Chapter 12 Gobbledegook And Goblins

I walked into Gringotts with Harry, more than a little nervous, I had never been summoned to the bank before, and I had no idea what to expect. Why would the goblins want to to summon me here, I hope it was not I had not spoken to them yet about the incident in the Wizengamot, I remember from my reading they could be rather touchy about slights of honour and things of that sort.

Harry walked up to the first available teller and handed over his letter, "good morning, noble goblin, Harry Potter and Dudley Dursley are here as requested for an appointment with Griphook."

The goblin took the letter and handed it to another goblin who left immediately through some double doors behind the row of tellers. "Please, take a seat, good sirs, Griphook will be with you shortly." He indicated towards a rather uncomfortable looking bench on the side wall. I gave a wary glance at harry, who shrugged, and we both took a seat.

After no more than a few seconds trying to get comfortable on a seat that was too low and narrow to sit comfortably on, we heard a cough in front of us, "Lord Potter, Lord Dursley, so sorry to have had to call you in, but there are a couple of matters that need to be attended to after your oath swearing. If you would follow me to my office." He gestured at us, and with a nervous glance at each other Harry and I followed him behind the row of tellers and through the first set of double doors. Inside was quite a difference between the foyer of the bank and here. The foyer was stark and functional, with a decorative stone façade to be sure, but still giving a sense of austerity. Here, the floor was covered in a deep, purple carpet, the walls were decorated with hanging tapestries that must have been about the goblin rebellions. They showed scenes of goblins dying under wizard curses and being forced into surrender at the end, signing treaties, to end the conflict.

I was a little surprised at the context of the tapestries, was it meant to show their hatred of wizard kind, for forcing them to the table or was their another meaning behind it. The goblins portrayed in the tapestries looked every inch the warriors they had a reputation as being, but I could not see the animal like brutality in them that I expected from a wizarding point of view. From all the British texts about the goblins I had read, they were supposed to be savage warriors taking slight at the first insult and exacting their revenge, the American books I had read showed them as a fierce, noble and proud people, quick to anger and to seek justice through force of arms. What was the truth?

Griphook led us into an office and indicated for us to sit in two comfortable chairs in front of the desk, he pulled a small box from behind the desk and handed it to Harry, this is your head of house ring, Lord Potter, when you accept it, it will enable you access to other Potter family vaults that have previously been closed to you."

"Sorry, Griphook, but I was unaware of any other vaults when I looked into my family accounts; there's my trust vault and the main Potter vault, containing some gold and jewellery and the remainder of the monies that came from harvesting the basilisk after I paid for the repairs to the bank, after our little adventure a few years back, but what's this about other vaults, I saw no evidence, no disrespect to Gringotts, of others."

"Yes, please don't remind me of that episode, I am still grateful that you intervened on my behalf with the bank, I was nearly fed to a dragon for my part in allowing you access to a vault other than your own; it was only when the director found out what you had removed that he rescinded the sentence and allowed me to work in the bank again."

I glanced at Harry, I hadn't heard of this episode, "I'll explain later Dudley; I thought you may have heard something about this episode, it was reported in the Prophet at the time, but only a small piece, come to think of it I don't think I was mentioned in it though."

