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Chapter 4: Gringotts

Bill Weasley was fuming. Something was not right he just knew it. Griphook had had a huge promotion after years of cart riding. There was something fishy and he needed to know about it. He had asked questions to every single goblin he knew, none had even bothered to answer! And to make the matter worst his boss had summoned him. Apparently those little bastards had talked and he had received a warning for tentative of bank confidentiality's breach! A warning! Him! All he had done was to look for answers from his colleagues. He had tried to get into Griphook's office and had succeeded… for oh ten seconds. He just had time to see a tall wizard pulling up his hood before four guards had hit his legs, bringing him on his back on the floor. Their swords were ready to cut his head off when the unknown person murmured a few words to the banker. On Griphook's order they released him and told him he was suspended without a pay for two weeks for a second tentative of bank confidentiality's breach. Two weeks! Without a pay! Goddam it! He needed the money! Linda was starting Hogwarts this year and he needed his ointment of Wolfsbane, he couldn't afford to loose his job. Yes, this inheritance from Harry was subsequent and it represented years of salary but there was this weight in his stomach telling him that using money he didn't deserve was wrong. Still furious he Apparated to the Burrow. His mother cooking was soothing and much better than his wife's; maybe it would calm his nerves.

..ooOoo..

Harry was reading the Daily Prophet. He didn't say anything about the date nor did react to the article about his death. The Wizarding world's opinion had changed: he was once more their hero, what a laugh... He was used to the various moods swings of the public but didn't care anymore. He couldn't believe he had stayed in Azkaban for ten years. Ten long years. It had clearly changed him. His feelings were distant, even his senses seemed dull after the vivid agony he experienced with the dementor device. The paper seemed weightless in his hands. He wouldn't have believed he was alive but for the light headache he was feeling.

He folded the newspaper and asked if his will had been read and how it went.

Griphook was finishing his story about Ginny's and Dean's reactions to his letter when he heard a commotion outside of the office. He quickly pulled up his hood. The doors open in a bang to reveal a red faced red hair: Bill Weasley. The man hardly took a step in the room before four armored goblins jumped on him. In a matter of milliseconds one of them was ready to decapitate him. He looked at Griphook for the authorization…

Harry bent on the desk and murmured

"I guess he knows there is more than just my death in your promotion. Could you just let him go?"

Griphook stared at him like if he was crazy. "With a harsh sanction I mean" Harry quickly added. The goblin grinned and gave a few hand signals. The guards sheathed their swords, disarmed Bill and took him out of the room. Once the door closed, Harry let loose a breath, it had been a closed call between revealing his identity and Bill's death.

"So Griphook, how are my finances?" Harry asked once he was back in his seat his hood down once again.

"Well, as you required yourself ten years ago, two wills were issued" the goblin paused. Upon seeing Harry nod he continued "The second one as been activated yesterday. Therefore, your Trust Vault, as the one of the late Sirius Black, was emptied and their content shared between the various beneficiaries. The same goes for the deeds of a property in London, one in Godric Hollow, a House-Elf and the ownership of the Ollivanders shop"

"How come I owned his shop? I mean the guy's family is supposed to be in the trade for more than a millennium…" Harry asked clearly surprised.

"Precisely Mr. Potter. It appears that by the time Mr. Ollivanders tried to buy the shop itself the family had been in the business for so long that your ancestors knew it was a better investment to keep the rent than sell."

Griphook took a file in his drawer and opened it.

"Now Mr. Potter, as per our agreements you are still very rich. I took two thousand galleons and donated them to Lycanthropy Society and parked your 'flying motorcycle' in a parking booth near the Leaky Cauldron, in muggle London I might add. Not a small feat for a goblin but I like challenges."

Griphook took a rather used abacus and made a few computations. Apparently it made sense to the goblin, Harry for his part didn't even understand how to hold a counting frame…

"Right. I did as you asked me and invested in various businesses, recalling all the assets when your decease became official. You had 3,934,562 galleons in your mother's vault. They reproduced and have had lots of little sickles, knuts and galleons… Even with the 2,000 galleons used to cover the retaining of your motorcycle you still have close to forty million galleons."

