"I don't like the sounds of this." Draco grimaced and turned to face the shack.
"No, I dare say you won't." A voice from the past said.
Draco turned and saw a dead man.
"Sev…" Draco's eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped to the ground.
"Lovely." Snape drawled and flicked a wand to levitate the prone form into the air. "I shall see to Draco, Miss Granger, if you will pass the rejuvenation potion along to Narcissa?"
"Of course, Professor." Hermione quickly followed the potions' Master and the floating blonde into the trunk.
The Tuesday of the week Harry was due to enter the veil, the refugees moved into the Nest, not completely, McGonagall was still at Hogwarts and George and Charlie still had some clothes at the shop. And of course, Hermione was staying with them and she had control of the pocket space, so all of them were actually planning to sleep in their houses in the Nest.
But for that to happen, Hermione had to introduce them to the hidden refugees. Something she was very nervous about.
Right now, everyone was gathered in the settlement's equivalent of a Town Hall, a large bare-framed structure with a solid roof and no walls, that they were calling The Pavilion. The space was enchanted to a fare-thee-well, by Professor Flitwick, with a variety of environment and comfort charms along with lighting and sound amplification spells.
Hermione stood on a small dais platform, that stood just two-foot-high, with a carefully screened-off area off to her right, drawing everyone's eyes.
"Hello, everyone." She tried to smile but failed. "Welcome to the Nest. You all know that the Nest idea was created by Kingsley Shacklebolt as a way to hide some of the survivors of the Hogwarts Battle. What only a few of you know is who those survivors are." She held up a hand. "Yes, you know about Katie, Natalie, Lavender, Parvati and Colin. Yes, you know about Neville and his parents. But… you don't know about the other three. For two reasons. One, to protect them. Two, to protect you." She rubbed a hand over her face. "The first person is a werewolf, you know that the Ministry would put him down, instantly, if they found him. But we've all known about him for years." She took a deep breath. "I've asked and he's agreed to continue teaching. Please welcome Remus Lupin and his son Teddy." She felt like a game-show host. Urgh...
There were gasps and a couple of smothered squeals from Lavender and Parvati as Remus stepped through a section of the screens and down off the platform, his infant son in his arms.
"Hello…" He gave them a hesitant smile that grew larger as a number of people leapt from their seats and ran over to him, surrounding him with smiles and laughter.
Hermione let that continue for a few minutes before calling them to order.
"Excuse me? Would everyone please sit down, we're not finished yet." A minute passed while people reclaimed their seats. "Thank you. This next person… he wasn't well liked, but since the battle, I've heard all of you who returned to Hogwarts for this last year, tell tales of his… inventiveness, of his protectiveness. And we all saw the pensieve projection of memories in the Great Hall, so we all know that he was, as Harry once so eloquently said, completely Dumbledore's man. And he's agreed to teach those interested, but the potions' labs are his domain. Please welcome Severus Snape."
There was a heartbeat of silence as Snape stepped from the screens and down the two steps to the pavilion floor. Then a flood of the younger students engulfed him. His arms flailed for a few seconds, before a look of half-joy-half-reluctance crossed his face and his arm dropped to enclose the five youngsters, sobbing into his robes. Bill and Charlie were the next to reach him, their arms encircling his shoulders.
"Good to have you back." Bill muttered. "Harry's been beating himself up, thinking he might have saved you if he'd been a little quicker."
"Mr Potter would likely have got us both killed if he had. I knew it was coming and I had a fair idea when it would happen. When I was called to the boathouse, I knew it was time, but was uncertain that my anti-venom potion had had enough time to saturate my system. Thankfully, it was successful, albeit that it was a slow recovery, instead of the few minutes I had anticipated."
"You're still with us, Professor, that's all that's important." Charlie smiled at him. "Come and sit down with your leeches." He grinned at Natalie, Euan, Colin, Dennis and Luna.
"I don't think they're going to let go in a hurry." George added. "Thanks for keeping an eye on Ginny."
Snape just nodded and herded his armload of children towards the bench that Bill had transfigured from a chair. It took a few seconds but eventually they were looking to Hermione, again.
