As I am NOT the original author of the Harry Potter series, who as anyone should know is the wonderful JKR who lets us play with her world. I don't own a darn thing here. On with the story.
Chapter 37 Goblins at Hogwarts
The Great hall was full for breakfast the following when the owls swooped in, dropping their daily load of parcels, letters, and that day's edition of the Daily Prophet. Harry and Hermione were quite late leaving their quarters having spent time with Sigtug going over Hermione's schedule and what her guard should expect to occur in each class. Sigtug decided to accompany them to the Great Hall knowing that the first day or two of her having a guard would be the most likely time for a misunderstanding to occur.
Ron was sitting stuffing his face when Lavender screamed, "Pregnant!"
"What, who, is it a Gryffindor?" The people around her asked all wanting to know what she knew.
"Hermione, She's pregnant." Lavender said at a more normal level.
Ginny looked up and sure enough at every table students were clustering around those who had received the newspaper reading the headlines. "Well she is married." Ginny said doing her best to pull off a matter of fact tone. While fuming that her friend had not thought to let her know.
"Bet that's why they got married. The Mudblood spread her legs to hook a wizard. Too bad she didn't hook one with proper blood lines like the weasel here. But then even Potter's got to have more money than him." Malfoy said from behind Ron.
"If I may have your attention for a moment." Dumbledore said standing behind the staff table his voice carrying throughout the Great Hall without his appearing to raise it. He waited a moment for the hall to go quiet then said, "Mrs. Potter has been appointed Ambassador at Large for the Goblins as such…" Dumbledore stopped as the noise grew again only to lower as the talkers realized Dumbledore had not finished, "As such she is required to have a full time goblin guard for her protection."
"That mudblood broodmare has goblin guards?" Malfoy yelled in astonishment.
"Mr. Malfoy my office now." Snape said his cold voice loud enough for the entire hall to hear before Dumbledore had the chance to say anything. As he got up from the table anyone who had taken potions knew the look on the Potion Master's face and with very few exceptions they felt sorry for Draco.
"As I was saying Mrs. Potter is required to have a guard with her at all times. Do not make any threatening moves towards her. Goblin guards are not noted for their sense of humor, quick knives and deadly actions yes, humor no." Dumbledore said just as Harry and Hermione entered the hall with Sigtug and a guard behind her causing the entire hall to go deadly silent.
"Guess they've noticed your guards." Harry said as he escorted Hermione to her seat.
"I believe you are right." Sigtug said from behind him.
Breakfast passed quietly with Bill Weasley showing up just before Harry and Hermione left for class.
"Bill I'd like you to join Harry and I when we talk with Dumbledore at lunch. By then Sigtug should have the basics for what we need for rooms.
Bill nodded and they left Harry to go teach the first years and Hermione to Arithmancy class.
After his class Harry hurried down to the entrance hall joining up with Hermione as they went to their Herbology class with Madam Spout. "This is much better." Hermione said as they went about gathering their pots for the day's lesson.
"Was your last class difficult?" Harry asked.
"Vector was distracted by the goblin standing in the back of the classroom. Madam Sprout is just ignoring him. That works much better. I tried to tell Professor Vector to ignore him but she couldn't. Hopefully the novelty will wear off in a few days.
Harry nodded his agreement concentrating on not messing up this lesson. Hermione went silent working with him until class ended and they headed to the Great Hall for lunch.
As with all things Potter this little walk did not go as planned. No sooner had they entered the castle proper then a spell flew out of a side corridor heading for them. Harry threw up a shield causing the curse to rebound back down the passage. With in moments all six guards were surrounding them. A short conversation took place in Gobbledegook between their guard and Sigtug who quickly and efficiently hustled them to their chambers where he said, "Notify Dumbledore you will not be attending lunch. You may invite him here if he is concerned."
Harry made the call and the Headmaster was quick to agree his meeting them was a good idea while Hermione disappeared into their bedroom for a moment.
Winky was overjoyed she had so many people for lunch. She vanished the couch and created a long table with chairs.
"Winky you don't need to work so hard." Hermione said concerned.
