Chapter Six: The Politics of Dahn-senge

In which Draco's evening is thoroughly ruined, the Goblin plot thickens, governments are insulted, and old pets are put to good use.

We got the message; I heard it on the airwaves -
The politicians are now DJ's

The broadcast was spreading; station to station -
Like an infection across the nation

Well you know you can't stop it
When they start to play
You gotta get out the way

The politics of dancing
The politics of feeling good
The politics of moving
Is this message understood ?

- The Politics of Dancing: Paul Fisherman (Re-Flex)

***

Draco Malfoy and Peliah Mercier Apparated from the Welsh border and directly into a snow-storm that, for some reason Draco couldn't fathom as he started to gasp, made them both start sneezing vehemently. Thankfully the onslaught only seemed to last for several seconds, and when Draco managed to open his watering eyes and look about, he was rather taken aback by the chaos around him.

"What the hell is going on?" Peliah said in a voice more angered than startled. What indeed? The snow storm turned out to be a cloud of owl feathers, released by what seemed to be every owl in wizardom flapping madly through the confined space of the street.

Draco shook his head, even as he quickly scanned the crowd trying to locate a face friendly enough to approach for answers. Not that this was a simple thing to try and do; wizards, Aurors, witches, goblins and owls seemed to be engaged in some odd tarantella, all running and moving in circles and shouting, growling and hooting as one. Peliah grabbed his robes and pulled him back with her just as a spell shot dangerously close to the sport where Draco's head had just been. They both quickly glanced at each other then cast a repelling charm in front of them.

"Peliah, do you see anyone we know?"

"Isn't that the chief Auror?"

Draco have her a slight glare, "Really, Peliah; do you see anyone we know who won't find a way to blame this all on me once they speak with me?"

"Oh don't be so dramatic, my dragon. Even I wouldn't blame this on you," she said with a grin, even as she deflected another hex that had bounced off of a pile of cauldrons at the magical supplies shop.

Before Draco could say anything else, he was stunned to speechlessness as he did recognise two of the members of the crowd. Hesitating only a second, he took hold of Peliah's hand and pulled her forward towards the two figures. Without stopping as he reached the other two, he released Peliah only to reach out and grab an arm in each hand and continue forward propelling his new companions in front of him into the relative safety of a doorway. Only when he had the others safely against the doorframe and shielded from the street with his own self did he speak again.

"Miss Lupin! Mr. Weasley! What in the name of Salazar Slytherin is going on? How did these owls get out and…."

"Griffin!" choked Annie. Draco couldn't decide if he was more surprised by the fact that Annie was in fact crying, or by the implication that even Griffin Black could have done something so insane as to have caused this scene. Annie's distress checked his next comment, however. Surely had that child done this willingly she would not be so shaken; she would probably, considering their history, be amused.

"Miss Lupin, what do you mean? Is Mr. Black here somewhere?"

"NO! No! He's gone! So is Roarke…just through there," she pointed with a ferocity and a slight snarl now, behaviour Draco had only ever seen Roarke herself engage in. "They TOOK them!" Annie's tears had been transfigured into rage as she spoke, and she now lunged to move past Draco. He reached out quickly and blocked her, then held her firmly in front of him and forced her to look at him.

"Miss Lupin! Stay right here where I can keep an eye on you and kindly do NOT move again until I give you permission to do so! Am I clear in this?"

"Yes, Professor," she answered automatically, even as Draco could feel her straining slightly in his grip. For this reason he did not let go, even as he glanced quickly at Peliah and indicated with a shake of his head that she had better keep a close eye on what was going on behind them, as the din seemed only to be getting louder by the moment. Draco turned to Gary Weasley instead.

"Mr. Weasely, has something happened to young Mr. Black and the elder Miss Lupin?"

"Yes, Sir! They've just been taken, along with some Muggle, by some goblins… Something is happening with goblins, and with Gringotts. They…one of them indicated that Roarke was part of what was going on…."

