Solicitor, Phoenix, and Departure Day
Just because Harry is busy pouring over and perusing his books, that doesn't mean Petunia stays idle. She kept communicating with Chief Ragnok, who took it upon himself to be The Potter's account manager, not trusting another goblin after the last incident. In mere days, they've acquired a goblin solicitor's service, named Gazlowe, to build up a case against Dumbledore. Not to mention, requesting goblin's best warders help to check their home and add necessary wards in place. Which is another can of worms that they're not aware of, yet have overcome as soon as possible.
The number of illegal things tied to Dumbledore's magical signature is terrifying, starting from tracking charms, magical outburst tracking, heightened negative feelings charms, and more. But one thing that to make sure of their safety is only a measly blood ward, which doesn’t even work if the occupants dislike each other. The warders then dismantle all of the existing charms and ward and rebuild the ward from scratch, which would notify the residents and goblin nation if someone tries to dismantle or make any new ones.
With time, the charges against Dumbledore kept adding up. Petunia and Gazlowe kept track of it in a list, which only can be accessed by Petunia, Gazlowe, and Chief Ragnok, from the most illegal and heinous to harmless ones. Gazlowe, in their second meeting, said that the first things people read often left lasting impressions. With Dumbledore's? blocking family magic is at the top of the list along with magical leech following right behind. As for Chief Ragnok, the goblin usually does not want to meddle with Wixen's business. He makes an exception and is pretty hands-on with his only client's business. He also requested for Harry to come to Gringotts to do a Recalling Rituals after he found tomes and artefacts had been illegally taken out from The Potter's vaults.
Harry goes to Gringotts accompanied by Petunia to do the ritual and at the end of the ritual finds himself surrounded by hundreds of tomes and family artefacts from all of his family's lines that have been illegally taken, combined. He also decided to bring back the grimoires home with him, to learn more about the histories and the legacies of his family.
By this time, Harry was already aware of the fame his name carries and its implications, even if it's only in theory, and it only fueled his ambitions to be better than what he think is expected from him, which is a lot yet not much if his rule of thumb is the kind of fame muggle celebrity carries, what a fickle thing that kind of fame is. Harry knows from telly shows that Aunt Petunia likes to watch, famous people, either celebrities and/or even the Royal Family, especially The Royal Family, are scrutinised for every little thing they do, not that Harry placed himself in that level if he were to ignore his family's ranks in nobility. This makes him wonder, does magical nobility bleed out to its muggle counterpart? If that is so, how does one function? How does it work? What entails?
"Chief Ragnok, I just remembered. Has Lily or his husband ever made a will? If so, can we see it?" Aunt Petunia asked once they were inside the privacy of Ragnok's office. "Because I know my sister, she's the type to have multiple contingency plans."
"They had made their wills, but the authentic copies of their wills were sealed by your Chief Warlock. You can request to read the original ones that they left at Gringotts." Chief Ragnok smiled.
"Who's the Chief Warlock? Is it Dumbledore?" Harry can't help but mumble to himself. But his voice, in the silence in the room, is heard clearly.
"Why, of course, he does like to include his titles in his letter." Ragnok pulled out a copy he made of Harry's acceptance letter, "See, here Chief Warlock."
"Great, how long does it take for our request to read the wills to be realised?" Aunt Petunia groaned after realising how meddlesome Dumbledore was.
"The earliest is around next month, considering the mess the previous account manager and Dumbledore left behind. We're still sorting everything out."
"Right, we'll wait for updates. Thank you, Chief Ragnok."
With his business concluded Harry and Petunia stepped out of his account manager's office. But as he opened the door, his manager helpfully informed him of the fact that The Trace, activated on the first of September, as they arrived at Hogwarts and it wouldn't pick up anything in a magical dense community.