"No, Lord Potter, your name was not mentioned, if I may, the article stated that wizard or wizards unknown had attempted to break into the bank and had come the worst of a dragon guarding the lower vaults who had escaped its chains causing major damage to the building in its escape attempt." Griphook turned to me, at a nod from Harry to continue, "I let Harry and two of his friends into the Lestrange vault in exchange for the sword of Gryffindor, an item that once belonged to the goblins, taken in battle as a trophy by Godric Gryffindor. As part of our bargain, I was to have the sword to return to the bank, Harry stated that he didn't want to steal anything from the vault, but I had only agreed to allow them access to the vault, not egress, (A/N egress – verb, to go out or leave a place), he and his friends found and attempted to take a small cup from the vault, at which point I yelled 'thief' and stronger wards were activated in the area. Harry and his friends freed the dragon guarding the area and rode it out of the bank, causing major damage. It was only later after he came into the bank, was escorted by goblin guards to the holding cells with me that he learned of the consequences of his and my own actions. For letting a wizard into a vault other than his own I was to be fed to a goblin, after seeing my execution, he would have been beheaded and his head stuck on a pike in front of the bank. During the reading of the charges before the court, he managed to make it known that he had removed a horcrux from the vault. The court was in uproar, it is strictly forbidden for any wizard or witch to live in or under Gringotts, and a horcrux being part of a soul fell into this category. If the Ministry knew about this they would have accused of us of breaking the treaty of 1432, which forbade this, we like wizards have no desire to go to war against each other again. It was decided that the sentences would be quashed after Lord Potter made restitution for the damage to the bank and for not informing the Ministry of the potential breach of the treaty. Lord Potter, at the same time inquired if Gringotts could help in the harvesting of a basilisk and the proceeds of this would go towards paying off his debt. Neither Gringotts or he realised that the size of the beast meant there would be money left over after this, which we of course put into his family vault." I looked at Harry, gobsmacked to hear another episode where I'd nearly lost him before I'd got to know him again. He was looking down at his knees trying to avoid my eyes and turning an embarrassing shade of red. "what Lord Potter may not have realised was that I have been the junior account manager for the Potter vaults for 60 years and the manger of his vaults was injured in the fiasco that day, having to take honourable retirement, I became the manager of the Potter accounts."

Harry looked up, surprised at this, "I didn't know that Griphook, I thought you were just the goblin assigned to take me to my vault that first day I came into the bank on my eleventh birthday."

"Indeed not, Lord Potter, only the account manager or his assistant is ever allowed to show a wizard to their vault, there are spells and charms built into the vaults, to prevent others from doing so. The goblin you imperiused on the day of your, ahem, aforementioned visit was the Lestrange sub manager, otherwise we could not have got into the vault."

"Please, call me Harry when we are alone like this, I understand that outside in the main bank that formality must be observed, but here in private I consider you a friend, and I hope you feel the same."

"I am honoured, Lo… Harry that you consider me so, and I would be proud to consider you a friend to myself as an individual, indeed although you may not be aware of it, I owe you a life debt, in saving me from execution over that debacle, I incurred the onus of owing my life to you, something which is almost unheard of, a goblin owing a life debt to a human."

"I would be honoured to consider you my friend as I said, and we can speak more of this life debt later, but you mentioned other vaults!"

"Indeed, our conversation did get diverted a bit my apologies for this; the family heirloom vault is opened to you on accession to your title, this contains many more items of jewellery and objects of value, including several sets of goblin armour made by the goblins for members of your family in the past. It is quite extra-ordinary in fact that these sets of armour are considered the property of your family, usually we see the wizard tradition of passing goblin-made artefacts down through the generations as an act of theft, I looked into this when I was made the full manager of your accounts, each of these sets of armour was gifted to your family by grateful goblins in thanks for saving their lives. I am unaware of any other wizarding family of any other wizarding family that was owed life debts by goblins, of course there may be others, but as I am not privy to their family records I do not know. There are also vaults that passed to you, with your conquest and vanquishing of their previous owners. "These being the Lestrange vault, and the Slytherin vault."

"I was unaware that Tom Riddle had a vault here, or I assume he would have put the horcrux into that one, and I didn't vanquish the Lestranges."

"Tom Riddle never asked about his family vault and indeed we goblins never knew he was the descendant of Slytherin until after he was defeated by you in 1981, when our records indicated that you had acquired access to the Slytherin vault, when he returned after the Triwizard tournament, he was not recognised by Gringotts as Slytherin's heir because he used your blood to help him return, indeed he was your heir… I understood that you defeated Bella Lestrange, the last surviving member of that family, during the battle of Hogwarts, although our records did not update to show this, we had to update them ourselves after the fact when we heard of her death after the battle."

