Harry regained consciousness very slowly. The world was a blurry mess, the sound was muffled and his eyes were tearing.
Or at least it was until someone said something he didn't understood and then BUM! Everything became clear rather quickly. So quickly in fact, he vomited before he even realized what was happening. It wouldn't have been so bad if not for the fact he was so tired he didn't had the strength to turn around. He couldn't hide the disgust as he felt the warm liquid spread all over him until suddenly, it wasn't.
Opening his eyes Harry realized he was no longer in the practice room. The concerned faces of Ted, Andi and Dora were all over him.
"Alright, that's enough." Ezekiel's voice sounded from his side. A quick look showed him sitting right next to Harry. He quickly noticed Ezekiel's wand, meaning he had vanished the vomit but also something else.
"Ezekiel, why are you holding my hand?" Harry asked drowsy.
"Hey, Harry." Ezekiel smiled at him. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm tired." Harry replied.
"No shit, Harry." Dora said. "If I had used that much magic I'd be sleeping until new year."
Ignoring the death glare Andromeda gave her daughter, Ezekiel said. "The dust was a bit too much, it seems. Harry, Healer Cohen has something to say to you. It's about your magic core."
"Is everything alright?" Harry asked scared.
The explanation took longer this time as both Cohen and Dora had to explain Harry how his magic worked. By the time they finished Harry was a complete loss. It's not every day one gets told their body is trying to kill him. To his credit, he had seemingly quite relaxed although Ezekiel thought it was because he hadn't really come to terms with it.. He couldn't imagine it being easy, to be betrayed by one's own self. Ezekiel held his hand the entire time, noticing when his grip tightened or loosened but never letting him go.
"Do you understand, Harry?" Cohen finally said.
"So, am I going to die?" He finally asked.
"Not from this." Ezekiel assured him. Harry turned to him and watched Ezekiel's hand. Ezekiel tightened his grip attempting to comfort him. "It's just a little setback, Harry. Like Cohen said, once you turn seventeen your core will stabilize. All we have to do until then is make sure you don't overuse your magic."
"But I'll have to use it every day."
"Yes, but no more than other kids." Andromeda assured him. "You're already using less thanks to Ezekiel's magic, once your core heals is when we need to be careful."
"When I need to be careful." Harry replied.
"Only if you want to deal with this alone. If not, then we need to check what helps you and what doesn't. This sort of thing is delicate and takes time." Andromeda replied. "Or you can be stubborn and learn it the hard way, just like that one did." She said nodding at Ezekiel. "I just hope you heal just as fast as he does, because that road is the equivalent of trying to break a the Chinese Wall with your forehead."
"Sorry." Harry said looking downwards.
"Don't be." Andromeda replied smiling sympathetically. "It's okay to be angry Harry but you simply can't let it control you. Magic is affected by emotion."
"So I can't feel anything?" Harry asked.
"Of course you can." Ted said. "There's nothing wrong with feeling, Harry. It's just a matter of not losing control over them."
"Can't you just take it away?" Harry pleaded to Ezekiel.
Ezekiel looked at Harry with sympathy before raising his wand and saying. "I, Ezekiel Artemis Black, Lord of The Ancient and Most Noble House Of Black do solemnly swear on my magic that what I'm about to say it's true, so mote it be." His wand flashed a bright light and Ezekiel continued. "No. Under normal circumstances I would be but in this case all it'll do is heal your core and make you even more powerful."
"But if you can use that magic then shouldn't Light magic do the opposite?" Harry asked.
"Harry, I can heal from pretty much anything." Ezekiel replied. "The only reason I say 'pretty' is because I haven't found something strong or different enough to put me down and keep me there. You don't have my healing ability, otherwise you'd been in a far better shape than you were when I first met you." Harry winced at the memory. "In your case, trying different magics would be a shot in the dark and I can't guarantee your survival. We have a plan: get you a wand and teach you how to use it. It's not the most elegant plan, I'll admit it, but it's the one that doesn't end with you dead."
"You said I could choose." Harry said accusingly.
"And you can, just think of it like diabetes or something similar, to use the magic is like insulin." Ezekiel replied.
"What's diabetes?" Harry tilted his head in confusion.
"Look." Dora butted in annoyed. "Ezekiel is trying to say is that you'll be able to do whatever you want but this is a part of you now. Looking the other way and pretending it doesn't exist won't work. Trust me, cases of people trying to hide their magic never ends well."
Harry rested his head back as he sighted. A soft knock on the door distracted the group before it slowly opened revealing a group of goblins carrying a food cart and several trays, all covered by a silver dome.
"Sorry for the intrusion, Healer Cohen." One of the goblins said. "His Highness has sent food for our guests. He believes you'd be hungry after the test."
"Of course he believes that." Ezekiel said under his breath. "We appreciate the meal, sir." The goblins eyes widened at the respectful tune in his voice. "And please convey to His Highness my wishes to meet with him once Harry feels better."
"As you wish, sire." The goblin vowed as the rest lifted the covers to reveal a feast of delicious meals.
The mouth-watering smell filled the room and Dora wasted no time filling hers. She wasted no time throwing manners out of the window and just stuffed her mouth full.
"I assume you've brought beverages as well." Andromeda said. "I'd hate to see my daughter choke."
"Of course, Madame." One of the goblins said pulling out a silver jug and fine crystal glasses, filling them with water.
"Oh, ignore her Harry." Andromeda chuckling at Harry's astonished face. "She needs to eat in order to replenish her matter, she had a lot to heal from when you threw us to the wall."
"I did?" Harry asked disheartened.
"Relax, Harry." Dora answered with her mouth full. "I've been hit harder."
"Yes." Ezekiel smiled. "She can almost break concrete with that forehead of hers."
"I'm..."
"Don't." Dora interrupted him. "It was a mistake, Harry. It happens."
"Yeah." Ezekiel chuckled. "You should've seen when she got drunk and tried to turn into David Bowie. She looked like a pizza with eyes."
"Oh, you want to talk about fuck ups?" Dora replied. "Mister 'banned-from-practicing-potioneering-in-America'?"
"Potio...?" Harry asked confused.
"Potions, Harry." Ted replied. "It's one of the basic subjects taught in magic schools. Ezekiel had a..."
