Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter. All rights to the characters and universe the story belongs in belong to JK Rowling

Reviews welcome. Any advice to help me improve would be brilliant. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 23 - Warmonger

Working out which way to go was easy despite the lack of light. There was a faint booming noise coming from the din which Harry was heading towards. He moved cautiously keeping a hand on the tunnel wall. Surprisingly it was smooth and well kept, even the smell of the place was essentially clean. Obvious really, reasoned Harry, that the goblins would look after their own treasures best.

He hadn't been walking long when the booming started to become noticeably louder, the tunnel he was following split off into two directions, one of which had a slight flicker of light coming from it. Wishing he had brought his invisibility cloak, Harry crouched down before approaching slowly.

The path wound to the right and Harry could just about make figures down the other end of the corridor. They were facing a large, gold vault door, which had goblin runes carved around the side and a tapestry depicting the creation of some great sword with a ruby in the pommel. The surprising feature of this story was the end, where a smiling goblin presented the sword to a wizard with a rather large beard. There was something about the man Harry couldn't put his finger on.

As he crept closer, he could hear voices amongst the booming which was coming from a series of spells ricocheting off the door. Idiot. Thought Harry looking at the silhouette of the man firing the curses. No curse will break down that door.

He stopped just so he could hear what the people were saying.

'Tell me how to open the vault goblin.' Demanded a silky-smooth voice of a politician. 'I can make it worth your while.'

'You'll get nothing from goblins but bloodshed.' Spat a rather small goblin, even for their kin, from the floor.

'Good, war is exactly what I want.' He towered over the poor creature. 'You have done well to resist the imperious curse so far but you will crack soon. Crucio!'

The goblin screamed in agony as he writhed on the floor. Using the noise, Harry stalked forward to make sure he hit his mark. He was just ready to fire when something cold hit the back of his neck and he heard the unmistakable click of a safety catch.

'Don't move Potter.' Said a voice evenly. 'Not even you're that quick.'

In front of him Harry saw the two wizards look towards where the new voice had come from. Even in the dark, Harry could see a wicked smile on the features of Minister Greengrass.

'Drop the wand.' Ordered the man with the gun, which Harry did, allowing it to roll away.

'If you're going to kill me, get on with it.' grunted Harry through clenched teeth.

'Now where would be the fun in that ay?' Mocked the voice.

You'd live long enough to see it. Thought Harry silently as he watched the approaching Greengrass come nearer.

'If it isn't the great Harry Potter.' Announced the Minister to no one. 'You know I'm disappointed you haven't given me more problems.' As he spoke Greengrass waved his wand, from which ropes sprang out tying Harry's wrists together in front of him. 'Bring him forward.'

Roughly the man behind Harry, threw him forward so he stumbled before regaining his feet, then gave him another hefty nudge in the back to force Harry to move closer to the door.

'Ready for the end Potter?' Sneered Draco Malfoy.

'Anything so I don't have to listen to you banging spells against that door.' Muttered Harry.

'What did you say?' Raged Malfoy, trying to square up to Harry, who stepped back banging into the man behind him roughly, before Greengrass laid a calming hand on Malfoy's shoulder.

'Easy Draco. There will be time for that when your father joins us.'

'When is he due?' Asked Malfoy.

Good, news of the manor hasn't spread.

'Soon.' Soothed Greengrass. 'He's probably got caught up in the commotion outside. Now then Goblin…'

'What exactly am I here for?' Asked Harry bluntly. He noticed the man wielding the gun had given him more room. A small mistake.

'To witness our new world. When we get into that vault, and we will, the wealth of the goblin race will be at our disposal. All it needs is a little blood.'

'And by little you mean all of mine.' Theorised Harry.

'Well, anyone's really, but seeing as you're here yes, I think you will do.' Said Greengrass distractedly as the sound of running feet approached. Three out of breath, hooded, figures came running out of the darkness. 'What's wrong?' Demanded Greengrass.

All eyes turned to the newcomers.

'The order of the phoenix is outside and the Aurors have started taking control of the ministry.'

'Damn.' Swore Greengrass. 'How? Where was Lucius?'

'We, we sent a man to get him.' Said the hooded figure hesitantly. 'He was found dead and the prisoners escaped.'

'WHAT!?' Bellowed Malfoy. 'WHO!?'

'Me.' Confirmed Harry simply as he slammed his foot into the goblin lantern, plunging all of them into darkness. Being the only one to know darkness was coming, Harry had a slight advantage which he attempted to capitalise on.

He moved to the side and forward as a barrage of spells collided where he was stood. He unsheathed a knife from his belt when he caught the swish of a blade, he just moved his head enough for the weapon to only glance his cheek. Taking an educated guess at where his quarry was he lashed out catching the man hard in the ribs.

