1996
“Time?” I doubt. How would that even be possible?
“Yes.” says the man in the suit.
“But,” I begin, “that shouldn't be possible.
“But of course, it is possible. Everything is possible."
"Can I really go back? How far? And-" I start chattering hopefully.
"If things go as planned." The man snaps his skeletal fingers, and what looks suspiciously like a time-turner appears inside his hand. “If you agree, this will help you. It's a special time-turner, stronger than the usual ones. But be warned that it only ever works backwards in time. You will not be able to return." My eyes widen. "Your emergence in the past alone will change things. Bringing you back to the present or a new future could have far-reaching consequences." I nod to show I understood before the man continues, "You must guard this artefact very well, Harriet, with your life as well. In the wrong hands… can't imagine what could happen.”
"I, I mean," I stutter, not knowing what to say.
"I'll give you a day. A day for a decision. If the Time-Turner is not used by then, it will lose its special power and will only work in hours, not years. I told you I was giving you the choice no one ever gave you, so you can let things go how they are now playing out.”
Tears gather inmy eyes. All I have ever wanted was to make my own decisions. Choosing something for myself, just once. "Thank you," I say softly.
The man asserts with a nod. "Let me give you one last piece of advice before you go. You should involve Gringotts in your travels. They should be helpful if you can convince them. Money may not seem all that important to you, but you will need it. Money and contacts will help you in the past.” I nod and stand up. "Thank you," I repeat again and turn to leave the room. The last thing I hear is a dark chuckle behind me before I open her eyes and stare at my bedroom ceiling, holding a Time-Turner in my hand.
The rest of the night I lay awake in my bed, contemplating my options. It is a big chance, of course, but I’d have to leave everything behind. It would be hard, to start new again. No friends, no family, no nothing. But maybe a little Harriet could grow up differently in a different future. Maybe even with a loving family. It might not seem particularly altruistic to wish for that, but maybe I can just be a little selfish for once. And I would have the change things for others, too, like Neville. Even Voldemort. If I manage to maybe save his mother or just make sure he grows up differently, then maybe he would become a better person.
I would miss my friends, of course, I would, how could I not, but then I thought of the past few days, where everyone expected me to just get over Sirus’ dead like nothing happened at all. Where more than ever, everyone treated me more as the ‘Chosen One’ than just Harriet. I start thinking about a life where I could be Harriet, just Harriet, where I could make my own decisions and maybe build my own family. A life where I would be allowed to mourn the only father figure I have ever had.
I rub my hands over my face with a smile. It seems like I have already made my decision.
It's not even six in the morning when I decide to get up. It is Saturday and the Dursleys would sleep in today, so I should definitely use that to my advantage and get out of the house quickly. Dressed in simple jeans and a dark green T-Shirt, I sneak down the stairs. I stop at the cupboard under the stairs to free my trunk and my wand. Without a wand, it is hard to open the lock, but my desperation seems to aid my magic as after the tenth try of an “Alohomora” the door opens and I breathe out in relief. I shrink the trunk, this time with a wand, and head for the door. Outside I call for the knight bus.
When I reach the bank and start up the stairs I realise that at this time Diagon Alley is still calm. I nod at the guards and walk to the first manned counter.
“Good morning,” I say.
“Morning.” replies the goblin cashier.
“I would like to speak to the head of the bank, please.”
“On what grounds?” the goblin asks me.
“Erm…Account matters…”
The goblin squints his eyes at me. “Name?" he asks.
“Harriet Potter.”
With a look of disgust and a sigh, the goblin climbs off his counter and walks over to another goblin.
A moment later he calls me, “Follow me, Miss Potter.”
“Yes, sir,” I answer, hopeful to archive something, as I almost miss the goblin raise an eyebrow at me. He leads me through a beautiful marble corridor to a large winged door, adorned with a metal plaque that reads “Director Ragnok, Bank Manager.”
“The director will see you now.” says the goblin, already leaving.
I look after him, a little lost but trying to calm down quickly when I knock on the door.
"Yes," comes a gruff voice from behind the door.
I open it and peer inside. There, in a large and lavish office, sits an elderly goblin at a desk. I enter the room and close the door.
"Hello, uh, Director."
"You are here to discuss account matters, yes?"
