In the six weeks since what was now called the Battle of Hogwarts, Ron and Hermione had spoken little. A rift had been created with the knowledge of Ginny and Molly's plans, plans thankfully never acted upon, but just the knowledge that they had planned it? No, Hermione wasn't that forgiving, even if Ron was.
Ron had spent his time helping his mother, father, Ginny and Bill as they sifted through the rubble of the Burrow. Hermione had spent her time in a back room at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, bringing the twins' accounting up to date.
And today they were going to Gringotts, for the Reading of Harry's Will.
Letters had been sent summoning each person named in Harry's Will. And while Hermione thought she knew what was in it, there were people here she wasn't expecting to see. The Dursley's, or at least, Dudley. Mr Filch, Hogwarts' caretaker. The Diggory's.
One by one they were taken into the inner chambers of the bank, lead by the goblin that they'd helped Dobby rescue from Malfoy Manor. First they provided blood for identity tests and then they were escorted to a large room. It was obvious the room was someone's office, someone high in the bank's hierarchy, as the fittings and fixtures of the highest quality. Only Hermione knew it was Ragnok's personal office.
Fred and George exchanged speaking glances as they sat, one on each side of a frail-looking Hermione. She was staying with them, for now and they spent inordinate amounts of time, trying to get her to eat properly. It was fairly hit and miss. Across the room, Draco wasn't much better, his skin paler than usual and his hair was neat, but he was not his normal coiffured self. Being told that Draco was Harry's spy and that he'd fought at Bill's side, had changed the way that Ron thought about Draco. They may not be the best of friends, but they were no longer enemies.
Settling down, Remus swore that he could smell his cub's scent. Maybe it was the tired hooded sweatshirt that Hermione was wearing that carried the familiar smell, but his son wriggling on his lap distracted him and stopped him from immersing himself in regret.
Ragnok strode into the room and sat behind the desk.
"Thank you for attending. Today we are here to witness the Reading of the Will of Henry James Potter, also known as Harry Potter." He said.
A few sniffles answered him.
"Mr Potter has submitted a Written Will and has recorded it Verbally as well. Doing this requires that he declare that he is of sound mind and under no compulsions and Lady Magic must accept his vow, before the Will can be official. While his written Will is a formal document, Mr Potter has created a more relaxed Verbal Reading. This in no way removes from how binding it is. In the event of a person listed predeceasing Mr Potter, the Written Will contains the appropriate amendments. Also, I would like to note that while only a certain number of letters are mentioned in the Written Will and none are mentioned in the Verbal Will, Mr Potter has provided many letters, so, please see Ricbert to be check if there is one for you. As everyone here has submitted to an identity test, there will be little delay in handling the bequests. Are there any questions?" Ragnok didn't expect any.
"Yes, sir." Dudley raised his hand.
"Yes, Mr Durlsey?"
"Um… Harry? Has he… been… bur… has he been buried?" Dudley stammered.
"No, Mr Dursley. That is to happen this evening. Mr Potter expressed the desire for a private funeral."
"Oh…Okay… Thank you." Dudley whispered, his shoulders slumping.
"Mr Dursley, I understand that you are a non-magical being, is this correct?"
"Uh… Yes, sir."
"Ah. Then that is why Mr Potter has made alternative arrangements for your attendance, separately. If you would wait once the Reading is complete, we will discuss them with you."
"He made arrangements? So I can go?"
"Yes, Mr Dursley."
"Thank you, sir."
"Any other questions?" Ragnok made eye contact with each person present. "No? Good. We shall begin."
The goblin pulled out a large scroll and a small crystal carved in the shaped of Harry's lightening bolt scar. He laid both items on the desk and began to chant. The scroll flared the bright gold that the witches and wizards present knew, indicated a vow accepted by Lady Magic, then the gold shifted from the scroll to surround the crystal and Harry's voice was heard.