"What?" Harry nearly screamed. He wasn't a fool, he knew banks' interests where never as close as 10. There was simply no way he could have multiplied his money by ten, even in ten years. "How is that possible?"

"As you know Mr. Potter I make benefits on the gains you make thanks to our placements. Therefore I made sure the investments were good and not just a loan to the bank. You might have been killed by Who-Know-Who, then your first Will would have been activated. In this event I wouldn't have gain anything but now… well I have my interests on your gains for the last ten years… Needless to say we are both extremely wealthy, I made sure of it." Griphook replied with a large grin which went twice around his little head. "Then you have the Black and Potter Family Vaults. As I told you the last time we met they contain books, weapons, money and heirlooms which quantities are unknown to us. The blood recognition wards are still in activity but you'll have to update them of course.

"There is also your father's vault. We don't know what's in it but once again you'll have to key yourself into the wards. Finally there are the estates. There is a manor in London, a cottage in Hogsmead, a few shops in Knockturn Alley and a small castle in Scotland.

"The shops are rented. One is a bookstore, rather dark I might add. Another is a jewelry, it's the closest to Diagon Alley; as a matter of fact if the door had been two feet on the left it would be in Diagon Alley. The third shop we had troubles finding what it was as all they have isn't very recommended if you get my drift… It appears it's an Apothecary and a menagerie; of course it only sells very illegal and highly expensive products. The final shop deals with battle gears. It's probably the only one in the entire Alley that has a good reputation: Aurors get their uniforms there.

"The manor has been locked down. Nobody can enter as the house is 'suspended' in stasis under goblin magic. That is to say it doesn't exist until you open it again; same thing for the castle, rather a house with a tower if I may say. The cottage in Hogsmead is rented. As I didn't know what you wanted to do I lowered the lease to a year instead of ten. If that's your desire you'll be able to get it back in two months."

Griphook closed his file and Harry and him looked at each other. "There is still a little formality…" the goblin advanced timidly.

"Yes? What is it Griphook?" Harry enquired.

"Well, your body will be buried tomorrow…" The banker started but was cut by Harry's comment.

"I seriously doubt it…"

"Be that as it may, the Ministry will contest your identity unless we establish it without a doubt." Griphook said slowly.

"And how do you propose we do this? Of course, without me revealing to these morons I'm still alive, not thanks to them…" Harry asked.

"Well during your imprisonment the Ministry developed a magical item named a 'Blood Pin'. Its use is quite simple, you pick your finger with it and we ask questions that only require 'Yes' or 'No' answers. It enables to know if people are wanted or Death Eaters. It even works with people under Polyjuice and even those subjected to a memory charm. It has become quite the favorite with shop tenders: they just ask if you have enough money to purchase anything, it avoids a lot of trouble afterward… We, at Gringotts, are the only ones able to use its extra feature; it will give us your family tree for as far as you'll want. The Ministry would of course accept its results as they developed the 'Blood Pin' themselves." Griphook explained.

"I guess I don't have a choice. Pick away my friend." Harry simply answered.

The goblin smiled and got up. He went to retrieve a small golden casket and opened it in front of Harry. Inside, on a red velvet lining, there were a dozen of small cylinders one inch long. They had various colors but all of them were delicately carved and decorated. They were obviously designed to look like a fashion item despite their sinister role.

"Pick one Harry."

"Oooh… Now I'm Harry again?" came the playful answer.

"Well during the reading of your financial status I'm your banker. Before and after I'm Griphook" the goblin explained with a wink. "Now, these 'Blood Pins' are for our biggest customers – like you Harry. As it's a rather expensive item we offer one to maintain good relations in these times of war."

Harry nodded. Hesitantly he left his hand travel on top of the box. Finally his eyes rested on a golden and silver cylinder. He picked it up and hold in front of him to look at the carvings. They seemed familiars to him but he couldn't pin point where he had seen them before. The whole item was made of gold and the carvings in silver. Griphook smiled.

