Privet Drive was quiet, as the locale was currently fast asleep in their perfectly ordinary beds. The lamp posts were flickering with a dim light, and the only noise was a stray cat complaining into the night. It was probably hungry, but no one paid attention to the fuzzy animal's quiet plea for food.
The cat jumped and ran away startled, when a few strange creatures suddenly appeared out of nowhere, with a soft click.
These beings were all different sizes and colours. Some had slightly pointed ears, while others had rounded noses and slanted eyes. They were adorned in shiny silver armour, which was decorated with a white carving of a graceful dragon, that was identical on each of their attire, and gave the illusion of being alive. There were swords strapped to each of their waists, and one of them had an intricate axe fixed on their back, that looked threatening. Their legs were covered in the same shiny portective wear, and they wore boots that looked to be made out of animal hide.
"Eban, do you see the child?" His brother, Eanraig asked, as he let the portkey fall back into his pocket.
An almost completely black goblin looked around, familiarizing himself with the area and searching for the infant they were supposed to take into their protective custody. He walked down on the street, – as the portkey did not specify a house number –, until he noticed a basket of blankets.
As he leaned down to pick up the basket with the snoozing Harry Potter in it, he noticed the scar, and his eyes widened for a second, and he started muttering curses in a foreign language.
"What's wrong?" One of his companions asked with a squeaky voice.
"That manipulative old bastard!" Eban exclaimed. "He knew what this scar was, I can sense the spells he had cast over the child, yet he was content to leave him here with that vile thing inside him. Wizards are despicable utter bastards!" He was fuming.
Eanraig walked over to his brother to look at what Eban was talking about, and his expression turned murderous. Harry Potter had a piece of the Dark Lord's soul attached to his forehead, and 'The Great Leader of The Light' had just let it happen. He took no time to get the infant checked out by a healer, he just dumped him in front of this muggle home, in the middle of the night, with a bloody letter, and paid no mind to his condition, or the fact that anyone could have just kidnapped, or disposed of him.
"Let's get him back to Gringotts!" He said, his voice laced with anger. "After visiting The Director, I am sure that he will summon Healer Zaire to examine Mr. Harry Potter." The rest of the goblins looked equally mad, but they nodded, so he took out his portkey, and had everyone gather around, with baby Harry in Eban's protective hold.
In a few seconds, they disappeared from Number Four, Privet Drive and appeared in one of the secret rooms of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. They couldn't portkey into the Main Hall, because everyone would have noticed their tiniest companion and asked uncomfortable questions. Eanraig dismissed their fellow warriors and with little Harry Potter in their custody, he and his brother made their way towards Director Ragnok's office, notifying him of their arrival. In a matter of minutes the golden gate opened and they were invited inside.
"I see you have returned safely from your mission!" Ragnok greeted them with a nod and looked at their dark expressions. "Why do you both look like you are ready to throw someone to our Dragons, for a late night snack?" He asked.
"The-Boy-Who-Lived has a Horcrux in his forehead, Director." Eban said, offering him to take a look. "I am certain that Albus bloody Dumbledore is aware of this, because I can sense the spell-work he had cast on him to check." He explained, while The Director took Harry out from the basket, into his arms.
"What?!" He gasped, and his eyes had a look of pure fury. "We need to take care of Headmaster Dumbledore, but first we need to treat Harry here. I can't believe he let this stand, even if he had no knowledge about this matter, we do, yet he did not ask for our aid. He probably has some sort of lunatic plan for the 'Greater Good', that justifies leaving Harry Potter with a Horcrux in his forehead!" His eyes narrowed and he summoned his most trusted Healer.
While waiting for the Healer, Ragnok transfigured one of the arm-chairs into a crib for the infant, and placed him inside, carefully covering him with the blankets, as they were located underground, so the climate was rather on the cold side and he didn't want him to catch a cold.
