Crimson Ink

Home of Magic

Last Time:

The step stool started to shake and warp as its shadow went wild ...

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"Shit ... what is this thing?" Peter muttered as the stool crackled and warped into a new shape. At first the shadow seemed to act separately, but as the stool changed the shadow calmed down and there in front of them was a little black fox.

Tom eyed the creature carefully as it looked at Harry sadly, "It's a nature sprite ... Harry, do you know this creature?"

"It looks like Vesta, but Dudley got mad when she growled at him and Uncle Vernon ... ran her over with the lawnmower and locked me up in the cupboard." Harry said sadly.

Severus sneered at that bit of knowledge, "Really? ... Tom, what in Merlin's name is a nature sprite?"

The dark eyes of the teenage soul narrowed suspiciously, "We'll discuss why you're lacking what was basic knowledge when I was in school later. As for sprites, they're shape shifters that are considered guardians of magic in a way. When they shift their magic warps their shadows making the shadow look and act like a different entity for a few seconds. Some even have strong abilities in casting illusions. The number of sprites were once used to see how healthy an area's magic was. Those were once used to find the best place for rituals to be performed, but I've never seen one outside of a forest before ... I wonder ..." Tom looked at the fox and then at Harry. "Ask it to change shape."

Harry tilted his head in confusion and looked at the fox. "Turn into a cup." The fox yipped happily and warped into a clear glass cup.

Barty scooped up the cup, but when he was looking at it the cup shattered. Some of the glass cut his hand, but the next second the glass and cuts were gone and the fox was sitting on the ground with a playful glint in it's eyes. "Wow ... it felt so real." He said as he tried to examine his hand for the cut that was there just seconds ago.

"It is ... Harry, I think this is Vesta. Your Uncle may have hurt her, but she didn't let that stop her. I believe she chose you. She's your familiar." Tom said more than a little relieved that it wasn't a creature or person who would hurt Harry. As everyone lowered their wands they wondered why they felt like they were missing some information and Tom sighed, "I think Dumbledore didn't just remove the books on horcruxes, but what could he possibly gain from taking such vital information?"

Narcissa smiled as the fox jumped up onto Harry, who was still in Tom's arms, and cuddled with the boy, "We'll figure things out after we ... get your final piece. Besides, I'm sure Harry and Draco are getting hungry-"

"THAT'S IT!" Peter yelped suddenly scaring Harry badly if the whimper and shaking was any indication. The deadly glares from Severus, Lucius and Tom forced the spy to clap his hands over his own mouth. "Sorry, Harry ... I remembered what vault 687 was ... it's one of the Potter vaults specifically Harry's trust. I mentioned it when you guys were setting things up for Draco in order to start divorce preparations."

"But that means Dumbledore is taking money from Harry's vault. That's why I asked. I overheard him asking to withdraw money from that vault in Gringotts." Narcissa explained.

"Is that so?" Lucius said in a dangerously calm tone as he glared at Peter almost wishing the spy was wrong.

"Y-yeah." Peter chuckled nervously as he felt a deadly aura pouring off Harry's intendeds. It was understandable though. Anyone would be furious if they discovered that someone was stealing from their soulmate, but he really hoped they didn't take it out on the messenger.

"I'm sure Dobby started dinner so let's go." Narcissa said cheerfully and looked at Harry with a soft smile. "My son, Draco, and I got you lots of things including clothes so you don't need to worry about not having things of your own." She said. The amazed look on Harry's face made their hearts clench. The young boy didn't expect to have anything of his own. That will change soon if they have anything to say about.