"Very good choice Harry, it's a gold one with runes in white gold. I don't know why but our customers look like they are afraid of it… Probably because of the runes." The goblin explained.

"No. They are not dangerous. I don't know why but I know they have their place there and will be useful in the future; my compliments to your blacksmith." Harry responded dreamingly as if hypnotized by the Blood Pin.

Griphook stayed still for a couple minutes to let Harry admire his newest possession.

"Now Harry, unscrew the top" the banker finally said. He waited for Harry to do so, revealing a three-quarter of an inch needle. "Now just pick your finger with it and let a drop of your blood touch the bottom of the point.

"Now all you have to do his sign your name at the top of this piece of parchment. Your family tree will fill itself for four generations on both sides, indicating today's date and the hours. As it's made with blood it's heavily protected. Once the blood is used, nobody can retrieve or use it anymore, furthermore, it can't be forged whatever you try."

Griphook waited patiently as Harry picked his finger and signed. The goblin then looked at the document and raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know what is your secret for immortality but you are twenty-one hours younger than you should be according to your date and hour of birth." He commented.

Harry just stared blankly. "Twenty-one? It should be twenty-four, how did this… Oooh, I know I used a time turner when I was thirteen. Used it for three hours, makes sense."

"Harry, the problem is that you are younger than you should be. Older wouldn't be a problem but younger…" Griphook tried to explain. He just dropped it when he understood Harry wasn't going to explain how he had managed it. "Doesn't matter. We'll find a Time-Turner to age you of a day or so in order to correct it."

Harry nodded with a silent mile. The goblin made a demand for lunch and they talked while eating for an hour or so.

..ooOoo..

"So Harry, where do you want to go?" enquired Griphook.

"Black or Potter Family Vault please, which ever is the closest. I'm only looking for one thing, I'll check on the content another day" the wizard answered to his small friend.

"Right on!"

Harry sat in the cart and they started moving. Harry was soon lost in his thoughts of his first visit to Gringotts, the beginning of his new life, away from the Dursleys. He smiled fondly when he remembered Hagrid. The half giant wasn't scared of anything nor anybody but the dementors (that he could understand) and Gringotts' carts (that Harry didn't understand). He was taken out of his musing by a sudden stop. The young man looked at the door. The Blacks Crest was carved on it.

"So this is the family vault of the infamous Black family?" Harry asked more to himself than to his companion.

"Well depend which side you're taking. If you're from the Ministry, they obviously are, in the other hand if you believe in pure-blood supremacy then they were loyal servants" Griphook answered grimly.

Harry studied the goblin closely for a minute. These kinds of answers, especially with this tone were rare for a goblin. Then he started to laugh. A big booming laugh, the first one he had in ten years. Managing to stop but still grinning madly he said "You don't care do you?"

In front of Griphook's hesitation he added "It's just bad for business right?"

As expected the goblin smiled and nodded without a word.

"Harry, you need to cut your hand to enter the vault. The security wards will recognize you as the rightful heir and will deactivate. Don't worry, next times it won't be needed, your aura will be enough." Informed Griphook.

"My aura?" enquired Harry as he took the small knife that was proposed to him.

"Yes, your aura. Like tendril of magic going into the air from your body" Griphook explained while Harry cut his finger and let a few drops of his blood fall on the door.

A blue dome appeared around the door, pulsating like a heart. It slowly turned to purple and then to red. In a silent flash the ward deactivated, blinding Harry and Griphook. When they found they could see again, they looked at the door. It was slightly open, but most important the Black Crest was gone. Where it once stood, now was another one. A lion on his anterior paws on the right side, a huge snake coiled on itself with the head in the air on the left; on the middle was a big lighting bolt. The lion's pawns resting on its right while the snake looked like it wanted to see what was going on on the other side.

Harry and Griphook stared at it.

"What the hell…"

"I think it's your own crest Harry." proposed Griphook.

"And how do you explain that the Potters' one doesn't look like it at all?" asked Harry.

"How do you know if the Potter crest is different from it?"

