Disclaimer:
All characters in the story are the property of J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, with the exception of Eleanora Sterling and a few supporting characters, who are my own creations. This story is created purely for the entertainment of myself and other like-minded readers. I make no money from doing this, so please don't sue me!
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Chapter 25: Gringotts
"Well, Algernon, it was a pleasure to see you again, as always," Remus said as we took our leave of him inside King's Cross on the Muggle side.
"Yes, Mr. Welkin, we are very grateful to you for your help. I trust we'll be seeing you again?" I said, extending my hand.
"Possibly not, my dear. By the time everything is in place and you are ready to bring Snape back with you my role in this should be finished. At any rate, I wish you the nest of luck, and if it's not impertinent to say so, much happiness to the both of you." He bent to kiss my hand; I was touched.
"Remus, I'll see you in a couple of days when you bring the photographs."
"I'll contact you to set up a two-way Portkey so we can do the exchange as quickly as possible," Remus advised him.
"Right then," Remus turned to me as soon as Algie had left. "Off to Diagon Alley. Do you remember the way?"
"From here? And fifteen years later? I haven't a clue, Remus!" I laughed. "Lead on!"
We went to the Underground and travelled a short way by train to a station in the west end I'd never heard of. We came out onto a fairly ordinary street full of shops and soon came to a tiny dark pub called the 'Leaky Cauldron'. I suspected this was one of the "olives in the pimento loaf" he had referred to, as none of the Muggles passing by seemed to pay slightest notice of it, as though it wasn't there.
We didn't stop long once inside; no one paid much attention to the fact that we hurried right through the bar to a dingy courtyard out back. I sort of remembered the routine from when I'd been brought here before. Remus started counting bricks and finally selecting the correct one he tapped it three times. The bricks around it started to wriggle this way and that until there was an opening large enough for us to pass through. This was the entrance to Diagon Alley.
Once through, we made our way to Gringotts, passing fascinating shops carrying magical accessories of every possible kind. There was no point in stopping to look; none of these items had ever done me much good, and they certainly would not work where Severus and I were going. Still, passing a candy shop, I could not resist stopping for a moment to pick up a packet of Bertie Blott's Every Flavour Beans as a gift. Angie would love them and their curious packaging and I had no doubt that, as a novelty confection, there was nothing particularly magical about them.
Finally we arrived at a tall white building with bronze doors. A goblin stood guard outside. I had never seen goblins before and the creepy little thing gave me the whim-whams. I would soon be dealing with more of them, or at least Lupin would.
We approached a rather officious member of the species at the counter and Remus presented him with the scroll from the suitcase we carried and a tiny gold key, which was tied to it.
"We have come to withdraw some money from Severus Snape's safe, I have here a letter of authorization from Albus Dumbledore and signed by Mr. Snape himself. Here is his key."
The goblin eyed us with distaste. "What do you mean, bringing Muggles in here?" he barked, rather rudely pointing a quill pen at me.
"She is not a Muggle," Remus replied politely, "she's a witch."
"She smells like a Muggle to me," the goblin complained, sniffing. I decided to prove to him that I wasn't; suddenly he had a violent sneezing fit and an uncontrollable urge to scratch his long crooked nose.
"Ummff!" he exclaimed, realising I was behind it. "Pretty funny-smelling witch if you ask me. Very well, then, everything looks in order. Crabhand will take you down to the vault."
He had barely glanced at the scroll. I was surprised, for I had expected there would be more resistance than that, but having the key seemed to be authorization enough.
Another of the nasty little things accompanied us to a doorway, which led to a narrow stone passage lit by torches. There were train tracks in the floor and presently a little cart came along which we were obliged to clamber into. After a wild trip underground through some very steep passageways and several dank caves that rivalled any amusement park ride I had ever been on, we stopped in front of a doorway, one of many along this corridor. This I assumed was the Snape family vault.
Crabhand used the little key to open the door. I was amazed at what we found piles upon piles of gold coins and fabulous jewellery and gems. To say his family had been wealthy had been an understatement; I couldn't believe this all belonged to him. "Here it is take what you like," the goblin croaked, somewhat cavalierly, I thought, considering it was not our money.
Remus opened the flight bag and we piled in as many of the gold coins as would fit in. "I reckon that will be enough to do him for a few years, though I have no idea what things cost where you're from," he grunted, lifting the impossibly heavy bag. There was still plenty left in the safe when he was finished.
"Now, we'll need to get it exchanged to Muggle money," he explained to Crabhand as the goblin locked up the vault.
The ugly little fellow groaned and rolled his eyes wretchedly. "That's highly irregular, sir. I'm not even sure how much we have on hand. Oh well, up we go, then."
We climbed back into the cart and with a lurch we were transported somewhat violently up another steep passageway back to ground level. At the desk Remus presented his dilemma to the first goblin we had dealt with, who favoured us with a disgusted stare.
"There's not much call for Muggle money in here," he replied testily. "I'm not even sure how much we have on hand or in what currencies. How much do you wish to exchange?"
"The lot," Remus said, hefting the flight bag up to the counter and opening it.
Glancing inside, the goblin took a rough tally and pronounced that there were approximately 2500 Galleons in there. "In the value of the gold alone, that amounts to about 500 thousand British pounds," he said.
I blinked. At the current rate, which was just under $2.50 Canadian to the pound, last time I'd checked, that was worth well over a million dollars!
"I'll get a clerk to count it while I send Crabhand to check on our reserves. This may take a while," he warned us. Remus quietly explained to me that in order to keep a reserve of Muggle money on hand they periodically smuggled galleons into the Muggle world and sold them as gold, for cash. That was why they were worth so much.
A goblin clerk in a visor and spectacles came to take the bag away and our former guide disappeared behind the door to the vault. Remus and I found a rather uncomfortable burgundy leather settee to sit on that was apparently stuffed with horsehair.
A while later Crabhand returned to tell us that there was about 400 hundred thousand pounds in reserve plus just over 200 thousand American Dollars which should be more than adequate to cover our amount.
Another half hour went by before the clerk returned to confirm that we had 2,628 Galleons in the bag. If American dollars were acceptable they could accommodate the exchange. Did we have anything to carry the money in?
"I am so glad I bought these today," I said as I laid the larger suitcase on the counter. The case was taken away; when it returned it was stuffed with currency.
After signing for the money, Remus put the scroll and key back into his pocket and lifted the case. "Bloody heavy" he complained. He took his wand from another pocket and muttered "Leviosa!" The case suddenly seemed lighter than air. In fact he seemed to have a hard time keeping it from floating away.
"I'm not looking forward to going back through Mundane London with this when we leave. It'll be incredibly dangerous, not to mention heavy, and your 'Leviosa' charm won't work on it there."
"You'll have to see what you can do to lighten the load. The two of you will have to spread it out between you. Plus, I trust you'll be depositing a large amount of it into a bank before you go abroad."
"True, it's just getting it to the bank. Though I suppose if nobody has any idea what's in it we should be relatively safe carrying it around," I surmised. "Getting what's left into Canada might be harder."
"Snape should be able to effectively remove that obstacle," Remus replied. "I understand he has a natural talent for persuading people that things are not what they seem."
"Yes, indeed. I have a feeling it's a talent that's going to come in very handy, very soon."
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NEXT: Mugging in Muggletown