Harry Potter and Changing Destinies

Chapter 5

Griphook looked up in surprise at the loud pop that resounded through his office.

“Lord Potter! We’ve been expecting you.”

Harry’s jaw dropped open at what he heard Griphook say. He looked at Hermione whose face mirrored the surprise that he felt.

“Lord? What do you mean Lord?’ Harry asked.

“Well you are Lord Potter now,” Griphook replied, “We just need you to sign a few things.”

Harry looked at his companions quickly coming to a decision. Somehow he knew that whatever Griphook had to tell him he did not want anyone to hear yet.

“Before we get started Griphook would you please have someone escort Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley to my vault please?” Harry asked handing over the key to his vault.

“Of course Lord Potter,” Griphook answered.

Hermione pulled Harry aside and asked him quietly, “Are you sure you want us to go to your vault Harry?”

“Yes, Mione I’m sure. Get what you need from there and then go buy the supplies that we will need. I will meet up with you after I’m done here.”

Hermione nodded then she and Ron left the room. Once they were gone Harry looked at Griphook.

“Now what do you mean you’ve been expecting me?”

“Well to be honest Lord Potter we’ve been expecting you to claim your inheritance for the last year,” Griphook answered.

“Please call me Harry. Why the past year? What inheritance?”

“The Black and Potter inheritances my Lord Harry.”

“But I did receive Sirius’s house? What other inheritance is there?”

Griphook looked shocked, “You were Lord Black’s only heir weren’t you?”

“Well according to Dumbledore was, but I was told that I had inherited only the house and Kreacher.”

“Yes you did but you also inherited his title plus the entire Black Family fortune. You were also emancipated.”

Harry stood up quickly the anger radiating off of him. “What! You mean to tell me that I have been an adult in the wizarding world since Sirius died? Who knew about this!?!”

Griphook also stood, “Lord Potter, Harry please calm down. It was not my intention to upset you.”

Harry sat down as Griphook continued, “Yes you have been an adult and able to claim your inheritance since Lord Black died. Dumbledore was aware of this fact as he had been the executor of your parents’ and Lord Black’s estates. Now in order for you to claim both the Potter and Black estates I need a drop of your blood.”

Harry held his hand out as Griphook took a small knife and slashed across his palm. As Griphook massaged a drop of blood on to two separate sheets of parchment Harry’s mind was going a million miles an hour.

“How could Dumbledore keep this from me? He KNEW I was Sirius’s heir. He even told me that I had inherited his house but to not tell me that I had inherited his title and money? Not to mention that MY FATHER was a Lord and that I am Lord Potter! Ice was right I didn’t even question what he told me. Shit Ice, I just left without telling her anything. She is going to kill me,” Harry’s thoughts were interrupted as Griphook cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry Griphook but this has all been a little much.”

“I understand Harry. You’re blood was accepted. You are now Harry James, Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble Houses of Potter and Black. You will now be known as Lord Potter-Black,” Griphook stood, “Please allow me to escort you to the Potter Family vault.”

Harry was dumbfounded, “I thought that I had already inherited the Potter vault?”

Griphook chuckled, “No Harry your vault is the Potter Trust vault and the only vault that Dumbledore was able to get a key for.’

Harry followed Griphook into the cart preparing for the roller coaster ride he knew was going to come. As they went down he couldn’t help but wonder what he would find.

The cart stopped in front of a large vault door. Griphook stepped out and waited for Harry to follow. Harry looked at Griphook and said, “I have no key.”

Griphook looked at Harry, “There is no key no this vault. After I placed your blood on the parchment you are now the only person who can access this vault and the Black vault. All you have to do is place your hand on top of the Griffin’s head.”

Harry placed his hand on top of the Griffin and watched as the door to his vault swung open. He stepped inside and his mouth dropped open.

“Lord Potter-Black, when you are done the cart will be here waiting for you,” Griphook said.

“Thank you Griphook,” Harry replied as he stepped further into his vault. He had never seen so much money in his life and yet there was so much more than money. His vault was filled, he couldn’t believe the amount of artifacts that he had in his vault. Obviously the Potter family had been around for a long while. Just as he thought this he noticed a large tapestry.

