Chapter 6 – Gringotts
Fortunately for Romana and the universe as a whole, Luna hadn't found a way to fracture the space time continuum. When she heard about the Time Lady's plan, the blonde Ravenclaw did want to come along for the journey. Romana though had refused the request, Luna had been imprisoned in Malfoy Manor for many months and needed as much rest as possible. The alien woman did feel bad for rejecting Luna, the sad watery eyes of teen didn't help either. Impulsively Romana promised her a trip in the TARDIS one day, once the war was over.
Almost the moment Luna left the time capsule, Romana mentally cursed herself. She wasn't even sure what she wanted to do after this war was over. Offering out trips across the universe was the Doctor's thing, not hers. On top of that Harry and Ron, mostly the red head in truth, had been hostile towards the Time Lady. Harry appeared to be warming up to her presence but she doubted that Ron ever would. She couldn't blame the youngest Weasley boy, Hermione had been the love of his life and now she was gone, replaced by a four hundred year old alien who couldn't even do magic anymore.
Romana picked up the wand formerly belonging to Draco Malfoy, twisting it idly between her fingers. She still hadn't told the boys that she didn't have magic anymore. The Time Lady had tried to replicate the effects of a wand firstly using her blaster and then the sonic screwdriver. She could duplicate the energy output but not the effects. It led her to believe that the ability to perform magic wasn't just down to the manipulation of energy. Witches and wizards must have some kind of genetic mutation that allowed them to perform their mystical feats.
Placing the wand down and picking up the other one on the work bench, Romana resisted the urge to snap it in half. The Time Lady couldn't access magic but even she could feel the malevolent energy pouring off the wooden stick formerly belonging to Bellatrix Lestrange. Fortunately she was saved by the opening of the TARDIS door, "Alright, we're ready", Harry said, leading Ron into the time capsule, "for the record I'm still really uncomfortable with this plan".
"Walking into the middle of Diagon Alley will probably have that affect on you", Romana smiled in an attempt to reassure the young wizard.
"So we're not even going to disguise ourselves in any way?" Ron asked in disbelief, "just stroll down the Alley without a care in the world?"
"I was planning on parking us outside", Romana sniffed, a little frustrated with Ron's constant questioning, "it will made negotiating with the Goblins much easier if we're not in disguise", she continued, "would you trust someone who had to hide their identity?" Ron remained stoically silent but the tips of his ears burned red, a sure sign that he wasn't happy, "Talking of Goblins, where is Griphook?"
"Not coming", Harry grumbled bitterly, "when we went to collect him, he tried to take the Sword of Gryffindor away from us". The dark haired wizard pulled up his sleeve to reveal a couple of fresh and angry looking scratch marks, "Look what the little bugger did to me", he complained. Romana shook her head, the Goblin was an integral back of her plan. She would return the Goblin to his people as a sign of good faith. Without Griphook she would have to resort to a backup plan that would be a little trickier to execute. It still beat stealing what they wanted from the vault though.
She pulled down on the flight control lever to set her capsule in flight. The short hop across the country gave her an opportunity to mend some fences. Underneath the console was several storage cupboards that the Time Lady began to rummage through, "Now where did I put it", she muttered to herself before her hand settled on a small grey tube.
Removing the cap she gave the tube a little squeeze, trying not to be repulsed by the terrible smell from the grey paste inside, "Blimey, what the bloody hell is that stuff?" Ron must've caught a whiff of the paste. His eyes began to water and he firmly clamped his nose shut with his finger.
"Healing salve, made from the swamp waters of Caledona Major", the Time Lady responded, "not the prettiest smelling thing in the world but it'll heal up those cuts quickly". Harry looked hesitant to take some of the salve and not for the first time, Romana regretted losing the beaded bag that her human counterpart carried around. "Oh don't be such a big baby", the Time Lady finally ran out of patience with the reluctance of Harry. She squeeze out a small blob, grabbed Harry's arm and began to rub the grey substance into his skin, "The smell fades once it comes in contact with the skin, just in case you're worried about frightening away the girls".
"I was more worried about offending the Goblins", Harry snorted in response. To his surprise though the scratches were healing and the redness fading, "Wow, that's not bad", he commented, inspecting his almost flawless arm".