"I, Henry James Potter, known as Harry Potter, declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, Any prior documents are to be considered null and void. Get rid of them.
Right, let's start shall we? As my parents and my Godfather, Sirius, left me everything they owned, I'm dividing this up for ease of accounting.
Alphabetically Black comes before Potter, which comes before 'wherever necessary'."
Fred and George snickered at Harry's version of the alphabet.
"From the Black Estates, I give as follows.
Andromeda Tonks, nee Black. I welcome you back to the Black Family as a Daughter of House Black. I return to you the trust vault that was removed by your uncle, Orion, who was the Head of House Black, at that time of your removal. I give to you the dowry that was provided for you at birth and removed, again by Orion. To this I add the sum of ʛ5000 and two pieces of jewellery, of your choice, from the Black Jewellery vault. Welcome home."
Tonks smiled at her mother and slid an arm around the older woman's shoulders, as she felt Lady Magic gift her with the Black Family's magic, again.
"Draco Malfoy. I welcome you to the Black Family as a Son of House Black and the new Heir, as the new Head of House Black is underage, I would like you to work with his parents in educating him in what is expected of him as Lord Black. I give you Black Manor in Scotland and a vault to maintain it with. The Wizengamot will receive a letter outlining your assistance to me during the war with Voldemort. A copy of this will be placed in the vault provided for you. Also a cloak pin, a dragon holding a broomstick. A dragon and a broom, they both apply to you and me, don't they? There's so much I'd like to say, but I just don't know where to start. So, I'll simply say this… Thanks, Draco."
Ron nodded. He knew that Malfoy, senior that is, was fighting his Death-Eater charges and there was rumour that he had both disowned Draco and banished Narcissa from the Malfoy Family estates.
"Narcissa Malfoy, nee Black. I renew your welcome as a Daughter of House Black and leave you the portraits of your parents Cygnus and Druella. I give you ʛ5000 and your choice of two pieces of jewellery from the Black Family Jewellery vault. You raised a strong son, be proud of him."
Narcissa sighed in relief, it was more than she ever expected from the Light's Saviour.
"Nymphadora Tonks. I can say your name and you can't do anything about it. Ha. I welcome you as a Daughter of House Black. I give you the Trust and Dowry vaults that Orion Black withheld at your birth. I give you ʛ5000 and two pieces of jewellery of your choice from the Black Family Jewellery vault. Word of warning? Don't let Remus choose them, his taste sucks."
Tonks gasped in shock when the full strength magic of the Black Family hit her for the first time and her metamorphagus magic flooded through her body, her hair turning brilliant lime-green.
"Remus Lupin. I give you 12 Grimmauld Place, London. And a vault. And you can't stop me. Sirius might have been like a father to me, but you were the slightly more sensible uncle, if one that still ran off the rails occasionally."
Snape snorted at the last comment, but when George glanced at him, there was an expression that could almost be called amusement on his face. What the hell?
"Theodore Lupin. Teddy. My godson. I would have liked the chance to get to know you, better. I leave you the Title of Head of House Black and all the Black Family vaults will be held in trust for you, until you reach 17 and claim the title. I also leave a trust vault for your education."
McGonagall nodded, suddenly very grateful that she'd told Severus that she would be retiring in 6 years. The boy had the blood of the Blacks and the Lupins, he would be trouble and she was very glad she wouldn't be there to see it.
"To the Potter estate, now. These aren't done alphabetically, this time."
More snickers, this time from Ron and Draco.
"Petunia and Vernon Dursley. I don't like you, I never have and never will, but... you still provided, no matter how grudging it was, a place for me. My estate will pay out the mortgage on Privet Drv and there's an account with Gringotts' muggle branch for you. I hope you'll be happy in your narrow little world."
A smile slid over Arthur's face, Harry had always been a good and caring boy, not even the treatment from his so-called 'family' could change that.
