Spellforged stepped out of the floo and into the arms of Molly Weasley. His surprise did not prevent him from pulling her aside, to clear the way for his father.
Molly barely noticed. "Thank you, Harry, thank you." She said, over and over. Spellforged returned the hug, and then stepped back.
"I'm happy to have helped, Mrs. Weasley." he replied. Gesturing to his father, Spellforged broke the hug. "Mrs. Weasley, may I present my father, Director Ragnok of the Clan Ragnok."
Mrs. Weasley's eyes showed her shock - the Goblin King was in her kitchen! She gave Ragnok a formal curtsey. "Director, welcome, we were not expecting you." She said quickly.
Ragnok grinned at her, acknowledging the greeting. "And I apologize for coming unannounced, Madam. Harry was just told a few minutes ago, to be honest." Molly didn't quite know what to make of that - what would bring the Director to her home?
As they had spoken, Arthur Weasley had walked into the kitchen. He shook hands with Spellforged, thanking him again for his actions two days prior. He then gave a deep bow to Ragnok, who nodded in acknowledgement. Arthur then led the pair into the sitting room, where the rest of his children had been assembled.
The Weasley sons all thanked Harry profusely, especially Bill - who got thanked in turn by Harry, who credited him with the actual retrieval of the diary. Percy looked like he would panic when he saw Director Ragnok enter, and Harry was amused to see him straightening his robes. The twins gave both Harry and Ragnok deep bows, and offered Harry their assistance if he ever needed it at Hogwarts.
Ragnok raised an eyebrow at that, for it was obvious exactly what sort of aid they planned to offer. If Harry ever decided to get into more serious pranking, Ragnok knew where he would turn for aid.
Ron bowed to the Director, having seen his brothers and followed their lead. His handshake with Harry was genuine, if a little brief. Of the five, Spellforged was the one who had the least contact with the youngest Weasley son. Even Rose had forged an uneasy acquaintance with him. Perhaps he's another gryffindor I should get to know, he thought.
At the end of the room, sharing a love seat, were Luna and Ginny. Ginny still looked a little pale, and remained seated under a blanket as they approached. Luna sat next to her, one arm around her shoulders. Ginny's face showed how nervous she was, though it was unclear whether she was nervous to be around Harry or the so-called Goblin King.
Luna gave Harry a bright smile, her eyes almost twinkling with mischief. Uh-oh.
"Ginny," Luna began, "may I present His Highness Ragnok the Third, of the Clan Ragnok, The Wordsmith, Commander of Generals, Bringer of Gold, Marshall of the Legions of the Goblin Nation, Defender of the Faith, and by the Will of the Gods Director of Gringotts, London." Her face cracked into a grin that barely contained her laughter. She ignored the solemn looks on the faces of the Weasleys, none of whom had heard Ragnok's full titles before.
"Or, as Harry calls him, 'Dad'."
Ginny had tried to look as grown-up as possible when Luna announced the Director. Luna's last comment, however, threatened her composure. Harry noticed her fighting the laughter, and decided to upend the moment. He was not quick enough, however, as Ragnok beat him to it.
"You know, it's better than pop-pop."
Just like that, the room broke open with laughter, and it felt like a weight had lifted. It was a healing sound, Ragnok thought, as he joined in. Which was the point, after all, he mused.
oOoOoOoOo
Excerpt from the Daily Prophet, 2 August 1983, Morning Edition
Boy-Who-Lived Missing!
Muggle Relatives Killed in Explosion
Muggle residents of Surrey were rocked in the early hours of Monday morning, as a series of explosions tore through a small neighborhood in the town of Little Whinging. According to the muggle authorities, seven houses were completely decimated by the explosions, ending the lives of twenty-seven muggles. Preliminary reports suggest that underground pipes (used to deliver a gas of some sort to the homes) had ruptured, causing explosions in each of the seven adjacent homes.
