Arc 3: Enraptured Revelation
Chapter 6: Invading Our Senses; Retrieving Their Own
All I could think about was food. My stomach was rumbling like it was an earthquake with its tremours.
"I could get a pizza... or pasta... or steak... or..." I read aloud to the menu in front of me as images of the food spun around in my mind. Severus's eyes poked over the brim of the card.
"You are aware you can read in your head, correct?" he reprimanded but he wasn't too serious about it.
I tutted my tongue in response and put my menu down on the table. "What if I was being kind and giving you ideas too?"
He wanted to smile but he kept it to himself. "I am perfectly capable of deciding for myself-" I pointed my finger down to where I spotted his favourite food. "Well. Yes. That." he flustered after I caught him out.
As a means to celebrate our halfway milestone in obtaining the Amulet of Ylgind's pieces, I decided not so subtly to go to a restaurant in Diagon Alley. Not only would it be a nice way to spend a rather pleasant and sunshiny day, but it also served as a way to scope out our next target: Gringotts.
Our food promptly arrived to which we devoured it swiftly. For a short while, as it wasn't particularly busy, we lingered to discuss our situation.
"So," I begun. "it'll probably be located in one of the lower, more protected, vaults, wouldn't it? He didn't say it was in any specific vault so perhaps it's in a more general magical item preserve."
Severus nodded in agreement before replying in a hushed voice: "My vault is on the higher levels. I presume yours would be lower down but not that low down."
I gulped as I remembered that when I left, I lost access to the Fudge family vault. "Uh. No, I'm pretty sure I'm still excluded from accessing it. Father likely won't add me back anytime soon." I sighed reluctantly.
"You called him "Father" again." Severus pointed out.
I froze and the silence became deafening in awkwardness. "I-"
"You do not have to forgive him. He may be blood but that does not mean you owe him anything." he explained thoughtfully. I knew he was correct but it still hurt to think of myself as being a traitor.
"I know." I began to fiddle with my fingers anxiously. "It's just... After what he did to me and all I went through because of him, I thought I'd be able to throw him out of my life and hate him without ever looking back." My teeth nibbled at my lip. "And now he's trying to get back into my life and... he seemed genuinely remorseful, you know? But does that make anything that he did before good?"
"Not necessarily." he said, listening strongly.
"Every time I think about it, my stomach feels awful." Truthfully, I felt like I wanted to vomit everything I had just eaten when speaking about this. "I don't think we should always hold people to what they did in the past. You know that." He nodded once more. "What Dumbledore said... people blossom depending on the room we give them to grow. He could grow and change. I want to believe he had that potential."
My gaze drifted outside. There were people walking around the cobblestone streets and browsing the arrangements of goods inside store windows. Everyone had their own stories to tell. Fudge did too.
"But... not everyone does change. Ruberion didn't and it almost got me killed because of it. What if Father is like that? I don't want him to hurt me again." Tears began to prick at my eyes. Severus placed a supportive hand on mine to get me to stop the shaking I started.
"You do not need to decide now. You do not ever need to decide if that is not what you wish. He had his opportunity for the life you spent with him and he wasted it. You owe him no kindness or opportunity and there is nothing on you for choosing to not grant it. There are still pieces of Ylgind to obtain as well. You may have an answer then, but it is acceptable to not have one."
"Severus..." I said through a small smile. His words were wise and part of his own pain.
We continued to talk for a short duration before taking our leave and proceeding toward Gringotts.
The exterior of Gringotts already stood out in comparison to its neighbouring shops. Though it didn't look much bigger on the surface, it was no secret that the bank descended deep beneath the earth to store the thousands of vaults that wizards own. Anything could be stored there; from money, to family heirlooms, to... the Amulet of Ylgind. The question of which of the vaults it could be in was the difficult question. The worst part was how we would be able to descend to the lower levels without either of us possessing a higher security vault in the area.
"Miss Juniper!"
Oh my good lord. How does this keep happening-
"Lockhart." I turned around and said blankly. Severus sighed internally at the nuisance.
