A/N: Just a random Bunny I saw when I was in the middle of my last update on my Lone Traveler stories. This one is … well, satisfying but not too deep.

Albus Dumbledore walked in to Gringotts' lobby, his robes resplendent, a smile upon his face, and a twinkle in his eyes.

The unexpected temporary defeat of Tom Riddle had opened up a number of possibilities and he had made immediate plans to ensure that Tom would be finally defeated. The prophesied child was placed in a protected home where he would not be allowed to become too … rebellious. He lamented the necessity – but the Greater Good demanded it.

One obstacle had taken care of itself: Sirius Black was taken by the DMLE as the Potter's secret keeper. He had personally been shown the slip by Sirius. The other possible obstacle would be Alice Longbottom. However, the Longbottoms were still in hiding – they were being cautious in their actions. Alice had, however, immediately asked about her godson. He had told her that Harry was being kept safe.

Albus was certain he could convince the Auror of the need to keep Harry where he was protected.

One final step was needed: He had to take care of becoming the Potter regent. Regency would allow him to dictate Harry's care as well as wield the influence that the Potter name held. It would also give him access to the resources needed to ensure Harry was prepared for his future.

Albus soon saw a free teller. He made his way toward the station, already withdrawing his own, signed order. "Good afternoon, my fine teller! I am here to take up the regency for an orphaned child, in accordance with this order. I say, you suit looks smashing on you. Anyway, I need to speak to the Manager which represents the account involved."

The teller looked at the wizard before him with barely held disdain. This one thought he held influence because he was a power within the human Ministry. While it wasn't politic to show their contempt too deeply, they could get away with wasting his time.

"Wait here, please." The goblin turned his sign, dropped down off his chair, and made his way to one of the many doors which lined the area behind the counter. As he walked down the corridor, he was cursing the stupid wizard under his breath.

In another world, he would have made it all the way to the Potter Manager's office, but in this world, his route was interrupted. Such was his lack of attention that he walked directly into another goblin leaving another office.

As he fell down, he rolled to maintain his control, even as he saw from the corner of his eye the other goblin do the same. He looked up and paled. He had run into Senior Manager Barchoke.

Senior Manager Barchoke had collected himself almost immediately and then turned to see who had run into him. "Teller Grishnak. What business has left you so devoid of proper decorum that you would inconvenience me?"

Grishnak bowed deeply to the Senior Manager. "Apologies most profound, Senior Manager. I was distracted by my dealings with a particularly annoying wizard. The Gaudy one arrived at my station with an order from the human Ministry. I was on my way to notifying the relevant Manager."

"So this human order was so important that you allow your actions to impede my own work?" Barchoke asked ominously.

"No, Senior Manager! My annoyance was so much that I was engaging in useless cursing so as to relieve my irritation. It would not do to allow my lack of control to present a bad image of our people. I will accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate." Grishnak was secretly hopeful – Barchoke was as vicious as any Senior Manager – but was not known for being too bloodthirsty when unnecessary. You had to really rile him up before he would mow a trail of blood throughout the bank.

"Let me see this order." Barchoke held out his hand. Grishnak handed the order over and waited with forced calm for it to be reviewed. Barchoke's face took on a thoughtful look. Grishnak became much less calm when Barchoke's face took on a much more malevolent look. "I've decided to oversee this matter. Complete your notification."

Grishnak was feeling terrified as the Senior Manager followed him to the office of Slipknife. He knocked on the door. "Enter!" a voice called out.

Grishnak entered. Slipknife's face was set in a sneer. That sneer disappeared when he saw who accompanied the teller. Slipknife stood hastily. "Senior Manager! How can I help you?"

Barchoke motioned to Grishnak. Grishnak presented the order he was carrying. Slipknife was irritated – he didn't like the Gaudy one any more than any other goblin. "Go retrieve him. You will be his escort until he leaves." Grishnak nodded and rushed to do as he was told.

Slipknife looked toward Barchoke. "Senior Manager, is there something you need?"

Barchoke's smile was terrifying. "I have an idea. I'd like to repay Teller Grishnak for his … diligence in aiding the Chief Warlock with this matter. Here's what I want to happen …." As Barchoke spoke, Slipknife's face took on a similar look to the Senior Manager.

Albus Dumbledore cheerfully followed the teller back into the bowels of Gringotts. They arrived at a door and the teller knocked. "Enter!"

Grishnak entered and bowed. Albus Dumbledore followed along cheerfully. "I bring your appointment."

Slipknife nodded. He glanced at Barchoke and then back. "Very good. Stay here – you will have some additional duties." Grishnak was confused but did as he was told.

Slipknife motioned the wizard to an unfomfortable looking chair. Dumbledore asked, "May I?" He motioned toward his wand. The goblins all had to withhold the gnashing of teeth at the presumption. Slipknife nodded. The Gaudy one conjured a human chair, one more suitable for women and children and not a warrior. The sneers they felt were barely hidden – luckily the wizard thought he understood for more than he did.

Slipknife looked at the order and back up. "Chief Warlock. Having received this order on this day, 4 November, 1981, I will now inform you that it will take 24 hours to review the order and the involved records before we may act." Slipknife's face took on a small smile. To a human, it would look friendly. Grishnak was not a human.

"It has been decided by Senior Manager Barchoke that your importance in magical society should be recognized. Therefore, we have decided to appoint one particular employee to help you whenever you must have dealings with the bank. His first priority will be your banking needs. This will be Grishnak here, a teller with much experience. He will be assigned the title of Assistant Manager. He will not be in charge of the accounts – just in charge of expediting your needs. How does that sound?"

Albus was pleasantly surprised. "That sounds wonderful!" He turned to the goblin who had led him. "I look forward to working with you in the future."

