Time passed and the date Harry had agreed on with his friends drew closer.
The first to arrive was Dacey, who seemed very eager to see him.
''Did you miss me that much?'' Harry said, smiling at her as he leaned in to kiss her.
''Wait, I have something important to tell you,'' Dacey said, taking Harry's face and stopping him before he could kiss her.
Harry's face squished against Dacey's hand as he felt a knot in his stomach for a moment.
''Are you pregnant?'' Harry asked uncertainly. He remembered giving her the potion on time every month.
At that moment, he couldn't help remembering the saying that the best contraceptive was abstinence.
''Huh? Of course not,'' Dacey said, shaking her head with a giggle.
''Look at this,'' Dacey said, handing Harry a stone.
''Volcanic rock? Where did you get it?'' Harry asked, playing with the stone in his hand. At the same time, he couldn't help feeling a little relieved that Dacey wasn't pregnant.
''From Bear Island. Listen, what would you say if I wanted to set up a cement factory on the island?'' Dacey said, biting her lip and looking somewhat hesitant, something unusual for her.
''We'd have to investigate whether it's viable. I'll send a letter to Philip so he can send some men. Write to your mother as well so she can guide them and help them get to where you found the stone.''
''I remember there was plenty of limestone around the shores of the island, so it's feasible as long as there's enough volcanic rock,'' Harry said, nodding as he quickly analyzed the matter.
The problem was transportation, since he assumed Dacey wanted the factory as a source of income.
They would have to get ships. In the future, cement would probably be sold throughout Westeros.
His factory in Steam City couldn't even keep up with demand throughout the North.
''Since we're going to Essos, we can find out how much cargo ships cost. They'll be necessary for transportation,'' Harry said, murmuring to himself.
Dacey looked at Harry in amazement as he seemed to be thinking about potential buyers for something that was barely even a plan.
The next moment she burst out laughing, hugging Harry and resting her head on his shoulder. Dacey smiled happily. She had been afraid Harry wouldn't help her, but he was already thinking about what would happen when the factory was finished.
''Thank you,'' Dacey said softly, her tone somewhat vulnerable.
Only she knew how difficult it had been for her to ask him for help.
''You don't need to thank me,'' Harry said, gently holding her chin as he looked into her eyes with a smile.
''Take me to bed,'' Dacey said, staring at Harry.
….
''You're late,'' Harry said, giving Domeric a speechless look.
''Sorry, I got caught up in something,'' Domeric said, giving Harry and the rest of the group an apologetic look.
''It's fine,'' Smalljon said, shrugging, not seeming to care.
The group murmured that they didn't mind or that he should make it up to them by cooking dinner that day.
''Did something happen?'' Harry asked, looking at Domeric.
''It turns out I have a brother,'' Domeric said, smiling happily.
''Oh? Was he born recently?'' Daryn asked, confused. His family's lands bordered Domeric's, and he hadn't heard anything.
''No, he's only a little younger than me, he's... a bastard,'' Domeric said, somewhat uncomfortable with the word.
''I see,'' Harry said, nodding and asking nothing else.
''Then let's get going,'' Harry said, looking at the group.
They had all changed a little since their last journey. Almost a year had passed and they would be traveling together again.
The luggage was already prepared, so the entire group set off toward White Harbor.
As he rode with Val in his arms, he couldn't help thinking about everything that had happened lately.
During that time he had turned 15 and several projects had been completed.
The tracks had already been completed all the way to the Wall, while the southern section was about to reach Moat Cailin.
This had strengthened the security of the Wall and Harry's control over the new citizens.
They had behaved unexpectedly well. Mance had told him that he had truly frightened everyone with that fire spell.
Harry had underestimated how strongly the people beyond the Wall believed in magic.
The Free Folk at Sea Dragon Point had also settled there. He had received letters from Dalla mentioning that everyone was quite happy with the territory he had given them.
As manpower became available, Harry immediately put it to work, prioritizing the reconstruction of Winter Town, repairing old buildings or simply rebuilding them from scratch.