"Right, and my Aunt Belinda has succeeded at long last in removing the hex my father put on her when they were in their teens!" muttered Draco, even as he released his hold on Annie's right arm so that he could turn and scan the scene behind him again. Annie took a step forward at that out of instinct but it only took a very slight tightening of his right hand to halt her movement. He did not even look back as he said, firmly and loudly enough to be heard over the shrieking and growing sound of objects shattering as charms and hexes reached them, "What did I just ask of you, Miss Lupin?"

"But Professor!" she started, and Draco felt himself gear up for yet one more debate he would most likely loose with this disturbingly intelligent child, until Annie drew up short and now grabbed his arm herself and actually shook him.

"That one! That one! He was right there! Kentvicks said something to him just before they snatched Sis and Black! Get him!"

Draco, for reasons he never came to understand throughout his long life, simply did as he was told, and 'got him'. Spinning to follow the little goblin who was now running past him in the direction of Gringotts, and what he no doubt assumed would be safety, Draco raised his left arm and cast the first spell he could remember that would have any effect on one of the nasty little bastards. That is was a decidedly dark spell and, by the letter of the law, illegal, was not of consequence to Draco at that moment. A dark blue wisp came from his wand, accompanied by a decidedly frozen gush of air. It wrapped itself around the fat little goblin and actually pulled him off of his feet and into the air upended; the spell actually tightened around each of the goblins fingers, effectively stopping him from being able to cast any magic himself. The goblin hung there a moment, then opened his mouth to shriek. This only caused the spell to whip up his arms to his face and clamp his mouth shut by wrapping itself around the man's chin and nose and pulling them tightly together. A frantic "hmmmmff! HMMMMMFFF!" was all that was heard as Draco flicked his wand and summoned the goblin to him.

Draco swung the goblin, harder than was necessary, against the wall and paused only as he heard the sounds of the street grow very dim behind him; obviously Peliah had cast a 'not here' charm.

"My beloved, you do recall it is illegal to cast 'not here' charms in this place?" he asked with a hint of a smile. Peliah returned his look and simply shrugged. Draco looked at Annie and Gary, who did have the sense of mind to look rather chagrined by what they were seeing, though it was obvious they knew exactly what was being done.

"Children," said Draco, as calm and collected as ever, "the most effective forgetful-spells we cast are often the ones we cast upon ourselves. Or at least I think that is what I would intend to say, had I ever been witness to questionable casting in public and required such an action to be taken. Not that I have. Am I clear?"

"Very", said Gary Weasely, who now looked amused.

"Decidedly, Professor," added Annie, who was now glaring at the upturned goblin with a look Draco hoped he never faced himself. Draco shared one more glance with Peliah before he stepped forward to get a good clear look at his goblin catch. Had the situation not been so tense and decidedly disturbing knowing that Griffin and Roarke we in very real danger at the hands of the outraged goblins, Draco would, for the first time in his life, have roared with delight and laughter at what he saw.

Gods, perhaps it is true after all that if each of us waits long enough we will see the universal humour only you can indulge in. Thank you for this.

Draco took deliberate advantage of the fact that the captive goblin now clearly registered exactly who had ensnared him and practically exploded as he started to struggle harder against the spell. At least, as long as the spell let him; his movements were noticeably slowing as the wisp started to constrict against him.

"Shouldn't do that, old chap, as the bind will only draw tighter against any resistance you give it. Remember it is only a spell, and has no ability to consciously understand that it may be harming you…irreparably…as it tightens its hold."

The goblin immediately stopped struggling, and now just glared at Draco, who smiled even further at him, and stepped right up to his rapidly colouring face. The goblin tried to look enraged, suspended upside down against the wall against an advertisement for the latest edition of "Zounds and Redardo's Atlas of Muggle Oddities", but he managed only to look more frightened as Draco stopped inches from him and gave him a pale and bored looking smile.

"Why Farcourt, going somewhere?"

The little bank manager only gave a muffled squeak and wrinkled his nose as best he could against the constraints of the spell about his face. Draco waved his wand and the wisp retreated from Farcourt's nose and chin just enough to allow the fellow to speak.

"There are benefits to being a DADA instructor," purred Draco, very quietly in Farcourt's ear, which was level to his face. "I know some very interesting ways of asking questions. As you seem to have decided not to try to respond to version one of my asking, I suppose I shall have to try version two. And so forth, I'm sure you understand."