"Well, um..." The goblin's eyes flash coldly at my lukewarm reply.
"Excuse me. I'm quite busy. I really don't have time to sit and chat with a girl — especially one who shows up unannounced, doesn't even introduce herself, and then just stands there like a deer in the headlights."
"Oh, sorry. My name is Harriet Potter," I say, hastily correcting my posture. "Sorry to bother you."
"I see," the goblin replies, narrowing his eyes. "Now, what is this matter that you wished to discuss?"
I immediately feel like I had been put on the spot. "Um..." a deep breath "I recently came into possession of a... family heirloom. It may allow me to travel far enough in time to change our current situation with the... Dark Lord. I'm going back so many years, and I need help as I can't just carry my account into the past."
I caught my breath as the goblin stared at me.
"And you are sure, Miss Potter, that this heirloom will take you far enough back in time?"
"Yes indeed."
"I see. Normally we goblins tend to stick to the neutral side of your wars, but I must admit this one is getting out of control."
"I agree."
"Hmmm… there's indeed something that might help.”
"There is?" I ask hopefully. Could it really be that easy?
"Sit down, Miss Potter."
I let out a sigh of relief and hurry to take a seat on one of the chairs next to the desk.
The old goblin meanwhile picks up what looks suspiciously like the mouthpiece of an antique telephone.
"Mr Talbot, yes, get me a notary here with the Black Estate case," he said, hanging up while still staring at me. "It will interest you, Miss Potter, that you were considered his sole heir when your godfather died. As such, you inherit everything from him that is not specifically bequeathed to someone else. When Arcturus Black II, your godfather's grandfather, died in 1991, your godfather, Sirius Black III, was still considered his heir, as contrary to popular belief, he was never officially disowned. As Mister Black was imprisoned at the time, his legacy was managed by his grandfather's cousin, Cassiopeia Black, until 1992, when she died. Mister Sirius Black may never have been able to claim his inheritance, but as his only child in existence, even if it is a godchild, you have a right to it."
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. "Yes," Ragnok calls and a middle-aged man enters with several files in his arms. He stands next to the desk and places the files on it. "The Black Estate Files, Director."
"Yes," Ragnok replies, "Miss Potter, this is Mister McNeir, a notary here at Gringotts. And these are the files for the Black Estate. It's not as much as it used to be. The last few generations have taken care of that, but if you sign here and here," he points out the dotted lines on the papers, "to agree to inherit everything, then you're officially the new owner, and you'll get all the documents to prove it, here and in the past. That should ease your worries about money and identity in the past, as Blacks will surely step in to help someone they assume to be a future member of their family.”
“But I”, I am cut off before I can actually protest.
“Miss Potter, you become the Lady to the Black Estate, and you take the official documents stating so with you to the past, and you will be able to prove to Gringotts and the Black family who you are.” The Goblin explains to me. It made sense.
“Oh, and that will make it easier to get a new identity, too?” she asks, just to make sure.
“Immensely so. The Black family has been very influential in the past, they will be able to claim you as one of theirs, and no one will ask any questions. And they will claim you, no matter that your godfather had been disowned by his mother. First and foremost, his grandfather, Lord Black, has never actually approved of this disownment, and secondly, they wouldn't know about it either way, would they?” The grin he throws at me is scary and full of teeth. Still, I smile back, relieved that everything would work out. The following minutes are spent with me reading the files before me and the notary explaining what I don’t understand. After signing everything that needed signing, I push the files back to the goblin, who packs them up and gives them to the notary to get all necessary documents ready immediately.
They keep discussing various present and past matters until Mister McNeir returns with a thick file in his hands.
“This is everything you will need for Gringotts, Miss Potter,” he tells me. “After that, they should be able to help you with both the Blacks and your new identity.”
“Thank you, Mister McNeir, Director Ragnok. I will see you someday…probably.” With that, they say their goodbyes, and I leave the bank. More time than I thought had already passed. I sigh and look around. Where to go? I think as I start walking. The Leaky Cauldron would probably be best, so I make my way there and book a room. Best to do the actual time-travelling part away from prying eyes.
In my temporary room, I sit on the bed and take some deep breaths in preparation. “This is it, Harry. No turning back now,” I say to myself as I twist the time-turner and feel a tug on my stomach.
