Freedom is fleeting || Prisoner of Azkaban || Ch 2
"I could remove them for you?"
The words hit Harry like a ton of bricks. He did think they could be removed but that's not what got him, he has a choice, a few-and-far-between thing for Harry - having options, but Harry knows the right thing to do is to say yes, even if that ink is screaming at him to go to Dumbledore, drenching him in thick heavy guilt for not going to Dumbledore and ask him about it first.
Why do I feel like this? Then a horrible realization flashes across his face. "Yes, Please." he doesn't want to be right. Merlin fuck- What if he's right?
The goblin makes Harry stand in a salt circle and place his wand in a tray by the door. He stands as still as possible despite his nerves, he's shaking just a bit but the creature doesn't seem to mind nor mentions it. There's a flicker of light and he feels the warmth and the tickle of the goblin's kind, old magic. It doesn't hurt, not a first, it's almost relaxing as if he was sunbathing on a perfectly warm day.
Then, All at once - the ink starts to scream, It starts to sound like Vernon as it yells at the boy to just go and tell Dumbledore. It starts gripping his magic finally revealing to Harry what the goblin had meant, and that's when he feels it, a strong claw of someone else's magic clinging to him and it Hurts. Harry doesn't scream but the tray holding his wand cracks and shatters. The goblin doesn't mind, the salt circle wasn't to keep Harry's magic in after all - but whoever's that placed the block and charms.
Harry thinks he may be crying again but he's biting his tongue and standing placed perfectly where he's meant to, He's shaking more aggressively now and Harry feels like he's about to faint when suddenly it stops, The magic has let go and Harry falls to the floor with a gasp, He's been drowning in this dark magic so much that when it let go took a breath as if he's been holding his breath from the day that he was born and he can finally breathe. Harry comes to some realizations in the next few moments:
one, he no longer feels like he has to tell Dumbledore everything that's happened here in Gringotts, two, that inky feeling he kept feeling has dissipated, no longer holding Harry in a guilty stand off, so the ink and Altitude sickness was the compulsions, and three, for the first time he understood why the difference in people’s blood was such a big deal in the wizarding world. Harry could feel his lineage, his family.
The kindness and new joy for magic of his muggle-born mother, The power and status of his father and it's all a bit much. Harry can only guess what would have happened if this block had been taken off at a later age because he passes out at the feeling of it all.
~
15 minutes later Harry awakes, The goblin is sitting on a small wooden chair looking over him worried and Harry couldn’t tell you why. He feels great, honestly, Harry has never felt better; until he notices The lack of compulsions also leaves a lack to tell Dumbledore anything. You’d think this is good, yay! No inky feeling for Harry! But no. He’s hysterical. This means dumbledore put the compulsion charms on him and Harry has had no free will ever.
The lack of ink is nice though, and he can feel his magic for the first time ever. It's happy to be free and Harry realizes all at once why the wizarding world is so caught up with what kind of blood you have. Harry is a half-blood, he knows this but he can feel his mother’s magic, new and joyful to learn how to just be – it’s peaceful! His father’s magic however is old, old and wise, controlled, and Strong. It knows what it’s doing and how it can help Harry but also makes Harry very aware of his lack of knowledge about his inheritance as he can feel spells his ancestors used but doesn’t understand them, momentarily remembering the spell his used back at the Dursleys.
“I’m glad you’ve awoken Mr potter, I have both good and bad news.” Harry looks up at the goblin and now the worried look makes sense. “Hit me, what’s wrong- uh-“ Ah, Harry forgot during all his politeness to ask for the goblin’s name. “Farlig sir, My name is Farlig." The goblin smiled at him though worry still lingered in his eyes, "The problem isn’t what’s wrong as I couldn’t tell you what it is that is wrong as the dark magic attached to your scar is one I do not recognize Mr Potter, and therefore cannot be rid of it. The good news is that the compulsions and blocks are gone although I suspect you can feel that.” Farlig looks apologetic and Harry is quick to reassure, “Oh no it’s okay! Thank you for all your help Farlig” He smiles at the goblin to push his point but Farlig isn’t impressed.
“No Mr Potter, myself and the curse breakers will try again when our best is back from Egypt. For now, however, would you like to see your heritage and what was being blocked?” Obviously. Harry doesn’t say that but he gives his biggest smile and nods gently, he knows he’s the Heir to Potter House but it would be funny if he was the Heir to anything else.
They head back to the main hall of Gringotts and Farlig sits back at his high desk. With a graceful wave of his wand over some clean parchment, words Harry can’t read are spread over the page. Farlig looks impressed and even surprised at the outcome of his list and slides the parchment over to Harry:
Person: Heir Harry James Potter
Parents: James Fleamont Potter
Lily Marie Evans
God Parent: Sirius Black III
Hair to claim:
- Potter
- Black
- Peverell
- Slytherin
Lily Evans – “In the event James and I are hurt or killed, give Harry to his godfather Sirius Black or (If Sirius is indisposed)
Rjmks Lhndnor Minerva McGonagall. Never should Harry end up in my sister’s care.”