Farcourt had a momentary fit of defiance.

"You wouldn't dare, my Lord Malfoy; you've too much to lose showing that you're just what everyone expects!"

"Interesting tactic. But you do have a point; it simply wouldn't do to continue this discussion here in public. Miss Lupin, Mr. Weasley, please take hold of an arm each and you will stay with me. Peliah, get to the house immediately. Should anyone call, I am momentarily unavailable, but take them to the front parlour and have them wait while you contact me. I shall be at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sirius Black. And tell the Lupins to come there immediately."

"And if your mother asks after you?"

"Tell her I am torturing a goblin. She'll be so delighted she may just cry."

Peliah laughed and vanished after stepping outside of the charm she had cast over the group so as not to break it before Draco was ready. Annie hesitated and looked back at the remains of the Owl Emporium, which was now being swarmed over by Aurors who seemed to be shouting at each other. Draco spoke softly to her.

"Annie?"

She gave him a startled look at hearing him address her by name.

"Annie, my dear, let the Aurors do what they will. Should they reach Roarke and Griffin before we do, so much the better. But I think we had best see what Farcourt here has to say for himself and, shall we say, see about getting your sister and your friend back on our terms. They will have to, for the sake of propriety, work though Dang-senge. We have no such restrictions, and will fare better I am sure."

Annie seemed to want to say something, but stopped and just nodded at Draco, taking his arm as he had requested. She gave Farcourt another enraged stare.

"Just you bloody wait," she sneered. "You think you should be afraid of Professor Malfoy, I bet. But you just wait until Sirius and Liz get their hands on you!"

Draco gave Farcourt one more malicious smile. "Indeed, sir; you thought I was nasty when you tried to fiddle me to death with red-tape? You have no idea what lies in wait for you just now. I dare say you will be begging that I in fact serve as your protector within the hour. Now, here we go."

***

The blackness that surrounded Griffin only lasted for a few seconds. Almost as soon as it had descended, it fell back a bit and Griffin noticed streaks of red and yellow he assumed to be torches lighting an underground cavern. At that moment they all stopped flying forward and began to plunge downward, moving even faster than before. Griffin ground his eyes shut tightly and focused on the grip of the goblins, knowing that he certainly would not be smashed into the floor of some cave while they held on. Just as this tactic almost failed him, however, the flight ended abruptly and Griffin was in fact dropped in a heap with his companions on a dirt floor.

He opened his eyes just in time to see goblin legs disappearing through a small vaulted door opposite where he lay, and to see Roarke leap to her feet and move for the door. It was shut when she reached it and she was only able to slam a fist against it with a curse Griffin knew Katie would pass out from had she heard it. He knew from experience exactly what one could and could not say within her earshot.

"Roarke?" he called out, surprised to hear the shake in his own voice.

Roarke came away from the door, reaching into her pocket for her wand even as she muttered around her hand, which was held to her mouth as she tried to soothe her bruised knuckles prior to healing them. She looked up at Griffin with a raised eyebrow even as she started to wave her wand over her hand.

"What?"

"Um, well…." Griffin tried to think of a question, but he was too preoccupied at that point with watching Roarke fix her hand and seeming to never think about trying her wand on the door. As he continued to fail to say anything Roarke shifted her attention to the insensate Billy. She knelt next to him and gave him a quick once-over, before tapping her wand to his chest with a gentle "envenerate". Billy's chest glowed for a moment and then he sat straight up and had a violent coughing fit.

"Now, now," said Roarke in a surprisingly gentle voice. "Deep breaths. You've had a bit of a shock. Well, we all have, but nothing too bad." Griffin could almost see the unuttered yet hanging in the air between them. He shifted to sit up on his knees and shuffled over to sit next to Billy opposite of Roarke and tried to give the poor Muggle a reassuring smile and nod. Considering he had no idea himself what was going on, it was a tad tricky, but Griffin was resolved not to panic unless Roarke did, and that was hardly likely to happen unless he really had to wish this lifetime goodbye and hope the next go-round lasted a bit longer.