"Gripphook, you made me fill a paper with my blood in order to create my family tree. Of course I've seen its crest…"

"Right… Well… It is an inherited Vault not a transferred one, that it to say it doesn't belong to your family but to you. In order to show it is different than the Potters' line regular possessions, a Crest had been magically created representing you. You see…"

Once he had his answer Harry just cut Griphook out and entered the Vault. He had just experienced the goblin's ability to talk endlessly about something whatever its importance and wasn't really keen to hear the full signification of magic merging of crests and families.

The Vault could only be described by two words: Huge and Full. Everywhere around there were trunks to see.

Harry sighted and opened the first trunk he reached. On the top of it was written G. L. B. Healer. Luck seemed to be with him as when perusing it he found a bottomless bag and a wooden box containing what he was looking for: a wand.

Harry took the wand and didn't feel anything. No magic, no wrongness, nothing. He muttered "Wingardium Leviosa" pointing the tip to a trunk. It worked. Badly but it worked nonetheless. He pocked the wand…. or at least tried to. That's at this moment he noticed he was still wearing the clothes he had when he was arrested. In short, they were too small for him, especially the pants and were nothing more than rags.

Looking around Harry found a piece of parchment near the entrance with the word CONTENT written on the top. Apparently a trunk with the personal belongings of all the deceased members of the Black Family was warehoused there. The list was simple: all the trunks were classed according to the professions in alphabetical order and then according to the date of birth. Harry found one single person under the occupation of tailor. He touched the named and immediately a trunk glowed in blue. He opened it and found exactly what he wanted: male clothes. He changed and emptied the rest in his bag.

Feeling he'd rather make the ride worth it, he started looking for different things. He didn't know why he wanted these or how he had came across them. He only knew one thing: his light headache wasn't light anymore and it was easier to support it when he was physically doing something.

In the end he looked at what he had collected. In fact he just discovered what it was as the item's selection's had been a blur to him. He found a small collection on Spell Crafting, from the hardest to the most mundane (like How to Spell Craft in Ten Lessons or Spell Crafting for Dummies). He smiled for two reasons: these titles were used in the muggle world, so how come a narrow-minded family like the Blacks had such books? Secondly the Seers or whatever they were/are said it was good for silent casting and Harry wasn't able to do it, so… He also had some metals samples and a bag of seeds. It was labeled as 'Sangbois', a very rare tree that needed blood to grow and was used to create wands. They were said to be a perfect match but due to their reputation (what kind of tree needs blood instead of water?) nobody used them since the last goblins' revolution (something like four centuries earlier). He finally had chosen a few books of curses and counter-curses. He didn't need to check the content to know they weren't the kind usually taught in Hogwarts; after all he was in the Vault of a family well versed in the Dark Arts. Harry shocked his head. He put everything in his bag.

Not wanting to make the goblin wait for too long, Harry took hold of his bag, thanking the gods it was also featherless and exited the Vault. He still paused a minute to look at a very small basin made of stone. It was labeled as a pensieve for only three memories or up to an hour of viewing. Harry pocketed it, just in case and rejoined Griphook in the cart. In his way back a saw two doors inside the vault. Probably leading to another room full of trucks he thought, I'll check that another day.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" asked the goblin.

"Yes, thank you." Harry answered tiredly. "Tell me something, when was the last time you went home Griphook?"

The goblin paused just a second but it was enough to give the information Harry was looking for.

"What do you mean? I live in Gringotts, in the staff's quarters." Griphook quickly said.

"Oh, I have no doubt about that Griphook... But still… Even if I've been in Azkaban for more than a decade I'm not stupid and I know you need women to have children. Therefore I know you don't come from here: there are no females in Gringotts' staff." Harry explained.

Griphook looked at Harry and blinked. He seemed to have lost his voice.

"That's what I thought. Why don't we go to see your boss? I'm sure he won't refuse to give you some vacations." Harry said with a mysterious smile…

Five minutes later Harry was seated in an opulent office with weapons lining the walls, facing a very stern and old goblin. At least old is what Harry thought according to the wrinkles on his interlocutor's face. Chief Ragnok spoke after a minute he had dedicated to study the wizard.