"Dudley Dursley. You grew up, Dudders, good on ya. I've had Gringotts buy a unit for you in Edinburgh, an account was set up for you and tuition paid at Edinburgh College of Art. Dud, you're a brilliant artist, forget what Uncle Vernon says, you are really, reallytalented and you deserve a chance to find out just how good you can be. Stop letting people tell you what you can't do and start telling them what you can do."
Dudley caught his breath, very glad that his parents weren't present, he knew that neither of them would have been able to stop their nasty words. Leaving his parents in Spain and coming back to England by himself wasn't easy, but Harry had stood by him, when those dementy-things had attacked. And now the cousin he'd tormented, had just given him everything he'd ever wanted. Harry really was a good person and Dudley hoped he could live up to that memory.
"Molly and Arthur Weasley. You opened you home and your hearts to me. I've considered you family since 2nd Year. You mortgage is to be paid and ʛ50,000 to be added to your vault in the hope that you will rebuild the Burrow. And for Molly, a piece of jewellery from the Potter Jewellery vaults. Arthur, ask Hermione to get you a CD player, you'll love it. Molly, you're a wicked cook, have you thought about opening a restaurant?"
Molly hummed, she thought about it, but with seven children? It was never allowed to stay in her mind for long. Maybe now…?
"Bill and Fleur Weasley. If you had to choose a woman, Bill, you chose a good one. A Tri-Wizard Tournament Champion, not bad, mate. I know we didn't have a lot of contact, but you never treated me as anything but normal and for me, that was rare. I'm paying out your mortgage, too, ʛ5000 and a piece of jewellery for Fleur from the Potter Jewellery vault."
Fleur blushed at the pride and love on Bill's face. He was a strong man and he needed a woman that was able to manage that. The fact that he never reacted to her Veela allure, was a bonus, as far as she was concerned.
"Charlie Weasley. Thanks for not turning me in for sneaking out to see the dragons, after the Tournament's first task. They were awesome and I loved spending time each night, talking to them. As you don't have a mortgage, yet, I can't pay it out so you're just going to have to accept ʛ10,000."
Bill was a little disappointed that Charlie couldn't make it, but he understood that dragons didn't work to a schedule. At least he'd made it for Percy's funeral, it was important to mum that she had all her living children present for Percy's farewell.
"Percy Weasley. Thanks for being a study partner, Perce, it paid off. Like Charlie, you haven't got a mortgage, so you get the ʛ10,000, too. Don't put it all aside, buy something... something just for you."
Arthur caught his breath at Percy's name. Hearing that he'd been Harry's study partner, brought a sad smile to his lips. Percy had been a good boy, if a focused one.
"Fred and George Weasley. Gred and Forge. You two are amazing, truly amazing. The things you come up with? Bonkers. ʛ5000 each and the title to the shop's premises, between you. Plus all the Marauder related stuff. Why do I have anything Marauder-related? Maybe you better ask Remus that."
The twins frowned, looking over to Lupin, who looked like he was trying not to laugh. What did he know that they didn't? Glancing at each other, they resolved to corner the werewolf, soon.
"Ron Weasley. God, Ron, what do I say? You… are… a… prat, but you're still my best mate. You get Potter Manor, mate. It's not that far from the Burrow, but it's still private, right on the beach, too. There's a vault, too, so you won't have any trouble maintaining it. And some shops in Diagon Alley."
Ron's jaw fell and it wasn't until Draco nudged him that he managed to pull him together. Potter Manor? Wow.
"Ginny Weasley. You've been a great friend, Ginny. Without your support, I would never have worked up the courage to tell Sirius I'm gay. In memory of that, I leave you Rose Cottage and a vault. Oh and two pieces of jewellery from the Potter Jewellery vault."
Ginny felt awful, she'd planned to do a horrible thing and Harry had known, but he'd still been the beautiful person he'd always been. She hoped she could live up to his trust.
"Okay that's it for the Potters, from here on, things come from anywhere, no particular vault or order."
