I APOLOGISE SO VERY MUCH FOR HOW LONG THIS HAS TAKEN. PLEASE DO NOT MAIM ME!

Seriously, I've had so much happen in my life that I am now picking up these fanfiction pieces and putting them back together for you guys.

Let me know what you think.

Read and send me reviews… much love to you all xxx

Chapter 15: A Treaty with the Goblins

Harry and Hermione's look of success turned to confusion.

"Why would you need the Sword of Gryffindor?" Harry asked puzzled at the request.

"Why? I'll gladly tell you why… that sword was stolen from us by the human wizard Godric Gryffindor and we want it back. If you care so much for this quest and for our help in getting rid of that horcrux in your head, then it's the least you can do for us," Ragnok sneered.

"But Harry used it in the future, as in our present time where we came from. We don't know how to get it to reveal itself to us unless we are in mortal danger," Hermione said.

"We can easily arrange for you to be in mortal danger, humans," a goblin guard snarled beside Ragnok, but the King of the Goblins waved him away.

"Well then I guess our business here is done," Ragnok concluded and with that waved them away in dismissal.

Hermione looked at Harry, whose brow was furrowed deeply in thought, desperately trying to find a way for them to get the help they needed from the goblin healers. She began to rise and fasten her cloak.

"Wait," Harry said.

Everyone turned to look at the wizard, who in the next moment stood up and drew his wand. The goblin guards snarled and raised their axes and spears in defence, in case the human tried anything.

Harry held his wand to his chest and spoke, "I, Harry James Potter, hereby give the King of the Goblin Nation, Ragnok the Revengeful, a magical oath sworn on his life and magic that until he is able to return the Sword of Gryffindor to the Goblin Nation, he will be theirs to do whatsoever they want to. So mote it be."

Hermione and every goblin in the room watched in awe and astonishment as a bright golden light entwined around Harry and Ragnok, encasing them in a light cage, before being sucked into their body and a breeze blew through the cavernous room, sealing the agreement.

Harry pocketed his wand and bowed to the Goblins in the room. He then stood and waited for their response.

Ragnok pulled himself together from the stupor he was in and straightened up imperiously.

"Not once, in the history of magic itself, has a wizard or mage ever given us the importance to make a magical oath agreement with us, the Goblin nation. Why?"

Harry shrugged, "I guess I know what it's like to be shoved to one side, only be needed for other's means and never thought of as someone who could also have feelings..." He shook his head slightly to push his thoughts aside as his attention returned to Ragnok.

Ragnok watched him closely for any signs of deceit or lies before snorting in amusement.

"You, Harry James Potter, are a peculiar wizard indeed."

Hermione snorted at that, "whenever has he been normal?"

Harry shot her a look of mock hurt, "Hermione," he said clutching his heart and swooning in hurt, "you wound my heart."

She smiled and shook her head in amusement as the Goblins watched on in slight amusement.

"So Ragnok, will this suffice until I can find the Sword and return it to you?" Harry asked.

"I am deeply honoured at the commitment you have given us and as such we will honour the oath sworn to us." Ragnok agreed.

He then snapped his fingers and a magical medallion appeared around Harry's neck. Hermione snorted in how similar the situation was a few minutes ago with Salazar outside in the alley.

"By wearing this, every magical individual will recognise you as a Goblin friend. It also acts as a portkey that will bring you here if you are in danger and will also act as a communication device. Merely speak my name and tap it with your wand and I will be able to telepathically communicate with you, no matter what wards you are in."

Harry stared at the medallion cradled in his hands in awe as he bought it up to his face to examine the runes on them. He was certain Hermione would be able to decipher them once they got back to Hogwarts. No one, not even Albus Dumbledore had been provided this privilege from the Goblin Nation.

Harry bowed in thanks and Ragnok clicked his long fingers. A door leading to tunnels opened to the side of his room and Ragnok stood and beckoned the two student to follow them.

A few minutes later of traipsing through windy tunnels that Harry and Hermione had lost track of the way long ago (which Hermione thought was deliberate), they entered a large plaza where they stopped and watched many Gobin males, females and younglings mill around, buying from the stalls that were selling fruit and other amenities, reminiscent to Diagon Alley, only more medieval.

"As you can see, we have many Goblin nation living here and you, Harry Potter, are tasked for your first mission with making sure no evil can harm my people. All of Goblin Nation will be made aware you mean no harm and will be here to protect everyone, especially the females, younglings and elderly."

Ragnok eyes pierced into Harry's green orbs and he didn't dare blink as he felt the King of the Goblin Nation examine his very soul.

