Sorry it took so long everyone but I have been trying as hard as possible to update this but I've not been great.
So here you are, read and review and let me know what you think!
Chapter 14 – A Conversation with the Goblins
Salazar led them back through Knockturn Alley, insisting that it would be no trouble at all and now since they were his apprentices, in a way, it was his responsibility to look out for them.
They were met with a bright sunlight cobbled alley filled with lots of witches and wizards as they emerged back onto Diagon Alley and Salazar paused as Harry and Hermione turned to face him, their cloak hoods up and covering their faces in shadows.
"Now I'll be in contact shortly about where we can start training to face Riddle, but in the meantime take these," Salazar said, stretching out a hand to them both and dropping two items into each of their hands.
In Harry's hand, he dropped a platinum silver ring which had a snake coiled onto it, with it's eye made of a single emerald stone. Harry slipped it onto his index finger and watched surprised as the snake came to life briefly, hissing a quiet §Master§, before magically resizing to fit his finger snugly. He felt a wash of magic briefly pass over him before everything went back to normal.
In Hermione's hand, he had dropped a similar trinket, however it differed in design as there were 2 snakes that intwined themselves around a large emerald pendant shaped as a droplet, all attached to a long sterling silver delicate chain. Both snakes showed one eye each, which were similar to Harry's in that they were made of emeralds. She held it out wordlessly to Harry, who placed it around Hermione's neck and fastened the clasp, letting the pendant fall to rest between her breasts. Again, the snakes as soon as making contact with Hermione, came alive briefly and hissed §Mistress§ before resting still.
"It's so beautiful," Hermione breathed in awe and turned with shining eyes to a smiling Salazar. Without warning, she lunged forward and wrapped her mentor into a hug, taking him by surprise. He froze for a moment before reciprocating with a soft smile.
"Salazar, I can't accept this. It must have cost you a fortune," Harry said trying to tug the ring off his finger, however it wouldn't budge to the amusement of Salazar himself.
"Now Harry, how can you give it back to me when it doesn't even want to part from your finger," he asked mischievously.
"Anyhow, these are both for you to keep. One of the duties I have towards my apprentices is to protect them and teach them, and although we will begin the teaching aspect within the next coming week or two, these trinkets are for your protection," he explained.
"So what protections does it have?" Hermione asked eagerly.
"First and foremost, it will let me know whether you are held behind wards or not, where you are, your life force, and your general health. It will vibrate against your skin and grow hot if someone has put a poison or anything harmful in your food and drink just by touching the plate or cup. It will protect your mind whilst you learn Legilimency and Occulmency with me and will repeal the Imperious curse from controlling you."
Harry and Hermione took this in with wide eyes and nodded afterwards. Salazar was quite a paranoid wizard.
"Don't look at me like that you two… I haven't even got to the cool stuff yet," Salazar huffed continuing on, "if you twist the ring or the pendant once, it becomes a Portkey keyed into my location and if you twist it twice I will be alerted that you need me."
"Wow, you didn't have to go to all that trouble," Harry said bashfully and Salazar laid a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently in a reassuring manner.
"Harry, and to an extent Hermione, you two are wanted by the most dangerous wizard, albeit imposter, at present and who else needs this protection more that you? Remember, my job is to protect you," Salazar said and smiled at the boy who had the whole world on his shoulders.
"Now, remember, if you need me then contact me, and be careful getting back to Hogwarts. I'll send you a message soon."
With that Harry and Hermione bid farewell to their new mentor and cautiously made their way to Gringrotts.
~~~~~HP~HP~HP~HP~HP~HP~~~~~~~
The two newly-minted apprentices of Salazar Slytherin hurried up the marble stairs belonging to the equally marble-built building of Gringrotts Bank, nodding in greeting to the two goblins standing guard in their armour and equipped with long dangerous-looking spears who grunted in acknowledgement but did not move a muscle.
Once inside the foyer, they allowed themselves to relax and keeping their hoods up, they approached the teller called Griphook and waited patiently for the Goblin to look at them. A moment later he did and Harry hastily bowed as taught by Hermione.
"May your gold flow and your enemies tremble at the sight of you," Harry greeted respectfully and Griphook's lips curled up for a second before nodding.
"And may your enemies rot in hell," he responded in a rasping voice, "how can Gringrotts help you today?"
"We have an appointment with Lord Ragnok, Teller Griphook," Hermione replied and he nodded before beckoning another Goblin over and whispering in his ear.
"Young Gobblesnout will take you to our Lord," Griphook replied and Harry and Hermione nodded.
