Chapter 14 Funerals and Goblin Gifts

The day that Gabrielle returned from the hospital with our son was tinged with a slight unhappiness, Harry phoned us as we arrived back to inform us that Kreacher had been found dead in his room. Apparently he'd taken an afternoon nap as he was wont to on occasion and not woken up. He asked if we would join them in the morning when Kreacher would be laid to rest in the plot set aside for house elves in his garden. I glanced at Gabby, who nodded and I informed Harry that we would be there.

There was a polite knock on the door of the lounge and Elrond, our elven servant, entered, "might I offer my congratulations to you Gabrielle, I was unable to visit the hospital as I was making arrangements for young master Henri's room!"

I glanced at Gabby, who shrugged, not knowing anything of this either. "Explain please Elrond, we appreciate what you say you have done, but have no idea what you mean. What exactly have you done?"

"I do you hope you like it, I've set up the bedroom next to yours as a nursery for young master Henri, I've put in a connecting door between the two rooms and added fire prevention wards to the room. I'm sure you have no wish for the young master to set his room on fire, if anyone is too long in changing his nappy or whatever."

I looked at Gabrielle and she was smiling, "come on Dudley, I want to see it, I'm curious as to what he's done." I nodded and we both got up to view the new nursery, I'd painted the room pink with a frieze of puff skeins, kneazles and owls around the walls. On arrival back from the hospital I hadn't given any thought to the fact that I'd decorated the room for a girl, I was just too elated in the fact I'd got a son, and I'd never given a thought to putting a connecting door in.

We followed Elrond up the stairs and entered the room next to ours, the walls were a sky blue with white clouds moving slowly round them, the lower part of the walls was painted green with a herd of centaurs near a forest. In the sky there was a hippogriff flying alongside what I assumed was a gryphon. Up high near the ceiling were two white birds which when I looked harder could see the images were a short eared owl and a hawk, obviously meant to be mine and Gabrielle's patronuses. "Do you like it, I can change it if you don't, but I thought your previous decorating was not suitable for a young boy?"

I glanced at Gabrielle who had tears in her eyes, but a wide smile on her face, I turned back to Elrond, "it's fantastic, I particularly like that you've got the two patronuses at the top."

"Ahh! Yes, well they're not just for decoration," he snapped his fingers and the hawk patronus flew off the wall and towards Gabrielle, after flapping its wings a few times in her face, it turned round and flew back onto the wall. "I've installed a baby monitor as well, the patronuses will fly to you whenever the young master requires you."

I looked at Gabrielle who like me had a silly smile on her face, "it's marvellous, thank you Elrond, much more suited to a boy and I love the patronus baby monitor, something I would never have thought of." Elrond gave a bow and blushed at the praise.

"Dudley, I've been thinking about our son and wondering how it could have happened, I know you're a powerful wizard, but I don't see how your magic could be as powerful to overcome the magic inherent in veela. After you left I talked more with my veela medi-witch who helped me to deliver…" Ah, that explained the claws I had seen, Gabrielle had mentioned that some full veela were able to manifest parts of their hawk ancestry, and indeed some were able to change into some sort of hawk / human hybrid almost like an animagus getting stuck halfway as far as I understood it. "Neither she or I have any idea how you could be powerful enough to make me conceive a boy first time. She checked me out after you had left and there's nothing strange about me that should make me conceive a boy either, I should have had a girl, and indeed if we have a second child if all goes according to the usual pattern I will have a girl."

"Like you, I've given it some thought, but I think I may have an explanation, albeit a little farfetched, but we've already seen evidence that it is possible…" she looked at me with a look of puzzlement in her eyes. "There's the fact that I somehow got mage sight and can speak Gablish without ever having lessons."

She still looked puzzled, not making the connection I had, not that I blamed her, it was a little hard to swallow. "What are you talking about? I assumed your mage sight had just manifested as happens sometimes, and your ability to speak Gablish was somewhat like Harry's ability to speak parseltongue, a random act of magic."