"Disaster." Andromeda finished "On his very first practical, no less. The school sent us a letter saying he was banned from practicing the practical application of Potions."
"It wasn'tthat bad." Ezekiel looked away pouting.
"They also sent the bill for the repairs and the wards to prevent him from entering the Potion's room." Ted replied smiling.
The room exploded in laughter. Even Cohen, who tried her best to remain composed. Ezekiel fumed but there wasn't much he could do. Had it been anybody else, literally anybody else, he would've done something. Not even the Queen joked about him. The people around him were far more important to him than that old bat. So he swallowed his pride. The smirk on his face was just an optical illusion.
"We kept the letter, in case you want to look at it anytime." Andromeda said wiping a tear from her eye.
"It wasn't that bad." Ezekiel said trying not to laugh.
"Zeke, they accused you of trying to create life." Dora replied.
"It was just a blob." Ezekiel defended himself.
"A twitching blob, son." Ted replied laughing.
The laugh eventually died out and the family began eating. Harry was too tired to even lift an arm let alone cut his meal so Ezekiel took it upon himself to feed him and give him water.
"How are you feeling, Harry?" Andromeda asked while Ezekiel wiped Harry's face after he was done eating.
"I'm fine." Harry replied weakly.
"I think it'd be best if you sleep a bit." Andromeda said feeling Harry's forehead. "You used far too much of your magic too quickly. We can't move you until your core replenishes itself and in normal cases that could take hours."
"Okay."
"We'll leave you to it then..." Ezekiel said getting up. "Dora will keep you company until you fall sleep Harry, I'll just need to speak to her outside for a few minutes. Is that okay?"
"I don't nee.."
"Perfect, she'll be back in a jiffy." Ezekiel interrupted him dragging Dora out with him. Once they were outside and the door was closed he turned to her. "Listen, I'm going to meet with the Goblin King, you stay with Harry until he's sleep and try to comfort him."
"Why me?" Dora asked confused. "I mean you're Harry's Guardian, shouldn't you stay with him?"
"I'm still trying to figure out if I'm going to feed the King the entrails of his brethren." Ezekiel replied impatiently. "Harry just found out his own body is trying to kill him. I don't think I'm the best company right now."
"Look, any other day I'd say you're right. This isn't any other day." Dora said poking at his chest. "You need to be with him."
"What I need. " Ezekiel replied angry. "Is grab that lying scum from the neck until he turns purple and then keep pressing his throat until his eyes pop out of his sockets."
"And what would that do, how would that help Harry?"
"How the hell should I know? Look, you're the one everybody likes. Stay with Harry, make sure he's not alone and comfort him if he cries."
"No. You're going to do it." She poked his chest again. "Harry needs you."
"I know!" Ezekiel whispered furiously. "I know. I fucking get it, alright? I can help him more when I set things straight with the Goblin King but right now he's going to be in that room in the dark, alone with his own thoughts. He's about to be his own worst enemy and there's nothing I can do." Ezekiel took several deep breaths to calm himself before continuing. "But you can help him. You're better at comforting people than me. Morgana's wings, I only managed to stop him from killing himself by tricking him! Does that sounds like somebody who should even be near a child?"
"Err...okay." Dora said shocked by the revelation. "Lots to unpack there, not gonna lie to you Zeke. But what would you like me to do?"
"I don't know make a funny face, anything."
"I should change my face in a dark room... you see the problem, right?" Dora replied raising an eyebrow.
"Just take his fucking hand." Ezekiel replied exasperated. "Console him when he cries. Just don't leave him alone, alright?"
"Then don't." Dora replied. "You know what you need to do. Kill the goblin later if you have to, Merlin knows I'm not gonna be able to talk you out of that one, just don't leave Harry alone."
"And do what?" Ezekiel ran his hand through his hair. "Dora, I'm not good at this sort of thing. If Harry wanted me to kill Dumbledore for putting him in that house, or his uncles for that matter, I'd do it in a heartbeat."
"This isn't about taking the easy way and hurting somebody. You already know what you have to do, so stop being a baby and go with Harry." Dora said pointing at the room they had just left. Ezekiel ran his hands over his face in frustration. Dora placed her hand on his shoulder as she leaned and whispered. "Harry needs you, Zeke. You can do other things than hurting people."
"I don't even know what to say."
"You just said it yourself, take his hand, console him. Besides if what Cohen said is true then you just being in the room will help him."
Ezekiel walked around scratching his head with one hand. He bit the inside of his cheek as he considered his option before finally turning to Dora. "Fine, I'll do it."
"It's great, yo..."
"But I need you to do something else for me ."
"Aren't we a needy lad today?" Dora mocked him with her hands on her hips.
"I need you to go speak to Olivander."
"And why's that?" Dora asked a bit angry.
"Please." Ezekiel scoffed. "The man has to be a hundred, I have no doubt you could seduce him if you wanted but there's no magic that'd help him get it up. I just want you to...hang on." Ezekiel said while checking his pockets. "I swear if that little imp didn't put it I'm going to skin him alive."
"What are you looking for?" Dora tilted her head curious.
"Here" Ezekiel said taking out a small coin purse.
"Really?"
"What?" Ezekiel replied. "Did you think I was going to carry a Mokeskin pouch like in the old ages? There's this little thing called style, you might wanna give it a try one day."
"Right." Dora scoffed. "So you want me to bribe him?"
"If he shows any interest, yes. Mostly I want his silence, there should be around five million Galleons here."
"Five MILL-!" Dora screamed but Ezekiel covered her face.
"Yes, five million. Perhaps a bit less, I haven't used this coat in a while so I can't really remember."
"You carry around five mill on all your jackets?" Dora asked dumbfounded. "Why?"
"I just hate coming to the bank, alright?" Ezekiel replied annoyed. "All the waiting, the queues... I just can't do it."
"You're a flipping Lord, Zeke. You don't wait in queues."
"Still, it takes too long. Listen, just speak to the guy and tell him there will be fifty times that if he agrees to speak with me."
"He's Olivander, Zeke." Dora replied unsure. "He's probably the one people in England you can't buy."
"Not with money, perhaps." Ezekiel replied confidently. "But everybody has a price. He must have something he wants. I need you to learn what it is."
