AN:

I know the dates are not canon, but this in an AU.

I'm also still looking for a beta reader.

/- Mind talk in English

- normal talk in English

~ normal talk in Gobbledegook

/~ mind talk in Gobbledegook

Chapter 3

"Was mich nicht umbringt macht mich stärker." (What does not kill me makes me stronger.)

Friedrich Nietzsche

16th of June, 2018 (saturday)

Harry Potter woke with a start and cold sweat, breathing heavily. He dreamt about Cedric's death again. With a sigh that he will not be able to sleep any more, he sat up and listened... Nothing... That's a good sign, he didn't manage to wake the Dursley's. Looking at the alarm clock, ha realized that it is 4.17, little before his alarm was supposed to set off. He quickly turned it off, collected his clothes and sneaked downstairs to take a quick silent shower. Harry didn't even spent 5 minutes in the bathroom before exited from it and went quietly to the kitchen. He didn't dare to turn on the stove, instead he just ate a simple cereal for breakfast.

He grabbed his backpack, what he already packed yesterday evening and left a note for the Dursley's on the fridge, which said he is out with his Godfather. He put up his invisibility cloak as he didn't wanted the neighbours seeing him leave so early and ask questions from his relatives and left the house trough the backdoor. By 5 o'clock he was walking beside the local park into an empty alley. There he put away his invisibility cloak and put on a simple black robe with hoods. Ginny told him she saw people dress like that on the knight bus and they were usually left alone by the conductor. That was exactly what Harry wanted; no questions, no staring, just left alone.

Due to being this early, he was the only passenger on the bus, so he was taken directly to his destination. That also meant it was on 5.13 on the clock in the Leaky Cauldron when he walked trough there. Tom seemingly didn't recognized him either with his hood up and just let him pass through the bar with a simple greeting. Harry leisurely walked down the alley, looking around and taking his time. He tried not to think about the fact that everything just went way too smoothly yet.

At 5.45 he stopped looking at the shop's windows and turned towards Gringotts. At the entrance he bowed back to the guards and stepped into the bank. He recognized the guards. He didn't know their names, just their face, but he know they are part of the group who respect Harry for honouring their traditions.

Harry learnt early that important goblin buildings are always heavily guarded and not just to protect the building itself, but also everybody currently in the building for whatever reason. A goblin guard bowing to you means that while you don't mean harm to them they will protect you with the others in the building even if their life is the price. Bowing back shows them your respect for the institute rules and also your gratitude for their offered service.

As Harry walked into the marble hall of the bank, he lowered his hood and looked around. The goblins from the night shift were just giving over their place to the morning shift, but as he passed them they looked at him smiling and greeting him warmly in gobbledegook and he happily returned the favour. He just felt home being there. He enjoyed the fact that they just accepted his love for their language and didn't mind his far from perfect pronunciation, just smiled on him, sometimes even helped him correct himself.

Harry was perfectly aware of the fact that as soon the guards recognized him they informed the others about him arriving to the bank over there mind network where they gave informations over each other or just talked over the day.

This mind network was another thing Harry was fascinated over. Goblins were best with mind magic above everything else. Getting into a goblins head uninvited was impossible and the way they could improve the capacity of their mind for analysing situations was brilliant too. They also could make this network. In reality it was a strong special rune stone to what they could connect their mind with holding up a link while in close enough distance of it. Harry imagined it as modern chats on the internet he saw Dudley constantly hanging on. Goblins could mind talk with everybody at the same time like being in one chatroom. They also could make smaller rooms, where they could go over and form smaller groups. These rooms could be public or private with passwords too.

Joark told him that his presence in the bank is always announced on it and the best part of it was that while humans were always mentioned simply by their family name, he was known as "Young Harry" there. This meant that on some level they accepted him as their own, because it was traditional for goblins to use each other given names. The title they used for him reinforced that too as goblin children were traditionally addressed with that title in their Nation.

For the time he reached the middle of the hall Drurnk was already coming towards him. He was Joark's best friend whom he grew up with and they did almost everything together. Drurnk was the next heir for another tüke family. He was lucky as his dad accepted his choice to work in the bank. "Some hard work experience would not harm him" he said, as in the bank everybody started at the same level, independently from their upbringing and financial status.

~ My day is blessed, Young Harry! - greeted Drurnk holding out his right arm to him like its traditional between friends. Usually he got this greeting, only some more reserved goblin used the business version of the goblin greetings with him.