"Molly Weasley defeated Bella Lestrange at the Battle of Hogwarts and if anyone is entitled to her vaults because of that, it should be her, her family would be grateful of any assistance, they were always struggling financially when I think back to my school days."

"I never understood why they only ever accessed Arthur Weasley's vault, the other family vaults would see them if not well off by wizarding standards, at least comfortable. He pressed a bell on his desk, and another goblin came through the doors and gave a quick bow, "Bloodaxe could you speak to the Weasley account manager and inquire into why Arthur Weasley has never accessed any of his families vaults, other than his own, I fear we at Gringotts may be guilty of not informing him of his inheritances… A long standing error on our part which would see us having to make compensation. Please also to make him aware that the Lestrange vault is to be given to Molly Weasley as we have been informed that it was she who defeated Bella at the Battle of Hogwarts!"

He turned back to Harry and I, "sorry about that slight interruption, but back to business and he looked back at Harry who still had his head of house ring in his hand, "Harry, you must draw a small drop of your blood with this dagger," he handed a vicious looking knife to Harry, "and allow a drop to fall on the stone, and then put the ring on. This will allow the family magiks to accept you in full as the new Lord Potter and allow you access to the other vaults which were hidden from you, as you were not the acknowledged Head of the family, despite being so in fact."

Harry did as instructed and the ring flashed a deep green, and the stone seemed to glow from behind as he put it on his finger. An air of authority seemed to settle over him and I could see what looked like a Thestral image hovering for a few seconds above the ring which quickly faded as did the glow. Harry had a slightly vacant look in his eyes which itself as the glow on the ring itself did. He nodded to Griphook, I understand what you meant now, thank you!"

"Griphook turned to face me, "now, Lord Dursley, your account as yet has no manager assigned to it. You were escorted to the vault, the only time you entered it by a senior teller, accompanied by your mother and Harry, so no actual arrangements were made for you to have an account manager appointed at the time. What do you propose to do here, you need to appoint a manager to oversee your accounts, I understand yours is an interest bearing one, but as yet only the interest and your wages from the ministry has been paid into it. If you appointed a manager, he could make investments on your behalf to further increase your assets."

"Who was the goblin that accompanied us that day, I'm ashamed to say that I can't remember his name, but if he was available and willing to take the responsibility I have no objection to him becoming my account manager, now that I am told I need one?"

Both, Harry and Griphook were looking at me with a somewhat shocked expression on their faces. "Dudley, when did you learn to speak gobbledegook, I didn't even know there were places you could learn it?"

"Huh…"

"I must agree, I am most curious where you learnt to speak Gablish, as we refer to our language, not that vulgar epithet the wizards refer to our language by. It is most unusual to find a human who has undertaken the effort to learn our language, I understand the last was a Prince Edward, called the Black Prince, in about 1350, your calendar, and incidentally Harry a distant relative of yours, through one of his illegitimate children."

"Huh…" said Harry echoing my comment of seconds earlier.

I sat thinking quietly for a few seconds, "I wasn't aware I could speak Gablish, let alone that I was speaking it; the only way that I think I may have learnt it, is in the Temple of Hecate, Goddess of Magic in the State of New Sparta, the United States. I do know that I probably got my Mage Sight during the same visit, it makes me wonder what else was done to me that day!"

"You have been to a temple of the Goddess, and indeed it seems blessed by her, you are a most remarkable individual Lord Dursley, with your permission I would like to ask our high priestess to see you? She may be able to help you learn more of that day, and indeed establish the truth of your statement, no disrespect intended, but this needs to be confirmed by one of our religious persons!"

"I have no objections, to this, especially if it could tell me know what else to expect. Pardon my ignorance, Griphook, but nowhere have I ever found any reference to goblin religion."