"This last person…" She whispered. "I'm so sorry, I wanted to tell you, but his family…? They were already making plans around his death. Not you lot, but the rest of the family and that meant that you had to stay in the dark, you couldn't know he was alive. You're all good actors, you've had plenty of practice this last year, but… even so, people have guessed that something is happening, not what, but something. When Kingsley initially suggested hiding people, a main reason was to keep this man's family from overwhelming him, his injuries were so bad. He's almost recovered, now, but still has a way to go before he'll be back on a broom. George, Bill, Charlie? Forgive me, please…" Hermione whispered as Fred shuffled around the screen on a set of crutches, two redheads in motion before he'd got more than two steps.
Bill and Charlie had tears running down their faces as they held their brother.
"Forge?" Fred's voice was rough and cracked.
George stood and slowly crossed to stand in front of them. "Gred…" He reached out a hand and touched Fred's shoulder. "Huh." He snorted. "No wonder I didn't feel as bad as I thought I should, once the shock had passed." He dragged his twin from his brothers' arms and held him tight. "You owe me one."
"When Miss Sissy releases me, you got it." Fred had his head buried in George's neck. "Can we sit down, my legs aren't working right, yet?" George didn't answer he just guided them over to the quidditch girls and Lee, who had conjured themselves daybeds.
While the reunion had been happening, Hermione had flicked her wand and the screens had packed themselves away.
"Anyone else, Hermione?" Seamus called from the back of the pavilion.
"No, that's it." Hermione laughed, the weight on her shoulders gone. "For the moment, I want to place a memory charm on Bill, George and Charlie, so that when they leave the trunk, they won't remember Fred's alive, they still have to meet with the goblins and sign over the shop to Percy. If he or Molly thought that Fred was still alive, it could ruin everything we've worked towards." Bill exchanged looks with his brothers and nodded. "Thanks. Harry and I have to meet with the goblins this afternoon. Rocksplitter suggested that I bring Harry's trunk, apparently Gringotts have something they wish to send with us. When I know more, I'll let you know. Alright?" A smattering of nods and a few words of agreement were the response. "Thanks, guys."
Harry, Hermione and Kingsley entered Diagon Alley to be greeted with a busy and prosperous shopping area. Rather like Harry remembered from his first trip here, with Hagrid. As they walked passed Eeylops Owl Emporium, Hermione blinked and hummed, before pulling out her ever-ready notepad and scribbling down a few words.
People looked at them, but with two trainee Aurors in front of him and Kingsley at his side, no-one attempted to approach them. A few smiled and other waved, but Harry was left to walk the alley in peace.
Stepping into Gringotts was a relief, the lack of stares allowing Harry to relax, slightly.
"Mr Potter, Miss Granger. Aurors." Rocksplitter nodded to each of them.
"Master Rocksplitter." Kingsley nodded back.
"Greetings, Master Rocksplitter." Harry and Hermione spoke almost as one, earning them a look of amusement from the Aurors.
"Come through to my office, we have matters to discuss." Rocksplitter replied, getting straight down to business, the moment they were seated. "Mr Potter you will be entering the veil in two days. Gringotts have worked with you and Miss Granger to see that your and her requests have been met." He paused for a few seconds. "However, new information has been provided to us and as a result of that information, we believe that Mr Potter may not be sufficiently equipped for the environment he may enter." Alarm shone on Hermione and Harry's faces, but before either of them could speak, Rocksplitter continued. "We have reviewed the interview of a being that emerged from the veil many years ago. They were brought to Gringotts because it was believed that Gringotts had a more… reliable method of determining the truth. It is as a result of reviewing that interview, that Gringotts has reached the conclusion that, if you are transported to the world from which this being came, you would most definitely be under-equipped."
"What can we do to change that?" Kingsley asked.
"That is why I have requested your presence." Rocksplitter replied. "Gringotts' Director has decided to supply the equipment and the training you may need to use that equipment."
"The Director?" Kingsley blinked. "The Director is aware of what's happening?"
"Of course, the Director is aware, Auror Shacklebolt, he's well aware of what is happening in both the wizarding world and in the muggle world. He has to be, he's the Director for all Gringotts's branches in Britain." Rocksplitter snapped.
"My apologies, I had not intended any offence, I'm merely surprised that the Director would concern himself with a matter that has no bearing on Gringotts, as a whole, and is in effect a wizarding matter, something that Gringotts has in the past refused to involve itself in." Kingsley quickly explained.
