Chapter 26 Wrought Metals Goblins Made
Next early morning Harry stepped out of the hearth of the Auror Headquarters after he and Ron watched Malfoy through the night. He took out his two way mirror and called Hermione.
"Harry, you left so early, Ginny is missing you. Will you talk with her now?" said Hermione in the mirror.
"No. I have to be ready for the press conference. The Minister needs bodyguards. I just want to warn you."
"What do you warn about?"
"Our conversation about breaking the curse the other night might have been overheard."
"Who eavesdropped on our conversation?"
"Pansy Parkinson did. Tell McGonagall to fill the crack on the wall of the Prefect's bathroom. Watch out, Hermione. You'll be attacked again. I told Ron to guard you all the time. In place of Ron, I requested Seamus and Dean to watch Malfoy and Nott."
Hermione shoved her two-way mirror, when she heard the knocking sound, she asked, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Hermione, if you doubt me, ask a question," said Ron.
"Well, what did Harry say when we kissed the first time?"
"He said 'was this the moment?' "
She laughed and opened the door. "I was talking with Harry. Who is watching Malfoy now?"
"Dean Thomas, he has just arrived. Seamus is coming here soon," said Ron, "Will you go to the Great Hall, or to the library?"
Hermione beamed at Ron and said, "I don't need to go there. Let's go to the Great Hall to have breakfast. I'm hungry," she said and she kissed Ron.
Ron kissed her back and whispered, "I'll guard you all the time. Can I put my sleeping bag here?"
Ginny stared at the front page photograph of the school newspaper Pansy had published. Though most of them were collected by prefects as Ernie ordered them, she kept the front page in her pocket. Harry in the magical photograph pulled off his T-shirt again and again. The photo was not so clear that she couldn't recognize his big lightning bolt scar on his chest. She touched the photograph and looked back over the memories of their short rendezvous under the cypress tree the other day. Harry was trying to say something while they were kissing. She wondered what he was trying to say.
Harry arrived at Minister's office where a ginger red haired witch brought in a tea set. He said, "Thank you," and his hand happened to touch her right arm when he put his cup away from a sheet of parchment on a table. "Oh, excuse me."
She blushed slightly and said, "Minister is coming soon."
"What's your name?"
"Olga Reonowa," and she blushed again.
"Your cupcakes were very good. My friend ate it up quickly."
"I'll bring some more, if you like."
"Yes, please." Harry was smiling at her, but he was astonished at her green eyes. "Did I meet you before?"
She smiled back to him mysteriously and went out of the room. Harry had strong feeling he had met the red-haired witch.
Just then Kingsley came in. "Harry, goblins consented reluctantly to have a meeting with you. I'll set up the conference tomorrow."
"Thank you, Kingsley. How will you explain about the situation underground Gringotts at a press conference?"
"I'll tell them we are doing our best to break the curse and show our appreciation to Pure-bloods for supporting us. How do you think?" Kingsley handed the script to Harry, who skimmed through the sheaf of parchment and said, "Well, if I were you, I would add a few more sentences."
"What sentences?"
Harry took out his feather quill and added a few sentences on it.
When Kingsley finished mentioning his appreciation for Pure-bloods' support for money supply after the curse underground Gringotts, Parkinson stood up and opened his mouth,
"So you are ready to retire from a Minister, aren't you?"
Harry, who was standing behind Kingsley, nearly inquired Parkinson but he was halted by Robards.
Kingsley spoke in his calm deep low voice, "Why do you think so?"
"Well, the situation hasn't changed at all. Your curse breakers can't break the curse. We can't trust your Ministry any more. We request a new Minister who will lead our Wizarding World," said Parkinson. Wizards threw jeering at Kingsley one after another.
"Please give us time. I'll promise they will find the way," said Kingsley keeping his voice calm, but his speech was nearly lost in the roar of angry. He barely managed to cast 'Sonorous!" He continued, "I'll inform you Auror Headquaters got the information that the persons who abused their authority against Muggle-born wizards and witches are hiding in the magic lands of Druid, and we are demanding for taking them into custody. You have to remember Voldemort was defeated in the end."
There was a stir in the audience at his last words. Harry noticed Rita Skeeter's green feather quill running through her parchment, and she looked over her glasses at Harry.
He reckoned she might have been writing about him, which was not true at all.
