Chapter 166 - My SI Stash #66 - Harry Potter: Lost Son by psychopath556 (HarryPotter) (2/2)

I sat there in shock hearing this as I tried to comprehend what I was being told. Not only was I magical but I possessed two kick-ass skills, that I could learn and use. This was getting better by the minute, wait… Metamortphmagus… isn't that what Tonks is. Holy shit I'm related to Tonks… and … Bellatrix, Draco… er, not sure how I feel about those last two. I felt like an idiot now that I heard about my skills. I remember reading about such on the Wiki and the fanfictions, it was obvious.

Quickly snapping back to reality I blinked, ”Cool.” I said plainly not really sure how else to react to the news openly. I didn't want to give away anything like how I already knew about all this when I wasn't meant to.

Ironclaw nodded, ”Indeed Master Black now if you would follow me to my office. You need to don your heir ring before we can continue with any further business you have today.” he said before gesturing to the door.

I nodded and got off the table, before looking to the other goblin, ”Thank you for your assistance Healer Bolgrif, your help has been most appreciated.” I said giving a bow of my head.

Bolgrif smile back at me, ”It was my p_l_e_a_s_u_r_e to aid the house of Black, young master.” he returned before both I and Ironclaw left the room and started back down the corridor.

As we walked my mind was racing a mile a minute as I tried to think what all this meant now, there was so much happening and so fast. I needed to prioritise. If the heir ring was like I had read about in fan fictions before it was going to make me next in line for the title of Lord Black, when I came of age, whenever that would be. I clearly needed more information.

”Account manager Ironclaw?” I spoke curiously, ”What is this ring you spoke of earlier, and what is an heir?” I asked doing my best to sound like a curious child.

Ironclaw glanced over his shoulders towards me as he spoke, ”As you are the last Son of a Son of the house of Black, the line of inherency falls to you making you the heir apparent of the House of Black, the Ring signifies this. When you reach your majority at sixteen you will become Lord Black unless emancipated before such when you can take up your title earlier.”

”Emancipated?” I asked still using my best curious tone.

Ironclaw nodded, ”It means you would be recognised as an a_d_u_l_t and not as a child. Such automatically happens when you reach your majority.” he explained as we neared his office.

Okay, that was yet another thing I would have to research when I had time. While I had read a number of fictions that involved the taking up of lordship where the character was emancipated. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea yet. I had no clue on what was fact and what was fiction so I would be better to hold off on that until I got a proper lay of the land as it were.

As we arrived back in his office I noted it was well kept and furnished much like the rest of the bank. Account managers must all get their own offices for some reason or another likely so they can manage more important accounts who would like their finances kept secret. I could understand that much.

As we entered I was gestured to wait as Ironclaw made his way over to the large vault within his office. I watched on as he ran his finger down the middle of the door as I heard the sounds of the internal mechanics cl_i_c_k_i_n_g open before he opened it, retrieving an ornate wooden box form inside before returning to me and opening it.

Inside laid on the black cloth interior was cameo styled ring sitting with its circular head pointed towards me. The black sapphire gem flashed with the house black crest for a moment before fading to leave only the sapphire.

I took a moment to look at it before reaching out and taking it. The gold of the ring felt cold to the touch and it was rather large. I knew that I wouldn't be able to wear it. But no sooner had I put it on my finger than I saw the gold flash and then the band shrunk to match my finger width before there was a rush of what I can only describe as something cold rushing through my veins for several moments before it faded and I let out a gasp and panted slightly suddenly feeling very drained.

”W-What was that?” I asked as I tried to get my breath back.

Ironclaw only smiled at me as he closed the lid of the box. ”That was the final confirmation that you ae indeed the heir black. It was the heir ring confirming you were worthy to wear the ring and as such worthy to be the Black heir and then the next Lord Black. My apologies for not telling you about it but it was not my place to do so.” he said with a bow of his head before he turned to take the box back to his vault and close the door without another word.

