The Spell is Broken: Memories Return

The Spell is Broken: Memories Returned

Chapter 5

The Discovery's begin

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"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever had." ~ Margaret Mead

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Diagon Alley, London, England

July 31

8:30 AM

"Then I suppose we head to Gringotts," Remus says thoughtfully. "James' letter sounds that Severus must take Harry there and claim him so that the spells can be lifted. We will see if they can do us as well."

"Fine by me," Sirius nods. "Let's go."

They walk downstairs and out of the house before turning and aparating to Diagon Ally.

Appearing with a pop near the entrance to Diagon Alley, Sirius rushed over to the brick wall and taps the correct sequence of blocks with his wand. He bounces impatiently as he waits for the entrance to open enough to let him through.

"Sirius! Slow down!" Remus chided, as he walked after his mate who was jogging down the middle of Diagon Alley. "You know as well as I that the goblins will not do anything with us until they have finished with Harry and Severus first. They are the priority seeing as it was a last wish straight from a Lord under their keeping, and if I know James he probably secured himself a title like Goblin friend that makes it even more important to help them first."

Sirius spun around and pinned Remus with an incredulous look.

"But!"

"No buts Sirius!" Remus said firmly. "Slow down. We'll get there when we get there. Without knocking people over in the process!"

Sirius stopped moving and waited till his husband caught up and he sulked as they continued walking toward the bank.

"I'm just excited Remy," Sirius whined. "We get to see our cub and figure out the gaps in our memories."

"I know Sirius," Remus sighed and put his arm around his husbands shoulders. "It's early and I doubt, if they are even there yet, that they have gotten things done."

"Yeah," Sirius conceded. "I suppose your right."

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Gringotts Lobby, Diagon Alley

July 31st

8:20 AM

Severus looked thoughtful for a moment before walking in the room with Harry. Together they packed all the things that Harry received in his trunk. Harry pulled on his new coat and placed his wand in an arm holster that had been a Christmas gift from Kingsley. Severus shrunk the trunk and placed it in his pocket and the two walked out of the house without so much of a backward glance.

In the hustle and bustle of the bank a small pop was heard in the seldom used apparition point within the bank. To use said point a magical needed special permission, which Severus had because of his position as one of the world's best Potions Master and ran a side business through Gringotts to sell potions.

When they appeared Harry broke away from Severus and leaned against the nearest wall trying not to puke what was left of his dinner from the night before. Harry hated apparating with a burning passion, having only traveled side-along a handful of times. He hated how it felt like trying to squeeze through a soda straw, how he couldn't breathe or see. It was not a feeling he enjoyed overly much.

Severus was shocked at Harry's reaction to apparating and quickly stepped over to his side as he fished through the expanded pockets of the pants he wore. As a potions master he was always carrying essentials for healing as it was required to have medical training to complete the mastery. Finding the anti-nausea potion he quickly uncorked it and coaxed his son to drink it.

Harry felt the potion taking effect and slowly stood from the wall and regained his balance to see Severus looking at him with a bit of worry in his eyes. He gave a small smile to the usually stoic man.

"Sorry about that," Harry blushed. "I can count on one hand how many times I have apparated in my life. I didn't think it would bother this time because it didn't make me sick last time. It must have been the inheritance."

"Do not worry about it," Severus said softly. "It took me several months of almost daily apparition to not get dizzy and nauseas every time. Let's go see the Goblins."

The two turned and made their way towards the nearest teller, which was a younger Goblin who barley looked like an adult. When they approached the teller the young Goblin glanced up at them and said in a higher pitched voice than others;

"Yes?"

Severus stepped forward and gave a small bow before speaking.

"Young Goblin teller we wish to speak with Junior Manager Bloodclaw concerning the letters we received from his office," the young teller looked more closely at the two magicals before him.

"Letters?" his voice squeaked holding out his hand for said letters. Severus fished his out of his pocket and Harry summoned his from his trunk. The goblin took the letters and looked them over before ringing a small bell that was hidden from view. A moment later an older Goblin came from a hall from behind the row of tellers. The letters were handed to the new goblin and Severus and Harry were motioned to follow the older Goblin.

Severus and Harry started down the hall after the older Goblin. The hall was darker than the lobby, they were made of old limestone and lite only with fire torches. There were many different doors spread along the hallway. Each door had name plates stationed right between eye level for goblins and humans. As they continued down the hall the floor began to slop slightly downward. After a good ten minutes of walking the Goblin came to a stop outside a rather plain looking door with a silver name plate the was marked BLOODCLAW. The globin gave three sharp knocks on the wood. A moment later something in gobbledygook was shouted through the door. The other responded on kind before he turned to the two magicals;

"You may go in."