When the press conference was over, Lucius Malfoy, who was escorted by two Aurors, took a step to Harry and whispered,"Do you think you gained the power to control the Wizarding World? Can we trust in Aurors? They haven't changed at all. They are easily influenced by temptations."
Harry stared back at Lucius Malfoy and said,"You can't let us take bribes. We are firmly united under Minister's support."
"I have nothing to do with bribes. I'm always watched by Aurors and Hit Wizards," Malfoy gave a shrug.
The trainee, Blaise Zabini was standing by Malfoy at attention. Harry wondered whether Zabini was talked to join Malfoy's inner circle. He said,"We'll get the evidence. You should better stop maneuvering before you are sent to Azkaban."
Lucius Malfoy stared at Harry for a while and finally turned his eyes away.
When Hermione went down the stairs to the dungeon, she felt someone walking behind her. She glanced back and gasped. Nott took out his wand and aimed it at her. But he shoved it into his pocket at once since he noticed Ron was approaching them.
"Hermione, sorry I was talking with Harry," he whispered and glared at Nott who was leaving there at a quick pace to the dungeon.
"Oh, Ron, I was scared," her arms flung around him.
"Hermione, you're safe now. I'm here," he held her tight.
Then Draco Malfoy went down to them from upstairs escorted by Dean and Seamus. He passed them without looking at them.
Seamus complained, "I feel very sleepy. Can I sleep during Slughorn's lecture?"
"You have awakening potion, don't you?" said Dean.
"Nah. I am short of it. Ron, I can't believe, Harry and you had been watching Malfoy all through the night. I lack of sleep."
"Mr. Finnegan, you can make awakening potion here, if you like," Slughorn talked to them from behind.
"No, sir. I'm awful at Potions," Seamus answered.
"Where is Harry, m'boy?"
"He is in the Ministry," answered Ron.
"Alas, I should have given him advice when he asked me," said Slughorn.
"What advice?" Ron asked.
"I couldn't tell him about the man who knew a lot about concealment portions when he asked me. Please tell him to ask Severus of the portrait in Head Boy's room about potions which hide the evidence."
"Thank you, sir, I will," said Ron. He didn't notice Malfoy, who eavesdropped on their conversation, was startled.
Greenish lamps illuminated the Slytherin common room in which Pansy, Malfoy and Nott were talking secretly. It was late at night, so the other students were in their dorm.
"Before Potter asks Snape about concealment portions, we must do something," Malfoy, who had emerged from one of the twin Vanishing Cauldrons after Seamus fell asleep, spoke fast.
"Draco, don't be scared. Just remove the portrait of Snape, so you would live in peace forever," Nott shrugged, he fiddled with his wand.
"No, I can't. Dumbledore ordered McGonagall to put the portrait of Snape on the wall for me. They chanted eternal pasting charm upon it," said Malfoy.
"Well, you can beg Snape not to interrupt you," said Pansy.
"Snape was on Potter's side. I can't trust him completely," said Malfoy unpleasantly.
"If you say so, let's think other tactics," said Pansy.
"What tactics?"
"Distract Potter." Pansy
"How?"
"His girlfriend," Pansy smirked.
"But you can't attack her. Three Aurors are guarding this school," said Malfoy.
"They are just trainees. We don't have to be afraid of them at all. Besides we won't have to get our hands dirty," Pansy smirked again.
Nott squinted at Pansy and asked,"What's your plan?"
"Draco, make Love Potion. Not a few girls use love potion to distract boys in Hogwarts. If you are found out, we'll not be blamed for that at all. And I have something more to tell you, Nott. Granger seemed to find out the way to break the curse underground Gringotts. If I were you, I would send the owl mail to Cadwagan," said Pansy.
One of goblins opened his mouth after long silence,
"So you mean it was necessary to break in to get rid of Horcruxes?"
"Yes, it was. I apologize for our breaking into your bank. But please understand it was indispensable to beat Voldemort" said Harry.
The representative goblin spoke again in his high pitch voice,
"Well, we understood the situation, but we can't accept the fact that the sword of Gryffindor which goblins made belongs to Hogwarts."
The other goblins agreed to the representative. Harry looked back at Kingsley seeking help. Kingsley shook his head. Harry sighed. The talk came to a deadlock again. He cleared his throat and said,
"Well, I'll consult with Headmistress of Hogwarts about the sword. May I think the settlement was reached? Can I draw money from my own vault now?"