"I don't think it was a random act of magic, I think it was a deliberate act of magic, or more correctly a deliberate act of Hecate, the Goddess of Magic, whose temple we both visited in New Sparta. I think for some reason magic itself has determined certain things should come to pass and had a hand in it from the start!"

"Are you saying that my baby was somehow changed from female to male whilst we were in that temple; you were given mage sight and the ability to speak Gablish at the same time? That's quite a statement and quite a jump of logic!"

"I've been thinking a lot in the last two days since you gave birth to Henri and I think that the goddess of magic has had a hand in my life even before that. There's the matter of my divination exam and the fact that I made a valid prophecy during it. I said two things that I can remember, I saw myself walking on water with a centaur and I said, something about the horseman making peace when the whale is in the house of the king. We've both walked on water with a centaur, what the other thing means I don't know, but the horseman could be an allusion to centaurs again…"

"You have been thinking, haven't you, and you may be right, or you may not, but it seems as plausible theory as any other I've come up with. Have you spoken with the goblins about this, they also worship the goddess and as I understand what you told me after you spoke to the clan leader about them becoming full subjects of her majesty, you're considered an honorary goblin, you should be able to find some answers with them."

I nodded, I'd been to see the goblin high priestess a few days after that incident and she had spoken a little to me of their goddess, and said it seemed she had had singled me out in some way for her favour, perhaps another visit to the goblins was in order on Monday morning, the bank was closed for today, being Sunday. "I'll go tomorrow after Kreacher's funeral."

We, as an extended family were all in the back garden of 12 Grimmauld Place, Harry, Ginny, myself and Gabrielle, Andromeda Tonks, with Teddy holding her hand, Harry's elf Dobson was there as well. I thought quietly to myself and thought of the day that he had come to serve Harry and how Harry had asked if the name he wanted to name him would be alright, and why.

* Flashback *

There was a knock on the door of Harry's office where he and I were talking about one of my cases, one which might involve the aurors, a muggleborn child who had been abused by his parents, all in the name of exorcizing this evil magic from him. Harry gave a look at me, I nodded to let him know I was finished and he was alright to let someone else in, they would hear nothing confidential. "Come in!"

Draco Malfoy came into the office followed by his house elf Stinker and another elf, one who looked remarkably similar to Elrond in feature, he was definitely not the usual house elf stereotype. "I have come to deliver your new house elf, although I was a bit surprised as to his appearance, Stinker informed me, that you knew the reason. You will have to name him, so he can swear service to your house in his own name."

Harry nodded at this, "good morning Stinker, and this must be your Eledhel son, who I assume is willing to swear allegiance to the House of Potter!" Draco raised one blonde eyebrow at the mention of Eledhel, but held his curiosity in; Stinker just looked proud and nodded. "I am aware that as a free individual that I have no real right to bind you to my house, but that it will be your choice, and I must name you, for you to be able to do this, Ginny and I have discussed this and agreed on a name we would like to call you, if you are agreeable." The elf's eyes almost shone in anticipation. "we would like to name you Dobson, as in Dobby's son, we both hope you will be happy this name as it honours your sire and shows our respect for someone to whom I owe my life!"

The young elf nodded his acceptance of the name, and bowed to Harry, "I would be honoured to accept the name that New Master and Mistress have decided on for me, and that it honours a debt that most wizards would not acknowledge is of great pride to me." He knelt before Harry, "I, Dobson, do swear to serve, the Noble House of Potter with my life and magic, for as long as I live." He looked eagerly at Harry.

Harry walked in front of him and took his hands, "I, Harry Potter, Head of the Noble House of Potter do accept the service of the Eledhel Dobson into my house, and for my part say that I will be reward your oath of vassalage with mine as that of feudal overlord, saying that honour and service will be rewarded, as is appropriate." Dobson looked extremely pleased at this. Draco just looked more mystified.

"Why did you refer to your house elf as Eledhel? What do you know of his strange appearance and what was that oath you took with him, it didn't sound like any oath I've ever heard before."

I coughed and looked at Draco, "were you not in the Wizengamot, on August 1st, when Harry and I swore our oaths to the Wizengamot and the Queen?

