Yay! Chappie two. Get ready for it to get better (hopefully!)
Chapter Two – Mixing with Her Own Kind
The escalator was crowded with business people, all in a hurry to get to work. The only people not in suits were Charlotte and her parents.
"Are you sure this is the right way, Mummy?" she asked nervously, glancing at the sign. "The letter says Terrier Road,"
"I know. Harper Way leads to Terrier Road, dear. I know what I'm doing,"
Charlotte was unconvinced, but sure enough; they were soon walking down Terrier Road with a flood of besuited men and women.
"The Leaky Cauldron," she heard her father mutter. "The Leaky Cauldron – ah."
There, between a big bookshop and a record shop, was a dark and dingy-looking pub. No one else seemed to notice it, and Charlotte felt that maybe only she and her family could see it at all.
"Come inside, dear," said her mother, grabbing her hand and steering her towards the door.
Her father pushed open the door and the stench of cigar smoke, drink and sweat hit her in the face. She coughed fiercely.
"Hogwarts student, I presume?" came the voice of the short, old barman, Tom. "Someone needin' directions?"
"Er – yes, that's right," replied Mrs. Vaughan. "We were informed that you could help us find Diagon Alley."
"Of course. A drink, sir? We've Ogden's Old Firewhiskey, or perhaps just a Gillywater?"
"Uh – no thanks."
"Could I tempt the lady? Or perhaps you, girl?"
Charlotte shook her head fiercely. She had no idea what Firewhiskey or Gillywater were, and she didn't want to find out just then.
"Er – Diagon Alley?" Mrs. Vaughan reminded the man.
"Ah, yes. Right this way,"
He led the family through the back door into a walled courtyard, inhabited by nothing but weeds and a dustbin. Charlotte looked around for a doorway into the Alley, but there was none.
Tom drew a wand from his pocket and tapped the brick wall. "Take note; it's the brick three up, two across. You need to remember that, or you won't get through again,"
He tapped the brick twice more, and it quivered. A small hole appeared, but it grew wider and wider. Before she knew it, Charlotte was looking through an archway that looked large enough for a giant. An archway leading into a cobbled street that twisted out of sight.
"You'll want ter be goin' ter Gringotts Bank first, to exchange yeh money. Yeh can't miss it; it's white an' huge. Anyway, no one here would accept a pound note except those goblins!"
Charlotte thought she hadn't heard him right. "Er – what?"
"Goblins, yes. Just do what you need ter do and ge' ou' quick smart, tha's my advice," he grinned.
"Thanks," Mr. Vaughan told him, leading his wife and daughter through the archway. "We'll be fine from here,"
Around her, there were so many strange things that Charlotte wished she had about ten more eyes. They passed Eeylops Owl Emporium, Ollivanders, the Apothecary, Flourish and Blotts, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and many more.
But finally they reached a snowy-white building that looked like it was made purely from marble; it towered above everything else around it and beside the brass double doors was what was unmistakably a –
"Goblin," Mrs. Vaughan whispered. "It must be,"
Mr. Vaughan, the boldest in the family, strode forward and opened the door for his wife and daughter. The goblin, with a clever face and extremely long fingers and feet, bowed them through.
Here they faced a second door, silver this time. Charlotte noticed words engraved on them:
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay dearly in their turn,
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
"Sounds like you'd be mad to try and rob it then," Mr. Vaughan said, trying unsuccessfully to sound oblivious. To Charlotte, his voice came in more of a whimper.
Through the second set of doors was a hall made of marble. Innumerable goblins were working here; some at the long counter and others who seemed to be following people through the many doors leading off the hall. The goblins at the counter were obviously working as tellers; scribbling in large ledgers, or examining vast amounts of gold or precious stones.
There was a free goblin near the end of the hall, so Mr. Vaughan made a beeline for it.
"How may I help you?" croaked the goblin. He peered at Charlotte menacingly.
"We'd like to exchange some Muggle money for …" Mr. Vaughan broke off, realising he didn't know what wizarding currency was.
"Certainly. How much are you exchanging?"
"Fifty pounds," he replied, for that was how much was in Charlotte's bank account. He slapped a fifty-pound note on the counter.
"Would you like to take it to a vault and set up an account with us?" continued the goblin in his oily, bored-sounding manner.
"Yes, thanks,"
"That will cost you a Galleon. Here is the rest of the money. I will get someone to take you to your new vault. Yaaren!" he called, summoning a waiting goblin that could well have been female. (A/N Can you get female goblins?)
"Sir?"
"Take these customers to vault nine-three-six. The key is hanging with the rest by the door."
"Yes, sir," she replied. "This way please."
The Vaughan's followed Yaaren to one of the many doors leading off the hall, where she took a brass key off a hook. She gave it to Charlotte.
A considerably darker, dingier chamber was where the family found themselves. Tracks that looked like those for trams began here, and criss-crossed out of sight. Yaaren climbed into a waiting cart and gestured that they do the same.
Awkwardly, Charlotte climbed in. Huge stalactites hung from the ceiling, threatening to fall at any second, while stalagmites and towers of limestone made the cave seem like a forest of rock.
"You all in? Right. Off we go!"
With only that as a warning, the cart suddenly lurched forward. Charlotte left her stomach behind. Feeling very ill, she slumped down in her seat and stared at her feet until the ride was over.
"Vault nine-hundred and thirty-six," Yaaren grunted. "Lamp please."
Mrs. Vaughan picked up the lamp from the floor of the cart. The goblin waddled forward to the door. "Key, please."
Charlotte passed her the key. Yaaren unlocked the door to the vault at a two-foot-high keyhole. The door swung open.
A large vault appeared, dark and dingy. It was currently empty.
Yaaren took a money pouch from her belt and emptied it onto the floor. She then counted the large coins into three piles: large gold ones, medium silvers and little bronze ones.
"These are Galleons," Yaaren informed them, pointing at the gold coins. "Them silver ones are Sickles and the others are Knuts."
"Really?" whimpered Mr. Vaughan. "Is that right?"
Yaaren looked at him like he was a lunatic, shrugged, and ushered them out.
"Wait!" cried Charlotte. "I need money, don't I?"
Her mother nodded, and gathered most of the coins back into her purse. "We'll replace it later, darl," she whispered as she passed. Charlotte nodded, and followed.
~*~
Individuals:
michelleywelley: Hey! I hope this chapter is a little better! I finally checked my email today, so check yours and there should be a little message from me!
Emma: Hey, girl! Nice to hear from you. You know what's going to happen, you lucky duck. Oh well, I like you reviewing anyway!
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