"Ah, but what you are unaware of regarding Mr Potter and his friends, is that as a result of their… actions against the bank, an in-depth investigation was initiated. A number of… anomalies were discovered. Anomalies that would have had a massively detrimental effect on the bank and eventually on the entire economy of the wizarding world." Rocksplitter explained.
"Enough to involve the bank in wizarding matters, though?" Kingsley asked, with a frown.
"And then some." Rocksplitter nodded.
"Oh, gods." Kingsley's face went a little grey.
"I'm glad to see that you understand the severity of the situation we faced. If Mr Potter and his associates hadn't acted, it is very likely that we would have not detected the anomalies in question, until too late to rectify the matter. But they did. And the issues have been… corrected, shall we say? That leaves the Director in an unusual position. How to show our appreciation to Mr Potter but at the same time, not announce the reasoning behind it, to the public? Then one of our archivists came forward, she had recently reviewed the interview I mentioned earlier. The Director viewed the interview and after deliberation with his advisors, came to a possible solution to both." Rocksplitter sat forward. "Gringotts is offering Mr Potter something that has never been done before. We are gifting him weapons. Mr Potter will visit our armourer who will draw a small sample of blood, this will enable weapons to be called by the master armourer, using Mr Potter's blood as the summoning agent. We will also bind the weapons to him, and only those of his blood or those he and his magic approve of, will be able to use those weapons."
Rocksplitter waited patiently while Harry and Hermione processed what they'd been told.
"However, Mr Potter has to consent to the drawing of his blood, or the bindings will not take."
"I will." Harry said. "I will consent to my blood being taken if… if I can watch the process?"
"Oh, you'll do more than watch Mr Potter, you'll be involved. We understand that few wizards know how to wield a blade, so in addition to providing bladed weapons, we will be providing training memories. So, that-"
"Excuse me?" Harry lifted a hand. "What is a training memory and how would I use it?"
Rocksplitter looked to Kingsley in question.
"Yes, I can answer that." The Auror said. "Harry, a training memory is a memory taken from someone who has the knowledge or experience of a particular skill or event. They're from the creator's point of view and show only what the creator can see, but because they're from a personal point of view, you will process the memory as though it were your own. Once your occlumency improves enough, you will be able to recognise the difference between a training memory and one of your own. They're copied and the recipient simply inserts them in the same manner that you return a memory that you've extracted to watch in a pensieve. The only major difference is that it's best done immediately before preparing for sleep, as it can make you quite drowsy."
"Oh, okay. And afterwards, I'd know how to use whatever weapon?"
"You'd understand how to but while you'd have the mental reflexes and reactions needed, your body will lack some strength without additional physical preparation." Rocksplitter added a caution.
"Yeah, that's fine." Harry grinned. "I have no problems with that."
"Excellent. Mr Potter if you and your Auror guard would follow Bogrod, he will escort you the armoury. I have a few things still to discuss with Miss Granger in regard to her departure from Britain."
"Mione?" Harry asked, clearly undecided on whether she was comfortable with him basically abandoning her.
"It's fine, Harry. At the very least, I'll catch up with you this evening." She assured him.
"If you're sure…?"
"Yes, Harry." Hermione rolled her eyes at him, causing him to laugh but he stood and waited for Kingsley and the two trainees to flank him, before following a younger goblin from the room.
"I wasn't aware we still had business?" Hermione asked, tilting her head as she spoke.
"Technically, we didn't, however, at the Director's orders, we are extending our offer from only Mr Potter, to you and any witch or wizard that will be travelling with him." Rocksplitter raised a hairy brow in challenge.
"And makes makes you think anyone is going with him?" Hermione squinted at the goblin.
"Too many young people and a few older ones, are cashing in their vaults, exchanging them for raw or partially processed materials, for muggle money, gems or unstamped coin blanks. Exactly the same as you've ordered for Mr Potter."
"I see…" Hermione wanted to smack herself over the head, of course the bloody goblins would notice. "And what do you plan to do about it?"
"Nothing, Miss Granger. What a witch or wizard does with their finances is normally not a concern to Gringotts, however, circumstances being what they are and the identities of those involved, taken into consideration…? As I said, Gringotts are extending our offer to cover you and your counterparts. Oh, we don't require their names, some of them, I'm sure we already know, and perhaps with a bit of research we could determine the others, but we're not going to. We of Gringotts pride ourselves on maintaining our clients' privacy."