Aurors were on-hand and under glamours, because the explosions seemed to have triggered a massive burst of accidental magic in the area, a burst strong enough to be detected by the Ministry. DMLE sources tell the Prophet that the source of the magic was one of the first houses to burn. By the time the aurors arrived, the residents of that home - muggles Vernon Dursley (29), his wife Petunia Dursley (23), and their son Dudley Dursley (3) - had all been declared dead by muggle first responders.
It was only later, on the arrival of Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore, that the full scope of the tragedy became clear. Petunia Dursley was the sister of Lily Potter, formerly Lily Evans - the mother of the boy-who-lived. In an effort to protect the slayer of the Dark Lord, the Chief Warlock sequestered Harry Potter (3) with his muggle relatives. When the fire was contained and aurors could conduct their search, nothing of the boy was found - leading the Chief Warlock to declare the Heir Potter missing.
The Chief Warlock's conduct in this matter raises some very hard questions, according to several members of the Wizengamot, which was scheduled to meet in an emergency session today. Minister Bagnold had no comment, except to reiterate that every resource was being deployed to bring Harry Potter back to the magical world, safe and sound.
Many of our questions can wait for another day. Today, we ask simply - where is Harry Potter?
oOoOoOoOo
8 August 1983
Ragnok the Third, son of the Director of Gringotts, London, enjoyed being on the banking floor. Especially in the evenings.
The Muggles had helped out there, for it was their banks that closed before the sun had set, and opened well after breakfast. The wand wavers, even the ones who had never set foot in muggle London, expected the same from Gringotts. So it was that when the clock struck half past five, the wizarding public seemed to vanish from the bank.
Oh, the regulars knew they could come later, and did so. Emergencies happened at all hours, and many a witch and wizard had been pleasantly surprised to find the goblins open in the wee hours, ready to attend to their needs.
It brought no profit to make oneself unavailable to customers. And so, Gringotts stayed open all night. It meant that the junior tellers had the overnight shift every now and then, though there were enough of them to make it only an occasional burden.
The schedule also meant peace and quiet for the Senior manager who volunteered to work the night shift. Ragnok found that he got more done out here, on the floor, than he ever did in his office below.
Ragnok lifted his head from the ledger he had been studying. There was shouting outside the bank. Rising, he signaled for a guard - Zoglok, he thought the goblin's name was - to accompany him. If the situation was just in the alley, he could ignore it - several treaties prohibited the Goblins from performing any sort of law enforcement in the alley, and breaking up a fight would qualify.
Even if the combatants were on the stone steps of the bank, his options were limited - until and unless the offenders set foot in the bank proper. He could not actually tell the guards to execute the offenders until that happened - but most wizards didn't know that, now did they?
Ragnok opened the great doors of the bank, and found a young witch arguing with two uniformed aurors. The woman was growing increasingly agitated at the questioning, and Ragnok noticed that she held her wand in her left hand - and a child in her right. The dark-haired boy was obviously upset, but contained it, as if he expected to be attacked.
A child that young should not look so frightened, thought Ragnok. The aurors continued to argue with the witch, and one of them took a menacing step forward.
"Oi, step away from me, Hightower, this is my son, not the bleeding boy-who-blew-up. Back off!" The angry witch, her Irish accent thick and heavy, sounded very familiar. Ragnok walked closer to the four, hoping to defuse the situation.
The auror was losing patience. "Miss Sullivan, the boy has dark hair and a scar. You have Harry Potter, and we're going to bring him to the ministry where he belongs!"
"Now, I recognize that voice," said Ragnok as he walked up to the group. Anna Sullivan turned and saw her former boss, and a wave of relief washed over her face. Ragnok just raised an eyebrow at this, before turning his attention to the aurors. "Gentlemen, what can Gringotts do for you this evening?"
The impatient auror seemed to straighten up a bit, gathering himself. "This woman is holding the boy-who-lived, we're going to take them both to the Ministry."