I took several deep breaths trying to get my breathing back under control. I looked at the ring before I spoke, ”and if it didn't judge me worthy to be the heir and I put it on?” I asked not sure I wanted to know.

Ironclaw gave me a grin, ”That would depend on if you weren't a Black. If you weren't then the family magic in the ring would have simply killed you, very slowly. As you are a Black you would have only been in a lot of pain until you passed out. then the ring would have removed itself from your finger by shrinking so much that it cut it off.” he said as if it was common knowledge.

I did my best not to gulp hearing that and thanked whatever deity there was looking out for me. I forgot that house Black was a rather dark house, of course, their heir ring would be cursed to do something like that to discourage any who wasn't the heir.

Ironclaw then cleared his throat, ”Congratulations heir Black. Now if it pleases you I can take you down to your family vault for you to collect any gold you may need as well as browse you're other belongings.”

I thought for a moment on that. I did need to gather some gold for my school supplies, but I was also curious just what else was in the vault. Part of me was wary of them, given the Black's history. I'd just have to be careful this was too good an opportunity to pass up. Who knows what I could find down there to help me. I nodded, ”Lead the way.”

Ironclaw nodded and we soon departed his office heading for the carts.

Scene break

That was intense. The books and the movies don't do the cart system justice. It was completely mind-blowing and thrilling, and I'm not ashamed to admit I screamed a couple of times when I nearly fell out when we went down a very sharp dip that I hadn't seen coming.

Staggering out of the cart once we came to a stop. I was a little unsteady on my feet after that experience. It might take me a couple goes to get used to the ride. Ironclaw just smirked as he watched me stagger my way to the door as he waited for me.

”What a ride,” I said as I steadied myself on the wall beside the vault door.

Ironclaw gave me a grin, ”Indeed. Many young wizards say so their first time. Now to business. Please place your right hand on the vault door heir Black. The magic upon it will recognise you as the heir Black and will permit you entry.”

I nodded as I straightened up and after a moment to prepare myself, I placed my right hand on the door as Ironclaw had told me. I could feel the faint hum below my fingertips, it was nothing like the feeling I had when I put on the heir ring it was much less potent. It faded away seconds later and I heard the loud clicks of the inner door workings moments later as the door began to open and I couldn't keep the shock off my face when I looked inside. To say the inside of the vault was huge does not do it justice.

The inner ceiling was at least two floors high and it went in at least a hundred meters from the entrance corridor. Towards the back, I could see shelves filled with tombs and books and to the side were various other shelves with doesn't of items on each.

Trunks stacked up in multiple stacks made of various fabrics filled one section of the wall. In the centre of the room was a huge mound of gold galleons that was at stretched back at least sixty meters and was nearly touching the ceiling, there was just so much.

Ironclaw bowed his head to me slightly, ”I shall wait here for your return, call if you need me.”

I nodded my head in response before I started forward down the small entrance corridor and into the main vault.

Walking in I let my eyes roam around I didn't know where to start when suddenly I jumped when a male voice spoke. ”Who are you and what are you doing here!”

I jumped and swerved to find the source of the voice and my eyes widened as they settled on the source. Along the back wall of the vault were paintings a large number of them which I hadn't seen from the entrance hall, and the voice had come from the second to last one.

The painting was a man with long black hair and hard-features, and piercing grey eyes, dressed in rich looking black robes who was watching me with his hard gaze. My eyes flickered to the golden nameplate and my eyes widened,

”Orion Black,” I said as I realized looking at the portrait of just who it was, Sirius and Regulus's father, my grandfather.

”I will not ask again boy, who are you? And what are you doing in here,” Orion said his tone hard as he looked at me with his hard gaze.

I straightened slightly and my shoulders set as I turned fully to look at the portrait before I spoke. ”My name is Magnus Roark Black, and am the newly named heir to the ancient and most noble house of Black.”

