Chapter Text
Harry went to bed after the row with Ron. Putting up silencing wards as was habit of all the boys in the dorm after they learned that spell. Harry went into an uneasy sleep.
Suddenly Harry woke to pain all over but worse in his eyes, ears, fingers, and jaw. The pain lasted what seemed like forever but was probably only two hours, then it suddenly stopped altogether.
Harry sat up trying to ascertain what had just happened. All he could tell was that he could see better than he had ever been able to with glasses. He could even see the weave of the fabric making up the curtains around his bed. Roving his tongue around his teeth he noticed his canines were too sharp. Freaking out a bit Harry checked the time to see if Hermione might be awake. Seeing that it was 5am he thought she just might be.
Quickly getting dressed and going to the common room he saw that Hermione wasn’t quite there yet. Despairing, he wrote a note and used the spell that was often used in class to pass notes, sending it up to Hermione’s dorm. Waiting impatiently for Hermione to come down, Harry paced in front of the fire. It only took five minutes for Hermione to come down the stairs.
“What’s wrong Harry?” Hermione asked.
Harry told her about waking up in pain and the changes he noticed.
Right as he finished telling her, tapping came on the window and they saw an owl. Letting the owl in Harry took the letter with a Gringotts’ seal and addressed to him. Opening it up it read:
Dear Mister Potter-Prince
We are writing to you to inform you that because of your accepted participation in the Triwizard Tournament you have been emancipated. You are now eligible to claim your Lordships.
Also, it has come to the attention of Gringotts that you have come into your magical and creature inheritance. For further information regarding this please come to Gringotts at your earliest convenience. This letter will act as a portkey with the activation phrase of ‘Gold Ever Flowing.’
May your gold ever flow
Ironclaw
Potter Account Manager
“What?!” Harry said alarmed.
“What is it?” Hermione asked, she then read the letter that Harry shoved at her. “Oh, well that explains the pain you woke up to. It was your creature inheritance coming early.”
“I have a creature inheritance. No one has ever told me. And why do they call me Potter-Prince? As far as I know my mum’s last name was Evans before she got married, not Prince. And lordships as in plural?! How can I have one, much less more?! Why has no one ever told me?!” Harry was visibly panicking now.
“Harry calm down. Breathe. In, out.” Hermione said soothingly, getting Harry to breathe with her. “We can go to the goblins, and they will explain everything, I am sure.” Harry nodded, breathing easier and less panicked. “We can go after lunch since we don’t have any classes then and be back for dinner.”
“Yes, that would be good.” Harry said, “What creature do you think I am though?”
“I don’t know.” Hermione said looking pained, “I haven’t researched the possibilities yet since it normally happens when someone turns 17 and we have a couple years before that happens. I do know that it is pretty rare though and only some families will have a creature inheritance show up regularly. The Malfoys have Veela blood, but they rarely get the inheritance. It does show up in their hair and eye color.”
“Why do you know about the Malfoys?” Harry asked, lips quirking up in amusement.
“I looked into their family line during second year to see if they were related to Salazar Slytherin.” Hermione said as if it was the most normal course of action, which for her it was, Harry thought to himself with a chuckle. “The records didn’t go back farther than when they came from France even though they married English women. Back that far they didn’t even indicate which families the women came from half the time.” Hermione looked affronted at this.
“You know that was probably because they were muggleborn and didn’t want it shown on records.” Harry said with a grin. Hermione grinned back chuckling at the thought.
By this time, it was 6am and people were starting to come down from the dorms.
“Harry go grab your glasses quick. I can spell them so there is no prescription anymore.” Hermione whispered urgently. At Harry’s confused look she went on, “Unless you want people to stare at you more wondering where your glasses went.”
“Oh bugger.” Harry said and ran up to his dorm grabbing his glasses and his books for his classes; transfiguration, and charms.
“Here Hermione.” Harry said after bounding back into the room. She quickly transfigured the lenses into non-prescription and handed them back to him.
“Want me to look over your transfiguration essay?” Hermione asked.
“Yeah, that’d be great.” Harry said handing over the parchment.
They spent the time until 7am going over their homework along with other Gryffindors when Ron finally came down from the dorm. Ron glanced at Hermione with Harry then went away and left to breakfast by himself.