"We'll allow you to draw your money from your own vault. As Potter is Pure-Blood family, so the curse doesn't give effect to you. Your friend, Mr. Weasley, who is from Pure-Blood family, also can draw his money from his family vault, but the other, Miss Granger can't exchange her Muggle money to galleons, she'll be influenced by the curse."
"Yeah, I know. I would like to request one more thing. Please tell us about the secret vault that some Pure-Blood wizards use as the account for bribing someone." Harry's last words made them stir.
After lots of murmuring, the representative spoke,"You request too much. We can't settle without retrieving the sword of Gryffindor."
"But," Harry tried to say something more, but he was stopped by Kingsley.
"Harry, it's enough for today."
After hard exercises, Ginny clad in her Quidditch robes, went upstairs to the Gryffindor tower. On her way to the tower, she was halted by a girl student whom she did not know. The girl said with her dreamy look,
"Miss Weasley, I'm your fan. Please give me your autograph. I wish you would be a great Chaser for Holyhead Harpies," and she handed a sheet of parchment and a feather quill. Ginny took the quill and wrote her name on the sheet.
"Here you go," she beamed at the girl, and noticed the girl's robes were Slytherin robes.
"Thank you. My father is herb juice maker. It's a new product he sent for me. I drank this morning, it was very good," she handed a bottle of juice to her.
Ginny hesitated to take it. The Slytherin girl said,
"You doubt me, don't you? I'll show you, it's not poison," she took out a flask of her pocket and she opened the cap of the bottle. She poured it into the flask, and she drank it."See? It's not poison."
"Thank you," Ginny took the bottle of juice gingerly.
"I'm looking forward to watching your next game. Beat Hufflepuff for us, too!" and she left there.
Ginny thought she was just a fan of Holyhead Harpies. As she was so thirsty after the training that she drank it all. It was very good with herbal flavor. Then she felt hot inside, and she remembered her body was sweaty. She chanted summoning charm, then soon her nightgown hurtled into her hand from her dorm. She went down to the Prefect's bathroom which Quidditch captain was allowed to use. When she reached the door of the bathroom for girls, she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She glanced back and she found Malfoy with two Aurors, Seamus and Dean.
"Hi, Ginny," Dean Thomas grinned at her.
His gentle voice lingered in her mind and she said,"Hullo, Dean. I'm glad to see you again." Their eyes met, Ginny felt like they were alone in the castle.
Harry went back to the office where Olga was waiting for him. She was holding a basket of cupcakes in her arms.
"Oh, you have been waiting for me?"
She blushed hard and murmured,"I've been waiting for you. Your smile makes me happy, sir," she handed the basket to Harry.
"Oh, lovely! Thank you very much," he beamed at her.
She didn't leave and seemed to want to say words. Finally she opened her mouth,"Sir, have you ever seen a fairy circle?"
"What did you say?"
"A fairy circle. A circle of mushrooms. We call it a fairy circle."
"Eh, no, I haven't. Have you?"
"Yes, I have. They dance and sing all through the night. I'll take you to the forest of my country, if you like," she said and she took a step closer to him.
"Thank you. Where is your country? "
"North Europe. How about this weekend?"
"Eh, sorry. I'm busy, you know, the goblin things," and he found her stand so close that he could count her freckles. He asked her, "Have we met before?"
"Yes, we have," and she stood on her toes and kissed him lightly on the cheek and she left there.
Harry's hand touched his own cheek where Olga kissed. Her green eyes…he tried to remember, but he couldn't.
Ginny went back to her dorm after taking a bath and she had been thinking about Dean until she fell asleep. She had never seen Dean clad in Auror robes until she met him again. Dark red color fitted him very well and he was taller than Harry and his voice lit her fire inside. She wanted to see Dean again.
Andromeda handed Harry a bowl of soup and said in the kitchen,
"You should visit them again. Next time give them some presents. Goblins love presents from wizards."
"Will it work that way?"
"I believe you'll do it. Wizards from Slytherins had given goblins presents to carry out their purpose. You might have to visit many times, but visiting them frequently will bear good fruit. Don't give up, Harry," she said and she came to the cradle where Teddy had been sleeping, she took him in her arms.
Harry wondered if Lucius Malfoy or Parkinson had given goblins lots of presents.
"Andromeda, what will I bring to them?"
"The sword of Gryffindor will be the best for them, but it returned to Hogwarts itself?"