"Good afternoon, Mister Potter. I must say I'm a bit surprised to meet you today especially as your death was all over the news this morning."

"Is that so?" Harry merely answered with a small smile.

"Oh yes, it is so. The Dark Lord has even celebrated the event and killed dozens of black-haired-wizards with green eyes who were in your age category." Ragnok paused to see if this piece of information had any effect. Seeing none he continued. "But I don't thing you came here to discuss the news, so what can I do for you?"

Harry staid silent for a minute, he had a killer headache and wasn't in the mood for small talk. He finally spoke "I would like to have a place to stay for the next couple of month."

"Correct me if I'm wrong Mr. Potter but I think you still have quite a few houses after this little trick you pulled with Griphook. I failed to see what I could do that would be different after all." Ragnok calmly stated. In fact he was dying to know what was going to happen when the Wizarding community learned their 'savior' was alive, and well by the look of things. Therefore he didn't feel too much like helping the young wizard.

"You see Chief Ragnok, I've been away for ten years and didn't have the possibility to see the few friends I still have. Thus I asked Griphook if he would like to go in vacation with me. And he agreed." Harry paused and gave a side look to the goblin. If Griphook was surprised to learn what he had agreed to he didn't show it.

"He seemed quite content at this idea and told me he didn't have any day off for a dozen years. I figured you wouldn't refuse him a couple months, would you?" he pursued.

"Of course no. As shown by your own case Griphook is an asset to Gringotts. If he wants two months of holidays he can take them after all. But I still fail to see the correlation with you Mr. Potter."

"I'm coming there" said Harry. His head was killing him. He pinched his nose and continued. "I figured that if Griphook didn't have any day off for so long he didn't go back home either. Therefore I think it would be great if he could do so."

"But Mr. Potter every goblin lives in the various Staff's quarters of all the Gringotts in the world. Still, if Griphook wants to go back where he was born, I have no problem with it. It's just that if you want to go home with him, you'll stay in Gringotts" Ragnok interrupted. Apparently he didn't like the direction this discussion was taking.

"Yes, yes of course. But you made one mistake Chief Ragnok." Harry smiled: the goblin was cornered.

"I don't understand."

"Well, there is no women Chief, and they are necessary to have kids; and there aren't any children either. So… Do you still persist in the 'all goblins live in Gringotts' version?" Harry calmly answered.

Ragnok didn't say anything as his eyes narrowed.

Harry paused again. He was ready to continue when Griphook, who appeared to have understood, spoke.

"As I had all ready agreed to go with Mr. Potter and as he had already figured we had lands somewhere else, he resolved in asking you the permission to let me go there and as I'd be with him…" Griphook trailed off.

Harry smiled. His goblin friend would have made a perfect Slytherin. He knew lands existed therefore the management couldn't hide and say they didn't want him to learn about it and the Chief had already agreed to let Griphook go back home and in vacation with him…

Ragnok didn't say anything as he sunk in his armchair. He finally smiled. "I guess I'm cornered here."

Griphook and Harry grinned.

"If you'd be kind enough to use a blood pin Mr. Potter, Griphook and you could be leaving before the end of the day." Ragnok concluded. He had no other way, so he wanted to at least look like he still controlled the situation.

"Do you know about this item, the 'Blood Pin' Mr. Potter? It has been developed during your imprisonment after all." Ragnok kindly explained.

Griphook growled "Unjust imprisonment…"

Ragnok and Harry smiled as they joined their voice to Griphook's and said "… I might add!"

Harry took his pin and used it to prick his finger, bringing a drop of blood. Once the needle had changed from grayish to red, Ragnok asked Harry six questions.

"Is your name Harry James Potter?"

"Yes."

"Did someone tell you of the existence of goblin's territories?"

"No."

"Do you plan in telling anyone about it?"

"No."

""Do you plan in interfering in any way with goblins if you were to stay there?"

"No."

"Do you plan in interacting with the goblins if you were to stay there?"

"Yes."

"Is your judgment better than a goblin with the same knowledge?"

"No."

Each answer was followed by a small flash of green light at the bottom of the pin. Satisfied, Ragnok cleaned the pin and gave it back to Harry.