"I changed my mind." Dora sighted. "I'll stay with Harry."
"I'm not asking you to do anything illegal, just be friendly with the man."
"Friendly?" Dora replied seething.
"Not in any way what you're thinking." Ezekiel said lifting his hands. "I just want you to have a normal, friendly chat. If he's open to the idea of making a wand for Harry, great. If he isn't I'll just look for someone else. You know I'd never ask you to do anything like that, you know me."
"I know." Dora replied. "But Zeke, what if he wants to help but can't make one for Harry? I mean, if his core isn't normal..."
"We'll cross that bridge when we have to. If we have to." Ezekiel assured her. "Speaking of which, how good are you with Signs?"
"Okay, now I know you've lost it." Dora laughed. Seeing her cousin's serious face her eyes widened in shock. "Zeke! That's combat magic, you can't ask me to teach that to a child!"
"I'm not asking you to teach him how to set things on fire. If our quest to get Harry a wand takes too long the magic inside him will start acting up again. He'll need a way to get it out and you've seen how that can go if he can't control it."
"Look, I get your point but with all that power..." Dora looked around trying to imagine the destruction that'd cause." You heard what Cohen said, Harry could wipe any room he's in."
"Then it's a good thing I own several acres of land. I'm sure we'll find somewhere for him to practice if it comes to it. I'm just planning for the worst case scenario."
"Fine." Dora said taking the purse from his hands. "Just try, try not to end up forcing Olivander to help you. He's almost as beloved as Harry and people are already mad at you for keeping him hidden."
"They can raise their fists in the air in their self-righteous anger until their arms fall off for all I care." Ezekiel replied tired. "So will you do it?"
"Yes, yes." Dora said walking away.
"I really appreciate it, Dora." Ezekiel said as she left. Scratching the sid of his head, Ezekiel sighted in defeat before opening the door.
"Ezekiel, where's Dora?" Ted asked watching him enter alone.
"She's taking care of something for me. Why don't we clear the room so Harry can sleep?"
"In a second, dear." Andromeda replied finishing checking Harry with her spells.
"What's Dora doing?" Ted continued.
"She's checking Olivander for me." Ezekiel replied.
"Dora won't be coming back?" Harry asked.
"No, she's not." Ezekiel said sitting next to him. "But if you'd have me, I'd like to stay here until you sleep." He gestured the group who gave a quick kiss to Harry, minus Cohen, and left the two alone.
"I'm fine now, you don't have to stay." Harry assured him when everybody left.
"I do, actually." Ezekiel replied while conjuring the Black Magic.
"I don't need your magic, I'm feeling better." Seeing Ezekiel's skin turn ashen and the growing darkness behind his sunglasses.
"Oh, this isn't just for that." Ezekiel said as the Black Magic engulfed the room in darkness. "I figured you'd like some assurance that no-one would sneak in while you're sleeping."
"Oh." Harry said, not having considered the possibility.
"Also, I don't want you to be alone right now."
"It's alright, I'm used to being alone."
"I promised you wouldn't be alone anymore, Harry."
"You promised me that I'd be fine." Harry whispered, trying to hide his cracking voice.
"I did." Ezekiel leaned over where the voice sounded and touched Harry's unsurprisingly wet cheek. He wiped the tears from Harry's eyes with care. "I'm not going to lie Harry, your life might be a bit more difficult than most. There's nothing I can do about it and even if it were, given how my magic works I don't think you'd want me to. I have the means to help you, Harry. I will help you. I promised you your life and I will fulfill that promise."
"No, you can't. The Q-" The sudden darkness of the room was cut by a small red glow that lighted just below Harry's face."
"Stop." Ezekiel ordered, the red glow diminished slowly until it disappeared completely. Ezekiel carefully listened as the sound of Harry's breathing came back to normal. "Harry, I need you to listen carefully. For cases like ours when families create their own Family Magic a rule was created. The only way a House can be declared Noble is to pledge their allegiance to the Crown of England. The King or Queen are the only people in the entire world that gets to order us. There's no-one else on the entire planet who can command us. Not governments, not other wizards, no-one. We play the politics game now but only for a Royal Command. Otherwise my grandfather would've... well, it doesn't matter. The point is you might've already declared yourself as an Heir and, given the fact you're the last of your House, some of those rules are already applying to you. I imagine she'd ask you instead of ordering you but the result would be pretty much the same."
"She tricked me." Harry said harshly.
"To be fair, I don't think she knows what she did. The Crown hasn't been active in politics on our side for a long time."
"So she can make me do things?"
"No, there are some limits. For starters your family holds far more political power, I imagine you're more loose than me in that regard. Harry, I want to tell you a story, to tell each other a story. There was once a boy who went into an old lady's house. The two of them spoke for a while and after that, the boy left for his waiting family. What do you think they spoke of?"
"They spoke..." Harry continued hesitant. "The..."
"The old lady said..." Ezekiel lead him.
"The old lady asked m-the boy to help her. She said that Eng-"
"Her house." Ezekiel cut him off.
"Yes." Harry nodded in the dark. "The old lady said her house was in problems, that bad people were ruining it. That people were suffering."
"But did she, I mean the old lady, asked the boy for help?" Ezekiel asked narrowing his eyes. "Did she said what she wanted the boy to do?"
"She said that when I-"
"When?" Ezekiel asked softly, thanking for the darkness for hiding his furious face. "Not if?"
"No, she said when. She said when the boy was old enough..."
"You sure that's what she said?"
"Yes, I'm sure." Ezekiel could imagine Harry nodding.
"Okay, it's fine Harry. So the old lady asked the boy to help her when he's old enough." Ezekiel sighted. "So much for he honor of the Arthurian line."
"Arthurian?" Harry asked confused.
"I'll explain it when you're older." Ezekiel replied taking Harry's hand on his own. "Go to sleep, Harry. Sleep knowing that you're not alone and that you're loved. Loved not by those who're bounded to you by blood but by those who know you and cherish you."
"Okay." Harry mumbled.
Ezekiel rose from his seat and hugged Harry. "We love you, Harry. I know it might be difficult for you to believe it right now but we do. Ted loves you, Andi loves you, Dora loves you. I love you too and I promise you, I swear to you that woman won't dictate the rest of your life."
