The Deceit of Man

Revealing the Truth

After two long hours of traversing the entirety of Britain it seemed, Harry and Draco finally stepped back onto solid ground. Draco looked pale under the glamour's tanned appearance and didn't make it three steps before he was throwing up one more, "I hate travelling by the Knight Bus."

"I don't know of anyone who actually does enjoy it. However, seeing as neither of us are able to apparate yet, it's the best method to take. Mostly because my relatives fireplace isn't hooked up to the Floo network." With that, Harry led the way into The Leaky Cauldron and then through the backdoor to where the Diagon Alley entrance was. He remembered the familiar pattern and tapped it out, standing back to watch the bricks shuffle and rearrange themselves to make the archway. That simple bit of magic had always fascinated him but this time he also sent a bolt of pure magic into the wall to recharge it. The bricks brightened considerably, and the runes inscribed on them hummed with new life.

Harry and Draco walked quickly through the crowds of people that were out shopping, holding each other's hand so as not to get separated. Harry's slightly bulkier form made pushing through the crowds slightly faster, but he still breathed easier when they reached the marble steps of Gringotts. Even with their disguises, Harry hated being in crowds like that.

The two wizards didn't bother stopping until they reached the desk where the head goblin stood. Fiendhook was a well-respected goblin and took his job seriously so when the two disguised wizards approached him, his eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Can I help you gentlemen?"

"I would like to speak with my account manager, but I wish to stay anonymous until I reach a private room. It would be dangerous for me if I were to be seen here." Harry spoke confidently while making sure to keep his hands in plain sight and away from his wand, not waiting to cause a problem. He failed to see how wixen were so ignorant in the ways of those that took care of their money to the point of being insulting.

"Very well, we will direct you and your companion to a private room where you will be able to drop the glamours and then speak with your manager. I trust this is a suitable arrangement?" At Harry's nod, Fiendhook continued, "Then follow me."

Fiendhook led the two young wizards past rows of goblins, conducting everyday business and past other wizards and witches who were waiting to be taken to their vaults. The goblin wasn't fooled by the disguises, goblin magic allowed them to see through any glamour though he had to admit these glamours were some of the best he'd seen to date. Harry could hear Draco's laughter from behind him as the others waiting yelled their outrage. They weren't in the open nearly long enough to cause an argument though.

Fiendhook stopped abruptly, causing Harry to have to scramble to avoid hitting him, and open a frosted glass door. The room beyond was done in hues of brown: dark brown Wood furniture, light brown walls with a dark brown wood trim, and a medium brown hardwood floor. Motioning for the duo to go in first, he sealed the room behind him after entering.

The look on Fiendhook's face when Harry dropped the glamours though was frightening. The head goblin's grin was full of malicious intent and Harry did not want to know what was going on in his mind.

"I am positive I know who you are but as Gringotts policy, we have to do a blood test." Fiendhook snapped and a rolled parchment with a sharp looking silver knife appeared on the table, "Use the knife and cut your hand then place it on the parchment. Not only will the parchment verify your Identity, but it will also tell you your Inheritance."

Following Fiendhook's instructions, Harry pulled his palm from the parchment only to watch in fascination as his blood turned into letters that scrolled along the parchment. The results of the test were surprising but even more was the information on not only his Inheritance but also on how far Dumbledore's manipulations went. Reading the list of the blocks and charms Dumbledore put in place to try to suppress Harris was enough to make him see red. The daft fool could have killed him long ago with these.