As soon as they arrived home, Harry immediately took advantage of the existing loopholes that he could use at that moment, meaning testing his wand with charms from his year one charm book. Harry was in the middle of practising lumos and nox in the privacy of his bedroom, when a burst of fire suddenly appeared in his room and materialised as a black phoenix, letting out a thrill of sound, that comforting. As if it knows how unsettled it is, its sudden appearance made Harry feel.
The creature's black and white feathers glimmered with an ethereal light, its eyes fixed intently on Harry. They had been in this position for what felt like hours, Harry focusing on the bird and the bond he sought to strengthen with the mystical bird. After spending hours reading and corresponding with Chief Ragnok and Madam Cassandra, Harry finally knows what to do.
Harry opened his eyes slowly, feeling a rush of warmth and a peculiar sense of calm wash over him. "Hey," Harry whispered, his voice barely more than a breath. "I want to understand, to share in your strength and wisdom. I want to protect those I love, just as you have protected those before me if you'd let me."
The phoenix tilted his head, his eyes reflecting the flames of an inner fire that seemed both eternal and ever-changing. With a graceful leap, the phoenix landed gently on the ground in front of Harry, the heat radiating from his body a comforting presence. Harry extended his hand slowly, palm up, and it regarded him with an intense scrutiny that felt like it pierced through to his very soul.
The phoenix let out a soft, melodious trill, a sound that resonated with a profound sense of acceptance. Harry felt a twinge of heat against his hand, not burning, but rather a warm, pulsing energy. The Phoenix bowed his head and pressed his beak gently against Harry's palm, the contact sparking a flow of emotions and memories.
Images flashed through Harry’s mind: the deepest and painful memories he doesn't even remember anymore, the friends he had lost, the triumphs and tragedies that had shaped his journey. Interwoven with these were glimpses of the phoenix’s own experiences — countless rebirths, acts of bravery, and the unending cycle of life and death.
Harry’s heart swelled with a deep sense of understanding and kinship. He could feel the phoenix’s fiery essence merging with his own, a symbolic melding of their spirits. It was as if they were two flames intertwining, each feeding the other, growing stronger together.
"Thank you," Harry murmured, his voice choked with emotion. "I promise to honour this bond and carry your legacy forward."
The phoenix,Hades Harry decided to name it, let out another soft, harmonious trill, a note of approval and unity. Harry knew, at that moment, that they were connected in a way that transcended the physical world, bound by a shared purpose and an unbreakable spirit.
*****
It's been exactly two weeks since Harry bonded with Hades and tomorrow is the day Harry is supposed to go to Hogwarts, to start upholding and maintaining his family legacies, a comeback, of the sort. After spending weeks learning all about his family, he can't exactly say he <>knows> them, but he has the red thread. With the help of family grimoires and a notebook compiling all of its facts, and cross-referencing them, of course.
As Uncle Vernon always says, knowledge is a weapon, and Harry wouldn't be caught dead weaponless. But at the same time, Harry is nervous about entering a new world. He knows somewhat, all about the muggle world. He has lived in it for the past 10 years.
But again, Harry could always count on his intelligence and the support of his family. With that in mind, with the full confidence of his family, he went to bed after making sure his stuff was packed and Hades's perch was easily shrunk down and stuffed into his satchel in the morning.
The next morning, Harry woke at five o’clock and was too excited and nervous to go back to sleep. He got up and pulled on his jeans because he didn’t want to walk into the station in his wizard’s robes — he’d change on the train. He checked his Hogwarts list yet again to make sure he had everything he needed and saw that Hades was asleep then paced the room, waiting for the Dursleys to get up.
Two hours later, Harry’s trunk had been shrunk inside of his jeans pocket, Hades travelled alone as he would appreciate flying than being cooped up in a train, and they had set off. Harry couldn't stop the jitters for the rest of the journey, which should have taken roughly one and a half hours without traffic jams. Alas, They reached King’s Cross at half past ten.
The family of three walks Harry off right in between platforms nine and ten. Then Uncle Vernon gripped his shoulder, "Well, here you are, lad. I didn't understand your hocus pocus, but that doesn't mean I no longer expect the best from you. And don't slack off from your online studies. We'll be monitoring your grades."
