"I'll see you in an hour or so!" Harry called from the door. He closed it before Sirius could throw in a lewd reply involving precautions against accidental conception. When Harry had said he had wanted to arrange limited access to his vault for Mia and Cressida, Sirius had been more than willing to point out such arrangements were also common for other kinds of arrangements. Harry just wanted to be able to pay for his own things instead of relying on the generosity of the Witenagemot.
Instead of a limousine waiting for them Harry called for the Knight bus. A few sickles and a couple of bumps later the trio stumbled into the Leaky Cauldron. Thankfully it was early and Tom the barkeep was too busy with the few customers he had to point him out. Harry tapped the right sequence on the wall and the trio entered the magical Alley.
His first stop would be Gringotts to replenish his gold and sort out the vaults. He then had plenty of time to look into primers for runes and arithmancy. Partially because Hermione had shown him a few handy uses for them and to help him understand several of the spells in the book Dumbledore had given him. Harry was also planning to keep an eye out for a gift for Hermione that wasn't a book.
As Harry approached Gringotts he noticed that goblin's guarding the door seemed to give him a strange look. Passing it off as his imagination he instead focused on not showing his exasperation as an entire line cleared up to let him go first. No-one even said something out loud, it was just the crowd responding to the actions of others within it. A whispered word and a pointed finger at most as people informed their fellows of Harry's presence.
Holding back a sigh as a loud declaration he was quite willing to queue up like everyone else Harry stepped towards the cleared desk. He passed off the goblin's tenseness due to his status as Campione. "Good morning." he said, his tone friendly as he placed his key to his vault on his desk. "I would like to make a withdrawal."
The goblin picked up the key and grimaced. "I am afraid there is a problem with this vault key sir. Please follow me to talk to the manager of that vault layer." he replied softly that the crowd could not overhear it. Harry frowned slightly at the change of routine but acceded. "Lead the way."
With Cressida and Mia trailing behind him Harry followed the goblin into the bowels of the bank. Richly decorated hallways followed after another. Harry started to suspect they were taking a libertine route for some reason and the goblin's he saw along the path steadily got more heavily equipped.
He glanced over his shoulder and saw the subtle signs that both Mia and Cressida picked up on the strangeness as well. Still he said nothing as he allowed himself to be led deeper into the bank. He made no comment as the goblins passing him by started to show up in full and heavy armour instead of their usual business suits.
He was led towards an impressive door and showed in where an ugly goblin who looked like he had a meeting with a warhammer to his face one to many. "I am the manager of the vault layer your former vault was on. You can call me Blackshield." The goblin said curtly as he gestured for Harry and his cohorts to sit down. Harry held his questions back with some difficulty.
"I am Harry Potter." he replied and nodded towards Mia and Cressida as he introduced them. "Did something happen to my vault?" "It is no longer your vault mister Potter." the goblin corrected primly. "On the 24th of November 1994 the vault was confiscated. As no challenge was made by the ministry within 168 hours the contents of this vault and that of the Potter vault now belongs to the Goblin Nation."
Harry bit his tongue to demand what the Potter vault was or contained. Instead he focused on the reason. "And why were the contents confiscated?" he asked. Despite his best attempts it was clear for all to see he was unhappy. "You died, mister Potter. And there was no will left for the inheritance. By the laws agreed upon with the ministry after the challenge period had expired it then the contents belongs to the Goblin Nation."
"In case you missed it, manager Blackshield. Harry Potter is both alive and healthy." Cressida challenged in the hope that Harry would not start an incident between the Goblin Nation and the wand waving section of the magical world. She had the sinking feeling the goblins did know this and were looking to provoke Harry.
"That does not matter. The ministry should then have successfully challenged the notification with the reason that you were alive." The goblin said in a matter of fact tone with a hint of 'don't you idiots know this?'. "Since I became a Campione and the interest such individuals gather I am sure the Goblin Nation would be aware of this without informing the ministry." Harry nearly snarled.
"That does not matter." the goblin repeated and Harry twitched as if he wanted to get his around the goblin's throat and start squeezing. "Is there anything else? I am only not charging you for my time out of courtesy." he added insultingly. Harry stiffened and closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Mia and Cressida exchanged glances that they both expected Harry to lose his temper and cut the goblin in half. They turned their attention back on the goblin just to see a flicker of disappointment. "What does matter is that you brought goblin property inside the bank." the goblin said in the same insulting tone with a greedy glance to the sword Mia was holding. "If you return it now we will not fine you too severely."