"Normally, it is not something we talk about with other races, it is our business, but as you have been touched by the Goddess, we believe that that makes you an honorary goblin; I do hope you are not offended by this!"

"I am not, indeed, I would be honoured to consider myself an honorary goblin, from what I have read you are a proud and noble warrior race that has a strict moral code of honour in dealing with people. Something that when I read about it, made me understand what a load of gobbledegook, and I use that word in a different context, the British wizarding history of the Goblin Wars was and is."

"Indeed, what the wizards fail to see in their ignorance and prejudice is that on nearly every occasion that a war has started between our two peoples it is they who have caused it in their ignorance by breaking a former treaty. Pardon me one moment, please." He pressed another button on his desk and a different goblin than before entered, "could you be so kind as to ask the High Priestess to come to my office, I believe it is on the Goddess' business!"

"What, bring her eminence into the presence of human wizards? Are you mad? She will most surely refuse to do this and have you flayed alive for even suggesting that she come and speak in the presence of such filth!"

Griphook stood and looked ready to give the goblin a thorough tongue-lashing, I held my hand up to him and spoke myself, "noble goblin it is indeed doubtful that her eminence would come to speak to us if you addressed her, and showed that attitude about the persons wishing to see her. If it was in my authority I would ask that you be flogged yourself for suggesting that Griphook would insult the person of the High Priestess by requesting her to come into the presence of people who were unworthy, now go about your task before Griphook has you clearing the dragon pens of dung for the next hundred years." The goblin's eyes widened alarmingly, he bowed almost touching his nose to the floor and rushed out.

"Lord Dursley, if I may say you have an almost goblin like manner to you, what and how you said that was far more convincing than what I would have said, indeed that the fact you stood up for yourself in Gablish, makes it all the more imperative that the High Priestess speak to you. It is so rare for wizards to speak our language that no one alive remembers the last to do so. Now while we wait how about some refreshment, he made a gesture and a silver tray with a tea-service appeared on the table in front of him, I hope you both drink tea. It is one of the few human beverages we goblins have taken a liking to." We both nodded and Griphook poured three cups looked at Harry, his hand hovering about the milk and sugar.

"No thank you, Griphook, just black please!" Griphook handed him his tea and he looked at me!

"Just milk please!"

He poured milk into the cup and handed it to me, taking a sip of his own tea. "Another matter that concerns yourself, Lord Dursley, is the making of your Head of house ring, this is a task that was given to the Goblins by William II, and one we carry out honourably to this day. Have you any idea as to the heraldic animals you would see on your coat of arms?"

I sat in thought for a few moments, what would say something about me heraldically, I had had no interactions with dragons, gryphons, or unicorns, that were the only animals I remember from heraldry, there was however one thing I remembered about an animal that had been associated with me and indeed had been of use in the past, helping me sort out a problem with another people. "Griphook, I know it is not a proper heraldic image, but if it is possible I would like a pig wearing a wig to be on my coat of arms, this means something to me and the imagery has help me in the past."

"An unusual choice, I must say, I don't believe pigs have ever been portrayed in heraldry before, if I might suggest a boar instead, a slightly more stately image, but why in a wig?" I proceeded to tell him the story of my unflattering description from Harry in the past and how whilst in the United States the prophecy of a bewigged pig had allowed I access to the state of New Sparta, the first British wizard in over 300 years. Griphook fell of his chair laughing and Harry just looked puzzled, wondering what we had been discussing, as our entire conversation had been in Gablish.

"What is so funny, can I get in on the joke?"

I turned to Harry, "I told Griphook that I wanted a pig in a wig on my coat of arms, and he suggested a boar, but asked why a wig, so I told him. He thinks it's hilarious that an intended insult be turned into a badge of honour, and indeed that it had connections to prophecy make it all the more powerful as a heraldic image. It's almost like this coat of arms was foretold 300 years ago by a centaur prophet and your description of me will serve as a valid reminder to my descendants to respect family, you never know what they will think of you behind your back."