~ My day is also blessed, Master Drurnk! - exclaimed Harry while grabbing Drurnk forearm with his right hand and putting his left hand on Drurnk shoulder and looking into his eyes. They held each other gaze for some seconds before separating.

~ Come, Joark is waiting for you! - he said and turn around and headed for one of the many doors with Harry following him.

For goblins every day counted as blessed on which they could be with their friends, as for them their honour demands to support their friend. So if you had a friend with you than somebody always has your back and you can concentrate on what's in front of you.

/~ So this years surprise is Young Harry arriving into the bank by goblin customs? - asked one of the tellers on the network.

/~ Getting out of bed in time and not sleep your day away is not so hard, I'm sure this is not the surprise part. - guessed another goblin.

/~ You think? With more then 10 years working here I still can count the number of humans being here at this time. It certainly seem hard to them. - answered the first goblin.

/~ Anyway… what kind of surprise you still expects from him? By now he moves around here like he is home, talking and behaving like one of us. What else can he do to surprise us? - asked Drurnk while escorting Harry around. Everybody started to talk:

/~ There have to be something! Somebody has to win the bet!

/~ Yeah, life can't become boring!

/~ I saw your list and I think it's insane!

/~ Do you know how hard to come up with ideas for all about his visits?

/~ And when was the last time anybody made a correct guess?

/~ That's just makes it even more interesting!

/~ Joark! Give us a clue about today!

/~ No. - answered Joark shortly. - For one I don't know details either, on the other hand we are talking about Young Harry here.

/~ You know we love him, but you also have to give it to him that he is strange. For a human extremely strange.

/~ Yeah, he is deep in our heart, but he is also the one and only who always manage to do something to make us talk about him for weeks after his visits.

/~ You should get a life for yourself! - huffed Drurnk.

Since Harry started to use his knowledge about goblin traditions, some goblins started to try and find out what he will learn by next time, but they never succeeded as of yet. So the guessing and talks continued on the network like that.

Meanwhile Harry and Drurnk arrived to Joark's office. It was quite small and quite crowded today. It seemed Marina wanted to meet Harry too. But goblins prided themselves on looking after the women's of the family, so she was accompanied by her brother, Vagbi. But their mum didn't wanted to stay at home either as they planned to go shopping together later and it was easier this way.

Harry greeted Joark, Marina and Vagbi, whom he already knew as he visited him with Joark in Hogsmeade. Then he was introduced to Marina's and Vagbi's mum, Grelda. He greeted her properly with bowing and kissing her hand. Then they sat down in a circle around the office's floor on some cushions. Goblins liked to sit cross-legged lot more than on chairs although they barely managed to find enough space for themselves in the small office.

~ So how are you? - started Joark.

~ Actually quite fine. At least a lot better than I expected myself to be after the end of the term. - answered Harry honestly. With Joark he didn't even considered his traditional "I'm fine answer".

~ I'm glad to hear that, we were quite worried for you! - said Marina.

~ Thanks for that. - said Harry blushing. He still found it embarrassing to be cared for by others.

~ For my part I'm still a little worried about your last letter Harry. - said Joark. - What it is you wanted to talk so much personally that couldn't be sent over goblin post? Not that I don't like having you here, but you sounded really serious.

~ Because I meant it that way. There are several things I would like to talk about with you. - Harry said slowly trying to find the right words.

~ Take a calming breath. You know you can talk to us freely. - said Joark when seeing Harry's hesitation. Harry looked at him gratefully.

~ I would like to talk about the war, my bank account, services of Gringotts and I need some financial advice too. Of course I would like to have a visit to the canteen to together and just talk about things. - listed Harry.

~ Alright. Let's start about the war, then we can go down for some snack and we will finish with the other bank related subjects privately. - suggested Joark.

~ That sounds perfect. - smiled Harry.

~ So what do you want to talk about considering the war? - asked Marina curiously.

~ Firstly: Did the high council find proof about Voldemort's return?

~ Not yet. - sighed Joark. - They meet up almost every day, but still nothing. And here in the bank the account managers of the Ancient and Noble Houses are having a meeting just about that with Director Ragnok right now. They are trying to find something too to help the high council. Of course there are a lot of interesting money movement they know about, but because of their oath to the bank they can't use that outside of here. Our clients business is highly protected by bank protocols. - explained Joark.

~ I know. But I think with Ginny's suggestion and your help we could solve that problem.

~ Really? - asked Vagbi surprised.

~ Now I'm curious too. - said Drurnk.

~ The plan is that I let Joark watch two of my memories. One about what happened in the cemetery and the other about our dear idiot Minister's reaction to this. Then Joark can go and give his oath about what happened to the high council and you can start prepare properly for the war. - Harry outlined the plan. For seconds they sat there silently looking at Harry with a shocked expression.