"That does not matter. It is the sword of Godric Gryffindor rightfully bought in ownership from Ragnuk the First." Harry rebutted with a nasty grin. He had paid attention to that when Binns started to talk about the weapon in his third year. "That is a lie. Godric Gryffindor stole the sword from the forges of Ragnuk the First." the goblin replied. "Oh yes. A goblin leader walking around with a sword that bears the name of another." Harry mocked venting some of his frustration through his words while at the same time getting a better grip on the part of him that demanded he showed the goblin what a Campione really was.
The goblin made the protest but cut himself off. "I will be adding this time to the fine and insult fee you will pay." Harry snorted. "Do as you wish. I will be heading to the ministry now and if they cannot solve it. Tomorrow's morning edition will tell the world what bunch of thieving gits you really are. I wonder how much gold will be left in all the vaults in the afternoon."
Without giving the goblin a chance to reply Harry rose roughly and threw the chair over. He stomped out of the room with no further comment and Cressida and Mia hurried to catch up. There was a group of goblins heavily armed and armored goblins waiting outside. The warriors exchanged nervous glances but did nothing as Harry strode past from where he had come from.
He didn't get far as Blackshield ran after him. "You are forbidden from wandering the hallowed halls unescorted." the goblin shouted. "Then escort me Blackshield." Harry spat and made a rough gesture that made it clear he did not want to wait for a flunky to be called up to do it for him.
The goblin frowned before making a convincing snarl that had an alarm bell ringing in Harry's head. There was maliciousness in it yes but it felt like it was the wrong kind to him. The goblin stepped away and talked to one of the guards who had followed him. The goblin nodded and took off in a sprint.
"Follow me." Blackshield grunted and he took the lead without looking back. The first few turns were as Harry remembered but he was certain he was led in another direction soon. The other goblin guards stayed far closer and after a while Harry realised he hadn't noticed any opposite traffic.
Without warning he suddenly stopped and the warrior goblins nearly ran into his legs. "We are not heading towards the surface." Harry said the moment Blackshield turned around. The growling words Blackshield was forming gave away to surprise and then fear. "Get him!" the goblin shouted.
Harry reacted instantly and drew the sword of Gryffindor from Mia's hip. The blade clashed against the hallbard scything for his neck. With superior leverage Harry deflected the weapon away from himself and his companions. The silver sword danced through the air cutting the wooden haft next. The blade then keened some goblin blood as narrow cuts were made through the armor the goblin warriors wore as Harry forced the other guards away.
"Rush him, RUSH HIM." Blackshield demanded as he ran ahead. Harry nearly froze in surprise as the goblins leveled their halberds at him and charged, but his instincts roared and a plan formed to counter the attack. Cressida however had her hands on her Grimoire and a sudden wave of water stopped the charge cold. "Let's go!" Harry shouted as he started the sprint away from the group of wet and angry goblin guards.
Further ahead he saw Blackshield lunge for a lever and it took Harry a moment to realise it was a dead end hallway. Blackshield threw down the lever bodily and there was a mechanical rattle echoing through the hallway.
"Oh bugger." Harry said as the ground cracked open and gave away revealing the dark abyss below. It was sudden enough that none of the warriors managed to prepare something to leap away. 'Are they trying to kill users of magic with a steep fall?' Harry thought incredulously for a moment as he judged that wherever he was going. It was fairly deep.
"Noble white steed born from a monster's blood. Thunder forth and bless the earth with spring again. Carry a hero aloft once more to victory!" he chanted and as if sensing his urgency Victoria appeared in a single burst of silver blood. She immediately dived and caught Harry on her back without her wings hitting his two companions.
Sensing his desires she slowed her descent slightly and Harry reached out. Plucking Mia out of the air first and Cressida altered the position of her body slightly so that she drifted close enough to grasp Victoria's back on her own. The magic surrounding the steed aided her in getting on her back without help.
"Why aren't we going back up?" Mia asked calmly as Victoria resumed her dive. "The goblins aren't stupid enough to think this will kill me. So I am going to deal with whatever champion they have they think can defeat me. If it is a dead end Victoria can just turn around and fly back up.
"But what if they throw things down at us?" Cressida objected. "Then I am going to throw back magic at them!" Harry barked as he saw firelight at the end of the vertical tunnel. "There is something down below." he relayed. He didn't bother looking behind him to know Cressida didn't approve of his 'charge in and damn the magic bolts'.
