maesters ( in small numbers, the most trusted) it was of the most importance and greatest honor to have knowledge of the family, the GODS who ruled men with fear and respect, whose dragons gave their own lives. '' Alden was now standing and walking in small paces as if he nedeed his whole strength to tell her all of this, Harriet now was fully listening, the parchments hanging from her fingers. Alden stopped his pace and stared at her as f he saw her for the first time again. Eyes who saw through her flesh and inside her being, all the particles that made her, like they were connecting once again. This feared her, but he stared at her not with lust like some old men do, or like wanting her very soul to scream in agony, the way Voldemort did. This look displayed respect, rotted well beyond this place or this era even. Some people may call all this madness, But Harriet was courious like she never been before, her ears didn't want to go, they wanted to listen.
''back to us and this era, like I said before many families have no idea of the potential they had or power they possesed. Most never cared, never searched and lived their lives in peace. The thing is The Targaryen...they knew that, they always known and never lost track. They know and kept it in the family long before we knew of them. We never interfered as always, they continued to hide in plain sight as nothing more than mere wizards and witches. '' Harriet opened her mouth to protest a bit, Aldon put his hand up stopping her, '' You'll say how this can be possible and the answer is quite simple'' . He comes closer and sat himself on the couch next to her, still keeping his distance but enough to force eye contact,
''I don't know how much you are familiar with dragons...but, they are made as everybody knows , from magic. They are created as eggs from it and hatch in great fires, so hot only magic is capable of doing. Targaryens as lords of Old Valyria and dragonriders, carried like others magic in their very blood but not the one I and Harold does. Of course I do not know all information about blood, but , it is known only blood made dragonlords, even if they were not as high born as others, they still had it. the smallfolk of Old Valyria inherited other kind of magic, the mages who created todays Wizarding World. So, not becoming dragonlords anymore, in the recent centuries for reasons we can only make theories, transformed the magic The Targaryens had into the 'common' magic'' . Harriet moved her gaze from the blue eyes back to the table. Seeing the odd words and trying to make sense of this. What this man tells her can be true of course, but her? her family? Hagrid said 'the Potters' were an old wizarding family, her dad and his family. Her mother, Lily Potter was a muggle-born, surely she couldn't be? ''Even if what you're saying is true, there is no refference to me or...my family'', her eyes found first Harold, his gaze elsewhere in a distant place. Alden looked sadly at her, moving his hand to put a strand of wave behind her ear. She didn't flinch nor move, ''I m afraid there so many things you don't know about them, lies have been told to you, and the reason I interfere at all...'' his shoulders screamed sudden tiredness, and worry from his eyes ''The family I spoke of, Harriet it is yours. no one elses. No one but me, You now, Harold and little of our order. I decided to dig into and tell you because there was no one else and I can prove it to you'', Harold gave Alden a hallow look, throwing one to Harriet as well then said very fast,
''This was far from our job, Alden, we should have never brought her or tell her, it is too dangerous! she will only bring problems. Their family is cursed!'', almost shouting the last words. Harriet heard all of it, the accent was quite strange but she did understand...how dare he say that, ''why not tell me? it's true I am not exactly lucky but still...!'' her chin high and furiously staring at Harold. The men looked shocked at one another and slowly turned to look at her. Harold paled visibly and slowly risen, Alden stared more proud than worried, '' Did you understand what Harold said,Harriet? '', his voice clear, '' of course I did, I can hear you know...'' answered Harriet. Harold looked at Alden and back to her again, ''miss, Potter...I did not speak in English. It was...High Valyrian''. Alden casted a smile at her and leaned on the couch, mocking Harold for his outbrust ''It seems, my friend, Harriet is no doubt the true blood of the dragon''. All could Harriet do was drink from the tasty tea again.
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The next day Harriet was back home at the Dursleys. Alden told her how important it was for this to be a secret, even Harold agreed to that. They sent her home to process everything she heard and make sense of it on her own for a while. Of course, she insisted to know more after all the trouble and get to proving what everything meant. Now sitting on Dudley's old bed she didn't know what to make of all of this, even if was true the Targaryens didn't have any power any more, dragons weren't extinct or used for wars and burning castles to the ground. To wipe entire bloodlines for a chair made of swords, right? there was no throne and no 7 kingdoms to rule. The world decided she was something else entirely, not that she didn't find the gods family intresting. It just all seemed so pointless. The truth was denying everything was foolish even for her, it seems the parchments she read and clearly understood so easily were not in the only 2 languages she apparantley knew. It was a language used by these order Alden said he was some leader, as a code tongue to hide their meaning. High Valyrian. The one spoken in the Old Valyria. Used by dragonlords and later by the Targaryens. The tongue, not of snakes like Parseltongue but of dragons.