"Winky is having fun the other goblins are helping her. You will eat what everyone is having for lunch but I will be serving it here. It will be just like the fancy lunches Dumbledore hosts when he have visitors that he doesn't want everyone to see." The house elf explained while in constant motion insuring every place setting was proper.
"Hermione let her be. I mean have you ever seen her this happy?" Harry asked watching his wife knowing it was bothering her to cause any being to work this hard.
Hermione realized Harry was right but she thought it still wasn't right that she had creatures that were virtual slaves to her and Harry no matter what you dressed their servitude up as. Her thoughts were disrupted by a house elf popping in and quickly saying, "Professor Dumbledore is waiting to enter."
Sigtug waived another guard to the door as the one stationed there put his hand on it to open it. When the second guard was in position he nodded and the first guard opened the door allowing the Headmaster to enter.
Dumbledore stepped through with Professor Snape right on his heals preventing the goblin from shutting the door before he could gain entrance. Hermione was watching and grabbed her husband's arm stopping his wand from rising. Harry caught the implicit 'I will handle this,' in her move. "Headmaster thank you for joining us to discuss this morning unfortunate problem over lunch. May I ask who invited the Potions master?" Hermione asked a neutral expression on her face.
"The Slytherin that your guards hexed this morning with no reason what so ever is still in the hospital wing. I am here to see justice done." Severus said imperiously.
"That was not the question I asked. Headmaster did you invite a third party to our meeting without informing me?" Hermione asked again without changing expression.
Dumbledore was not dumb he might be occasionally a little slow to catch on what was happening though. Such was the case right now he looked over noting that Hermione had slipped on different robes when she'd entered. Suddenly their make caught his eye and he noted she was wearing goblin robes. At that moment he realized he was not dealing with Hermione Potter sixth year student and wife of his first through third year Defense against the Dark Arts professor. He was dealing with the Ambassador at large for the Goblin nation, and his potions master had just accused a goblin of hexing a student without provocation.
Harry noted Dumbledore's face suddenly go white causing him to look at his wife who now had a sly smile on her face, 'He realizes now what is at stake.' He heard his wife think.
"Severus leave us." Dumbledore said firmly.
Professor Snape looked like he'd had his face slapped. "But headmaster," he protested looking over at Bill Weasley who had just entered the room.
"Now!" Dumbledore said quietly but in a tone that left absolutely no room for argument.
Snape opened his mouth but shut it when he looked into Dumbledore's hard eyes. When he turned the door was still open but shut as he stepped through catching his backside and knocking him into the hall off balance.
Hermione was eyeing Dumbledore waiting for him to speak. "Ambassador Potter I would like to discuss this morning's incident if you are willing." Dumbledore said formally.
"I would prefer to hold this discussion over lunch if that is not a problem. I have a tight schedule and don't want to upset it." Hermione replied.
"That would be fine."
Once everyone was seated and had filled their plates Hermione said, "There were no actions taken by my guards to protect me this morning. My husband saw the spell coming and cast a shield charm that rebounded the spell back on the castor or someone standing near him. Of course we do not expect you to believe us given the hostility that has existed not only between the goblins and wizarding population but also between my husband, myself and the potion master's house."
Bill sat watching the conversation he had heard of a student being escorted to the hospital wing but to find out Snape was accusing the goblins of attacking a student had him greatly concerned. Still she had donned the robes of her office and there was literally nothing he could say or do to counter any action she decided to take. His oaths to Ragnok bound his actions as surely as strings controlled a puppet.
Several moments passed before Dumbledore replied, "Then we are at an impasse."
"Perhaps a pensive might be useful to resolve this." Harry offered after a mental nudge from Hermione.
"Are you offering to supply one?" Dumbledore inquired.
"The burden is currently on the accuser. When he provides a pensive memory of a goblin attacking him then we will provide a defense. Neither my husband, myself, nor any of my guards have done anything wrong. Naturally should you disagree with my statement you may take this up with our ambassador to the wizarding world and we will abide by his direction. Until that time we will continue as things currently are. Now we were originally meeting to discuss our need to either move or rooms or re-model this portion of Hogwarts. The head of my guard detail has compiled a list of requirements that I will summarize as rooms for him and his men including the normal ones need to live. They will need to open onto an entry hall that will be the only known entrance to our quarters. This will allow a place for a guard to be positioned to protect me without affecting our privacy." Hermione said dispassionately.
