Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Harry sat staring out of the window in his compartment. He was trying to ignore the incessant bickering of the people he was unfortunate enough to be sharing the compartment with. If he'd been asked a few weeks ago he would've said they were his best friends, siblings in all but blood. Now; however, he would say they were the banes of his existence. Not even two months ago he'd learned the true extent of their betrayals.
~FLASHBACK~
Harry had been sitting on his bed in his small bedroom at the Dursley's. He was waiting to hear from his friends. Looking out of the window, he saw Hedwig coming towards his room with another owl. It wasn't an owl he recognized. As both owls arrived he saw the other owl was a Gringotts owl. Harry wondered what the goblins wanted. He looked at Hedwig to see what she'd brought with her. Deeming the Gringotts letter to be more important he opened the letter.
Dear Mr. Harrison James Potter,
We formally request a meeting to discuss your vaults and the money Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore has been stealing. He has been stealing from your vaults of heirlooms as well. We request that you reply as soon as possible.
Ragnok
Head of Gringotts
Harry stared uncomprehendingly at the short missive. Dumbledore had been taking his money? Then the second part of the letter made it through the haze of Harry's mind. What inheritance? Nobody had ever mentioned vaults or an inheritance. Harry ran down the stairs and stopped beside his uncle.
"Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked.
Vernon grunted so Harry supposed that meant he was listening, so Harry continued.
"I need to be in London tomorrow and I need a ride."
Vernon looked up.
" I suppose I can drive you up there, I was going to head up there soon myself. BUT you have to have to finish the chores before tomorrow morning."
Harry nodded quickly and ran upstairs before Vernon could change his mind. A few minutes later he went back downstairs and finished his chores before going to bed.
At 5 a.m. His repaired alarm clock chimed. Harry started putting all his belongings in his trunk and he carefully dragged it downstairs.
Vernon was amazingly, awake already. He looked at Harry then looked at his trunk.
"BOY! What are you doing?" Vernon asked.
Harry looked at his uncle and told him: " I was planning to stay in London until school starts again,sir."
Vernon nodded and finished reading the newspaper.
The ride to London was a quiet one. Once they'd gotten into the city, Vernon had asked where he was to be dropped off. Harry had told him the train station. Vernon had dropped him off with the minimum of complaints. Harry saw this as an odd occurrence but a welcome one nonetheless.
Harry got on the train that would drop him off close to the Leaky Cauldron. When he got there he told Tom he would be back in a couple of hours and that he needed a room.
Harry went into Diagon Alley and headed to Gringotts first. He made a withdrawal then went to pay Tom for his room. Then he went back to meet with Ragnok.
On his way there he saw Luna Lovegood and went to say hi. She introduced him to her friends. They were Kira, Cole, Keiran, Aisling, Morgana, and Chasina. Kira was a blonde girl with blue-green eyes. She was the same age as Luna. The others were all older than Harry, Luna, and Kira. Cole, Keiran, Morgana, and Chasina were all seventeen. Luna and Kira were fifteen. Aisling was eighteen, and Harry was sixteen. After promising to meet up with them later he went off to Gringotts.
It took about five minutes before Ragnok could see him. Harry, who had read up on goblins during the last term at school, greeted Ragnok in gobbledegook. Ragnok looked shock that a wizard knew gobbledegook. He responded to Harry's greeting then they got down to business.
"Mr. Potter, apparently Albus Dumbledore has been steadily removing funds from the Potter family vaults since your parents were killed. He made an account in his name and in the name of the Order of the Phoenix. We can get all this back plus the vaults he set up for a Miss Hermione Granger and a Mister Ronald Weasley."
Harry looked gobsmacked at the revelation that he was essentially paying Ron and Hermione to be his friends.
Ragnok continued,"We can retrieve all the money and heirlooms. Dumbledore stole priceless artifacts from the Potter vaults. There was Gryffindor's sword in one of the vaults. The Potters are distantly related to Godric Gryffindor."
