Chapter 115: "Countdown to Hogwarts"

As Harry stepped out of the private meeting room at Gringotts, relieved to distance himself from the awkward encounter with the Potter family, he noticed that Sirius and the others had returned from their respective visits to the family vault managers. It appeared they had been looking for him, puzzled by his absence at the bank's main entrance.

"Harry, where did you disappear to?" Sirius asked with a mix of concern and curiosity.

"I needed to have a private chat with some folks. I'll fill you in on everything later," Harry replied, wanting to avoid delving into the details in the crowded hall.

Before Sirius could probe further, Susan, Hannah, and Daphne excitedly approached Harry, eager to show off their new heir rings.

Each girl flaunted their new ring: Susan with the intricate Bones heir ring, Hannah sporting the Abbot heir ring, and Daphne proudly displaying the Greengrass heir ring. The rings were as detailed and significant as the Potter family ring, and the girls were thrilled to officially claim their heritage.

Amelia, seeing that Harry had rejoined the group and all business at Gringotts was concluded, shifted focus to the next item on their agenda. "Well, now that's sorted, all that's left is to pick up the wands. Are you girls ready?" she asked.

All three girls responded in unison, "Yes!" Their excitement was palpable as they hurried towards the exit of the bank, their parents quickly following behind them, eager to wrap up their day in Diagon Alley.

Walking down the bustling street, the group soon arrived at Ollivanders Wand Shop. The adults chose to wait outside, letting the girls go in by themselves to select their wands.

It was a tradition for young witches and wizards to choose their first wand alone, making the experience more memorable. For Susan, Hannah, and Daphne, going in together made the occasion even more significant, reinforcing the strong bond they shared.

As they waited outside the wand shop, Harry decided to open up about the intense meeting he had just had with his parents. Sirius listened carefully, his expression serious.

Sirius responded with a nod, "Well, good that eventual meeting is behind you now, and that's for the best," he said, his voice firm. "It was wise to give them a chance to prove themselves. Let them sort their thoughts out on their own. If this makes them reconsider their complete trust in Dumbledore, even better. The decision to leave you in the muggle world never made sense to me. Now that I have Aries, I can't imagine what they were thinking to abandon you like that. I could never do that to my child."

Harry nodded, clearly ready to steer the conversation away from the more somber topics of his past. "Let's change the subject. When is grandfather planning to pass the Black lordship to you? It feels like it's about time."

"Very soon," Sirius answered, a serious look on his face. "Grandfather is wrapping up some final matters—severing ties and recalling loans from families linked to the darker elements of our world. He knows I want nothing to do with those associated with Death Eaters, so he's making sure all of that is settled before he steps down. Once he's done, I'll take the test for the lordship. If I pass, I'll become the next Lord Black. Grandpa Arcturus thinks I'm ready."

"That's awesome, Sirius. Congratulations!" Harry said, smiling. "You'll be a great Lord Black, just like grandfather."

Sirius nodded, "I hope so. I also want people to fear crossing against me."

Harry reassured him, "You will. By the way, how's Nymphadora doing these days?"

Sirius laughed softly. "I'm still surprised she lets you use her first name."

Harry grinned back. "Well, I owe that to last year's DADA professor. His lack of skill pushed her to seek my help, and she agreed to let me call her Nymphadora in exchange for my tutoring."

"She definitely got the better end of the deal there," Sirius remarked with a chuckle. "She ended up getting the best grade in DADA in her year, thanks to you. No one else even came close to an Outstanding, the second best was an Exceeded Expectations grade. You know, you should really consider becoming a DADA professor one day. You have a knack for it."

Harry shook his head slightly. "I haven't really thought about that seriously. Maybe someday. So, is she still planning to join the Aurors?"

"Yes, she's very set on it," Sirius said with a nod. "Applications for the Auror training are down this year, so she'll likely get in even if she's a bit clumsy."

"I've been working on that with her," Harry replied. "She's gotten better, but she's still naturally a bit clumsy. Just make sure Amelia gets her training with Moody. He'll get her into shape quickly."

"That's exactly the plan," Sirius agreed. "Andromeda was only okay with Tonks pursuing a career as an Auror if she was trained under someone as capable as Moody. With his guidance and strict oversight, she'll be in the best hands."