"What a pleasure it is to see you here today. Checking something out at Gringotts, are we?" he asked with his bright smile. A woman audibly swooned from behind me.
"Uh, yeah!" I replied. "Give me one second, Lockhart." I nudged Severus and we turned around.
"Listen, I know you may not like this-" I whispered to him and Severus sighed, this time audibly.
"-but who else do we know who is here right now and dumb enough that we could convince to go with us to the deeper levels?"
Severus closed his eyes as if he had a headache coming on but came around to the idea after knowing there were unlikely to be other options. "Alright, but you are to do the talking."
We turned around and I put on my best smile but it very much read "I'm only doing this for a favour and I really don't like you".
"I was wondering, Gilderoy," His smile grew greater when I used his first name. "since we're such good friends, if you'd show me some of the stuff in your vault. You know, for..." I eyed Severus but he offered no help. "for... inspiration! Yeah! Since I've been so... inspired by your novels but I don't want to intrude on your genre. Your territory, right? But I'm sure you have some stuff in there that could... prod my... brain... neurons..."
Severus wouldn't have bought this from a mile away. In fact, any normal person with the faintest ability to detect facades would know that I was insincere.
"Of course! I am honoured you would want to take after me, my dear Cassandra!" He took my hands and shook them happily. Severus looked as if he wanted to kill him. "Come, come, I'll take you both!"
Lockhart was not one of the people with that ability.
The interior of Gringotts was far more lavish than the Ministry lobby. There were large circular windows near the tall ceiling that let in coves of natural light. For the sections that were not touched by the sun, the large orange-lit chandeliers illuminated the rest. The floor was covered in white and black rectangles. The left and right held very great desks where goblins sat above their customers as they completed the various paperwork for the day. To the end of the public area, another desk stood where one would request access to their vault.
For the lesser security vaults closer to the surface, only a key was required to gain access. If the teller was feeling rather lazy, they would not ask for the key. For the vaults that were of higher security and further in the depths, a certified goblin would accompany you and be required to open them. Some often had enchantments on the interior and multiple magic-prohibiting arrangements were in place. For instance, it was impossible to apparate or disapparate within the bank, nor could one use summoning charms.
Lockhart proudly paraded his way through the bank. Some of the goblins looked at him and let out a frustrated huff of air. Something tells me he's not their favourite customer.
"Something about this place... makes me feel kind of sad." I admitted privately to Severus as Lockhart sorted out his credentials with the teller.
"Why so?" Severus inquired.
"Goblins don't have much of a place outside of Gringotts. I hear in the US, that they're used as lift workers in the American Ministry of Magic. That's all they do. It's like with house-elves too. Just because they're not human means that they aren't given the same opportunities as us. Having goblins working in the Ministry and helping us to develop new laws could rebuild the trust between our communities but..." I looked around at the goblin workers who scribbled ferociously on their parchments. "I don't see the world coming to accept that."
"If only more people saw the world as you did." he submitted.
Lockhart turned around and with a large pose and in an over-the-top voice announced "Ready!"
I shook my head and began to walk alongside Severus behind Lockhart and the accompanying goblin.
"I'm not so sure about that." I wound up saying.
The journey down to the vault was, to say the least, extremely nauseating. The system devised itself of a minecart on rails that spun at high speeds over a deep ravine. It was impossible to see anything other than darkness due to the quickness of the cart and only small torches granted any light. I was grateful once we finally were allowed to leave and I found myself gripping Severus's arm to stop myself from falling over in dizziness.
"Follow me." the goblin spoke rather brutishly as he carried a lantern almost the size of him. Of course, we followed.
He led us towards a large intersection and curtly pushed the lantern into Lockhart's hands. He didn't seem fazed by it. The goblin picked up an interesting contraption that looked like a handle with two cowbell-like shapes on either end with two hammers on the sides of each cowbell.
"Cover your ears and follow me." the goblin said and began to shake the object. A horrible clacking noise rang out and a creature from beyond cried out in pain. I covered my ears but it was still unbearable. Still, we pressed forward towards Lockhart's vault.
