Looking at the pile of gold coins that was higher than he was tall, Harry glanced over his shoulder to where Hagrid was waiting for him as his mind raced with possibilities. Listening to the explanation from the goblin standing outside the vault door his eyes narrowed in thought as he stared once more at the huge pile of gold in front of him. The pile of gold that was the ticket to his freedom from his so called relatives; he had to wonder if they were truly related to him as he caught his reflection in the stacks of silver coins off to one side as he bit into one of the gold coins and smiled as he realized it was gold.
Ignoring the harrumphing coming from the unpleasant goblin, Harry grabbed one of the larger pouches hanging near the door. Scooping the gold coins and dropping them in the pouch he looked at the pouch with interest as the heavy coins did not add any weight to it. Deciding to fill a second pouch with handfuls of the silver and bronze colored coins he secured the two pouches as best he could to his belt and pulled his shirt over them.
Taking his key from the surely and impatient Goblin without a word Harry climbed back into the mine cart lost in plans as they sped to the surface. Standing on the steps of the bank he glanced around the alley after looking at his school list again. “Hagrid? This is a lot of stuff to be caring around. Maybe I should buy something to put it all in before starting.”
Looking down at the young man Hagrid had to wonder what was going through the young lads mind, he had been so subdued after entering his vault. “Over there Harry,” he pointed to a shop off to one side back the way they had come. “Ya can get a nice traveling trunk at the Woodsman’s over there.” Seeing Harry nod he swayed just the slightest bit as he started down the steps, the cart ride was still not sitting to well with him. “If ya don’t mind Harry I’ll meet you there after I get something from the pub to calm my stomach after that ride.” Staring at Harry as he looked up over his shoulder he tried to smile through the roiling of his stomach, “Gringotts carts and me don’t rightly mix if you know what I mean.”
Taking in the pale and slightly greenish face of the man who had brought him away from those people Harry nodded as he pointed to the apothecary two doors down from the shop Hagrid pointed out, “If you need a moment or two I can meet you at the Apothecary if you’re not back…so you don’t have to waste your day taking me shopping.”
“Ah, Harry,” Hagrid frowned slightly before beaming at his young charge. “Not a waste of my time taking ya around Harry. But a good idea just in case.”
Arm across his waist, just to make sure he did not lose either of the two pouches with his money in them, Harry entered the store Hagrid had pointed out and made his way to the back where he spotted the trunks being displayed.
Spotting a dark haired lad walk into his shop Ernest caught sight of the lightning bolt scar on the lads forehead, Harry Potter had rejoined the Wizarding world. “Be right with you lad,” ha called out as he quickly went back to his office and pulled a dusty box from the shelf above his desk. Blowing the light coating of dust off the lid he glanced in to make sure the shrunken trunk and bottled memories were undisturbed before hurrying back to the showroom. “Sorry Mr. Potter for not coming right away, but I had to go to the office and retrieve the trunk your parents sent to me when their contingences plan activated when their will was sealed by the Chief Warlock.”
Blinking several times Harry tilted his head as he looked at the dusty box in the man’s hands, “Excuse me?”
Putting the box on the display table Ernest ran his hands through his hair, “Sorry about that Mr. Potter.” Motioning for the lad to come over he explained, “Right, from your expression and the ill fitting clothes your wearing…Well, I need to explain some things then.” Moving two stools over with a wave of his wand he sat down and motioned for Harry to sit. “I went to school with your mother.” Smiling at the memory he went on after seeing the eager expression on Harry’s face. “She was two years behind me in Hogwarts, though she probably could have graduated early if they let her. Then again she had fallen in love with Hogwarts library, so maybe not.”
“During the war your parents took turns sneaking to my shop after hours so they could create a special trunk that they could use to hide in plain sight.” Ernest opened the lid of the box and pulled the miniature trunk out and set it on the floor in front of Harry and tapped it with his wand cancelling the spell he had used to shrink it. After the trunk returned to full size he pointed to the engraving, “A drop of your blood on the engraving of the fairy on the lock will allow only you to open your trunk. Your father, James made the lock so only those of his blood could open the lock.”
Looking at the trunk, Harry felt the yearning to know about his parents that had been growing as the shop keeper told him about his mother blossom into a furnace of desire.
“All I know for sure about the trunk is that there are three compartments, just like any standard students trunk and one special feature that I built into the trunk.” Ernest watched as Harry nicked his finger on the broken belt buckle holding the too large pants on his thin frame and touch the fairy with his bloody finger. Smiling at the soft click as the lock opened he pointed to the row of compartments along the right side of the top of the trunk. “Your father spelled the trunk to change shape; I believe he said it would turn into a bracelet so it could be kept with you. Once again with the thought of hiding it in plain sight. My contribution is the project was to create what your mother called the dispenser system. Those eight compartments on the right side are spelled to be much larger than they look inside; and to dispense to the outside of the trunk when it is in its bracelet form. If you look closer you can see the first three compartments are engraved with the symbols for the magical Currency Wizarding kind uses.”