"Err! No, I was at St. Mungo's with my wife, she was having some tests done… wait a minute, did you say the QUEEN, as in Queen Elizabeth II, the muggle Queen?"

"I did, the muggle Prime Minister was there as well, in his office of Court Mage…"

"I think I heard something about that! Was that why Theo, spent nearly a month in bed with some strange illness, that left him unable to perform any magic, I thought it slightly odd, then he makes some trip into muggle London and comes back able to perform magic again?"

"It was, he tried to curse Tony Blair, who bound his magic until such time as he offered an apology and made his oath of service to the crown."

"Well, I'll be… if that wasn't the strangest thing I ever heard, muggles performing magic, but what's this about Court Mage?"

"You helped us with that, the title of Court Mage had fallen into misuse, and we had found out that it resided in the hands of the First Lord of The Treasury; it was your comment at the last meeting that enabled us to make contact with him and arrange for his and her majesty's presence at the Wizengamot. He was able to perform magic as he held the staff of the court mage, something that is still in use in the muggle parliament to this day."

"Merlin's balls, was that why you wanted to know that useless fact of information about the muggle prime minister; but that doesn't explain how your house elf looks so different and what an Eledhel is." My explanation to Draco left him chuckling about the whole thing and he left us in a surprisingly good mood. Not what I would have expected of him, but then he was so different from the arrogant snob I'd encountered at our first meeting.

* end flashback *

Harry laid the coffin that held Kreacher in the grave he had dug for him and stood quietly for a few seconds, "here I lay the mortal remains of a good and faithful servant, both to the Noble Houses of Black and Potter. It is with sadness that I remember the torment he put himself through, because he could not do the last thing that Regulus Black had ordered him to, and the honour he felt when I gave him the locket that been left in the place of that abomination by the lake. Since then he has given everything he could to be a good and faithful service to this family and he will not be forgotten."

Ginny stepped forward, "I remember the vicious little monster that made our stays at Grimmauld Place so terrible while we were at school and was horrified to hear from Harry that he would be our house elf in our first home, but I can honestly say that he was the best friend I could have had after my marriage. He has been a credit to our family and I will miss him."

Andromeda stepped forward then, "I remember Kreacher from when I was a young girl and we visited cousins Sirius and Regulus, he was ever a friend to me then and I will remember him.

Teddy let go of her hand and ran toward the grave, he gave a sniff, "bye Kreacher," he then threw the cuddly hippogriff he had been carrying onto the coffin, and stepped back to hold his grandmother's hand.

I then stepped forward, "I remember when I first saw Kreacher, a disgusting thing who appeared on my mother's rug after Harry called him, 'he did not want to serve the Potter brat, but wanted to serve a proper mistress. I was quite scared of him at the time, this being the first magical creature I'd seen. I next saw him whilst in Tinworth, a better mannered individual I couldn't wish to meet. He was always part of Harry's extended family to me and I will miss him."

Gabrielle stepped forward, "I remember Kreacher from when I first moved here; so respectful in telling me that he had set the house wards up for the night, when I wanted to sneak out and spend some time with Dudley, he was always a friend and I will remember him with fondness."

Harry's elf Dobson stepped forward, "I only knew Kreacher for a short time, and I am thankful for the knowledge he gave me, but for more I honour him with the title he would never let me call him in life, Great Grandfather, I am proud to be your descendant and to continue your legacy in serving the Noble House of Potter."

Harry gave a nod at this, and looked at me, taking a spade from somewhere, he proceeded to throw earth into the grave. He placed the shovel into the earth and I moved forward to do the same. Time and again, this continued as one of us would throw some dirt onto the grave and place the shovel back in the ground only to have it picked up by someone else to do the same.

Eventually the grave was filled in, harry gave his wand a wave and a carved headstone appeared at the top of the mound:

Here lies Kreacher Black-Potter
a noble elf who served two families with honour.

