Harry wasn't sure how much of his new abilities he should disclose to the older magical visitors. From what he understood (Some was due to Hermione, but still…) much of what he, Hermione, and Dudley were already doing regularly was considered impossible or almost so, especially for such young children. Apparition was only for of-age magical people. Wandless casting was considered too advanced for most and silent casting even more so, yet all three of them were doing more and more this way.
"Aunt Petunia, next time Minnie, Alby or Remi visit, please don't tell them about our magical achievements. What we do is considered above the ability level of most wizards and witches, so it's better not to confuse them with that or consider us exceptional in any way."
Petunia was also thinking about the subject, reaching similar conclusions. "Alright, dear. I also think it's better to keep your advanced magic a secret. According to Albus and Remus, some of your enemies are still around. No need to make your abilities known to them, and once you tell one person, some is bound to become known by others too."
Harry knew this to be true, although he had never bothered to understand how it worked. He nodded his agreement and added, "I'll tell Hermione the same."
She wasn't too surprised to see him vanish as soon as he finished speaking. Harry reappeared a few minutes later.
"She was also thinking of asking the same. I told her that you said I still have enemies out there, and she turned fully determined." He chuckled. "I think she's going to research some protection magic to learn the next time we all meet."
Petunia smiled. She had already noticed how driven the girl was, especially concerning new knowledge. "If you're discussing protections, try to find some information about wards, too. Albus said we have some protection wards on the house to prevent enemies from finding and attacking us, but he also said your parents had very good protection. I'd rather check this independently."
Harry nodded. "We'll do that."
–..–
Since Harry had joined her family, Petunia was wondering about his scar. Dumbledore had said he couldn't heal it and knew of nobody who could. Yet Petunia also remembered Lily mentioning that the goblins had their whole life under Gringotts, living in an underground city. That could mean they had their own healers. From what she heard about the Goblin-Human relations, it was almost a given. Both species despised each other and didn't trust the other. She wondered why the human magical people still trusted the goblins with their money. Didn't they understand that this gave the goblins unprecedented power over their finances?
That wasn't her problem, though. She thought that asking the goblins to heal that scar could work, although it could be costly. She sighed at the thought. The Potters had been quite well off, she was sure, but Harry had no access to any part of his inheritance before reaching eleven, and not much more before he reached seventeen. She hoped that a test to determine the possible treatment would not turn too costly. It was worth a try, though.
That Thursday, shortly after the children returned from school, she talked to them. "You both know that Harry's scar is not healing. In fact, it looks like he'd just got it despite the more than six years that had passed since. The wizards don't know how to heal it, but I wondered if the goblins can. I'd like to go with Harry to Gringotts and have him checked by goblin healers. Depending on what they find and how much it may cost, we'll consider how to act next."
Harry was quite willing to get rid of that scar. "When do you want to go there? I can take you even now. Well, in a few minutes, after I wash my hands and face."
Dudley also talked. "It would be nice for Harry to no longer have a scar. I think Hermione would like it."
Harry smiled. "I'm sure she would, but can that be done?"
Petunia talked again. "I thought of going there on Saturday, allowing you to spend Sunday with Hermione, as usual. Do you think you can take me with you to Diagon Alley?"
Harry nodded. "We've already exercised with the dolls you brought for that, after enlarging them to adult sizes. It should prove no problem."
Dudley had a question. "Don't you want me to come too?"
Petunia sighed. "I don't know how long it may take. I suppose that just checking the scar will not take longer than an hour, but if they need to consult about what to do and how much to charge, it may take much longer. Then, if we agree on the treatment and the price, I have no idea how long that may take. It could be minutes, of course, but it's more likely to take hours. You won't like waiting there with nothing to do. You'd better go meet some friends to pass the time. I'll talk with Mrs Polokiss to give you lunch if I'm late."
Dudley grimaced. "We're no longer friends. Better ask Mrs Figg, I think."
Petunia nodded with a slight smile. "Alright, I'll talk to Mrs Figg."
Petunia didn't know if they told Hermione, too, but suspected they did. It looked like these three kept no secrets from each other, at least none concerning the magical world.
Indeed, about ten minutes later, Harry appeared in Hermione's room and told her.
"I can come and stay with you," she offered.
Harry smiled apologetically. "According to my aunt, it may take hours of waiting. You can use your time better in other ways. Have you found anything about wards already?"
Hermione didn't mind the change of subject. "Yes, but not much we can already use. There are some warding companies, but they work only with old and rich magical families. They won't even look at us. Then, the goblins also have some excellent wards. Some consider them even better than wizard wards. If you go to Gringotts, you may ask there."
Harry nodded. "I'll tell my aunt."
