Chapter 1 by lucifael

Unchained
Chapter One

The large foot swung back with a soft whistle of air and Harry saw it begin its forward drive. He could not take another kick, not even one. Time seemed to slow before his very eyes. The foot and leg now moving in slow motion, the air hanging and the dust motes still, he brought his hands up in front of him in an almost reflex action. Something passed through him and flowed through his entire being flashing out of his hands with an electrical snap, sizzle.

His uncle Vernon flew backwards through the air like a doll, hitting the partition wall so hard he continued right through to the kitchen. The kitchen table turned to kindling as the large man landed on it hard.

Time snapped back into focus and Harry leapt to his feet, his injuries spontaneously healing, ribs snapping back into place with an audible crack. He took a long deep breath of sweet air and glared at the prone form of his Uncle through the hole in the wall. Around him, magic danced in a kaleidoscope of charged air with little bolts of lightning crackling in time to his heartbeat.

This was true magic he realized in the part of his brain that was not incensed. It was Unchained, unfettered magic at its purest. He walked to the wall, and stepped through the ragged hole, he almost casually waved his hand behind him and it sealed with a strange reversed crashing noise.

In front of him, Vernon was stirring and looking around a little dazed.

"I don't think I'm going to be putting up with anymore of that Vernon." Harry said in a low voice tinged with flaming anger.

His Uncle spat out some blood and hoisted his large frame to rest on his elbows. "You've done it now boy. They will not let you back in that freaky little school now. You've done magic outside of school."

Harry smiled slightly evilly, "Do you see a wand Uncle Vernon?" he asked rhetorically.

Vernon narrowed his eyes at Harry. "But..." he began.

Harry waived his hand, feeling the pure power flowing through him leaping to his command. His uncle was lofted into the air and turned to face him. With another thought, the large man was brought close to Harry's emerald gaze. "But nothing you fat bastard. I've had enough of you do you hear me? I have had enough of your abuse, you belittling me and acting as if you are better than I am. You are nothing but a nasty bully with delusions of grandeur. So from now on you'll behave and you will treat me with the respect I deserve or I will make you pay" he said his voice low and threatening. "I could kill you know with a thought and no one would ever know." he informed the frightened man.

"But I'm better than you. Exactly what do you think you were doing, beating some normality into me? I am a wizard and I will die a wizard, that doesn't make me better than you; just different. But what does make me better than you is the fact that you are still breathing. Just a few more kicks and you would have pushed a rib into my lung or something. I mean how thick are you? You were warned at the start of summer to treat me right. I just let my fear of you force me to do what you wanted of me. Just because you are bigger than me and I thought I couldn't use magic. Guess what? I can, so watch yourself. Oh, and tell that horse faced bitch of a wife and whale of a son to watch out too or else it will be you that pays" he continued.

With his impromptu soliloquy delivered. Harry waived a hand at the broken table and repaired it with a thought and very little drain on his power. Almost negligible in fact, he looked up at the kitchen window wondering if he was about to get some sort of letter from the ministry but so far so good.

Then he turned, dropping the man on his fat arse. He left the room with a still visible aura of power floating around his form. Once he reached his room, he tried to calm himself, taking long slow breaths and practicing the exercises from his book on Occlumancy. It worked, but it was hard going for a while. His aura of power faded back into his body slowly but surely until it was no longer visible.

Once he was calm curiosity was abound in his mind. He could not focus on the right telling off he had just given his Uncle. As far as he was concerned, it was a long time coming. For one thing, the bastard had been on his case since he had arrived from the station. From there it had just gone down hill. Especially with the nightmares that had plagued him of his godfathers death. They had passed though when he had come to terms with it, and his part in it. He was certainly never going to make that mistake again. Which had been when he had picked up his book on Occlumancy and started to study like mad, the nightmares from the 'other' source had faded since he had organized and controlled his mind somewhat. He was not sure if it was that Voldemort was bored torturing him, or his mental shielding was now in place.

Unlike his sessions with Snape Harry had actually learned quite a lot about Occlumancy and how it worked. As well as how to clear his mind, to organize his thoughts and settle his emotions.

However, this new burst of pure magical power was something very new.

As an experiment, he tried to capture the feeling of the flow of energy in his body and mind. Reaching out his hand, he tried to float Hedwig's cage over to him.

With a surprised hoot, the owl and cage floated into his waiting hand.

Harry smiled, this was magic. Not the stupid incantations or structured wand movements. Intent, Focus and Balance were the true cornerstones of magic.

"Hello girl, looks like our teachers have been lying to us all this time." Harry said sardonically. Was this Wandless magic, he wondered, or was it something else entirely. Could it in fact be the power he knew not?

Hedwig found herself in flight again and settled back on top of the wardrobe as Harry sat down on his bed deep in thought.

Just then, he felt a 'knocking' at his mental shielding. It was a seriously strange feeling to be sure, but he had a fair guess as to who would want to contact him this way. The only person other than Snape that rampaged through his mind on a regular basis, he thought about just ignoring the strangely gentle request, but then he really did need to know for the order, and himself, what Voldemort was up to now. Therefore, he created a tunnel through his shields and followed the presence back into the 'hosts' mind.

'Welcome young Harry' a smooth mental voice greeted him.

'Voldemort, what do you want?' Harry asked.

'I wanted merely to congratulate you on your quite excellent mental shielding' the smooth tones informed him.

'Yeah right, I believe you. How about we skip the Evil Overlord crap and cut to the heart of the matter. What is it you want Tom?'

'My name is Voldemort boy, best you remember that.' The voice said with a hint of menace. 'But I will grant you your request. I want us to join forces against that old meddler Dumbledore.'

'Why on gods green earth would I do that?' Harry asked.

'Dumbledore is not the friend you think him Harry, surely you can see that by now. The Wizarding world under our command would be a much better place. Almost Utopian in fact'

Harry was about to answer that when he felt a subtle probing around in an area of his mind he had most heavily warded. 'Bastard' Harry thought privately to himself. 'So he's after the prophesy he still thinks I know it. Well let's see how he likes someone digging around in HIS brain'

With that, Harry's power levels blazed around him in the same crackling aura as before. He bulled his way through Voldemorts mental shielding; exploding out of the mental construct the evil wizard had created for their meeting. At the same time he trapped him in a memory of being held under the Crucio curse. As the wizard screamed in the privacy of his personal lair, Harry ripped into his mind. He had no idea if it was actually possible to do what he was in fact doing, but he figured with the way the day had gone so far he had nothing to loose.