Severus gave a bow that was slightly deeper than that to the teller but still wasn't very deep. Harry this time was able to copy the action.

"Thank you master goblin, may your enemies ever fall before you," Severus said strongly. Harry just looked confused. Severus turned to open the door and saw the confused look. "I'll give you a book on Goblin traditions later for you to read."

Harry thanked him as he followed him into the room. Severus bowed to the Goblin behind the desk, again slightly deeper than the last bow, Harry copying once more. The Goblin behind the desk was just over the middle age range, he had slightly wrinkled skin, it was littered with small scars and his hair was almost purely grey. The office walls were made of what looked like a blue marble, hanging on the wall were various, dangerous looking weapons, as well as several hides and kills. The Goblin looked up from his paperwork when he heard his door close and saw the two men bow. He stood and returned the bow knowing who they were.

"Welcome," the goblin started in his deeper raspy voice. "Lord Prince, Heir Potter-Prince, my name is Bloodclaw and I am the goblin that Lord Potter worked with directly."

"Greetings Master Bloodclaw," Severus started. "If you worked with James, then you know why we are here."

"Yes," Bloodclaw nodded, he returned to his chair and motioned for Severus and Harry to sit. The two sat in the chairs directly in front of the desk, they were made from a dark cherry wood with blood red cushions. "I do not know all the contents of the time delayed letters, it was not my business, but I do know that he was revealing to the two of you what has been forcibly hidden away."

Severus looked over at Harry who looked at him hopefully. Harry wanted him to ask for a blood test to confirm that they are father and son. He gave a slight nod of agreement.

"Master Bloodclaw, before we continue with what James asked for, I would like a blood test to confirm that we aren't all just victims of an elaborate prank set up by one James Potter," Severus sneered, showing that he was still the old dungeon bat of Hogwarts. In truth, he was just scared that he might have had almost 18 years stolen form him that his memory gaps were from something other than spending to long under the cruciatus.

The goblin took a minute to really look at the man before him, then nodded slowly.

"I can understand the need, Lord Potter certainly has a reputation as a prankster," Bloodclaw reached into a drawer and pulled a large scroll then a blank piece of parchment and a silver knife. "Heir Potter-Prince will have to drop three drops of blood onto the parchment. The way this works, it will only show parents and grandparents. This scroll is a partial family tree, it shows this generation and all the way back 500 years, upon Heir Potter-Prince's birth both family trees combined into one scroll. As far as I am aware the full family trees at manor's combine as well. I do not have access to the full family tree, only you have access to that at the Prince and Potter properties. We will use both as proof of blood relations, start with the blood test."

Harry nodded, he stood and walked over to the desk. Picking up the silver blade he quickly sliced that pad of his thumb and counted three drops on the parchment. The blood turned black and began to turn into six names with blood status and/or creature status.

Tobias A. Snape Eileen Snape nee Prince Maruis Potter Beatrix Potter nee Fawley

(Pureblood- Squib) (Pureblood) (Pureblood) (Pureblood)

(Dark-Elf- Dormant) (Dark-Elf- Dormant) (High-Elf-Dominate) (High-Elf- submissive)

Severus Snape Potter-Prince James Prince-Potter

(Pureblood) (Pureblood)

(Dark-Elf-Dominate- BLOCKED) (High-Elf- Submissive- PARTIAL BLOCK)

Harald Severus James Potter-Prince

(Pureblood)

(High Elf- Submissive)

Harry and Severus stared at the names on the paper.

"I'm a Pureblood?" The two asked together, then glanced at each other in surprise.

"So he was telling the truth," Severus muttered as he returned his gaze to the sheet and picked it up from the desk. Turning to look at Harry he pulled him into a hug surprising the young elf. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. If I had known."

"It's okay," Harry said softly as he hugged the man back tightly. "It's okay. You didn't know. You were, and still are, under the effects of spells. You don't have to apologize to me. It's what you knew to be true."

Bloodclaw still sat behind his desk cleared his throat and growled out; "As touching as this is, we should move on since you believe that blood test."

Severus and Harry, the later blushing, split from the hug and looked back to the goblin.

"I do believe that we should do the healing step next," Severus said. "If that is alright with you Master Bloodclaw."

"Yes," the goblin nodded. "That would be best, follow me. We must go to the healers level if we want this done."