–..–
Petunia was fascinated by how easily Harry took her to London. It felt like it took no time at all, as if she was standing in Harry's room one moment, and was standing in Diagon Alley in the blink of an eye later. She didn't feel any squeezing feeling, as Lily used to describe apparition. It felt like she was standing still, and the scenery around her was replaced. It was still slightly disorienting, of course.
They arrived between two houses, where nobody would normally look, and close enough to Gringotts to reach it in two or three minutes.
Petunia approached a teller quite hesitantly, but didn't let that affect her tone. "I'd like a consultation with your healers about something I was told the wizard healers can't treat. If possible, I'd like it treated too."
"Whom do you want that for? We don't treat muggles. Our methods don't fit them." The goblin was polite but firm.
Petunia pulled Harry forward. "I'd like it for my nephew, Harry Potter."
The teller took a glance at the boy and nodded. "For that, you'll need to talk to the Potter account manager, I believe. Please wait a bit as I call him."
He turned to the wall behind him and used something Petunia thought of as an intercom, although she was quite sure it was magical. He then turned back. "Let me escort you to the Potter account manager."
While walking briskly, following the teller, Petunia wondered about that account manager. She knew the Potter family had been quite well off, maybe even rich. Was that enough to assign an account manager to it? Or was that goblin handling several accounts? It didn't matter for what she needed, but it intrigued her.
They stopped in front of a door. The teller knocked on it and got a grunt in reply. He then opened the door and announced, "Scion Potter and an escort."
Petunia let Harry walk first and walked a pace behind him. The goblin who sat at the large desk in the room waved them to sit on two comfortable chairs. Noticing the chair was a bit high for Harry, he waved his hand, changing it to fit the child. Petunia heard the door close behind them.
The goblin talked. "Let me present myself first. I'm Sharpclaw, the Potter account manager for the last thirty-two years. May I know what you need Gringotts' help for?"
Petunia had to use all her courage to talk to this goblin, who seemed much more powerful than the tellers, although he talked quite mildly. "When Harry was left on my doorstep, he already had a prominent scar on his forehead. I later asked Dumbledore about it, and he said he knew of no way to heal it, due to it being caused by a dark spell. Since it won't heal with any muggle treatment either, I thought the goblins may have a way to heal it."
Sharpclaw nodded. "Indeed, as the unwilling subjects of too many curses, the goblins already have ways to treat scars, even ones created by very dark magic."
"Do you know how much it may cost? I believe I can shoulder the initial testing, but I don't know about the treatment."
Sharpclaw tried to stay serious. "I'm not sure I have an answer for you. Prices vary, and that's an area I never needed to get updated about. Still, the first step, according to bank regulations, is an identity test. It entails putting a drop of blood on a magically treated parchment. It will then show us who you are and your ancestry, as well as some more information. Once we have that, I may be able to help much better."
Pricking a finger for the drop of blood didn't seem special. Using the wickedly sharp goblin dagger for it was much more special and a bit intimidating. Luckily, Harry had already had a few medical checks, during which he needed to give some blood. This seemed even easier, only requiring one drop. He still looked at the daggers with appreciation.
Sharpclaw collected the daggers and the parchments. He waved his arms over the daggers and said something, making them sparkling clean again, before putting them back in their place. He then waited for the parchments to fill with text and some lines, and nodded, as if seeing what he expected.
"Your identities are verified. Now, since Potter is a major account, I can authorise having the diagnostic scan free of charge. I'll be able to tell you about the rest after we learn what it entails. Let me call for the healers to run the initial diagnostics."
He used another wall-mounted instrument to talk to somebody. "The healers will come in a moment. They'll also bring a curse breaker along. Is that all?"
Petunia took a deep breath. "I was also thinking of checking the wards set around our house. They were set by Dumbledore, as far as I know, but I'm not sure they are the best."
Sharpclaw nodded pensively. "That should wait until we finish the diagnostics and possibly the treatment of Mr Potter."
Before he finished the sentence, the door opened, and three goblins entered, two wearing pastel-green robes and one wearing a light grey robe. They motioned Harry to stand up and move away from the furniture. They then surrounded him, casting various spells and producing some foggy forms around him, each of a different size, shape, and colour. Petunia thought a few of the forms looked like the drawings she'd once seen of some internal organs and bones, but most reminded her of nothing.
It took only a few minutes, and Petunia noticed they were mostly casting at and around Harry's scar, frowning deeply. Once finished, they motioned Harry back to his chair and consulted for a bit before one stepped forward to give the results.
"Mr Potter is as healthy as expected of a boy his age. His only medical problem is his weak eyesight, similar to his father's. We can't recommend treating it now since children change as they grow up, and whatever we can do for him now may be negated by his growth. We found one magical problem. His scar contains a very dark and malicious entity that prevents it from healing. We need to first remove that entity before the scar can be healed. This may also affect his eyesight slightly."