Walking over to it he noticed that it was the Potter Family Tree. Located at the very top was a name he had never even heard of. Who was Ignotus Peverell? As Harry looked closer his eyes widened Godric Gryffindor? Rowena Ravenclaw? He was descended from two of the founders of Hogwarts? He smiled as he found his father and mother and traced his finger over his name. Then a small connecting his father’s name with another caught his eye. Marion Alexis Potter.

“A sister? My dad had a twin sister?” he thought.

Then he noticed the name of Marion’s husband. Anthony VanLint.

“No that’s not possible,” Harry thought, “It can’t be.” He looked down below Anthony and Marion’s names, Harry’s heart stopped and he sat down hard as he read the name of their child Alexis Cornelia VanLint. Then he noticed the same line between his name and Alexis.

“Oh, bloody hell. Ice is my cousin.” Harry thought as he saw a small envelope with his name written on it. Picking it up he opened it with shaking fingers and pulled out a piece of parchment. Harry made himself comfortable and began to read.

“My dear son,

If you are reading this, my worst fear has come true and Voldemort has found your mother and I. First Son, I want to tell you that Lily and I loved you very much and we never wanted you to grow up without us. I’m certain you have a lot of questions right now as this letter was charmed to appear only after you have discovered the Family Tree. Yes the Potter family is descended from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, but you are not the heir of both. First you must understand that Godric and Rowena were elementals. Godric could control fire and Rowena could control water. After their child was born a prophecy was made that only a brother and sister of great power would have the ability to control the elements. Many generations went by with no child showing the power. When my twin sister Marion and I were born our parents were hopeful that we were the brother and sister of the prophecy. Unfortunately my sister was a squib. After Marion married Anthony and I married Lily both she and Lily became pregnant. Your cousin Alexis was born five months before you were. When you were born Marion brought Alexis to meet you.

Alexis grabbed your hand and a blinding flash of blue and red light engulfed both of you. Once that happened Marion and I realized that you and Alexis were the heirs yet you were not siblings. We contacted Dumbledore and a ceremony was performed making you and Alexis’s brother and sister. Yes Harry you are the heir of Godric Gryffindor and control fire. Your sister Alexis is the heir of Rowena Ravenclaw and she can control water. However we found out that your powers were more than any of us could imagine. I have enclosed a picture for you to show what I mean!

Harry laid his father’s letter down and reached into the envelope. Pulling out the wizarding picture he looked at the two babies sitting on the floor. As he watched Baby Alexis raised her hands and shot a stream of ice towards Baby Harry who laughing raised his hands shooting a stream of fire at the ice giggling as the ice sizzled and melted. Harry put the picture down and picked up the letter continuing to read.

“As you can see from the picture Harry the two of you can not only control fire and water but you can actual throw it. That picture was not a one time deal. Your favorite game with Alexis was to throw fire and ice at each other just to make it melt.

After we found out about the prophecy that told us that you would be the one to defeat Voldemort. We realized that you and Alexis were in grave danger. As Marion and Anthony were both squibs Dumbledore placed a bind on Alexis’s magic leaving her only a slight power. A block was placed on you so that no one would know the true extent of your power. Lily and I went into hiding with you and Marion and Anthony took Alexis to the VanLint Island to live telling the wizarding world that she had no magic. To my sorrow I will probably never see my sister again in this world.

Lily and I made Dumbledore promise that you and Alexis would be reunited after you started Hogwarts and that your training would begin.

Harry I am so sorry that Lily and I were not there to see you grow. I want you to know that you are my greatest joy and I love you more than anything in this world. I will always be watching over you, Son.

Your Loving Father,

James”

Harry placed his father’s letter and the picture of him and Ice carefully back into the envelope. Many conflicting emotions were going through his soul. Sorrow for the father he never knew and for the aunt and uncle he didn’t know he had. Anger at Dumbledore for once again keeping the truth from him and yet a strong feeling of happiness as he realized that he had a family.

“No wonder I’ve always felt like Ice was like a sister to me, she IS my sister!” he thought with tears streaming down his face and pulled out his mirror.

“Ice.”

“What do you want Potter,” Alexis’s angry voice came over his mirror.

Harry winced Alexis only called him Potter when she was very pissed at him.

“Ice, Ali look I’m sorry,” Harry didn’t get to finish as Ali interrupted him.

“Sorry? You can take sorry and shove it Potter. In the years we have been friends you have never hurt me like you did when you left. You ran out of my room after you destroyed it with your magic then left with no note, no nothing telling me that you were gone. Do you have any idea how scared I was that night? Or do you even care!?!”