"I told you, I wasn't proud of that description of you, and now you want to rub it in my face by having it on your coat of arms."

"I'm not proud of the fact that you thought I looked like a pig in a wig either, although I did say I understood your reasoning behind it, and that I thought a whale in a wig was more like it as I was grossly overweight. I am taking a bad image from my past and by putting it on my coat of arms I am saying that that is part of my past, what made me what I am today, just as the Thestral on your coat of arms must say something about the past of your family."

"Indeed, Harry, your family is related to the three brothers of the story," I looked at Harry in puzzlement and he gave me a look as if to say later. "You are descended from Ignotus Peverell, the youngest of the three brothers, did you not know this?"

"I did, I own the cloak, it was passed to me from my father, the wand is hidden in a safe place and the stone is somewhere in the forbidden forest around Hogwarts."

Griphook gasped at this revelation, "you have access to all three of the Hallows, this means you are the master of death, I must inform the High Priestess of this when she comes, there are matters which concern Gringott the Great, that will need to be sorted out later and they concern yourself!"

Harry raised his eyebrows, "who if you don't mind me asking, was Gringott the Great, does he have anything to do with the name of the bank?"

"Gringott the Great was the clan leader of the goblins that at the time of King John, he managed to convince wizards that if they were to have a certain autonomy from the muggle world, they ought to have their own currency and a central location to keep track of their monies, he suggested they allow the goblins to create their coinage and indeed provide the secure location for them to keep their gold safe, and thus the beginning of Gringotts bank. I'm surprised you didn't hear of this in your History of Magic lessons at Hogwarts."

"It may have been taught in the class, but as Hermione was the only one in our class that managed to stay awake through Binns' lectures, I wouldn't know, but I'll be surprised if it was. All Binns ever talked about was the Goblin rebellions as wizards refer to the wars between our peoples, and of course, it was always the fault of the greedy, ferocious goblins that these started. History as they say is written by the victors, this sounds like a goblin victory so was never mentioned or told in such a way that the goblins seized all the wizards' gold and forced wizards to let them control the gold."

"You may be right, from what I know…" there was a knock at the door and Griphook stood and ran between us and the door, "please do as I do, we wish to show no disrespect here!" he turned to face the door, and we did the same. "enter."

A goblin entered wearing a long floor length robe and carrying a staff with a crescent moon at the top of it. Griphook bowed his head and we both did the same. "Noble priestess, we are honoured by your prescene, please forgive us for intruding on your time."

"It is no intrusion, the work of a High Priestess is to serve the Goddess, and act as her envoy to the people. I understand that one of the two wizards present speaks our tongue, could I ask him to make himself known to me?"

I bowed again, "noble priestess, I am the one you inquired of, I was unaware of the problems I would cause your good self when I spoke Gablish, I humbly apologise for the inconvenience I have caused you! I am called Dudley Dursley, if it please your eminence!"

"Dudley, if I may be so bold, how is it that you speak our tongue, the goblin who delivered Griphook's message did not inform me?" I the retold the tale of my visit to New Sparta and the visit to the temple where I seemed have gained certain gifts, and was indeed wondering if there were any more things that might surface at a later date and surprise me.

"So, you have been blessed by the Goddess, if I may?" she put her hand forward and I nodded and again bowed my head. She rested her hand on my head for a moment and I felt a slight tickling sensation behind my eyes for a moment, which quickly passed. "You have indeed been blessed by the Goddess, you can see magic, speak Gablish and have broken a curse of long standing on another magical race. There may be other gifts given, I cannot say." She turned to speak to Griphook. "He needs to speak with the director, in his office as clan leader, he has matters to discuss which we have long awaited." She turned back to me, "I would like to speak with you later, concerning your visit and some aspects of our religion, I will make it known that you are to be admitted to my presence at a later date, when it is convenient to you. Now I ask that you excuse me, I have other duties to attend to." She turned to go.