When we arrived, the vault door was impressive and large. The goblin asked for Lockhart's key, to which he complied, and the goblin pressed his palm against the door. The door began to vanish and the contents of Lockhart's vault became apparent. It wasn't too extravagant but there were sufficient riches that told of success. I'm pretty sure the Fudge family vault held significantly more.
"What do you think?" Lockhart said proudly with his chest puffed out loud. "Isn't it spectacular?"
"Sure is. About that," I fumbled as my brain thought of an excuse to get away. "I need the bathroom."
"Why did you not go before we-" Lockhart tried to interrupt but I intercepted.
"I'm just going to go look around for one. Don't mind me. Keep him company, Severus." I advised as I began to shuffle away. Severus gazed back at me as I walked away like I had abandoned him at the store.
"Wait." the goblin demanded and hobbled towards me. "Keeping you company so you don't mess things up."
Huh? Was it my imagination or did it sound like he was going to help me?
We rounded the corner and the goblin looked over his shoulder to ensure nobody else was around. We were the only two people there, though I could hear Lockhart trying to converse with Severus who, although not seeable, was clearly about to have a mental breakdown.
"Listen here," the goblin said as I bent down to meet his level. He didn't appear to appreciate the action as it seemed I was looking down on him. "you have friends in powerful places. I will open one vault and one vault only. If it isn't the one you want then..." He trailed off.
I nodded in acknowledgement of his potential sacrifice and danger. "Thank you, I'm grateful for this, Mister...?" I lead on hoping for a name.
He looked at me curiously as if this was the first time anyone had bothered to ask his name.
"Vardot."
"A nice name. I'm Cassandra." I held out my hand for him to shake it. He hesitated, unsure if it was his right to take it, but eventually he did.
I stood up properly and began to trail my way through the vault systems. I only had one chance. If I chose randomly, I'd certainly get it wrong which was obvious from how poorly the Department of Mysteries went. But how would I have any indication to which it could be in?
"I suppose you don't have any ideas that could help me out here?" I asked Vardot with slight hope.
"Unfortunately not, sorry." His voice was rather pleasant compared to how he spoke previously. He was warming up.
I continued to think of any possible tactics that could work but my head came up empty each time. The Amulet was only half full and wouldn't work without the six pieces... but...
I placed my hand on the bangle and felt the ancient magic flow through me. It was far softer than when I felt it with Calamity but it was still there. If there was a way to detect the same energy then... I closed my eyes and began to focus on the energy produced from the bangle.
"...endent..." a faint voice echoed out in the distance.
"Did you hear that?" I turned to Verdot but he replied negatively.
"... ily line..."
My feet picked up towards where the voice was calling from. With each step, the voice became louder and clearer until it was speaking coherently as if I was right in front of the source.
"...they are here..."
"Vardot, I want to open this vault please." I politely requested and stepped back.
"Certain? I won't open any others after this." He stepped forward and almost pressed his hand against the vault for authorisation.
"Please." I asked of him once more. His palm made contact with the door and, like Lockhart's, the blockage vanished and revealed the inside. There were multiple stacks of golden Galleons, several ornaments of plates, cups, bowls and cutlery, paintings on the walls and left on the floor and several busts for jewellery.
"There may be enchantments in place. Be careful." Vardot warned and he realised it was rather uncharacteristic of him to do so. Since when had he begun to care about a human?
I smiled back at him as I cautiously took my steps in. "You've been incredible, Vardot. Thank you for everything you've done to help me." I said sincerely. He was rather taken aback by the kindness and respect I had given him. Why did he look pained?
I closed my eyes and channelled for the ancient magic. Within moments, I could sense it atop one of the circular tables on a grey bust. Approaching it, the fragment was donned upon a chain necklace. The owner must have thought it to be a charm of some sort and belonged on jewellery... Though I suppose in a sense, they weren't wrong. I unhooked the piece from the chain and placed it within the Amulet. I could have taken the chain but this was still someone's property and keeping it would be more than what I came here to do.
"Okay, I'm done here." I walked outside of the vault and Vardot was nowhere to be seen. "Vardot?"
My skin began to shiver. This had been far too easy. Vardot's sudden disappearance could only mean one thing...