Harry was nearly in tears. There was so much on this small bit of parchment and he didn’t know where to start. He has a godfather, which means more family. He’s the heir of Slytherin, so last school year was just a big ol’ lie. His mother’s footnote. Oh god, it is such a relief that he’d cried so much today because he was so dehydrated that no tears came out but he had to set down the paper to cover his mouth before any dry sobs escaped. She didn’t want him with the Dursleys, that never would have been an option if it wasn't Dumbledore and since his godfather 'Sirius Black' - Where have I seen that name before? , Clearly isn’t around currently, he would’ve been with... McGonagall? Who's name as been scribbled out so harshly?
Farlig seems to see Harrys upset and grabs a small bag with an extension charm inside holding 100 galleons, he pushes the bag over to Harry, “Here, you asked for them earlier. I shall owl you a copy of this if you would like and a date for an appointment about the scar later on.” Harry looks up and feels grateful for the swift-moving on of the sheet in front of them, “Ah before you go, Mr Potter!" Harry looks up at Farlig, "I will also be sending the transactions that have been going through your vault. I have a feeling you will want to see it, if there are any issues we can lock the vault from specific people and create a new key for it, just ask.” Oh?
“Thank you Farlig, I will be going now”
~
Diagon Alley is beautiful. Rustic, and Victorian but beautiful. The buildings tower high and lean just slightly forward, as you walk down the street it feels like you’re slowly being closed in but not so close that the sunlight can’t get through. The streets usually bustling with so many people it’s hard to see anything at all, most people get places on muscle memory alone, so it’s nice that it’s kind of empty on this warm day.
Harry is heading to Madam Malkin’s, he’s sort of floating around his own head trying to get used to his magic and own thoughts when he walks into someone, he’s about to apologise but, “Excuse m- Oh, Potter? Letting you out unsupervised? Seems like a bad idea considering..” He trails off and of course, he knows his dad works for the ministry, why wouldn’t Malfoy know. He sounds deprecating and accusatory though his face changes into something Harry doesn’t understand, “You seem... different scar face. Your magic has changed too.” He raises an eyebrow and looks around behind Harry, clearly looking for something he doesn't find.
“If you were wondering, the ministry can’t track your magic while you are in Diagon Alley. Too many people using magic to tell who cast what.” Harry’s baffled by the tip Malfoy had just given him “What- Oh! Uh thanks.. Malfoy..?” yikes that did not come out right, but Malfoy looks pleased under that poker face mask of his, “See you in Hogwarts Potter.”
~
It's 6 pm. Where did the time go? Harry had left at 12 but Gringotts took a rather long time and then shopping was a bit of a mess. First clothes, He’s never bought an article of clothing in his life and Madam Malkin was determined to make Harry have some kind of style of his own which Harry was nervous but excited to have. When he went to the next clothing shop he realized he should probably go to a muggle shopping centre soon as wizards’ clothes are all so similar. While looking around Diagon Alley he noticed a little stall that sold wand holsters, they went invisible when the wand was inside and Harry knew it would come in handy. The stall was right outside a small alleyway, Harry may no longer be impulsive and reckless but he was still a curious 12-year-old so he put his wand in the holster and wandered down the alley. Nothing was there but a small sign next to a door that read, ‘BookStop | All about the wizarding world’ and Harry has never entered a bookshop so fast in his life.
This bookshop was cosy but not small, Some corners had chairs and small tables, and there were stairs to higher levels and even ladders that spun around the shelves to reach higher up. All furniture and shelves were a beautiful dark wood and Harry decided he loves it when things look expensive but rustic. He wonders through the hall not sure what he’s looking for when something catches his eye. A hardcover book just a bit bigger than A5 but thick with information ‘A guide to living in the wizarding world’, He reads the blurb to make sure it’s the right kind of book, ‘Traditions, greetings, every day of the wizarding world and more’ yup, this is coming with me. He continues looking around and spots a few more like ‘100 spells every Witch/Wizard needs’ and ‘Pureblood heirs and traditions’.
Harry had left that shop with 5 books, a grimoire, and some quills with forever ink in different colours. He’s never been so excited to read but maybe he would’ve been if he had the chance.
~
Walking into the leaky cauldron from the back door was weird but Harry wasn’t complaining, there was a staircase there that he can use to get to his room faster but on his way up, hanging by the wall is a poster, a wanted poster for his godfather, Sirius Black. Really? Harry was exasperated but when has his life ever been normal? He’s curious to know what Sirius wants, and why he was in Azkaban then why he broke of it but for the first time in a long time he isn’t going to run and hope he finds Sirius, someone will tell him soon if he just waits. With that out of sight, out of mind, he continues up the stairs to his room.
He should unpack now he has some new clothes, Oh wait, He grabs the books and places them on his bed grabbing ‘one hundred spells every witch/wizard needs to know’. Flipping through the book, Harry finds the spell he was looking for, he reads it over a few times so he doesn’t mess up – apparently, it takes all your concentration or your stuff will fly everywhere. He puts down the leather-covered book and wishes his wand with his eyes closed as he imagines putting his stuff exactly how he wants it. He opens them again five minutes later and it worked! He’s good with a wand, and concentration is no stranger after living at the Dursleys for so long, when he made it to Hogwarts that had changed but he knows why now.
He remembers what had happened when he tried to read for fun last time so he grabs the ‘basic traditions and manners of the wizarding world’ book from the stack on the window seat, sits himself down on it and opens the book.