Ragnok eyed the auror. The man's partner seemed uncomfortable with the whole situation, but the senior auror was in charge - and hell bent on taking one of his former analysts in for kidnapping. "I see," said Ragnok. "And what makes you think her two-year-old son is the three-year-old boy-who-lived? Look at the boy, gentlemen, if you would." Ragnok gestured at the boy, and his tiny frame. "I am no expert in human reproduction, but a three-year-old should be, well, bigger, shouldn't it?"
The aurors looked at each other, then back to the goblin. "Sir," said the senior auror. "I'm just following orders."
"Indeed," said Ragnok. "And I thank you, on behalf of Gringotts, for helping to keep Wizarding Britain safe from rampaging children. This one, however, is not your concern."
"But, he looks like the boy, even has the scar!" said the younger auror.
"Glamours, sir. Miss Sullivan has a rather zealous uncle who would prefer to raise her son in a more traditional setting, and she would prefer that he not have cause to do so. Thus, she disguises her son." Ragnok made a show of leaning over the boy. Harry looked up at the old goblin, green eyes meeting black ones. Taking a risk, Ragnok winked at the boy - and got a small smile in return.
Holding his hand in front of him, masking the motion with a complex series of nonsense motions, Ragnok cast his mage sight. On Harry, he saw very little - though there was something about that scar that seemed to defy description, a blackness that faded in and out as if it were both there and not there.
Ragnok turned to the aurors, his mouth opening to give them some nonsense about the quality of the glamours she had used on the boy, and how it's usually safe to mimic the dark hair and green eyes of the boy-who-lived, as the books had grown quite popular. His genial comments died in his throat when he glanced at the aurors.
Both had a miasma of dark magic on their left forearm. The Dark Mark, he realized. No wonder Miss Sullivan is intent on entering the bank.
Gathering himself, Ragnok addressed the aurors. "Well, gentlemen, as I said, it appears that Mister Sullivan here is under a glamour, which unfortunately makes him look like the missing Potter boy. I imagine that she will choose a more appropriate disguise in the future, won't you Miss Sullivan?"
Anna Sullivan saw Ragnok's play, and did her part. "Of course, sir. We just arrived in country, and had not seen the prophet - and, when we travel, he likes to pretend to be Harry Potter, off on his next adventure!" The aurors did not seem amused.
"So you see, Master Auror Hightower, that you have no cause to detain Miss Sullivan here, yes?" While still focusing on the child, Ragnok's eyes met those of the guard, who nodded slightly. Both goblins had seen the same thing.
"I must insist." said Hightower, his voice filling with menace.
Ragnok turned and looked at him, appraising him as only as goblin could. Then he nodded. "Very well, sir. Why don't we take Miss Sullivan to a meeting room while we have the boy checked over. We can, of course, verify his identity for you, which may save you some embarrassment at the DMLE. You don't want to bring in the wrong child, do you?"
The aurors looked at each other once more. "That will work. Lead the way, boy."
Ragnok ignored the insult, though he did see Zoglok's hand tighten on his axe. Straightening, he nodded to the aurors. "Very well, let us proceed." He saw the worry return to Anna's face, and gave her a reassuring nod. She relaxed, trusting her old boss.
Waving a hand to the great doors of the bank, Ragnok invited the aurors to enter first, walking just behind Zoglok. As they passed the threshold, both aurors gripped their arms and fell forward, unconscious - the wards had done their job, once Zoglok activated them. Ragnok and Zoglok were kicking their wands away before three more guards could get to their group.
"Death eaters," said Ragnok, by way of explanation. "Miss Sullivan, when did they approach you?"
"Just now, in the alley." She was starting to shake a little. "Oh my God…"
"Yes, quite, but now we have things to do." She was still staring at the downed death eaters, holding Harry a little closer to her. Ragnok stepped into her line of sight, looking up at her. "Anna, we need to go."
She nodded, after a moment. "Alright."
"And these two?" asked Zoglok, nodding toward the 'aurors'. The other guards had searched them both by this point, and the only auror badges found were worthless pieces of metal, bearing none of the enchantments that the genuine articles carried.