"This way," Gobblesnout beckoned and led them down a long corridor off the side of the main foyer. Using his finger, he swiped the door and led them down some stairs, which Hermione guessed were the mines and lower vaults, before turning a sharp left and coming to a stop in front of gold regal doors.
A single knock, a snappy "Come in", and Gobblesnout opened the doors before pushing in the two students and closing the door behind them.
Harry and Hermione walked forward, their hands entwined with each other to seek reassurance from one another as they walked up to the desk of the King of the Goblin race that controlled the monetary assets of the whole Wizarding world in the United Kingdom.
"Mr Potter and Miss Granger, how wonderful it is to see you both not captured by that death eater scum. Please take a seat," Lord Ragnok said and the two students took a seat, smiling gratefully at the goblin.
"It is wonderful to see you too Lord Ragnok," Harry said politely.
"Now how is it that Gringotts and the Goblin race can help today?"
Harry took a deep breath and with a look at Hermione for support, he leaned forward. "I am in need to speak to your curse breakers and seek their knowledge on a very sensitive issue."
Ragnok raised a brow and frowned.
"And pray tell me what this issue is? I can't just let anyone speak and learn the secrets of the Goblin nation, you do understand," he rasped out, his long fingers clasped together on his lap.
"I need to know, before I tell you, that this matter will not leave this building if I divulge it to you," Harry said and Ragnok growled.
"Have you little faith in the Goblin race's integrity and honour boy?! Do not be presumptuous or arrogant to me," Ragnok snarled angrily and Harry and Hermione shook their heads rapidly to dispel the misunderstanding.
"You misunderstand Lord Ragnok and we apologise," Hermione said quickly.
Ragnok nodded and huffed as he calmed down, waving his hand to continue.
"We have reason to believe that the Dark Lord, You-Know-Who has created… Horcruxes," Harry decided to spit it all out and they leaned back as an attempt to distance themselves from the rapidly angry goblin king.
"What..." Ragnok snarled and glared at the two in front of them.
"Yes, and Harry has one in his scar so we need to find out if there is any way to remove that vile piece of soul from him without destroying the container," Hermione stuttered out as quick as she could.
"YOU BOUGHT ONE OF THOSE ABOMINATIONS INTO THIS BANK AND OUR SACRED HALLS! LEAVE THIS INSTANT OR SO HELP ME I WILL CHOP OFF YOUR HEADS," Ragnok bellowed angrily, leading the guards outside to crash open the doors and rush in and point their spears at the two students, who were praying to Merlin that this would be over soon and they would live through this ordeal, lest become headless.
"Lord Ragnok we cannot leave unless we know that Harry can live after taking the Horcrux out of him," Hermione pleaded.
"I need to be able to defeat Him, and I can only do this after destroying his soul inside of me," Harry said as calm as he could.
"LEAVE!" Ragnok bellowed, pointing a long clawed finger to the door.
"So you would rather leave everyone in the Wizarding world to suffer under Voldemort's control? You really are as selfish as we learnt in Hogwarts!" Harry snarled angrily. His patience was wearing thin, whether because these insufferable goblins would not listen or the knowledge he had a soul piece in his head or both.
"How dare you! That codswallop they teach at your school don't know anything about our race," Ragnok snarled out, his hand twitching to the sword strapped on his belt.
"Then prove it, rise above it, become part of the history where Voldemort was defeated because goblins and humans worked together in harmony… regain that lost honour that so many kids are taught," Hermione stated with an arched eyebrow, daring him to contradict her.
"Why would I care what happens with humans? Or the Dark Lord? They never respected us, treated us like dirt, so why should we?" Ragnok growled out.
"I guess we should then empty the Potter vaults and move them to a Muggle bank instead," Harry straightened up and offered a hand to Hermione, looking every bit a Pureblood wizard would.
"You w-wouldn't, they're one of the oldest customers we have. To do that would destabilise the economy," Ragnok said, slightly worried at their threat.
"Well then if you are stubborn enough to not even help your oldest customer, then why should we extend the same courtesy to you," Harry spat out and they both fastened their cloaks and moved towards the door.
"Any minute now," Hermione whispered and Harry nodded slightly.
"WAIT!"
They turned to see Ragnok staring at them before gesturing them to sit.
"So your decision?" Hermione prompted.
Ragnok stroked his chin thoughtfully before jerking his head into a stiff nod.
"The Goblin race will help you get rid of these abominations, but for a price," Ragnok stated imperiously and looked down his nose at the two who smiled slightly, expecting this already.
"What do you want?" Harry asked curiously.
Ragnok smiled, a scary sight really with those pointy sharp teeth.
"I want the sword of Godric Gryffindor."