Chapter Text
"Gringotts is this way 'Arry. We'll get you some coin and get yer school supplies. First, I have ter pick something up for old Dumbledore. Good man, Dumbledore. Trusts me, see." Boomed the unlikely-sized man beside him.
They approached a building that to Harry's eye seemed like a giant, marble chess piece. He saw a small, dangerous looking creature keeping guard. The spear and the armour gave it away. It reminded him so much of a storybook he'd stolen from Dudley. One of many books he'd taken. Coming nearer to the guard Harry found he couldn't help himself. As the giant of a man, whom Harry very much suspected to in fact BE a giant, began up the stairs Harry slowed. He turned to the guard as he came to stand even with him.
"Fearsome Guard!" He called. "Is all well within your halls?"
The creature stared at him for a full minute. Just when Harry was beginning to think he maybe should have refrained from indulging in his childishness, the creature gave a grin. It was just as fearsome as the creature it belonged to; all shining, sharp teeth pulled into a Cheshire crescent. If nothing else came of today, Harry set himself to learning to smile just so. It would certainly scare the pants off Dudley and his friends. If he was lucky he might even get out of Harry Hunting. The game his cousin, who was the aforementioned Dudley, thoroughly enjoyed to play. It involved chasing Harry down until he was trapped or ran out of breath, and then pummeling him until the bell rang and class started. Harry was not a fan of the game.
"The walls stand firm, child of magic. All who dwell within fare well in body if not in pocket." Declared the little guard.
Harry felt his jaw open just a bit. This creature knew the tale. He knew it and knew it well enough to answer back! Feeling daring, Harry continued with the next line. "Fortuitous, for I have come to venture within your walls."
The guard laughed then. It was a deliciously unnerving sound.
"Is this your first visit thus, young mage?"
A small crowd had gathered by then, though Harry did not notice. He was far too entranced to pay mind to anything but the lovely being before him with the mischievous smile and murderous laugh. The creature indulging in his game. No one ever played with him! Certainly no one as important as the guard for a magical bank. First Harry finds out that magic is real, then he gets cake, finds a magical world hidden behind a brick wall and now...now he was making a friend. This was the best twenty-four hours in Harry's entire eleven years of life. Not very much in the grander scheme of things, maybe. When one lived in a cupboard under the stairs, one didn't often have wonderful memories to fall back on when the bulb went out and your aunt refused to replace it.
Spiders made for poor companionship in the darkness.
"It is indeed." Harry managed to refrain from jumping and clapping. Just barely.
He was given a considering look. The guard nodded decisively. "I shall ensure you are given a proper first impression, shall I? If you will direct your eyes upward to the archway, young mage, you will see a rhyme I suggest you remember. Then I shall lead you into the main hall of it pleases you."
There were many surprised and incredulous glances exchanged at the last. Harry, of course, remained oblivious. Green eyes were roaming the word engraved in the stone, soaking them in. The warning was magnificent. Everything a magical keep of treasure ought to have, in Harry's opinion.
"Enter, stranger, but take heed of what awaits the sin of greed. For those who take but do not earn, must pay most dearly in their turn. So if you seek beneath our floors a treasure that was never yours, thief you have been warned -beware!- of finding more than treasure there."
Harry was ushered into the main hall of the building, Hagrid off to the side, uncertain about the entire situation. Several people were staring. Harry didn't know what was so exciting. Perhaps it was a first visit for some of them as well? In that case, they could go get their own guard; this one was his. They stopped at a desk further along the counter with an older creature. It had small spectacles perched on a very long nose. The creature lifted on brought at the guard, the other at Harry and then both at the sight of their audience. Roughly half the hall. The other half was politely pretending they weren't paying them any attention.
"How might I assist you?" Its gravely voice inquired.
Harry's guard motioned at him with his spear. "Young master visits Gringotts for the first time. He has used the proper greetings according to custom. I have, as the guard with whom he initiated the process, brought him directly here."
Many whispers echoed about at that. Even Hagrid said something under his breath.
"Well done." Murmured the teller. His beady eyes looked Harry over with interest. It was enough to make Harry want to squirm. It was quite hard to resist the temptation. Luckily, he had a lot of practice standing still and being quiet thanks to his aunt. "Do you have an account awaiting your arrival mister...?"
"Potter, sir. Harry James Potter."
The other people watching didn't keep their voices down at that.
"Potter he said."
"That is the Potter heir!?"
"The-Boy-Who-Lived."
"Is he really mummy?"
Harry blinked. Feeling self-conscious he curled in on himself just a bit. Attention like that never went well for him. He was meant to be polite enough to be passable and remain invisible to his best ability otherwise. Harry didn't seem to be doing a good job of it, and he couldn't help feeling unbalanced for not getting a good smack when he knew he ought to. If his family were here he certainly would have.
Hagrid cleared his throat, taking a step closer. "I got his keep right here." With that the man pulled unlikely object after unlikely object out from his pocket, placing each item on the counter. Much to the teller's dismay. When a cage of mice, a lunch box, three balls of yarn, a crate of corked glass vials and another owl were placed there, it finally happened. Harry giggled.
Several small bouts of laughter followed, and the tense air that had built in the hall lessened.
"I don't suppose you've been looking in the right pocket?" The teller snarked.
Hagrid paused to consider the idea. The teller looked as though he might be considering stabbing himself with his own quill. Seeking to avoid such a thing -it would put a damper on an otherwise promising adventure- Harry tilted onto the very tips of his toes to better look over the counter. He inquired, in his politest voice, "Is there perhaps another way?"
The teller looked at Hagrid who looked at the guard, who in turn looked at the teller.
"Er...is there?" Harry trailed off.
"Yes, little magician. Clever thinking on your part." Assured his guard, smug. Harry didn't know why. In fact, he didn't know more and more things as the day went on.
"The teller pulled out a narrow drawer to his left and Hagrid began the task of somehow fitting everything he'd unpacked back into his pocket. Why the man did not carry a knapsack or something similar was something Harry decided not to bring up. Perhaps he would arrange for someone to get the man one for the winter holidays. He had to have some magical friends, maybe one of the other staff members would? If that failed Harry supposed he could make one.
He did love to sew.
Eventually, the teller brought out a glass ball which he handed to Harry. The boy took it carefully. A small glass vial was set on the countertop. "This won't hurt." Said the teller.
Harry hadn't even thought that it might and was now concerned that it would.
Almost immediately he felt a sort of pull from somewhere in his middle, the ball yanked him forward half a foot. Harry put up a shoe against the side of the teller's counter to keep from moving any further. The strength of the pull increased. A dim light grew within the orb until it was completely filled. After nothing else happening but the pull increasing and the light growing brighter, Harry called out to the teller. "How much longer do you need me to do this? I think I'm going to go flying through the wall behind you in another minute. Just so you're prepared for that."
The teller snapped out of whatever trance he was in, waving a hand. A light filled the vial on the counter. He waved his hand once more and the pulling stopped. Harry fell to the floor with a surprised yelp. He scrambled to his feet, intent upon glaring at the creature for not warning him, sharp teeth or no, when he noticed it. Everyone in the building stood still, staring. Mouths open, eyes wide.
Uncomfortable, Harry turned to his guard for a suitable explanation.
"What? What did I do?"
The fact his guard was rubbing his hands together and looking him over like a particularly favoured possession did nothing to ease his discomfort.