MEET AGAIN

Colette's POV:

I have yet to inform my parents or Professor Dumbledore that I am the heiress of Hufflepuff. When I entered the headmaster's office, I swear I could hear the walls whispering "Welcome," which may appear creepy, but I find it fascinating. I told Rolf everything later, when we were both lying on my bed and discussing the Sorting in Houses part. He also told me that if he was assigned to a different house than mine, he would be very worried. He stated that he requested to be sorted into Hufflepuff, and the Sorting Hat informed him that, fortunately for him, Hufflepuff is also the house that best fits him.

When I told Rolf about my conversation with the Sorting Hat and the whispering between walls, he was overjoyed, but it's funny. He asked why I hadn't told Professor Dumbledore about being the Hufflepuff heiress, even though he wasn't attempting to persuade me to do so. He just thought that because Professor Dumbledore appears to be a great man and very wise, that's the word.

"It's not that simple," I told Rolf. It's just that I have a strange feeling about Professor Dumbledore. It's not that he's a bad person; it's just that he appears to be, how shall I put it, manipulated. That's the right word to describe him. Then Rolf asked why I didn't tell my parents, and I don't know the answer to that either.

I suppose I don't want to tell them because I don't want to burden them; as the heiress, many people would want to take my possessions and make them their own. I am aware that both of my parents are very skilled at Occlumency, but I am also aware that they cannot be as skilled as I or Rolf. If my parents find out too much about me, they'll have to bear the secrets with me. They've had enough of their son's death, in my opinion.

One day, I told Rolf. I'll tell them one day, when the time comes and it seems convenient, but not now.

…

Today, Rolf and I are going to Diagon Alley with my mother to buy school supplies from Gringotts. Gringotts Wizarding Bank was the only wizarding bank in the United Kingdom, and it was owned and run by goblins. Mom claims it was founded in 1474 by a goblin named Gringotts. Its headquarters were on the North Side of Diagon Alley in London, England, and that's where we'll be today.

Rolf and I both gasped when we arrived at our first destination. We had arrived at a snowy white structure that towered over the other small shops. Gringotts appears to be an imposing snow-white multistory marble building partway down Diagon Alley, near its intersection with Knockturn Alley, that towers over the nearby shops.

A flight of white stairs leading up to a pair of burnished bronze doors from Diagon Alley. A goblin in a scarlet and gold uniform stood guard at the doors. Rolf was very interested in them and tried to ask them many questions, but mom stopped him, saying that goblins don't like to be interrupted.

The big entrance led into a small entrance hall and another set of doors. Engraved on these silver doors were the words:

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

Through these doors, which were also flanked by goblins, was a vast marble hall with long counters stretching its length and doors leading off to the vault passageways, each with around a hundred goblins sitting at it.

"Mom! "Can I accompany Rolf to his family vault?" I inquired of my mother.

"Does your family have a vault here, Rolf?" mother inquired, and Rolf replied without blinking, "Yes, aunt Celina." Rolf and I have discussed and planned this before, with him telling mom that he has a family and then going to the Hufflepuff's Vault with me. My mother, on the other hand, appears to believe it was true after all because she told us to "go on."

We found a free goblin in the hall's corner and approached him. The goblin appears perplexed at first and appears to say something to frighten us away, but I speak up first. "Can I please come to the Hufflepuff's Vault?" I asked quietly.

The goblin was startled at first, and he squeezed his eyes a little (I can't tell how much) to look closer at me, as if he could see through me. "Lend me your hand," he said, and I complied. As soon as my hand touched the goblin's hands, his eyes widened and his mouth opened, but no sound came out of it. He only returned to his normal state after I retrieved my hand.

"Oh, dear! It is you, Miss Diggory.", he whispered, but both Rolf and I can still hear him enough.

"Yes, it's me. Is there a problem with it?", I asked.

"Of course not! I'm so sorry for not recognizing you at first. Lady Helga Hufflepuff has always been kind to us.". His accent seemed funny when he said long sentences, but it was more than fascinating for me.

"Will you be able to bring me to the Hufflepuff's Vault?"

"Would you like me to bring you? Don't you want a higher portion Goblin to do it for you, Lady Hufflepuff?" he asked, surprised by my simple question. I guess I'm getting it now. Reading the History of Magic, I discovered that goblins adore ancient vaults, and they especially adore Helga Hufflepuff because, whereas other witches and wizards treat them as lowly creatures or clients, Helga Hufflepuff treats them as friends, equals. Bringing an heir or heiress to her vault must have been an honor back then.

"Of course, but only if you want to do it?"

"How can I say no to such an offer?" "Let me take you to your vault, Lady," he said as he led us to one of the magical carts. While walking there, I tried to tell him that he shouldn't call me Lady because I'm not, but he refused. Finally, I just ignore it, and Rolf keeps snickering behind me, so I pinch his waist, causing him to smack my back.