Voldemort cried out in agony as the supposedly weak Harry Potter ripped through his consciousness like a bull in a china shop. It took everything he had available to try to muster up some sort of defence to the sheer white-hot agony he was experiencing. Once he had gathered a position of power in his own mind, he pushed back with all his will power.

Harry felt Voldemort mustering his defences' against him and with a burst of power left the evil bastards mind, literally dumping some of the other mans knowledge into a section of his own mind. Then he left causing Voldemort no small amount of pain in the process.

"That'll teach the evil shit to mess in my head." Harry said with a hard edge to his voice. Then the swirling mass of knowledge newly dumped in his mind caused him to collapse backwards onto his bed out cold.

-oOo-

A few hours later Harry awoke to the darkness of night. Feeling somewhat groggy from his strange day, he sat up on his bed and gave his head a shake. Stuff was swirling around in his head like a tornado in a teacup. Runes filled his imagination for a moment, followed by arithmancy computations he had never heard of and a whole host of other information and data. Curses filled his minds eye, movements of wand and hand. Ancient tomes floated around the miasma of his conscious thought. He struggled to get a handle on it all. When he had made his last desperate grab for anything that might be useful to him, he had never imagined that he would be able to grab so much. He focused on his mental construct; an ancient manor house appeared in his minds eye. He swept through the rooms with the power of thought, filing bits of information away as he could. Dumping some in rooms and locking it if he could not. Some of it was just too overwhelming, dark and evil information that staggered his mind. He truly had not realized the depths of depravity that Voldemort had gone to, the evil he had researched painstakingly. The dark rituals he had followed in his journey towards immortality.

Therefore, Harry filed all that data away in his junk rooms.

He created his mental construct following some information he had picked up from one of the most unlikely of sources. The local library, the book in question merely dealt with memory techniques, but adding that information to his Occlumancy studies, he had found that he could ward a room, make it secure and only accessible to him. That and he could put up security around the entire construct itself. He had quite often hidden there while his uncle had been either ranting at him or wailing on him, until finally the damn had broken and his magic had reacted to protect him.

Then the floodgates had opened and he could feel the power just humming under the surface, ready to do his bidding at any given moment. It was a strangely frightening and freeing feeling. Nevertheless, true freedom was scary in a way and Harry understood that it would come at a cost. What that cost was, he could not tell yet. However, he knew that he would have to focus even more on his control, over his mind and power to take the initiative and make sure he ruled his powers and they did not rule over him.

To that end, he swept into his 'living room' a comfortable area in his subconscious where he could think properly. He focused on the part of him that he felt the power purring from his ministrations. He had no idea if all wizards had such a reservoir of energy available to them, but it seemed immense to him. He almost automatically created a door leading off the main area to access the well of magic within him, then searched for other sources that connected to him.

What he found caused him to recoil. Dark magic seeped in evil was pouring into him from somewhere; it felt cold and wet like a smack in the face with a fish, a putrid fish at that, he swam up the stream of disgusting magic until he found where it entered his being.

He was not entirely sure, but unless he was mistaken this was where his curse scar would be on his physical body. He debated for a while with just creating a wall in front of the gushing river of energy, and then decided against it. For one thing, he did not think it would actually work for long, and secondly he would be a fool to refuse any extra boosts to his power that were available to him. The trouble was that it was tainted; obviously, as it was coming from Voldemort himself. The much-vaulted connection they shared via the curse some 16 years ago. He could not use the power as it was, that would be signing his own ticket into becoming the next Dark Lord. He had no wish for that. True the Wizarding world had not exactly treated him well but there were bright spots, his friends the Weasley's and others from school. He knew if he went down the easy path, he would be lost and they would all suffer. Not, that it was not an attractive idea though, the thought of easy power and the simple existence free from morality and the bounds of socially acceptable behaviour was quite intoxicating.

But he had other plans.

He had decided earlier in the summer that he would live the life his godfather would want for him. This did not include going to the dark side, to paraphrase. His godfather was all about enjoyment, of the moment, of friends, of the opposite sex and living life to the fullest. He could not ignore what he believed his Godfather would want for him. He had loved the old dog, in more ways than one, something fierce. Therefore, the dark path was one he just could not justify for himself.

That still left him the problem of all that tainted magic flowing into his very soul. It would eventually turn him dark if he did not do something about it. He just was not sure what he could do yet. What would be great was if he could create some sort of filter that would detoxify the magic putting it back to its normal state of neither evil nor good. Just pure magic, he swam along the current of magic and went to where he had stored the knowledge of rune work. He had an idea, he just was not sure he could make it work. What he needed was a 'goodness' filter, a ward that he would place over the source and that would, turn dark to pure. Or something like that anyway.

He spent the next few hours reading everything he could find, while arranging the data, and working up a possible solution to his dilemma. He was sure that Hermione would be proud of how studious he was being. Though she would doubtless have Kneazle kittens if she knew where he had picked up the new knowledge from. That thought gave him a slight smile as he paused to work out the knots in his incorporeal body. It was doubtless a mental thing but sitting and reading always gave him a crick in the neck if he did it for too long, in the real world or otherwise.

He sketched down the runic schema that he had designed and hoped for the best. Then he willed himself to the source or his scar in other words, and lifted himself above the river of tainted magic.

Then he willed some writing implements into being and set to work, crisscrossing from one side of the jagged opening to the other as he worked. It took him quite some time to complete the intricate runes and web of ward work. Then he penned the last line of the final rune and sat back to watch his, hopeful, masterpiece come alive.

Green lines shot from one rune to the other, working their way up to the top of the scar and back down again in a spider's web of luminescent magic. There was a pause and the filter pulsed with power as the black magic fought against the change, but his work was impeccable and it won through. Then a pure flood of magic flowed through the fine web of the ward and washed away the old impurities as it gushed down the valley the previous magic had caused. Then it joined his well of magic with a golden waterfall of power.