It was a more creative ploy than Ragnok would have expected from the death eaters who lingered after the end of the war. Unfortunately for them, they had underestimated the Goblins.
"These wizards wore the garb and authority of aurors when they entered the bank under arms to kidnap one of my employees." said Ragnok, coldly. "It matters not that they are false aurors - the treaties are clear. Kill them or cage them, as you like." Walking to the fallen wizards, Ragnok held a hand out to them, bending his fingers in a strange pattern. "Interdictus." A soft golden glow encompassed the death eaters, before fading to a dull brass color and vanishing. In the morning, there would be parchment work, of course, but for now magic had sealed the mens' vaults and declared them forfeit.
It was one of the few spells that had the same incantation among both Goblin and wizard. Since wizards lacked vaults to seal, however, it was rarely used among the wand wavers.
Ragnok stood there for another moment, looking down at the terrorists on his floor. Then he spat at them, lamenting the fact that the insult was lost on the unconscious men. Turning, he led Anna and her charge to his offices.
oOoOoOoOo
16 April 1986
"Father, can I ask a question?"
Ragnok looked at Harry Spellforged, sitting next to Madam Sullivan on the couch in his office. The boy was wearing the finest robes he had ever seen, proudly displaying the twin crests of House Potter and Clan Ragnok, against a shield in dark blue with green - the Sullivan tartan.
With a smile, Ragnok turned his head toward his son, the movement annoying the attendants who were trying to fit him with his own ceremonial armor. The gold plate was a throwback to the days of Goblin uprisings and conflicts, but during the ceremony it would be a symbol of continuity. The rich cloak, the jeweled axe, the open helm - each held a special place in the minds of his people.
Other branches of Gringotts did things differently, honoring or eschewing tradition to various degrees. Gringotts London hewed to tradition, where possible.
"May I ask, Harry." Ragnok replied. The smile on Madam Sullivan's face told the Director-designate that he had beaten her to the correction by only moments.
Harry shared their amusement. "Yes, sir, may I ask a question?"
"Always." was the response.
"Why did you adopt me, sir?"
Ragnok's eyes went wide, and met Anna's - finding the same reaction there. Harry knew his story, by this point, in at least the broad details. He knew of his parents - all four of them, by birth and adoption - and knew why it was so. This, it seemed, was a deeper question. Anna and Ragnok had discussed, at length, how to answer some of Harry's inevitable questions. This, however, was not one they had prepared for. Not this early, at any rate.
/Please give me a moment with my son,/ said Ragnok. The three attendants shared glances at the tone of his voice, but complied. Once the door closed behind them, Ragnok walked over to the couch. Moving carefully in the ceremonial armor, he sat down on the coffee table, bringing himself to eye level with Harry. Their eyes met, father and son, as Ragnok considered his response. Finally, he spoke.
"Harry, there are two reasons. When your mother brought you here, at first I just wanted to protect you from harm. She asked me to help her, and I agreed - your mother and I have known each other for years, and I trusted her. Still do, come to think of it." At this, he gave Madam Sullivan a grin, earning an eye roll.
"You know that your Grandpa Ragnok was in charge of all the Goblins in Britain, yes?" Harry nodded. "Well, I went to him and asked him to help as well. Your mother had worked for the bank for a long time, I said, and had earned our respect. Grandpa agreed, but didn't want to make the wizards angry."
"That's cause of the wars, in old timey times?" asked Harry. Anna and Ragnok both chuckled at the description.
"Yes, Harry, because of the old timey times. See, wizards and goblins argued a lot in those days, and sometimes they hurt each other. So one day they wrote up a set of rules, and those rules tell the wizards what they can do to or for the goblins, and what the goblins can do to or for the wizards. And for hundreds of years, we have gotten along." Ragnok looked intently at Harry. "Your Grandpa loved you very much, but he was the Director - he had to think of all the goblins, not just his favorites like you." Harry grinned at the memory - for truly, Ragnok's father, the previous Director, had loved his only grandson.