For a few moments, he forgot that he was in the company of other goblins, as he let his mind wander to his bonded mate, and how they were having difficulties conceiving an heir. It made his mate feel depressed and he was at a loss what to do, because their Healers have tried everything to help already, unfortunately without success.
Therefore this situation with Harry Potter, had made the Director's blood boil with a deeply rooted anger, that he has never felt before. To doom an innocent soul to a life with that disgustingly vile dark matter in his head, revolted him. The fact that the human, who had such darkness attached to him, was the tiny baby, who rid them from the Darkness in the first place, was scandalous.
Director Ragnok vowed to himself, to make Albus Dumbledore pay for not acting as a decent living being should have. He would initiate an investigation into his finances, and at the earliest opportunity, he would terminate his contract with Gringotts. The Headmaster would soon experience how it would be to be persona non grata with their Nation.
Life was about to get really difficult for the old wizard.
Eban and Eanraig looked at each other, when their Director got lost in his thoughts, sharing a knowing nod. They knew about the situation between him and his bonded mate, as they were his most trusted warriors, assigned to protect him and his family. They were personally groomed and tailored into this position by their father, Master Sharpspin.
Sharpspin was The Goblin Nation's most skilled Master Swordsman. To study under him was an incredible honour. Goblins he taught had often raised in rank, like no other. To be the sons of this widely respected warrior, was an honour of it's own. They were tutored by the highest ranking tutors in every subject, clothed in the highest quality fabrics, and dined in the company of the Director, and even met his bonded a few times, which was an incredibly rare gift.
Goblin marriages were one of the most sacred bonds that existed in the world. Goblins respected their bonded mates, and it was customary to keep the female goblins under fierce protection, so to be in the presence of a married female goblin, was a sign of trust, even among their own kind.
There was absolutely no way that a bonded female goblin would be allowed to be in the company of witches and wizards, or other creatures, as there would be bloody entrails on the floor, if they as much as looked at them wrong.
The Director was pulled out of his musings, when he was notified of the Healer's arrival, so he let him inside and greeted him with ire still apparent in his disposition.
"Healer Zaire, a pleasure to be in your company." He said politely. "We have matters to be dealt with and need your guidance and knowledge, to treat it with the most skill possible." He explained and motioned the elderly goblin towards the crib. "This is Mr. Harry Potter. We have just taken him into our protective custody, courtesy of the Potter will, and we have found something disastrous, when looking him over."
The Healer leaned over the child, and caressed the soft black tuft of hair from his forehead, his expression turning grim. Even without actually examining him, he sensed the darkness radiating from the cursed scar, and sensed the small sliver of another soul's essence in it.
"That vile bastard made Horcruxes!" He exclaimed, his voice raw and radiating power. "This is a breach of our Sacred Laws and cannot be ignored!"
The sound and loudness of his voice woke the snoozing baby, who burst into tears. Every pair of eyes in the room turned towards Harry, who just wanted his mommy, but instead of that, his little eyes found weirdly shaped creatures and his nose was smelling weird smells, instead of his mother's delightful aroma.
"Sssh, it's okay." Zaire mumbled softly, trying to control his anger and looked at his companions. "I need to bring him to the Healing Chambers, and have my team ready to begin the Horcrux extraction process. It will take a few hours, as removing a soul fragment from a living being takes longer and is more complicated, than removing a Horcrux from an object." He explained to the goblins, who were listening attentively.
"Very well, Healer Zaire. I trust your judgment, but I want to be present to oversee the process." Director Ragnok demanded. He wouldn't let Harry Potter out of his sight, until he was safely entrusted to the care of his supposed legal guardians.
He had made a promise to Professor McGonagall, and he would honour it.
Minerva McGonagall lowered herself onto one of the many comfortable couches, that were situated in the Hogwarts Teachers' Quarters and sighed. The past few hours aged her at least ten years, if not more. She felt incredibly angry at the Headmaster, and she was also worried about being found out.
