" I am Jareth, the Goblin King!"
No one said a single word. The Goblin King hadn't left his underground kingdom ever since his coronation, one which the Minister for Magic wasn't invited nor any wizard for that matter. Suffice to say, he wasn't on the best terms with the wizard community.
The fact that he had chosen to appear decades after being announced, with armed troops no less had many people concerned. Revolts had started with less.
The Goblin King scanned the lower benches and squinted his eyes, with a wave of his hand a large wizard got thrown aside, revealing the cowering figure of Cornelius Fudge. Jareth clutched his hand and pulled, effectively pulling the Minister towards his feet. "Cornelius Fudge, hiding from me again, I see. Did you think that I wouldn't notice your hand on this attack, or his? " He said pointing at Dumbledore, who still had two spears pointing at his neck. "It takes a particular kind of arrogance, stupidity or even both, seeing as you two were stupid enough to sign your own work" He said as the golden cylindrical casing that the other goblins magically carried had the words 'Locked under the authority of the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge and the 'Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock Of the Wizengamot, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.' on it.
"You'll answer to me right now. What. is. inside. this. cylinder?" Jareth said as he pointed towards the gold cylinder. "This has been sealed by your authority for over years and stored in our archives and no-"
"What do you mean that you stored it?" Interrupted Dumbledore, who had the spears draw closer on his neck for his insolence.
Jareth looked at him and then turned back at Fudge, who was still at his feet cowering. " If he opens his mouth again without my say so, kill him" He ordered while he looked at the eyes at the Minister. He then addressed the rest of the chamber "For those of you ignorant enough it is quite simple: we run your bureaucracy. While you waste your time trying to control creatures that should be left alone or can't decide how to further oppress the other races, WE the goblins handle your affairs. We record the births, the deaths and the marriages .We are the ones that handle the gold that you earn, the deeds of your properties and the ones that manage the inheritance process. We've done this since the very beginning, we are the ones that hold the records so others can see you for what you really are. We took the jobs that you found tedious and worked them so that you couldn't live without them. Had we not done this your arrogance would've gone completely out of control. We created the auto-quills to record automatically every event that Magic recognizes, and when one of those is deemed to be locked Magic allows it. But this time you've gone too far, you've sealed away something that shouldn't have. Ever since this 'chamber' was assembled our auto-quills have gone insane. They create the same document over and over and over again and every time it is created a magic cylinder just like this one "He pointed at the one they had brought " encases it."
One of the members of the chamber spoke up "Well then, destroy them. This document has been sealed by Dumbledore himself, it is obviously a danger to us all, we must follow the Light."
Jareth looked at the man with despise "The Light?The Light? This is no light you imbecile! This is Magic, the very magic that runs through the world. Magic has decreed something and one of this two fools or maybe even both are acting against it! If this continues there's no telling of what could happen. The vaults at Gringotts are overflowing with the documents and if it were to continue we'll lose access to all of them. The excess will spill to the lower levels and this will kick us out of our homes. You must release this document right now, or the Goblin Kingdom will be no more."
"Now, Jareth" started Fudge, who was barely able to stand "I don't think that this is such a pressing matter. Your people dug the first tunnels, surely you can do it again, right? Just dig from the sides and take the gold back? Just like..." For the love of all that is holy, Ezekiel thought, please don't say moles, or mole rats. Or any other animal for that matter. Luckily, Fudge's brain decided to kick in and stopped himself before adding "like the first time. I'm sure that I can send my Aurors to the vaults and have them destroy those annoying documents and the auto-quills as well." Unfortunately though, his brain failed to notice that suggesting an outside intervention into a peaceful sovereign nation that currently had the most powerful wizard in recent history pinned to a wall wasn't the brightest idea.
To Jareth's credit, he didn't jump into a murderous rage right away. It build up quite slowly, yet one was able to see it. He began speaking on a slowed and composed manner but the more he talked, the more you could sense that he was about to tear the man in front of him limb by limb. "You cannot destroy those documents you dimwit, we have already tried. The documents fixes themselves, the same as the auto-quills except that every time they self repair, an ability that we never gave them, they start working twice as fast. At this rate they produce over four hundred documents per hour, once the documents overflowed the legal department they began to spill to the lower levels. My kingdom is about to be overrun by them and once this happens what do you think will happen to your vaults? We'll have to relocate of course, this will be our priority over any other matter and thus Gringotts will be closed. Do any of you knows how long does it take for a single cavern to be carved out of rock? Besides, I don't think that the rest of the world will allow all of this for a problem that you created."