He felt the change almost immediately; he was almost refreshed despite the hard work he had just endured. He did some last minute checking as well as adding a few security wards he had learned in the process of his study and then left for his comfortable spot.

All in all not a bad nights work he decided. With that he unfocused, his mind and let his mind free associate itself until sleep claimed him.

-oOo-

The next day Harry awoke feeling much better than normal. He had just gotten a great night sleep and there was a light feeling in his heart. He knew he had many problems left to overcome, but Voldemorts taint had temporarily been removed from his system and it was having a marked difference on him.

He sprang out of bed, landing on his toes. He had no wish to wake the slumbering git's in the house. Then he dressed quickly and decided to go make himself breakfast. Sod his relatives; they coped most of the year without him doing the housework. Therefore, he saw no reason why they could not do the rest without him.

A few minutes later saw Harry sat down to a full fried breakfast with a proper sized portion; he poured on some sauce and dug in with relish.

His peace did not last long though apparently, the smell of cooking food had roused his cousin.

"Where's mine?" he demanded, his piggy little eyes angry.

"Fuck off Dudders." Harry shot back; he was in no mood for his cousin or anyone else ruining his mood that day.

"What?" his whale of a cousin said, shocked.

"It was really quite simply, I even used words I thought you'd understand." Harry said, eating some sausage and egg with a smile.

"Dad will beat the shit out of you for this."

"I very much doubt that, now piss off and let me finish my breakfast in peace."

"You can't do that!"

"You really are dense aren't you? Uncle Vernon is really wasting that money he spends on Smeltings." Harry noted with a smirk as he forked some more food and ate it with enjoyment. "I am doing this and there is nothing you or your dad can do about it. I don't want to be here anymore than you want me to be here Dudley, but we're forced to share the same place for the summer months. But I'm done with you and your family treating me worse than a house elf, and abusing me every chance you get."

Apparently, Dudley was very much like his father and retorted the only way he knew how, physical violence.

Only he was brought up short by a shield that sprang into being around Harry, which then bounced him back onto his overly large backside.

"You can't do magic out of school!" Dudley said scandalized.

"Do you see a wand?" Harry repeated.

"But…"

"This is Deja Vue all over again." Harry mumbled then said in a louder voice, "Look the fact of the matter is I've found a way around that particular rule, I did plenty of magic yesterday and no one has sent me any letters. So I guess you could say I'm free to do what ever I want now couldn't you?" he said, and with a wave, his empty plate lifted off the table and dumped itself in the sink. The cleaning utensils set to work at cleaning it as if by magic one could say.

Harry stood up and smirked down at his cousin. "I'd stay away from me if I were you Dudders, without the restraints on my magic I'm more than you could possibly deal with, even with your little gang of misfits."

Dudley merely nodded, looking scared.

"Besides, you wouldn't want to put your dad through the expense of removing another tail now would you" Harry tossed over his shoulder as he walked out of the room. Still smiling by time, he reached his room he reached towards his cupboard. Then thought better of it, with a click of his fingers his clothing transfigured into things that fit and suited him. Dark pants, emerald green silk shirt and patent leather shoes.

"Cool" he said with a smirk. He mentally reached out and freed his owl from her confinement, the locks installed by his uncle turning into just so much goo. The snowy owl hopped onto his shoulder, being careful with her sharp talons not to hurt her master. "Why don't you spend the day hunting or something?"

She softly hooted at him, and he could swear that she was worried for him. "It's okay girl, they can't hurt me anymore. No one's going to hurt me ever again," he swore to her.

She appeared to mull this over, before unfurling her wings and giving them a flap. He moved across to the window, with a burst of magic the locks were melted away, and she was free to fly away. Yet she still paused. "It's okay, you'll be able to get back in, but I might not be in. I'm going to Diagon Alley today, I'm going to enchant and ward the door behind me so you'll be safe. Only I will be able to gain entry to this room from now on." he looked around and smirked. "I'm going to be making a few changes around here before I go out, so don't be shocked when you get back."

His familiar blinked . . . owlishly at him. As if, she knew any other way, and took off gliding out of the window into the fresh air of Little Hampton.

Harry watched her go with a smile on his face. He was finally declaring his independence, just as any 16 year, old should and he was going to do it with a bang. He was not going to let anyone dictate his life anymore. Not even his head master, who if he were honest with himself, he was not that angry with anymore. Sure it would have been nice to hear the prophesy earlier, but then what good would it have done him. It was not Dumbledore's fault that he had gone charging off to try to save his godfather and ended up putting him in danger that had concluded with him loosing his life. Yet again, it was not Harry that had Sirius taunting one of the most dangerous witches on the face of the planet either. That was all Sirius and a certain amount of arrogance. Nevertheless, it had taught Harry an important lesson. Do not get arrogant with an enemy no matter how much you think you have them under your control.

He turned his thoughts from his impending independence and the steps he would need to take. First, he had to make sure his room was safe, and became somewhere inhabitable. The knowledge he had gained from old Moldyshorts was not something that the man himself would really use. More it was something he had come across during his studies, but had retained in his mind. So while he would not necessarily be conscious of that knowledge. Harry was, even more so thanks to the study he had completed the night before.

He did have one problem though; he did not have any paint or implements. Then he chuckled at himself and focused on what he wanted. His magic did the rest and various items appeared on what passed for his desk. First things first he had to secure the room and key it to either his aura, or perhaps his blood.

He opened his door causing his Uncle to leap back in shock as he had just been passing by.

"Good morning Uncle!" Harry said cheerily.

The man himself grunted in response and ignored Harry as completely as he was able. Which was fine with the young wizard, instead he just focused on his door and began to design a schema that would turn his simple doorway into a secure entryway.

"What do you think you're doing boy?" his uncle demanded.

Harry had totally forgotten he was there, having assumed he had gone off in search for food. "Decorating." was his terse reply. "Got a problem with that?"

Vernon backed away with his hands raised in the air, "No, No, not at all. Just try not to make a mess, you know how your Aunt Petunia is." he said with false charm.

Harry smirked at himself. "Don't worry; when I'm done you won't be able to tell the difference between this door and any other. No mess either."

"Good, good." Vernon said, trying to get a closer look at the strange, to him, symbols being painstakingly and accurately detailed onto the white painted door.