“Ron is a git.” Harry said seething “He thinks I put my name in and didn’t let him come along.”
“He is being a git, but I don’t think that he really believes that you put your name in the goblet. He is just being jealous that it is not him that is getting, as he sees it, the glory.”
“Doesn’t he realize that I could die in the tournament? That any of the champions could die?” Harry said incensed.
“No, I don’t think so. He doesn’t really understand that people our age can die. Most children and teens don’t understand this, Harry. And Ron has led a very sheltered life with his family. The biggest worry he has really is people seeing him for himself and not his brothers. You have encountered You-Know-Who twice since starting school and came close to dying both times and almost had your soul sucked out last school year. Ron didn’t and while at the time was scared, he did not get hurt badly and only remembers them as adventures.” Hermione explained. “Most teens don’t have life and death experiences and don’t realize that they can die pretty easily. My parents have said that teens think themselves immortal and while no teen is going to say that, they still have that mentality and so will go into dangerous situations without thinking that they could die.”
“I guess that makes sense.” Harry said contemplatively, “Ron is still being a git though.”
Hermione laughed and nodded, “Yes, he is. Shall we go down to breakfast?”
“Let’s.”
When they arrived at the great hall, Hermione filled her plate with her normal breakfast foods while Harry looked at the food with barely concealed disgust.
“What’s wrong Harry?” Hermione asked confused.
“Um… I’m just not hungry this morning.” Harry said nonchalantly while giving her a significant look.
“Okay.” Hermione shrugged seemingly unbothered, but Harry could see her brain working out what it could mean.
Hermione ate quickly and then they headed up to the transfiguration classroom to wait.
“So, not actually hungry or nothing looked good?” Hermione asked in a whisper while making sure no one was around including portraits.
“Both, kind of, everything looked disgusting, but I am only a little hungry, I think. It is not quite the same feeling if I wanted food but there is something I want. I just have no idea what. And it isn’t very strong. I can definitely wait for food or whatever.” Harry said, trying to explain as best he could.
With that they spoke more about classwork so that when people started to arrive, they weren’t found whispering.
Classes went off without many issues except Ron ignoring Harry completely and ignoring Hermione when she was speaking to Harry. They had lunch where Harry again did not eat although he pretended to just in case anyone had noticed he hadn’t had breakfast. This was a strong possibility with all the staring happening.
“Ready Harry?” Hermione asked, “We should go do our homework.”
“Yeah, let’s go.” With that Harry and Hermione left the great hall. “Where should we take the portkey from?” Harry whispered.
“Do you have your cloak and map?” Hermione asked.
“Yeah.”
“Check the map then. How about reprising second year?” Hermione suggested with a grin.
“Sure.”
After checking to make sure the coast was clear they made their way to the girl’s bathroom on the second floor. Luckily Moaning Myrtle wasn’t in view though they could hear her crying in the u-bend. Both of them held onto the letter and Harry whispered, “Gold ever flowing” and they were whisked away.
They landed in a room that had a couple chairs in what was clearly Gringotts. Harry quickly removed the cloak and shoved it in his bag. Just in time for a goblin to enter the room.
“Hello Griphook.” Harry said with a smile “I received a letter from Ironclaw about my inheritance. It said to come at my earliest convenience. Is now a suitable time?”
Griphook looked baffled by Harry for a minute before saying, “Yes, he is available to see you. I can take you there.”
“Thank you. Is it alright if Hermione comes with?” Harry asked.
“You may bring whomever you wish. It is your account information that you may choose to share with anyone or not.” Griphook stated then led the way out of the waiting room and to Ironclaw’s office. “Mister Potter to see you,” Griphook said after opening the door and ushering them into the room.
“Have a seat. Do you want Miss Granger to be here and see your private account information?” Ironclaw verified.
“Yes, she won’t tell anyone without my permission.” Harry said firmly.
“Very well. First, we will confirm your identity, and move onto the matter that brought you here today. Put seven drops of blood in this bowl.” handing Harry a silver dagger. Quickly Harry sliced a finger and allowed seven drops to fall into the bowl. Ironclaw dipped a quill into the blood and set it on the parchment. They watched as the quill wrote. Once it finished Ironclaw read it and nodded before passing it over.
