The week passed in a whirl of warm breakfasts, awkward laughter, and Andromeda insisting Hadrian try on no fewer than six winter cloaks "just to see which color brings out his eyes." He suspected she knew exactly which one looked best after the first try—but she enjoyed fussing, and Dora kept making the mirrors insult his hair.
Then came the Saturday morning McGonagall had promised: the trip to Diagon Alley.
They used Floo Powder. Hadrian, trying not to look too eager, stumbled out of the green flames with wide-eyed awe.
The cobblestone street opened up before him in all its eccentric, bustling wonder—shop windows twinkling with enchanted ornaments, cauldrons bubbling in display cases, owls hooting softly from perches overhead.
"First stop: Gringotts," Ted announced cheerfully, taking the lead.
Hadrian said nothing—but his heartbeat quickened.
The white-stoned wizarding bank towered like a crooked fortress above the Alley. Goblins in crimson waistcoats stood flanking the great doors, eyes sharp and still.
Inside, the air was cool and heavy with the scent of old parchment, dragonhide, and polished silver. Quills scratched without hands. Gold gleamed. Power sat in the air like a throne.
Hadrian stepped forward as Ted and Andromeda approached the front desk.
"I'd like to inquire about any vaults or estates associated with the name Hadrian James Potter," he said, voice steady, eyes fixed on the nearest goblin.
The goblin peered down at him. "Name?"
"Hadrian James Potter," he repeated. "The Book of Admittance at Hogwarts confirmed the identity."
A few murmurs passed behind the counters.
The goblin narrowed his eyes. "Do you request a formal inheritance test?"
"Yes."
Andromeda gave him a look but said nothing.
The goblin considered, then gave a curt nod. "Follow me."
Down they went, past flickering torches and stone tunnels carved with strange, ancient runes. The room they arrived in was small, warded, and lit by a single cold-blue orb that floated above a runed pedestal. A parchment scroll, a silver dagger, and a bone-white stone bowl waited there.
"Blood test, three drops," the goblin said.
Hadrian nodded and picked up the dagger with a steady hand. A shallow cut. Three drops. The bowl shimmered and hissed with faint green light as the parchment unrolled itself.
Words appeared, ink burning into the page.
Gringotts Inheritance Test
Full Magical and Bloodline Results
Name: Hadrian James Potter
Birthdate: July 31st, 1980
Blood Status: Half-Blood
Lineage:
Paternal: House of Potter (Ancient and Noble)
Maternal: House of Evans (Muggleborn Line)
Titles (Unclaimed):
Heir of the House of Potter
Co-Heir to the House of Peverell (Through Inheritance)
Magical Guardian of Iris Lillian Potter (Twin Sister, Status: Unknown)
Vault Access Granted:
Potter Family Trust Vault (#687)
Potter Main Vault (Sealed until age 17 or formal Lordship Claim)
Emergency Access Clause Active (Approved by Lily Potter – pending confirmation of magical identity)
Hadrian blinked.
Twin sister—again confirmed. Guardian. Not just a brother. Not just a boy lost in time.
A protector. A claimant. A Potter.
"Well," the goblin said with a flash of sharp teeth, "welcome back, Mr. Potter."
Andromeda stepped forward, frowning slightly at the paper. "They named you guardian?"
Hadrian looked down, letting a carefully measured mix of confusion and wonder pass over his features.
"I… I guess they expected me to look out for her."
Ted put a hand on his shoulder.
The goblin nodded. "Would you like to visit your trust vault today?"
"Yes," Hadrian said softly. "Please."
The vault was lined with stacks of coins—gold, silver, and bronze. But what caught his eye wasn't the money. It was the small stack of boxes near the back. Each bore different symbols. One bore a faded stag and doe intertwined beneath the Peverell crest.
He reached for it but didn't open it yet. Not today. Not knowing what was inside of them opened up possibilities to nudge things with his reality shaping book when he had the need.