"Noble priestess, if I may be so bold as to bring another matter to your attention, the other wizard before you is Harry Potter, who vanquished the human dark lord, Voldemort, he is the descendant of Ignotus Peverell, has in his possession, the cloak and has knowledge and access to the other Hallows. He is the Master of Death. He does not speak our language, so I will have to insult your ears by translating to him."

"If he is indeed the Master of Death, it is I who must apologise for insulting his ears by only being able to speak in Gablish, please ask if I can examine him?"

"Harry, I have informed the priestess, that you are the Master of Death, and she asks if she can examine you, as she did Dudley?" Harry gave a nod and bowed his head to the priestess, she came forward and touched him on the head.

"He is indeed the Master of Death, please inform him that I am honoured to make his acquaintance and will likewise make it known that Harry Potter is to be admitted to my presence when he asks. I must now make my way back to the temple and the archives to fully check on the history concerning the Master of Death. Please thank him for allowing me to examine him." She turned and left the room, the door closing on its own behind her.

Griphook turned and faced us both, "Harry, the high priestess has confirmed that you are the Master of Death and said that at a later date, she will speak with you on what our records say of this matter. You should make yourself known on the main floor and say you wish to see the high priestess, you will be admitted to see her. An almost unique honour."

"Almost unique?"

"Yes, almost unique, I must say you come from a remarkable family, your cousin has also been given this honour." There was another knock and the door opened immediately, Griphook gave a gasp and turned round to face the door. "Director, forgive me for having my back to you, in what way can I be of service to you today?"

"The high priestess has informed me that Lord Dursley has matters he wishes to speak to me of, as clan leader, not director of Gringotts. If I might enquire which of these wizards is Lord Dursley?"

"Honoured Director, or indeed Clan Leader, if that is the correct form of address for what I wish to make known to you," I said bowing as I did. "if I may reach into my pocket to retrieve a Royal Proclamation for your perusal, and if I may be so bold, please call me Dudley, all this Lord business makes me feel such a fraud." He gave a nod and I retrieved the copy of Her Majesties proclamation that I had to present to the goblins. He took it from me and quickly gave it a quick once over.

"Thank you for this, Dudley, I wish to read it more carefully to check everything out with it, but if it means what I think it does, I will make arrangements to speak to Her Majesty concerning her loyal goblin subjects. Now if you will all excuse me, he turned and left the room, the doors closing behind him.

"A Royal Proclamation concerning goblins, if I may be be so bold, what does this Royal Proclamation have to do with goblins?"

"If your Director does what I hope will be the case he can undo a wrong that has long been a bone of contention between your people and wizards, and return your people to full rights as subjects of her majesty, with the same rights as muggles, wizards and half-bloods, and elves and indeed any magical race that agrees with the terms of the proclamation."

"I must admit to having further questions, but I think I will wait to see what the decision of the Director, Clan Leader's decision will be. Now to other matters we were speaking of earlier, I will make enquiries as to who the goblin was who took you to your vault last time and make arrangements if he is qualified for him to become your account manager. Your ring will take two days to make, I would suggest you come in on Thursday to collect the ring and to meet your new manager, if the goblin in question is suitable or we can discuss getting another goblin to do the job. I think that concludes our business for today unless you have anything else you wish to bring up?"

Harry and I shook our heads and reached forward to shake Griphook's hand. This had been an eventful morning for ourselves and several goblins, maybe eventually all of them…

A/N In case you didn't realise, the conversations in Italics are spoken in Gablish, the goblin language, I am sure the goblins would have their own name for the language and dislike the wizards habit of calling it gobbledegook, which they would see as an insult. I didn't want to post this little tidbit of information at the beginning of the chapter as it might have spoiled the surprise. Please read, enjoy, and take the time to leave a review and let a humble fan fic author know how they're doing. Until next time…