Preperations
A week had passed since Harry learnt the truth of his godfather. The
two had grown rather close over the week as Harry learnt more
about his parents and Sirius of his favourite godson. Three days ago
Harry sent Hedwig, who showed up a week after they arrived at
Portsmouth, to Gringotts with a question with Sirius' urging. Today
the reply came.
Mr Harrison James Potter
In answer to your letter I can inform you that after the deaths if the
Potters' the wills were sealed by the Wizengamot until you became
of age. Albus Dumbledore was appointed guardian and has left all
accounts untouched. Unfortunately I cannot send you a copy as it
would break the treaties made between wizards and goblins
however if you ask either Sirius Orion Black III or Alice Marie
Longbottom née Smith who witnessed the wills they can supply you
the information.
Ironclaw, Potter Account Manager
"Well this is not good." Sirius said.
"And why is it not good." Harry asked.
"Because when you were little your accidental magic was crazy. You
were summoning everything, changing colours left and right and
James even told me about you switching your bottle for some
butterbeer. After you summoned a book and nearly had the
bookshelf squash you Lily performed a magical bind. The only one
powerful enough would not dissolve completely. It was designed to
reduce it to standard magical output for your age and slowly
released it to allow you to gain control. The only thing is that at about
six months before Hogwarts the charms needed to be changed. It
was supposed to remove it over a months time so you weren't
blocked at school."
"It all seems rather complicated, how does it determine what
average is." Harry asked.
"Well it sort of gets weared down by your magic straining against it I
suppose. If you were to never remove it, by the time you are like
thirty five to forty it would be gone but by then it is a bit late and your
learning would be stunted. The idea to have it fade away is to reduce
its resistance and let your magic break the rest quicker than before.
It means your body can get accustomed to the magic moving in you
and stops you going crazy with accidental magic."
"So what can we do about it, I would prefer to get rid of it as fast as
possible."
"Well I can't remove it, I am only average at charms. James was
Transfiguration, Remus was Charms and Runes, I was potions and
the rat was the divergent. I was only behind Snape and Lily in
potions. Lily of course could have been a potions mistress if she
wished."
"What did she do after school Pad."
"Well after school was a bit strange and didn't go as it usually would.
James joined the Auror corp almost straight away and Lily began
doing some private study with Slughorn. Both joined the order and
then were married and then had you and then they were hiding.
Career choices got put on the back burner for a bit. Lily was planning
to go to the Unspeakables to do magical research and James was
going to work his way through the ranks in the DMLE. Both would
have done extremely well if it weren't for the war."
"Good to know, but back to this block or restraint or whatever. What
are we going to do about it."
"Well like I was saying, I can't remove it even if I knew what charm
was used. St Mungos is out because, well you know. That leaves
Gringotts."
"I thought they were just bankers."
"Well they are just bankers, however to keep gold safe you need to
ward the vaults to avalon and back. Naturally when you get so good
at putting wards up you can detect and pull them down too. Goblins
have done warding jobs the very rich before. The block on your
magic is in its essence, a ward so the goblins should be able to
help."
"And they won't arrest you."
"I never did anything to harm the goblins, and anything can be
purchased with the goblins."
"Do we have a plan beyond that."
"After we get the block removed we need to get you and I a wand.
Aunt Cassie owns a custom wand shop in Knockturn Alley and will
help us out. After that we move to castle Black in the himalayas
where the ministry trackers don't reach. It is one of the only places
where no ministry has any trackers. This means we can do magic
until our hearts contend with no consequence. I want to teach you to
duel properly and prepare you for what might come soon. Hogwarts
doesn't teach advanced dueling magic until NEWT's not because it is
hard but because they do not trust people. Though it is for good
reason. Eleven year olds have no use for the likes if Confringo."
"Sounds awesome."
"Although it won't all be dueling and explosions. You have a lot of
other places to catch up in."
"Like what."
"Well the Potter's own a considerable amount of money and you
need to learn how to manage it. They also hold one of twenty
hereditary seats on the Wizengamot so there is things to learn there.