"I don't believe that will be possible." Dumbledore said attempting to get everything back under his control.
"I have reports that it could be accomplished in as little as two hours." Harry said speaking up.
"Then you have two choices. Allow us to try or I will be required to notify the ministry that we were unable to reach agreement on my accommodations and my husband and I will make other arrangements for our educations." Hermione said firmly.
Dumbledore thought he had the upper hand saying, "Please feel free to attempt your modifications."
"Thank you, would you please inform the other professors that Harry and I will be busy this afternoon." Hermione said standing and ending their meeting.
Dumbledore excused himself and quickly hurried to his office where he could control Hogwarts from.
"That went well." Harry said speaking up for the first time.
"Call Dobby we need to get started right now before he can manage to throw up blocks to what we want." Hermione said.
A smile spread across Harry's face as he sat down in an overstuffed chair that Winky had left for them to relax in before he called out, "Dobby?"
"Harry Potter sir called Dobby?" the house elf said popping into the room.
"Yes I did, are you done with the new rooms and lay out?"
"All that Dobby and Winky has left is to seal that door." Dobby said motioning towards the one Dumbledore had just left through.
"Then please do and make sure we will be safe."
Dobby smiled and walked to the wall on one side of doorway while Winky did the same on the other side and with a obviously great effort they pushed the walls together eliminating the door before walking to a side wall and pulling open an archway. A wave of his hands later there was a door blocking the archway.
"Harry James Jimhook Potter you had them create the rooms all ready?" Hermione said rounding on him.
Harry just grinned like the cat from Alice in Wonderland before replying, "Of course. I knew Dumbledore would either say yes or let us try. This way he can't block what is already done besides if he really gets pushy I'll tell him I thought we had his approval last night but forgot to tell you."
"That will work." Sigtug said speaking up for the first time hoping to end the discussion.
"We also moved Harhook's things from the nursery to her private room. It opens onto our entryway giving us a little more privacy." Harry said wiggling his eyebrows.
"We do have a few hours to kill now that the re-arrangement of the rooms is out of the way." Hermione allowed as Harry stood and escorted her into their bedroom.
"See you in a bit." Harry said to Sigtug before shutting the door behind him.
Harry and Hermione were relaxing a while later when he looked over asking, "Where did you learn how to do all that Ambassador stuff? You had Dumbledore off balance from the start. I have to admit I'm very glad you will have a guard with you the next time you see Snape."
"That came from my mother, along with a big dose of my Grandmother Granger. I swear she could make the queen sweat if she wanted. The attitude came from Deklhook. The day I spent with her she carefully drilled it into me that Goblins do not give anything away and while I had been raised as first a muggle then a witch, now that I had been adopted by Maalhook I was both a witch and a Goblin and I'd better not forget it."
"Sounds like the conversation I had with Griphook. Do you realize we are the first individuals in over two hundred years to have that dual status. Not to mention when you are wearing the Ambassador's robes you are technically a goblin and do not answer to wizard law."
"Why do you think Dumbledore went white? If Professor Snape had persisted and forced Sigtug to defend me he could have started another Goblin war. Something I don't think anyone wants right now. That is another reason I had to be so rigid with him." Hermione said turning and looking at her husband.
Harry smiled and reached his hand towards his wife as she lay beside him only to hear, "Be careful they are starting to get sore."
"They are also growing." He teased.
"I need to be ready to feed two hungry Potters in a while." Hermione said a bigger smile appearing on her face as she spoke.
"Yea." Harry replied his hand drifting down before gently stroking her growing belly.
She watched him for a while not interrupting realizing he was bonding with the children within her. It felt funny but then she also felt it was completely right.
They didn't move from the bed until after the classes were through for the day, "Mistress must wake up." Winky said standing beside the bed.
"Huh, what's up?" a sleepy voice called out.
"Winky wants something." Harry's voice replied.
"Mistress must tell the goblins that Professor Weezer is allowed to enter."
'Professor Weezer?' Hermione thought still not awake from the afternoon nap she'd taken with her husband. "What time is it?" she asked the room at large.