This was a trap.
With my heart racing, I sprinted as fast as I could towards where I had left Severus and Lockhart. As I got closer, I realised I could not hear them talking.
"Severus-" I went to call out but a hand wrapped itself over my mouth and a second around my waist and pulled me into a small alcove amongst the cave-like system.
"Quiet." It was Severus, thank Merlin. I kept silent, minus the deep breaths I tried to conceal from my running. A group of goblins ran past yelling that there had been a break-in and to catch the thieves. Once they had passed, he and I made eye contact and followed down the opposite path towards the minecart.
There was only one problem...
The cart would not operate without the help of a goblin.
Here we now were at the edge of a bottomless ravine with nowhere else to go. If we were captured, we would be sent to Azkaban for life. Elsewise, if we fell, we would certainly die.
The pounding footsteps of the goblins roaming began to unite on our location. They would find us any moment now.
"Did you find the piece?" Severus asked somewhat frantically.
"I did-"
"Use it."
"But-"
"It only takes a moment to see the memory. Elsie may know what to do." he said as he stood in front to shield me. The goblins had appeared. "Now!"
I took the deepest breath I could muster, touched the new piece and everything faded away.
The scenery I came to was one that felt familiar in two different senses. It was the same artefact room that Fudge had made for Elsie, but it was gradually being cleaned out to be transformed into what would become my room. Elsie sat on the floor clearing out a cupboard, now somewhat noticeably pregnant. Her hair was shorter but still longer than mine, and she wore vastly different clothes from her adventuring days. She had mellowed out as she promised. Fudge watched her like a hawk to ensure she was not pushing herself while he packed some boxes.
[Artwork by Mari Ohalloween#8391]
"Elsie, I will be back in a moment. This box needs to be put away." he noted as he picked the box up and left but poked his head around the door frame once more to make sure she was safe.
"Alright, dear." she said mindlessly as she picked out more items and placed them into certain piles. She dug her hand into the cupboard and pulled out the Prophecy she had received from the Department of Mysteries.
"I never did learn what was inside of you, did I?" she said fondly as she gave it a nice polish. Her reflection showed her bright smile. Gradually, she leant over to place it in one pile but her knee slipped and the faintly glowing orb slipped from her hands and smashed on the floor.
A spectral image of a woman that looked eerily alike her was shown wielding the Abyssian Blade, the relic she had been searching for as long as she could remember. It was this relic that she believed she would never find... but here was the proof that she would find it. Her eyes went wide with shock and disbelief. Suddenly, as if she forgot everything she was doing, she shot up and began to rummage through a set of drawers and pulled out a large pile of books and scrolls.
"I'm back- What are you doing?" Fudge sought answers, mildly worried about what his wife was doing.
"Nothing, dear. Just... reminiscing over old times." she lied. It was obvious she was obsessing over the information in front of her.
Fudge stepped forward and picked up one of the scrolls which he knew to be one of her marked maps for potential locations for the Blade. "You're looking for the Blade again? You promised you would stop, Elsie." His eyes drifted to the broken glass beside her. "You looked at the Prophecy." His voice was hoarse with hurt and betrayal.
"It was an accident, Cornelius. I dropped the Prophecy and- and-" Elsie tried to explain but her brain was struggling with the uptake of information and trying to comprehend her husband. "It said I would find it! I have to look for it!"
Fudge knelt down beside her, took hold of her hands and forced her to look at him. "You promised me you were done."
"I- Cornelius, you know how much this means to me."
"And I thought you knew how much you and this family mean to me." he retorted and gestured towards her stomach. "You are pregnant, Elsie. You cannot push yourself like this."
Elsie sighed for she knew he was correct. "You're right..."
"Will you stop? For us?" Fudge pleaded directly to her. She nodded and let go of her hands. They both collected what Elsie had gotten out and carefully put it back in its place. "It is for your health, Elsie. I know you do not like it but... at least wait until your pregnancy is over. I love you and I do not want to see you hurt because of this."
Elsie reluctantly smiled but her focus stayed embarrassed on the floor. "I know. I love you too."