They remained that way until Harry slept. Ezekiel didn't left his side until he heard Harry's breath relax and even then he waited for a bit more. Finally untangling himself from Harry's embrace and stepped outside where Cohen and Andromeda were waiting for him.
"How is he?" Andromeda asked as soon as he closed the door.
"Scared. Confused. Angry. All of the above." Ezekiel replied.
"I will monitor Harry's vitals as well as his core in a couple of minutes." Cohen said. "I believe you're being expected, Lord Black."
"No-one will enter that room for at least another hour, Cohen." Ezekiel said stopping the Healer. " And if anybody is going to check Harry it will be Andromeda. Until I speak with the Goblin King only those who I trust will be allowed near Harry."
"Lord Black I assure you..."
"Cohen, you've already lost my confidence." Ezekiel interrupted her. "I suggest you not to test the limits of my patience."
"Lord Black." One goblin, a particularly old one, called him. "His Majesty the king is waiting for you."
"Very well, I'll join him in the meeting room shortly." Ezekiel said before turning to Andromeda. "Don't worry about Cohen, if something happens I'll take full responsibility."
"Give my regards to His Majesty." Andromeda said hugging him.
"Will do." Ezekiel said returning the hug. "Where's Ted? I can't believe I didn't noticed he wasn't here."
"I sent him home, I have to tell him what happened in Cohen's room."
"I'm sure he'll understand." Ezekiel assured her.
"If he did then I wouldn't have married him." Andromeda smiled sadly.
"Right, I'm off to meet the King then. How do I look?"
"Well... You're meeting royalty with clothes that you've been using for two days straight. " Andromeda said straightening up Ezekiel's clothes. "It's not the most dignified appearance for the Lord of the Black."
"Meh, good enough." Ezekiel said shrugging. "I'd say see you back at your place but this has gone too long. When Harry gets better could you take him to your place?"
"Of course." Andromeda nodded. "And when you meet the King..."
"I'll do my best not to kill him." Ezekiel promised. "But he'll have to put a lot of effort too."
"That's all I ask."
The walk back was a silent one, namely because neither Ezekiel nor the goblin that was guiding him had any interest to speak to one another.
"This way, my Lord." The goblin said once they arrived at the bank's ground level.
"I thought you said I was to meet the King." Ezekiel said confused as the goblin guided him away from the meeting rooms.
"His Majesty is currently unable to meet you in the surface, thus it is you who shall meet him in our Underground Kingdom." The goblin replied without looking at him as they crossed the reception.
The entire room fell silent as the goblin witnessed a human take the elevator down to their ancestral home. This would be the second time this happened and much to the surprise of the older goblins in the room it would be the same human who'd make the trip down below.
"I remember this being bigger." Ezekiel said bending down to enter the elevator.
"Funny." The goblin replied looking forward. "I remember it was you who was smaller."
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Ezekiel asked studying the old goblin's face. "Wait, Algras? Is it really you?" His eyes widened in realization.
"I couldn't be anyone else, couldn't I?" The goblin replied resentful.
"Merlin, I didn't recognized you! What happened to you?"
"I've been relocated to the cathering section."
"But you're a Human Language teacher!"
"Good to know you still remember something. You had to be the most frustrating student that I ever had."
"I was six!" Ezekiel exclaimed.
"Such excuse does not befit one of your station." Algras finally turned to address him. "You were undisciplined and emotional."
"A child. I was a child." Ezekiel replied seething. His reply was cut short when the elevator came to an abrupt stop. The collective gasp that was heard made him turn and see through the old scissor gate doors a large group of goblins, all gaping at the sight of him. "This one's taken. Take the next one." He ordered as Algras pushed a button to continue their descent.
"Still emotional, I see." Algral shook his head in disappointment. "I thought we had managed to teach you manners, such a waste of time that was."
"Starving a child for failing to meet your expectations isn't teaching. It's cruelty, plane and simple."
"And yet you improved, did you not?" Algras replied smugly. "You were almost at on par with our younglings. Had your grandfather not pulled you out you could've been an almost acceptable student."
"My grandfather pulled me out because you locked me in a room, deprived me of any kind of contact other than you and your 'teachings' and starved me for not reaching your unreachable standards."
"Unreachable, you say and yet you reach them. "Algras chuckled. "Stop making excuses, boy. You had some potential, you just needed to use it."
"You do understand that I can kill you, do you?"
"And do you understand that I'm old enough not to care?"
Ezekiel decided to end the conversation before he slaughtered the little imp and looked through the elevator's gates. The view outside the elevator shaft of the Underground Nation was just as impressive as he remembered. Massive and monumental in nature, filled with many grand halls and massive caverns. The buildings were primarily built with stone, but was also mixed with an unknown, unique metal, similar to the appearance of copper or bronze that changed colour depending of where you were looking at it. No doubt the pride of many metalsmiths and sculptors. The stonework and metalwork on the structures were stylized with intricate carvings and runes. It had truly been an astonishing sight just as the first time he had witnessed yet now, years later, Ezekiel learned to appreciate things he had overlooked before. Like how the buildings were designed using trusted, well-calculated designs based on angled lines rather than riskier, more imprecise calculations based on arcs and curves. Or the hydraulics systems on the sides of the building pumping water in or waste city before him was divided into many different sections, which included great halls, great chambers, upper districts and lower districts, marketplaces, living quarters and workshops.
The more the elevator descended the less he was able to see of the city, although it's noises and smells quickly began to fill in that void. Despite being called the Goblin Kingdom the truth was they weren't the only ones living there. Goblins, orcs and even gnomes lived far below where no wizard or witch could ever find them. They all walked around wearing different clothes. Gnomes wearing bright colored tunics, usually green, yellow, or blue, with a wide belt and contrasting leggings. The Goblins wore their usual business suits, one could tell their social stance by merely looking at the quality of their clothes. Orcs were smaller in stature than humans on average, strong but crooked in frame and bow-legged. they had long arms and fanged mouths. They seemed to be the least well dressed, even if the the clothes they had were of far superior quality than Ezekiel had seen before. They wore sleeveless shirts and pants similar to the ones used by construction workers with boots to match.
