This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy.
Other guests arrive for meetings with the Director of the Bank. They find common ground and begin planning though some goblins fear that Gringotts is dealing with the devil.
Another letter stirs up the flames in Gringotts when Hedwig brings news of the attempt to get Harry's wand and the revelations by the ghosts. After the dragons hear this news, they send a gift to Harry.
Chapter 25: Dealing with the DevilSCENE: The Devil Comes to GringottsOnce again, a group of goblins and wizards gathered in the office of Director Ragnock. This meeting was something different though with three unknown 'wizards' dressed entirely as muggles, without long hair, robes, hats, or jewellery. Felicity was pleased that her modified robes resembled the muggle clothing closer than the traditional robes worn by the clients who walked through the front door of the bank each day.
The wizards present were employees of Gringotts and they noticed that there no representatives of the Ministry for Magic attending this meeting.
"Account Managers, Healer, curse-breakers, goblins and wizards, Gringotts brings you into our confidence and reminds you that your employment contracts forbid you revealing any information that I designate as 'secret'," Ragnock announced from his throne behind his desk.
"Know that this meeting, the identities of our guests, and the memories to be shared, and the conversations to come, are all 'secret'. Reveal them to anyone not approved to know at the cost of losing your magic."
The gathered employees nodded in understanding; Felicity knew she could share information with Harry but she'd review the details with Ironstream before putting any information on paper. Sowsbreath cursed Bill Weasley's mother under his breath; if Bill was in Egypt, he would have called the curse-breaker back to London to attend. But the wizard's year in Iceland had months to go. When Bill returned, Sowsbreath could share the memory with the curse-breaker – if he passed his tests.
Ragnock nodded his own head in satisfaction and waved toward his two guests. "Allow me to introduce three new business associates of Gringotts Bank. First is Jasper Hewitt, Station Chief MI-5. He is Ravenclaw, graduating class of 71."
The first wizard stood and bowed to the assembled Gringotts staff before returning to his seat.
"Next is Mr. Andrew Lovett, Director MI-5. Mr Lovett is Slytherin, graduating class of '66."
The second wizard, with dark grey hair, was dressed neatly and impressed the goblins who were very particular about their waistcoats and the shine on their shoes. This man bowed, his eyes coldly examining each wizard in the room with more attention. Sowsbreath decided he would speak with this dangerous man today.
"And last, Mr. Cyrus Finch-Fletchley of Twiddle, Finch and Fletchley here in London. I believe you graduated from Cambridge in 1974, sir."
"That is correct, Director Ragnock," the muggle replied before returning to his chair.
Ironstream sat motionless; the director invited a muggle banker into Gringotts! This man – this muggle devil – was the father of Harry's classmate, Justin Finch-Fletchley. With a soft touch on his arm from the healer beside him, Ironstream remembered to close his mouth and survey the others in the classroom. None of the wizards were purebloods – only muggleborn and half-bloods here today.
'The director planned carefully for this meeting,' he realized.
"I suggest we begin by taking a deep breath and focusing our thoughts on the future," Ragnock said. He gazed around the room, catching eyes of many of his goblin and wizard employees before he continued, "Events in Magical Britain this summer and fall have concerned me about the future. Apparently, Her Majesty's government has similar concerns."
"I understand the Queen is concerned enough to demand in some quiet way that her government take steps to force some changes in Magical Britain."
The two wizards from MI5 were unable to keep their faces from reacting to the description of Her Majesty's discussions with Mr. Major described as 'quiet'. While the queen had focused her ire toward wizards and the sorry state of Her Ministry for Magic, none of the men and women in the meeting doubted the queen still welded power from the throne.
Goblins and wizards alike noted the expressions that drifted across the faces of the visitors and the director knew his guests agreed with this objective.
"We shall share a few memories and a few secrets before discussing plans."
Ragnock motioned toward a project pensive and Hewitt rose from his chair and drew out a memory capsule.