He heard the gasp of pain and buried his own knife in the man's heart.

Hearing the body fall to the floor, Malfoy screamed and ran down the tunnel, from the sound of their footsteps, the others followed.

Except one. Harry heard the slight slap as a hand hit the wall. He launched his knife to hear the satisfying thunk as it found its mark. When he didn't hear the body fall to the floor, Harry sprang into action. He charged, at the stumbling footsteps, body checking the wounded man and throwing him against the wall. His head making a sickening sound against the smooth stone.

Not concerned with time, Harry roughly grabbed the mans shoulders and wordlessly sought his mind. Not being able to make eye contact made legilimency difficult, but not impossible, especially when the target was in so much pain.

Harry brushed aside the confused images in front of him and delved deeper. It didn't take long for him to find what he was looking for.

A meeting room with Minister Greengrass at the forefront, came before his eyes, other noticeable attendees were the two Malfoys and Bernd Beaumont.

'We are ready for the next stage. We will have war or control, and war will bring control anyway.' Said Greengrass. 'We have found our way into the Muggle government and it is almost ready to fall.'

'Why do we need to weaken those peasants.' Spat Draco Malfoy. 'We could just destroy them with magic.'

'Hush Draco.' Snapped Lucius Malfoy from beside him. 'Have you learnt nothing of subtlety.'

'You're father is right Draco. We want to rule the muggle world but we still don't want them to know what we are. The Statute of Secrecy does have its advantages.'

'But the muggles would fear us!'

'Yes and that would bring its own problems.' Finished Greengrass before moving the conversation on. 'Where are we with the Goblins?' He asked a man to his right.

'I can't find one to cooperate, we'll have to take Gringotts by force.'

Greengrass grinned. 'Then war it is, the best of all this is we can blame it on Potter.'

'How the mighty have fallen eh.' Jeered Lucius.

'Indeed, the country has turned on it's great protector. I wonder if he'll show up again.' There was a knock on the door. 'Enter.'

A scrawny, hunchback man scrurried into the room. 'We've got Potter sir. He's been captured and is on his way to Azkaban.'

Greengrass smiled vindictively. 'Excellent.'

Withdrawing from the man's mind he located the knife which had buried itself in the crook of his enemy's elbow. Harry slit his throat with a single stroke.

'Accio wand.' Said Harry with his hand outstretched ready to catch the wand as it soared towards him.

'What will you do.' Wheezed the goblin from the floor.

'I'll kill him. Let's just hope it's enough to stop war between our people.'

'Your name carries weight with all magical beings Mr Potter. Remember that.'

Harry snorted. 'How can I forget. Stay here.' He ordered as he moved towards the track.

As he approached the platform Harry couldn't help smirk at the sounds of confusion that awaited him.

'We should have brought the goblin.' Fretted Malfoy.

'There was no time.' Snapped Greengrass. 'Now get this thing moving.'

'We're trying sir.' A new voice, one of the men that had come down from the surface.

'How did you get here?' Demanded the minister.

'We jumped. Used magic.'

'Shit.' Swore Malfoy. 'Come on we'll have to levitate ourselves up.'

Harry's chuckle reverberated in the darkness. 'Magic won't save you now Malfoy.' Four faces, two pale and two masked turned to face him wands at the ready although shaking. 'It wasn't a bad plan Minister, but you should have had me killed in Azkaban.'

'A mistake I will s-soon r-rectify.' Stuttered the Minister.

'Are you sure. You don't sound confident.'

'Show yourself Potter!' Shouted Malfoy. 'Avada Kedavra!'

The green light shot down the tunnel briefly illuminating the passage. There was no one there.

'You'll have to do better Malfoy.' Echoed a voice from behind them, causing them all to turn around.

'Fuck this.' Muttered a masked man. He twirled his wand in a loop around his head, conjuring a great wreath of fire that separated and turned into a Phoenix, wyvern and snake. They struck out before becoming engulfed in darkness.

'You think killing me will end well for you Potter? After all you've done, the wizengamot will have your soul!'

'But I have done nothing.' Hissed Harry's voice.

'But, but they don't know that.'

'Then you would strike a deal?'

'Y-yes. L-let us leave here and I'll…'

'You'll what?' Mocked Harry. 'Do you really think you're in control?' A ring of fire surrounded the four men and a shape formed from the shadow. They all took a step closer together as they watched the figure appear. 'I won't let you start a war.'

'It's already started.' Claimed Greengrass, with a slight smile. 'Incarcerous!'

As he conjured ropes three other voices screamed 'Avada Kedavra!'

Thinking quickly Harry used the fire he had already summoned to surround him in a vortex causing the ropes to burn and the killing curses to miss their mark. Retaliating, he pushed the fire out like a wave towards all four of them.