Dobson and Elrond stepped forward then, to our surprise and each placed a hand on the moundful of earth and dug their fingers into the grass surrounding the grave. A green glow surrounded them both for a second and the mound of earth covering the grave was levelled and covered in fresh green grass. They then both stood up and gave a slight bow towards the grave and came back to stand with their families.

I made my way into Gringotts, only to have a goblin come straight up to me and give a bow, "what can this humble goblin do for you today, Master Sharpwit Dursley," I let myself groan silently, I'd tried to forget what the goblin priestess had named me during the first visit I had paid to her, she said it best described me, as most goblin names were want to do in some way.

"Noble goblin brother, I find myself in need of the services of the high priestess and her wisdom, could you do me the honour of seeing if she has the time to spare to see me?" he nodded and showed me to a comfortable chair at the rear of the bank and dashed off to see the priestess.

What seemed like only seconds later he returned and answered that I had been expected and if it was at all convenient, could I take my vassal with me as well, as she wished to pay her respects to the first free Eledhel in over a millennium. I nodded and called "Elrond," he appeared with a pop and looked around him, "how may I be of service?"

"I have asked to see the Goblin High Priestess and she wishes to pay her respects to you as the first free Eledhel in over a millennium." Elrond looked wide eyed at this and snapped his fingers, no longer was he dressed in jeans, and a t-shirt with an apron on, he wore a a pair of smart trousers and a button down shirt, open at the collar, much like I was wearing.

The goblin nodded at this, and beckoned to us both, "follow me, please!"

Elrond looked mystified at me and I whispered, "Follow the goblin!" He nodded and joined me as we left the main floor of the bank and to the carts at the back. We were escorted into a cart that was a lot more comfortable than the usual carts, with cushioned seats and a back rest. After we we were seated the goblin did something at the front of the cart and we were off, quickly I realised this was a little different to any ride I'd had in Gringotts before, yes the cart was travelling at the same break neck speed, but very quickly we had lost sight of the usual vaults that we normally passed. The walls were carved into scenes of battle, it seemed so apt for a warrior race. After the longest journey I had ever endured in one of these goblin carts we stopped at a pair of huge golden doors.

Our escort turned to us, "welcome to Gabbleheim, the home caves of the British goblins, no wizard has ever set foot, beyond these doors before in recorded history. But then again, Sharpwit, you are not exactly just a wizard anymore!" he laid his hands on the door and slowly they opened before us. The sight in front of us was awe-inspiring, here was a city that was so beautiful, in the midst of a huge cave that stretched for miles. The buildings were carved stone of many different hues, jewels glittered here and there in the walls of buildings, all lit by some strange blue light that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. We followed our guide as he led us through the city toward what was the grandest looking building in sight, a hugged domed building, it looked like the entire dome was carved from one enormous diamond, and it was bigger than the dome of St. Pauls. He stopped at the foot of some steps in front of the building and picked up a striker that was there and hit a large golden gong. "I go no further with you, someone will be out to collect you and escort you to her eminence. I will be waiting for when you wish to return." He turned and slowly made his way to what looked like an ornamental garden off to the side that I hadn't noticed."

The brilliant golden stone façade of the building shimmered for a moment and another goblin stepped through the archway that appeared. "Please follow me, noble sirs, her eminence is waiting within." I gave a nod to Elrond and again he followed me in looking around in awe all the time, much the same as me. We were escorted down through the magnificent area below the dome we had observed before and off to the right, and though a magnificent tapestry that seemed to show a goblin kneeling before a woman who was three women at the same time, young girl, mature woman, and an old stooped woman, how this was achieved I don't know, but there was only the figure of one woman there. I'd have to say it was magic.

Once behind the tapestry we were greeted by the sight of the high priestess, seated on a stool, sitting at a desk that looked exactly as if she was a teller at the bank above, I bowed my head and Elrond followed my lead. "Greetings to you wizard warrior, and to you noble forest lord, we welcome you both into the home of the goddess." Elrond looked at me, in puzzlement, and I think I knew what the problem was.

"My apologies, noble priestess, my companion does not speak Gablish and I did not understand part of what you just said."