Curious Harry pulled the trunk closer so he could easily see the lids on the compartments and opened the first three. Peaking inside he let out a smile as he saw that there was quite a bit of money already in them. Grabbing the bag with the silver and bronze coins he dropped it into the trunk before taking the bag of Galleons and pouring them into the compartment that already had some in it. After the last coin dropped into the compartment it looked the same as before, he thought he would be able to put his whole vault in there, “How much does it hold sir?”
Running his hand through his hair, Ernest shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t think there is a limit on what the money compartments can hold. As long as the items can go through the lid with ease that is.”
“Wicked,” Harry said as he smiled widely.
Pulling the rack of bottled memories out of the box, Ernest slid them across the table, “If you look closely on the edge of the trunk at the spot the latch covers you will see three numbers. The first number is the one that the trunk will automatically open to. If you press on the number two, the section would be perfect to keep your school supplies in. The space is divided into four compartments to place your things in, the back left compartment is set up to hold all your potion making supplies. I have no clue what is in the third part of the trunk as your parents never had me build anything for it.” Shrugging his shoulders he sat back after pointing to the rack of small bottles with his memories in them, “One last thing Mr. Potter. When the trunk appeared on my desk the night your parents were murdered I knew their contingences plan had been enacted, so I spent every moment I could in the Chambers our governing officials hold trials and enact laws in the months that followed your parent’s murders. Those bottles contain copies of my memories of those events.” Seeing the look on Harry’s face, “Your mother asked me to try to get as many memories of the goings on is the worse happened, so I assume in the third compartment is a pensive; a device that will allow you to see the memory play out as if you were there.”
Glancing out of the window as the crowd started to shape up into the normal pre Hogwarts shopping frenzy, Ernest stood up, “We’re about to get a crowd in here as parents bring their young ones to get their Hogwarts supplies.”
Harry pulled his eyes away from the rack of bottles he picked up when the shop keeper told him that for now it would be best to secure the rack in the part of his trunk that would hold his potions supplies because there were special slots to secure bottle racks in.
Hearing his name Harry looked up, “Your father told me the procedure for turning the trunk into a bracelet. You need to place the palm of the hand you want the bracelet to form on over the lock and say ‘Form Up’. Then if you want anything from the dispensing compartments you need to curl your pinkie finger into your palm so it touch the bottom of the bracelet and say clearly what you want dispensed. To return the trunk to its original form you need to say ‘Potter’s hideout’.”
Closing up the trunk Harry placed his left hand over the engraved lock and whispered, “Form up.” He smiled as the trunk shimmered and melted, reforming as an intricate fairy, wings wrapping around his wrist. Turning his hand over he saw that the fairy’s hands reached the bottom of his palm in the perfect position for his fingers to touch it. “I need something that I can put everything I need to buy in without letting the secret of my trunk out to everyone.”
“Follow me Mr. Potter,” Ernest smiled as he took in the delight on Harry’s face as he examined the bracelet. “The work on the trunk of course was paid for by your parents, so you do not owe anything for that.” Placing what looked like an oversize camera bag on the counter he smiled, “This should do for you. This bag is first of its kind; I made it based on the compartment spells I placed in your trunk.” Opening the flap he tilted it so Harry could easily see, “I had a thought that if people did not see you carting around a trunk they would be suspicious. So I designed this bag so to any observer it would think it was a new trunk design that could be carried around easily. If you open one of the compartments and do like so,” Ernest opened the back compartment and pulled it to the opposite corner, thus enlarging it to its full size. “To reset the bag so to speak all you need to do is close the lid,” doing so he opened it once more so Harry could see the nine compartments back to how they originally started.
Looking at the Bag Harry grinned, “That should keep my trunk a secret easily. How much do I owe you sir?”
“These cost slightly more than my standard trunks,” Ernest winced slightly. “Five Galleons instead of three and a half.”
“Sold,” Harry grinned as he pulled the bag over and put the strap over his head. Once he had it secured he followed the instructions and curled his pinkie to his palm and grinned as he spoke the price, “Five galleons sounds reasonable.” Feeling the coins hit his palm he grabbed them before the could fall and placed them on the counter with a huge grin.
“Well done Mr. Potter,” Ernest chuckled. “If you put your hand in your pocket first then no one will be able to tell that you did not have your money there in the first place.”
“Thank you sir for doing this for me,” Harry waved as he left the shop eager to get his shopping over with so he could find out what his parents left him in the third compartment of his trunk.