He couldn't bring himself to care however as the blasted goblins have been prodding his temper since he entered the bank. He acknowledged that was probably the plan but Harry saw for once a reason to indulge the part of him that told him to make it clear who was in charge. He wanted to know what his parents had left him and he wasn't going to let a group of nasty bankers stop him from getting it.
Victoria picked up more speed and entered the massive cavern like a lightning bolt. With two sweeps of her brilliant white wings she sent the goblins flying. Their heavy armour and weapons offered no protection against the sudden windstorm picking them up and throwing them around.
Harry ignored the goblins bouncing around. His eyes were glued to the massive ritual circle that held fifteen goblins in the center and twenty more interspersed between the riches of the earth. "Come forth Ugruk of the boundless riches! Your servants plead for your appearance!" a goblin in gold plated armour chanted on top of a pew that stood just outside the edge of the circle.
The circle lit up at the chant and the sacrifices screamed in pain as their bodies and souls were burned up to bring down a heretic god. "They actually descended a heretic god to fight me?" Harry whispered in disbelief as he watched the riches disappear as well. Rare metals, gems and weapons all disappeared to lure the being down to earth. The lessons Cressida had hammered in his head rushing to the fore as he figured out what was happening.
One moment the center of the ritual circle was empty and the next a goblin stood. It was slightly smaller than its fellows and was clad in a fine half-plate armor. Compared to the over decorated summoner the goblin looked like just another one of the many guards.
Harry's senses however were telling him a far different story. "Victoria. Keep moving and stay safe. Cressida, Mia. Keep the goblins off my back!" he commanded. Before any of the females could protest Harry leapt off Victoria's back as she slowed to turn. "Chosen blade of the hero reveal yourself in grand splendor. Cut all those who oppose your wielder. Stand fast against both claws and teeth!"
His chant complete he felt his divine power flow into the sword of Gryffindor. The summoned goblin's head immediately snapped towards him and with a negligent swing of its own axe it cleaved the golden clad goblin in half. "Foolish mortals think they can command me." the goblin growled in accented English. "I fight this human because he is a Campione. The rest of you little fools best prepare a reception fit for an Emperor lest I take my ire out on you and your families."
The goblin turned fully towards Harry and ignored the clash of magic exploding to their left. He pointed his axe head towards Harry. "I am Ugruk of the boundless riches. All that is below the earth is my domain." "Harry Potter." Harry replied as answered the unspoken question. The boast reminded him of a similar one a certain greek god had made according to the historical accounts Cressida had access to. "And I believe Hades of the Greek Pantheon might disagree with that."
The goblin snorted, a sound deeper than Harry had expected from the short stature. "If some weakling from a human's imagination wants to object he can talk to my axe." Ugruk took the axe in a double handed ready stance, the edge hanging slightly over his shoulder ready to either chop wood or people. "Try to give me a good fight, Campione."
The earth cracked and Ugruk rocketed towards Harry with pure divine muscle strength. Harry however had been a seeker and his reflexes were up to the task. He stepped to the side and slightly ducked under the swing. His sword rose to meet the flying goblin like a batter.
The impact nearly jarred the sword of Gryffindor out of Harry's hand and less than half a second later a thunderous impact announced Ugruk's reminder that physics is a harsh mistress. Harry glanced to the silver edge of his sword and found it clean of blood. He returned his attention to the dust cloud that marked Ugruk's impact point.
Up in the sky Cressida was frantically going through the few books she had on her. "Nothing. I have nothing on any goblin kings, gods or legends." "Then focus your attention on the goblins. They are rallying despite their heretic god killing their leader!" Mia barked as she aimed one of the few ranged attacks she had towards the goblin making the most noise.
"We need to talk Harry into enlisting the services of a seer or hime-miko." Cressida groused as she prepared her grimoire. "We didn't get a hint of warning of this fight." "Fight now, complain later!" Mia barked as she braced herself. She had taken down the goblin and Victoria was wheeling in for a charge into the disorganized group.
The harsh laughter coming from the dust cloud announced the living presence of Ugruk who stepped out of it like nothing had happened. "You avoided and managed to strike a counter attack. It seems like the Campione kind hasn't grown weak over the ages." he pointed his axe at Harry again. "You human, no Harry, are worthy of some of my time."
Harry's reply came in the form of taking his stance and preparing for the goblin's next charge. "Born from the rock, the backbone of the earth, raised by cold stone I am. In vengeance I have claimed control over all rock to unearth the riches within, destroy the foundations of creation and to bury my foes!" the goblin chanted as he slowly approached Harry.
