Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Harry lay in bed. It was 11:55 on July 30 and he was moments from his 17th birthday. This summer had been both ok and horrible. It was ok in that over the last school year he had finally had a decent growth spurt. He was up to 5’9” and Vernon no longer seemed threatening. Not to mention he had become skilled in a number of wandless spells. Dudley hadn’t been much of an issue since the summer before fifth year with the dementor attack. On the bad side of things, he was missing Sirius deep in his heart. He also had not heard from his friends all summer. Letter after letter sent out and no replies. A wandless tempus , 11:57, he wasn’t planning on any gifts this year. Maybe Remus, and Mum Weasley would send him something. His thoughts took an even darker turn from there. All the people he had lost in the last couple years. Cedric, Sirius, Dumbledore, they were all dead. Ron and Hermione, even Neville and the twins, all seemed to be ignoring him. 11:59. He had to turn Ginny down himself. He wasn’t sure why but things never felt right with her. Midnight. ‘Happy Birth…’ He didn’t get to finish his wish to himself as suddenly pain racked his body. At first he thought it was another attack from Tom. However, his scar was one of the few things not hurting. 

First, it felt like every bone in his body was being stretched. Then his muscles proceeded to writhe and contract painfully twisting his already painful bones. He was glad he had placed up silencing wards as he could tell by his raw throat that he was screaming. Next came a pain in his hands and feet as it felt like they were shifting and growing. His back, oh fuck his back felt on fire. Suddenly, he felt a massive tearing in his back, and saw blood and gore splash across the room. The pain was too much as his world suddenly went black. He awoke sometime later to a pounding headache, and a pounding on the door. As he groggily swiped for his glass, he growled as he heard a crunch where his hand hit. Wait he growled, and no pain from any glass. Finally, he opened his eyes fully and yet his room was clearer than ever. Looking at his hand, he was surprised to find it covered in emerald and sapphire scales and ended in claws. In a bit of a panic he went to roll over, and cried out as something caught on the bed and wall. Harry strained his neck to look over his shoulder. He bit back a curse when he saw large wings also covered by emerald and sapphire scales. Although, small obsidian scales covered the more membranous part of the wings. Upon seeing that, he pushed up till he was kneeling then stepped off the bed.

Immediately, he conjured a mirror in front of him. First thing he noticed was that the emerald, interwoven with sapphire, scales covered every inch of skin he could see. Second, his hair was longer and completely smooth and shiny. Also, he had to be at least six foot ten. He had broad shoulders and his muscle mass had greatly increased. On top of that, he had conjured a mirror effortlessly...how? His wings touched both walls and were only halfway unfurled. His eyes had taken on a bit of a glow and were slit like snake or dragon eyes. From his head, just above his temples, sprouted two spiralled horns that swept back in a soft arc. Looking down he noticed his feet had shifted and sprouted talons. Lastly, a powerful tail had ripped its way through his shorts and pants. It took mere moments for him to take this all in. Harry had a choice to make. Answer the door like this, or try to change back then answer it. Wait, today he was 17. He was now an adult in the wizarding world and could leave. Smirking, Harry moved to the door.

An hour later found Harry sitting in the Leaky Cauldron. His things were in a room upstairs. He was sitting at a table by himself, chuckling as he tried to hold in stronger guffaws. When he had opened the door, not realising his new strength, he had torn the door off its hinges. Vernon, who was bellowing at Harry, fell back against the wall, eyes wide in fear. Petunia had fainted and Dudley was nowhere to be found. Shrugging his shoulders, Harry moved back into the room. He then closed his eyes and focused on looking human. Opening them again, he looked in the mirror once more. He was back to human alright, and anyone could tell it was him by the scar. However, he was still around six foot four and probably 250 lbs of rippling muscle. He looked like a player from American football.  He had gathered his things quickly. Vernon was still frozen as he walked out the door and called the Knight Bus. Harry asked for the Leaky Cauldron and they shot off. He trusted Hedwig to come find him. No one on the bus, nor anyone in the tavern had recognized him. His new size plus the longer hair covering his scar helped with that. So he sat there, drinking tea, and eating breakfast, laughing in his new found freedom. Suddenly, an owl flew in and dropped a letter right on his plate. Luckily, he had finished. The owl flew off without waiting as Harry opened the parchment.