"Just to warn you, once this is done you won't be able to enter the room." Harry said, feeling that since this was after all the mans house he should know what was going on, "once I leave for good, I'll remove the protection and leave the changes to the room in place."

"What changes?" Vernon asked, with a gleam in his eye.

"We freaks can make a room significantly bigger than the outside dimensions should allow. I was planning to make it into the size of a good single person flat. I expect Dudley would quite like it, but then you wouldn't want anyone to know that a freak had created it would you?" Harry said with a smirk.

"Urh..."

"That's what I thought. Either way I can leave it in place, or collapse it. It will be up to you when I come of age and get my own place." Harry said in a reasonable tone of voice, hiding a fully-fledged smirk.

"Right you are then boy, just be careful with that paint you hear!" Vernon said, bustling off rubbing his greedy little hands together at the thought of the extra room, he would have,

Harry ignored his exit and concentrated on his scheme.

-oOo-

After a couple of hours, he was just putting the final touches on the Runes and wards in his room. With a flourish, he added the final stroke, dived out of the open door, and watched as the room magically expanded before his proud gaze. This was more like it, he could possibly have done this with his new magical ability but he was not sure if it would maintain the size difference in his absence. Therefore, he decided to do it the 'hard' way. It was a quite complex and difficult branch of magic but ultimately satisfying in result.

The room shouldered its way into existence, giving the laws of physics the respect they deserved, in other words none at all. After about 5 minutes of magical expansion, it was ready for him to begin creating the decorations. He noticed that his calculations of the living area of his 'flat' were slightly out and that it was about a foot shorter than he had designed, and the kitchenette did not have the extra space. Which meant he was missing a good foot of space somewhere along the line, but he was not about to undo it for a foot. Therefore, he ignored it, hoping it would not be a problem later on.

He willed furnishings into place, a huge bed like his Hogwarts bed only twice the size, done out in Gryffindor colours, next was a desk in the study. Magical cooker, dishwasher and then onto the living room, which he filled with comfortable leather couches and a host of other bits and bobs, feeling the rush of power flowing through him he conjured a variety of other things he thought he might need, all of which popped into place as if by magic one could say.

He yet again decided that this was what true magic was about. He hated to paraphrase his most hated teacher, but no silly wand waving needed, just a thought, a bit of focus and the rush of pure unadulterated magic zipping through him to make his command a reality.

It was the work of an hour to finish his new abode, but when he was done, he was more than happy with the results.

He took a moment to admire his handy work, and then he keyed the wards to himself and his owl.

Now came the tricky bit, he knew the theory of apparition thanks to his mind dump, but doing it was another thing entirely. He was not even sure if it was a good idea to try without some backup. Then, did he have to use that method?

Therefore, he went with the flow as it were and willed himself from Surrey to Greater London, totally ignoring the anti-apparition wards in place around most of Diagon Alley. After all, he had not actually Appareted; he did not even have a name for what he had just done.

Still a little high on the power now at his disposal he tried to rein himself in. He knew by doing he was in effect learning to control the dizzying power flowing through him. Yet at the same time he had to make sure that, the power did not try to control him, or that he got complacent in its use.

He then noticed it was raining in London, while it had been quite sunny in Surrey. With a click of his fingers an umbrella appeared in his hand and a long heavy leather coat around his shoulders, now he looked like a cross between a Muggle and a wizard, he felt that it was quite a fitting look for someone that had a foot either side of the divide. The only problem he had left was his fame. He had noticed earlier that his scar had faded quite a bit, but it was still quite there. He had an almost iconic image as well, with his glasses, messy hair and scar. He wished he could glamour himself but in all the schoolwork, they had done on the subject his scar had still managed to show.

He tried willing it to disappear, but apparently there were still limits to what he could do. Eventually he conjured a skin toned plaster and put that in place instead. He took off his glasses, then focused with all his might and eventually the blurry back alley came into focus, while he could not fix everything, apparently he could fix that. It occurred to him that he should try to further disguise himself, but the truth be told, he was fed up with living in the shadows and hiding from everything and everybody. He just wanted to do a little shopping and perhaps visit with Fred and George. To that end his coat grew a hood which he pulled up which made viewing his face difficult at best. Then he ditched the no longer required 'brolly which went back to wherever these things do.

Then he walked out of the alleyway with a lot more confidence than he truly felt. After all the order could get in his way, or knowing his luck he could walk into the middle of a Death Eater attack. Shaking these thoughts from his mind, he made a beeline for Gringotts with long sure strides.

Luckily, the summer had seen some physical changes in young Harry and he had grown a little. Not a lot but hopefully not all the women in his year would be taller than him, as they had been previously. Though he still had a long, way to go before he approached Ron's height who it appeared grew like a weed. Whenever possible he had also been working out a little. Usually during the dead of night on Dudley's boxing equipment so a little bulk had appeared on his otherwise skinny frame. He still needed to bulk up a bit though if he was going to try to approach a normal size for his age. However, Quidditch and regular running for his life had bestowed a certain scrawny musculature on him. Therefore, he had a build more along the lines of a runner than a boxer say.

Therefore, he hoped that it would not be immediately obvious who he was by looking at his frame alone. With the hood masking his facial features and the odd, for Diagon Alley, clothing he figured he had a good chance.

It was not long before he approached the steps leading to the only Wizarding bank in the country. Ignoring the now familiar stares of the Goblin security guards, he strode into the bank and straight to a teller.

"Hi, I'd like to make a withdrawal." he said once the goblin had deigned to notice him.

"Key, Please"

"Here" Harry said handing over the small Gringotts key. Luckily, he had gotten it back from when Mrs. Weasley had done his shopping for him last year.

"Very well, do you wish to visit your vault or would a payment here suffice."

"Here's fine, I take it you just take the right amount from my vault later on?"

"That is correct Mr . . ."

"I'd rather you didn't mention my name" Harry cut in quickly.

"Very well... sir. The correct amount will merely be taken from your account when we next add interest or remove charges."

"What about Muggle currency, can I get any of that here?"

"How much do you require of each?"