"In late summer, MI-5 was given an opportunity to take the 'temperature' of Magical Britain by the temporary placement of a knowledgeable wizard into Hogwarts for three months," the first visitor explained. "Remus Lupin is a post-curse werewolf…"
"What!" exclaimed Sowsbreath. "Werewolf! You put a werewolf in a school of children! Are you as daft as Dumbledore?"
"Lupin is a post-curse werewolf," the man stated with a smile.
"One of our first magical successes at MI-5 was helping the werewolves resolve their curse or 'illness'. Today, the pack uses an animagus methodology to convert their curse into an at-will transformation into a true wolf. Each full moon, they gather on an island, participate in hunting as a pack, and return to their lives and families the next morning."
"This is nonsense! You can't change a curse? How do you do this? What about the wild wolves who hunt children and muggles?" demanded different goblin and wizard voices.
"Silence!" Ragnock demanded and his employees fell silent under the weight of the director's command.
"Mr. Hewitt," Ragnock said, the heat evident in his voice. "I do not appreciate surprizes such as this claim of curing lycanthrope as your opening statement in our first meeting with my staff!"
"Forgive me," Hewitt said, bowing his head.
"Remember, I chop off the heads that offend me!"
Lovett rose from his seat and bowed, "Director Ragnock, it was at my direction that we chose to begin with the cure for lycanthrope. Her Majesty is very proud of the wolves who have become model citizens and we believe this sets a standard for all magical persons that we want to help."
"With a Royal Warrant, Her Majesty's armed forces eliminated all werewolves who refused to reform," added Hewitt.
"I want proof!" demanded a goblin. Sowsbreath came and knelt on one knee before the director. "Sir, please allow me and my staff of curse-breakers to see this…"
Ragnock waved the elderly goblin back to his seat beside the healer.
"Like the head of the curse-breakers, I want proof of this claim," Ragnock agreed. He turned to his staff and waved a hand before saying, "Sowsbreath select a team of two goblins and two wizards to meet with these werewolves at some point in next week."
To offer the goblins veracity of their claims, Lovett said, "We will arrange any meetings you wish tonight or tomorrow, Director. Do you have a list of names of known werewolves?"
Sowsbreath spoke up, "We do!"
Hewitt asked, "And have you had any reports of attacks or sightings lately?"
Sowsbreath hesitated for a moment before he admitted, "We have not had any reports of werewolf attacks or sightings of the creatures in many months."
Hewitt smiled. "We understand the Ministry of Magic will not release the information because it would mean a reduction in funding for a department that employees purebloods."
"Devils! All wizards are devils," cursed Sowsbreath.
*(+++++)*
Felicity Grossman sat back in her chair, remembering Remus Lupin from her years at Hogwarts. She'd been one year behind Lupin and in Hufflepuff but he'd been helpful with her papers in Herbology and Potions several times after he became a prefect. She frowned thinking about the wizards that Remus hung with – Potter, Black, and Pettigrew. Those three were bullies and almost predators with the younger girls.
'If he was a werewolf all that time but never hurt anyone, I won't worry about him being around Harry,' she decided. 'And I'll make Sowsbreath share his findings with me.'
*(+++++)*
Drawing everyone's attention once again, Jasper Hewitt continued with his presentation. "Mr. Lupin has made a favourable impression on the faculty and children in the last month, and he remains in communication with his boss."
Lovett dipped his head, acknowledging that he was the werewolf's boss.
"And the first memory he sent was of the sorting ceremony…"
Hewitt tapped the side of the projection pensive and everyone in the room sat through the unusual sorting and then the late-night conference in the headmaster's office.
"Young Harry's description of the sorting was very accurate though I agree with him that the choice of songs was very strange," Ironstream commented as Felicity struggled not to laugh at several points in the memory.
"Swedish? Really?"
*(+++++)*
Cyrus Finch-Fletchley kept his face passive after hearing his son described as a billionaire before he was thirty-five. And 'the most successful' dark something… Well bankers were often considered to be 'dark' by people without wealth.