Billy tried to take the deep breaths, but was still sputtering a bit. Roarke reached back into her robes and pulled out a bottle, which she opened very carefully and held up to Billy's lips for him to sip from. Griffin gave a little huff, finding himself amused despite the circumstances.

"Taken to carrying potions about like your mum? You are going to be a healer in the end, aren't you?"

"Hardly. Not unless the Muggles know something we don't," she said, holding up the bottle now so Griffin could read the 'Diet Coke' on the label. "Though I find this a pleasant tonic I sincerely doubt it holds any magical solutions to ailments."

Billy stopped coughing and looked at both of them with wide eyes.

"Okay, this is way out the realm of what I can deal with. Sorry. I'm not even interested in hearing where I am…."

Roarke stood up. "Good, as I don't think I can help you there. Griffin? Any ideas?"

"A cave seems a rather likely answer."

"Yes, thank you. Cave it is. Cave where?"

Griffin stood himself with a sigh and went to stand next to her as she inspected the door.

"Well why don't you open the door and we can find out?"

Roarke faced him with her hands on her hips. "And I would do that exactly how?" she challenged. Griffin gave an exasperated 'humph', grabbed her wand from her belt and turned to the door.

"Alohamora!"

Absolutely nothing happened. Now, while it was always advisable wizards and witches use their own wands, it wasn't impossible to use another's. Griffin assumed he was simply not strong enough to do this, and handed Roarke her wand roughly and muttered 'you bloody do it!' while he reddened. Roarke smiled at him and shook her head, but she did take back her wand, raise it, and with an overly elegant sweep said 'Alohamora' herself. Griffin gaped as absolutely nothing happened, then looked sideways at Roarke.

"Griffin, dear, who just took us here?"

"Um… goblins…."

"And that means…?"

Griffin sank to the floor and leaned his back on the door now with a scowl. "Tuath. We're stuck."

Billy seemed more interested in this conversation than he claimed to be. "What's 'tuath'?"

"It's the official title of the magic used by Goblins. It's different than our magic, so they have ways of working against us that we can't control with normal means."

"Normal means. Normal as in 'standard, everyday, run-of-the-mill magic?"

"Exactly."

"Well that just clears that up, thanks," said Billy in a small and tired voice as he lay back down on the ground.

Griffin shook his head, but before he said anything else, he suddenly realised what Roarke had really said. Growing up in the manner he had, Griffin knew to listen very, very carefully to every word uttered in his presence as it could have far reaching consequences not to grasp a meaning of something.

"Firecracker, did you say 'normal' means?"

Roarke smiled down at him with a slight twinkle.

"Indeed. Now why do you think I was invited to work at Gringotts in the first place? But don't get too excited; our 'hosts' are well aware of what I can and cannot do. Or, at least, they think they are. It's going to take me a while to figure out if there are any cracks in this place. And I am going to need your help, Griffin."

"My help? I'm no whiz-for-atoms with tuath, Roarke."

"No, you are not. But you are top of your class in Divinations, are you not?"

Griffin answered with a slow 'yes', trying to figure out what possible use that could be to anyone let alone help them out of their current situation.

Billy looked over at them again with a curious look. "What class?"

"Divinations," said Roarke smoothly, holding a hand out to Griffin so she could pull him to his feet and then steer him towards the wall opposite the door. "You would be more familiar with the term of 'fortune telling'." Billy looked totally confused, and Griffin smiled at him even as he and Roarke stepped over him to reach the wall.

"Don't ask me what she's thinking, I'm at a loss on this one as well. You want me to try and see if our future is to be stuck in this little cavern?" he said with a little chuckle.

"Not at all. I want you to find what I am very certain is hidden behind one of these walls. Remember, the goblins have us somewhere they consider 'safe' I am sure, and they always use this particular little item when wizards are involved. In fact, most of Gringotts' vaults are secured with them. Something called a 'pennwij'…."

"That's a spell marker. We did them in DADA last semester; Professor Malfoy said decidedly nasty things about them."

Roarke nodded but pointed at the wall with more determination. "And exactly why are they so dangerous?"