Harry took that as a yes and rattled off a figure for each type of currency. It was more than he really needed but he was interested to see if the Goblin would do it or not. The teller placed his key in a special slot on his desk and read the writing on the parchment that appeared. "That's quite possible sir, though I would not suggest taking that much currency around on your person. Crime is up of late, especially in Muggle London."

"Is there another way?"

"We do a Credit Card, that is acceptable in both wizard and muggle shops. It is fairly new, but I believe if you spend enough time in each locale then it would be perfect for you. Do you intend to do a lot of business in muggle London?"

"Probably, I'd certainly like to sign up for a card."

"You know what a Credit Card is then... sir?"

"Yes, my uncle has several, my cousin even has one."

"Then if you would just step this way..." the Goblin said getting off his chair and leading Harry into an adjoining room. "Please fill out these forms and put them in that out tray. If your application is successful, a card shall be delivered in the in tray. It will then be encoded to your magical signature and be ready for immediate use."

"What about a pin number, for cash machines and the alike?"

"I see you truly do understand. A pin will be supplied. I would suggest that you memorize it here and destroy the parchment immediately."

Harry nodded and set to work on the Application form. There were the usual questions, name, age, birthday and the alike. His Gringotts vault number, and a few very odd questions about his linage and the type of hair cream he used. He thought it typical of the Wizarding world that they had to add the strangest of twists to an already monumental task such as a credit card application.

Still he answered every single weird question or otherwise and placed the completed parchment in the out tray. It twinkled into non-existence. He waited a full five minutes and was just beginning to worry it would be rejected when another twinkle heralded the arrival of a black and gold card bearing a dragon icon appeared. Apart from the somewhat unusual design, it could pass for any other credit card, including the usual line of incomprehensible numbers, expiration date and his name all in embossed letters.

He smiled, picked up the card and promptly signed the back with a flourish. As he did so, he felt a tingle on his fingertips as the card became keyed to his person. Presumably so no other could use the card without a nasty shock knowing the way goblins thought. He noticed that the card was not the only thing that had appeared. He picked up the small piece of parchment, briefly wondering why of all things wizards constantly used old, pricey and above all difficult to make paper. He read his pin and created a new room in his mental construct. He mentally labelled the door 'Finances' and filed the pin number in the correct place. With that done, a quick mental command incinerated the piece of antiquated paper. Which he dropped before it burnt him; it promptly burned to nothing before it even hit the floor.

He then pulled out his somewhat battered wallet, deciding there and then to buy a new one, and proudly placed the shiny new card in place. Then he put away the wallet and walked back to the same goblin he had been talking to before.

"You were approved, I take it?" the goblin asked.

"Yeah, I was just wondering something though?"

The goblin merely looked at him steadily.

"I've heard you have dragons guarding some vaults."

"It is true, yes."

"Can I see one?" Harry asked with a smile.

The goblin looked at him thoughtfully, "Kindly remove your hood for a moment please."

Harry darted a look around, "I'd rather not," he admitted.

"Then allow me to ... peer inside, something is blocking my view quite well considering we can normally see through such artifices."

Harry laughed, "Oh, sorry about that." he said and the blur that was his face formed to show him in all his scared glory.

The goblin nodded, "Thank you, in that case all things considered I believe I shall take you down."

Harry reset his hood while smiling, "Thank you." he said and followed the goblin to the vaults.

"One speed only," the goblin intoned by rite as the cart flew through the maze of corridors, almost coming off the tracks on a few corners.

"Whoa hoo" Harry cried out, "These carts are such a rush."

The goblin smiled thinly at him. "Most are sick," he admitted.

"What can I say? It takes more than that to make me sick."

"I'm not surprised," The goblin said with a smirk full of teeth. "Here, just around the next bend. I shall stop us here. I suggest you don't get too close. This particular specimen is a Hungarian Horntail. I believe you are familiar with the species."

"I'm surprised you'd have followed that farce of a tournament." Harry admitted.

"We Goblins follow many things; it is the way of business, which is why we are interested in you young Harry Potter."

Harry tensed slightly, his magic leaping to his aid.

The goblins eyes widened as he felt the build up of so much power in such a short time. "I assure you we mean you no harm my lord."

"Oh, ok. Most of the time when someone says they're interested in me it is to kill me." Harry said, taking his magic back under his full control.

"I quite understand. It is just from a business point of view, the Dark Lord is not good. That and you are shortly to come into rather a large amount of money via two estates. Then you can see why we would be interested."

"Estates?"

"The reading of Baron Black's will is to be held later on today. Surely you have heard by now that you are the principle."

"No one's told me." Harry said with some anger.

"I would suggest then, that you should find out for yourself. The reading is at 6pm tonight."

"Thank you... What is your name anyway?"

"My name is unimportant."

"Well thank you unimportant." Harry said with a smirk. He had a feeling that he had stepped into some sort of power play here, and he was not having any of it.

The goblin actually let out a dry chuckle before he caught himself and gave Harry a surprised look.

"I'm not quite what the press paint me as am I?" Harry said with a fully-fledged grin.

"Indeed you are not," The goblin admitted.

"Now let's take a look at this dragon. It'll be nice to see one close up without it trying to chase me all over the damn school grounds. Not to mention trying to burning me to a crisp." Harry said getting out of the cart.

The goblin followed a few paces behind him, checking something on his belt. After first discerning who his customer was, he had contacted his superiors and they had quickly given him instructions. If he could make further contact, he was to do so. He had done so, and was constantly being surprised, not only by the request but also by the very nature of Harry Potter. For one thing, he was an unusually powerful wizard. The device on his belt relayed every word back to the chairperson for analysis. He was sure that the Chairman was going to have a lot to think about that was for sure.

"Tell me my lord, what do you think of our service?"

"Why do you keep calling me that?" Harry asked distracted. He was peering around the corner of the track and looking at the large specimen of a dragon.

"It is your birthright from your father. This at least you must have been told. You are Lord Potter, the last in the line of Potters." the goblin said aghast.

"There are many things that I haven't been told. Apparently for my own safety," Harry grouched. "Though why that would be such a bloody secret I have no idea, I mean what does it really mean anyway?"

"For one thing my lord, it entitles you to respect from your peers, attending special functions, access to the Potter trust and since you are now 16 the freedom that any other member of the peerage enjoys."