~ You really would let me do that? - asked Joark disbelievingly.

- You do know that Joark will not be able to fully control what he sees as your subconscious is not in your control. - said Marina slowly and in English to be sure Harry really understands her.

~ I'm perfectly aware of that. I trust him to do his best to only watch what I'm trying to show him and to respect my privacy and protect those memories he sees accidentally. - answered Harry seriously.

~ You honour me, Harry! - said Joark honestly. Harry smiled at Joark.

~ So how it can be done exactly? - asked Harry excitedly.

~ Maybe you better lie down. It can feel a little weird for the first time. Come, lie on your back and put your head into my lap. - said Joark while sitting further back so he was directly at the wall.

Harry moved into the circle and lied down on his back, putting his head into Joark's lap as he asked. He looked up at Joark expectantly.

- Ok, I will use English now so your mind can relax better. Your only job is to follow the instructions the best you can do. First you will hear my voice normally then it will move and you will hear it from the inside of your head. It is totally normal, don't be startled by it, try to stay as calm as you can.

- Alright. - said Harry waiting for the instructions. Joark took a deep breath, putting his hand on the two side of Harry's forehead.

- Now close your eyes. - started Joark. - Take some deep breath. Concentrate on your breathing. Not on the memories, just your breath. Anywhere you feel it strongest, concentrate on it. If your mind starts to wander off just gently shift your thoughts back to your breathing.

Joark was talking slowly and almost in a whisper. Harry did his best to do as he was said. Joark was gently stroking his hair fully calming him. He really felt at peace. For a second he felt like something changed but he couldn't put his finger on it. The next second he heard Joark's voice from his head.

/- Keep breathing and slowly shift your concentration to the memory about the cemetery.

It took some time while Joark could watch the right memories. Harry found it hard to keep up his concentration as he hated to remember these, but Joark patiently waited for him. As he told to Harry he could force it and watch only those memories, but that would hurt Harry and he was not willing to do that. Joark helped him a lot with his guiding voice to stay calm, take deep breaths and so on…

When they finished Harry felt something shift in his mind, then he heard Joarks voice normally again.

- You did it fantastically Harry. I certainly expected it to take lot more time. Keeping your conscious mind concentrated enough so your subconscious follows it is extremely hard without the right methods. - praised Joark. - And also thank you for trusting me with this. It means a lot for me.

Harry opened his eyes and looked at Joark. At first he was wary doing so, because some of the memories Joark also saw. But he didn't see pity in his eyes, but respect. He didn't understand it, but was thankful for him. He didn't know why, but he sat up, turned around and hugged Joark, who returned it without thinking. They hugged each other for almost a minute before separating and sitting back to their original positions with the others. They silently gave them the time and space they needed and didn't commented on anything that happened. Harry was grateful for them.

~ Alright everybody, we have a lot to do. Not just about the war, but I just understood a lot of other things from Harry's memories I saw accidentally and my to do list for today just grew a lot bigger. - sighed Joark.

~ What do you mean? - asked Harry confusedly.

~ How many goblins can you name from the bank? - asked Joark.

~ Certainly over 30, why?

~ Just tell me one. What is the name of your account manager? - asked Joark a little too seriously for Harry's liking.

~ I don't know, we never met, that is one of the things I have questions about. - answered Harry.

~ You what?! - shouted Drurnk. He was quite outraged.

~ Ahm.. He never said ha wants to meet me and you see… I didn't wanted to disturb him. He sure has a lot of work to do so I let him to it. - explained Harry.

~ Calm down Drurnk, don't take it out on Harry. It is his account manager's responsibility to look after him. He should have initiated things, not Harry. It's the adults who have to help children to learn what is their part and what isn't. It was his job to contact Harry and give him the required informations, not Harry's to know if something has to be done out of nothing. Especially as it is his account manager who is living in the magical world and Harry is the one who just joined back to it some years ago.

Harry doesn't really understand why they are so angry. He just hoped they will not get themselves into trouble as both of them are still counts as low level goblins in the bank.

~ And what are you planning to do? - worried Harry.

~ What I should have already done after we became pendamps. I just trusted others to do their job. - said Joark.

AN:

pendamp: special type of friendship or more likely publicly know sibling-ship between two individual who aren't relatives by blood but considering each others as siblings and willing to act like one for another. And as family is highly respected by goblins so is chosen family what comes by responsibilities too and it is taken quite seriously.