“Ice.”

“Don’t call me Ice, Potter you lost that right after you left the way you did.”

“Fine Alexis, I’m sorry I left the way I did but I was pissed at you, myself, and a little scared. I never should have gone the way I did and I’m sorry. Look you have been my friend for four years, do you really want to throw that away?”

“No and I’m sorry to Harry. I never should have said the things that I did. It is none of my business.”

“No, Ali you had every right to ask me those things but that’s not what I contacted you.”

“What’s going on, Ash?”

Harry smiled by Ali calling him Ash he knew they were okay. “Well I’m in the Potter Family vault and found out some very interesting things. For one I am the heir of Godric Gryffindor.”

“Really? Wait didn’t Gryffindor marry Rowena Ravenclaw? Are you that heir too?”

“Yes and No.”

“What do you mean yes and no?”

“Yes, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw were married but no I am not the heir of Ravenclaw.”

“Then who is Ash?”

“Well that’s the interesting thing Ice. It turns out that my father had a twin sister who had a daughter only five months older than me. When my cousin and I were babies it was discovered that we were the heirs so a ceremony was performed making my cousin my older sister.”

“Cool Ash! You’ve always wanted a brother or sister. Who is it and can you find her?”

Harry laughed, “Oh, yes I can find her. She is the only daughter of Anthony and Marion VanLint.”

Ali’s eyes got wide and her mouth dropped open at Harry’s words.

“Wha-What!?! You mean me? How can I be the one? I have no magic Ash. I can’t be your adopted sister, let alone the heir of Ravenclaw.”

“Ice, listen to me. You are my sister. Think about how close we are and how quickly we connected after we met. Didn’t you feel that we had known each other our whole lives?”

“You’re right, Ash. That explains so much. Wow no wonder I have always felt like you were like my brother. You ARE my brother.”

“And you’re not a squib Ice you’re a witch. You have power but a bind was placed on you,” Harry watched as Ali’s face never changed, “You don’t seem surprised Ice?”

“That’s because I’m not Ash. While Draco and I have been training I’ve noticed that I can do some magic. What makes us so special as the heirs?”

“We have inherited the elemental powers of fire and water that Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had. I can control fire and you can control water.”

“But there is more isn’t there?”

Harry grinned he could never hide anything from Ice. “Yes there is. I found a picture of us when we were a year old. Our favorite game to play was you throwing ice at me and I would throw fire at you just so we could watch the ice melt.”

Ali burst out laughing her whole face lighting up, “I can throw ice? And you can throw fire? Oh Harry that is so funny.”

“Why Ice?” and as he asked the question the reason came to him.

“Oh, man our nicknames for each other. How ironic is that Ali?”

“Very, Ash, considering that I got mine because Lucius Malfoy said I was as cold as ice.”

As Ali laughed Harry realized that he needed to get going.

“Ice I need to go. You need to come to Diagon Alley and claim your inheritance and get a wand. From what I understand your elemental power won’t be released until you do. Have Malfoy apparate you here but please be careful. Moldyshorts controls the Ministry.”

“I will Ash. Can I explain all of this to Draco?”

“You are going to have to as I need him to train you. I have a feeling that I’m going to need both of you during the final battle.”

“Alright. Keep in contact Ash, I love you brother.”

“I will. I love you too sis.”

Harry watched as Ali’s face faded from his mirror. As he got up he noticed a jewelry box and another letter. Putting both into his pocket he walked out of the Potter vault where Griphook was waiting for him.

“Griphook, would you please escort me to the Black family vault?”

“Of course, Harry. Please follow me.”

Harry climbed into the cart. Again as the cart followed the roller coaster tracks to the Black vault his mind wandered. He was still in shock over everything that he had learned. No wonder he had felt that instant connection with Ali. She was his sister.

“I can’t wait to tell Mione that I have a sister. Ice was right about so many things. I wonder is she right about my feelings towards Mione? Do I feel more than friendship for her? Am I willing to risk it?” Harry looked up as the cart came to a stop. Stepping out he noticed that like his Potter vault there was no place for a key. Trusting his instincts he placed his hand on to the large snake emblem like the Potter’s griffin. As the door opened he stepped inside not knowing what he would find.