Fudge gave her a fond kiss on the cheek and her face eventually lit up happily once more.
I blinked and the room was suddenly changed. Across the table that previously held glass displays were countless maps, tomes and marking materials. The curtains and door for the room were closed and the only light source came from the small candles that gave off only slight illumination.
There Elsie stood, vastly larger than before, reading over the documents and writing down any theories or conclusions she could muster.
"Cornelius would have told me if it was in the Ministry so that's scratched off..." she told herself as her quill struck through a line on a thorough list of locations.
"Next... Gringotts... Potentially. The goblins are known for their greed... Though nobody has ever broken into the bank before and lived... The Thief's Downfall would remove any curses or Polyjuice Potion... Plus there must be an anti-magic field around it. I do wonder just how deep it would go... Even the field on Hogwarts has a limit. A pit that deep would too. Still..." She scratched off that name. "it wouldn't make sense for them to have it."
She sighed deeply and looked over the maps again. Nothing stood out to her and she began to build frustration. I wasn't any doctor but I could tell this would not be good for her. She slammed her fist on the table in anger. Her teeth were clenched and her posture went sour. Suddenly, her knees buckled and she fell to the floor with a thud. Her eyes wouldn't open.
Fudge, hearing the noise, stormed in and at the sight of his fainted wife, began to panic. He did not know if she was alright, nor if there had been any damage to the baby. He held her tightly in his arms and checked for breathing but there was not much else he could do. He whimpered and began to plead for her, his face bathed in tears.
I wanted to reach out and hold her desperately but my hand only went through her body. It pained me hard to see her motionless like that. The Amulet felt sore on my wrist as if it was punishing me along with the memory. There was still more to see. With two more pieces, Elsie's story wasn't finished but I was beginning to bring together Fudge's agony.
I didn't want to leave but I was pulled from the vision and placed back with Severus in Gringotts. Though only a second had passed, the goblins now surrounded us on all sides. They held torches and weapons in preparation to arrest us. To the front, Vardot stood with grief and regret. It was without words that I knew he had snitched on us before we had entered Gringotts.
Fudge obviously had arranged for him to guide us and aid me. Goblins, being greedy as they are, would do a lot for a large gain. This was no different. The feud between humans and goblins did not help prevent further fuel from being added to the fire. Though, Vardot's face could only be explained by his realisation that not all humans are the same.
We made eye contact. I wasn't angry. Perhaps before I left the Ministry, I would have protested, called him the scum of the Earth and cursed for his death, but I had grown from that point. Vardot made his choice and he was going to make another. I nodded and motioned my eyes towards the ravine. He nodded back.
I had my answer.
Severus and I were forcefully backed up towards the very edge of the ravine. My heel was now suspended in midair with only my toes still on land. Still, Severus stood wide to protect me.
"Have you got an idea now?" he urged. Small stones fell into the abyss from my feet edging evermore.
"Yeah. One." I inhaled. "Get ready." I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist.
"What-"
Throwing all my weight backwards, I pulled him with me and we began to fall at impeccable speeds downward. The goblins stared down in shock and anger that they had lost the thieves. Severus and I couldn't hold in our screaming as the air slammed against our bodies like bullets. We tried to force ourselves further towards the middle to avoid any jutting rock formations.
"We need to wait!" I yelled out. "The anti-magic field has a limit!"
"When!?" Severus yelled back with full trust.
"Just before we hit the bottom! Whenever that is, we disapparate together!" I took his hand and we fell side-by-side. Everything was pitch black as the torches far above no longer reached us.
How we were to tell how deep we were was impossible. This was all down to sheer luck. How could we know how deep this ravine was?
At what depths do the creatures of greed delve?
The answer is... eternity. But what is eternity if not an illusion?
Nothing is eternal. All must come to an end eventually.
You blessed by Her, too of His blood, it may be stopped.
All you must do is cease it.
A strange voice echoed in my ears. Severus made no indication that he heard it. The pieces of the Amulet began to glow white. It was signalling to me...
"Now, Severus!" I commanded and with a snap, we successfully disapparated...