Grishnak nodded, hiding despair.

Slipknife said, "Tomorrow at 3:00, please return. Grishnak will watch for you. Please wait outside so that we can give him our instructions."

Albus nodded pleasantly and exited the office. As soon as the wizard closed the door, the faces of the two managers changed. Barchoke spoke. "Well. Your job will be to ensure that all rules and regulations are followed when it involved the Gaudy one. Once he has been led out, you will return and take the time to review the contract and bylaws of the account to ensure that all steps are followed. We shall see how long you will retain your new … position. Do well, and you will return to your teller position quickly. Do poorly … well, just do well. Do you understand?" Barchoke asked.

Grishnak nodded, looking almost like a house elf. "Yes, Senior Manager!"

"Go."

As soon as Grishnak left, the two managers cut loose with the laughter they had withheld. "Oh, thank the Lady Mab!" Slipknife finally said. "I can sit back and watch as someone else deals with the Gaudy one."

Barchoke, who had also mastered himself, replied, "I expect regular, detailed reports."

Sliknife grinned as he nodded respectfully. "Of course, Senior Manager."

Barchoke made his way out to inform the powers that be of Teller Grishnak's new responsibility.

Grishnak cursed himself as he closed on book and moved to the next. HE had to familiarized himself with every aspect of any account that the Gaudy one was involved in. He was feeling particularly angry with himself for not paying attention.

It hadn't helped that many of the brethren had barely concealed smirks as they watched the unfortunate former teller retrieve the necessary records for his new position. Some looks were pure malevolence – but there were a few that held a bit of camaraderie. Usually those looks came from other goblins who had irritated the wrong goblin and were given a similar, most annoying position as "reward." Grishnak just happened to irritate the most cerebral of those on the "Do Not Cross This Goblin" list. Most goblins were happy to experience lashings and dealing with hungry dragons to the exotic punishments Barchoke was famous for.

You didn't bleed as much physically – but your soul bled for much longer.

Grishnak, in feeling sorry for himself, almost missed it. In one of the included records was a reference to the contract that the Potter family had with Gringotts. It was obscure, but a necessary detour. Grishnak looked through another stack of parchment and found the document mentioned. After reading it carefully, Grishnak sat back and considered. He then reached for another document and reviewed that. A small smile lit his face. He might have to deal with the Gaudy one – but he didn't have to make it easy on the wizard.

Albus strolled, once again, into Gringotts. Unlike earlier visits, there was no waiting for him as Grishnak, his new helper, was immediately available. The other goblins and customers watched as the former teller led the Gaudy one through a door.

Very soon he was back in the same office. There was only Grishnak and Slipknife present. Grishnak addressed him from a stool on the side of the large desk. "Chief Warlock, to satisfy the order delivered to Gringotts 4 November, 1981, you will need to sign a few documents, acknowledging your authority." Grishnak pulled a large stack and placed them in front of Dumbledore.

Albus asked, "Er. How many pages have to be signed?"

Grishnak replied, "Inilial all of them, and sign the last page."

Albus sighed. "Can I have time to review them?"

Grishnak nodded. "I will sit here and answer any questions."

It took only thirty minutes, but soon Albus Dumbledore was signing pages with only the most cursory glances. It took quite some time to complete the stack. When he signed the last page, he sighed and rubbed his right hand with his left. "There! All done!"

Grishnak had signed each page as it was signed by the wizard and then Slipknife had signed as witness for each one. The two goblins took a moment to arrange the files back in proper order and then Grishnak reached for a particular slim book and placed it in front of Dumbledore.

"What's this?" Albus asked curiously.

Grishnak was calm as he replied, "This is a book containing the Bylaws of Potter, as stipulated on page 127 of the contract you just signed. As required by the Bylaws, none can claim regency without first studying the bylaws. You have twenty-four hours to complete that step. Until that time, you must be careful."

Albus was both annoyed and curious. "Why careful?"

Grishnak nodded. He motioned for the book and Albus pushed it back. Grishnak opened it to a random page. "For example, this particular page has a bylaw that states: 'All Heirs of Potter must be educated on proper use of a dagger by an experienced soldier or weapons master by the age of ten.'" Grishnak looked up. "Contemplate, for a moment, disagreeing with that bylaw."

Albus started, "Of course I disagree with the Bylaw! I would never …." He suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest.

Grishnak nodded. "Thus the necessity of studying the bylaws. A Potter by blood would not have suffered for a violation, the contract recognizing the preeminence of a live Head of House over the writings of dead ones. However, you are not a Potter by blood. Our Contract with House Potter demands that any regent sign a contract to follow the bylaws unless specifically changed by a sitting Head of House. If you do not wish to die a painful death, you will study the bylaws and ensure that all are followed, according to the law as ALREADY in place as of the date you signed the contract. As an aside, you may not support and you must actively fight against any changes to law which would obviate a bylaw until Heir Potter achieves his majority or another takes on the Regency of Potter. Only if a law is passed despite your true desire to oppose it will the change in the bylaws be successful before that point"

Albus looked at the goblin with a bit of horror. What had he signed for? He'd have now be extremely cautious with how he managed the Potter regency. He cursed, inside his mind, the goblins' insistence on following contracts to the letter.

After Albus left, Slipknife volunteered, "Well. I believe Senior Manager Barchoke might just be slightly satisfied with your handling of that matter. Continue on – and you might be relieved of this position before the Guady one dies of old age."

Grishnak fervently prayed to Lady Mab, within his mind, for just that to happen.

A/N: That's the end of my bunny. Dumbles would not be able to ignore bad reports, allow Harry to come to harm, etc. etc. with this bunny. I'd like to see someone write a story which shows the result of something like this. I don't have the time or the muse for it .. but I think it'd be funny.