We sit in the hospital café with a tuna sandwich each.
"Peter was a dear friend of your parents." Dumbledore says, somewhat sadly. "Your parents were forced to go into hiding when Lord Voldemort began to gain more power. I assisted James and Lily in creating a protection over their property called a Fidelius charm. Some of the ingredients needed to perform to ritual were not easy to come by, even more so in a time of war, so I was able to procure them." He explains. "The Fidelius charm hides wherever it is cast upon, only those who know the 'secret' are able to find and gain access to the property."
"The secret?" I ask, taking another bite.
"Think of it as a password, without it you cannot even comprehend the location. The plan was that only the Potters and their 'Secret keeper' were to know the secret, the secret keeper being the only one able to pass on said secret."
"Sounds … secretive." I say, he smiles a little.
"Indeed." He nods. "Your parents entrusted the secret with a man named Sirius Black, to all the world it seemed for years that James and Sirius were inseparable. At the end of the war, Sirius was to simply visit James and Lily to tell them it was safe to come out of hiding."
"So what happened?" I ask.
"They placed their trust in the wrong person." He says gravely. "Sirius passed on the secret the Lord Voldemort, who stormed the village of Godric's Hollow and cut down James and Lily before he was destroyed by you."
"Destroyed?" I frown.
"Some, including myself, Do not believe that he is truly gone." He watches me as I steeple my finger, placing the tips against my lips.
"And Sirius Black? What became of him?"
"After Lord Voldemort was defeated, Sirius was reported to have been found Peter Pettigrew, who was attempting to detain him, but sadly Sirius killed Peter, along with 12 muggles."
"Muggles?"
"Non-magicals humans, as you called them. Sirius was sent to Azkaban. The foulest place of Earth, the wardens are called Dementors. Something to look up in future." He says. "Peter was posthumously awarded an Order of Merlin, First Class. A medal of bravery." He supplies.
"And if I were to tell you that Sirius Black was not my parents secret keeper? What then?" I ask. Dumbledore stares at me.
"The wands." He says, withdrawing the couple. I take My Mother's wand from his hand.
"A big spell that stands out, is your Fidelius charm." I explain, running my fingers across the smooth wood. "The Keeper's name is part of the incantation, correct?"
"Yes."
"Peter Pettigrew was the keeper." I say quietly. "Somebody vomited on this table yesterday too."
"Are you absolutely sure?" He stresses. I nod.
Dumbledore draws out another wand, his own by the looks of it. He holds the tip to his temple and slowly draws out a wisp of silvery strands, depositing it in a small glass phial.
"That was weird." I comment.
"I have much thinking to do, perhaps a trip to Diagon Alley?" He offers with a smile.
"I thought you'd never ask." I grin.
"It's a stupid name for a pub." I say after being assaulted by grubby hands.. I thought Dumbledore was exaggerating. "And it smells funny." Nothing to dampen my mood like people scrambling to put their dirty mitts on me. "Somebody trod on my foot too." Dumbledore chuckles as we arrive at a brick wall.
"I did offer you shoes, but it was you that insisted on being bare foot." He reminds me.
"Do people still shake your hand wherever you go?"
"That depends on the company." He taps the bricks in a practised order causing them to fold into themselves, creating a rough archway. Marvellous to behold.
"At least it doesn't smell." I say, determined not to look too excited. He laughs and starts to walk.
I crane my neck and spin as we walk. People of all shapes, sizes, and colours darting between the shops and trying to get their voice heard above the others. Several owls perched upon the same lamppost. A man with two peg legs and a parrot on his shoulder. The cobblestones tell another story. Centuries of daily visitors walking around, yet they haven't worn at all. A handy thing this magic.
"I believe a trip to the bank is in order, nothing is for free after all." Dumbledore says, he still seems distracted.
"So the money, you obviously don't use pounds." I prompt.
"Ah. There are Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts. 29 Knuts to a sickle and 17 Sickles to the galleon." He says, handing me a small golden key. "This is the key to your vaults. The Goblins of Gringotts are tricky to understand to most. They are fiercely noble to the bank and are a proud race. Many spend their entire lives studying the Goblins with hopes of understanding them better."
"That makes them sound like animals." I frown.
"And that is the hurdle that many will never jump. A simple conversation would save them years of research. You would do well to not insult them. Speak clearly and loudly."
"This key is the exact same age as me, right down to the second." I tell him as we cross the threshold of the bank. "Can't be a coincidence." I look up and have to stop myself from staring at the Goblins. They look like how I'd imagine Dumbledore's knee would look if it were green.
"They were once a warrior race, now they focus on banking." Dumbledore says casually. "Good morning." He greets the Goblin at the desk. "Young Harry here would like to visit his vault."