Fred and George snickered not-so-quietly this time.
"Neville Longbottom. You could have been a good mate, but I never really gave you a chance until 5th Year, did I? I can't change that, now, but I can say sorry. Sorry, Neville. I've scoured my parents' vaults and found a load of old photos. The goblins have copied them for you. Plus… not trying to be cruel, but your parents were tortured with the Cruciatus, right? Just an idea, but has anyone thought of giving them a reversing potion and hitting them with it again? Supposedly, if you've taken the reversal potion, any curse hitting you does the exact opposite. Anyway, food for thought, talk to Professors Snape and Flitwick and Madame Pomfrey. Who knows?"
Minerva looked over to Severus, speculation and possibilities filling his eyes, just like they were running through her mind. Turning from Severus to Filius, she saw his eyes flicking as he thought about Harry's suggestion. It certainly was something to think about.
"Luna Lovegood. Luna, Luna, Luna. I swear you are part Seer, I swear it. The way you know things you shouldn't? Ugh. I picked out three pieces of jewellery for you, two are just fun, but the other? When I saw it, I knew it was for you. Plus… a pair of journals, both private ones of Newt Scamander. Oh and all the shares in the Daily Prophet, see if you can bring them into line, make them tell the truth, for a change?"
There were many smiles at Harry's first comment and even more at his last.
"Professor Minerva McGonagall. Professor, you tried, but Potter blood will tell out, I might not be as bad as my dad, or Sirius, but I think you can thank my mum and Hermione for that. As an apology, I found some books for you, handwritten transfiguration books by Godric Gryffindor."
A gasp left Minerva at Harry's generosity, he was as selfless as his mother.
"Professor Filius Flitwick. I know I never really did my best in your class, that wasn't because of you, but because I found it so easy. For disrupting your classes, time after time, I found some of Rowena Ravenclaw's Charms journals for you."
Filius was startled to hear that Harry had found his class boring and even more surprised to hear why. He made a mental note to assess his students a little more often, can't let a student struggle or an advanced student stagnate.
"Amos Diggory and family. I tried to give you Cedric's share of the prize money, but you wouldn't take it. Well, now you don't have a choice. I paid out your mortgage, just like the Weasley's. Cedric was a good person and I'd like to think we could have become friends. At the very least, we were friendly rivals on the quidditch pitch."
Amos Diggory just shook his head, Ced had commented that Potter was a phenomenal seeker and swore that the boy should go professional. Cedric and Oliver Wood had said he was better even than Krum.
"Argus Filch. As a student of Hogwarts, I hated you, but as a caretaker? I have say, I doubt there's anyone, that could do what you do, as well as you do it. There's a kneazle breeder just outside Leeds, I bought credits for two kittens, when you get them, whether you get them together or one at a time, is up to you."
Filch struggled to think clearly. Potter had been a quiet kid… He'd only had the one significant detention and even then, Filch had argued with Dumbledore, sending firsties into the Forbidden Forest was asking for trouble. That the kid would do that, for someone that he didn't like? Yeah he was an amazing kid. Such a pity.
"Professor Severus Snape. I hated you, but then… you didn't give me a chance to do any else. But we got past that… eventually. You gave so much. It's time you got something back. A copy of the letter to the Wizengamot will be in your vault, too. When I found the books for Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, I also found some I though you'd like. Books by Hector Dagworth-Granger. Happy reading."
Snape's breath shuddered through his body. The boy was far more his other's son than his father's… unless it came to attracting trouble, there he far exceeded anything his father could possible have imagined.
"Hermione Granger. This is different, but so easy. At this point Ragnok is going to put a phial on the desk. That's for you Hermione. It's a Blood Adoption potion, it will make you my sister. Hermione Potter-Granger. There's two big catches. One, you have to take the potion before leaving the room, no second chances. Two, when you marry, your husband has to add Potter to his name. For you personally, there is Clayman's Keep and a vault. For you to hold in trust for your children? The Head of House Potter title, all the Potter vaults and anything not already mentioned.