Griffin thought about that one as he regarded the wall carefully. "Well, they are not unique to goblins or anything. In fact, they are ancient Egyptian magic, not tuath or even…"

"Skip the history lesson, Professor Binns and get to the DADA part of it," said Roarke, now tapping her foot at him. Even Billy had now stood and come over to join them in staring at the wall, and he looked at Griffin with what Griffin had a sinking feeling was hope.

"Well…well; because they are imparted with a form of sentience. They can feel…; they know we are here. And if we uncover them, they let out an alarm at best and curse us at worst. Some scholars think they are the source of the Muggles' 'mummy's curse' rot."

"Ah, would that I could award points to Gryffindor, Mr. Black."

Billy asked if this was another form of magic, which gave Griffin a much needed laugh.

"Hardly, Billy. Despite what some people might tell you. Roarke? Why do you think I can find this thing if it is here? And what do you intend to do with it once it is found?"

"You, Idiot Boy, are naturally empathic. So if you concentrate, you should be able to sense anything that has a presence. And the pennwij has one. While you look for it, I'm going to figure out the best way to get at it. Which will, no doubt, involve Mr. Stockwell here."

Billy looked horrified at this idea and shook his head. "No way, no how! I'm not touching ANYTHING mentioned in the same sentence as the phrase "mummy's curse"!"

"But Billy, were you not listening to Griffin? That's all rot. Not even an issue!"

Griffin watched Billy with his best neutral face and hoped the man had not recovered his wits to notice the details Roarke was leaving out of that explanation. The details about their discussion of what the pennwij really could do to them. Thankfully, Billy decided not to think about it any further and in fact gave Roarke a rather sappy grin.

"So, I can in fact help you with this?"

Roarke beamed at him and actually reached up to pat the man on the cheek. "Absolutely. Now, let's give Griffin some room so he can concentrate. Come over here with me and help me with something else." Griffin barely managed to hold back the laugh as Billy turned to follow Roarke with an openly adoring look on his face. Roarke gave Griffin one final wink and mouthed 'good luck' before they retreated to the opposite side of the chamber.

Griffin faced the wall with a determined look, and slowly closed his eyes and started chanting a meditation to himself so he could try and calm himself to a point where this nutty notion of Roarke's might just work. He slowly relaxed to the sound of his father's voice repeating in his mind: Griffin, if you must be a seer, please try to be reasonable about it.

***

Sirius Black was not well known for taking his own advice. In fact, as Draco Apparated his odd collection of companions to the Blacks, he deliberately avoided bringing them all directly into the house and elected instead to appear on their front porch, then knock. Draco had appeared unbidden into Sirius' home just once, over a decade ago, and was not in any mood to repeat the performance no matter who he was bringing with him. He deliberately did not turn around to check if the Muggle neighbours were in fact witness to the sudden arrival of a middle aged man in robes with a teenager on each arm and a goblin suspended in the air next to his head. Draco reached forward to knock on the door out of habit, but it was flung away from him as Annie grabbed the handle and told the door to open 'this INSTANT'.

"PADFOOT! LIZ!"

Draco quickly pulled the dangling Farcourt into the entry even as Gary swung the door closed behind them and looked at him with a questioning expression.

"Professor, why didn't you just come in?"

"Mr. Weasely, I doubt Mr. and Mrs. Black's door recognises me and my history with your dear friend Griffin's father dictates that I not take such a liberty unless I have a strong desire to be hexed that day."

"Ah. Well, come on…."

Draco and Gary moved forward even as they heard voices coming from the far side of the house.

"Annie! Sweetheart, what on earth…."

The ensuing conversation was not clear until the unmistakable cry of "WHAT?!?" came from Sirius Black. Seconds later the man himself appeared at the top of the landing with Annie and Liz running in tow. Sirius shot down the stairs and skidded to a halt in front of Draco. Draco braced himself for the onslaught and was startled into a momentary silence when the only words from Sirius were a rather strained "what happened?"

Draco indicated Farcourt in the air next to him.