Hadrian James Severus Potter-Prince
Parents;
Sire: Severus Tobias Snape-Prince
Carrier: Lily Rose Potter nee Evans (Deceased)
Blood adopted father: James Charlus Potter (Deceased)
Godfather: Sirius Orion Black (Wanted, falsely accused)
Godmother: Alice Marie Longbottom nee Fortescue (Insane)
Lordships;
Slytherin – Maternal Line, Conquest
Peverel – Blood Adopted
Potter – Blood Adopted
Gryffindor – Blood Adopted
Black – Chosen Heir (Godfather)
Heirships;
Prince – Paternal Line
Species;
Living Vampire – Paternal line, Early inheritance November 1st, 1994
Vaults;
Slytherin Vaults 3, 7, 9,
Gryffindor Vaults 2, 24,56
Peverel Vault 1,
Potter Vaults 257, 687,
Black Vaults 149, 387, 689
Prince Vault 688
Magical anomalies;
Horcrux 1.6% Tom Marvolo Riddle – Dormant
Basilisk Venom
Phoenix tears
Life Debts Owed;
Ginny Weasley
Peter Pettigrew
Sirius Black
Vassals; (Sworn to Slytherin Blood)
Avery Family
Black Family (nullified)
Carrow Family
Crabbe Family
Dolohov Family
Gibbon Family
Goyle Family
Jugson Family
Lestrange Family
Malfoy Family
Mulciber Family
Nott Family
Parkinson Family
Rosier Family
Selwyn Family
Travers Family
Wilkes Family
Yaxley Family
Crouch Jr, Bartemius
Karkaroff, Igore
MacNair, Walden
Pettigrew, Peter
Rookwood, Augustus
Rowle, Thorfinn
Snape, Severus
Harry froze not knowing what to do. Then handed it to Hermione whose eyes widened upon reading the parchment.
“This is accurate?” Harry asked.
“Yes. One hundred percent accurate. I believe this letter will explain everything. It was left with Gringotts to give to you on your 16th birthday to give you time before your inheritance. However, due to current circumstances you are able to read it early. It is written by your mother.” Ironclaw stated, then handed over a letter with elegant writing on it.
Harry,
My lovely boy. I love you so much. If you are reading this, then it means I did not survive. I am so sorry I could not watch you grow up. Right now, you are in the other room playing with your dad, James. You are riding your toy broomstick that Sirius got you. You just turned 1 yesterday and we had such a good day.
Sorry I am rambling. I have a bad feeling that I am not going to live much longer, and my gut is rarely wrong. So, I am writing this letter just in case. You should have just turned sixteen. Happy birthday my sweety pie. I am hopeful that not all this information will be a shock to you, but I will include it just in case.
Next year you will be going through your magical inheritance as all Wixen do at 17 but yours is likely to include a creature inheritance as well. Your father’s family have almost all gotten it, so you are likely to as well. Your father is Severus Snape-Prince. You should have been told this before, so I hope it isn’t a shock to you, but it was kept secret for his and your safety.
You see, Severus has been my friend since we were eight years old but then at the end of our fifth year, we had a horrible fight. I deeply regret not forgiving him sooner, but we did make up after we had graduated. Unfortunately, when I refused to forgive him, it left him without friends, and he turned to a group of people that encouraged the worst in him and he became a Death Eater. He regretted this immediately as it was not what Voldemort had promised. He came to me, and I took him to Dumbledore who helped him.
However, part of the bargain that Dumbledore offered was to spy for him and the Order of the Phoenix (a group that worked against Voldemort) as recompense for being a Death Eater even though he hadn’t even gone on any raids at that point, just been marked.
Well, life went on and I married your dad, James. He is the love of my life. Soon however, we found out that James was infertile because of a curse from fighting a Death Eater. We had both wanted children so bad. When I talked to Severus about this, he offered a solution. You see, there is a very complicated potion that will allow a woman to get pregnant just by drinking it and not through intercourse. Severus offered and assumed that James would want Sirius to be the father. However, Sirius worried about fathering a child of his own because the Blacks are known for having madness run in the family. James asked if Severus would be willing to donate.
Severus did not just want to be a donor though, he wanted to be part of your life. He has no desire to be with anyone in such a way that would result in a child. So, he would be your Father and James your Dad. Sirius, of course your godfather.