I know there's going to be some arguments about this. Well…? SHUT UP! My Will, my blood, my House, my choice. Hermione's parents are somewhere in Australia and even if they can be found, reversing an 'obliviate' spell can cause permanent damage to muggles. So she's an orphan, like me and since 2nd Year, I've thought of her as a sister. If you take the potion, Hermione, you willbe me sister."
There weren't any objections, maybe there would have been before the Battle, but all those in the room had seen how upset Hermione had been, they'd heard her crying for her 'brother' to come back, to not leave her alone. And of course, Harry was right, both about the two of them being orphans and about muggles and the 'obliviate' charm.
"The only other thing, I've done is put together a scholarship for students that want to go on after Hogwarts, to university. The Lilyflower Scholarship for Advanced Study will provide accommodation and board for students studying at either Universidad de Lizaso in Spain, Facultatea de Dârmoxa in Romania, Universitet Braskt in Russia, Universidad de Cordillera Azul in Peru or Nahanni Academia in Canada."
Snape and McGonagall both nodded, Harry had chosen well, the top 5 universities in the world. Lily would approve.
"I know that wherever I am, I will miss you. Some of you, I'll miss pretty much all the time, others? eh, everything now and then, but I will miss everyone of you, at some point, I'm sure of it.
You all have your lives in front of you, live them, don't hold back. But most of all… be happy.
Harry, out."
Silence fell when Harry's voice ended. No one was prepared to be the one to break that silence.
Eventually Ragnok stood, lifted the phial and held it out to Hermione.
"Miss Granger?" He asked.
Hermione shook as she stood up and took the few steps that would bring her to the goblin's desk. Her hands trembled as she went to take the phial, only to be stopped by Snape.
"Wait! Miss Granger? If you will allow me?" He gestured for the phial to be handed to him. "While Gringotts provide excellent products, Mr Potter was not the most proficient of potioneers, perhaps we should inquire as to who the brewer was?"
Ragnok laughed faintly.
"Professor Snape, that was almost word-for-word what Mr Potter guessed you would say and now I owe the Lilyflower Scholarship Fund ʛ1000. Healer Metlav, Mr Potter and I witnessed our Potion Master Tinwit brew this the same day Mr Potter Read his Will. If you will notice, it is still under a stasis charm that Mr Potter placed. To lift the charm, there are one of two phrases, I was told only to provide the clue and either yourself or Miss Granger would know what the pass-phrase is. For Miss Granger, the clue is… 'The Tardis title in full.' For Professor Snape, it is… 'what you told me under the astronomy tower.' Either one of you can break the charm."
"Professor? Would you, please?" Hermione's voice wobbled.
Snape nodded.
"I don't want to do this, but the Headmaster insisted and better me than a child." Snape said clearly, his eyes sad.
The phial was engulfed in a flash of purple light as the stasis charm broke and Snape handed the phial to Hermione. She sighed and lifted the tiny bottle to her lips, quickly swallowing it. There were also a few gasps from those gathered, as they realised exactly when Harry had meant and what had happened immediately after this comment.
"Very good, Miss Granger. I suggest you be seated. Gentlemen?" Ragnok address Fred and George. "It might be a good idea to hold onto Miss Granger, depending on the severity of her reaction, she may loose her balance for a few minutes."
"Yes, sir." George answered for the two of them, as Fred was already guiding Hermione back to a seat between them.
"Good. Each witch or wizard should approach Ricbert to receive the details of their bequest. Mr Dursley? If you would wait until the other recipients are assisted, Ricbert will inform you of the arrangements Mr Potter requested for you and show you how to access them. Miss Potter-Granger? Our healers would also like you to remain in Gringotts for an hour, just for observation."
"Thank you, director." Hermione whispered. "Can Fred and George stay with me, please?"