No doubt your wizarding history is lacking and a bit of etiquette never
killed. I'm not saying you need to be a political powerhouse making
millions a minute and behave like merlin still walks the earth. It is
important to no how to interact effectively with everyone. Oh yes, I
will also teach you some languages. Most like to try latin but it is
rather pointless. German and French are the most important. Basic
greetings and manners in Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, hindi and
maybe some others too. Don't forget your other Hogwarts subjects
as well. What electives did you choose."
"I haven't chosen any, I was leaning towards Creatures because
Hagrid is teaching and maybe Runes or divination. I don't plan on
making spells in arithmancy and muggle studies is rather pointless.
Runes looks interesting and useful and Ron is pressuring me into
divination because it is easy."
"Don't do Divination and creatures, pick just one. Both are easy to
get acceptables but outstandings are difficult. If you do both your
year will be rather boring. Runes is very useful and if you have the
knack for it can be very fun. Remus was rather good at most runes.
Not a master rune carver but he could form decent runic circles to
serve their purpose."
"I think Runes and Creatures then."
"Looks like it."
"Next question, what will we do with school. Hogwarts began two
days ago and by the sounds of these plans, Hogwarts is not in
them."
"Right, You have been injured pretty badly up until now and school
was not really going to work then. If you want to go to Hogwarts that
is fine but I was thinking. Third year is not overly important. You will
mostly be introducing your electives and their basics. Potions you
look at healing droughts and their properties. Transfiguration is
animate to inanimate objects. Charms will be looking at semi
permanent charms like the heating charm that will last for a while
after being cast before fading along with others. Herbology is just
herbology, you could read the textbook twice over and pass with EE.
We will be able to cover it and you will not be behind by next year.
Defence covers dark creatures which is ninety nine percent theory.
Next year is very important however and you will be going."
"I suppose a letter to professor Mcgonagall is in order then. I will
inform her that I will be privately studying for the year and will most
likely return for fourth year. I should probably add that I am in a safe
location as well, half the world probably thinks I am dead."
"The muggle news papers have mentioned the trial of a Vernon
fellow who abused, tortured and murdered a thirteen year old boy.
He was sentenced to life in prison."
"Good to know that he got what was coming, shall we venture to
Gringotts." Harry said in a mock posh tone.
"We shall young sir." Sirius replied turning his nose up to look as
snobbish as he could. They broke into laughter halfway to the floo.
"Have you used the floo before Harry."
"Once, it was not pleasant."
"Well the trick is to throw the powder in and walk in. Take a deep
breath before entering and call your destination. Keep your eyes
closed and listen to the flames. They will roar extra loud when you
arrive. When you hear the sound increase, start walking again. All
floo's are charmed to eject the person when the powder burns out. It
isn't good if another person comes in and you are still standing
there."
"Got it, Listen for the flames and then walk forward."
Harry threw the powder into the fire, took a large breath and walked
in before calling Diagon Alley clearly. The flames whisked him away
in a swirl of green. He listened for the increase in sound and it came
in a deafening roar. He stepped out but his back foot got caught by
the charms and he was flicked forwards a bit. He almost fell but
caught himself.
Ten seconds later a man with short brown hair and brown eyes came
through holding a sign reading 'Padfoot.' Harry was confused by the
man but assumed he was Sirius.
"Don't look so confused Harry, I thought a glamour might help." the
man said.
"Good idea, I couldn't transfigure a cap could you." Harry asked.
"I have a better idea." Sirius transfigured a napkin into a small band
aid before applying a charm to it. He stuck it on Harry's forehead and
looked on appraisingly.
"What's that." Harry asked.
"A neat little charm that makes a bandaid blend into the skin. Now if I
make your eyes brown like mine and call you James we can pass
you off as not you."
"And what should I call you." Harry asked.
"Hmm, Brian Smith and his son James will do nicely. but just Pad will
be fine."
"Well let's get going then.
Gringotts was not overly exciting. After getting Harry a new key and
Sirius entering his vault to get some coin they asked to see a goblin
who deals with ward breaking. Sirius explained the circumstances
and left Harry with Ironclaw to have the block removed to sort
something of his own. They then left to do the most shopping Harry
had ever done in his life.