Bloodclaw stood from his chair and motioned for the two men to follow him. He lead them out of his office and even further into the bank. As they walked Harry could feel the temperature of the air dropping, signifying just how deep they were. After another five minutes of walking Bloodclaw took a sharp right turn into a corridor that neither men had seen. At the end of this corridor was a large set of iron doors. They were encrusted with jewels and carved in the front was a Caduceus, Hermes Staff and symbol for healing. They opened without a touch when the goblin spoke a password.

Upon entry to the level Severus and Harry looked around, there many goblins walking around all dressed in white robes with the Caduceus on the right breast pocket. There were many different colored ones. Severus leaned over to whisper in his son's ear;

"The different colors represent different ranks of healers, the red with gold out lines are the highest ranks. They are the lead healers, normally there are only two or three on duty at a time. The lowest rank is a plain black Caduceus, they are apprentices, and their numbers always vary."

"Very good Lord Prince," Bloodclaw said surprised. "I hadn't realized you read that much in our culture."

"I respect your people Master Goblin," Severus replied smoothly. "My potions business is run through the Goblin Nation. At first it was simply I had no wish to offend you but as I began to read I found myself interested in a more personal manor. It fascinating so I learned as much as I could."

"You are one of the very few who have taken that initiative," Bloodclaw stated. He stopped walking outside a large office door. He knocked and said something in gobbledygook which was returned. Opening the door he showed them in first before following and closing the door. Severus gave a bow to the healer and his assistant as Harry followed his lead once more.

"This is healer Sharpfang and his assistant Dragonfire," Bloodclaw introduced the pair. Harry took a moment to look around the new area. He noticed that there were two guards stationed at the door, both covered head to toe and completely identical. The ceiling was low and bare, the walls were covered in medical models of different species. The floor was covered in a dark blue carpet that looked almost like stone, Harry almost thought it was at first but when he stepped on it there was a give suggesting carpet. The two Goblins were wearing the standard uniform he had seen earlier and saw that Sharpfang was a lead healer. Bloodclaw turned to the two Goblins and said; "We need a full medical work up on Lord Prince and his son Heir Potter-Prince."

"I see," Sharpfang responded and looked the two over. "Well don't just stand there come inside and sit down. This won't take too long."

Severus and Harry made their way into the room and took a seat in the small meeting area while Sharpfang went to one of the shelves and pulled another silver knife and parchment down. He turned and made his way over to the two wizards and sat before them and placed the items in the center if the table between them.

"It is quite simple," Sharpfang began. "Lord Prince must go first as he is the elder, you must cut your hand and allow seven drops of blood to flow onto the parchment. As the blood is absorbed the magic within the page will analyze everything that has been done to you."

Severus nodded slowly to what the healer said and carefully took the knife in his dominate hand. Taking a deep breath he closed his left hand around the blade and squeezed instead of dragging the blade across. Releasing the breath and opening his hand the there was a line of crimson blood where the knife had pierced his skin. Severus held his hand over the parchment and turned it allowing the blood to be slowly dripped down from the hand to the parchment and disappear. Harry looked at the paper with something akin to fascination having seen something similar in the diary in his second year, yet the magiks around them felt completely different. This felt neutral, neither light nor dark, it was there to be used nothing more nothing less. The diary had been something else entirely, it was dark magic, malicious, but tainted with something else. Harry was snapped out of his thoughts as writing began to scrawl across the page. Bloodclaw reached out and snatched the parchment up and handed it to the goblin healer.

Severus and Harry shared a look as Severus held his hand out to the assistant goblin to heal. There was an intense conversation in Gobledigook between the goblins in the room. After a moment when Bloodclaw ordered one of the guards to leave for something he turned back to the two.

"It appears as though what you said is only the tip of the ice," Bloodclaw growled. "We are going to need to a lot of careful planning to get rid of everything that has been done to you and the rest of the world. This must be taken to the Emperor, as it was you that has brought this to our attention we would like you to accompany us to his palace many layers below here. We can begin to remove all things from you two as well go through all your account dealings. Please follow me, we must hurry."

With that he turned and swept from the room at a surprisingly fast pace. Harry and Severus turned to each other in shock and they both said in shock;

"The Emperor?!"

Shaking themselves from their shock they hurried after Bloodclaw along with the guards, Sharpfang and Dragonfire. They walked back through the healing halls and back towards the surface for a few moments before coming to what was a really large elevator. Bloodclaw waited though before pushing the button to call it and turned to them.

"We must wait only a moment, we are waiting for the rest of our group."

He looked around Severus to something back up the corridor. Severus and Harry turned to see who he was looking at. Harry was shocked for a moment to see his godparents before letting out a cry of happiness and running towards them.

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Remus and Sirius made their way to an empty teller inside the bank but before they could say anything a Goblin came from a side room.