"Certainly, they may."
Fred sat quietly watching Hermione, worried about how pale she was. Blood Adoptions were seriously nasty potions, they rearranged your entire being, physically and magically.
"Freddie? Any idea why Harry would tell us to ask Remus about the Marauders?" George asked.
Behind them, McGonagall smothered a snicker.
"Professor?" Fred looked over his shoulder. "Anything you want to share?"
"No…" McGonagall pursed her lips to avoid outright laughter.
"Oi! Lupin? McGonagall thinks it's funny that our Harrikins told us to ask you about the Marauders." George called across the room.
Lupin looked at George for barely a second, before bursting into almost hysterical laughter. He held his ribs and leant against his wife, tears running down his face.
Fred and George looked at each other in alarm, where was the humour in that? Why would both McGonagall and Lupin laugh?
Snape stopped beside them as he was departing the room.
"When they were at Hogwarts, Lupin, Potter, Black and Pettigrew called themselves the Marauders, Mr Weasley." Snape smirked.
Both twins stared after him, their minds reeling. Lupin was a Marauder!?
Up in Ragnok's observation hidey-hole, Raven watched Hermione closely, rubbing his chin softly over the head of his Cerasus floresdragon, Opal, as she rested on his shoulder. He briefly wondered what the keepers at the Romanian Sanctuary were going to think of her and her clutch of eggs?
As the room emptied, Hermione's face began to subtly change, the jaw lengthening, her nose losing some of the upturned tip and her eyes taking on some of Harry's brilliant green, leaving her with warm gold eyes flecked with emerald green. Her hair deepened in colour, not becoming black like his, but a richer cinnamon brown, about halfway between what she had been and the Potter black mess, with a dash of Lily, thrown in to provide the illusion of control. Sitting between the twins it was hard to see what other changes she was getting, but Raven bet there were a few.
Suddenly a thought hit him. Maybe she'd be a parselmouth, now? Anything was possible, after all Ron Weasley was sitting beside Draco Malfoy and there was no fighting.
A quiet knocking at the door, brought Raven out of his musing. He opened the door to see Gurnrib smirking at him.
"Now what?" Raven whined.
"Director Ragnok asked me to accompany you back to your suite, Raven. He will be there as soon as possible. He has your OWL and NEWT results."
Raven blinked, he hadn't expected to get them, yet. A week was the normal wait and it had only been five days.
"Already?"
"Your circumstances caught the attention of Laura Bird, Head of Magical Education, who brought it to the attention of new Minister for Magic… I'm sure you're familiar with Kingsley Shacklebolt?"
"Merlin." Raven swore. "Just what I need."
"Oh, it's not that bad. Minister Shacklebolt has accepted your history and given the Inheritance Test results that we provided, he's also decided that you are a lucky young man. When he inquired as to what you planned to do next and was told of your coming appointment at the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary, he commented that he hoped you were good on a broom, as the sanctuary is huge and the keepers use brooms to 'ride fence' on the boundaries." Gurnrib did an apt imitation Kingsley.
"Well, that's something. Alright, let's go." Raven stepped out of the observation room and began walking, Gurnrib at his side.
A minute or two and the suite that Raven had been staying in, was reached, the Curse-breaker opening the door for the wizard and both entered.
"Are you packed, Raven?" Gurnrib asked.
"I've got everything laid out, ready, but not actually packed, yet. I keep thinking if I pack, then I'm going to forget something, but if I leave it on the bed until I'm ready? Maybe I won't miss anything… Maybe."
A knock at the door and Ragnok entered.
"Raven. I see Gurnrib found you, then."
"He did, Ragnok. He also said you have my results?"
"Oh, I do. Madam Bird had her personal owl bring them. Would you like to read them or shall I summarise?"
"Summarise, please." Raven said.