"Well Mr. Potter, you are the first human to ever have the authorization to go in goblin territory. Of course, you are also the first human to ever mention to us the knowledge of such territories, but that wouldn't have necessarily meant you would have been given access." Said Ragnok with a grin (It was a scary picture to Harry if truth be told…)

"Griphook you are free to go whenever you want. I'd suggest the slow travel, after all its Mr. Potter's first visit."

Harry and Griphook got up and shake hands with Ragnok.

"If I were you Chief I'd work on this 'after all' thing of your" Harry said with a smile and a wink.

"I do agree with you Mr. Potter. I shall do that if you work on Griphook's 'I might add'" The banker answered playfully. Harry rolled his eyes, there was no way he could stop Griphook to talk that way… after all.

Harry and his friend (because that was what he was from the wizard's point of view) went back to the Hall, using the cart. There Harry waited patiently while Griphook went to his quarters to pack. He decided to have a little stroll in Diagon Alley, just to have a bit a fresh air before the journey. It happened to be at the same time a very good and wrong idea.

..ooOoo..

Hermione Granger was enjoying a butterbeer at The Leaky Cauldron. She was waiting for her long friend Ginny Weasley soon to be Mrs. Thomas.

Said woman was furious. Her fiancé, Dean Thomas, had had the guts to reproach her with his job! She knew he had wanted to try Curse Breaking as a career like her brother, but instead he had joined the Auror training when she did. She had never asked why; she didn't care she believed he had changed his views and decided to do his part in the war. It now appeared he had only done it because she had said the man she'll date would probably be an Auror. Oh, she dated him alright! And agreed to marry him, even though he had never worked for the ministry after graduation as a Law Enforcer; but now he blamed her, saying he had lost his dream for another (herself!) which wasn't worth it!

Ginny was seriously considering dumping him when she crashed in a man wearing a heavy dark cloak. She apologized in a hurry and kept going on. She opened the archway to enter the pub and step through it. The wall started reforming itself when she heard screams. She immediately tried to go back but a ward prevented it. She tried to Apparate with the same result. Defeated she run to meet her friend hoping Hermione would have a back-up plan to get into the Alley.

..ooOoo..

Harry was quietly walking in the alley. More than fifteen years after his first visit the place hadn't lost anything of its charm. He was enjoying the sight; even though people were hurrying the shops were still displaying their contents for everyone to see. And he was exactly doing that. He passed in front of Owl Emporium, wondering what had happened to Hedwig his faithful owl…

Harry was watching the books on display at Flourish And Blotts when someone bumped into him. He looked down and found himself lost into big brown eyes surrounded by a sea of red hair. Ginny. He stood there, not knowing what to do or how to act. He didn't know what he felt… Heck, he didn't know if he felt anything!

She excused herself, not recognizing him with his hood up and kept walking toward the exit.

Harry shook himself off and hurried back to Gringotts. He was just at the entrance when screams hit his hear. Spinning around he saw four cloaked figures with white masks. Probably an initiation he figured after twenty seconds. Two of the Death Eaters had small frames. The taller and bulkier couple had their wands out but didn't do anything as the others started to shoot spells.

Harry watched the scene impassively for a few seconds wondering he if should do anything. He finally reached the conclusion that he didn't care. He had spent the majority of his magic life in jail; he wasn't going to dye – again – for scared goats unable to defend themselves. Without a glance to the tortured and dying people he stepped in the bank.

Harry saw Griphook waiting for him in the lobby, two big bags at his feet.

"So, ready to go my friend?" he inquired.

"What is going on outside?" the goblin responded.

"Oh just a Death Eater initiation: two recruits and two veterans having a bit of fun. Why?"

Griphook stared at the wizard. The man considered the epitome of chivalry and bravery was calmly informing him of people dying, without a care in the world?

"Oh… And what did you do?"

Harry blinked. Again. "What da ya mean 'what did I do'? I left of course!"

Griphook inclined his head in a silent acknowledgement. "And you do not have a problem with it?"