"Lord Lupin-Black? Consort Lupin-Black?"

The two turned surprised.

"Yes?" Sirius questioned.

"It is good that you are already here, it saves me from summoning you. You need to follow me," the Goblin turned and lead them down the hall, the two exchanged shrugs and followed the small creature. They walked for what seemed like an hour, but was only about 20 minutes, when they came upon what was an extravagant elevator. There was a group of five goblins and two humans. As they got closer and the younger human turned at cried out at the sight of them;

"Sirius! Remus!" and he started towards them. It took a moment for Sirius to see just who was running toward them. It was the eyes that gave him away.

"Cub!" Sirius shouted with a smile, Remus smiling with him once he caught the scent drifting toward them.

Harry reached the two men and was immediately pulled into a hug between them.

"What are you doing down here?" Harry asked looking up at his godfathers.

"We were coming to see if we could meet you after your meeting here and see if we could see if there was any truth to a letter from James," Remus said as they let go of the young elf.

"We walked up to a teller but before we could even ask for help and this young goblin came and asked us to follow him," Sirius continued. Bloodclaw took that opportunity to say something.

"Yes, when the results of the healers test was confirmed we decided to send for the people Lord Potter requested. It was the will of Mother Magic that allowed the two of them to already be within the bank."

"So, where are we going?" Sirius asked as the elevator doors opened. Severus stepped forward to answer.

"Well Black," he sighed. "We are going to see the Goblin Emperor."

"What!?"

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One very long elevator ride later where Harry, Severus, Remus and Sirius exchanged what had happened over the last 24 hours (minus Harry's Dream, they didn't need to know Draco was his mate yet). Sirius and Remus were shocked to learn what Dumbledore was said to have done was the truth.

As everyone exited the elevator the wizards took a moment to look around. They were very deep under the surface of the earth. Everywhere they looked they could see other elevators coming down from the surface at what looked like other Gringotts locations across Europe. Different jewels glinted around the walls from where mining took place. Lava was visible through cracks and as rivers throughout the underground cavern. What appeared to a large kingdom was spread out all around them. There were buildings of all different styles, materials and sizes. Right in the center or what looked to be the center was a large palace made of the same marble that the bank was famous for.

The four stood staring at the sight around them in shock when there was a throat cleared and they looked over to see a young female goblin standing before the group. Having never seen a female goblin Harry was in shock, he didn't know what he was expecting, but that was not it. Female goblins are very unlike their male counterparts. They look almost like what Santa's elves were legend to look like but taller. She was almost a foot taller than the rest of her species putting her just at Harry's shoulder. When the other Goblins caught sight of her they dropped into kneels, the men catching on did the same.

"So you are the ones that Lord Potter talked of in his visit," She laughed lightly. "I remember it, though I was a child at the time. He spoke with my father for what seemed like hours and he had me sat in his lap as they discussed things I was too young to understand."

"You knew him?" Harry looked up in hope then blushed and looked down again. He heard a light laugh of the young woman.

"You all can stand," she smiled. "I hate when I get bowed to by those I wish to become friends with. To answer your question young elf, yes I did, though not well. He only managed one trip here before that Halloween night. My name is Springwind, I am the princess here. My father is the Emperor."

"You're Highness," Severus said, with the deep wasted bow the others once again followed his lead. "My name is Severus Potter-Prince, Lord of the Ancient and Honored House of Prince."

"My name is Sirius Lupin-Black, Lord of Ancient and Noble House of Black," Sirius said in his bow.

"I am Remus Lupin-Black, Consort of Lord Black," Remus said with a smile at his mate. Harry paused, never having introduced himself this way but gave it a shot when Severus shot him a small smile.

"And I am Harald Potter-Prince, Heir to the Ancient and Honored House of Prince and Ancient and Noble House of Potter."

"It is a pleasure to meet some of the people Lord Potter spoke of with fondness and love," Springwind said. "Why don't all of you follow me, my father is waiting to discuss this."

With that she turned and began walking towards the large castle that seemed to loom over them. Springwind took it upon herself to talk about her home.

"This is the largest Goblin settlement in the world, it encompasses all major and minor Gringotts branches in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Germany. The rest of the countries all have their own settlements deep under the crust but are not as large as this one. We are the main settlement as this is where the Emperor lives. Each of the other nations has a member of our family as an over seer but still fall under Father's rule. I am the oldest of six children meaning I will take the title of Empress when the time comes. My father is the oldest of three but is fairly young for the title of Emperor as he inherited the throne when his father was killed during a battle against a rogue sect of vampires. My uncle is stationed in the Russian kingdom and my Aunt is stationed as the head of the Chinese kingdom."