'Justin will have every advantage I can arrange!' Cyrus swore as he caught the eye of an ancient goblin across the room. The goblin's eyes narrowed just slightly and Cyrus dipped his chin slightly – they would have to talk about opportunities.
*(+++++)*
The second memory from Lupin was the confrontation with the troll on the third floor; Felicity noted that Remus was the teacher who moved the children to safety on the fourth floor while Ironstream watched with great interest as the group of children gathered on the edge of the fourth floor to cast spells to support their teachers holding back the troll.
*(+++++)*
Lovett stood and took Hewitt's place beside the pensive but he didn't share any memories. As a director of MI-5, he helped to set policy and he honestly reported that the agency wanted to protect the integrity of the kingdom while making certain each citizen had opportunities to improve their lives.
"For the last fifty years, when muggleborn wizards and witches graduate from Hogwarts they return to the 'real' world within a year and they come without marketable skills. The occasional half-blood makes it in Magical Britain if the magical side of his family has a business or large estate. Some young women marry into Magical Britain and they generally end contact with their families here within three years as children are born."
"These are free choices we believe," the man said. "Her Majesty's Government will never interfere in a free choice."
"The three muggleborn and four half-bloods in this room are the exception in Magical Britain. Gringotts is a good choice for the you, but what of your brothers and sisters?"
The wizards and goblins were impressed that the devil had details on their backgrounds; their allies were well-informed.
"We want muggleborns to leave Hogwarts with a better education and prepared to be better citizens in the United Kingdom. If Magical Britain closes their doors to these men and women – wizards and witches – we will open doors for them in universities and industry. They must always protect the statue of secrecy but there's no reason they cannot live in the regular world – the real world – and be successful."
"How will you accomplish this, sir?" asked Felicity. "After seven years at Hogwarts, many of us don't feel connected to the places where we were born."
"It is our intention to keep muggleborn students in touch with their regular studies by infecting Hogwarts with clubs for English, Maths, and Sciences. With the help of sympathetic professors, these clubs can even include half-bloods and purebloods."
"What professors are sympathetic to muggleborns?" asked Ironstream.
"First, Professor Babbage, the muggles studies professor has embraced the notion of muggle studies whole heartedly. She is sponsoring an English club."
"Second, Professor Sprout is a pureblood through and through, but she is not prejudiced against muggle methods in the greenhouse, fertilizers or plants. Muggleborns are protected and nurtured in her house."
"Third, Professor Flitwick experienced prejudice himself as a child at Hogwarts fifty years ago. Today, he champions his muggleborns and half-bloods proudly. He is sponsoring the Maths club."
"And last, in the most surprizing development, we have begun talks with Severus Snape to lead the Science club – we hope to fully corrupt him with a free potion lab and chemistry lab in the summers. If the premier potions master in Britain can be turned into a supporter of muggleborns receiving a better education, imagine what we can accomplish."
One half-blood frowned. "The headmaster will never agree to this. He'll obliviate everyone."
"We hope the clubs are so entrenched by the end of the current school year, that the headmaster won't be able to dislodge the clubs. Besides, if the muggleborns are 'happy' at Hogwarts, everything will continue as before which is Dumbledore's primary goal."
"What will the students learn in these clubs?" asked Felicity. "Where will they get books, study guides, and materials?"
"Her Majesty will donate educational materials that will be delivered directly to the Hogwarts library and into the care of Madam Pince. She is a Slytherin and values a true education for all the children regardless of their house."
Hewitt coughed and stood up. "There is another development."
Ragnock looked displeased and growled.
"Forgive me director, but this is not something that our department contrived or brought about, but we intend to take advantage of it."
"And what's this unexpected development?" Ragnock demand to know.