Orion's eyes grew a fraction wider when he heard this as he seemed to take in my appearance more as he looked me over. ”How is this possible?” he spoke his tone somewhat lighter, ”The only way you could be heir Black at your age would be if you were born of the family,” he said as he narrowed his eyes once more, ”Who is your father boy?”

I didn't falter as he questioned me, nor as I replied. ”I am the firstborn of your second born, Regulus Arcturus Black, the lost son of the house of Black, now found.” I blinked, why had I just said that… it was like something was telling me it was the correct thing to say.

Orion's eyes definitely did widen when I said that and it looked as if someone had smacked him across the face. His eyes then darted down to my hand and the heir ring and he seemed to let out a breath before swallowing. ”I see, I had thought that…. That the house was all but lost when I was told of my son's… your father's death. I am glad to see that the Black blood still flows strong.” he said as he nodded his head to me, ”You are most welcome here heir Black. I am sorry but your father never had his portrait made. So you will not be able to speak to him, but I and my wife Walburga, will assist you with anything you need.” he said respectfully, ”If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask us”.

I nodded, ”Thank you, grandfather, I will do that. But I fear that I may do so quite often, I was raised outside of the wizarding world. Until recently I was in an orphanage and until not half an hour ago I did not know I had any family at all.” I said before gesturing around me, ”All of this is completely new to me.”

Orion nodded to my words, ”I see. Yes, you do have a lot to learn then. But at least you seem to possess a strong fortitude, which is good. You will need that if you want to be the next Lord Black. Knowledge can be learned, but it takes a certain fortitude and strength to be a Lord, I think you will do nicely. If you will wait a moment I will fetch your grandmother from her portrait at Black Manor, she will want to speak with you now that you have been found.”

I suppressed a wince at that as I watched him walk out of his frame. From what I can remember in the books and movies about Walburga Black she wasn't exactly the most pleasant of people. I didn't know if I wanted to meet her, but it was unavoidable at this point.

As I waited I turned and looked around once more waiting and I blinked when I saw the other side of the vault. While one side had books and what looked like a number of heirlooms as such. The other had shelves that were filled with what looked like various potion ingredients, a large number of them, and from just a quick glance the collection was very extensive.

But my attention was quickly drawn back to the portraits when I hear movement and I turned only to meet the gaze of Walburga Black. She was an older woman, in her mid-forties at least, with wild black hair and pale skin but was rather beautiful. Her gaze that of a woman that demanded respect and would raise hell if not given it.

I immediately felt my back straighten and set my shoulders as though I had just been challenged to a fight. I could tell that her gaze was a test to see my reaction, a test I was not going to fail.

After a moment her gaze seemed to soften if slightly as she sat back in her portrait in the chair in it and she nodded to me, ”I see what you mean dear, he does at least have a spine.” she said as I heard Orion chuckle from his Portrait.

”He does indeed.” Orion agreed, ”He will make a fine lord when he comes of age, once he has learned of his duties.”

Walburga snorted, ”That remains to be seen. Just because he wears the ring does not mean he will survive to become Lord Black.” she stated rather amusingly.

I shot her a look at that comment, ”And just what is that supposed to mean? You think just because I am a child that I will let another take what is mine. I am not something for your amus_e_m_e_nt!”

Walburga's eyes widened at my words and Orion burst into laughter, ”Ha-ha, well said. You see dear he will make a fine lord.” he said with a smile, ”Neither of our sons had the nerve to downright defy you at that age, portrait or not. The lad has spirit.”

Walburga snorted again, ”Spirit means nothing when his age, it only means he's brash and foolhardy. He's already admitted he knows little of our world how does he expect to last when he doesn't know what to expect?”

I clenched my fists and took a breath, as expected she was proving to be just as stubborn a woman as she was in the books and movies, ”By using what I do know. Learning as much as I can as fast as I can, and playing it safe until I know who I can trust. As grandfather said not five minutes ago to me: Knowledge can be learned, but it takes the right person to be a lord. If the Black Lordship is my right I will excel and claim it.”