His instincts roared and Harry leaped to the side just in time to avoid being impaled. He then had to backpedal as fast as he could to stay out of the keening edge of Ugruk's axe. Harry's footing constantly shifted making it hard for him to deflect or block Ugruk's attacks without being thrown to the ground.
'He isn't trying to impale me again. So large manipulations take more time.' Harry theorized as he managed to send one blow far wider than Ugruk intended and in a swift twist of the wrist seized the momentum of the battle as now the goblin was on the defensive under Harry's flurry of blows.
The goblin just grinned as his gauntlets and plated haft were up to the task of preventing any real damage from being inflicted and Harry only left a score of scratches before a sudden slope under Harry's feet sent the Campione stumbling back. The heretic god tried to exploit the opening with another jumping charge but Harry dropped on his back and Ugruk sailed harmlessly over him and slammed into another cave wall.
Harry was forced to form a quick shield as his position was pelted by arrows. The goblin god roared something in gobbledygook and the rain faltered. A moment later the rocks shifted crushing or impaling the goblins warriors who attacked him. The young Campione warily rose to his feet, sword and wand in hand.
"Oh. Do you think you can harm me with your magic wizard?" Ugruk asked amused as the dust cloud he had kicked up settled down. Harry made note of the deep imprint of the goblin in the wall and briefly wondered where the trickle of water was coming from. "Well I am a wizard." Harry replied as his mind ran circles in trying to figure out how he was going to survive the fight.
"Very true! Well then…" the goblin agreed and the earth started to shape into a man-sized javelin. Harry did not need a hint with what the goblin was going to do with it. "Eurus interauilonem ettelum imperator!" he intoned with the right gesture and just as the goblin launched his rock spear.
The spear of rock and wind met and annihilated the other. Another large dust cloud obscured the view of the enemy but Harry sidestepped just in case. A moment Ugruk came soaring past and Harry was nearly cut on his own sword in order to block the flailing axe striking his defence.
In a shower of sparks the attack went by and Ugruk struck the opposite wall. Harry turned around with his wand aimed at the pile of rubble. He cast another wind lance into the dust cloud only for Ugruk's axe to lash out and disrupt the violent tide of winds before it could strike him.
"A weapon forged over two decades by the masters of that time. Made to cleave all who opposed the goblin rule in twine, come forth Gragral!" A large double headed war-axe was birthed by the rock on the ceiling and it landed edge first into the ground in front of Ugruk. The goblin inspected the weapon for a moment and then almost reverently took grip of the black wooden shaft.
He pulled the weapon out of the ground and pointed it towards Harry. Its subdued steel colouring barely glinting the torchlights lighting up the cavern. In a blur of motion Harry nearly found Ugruk's previous weapon embedded into him. Once again his seeker reflexes kicked in and he only received a nick on his arm from the axe doing a buzzsaw impression.
It slammed into the area where Ugruk had made a deep impression earlier in but Harry had no time to gawk at the damage the goblin seemed to be doing with pure muscle strength alone. He avoided the first swipe which gave him just enough time to stow his wand into his pocket. The next swing he tried to deflect away, he succeeded but he was still left stumbling backwards under the weight and power of the attack.
The third blow had his hands screaming as the Sword of Gryffindor was knocked out of his grip. The return swing cut a line across his stomach. Not enough to have his entrails spilling out but his clothing started to soak red at an alarming pace. The fifth attack was barely avoided and sent Harry to the ground. The Campione rolled out of the way of Ugruk's attempt to split him like a piece of wood as he called the sword of Gryffindor back to his hand.
A blind swipe sent the goblin heretic god away far enough for Harry to stand up. Instead of trying to pressure his advantage Ugruk started to circle Harry like a wolf stalking its prey. 'He was just toying with me before. Fighting him in melee combat will end up with me getting cut apart.' Harry worried in his thoughts.
'It looks like he isn't using the earth authority anymore. So what are my options…' Harry strategizing was cut off as Ugruk pounced. Harry managed to get clear with a diving roll and the goblin struck the ground. Harry all but ran backwards as he tried to think up of a plan or something in the environment he could use.
Sadly despite the amount of downed goblins Harry hadn't had much hope of piercing the armour Ugruk wore without the sword of Gryffindor. Banishing things towards the goblin's head had crossed Harry's mind but since Ugruk seemed to be willing to use his head to headbutt stone walls Harry wasn't sure that would be very effective even if they managed to hit him.