How could anyone explain Harriet could understand it? it was long forgotten by the world. Alden also said ''Issi ao zūgagon, byka zaldrīzes?''. Are you afraid, little dragon?. a question Harold also understands to whom she replied easily, like her mother-tongue , ''Zūgagon? Daor. Daor drējī'' ''afraid? no...not truly''. Harriet felt the words foreign on her lips but the accent was raw and natural. Alden and Harold argued how it was impossible for her to learn all alone,to master a better accent than both of them. When their families forced the tongue inside them since the day they could walk. In the end they decided to discuss it another time. Harriet got angry again and demanded answers. The matter subdued when Alden told her she had a meeting today at Gringotts Bank, it was ''very important'' he said. He could get more proof and answers by ''blood magic, I can't provide''. So the meeting was at noon, and insisted she needed rest. Harriet complied and got even more confused than when she left the bed. She wanted to get to Gringotts anyway, it was time to action a little escape from this house. This was not a life she wanted to have, Targaryen or not she was a witch, she wanted to live by herself for a time. Maybe travel a bit, it was dangerous of course. But, no one seemed to care anyway. Sirius never mentioned anything in his letters and she was again kept in the dark.
The few weeks she had could be spent way batter than this. When she got back Hedwig was still away, no one bothered her so it was for the better. Straight away she took a long nap, dreamless in her delight. She bathed for a while, ate a toasted bread slice and prepared for her leave. She cleaned up the trunk just in case, she dressed in black pants and a matching top. Diagon alley might not be safe anymore. Back in her room and ready, she had to wait. The portkey was supposed to get her to Diagon Alley beside Alden and '' his friend'' aka bodyguard. The stringed head dragon felt heavy in her hand, all this was strange and confusing for a 14 yrs old girl. The only thing to do was have faith, in herself. In no one else, only she could make a better life. To live it as she wants it to. The eyes of the dragon stared unmoving back at her, daring her to dig more and find more. Maybe he was the solution, maybe he...
In a painful flash the portkey activated and squeezed the life out of her body, twisting her insides like a snake when once again her feet hit the ground. When it did stop, she heard a sigh above her head. Alden was keeping a grip on her forearm to steady her, his eyes were a darker shade today as it roamed her over for injuries. ''How many times did you use a portkey?'', Alden looked to his right and Harriet fallowed, when the caped man figure hit her. Alden gently drew his hand away, she narrowed her eyes at the other man, ''five times, if I counted well''. He didn't wear his cape now, His slightly curled dark hair visible as well as his eyes. Grey of color, just like...Alden looked back to her and waved a hand to the boy behind him, ''I'm sorry you meet him in such a way dear'', he begin walking and so did both of them, ''we don't have much time now, but meet my son, Everald''. Harriet meet Everlad's grey eyes for a second and saw him looking at the street. Everald? his son....''You didn't mention this'', almost asking than stating. Everald looked up at this, but refused to look at her, still looking out for god's know what. ''Didn't have the time '', Alden muttered as he slowed his pace to be closer.
Harriet looked at the familiar streets as well, It was everything but. The streets weren't full today, in truth the weather was keeping them away. It wasn't cold but the clouds were ready for a storrm today. The three walked to the bank in a fast peace. It's building could be seen streets away, it was tall and imposing but also, beautiful Harriet could say. A few witches and wizards passed by, paying no mind. As they drew closer Alden tool his want and switched it slowly, a black long cape covered her entire body, it was attached to her top. Thin and breathable but not to see through. ''for safety, spies are everywhere'' his right eye from his side, searched up and down to observe his handiwork. He also didn't have to say who's spies. She wondered what Alden 's opinions were on Voldemort. his wars and world domination scheme.
Harriet touched her scar wit her fingers almost absently. Since he was back,it hurt more than before but not like in that night. Her nighmares were frequent all summer and only yesterday stopped. She never written anyone of them, in fear they won't understand. Even now it was just a faint itch, like a reminder. Was he hunting her down? Were any of his Death Eaters? She wasn't sure even now of his motives really, why was he so obsessed? He was so powerful even his pitiful form of a snake-baby his dark magic was everywhere, in his presence you can feel his magic pushing over your own. One day she may ask before he kills her, or she might just hide forever.
Harriet was now walking in the middle, Alden at her left and Everald at her right. She zooned off so bad she didn't notice, this or the fact the door of the Gringotts bank was closing behind her. Staring left and right, just like the last times there were high desks made of marble, perfectly in line to each one serving a Goblin, one older than the other. Five 'clients' in total and nothing more. Despite the dangers outside, inside the bank not even Voldemort would attack. Harriet knew this from History, or rather Hermione. But also from the fact Goblins were very powerful creatures who valued gold above all, keeping it safe was their favourite job. And boy did they protect it. It said the wards of these kind of banks is more powerful than the ones used in Nurmengard prison. Winch says a lot. Alden didn't wait at the line, he straight spoke to a Goblin who looked at her first, at Everland and back to Alden. Waving his little hand to fallow him. Everald waited for Harriet to go after Alden, with him at her back. As much as she wanted to smack his pretty face, she focused at the task at hand.