"Yeah."
"Well, give them other precious wrought metals goblins made. I think you have some of them in your vault. Potter is old Pure-blood family."
"Good idea but, I'm not sure which one is precious, so will you come with me?"
"Yes, I will."
Bill visited Hermione in her Head Girl's room, where they were looking at sheaves of parchment on which they scribbled lots of runic glyphs.
"Well, how do you think?" said Hermione.
"I think this time it will work. I could decipher the curse underground by reversing the process of the curse Cadwagan had cast with help from my Egyptian curse breaker. You're right, Hermione. He blended his druidic runes with the Aboriginal ones.
"When will we start it then?"
"We should better start as soon as possible."
Olga Reonowa washed her face and combed her ginger red hair. Soon her ginger red one turned into another color, her normal blond. It was very wise of her to impersonate his favorite girl. Ginger red and freckles were his weak points. Then she heard a small knocking sound of an animal, a red-billed Chough, a sea bird on the window, she let him enter the room. "Oh, dear Harry, you brought me a letter from my father," Dara kissed the bird and took the letter off from his red leg, and unfolded it. After she read the letter, she shoved it into her pocket. She transformed into a Chough, and she flew out of the window. And then she disappeared into the dusky sky.
Harry and Andromeda were ready to leave for the Gringotts, when Mrs. Weasley was feeding Teddy baby food with a spoon. Teddy was in a good mood.
"Teddy is a really good boy. Look at him. He has a big appetite," said Mrs. Weasley, who was beaming at them.
"Yes, he does. And he looks pleased with your baby food," said Andromeda, who smiled back.
"Please ask me to make his food anytime. You know, I brought up eight children," said Mrs. Weasley.
"Eight?" repeated Harry.
"Yes, eight, including you, of course, my dear," Mrs. Weasley beamed at Harry."You're also my son, Harry."
"Thank you," said Harry being overwhelmed with emotion, and touched the watch which belonged to her brother, Fabian Prewett, on his wrist.
"Keep fighting back, Harry. There will be a way. You defeated Tom Riddle more than twice. I believe you will clear away all the remaining Death Eaters and their allies," said Mrs. Weasley with her determined look.
Harry and Andromeda appreciated her kindness and disapparated there for Gringotts.
"Harry, pull over your cloak," whispered Andromeda looking around, her gaze dropped on the irritated wizards and witches queuing up in front of the entrance of Gringotts. One of them shouted,
"We can't wait. Bring Minister here, right now! I can't stand owing Pure-bloods galleons any more. They always raise interest later."
Harry realized breaking the curse was the most urgent requirement. The longer it took to solve the problem, the shorter Kingsley's period at Ministry would be. When they reached the reception desk, where a goblin was sitting on the high stool, Harry pulled off his Invisibility Cloak.
"Mr. Potter," the goblin looked startled a little and said,"May I help you?"
"I'd like to enter my vault," said Harry, he took out his phoenix feather wand and put it on the desk.
"Sure, you can," said the goblin, and he whispered a few words to the other goblin after he examined Harry's wand.
Bill took out his ash wand and ignited it and helped Hermione to get off the cart underground Gringotts. Ron followed her. Hermione felt ill, nearly stumbled over.
"Mione, are you alright?" Ron held her arm and her back behind her.
"Thanks, Ron. I'm O.K. I was just…oh I hate this haze. It makes me sick." She barely managed to stop vomiting.
"The curse gives Muggle-borns effects a lot. That's why you can't stay here longer," said Bill.
"Are there any solutions, Bill?" asked Ron anxiously.
"No. The only solution is to break the curse entirely."
"Then break the bloody curse," said Ron.
Ron supported Hermione who stood next to Billy. They held their wands high, swished and wrote complicated runic glyphs in the air. The blue light entangled lines and knots appeared in the air like kinds of art were drawn on the invisible campus in the air. Ron was simply impressed with their work. He whispered,"Blimey, Harry is right. I should've learned the ancient runes at Hogwarts."
After half an hour, he asked,"Are you done?"
"Yes, we are," said Hermione in her lower voice, and she fainted.
"Hermione!" shouted Ron and held her in his arm.
Bill kept silent, and he squinted at something which was invisible and murmured,"Something went wrong. We couldn't break the curse."
"What? You and Hermione have been engaged in these for months," Ron looked up holding her.