Finally Harry and Hermione arrived in a large cavernous space lit by many torches, where there was a slab of marble mounted to look like a surgery table, and a handful of Goblins wearing what seemed to be medical uniforms of some kind.

Ragnok walked over to them and conversed in Gobbledegook before beckoning Harry and Hermione over to them.

"This is Healer Fangtooth and Healer Ripclaw and their team of Goblin Healers.," Ragnok gestured to the respective Goblin Healers, who bowed to their King, "They will be in charge of taking the evil out of your curse scar. Hermione, please come this way and we will watch from where it is safe… we have no idea what kind of backlash there will be."

"Do you think it will be safe for Harry?" Hermione said, shooting Harry a worried look and then watching Ragnok closely.

"With the Dark Lord there is never a safe option, only less dangerous," Healer Fangtooth said grimly.

Hermione hugged Harry tightly and followed Ragnok til they were safely enclosed behind a magically enforced shield, which Hermione observed was held by rune stones.

"Please un-robe yourself and lie on your back on the table," Healer Fangtooth instructed and Harry did so, before casting Hermione what he hoped was a reassuring smile and lay down on the table.

A hum went through his body as his magic settled down, however he could feel a tug in his scar as if the horcrux knew what would be done soon.

"Try not to move, this will not hurt too much," Healer Ripclaw said and Harry swallowed nervously before nodding.

And the Healer team surrounded Harry and began to chant. Harry felt his eyes shut and the next thing he knew there was immense pain.

Before he knew it, he opened his mouth and started to scream.

Hermione POV

Hermione shot up from her seat as Harry closed his eyes and started to scream, his back arching off the table as the Goblin healers chanted words foreign to her ears.

She never felt so helpless and vowed to look up as many healing spells and rituals as possible, for her own sake more so than Harry's.

Pacing anxiously, she tried to filter out the screams from her beloved, and focused on how this would be worth it in the end. Harry would be free from Voldemort and they could end him forever once all the other horcruxes were discovered and destroyed.

Suddenly a commotion drew her attention away from Harry to the entrance to the healing chamber and Ragnok snarled and gestured for two Goblin guards to come forwards, as he pushed Hermione behind and drew his own dagger which seemed to be made from pure gold with rubies encrusted on the hilt of the blade.

The door blew off his hinges as a furious Salazar Slytherin stalked into the chamber, wand aloft sparking with silver sparks and a blade hanging from his other hand dripping with red liquid that looked suspiciously like blood.

"Human, how dare you burst into my bank and threaten my civilisation with your arrogant ways," Ragnok spat out with anger.

"Where is he?" Salazar snarled out equally enraged.

Hermione just pointed shakily at the medical chamber below them where Harry had stopped screaming but was writhing around and arching off the bench as the horcrux resisted the attempts by the Goblin healers to pull it and separate it from its host.

"What is that?" Salazar asked horrified, as a terrible idea occurred to him.

"A horcrux we are attempting to remove from Harry," Ragnok said as he calmed slightly, recognising this wizard as only wanting to find out who was hurting Harry.

"Why did you come Salazar? We're alright, mostly, apart from Harry down there," Hermione asked.

"The protective charms that I placed on Harry was emitting all kinds of distress signals, as did yours," Salazar said sheathing his wand and blade and bowing in apology to Ragnok.

"I'm not in distress, mainly Harry is," Hermione said.

Salazar walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to look up at him and saw as he smiled softly and wiped her tears away that were gently rolling down her cheeks.

"You know that's not true," he said and Hermione turned to watch as Harry slumped down unconsciously and the Goblin healers screw on a lid on a jar that held a large black mist whilst chanting.

"Harry," gasped Hermione and ran down to where he lay and kneeling down, pressed a shaky hand to his chest and sighed in relief as she felt his chest move up and down slowly.

"He needs to rest," Ragnok said as he joined Hermione near the unconscious wizard, "my Healers have told me that it was removed successfully and will be destroyed. Let us move him to the ward."

Salazar waved his hand and Harry rose into the air slowly and with Ragnok leading the way, they entered the infirmary ward and set him down on one of the beds. Hermione moved forward and immediately busied herself with tucking Harry in and then she settled into a chair and took Harry's right hand into her own and calmed herself by watching Harry's chest rise up and down slowly.

"We'll be back to check on him in the morning," Salazar said and with a gentle pat on the anxious witch's shoulder, he followed Ragnok out leaving Hermione with the four walls to keep herself occupied.

Hermione placed a kiss on Harry's brow and settled back into her seat, pulling out a book on runes to occupy herself with as she waited for her beau to wake up.