"Will your friend be joining us, Lady?", he asked me as Rolf getting in the cart.

"Yes, he will please.", I told him.

"Please don't say please with me. I can't take it. It's my pleasure.".

"I'm sorry."

"No, please don't say sorry. You're giving me too much pleasures, Lady."

"Oh!"

The cart starts to move, and while it's moving the the passage, Rolf asked the goblin questions and he answered very kindly.

"Can you tell me about the passageways please?"

"Of course sir."

"The vaults extended for miles under the city and were accessible through rough stone, complex and interconnected passageways by means of magic carts that were operated by goblins it seems. Dragons and other mysterious beasts lurked in the depths as additional security devices, too.", he answered.

The magic cart continue moving on and on through different vaults and did not once slow down, then it starts to slowing down and stopped at the end of the passageway. The goblin motioned Rolf and I forward. Standing in front of me is a giant 2 way doors that was guarded by two guard statues. Based on what the goblin told me, the guards will come to life and kill the person that can't access to the Vault because that person is the intruder. "This type of ancient guards are only applied for really ancient vaults, and in total, we only have 4, which are all the Hogwarts' Founders' Vaults.". The difference it seems as the goblin stated, "Lady Helga Hufflepuff is the only person who receive two ancient guards and a lot of traps as safety obstacles.".

"How do I get in..?". Suddenly I feel like I'm the worst person in the whole world because throughout half of the time the goblin spent with us, I never once asked his name.

"Mordak, my Lady.", he said as if he's reading my mind.

"I'm so, so, so sorry Mordak. I didn't mean to be rude. Can you please forgive me?", I pleaded.

His pupils dilated and he begin to waving his hands in the air constantly, "Please don't. It's nothing, Lady."

"Really?"

"Yes, Lady."

"You're so kind, Mordak.", I told him and give him a hug. I could feel his whole body tensed and he stood there just like a stature. "Are you okay?", I asked.

"He seems stunned.", Rolf added.

"Thank you. Thank you so much, Lady.", Mordak said and I can see that he's blushing so hard right now and it's so adorable.

"Please call me Colette."

"Yes, Lady Colette,"

"Oh, never mind. Can you tell me how I can get into the vault because I didn't received any kind of key at all.", I told him.

He motioned me over to a rectangle tablet that located on the right of the door. In the middle of that clay tablet was a hollow hand form.

"You will have to put your hand into the hand's shape. The magic of the Vault will recognize the chosen heiress's magic and accept your entry."

I move forward and place my hand inside the hand's shape. My hand was smaller than the shape, but the shape begin to move and adjust so that it cover my hand completely. Then, a weird sensation come to me, making me feel weird. The process takes about half a minute and then the clay starts to shrink and release my hand. I retrieve my hand back and step back next to Rolf.

After that, the two statures turn and face each other, and then they both bow down to us. Follow by that, the giant two-ways door creak open slowly. Coming out from the door is a warm, yellow light of torches and yellow magic surrounding the vault.

"You can enter my Lady, I will be waiting here. However, if your friend would like to accompany you inside, he must holds your hand the entire time because if not he would be considered as intruders and there will traps underneath the floor waiting for him.", Mordak said and step back next to the right statue, displaying his waiting form.

I held out my hand and Rolf's put his hand on it. We started entering holding hands (don't think bad).

"Marvelous!", Rolf exclaimed.

"I agree, This is… BRILLIANT!", I answered.

The vault is extremely deep and hollow. The Hufflepuff Vault is vast, but the torches and yellow traces of magic make it appear cozy and warm. I believe that because Helga Hufflepuff's magical color is yellow, there are traces of that color everywhere. I'm not complaining because it looks fantastic. Words and sentences of welcome and comfort can be found all over the walls. There's even a line that says, "Take as much as you want, you are my child."

Everything is unbelievable, and that's not yet counted the amount of gold, diamonds, and money in this vault. The Vault was crammed from floor to ceiling with golden coins and goblets. Everywhere inside the Vault is shiny not only because of the color of Helga Hufflepuff's magic but also because of those golds. There are even thousands and millions of luxurious, expensive, and shiny pieces of jewelry. Not only that, there are even 10 bookshelves and 10 cupboards.

"Let's check out the books", Rolf said and we both walked to the bookshelves. All books were stacked very neatly and carefully. Rolf took down one of the books on the first shelf and I try one on the third shelf.

"Mine is "Guide to study Gobbledegook".", Rolff said scanning through the book's title and summary.

"Mine is "Healing Spells: Intermediate's Level."