"It was about a month after you and your mother came here," continued Ragnok, his smile falling a bit, "that we learned about something the bad wizards had planned. Before you and Papa James and Mama Lily stopped the bad wizard, he wanted to get his hands on more galleons. He thought that if he had more galleons, he could hurt more people. So he planned to attack the bank."
Harry's eyes were wide in shock. "But no one has ever attacked the bank!" He was upset at the very idea - to him, it would be like attacking the Sullivan house. This was home.
"Not as it is now, no. But if he had, many goblins would have gotten hurt." Ragnok tapped Harry on the nose. "But then your family stopped the bad wizard, and no one came around to attack us. You protected the Nation, Harry, you and your mama and papa."
"Now, when I found out that the bad wizards wanted to hurt us, I was pretty mad. And so was your Grandpa. But he said something that stuck with me. He told me that we all owed you a life debt." Ragnok smiled again. "You remember your lessons, don't you?"
"Yes sir. A Life Debt means that someone got themselves hurt, or could've, to protect someone else." Harry's eyes grew wide. "But you, I don't…"
Ragnok placed his hands on his son's. "Magic thought that you did. Madam Sullivan agreed. So I went to Grandpa and said that I would pay the Life Debt we owed to your family by adopting you as my son." He squeezed Harry's hands. "Son, remember the rules we have with the wizards? One thing they can't do anything about is life debts. They might try to keep me from adopting you, and some did - but no one, not even Merlin or Grok'Nargh the Bold, could keep a Goblin from repaying a life debt. That debt meant that you could be my son."
Harry considered this. He still seemed upset, and both Anna and Ragnok saw that across his features. Ragnok leaned closer, speaking quietly.
"Harry Spellforged, listen to me. I told you there were two reasons, remember? One is that adopting you would help you and your mother." Another squeeze. "The other is because I love you, great big."
"But you owed me, 'cause of the debt…" The worry came out in Harry's voice, now.
"No, Harry. Never forget this - life debts are tools, nothing more. They bring balance, because they help us heal the hurt that caused the debt in the first place. You lost your mama and papa when your family helped me. I used the debt to help give you a mother and a father, both of whom love you very very much." Anna Sullivan's arm, wrapped around her son's shoulder, gave him a half hug as he considered that. Ragnok kept his hands on his son's, and his eyes on the worry etched in his son's face.
Harry looked up. "I love you too, father." Then the boy surged forward, wrapping the Director-designate in a bear hug. Anna laughed at the sight, as Ragnok tried desperately to hug his son and keep his armor intact. Then it was Anna's turn for a hug, as Ragnok stood and began adjusting his ceremonial garb.
"Now, come on Harry," said Anna Sullivan, smoothing out her formal robes and doing the same for her son. "We need to take our seats. It's not every day your father gets crowned as the Goblin King!" She said it with a snicker, and delighted at the laugh from her son. The pair only laughed harder when Ragnok began muttering under his breath at the title.
Both saw the grin his face. Both knew how happy he was when he heard the laughter coming from Harry.
oOoOoOoOo
29 December 1992
Late afternoon saw most of the Weasley boys heading out into the brisk winter air for a flight around the snow-covered quidditch pitch. Ginny and Luna remained, as did Molly and Arthur. Bill, too, stayed behind, sensing that the conversation would center on the events surrounding the diary.
"Ginny," began Spellforged. "How are you feeling, really?"
Ginny looked up at Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived, and shook her head. "Been better," she said quietly. "I'm so sorry, Harry…" she began, only to stop when Harry waved a hand at her.
"Miss Weasley, there is nothing to be sorry for." He nodded to Bill. "Your brother can tell you, stronger wizards than either of us have been ensnared by dark artifacts like that one. It's not your fault."
Ragnok chose to speak up, at this point. "Madam Weasley, has your daughter been seen by the healers?"
Molly and Arthur shared a glance, before Mister Weasley spoke. "They seemed to think that she had the symptoms of exhaustion, and that she should rest for a week or so, and she would be fine."