"Everyone is getting ready for dinner. Winky was going to let her mistress sleep but Professor Weezer insists he needs to talk with you."
"Tell everyone I'll be right there." Hermione said now she was awake enough to understand what was going on.
"Shall we go see what Bill wants?" Harry asked getting out of bed on the other side.
"I can't believe we fell asleep. I haven't taken an afternoon nap in years." Hermione said getting up and checking her appearance in the full length mirror on the back of her wardrobe door.
"You've had a rather full week so far." Harry said knowing from experience that attributing anything out of the ordinary to her pregnancy was an act loaded with pitfalls and hidden traps designed to catch the unaware spouse.
"But still." She protested mildly pleased that she didn't need to change out of the robes she'd donned after removing her robe of office. With a satisfied nod at her reflection she added, "Let's go see what brings Bill by."
It took only a few moments for her to give the orders allowing Bill access to their restored living room area. "Have you two left these rooms since your talk with Dumbledore?"
"No actually we ended up resting for the afternoon." Harry said.
"Good I'll bring you up to speed then. The Slytherin that was hit is Millicent Bulstrode."
"How is she?" Hermione asked concern evident in her voice.
"She is recuperating. You two might want to sit down for the rest."
Harry looked at Hermione escorting her to the sofa where he sat beside her with his arm around her shoulders.
Bill followed taking an overstuffed chair opposite them then once he was sure Harry had Hermione comfortable said, "The spell that hit her caused her uterus to go into convulsions. There was some slight damage before Madam Pomfrey was able to reduce the severity of them by stunning her. Madam Pomfrey believes they ended about half an hour ago."
"What do you mean she believes? Can't she just ask Millicent?" Hermione asked concerned about her classmate.
"When she is revived Miss Brimstone does nothing but scream constantly and curl up into a ball. Madam Pomfrey decided it was best to leave her stunned until the one healer in England skilled in this area arrives."
"I guess the only good news is that it was obvious that spell was betrothed for me." Hermione said her face drained of all color as her hands wrapped protectively around her slightly swollen belly.
Harry started to ask then realized if the spell had hit his wife she would have lost the babies. "It's alright Hermione. It didn't hit you the babies are fine." He said hugging his wife.
"But what if it had hit?" Hermione said.
"Then we would try again."
"What if I had been so badly damaged I couldn't have any more children?" Hermione asked watching her husband's face.
"Then we would have dealt with it as husband and wife. You are more important to me than as a baby factory." Harry said pulling his wife close and hugging her.
Bill watched the couple wondering how he would react if it had been his wife the spell had been aimed at. He was fairly sure the individual responsible would be looking at a St. Mungo's visit at the least.
"Thank you Bill. I can't imagine how I would have reacted getting this news in front of people." Harry said.
"Winky will set up for Dinner." The house elf said popping into existence beside the couch.
"No Winky this is the All Hallows Eve feast, I will not miss that. We will be eating in the Great Hall." Hermione said.
Harry opened his mouth to protest but shut it before making a sound as he realized his wife's intentions. "I'll notify Sigtug of our intentions." He said knowing there would be more than one guard around his wife tonight.
As they approached the great hall half an hour later Harry hadn't realized how right he was. Two guards had gone ahead under invisibility cloaks leaving the remaining four to sandwich he and Hermione between them. The hall fell silent as they all appeared in the great hall. The front two guards broke off taking up station in front of the staff table while Harry and Hermione continued on taking their seats. Once everyone one was in place the four guards bracketed Harry and Hermione. Dumbledore noted that she was not wearing her goblin robes saying, "Mrs. Potter don't you think four guards in the great hall is a little much?"
"That is not my call anymore. I was informed by the head of my guard detail how many I would have. It seems that everyone occasionally has to allow individuals around them the ability to do their jobs their way. However if you wish I will have the head of my security detail meet with you tomorrow morning to discuss it." Hermione replied noting that Dumbledore quickly appeared flush at the thought, she wasn't sure rather it was that particular discussion, or just the though of a discussion with goblins in particular that caused his reaction.
Other than the constant whispering between various individuals the All Hallow Eve's feast went far smoother and quieter than anyone at the head table could remember.