"Such as?" Harry asked, turning back to face the Goblin.

"Because of the ancient nature of your blood line, you are no longer considered underage."

"WHAT?" he asked, a little too loudly. The sleeping behemoth guarding the next chamber was awoken. It moved far too quickly for something its size, its flame already coming to life.

The goblin looked up at his death, his thoughts turning to family as they do at times such as this. Then suddenly Harry stepped in front of the Dragon his aura flaring dramatically. The flame leapt from the Dragons mouth and speared towards them. Only to stop dead against Harry's inflamed aura leaving Human and Goblin untouched.

"PIPE DOWN!" Harry shouted.

"What in the Elder's name!" the dragon said.

Harry blinked hard, and carefully ran over what he had just heard again. Well it was a reptile, albeit a giant one. "We have only come to view you Dragon, not to rob the treasure you guard." he said in Parseltongue, though he found it strangely odd to do so to a giant lizard.

The dragon reared back, looking almost like it was going to attack. It was in fact in shock. "You speak the tongue?" it asked, despite the sibilant nature of Parseltongue its voice was deep and rich.

"I do, and apparently so do you." Harry said, smiling. 'God if Charlie or Hagrid could see me now' he thought to himself.

"All of our natures speak the tongue. Though you are not of our nature, how is it that you speak thusly?"

Harry shrugged, "I've no idea, I just can." he said allowing his aura to die down.

Harry's guide looked between the dragon and the wizard in shock. He had no idea that Harry was conversing with the dragon, only that he had saved him with a shocking display of power. Also that the dragon was now acting a little out of character. For one thing, they were not two charred husks on the cavern floor. A buzz on his communications device brought his attention to it. He reached down and attached the earpiece he retrieved to him.

"Gripshank, bring Lord Potter to my chambers when he has done taming our dragons!"

"It shall be done Chairman."

"This is truly a great day lord." the dragon said.

"Now you're doing it."

"Any such as yourself, a special being gifted with the tongue, should be respected. It has been hundreds of years if not longer since a human has communicated thus with one of my kind."

Harry bowed to the Dragon, "My name is Harry Potter, and you are."

"Thisilar the Indentured, Lord Harry."

"Indentured?" he asked.

"Because of my place within this" he looked around with obvious distaste, "Unfortunate abode."

"I'm sorry about that, I'd let you go but I don't think the goblins would like that. Nor do I have a way to get you out of here. Do you have contact with the other dragons here?"

"There are others of my kind here?"

Harry turned to Gripshank, "How many dragons to you... employ?" he asked.

"That is normally classified information my lord."

"I'm not going to tell anyone, other than Thisilar here."

"Who?"

"The dragon."

The goblin looked totally gob smacked. "20" he answered in a daze.

"20, dragons of various breeds I think." Harry told the dragon.

The dragon appeared not to hear him, then suddenly let out a gush of flame, that seemed to go on a while, then he focused on Harry again, "I can reach out to my brothers and sisters, there are indeed dragons here, this is a great day. If I had realized I would have contacted them earlier."

"You can then, contact them that is?"

"We have a way to communicate with others of our kind that you humans have yet to discover, or at least HAD yet to discover."

"I won't tell anyone."

The dragon let out another giant gout of flame. "The others are content with their roles in life. I am also now more content, knowing that I will at least have company."

Harry was seriously contemplating just how cool it would be to be a Dragon Animagus; they were such intelligent and eternal beings. He smiled sheepishly when he realized just how much he was thinking like Hagrid. Then it suddenly occurred to him, why the hell shouldn't he be one. It was of course dependent on him having the power for such a massive change in his physical being, but given his new found knack for working directly with his magic... It could be possible, all he needed was somewhere with enough space to actually try it out. There was of course always the possibility he could be stuck during the change, but the benefits surely outweighed the risk on this occasion.

Oh and being spotted in the muggle world could be a problem as well.

"Thisilar, is there a way for dragons to ... not be noticed? Invisibility or something like that?"

The dragon pondered this for a moment, "When I was but a hatchling my mother told me a story that had been passed down from mother to clutch. There once existed a dragon of such abilities a king amongst us. A black drake that could remain invisible if he so wished, fly into the heavens and was an amazing warrior, that dragon was in fact one such as yourself."

"A human?"

"A source"

"A source?"

"A source of magic, you showed me your true state of being earlier when you protected the sharp toothed one that still cowers behind you. There have been legends of ones such as you, but not for a thousand years."

Harry blanched slightly, "A source of magic."

"The humans, they try to tame magic with ridiculous ritual and waiving of their twigs. I have seen the paltry power of the ones they bring to ensure the ..."

"What?"

"I am unsure of the word, protections perhaps, yes that will do. The protections of the vaults I guard. Their power is dim and unfocused. Your power is... unchained, alive and bright. As such was described to me by my mother."

Harry thought this over.

A cleared throat caused him to redirect his attention to the goblin who was looking scared witless in his wake. "Yes?" Harry asked, clearly thinking about something else.

"Chairman Fliptrask requests an audience with you Milord"

Harry nodded, "Could you bring me back down here afterwards, Thisilar and I are having a very interesting conversation."

"Of course Milord"

"Enough with the Milord's and stuff call me Harry." Harry said, already turning back to the large dragon. "I have to go for a while Thisilar, but I intend to return so you can continue to tell me more of this. Would that be okay?"

"As my lord commands." the dragon said, actually bowing and causing the goblin to have kittens, if such a thing was physically possible.

"If you will follow me Milord... Erh… Harry."

Harry nodded, still mulling this new information over. Not really taking much notice of what was going on around him. He did not even notice the trip back, or the fact his magic was holding him in cushioned place in the cart.

The goblin led him from the vault entrance to a set of quite grand stairs and up to the very top of the bank, which like most things in the Wizarding world was actually somewhat higher than the outside should allow.

He finally snapped out of it as he was led to a massive ebony door with dragon skull handles. Harry growled at the sight, his magic flared and they were replaced with grand gold handles.

Gripshank goggled at the change, but wisely kept his own council. A remarkable change had happened to the affable Harry Potter since his discussion with the dragon, or whatever he had been doing. Power was humming around him at an almost constant rate now, and it was raising every single hair on the small creature's body. Not to mention that when he had growled it had sent a shiver of fear straight to his heart.