"What do you mean by that, you filthy rat? Do you think that just because you came here we'll let you threaten us and do as you like?" Said Crabbe Sr., moving from his spot towards the goblin while trying to get his wand. The thought that he was outmatched didn't really hit him until a spear that was thrown pierced his shoulder. So far all the members of the chamber had remained glued to their spots, the shock of the current developments: seeing the Goblin King for the first time, Dumbledore's head about to be mounted on the top of a spear and the deployment of troops was definitely not something that they were prepared for. Being fair, they weren't part of the DMLE, they were aristocrats and many of them weren't supposed to know how to fight since they were under the Imperius spell during the first war. The sight of blood coming out of one of their fellow members did managed to break the spell that they seemed to be under. All hell broke loose as the members attempted to run away, while others drawn their wands and pointed them towards the goblins. While some curses were actually casted, the goblins wore full armor, their armor was enchanted to resists magic as all their steel was. Some of the soldiers were thrown of their feet, but almost all of them were able to stand their ground. Noise could be heard outside as some kind of skirmish was fought but the noise died out as quickly as it begun.
While all of this happened Ezekiel felt how Ted grabbed his arm and started moving him to one of the sides, as Dora and Madam Bones casted protective spells on them and tried to get out of the upcoming battle area. Ezekiel should've tried to move but the effects of the potion had begun to disappear. Whatever kind it was, it was clearly not meant to allow it's user to move around as much as he did. Leaving aside the fact that he had sweated as if he was running a marathon while Dumbledore tried to condemn his entire family had his heart pumping as fast as humanly possibly, so the potion's life was cut even shorter. The one thing that almost stopped from moving was the fact that once the fight had started the Goblin King hadn't even bothered to move. He didn't look for cover, he didn't cast any magic or even appeared to be bothered by what appeared to be the beginning of another war. No, all he did was look at him. Directly into his eyes. This was the second time that this had happened in a single day. The most that someone had looked at him to the eyes was in the morning when he looked at himself in the mirror and what he saw on the Goblin King eyes was something that threw him out of his game. He didn't see hate, loathing or fear. He saw recognition and respect. For some reason that scared him more than Albus Dumbledore's threat to his whole family.
The doors opened one more time and this time several wizards wearing black robes poured into the room yet none of them faced the goblin soldiers. Shockingly this group of mages, none of who Ezekiel recognized, stood behind the soldiers and pointed their wands towards the chamber, with many casting stunning spells towards the members of the chamber. The act was carried with such speed and precision that almost none of them had any time to react, let alone comprehend what just happened. The resistance had died out as soon as it had started and except for Crabbe Sr, no injuries could be seen. Once the newcomers disarmed every member and moved all the journalists out of the chamber one of the wizards spoke at Jareth's ear, to which the goblin listened with very little interest. The whole bizarre scene of having a wizard reporting to a goblin was too surreal for anyone to do anything.
Except of course, the Minister.
"This is an attack! You've done it this time goblin, I don't care who you are or how deep in the ground you hide, I'll have your head for this! You just signed the expulsion of your ENTIRE species out of the Being category! You're nothing than an animal and I'll make sure that my Aurors hunt you down and you're put down as the beast you are! And you!" He said pointing at the mages that accompanied the goblin. "You and all of your accomplices will get the Kiss! You have attacked England!"
"And you, Fudge" Said Jareth casually "have attacked the world."
"What are you talking about you rat! I wasn't the one that brought mercenaries into a government building!"
Fudge's was apparently able to grow a spine, although if what Ezekiel feared was true, it was about to be shattered. The Goblins had one king. ONE. So if what Jareth had said was true...
"Oh, this aren't mercenaries Cornelius, can't you see? They are Aurors." Jareth said joyfully. "Aurors from all over the world who came over here on behalf of the International Confederation of Wizards. You know that one Albus don't you?" He said while he looked at Dumbledore, who was now against a wall with two spears near his neck, as well as other two on each arm to prevent him from moving. The rest of him was being guarded by four Aurors whose wands were locked onto him. " The one that you're supposed to oversee? You know, the one that you go from time to time, presenting yourself so just that they can't fire you for absenteeism, yet you still use all the benefits that come with it? That one, no? Oh well, never mind that then, I'm sure they'll be delighted to remind you that once you see them on their meeting. The one that was due today and started twelve hours ago."
"What is the meaning of this? " Asked Dumbledore flabbergasted "The ICW has no say on the matters of a country, this is a local matter at most"
"Didn't you hear me, Dumbledore? I'm Jareth, the Goblin King. I'm the king of ALL goblins, my kingdom runs through the deepest parts of the earth. I'm also the descendant of the founders of Gringotts and thus, it's president. When I said that the Gringotts vaults were overflowing with the documents I meant ALL OF THEM. All around the world those documents are being created, preventing the access to every vault on every country.
You two have effectively disrupted the economy on a global scale. Terrorism, I believe, is the term for this." Said Jareth, looking with a certain sadistic joy in his voice.
"NO! This is a mistake!" Shouted Fudge "I'd never done anything like this, this was all his idea" He said as he nervously pointed at Dumbledore. "He told me that he needed my help since he didn't had the proper authority to seal those documents! He needed me because he couldn't use his title as Headmaster of Hogwarts and told me that it was for the greater good!"
