The Wolf King:
During the next week, Harry visited Gringotts as Bloodaxe had requested his presence. Bloodaxe wanted to update Harry on Silver Dagger's treachery. Merely the idea that he had found a way around the oath was considered dishonest and now, the discussion would be centred on the penalties for such an action. Bloodaxe also indicated that he had possibly found a Master Painter that was appropriate for his 'experiment'. After Harry and Hermione had arrived and greeted him appropriately, Harry was only too happy to share some progress about his innovations.
"I have a question. Say I wasn't an important part of King Ragnok securing his interests, would Gringotts be so open towards dealing with me?" asked Harry.
"It depends. We are a bank by Wizarding Law, but truly we are a culture upon ourselves. Even our methods for keeping the gold mounds separate, and by carrying you to a vault – we had studied Muggle methods and we found them far more efficient. Yet we are magically bound to certain practices."
"Oh, that is good to know," Harry replied.
"King Ragnok has been quite interested in implementing paper-based currency and eliminating trips to the vault to withdraw gold. However, the other Goblin Enclaves are not in agreement. It would cause a scene. The situation is complex. I would prefer if we embraced paper based currency."
"So there are cultural perspectives. I get the feeling that the Gold coins are forged with magic, and that has significance."
"Indeed – that is something you can understand intimately Harry. Banks do not require Kings, but we do have one. Banks do not act as places of residence, yet our families and loved ones live under these buildings. Sadly, that memory has passed from the minds of Wizards. Gringotts is a society, not just a bank.
Nowadays, we will provide any service on the basis that we get a commission from it. However, our favours are generally limited to acting as a business directory of sorts. We put you in contact with a business and we take a free from your account. We are neutral officially. Unofficially, King Ragnok is betting on you."
"Yikes. So, no pressure then. This is delicate business." replied Harry.
"Very much so. We have our own history, warriors and everything in between. We work on the system that if you extend an olive branch, we will also do the same. One of the obstacles present is that Gobblydook is a rough, guttural language. Sometimes we merely try to speak the prevailing form of English and it becomes very difficult for us. It often sounds rough, but in truth, our vocal cords are just thicker. If we haven't insulted you or threatened to kill you, you can assume we are in a good mood.
However, we do not take kindly to any type of practice that hampers our ability to make profit. Time and time again, the Wizengamot have done such things. Our Goblin Enclave competes against the other International Goblin Conclaves and Gringotts China, Gringotts India and Gringotts Africa are leading the rankings. They have fairly good relationships with their customers. Gringotts France is close behind and was the top performer last century.
As you can imagine, four hundred years and we haven't placed in the top five. We have been very angry about that. That along with the fact we manage the economy and are considered subhuman animals has been very offensive to us. It has been a very long time since someone called Wizarding England out on their stupidity. As you can imagine, your first visit caused a ruckus." explained Bloodaxe.
"Can I ask how the rankings are determined? I only ask because I wonder if I could help?" asked Harry.
"Our women are responsible for forging steel. The harder the steel, the better armour we can make. Selling the steel or the armour is how we make a profit. The rankings come from customer fees also." answered Bloodaxe.
"What do you use to melt the steel? Are you aware of the newer materials like Titanium? What about alloys?" asked Harry.
"We use Charcoal Furnaces. Titanium or Alloys I have not heard about? What are those?"
"That is something I will have to introduce you to. I am building personal armour and I have been looking at the hardest most durable materials I can find. The cutting torch I want to design, no reason as to why we can't replace some of your Charcoal furnaces with ideas from my torch if we are successful. I also think introducing you to some of the mundane methods would be beneficial. Let me think on it and we will see what we can do?" explained Harry.
"I will pass this information along to my King. Now about the kobold, Silverdagger. The punishment is usually death, but King Ragnok wanted to know what you wanted to do to him as it is your information he is trying to leak."
Bloodaxe grinned waiting to hear what devious plan the mind of Harry Potter would cook up.