That got a nod from the Director. "They're probably right. Did they recommend a mind healer as well? If not, we work with several who would probably suit young Miss Weasley's needs."
Another shared look. "Sir, the healers from Saint Mungo's said nothing about mind healers. Do we really need one if they didn't think we would?" Arthur sounded concerned, as if he felt like he was missing a piece of the puzzle.
"Mister Weasley," began Harry. "Ginny was speaking with an artifact that held the memories and personality of a student from Hogwarts - one we know to have killed at least one student and framed another for the crime. Having that sort of person in your head, for months? No sir, that won't heal in a week." Now it was Harry who looked to his father, before giving the Director a nod.
The Director took up the thread. "I know that William and I met with the Headmaster yesterday, and that he then came here to visit. Did he mention anything about a mind healer for your daughter? Perhaps one who would meet with her at Hogwarts, when the new term begins?"
Molly continued to look troubled. "He seemed to think that meeting a mind healer at school would single her out among her peers, and that the summer would be the best time to look into that sort of thing."
"Indeed," said Ragnok. Harry met his eyes, and gave him another nod. "Very well, then." Ragnok stood, and only his raised hand kept Bill from standing as well. Arthur saw Bill's eyes, and the surprise in them - he somehow knew what the Director was going to do.
"Arthur Weasley, head of House Weasley, magic tells me that a life debt exists between your house and Clan Ragnok. As the head of Clan Ragnok, I call on you to acknowledge the debt." The Director's words were formal, almost as if part of a ritual - which, as it turned out, they were.
The color drained from Arthur's face, but he stood anyway. Gathering his Gryffindor courage, he raised his wand - the first wizard to raise his wand to the Director of Gringotts in quite some time. "Ragnok, of the Clan Ragnok, I acknowledge the debt between our houses. I invite you to name your terms."
Molly stifled her cry. This is old magic, magic that could bind Ginny to the goblins, or to Harry, against her will. She hoped that Harry would not take such a step, but he was as much goblin as wizard - she was not comfortable with the idea that she had no idea what he, or his father, would do.
Ginny, for her part, looked frightened. One of Tom's favorite tools was the idea that, somehow, Ginny owed it to him to do as she was told. The fact that she did not, and knew in her heart that she did not, wasn't enough to escape his control. As she gathered herself to stand up, she felt a hand grasping her by the arm. Looking over, she saw Luna.
"Trust Harry, Ginny. Please." Luna's eyes looked intently into Ginny's, and Ginny found herself surprised at the intensity of the gaze. This was Luna - she could always trust Luna, right? Ginny found herself nodding.
Harry now stood. The debt was to his Clan, but ran through him. The terms were his to set, though he and his father had discussed them at length.
"First," began Harry. "You will visit with a mind healer once every week, or in accordance with a schedule they shall establish with you and your parents. After six months, you may meet with them once monthly. After three years, you will meet with them at such intervals as may be mutually agreed between yourself and the healer." He looked at her parents. "Your parents will make arrangements with Professor McGonagall to provide for those meetings to continue at school."
Harry Spellforged described the payment, but it was Director Ragnok who explained the rationale. He addressed himself to Ginny. "Speak with a mind healer, Miss Weasley. Do what they tell you to do. Allow them to aid you. I promise, they will help you in ways you cannot anticipate now, when the injury is fresh."
Ginny nodded to the Director, and then to her parents. "I… I can do that."
"Good," said Harry. "That will help you with your second task." He smiled at her, to take the edge off the phrasing. "You will remain at Hogwarts, or a comparable school of your choosing, until you have earned your NEWTs or the equivalent."
Ginny looked puzzled at that, for she had planned nothing else. One glance told her that her parents did not understand, either.
Again Director Ragnok explained. "You were traumatized, Miss Weasley. It happened at Hogwarts, in the halls you will once again call home in a week. It may come to pass that the memories of what happened become overwhelming." He smiled at her, offering a look of sympathy. "If that ends up being the case, you will have the chance to continue your schooling elsewhere. You need not worry about being admitted to your chosen school, as it is possible that I know a few people here and there." This last, said with a smile, earned a giggle from Luna. Ginny smiled at the sound, before nodding to the Director.