Five-story buildings also began to be constructed around the train station, making the entire area around Winterfell look different.
These buildings were the result of much experimentation with cement by Philip and several Maesters. They were modern-style buildings, with a central chimney to make heating easier in winter.
The contrast between what he considered modern and the castle's ancient appearance created something interesting.
They looked quite good in his opinion. When he looked out his window, it seemed as if all that was missing were cars.
Except those definitely weren't going to arrive, at least not in his lifetime. He didn't know if the technology of that world would ever reach that point.
Plans for a second train line had also been put on the table, which would run from White Harbor to Winterfell.
The route was still being calculated. There were forests, mountains, and a river along the way, so it would take them a few months to plan everything.
The most important news during that time was that Lady Dustin had become pregnant.
Although he had somewhat expected it, Harry couldn't help being surprised. His aim was apparently quite accurate.
Maybe he should practice more with the bow.
Val couldn't help joking about it a lot. Still, aside from Dacey, no one else knew.
The news also made him visit Barbrey a couple more times, giving her some potions to keep her healthy.
The entire group rode for eight days until they finally reached White Harbor. It was Harry's first time seeing the largest city in the North.
In his mind, he couldn't help adding: for now.
Seeing the city from outside, Harry found it quite beautiful. The entire city seemed to be made of some kind of white stone, living up to its name.
They were all given quite a grand welcome.
He assumed someone from the village where they had stayed the night before had sent word.
Harry got off his horse and truly appreciated the gesture. It almost seemed like a public declaration of House Manderly's loyalty to the Starks.
Harry greeted them with a smile before the group was taken to the castle for the welcoming feast.
On the way, he took in the atmosphere of a large city, especially a port city.
When he arrived, he saw a couple of unfamiliar faces.
Harry knew everyone except Wylis and Leona, the parents of Wylla and Wynafryd, who had accompanied their grandfather Wyman to Winterfell.
Wylis was a stout man, similar to his brother, although he was bald and had a walrus mustache that covered his mouth.
His wife, Leona, was a plump blonde woman, quite beautiful. Harry assumed that was where their daughters' beauty came from.
Harry and his companions enjoyed the food and music for the rest of the day.
The next day they would leave for Essos.
The following morning, Harry headed toward the harbor with his group and the members of House Manderly, escorted by several guards.
The sound of the waves and the smell of the sea filled the entire harbor.
The murmur of merchants doing business made it clear how incredibly active the harbor was.
''What do you think?'' Wyman said, looking at Harry with a smile.
''It's really lively,'' Harry said, nodding as he looked around.
''Ships arrive and leave every day, although in recent years we've managed to export more than we import. My young lord deserves quite a bit of credit for that,'' Wyman said, smiling.
''If you didn't keep the harbor in such good condition, my contribution would be useless,'' Harry said, laughing as they walked.
Wyman led him with a smile to a large ship.
''This is our fastest ship. It's already loaded with provisions and all the men will obey your orders,'' Wyman said with a smile.
''I really appreciate it,'' Harry said, smiling as he nodded.
"Think nothing of it. Given our relationship, there's no need for such courtesies," Wyman said with a smile.
''I'm sorry I have to leave so quickly, but time is pressing. When I return, I'll make sure to empty the castle's supplies,'' Harry said, shaking Wyman's hand with a smile.
''Your stomach isn't big enough,'' Wyman said with a laugh, clearly pleased by Harry's words.
Harry smiled, saying goodbye to everyone before boarding the ship followed by his companions.
Harry hesitated about taking Ater, but considering that he had no plans to venture inland once they reached Essos, he finally left him free to return to Winterfell or do whatever he wanted.
As for Hedwig, it was better for her to stay. Life on the ship could be too suffocating for her.
At his command, the crew immediately set sail and unfurled the sails as they moved away from the shore.
For most of the group, including Harry, it was the first time they had traveled out to sea.