"Can I borrow this?", he asked turning to me, and I tell him "Of course. You can take that and I can take this. I have always wanted this book since I finished reading Healing Spells: Beginner's Level book that I borrowed from grandpa Newt's book stacks.".

"Great! We can bring these two books home and learn it together whenever we're alone."

"Sound marvelous!".

"Let's check out the cupboards now". We moved towards the large and long wall of wooden cupboards. We open one of them.

"They are cloaks.", I said and I take one of them out. Rolf takes the other in his hand. "These cloaks were made of expensive cloths and materials I bet."

"They are. Wait!", Rolf stopped me while I was trying to put one arm wrapped inside the cloak." It's an Invisibility Cloak! Look at your arm!". Now that I look down, my eyes widen as I realize that my arm just disappeared. "This one is also an Invisibility Cloak.", Rolf said testing out on his arm, and it is true. There are two Invisibility Cloaks in this cupboard.

"How awesome is this ?!"

"Magnificent!. I could never expect this. I know that this is an ancient vault, but these? Unbelievable!", Rolf exclaimed full of surprise and amusement.

"I know, right?! We can take each other because I bet they will be very useful at Hogwarts.", I told Rolf.

"I don't think so, Letty. You have shared so much with me already. This?", he said holding the Invisibility Cloak in his hand up high. "This I can't accept.".

I rolled my eyes at Rolf and smiled. "Rolf, come on. It's not like I take your clothes and never return them. Also, keep in mind when you give me your precious Mandy, the magical plant with only three seeds left in the entire world. That. That is excessive, but you forced me to accept."

"But…"

"Do you even think of me as your sister or not?"

"Of course I do. I even promised Cedric."

"Then take it."

"It's just too much. Invisibility Cloaks are super expensive, and especially ones that belong to Helga Hufflepuff. These are precious. Look at these.", he said pointing at the shape of a badger and a signature of Helga Hufflepuff. "These clearly show that this cloak is not normal at all. I can't accept this."

"Now, don't make me do a magic oath. Okay, I will do one anyway,", and before Rolf could stop me, I did it. "I, Colette Celine Diggory, swear on my life, my family, my magic that everything I own is also Rolf Lysander Scamander's. We will forever and ever bond as sister and brother.".

"Letty!", Rolf exclaimed looking furious and stressed, but I know that he was happy with his life right now. I know he loves me, anyway.

"I did it! Can't stop me anymore. You can take the cloak and everything that you want in this vault because they are also yours now.", I tell him while squeezing his hand.

"Did I ever tell you how much I love you Letty?", Rolf said.

"Always. I know you always love me, and you don't need to say it.", I tell him.

"You always have to ruin the moment, Letty!", and he slapped my arm.

"What? I didn't do anything, like at all.", I smiled.

"You did! Admit it."

"No."

We eventually stopped moving around and inspecting because time was ticking away and we needed to get going. I take approximately 200 galleons for private money, 100 galleons for myself, and 100 galleons for Rolf. He tried to stop me at first, but after I told him again that this money is his as well as mine, he had to let me put all the galleons into Rolf's magical backpack that he carries with him. I also included the two books that we "borrowed" from the shelves, as well as the two Invisibility Cloaks, which I'm sure will come in handy when we arrive at Hogwarts.

When everything was finished, we exited the Vault and were greeted by Mordak once more. While returning, I asked him if it was okay if I asked him to send me a letter later about how many fortunes I had in total in the Hufflepuff's Vault, and he was overjoyed. He assured me that he would do so and later sent me a letter. I asked him to be my goblin as well, which means I'll only contact him when I need to enter my Vault to withdraw something. I warned him that it would be a difficult task, but he said it would be his pleasure to be my goblin. He said that he will be reported back to his superior about my request and my Ladyship and I told him to just do his work because it is all fine. We ended our conversation after I told him to keep my secret for me, then Rolf and I ran back to where my mom was waiting for us.

Later on, when we make it back to Diagon Alley…

Rolf and I and my mom began to walk through the crowd of robed witches and wizards, dressed in so many hues of color that I swore they plucked the colors straight from a rainbow. As I was walking, mom bringing us to Flourish and Blotts Bookseller, a bookshop in North Side, Diagon Alley, about halfway down the street on the left hand side. Just before I step inside, a shadow run by and bump into my shoulder, and that person lose his or her balance. I reach out my hands and with my Quidditch flexed, I quickly catch the falling form of a red-head (such coincidence, or maybe not…)

"Are you okay?", I asked. When that person looks up, a beautiful and familiar face shown right in front of me. A girl, with flaming red hair, freckled complexion, and a pair of bright brown eyes with tears swelling in it. How can I ever forget this face, the face of the girl who has always haunted my dreams and memories. The little red-head near my house, Ginny Weasley.