"I have been aware of the rumours. Lorna runs a tight ship. We are going to use his nosiness to our advantage. I say we string him along. Leak information to him that my earnings are approaching fifty per cent of the Malfoy's business ventures. Malfoy will relax and not consider me a threat.
Then, we will leak my location to Malfoy. We will get him to approach me in Diagon Alley, by letting him know beforehand that I am coming to Gringotts to do business. Then I will have a word with him. Then I will disappear and lead everyone on a wild goose chase.
When the time is right and Moldypants is back and established, we will initiate a hostile takeover. I will buy over 51 per cent of everything he and the other eleven Death Eater families owns and then I will begin putting down the pressure. Then we kill Silverdagger and assign a goblin that Malfoy can barely tolerate.
As they say – Revenge is a dish best served cold."
"Sometimes I wonder if you have Goblin Ancestry. I do. Oh, the look on Silverdagger's face when he finds out. Never liked that kobold, he has been responsible for a fair amount of backstabbing in here, and he always covers his tracks.
Besides the security breach, we have a painter that might be up to the task. Clementine Delacour is who you need. She will generally take a request via Gringotts. Her clientele's ability to pay for a job has to be guaranteed by us. You will have to explain the unique work you want to be done. She is very eclectic, but she might enjoy the challenge. She is the best Magical Portrait Painter in the world." replied Bloodaxe.
"Very well. I am also prepared to get in touch with Remus Lupin. Hermione, ready to test the spare laptop?" asked Harry.
"Why not?" she replied.
"Grace, go back home and bring the hardshell case with the modified Laptop in it. Red handle?" requested Harry.
Grace disappeared and then ten seconds later, reappeared with the hardshell case. Harry took out the laptop and powered it on after explaining that he was testing if the device would work in Gringotts. Bloodaxe jumped down from his chair and proceed to observe. When the device came on successfully, Harry then took Bloodaxe through the word processor as he wrote the following correspondence:
Master Painter Lady Delacour,
Well Met.
My name is Hadrian Peverell and I have a custom job that is rather unusual in its scope. I believe you will find it a technical challenge.
In essence, I want to take a portrait of my Great Ancestor Master Artificer Lord Invictus Peverell and implement highly unusual custom modifications. I believe the paint and the magic used in creating portraits, can do data processing as the mundanes call it. I also believe that increasing the amount of canvas space without necessarily painting a new environment could be used to augment his mental faculties.
I also want to paint custom objects in his environment. These other objects will interact with a muggle device that will allow the portrait to input information into a computer. I can design this aspect of the project personally. Naturally, you are asking yourself right now if Mundane electronics can work in the magical world. Yes, I do have rough prototypes. Haven't tested long term survivability, but for now, it works. We can discuss the fee if you are willing to take on the project. As long as it is within 50,000 galleons, it is perfectly fine.
I wish you the best in your endeavours otherwise.
Regards,
Hadrian Peverell
CEO Peverell Industries.
Harry then began to wonder how to deal with Lupin.
"Master Bloodaxe, question. I am aware that Gringotts will usually directly contact a person for the reading of the will. Could I possibly pass a message along via Gringotts?"
"That can be arranged. You can write the correspondence and we will let Mr Lupin know that your word is backed by our coin, as the information you are revealing comes from our will."
"I get the feeling this is a special arrangement I am getting. Tell you what, after I am done with this letter here, we can discuss what to do with the houses from the amalgamated fund and then you and Gringotts can get a cut out of it"
"Excellent Harry!"
Harry after consulting Hermione about how to approach the situation, wrote the following:
Wolf King Remus Lupin,
My name is Lord Peverell. I have returned recently to the Wizarding England after a long hiatus. I have heard many troubling things, about which I think you should be concerned. I have good enough evidence that the Dark Lord exists as dismembered fragments. I had an encounter with one such fragment and it almost cost me my life last year. I plan to do something about this caricature of a "man" – nobody fucks with me.