Harry scowled at this. That was what Dumbledore had meant second year.
"As for your inheritance I need you to prick your finger and let a drop of your blood fall onto the parchment."
Harry did as he was told and watched fascinated as lines of information appeared. Harry looked over the list and exclaimed that he was related to the Ravenclaw family.
Ragnok looked at the end of the parchment and saw all the spells done to Harry. Ragnok couldn't help the small gasp as he saw all the blocks and spells. Harry looked and gasped loudly. The list was longer than expected and it saddened him more and more.
Spells and Abilities blocked or placed:
Abilities
Xenoglossy- blocked
psychokinesis- blocked
precognition- partially developed
metamorphagus- partially developed
gendermorphagus- blocked
weather control- blocked
shadow manipulation- blocked
psychometry- blocked
healing- partially developed
learning- limited
photographic memory- blocked
parseltongue- developed
Spells
Obliviation- five times
blocks on abilities- six times
Harry was shocked. "I'm a gendermorphagus? A metamorphagus? What is a gendermorphagus?"
Ragnok explained that it was someone who could change their gender at will. Being a gendermorphagus was not common but it was generally combined with the metamorphagus ability.
Harry thought to himself: This could be very useful.
Ragnok continued his explanation. "According to our records Dumbledore secured himself as your magical guardian after Sirius Black was placed in Azkaban. A short while after that he fired the head goblin of the Potter accounts for trying to contact you after your eleventh birthday. Apparently Dumbledore has been taking heirlooms and money from the Potter vaults, he had not been able to access the Black accounts. He blocked several aspects of your magic and personality. He made it significantly harder for you to learn, you have a photographic memory, you are a mild precog, and have xenoglossy; which is the ability to understand and speak any language."
Harry couldn't believe so much had been kept from him. He could have done better in school and he could've stopped so many tragedies from occurring. Ragnok offered to have the bank remove the blocks and spells. Harry accepted and they set up an appointment for the next day. Harry thanked Ragnok for his time and went to his vaults to withdraw some galleons so he could go shop for new clothes and necessities.
Harry went to Madam Malkin's first to pick up new Hogwarts robes,dress robes, and every day robes. After he got his new robes he went to the trunk shop and picked up a new trunk with three room size compartments, a kitchenette, a bathroom, and featherlight charms on it. He also picked up an emerald green bag to carry his books for school. It too had charms to make it bigger and lighter no matter how much he put in it.
Harry left the shop after purchasing everything. He then dropped the trunk and bag with the robes in his room at the Leaky Cauldron then went to muggle London and bought more clothes that fit him correctly. After he was done buying his clothes he had dinner at the inn and went to bed.
The next morning he met up with Luna and her friends again for breakfast and he told them what he heard from Ragnok. Luna told him they should apply for a resort with the Board of Governors. Harry agreed and so they set up a meeting with them. Kira, Cole, Keiran, Morgana,Aisling, and Chasina invited Harry to stay with them instead of staying at the Leaky Cauldron. Harry accepted and they moved his things into their house. Their house was located in an alley off of Diagon Alley. Harry left for his appointment at Gringotts and spent the afternoon having blocks and spells removed. By the time they were done it was close to five o' clock. Harry left Gringotts after thanking the goblins and left for the house.
When he got back the others were having band practice. He tried to be as quiet as possible but Luna heard him and dragged him in. Kira told him that they were having problems finding lyrics to match a song they'd written. Luna told them that Harry wrote poems so they could use those if they found on that fit.
Kira was excited and told Harry to sing one of the poems he'd written. So the others started playing and then Harry started singing.
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
[Chorus]
I've become so numb I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
Can't you see that you're smothering me
Holding too tightly afraid to lose control
Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
And every second I waste is more than I can take
[Chorus]
I've become so numb I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
And I know
I may end up failing too
But I know
You were just like me with someone disappointed in you
[Chorus]
I've become so numb I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
[Chorus]
I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Everyone looked at Harry. Kira squealed and said," Harry, we want you to join our band. We are called Chasing Shadows. I sing vocals most of the time but I also play the guitar. Cole plays the bass, and Keiran plays the drums. Please say you'll join!"
