hp Hidden secrets

Lilliana Potter sat by the window of the Gryffindor common room, a crisp autumn breeze rustling her dark, unruly hair. It was a peaceful afternoon at Hogwarts, or at least, it had been until she spotted the strange, elegant letter bearing the Gringotts seal on her nightstand earlier that morning. A letter from the Goblins was never something to ignore, especially when the envelope was marked with the words "Urgent: Concerning Abnormalities in Your Vault."

Lilliana wasn't the only one who received such a letter.

Across the castle, in the stillness of the library, Hermione Granger sat with her quill poised over a parchment, her thoughts interrupted when she noticed the exact same letter appearing in front of her. The words "Inheritance Test Required Immediately" stared up at her, unnerving her. She was from a Muggle family—or at least that's what she'd always believed. But something in the back of her mind told her that this was no ordinary letter.

Ginny Weasley had found her letter while training on the Quidditch pitch, and the moment she saw it, a strange sensation had filled her chest. She wasn't one to take magical abnormalities lightly, especially when they concerned her family's vaults. She had heard of mysterious dealings at Gringotts before, but the letter hinted at something much deeper. With a frown, she pocketed the envelope and hurried inside to change.

Luna Lovegood, meanwhile, had been feeding the Thestrals when her letter arrived, its magical delivery a soft flutter of parchment against her hand. Her pale blue eyes widened at the goblins' cautious phrasing. If Gringotts, known for its strict neutrality, was weary of Dumbledore's manipulations, something grave must be at play. With her usual calm demeanor, she tucked the letter under her arm and set off toward the castle.

By mid-afternoon, the four girls gathered at the front gates of Hogwarts, their faces set with grim determination. Whatever Gringotts had discovered, it was serious enough to demand their presence immediately.

The trip to Gringotts was quiet, the bustling streets of Diagon Alley a blur as each of them turned over the possibilities in their heads. When they finally arrived at the white-marble entrance of the bank, the goblins were already waiting for them.

"Miss Potter, Miss Weasley, Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood," one of the goblins addressed them, bowing stiffly. "Follow me. We have much to discuss, and time is of the essence."

They were led through winding corridors deep beneath Gringotts, passing vaults and treasures that glimmered ominously in the torchlight. At last, they arrived at a hidden room, its door marked with ancient runes none of them could quite decipher.

"Please, sit," the head goblin instructed as they entered the dimly lit chamber. Four heavy, ornate chairs stood in a semicircle, a large stone table between them, inscribed with even more runes. At the center of the table, ancient scrolls lay unrolled, their contents written in ink that shimmered and shifted.

"Why are we here?" Hermione asked, her voice steady despite the anxious look in her eyes.

"We have detected abnormalities in your vaults, and they cannot be ignored," the goblin began, his voice low. "You must undergo an inheritance test. It will reveal not only your rightful heritages but also any... manipulations placed upon you."

The girls exchanged wary glances, but they all nodded.

"We'll do it," Lilliana said, her voice firm.

The goblin approached each of them, handing out slim, silver daggers. "A drop of blood on the parchment. That is all that's needed."

They each pricked their fingers, watching as the drops of blood hit the enchanted scrolls. Instantly, the ink shifted, swirling into patterns that formed words in shimmering gold. As the information began to appear, the room filled with an overwhelming sense of revelation.

Lilliana's scroll was the first to complete. The goblin's eyes widened slightly as he read aloud, "Lilliana Potter, heir to the Peverell, Potter, and Gryffindor lines." He paused, glancing at her. "There are numerous blocks on your magic, placed when you were a child. Additionally, 20,000,000 Galleons have been siphoned from your accounts over the last thirteen years. And... there is a soulmate bond that has been intentionally blocked."

Lilliana blinked, shock coursing through her. She had known something was off, but this?

Ginny's scroll was next. "Ginevra Weasley, heir to HecateWeasley and the Winter family." The goblin's face remained impassive, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. "Blocks on your magic, soulmate bond blocked, and 20,000,000 Galleons stolen from your vaults over the last thirteen years."

Ginny felt her stomach drop. The Winter family? She had never heard of such a thing.

Hermione's scroll finished soon after. "Hermione Granger, heir to the Blackwood and Myers lines, one of the oldest founding families of magic." The goblin's voice lowered. "There are significant blocks on your magical potential, and again, the sum of 20,000,000 Galleons has been taken from your vault. You, too, have a blocked soulmate bond."

Hermione's breath caught in her throat. Her Muggle upbringing had been a lie. A shadowy manipulation hung over her entire life.

Finally, Luna's scroll unfurled its secrets. "Luna Lovegood, heir to Rowena Ravenclaw and the Chantelle family." The goblin looked directly into Luna's unblinking eyes. "Your magic has been stifled, soulmate bond blocked, and, as with the others, 20,000,000 Galleons missing from your accounts."

A heavy silence settled in the room as the truth sunk in.

"Who did this?" Lilliana whispered, though she already suspected the answer.

The goblin hesitated, his sharp eyes gleaming with anger as he replied, "All signs point to Albus Dumbledore. He has manipulated your inheritances and siphoned off money from your accounts for over a decade. His influence over the Ministry allowed him to pass unnoticed... until now."

Ginny clenched her fists. "What do we do?"

The goblin handed them each a scroll marked with the sigils of their ancient families. "Reclaim your birthrights. Reinstate your family's proxies in the Wizengamot. And... prepare for the challenges ahead. Each of you is engaged through ancient family laws, and your soulmates—" he paused, eyeing Lilliana, Ginny, Hermione, and Luna with a measured gaze, "—are closer than you think."

Their heads snapped up at the mention of engagements. Soulmate bonds, engagements, and inheritances? It was all so overwhelming.

"And your creature inheritance... you are all half-Veela," the goblin finished quietly, confirming their suspicions.

Lilliana stood, determination flooding her veins. "We'll reclaim everything that's been taken from us. And Dumbledore will pay for his lies."

Together, they exited Gringotts with heavy hearts, but with newfound purpose. The fight to reclaim their heritage, their power, and their freedom had just begun.