February 29, 1530 AD
The Goblins have grown restless. I am not certain why this is so, but tensions have been brewing amongst the creatures. There is some deep seated resentment that I am unaware of. My people have been unnaturally unkind toward the Goblin race, and no matter who I ask - be it the Lords in the Wizengamot or Ragnok - I can get no straight answers.
I suspect that whatever is brewing has not been discussed in the Wizengamot because all the Lords know who sits upon these seats. The Peverell family has grown since its founding, and since the days the Wizengamot was formed.
My family now holds not only the Peverell and Ravenclaw seats, but we also have the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin seats. They may pretend well, but these Lords fear our power. If something is brewing, my family does not know because it has been hidden from us.
No one in my family knows why tensions have grown so rapidly this past year. Something is coming, and I do not know what it is.
What is happening to our world?
April 1, 1530 AD
There was a Wizengamot meeting this afternoon. All the men were casting suspicious glances in my direction throughout, and I did not learn why until we reached the topic of the Goblins.
The relationship between the Peverell family and the Goblin race is legendary. To this day, my family is the only House that has achieved an alliance with the Goblins. They have been hiding this conflict from me for fear that I would side with the Goblins. And the Goblins have been avoiding the topic because they fear that we will join the other wixen against them.
The argument is idiotic. Goblins - who are magical creatures, I might add - wish to be allowed the use of wands. Not only that, but they also desire representation in the Wizengamot - they desire someone to stand for them and defend them. In my mind, these are not unreasonable requests. After all, the Goblins are thinking, feeling, magical beings. In some ways, we have more in common with Goblins than we do with Muggles, and we defer to the Muggle monarchy.
In response to this request, which has been deemed unreasonable by the majority of wizards, vulgar language and curses have been aimed toward the Goblins. It is the beginning of an all out war - everyone is choosing sides.
It is as though my kin have forgotten who keeps their gold. The Goblins hold their artifacts and fortunes beneath the stones of Diagon Alley, in mazes that cannot be navigated by wizards. I have no doubt that the Goblins have fought against the slurs and spells aimed at them. They have likely locked down the vaults of the families of their confirmed enemies.
After months of wondering, this has finally been brought up in the Wizengamot, and I believe it is because my fellow wizards expect me to choose a side, now that lines have been drawn. Whoever the Peverell family sides with will gain the full force of the not insignificant power of this family, and all our allies.
My compatriots have good reason to fear. I side with the Goblins.
May 3, 1530 AD
The streets have been silent for weeks. We have all been preparing for war. On the side of the aggressors are the Malfoys, Blacks, Notts, Carrows, Crabbes, Flints, LeStranges, and Princes.
Caught in the middle - those Houses desperate for peace, those who do not wish to take sides - are the Greengrasses, Higgses, Puceys, Bulstrodes, Harpers, Shacklebolts and Browns.
Those who have joined us to stand for the Goblins include the Longbottoms and Lovegoods and Weasleys. We have also been joined by the Veela, and the House Elves, and the Werewolves and Centaurs. Any magical creatures who desire the same thought afforded to wizards have joined our cause.
No matter who wins these battles, the repercussions will be great. I cannot foresee the future, but I can prepare for it regardless.
June 21, 1530 AD
Xia returned home to me at noontime today to report that there had been a massacre in the streets. My lovely wife should never have experienced such violence, and especially not when she had our children with her.
Xia tells me that the wizards attacked first; they barraged the doors of Gringotts with fury. She says that spell fire was flying in every direction, heedless of bystanders. Within moments, the Goblins opened their doors, charging out with their heavy swords and battle armor. The Goblin women stayed near the edges, casting spells of their own design against their attackers.
The attack was unexpected, and yet the Goblins have come out the victors of this battle. I visited Ragnok nearly an hour ago to offer my congratulations.
When I left, the Goblins were removing the dead from the streets.
July 1, 1530 AD
The wizards have been wary since the battle at Gringotts. For good reason, too. Their dead were found the next day, their heads on bloody stakes lining the streets of Diagon. In any other case, I would be disapproving, but I find that I cannot deny the Goblins this victory. They are one step closer to their goal.
In the lull following that battle, I have been attending Wizengamot meetings. My allies and I have been attempting to convince the others that it is in their best interest to concede to the Goblins. So far, they have turned blind eyes and deaf ears to my efforts.
They will agree soon enough.
July 23, 1530 AD
Azriel Longbottom and I have been working on a contract with Ragnok. We have been debating the stipulations of the Goblin race's desires and expectations. We are nearly finished and hope to present it to the Wizengamot soon enough.
I pray that they accept the terms. Goblins are vicious on the best of days. When they are provoked, they become ruthless. Accepting the terms means ending this madness.
Azriel suggests that we present the contract to the neutral Houses. If we convince them, we have the majority of the votes. Perhaps the other Lords will be more likely to follow their peers.