The caring witch knew, that by now the goblins have honoured their end of the deal, and took Harry into their protective custody, because after her visit to Gringotts, she disillusioned herself and went back to Number Four, Privet Drive, to check if he was still there.
She leaned back on the soft cushions and sighed once more. Never in her wildest imagination, would she have assumed, that Abus Dumbledore would abandon a child to that horrible fate, without blinking an eye. She used to look up to the wizard, who radiated power and demanded respect, but her illusions had been truly and thoroughly shattered tonight.
No longer was she oblivious to the Headmaster's manipulations, and no longer would she blindly follow his instructions, like a tamed, house-broken puppy. No! From now on, Minerva McGonagall would stand up for herself and the causes she believed in, no matter how disappointed Albus Dumbledore would be in her.
The Deputy Headmistress no longer desired to walk on the path of obedience. She would be her own person, with her own opinions, and she would fight for justice and equality, not the 'Greater Good'.
She was interrupted in her pondering, when the door flung open, and the Charms Professor walked inside with a somber expression.
"Filius, my friend!" She greeted the tiny Professor, who had a head of dark hair, that was becoming white in some places.
"Good evening, Minerva!" He squeaked, and sat down in an arm-chair, that was opposite the couch she was sitting on. "Have you been out long? I haven't seen you, since..., You know." He muttered, eluding to the tragedy that shook Flitwick more, than it did any other Professor, as Lily Potter was his apprentice.
The stern witch's expression softened at the sight of her mourning friend, and she stood up, walking over to one of the cabinets and reached for two goblets, and a bottle of Ogden's finest Fire Whiskey.
"Yes. I have spent the day away from the castle." She nodded, and poured the liquid of soft amber colour into their containers, and offered one to the wizard. "Dumbledore tasked me with watching a muggle family of three, while he was out there celebrating..." She huffed and sat back down, taking a sip of her drink, and enjoying the way it burnt her throat and warmed her slightly.
"Really?" Filius asked, his eyebrow reaching his hairline. "That is rather peculiar, isn't it?" He wondered out loud, while accepting the Fire Whiskey and sipping it slowly. "What was the purpose in that, if you don't mind me asking? You seem rather frustrated about it." He tilted his head to the side, his eyes gazing at his friend's sharply defined face.
"I suppose I can tell you, but it's not something to be shared with anyone, at least not for a while." She warned and after Flitwick nodded his consent, she begun her tale about watching the Dursley family all day and describing in great detail what happened once Dumbledore joined her, and how she asked for the aid of the Goblin Nation in her task to protect the youngest Potter.
"WHAT?!" Filius Flitwick was on his feet, his drink spilled, with the goblet falling to the ground, as he was wildly gesturing with his hands, his magical core trickling through his body, ready to unload it's majestic power on the unsuspecting subject of the Professor's anger. "How dare Dumbledore act like a god over Harry Potter's life? How dare he abandon him in front of a muggle home?! Especially that muggle home! Petunia Dursley loathed her sister!" He yelled into the room, and the Transfiguration Professor was glad that she had the intelligence to cast some powerful privacy and silencing spells before sharing her tale.
"I know." She quietly agreed and stood up to place a soothing hand on her friend's shoulder. "That is why I acted on the Potter's behalf and asked the Goblin Nation for help." She smiled a small smile.
"Thank you, Minerva." He grasped her hand in his and squeezed it. "You are the most resourceful witch, that I have ever met, besides the late Lily Potter of course." He said in a sad tone and sighed. "I just know that the Potters are incredibly angry at the Headmaster for his actions." He shared his thoughts. "I feel a bit better, that he is in the custody of the goblins though. They are a just nation, and they will place him with his legal guardians, not those muggle monsters."
"I agree." She said and sat back down. "Now, I will have none of this depression! Director Ragnok assured me he would send word of Harry's placement, so we will know more in a few days!" She reassured the shaking Flitwick. "Let's talk about something that will cheer us up!" She suggested.