To Heir Harry James Potter-Black,

It has come to our attention that you have come into your inheritance this day of your 17th birthday. As we no longer need to go through your magical guardian, we request your presence to meet with your account manager Nograk. There is much that needs to be brought to your attention and we are sure you have questions. Come at your earliest convenience. 

With regards,

Griphook

Gringotts Manager.

Harry sat back in surprise once more. Heir? Since when was he an heir, and what is this about a magical guardian? Well no time like the present. Making sure he had his wand and Gringotts key, Harry made his way out of the tavern and off to the bank. As he came closer to the guards outside, he noticed that he could now sense them in a way he had not before. It was like whatever he was could recognise them as fellow creatures. They apparently could sense him too. He bowed his head and as the knowledge came to the front of his mind, he greeted them in Gobbledegook.

“Blessed day to you, I am a friend. May your enemies bleed from a thousand cuts.”

The guards seemed taken aback, but nodded and gestured inside. Continuing on his way, Harry came to the large front desk. 

“Well met, Griphook. May your vaults be overflowing. I received a missive to meet with Nograk.”

“Heir Potter-Black, we have been expecting you. Please offer a drop of blood to confirm who you are.”

Harry extended a claw and pricked his finger allowing a single drop to fall on a piece of parchment. When it fell, a flash of magic sprung up and the parchment revealed his full name.

“Right this way Lord Potter-Black. We have been trying to reach you for some time.”

Harry was led down a long hallway, before being ushered through a rather opulent door. Inside, a rather royally dressed goblin sat behind a well crafted desk. The walls were lined with bookshelves and in between hung weapons of fierce construction. Harry often forgot that goblins were considered a warring race. The goblin was standing and gesturing before him.

“Heir Potter-Black, please be seated. We have much to discuss. A few things we should discuss today. First, you should take an inheritance test, it will let us know what you are as well as what lordships and other titles you can claim. Second, there are discrepancies in the accounts we already know you claim. We have tried reaching you ever since your godfather’s will was brought forth. However, all attempts were sent back to us by your magical guardian claiming everything was fine. We even have notes with your signature stating such.”

“Ok what will, also what magical guardian. I have never been told of any of this.”

“We were afraid of this. Albus Dumbledore was your guardian, although come to think of it, I am sure your parents had a will as well. Before the inheritance test, we should have both brought forth and read.”

Harry nodded, and Nograk called another goblin inside. He was dispatched to bring forth the two wills. Moments later the goblin came back.

“The wills are sealed, Lord Nograk. I could not retrieve them.”

Nograk moved to say something but was interrupted as Harry roared. 

“Who the fuck sealed those without making sure I had seen them. You will fix this or there will be retribution.”

Harry took deep breaths to try and calm down. When he opened his eyes again, before him were two bowing goblins. Completely forgetting gobbledegook for a second, he stammered out.

“Umm, what..why are you bowing, get up, get up please.”

After raising their heads the two looked at Harry. He then realised he had let out his creature form in his rage. He quickly calmed himself, but he didn’t shift back just yet. It was Nograk who responded.

“Well Lord Potter-Black, we know what creature you are. You are a Draken and by your colors you are of a royal lineage. The Draken have always been first amongst magical creatures. You are the first to be seen in the last century. Yes, of course we will rectify this situation. Sharptooth, take word to King Ragnok, he will want to see this.”

Harry shifted quickly as he slumped into the chair behind him. A draken, and he was some sort of creature royalty, what the bloody hell. Merlin’s balls, this was a lot to take in. Straightening himself he peered over at Nograk.

“Oh, sweet Circe, this is a lot to fathom. So what does this mean? Who sealed those wills?”

“Do not worry overly much, Lord Potter-Black. We should start the inheritance test now. By the time we finish, the King of the Goblin nation, and the wills should have arrived. Now please, I need you to let seven drops of blood fall onto the parchment. It has been treated with a potion that will react to your blood.”