The priestess looked shocked at this and reached under a desk, picked up a small crystal bell and gave it a ring. Another goblin ran in through a side door and at a gesture from the high priestess gave a nod, left and quickly returned with another goblin. The high priestess whispered a few words to the newest goblin who knelt in front of the priestess and she placed a hand on his head. "Greetings to you wizard warrior, and to you noble forest lord, we welcome you both into the home of the goddess. Forgive me, I speak for the high priestess, who does not speak English. She greeted your elven companion in Eledrahl, the language of his people that we learnt from them long ago. I will serve as translator, you need only reply in English and she will understand."

I nodded and so did Elrond to my side, "honoured priestess, I am honoured that you would ask to speak with me, we know very little of the history of our race, having lost much in the time serving the wizards. Together, myself and Dobson, the elf serving my master's cousin managed to tap into some long forgotten part of ourselves and grow grass over the grave of Kreacher, master Harry's house elf that he buried this morning, but we know not how we did it."

"I understand and whilst I am glad that you have not lost your connection with the land, am saddened that you do not know how to access it properly, or how to speak your own language, a language that was much a mode of speech as a way of channelling your magic into the earth. We will speak more of this anon. What of you wizard warrior, we understand that you had questions for us, and the goddess."

"Yes, noble priestess, you mentioned the first time we spoke that I had been touched by the goddess, but I am confused some things have happened that makes me wonder how long ago this was. A couple of days ago, my wife, a veela, gave birth to our first born, a son which I am given to understand has never happened before, and whilst thinking about this, I remembered that I made two predictions whilst sitting my exams, one of those has come to pass, and I wonder what the meaning of the second one is!"

"Am I to understand your wife gave birth to a veela son, without having at least two girls first, this is interesting? It is something spoken of in one of our oldest prophecies, 'when a son is firstborn to the hawk, revere the sire for he shall be the unifier of peoples.' That is all I can remember at this point and that we have something we must give to you." Again the priestess waved the crystal bell and the goblin who had entered earlier came back in, the priestess whispered in his ear again and he looked at me in awe and left the chamber at an undignified run. "Dudley it seems that the goddess has had a hand in your life for a long time, I will not ask what the second prophecy you made was, as they are often open to misinterpretation, but I will hesitate it has something to do with bringing all peoples of magical Britain to equality, much as you have done with we goblins and started with your Eledhel companion." She turned to Elrond, "we are saddened, that you have lost much pf your heritage in the times of your enslavement, we would ask that you come to the temple again in the future and we will give you lessons in the language of your people and do our humble best to assist you to learn of what has been lost."

Elrond turned and looked at me, as if asking for permission, I nodded and he turned to the high priestess, "noble priestess I would be honoured to come and learn about the history of my people and the joined history of both our races."

The priestess nodded, "we will be ever at your service young forest lord, you merely have to ask in the bank and you will be brought to the temple for instruction."

There was a disturbance to our side and the goblin who had left earlier came back in and gave a bow, "it is being brought your eminence." The priestess nodded.

"Your visit has probably given you no solace, but I will say this, the future spoken of was one of prosperity and peace for all peoples, and you should not worry about how to go about this task, from what I understand you have already made excellent progress." A large jewelled box was brought in, about a foot square, and the priestess nodded at me. The box was placed in my hands and I was surprised at how light it was. "When you get home, you must put the contents of the box into a lit fire along with your wand. The gift you will receive will help you to bring about what has been prophesised. Do not worry, your wand will be returned to you after, somewhat changed, but still of use to you in your magic." With this the priestess took her hands from the head of the goblin kneeling at her feet, who turned to her gave a bow and led us out of the temple back to the steps at the front. Our original guide was waiting and as he escorted us back to the cart I wondered what I had let myself in for now…

A/N once again words in 'italic' are in Gablish, words in'bold and italic' are in Eledrahl, the language of the elves if you haven't gathered. This chapter just kept getting longer as I wrote it. Does anybody want to guess what Dudley's gift is? Please review and let me know what you think. Until next time.