Hewitt grinned as he reported the news saying, "My office keeps in touch with every muggleborn that returns to the regular world. My contacts often work as tutors for other muggleborns and half-bloods. This fall, the tutors received letters from previous students that several sixth-year muggleborns will resign from Hogwarts at Christmas. They will change their focus to preparations for University admissions. The students passed their OWLs last spring so they aren't required to remain at Hogwarts."
"And we believe that the majority of the fifth-year muggleborns plan to leave after taking their exams and never return," added Lovett.
"Dumbledore can force the Wizengamot to change the laws to keep them in Hogwarts," said a muggleborn curse-breaker.
Shaking his head, a half-blood accounting wizard disagreed, "The purebloods will be glad they're gone. They don't like the muggleborns making higher test scores and putting purebloods in the shade."
"But eventually…"
"Yes, eventually the ministry will be concerned with the decline in muggleborn monies paying for Hogwarts," Hewitt agreed.
Ironstream and Sowsbreath exchanged glances with Cyrus Finch-Fletchley who again nodded.
Jumping into the conversation, Ironstream said, "I believe we can source donations to support Hogwarts as the student population changes due to changes in the population of the United Kingdom."
Cyrus grinned for a moment, displaying his teeth and earning similar grins from the two goblins across the room.
"What are you planning?" whispered Felicity into Ironstream's ear. "I can feel you and Sowsbreath both practically vibrating with excitement!"
"High finance," the goblin replied. "We're going to make a deal with the devil."
*(+++++)*
SCENE: Dragon ScalesWhen Hedwig flew into Gringotts, she flew down a hallway to an office where the door opened for her, giving her access to Felicity's examination room. The healer welcomed the owl and took Harry's letters before motioning Hedwig to an owl stand where water and treats waited. While she drank and ate, Felicity read Harry's letter about the confrontation with Dumbledore, and the historical revelations spreading through the castle about the Dark Lord known as 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named'.
Hedwig watched as the healer cursed and rose to take the letter to Ironstream. "Come along Hedwig, I'm certain this letter will infuriate Ironstream and Ragnock again."
In the office of the Potter Account Manager, Ironstream read the letter and then glanced at Hedwig.
"Miss Hedwig, did Dumbledore ever get his hands on the boy's wand?"
The owl shook her head back and forth to indicate that the headmaster had not. The goblin returned to the letter and laughed reading about the aftermath, "A white mouse? McGonagall was very unhappy if she managed to transfigure a full-grown wizard into a little mouse… And she kept him locked up for three days?"
Then Ironstream read the part of the letter about the revelations in the history class. He sat up in his chair, muttering to himself as he read the paragraphs several times. He stopped and looked at the owl again, wishing he could speak to her, when he asked, "And there were three ghosts in the classroom?"
Hedwig nodded emphatically.
"I must go to Ragnock with this news. There'll be blood on the floor of the ministry for certain once the purebloods hear that a mudblood fooled them all for so long…"
"Miss Hedwig, do you understand what a pensive is?"
The owl nodded her head once and the goblin continued, "I wonder if you can view my memory of a meeting with some gentlemen from the government… the muggle government? Since Harry can understand you very well, and you have good sense, it might be beneficial."
Ironstream opened a cabinet door and withdrew a pensive that he placed on his desk.
"I have stored the memory in this pensive and can start it with a tap of my knife. Watch it while I take a copy of Harry's latest letter to Director Ragnock."
The owl hooted and settled on the back of a chair where she could see the projection of the meeting with the men from MI5. Felicity returned to her office as Ironstream left with a copy of the letter. Hedwig quickly took control of the memory, using her wings to stop the memory, back it up and repeat certain portions, and then resume play. She tilted her head to change her view of the room, noticed twitches in different people at different times.
Hedwig was satisfied the men from MI-5 were fairly honest – they did want to help the muggleborn students. Justin's father appeared to be a muggle dark lord – that would benefit her boy and his friends immediately. And she continued her study of goblins – they were not humans and sometimes, their faces hid their true emotions very well. She would share this information with the dragons and she would carefully share portions of the information with Harry.