He was quite right, of course. He would excel while having fun. Just like how he used to. After exchanging an awkward half-hug and half-handshake, Harry went through the barrier alone, where he was now truly alone. No Uncle Vernon giving bits of advice, Aunt Petunia whom he could ignore his anxiety with and just bake, nor Dudley who would say the silliest thing in his effort to distract Harry whenever he's frustrated.
Sighing loudly, Harry reached the scarlet steam engine that was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express, eleven o’clock. Harry looked behind him and saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it.
Harry pressed on through the crowd until he found an empty compartment near the end of the train and entered the compartment, sitting alone. Pulling out his tablet, headset, appropriate notebook, and pen, Harry starts reading and making notes of the introduction of his elective, Research to pass the time since he had a lot of time to kill.
*****
It was 5 minutes before the train departed that the first disturbance knocked on Harry's compartments. The train compartment door slid open with a soft knock, and two figures stepped inside, drawing Harry’s attention away from his tablet. The first was a tall, slender boy, his pale skin almost glowing in the dim light. His dark eyes swept the compartment, revealing nothing. His sharp features, high cheekbones, and angular jaw gave him a distant, almost cold air, making him seem like he didn’t quite belong with the others. There was a quiet confidence to his presence, the kind that came from knowing you were always just out of reach.
“Excuse us, can we join your compartment? It seems we’ve lost our friends.” The pale boy asked Harry, indicating someone behind him. Then another figure entered, this one exuding a different kind of allure. His smooth, dark complexion seemed to gleam under the light, and his perfectly styled black hair framed his face with effortless elegance. He moved with a calm assurance, each step deliberate, as though the world itself had to make space for him. His eyes, dark and watchful, held a gleam of something unspoken—an understanding of his own power and how it made him stand apart. The subtle knock on the door had been enough to announce his arrival, a quiet gesture that only added to the sense of quiet authority he carried with him.
“Be my guest, have a seat.” Harry gestured to a seat across from him and putting his tablet aside to properly pay attention to the newest compartment addition.
“Thank you,” the boy replied and put his trunk beside Harry’s.
“We haven't introduced ourselves, have we?” the other boy said with a smirk. “Greetings, my name is Blaise Zabini, the Heir of the House of Zabini from Italy.”
The pale boy then introduced himself “Well met, my name is Theodore Nott, Heir of the Ancient and Noble House of Nott, pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Well met, my name is Harry, Heir of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter.” Hadriian introduced himself last.
“Are you really?” Blaise asked while cocking his eyebrow.
“Yes, unless there’s another Potter out there.” Harry chuckled and continued reading his e-book.
Theo can’t help but chimed in “Hm, you look different from what we’ve been told and from the Daily Prophet.”
“Funny that, no one told me anything about the magical world before and I've never been in contact with anyone from it, either. Besides my first year of life, I mean.” said Harry nonchalantly.
“What are you doing? if you don’t mind me asking.” asked Blaise nodded at Harry’s tablet.
Letting out a soft sigh and putting his paraphilia back into his satchel, “I’m studying for my mundane education. It’s one of my requirements, of sorts. I was excelling in my school before and set to attend Eton for my Year 9. This year is my Year 7, yet I'm in Year 1 while simultaneously in Year 7, go figure.” Harry huffed out his frustration.
“What do you mean ‘Year 7’?” asked Theodore.
“Well, I grew up in Mundane — Muggle World, and they started their education at the age of 5, hence Year 7.” Harry explained.
“That’s — and I thought …” “You can continue your reading then, Heir Potter.” Theodore cut Blaise off.
“Thank you, Heir Nott, Heir Zabini.” Harry smiled lightly and pulling out his tablet, headphone, and notes back out.
“No worries, but our other friends might pop up later. I hope that’s okay.” said Blaise.
“No problem, my headphones have a noise canceling feature.” Harry responds while chuckling.
*****