They purchased dress robes, formal robes, casual robes, dueling
robes, ties and bow ties of all colours, dress shoes, sports shoes,
casual shoes, winter boots and some dueling boots as well. Harry
got a million different shirts in almost every colour imaginable.
They left there order with Ms Jennings at Twilfit and Tattings before
heading to the muggle world to do it all again but without the formal
stuff. Finally was what he had been waiting for. The time to get his
new wand.
"Hello, I am looking to purchase a wand for myself and my son."
Sirius said.
"Very well, what woods will you be using." the old shopkeeper asked,
Cassiopeia Black if Harry remembered correctly.
"My wood was mahogany and James had a Holly wand before it was
lost in that house fire."
"Very well, what cores will you be requiring."
"Dragon heartstring for me along with the blood bond. James, what
core will you use."
"I have my own vial of liquid core material. It is mixed with my blood
so we shall be fine."
"Very well, if you will give me the vial and you a few drops of blood. I
will have them in an hour, the total price is 14 galleons and twelve
sickles a wand, 29 galleons 7 sickles total. Half to be paid now and
the other upon completion of the wands." She said.
Sirius gave the money and they left the shop. They quickly left the
dark and dodgy alley and went to get ice cream. An hour later and a
few coins lighter they each had a new wand that bonded perfectly
and a dragon hide wand holster to match.
The last stop for the day was the owl post shop. Harry sent a letter
with an eagle owl to inform Mcgonagall of his choice of education
and signed it off with his signature. Five sickles later they were home
in Portsmouth again.
They packed their bags and set the house to rights, it soon looked
no different from when they arrived. They left the house and walked
down the path to the gates. Sirius locked it again which reactivated
the stasis charm that slowed plant growth and deflected most
weather to keep the house in shape. The charm sadly did not work
on too large properties and the house was almost at the maximum
for the charm.
Sirius apparated them both to the airport and booked a plane to
Nepal, first class. The flight wasn't overly long and rather comfortable
but was the longest flight Harry had been on. Ignoring the fact that it
was his first.
They arrived and checked in with wizarding passports that worked
everywhere and apparated to black castle. Harry's first impression
wasn't much as they landed in the entrance hall. After exploring the
small castle Harry was impressed.
The castle was made of stone bricks and was set into the face of the
mountains. There was a no garden or lawn at the front of the castle
just a small flat ish area that went five metres out before a vertical
eighty foot drop.
The castle itself was three floors with some taller spires and towers.
The first floor was where the living rooms, kitchen, dining room and
the first floor library entrance was. The library of course was half the
size of hogwarts but was the full three stories tall so likely had more
books.
Second floor had the gym with an indoor pool and a magic resistant
training room along with some bedrooms as well as the second floor
library entrance. The third floor was full of bedrooms each with a
walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. The bedrooms each had a double
sized four post bed against one wall, a desk in another corner. A
thick warm rug in the centre with a comfortable sofa that sat in front
of a fireplace.
They settled into the home and after Sirius apparated into the city to
buy pizza for dinner they sat down and practiced drawing their
wands from the holster. There were many types of holsters that had
different ways to draw. Some strapped to the opposite forearm and
one could hide it under the sleeve of their robes. Others strapped to
the inside of a boot or even down the back between your shoulder
blades.
The two that Sirius and Harry had purchased were more advanced.
They used an invisible charmed ring that went on the middle finger.
When your finger flicks twice the wand is ejected from the holster
into your hand. It took a lot of practice to get the flick of the finger
right. It needed to be just the right distance and repeated twice
quickly. Harry supposed that if it was any different the wand would
draw at random and you could lose your wand.
As Harry lay in his bed that night, thinking over the things he would
start to learn over his stay here he struggled to get to sleep. Partly
due to excitement at learning to duel and dueling spells, partly due to
dread of the fitness training Sirius said he would need to do. But he
knew that when he walked into the great hall next year, he would be
far different. For better or worse was yet to be decided.