Chapter 5
Hogsmeade weekend came slowly. Harry, Draco, and Severus rode in the carriages and went to Hogsmeade. Once there they apparated to Diagon Alley. Draco and Harry walked in front of Severus on the way to Gringotts. Harry located Griphook in the mass of goblins and asked him if Matterhorn was in.
Griphook asked, "What do you want with the head of goblins?"
Harry smiled and said," He wrote me concerning my creature inheritance and my vaults, and urged me to come see him, at my earliest convenience."
Griphook nodded and asked Harry to place a drop of blood on the parchment.
Harry asked," What is it with people and my blood?"
Griphook smirked and said," blood never lies."
Harry nodded and slit a finger. About five minutes after, Matterhorn walked in.
Matterhorn asked, "Are these your mates?"
Harry nodded.
"Well Mister Potter I have a lot of bad news and some good news." Matterhorn said solemnly.
Harry groaned and said, "Start with the worst please."
Matterhorn nodded and said, "You may want to sit down for this Mister Potter."
Harry, Draco, and Severus sat in the chairs in front of Matterhorn's desk. Harry was shaking due to a sense of apprehension. He nodded to Matterhorn signaling him to continue.
Matterhorn said, "Mister Potter, Lily and James were not your birth parents. Your birth parents are Thomas Marvolo Riddle and Bellatrix LeStrange nee Black. Apparently they had planned to marry but were cursed and Bellatrix was married off to Rodolphus. You are the only heir to the Riddle, Slytherin, Grindelwald, and Lestrange estates not to mention the Black, Potter, and Gryffindor estates. Your birth name was Domitius Kieron Black, since your father hated his surname. Being the heir to two of the founders of Hogwarts means you own half the school. A Miss Luna Lovegood is the Ravenclaw heir. Hufflepuff's heir is a Miss Hannah Abbott. As far as we know Dumbledore was responsible for the death of the Potters even if indirectly. Dumbledore cast a curse on your birth parents that made them act like power mad lunatics.
Harry stared completely gob-smacked at the goblin. Severus and Draco looked at each other then at Harry.
Severus asked, "What curse was it that Dumbledore cast?"
Matterhorn looked grave. "adversus tempero."
Matterhorn continued," It seems Mr. Potter that your birth parents placed you in the Potters' care to protect you from Dumbledore. Your parents were apparently good friends with the Potters. We have found evidence that suggests Dumbledore cursed your birth parents and then went to Godric's Hollow and made James Potter kill his wife while under the Imperious curse then turn his wand on himself."
Harry stared at the goblin, completely unaware of the tears running down his cheeks. He grabbed Draco and Severus' hands and held them tightly. Severus and Draco squeezed his hands in silent comfort and support.
Matterhorn said," the good news is the curse can be broken. Only you can do it,as you're their only blood relative who hasn't tried already. Narcissa tried and was Crucio'd for it."
Harry was silently crying as he listened to the goblin change everything he ever knew about himself.
Matterhorn continued, "As to your vaults, Albus Dumbledore has been taking money from them since you were a year old. We couldn't do anything about it without the owner or guardian to permit it."
Severus looked positively murderous at this piece of news. Draco just scooted closer to Harry to wrap him in his arms to comfort him.
After they'd started the tedious process of getting the money Dumbledore stole, Matterhorn took them to the Slytherin vault. Inside they found an egg. Matterhorn thought it was a Chimera egg.
Harry wandered around inside the vault and found a box underneath a portrait that nobody could open. Harry tried telling it to open in parseltongue,and oddly enough it worked. Harry had expected it to be a lot harder to open.
Inside was an egg. Severus was sure it was a phoenix egg,though he wasn't sure of the breed. Most phoenix eggs were the color of the phoenix breed they held inside. This egg was a odd white egg with black stripes. Severus had never encountered this breed before.
Matterhorn spoke up."It would be best to keep the chimera and the phoenix away from each other after they hatch. They are mortal enemies by nature."
After they had finished at the Slytherin vault and Harry had gathered some books he wanted to read, they made a stop at the Gryffindor vault. Harry got Godric's sword and they found a baby lioness under a stasis spell so she would not age or get sick.
Harry wondered aloud, "What would be a good name for you little one?"
Severus suggested Artemis. "As in the greek goddess of the hunt."
Harry looked at the little kitten. He asked," Do you like that name little one?"
The kitten meowed and batted Harry's nose with her paw.
Harry giggled and said, "Ok that settles that. Okay so now I'd like to see Slytherin Manor please."
Draco and Severus couldn't resist that face so they conceded to Harry's wishes.
A few minutes later they found themselves outside of the Manor. Harry gently pushed open the door and saw a house-elf cleaning the foyer. Harry told the elf he was the heir and that he'd like to take up residence here when he wasn't at Hogwarts. The elf, Dizzy, showed them to a room for them to sleep in. Then they found rooms for the separate eggs to incubate and grow. Artemis was sitting in Harry's pocket, watching the proceedings and silently keeping her eyes on her young master. Before leaving for Hogsmeade,Harry warned the house-elves to be on the lookout for anyone suspicious.
Neville came up to Harry in Hogsmeade and Artemis went ballistic. She was hissing and slashing her claws toward him like she was a demon. Neville backed up and almost ran away. Harry picked up Artemis and cooed at her telling her she was so smart and such a brave little kitten. Draco and Severus were watching from a few feet behind him and they chuckled to themselves thinking about how affectionate their Harry was.
They had apparated back just in time. After the 'incident' involving Neville they barely had time to get in the carriages. When they returned to the castle it was time for dinner. Harry wandered over to the Gryffindor table and sat with Seamus,Lavender, Parvarti,and Dean. They saw Artemis in Harry's pocket and the girls cooed over her. Harry swore them to secrecy and told them what had happened and what he had found out about Dumbledore. They were positively livid at Dumbledore.
Harry looked over at the Slytherin table and saw that Draco had sat down with Blaise Zabini, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle and immediately had to fend off Pansy's unwanted advances. Harry chuckled at Draco's plight.
Harry looked up at the Head table and saw Severus talking to Professor Sprout and Madame Pomfrey. Harry noticed Neville was especially jumpy today. Harry promised himself that he was going to keep a close eye on Neville. Soon dinner was over and it was time for bed,Harry made his way to Severus' rooms to sleep off the events of the day.
Chapter 6