"Then… what do you require?"
"For the summoning of each set of weapons, we require eleven drops of each individual's blood and binding the weapons to them will need another five drops." Rocksplitter answered.
"That's it? But… you said Harry would be involved? Doesn't everyone else need to be involved, too?"
"They don't need to, if they wish to, certainly they may be involved in the process. But I understood it that some of your… people are legally classified as deceased? If they set foot on goblin-controlled ground, that will be reversed." Rocksplitter warned.
Hermione tilted her head in thought. "What if… what if they didn't? Set foot on goblin ground, I mean?"
"I don't follow, Miss Granger." Rocksplitter admitted.
"I have an expanded capacity trunk, what if they were present and involved, but remained physically in the trunk, not stepping out of it. Would that classify as not setting foot on goblin-controlled ground?"
"I… I'm unsure, I would have to check but it is quite possible." Rocksplitter hummed.
"How long does it take for each person? Do they have to understand why their blood is being take? Do they have to be alive? I mean can you use older blood, that's been under stasis or dried?"
"Hmm… I don't know. I can check but why the latter option?"
"I was thinking about Harry's godfather, Sirius Black. If we were to end up on the same world as him, it wouldn't take us long to find him. Point-me's, Patronus messages and brooms would hasten that. But if all of us have goblin-made weapons and he doesn't, that leaves him at a decided disadvantage, if we need to use them. In addition to this, two of our… residents are under heavy sedation and while we've repaired the physical damage they sustained, our healer felt it better for them, to sedate them until their minds catch up with their repaired bodies. Others are children, quite young yet, however, as children have a habit of doing, they will grow up eventually."
"Ah. I see, yes, that does make sense. I shall speak to one of the armourists. The actual process is reasonably quick, a few minutes for the blood to be drawn and spread on the altar, a chant by an armourist, an oath from the recipient that they will never use these blades to promote evil or deliberately harm the innocent. Then you're free to go. Five minutes at most."
"Is it possible to alter the oath, slightly?"
"In what way?"
"To never deliberately harm an innocent that may be saved, or unless one will come to greater harm, if left unharmed by our blades." Hermione grimaced slightly, remembering hexing Harry in the face to disguise him from the snatchers.
"It might be better to let you write your own oaths for the binding…" Rocksplitter hummed. "I'll talk to the armourist. Mr Potter should be about finished by now, if you were to return here in an hour, I'll have more information or at the least have convinced an armourist to speak with you."
"That sounds fine, Rocksplitter, I have a couple of things still to do in the alley. What's the balance on the Nest vault?" Hermione nodded, then asked.
"The Nest? Let me see… Ah, here we are… ʛ108,456. §14. κ26. You've spent a lot of gold in the last two months, Miss Granger." Rocksplitter's look was almost admiring.
Hermione grinned. "I had some very enthusiastic help."
"I can imagine." The goblin chuckled. He also stood and ushered Hermione towards the door. "Mr Potter has to pass through the foyer, if you wish to wait for him, that would be an ideal place."
"No." Said Hermione. "He knows I'll drop into the DMLE later this evening. I'll get my errands done and come back in an hour." She nodded to the goblin and headed for WWW, she needed to have a quick word with the residents of the Nest, they needed to know about this.
Leaving Gringotts much later that afternoon, Hermione was debating whether to have dinner with Harry or to go to Hogwarts and visit Harry afterwards. But that decision was taken from her by a Patronus message from Professor Flitwick.
"Miss Granger?" That the tiny Professor's Patronus was a raven seemed quite apt. "We have a matter that requires your attendance quite urgently. Would you be so kind as to floo to the Headmaster's office?" Nothing more was said, and Hermione wondered what had alarmed the new Headmaster so much that he'd send a Patronus, rather than a Professor.
When she emerged from the fireplace, she was greeted by Professors Flitwick and McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey and Hagrid.
"I'm here." She said redundantly. "What's wrong?"
"For a change? I don't think it is wrong." McGonagall pursed her lips to avoid smiling.
Hagrid swept a cloth off of an odd shaped item. Hermione noticed the item to be a cage, before the contents of the cage caught her attention.
"Hedwig?!" She gasped.
"Hoot!" Came the reply.