--
Stopping on the other side of the street from the house he had spent the worst part of his life surviving in, Harry played with the strap of his bag as he weighed the consequences of spending the next month with the people who had done their level best to stamp the magic out of him. Their words not his. Mind flashing back to his visit to the bank and the pile of money in his vault he asked himself if crossing the street was worth it. After a moment he decided it wasn’t, now that he was part of a new world, a hidden world. Turning his back on Number 4 Privet Drive for the last time Harry started back towards the station. If he was lucky he could make it before the last train headed for London.
He was not lucky.
Hand clenching the wrinkled pound notes in his hand as he glared at the ticket attendant who refused to sell him a ticket since he did not have an adult with him. Folding the money back up carefully he turned away from the woman as the train left the station, sliding the money back into the slot he had ever so carefully created between the two pieces of leather of the old belt he had rescued from the trash. Glancing at the train schedule on the wall as he walked past he decided that he would spend the night hidden close by so that he could try again in the morning, this time hopefully he would have better luck with the number of people travelling to London for work.
Doubling back to the station once he was out of sight of the horrid busy body, Harry squeezed his way under the station decking. Wiggling his way towards the back, he settled down in a space big enough to return his trunk to full size. If his parents had planned to use the trunk to hide in plain sight, that probably meant there was a room or something in the third compartment. One he could use to spend the night in so he was safe.
Extending his left hand out Harry whispered, “Potter Hideout.” Grinning when his bracelet shimmered and like liquid running off his arm reformed on the ground in front of him he pulled it over so the middle was in one of the few rare slits of light from the streetlamps. Opening the lock he pushed down on the number three before the lid was fully open. Looking inside he squinted as he saw what looked like a platform with stairs off to one side. Climbing in, he squatted down on the trunk bottom as he let the lid close. Chuckling softly as the walls started to glow when the lid closed he noticed two levers, pushing the one to lock and the other to hide he sat down on the floor and scooted over to the stairwell.
Sliding forward so his legs were hanging over the edge, Harry slid his legs apart as he leaned forward to look down the stairwell. Blinking in surprise as he saw a small room with only enough room for a couple of couches, in fact the three walls he could see each had a couch filling the whole length. Scooting so his legs were on the stairs, he scooted down a step or two before getting to his feet and making his way down the steps.
Looking around he spotted a small door that led to under the stairs. Glancing in it he saw a small bathroom, just enough room for a small shower and toilet. Letting his eyes rest on the painting he had ignored as his mind grappled with the two people in it he let out a small sigh of longing as his brain finally allowed what his eyes were seeing to register. “Mum…Dad…” Harry whispered with longing as he drank in the first image he had could remember of his parents.
Moving back to the far couch so he could keep the image in sight, as if he would take his eyes off of it they would disappear. Finally as he sat down on the couch and removed the strap of his carry all from his neck he looked down at the small table in the center of the room as he placed his carry all on it. Seeing a funny red gem on a chain along with a ring on top of a note he reached out and carefully slid the two items to the side so he could read what was written there.
To our son Harry:
There is so much we need to tell you, so much we will miss out on as you grow up. Your mother and I have put plans on top of plans in place in case our wishes were not followed in the events of both of our deaths.
So many things we found out while in hiding during the war. And with the possibility of everything we wanted for you being ignored by those we should not have trusted we delved into our ancient heritage to find answers. And to make sure our final backup plan would be for naught we linked our very being to the portrait across the room from you. Unlike normal Wizarding portraits, ours will be able to be there for you as we would have been save one exception. We will not be able to hold or touch you, and that is the one thing that will be agony for us. But you are our son and any parent would go through any amount of agony to be there for their child.
We wished to warn you of our portrait before speaking out so you are prepared. So you know by our written word that this is not a dream or fantasy.
But first my son.
There are two pieces of jewelry that we placed on top of this letter. The necklace once it is on can never be removed. And I ask you to put it on as quickly as possible as it has layers of spells and charms on it to ensure your safety and the safety of your mind and soul from one of the most fierce cursed creatures brought into existence. A being called a Dementor, Dementors are a cursed construct no sane wizard would get within miles of. I will explain more of who they were before the ministry cursed them into their present forms later.
The second item is the Head of house ring. This ring should never be removed until it is time to pass it to your eldest son. This ring will protect you in the Wizarding society as it proclaims you are an adult. That is right, once you put that ring on it will give you total control over the Potter family and its vassals. And it is vital to our plan to ensure that with whomever you had been raised will no longer have any say over what you do in the future.
Once you have done as we ask, we can talk.
Your Father, James Potter
Putting the letter down, Harry looked up at the portrait of his parents and was shocked to see them smile at him. They moved…
Quickly putting the chain with the strange red crystal on it over his head he ignored the fact that it shrunk so it would no longer go over his head. Picking up the ring he looked at it before trying to figure out which finger it was supposed to go on. Looking at his father in the portrait he tried to see if he was wearing the ring and which finger it was on. Staring at the portrait of his parents intently he asked, “Which finger is it supposed to go on?”