"Keep it", Romana offered the tube, "I can always pop over and get some more if needed". Suddenly the TARDIS lurched, not violently but enough to throw the trio off balance, "That doesn't feel right", the Time Lady commented and hurried up to the console. Checking the scanner, it seemed that her ship was having trouble locating Diagon Alley, "Of course, technically the Alley exists in a pocket dimension so the scanner can't automatically lock onto its location", she slapped a hand against her forehead.
Ron walked slowly towards the console, looking nervous of all the strange levers and switches, "Problems?" he asked.
"Not really but it's going to need some team work to land", she pointed towards the control panel directly opposite her current position, "Harry, see the yellow and blue levers", the wizard nodded in confirmation, "I need you to pull all of them down". Once Harry did this, Romana's fingers whirred over her panel like a pianist, "Ron, when I say pull down on the main lever there", she pointed out the flight control.
Romana watched as the wizard moved gingerly towards the panel, looking genuinely afraid of the lever, "Ron its fine I trust you", the Time Lady attempted to reassure the red head, "there's no one I would trust more in a tight spot". She flashed him a warm smile but the teen still looked apprehensive, "Come on Ronald, where's that Gryffindor spirit", she teased just as the console made a loud buzzing sound, "pull it", she instructed.
Almost instantly Ron seized the lever and pulled it down with all his might. The sight of the wizard casting aside his nerves filled the Time Lady with pride. Ron was always lacking in confidence but always came through in the end. The time rotor slowed down until it came to a gentle stop, "There we go, crisis adverted". She grabbed her red coat that was hanging on one of the supports nearby, "I honestly don't know why the Doctor made flying a TARDIS look so difficult".
"Romana", Ron began softly, "if I hadn't pulled that switch, what would've happened".
The Time Lady shrugged her arms into the sleeves of her coat before answering, "Do you know what a pasta maker is Ron?" The red head shook his head, "Really? Well that ruins my analogy because I would've described us as the pasta". As she walked past the two wizards Ron continued to look confused by Harry had gone as white as a sheet. He knew exactly what a pasta machine was and understood Romana perfectly.
Romana was relieved to see the door of Gringotts directly in front of them and even more relieved to see that the chameleon circuit of her TARDIS worked perfectly. It had shifted its shape to perfectly match the marble columns that stood in front of the bank, "Ah so you can do it then?" she patted the column, "I was beginning to wonder". If the teen wizards were alarmed by the sudden shift in shape of the TARDIS they didn't show it on their faces. They were more concerned about getting inside the bank before anyone saw them.
The great doors to Gringotts opened and the trio stepped inside. The Goblin tellers that lined the entrance hall didn't even look up, they were too focused on their work, "This is your plan Romana", Ron whispered, "we'll let you speak first".
"Too kind", Romana snarked and approached the nearest Goblin, "I wish to speak with the most senior Goblin available", she said firmly.
The Goblin behind the counter barely looked up at the brunette, "Ragnok does not waste his time on witches like you", he snorted, barely hiding his disdain for Romana. The Goblin returned to his ledger, scribbling away like nothing had happened.
"Not entirely unexpected", Harry grumbled under his breath, "have another go", he encouraged the Time Lady.
Romana wondered why she had been designated spokeswoman, just because it was her plan didn't mean that the Goblins would listen to her. Remembering that she had been in charge of an entire planet, commanding Time Lords significantly older and more experienced than her. Channelling her third incarnation, the War Queen of Gallifrey, she straightened herself up and stared down the same Goblin, "I seek parlay with the Goblins of Goblynia", her voice boomed, "under the terms of the Eranian Agreement of the Shadow Proclamation".
Silence descended on the dozen or so Goblins in the hall, the cold words of the Time Lady seemed to lower the very temperature of the room. The Goblin that had previously ignored Romana suddenly stared at her with a mixture of fear and awe, "A-and who should I say seeks an audience?" he stammered.
"Romanadvoratrelundar, representing the Time Lords of Gallifrey", the Time Lady added coolly, using her full name in an attempt to make her sound more important. The mere mention of Gallifrey had the Goblin's whispering amongst themselves and Romana was sure that the Doctor's name was mentioned on a few occasions.