Their conversation meandered through various topics as they continued to wait outside the wand shop.

After a while, Susan, Hannah, and Daphne finally emerged, their faces lit up with excitement as they showed off their new wands, eager to test them out.

The day ended on a high note, with everyone heading back to their homes happy to have finished the shopping in one day. Harry also returned to Black Castle, feeling relaxed and ready for more training.

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The next day, Susan was really excited to start learning how to use her new wand. Unfortunately, Sirius and Amelia were busy with their jobs and weren't home. Amelia had even taken little Aries with her to the Ministry, where she worked. Everyone there was too respectful to comment on it.

Left without her guardians, Susan turned to Kreacher for help to take her to Harry.

She knew she couldn't start practicing magic spells by herself, and Kreacher, following Amelia's strict instructions, wouldn't let her experiment on her own.

Finding Harry in the library at the Black Castle, Susan approached him with her request to learn magic. Harry was busy but set aside his work to listen to her.

"You know, you can't use magic outside of Hogwarts without risking serious trouble," Harry informed her. "The Ministry of Magic keeps an eye on that, and you could even be expelled from school if they catch you."

Disappointment washed over Susan's face as she absorbed Harry's words.

Seeing her sad expression, Harry couldn't help but laugh gently before adding, "But actually, that rule only applies once you start at Hogwarts. Until then, you're not being watched by the Ministry."

Susan's eyes sparkled with sudden excitement. "Really? Why didn't anyone tell me sooner? I could have gotten my wand much earlier after my birthday and started practicing weeks ago!"

"What about the agreement with your friends then?" Harry asked, amused by her sudden change of plans.

"We could've just gone shopping together instead," Susan mused.

Laughing, Harry encouraged her, "Well, no point in worrying about what could have been. Let's use the time we have now."

Harry began by teaching Susan the Lumos spell, a basic yet essential spell that lights the tip of the wand. Susan managed to master it after just a few tries, impressing Harry with her quick learning.

Satisfied with her progress, he left her to practice the spell under Kreacher's watchful eye while he returned to his reading.

Considering it sufficient for the day, Harry thought about possibly teaching her more the next day if she was interested. If Susan was content with just Lumos, that would be fine too; it would give him more time to focus on his own studies.

However, the next day, Susan returned, eager to learn more. She wanted to learn spells that could impress Sirius and Amelia.

Seeing her enthusiasm, Harry decided to teach her a couple of more challenging beginner spells. First, he introduced her to a stinging hex—a spell that shoots small, harmless bursts to help her practice her aiming skills. Next, he taught her a prank spell that could change the color of people's hair. This spell was not only fun but also good for sharpening her concentration and creativity.

Harry chose these spells intentionally to lay a strong foundation for Susan, making it easier for her to pick up more complex spells in the future.

Their training sessions were relaxed and brief, just a few minutes here and there, but they were productive. Susan was quickly improving, and whenever Sirius found some free time after work, he joined in to assist with her training.

Together, they made sure Susan was well-prepared and confident in her magical abilities as she approached her start at Hogwarts.

The weeks passed quickly, and soon it was time for everyone to head back to Hogwarts. Harry felt more prepared than ever for the potentially dangerous year ahead. His fear of Voldemort had significantly diminished and Harry was confident enough to face any unexpected situations. The rigorous training and extensive magical studies had greatly enhanced his physical and magical abilities, giving him a new confidence.

Although Harry didn't know the full extent of Voldemort's power, he felt confident enough to face him, especially since Voldemort was weakened and attached to Quirrell's head. Harry doubted that Voldemort, in such a state, could harness much power.

Over the past year, Harry had made incredible progress in his magical training. He had reached a point where he could stand toe-to-toe with Sirius during their duels. Although Sirius still came out on top after intense and prolonged battles due to his more extensive combat experience, Harry's magical abilities had nearly caught up to his. Sirius was amazed by Harry's rapid development, playfully remarking that Harry was turning into a formidable wizard, almost like a monster in his strength and skills.

With this newfound power and confidence, Harry was genuinely excited for the school year. He was prepared for what might be his first real encounter with Voldemort.