The owl decided that it would not do for a firstie to tell too many people what the future might hold for Hogwarts and Magical Britain as the muggleborns, interested half-bloods and stifled purebloods discovered they had options for their future.
*(+++++)*
Once she finished viewing the memory, Hedwig waited for fifteen minutes but the goblin didn't return to the office; Ragnock and Ironstream were meeting with several goblin and human employees – Gringotts defences were to be brought to full power, and they would send offers of refuge to wizards and witches who might be attacked during this period of unrest.
Restless, Hedwig made her way back to Felicity's office where the healer was excused from medical staff meetings to take the owl to the dragon pits.
With Hagrid and the four dragons listening carefully, Felicity read Harry's letter about the attempt to examine his wand, the headmaster's time in a glass bottle as a mouse, and then the revelations in the history class about the true origins of Tom Riddle. The dragons asked many questions and Hedwig answered each one with detailed hooting, chortling and even some flapping of her wings.
When she finished reading the letter, Felicity made a copy and enlarged it for the dragons to practice their reading. Then she stood in the very quiet nursery – Harry's letter left the dragons pensive and lost in thought. Hagrid sat beside Swampy and wrung his hands while worrying about little Harry in that far-away castle.
Stepping close to the owl, Felicity stroked Hedwig's feathers and whispered to the owl, "I know you will take care of our boy. Make certain he knows we all love him and want him safe! He's to stay away from Dumbledore, trolls and any other creatures that appear in that school."
As Hedwig prepared to return to the air, Felicity instructed the owl, "Tell Harry what you think is necessary and impress upon him how important it is that he keeps this to himself for now."
Hedwig's departure was delayed when Swampy coughed – a small flame broke through her snout and she dropped two dragon scales at Felicity's feet. The healer allowed them to cool for a moment before she picked them up.
"For Harry?" she asked and dragon nodded. The owl hooted with the dragon back and forth for another minute with some sort of instruction from the dragon.
Hagrid spoke up, "I don't know what Swampy said but it be important that Harry gets 'dem scales. Dragons don't drop scales except when needful."
Felicity untied the letter, opened the envelope, and added a postscript using a brio. Then she tucked the two dragon scales into the envelope and once again tied it to Hedwig's leg.
"Fly safe Hedwig. Make certain Harry reads the letter when he is alone."
As they watched the snowy owl fly away, Hagrid confided to Felicity, "I hope Harry can teach the babies to speak English next summer. Or that I learn parsel tongue. There's so much they want to say…"
*(+++++)*
SCENE: An Owl's JourneyHedwig hooted for another a minute and the dragons each nodded in agreement with her message before she flew back up the passageway to the windows where she'd fly away from Diagon Alley.
After Hagrid and Felicity said their goodbyes, the healer also spoke to each dragon; one of Harry's letters told her how much the dragons enjoyed the attention of every person who visited.
Outside, the magical owl passed over the metropolis of London quickly without capturing the notice of any muggle, airplane, or other object. She made her way across the cities, towns, farms, and forests of England, crossed into Scotland and followed the west coast up the side of the kingdom before she flew across the rugged counties toward the hidden castle.
Her flight took most of the night because she didn't expend huge amounts of energy – with the threat to her boy, she had to conserve her magic to be able to help him if another troll appeared. Before dawn, she landed in a tall tree of the Forbidden Forest and during her wait for dawn, caught and feasted on one of the few Acromantulas left in the forest. The phoenix in the castle taught the owls how to catch the little spiders and devour the good parts.
Bacon and fresh mouse were better, but the spiders filled up the owls at night while they waited to fly into the castle. Before spring, there'd be no Acromantulas left in the Forbidden Forest.
Finally, the sun rose, later each morning this time of year, but the first rays of daylight triggered the owl windows in the wards around Hogwarts, letting all owls with newspapers, letters and packages enter the castle's Great Hall to find their witch or wizard.
*(+++++)*