"Black, I have little idea myself as to what occurred prior to my arrival in the Alleyway. Aurors are, right now, all over the scene and will no doubt be able to tell you more than I can when they arrive. But you and I know full well that they will be forced to investigate what is happening through the Goblin Congress, and that we have no real idea of knowing if the Dahn-senge is in fact behind what is going on. I thought it more…prudent…to bring this one," here Draco pointed at Farcourt again, "here so we could talk to him ourselves. Not that you will have any recollection of my doing so, of course," added Draco quietly.

Sirius stared at Draco for a moment and then turned to face the goblin.

"Where the HELL is my son?"

"Sirius…" said Liz, coming up behind him and taking his arm. Draco was rather taken aback by the look on Liz's face. In all the years he had known her, he had never seen her look as upset. But then, you have never seen her in such a situation.

"Liz," started Sirius in return, turning to look at her and then stopping as she put a finger to his lips.

"First off, Draco is right in saying that the Aurors may be here at any moment. Get that thing out of the front hall right now. Take him to your office and we will talk to him there. And we need to get Remus and Katie…."

Draco interrupted, even as he moved to follow Black up the stairs. "Mrs. Black, Peliah has gone to tell them what has happened and to send them here. They should arrive at any moment. I would suggest that once they get here, you ask them to contact Malcolm as soon as possible, as he may in fact be able to tell us what is happening at the Ministry now."

"And Harry! Contact Harry, Liz!"

"No; not Potter."

Sirius stopped and gave Draco quite a look, but Draco shook his head calmly. "Potter is too high-ranking, Black. We are about to engage in something I personally do NOT want the Ministry finding out about, and it would be best Potter not know about any illegal interrogations with a citizen of an unfriendly government. Malcolm is, bless him, a first-year. He won't be noticed."

Draco saw Sirius think that logic over for a moment then he nodded and continued to lead them to his study at the back of the house. Just as they opened the door, Remus stepped from Sirius' fire and gave the goblin suspended between Draco and Sirius a fevered and dangerous stare. At that moment Draco remembered that the full moon was to be the next night.

"Where's Katie?" asked Sirius gruffly, even as he pointed for Draco to place Farcourt on the table in the centre of the room.

"Contacting Malcolm to find out what is happening. She'll be along later…." Remus stopped as Annie came into the room and ran over to him to hug him fiercely.

"Shush, Sweetheart. We'll get this sorted. Are you alright, little one?"

"Yes," she said in a tone that made Draco cringe. Years of teaching had made him become far too attached to his students he discovered a while ago, and he disliked seeing any of them so upset. This was the generation who was never supposed to speak in such tones. They had all worked too hard and given up too much not to have that come true. With a snarl, he now turned to Farcourt, feeling an equally irate Black on one side and a livid Remus on the other.

"Well, Farcourt. As I said to you before, there are simple ways you can help me, or there are difficult ways. You can decide."

Farcourt still kept up a defiant attitude.

"They wouldn't dare touch me, any more than you would! You think I don't know who you all are? You think I don't know that all of you tread lightly with your pathetic Ministry!?"

Draco indicated for Remus and Sirius to step back from the table for a moment. They looked at each other then took a few steps away in perfect tandem. Draco then leaned in very close to Farcourt and gave him the coldest look he could manage. Then once Farcourt twitched, Draco smiled again.

"Now pay very, very close attention to me. You see, Farcourt, what you have always suspected about me, well, is quite true," here the goblin turned a very sickly shade of green, and Draco continued with even more relish. "And you think that I, or an ex-convict, or a werewolf are at all worried about what you say about us? Do you really? You know, I've seen them loose their temper. Black is particularly nasty. And just in case this had escaped your notice in all the excitement," Draco pointed calmly over Farcourt's shoulder out the window. Farcourt turned slowly and choked when he saw the nearly full moon hanging low in the sky.

"And if you are eaten up, little man, who will hear you then?"

"NO!"

Draco smiled again. "Farcourt, you are a bank manager, not a goblin freedom fighter. Tell me what I want to know. Don't make me get it from you. Not that I would particularly mind doing that, considering our history together. I more than owe you a few…headaches."

Farcourt started to struggle again, forgetting the spell still held him. He did manage to stop, though, as the wisp once more tightened on his nose and chin.