They all walked around in the massive underground metropolis, the air constantly moved and purified by the very runes inside and out of the buildings, which also provided illumination for the streets.
"I had almost forgotten about this place." Ezekiel said once they reached the ground.
"It wouldn't surprise me, you were but a wee child when I first brought you here."
"You grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and drugged me head first to avoid the other pedestrians." Algras said as they started walking towards the Kings palace.
"Your potential was truly limitless."
"I can't say your demotion wasn't well deserved, old friend."
"Oh, I'm actually quite grateful for it." The goblin replied happily. "As it turns out, I was a greater chef than teacher. I've been stacking up one promotion after another. Soon enough I shall be named head chef of my own section.
"Great, because the culinary arts needed another supreme tosser with a rampant ego." Ezekiel muttered rolling his eyes.
The palace itself reminded Ezekiel of medieval cathedral. Contrary to the rest of the city, this one had a gothic style with towers and vaults inside. Ezekiel and Algras were received by a large armed force who quickly moved away once Algras took a circular emblem and showed it to them without even bother to stop walking. Walking through the great wood doors Ezekiel found himself going through a serpentine corridor around a number of different rooms, all of which had their doors closed.
"Now listen here, Black." Algras said once they finally stopped. "His Majesty is conducting one of our oldest traditions. Usually no-one would be allowed in there until he had finished but he's willing to make an exception for you. I don't have to tell you how important it is for you to be as respectful as possible. Or at least as respectful as a wizard can be."
"I'll be as respectful as he is, Algar. Now go make someone a sandwich." Ezekiel replied walking through the door.
The room itself was quite bright, Ezekiel recognized the same sun-rune patterns that he used at the Archive. He studied the roof with interest until a chewing sound reached his ear. He quickly turned towards the origin of the sound only to find he wasn't at the throne room but rather the dining one. And at the end of a long wooden table, Jareth the Goblin King was grabbing what looked like ribs with his hands and devouring it with gusto. Ezekiel had to make a double take and tried as hard as he could not to curse at the goblin in front of him. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he walked towards the table and sat next to Jareth with contempt on his face. The goblin´s only response to this was to raise a finger while he took out a few chunks of meat from his teeth with his other hand.
"A my friend." Jareth finally said. "I knew you'd return to us. Tell me, did you regenerate before or after the incinerator started?"
"During, actually. I must say you're not as surprise as I thought you'd be."
"We goblins monitor the lives of all wizards." Jareth replied smiling. "We don't know exactly where your kind lives and dies but we do know the when. In many cases it's just a note at the end of their financial files, in yours it's a list of its own. You have no idea how much your deaths puzzled us."
"Yes, I'll admit dying is a bad habit of mine. One that I shall break rather quickly."
"It's good to hear." Jareth said nodding. "While I can see it's not having any side effects physically, I can't imagine it doing any good to your soul."
"Oh, so you know about souls?" Ezekiel asked leaning on his seat. "Well, that great. It means I won't have to explain this." Ezekiel launched himself at Jareth and grabbed his by the neck, one hand over Jareth's mouth. "You know, I get you and your kind know about the Black Magic and what it can do. What you don't know is that the only thing you've ever witnessed was the Black Magic at full power." Jareth's eyes widened in terror as Ezekiel's eyes turned pitch-black behind his eyeglasses, his veins darkening against his now ashen skin. "But when you take as much time as I do trying to master it, you learn to regulate it. So instead of destroying one of the basic aspects of Life, you get to do this." Ezekiel gently removed his hand from Jareth's mouth, a fact the goblin would've appreciated if not for the fact his eyes had lost their shine and his body had became limp. As he turned his hand upward, Ezekiel showed a small glowing sphere that gave small sparks to the now lifeless body of the Goblin King. "Yes, I know you can't hear me. I just want to delay this as much as possible so when I do this." Ezekiel said shoving the sphere back into Jareth's mouth. "You'll remember how serious I am. Now, shall we start again?"
"Are you -Kof- Are you out of your MIND!?" Jareth asked trying to gather his breath. "D-Kof- Do you even-Kof- know what I can do to you?"
"Not really, no." Ezekiel replied softly. "But I know that I can come back here anytime I want. I know that I can kill every single being in this 'Kingdom' of yours and we both know there's nothing you can do to stop me, friend."
"You claim to be a friend of the goblins, after what you just did?"
"You're right, I guess an apology would be in order."
"No apology will ever be enough for what you've done to me?"
"To y..." Ezekiel laughed affably. "No, no you got it backwards. It is you who should apologize to me. Although I do agree on the never-going-to-forgive-you thing."
"What one earth are you talking about?"
"Let's see." Ezekiel counted with his fingers. "Using me as a political tool, for starters. Using Harry as a political tool, we're gonna go back to that one in a bit trust me. Going behind my back and plotting to reinstate the Queen. Seriously, the hell were you thinking? There's also the matter of dragging Harry again into that mess. Oh, and sending me to be cremated in Scotland of all places. And that's just for starters."
"Harry Potter is one of the most influential people in Britain, whatever he knew it or not. Leaving him to Dumbledore's mercy gave that man the power of doing whatever he wanted without any accountability. Something had to be done."
"And something was being done about it." Ezekiel replied sitting back on his chair. "With Harry's approval, I was going to get a replacement for his seat at the Wizengamot."
"Who?" Jareth asked with scorn. "A drunk widow who wanted to toss you into Azkaban? That was your great idea?"
"My judgment is far from perfect, I'm the first to admit it." Ezekiel shrugged. "
"FAR FROM PERFECT!?" Jareth enraged shout was interrupted when Ezekiel placed his ring hand on top of the table, gently tapping his fingers. "You tried to ease your guilty conscience by offering a broken man the most powerful position in England. Do you have any idea what could we do with such power? The injustices that could be corrected, a the lives that could be improved. Countless voices, silenced by the oppression of wizard-kind could finally be heard for the first time in generations."
"At what cost, Jareth? Because everything you just said in all your self-righteousness would only be achieved by using Harry as a puppet."
"Ah, so that's the problem." Jareth said leaning backwards. "You don't approve me using a wizard to accomplish my goals. You think of me as a monster for using a child? My methods are a means to an end, no different than pruning weeds in order to let an orchid flourish."