Walburga seemed to look at me a little differently at that and Orion nodded and gave me a pleased-looking smile before glancing at Walburga's painting once more, ”What say you now dear? Does he meet your standards?”

Walburga continued to look at me for another several seconds after that but nodded, ”He does,” before bowing her head to me. ”I am at your service heir Black. It has been many years since the house of Black had an heir worthy such as you. Should you have any need of me you have but to ask.”

I nodded my head doing my best not to exhale a sigh of relief, ”Thank you, grandmother, grandfather, but please, call me Magnus. We're family after all.” I said with a small smile.

Both seemed to smile at that and nodded to me in acceptance and I nodded back. I then gesturing to the rest of the vault, ”Is there anything in here that you can think of that would help me in my studies, or would be of an advantage for me to have at Hogwarts?” I asked plainly.

Orion nodded, ”There are many books and tombs on the far shelves that may prove interesting, although some may be too advanced until you are older, but there may prove to be something there you can learn from. I know that Hogwarts library doesn't stock many of these tombs as some could be considered… questionable in nature. But their contents are none the less useful.” he explained

”As for aiding you in your studies, I would suggest you browse the heirlooms. Those trunks are all multi-compartmental trunks, each with the space of a medium size house inside with various other features. Such would be advantageous to have at Hogwarts to have a private place to study away from prying eyes.” Orion continued

I nodded hearing that, those did sound very useful, ”Thank you grandfather, is there anything else?”

Orion thought for a minute and nodded, ”Yes now that you mention it. In the heirlooms you might find an old pocket watch, gold casing and chain with a black sapphire on its casing. Similar to your heir ring, it was enchanted many years ago and its effects may prove useful.”

I looked at him waiting for him to continue but he didn't so I only nodded, ”I will keep an eye out, thank you once again grandfather.” I said before turning and starting towards the stacked trunks.

Reaching the wall of trunks I was about to start taking one down one at a time and give each a once over till I found the one that had the best insides when I stopped to look again. Each had a folded up piece of parchment on the lid with a drawn map and a list of rooms inside, along with a list the additional charms and features each had, this would prove to be quicker than I thought.

Scene break

Twenty minutes later I had gone through each of the trunks and chosen the best one I could find. It was large with a thick dragon skin finish and came with a number of features. It was both fire and water proof, had a deterrent charm so people would stay clear of it, a weightless charm so that it would be easy to carry, a security charm linked to my own magic which was linked to a penalty charm that would stun anyone who tried to open it who wasn't me, a concealment charm that kept the interior and its contents invisible to anyone when active so I wasn't worried about someone seeing what was inside it when I wasn't around. It also had a self-shrinking charm on it so I could shrink it to the size of a match box and put it in my pocket.

The reason I chose it was because not only did it offer the most space but it also had a number of rooms I knew I would find useful. A potions lab with a large ingredients store, a huge training room with a build in duelling ring, a combined large library and office space, on top of living quarters with a kitchen and pantry, and a master bedroom with bathroom and large closet space. It was practically a house on wheels.

With my trunk shrank and in my pocket I had started to browse through the heirlooms, keeping my hands to myself as I did so. I didn't want to risk touching anything knowing how nefarious and dangerous some of the items might be, and last thing I wanted was to be cursed by touching the wrong thing.

I was looking for the pocket watch that Orion had told me about and it was proving difficult to find. Only when I came into the jewellery area did I finally come across it, it was in a display case along with a number of other pieces, broaches and necklaces, and other pieces that looked expensive. I noticed they were all tagged with different labels and before I picked up the watch I took a quick glance at its label and my eyes widened, ”Time dilation pocket watch”.

My mind started to race thinking just what that meant. Was this something similar to a time turner? I wasn't sure I wanted to mess with that kind of thing. But all the same, it would be a waste to pass up something that could aid me. Hermione had used such magic to advance her education in her third year, or she would, surely this could do the same for me.