"Malfoy…" said Sirius in an impatient tone behind him, but Draco only held up his hand for silence and Black seemed willing to give him a few more moments.

"Well, Farcourt? What is it to be? When I loosen the spell is it to hear what you have to say, or is it to pour something cold and nasty down your little throat? You do know about Slytherins, of course. We don't lose. No matter what it takes. And those Gryffindors behind me are in no mood to be noble with you right now."

The goblin nodded as much as he could before the spell tightened further. Draco let him sit there a bit as he turned to Sirius and Remus.

"I'm not sure what we'll get from him, but we'll get something. Just continue to stand there and look outraged, will you? I'm afraid I have rather slandered you both and it won't do if you prove me wrong. I won't do anything too hideous."

"Do what you damn well like, Malfoy," growled Sirius. "Just get it done…."

Before Draco could turn back to Farcourt, the front door chime sounded. Liz took Gary and Annie by the hand and exited the room, amidst Annie's protests. Nobody moved for a few moments until Gary came back in and motioned for Sirius to come with him.

"Sirius, it's the Chief Auror. Liz says to look stunned when they tell you what's going on. And not to jump on the Dahn-senge representative they have with them."

Draco saw Sirius give Remus a long look, and once Remus gave a single shallow nod, Sirius turned to go with Gary. He did not look at Draco or Farcourt again, and closed the door behind him. Then Draco saw the unmistakable shimmer of a locking charm on the door. He raised an eyebrow at Farcourt and motioned for Remus to remain where he was as he raised his wand to release the goblin. Remus was standing in front of the fire, arms crossed, and looking fevered in the half-light. Draco wasn't sure if he imagined he heard a growl as the spell disappeared and Farcourt collapsed on the table gasping.

"Now then," started Draco, in overly polite tones, "what is it to be, Sir? Truth or tonic; I believe I left it to you to decide."

"I don't know where…."

Farcourt gave a little squeak as Remus did distinctly growl now and Draco heard him step forward, halting only as Draco held up a finger in a lazy fashion without even turning to look at him.

"Not good enough, sir. Why did any of this occur at all? And don't you dare tell me you've no idea."

Farcourt mumbled something and now started to wring his hands and tug at his lapels in a nervous fashion. Draco clucked at him.

"Speak up; you're already in for it with your comrades for getting caught. One does not teach DADA without knowing a little bit more than the average wizard about your ways. Of course, I am not completely uncivilised. I could just offer to let you leave with the Dahn-senge representative downstairs right now…."

"NO! Don't!"

Draco did stand up and go over to Remus now.

"Remus, this little bastard probably has no idea where your daughter is. He's nothing; I'm sorry I wasn't able…."

"Draco! This is more than we could hope for in this situation! Find out why he doesn't want the Goblin Council involved; either he's helping a group from Gringotts do something or the Council is in fact behind whatever the hell happened."

Draco considered this, then turned back to Farcourt as something occurred to him.

"Why the Owl Shop?"

"Wh..what?"

"Why was the owl shop destroyed?"

Farcourt seemed to consider his answer a little to long, and Draco finally lost his temper. He lunged forward and grabbed Farcourt by the lapels and pulled him to his feet. With the goblin standing on the table, he was now eye level with Draco.

"In extraordinary situations it is said that ordinary men do extraordinary things. I am telling you this moment that I am not exempt from that, and that in fact I have far less to lose than you might think I do. I believe you yourself commented that some things are only to be expected of me. Shall I live up to my reputation?"

Farcourt shook his head.

"Then let me give you some yes or no questions. I think the event this evening was staged."

Farcourt nodded slightly.

"I will not ask by whom as that is not a yes or no question, and I frankly do not care. But the event was deliberately constructed in front of that owl shop."

"Yes," squeaked Farcourt.

"And there is something valuable in the shop."

Farcourt said nothing.

"I'll take that as a no, as a refusal on your part would not be a good idea at this point. There is something …."

Remus now came forward and spoke.

"There is something hidden in the owl shop," he stated.

Farcourt started to say something then shook his head, but he looked a little more nervous.

"There is something that the owl shop is hiding," continued Remus.