Arthur and Molly looked at each other. Other than the costs for the mind healer, nothing in those requirements was a problem. Both worried that there would be a catch somewhere. "And your third requirement, Mister Spellforged?" asked Arthur, formally.
Harry grinned. "You will direct your chosen mind healer, Hogwarts, and whatever other school you select, if and when, to bill Clan Ragnok for any costs they may incur on your behalf. This is to include tuition, by the way. If Ginny should seek a Mastery, that would be considered tuition as well, under this requirement."
Director Ragnok smiled at the shocked faces on Arthur and Molly Weasley. "If school becomes a challenge, some might find it easier to use cost as an excuse to flee. Clan Ragnok will not tolerate any attempt to plead poverty as part of an attempt to renege on this debt. Honor demands that the debt be satisfied - this requirement ensures that."
"Wait a minute," said Bill, speaking for the first time. "You're enforcing a life debt, and using it to force my sister to go to school and speak to a mind healer? And you are bearing the cost for that?" He looked from Harry to the Director. "Why?"
Ragnok answered him. "Life debts exist to restore balance." Once again he nodded toward Ginny. "Your sister very nearly had her whole future taken from her. These requirements guarantee that she will avoid that fate."
Bill looked at his sister, and saw Luna smiling back at him. Luna? "Wouldn't Ginny owe a life debt to Luna as well? It was her intervention that brought you here, after all."
"Oh, she did." answered Luna. "But I don't want to have Ginny in debt to me, so I sold the debt to Harry." She smiled at the look of shock on Arthur and Molly's face.
Harry chuckled at her expression, before looking at the elder Weasleys. "One person can't have two life debts for the same event, so Luna basically cancelled her debt. Once I explained what we were asking for, she agreed it was a better deal than anything she might have requested." Harry gave Luna a bright grin, which she returned. "Best knut I ever spent."
A/N: A long one, and a bit of a breather after the intensity of the previous chapters. I've seen the Life Debt from the diary rescue used to bind Ginny to menial servitude, or to a harem (willingly or unwillingly, and bothersome either way). I've seen them used to force a separation between some version of stalker!Ginny and Harry. I've even seen one fic where Harry used the Life Debt to literally claim Ginny's life - standing there and watching her tearfully say goodbye to her family before falling over dead minutes later. Suffice to say, I have concerns. Once I mentioned Life Debts in Spellforged's backstory, it seemed like a natural fit here, where we discuss Ginny's debt.
Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that Harry is the one calling the debt - and while he is not close to Ginny here, his counterparts are. So he used the debt to aid her, and set the tone for them to do the same in their worlds (using the resources of the Peregrine Trust and our Mister Fitzgerald).
Each of the five will have a backstory chapter like this one - and indeed, Marigold's was the third chapter of the work (and the first solo chapter, without the others). This one gives some needed context to events mentioned previously, and lays a bit of ground work for the future.
Ragnok's titles are a big piece of that ground work. Each is granted as part of the ceremony where Ragnok ascends to become Director. "Commander of Generals" sounds like a military title, but is actually the title given by the Elders of the Goblin Nation - one of whom is our friend, the Lady Eridani. "The Wordsmith" is a title given by the leaders of the Clans, Ragnok's peers. Ever seen Ragnok at a negotiating table? "The Bringer of Gold" is a traditional title, since the Goblins got into banking. "Marshall of the Legions" is a traditional title as well, as the Director is the Commander in Chief of whatever forces the Goblins muster (less now than in centuries past, obviously). "Defender of the Faith" is a traditional title in the UK, and refers to the treaty between Gringotts and the Crown. It hints at some level of delegated authority, just as one might expect between the Ministry and the Crown, except that here it is more than merely theoretical.
Feedback, as always, is welcome.