The Goblin jumped down off his chair and scurried away, tripping a couple of times before tumbling through a set of double doors. The teen wizards joined Romana, both of them had a look of shock on their faces, "That was bloody wicked", Ron gasped, "I've never seen a Goblin move so fast before". The Time Lady smirked in triumph, she didn't like throwing the weight of her species around but sometimes it was necessary, "Your people must've been pretty well respected", the red head commented.
"We were", Romana sighed with a hint of sadness, the fate of Gallifrey still unknown to her. The wizards didn't know how to respond to that, instead they waited patiently for the Goblin to return.
Minutes passed before the Goblin returned with another member of his species in close attendance. This Goblin was a little taller than the other and was wearing a red cloak deep red in colour. Like all other Goblins he carried himself with an air of superiority. Romana just knew this was the head Goblin and it was unlikely that he would be dominated so easily, "Welcome Time Lady of Gallifrey", he began, "it had been many years since one of your kind graced these halls. I am Ragnok, King of the Goblins".
Remembered her alien customs class from the Academy Romana bowed deeply, keeping herself bent over as she address Ragnok, "Humble greetings King Ragnok, I am Romana", she began, "I'm sure you know Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley". Harry and Ron followed the Time Lady's example and bowed deeply.
"Indeed I do", Ragnok replied, "please rise", the trio did as instructed, "now I understand you wished to discuss some business with the Goblin Nation".
"We have reason to suspect that an artefact of the darkest nature has been concealed within your vaults", Romana began, "a Horcrux". The mere mention of a Horcrux drew an immediate reaction from the assembled Goblins and not a positive one. The translation circuit of the TARDIS struggled to keep up with the various Gobbleygook curses, "So you know what one is then?" Romana said dryly.
"I do", Ragnok nodded, "however I do not believe I can help you without evidence".
Harry stepped forward slightly and stood next to the Time Lady, "Your Majesty I have reason to believe one of these Horcruxes is hidden inside the Lestrange family vault", he addressed Ragnok.
"The Lestrange vault", Ragnok rubbed his chin. Romana could almost hear his mental cogs whirring, probably wondering how much he could charge to search the Lestrange's vault. "I apologise Lady Romana but I really cannot help you. To access a wizarding family's vault without their consent or evidence of a crime would violate the treaty negotiated by your fellow Time Lord".
"Doctor, why must you make things hard for me", the Time Lady grumbled. If she wasn't so pushed for time she might've attempted to summon the renegade Time Lord. Unfortunately she didn't even know if he survived unleashing the Moment during the final moments of the Time War, "Do you have a copy of this treaty to hand Ragnok", Romana pushed the Goblin, "not that I don't believe you but retrieving that Horcrux is of vital importance".
Ragnok didn't look overly impressed but he granted the Time Lady's request. With a click of his fingers a thick roll of parchment appeared in his hand. Romana carefully closed the gap and accepted the scroll, although the Goblin appeared to be reluctant to let it go. Speed reading through each condition, Romana slowly began to lose hope. It appeared that there wasn't much room for manoeuvre, "Out of interest Ragnok, what did the Doctor look like who created this treaty?"
"Curly blonde hair", Ragnok answered curtly, "horrible taste in clothing, multiple different colours just thrown together".
The Time Lady looked up from the parchment, "That Doctor negotiated this?" she snorted, "he was more likely to start a war than stop one".
"Hang on what's this", Ron pointed at the treaty, "the Goblin Nation shall not knowingly conceal or attempt to hide a wizard within the vaults of Gringotts". Romana smiled, that was the loophole they needed, "Technically you have a portion of a wizard within one of your vaults".
The King of the Goblins chewed on his wrinkly lip, unhappy with this turn of events, "I shall instruct a team to conduct a cursory external sweep of the Lestrange vault". He immediately held up a hand to stave off any further protests, "I am doing this as a show of goodwill to you Time Lady", he directed that comment at Romana. "I really cannot do anything further without evidence that a Horcrux lay within a vault". He extended an arm towards the door of the bank, "We shall be in contact-".
"Harry Potter", a high pitched, nasally voice echoed throughout the banking vault, "I know you are taking refuge inside Gringotts, come out and face me directly Harry and no Goblin shall die today". Every Goblin, wizard and Time Lady knew that voice immediately. Lord Voldemort was here and waiting outside the bank.