Next day –Gringotts bank hospital wing
Harry slowly opened his foggy eyes, wondering where he was before immediately shutting them in response to the bright lights. He was half tempted to just lie there, and try to get back to sleep. But he was curious of where he was exactly, and if everything had just been a cruel dream.
However he knew that wasn't true; he could feel it in his core! Plus, he could sense both rings on his fingers. He opened his eyes carefully, this time raising his hands to help block out the light, allowing his eyes to adjust, so he wasn't immediately blinded again.
Looking at his hands, he could clearly see the two rings, the Peverell household ring resting calmly on his index finger, whilst on his other hand rested the Potter household ring, his ancestral family. Finally having the feeling that he wouldn't be blinded any longer by the light, he allowed his hands to drop to his side, before quickly looking around the room trying to locate his glasses.
After a while he successfully located them of the bedside table. Now he was finally able to see clearly, and no longer suffering from foggy vision. He carefully started examining the room, getting the impression he was in a hospital of sorts, based on the rooms' layout and the clean white sheets.
Thinking over how he got here, before remember what happened upon placing the Peverell household ring on his hand and the ensuing pain. However his analysis of the events was cut short, by a feminine voice.
"Good to see you awake Mr. Potter, I am Madam Healer Ayra. I am responsible for your care." The nurse like figure said as an introduction, prior to moving to his side.
He gave himself a mental pat on the back, somewhat proud that his own analysis had proven to be correct. "Nice to meet you Madam, what happened?" he asked with interest, wondering how he ended up in the hospital.
"When you placed the ring on your hand, it removed the magical restrains on your magic. This allowed you to fully access your magical core and energy," she explained, gesturing to the ring on his right hand, before starting to move her wand elegantly. Causing him to just nod, accepting the explanation from the healer.
After finishing whatever she was doing with her wand, she added. "Most of time, these restrains would be removed by your parents, prior to starting school. Or by your school healer across your first year, allowing you to slowly gain access to your power, rather than suddenly being overwhelmed by it, like you were."
"What do you mean by restraints on my magical core," he probed, wondering why his parents would put magical restraints on him, as well as out of personal interest.
"Well our magical cores when we are born are unstable and as we grow, our magical core grows with us. During childhood, a magical child can have outbursts of magic, caused by stress or powerful emotions.
The restraints were created with the purpose of stopping you from harming yourself by using your magic accidently. These would be removed once you were old enough to control it, without harming yourself. This is also why such restraints would be removed prior to starting school." Ayra explained seriously, whilst sitting on the bedside sit next to him.
"Ok, thank you," he said, thinking over the explanation.
"You're welcome Mr. Potter. However these magical restrains can do permanent damage, and can affect your emotions, and ultimately costing you your life if left on into adulthood," She explained.
"Thank you Madam."
"However I must ask you about your current living conditions due to the fact you are under weight, and have extensive internal and external scarring," the healer stated in no-nonsense tone, causing him to snap out of his thoughts.
Suddenly feeling nervous at Ayra's line of questioning, as well truthfully not knowing how to respond to the question, should he lie about his relatives? Or tell the truth? After all no one had believed him before.
Deciding to tell truth, "Hmm... Madam, I have to ask this to stays between us, I'd rather my life stayed private," he said.
"Mr. Potter, as a healer and an employee of Gringotts Bank, everything you say will stay confidential," the witch said sternly, with an air of professionalism about her.
"Ok, thank you." He said slowly, before looking across the room, not wanting to make eye contact with the women, before saying quietly.
"I won't bore you with my life story Madam. But I was placed with my non-magical relatives, after my parent's deaths in the closing days of the last war." He said, recalling what his account manager had said during their first meeting. "My relatives were far from being an upstanding family, I was often beaten, by my uncle," he said, pausing unsure what he should say.
Sighing, feeling a bit overwhelmed at finally being able to talk about it to someone without fear. "I was treated more like a slave, than a child," he said carefully, waiting for the healer to say something.
She had seen many things since she had trained to be healer after leaving Hogwarts; she had seen the horrors of the last war first hand. However hearing of the abuse and seeing the scars first hand, was truly horrifying, especially that a family could do that to a child.
Suppressing her rising anger at the situation, as she battled to maintain her professional bearing, she carefully started to weigh her options. It was obvious the young man wanted to keep it private, and didn't want any pity.
"I understand," she said, deciding that she would have to discreetly report it to his account manager at least, before saying, "I will make a note of it, as well take some evidence. Then I'll have a copy placed in your vault, encase you ever desire to press charges against them.