Calling in Victoria crossed his mind but he wasn't sure if the pegasus could land a blow without getting killed in return. Which in turn would bring Cressida and Mia into great risk. His retreating foot found a solid obstacle that wasn't a corpse or debris and Harry realised he had his back against the wall.
For a moment he wondered why his shoe was getting wet when all thoughts left his mind and he leaped for safety as Ugruk's axe struck the wall he was backed up against in an helmet-splitting strike. The wall gave away under the force of the divine weapon and water started to seep through the cracks.
"Which blathering idiot built a ritual chamber next to an underwater reservoir? Did they hire one of those foolish dwarfs with a penchant of doomsday weapons as an architect?" Ugruk asked incredulously, unaware of the spark of inspiration he created in Harry's mind. Harry rolled away and silently released his authority on the sword of Gryffindor. He would need every inch of divine power he could muster for this.
"Surge forth, over the banks and into plains. Crash over the dunes into the lowlands and drag all caught to sea! Spare none and devour all!" he chanted as he mentally reached out for the water. It connected and with a twist of his will he pushed as much of the liquid through the gaps as he could.
It was like erosion sped up uncountable times and Ugruk had only time to look curiously at the next Authority Harry was invoking before he was washed away. With a large hole connecting the cave to the reservoir there was plenty of natural waterflow for Harry to work with.
He swept the heretic god all the way back into the wall closest to the ritual circle. In a surge of inspiration and remembrance of his own underwater fight he made sure to stack enough water around the goblin he would not be able to get a breath of fresh air. Unless the goblin was packing his own stash of gillyweed, it would soon have trouble with a rather basic task.
The goblin took a moment to orientate itself and frown at change of his surroundings before turning his attention to Harry. Harry saw the goblin slightly bend forward. Having seen the same movement before the water reacted nearly instinctively and formed a long rectangular box just in time to catch Ugruk.
WIth the extra resistance the goblin didn't get close enough and for a moment helplessly flailed inside the bubble of water as Harry did his best to manipulate the currents to keep the goblin afloat. Ugruk lashed out with his axe and wedged it sideways into the rock. He then used the weapon as leverage to get his feet on the ground.
The goblin freed Gragral and lashed out to the earth again, muddying the water with the released dust and rock. Harry wondered for a moment what the goblin was planning as the axe, despite the extra hindrance from the water, struck like a buzzsaw into the rock as Ugruk struck again and again. 'Is he trying to dig his way out?' Harry thought with a frown as he mentally commanded the water to fill whatever hole Ugruk was trying to dig.
Harry then saw the goblin look up and give him an intense stare and Harry realised he was in range of another charge. Then his mind remembered he still had two perfectly functioning legs to his name and promptly started to use them. Harry dashed to the side and didn't have to raise his sword in defence as the water surged forward and checked Ugruk's attempt to break out.
Despite his success Harry was sweating mentally. It was clear the reservoir was drained and he only had the mass of the water to work with. Ugruk either noticed or did not care and tried to stomp his way out of the drowning water. The water sluggishly moved with the goblin while Harry opened up the distance. He even had a moment of time to cast a wind spear at the few remaining non-divine goblins trying to fight his two girls.
Ugruk tried one final lurch but Harry had already been beefing up the wall of water between himself and Ugruk so he managed to catch the charging goblin. With an annoyed snarl Ugruk batted away one of the corpses swept up by the moving lake and dragged along by the goblin's wake.
Harry blinked confusedly as Ugruk seemed to be spewing air bubbles before he figured out what the goblin was doing. He still reacted a moment to slow as the goblin brought forth its earth authority again and managed to score a light gash on Harry's leg. He managed to avoid a second spike aiming between his legs.
With a curse towards the goblin for the unmanly target of attack Harry hopped away from the other spikes. He glanced towards Ugruk between the hops as he hoped that the goblin would hurry up and turn whatever colour goblins had for blue.
Harry was about to give the entire up as a bad job as Ugruk started to doggedly advance again. Despite the goblin's best attempts to herd Harry towards him the young Campione managed to stay out of his axe's reach. The goblin continued to advance and Harry started to plan an assault based on rapidly switching his authorities when Ugruk stumbled and fell.
A few bubbles erupted from the fallen goblin's mouths. Harry waited anxiously for the goblin to get up. A few twitches kept the atmosphere tense. Harry waited a minute before lowering his sword as Ugruk started to dissolve. He released his hold on the water and he was nearly bowled over as the water started obeying the laws of physics and fluid dynamics and sought out the lowest points in the ritual chamber.