Hugging her husband in relief, Lily smiled as she motioned towards her son, “It should be worn on your right index finger Harry.”
Slipping the ring on his finger Harry felt his heart skip a beat as he heard for the first time in his memory his mother’s voice. Tears falling silently he took in his parents actually moving in their portrait he jumped up and moved closer to his parents and hesitated with his hand out, not daring to touch the portrait in case it would destroy the magic.
“Oh Harry,” James and Lily whispered, pain evident in their voices.
“How did you know to set this up?” Harry got out as he backed away from the portrait, so he did not give in to the urge to reach out and jump into his parents arms.
“Have a seat son, this is going to take some time to explain everything,” James gestured to the couch as let go of Lily.
“This will take several weeks to explain everything Harry,” Lily told him with a smile. “But we have those weeks to prepare you.”
“During the war with the Dark Wizard Voldemort, we were manipulated into several at the time questionable actions,” James began. “We began to wonder after the third time we were confronted by Voldemort what Albus was doing.”
“We knew we had truly been betrayed by our side of the war when Albus steered us to discovering the Fidelius charm to hide with,” Lily controlled her rage so as to not scare Harry. “This charm hides the secret of a location inside a person’s soul. On the surface this seemed to be a gift from the gods which would allow us to safely hide as it was near time for you to be born. The problem is we were given false information.” Looking down at Harry sitting on the end of the couch she tried to convey how serious her next statement was, “We were led to believe that the secret keeper could not be one of us. We were pushed by Albus to choose someone else, if we had ignored him and chosen either of us we would never have been found.”
“But he did not want that to happen,” James ground out. “A prophecy had been made about us; at least that was what he told us. I’m not sure I believe it, but part of it was leaked to Voldemort and he believed it. According to Albus your birth would foretell the downfall of Voldemort.”
“From what Albus told us you would be marked as his equal,” Lily turned so Harry would not see the rage on her face until she could control herself. “But when you were born you were perfect in every way. Not a single blemish.” Chuckling as she smiled at her son, “though the fact you performed your first magical act a month after your birth told us you were special.”
“And somehow Albus presumed you would be stronger than everyone else,” James frowned. “He must have known more about the Potter heritage than we did at the time.”
“We know for sure that he never suspected my heritage,” Lily frowned in thought. “We spent eighteen months after your birth digging into your father’s heritage, and because I was curious we investigated my heritage and found I was from a magical family that went into hiding almost a thousand years ago. And we forgot who and what we were.”
“There was no way Albus could know your mother was descended from Morgana Le Fay,” James smiled lovingly at his wife.
Harry was shocked and blurted out, “But the stories about the Knights of the Round Table say she was evil!”
Chuckling sadly Lily reminded him, “History is written by the victors. My ancestor was a Druidic High Priestess. She was the loving sister by choice to Merlin who Wizards treat like a god.”
“Wow,” Harry whispered after yawning.
“To answer your question,” James smiled as he drank in the image of his sons fighting to stay awake. “We Knew the Ministry had already tried to wipe out the Potter family back in 1265. And with our doubts about the good intentions of Albus…Well we planned for the eventuality of our wishes not being carried out.” Waving his arm around at the room as he explained, “If you were with your godparents you would have had this trunk back when you turned six. Your mother spelled the trunk to appear in Ernest’s shop if either of your godparents did not take you in within twenty four hours after our deaths. The spell was linked to the crystalline pendant around your neck. Both your godparents knew that they should put the necklace on you the moment they took you in.”
Frowning, Harry picked up the pendant and looked at it.
“Another item lost to the history of time,” James smiled sadly.
“Rediscovered When we found your fathers heritage,” Lily looked at James fondly. “And because of the way these portraits were made we will teach you everything we know and discovered.”
“We can tell you about Soul portraits another day,” James saw Harry yawn again. “There is a blanket or two under the bottom stair. Just lift it up to get to the drawer.”
“Before I forget,” Lily called out as Harry moved towards the steps. “You did push both locks to the closed position didn’t you?”
“Yes,” Harry told her over his shoulder as he pulled one of the blankets out of the ingeniously designed drawer. “I did that first thing before coming down.”
“Good,” Lily sounded relieved. “No one will be able to open or even see the trunk with both those wards activated.”
“Go to bed son,” James told him as he pointed to the corner. “The control for the lights is between the two couches over on the right. We will continue in the morning.”
“Night Mum, Night Dad,” Harry found the lever and pulled it back until it was almost dark. He found his heart raced with glee being able to say goodnight to his parents.
Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons
For thou are crunchy and taste good with Ketchup