August 12, 1530 AD
Eliran Nott broke into Gringotts last night. His family fortune has been sealed by the Goblins, and so he attempted to liberate it. He succeeded in escaping with a small part of his family's assets before returning to his home in Hogsmeade.
Ragnok is furious, and has requested that I assist Gringotts in improving their defenses. I accepted, and the wizards have learned of this treachery. They forget that I do not answer to them, that they are not the kings of this world.
August 15, 1530 AD
The Goblins attacked Hogsmeade last night. Nott's house was targeted, and the resulting conflict was bloody.
Goblins and wizards alike entered Death's arms last night.
These battles are adding up slowly. Our world is going to war, and we cannot afford the conflict anymore. This fighting must end now. We have taken this argument too far.
Azriel and I will present the agreement tomorrow. I pray to Merlin that they accept these stipulations. I tire of conflict quickly, and I do not wish to see my kin or my allies meet their ends.
I stand by the Goblins still, though I pray it need not be for much longer, or our world will never recover.
August 16, 1530 AD
They have all agreed to the terms, thank Merlin.
I can see in their eyes that they are as tired of this as I; no doubt this is the only reason I was able to convince them so quickly.
We are not built for war.
Ragnok will send his son tomorrow. Griphook is to be the ambassador between the Goblin race and wizards.
A new law has been passed: creatures are now allowed to wield wands, should they so desire. I doubt many will, but it is the idea of it that matters. We fight for equality. This is the first step.
January 1, 1531 AD
I knew my family's involvement in Goblin Rebellion would have unforeseen consequences. Even our allies cannot help us with this.
No matter how long the Peverells have been around - and we are the oldest House, dating back to the last Pendragon - it seems as though people forget our influence.
Those who fought against the Goblins are calling for our heads. We make up half the population of wizarding Britain, but they are determined to rid the world of us.
Xia and I have consulted with Ragnok. He suggests that we leave the country for a decade or so, to allow things to calm down. He also suggests we change our family name, though the Goblins will always know who we are.
We have decided to stage the deaths of our family during one of our traditional celebrations. From there, we will make our getaway. Thank all the gods above that Great-Grandfather Iggy claimed so much land.
The world will never forget our name - will never forget our perceived betrayal - but by the time we return, they will have forgotten who we are.
We are the Peverells. We are the balance between family and duty. Statera Familia et Officium.
February 1, 1531 AD
We have made our escape. Today was Imbolc, and - as per tradition - the entire family gathered at the Manor. In the last minutes before midnight, we staged an explosion and fire appeared. It was all an illusion, of course. We would never do anything to destroy our ancestral home.
After all the drama, everyone made a swift getaway. We are now spread out all over the world, in the houses and pieces of land that Iggy and Ria obtained.
I do not expect to see my entire family for many years.
I wonder how the wizards will fare without our presence.
March 17, 1541 AD
It has been over a decade since I last saw the entire family. Even without their presence, we have grown. Xia and I have had more children, who are far younger than our other children. The oldest of our brood are now married with children of their own.
We have been forced to obtain more land due to a distinct lack of it. Our family grows quite rapidly, and the introduction of Muggle blood to the family has made the younger generations' magic even stronger.
We have all gathered together for the Spring Equinox, on Aonachd. It is a joy to see the family together again, and larger than ever.
We have plans to return to Britain within a fortnight, and so we must make preparations.
March 20, 1541 AD
As Head of House, I have determined that the first order of business is to change our name. I have chosen Potter; it is similar enough to our original name that we will not be confused when addressed, and it is chosen to show that we are beginning anew. We will build the future that we lost ten years ago.
Unfortunately, we will have to change our appearances; after all, the Peverell traits are highly distinctive.
Then, I will have to meet with the Goblins, to see if there is any way for us to regain the seats on the Wizengamot without revealing ourselves.
March 31, 1541 AD
Everything is sorted. We are now the Potter family, a relatively old - though not as old as the Peverells - family. We have wild black curls and golden eyes, a contrast from the strait locks and vaguely hazel eyes we sported as Peverells. With a little luck, we will be able to keep our identity secret.
Our new words are et sanguinem officium - blood and duty. It is similar to the old, but different enough that few will make the connection we hide. Our new symbol is a phoenix which holds in its claws a bloody sword that cuts through a triangle and circle. Our rebirth, our blood, our duty, and a nod at our old family symbol.
To ensure that it remains so, I have made use of Iggy's Fidelius charm in a way it was not intended for. I am the secret keeper, and the secret I am keeping is that we are the Peverell family. We are all aware of it, but our enemies will not be.
The Goblins have assisted us in regaining our seats on the Wizengamot, and we have returned to the homes of our ancestors - nearly all of them are unplottable, and so no one will make the connection.
I am afraid to see what state the world is in. I pray that it has not crumbled in our absence.