They just raised their wands in time to allow the fire past them harmlessly. Continuing his assault, Harry slashed hard aiming for the man who had brought the Minister news from Malfoy manor. The masked man couldn't react quick enough to the cutting curse that slit his throat.

With a face of fury Malfoy pointed his wand at the ground before Harry's feet. 'Confringo!'

Harry dived to his left as the ground he had been standing on exploded, landing heavily on his side. He rolled to just avoid a beam of purple light sent towards him by Greengrass and retaliated with a killing curse of his own which missed its target, only to find the face of the second masked man.

'Crucio!' Shouted Malfoy.

'Protego!' Harry's shield just deflected the spell in time but was shattered by the red jet of light that followed. The stunning spell barrelled into his shoulder knocking him off his feet.

Lulled by their success Malfoy brandished his wand before him. 'Avad…' He started to say before his wand went spiralling from his hand. He just had time to register the consequences when a flash of green light barrelled into his chest.

Armed with two wands now, Harry expertly walked down the Minister with a barrage of spells that Greengrass did well to repel as he backed away. Concentrating on defence, Greengrass failed to take in his surroundings and was sent sprawling to the floor as his leg caught the abdomen of one of his fallen men.

After a flash of red light the man screamed clutching what was now the stump of his right wrist. He struggled in agony, whilst trying to clamber as far away from Harry as possible.

'Potter. Please, you must see reason. We have a right to rule.' He urged, breathing heavily.

'No we don't Greengrass. We're just human.'

'We're better than them!'

'Why? Because we can do magic?' Spat Harry.

'Of course.' Nodded Greengrass. 'We make up their myths and legends. We will be who they worship. They want and need to be ruled.'

'Maybe we are myths.' Admitted Harry. 'But you're missing something.'

'What?' Snapped Greengrass, stopping his retreat as his back hit the wall.

'They don't need us to rule them. Avada Kedavra.' Greengrass's head lolled to the side, unsupported as his body slumped further to the ground.

Breathing hard, Harry grabbed the body and chucked it into the cart unceremoniously. 'Are you coming?' He asked as if to no one.

'Yes.' Wheezed the limping form of a goblin as he stepped from the tunnel. 'You killed him.'

'Yes.'

'Why would you kill your own kind to save the lives of others?' Asked the goblin, as he climbed onto the cart.

'A war would have cost thousands of lives. None of them would have been lost for the right reasons.'

'Well then maybe there wouldn't have been a war if no one agreed with him.'

Harry spat out a laugh. 'You're naïve to think that. Your kin would have rebelled if Greengrass had got that treasure unchecked.'

'We might rebel anyway.' Was the creatures warning, said with a cruel smile upon his lips.

'Then Greengrass will get his war.' Conceded Harry leaning back in his seat as the cart lurched forward from the goblins touch.

'You don't seem concerned.'

Harry shrugged. 'I can't do anymore. Time for the politicians to finish it.'

The goblins head turned to face him slightly. 'And you trust them to do it?'

'The worlds changed from ten years ago. I can see it. We won't make the mistake of letting anyone with sympathies towards Greengrass stay in power like we did with Voldemort's followers.'

'You sound like you're sticking around.'

'I am Griphook. I am.'

'Ah so you do remember me.' Said Griphook turning fully to face the wizard.

'Of course. So will you help me?'

Griphook nodded. 'I'll do my best. I'll tell the goblins of your work today.'

'Thanks.' Said Harry as the cart pulled to a stop. With a click of his fingers Harry levitated the body of Minister Greengrass out of the cart before himself and his companion followed. They made their way through the rubble and debris in the main hall.

As they reached the doors, they heard a series of angry voices. The loudest being one Harry recognised.

'Move out of our way witch.' Snarled an unfriendly voice. 'None of the treasure of Gringotts best be missing.'

'I can't let you in. it's not safe.' Said Tonks.

'I'll decide what's safe. Now step aside before there is more bloodshed.' Threatened the goblin.

'Enough.' Called Harry, stepping outside for the first time. All eyes turned to him as he stepped into the light beside his sister. 'Please, I have found the culprit to the recent disappearances, and I believe we can avert the war they wanted to start. All I request is that of all the required authorities are here before we begin.'

'What? Are you going to bring your snake tongued minister down here with his silky words to sooth us? We don't trust him. We won't allow this to go unpunished.'

'We know Grablak.' Said Griphook, stepping out for the first time. "Minister Greengrass was untrustworthy. Luckily, he played too close with fire.

'What do you mean?' Asked Grablak.

Without word Harry levitated the body of the former Minister before the goblin.

'I see.' Said Grablak with intrigue.