We all knew it would not be safe for him as a spy to have fathered a child with someone fighting against Voldemort. Together (James, Sirius, Severus, and I) came up with a solution, Severus would have his memories wiped of anything pertaining to your parentage after a copy of the memories were safely ensconced in Gringotts. It was planned that as soon as it was safe Severus would get his memories back and get to be an active father in your life.
If both James and I die you should have grown up with Sirius. Sirius knows to give Severus the memories as soon as it is safe. If for some reason Sirius died as well and you went to Alice, I have left her a letter to explain what happened.
This letter is a worst-case scenario so, hopefully you knew all this information already. If for some reason this is all new to you, I am so sorry. I have a letter for Severus, his memories, and mine, of modifying his memories for him so he knows what happened. He can also help you through the changes that will happen with your creature inheritance. Just let the goblins know to send for him and to have the memories and my letter given to him.
I love you so much.
Mum
By the end of the letter Harry was crying. So much had gone wrong. He was supposed to grow up with three parents and instead had none. His father was alive but seemed to hate him. Harry didn’t know where to begin processing all that his mother told him.
When he could gather himself together a bit, he handed the letter over to Hermione instead of trying to explain it. Hermione read the letter and was blinking back a few tears as well and looked at him.
“Oh, Harry. I am so sorry. This is really a lot to deal with. What do you want to start with?”
“I really am heir of Slytherin.” Harry said to lighten up the atmosphere not yet ready to deal with his father.
Hermione laughed, “Well actually you will notice that it is listed under Lordships not Heirships. So, you are Lord Slytherin.”
“Yeah. That is really weird to think. Ironclaw how can I be Lord Slytherin from my Maternal Line when my mother was muggleborn?”
Ironclaw said “Your mother was likely from a squib line. Either that or she was adopted by a muggle family. I cannot tell you which one it is as I do not have her records. You could have a family tree made to see for sure. And you are eligible for lordship rather than only heirship because the former heir known as Voldemort attacked you as a child violating the laws of the Slytherin line which automatically denounced him as having any Slytherin blood. This has made him ineligible to claim the title even though he is from the eldest branch, and you are from a side branch of the family.”
“Okay.” Harry looked at the parchment containing his genealogy and lordships. “What is a horcrux?”
“A horcrux is a container for a piece of soul that has been torn off the main portion through a ritual and murder. This is done with the purpose of keeping the person earthbound should someone try to kill them.” Ironclaw said.
Harry paled drastically at this pronouncement, “I have some of Voldemort’s soul in me?!” He squeaked “Is there a way to get it out?”
Hermione looked on in horror at what she was hearing.
“Yes. Goblins have a ritual that will remove the soul piece for a fee. This will destroy the piece in the process. It will be painful.” Ironclaw said.
“Good. I want it out. I don’t care how much it costs.”
“Shall we settle everything else first? Then you will not have to come back another day.” Ironclaw suggested.
Taking a breath to recenter himself he responded, “Yes, that sounds good. What do I have to do to claim the lordships and heirship?” Harry asked.
“You put on the ring and the family magic will accept you. I have the rings here.” Ironclaw pulled out six ring boxes and handed them over one at a time. Harry put them on, then after feeling the magic accept him, took it off to put the next one on. When he got to the Black Lordship ring he paused.
“Why am I getting the Lordship and not the heirship for the Black family? Sirius is still alive” Harry inquired.
“Mister Black cannot claim the Lordship because the previous head of the family disallowed him, though put in the caveat that Mister Black’s heir would be allowed the Lordship after Mister Black’s brother died.” Ironclaw explained.
With all the Lordships claimed, the rings merged into one, with the heirship staying separate. Harry could disillusion the rings or call up one particular family crest at a time.
Harry said “Would you be able to get Professor Snape here and give him the letter and memories that my mother left him while I have the ritual done to get rid of the horcrux? Then after can we have a discussion here so that it stays private? I don’t want anyone at Hogwarts know before I can have a proper talk with him.”
“That can be done. Griphook will take you to the ritual chamber. May your gold ever flow.” Ironclaw stated.
Harry paused at this, “May I ask? Is there a proper way to respond to when you say May your gold ever flow?”
“Yes, it is ‘May your enemies fall at your feet.’” Ironclaw said.
“Thank you. May your enemies fall at your feet.” Harry said. Then Harry and Hermione followed Griphook.