Dumbledore wanted to say something but found the spears that restricted him had drawn closer to him, leaving him with no way to retort.
"The greater good, you say? My oh my, I haven't heard that in a long time." Jareth was taking his time now, making no efforts to disguise the fact that he loved what was currently happening. "I suppose that a Headmaster doesn't have the legal ability to seal a document. I bet that it killed you a little having to convince Fudge to help you. All three seconds."
Jareth would've continued, had it not been for one of the Aurors that came with him started speaking to him in a language that Ezekiel didn't know. This made his smile vanish for a second, yet he remained composed before addressing Fudge again.
"Very well, Cornelius, I believe you. Dumbledore has hidden several things over the years to many people around the world, but I need you to be honest with me." His tone then changed to a more gentle one "Do this and I'll put a good word on the ICW for you, okay?"
Fudge nodded weakly
"Very well, now I need you to think very carefully. What is inside that cylinder? What is so important that Dumbledore had to look for your help. What is of such importance that he couldn't use all of his titles for it. What requires the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and the Minister for Magic?"
Fudge was a nervous mess, he opened and closed his mouth several times yet he was unable to make a single noise.
"I-I-I don't know. Really! " He said, looking desperately at Jareth. "Dumbledore never said anything about it, he kept saying that it was a secret too big, that simply knowing about it would make me a target of the Dark! He said that I was too important to be put at risk."
You're a servant of your people, you moron. It's your job to handle the dangerous matters even if it makes you a target. The sentiment was shared by everyone in the room.
"Very well, Cornelius, here is what we're going to do: you'll cancel your permission and that will unlock the document. If what you said is true then you're innocent, lied by a man who was supposed to lead the international magic community to a brighter and safer future. If this is true, you are a victim of his deception. Okay?" Jareth smiled as he talked to Fudge. Either that or he was showing his teeths at him before he murdered him, truth be told, when it came to goblins sometimes even they weren't sure of which was.
"Yes, yes! You're right! He lied to me, he abused my trust!" Fudge had fell for it hook, line and sinker.
Dumbledore looked as if he wanted to say anything but any movement other than breathing resulted in his skin getting cut by those damned spears. He was stuck against a literal wall and was unable to even call his phoenix. He couldn't understand how this had happened. He knew about the meetings, he simply didn't had enough time to do everything. If it wasn't a new law that the Wizengamot tried to pass then it was another conflict on the ICW, at least in Hogwarts he had Minerva to do the heavy lifting for him. The truth was that maintaining the current order was tiresome, so he left a few things slip. Why did he had to adapt to the world when it would be the world the one that would adapt to him once Tom returned? Once that pale snake came back as he knew he would effectively have carte blanche to simply reshape the magic community in Britain. It wouldn't be easy, specially since the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy dictated that while he didn't have to answer to the Muggle Prime Minister, the wizard community had to obey the Royal Family and that included him. Well, nothing that a little Confundus wouldn't fix. Once that issue had been taken care and Harry, who was supposed to love him like the father he made sure he never had after a childhood with his aunt's family, perished on the battlefield, he'd take the changes towards the entire world. Carving his name in history as the wizard that eradicated the Dark.
But now? It was obvious that he had let himself be too comfortable. He had let too many things go unchecked while looking at a goal that was still too far away. He had started working on his plan the day he received notice of the Potter's demise and the Longbottom's attack. Everything was being made for when Harry started Hogwarts, down to the tiniest detail but in doing so, he had neglected the present situation and now because of his neglect, those who were supposed to follow him had listened to other voices. Everything was about to be taken from him and he couldn't do a thing.
"Very well, Cornelius, say the words. Say the words that will prove your innocence, be the hero that stopped this disaster." Jareth feared that his acting had gone too far, but the truth was that Fudge wasn't a political animal. He was a gullible man that most likely chosen by some very powerful, very Dark family (probably Malfoy's) that liked power but didn't want the responsibility. At some level he knew this, but this was the first time that he had to deal with the consequences of these acts and he would do it alone. So he did as he was asked.
"I, Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, remove my previous order and demand that the document that was locked under false pretences to be now revealed. So mote it be!"
As soon as those words left his mouth the golden cylinder disappeared, leaving behind a large scroll that fell on the floor of the chamber. Jareth motioned the scroll and it flew towards his hands. Taking the top of the scroll he read it in silence for a few minutes before looking at Ezekiel.
"Lord Black, I believe that this may explain the reason for your sudden disappearance earlier. This is proof that you're not in fact, a Dark Wizard, in fact quite the opposite."
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?" Asked Ezekiel, who took much care in no disrespecting the goblin that had currently handled a multi-nation force. "What is that scroll?"
"This My Lord, is the document for the bond between The Ancient House of Potter and The Ancient and Most Noble House Of Black, signed by both Lord James Potter the First and Lord Sirius Black on the 31st of July, 1980."
I don't own Harry Potter, all characters except OC belong to J. K. Rowling.