Fortunately, the ship was large, so they didn't feel the movement of the waves as intensely.
They were all sitting on the deck while a glass lantern with a candle inside swayed with the movement of the ship.
''So? What exactly are we going to Essos for?'' Domeric asked, looking at Harry.
The dim light barely illuminated their faces.
''We're going to rob the Iron Bank,'' Harry said with a smile, amused by the surprised coughs from a couple of them as they drank.
''Be serious,'' Jon said, looking at his brother.
''Well, it's the truth, although I'm still considering the extent of my robbery,'' Harry said, putting on a more serious expression.
Seeing everyone's incredulous looks, he could only sigh and explain himself.
''When the Targaryens were still in power, a woman stole three dragon eggs and sold them to the Sealord of Braavos. The Iron Bank later forgave the Crown's debt as part of the settlement over those eggs. I don't know if you know this story,'' Harry said, looking at the group. They all shook their heads, having heard nothing about it.
''I'm interested in getting those eggs, and everything points to them being in the Bank,'' Harry said, revealing one of the purposes of the trip.
Everyone looked at Harry in silence, amazed by his audacity. Few would even dare to think about robbing the Iron Bank.
''Aren't you afraid they'll find out?'' Harrion asked, frowning.
''It's a valid concern, but a dragon egg is worth the risk,'' Harry said, shrugging.
''You do know that if they find out, you'd put the North in a difficult position, right?'' Domeric said, raising his eyebrows.
''Only if they catch me doing it. If they only suspect me, things are different,'' Harry said, smiling calmly.
''What's the difference?'' Jon asked with interest.
''Hm, well, if they caught me, they'd probably demand a lot for my ransom. Maybe they'd have to hand over the train,'' Harry said, laughing.
Dacey only rolled her eyes as she took a sip of her drink.
''If they suspect me, they'll only be able to use their typical tactics: strangle the economy, fund enemies... Unfortunately for them, these things have little effect on the North,'' Harry said, shrugging.
''I hope your arrogance doesn't come back to bite you one of these days,'' Domeric said, smiling helplessly as he shook his head.
''Then you'll be there to say 'I told you so,''' Harry said, laughing.
''I really hope I don't have to,'' Domeric said, rolling his eyes.
The ship rocked as everyone chatted casually, mainly about the rumors they had heard about Essos and what they were going to do there.
Eventually, everyone returned to their cabins when the candle in the lantern went out.
….
In the blink of an eye, more than two weeks had passed.
The wind favored them, allowing them to make rapid progress. Harry heard from the crew that sometimes the journey could take as long as a month.
Even so, it was quite a boring journey for most of them, although there were a few things that kept him entertained.
Such as recording the variations in magic as they crossed the sea.
Ever since he had seen the giants' camp and detected the large amount of magic, he had begun to suspect that the amount of magic was linked to the number of magical creatures in the area.
If he thought about it, it made a certain amount of sense. Magic was quite scarce in Westeros; he assumed the cutting down of the weirwoods had quite a lot to do with it.
Perhaps it was also related to the extinction of the dragons. He didn't think they could be born in such a hostile environment.
On average, the magic hovered around 12 points at sea, but as the days passed and they approached Essos, that number seemed to be rising.
Magic seemed to be much more active in Essos, something he could expect from the continent where dragons were born.
His entire group and some members of the crew stood at the bow, looking up at the head of the enormous Titan at the entrance to Braavos. It was quite impressive to see, although perhaps after having seen the Wall, it didn't leave quite as profound an impression on him.
What did impress him was that the magic had reached a level he had only felt at the giants' camp.
Murmuring the spell, the mist swirled incredibly fast before revealing the result.
15.7
As a loud roar from the Titan alerted everyone to the arrival of a ship, Harry stepped aside and let the crew handle the docking.
The whole process went quite smoothly. The name of his House was quite well known in Braavos; after all, Braavos lay just across the Narrow Sea from the North.