Now Farcourt nodded.

"Do you know what that is?" asked Draco, and had to smile as Farcourt went green again with fear. Draco looked at Remus and smiled slightly. "I think that is a yes," he said, but before he could continue Farcourt spoke up.

"A gate! A gate! But that's of no use to you, as you wizards can't cross it alone, and you can't even find it!"

Draco and Remus both looked at Farcourt and then Draco picked him up bodily and moved to the fire.

"Right, well, as that is the case, you have no more use to us. Good day, Farcourt!"

Before anything else was said, Draco grabbed some floo powder from a glass jar on the mantle, threw it in the fire and cried out "Malfoy Manor!" before tossing the goblin in the flames. Remus raised an eyebrow at him.

"And the point of that?"

Draco shrugged. "My mother despises goblins. He is not going to have an easy time explaining how the hell he got in the house or convincing her to let him go. An act, I am afraid," said Draco with a sigh, "of pure maliciousness and exasperation on my part."

But when he turned to look at Remus, he was very surprised to see he was smiling,

"What? You heard him. Are you telling me my dear Professor that you know of some means of passing Goblin Gates that the rest of us are uninformed of?"

"Not at all. But just because humans can't get in there unescorted it doesn't mean we are at a dead end. Quite the contrary. But we need Sirius in here…." He started, as he made for the door. As if on cue, Sirius reappeared. He looked first startled then dejected when he saw that the goblin had vanished. Before he could say anything, though, Remus smiled at him and started to speak.

"There's a goblin gate either in the Eeylops Emporium or somewhere behind it, Padfoot. Sounds like they took Roarke and Griffin…."

"And a Muggle."

"What?"

"I've just heard the Ministry's version of events, with Annie and Gary to back them up. Guess who's with them; Billy Stockwell."

Remus looked very surprised at this, Draco noted, but he didn't bother to ask who this Muggle was as he spoke up.

"Well and good, but this still doesn't…."

"Draco, are you forgetting about Padfoot?"

Draco looked at Sirius, who now was actually smiling, but he shook his head. "Black certainly cannot go into somewhere like that on his own, and a dog will only have limited success among goblin holes anyway."

"Very true. What creature do you think would be best hunting down goblin holes?"

"Well, griffins, probably as they can smell…treasure…oh, Remus. Bloody brilliant."

Sirius shook his head. "No, now I'm lost."

"Padfoot, surely you remember dear Charles and Elvira. Where are they now, Draco? Do they come to the Manor with you during the holidays anymore?"

"No, they are permanently in the Forrest. We'll have to go find them, of course."

"STOP! Are you two suggesting I take two griffins with me into a goblin hole, two griffins who have never liked me, and hope they can smell out my boy and the others?"

"Not at all," said Remus, almost casually, "I'm suggesting we take the griffins down that hole once we find it. They will be very good for keeping us away from areas with treasure, as that is where the goblins will be, and we will find Roarke and the others."

Sirius gave him a rather dry look.

"Moony, you are overlooking a little fact here; you can't go into that gate."

"Remus can't go into the gate. Moony can," said Remus, even as he turned Sirius to face the window. Sirius gave a barking laugh.

"Moony, please – be sensible. That is the daftest thing you have said in over a decade. I know this is your Firecracker, but I promise…."

"I am perfectly capable of behaving myself under the influence of my medication. The goblins," he said with a growl, "need not know that."

"And if we run into some Aurors? You have an oath signed, on record that you are confined to your home on these evenings!"

"And I am well aware of how hard you have worked to make things better for me, and for others like me, Sirius! But…Sirius, I can't….I can't just let you go without me. I need to go. This is my baby Sirius. And don't you dare joke with me about how old she is now! And besides, Charles and Elvira won't behave for you, you are quite right. So we are at checkmate. I go. Period."

Draco stood there and watched the two men glare at each other for a long while. Finally, Sirius Black blinked. With a loud sigh, he turned from Remus, and looked at Draco.

"Let's you and I go find your…pets…and leave Remus to start figuring out how the hell we are going to get two griffins, a werewolf and a perturbed animagus into an alleyway in the grand old city of London."