To this effect, Sirius Black is very much innocent and has never had any affiliation with the Dark Lord. He is wrongly imprisoned. I also have information about Harry Potter – he has suffered greatly in the muggle world at the hands of his relatives, because of the hubris of Albus Dumbledore.
Make no mistake. I do not do jokes like you and your merry band of school troublemakers. If you are interested in what I have to say, understand that the enlightenment comes as an exchange. If you want the information, you must promise me a magical oath on arrival to Gringotts that you have not shared this information with anybody.
This arrangement is one where Gringotts is considered neutral ground with absolutely no interference from any of your associates.
All business conducted at my behest is automatically considered private. You will also swear an oath of silence to me. I would be willing to give the following promises under magical oath myself, to lead negotiations.
I am currently working towards Harry Potter's happiness. I work towards absolutely no ulterior cause, besides Harry Potter's benefit. I understand Harry Potter's complaints and issues intimately. I can verify my experiences with the Dark Lord via Pensieve.
I have no intention to display my face or grant you the grace of my voice if you cannot reciprocate. Significant coin in being paid to facilitate this – Make yourself promptly available. Please note that you will not lack any funds. Galleons have been added to your account. Use it to acquire Wolfsbane, clothes and lodging as necessary. My world moves with the speed and a force of a Typhoon. Choose wisely Wolf King. Remember your loyalties. For they will remember you when the time comes.
In Blood and Magic,
Lord Hadrian Peverell.
Aventine Artificer.
Give the wicked no mercy. Kneel before Peverell Might.
"I must say you write well. The letter to Mr Lupin is very ominous. I find this 'device' fascinating Harry. So, what now? How do these 'documents' become physical?" asked Bloodaxe.
"So, we have a device called a printer. It squirts the ink in a controllable manner onto blank sheets of paper. I think I will have to give you a tour. It is too hard to explain unless you see it for yourself. I am going to send the correspondence to my printer at Lorna's house over the muggle communication network and it will be prepared automatically."
Harry connected to the Network printer over the internet from his smartphone, after calling Lorna and asking her to load some embossed paper with a specially prepared letterhead that Harry had commissioned. It featured a faded atom along with a pair of phoenix wings that embraced a magical fist, a sword and a rifle. It looked militaristic and technological at the same time. The documents were printed and then it was placed into envelopes that Harry had commissioned at a printery, by Lorna. Grace then zapped herself and brought back everything.
Harry opened the envelopes and allowed Bloodaxe to examine the paper and the correspondence.
"This is very pleasing on the eyes. I see you have the signature left blank? You plan to personally sign these?" asked Bloodaxe.
"I do. Anyway, about the properties from the amalgamated trust, I want the Goblins to handle it. Can I assume most of them are detached single flat house units? Probably two bedrooms? That seems to fit the wizarding needs"
"An excellent observation, yes."
"I want all the personal effects put into a new vault. Organise them according to whoever was the previous owner of the house. Keep them separate. Then sell all of the properties. I want to acquire the property where I need it and would rather not use locations that Death Eaters have already breached. Of course, from the value of the houses and the current property let Gringotts take double their usual fee and you take five per cent on the property sales as your cut. I think that will be all until we get a space for experimenting."
"We do have a space that we could use. One of our deepest excavations. Somewhat damp and smelly. Pitch black dark. We considered the place initially, but it is a bit dangerous."
"Oh great – we can deal with those things. Ask King Ragnok for permission, we would be willing to shoulder the risk. Illumination and cleaning the air should be manageable, we might as well bring some of the more special things. Hermione?"
"We should."
"As always Bloodaxe, thank you for making us feel like family. Keep us informed of anything interesting as we will also do the same. Grace, zap us home."
Bloodaxe grinned, as he decided he was going to get the best possible value on the property. It was possible that could easily make a 50,000 Galleon commission and that would be a year's salary in a single transaction. Everyone was talking about how Lord Peverell bargained like a Goblin but paid generously.
Harry Potter reminded Bloodaxe very much of the successful days he had experienced with Charlus Potter.