The crew went ashore to buy supplies and enjoy themselves for a while.
For his part, Harry met with his friends on the deck.
''Remember not to get into trouble, and you already know what to do: if you hear that the Bank was robbed, run,'' Harry said, laughing.
Val let out a giggle while the others looked at Harry as if silently asking him not to joke about that.
''You, don't do anything stupid. Dacey, keep an eye on her,'' Harry said, looking first at Val and then at Dacey, although he didn't have much hope.
Dacey could be just as troublesome as Val when they were together.
''I'm not going with you?'' Val asked, looking at Harry.
''No, I need a little discretion. Just go and have fun with Dacey,'' Harry said, watching her make a fake pout.
''You can steal whatever you want, but no women,'' Val said, looking at him seriously.
Harry rolled his eyes, ignoring the laughter. He quickly sent them off and told them not to spend all their money on prostitutes.
''Be careful,'' Harry said, looking at Dacey and Val before leaving. He knew the two girls were stubborn and impulsive.
He wouldn't be surprised if they got into a fight.
That night he would have to check how they were doing.
Harry walked away and, before anyone could notice, his figure disappeared. Magic stirred, creating a ripple like a small stone falling into a calm pond.
Harry moved through the streets without anyone being able to detect him.
His objective was quite clear: the place with the most power in all of Braavos, the Iron Bank.
According to the stories, the Bank had begun in an abandoned iron mine, where twenty-three of the early Braavosi hid their valuables.
So it was natural to think that the Iron Bank's treasure was underground.
Walking through the lobby without anyone noticing him, he looked thoughtfully around the great hall before simply deciding to explore.
There was no door that couldn't be opened by his magic, so he walked wherever he wanted. After half an hour exploring the Bank without finding anything interesting, he sought out someone who was alone and proceeded to interrogate him.
A Confundus was enough to make the man give Harry all the information he needed.
Now knowing where to go, Harry passed through several luxurious corridors and steel doors until he reached a staircase. Below, an enormous double door guarded by several guards blocked the way.
To his surprise, the door had traces of magic, making it incredibly resistant and, apparently, triggering an alert when it was attacked. Although he was curious to know who would come if he triggered the alarm, he hoped to get in and out cleanly.
It was the first time he had seen an enchantment native to that world.
If he was being honest, he wasn't impressed. It was too primitive; a Hogwarts student could do better.
After putting all the guards into a trance, Harry used Alohomora to open the door just enough to enter.
When the door closed, all the guards seemed to react. Hidden behind their helmets, they looked from side to side in confusion before shaking their heads.
Darkness surrounded him, making him raise his hand and cast a powerful Lumos that illuminated the entire corridor.
Several golden doors stretched along both sides. Counting them, there were 23; Harry assumed the number had something to do with the Bank's original founders.
The Bank had originally been founded by twenty-three people, whose descendants became known as Keyholders.
Starting with the first vault, he used Alohomora again to open it, finding gold, weapons, and finely crafted objects.
This didn't surprise him, but what he wanted to find were dragon eggs.
He went from vault to vault, opening them one by one. His expression also grew darker as he failed to find a single egg.
He couldn't help retracing his steps and checking again until he stopped at the most heavily stocked vault.
Standing before mountains of gold, gleaming weapons and armor, Harry couldn't help sighing.
In the end, he couldn't resist taking a portion.
Looking at the small mountain of gold, Harry extended his hand, causing all the gold to melt into a ball.
Using Reducio, it shrank to the size of a fist before he put it inside his coat.
His gaze swept over the Valyrian steel weapons until it stopped on a suit of armor made of the same material.
Harry stared at it in surprise for a few seconds before shrinking it as well and putting it away.
On his way back, Harry placed his hand on the floor in front of the vault door and cast a Confundus that spread until it affected all the guards on the other side.
As Harry crossed through the door, a victorious smile formed on his lips. Gringotts had been harder.
It was then that a distinct magical wave enveloped his coat and resonated with the door.
----
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