As she talked the group walked through the city and drew closer to the castle. There goblins everywhere, it looked like a real medieval kingdom. Children of all ages where playing in the streets, women were out shopping and men were working.

"The Goblins that are stationed within the banks are chosen in a very careful manor. Many are former warriors who have been stationed as a guards or tellers. They work their way through the ranks to become Vault Managers. Much like humans our people chose the profession they wish to be a part of when they finish their schooling, though all Goblins learn how to handle finances so if there was ever a reason they needed to work in the bank. We have many options, your people would call it medieval, but it's the way it has always been and will stay for a long time more."

The four soaked up everything she was saying in fascination. She turned around and looked at them and smiled at their awe struck faces.

"Young Elf?" She caught Harry's attention.

"Your Highness?" Harry questioned.

"Come walk beside me," Springwind said as she looked back. "I wish to walk beside someone and not in front of everyone."

Harry looked overwhelmed at the thought but complied right away. Now they were passing through the gates of the castle. Guards were stationed everywhere and they all bowed to their princess and her party. As they reached the stairs to lead into the castle Harry automatically offered his arm to the Princess. She easily accepted it with a smile and led them up. The doors were opened by the guards.

Stepping inside and looking around was almost like stepping back into the bank lobby. It was almost identical, the only thing that was different was that there were no teller desks and instead of the head teller at the end of the hall there sat a large throne. This throne, compared to everything else in the hall, was simple. It was simply an oak wood high-backed chair with intricate patterns of gold paint. Siting in the throne was, obviously, the Emperor. He was just as tall as his daughter. It was a trait that is passed only to those of the royal line, many generations ago there was a Veela that mated in giving them fae like looks and more height. When we entered into the throne room he stood and opened his arms wide.

"Welcome friends of the Goblin Nation! I am Emperor Silverblade."

Everyone that came from the bank kneeled while the princess curtsied and then made her way to stand at her father's side.

"Stand friends, and introduce yourselves," Silverblade said with a smile. "I know of you but I do but I cannot put a name with a face."

The four stood with the rest before they repeated their introductions they gave earlier.

"You're Highness," Severus said, with the deep wasted bow the others once again followed his lead. "My name is Severus Potter-Prince, Lord of the Ancient and Honored House of Prince."

"My name is Sirius Lupin-Black, Lord of Ancient and Noble House of Black," Sirius said in his bow.

"I am Remus Lupin-Black, Consort of Lord Black," Remus said.

"And I am Harald Potter-Prince, Heir to the Ancient and Honored House of Prince and Ancient and Noble House of Potter," Harry said with a smile.

"Yes, I can see your resemblance to him, but I can also see the Prince features in you as well," Silverblade said as he looked at Harry for a moment before turning to the goblins that came with them. "Bloodclaw, what have you found?"

"I do believe it would be best if you read it for yourself your majesty," Bloodclaw stated as he pulled the list made from Severus blood from a pouch on his hip. Silverblade took the parchment and began to read. The more and more he read the more and more upset he seemed to become. Finally he looked up and his eyes were filled with anger.

"This is even worse than James said all those years ago," his voice rumbled lowly. "Before we do or discuss anything else this all needs to be corrected. Healers, we are going to do all three at once. Go prepare the ritual room and call anyone else you need. You only get one chance at this but it needs to be done soon before Dumbledore realizes they are gone and activates the loyalty spell causing them to lose everything that has happened in the last 24 hours."

The healers bowed with a sharp 'yes you majesty' before leaving to gather what they need. The Emperor stood and made his way to the men standing before him.

"Gentlemen, this needs to happen now," Silverblade began. "You will all be taken to our ritual room where our healers will remove the blocks, spells, enchantments and potions all placed upon you. We do not need to test you Lord Black or Consort Black because it is a powerful clearing ritual, it's harmless if there is nothing to remove but completely affective on even the darkest magic. When everything is set up the ritual should take about two hours."

"This can be done right here right now?" Sirius asked in shock.

"Yes," he nodded, "I can look after the young elf, but this needs to happen now."

"Alright," Remus said glancing at his two companions who nodded at him. "We'll do it now."

Just as he said this the healers returned and escorted them from the throne room leaving Harry alone with the emperor and his daughter. Well, and the guards, Bloodclaw having gone with the healers. Harry looked at the two Royals as they made their way over to him.

"Want to go for a walk?" Springwind asked with a sweet smile, all Harry could do was smile and offer his arm once more. The two left the throne room heading towards the courtyard. What neither of them knew was that they just created a friendship that will be the start of the change.