A Time for Change
Last Chapter:
"What can I do to repay you?" Draco whispered in ill-disguised unease.
"You don't need to repay me for anything." Harry whispered back, unsure on what prompted them both to feel like their conversation needed to be whispered.
Draco studied Harry again for a few minutes then offered his hand.
Harry smiled then took his hand. "Friends?" He questioned with more power behind his voice.
"Friends." Draco responded.
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The next two months passed in a blur of funerals and, surprisingly, weddings. The only grounding constant in Harry's life was the budding friendship between him and Draco Malfoy. Draco had taken it upon himself to educate Harry in what he saw was lacking. This included a thorough education in manners and Pureblood society history and rules. Harry would have never imagined there was so many rules for something as simple as having tea. But all the constant lessons guided by Draco, and surprisingly enough his parents, and the books Draco had fostered on Harry; had kept Harry from getting lost in his grief.
It took Harry until a few days past to even notice how Ron and Hermione had begun to pull away to start their own life together. At first it stung to think they might not want him in their life anymore, but after a rather insightful conversation with George, Harry came to realize they were simply growing up. And, unfortunately, sometimes when you grow up you grow apart from childhood friends. George had been another surprisingly grounding constant. The once wild child had calmed with the loss of his twin and was able to show his true intelligence that had been hidden so long behind his mischievous ways.
George had even gone so far as to help Harry recreate himself to lessen how easily recognizable he was. Albeit all they really had to do was cure Harry's eyesight and grown his hair longer (both via potions). With his ethereal green eyes no longer hidden by his bulky frames they seemed to almost glow in most lights. His high cheekbones also stood out more now, giving him an almost elvish look. Gone was his hair's wildness; though with it grown to almost mid-back it did seem to curl more. Harry was told quite often he looked more like his mother now.
It was actually an offhanded comment from George about Gringotts bank that led Harry and his lawyer and friend Blaise Zabini -Draco had smirked in glee when he had introduced the two and they had hit it off well- to where they currently stood on the steps of Gringotts bank... surrounded by armed goblins. Harry stared wide eyed at the goblins while Blaise tried hard not to laugh at poor naive Harry Potter.
Blaise smirked at Harry then turned his full attention on the goblins. "Greeting great warriors of the Goblin tribe." Blaise announced, "I have brought this thief to face your great leader Ragnok. Either for punishment or retribution.
Harry squeaked at the word punishment coupled with the vicious grins that filled the goblins' faces. What had he gotten himself into?! Harry stared at Blaise with panic filled eyes until Blaise locked eyes with him. In that brief moment Harry remembered all the coaching Blaise, Draco, and George had forced him through for this moment. He could trust Blaise, he knew his friend was in full control of the situation. Harry quickly schooled his features into an almost ethereal smile. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see the goblins looked quite disconcerted by the dramatic change. Even Blaise looked slightly startled.
The goblins quickly led Blaise and Harry into the bank, through the atrium, and down through twisting hallways and staircases. They appeared to want to hurry and be rid of the still smiling Harry. Harry couldn't help but be amused by this. Who would have thought all it took was a smile to unnerve goblins, Harry thought. If only Harry realized just how unworldly he looked when he smiled now that his glasses were gone and his eyes seemed to glow against the torch light.
They soon arrived at large double doors with ornate inlays of gold and gems. One goblin stepped forward and hissed, "Ragnok is waiting. May his battle ax serve justice." The goblin then threw open the doors and herded Harry and Blaise inside. The doors slammed shut behind them.
"Ah, Mr. Potter! I believe your visit is long overdue." A creaky voice echoed ominously through the room.
Both Blaise and Harry turned to stare at where the voice had echoed from. There, behind a behemoth of a desk, sat the oldest and most diminutive goblin either wizard had ever seen. Albeit he was holding aloft a humorously over-sized battle ax, well maybe not humorous to his enemies. Both wizard fleetingly thought on how awing it was a goblin so small and old could hold the large weapon with such ease. The goblin made a beckoning motion with his unoccupied hand and grinned ferally at the two boys, for compared to his age they were just that.
When Harry realized Blaise was not going to make any movement forward, he grasped Blaise's arm and walk forward to the goblin's desk, making sure to stop out of range of the battle ax. Ragnok grinned again this time without showing his teeth. Harry could see Blaise visibly relax. Ragnok gently set down his battle ax with the blade still facing Blaise and Harry. To any normal witch or wizard these simple nuances would mean nothing, but to Harry and Blaise, they showed that Ragnok was not eager to punish Harry but more interested in retribution he might offer. It showed just how badly the goblin nation must have been affected by the war.
"Sit." The ancient goblin commanded and with a wave of his hand two chairs were summoned. "We have much to discuss but first a blood test to confirm you truly are Harry Potter and not one sent to take any punishment we wish to give him."
"Of course honorable Lord Ragnok." Blaise said as he seated himself. Harry quickly followed suit.
With another wave of his hand, Ragnok summoned a blood quill and a black scroll. "Simply sign your full name on the top of the scroll Mr. Potter." Ragnok said as he handed the quill and scroll to Harry; but before he could take the scroll Blaise snatched it.
"If you don't mind Lord Ragnok, I would like to examine the scroll prior to Lord Potter signing it." Blaise said calmly. Lord Ragnok nodded his head. Blaise whipped out his wand and whispered a slew of detection charms. A frown quickly filled his countenance. "This is a heredity scroll Lord Ragnok, not a simple identity scroll. Perhaps you summoned the wrong scroll."
Ragnok grinned toothlessly and stated. "No Mr. Zabini. I summoned this one on purpose. After all, it has come to our attention that Mr. Potter may have inherited some vaults by conquest."
Harry let out a soft "Oh," then took the scroll and signed his name at the top. The scroll quickly filled with red writing. Though before Harry could read even a single line Ragnok snatched it out of his hands.
Ragnok's grin would no doubt haunt both wizards for some time. Especially the way his beady eyes lit with glee. Ragnok took the next few moments to peruse the scroll. Minute by minute Ragnko's glee seemed to only increase. With a wave of his hand Ragnok summoned numerous books. He took time comparing what he read on the scroll to the books. He even summoned a goblin and spoke in gobbledygook for a few moments before the other goblin left. He turn to both wizards with a feral grin.
"Mr. Potter, did you know you are legally the King of Wizarding England?" Ragnok said in an obvious falsely sweet tone.
"WHAT?!" Both wizards shouted in shock.
TBC...