CHAPTER 2 - THE BETRAYAL BY KEEPEROLIVER
The golden trio looked at each other, then at the floor manager.
Harry stepped forward, still looking at the manager, and asked, "How did you know?"
The manager waited a few seconds and said, "I believe Director Ragnok is the person that should be answering that question." With that he stepped down from his desk, to be replaced by another goblin. If there was anyone that could look more dignified then Director Ragnok, it could only be Professor Dumbledore, but didn't believe that even he looked this immaculate at his best. Ragnok was dressed in gold colored robes that seemed to flow like it was molten, flowing with his every move. Then when you add the gem stones set in an alluring pattern of mystical creatures all over it. These also seemed to move at random across his robes. He had long black hair streaked with silver, tied in back like Bills. He had high cheek bones, a smaller nose, small mouth, normal teeth, and a bronze color to his skin. He carried himself with a regalness befitting a king.
As Ragnok looked down on the trio, he shook his head and said, "Surely you did not think that goblins are so far below you wizards that we do not have a way to communicate with each other, that you did not know about." Ragnok looked over to the guards nearest the trio and said, "Take these three to the cells, and take the fourth also, but do not revive him. Search him for anything that could be used to escape, strip him if you have to." He paused for a second and said, "Remove Potter from the other two; I have questions I need to ask him." He then added," I will ask
questions of them later, right now I will be asking questions they do not need to know about."
The trio and Travers were herded down to the containment area and separated, Travers going to one cell, Hermione and Ron to another, and then Harry was taken back up the corridor from where they came to a room that looked too comfortable to be a cell. It was if the goblins wanted Harry to know where everyone was.
The room was empty except for a couch, a desk and chair and a table. Harry took a seat on the couch and waited.
In Ron and Hermione's room, there were two benches and two cots. In the corner was a curtained area that was probably used for the loo. There was a conversation going on that was decidedly one sided. Ron was walking around, throwing his hands up in the air. "I can't believe we let Harry talk us into this stupid plan. Does he ever stop to think about the consequences, should it fail, which I would like to point out, it did? What a git. If we ever get out of this alive, I don't ever want anything to do with Harry "Bloody" Potter. I mean really, every year it's the same thing.
Harry leading us into trouble, Harry getting hurt, Harry getting us hurt. There is just no end to his insane plans. Why do we continue to follow the idiot. Sure he has saved all once or twice, but we would not have been in those predicaments if he hadn't put us there."
The rant went on forever, and finally Hermione shouted out, "RON, SHUT UP! Harry has never asked us to go on any of his adventures, in fact, he more times then not did not want us to go with him at all."
Ron took a step towards her and said, "You really believed he wanted to go alone. Are you actually that slow that you didn't think harry was playing us like a fiddle, goading us into accompanying him. I have to admit, he is screwed and manipulative, in the way he gets us to do something we would never think of doing. But that's all I give him. I sometimes wish I never sat with him on the train our first year."
Hermione had enough. She yelled for the guard. The cell door opened immediately, and she asked if she could be moved to a new cell.
Ron looked at her, his mouth agape, and asked her "Hermione, what are you doing? Where are you going? Why are you leaving me here all alone?"
"The hot air in here is making it too stuffy." She then turned and walked out.
The door closed behind her leaving Ron alone to wonder what just happened. He then thought, fine I really don't need either of them. They can just sod off. It was safer for him if just stayed from Harry. He would later apologize to Hermione, she would accept it like she always does, and things would be back the way they were, minus Harry "Bloody" Potter.
In Harry's cell, Harry sat there worried about what he had gotten his friends into. He never meant to get them in trouble. But then, he never meant to get Cedric killed. He never meant to get Sirius killed. He never meant to get his friends hurt in the ministry. He never meant for Dumbledore to die, or Hedwig or Moody. He never meant for Dobby to sacrifice himself to protect Harry "Bloody" Potter.
After a few more minutes of this self abuse, Director Ragnok entered his cell and took a seat at the desk. He took a long look at Harry and started to say something, when there was a knock on the door. "Enter".
The door opened with guard walking in with Hermione. The guard went to Ragnok and said, "This witch is wanting a different cell. She said the other one was too stuffy."
Ragnok thought for a minute and said "Very well, put her in with the death eater." The guard started to lead her out when Harry said "Director Ragnok, I know have no right to ask, but I was wondering if it would be alright for Miss Granger to stay here with me?"
"Mister Potter, what you ask, may not be a good idea. What I have to say may be too concerting or upsetting for Miss Granger."
Hermione jumped in "Director Ragnok, Harry needs someone to be with him, if what you have to say is that bad and would need comforting. If it is alright with you, i would like to stay and be that support in the rendering of your judgement."
Ragnok said," Do you realise the predicament that young Mr. Potter is in? How serious the charges are against him and the consequences of said charges mean."
Hermione thought for a minute and then said, " You must consider, Director Ragnok, that as serious as they may be, Harry was not alone in his actions. Mr. Weasley, Griphook and I went along with his plans."
"Surely you don't think Griphook was ever going through with these plans do you? Haven't you asked yourself how we knew about your plans? We goblins have a way to communicate with each other that the wizarding world knows nothing about. Why else do you think it took Griphook so long to accept your plan? He contacted us, to warn us of your plan and prepare for your visit. Our only surprise was the death eater that was with you, but we took care of that. We have known of it since you first conceived it."
"Oh."
Ragnok continued, "If you want to remain here, I don't mind if Mr Potter doesn't mind. Do you want Mr. Weasley here as well?"
Harry looked at Hermione, and she shook her head. "Please let her stay, as for Mr. Weasley, I don't
that will be necessary." Harry gave Hermione a weird look and Hermione mouthed later.
Ragnok then looked at Harry and said, "Very well Mr. Potter, I will now present the charges to you." He took out a parchment and began reading off of it. "You, Harry James Potter, are charged with plotting against the Goblin Nation. Attempting to coerce a goblin to plot against his people. Attempted breaking and entering a secured establishment of both goblins and wizards. Illegal use of a substance to gain access to said establishment. Attempted grand theft. And the attempted murder of a magical creature."
Harry and Hermione were shocked at this final statement. They could not believe what they just heard.