With a nod, I lifted the pocket watch and placed it in my pocket, but before I closed the lid I stopped to browse some of the other tags to see what the other pieces were capable of. Getting to a pendant necklace I read over the tag and my eyebrows shot up, ”Legilimency barrier pendant”.

Once again my mind had started to race with all the possibilities I had read in the past. How could I have forgotten about one of the most invasive magics in the wizarding world? If someone was to read my mind with legitimacy, they would know everything I would know in seconds, and I would be helpless to stop them. I would have to learn to defend myself from such things, but for now this ring would be the best place to start to at least give me advanced warning about such an attack.

Taking up the pendant I looked it over, it was a black sapphire same as that of my ring, but only this one was cut into the shape of a shield with a number of small ruins etched into it. It looked very impressive as it hung from the silver chain. I quickly put it on myself and took a final glance over the other things there stopping finally on a ring that was a plain silver with three diamonds in it and reading the tag I paused for thought as I read it, ”Detection ring, potions, curses, charms- Self-sizing”.

Nodding to myself once more I lifted the ring out and slipped it onto my middle finger next to my heir ring. I can't count the number of times that I've read fanfictions where people were slipped love potions or food with some magical alteration effect. I knew it was better to be safe than sorry as I watched the ring sized itself to my finger. I would have to ask my grandparents portraits how these work later.

After I finished looking through the enchanted jewellery I move on to the book shelves to see if I could find anything that would peek my interest. I knew of a couple of topics that I wanted to learn already and I had several books stacked out on various subjects that caught my eye ranging from rituals, warding, ruins, battle transmutation, curses, Occlumency and potions, as well as three books that I could find on Metamorphmagus. While I could have browsed the topics here forever I was quite wary to touch the older looking books. When I held my hand over some of them I could feel a buzz in the air and the far right diamond on my detection ring turned black. I didn't know what that meant but I didn't want to risk looking anymore in case I touched something that I shouldn't, until I knew more.

There hadn't been any books on heirsh_i_p_s or lordsh_i_p_s or anything like that. I could only assume such books were at Black manor. I would just have to buy my own copies when I went shopping later.

With the books taken care of I made my way to the potions area to look at the ingredients just out of curiosity. I didn't plan on taking any, not this time as I didn't know if there was anything that the ministry would label dark here. The last thing I wanted to do was to was take something like that with me and have it found on me, that would only get me in trouble, so I would just wait till I knew more about that field before taking any of them out.

With a final glance around I started back to my grandparents portraits having put my books into my trunk the only things left that I needed were the galleons, but I didn't know how much to take so I thought I had better ask. While I could just shovel a pile of them into my pocket and hope for the best I just knew there had to be another way about it, like I had read in the fan fictions. Coming back to my vault every time I needed gold was just too tedious, there had to be another way.

”Finished grandfather. All I need now are the funds for my other school supplies. How much should I take?” I asked Orion's portrait.

The man smirked and pointed to a number of small sacks handing from hooks on one of the pillars next to the Galleons, ”You don't need to take galleons from the vault. Those sacks are linked to the vault, simply take one with you, think about how many galleons you want and the bag will fill for you. It's bottomless and charmed to be weightless so you can use it for all number of charges, and they are like the vault doors only your magic can use it to pull funds from the vault.”

I nodded, just as I thought. ”Thank you grandfather.” before walking over and lifting one of the sacks.

Orion nodded to me, ”If you spotted anything in here that you can't take with you, simply call the manors house elf. His name is Kreacher. Now that you are heir Black he will answer your call, you can have him bring you anything from the vault that is too big for you to carry out.”

I nodded my head to his suggestion in part recognition and thanks. I had thought about Kreacher as I had been looking through the heirlooms. I had spotted a couple of things that might be useful to me later but I had decided against calling Kreacher. Given that I knew if I did I would be questioned as to how I had known about him and that would have me answering some questions that I didn't want to answer. I had to be careful.