They passed some light corridors and got a few corners. Their shoes as the only sounds. The Goblin made it right once more and finally opened a door. He waited for Alden to enter and nodded at her to go, she did and looked back to see Everlad. He was not there. Confused, she ignored the goblin's look and took notice of the room they got in. Mostly covered in white marble again with sparkles of gold and additional pink. A large table with matching chairs was in the middle as the only furniture along with the door and some other much smaller. Everald didn't show up so Harriet assumed he was guarding outside, better be coutious than sorry,she agreed. The Goblin had a cauldron floating around his head and vile in his hand , '' mr.Whitney, You requested a magical blood test by combining Harriette's Potters blood to a dragon blood vile for a blood magic spell that seeks connections. '' Harriet saw the cauldron being placed down on the table, but stayed in place to look. Alden looked eyes with hers for a second, then addressed the goblin, ''yes, I did, mr.Griphok'', The old goblin looked pleased at his respect and continued, ''for security reasons I have to demand the point of asking such a powerful blood spell''. Alden sighed and sat on a chair, looking tired at the goblin and no longer tense, ''I and my order, have means to belive miss.Potter here is a carrier of the blood, and heir of the noble and most powerful house to ever rule over men, House Targaryen'', at this words Alden straightened in his seat, the Goblin didn't have a reaction and only nodded in approval at Harriet.
Harriet was once again hearing this stating, like it was a joke, a farce to laugh at. She just felt wrong and so unreal to agree to it. Regardless of her, from the small doors came 3 other goblins dressed as the same who spoke to them, one carried a vial full of clear silver liquid Harriet knew it was unicorn blood. Another had a white towel and the last one another vial full of a black-brownish liquid. Might be the 'dragon blood ' he spoke of. Alden rised at their coming and approached her, gently looking down at her, ''I told you, you will have your proof Harriet, for this only blood can speak and you will need to give a vial for it to work''. His voice was gentle as well, almost apologetic. His grey eyes meet hers and added ''it's alright if you don't want to.I understand, I will never force you'' , he searched for any sign she might give against. Even if Harriet could point out she was already here and it wasn't that much of a choice...there was nothing more she wanted than assurance and with it, freedom. ''I do, don't worry, I don't do this for you''. Iy sounded harsh but it was half true as well, Alden nodded and turned to wait for the goblins.
They were gathered around the cauldron and begin to speak an incantation she did not understand. Neither did Alden, but he knew what he was doing and Harriet was ok with it, for some foolish reason she could trust him with some things. The goblins stopped with their chanting and Griphok, the eldest said '' our part is done in this matter, mr. and miss.'' he nodded at each, and stopped at her, ''the last ingredient is your blood, it's vital, this blood magic will show any related magical family as far as it gets'', he gestured for her to come, ''the unicorn blood offers clearance and pure truth of any family tree spell, the dragon blood is the magical core and also a subject in your case. your blood is the testing and will require a Valyrian spell mr.Alden will cast after a day has passed for effect'' Alden stared at Harriet approaching and lifting her hood , then sleeve to bring her arm above. Griphok slowly raised his hand and a small cut made it's way at the base of her left wrist. The blood came fast and straight in a vile, Harriet decided to look at the other goblins who stared back at her blood pouring in the vile. Slowly, Griphok stopped the bleeding and a goblin, younger, placed the incredibly soft towel around her tiny wound, and Harriet could feel it healing. All of them stared at the cauldron who had a shade of deep orange to it, ''it has to wait'', Griphok said. Alden nodded when the door burst open revealing Everald and a goblin behind. ''Dad, we need to leave now, I got warned of death eaters who know of our presence''. His grey eyes stared at her arm then to his father, in slight worry '' here take it, and you can go'' Griphok magically sealed in a glass black bottle the contents and gently passed to Alden, creating a thick present bag.
Almost running out the bank, once again in the middle they rushed for the street to allow them apparittion. The wards around the bank did not allow it even streets away, Diagon Alley was now running with more people and giving them a chance to hide. Alden was now at her back and Everald in front, all of them looked around for any sign of trouble. Harriet did as well, but it was clear Voldemort was hiding. Why would they attack here? Alden grabbed her arm again and pulled to go faster, ''only a little and it's over'', he said to her, when Everald ducked his head and only missed a blue spark. Harriet tried to see the attacker bur Alden blocked her view with his big cape and pushed her to Everald, the boy grabbed her arm and fired a spell behind in motion with Alden. The were running now and Harriet still didn't see anything but she heard screams of women and bodies running around her. Alden was still holding the bag, his cape hid him as well. Still somebody fallowed them like a mad dog firing curses. only a street away from the point and a spell brushed past her hood into a wall. ''Run, Harriet'' said Everlad and let her arm go, whiping his wand while Harriet turned another corner in time to see Alden also knocking the same guy. His body flied in the opposite wall with a thud, when a rough hand snatched her end of cape pulling her bag. Almost falling when a spell hit the hand, cutting blood and droplets splashing on her face. In instinct she looked at the now screaming man, barely seeing his angry face when a body slammed into her and apparating away in a flash.