Into the Arms of the Night

Chapter 6: The Battle of Words and Wits within Gringotts

Albus Dumbledore was here for a specific reason; a reason that hopefully would save magic and spare as many as possible from the backlash of other actions...at least to a degree. He was very aware, that much to his own consternation, he was not the one to whom Magic chose for such a task.

The one she had chosen; he had allowed things done to that likely didn't sit well with her in the balance. Which was why he was fuming with barely concealed anger as the teller was trying to convince him that Harry was not present and that he had in fact left some time ago.

"Do not lie to me. I can feel his magic here. It is still too strong and too present in this building for him to have left the area." Albus tried again while the goblin hesitated

It was about to respond before he suddenly went quiet and still. Then there were loud shrieks of shock and surprise as a young man appeared out nowhere; like a ripple in an invisible pond. He was tall, built strong in his body and seemed confident in his abilities; powerful to all who came to see his person and he felt as dangerous as he looked.

Albus's eyes hardened when he realized who stood there before them all, "So. I see that I was correct, Harry. You survived your latest ordeal, and now have ascended as was supposed to happen; it explains the non-repressed feel of your magic."

All gasps quieted as every single head in the bank turned to the figure no matter their stations, and all as Harry scowled from beneath a dark hood, "No thanks to you and the Order; whose promises to me were as fragile as glass. Do not try to play me for a fool, Headmaster. I know what you aimed to do when I was sent back to that hellhole you wanted me to call my home."

He paused as he allowed the congregation to look between Albus and himself with curiosity, intrigue, and wariness. The obvious fluctuation of massive magic was beginning to be felt by all there.

He then quirked his lips into a thin smile, "So I was saved by the one person I never expected to come to my aid. I decided then that if you wanted to kill me; I would show you why you cannot. I am no one's tool, Headmaster. There is only one person who can possibly kill me, and now he will never do it."

Albus's gaze was calculating, "Lord Voldemort came to your aid, then?"

Harry smirked and raised his head for all to see the blind but eerily green glowing eyes as gasps issued among them, "Indeed. He found me there and as I was barely clinging to life, but fading faster than ever. I was blind, had been brutalized and tortured by the man who was supposed to shelter me. Broken physically and in spirit from what my uncle did to me and allowed others to do to me.

I was used as somebody's plaything."

Albus's face paled and Harry smirked wider, "So, you do remember and still know how similar this is to another person you should have tried harder to protect as one of your charges."

Harry then floated off the floor for several inches and scowled; ignoring the stares he had gained for displaying such power to them all, "I do not take betrayal lying down; and you now have done so twice personally to me. Many more times over to the lineage of my ancestors; tell me Albus? How desperate were you when you decided to try and seize the power of an ancient line that would never accept you as its leader?"

Blue eyes flashed with anger and danger to the words, "You know not of what you speak."

Harry smirked nastily, "Unfortunately, I do. I ascended and know all there is to know of what my lineage has learned. I am the new Lord of Magic and I am the Heir of the Peverell name; Soul-mate of the Dark Lord Voldemort.

And you Albus Dumbledore, are a liar and line thief." Harry told him in a cold hiss

Albus was about to answer as Molly stepped forward in rage, "How dare you Harry; we took you in and gave to you our home. We nourished you and helped you grow."