"Very well… OWLs. Outstandings in Charms, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creature and a perfect score in DADA. That's never happened before, by the way. Exceed Expectations in everything else. 8 OWLs granted." He paused to let Raven absorb the news.
"Go on." The wizard said a minute later.
"NEWTs. Outstandings in Transfiguration, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, Runes and again, a perfect score in DADA. Exceeds expectations in Potions and History. 7 NEWTs granted. Your licence for Apparition, the registry excerpt for your Animagus registration and the certificates for Opal from Regulation and Control, were also in the bundle, along with your muggle IDs and passport. As you now have your passport, you're free to travel whenever you like."
"Oh, wow. Finally." Raven sighed.
"To get to the Sanctuary, you'll have to floo to the Ministry's Travel Lounge to catch an international portkey, I suggest Paris or Belgium, first, they leave every hour, so there's little wait. Then a second portkey to Bucharest. I suggest this, because the European portkeys are far superior to the British ones, much smoother. Once you reach the Bucharest Ministry, they should be able to provide either a portkey to the Keeper's office or, more likely, they'll floo-call the sanctuary and have someone come and apparate in with you."
"Right…" Raven dragged the word out to something approaching four syllables.
"I've also take a few liberties, Raven. We have provided a vault-linked money pouch, also a muggle credit card, attached to what you called your 'spending vault' and I had your basilisk hide battle robes replaced. I'm sure you noticed, they weren't a perfect fit. As we knew that your body would likely be changing after the ad iungere sanguine potion, I made the decision to provide you with a more generic sized set of robes, they were a loan only and I've since had the set that we agreed to, made to measure for you. They are on your bed, along with everything else you own."
"And Metlav and I spent a bit of time and worked out a heated nest for Opal's clutch, good for travelling or a mountain cabin." He pointed to a silver bowl made from twisted wire, lined with soft downy feathers, the little dragon's 6 tiny eggs already nestled in it. "The charm is in the silver itself, it won't overheat them, but it also won't let them cool."
"Thank you, my friends. I have gifts for you, too." Raven headed into the bedroom and pulled out the satchel, he'd had to Charm it with Undetectable Extension Charms, from his NEWT exam. Reaching into it he pulled out four items and headed back to the sitting room.
"For you, Ragnok." He handed the goblin an axe.
In the Black vault, he'd spotted the board-bladed axe, it was clear from it's size alone that it wasn't a wizard's weapon and the quality marked it as goblin-made.
"Raven, this… this is… this axe belonged to the founder of Gringotts, I… I am honoured. Thank you." There were tears in the goblin's eyes.
"You are welcome, my friend. Gurnrib? This is for you." He handed the Curse-breaker a multi-faceted crystal shard, completely clear, the stone was about 6 inches long and less than half-an-inch wide. It was delicate, but strong, prefect as a focus-stone for the Curse-breaker.
"I… I… this is… Raven?" Gurnrib didn't seem capable of speech.
"What did you do to him, Raven?" Metlav scolded as she entered the room.
Raven gestured to Gurnrib, who held up the crystal shard.
"Oh, well… fair enough."
"Your turn, Metlav." Raven held out his hand, on it was a tiny cloak-pin, in the shape of the Healer's Caduceus. Again, it was clearly of goblin-make.
"Oh my." She whispered.
"And this is for Ricbert." Raven placed a silver ink stand on the table.
"I think, young Raven, that you have best pack and be gone, or you may find yourself adopted by Gringotts and as you're only 17 that would make you a child by our standards, so we'd be keeping you all to ourselves. Which is not what you need, right now. But promise me, Raven, if you ever need to escape… anything, you'll head to a Gringotts and we will take you in. Promise me?"
Raven smiled at the three goblins.
"I will, my friends. Thank you."
"You've 25 minutes to the next portkey to Paris. I'd get a move on, were I you." Gurnrib suggested.
Raven nodded and headed for his room he had packing to do and a clutch to move. Thank heavens, Opal wasn't a overbearingly protective mother.