"No." he responded. In front of the bewildered face of his friend he wondered aloud "I should?"

Griphook slowly shock his head. "Follow me Harry."

The pair quickly reached an office and sat down. The goblin stayed silent for a couple minutes as if organizing his thoughts. Finally he put his hand in his pockets and spoke.

"Harry, do you have any idea what your name and actions represent to the world?"

"Yeh, the stupid White Knight ready to fight and die for justice" said person mumbled.

"Exactly. Who do think is Harry Potter to me?"

"I… I don't know… What don't you tell me?" Harry responded bit aggressively.

"The clever person who rise above prejudices and do what he can to share his ideas to the world." Griphook hold his hand to stop the retort he was sure was coming. "Look at you. Fifteen years ago you had fought a giant snake to save a girl you hardly knew and freed a House-Elf who nearly got you killed because you felt it was wrong not to act. You saved a convicted man to the Dementor Kiss…"

"You know about that!" Harry exclaimed.

"Goblins know a lot of things, Harry. The Ministry considers us as unworthy beings just good enough to push and weight gold, it doesn't mean we are. They don't ask question we don't give them answers. What I'm trying to say here is that you had a reputation for as long as you can remember among wizard kind; but you made yourself another reputation with your deeds. A reputation you should be proud of. They can like you or hate you, but every goblin, centaur, House-Elf and more, know you. Heck, even the unicorns know you went after one of them injured!"

"So?" Harry interrupted.

"So? Harry if it was today, would you try to save a unicorn hurt by a Death Eater if you could?"

"Yes!"

"Would you punish this or these men for their action?"

"Yes."

"Do you think unicorns have more the right to live than humans?"

"No."

"So, why did you run away from the Alley?"

"I didn't run away!" Harry exclaimed.

"Still, you didn't help, did you?"

"No…"

"Why?"

"…"

"They're your kind Harry. Why didn't you help them?" the goblin asked softly.

"I… It's just… I don't know…" Harry said his shoulders collapsing.

Griphook smiled. With one hand he extracted a small pendant from his pocket, with the other he Actio-ed a long package. Harry opened it to reveal a gladius, a dagger and a throwing knife with sheaths hanging to a leather belt.

Griphook hold his hand with the piece of jewelry. "Do you know what this is Harry?"

Harry nodded.

"What is it?"

"A time-turner…"

"The screams started forty minutes ago, it gives you ample time. You should go to the Apparition Point. It will be easier. People won't be able to see you disappear or appear there. I'll leave in twenty minutes, you will always be my friend Harry, but I hope I'll still be proud to say in front of my colleagues. Alright Harry?"

Harry nodded weakly. He got up, strapped the belt to his waist and made his way to the door. Griphook called him. "Hey Harry?" He turned around as he friend tossed him a galleon. "Have a drink in the mean time. It's on me."

Harry left the office with a lot in his mind. He went to the Apparition Point, his hurting head full of thoughts and questions.

Why do I have to help them? For God sake! I'm supposed to be dead! What's next? Necromancy to force me fight Voldemort? For all I care the fucker can rot in hell or rule Earth. I DON'T GIVE A FUCK! Why did Griphook had to play the guilt card to make me act? Should I tell him to bugger off?

When Harry stepped outside, he saw the 'battle' was over. Aurors were trying to secure the street but weren't enough to be efficient. He spotted Ginny red mane in the group. So she an Auror now… Interesting.

He saw himself in the corner of his eyes waving at himself. So, I used it then.

Still refusing to have to act for these cowards, but unsure of what he was going to do, Harry gave one turn to the small hourglass.

I'm sorry I waited so much to upload. I know what is going to happen in the story, but I have troubles writing in between... It wouldn't make sense to have Harry die and then back to the living whitout any explanation, would it?

Anyway. I hope you like the chapter. I rushed a bit the end so forgive me if it's not up to your expectations, I'm trying to find wy place alongthe thin line between good chapters uploaded once a month a crap or very short chapter twice a week...

Please Reviews and give me comments. It's the only way for me to actually improve the story and fix these little things you see that I didn't explain or don't make much sense...