Walburga nodded as well, ”I'm sorry to say that Black manor has fallen into a bit of a mess since my death. I have attempted to keep Kreacher cleaning but I cannot see beyond what my portrait will permit me so the manor needs a thorough going through. I will instruct Kreacher to begin such while you are collecting your school things. If need be you can call him to take your things back to the manor. I shall have him prepare a room for you before he begins cleaning.”

I nodded again, ”Thank you grandmother, but I do not know where Black manor is how…” As I began to say it my mind flooded with information and I felt something click inside my head and I realised what it had been, I had known where Black manor was before, but arriving here had locked the information away from me because of the secret keeper charm placed on the manor, but now I could remember, I staggered slightly, ”…Whoa…. What…. How do I know this?”

Orion gave me a smirk, ”It is the heir ring. It and the lord's rings are keyed to a special magic that hides Black manor from the rest of the world. It permits you and the Lord Black to tell others where the manor is but because of the charm no one can tell others. Nor will anyone simply happen upon the manor, looking for it or not. It was your interest in Black manor that let the ring fill in the blanks as it were. Have you not noticed it subtly telling you the correct things to say as well when addressed? It is meant to do so as an aid for younger or uninformed heirs like yourself.”

I nodded and looked at the heir ring on my hand and gave a small smirk. I should have guessed there was more to this ring than just that bit of magic from before.

Orion seemed to look at me with interest and smirked, ”I see you happened upon the detection ring, a handy piece of jewellery to have.”

I looked to him with a bit of a smile, ”Yes I found it when I was looking for the pocket watch you told me about. But there were no instructions on how it works, nor on what the watch does. Though I take it from its name that it does something with time?”

Orion nodded, ”Yes the pocket watch creates a sort of time dilation bubble in a three feet radius in every direction. Inside time moves three times faster than outside it but it will only last for an hour a day, before it needs to recover its magic from the user while it is kept in their position. With it one hour becomes three which proves quite handy for studying and doing parchment work when you are a lord, or homework as a student.” he smirked.

I slowly nodded my head. While it was by no means a time turner, I couldn't deny that such an item would come in very handy. It would give me more time to study what I want to in private, and it would allow me to get any homework done in record time when I'm at Hogwarts. Very handy indeed.

Orion cleared his throat and continued. ”As for the ring. Well the three gems are the indicators to watch. It's useful for checking food, mail or any gifts given to you. Simply wave it over an item and watch the gems. Black means there is a curse or hex on the object, blue means some sort of harmful or invasive charms are at work, or purple means there is a potion involved, if purple turns to pink it means there's a love potion, if purple turns to yellow it means there's a mind altering element, or if black it means poison of some sort”

I looked at the ring and gave a low whistle. This was going to come in very handy in making sure that everything I ate or touch was safe to do so. I knew I was likely sounding a bit like Mad Eye Moody when I thought it but given the route I was thinking about it would be better to have this and not need it than get caught out and eat something that would mess with my mind or kill me.

I looked at my grandparent's portraits and smiled, ”Well it's time for me to go now. I still have my shopping to do, after all, lots to do.”

Walburga nodded, ”Once you are done Magnus, call for Kreacher. He can take you to outside Black manor, you will have to unlock the front with your ring. It will tell you how.”

I nodded my head once more and started out of the Vault turning to Ironclaw as the doors shut behind me, ”I believe that concludes my business today with Gringotts unless you have other business to discuss with me?”

Ironclaw shook his head, ”No that is all heir Black. If there is anything that comes to my attention I will owl you to inform you of it.”

Once more I nodded my head, ”Thank you for your assistance today Ironclaw. You have been of aid to house Black and it will not be forgotten. Now if you will kindly see me out of these caverns I believe that I have my school shopping to do.”

Ironclaw nodded in response and we both started back to the cart to leave the vaults. I absentmindedly rubbed my heir ring and smiled. Things were going to be interesting with all that's at my disposal. While I still had to stop and make plans it was good to know I had a lot to work with. But what to do with it all is the question, so many possibilities and so much fun to be had. I was really looking forward to Hogwarts now, things were getting better by the moment.