"I reckon Cadwagan or someone renewed the curse again," Bill looked tired and said to Ron,
"We should carry her away to St. Mungo's."
Ron hoisted himself holding Hermione with help from Bill into the the cart ran back to the place where another depositor was waiting; Harry, Andromeda and a goblin met them there.
"Hermione!" shouted Harry, he ran up towards them.
"What happened?"
"We tried to break the curse but it didn't work at all. Perhaps Cadwagan or someone changed the pattern of runic glyph combinations," said Bill bitterly.
"Hermione was cursed by the dark haze hanging around underground," said Ron, who held Hermione in his arms."We will take her to St. Mungo's."
"Ron, please be with her and send your Patronus to me," said Harry.
Ron nodded lightly and they left there.
Harry, Andromeda and a goblin rode on the cart. The cart went along with its rattling sound, down to underground deeper and deeper. When Harry got off the cart in front of the Potter's vault, he noticed two wands put on the entrance door of his vault. Andromeda examined them and said,"One is vine, the other is ash…Oh.." she gasped.
"What did you find out?" asked Harry.
"It's an old druidic curse that binds the magic. The casters who use these woods couldn't break the curse."
"How did Cadwagan know Hermione's wand was made of vine and Bill's was made of ash?" said Harry and he hit the clue suddenly. Dara was there. She was at the Leaky Cauldron when Harry talked with Hermione. Bill was also there.
"I know the caster. But I must find rare metal handicrafts goblins made first." and he let the goblin open his vault.
Harry and Andromeda entered Potter's vault. Harry ignited his holly wand and squinted at heaps of galleon coins in front of them.
"Andromeda, can you see something?" asked Harry.
Andromeda took her step into the inner part of the vault. Harry followed her. She walked to the darker corner, where bronze, silver and golden handicrafts were laid: a decorative bronze cauldron with big bronze spoons, a silver mirror with engraved back, lots of unique patterns of circles and a gold wine-flagon with enamel and coral inlay.
"See? These are all goblins made handicrafts," Andromeda whispered and she nodded towards a goblin standing near the entrance."Are you sure to give them to goblins?" She asked Harry.
"Well, I don't know. I can't even tell what magical power they contain inside."
"You can read it," said Andromeda, she picked up a sheet of parchment inside the bronze cauldron and read it out. "This cauldron was made for a healer who wanted to treat lots of children who suffered from plague," Andromeda handed the sheet of parchment to Harry.
It said, "This cauldron prevent wizards and witches from putting too much rue. Excessive rue is no good for children to digest food."
"I heard your mother, Lily Evans was one of genius students who got excellent marks in potions at Hogwarts. Did she buy it?" Andromeda asked him.
"I have no idea."
"I'll ask Narcissa," said Andromeda.
"Will you?" Harry said shocked at her words.
"Or you can ask Severus of the portrait. Yeah, I know you should better ask him. Narcissa might tell her husband you have some metal handicrafts goblins made, if I ask her."
"I'll ask Professor Snape about it," Harry kept reading.
"This wine-flagon cleans guilty conscience."
"I doubt Potters needed this handicraft. Perhaps they needed for other greedy wizards, witches or goblins…" she made her voice lower,"You should better give it to them. You're the last person who needs this."
"Yeah, I will give it to them. I hope it will work to find out the secret vault Parkinson and Malfoy use."
Harry noticed a tag attached to the back of the silver mirror, and he read it. "This mirrors the true mind state of your sweetheart," he flipped it and read it again.
It said, "To dear Charlus Potter. Dorea Black." *
Harry remembered the Black family tree on the wall of Grimmauld Place. There was the name of one Potter in the family tree.
"You should keep it, Harry. I reckon your grandmother gave this to your grandfather. I have heard about this wrought metal. Your grandmother wanted to tell her true love for your grandfather, I mean your father's father. I suppose there must have been a misunderstanding between them. You know, Dorea Black was from Slytherin, Charlus Potter was, of course a Gryffindor at Hogwarts," said Andromeda.
"I don't want to give this to goblins. I'll keep it," said Harry.
"You can also give those big bronze spoons to goblins when you must visit them again," said Andromeda.
Harry shrunk two big bronze spoons and a gold wine-flagon, and he shoved them into his mole-skin pouch.
Author's Note: *This part, To dear Charlus Potter. Dorea Black, was written before Pottermore announced the names for Harry's grandparents.
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