"You did more than just pruning."
"Measure my crimes against what wizard-kind does to every other sentient beings, and I am a saint."
"Oh, so it's all for the Greater Good then? Why thank you for clarifying thatGellert."
"Your petty jokes are beneath you, Black."
"Then let's do something different. Imagine if you can being a small human child. A child treated with cruelty and violence for as long as you remember, to the point of actually believing that you deserve it."
"I know perfectly well all of Harry Potter's injuries."
"So am I, matter of fact I memorized his entire injury list. All sixteen pages. Why don't we go trough the list together and see which one remembers it better?"
Jareth didn't needed to see Ezekiel's eyes to see he wasn't kidding. Both of them began to recite the list of injuries and Jareth surprised himself by mispronouncing or even forgetting some of the injuries. Ezekiel was quickly to correct him and even informed what each and every one of those injuries were. By the time they finished Jareth was both exhausted and disgusted.
"Well, you did better than expected Jareth." Ezekiel said leaning backwards. "Tell me, what does this tells you?"
"Don't try to make me feel pity, Black."
"Quite the contrary, I expect you to realize the kind of person Harry is." He replied looking at the goblin's confused face, he continued. "Sixteen pages, filled to the brim with injuries he sustained. Both sides, at that. That means Harry has thirty-two pages worth of reasons to hate those who called themselves his 'family'. But you know what Harry said, when I offered retribution in his name?" Jareth shook his head intrigued. "He said no. Even after assuring him no-one would be able to trace it back to him, he still refused."
"Don't try to paint him as some sort of saint, Black. I tried to approach the boy several times to get his support for my kind, he rejected me every single time."
"You mean when you were with the Queen?" Ezekiel asked dryly to the surprised goblin. "Yes, Jareth i know about those meetings. Given the state in which I found Harry upon my return, I can't say I disagree with him."
"That boy refused every single offer I made to him. He's no different than all the other Lords, you included."
"Wait." Ezekiel raised his hand confused. "You approached him as a Lord? Pfff. Ha...HaHa...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
" What. Could. You.Possibly. Find. Funny?" Jareth asked enraged.
"You." Ezekiel said between chuckles. "You spectacular knob. Harry isn't a Lord, he doesn't know how to behave around regular people, let alone royalty. What did you do, offer him something?"
"He was supposed to know." Jareth replied vehemently. "He was given a book and took lessons from his Queen herse-"
"What?" Ezekiel interrupted him coldy.
"The boy needed to be taught etiquette. Your Queen offered to.."
"Offered or ordered?"
"She can't order an Heir, Black. You know that already."
"Except Harry isn't just an Heir, Jareth. By all means right now Harry Potter IS the House of Potter. There's no-one else with direct ties to him, everyone is a second or third cousin at best. So when the Queen asks him for something, it counts as a Royal Order for the magic that rules the Ancient and Most Noble Houses."
"That's impossible!"
"Harry just had to name the Queen for her command to activate. It almost choked him to death."
"I didn't knew...there was no possible way for me to know that!"
"I'll let you in another thing you didn't knew: you didn't had to offer Harry anything. He doesn't know anything about the magical society, if you had simply asked for help instead of buying it, he would've helped you. In fact, I imagine that every time you offered whatever it was you offered, Harry said he didn't needed it. Am I right?"
"Yes." Jareth remembered. "He did."
"What he meant was that you didn't had to give him anything to get his help. He would've helped you for free because that's what he wants to do. You didn't had to offer anything to be worthy of his assistance. Do you think he gave his approval for the Potter's Apothecary because of the money?" Ezekiel laughed. "Harry hasn't even visited his own vault yet. He has no idea how much money he has and I very much doubt he cares. Not that I know either, me and my Law-Wizard have send request to meet with the Account Manager for the Potter's vault and have yet to receive a response."
"There's a reason for that..." Jareth said looking downwards.
"What reason?"
"The goblin who was in charge of that vault was in cahoots with Dumbledore." Jareth explained slowly.
"..."
"Thanks to the limitations imposed by the House of Potter none of the books or artifacts were removed, but during the time Dumbledore had access to the vault he removed almost all the gold in it."
"..."
"Black?" Jareth asked concerned seeing Ezekiel's dumbfounded, open-mouthed face. "Black, did you hear a word I just said?"
"A traitor? In Gringotts?"
"Yes." Jareth nodded. "As much as it pains me to admit it, not even my own subjects are immune to that wizard's temptation."
"HOW? I've done work for you in the past and never, ever, have I found one goblin willing to betray this bank."
"Well, he managed to get one of our youngest."
"And what happened to the traitor?"
"I'm almost done with him." Jareth said gesturing at the bones on the table. He quickly took a small silver-looking bell and rang it. "I must ask you for your silence while the shaman examines the scapes."
Ezekiel was too confused to respond when a door behind them opened. A small goblin wearing a long black robe that covered his face entered with solemn pace, carrying with him a large wooden stick with a human skull on top. The goblin walked right next to the king and began inspecting all the bones on his plate. Every rib and vertebrae was subject of a thorough inspection, the shaman separated some of the them that didn't seem to fit whatever criteria they had. Ezekiel's face didn't change from a stone facade, not even when Jareth took the already chewed bones and sucked their marrow. It didn't matter how advanced they were today or how civilized they claimed to be, goblins would be goblins. Just as wizards couldn't escape their very own nature, the goblins would too justify themselves in order to maintain those customs. And the Goblins claimed they haven't gotten anything from the humans, HA!
"I appreciate your patience." Jareth said once the shaman left carrying the tray of bones with him.
"What sort of punishment requires the King to eat the guilty?" Ezekiel asked curious. "I'd imagine they would've made his family eat him, at worst."
"His family did eat him." Jareth replied solemnly. "He was my son."
"Oh." What else could he say?
"The punishment takes several week, removing limbs and non essential organs. Matter of fact today is the last day of the punishment, both for him and for me. It marks me a failure as a parent and Goblin."
"Would you face any backlash from this?"