"Chairman Fliptrask, may I introduce his Lordship Harry Potter."

"Thank you Gripshank. Milord, please come in and take a seat. I see you disliked my door decorations. Sorry about that they have been here for many years, some time before I took the post."

"Sorry, but I've just had a discussion with one of the things you were using as decoration. I took exception. I hope I can convince you to treat your dragons somewhat more hospitably." Harry said with a slight scowl.

Fliptrask blinked, "I think" he said slowly, "That is entirely possible My Lord."

"Please, just call me Harry."

"I understand ... Harry... that you were unaware of the reading that is due to be held here tonight?"

"That is correct." Harry said with a nod.

"I think perhaps, all things considered we should do a private reading before the event. I am sure you wish your- freedom, to be kept a secret."

"You know about the safe guards Dumbledore has put in place then?"

"You ARE important to the future of this world I believe. I don't know why, but prominent wizards such as Professor Dumbledore do not take such an interest in random students."

"It's funny, by focusing on me so much he's actually brought more attention down on me than if he'd just treated me normally, though I suppose this Boy-Who-Lived crap has something to do with it."

"Doubtless."

"Well I would indeed be grateful for a private reading, if that's acceptable. I can then sign anything that needs signing. I understand that I am able to do such things now. But I'm quite keen to go back to Thisilar and continue my conversation."

"You were… conversing with a dragon, may I ask how?"

"You can ask." Harry said with a smile to take the bite out of his words.

Fliptrask laughed slightly, "Very well. A man that likes his privacy, I can deal with that."

"Your aide asked what I think of your service. I have to say, other than the way you treat dragons, I like it."

"So you would be willing to keep us as your bank."

"Of course"

"This is wonderful news. I shouldn't tell you this but the combined Black/Potter trusts are substantial, if you were to remove them we would not be in trouble. Our investment portfolio would certainly suffer though."

"Oh yes, I remember reading something about the way banks made money now, though I would also like advice on how to do some investment of my own."

"I'm sure that can be arranged Milord... Sorry... Harry."

"Then Fliptrask, I think we're in business. Of course, I actually have no idea of my holdings."

"Really, we send out statements to your guardian every month."

"Who is my supposed guardian?"

"Why it's Professor Dumbledore."

"Now I'm of age, I should like those statements delivered to me instead, and any access that Dumbledore has to my accounts to be removed." Harry said with a horrible feeling in his gut.

"I can get you a statement now, if you have either your key or card on you." Fliptrask told him with a serious look on his face.

Harry handed over his key since it was closer to hand.

A few moments later a sheet of parchment appeared in the chairperson's in tray, which was then promptly handed to Harry.

He scanned it over, with an overwhelming feeling of relief. Nothing had been removed from his account at all since his parents had died, other than the removals he himself had made from his trust fund. He blew out a breath, "Thank god for small mercies." he said.

"I take it all is as it should be."

Harry nodded, "Thankfully yes. I had a horrible feeling for a minute there."

"Professor Dumbledore can occasionally be short sighted, but he is an honourable man." Fliptrask said, "But it is always a good thing to be sure." he finished with a smile. "Now the will"

Harry nodded and mentally steeled himself. "I can tell you Harry this is going to cause quite a stir." Fliptrask said with every sign on glee.

"How so?"

"For one thing you are the principle; Sirius Black has made you his sole Heir, Meaning that others that would normally be able to make a claim on the estate have not a leg to stand on."

"Who... Oh Mrs. Malfoy"

"Actually, Mr Malfoy Junior would be the most likely claimant. Old estates such as this are quite patriarchal."

"What of Goblins, what are you?" Harry asked curiosity getting the better of him.

"A wizard interested in the inner workings of the Goblin Nation?" Fliptrask asked.

"If it's rude, then I apologize, I am merely curious. I know a lot about the revolutions, but other than that I don't think any wizard actually knows diddlysquat about Goblins."

"You may very well be right. We are actually matriarchal. Our queen is very old, about two hundred years old, but when she passes one of her daughters will take her place. Our religion is also female led. But at the same time Males tend to run the business side of our nation."

"Fascinating" Harry said honestly. "I'd like to ask more at some point if that's alright."

"It would be a rare pleasure." Fliptrask admitted.

"Well back to the will."

"I can do a full reading or go over the highlights if you'd prefer. You don't strike me as one to stand on ceremony."

"I'm not, and I really am quite keen to talk to Thisilar again, then I have to go into Muggle London and use my card a bit I think."

"I could key your card to your full... wealth if you wish."

Harry nodded, "I think that could be useful. What's the limit on the card?"

"Limit?" Fliptrask asked as Harry retrieved the small black plastic card.

Harry handed it over, "Muggle cards usually have a spending limit, to make sure that people can't spend too much money and owe the issuer a lot of money they don't have. There are also the repayment interests to be taken into account."

Fliptrask's eyes lit up, "Interest hey. Spending limits, this is fascinating information. We had no idea, we only knew that they existed and seemed like a good idea."

"The thing is with a credit card is that normally you are spending money that you don't literally have on your person. In effect, they are normally used as short-term loans. Though there are some cards, called Debit Cards that are linked directly with the account they draw money from."

"Debit Card" Fliptrask said, taking notes on some parchment, "the interest rate for these?"

"Debit Cards virtually nothing unless you go over drawn. But with credit cards it can be anything from 9% APR, to 30%"

"APR?"

"Annual Percentage Rate, but this is where I've run out of information for you; I don't really understand that part of it myself."

"I think we can work with this all the same."

"Can I keep mine drawing directly from my funds" Harry said, nodding at the as yet unchanged card.

"Oh, sorry I was totally distracted for a moment there. Indeed and I think an inventors fee should be added also."

"I didn't really invent the idea." Harry told him.

"Still you brought it to my attention. You have no idea just how much money we could make from this idea." Fliptrask said excitedly.

Harry laughed, "Just keep my name out of it, or I'll be lynched when people start being unable to keep up with their payment plans."

"Well we can't let people get into too much debt with us, which I suppose is where these credit limits come in."

"Also card limits are partially based on the worth of someone, the amount they earn etcetera." Harry informed the wide-eyed goblin.