Harry nodded and they taught him some of their songs and told him the concert schedule.
~End Flashback~
Luna had come into the compartment while he'd been thinking. All of a sudden Luna grabbed his arm and dragged him into the hall. Through the door they could hear Ron and Hermione start to talk about him. It enraged him. Luna dragged him down the corridor and randomly stopped at a compartment.
They went inside and Luna told Harry to calm down. He couldn't hear her over the roaring in his ears. Eventually Luna yelled at him and he let his neck fall back on the seat. Everyone missed to small possessive growl.
Luna said," Harry you need to calm down. I know its hard to hear firsthand that your best friends are nothing more than gold diggers. But you can't kill them. At least not yet."
Harry sighed and nodded. Pansy Parkinson spoke up then," Loony, what are you and Potter doing here? Why is he so upset?"
Luna told them, " Harry needed to calm down and this was the closest compartment to where we were standing. As to why he is upset let's just say that all is not as it seems and masks will be torn down before the evening is over."
Pansy, Blaise, Theo, and Draco looked at each other confused. But they let it drop for now. As the train made its way to Hogsmeade, Harry steadily calmed down and started joking with Luna. As they arrived Harry and Luna got into a carriage with the Slytherins and left for the school.
As they arrived they heard someone yelling Harry's name. It was Hermione and Ron. As they caught up the Slytherins heard Harry turn to Luna and ask, " please." Luna shook her head and they continued along. The two not noticing Harry and Luna making fun of them and being sarcastic every time they were spoken to by Ron and Hermione. The Slytherins thought the Gryffindors were tight. Apparently it wasn't so.
As they got into the school they headed to the Great Hall and waited. Luna and Harry were the only ones who knew about their plans to resort. So when the first year sorting was done and the Hat called out to them they weren't surprised. The rest of the hall was surprised and they were even more so when they were resorted into Slytherin. Dumbledore was visibly angry. Snape was shocked and McGonagall was doing a magnificent fish impression. The Kira, Cole, Keiran, Chassy, Morgana, and Aisling were sorted into Slytherin. They chatted all through the feast.
As the feast drew to a close they Slytherins rose as a unit and left the hall. Snape was waiting for them. Harry commented about how it looked the same as it had four years ago. Draco asked how he knew that and Harry told them about impersonating Crabbe and Goyle and infiltrating the Slytherin common room. Snape thought this was a good time to interrupt. He made a speech about getting along and presenting a united front to the rest of the school. Then Harry remembered.
"Professor? Is there someplace that our band could practice?" Harry turned to Kira. " How are we supposed to get to our concerts? Its not like we can leave."
Kira smirked and said," I got Fudge and Dumbledork to sign a binding contract that states the members of Chasing Shadows could leave Saturday nights to perform as long as the House watched the proceedings through a monitoring charm. Plus they made an Unbreakable Vow so they can't take it back."
Everyone looked at Kira shocked. Harry started to laugh, then the other members laughed. Harry turned to Snape. " Okay sir that's all we need."
Snape told them he'd look and find them a room. Until then it was time for bed. Harry carried Kira to her bed and then went to his own dorm, which he shared with Blaise, Draco, Cole, and Keiran. He made Cole and Keiran get into separate beds which had them protesting.
Harry smirked and said, " I don't wanna hear any moans,groans,whimpers, or anything of a sexual nature tonight so separate beds."
Both boys groaned and did as they were told. Harry sat down and got ready for bed and as soon as his head hit the pillow he was out cold.
Draco and Blaise went back to the common room where Snape, Pansy, Millicent, and the others were waiting. Snape told them he was going to tell their lord everything and to place a monitoring charm on the band members. They did as they were told and went to bed.