I can also provide you with a list of potions to help treat your injuries, and help undo the damage done." She said, before silently summoning her note pad, quill, and ink well, writing a list of potions and handing it back to Harry.
Harry bowed his head to her, before saying gratefully, "Thank you Madam," causing her heart to light up that she had been able to at least help the young boy.
"You're welcome. Also, your Hogwarts letter is on the desk, it arrived this morning," she said gesturing to bedside table, whilst remembering the excitement she felt when hers arrived.
Reaching over and taking his letter off the desk, before carefully opening it, feeling excited about getting his first letter ever. Reading it quickly, there was the traditional introduction letter, and then a book list. After giving it a quick read, he looked back at Ayra, to see she had been observing him with interest. "Madam may I borrow a quill so that I can sign the acceptance letter?" he said.
"Here," she said, handing him quill and the link, letting him sign the acceptance letter, which disappeared after he had signed it.
"When you are ready, your account manager Bloodmoon wants to see you." Ayra said to him, before gesturing towards the double doors. "The guard by the door will escort you to his office and your clothes are in the bedside table," before turning around leaving him with his thoughts.
...
Afternoon - shopping
Finally leaving the bank, and getting his first look at the magical world, he couldn't help but feel excited. Feeling the heavy coin bag in his pocket, as he strolled down the high street, wondering what he would find and buy.
Taking one final look at the bank, causing him to think about his account manager and everything he had done for him. Earlier that day, Bloodmoon had shown him his vaults; in the Peverell vault he found a magical trunk that contained a small library of key texts books. That had been gathered by his mother to help him, as well several letters from his parents, which he planned to open soon as he was alone.
Bloodmoon had also managed to set up a Gringotts card. The card itself was black with gold Dragon on it, with Gringotts Bank printed beneath it. It also was meant to work in the non-magical world, a bit like a credit or debit card would.
He really was thankful for Bloodmoon's efforts, the goblin had also managed to set him up with a special portkey to transport him, to and from a small apartment which would be his temporary residence until he started Hogwarts.
Of course there had been the small fee charged by the goblins, but from what Bloodmoon had explained during their meeting the fee was minimal compared to their normal charges for such services. Not that he minded really, since he wouldn't have been able to do it himself.
Quickly consulting the shopping list, he concluded it would be best to go to the trunk store first. Since he would need a new trunk for Hogwarts, plus he could use it as storage space whilst he did the rest of his shopping. After all, all the trunks in his vaults were currently being used, and he didn't fancy using a second hand one anyways, especially now he could buy his own brand new one.
Walking along the alley, he couldn't help but be amazed by the sights and sounds, before seeing a shop advertising 'Trunks'.
Entering the dusty store, he noticed the shop owner sitting at desk at the far end of the room, reading a newspaper of sorts called the Prophet. Walking over to the desk, he rang the bell on the counter, immediately getting the man's attention.
"Can I help you?" the man questioned, looking at him up and down.
"Yes, I was wondering if I could get a trunk for Hogwarts," He responded looking around the store with interest.
"Of course, what type of trunk would you like? A basic model?" he asked after looking at him again, making it clear he thought that Harry would have money issues based on his clothing, which was several sizes too big.
"One of the more advanced models pleases. It needs to have at least 4 compartments, one for clothing, another one for books, one for random items, and a final compartment for storing any potions and ingredients." He instructed, however the man seemed to continue heading over to the right side of the store, almost totally ignoring his request, heading over towards a decrepit trunk.
Speaking loudly, trying to project his voice, "I also need it to have the best security wards possible," before flashing his left hand, showing his family ring, instantly getting the man's attention with the flash of silver.
The man looked at him for second, "You obviously are not a muggle-born, I thought you were based on your clothes," the store owner said giving an apology for the assumption. "I currently have 3 trunks that match your requirements."
Gesturing to a trunk on his left, "This is the standard design; the leather can change to the colour of your choice. The next one is simple maple wood, with Nix-Skin leather. And the final one is yew, with Black-Hungarian Horntail hide; however this is the most expensive one of the three, costing 65 Galleons, with another 35 for extra non-standard security features." the shop owner explained.
He carefully examined each of the trunks, and asked number of question about security on the trunks before finally settling on the horntail. After all he was a lord, how better to say it to world, by having a trunk made from expensive-dragon hide? He also he felt he deserved to have something new for himself for change, since he had to always have had second hand clothes and other discarded items.
Plus it was made of dragon leather after all, and that was so much cooler than cow hide!
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