"No, I disinherited him decades ago. He was the middle child, managed to convince his youngest to involve himself in a high risk investment and planted leads to make him look like a criminal. My oldest son discovered this and reported it directly to me. He was removed from the family, at least in name. My youngest failed to produce a compelling defence and was sent to the surface level as a result. Haven't seen him in years"
"What was his name?"
"He has no name, all record of his existence has been removed. It'll be as if he had never been in the first place. Any mention of his existence will be punished by death"
"But you'll remember..."
"I'll always remember him."
"So, how much gold does Harry has now?" Ezekiel asked shifting the conversation.
"His vault is being filled as we speak, but he shall need a new account manager."
"I see..." Ezekiel replied deep in thought. "How about your oldest?"
"He died a few years back." Jareth answered in a monotone voice. "A collapse in one of our new expansions."
"My deepest condolences." Ezekiel said.
"I appreciate it." Jareth said noticing Ezekiel was indeed sincere. "Pay no mind, I shall personally look for an account manager for Harry's account."
"Then, please excuse my boldness. How sure are you that your youngest was innocent?"
"Quite." Jareth replied harshly. "But the evidence he was able to provide was good enough just to spare his life and barely avoid exile. The law is the law, even for the son of a King."
"Then - and please keep in mind it's just a suggestion - why not name him the account manager? I imagine he'll have learned his lesson by now. He might even be able to regain some honour if he performs well, I imagine. Although I'd have to insist for you to keep a close eye on him. You know, weekly meetings, that sort of thing."
"Highly controversial." Jareth said, looking fondly at Ezekiel for what he was trying to do. "But if that's your suggestion..."
"It is." Ezekiel replied nodding. "When do you think he'll be to take over?"
"We'll have him up to date with the Potter's account in no time, I assure you."
"Very well. By the way, what's his name? I imagine his title might've been removed but I'll have to call him something."
"Griphook." Jareth simply replied.
"Catchy, medieval. I like it."
"It was after one of our ancestors, Griphook The Orc Slayer."
Their conversation was cut again as the black robbed goblin entered the room again, this time sans the stick and carrying a large covered tray with both hands. The goblin slowly but surely placed the tray in front of and removed the cover silently, revealing a severed head. It was rather unsettling how despite not having any facial hair and apparently being boiled, one could easily see the terrified expression that had remained. Whatever he was called, his last seconds on this planet hadn't been pleasant. One reap what one's sow, as some say. The goblin left with the same slowness he entered the room and even after he left, Jareth spend some time examining the face in front of him.
"You know." Jareth finally said. "I had played this scenario in my mind plenty of times before, each time trying and failing to predict how'd I feel about this."
"So, how do you feel?"
"Disgusted." Jareth replied. "I gave him every opportunity, every choice and yet he always took the easiest route, consequences be damned. He broke both my and my first wife's heart time and time again, escaping his punishment by abusing the very system that provided for him. Now look at him. All he amounted was a decent meal." And with that Jareth removed the top of his skull and began dining on his brain.
Ezekiel remained silent as Jareth proceeded to devour his once child. He had to resort to his Occlumency for the most part. The chewing, slurping and cracking sound rose in volume to a rather disgusting level but by the time he was done Jareth simply cleansed himself with a napkin and ran the silver bell again. This time the shaman didn't need to make a thorough inspection, the head had been reduced to the bones and not even the teeth remained. The shaman simply nodded as he took the tray and left.
"Now, regarding the Potter vault." Jareth began once the door was closed. "We currently have no way to know where the money is. I imagine Dumbledore hide it away, he's powerful enough for that."
"And what about the rest of the contents?"
"Books, mostly." Jareth replied. "We're unable to read them, our own magic protects them from anyone not on the approval list. We have been able to move them around manually, opening them even."
"So even if Dumbledore couldn't moved them, he could've at least copied them." Ezekiel said scratching his chin.
"It is possible, yes. However, there's one book we know for a fact he wasn't able to read."
"Which one?"
"The Potter's grimoire."
"It's here?" Ezekiel asked surprised.
"Yes, as per agreed with the late Lord Potter. The book will remain in our possession until Harry is of age, at which point he'll have to come and claim it personally."
"Please don't take this the wrong way, but why would the Head of an Ancient and Most Noble House keep his grimoire here?"
"Non taken." Jareth replied matter-of-factly. "It was a common policy during the War, in fact the only House that didn't do it was yours. I imagine our Dark Objects policy had something to do about it."
"Well, in that case Harry will just have to wait like everybody else."
"And... do you think you could set up a new meeting with Harry Potter?" Jareth asked anxiously. "I'd like to request his assistance properly this time."
"Honestly?" Ezekiel replied leaning back on his chair. "Harry is going through a lot right now. I can't imagine he'll be available for anybody for a long time. But rest assured, he's of a good heart. If he feels you're being treated unjustly, he'll help you."
"I see..." Jareth replied, letting the subject drop. For now. "And what of his proxy?"
"We're still looking for one. As you can imagine, our hands are full at the moment."
"You have no idea how much, Black."
"What do you mean?" Ezekiel asked tilting his head.
"That Queen of yours." Jareth replied. "She's out of her mind. She wanted to install an electrical grid in Diagon for crying out loud!"
"I figure somebody must've talked her out of that, given the fact the alley didn't blow up."
"Barely." Jareth replied exasperated. "I speak with her at least once per week and each time she grows in confidence, to the point of arrogance."
"Jareth, may I be honest for a bit?" Ezekiel asked leaning on the table.
"I imagine it's for the best."
"Thanks." Ezekiel replied happily before his face turned red in anger. "You have to be the biggest idiot I've ever seen. What the bloody hell were you thinking! That woman hasn't taken a single political decision in her life. She's an ornament at best, and you thought you'd be able to do what, exactly? Guide her? She and her entire family live in a realm so different from you, me and even the muggles that might as well be a different universe on its own. They are a bunch of inbred morons when it comes to what you and I call daily life and you're a King and I'm Lord Black for Morgana's sake! "
"I assumed she'd be interested in the lives of her subjects, to create new relations with other nations, even those she hadn't known before. In the end not even the threat of removing her vault worked."
"Of course it didn't." Ezekiel replied shaking his head in frustration. "She has her own money in the Muggle world, the muggles pay her every expense and even then she generates money of her own."