"I see." was the amused reply as Fliptrask ran Harry's card through a slot on his desk. There was a feel of magic in the air, which quickly dissipated. "Here Harry, this is your card back. We've already combined the Black vaults with the Potter Trust as per the instructions."

"What does that mean exactly?"

"Essentially Baron Black decided that the Black family should be merged with the Potter family, or engulfed would perhaps be a better description. Essentially all Black holdings are now Potter holdings other than the items listed in the will."

"Who gets what?" Harry wanted to know.

"Remus Lupin receives 50,000 galleons. The Weasley family receives 5,000 each. Professor Dumbledore gets the property Grimmauld place. Though I see no other sign of it in the holdings reports, the Weasley twins also get a number of interesting books from Baron Black's personal collection."

Harry smirked, no doubt Marauder type tomes.

"Narcissa Malfoy is given 25,000 galleons if she meets certain requirements. The divorce from Mr Malfoy being one, a signed affidavit to the effect that she is not a Death Eater and never has been, plus some other minor things... oh that's interesting, she must also agree to personally act as your social secretary."

"What?" Harry asked bemused.

"As a member of the Peerage, and a person of note on your own rights, well let's just say your social calendar could be quite busy. Someone such as Mrs. Malfoy could be very useful to you."

"Hmmm" Was all that Harry was willing to say to that.

"That's about it really, apart from a few minor amounts of money; everything else goes to you to be dissolved into the Potter Trust, which by itself was large, with the inclusion of the Black Estate. Let's just say you are probably the wealthiest young man in England."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Something else for people to make a fuss about." he sighed. "Oh well, not much I can do about it."

"You could in fact spend solidly from now until your twentieth birthday without making much of a dent thanks to your interest payments. Not to mention the long-term investments you have. You will certainly not want for anything for the rest of your natural life. Unless something very drastic happens, such as a complete crash in the market, even then you could probably weather the storm."

Harry laughed, "Well I don't think I'll do the solid spending thing, but I certainly have a few things I want."

"As any young man your age should." Fliptrask commented, "There is one other thing, a simple message."

Harry cocked an eyebrow.

"From Sirius, 'Harry have fun while you can and don't let it all get you down.'"

Harry smiled softly, he was right. His Godfather would want him to be happy. He had even said as much. "Thank you Chairman Fliptrask."

"Now I suppose you'll want to talk to your dragon friend"

"Alone if possible"

"I will have someone take you down and as long as you're sure of your safety... They will leave and pick you up at ...?"

"What time is it?"

"20 past 4"

"6 pm"

"The others mentioned in the will are due to arrive at that time." Fliptrask warned him.

"That's not going to be a problem," Harry said pulling up his hood, which at some point had fallen down.

"Ahh, I see. A most excellent enchantment" Fliptrask said admiringly. "Then I thank you for you time Milord. I hope to meet you again, any time you need to talk about anything please do contact me."

Harry smiled, "Thank you" he said.

Fliptrask rang a small bell and the large doors opened to show Gripshank waiting somewhat nervously.

"Yes I do believe I prefer your handles much better." Fliptrask commented as Harry left. Who laughed and followed Gripshank out of the room.

"Where to Milord?"

"Back to Thisilar please Gripshank."

-oOo-

"Well, the information you've given me will help a great deal Thisilar. I can't thank you enough" Harry said sometime later, "My ride is due back here any minute now, so I'm afraid I'll have to cut this short."

"I hope to speak to you once again Lord," the dragon rumbled.

"I as well, I think I will try my transformation in a few days time." Harry said thoughtfully.

"Once you do, you will know how to contact me," Thisilar said cryptically.

"So you're not going to tell me what all that flaming is about then?"

"Only that it covers great distances when needed."

"So why have you not contacted your family."

"I have none to contact."

"I'm sorry about that. I also have very little in the way of family, and those I have I wish I didn't know."

The dragon bowed before him again, "Go well, and feel the lift beneath your wings young dragon hearted one."

Harry bowed back, "May your fire always be hot Thisilar."

Just then, the rumbling and screeching of an incoming cart warned them of impending visitors. Harry pulled up his hood again and his face was immediately unrecognizable. The shadows seemed to leap up around him and hid him from view.

Thisilar chuckled to himself as the weak sharp-toothed creature looked around in puzzlement.

"Milord?" Gripshank called out.

"I'm here," Harry, said stepping out from the shadows and scaring the living heck out of the goblin.

Refusing to clutch his heart, either of them, Gripshank bowed, "You transport Milord."

"Thank you Gripshank." Harry said, stepping into the cart. The truth was he could quite possibly leave via the method he had gotten to London in the first place. He just was not sure he would not damage the wards though and did not want to risk hundreds of people's money just so he could make a quick exit.

He spent the ride just enjoying the rush of speed combined with ups, downs, twists and turns. Getting off the other end with a wide smile, he walked into the lobby and came to a stand still as he spotted the white hair and beard of his headmaster. The old wizard turned around and looked right at him, Harry held his breath. Then the venerable mans gaze continued unabated and he breathed a sigh of relief. Apparently, his hood was doing its job. Not wanting to push his luck, he made his way confidently through the quite lobby and into the cool evening air.

He took a breath of sweet, mostly fresh, air. He had been down in the vaults of Gringotts for the last few hours and most of the day had passed him by. Thisilar was an intelligent conversationalist and possibly, he had found one of the few sources of information available about his new status. Though apparently it was not that new, he had just been unlocked as it were. His full potential reached because of his bully of an uncle. He would have to find some way of thanking him properly, one that did not include the man waking up with purple hair or, no hair at all come to think of it.

Harry meandered through Diagon Alley, slightly disappointed that the twins had obviously closed up for the reading, and that most of the shops were in fact closing. Which he supposed was likely to be happening out in the muggle part of London as well.

That did not deter him though; he had not been out at night for quite some time, certainly not since becoming a 'teen'.

He walked to the entrance of Diagon Alley, reached out and tapped the correct brick. The entranceway came into view and he walked through it and into the pub that served as perimeter guard. Ignoring the customers in the pub itself, he walked to the front entrance and out into muggle London.

Smiling slightly he pulled back his hood and picked a random direction.