The Transfiguration and Charms Professors have spent the next few hours reminiscing about the Potters. The sun was high on the horizon when they went to their respective beds to get some well deserved sleep and dream about a better era for their kind and Harry Potter.
Sirius Black wasn't as lucky, as he had a lot of trouble on his hands. Once he learned that the Potters were murdered, he instantly knew that one of their best friends had betrayed them. It was a sharp jolt of pain to his chest, as he thought about James and Lily, and his Godson.
He vowed to get revenge, which is why he wasn't fighting Hagrid, as he yanked little Harry out of his arms, and practically stole his motorcycle to take him away.
The enraged Auror took a sharp breath and steeled himself for the task ahead and combed the area for any sign of life. His eye narrowed, as he sensed movement from the right side and saw Peter Pettigrew lean over the rubble of Godric's Hollow, looking for something.
He stepped closer to his former friend and got his wand at the ready, as the small frame of Peter grabbed onto a wand, which he noticed belonged to Voldemort.
"Who would have thought you would end up being enslaved to that devil bastard!" Sirius said, his voice quiet and icy cold.
The blonde wizard turned around startled, his face drained of all colour, and his expression showed fear.
"S-s-sirius, my f-f-friend!" He stuttered. "I j-j-just got h-here." He lied and grabbed onto his own wand, thinking of a spell he could cast, once he needed it.
He knew that this would get ugly soon. Sirius Black was a respected, highly skilled Auror and his own magical power was very weak. He was weak, which is why he succumbed to slavery at the Dark Lord's hand. He couldn't stand the pain he inflicted on him, so he betrayed his best friends. It wasn't hard to choose between his own skin, or someone else's life.
Peter Pettigrew would have sacrificed his own mother for his safety, if he had to. He had no spine.
"How could you betray James and Lily? They loved you." He said and fired a spell at the blonde man, who evaded and started running towards a crowded street.
Sirius was rapidly firing curses at the rat, his judgement clouded by his need to seek revenge on his best friends' death, which is why he was not paying attention to what Peter did. Pettigrew cast the Killing Curse at a dozen muggles, sneering viciously and turning towards Black with a manic expression.
"Y-y-you d-deserve everything, t-that is going t-to c-c-come at y-y-ou!" He said with a cackle, as he blasted off one of his own fingers and before Sirius could react, he changed into his Animagus form and disappeared into the night, leaving a now very guilty looking wizard at the scene of his crimes.
That is when a team of Aurors apparated on the scene, binding the only person they have found in the middle of dead muggles, – with a Body Bind –, and sent a Patronus to their boss, Barty Crouch.
It was half an hour later, when Sirius Black was thrown into Azkaban, without the promise of a trial, to be at the Dementors' mercy.
He flopped down the dirty ground and transformed into his Animagus form, to protect himself, as best as he could.
It was going to be a tough period for the unjustly disgraced Auror.
A/N: There we go. An action-packed chapter with a look into baby Harry's extraction to Gringotts, a brief moment from Minerva's and Flitwick's friendship and Sirius' imprisonment. I have also wrote a little about the goblins, because they are important in this story and I am growing attached to them. If everything goes according to my plans, then the next chapter will finally deal with the Potter will, which I have been promising for a while now, but something always seems to get in the way.
I would also like to thank you for your incredible support of this story. I feel very lucky to have you all reading and enjoying this story. Chapter 3. has over a thousend views alone and it is blowing my mind. Thank you for all the reviews, favourites and follows, it totally makes my day whenever I see them.
I would like to respond to some reviews in my Author's Note, as I cannot do it privately:
sameer . pur: Thank you for the compliment. Hermione and Harry stories are some of my favourite, and I am glad we share this trait. Hopefully you will continue enjoying what you read. Thank you for the review!
Guest Review #1: Thank you! I am glad you are enjoying reading it so far! :)
Linda: Thank you for reading the chapters! I am glad you are enjoying yourself.
Thank you guys for all the support you are showing, I hope to live up to your expectations with my writing and you continue to enjoy what you read!