"I had to resort to threatening her to activate a fault line below London." Jareth confessed. "Otherwise she'd have ended up causing a new war between the magic creatures and the muggles."
"There's no fault line below London."
"No, but she doesn't know that."
"Fine." Ezekiel sighted. "I'll deal with her."
"Do it quickly." Jareth urged him. "Once Harry Potter assumes his rightful place, there's no telling of what she might do."
"That's assuming Harry chooses to be a wizard." Ezekiel replied. "She promised to let him choose."
"I'm afraid she has already made that choice for him." Jared said. "The way she and her son are talking about the future, one can see they want Harry Potter in the wizarding world no matter what. Even if he can't be one."
"So, I take it you've heard about Harry's... condition." Ezekiel noted.
"An inverted core? Yes, although it is the first time I've heard of such a thing. Tell me, do you think he'll be able to even hold a wand?"
"I don't know." Ezekiel admitted. "Right now my cousin is meeting with Ollivander as we speak. She's trying to see if a private meeting is possible."
"Is she reliable?" Jareth asked.
"She's one of the best professionals I've ever seen." Ezekiel replied proudly. "I'm sure she'll take this with the seriousness it deserves."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! And then" Dora said taking another sip from her glass. "And then the man turns around and says 'You think that's a mess? You should see my dog!"
"Oh, dear." Ollivander said wiping a tear from his cheek. "My dear lady, I haven't laughed this had in YEARS!"
"Pff, you think that's funny? I've got twenty better stories than that. But, about Harry..."
"Yes, yes, bring the child whenever he's ready. Now even!"
"Great!" Dora replied happily. "But lets get another round, eh? Just for luck... then I'll fetch him and bring him back."
"Of course, of course!"
"I'll trust her with my life." Ezekiel continued.
"I'll take your word, Black. But what are you gonna do about your Queen?"
"Actually, I wanted to speak to you about that. I have an plan but the path I'll take to accomplish it might not be, let's say morally acceptable."
"By wizard standards or goblin ones?" Jareth asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"Well, in that case I should warn you: the Queen has officially recognized the Underground Kingdom as a separate nation, just like the rest of the countries around the globe. To attempt anything against her laws would be considered an act of war."
"In that case, you shall be please to know this doesn't require any illegal action." Ezekiel replied smiling.
"Very well then, let's hear this plan of yours. I must warn you, as long as the friendship between my kind and your House is, I cannot risk the safety of my people should the worst happen."
"Hear what I have to say first, your Majesty. If by the end you find yourself against it, you have my word I shall reconsider my approach."
"Very well, let's hear it."
"MOM!" Dora screamed as she opened the door.
"Nymphadora, what on earth are you doing!" Andromeda said jumping on her seat near Harry. "Are you trying to give me and Harry a heart-attack?"
"Sorry, sorry." Dora apologised at both of them. "I'm glad to see you alright Harry"
"Thanks." Harry replied, rising from the bed without help. "Are you okay?"
"Yes." Andromeda said squinting her eyes in suspicion. "What's so important you had to ran like that?"
"Ollivander." Dora replied. "He agreed to meet Harry in private but we have to go now. Are you ready, Harry?"
"I'm fine... but shouldn't we wait for Ezekiel?"
"Agreed." Andromeda said.
"He's the one who asked me to meet him." Dora replied. "We really have to go now, I don't know how long he can keep his store like that and Zeke could take hours with the King."
"Are you sure about this, Harry?" Andromeda asked at the boy.
"Okay, if it'll help me and Ezekiel said it... I'll go."
"Yes, he's not one to do things without thinking."
"You're completely out of your mind!" Jareth exclaimed, still unable to believe what he heard.
"Is it possible?" Ezekiel asked.
"It's inconceivable!"
"Is. It. Possible?" Ezekiel pressed on.
"I... I suppose so but... I anything goes wrong, and I mean anything, the consequences could be catastrophic. Not just for you, for England as a whole."
"But the Queen won't be able to stop it, wouldn't she?"
"No, not as far as I know." Jareth admitted. "It's quite a gray area."
"Then, do I have your approval? Or at the very least, your promise not to interfere..."
"She won't let this one go, Black." Jareth warned him. "She'll never forgive you for this."
"Oh, dear me." Ezekiel replied mockingly. "I wonder how I'll manage to sleep at night then."
"Fine." Jareth said throwing his hands in the air. "Have it your way, I promise you the Underground Kingdom won't interfere in your affairs."
"That's all I ask." Ezekiel replied getting up from his seat. "If that's all, then I shall take my leave. I'm grateful for this insight into your culture, quite the eye-opener."
"Wait!" Jareth replied, raising from his chair as well. "There's one thing I must know!"
"What is it?" Ezekiel asked intrigued.
"What you did to me before, to take my soul out of my body..."
"Jareth." Ezekiel interrupted him "I'll be happy to answer your questions, but ask yourself this first. Do you really want to know the answer?"
"No..." The king replied after some consideration. "No, I do not."
"Then my friend, I shall take my leave. May your fortune never end." Ezekiel said waving goodbye.
The air was cold when Ezekiel left Gringotts. The conversation had taken far longer than expected, some starts could be seen through the grey clouds and the moon had begun to peek shyly in the sky. He had been informed about Harry's improvement by Cohen, as well as his decision to leave accompanied by Dora and Andromeda to Ollivander's. He never doubted she'd get the job done and had quite a skip on his step as he walked towards the store.
Then the sound of an explosion resonated through the Alley as a tremor shook every structure on sight. Every window was broken as a shockwave threw everyone on their backs. Everyone but Ezekiel, who shrouded himself in the Black Magic as he ran towards the origin of the explosion.
Please, he begged to any force in the universe who might be listening. Please let them be fine, please let me be wrong.
But he wasn't wrong. And his heart fell as he turned around a corner and witnessed the destruction before him. The other stores had barely managed to stand but the one in the middle, the one whose sign was now embedded in the building across the street had spilled to the street, wands tossed and broken along the glasses. Ezekiel ran inside but never made it pass the door.
He stood at the the door threshold and whispered one word.
"No..."
I don't own Harry Potter, all characters except OC belong to J. K. Rowling.